Chapter XXXIII.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 4261, 27 July 1895, Page 1 (Supplement)

Chapter XXXIII.

0 yot we trust that somehow good Will be the fliul goal of ill. — Tehktsok. 0, yon, Earth's tender and impassioned few, Take courage to entrust your lore To Him go named, who guards ahove Its ends, and shall tulol I — E. B. BBOWMIKB.

SUMMER sunshine flooded the garden at Beecham Lodge, laughed at the nodding flowers, and streamed in at the open windows of the breakfast-room. Sunshine here, too. Merry voices and childish chatter mingled with the song of birds and buzz of insects, while the morning breeze threw flickering shadows on the mossy lawn. " Oh ! oh ! Lion, don't ! Elsie, Lion is pinching me ! " cried the owner of a rosy face and a curly head, giving the curly head next her a vigorous j push. "Lionel, don't benaughty," said Elsie, pausing in the act of pouring out coffee. "Norah, you ought not to be sitting there ; come and help me to take care of Tiny. Katie, sit beside Lion, please, ,and mind he does not upset his bread-and-milk. Now, Tiny, what is amiss? Was it too hot? Poor little darling! Norah, put a little cold milk into her basin — take care ! " " Me want see baby ! " shouted Tiny, appealing to the public by the simple means of hammering the table with her spoon. "Hush! hush!" said Elsie, with uplifted finger. " Tiny must have her breakfast like a good girl." "Tiny is dood dirl," protested the deposed baby, pouting. "Baby isn't dood ; she kies." "It isn't fair,'' piped Lion. " When I cry, Elsie puts me in the corner, and when baby cries she pets her and kisses her. It isn't fair, is it, father ? " "My son," said Dr. Grey, solemnly, " you have hit upon a mighty problem. When you are older you will know that one man may steal a sheep while his neighbour may not look over the wall. You'll know it, I say, but you won't understand it." "Now, Dr. Grey," protested Elsie, laughing, " that is too bad of yon ! I wonder when I shall hear the last of that problem. At this moment three pairs of blue eyes are fixed upon you, with a whole chapter of questions in each — questions you will leave me to answer. It's too bad!" I Dr. Grey laughed mischievously. " I apologise. In fact, I will do anything but answer the said questions. Can you spare me another cup of coffee ? By the bye," he added, diving back into his pile of letters, " don't let these youngsters worry you to bits, Elsie. Have you enough help ? " " Quite enough, thank you," returned Elsie, brightly, " Katie i 8 growing such a helpful little woman." "And don't I help, Elsie?" asked little Norah, with wistful blue eye.3. "Of course you do," replied Elsie, smiling. " How could I manage Tiny at table without your assistance P" " Upon the principle of set a thief to catch a thief, eh ? " laughed Dr. Grey. " A thief ! " echoed Norah, horrified. " A thief is a person who steals — I read it in a book. Norah, father says you're a thief !'' shouted Lion,flourishing his spoon in the air. Dr. Grey shrugged his shoulders. "Put my foot in it again," he said, laiighing. " It's only father's fun, Norah dear," said Elsie, quickly, for the child's eye 3 were filling. The cap fitted, for she had a surreptitious lump of sugar upon her conscience. Dr. Grey gathered his letters together and thrust them into his pocket. '" Well, I'm off,*' he said, stooping to kiss the tears out of his little daughter's eyes "I shall be very busy to-day, Elsie ; you had better put some tandwiches into the trap for me. I cannot come back for lunch." " Very well," said Elsie, rising and lifting Tiny carefully from her high chair. " Dr. Grey, please can you spare one minute ? I must write to Mollie today. Do you think I may fix Thursday, in next week, for going home? You know Kitty comes down every day now, and gains strength fast. I really think you could spareine for a fortnight." Dr. Grey whistled, and raised his eyebrows comically. "I suppose I shall be obliged to say ' Yes.' Betty begins to look positively dangerous. Every time I drive thi-ough Brookvale, I expect her to waylay, me with a carving-knife." " Poor Betty ! " laughed Elsie. " We' are all getting rather desperate, I fancy. It is so many months since we saw each other." "Yes. One must not be unreasonable. I fear unselfishness is a virtue conspicuously absent from my character. I would not let you go for two days if I could help it, much less two weeks." "Barbarian!" cried Elsie, indignantly. "If you utter such savage sentiments I shall take French leave ; you'll find me missing some fine morning." But Elsie was not driven to this extremity, for Dr. Grey himself took her home on the appointed day. Elsie was in high spirits, the doctor grave He knew that bad news awaited his young companion, and his kind heart ached for her. Bertie and Nettie were watching at the Vicarage gate. They set up a shout of welcome as the carriage turned ' the corner. " Elsie ! Elsie ! " cried Nettie, dancing about and clapping her hands. " Oh, Elsie! have you really come at last! You must never go away again." " Nice thing that," growled the doctor; " I have only given her leave of absence for two weeks and you ought to say * Thank you ' very prettily for that." " Don't let Betty hear you say that," laughed Bertie, lifting his sister out of the carriage. " Oh, Bertie, how tall you are ! " she cried ; " and— yes — really, you have a moustache coming ! " -Bertie laughed and blushed. "One has time to grow just a little older and taller in seven months. Here come Mollie and Betty ; I thought they would be on the look out." I Elsie ran to meet her sister, leaving Bertie with Dr. Grey. 1 " How are things going on up there ? " he inquired, pointing his whip towards the Hall. ! "Oh, as bad as possible," replied Bertie, a shadow falling upon his bright young face. " Sad, is it not ? " "Very," answered Dr. Grey, emphatically. " Your sister knows nothing, or very little, about poor Sam Dodd's evil ways. I have not told her, purposely." "She must know now, 1 fear," said Bertie, gravely. "Mollie is afraid she will reproach herself." 11 1 fto not see wW responde| the

