Novelist.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2745, 15 February 1890, Page 5 (Supplement)

Novelist.

By MftS VT. EATTEAY, Author of' *'Mr Lantyoar's Visit to Auckland," '" The Mystery of Sloane Cottage," &c, &c, &o.

BRISTONBELL, OK AN UNLUCKY MARRIAGE. I ' i

CHAPTER XIII.— The Heir of . i v BRI3TONDELL. Christmas was close at hand, and Miranda demanded that it should be kept in good style, plenty of friends, festivity and fun. Bat Rita, with the recollection of last Christmas, when her dear father was with her, doing all in his power to render the season a happy though quiet one, shrank from a houseful of gay visitors, and both of the brothers Briston agreed with h«u\ Miranda, was exceedingly .annoyed, but fortunately for the general peace, an Cavitation arrived from some old friends, whole party to como to'them Tor a-fort-night. ~.- ;: All sorts of attractions were .held out, dances, skating,, theatricals, •&C., , and Miranda' said she and Matthew would go; it would be unseemly, she declared, with a re- - >l?arkably sudden change of front, for Rita to go in for so much dissipation so soon after her father's death. Matthew said he was nob well, and could not really leave home, but his wife insisted, and carried him off three days before Christmas, but he whispered to Rita as she and Lionel bado him farewell at the station, " Shan't you be surprised if I eat my dinner with you on tho 25th 1" And l«te on f«~ evjniog of tjie 24Ui he turned u/j,

and in answer to Rita's amused question : " How did you escape V he, told her of the little ruse he had planned and successfully carripd out. " I just wrote to a friend of mine in Edinburgh, telling him to send me a telegram saying that he was very ill, and as he wished to niakn me his executor, would I come and see him about a business matter ? Of course it was a very thin dodge, but when I showed her the telegram, she was quite ready to let me go, for you see, I had managed to be always in her way, and so long as I didn't come to Bristondell, to my dear little sister, and brother, she was very willing to get rid of me. How she hates you, Rita." "Yes," said Rita, sadly, "I cannot tKinkwhy." , ' , ; " Well, never, mind her, I have brought you a Christmas-box, and j can't keep it till to-morrow." He left the room, and returned with the hamper, whence a fqint sound of scatching was audible. "Keep quiet, you little beast," said Matthew, " guess what it is, Kita?" ■ " Poke a pin in and see what sort of language it speaks," suggested Lionel, who was leaning over the back of Rita's chair, enjoying with his brother the sight of the pretty pink in her cheeks, and sparkle in her eyes, called up by the anticipation of some pleasant surprise in store for her. ,: "Don't pretend to be so cruel, Leo ! Please undo the string, Matt, lam just, dying of ..curiosity." ; ; When the hamper • was opened, a lovely, pure white, Persian kitten jumped out, and gazed around her in wonder and dismay. "A cat!" said Lionel, and went back to his chair. < "Oh, Matt, how good of you," cried Rita, "and what a beauty it is V and with perfect childlike delight in her new treasure, she rang the bell, and ordered of the staid Smithson, a saucer of milk, " With the chill off, you know," she said. Smith ordered the youth who waited on him and on the family when the butler thought proper to heat the milk and take it in, and he in turn asked the cook, who said she was not there to cook for cats, and told the scullery-maid to get what was wanted. Had Rita forseen the trouble that little white cat would bring, she would have asked Matthew to put strychnine into that first meal, eaten with such relish in the drawing-room. The kitten was soon, however, a great favourite with the entire household, and Matthew declared that he had seen Smithson take it up, when he thought he was unobserved, and stroke and kiss it; but even its partial mistress discredited this story. And then Miranda returned, and, naturally, seeiug it was Rita's, took a great dislike to the harmless little animal. Matthew at first played a few little pranks on her, such as inducing the kitten to go to sleep in her work-basket, or even on her bed, but as Miranda, threatened the life of the "disgusting little beast," he discontinued pussy's attentions, where it was manifestly unsafe to bestow them. June camo round, and as there was an abundaut hay harvest, both the brothers were very busy, and again Kita was left a great deal to her sister-in-law's tender mercies. And Miranda, mad with jealousy, was unremitting in her unkindness, nay cruelty to the unfortunate victim.

