Frank Melton's Luck;

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 27, 4 July 1891, Page 122

Frank Melton's Luck;

OR,

OFF TO 2STEW

AN ORIGINAL STORY. BY THOMAS COTTLE, REMUERA, AUCKLAND, N.Z.

CHAPTER XXXV. A LADY DISPLAYS POWERS OF CONQUEST —ANOTHER DOES NOT.

.... - -z— - - 1 - f ANNT , who happened to be very busy, — If I after giving Julia a kindly welcome, '|Cr asked Miss Grave to take her into her ■_ Tr room to take off her things. I i ‘So you have your old dame, Harry !■ I k Baker, here all to youiself the last •' A i I few days,’ began Julia, as soon as '< J they were alone. ‘ I hope you have k improved the occasion, and made the ' '-FZ most of a chance you are not likely to ■J?' ,- get again. Xo wonder you were so i I 'ffi anxious to remain here to comfort linni!' at M' BB Melton. Wasn't that the exrfnfll * cuse ?' ‘Now Julia, that is most unfair. It was really only when Fanny pressed me very earnestly to stay, and out of pity for her, that I consented. I thought, under the circumstances, your mamma wouldn’t mind/ ‘Uh, yes, of course, I can quite believe that (this very incredulously). But, joking apart, if you were not such a noodle I should be jealous of you, for,"between ourselves, I mean to accept Harry the next time he asks me, and I shall do my best to-night to hurry him up,’ Her companion listened to this with a quiet, self-confi-dent smile. ‘ I know it is no good speaking to you, Julia, for you never will listen to me ; but I do hope you will not do anything unladylike or forward that you may afterwards repent.’ = ‘ Listen to you ! I should think not, indeed I What do you know about such things ? Nothing, and never will. You are not the sort of girl gentlemen like at all, and are certain to live and die an old maid. Now you see if Master Harry doesn’t piopose to me this very night. I'm determined to bring him to the scratch to show you that I can do more in one evening with, what you call, my fast manner, than you can with all your ladylike reserve and grand opportunities.’ (Thio very sarcastically.) * I never allowed, nor will I, that I am trying to win any one, Julia; remember that. ‘ Oh, no, of course not. It would be no good if you did though; that’s one thing. ’ Another quiet smile was the sole response Miss Grave vouchsafed to this rude speech. Miss Julia did not notice it, being too busily engaged complacently surveying her charms in the glass, and being satisfied with the result, she prepared to join the company, remarking : ‘ There now, I think that will do the trick.’ Mrs Robinson made a very clumsy and confused bungle of her share in the explanation, but aunt wisely took it all in good part. Julia professed that, notwithstanding the peculiarity of the circumstances, she had never ceased to love Fanny, and was so very sorry for her. This, however, my consin could not stand. ‘ Sorry for me, are you ? lam not sorry for myself, and I see no need for my friends to express sorrow for me. Keep your sympathy for yourself, Miss Robinson.’ ‘Oh ! I don’t need it. I was only joking that evening about being engaged to Gus.— Mr Grosvenor I mean. We were taking a rise out of you, Fanny. Wedid it well, didn’t we? It was not likely I’d become engaged to a man like him. I saw through him on board ship. I could have told you all about him if you had only confided in me.’ Fanny knew she was telling untruths, and longed to tell her so, but judged it best to let them pass, and only took means to show Miss Julia that the subject had better be dropped. ‘ Well, Julia, be that as it may, I think we can find nicer subjects to talk over.’ Miss Grave, as I must still term her, for though Fanny always called her by her Christian name, which was Annie, the rest of us all talked and thought of her as Miss Grave. The name seemed so applicable and natural to us. Miss < irave, then, was rudely rebuked by the old lady for remaining so long away from her duties. Knowing it was undeserved, as she had written and asked permission, she took little notice of this displeasure on the part of her employer. Nothing could exceed Miss Julia's gushing manner with Harry, nor the cool way in which she monopolized him the greater part of the evening. Miss Grave watched him closely several times, but it was with a pleased expression on her fair face. There was no element of pain or jealousy, nor was there the slightest cause for it. She was satisfied at once that he was merely interested in talking over old times with an acquaintance he had not met for some time. She could see that the reminiscences which that acquaintance playfully recalled, with hei most fascinating manner and sunniest smiles mingling in Harry’s mind with others—which she would have given a good deal to have left in oblivion—-diil not appear to bring the tender glances to his eyes which adorned them when engaged in the most ordinary conversation with herself. She saw this, and was content, ami, convinced that her patient waiting and sisterly care would soon lie rewarded, as it truly deserved to lie, with the earnest, undivided love of a manly heart. She had owned to herself that she would have all or none, and now she felt that all was her's. She had watched to see first if Fanny's charms would have any effect in turning away