uocwji. - oue is too sensioie to Diamd herself for what is the result of the man's own weakness or his vicious propensities. In either case, she ought to be thankful she did not marry him." Bertie looked doubtful. Elsie must be much altered if she could take so philosophical a view of the matter; and perhaps the good doctor himself did not seriously expect it. Elsie's first hours at home, however, were undimmed by any sorrowful thoughts of past or future troubles. There was so much to tell and so much to hear, that time flew on wings. Bertie had his school experiences to relate; Nettie must exhibit her needlework and copybook; and even the Vicar added his quantum to the show. The study of beetles had given place to moths, and Elsie must needs see his new book, and admire his collection of specimens. It was not until evening that the sisters had time or opportunity for confidences. Then, Nettie having gone to bed and Bertie betaken himself to solitude and a book, Elsie suggested a stroll in the dewy twilight. " Dear old garden," she said, stooping to pluck a moss rosebud ; " I have quite longed for it sometimes, especially at this hour. It seemed so strange that the spring flowers could come and go and I never see them." "Poor little exile," replied Mollie, slipping hei arm round her sister's waist; " but why did you miss the garden especially in the evening P " " Why P Oh, because I ha 4 no time for sentiment until my four wild kittens were safely tucked into their little beds," said Elsie, smiling. " Are you sure it is not too much for you, dear ? " asked Mary, anxiously. " Remember your health——" "My health ! " laughed Elsie. " Don't be a goose, Mollie. I have not a bit too much to do. The children are darlings, and Kitty charming. She says you must come and stay with me, Mollie, when Bertie goes back to school." "That will be nice," said Mollie, brightening ; " but, Elsie, I think they might have spared you before this, if only for half a day." "They would if I hud wished it; but I C"uld not have left Kitty comfortably ; she is so imprudent. Now, Mollie, this is our first quiet time ; tell me the news." "Haven't I been telling news ever since you came?" said Mollie, with a nervous laugh. " You know very well what I mean, Mollie ; I have heard little about the Hall for a long time, and that little has been bad. How is Sam going on ? " "Badly," replied Mary, gravely. *He is giving bis father much trouble, we fear; and Mrs. Dodd — well, Elsie, we never did like Mrs. Dodd ; she was so imperious and dictatorial ; but I feel quite drawn to her now, she is so much altered." " Mr. Dodd looked aged and careworn when he came to see us about Bertie going to school. Is it Sam's doing ? " "It must be. Of course, we only hear indirectly, for father and Mr. Dodd have never been the same to each, other since Mr, Armitage left ; but Mrs. Lewis tells Betty ; I fear it is true." " I suppose it is drink ? " "It is more than drink. I believe he gambles, but I really hardly understand." He is often away from home, and the poor old people never know where he goes to, or how long he is going to stay ; and when he returns he generally brings one or two people with Tin — fast-looking men, who do nothing but drink, smoke, and play cards; and Mrs. Lewis says their language is shocking." Elsie shivered and turned pale. " This is worse than I expected," she said ; "it will break his mothei*'s heart." " She does not give up hope," responded Mary. " Mrs. Lewis tells Betty that it is quite touching to see how she makes the most of e\ery change for the better, however slight. Just now she is rejoicing, because Sam has come home without any of his bad companions." " Poor, poor mother ! " cried Elsie, clasping her hands, " She was always devoted to Sam ; she could never see a fault in him." " Yes ; whatever her faults may be, she is, and ever has been, a devoted mother. She lays herself out to please him, tries to be a cheerful companion to him, and even drives out with him in his doff-cart, which cannot be pleasant to her." " Pleasant, indeed ! " Not even safe ; I have heard of his furious driving seveial times lately, and I could not understand it. You know Sam used to drive splendidly." "He has become utterly reckless, and of course it affects everything he does. 3 ; Elsie sighed, and Mary, looking at her anxiously, saw that her eyes were full of tears. " Surely, dear Elsie ! you cannot reproach yourself for all this trouble P Sam must always have been utterly unprincipled ; father says his conduct to you proves that." Elsie shook her head sorrowfully. " Sam's wrong-doing does not alter the fact that I, too, did wrong. It is only now and then that we see how greatly we influence the lives of others, for good or evil ; and, oh, Mollie ! it is a dreadful, dreadful thing to feel that your influence has — been " her voice failed. " Elsie darling ! This is not like you. It is morbid ! You must talk to father about it," said Mollie, much distressed. " No, Mollie dear.' There is no good in talking, and you need not suppose I spend my life lamenting past mistakes. But I cannot forget, and I think I ought not to forget, what a long train of evils has followed that one false step." " Father docs not think disappointment has caused Sam*s ruin. He says it is remorse — remorse for the cruel wrong he did Mr. Armitage." " And what tempted him to do that wrong, Mollie? However, as I said before, talking will do no good. You have told me nothing yet about Frank. Surely father has heard from him since June ? That is the last letter I know of." " It is the last he has had," said Mary, faintly. • Elsie turned her bead quickly. " What is it, Mollie ? Yon have had news of him. if not from him ; lam sure of.it." "It is no good news, Elsie, dear." Mary's voice faltered . Elsie raised her troubled face, as though seeking strength from the calm loveliness of the peaseful heavens. One by one the stars were peeping out of the blue depths, while the moon rose majestic above the distant priory woods. "Let me hear it, Mollie — here under these quiet watchful stars. When I was a child, I thought they were the eyes of guardian angels; glistening eyes, bright with love and pity. The stars comfort me; they remind me of God's all-mightiness; for a time bad men may. prevail, but one above is mightier than they." "it is indeed a comforting thought, darling," replied Mary, tenderly. ."Would that we had always faith to look beyond the trouble of to-day." "What is the fresh trouble, dear Mollie ? Do not keep me in suspense." Tfrfl tfrfa TsoWa ty4 to is\\ is apt hqw