One morning, in July, Lionel knocked at Matthew's door. ''You are an uncle," he said proudly, as Matthew peeped cautiously out, " come' down as soon as you are dressed, but don't tell Miranda." The younger brother made a hasty toilet, and joined Lionel in the smoking-room. "'Which is it?" lie demanded, as he closed the door. " A son and heir," responded Lionel, with paternal exultation over the first-born. " How is Rita?" "That's just what I want to ask you about. She has goo an absurd notion into her head that Miranda wants to murder the baby. Of course its all but whilst she worries over it, she will never get well. The doctor says she must be humoured, she can't be reasoned with. So you tell Miranda that Rita is very ill, and the house must be kept perfectly quiet, and it would be dull for her, and all that, and get her away somewhere 1" "IwiJl do ray best, but, I am afraid, if she thinks we want her out of the way, she won't budge an inch."

As they feared, Miranda refused to leave, alleging that when there was sickness in the house people would think it very extraordinary if she went away. And so, as they could not use force to compel her to go, she had to be allowed to remain. Nell was away in Japan, so it was . no use inviting her to Bristondell. Without a word to each other on the subject, both brothers kept a strict watch on Miranda's movements; • an( * sne °P en ty laughed at them.

Rita was told that she had left the house, and became more content, though she never suffered the baby out of her sight for an instant, and only slept when she had him safe in her own arms. Indue time Rita made her appearance down stairs, and was warmly greeted by all the domestics who had missed her pleasant words aad kiutliy iatsrest, which. Miranda's

behaviour all the time she was upstairs, had thrown into strong n'ilief. Mrs Matthew's temper had been so uncommonly bad that even the staunch Smithsoni had nearly given warning. He felt he was wanting in self-respect in remaining a.nd hearing the words Miranda used in addressing him. Rita had been told that her sister-in-law was again at home, and it was with trembling voice, aud beating heart that she met her. But Miranda was almost civil to her, and took rib notice at all of the infant, and continued this behaviour, until Ritia had almost persuaded herself that 'Miranda had 'greatly improved,,'.':.." The brothers were delighted at the comparative peace which now existed, 1 and the only person who did not seem satisfied, was the ;baby's nurse—an old., family servant, who, having been recently left a widow, was quite Willing to return: to Bristondell and devote herself to "Master' Lionel's child, bless him." The white cat, too, did not at all approve of the time her mistress spent in the society of Miranda, who invariably rang the bell and ordered-'that brute to be taken to its proper place, the kitchen," if pussy was rash enongh to follow Rita into a room where her sister-in-law was.

■Nearly 1 -eight weeks had passed since the baby's birth, when one morning Miranda,- who was. breakfasting with the family, announced her intention of paying a visit to some friends oi ! hers in Plymouth.

" When do you go ?" asked Lionel, courteously. Next Wednesday, I think." "Shall you want me?" rather anxiously inquired Matthew. " No," said Miranda graciously, " you told me you were very busy just now, and besides, they only invited me." " Who are they, anyway V demanded her husband. Miranda flushed with anger at his tone, but controlled herself and answered, "you don't know them, their name is Giltess." " How long shall you be away ?" " Dear me, how fond of me you are, all of a sudden,! I shall stay about a month, if they go in their yacht, as they propose, round the south coast."

" Well, I will take you there, at all events," said Matthew decisively ami Miranda fired up. " Spy," she cried, " how dare you dog me in that way?" Rita and Lionel left the room, and the latter said; "Now you will he happy, won't you 1" ■ For the next few days, Miranda was so amiable that Rita began to relax her vigilant watch over her child, telling herself that she wa3 deeply wronging Miranda by her unworthy suspicions. On Sunday, Rita said she would go to church with the others, and they waited in the hall for Miranda, who was not at breakfast, sending word she had a slight headache, but would certainly go to church. Presently Susan appeared and told Rita that Mrs Matthew had tried to get up, but when she was almost dressed, her headache came on so badly, she has been obliged to return to bed.