this all from her ; but they had not. Then she waited to witness his meeting with Miss Julia, and she saw that however fickle and changeable he might once have been in his love affairs, he was now true to her and to her only. And he, what were his feelings and thoughts? I believe I must admit that when Miss Julia made her attempt at fascinating him, he did not strive much to counteract it. He thought it would be a good chance to try what effect his paying attention to her would have on his cool-heat ted ladylove. Cool-hearted ! he little knew her yet. A warmer heart than lay hid under that calm exterior never beat, and that he was yet to prove to his indescribable advantage. He made his little attempt at provoking jealousy, and looked to see what effect it would create. The pleasant expression he met showed him the uselessness of his attempt, and his response could only be one of those true and loving glances. This made assurance doubly sure to her. It was a complete contrast to the simulated ones with which he had favoured Julia, as he hung over her at tbe piano, while she sang extra sentimental songs, emphasizing the most touching parts by casting her liquid eyes np into his. But if that glance of his made assurance doubly sure to Miss Grave, it had an entirely opposite effect on Miss J ulia, for she saw it. She had come, as we have seen, feeling that it would be a very easy matter to bring to her feet the man whom she imagined she had held in her power, more or less, ever since she had known him —a man who had raved about her as he had done in the hospital. She had certainly on a few occasions been a little jealous of her companion, but this was forgotten. Now, after trying all her arts of fascinating, singing love songs, and bringing up past tender scenes in the most bewitching manner, it was hard not to obtain one reassuring glance which might betoken a chance of success in the future; harder still to see such a one bestowed on the girl whom she despised too much to consider _ a rival; whom she had but a short time since pitied, as being ‘ too quiet and reserved to attract the attention of gentlemen ’ ; and to whom she had strongly proclaimed her intentions with regard to the gentleman in question. What wonder, then, at the sight of that glance that her dark eyes should glitter angrily, her full lips quiver, and her shapely bosom heave in a manner which showed the tumult of jealousy within ? Yet it had to be suppressed, though at a cost only known to herself. She could have flown at the nasty, sneaking thing (as she termed her in her own mind), and torn her fair smiling face with her ruthless nails. But it would not do. She must not lose all chance of the game by one rash move, although her adversary had, to all appearance, the best of it. So, with enforced calm and gaiety, she turned from the piano. ‘ How did you like the song I sang just now, Mr Baker ? It was a great favourite of yours on board ship, you will remember.’ ‘ Was it?’ he replied, carelessly, • I had forgotten. The air is certainly very pretty. What a pity they could not have found some sensible words for it instead of that abominable love sick nonsense.’

‘ Oh, Mr Baker I how dare you say such a shocking thing about one of my songs? There was a time when you said much prettier things to me,’ the last sentence in a low tone.