to tis. it was now two months since Frank left Mr. Dale's «ffice; a disgraced,, a ruined man. Two months ago ! What had happened to him since that miserable day ? To this question there was no answer. "You have not heard from him. since P" asked Elsie, anxiously. " No ; father thinks it very s ( range." " I do not think it at all strange," answered Elsie, quickly. " Of course father wrote at once P " " Yes — but " — Mary hesitated. "But what? do speak out, Mollie," exclaimed Elsie, her voice sharp with pain. "I did not explain properly," said Mary. "We never heard of this fresh trouble until quite a month after it happened; then father wrote, but the letter came back, a week after, from the dead-letter office. No doubt be has found work somewhere else, and changed his address. Elsie, darling ! don't look like that, we are sure to hear from him soon." " Coomin, children,'' cried Betty, from the rose-covered porch. " Coom in at oncet. Th'dew is falling, and you'll getten your deaths o' cowld." The girls responded obediently to the call. "I doubt ye've takkeua chill already," continued Betty, as the light from the hall lamp fell upon Elsie's fa'ie. "My lamb ! your cheeks is like snow ! Nay, then, Miss Mary, you ought to know better than keep her out when the dew's falling!" " Poor Mollie ! You might let me bear the burden of my own transgressions, Betty. It will be quite refreshing to be scolded by you again." Old Betty looked at her anxiously. She knew what had robbed Elsie of her colour, and brought the look of pain into her eyes ; but she dared not touch upon that subject. Unlike Mary, she had been unable to alter her opinion of Frank. He was guilty — doubly guilty, since he had the power to wring her darling's heart. A tear sparkled in Betty's keen black eyes— a weakness she atoned for by speaking more gruffly than usual. " Eh ! you've takken a chill ; I know it by th' feel of your hands. Such foolish work ! Streaking out i' th' night air— but you're all alike, yell gang your own gate and then " "Then come to you to be scolded," interposed Elsie, smiling. " Don't be cross, there's a dear old Betty, I'm coming into your kitchen now to be petted, so you'll have to be good to me." Good to her ! Ah, yes ; but Betty : could not heal her darling's aching heart, j and that she knew full well. But it was ' some consolation to have her sitting in her own especial easy chair, and to pretend that she had taken a chill and needed cossetting. And Betty's tender cares were not all in vain. Elsie was beguiled out of her sorrowful thoughts, and lost the look of pallid grief which had so distressed her kind old nurse.