" She says she's afraid she has caught cold, and brought on neralgy and you will please not mind her at all, but go to church, and she \vill try and sleep it off. . "Jump into the carriage, Rita, we are late as it is; Miranda will be better left alone and quiet." . Rita stifled the cry that rose to her lips ; "My baby, I must stay with him," for she well knew she would only be laughed at for her ridiculous anxiety, but she.carried a very heavy heart through the service. She was only relieved when Bristondell was reached, and with a merry jest, she ran upstairs to the nursery. The next moment, an agonised scream rang through the Sunday stillness. CHAPTER XIV.—A House of Mourning. Lionel was hanging up his hat and removing his gloves when the terrible news reached him. Hβ sprang up the wide stairs three steps at a time, and entered the nursery—a pretty sunny room, near Rita's boudoir and on the opposite side of the large corridor which separated Miranda's suite of apartments from the rest on that landing. " Rita, ray darling, what is it V On the floor, by the now empty cradle, sat his wife, her face almost whiter than the snowy robes of the infant she was clasping in her arsons. " Leo," she said, in a strange hard voice, utterly unlike her usual musical tones, "Leo, I can't wako baby." . "Give him to me," cried Lionel, but Rita shook her head. "No one shall ever take him from me again ! He's dead, Leo !" Lionel uttered an exclaimnation of horror, and tried to remove the child from her tightly-clonched hands, hut she only held him the more firmly. " What is it, what is the matter V and Matthew, his ruddy face blanched with fear, advanced towards the little group. But the nurse came forward with a cry almost as full of agony as Rita's had been, and forcibly took the baby from its mother, asking : ' ' " How did you find him lyings ma'am V. " Pussy was sleeping on his face," uusweicd β-ifca, mechanically, still

sppaking in the same unnatural voice. " Run for a doctor," cried nurse, who had never ceased using such simple restoratives as her experience suggested as most likely tc bring hack the baby's suspended animation; but knowing only too well that all her efforts were vain.

" Why was the baby left alone ?" suddenly demanded Lionel. Thp housemaid, with many protestations of penitence, explained that the cook had been cutting up a chicken, when the knife slipped, and being very sharp, partially severed the first finger of the left hand. In terror ab the rapid flow of blood, the housemaid, who was in the kitchen at the time, rushed up stairs to nnrse, who was sure to know what to do, and who ordered her to remain with the infant. But as it was s!ee,ping sweetly, and most of th~e""seWants were , at Church, she ■had come down/igain, and had been very useful,-'fetching old rags, and helping to restore the cook to consciousness, for she kept on fainting with the shock and pain. At this moment Miranda appeared, clad in a long loose white wrapper, her head enveloped in a white fleecy shawl, which partially hid her face. There were dark lines under her eyes, and a nervous, anxious look in them.

Even in the midst of his grief for his little nephew, Matthew noted her really suffering appearance, and answered her trembling enquiries very kindly, at the same time urging her to go back to her room, as she was evidently not fie to be out of bed.

And Miranda, having done her duty gladly obeyed, and left the anxious group in the nursery, to wait the medical man's verdict. He came at last, only tti pronounce that life was extinct in the little body that was so dear to them.