He pretended not to have heard it, and conversed about songs in general. Generalities, however, were not to her taste just now. She altered the subject to that of his military career, hoping for better success. ‘ I was so pleased to hear how bravely you acquitted yourself in the field of battle, Mr Baker. Everyone was speaking of your courage and pluck. I do love a man who is some good to his country, aud not afraid of a few hard knocks like our friend, Mr Gus Grosvenor.’ * Your friend if you like, Miss Robinson, but don’t say ours please. I always utterly detested him. I heard of your engagement to him, by-the-bye. Accept my congratulations.’ ‘ Engagement ! I never was engaged to him. You must imagine you’re speaking to Miss Melton,’ answered the young lady, warmly and mendaciously. ‘ Oh, I understood you were. Brown told me of it Of course, as you say you were not, he must have been wrongly informed.’ J

‘Mr Brown knew nothing about it. But I want to hear all about your attacks on the rebels.' * You must excuse me the recital, Miss Robinson ; it's too much like blowing my own trumpet. Besides, the doings of a penniless private in a militia regiment cannot possess the slightest interest in your eyes.’ She could stand it no longer, and the torrent of her wrath burst forth. Fortunately the others had moved out on to the verandah, and were not within hearing. Harry had risen to follow them, but Julia detained him.

* So that remarkably ladylike companion of mine has been repeating things 1 have said—l mean, has been making up things to set you against me. Mr Baker ; has she ? I could »ee some malicious |>erson bad been at work, you are so unlike what you used to be to me, but I did not think it would turn out to be anyone professing such friendship to me as she does, the nasty deceitful cat ! Why do you believe what she says about me?’ ‘ Wait a bit, Mias Robinson. How came you to think it was Miss Grave who “ repeated the things you said—l mean made them up?” ’ replied Harry, using her own words. ‘Oh, I can see quite as well as most people ; she has been “ gone on you ” for ever so long, and knowing she could not

win you by fair means, she has tried all sorts of spiteful, underhand ways. I wonder you are taken in by such low tneks. J

Harry’s patience was now quite exhausted. ‘ Your surmise is utterly unfounded. The lady yon speak of so unkindly has never breathed a word to your discredit in any way to me. It was thrsugh one of the hospital nurses that I learnt your feelings for me at the time, as expressed by yourself to Miss Grave at the door. I’ll admit I was hurt when I heard it first, lyisg there almost between life and death, but I have cause to lie very thankful to you since tor so plainly expressing yourself. As to that young lady being what you call “goie on me,” I wish to tfeaven I could be quite certain she was. I should then be the happiest man alive. Her attention is worth winnim- Her sisterly care of me never ceased when I was poor and friendless, or when I sorely wanted a kindly feminine influence to keep me in the path of duty.’ ‘ Sisterly, pooh I 1 can see thtoug'h her now. She was poor, and didn’t care what she did to secure a husband whether well off or not at tbe time. She knew your family at home, and guessed you’d come into money some time or other. She is deeper than I used to give her credit for. A girl of her position could, of course, go into a hospital and nurse a young fellow without anyone knowing or troublin'about her, but it would not have been proper for me” mamma said so at the time. There is such a difference in us, you know.’ ‘\es, I should just think there was: You could no more understand her motives and feelings than you could fly. I must, therefore, decline discussing either them or her with you, exclaimed Harry, hotly, losing all patience. Her indignation knew no bounds. ‘ Sir, your rudeness is unbearable : Go and inflict it on that girl !’ (The emphasis on the word ‘ that ’ mace any adjective superfluous.) ‘ She will doubtless be proud to bear it. She will gladly put up with the manners of a barman, but spare me the infliction ’’ ‘ 1 never had greater pleasure in obeying any commands of Miss Robinsons,’ he retorted with irresistible politeness the strictest regard to truth, and a most profound bow lassmg out into the garlen, he soon joined Miss Grave and Fanny, who, like the rest of the company, were strollin" in twos and threes about »he garden. The latter miscliievously asked him to oblige her by entertaining her friend while she went to see vhat had become of Miss Julia, as she had missed her for ?ome time. Harry, nothing loth wandered oil with his marge down the windin" garden paths, enjoying the cool evening breeze, charged "with the mingled perfume from a thousand different flowers, but if I mistake not, enjoying mu-h more one another’s societv Heie it may be as will to take leave of Miss "Julia merely stating the fact tkat two years later she married against her father’s conseit, a man considerably more than twice her age, who was noted equally, for the amount of wealth he had amassed, ind the unscrupulous manner in which he had made it. We heard of this with much sorrow, for we were certah such a match could not possibly be a happy one. Nor was it, for after fighting like cat and dog for a year or two, he turned her out of his house and she was obliged to return Io her parent’s house a soured and embittered woman.