On hearing the doctor's words, Rita gave one despairing cry, and flung herself on the cradle. When they lifted her up they found she had fainted. Lionel carried her to her room, and the doctor and nurse endeavoured to restore her to consciousness. But their efforts were, for a long time, unavailing. Matthew, meantime, was doing his best to reduce the excited household to something like quietness, when Sojithson came to him arid reminded, him that the poor cook was still waiting to have her cut finger attended to. ; Lionel accordingly went to his wife's room aud asked the medical man if he could leave his patient arid dress, the cook's hand. The nurse assured him she could manage Mrs Lionel, and he left her in charge. After doing all he could for th 9 injured finger, the doctor said the cook must go to the hospital, where she could get proper nursing, as at Bristondell the house was too much upset to look after her as much as she would require. Then he returned to Rita, whose condition he considered so serious that he. requested Lionel to telegraph to London for further advice. The nurse left Rita's room, whilst the bereaved father and anxious husband watched, with the doctor, the heavy breathing of the unconscious mother. Soon all that was mortal of the little son and heir lay in his spotless white cradle, which Rita's own hands had trimmed so lovingly and hopefully with dainty lace and silk. Matthew bought up the choicest white flowers he could find in garden or conservatory, and arranged them tastefully about his little nephew. " When will the inquest be, sir 2" asked nurse. . He started, and exclaimed : "The inquest ? Ah, of course, yes, there will have to be an inquest. I must see the doctor, he will know what to do." AH necessary notices were given, and arrangements made. The London physician came and went, pronouncing Rita's case to be nearly hopeless. She must be kept absolutely quiet, and on no account must any intimation of her sad loss reach her. A properly trained nurse arrived early on the Monday morning, and was asked by old nurse Green, not to repeat to anyone, what Mrs Briston might mutter in her delirium. " You need not have said that," exclaimed nurse Dora, "of course its our business not to remember a word the patient may say when she's not in her right senses." The faithful Mrs Green made her way to the doctor, as he was coming upstairs. " I would like a word with you, sir, if you'll excuse the liberty." " Certainly," said the courteous man of medicine, "where shall we go?" "In here, sir," and Mrs Green led the way into the day-nursery, and carefully closed the door. " Well 1 " inquired Dr. Foss. " lta just this way, sir, I wouldn't like a word of suspicion to go forth from my lips, because of the two Mi , Bristons, who are all that gentlemen should be, and the liest and kindest of masters, always, and if there has been unpleasantness, well everyone knows its not been their doing." " I am rather busy to-day, Mrs Green, so please say whatever you have to say to me in a few words as possible," and the doctor took out his watch with a view of impressing his remark on the ok! woman. " I am sure X beg your pardon,

sir, I was not quite sure how to put it; but what I mean is this, Mrs Lionel has been muttering nearly all night." " I am not at all surprised at that, but has she made any remark which shows she is conscious of her loss?" asked the doctor eagerly. ' ' " I don't shink she knows that, she only seems to dread that, an accident will happen to her little one by means of a certain person." " And that person is— V "Mrs Matthew." "Indeed"' • ' ' " Yes, the poor dear kosps on saying, "Go away," for r heavens' sake don't; lot Miranda touch' my baby ! Take me away from here, I save my, baby from ' that woman, she's going to kill him I' , And then she seizes the pillow -and hides, it under the clothes, and' cries out that he's safe now." "Poor .thing, poor, thing. 'But still, nurse, all'this may be only her wild'ravings, I do not suppose' for an instant 'that Mrs Matthew Bristorl ever entertained any idea of the kind that her unfortunate sister-in-law in her delirium attributes to her ; do you ?" and the doctor fixed his piercing black eyes on the nurse's face. "Of course not, sir," she stammered, rather frightened by his look. "Well then, he pursued sternly, "just hold your tongue about all this nonsense. Has it been mentioned in the servants' hall V

" I never said a word, sir," she answered truthfully," but they all hate Mrs Matthew, and several i has said they do think she either did it herself, or is now very glad it is done." '' Now, look here, Mrs Green, you tell them all to be very careful what they say, or they will find themselves in the unpleasant position of being sued. and. imprisoned for libel; frighten them properly, Mrs Green." But as the doctor drove home, to lunch he said to himself, "Hope they won't think I'm compounding a felony. Wonder if I should give Matthew a hint; hasty things might be said at'.the inquest." But the worthy man decided to hold his peace; he could do no good, he argued, by speakings and he might do a great deal oE mischief. ,";■■■ " "1 never ; did like that Mrs Matthew," he soliloquised, "nasty, designing, ill-ternpered woman. And, having no children of l her own, she pi'pbably hated that poor little baby. Mrs Lionel always seemed afraid of herj,,and pt what she might do: to her infant." ' • (Td.be continued.) '