CHAPTER XXXVL FROM GRAVE TO GAY—A NEW BILLET.

Harry had little to say uitil he and his companion were quite out of sight and hearng of the others. He appeared to be absorbed m thought Miss Grave bantered him on his unusual silence, then seeirg that had no effect, she gently inquired if she had oflemed him? Here was the opportunity, and now that it had arrived, he felt far more dubious about the result than whei confidently proclaiming to me a few days previous the alnust certain hopes which "he entertained.

‘ Offend me, darling ! Jo, nothing that you would do or say could have that effect in me.’ And now words came fast, though faltering in t*ne, and such words, fair reader, as I hope you may soon heir from one worthy of you, if you’ have not already heard tiem—words of true, honest love words not from the tongie alone, but from the depths of the soul itself, promising what the speaker will assuredly and faithfully perform if re be but allowed the chance if she will become his and hi- only. And could she do this? Yes, she could, and with the maidenly reserve, lovely blushes, and whispering tones which I am told are usual in such cases, she told him so.’ He clasped her in his arm' and pressing his lips to hers enjoyed to the full that first sweet kiss of love, and several others. They were in piradise; their feet had left the sordid earth. It was, witlout doubt, the supremest moment they had either of them ,-et known. Hitherto their lives had not been very smootl. His peculiar temperament had prevented him from makiig many friends, or securing much sympathy, and her position in a family like the Robinson s, who, from their lowei levd, could not understand her, and were constantly paining hir finer sensibilities, had been extremely irksome. She wmld have left them but for an exaggerated notion of Mr Ribinson's kindness in taking pity on her, a lonely orphan, who knew not which way to turn for a home. Although M-s Robinson treated her most unkindly, yet, considering tie great assistance she was in household matters, that careful old lady would have been very sorry; to part with hir. Taking these circumstances into consideration, we cai easily imagine that they felt most exquisitely the knovledge that for the future their lot would be a very different one, and determined to vie with one another which should render to the other the greatest amount of happiness. When they joined the rest of us tea was nearly over, ind it was not difficult to guess what had happened. Auit at once attacked Harry. Miss Grave, making some excusr, left the room with Fanny. ‘We missed you, Harry Your grave companion must have become quite gay to make you of all men miss your tea. ’

‘ If she was grave by uatire, she has certainly changed my dear madam, and I thiik I have the best reasons”for saying that she has made tp her mind to be Grave by name no longer than it will tak; to make the necessary arrangements for tbe proper casting off of that sombre cognomen She could not withstand ny pitiful appeal. It was somewhat in this wise, “ Be my companion, my love, instead of Miss Julia's. I require ore far more than she does She has a mother, while I an a poor orphan.” This fetched her. ’

This levity served to hide Master Harry’s real feelings and caused a laugh. *

• Poor little orphan,’ replied aunt, * sad case. lam delighted to hear it will have someone to take care of it, and see that it gets its meals regular, instead of playing about in the garden and forgetting them. Give the poor little manny some cake*, Frank. He must be hungry. Don t spill the crumbs on your pinney, dear.’ We all crowded round him and wished him joy, though it seemed a superfluous wish, for he appeared to be as full of the commodity already as he could hold, regularly steeped in it, in fact. We will pas® over the little conversation which passed between Miss Grave and Fanny in her room. The usual amount of happy tears, without which ladies appear rarely able to express their deeper emoticns, had, doubtless, been shed, and the regular quantity of purposeless and unsatisfying caresses given and taken. The Robinsons had returned to their home directly after tea, and consequently before the happy pair left their leafy paradise. Miss Julia had complained of a severe headache. Heartache would have probably been nearer the mark, but ladies must be excused, as their slight knowledge of anatomy cannot be expected to enable them to locate the pain. I need hardly say that I enjoyed this evening particularly. Although I felt it would not be kind to force my attentions too suddenly on my cousin, yet we had a very pleasant little chat after our friends had left. Her manner was all I could yet desire. She felt evidently that she ought to make amends for her former treatment of me, neglecting my warnings and accusing me of false representations. She could now see, she owned, that my motive had been her happiness, although I do not pretend I was blind to the fact that I hoped it would combine mine also. She asked my forgiveness for her injustice and cruel suspicions. This I freely gave, and the loving cousinly salute with which we sealed the bond of peace was the most exquisite sensation of the sort I had yet experienced ; doubtless from the fact that I could certainly discern an element of something far sweeter and dearer in it. Her downcast, blushing face as she acknowledged her unkindness, then the quick upturning of the dai k fringes of her beauteous eyes, the warm, red lips seeking mine amid my now luxuriant moustache, gave me a sensation which I cannot describe, and made me feel in that brief moment amply repaid for my long period of suspense. My keen susceptibilities to pain or pleasure were undoubtedly desirable qualities, for, irksome as they must ever be in the former case, they enabled me to feel the latter with tenfold more intensity than individuals of a more phlegmatic mould. This little scene was enacted in an arbour covered with the trailing branches of the passion fruit plant, and did not keep us long enough away from our friends to expose us to the chaffing that greeted Master Harry, and as I had no real authority for hoping for such a speedy termination, if, indeed, such a happy one as he had already gained, it was perhaps as well. While we had been thus engaged Uncle, Stubbs, and Mr Robinson, who had not returned with his ladies, held a long conversation over the re captured prisoner. Mr Robinson informed them that his wife had never told him of Grosvenor’s engagement to his daughter; that knowing he was very unfavouiably impressed with him, she dreaded he would refuse to sanction it ; and as she had set her heart on her daughter’s making an aristocratic match, she had determined to try and arrange the wedding on one of his frequent absences from home, after which she felt that she could easily manage to make peace. ‘Then you were not greatly impressed with this Fitzwilliams, sir?’ asked Stubbs. ‘ Fitzwilliams ! was that one of his names ?’ • Yes, that was the name under which he was arrested and imprisoned.’ ‘ Now I believe I can tell you as much as you care to know about him. I had not the slightest idea till this moment that it was the history of an old acquaintance that I heard a stranger in an hotel at Dunedin relate to another fellow. He was talking of the escape, which was in the morning paper, of a prisoner of that name, and I took an interest in what they were saying. One of them had known him at home. His father was a very shady sort of lowattorney ; the son also had a natural taste for swindling. When he was at school he got the prefix of ‘ Fitz ’ stuck on to the more plebeian one of ‘ Williams ’ on account of the airs he always gave himself. On leaving school he entered his father’s office for a few years, and made the most of the lessons learned there. By means best known to himself he managed to swindle the old gentleman out of sufficient funds to carry him to New Zealand and start him as a baronet’s son travelling for pleasuse, for he was a ’cute fellow in his way. By various clever little feats of penmanship on blank cheques, imitating the handwriting of bis acquaintances, and various other peculiar transactions, he had managed to keep himself going until the Dunedin police dropped on him. He evidently meant to have one or both of our daughters, Melton, curse him '. And to give the devil his due, he played his cards boldly, for had not our reverend friend here “ held the joker,’’ he would have had a hand too good for us, and we could not have escaped being euchred.’ ‘ Excuse me, sir,’ interposed Stubbs, mildly, ‘ but I do not quite comprehend your statement about my holding the joker. It was Mr Frank who held him. I must not have the credit of doing what was not within my province, even had I been capable.’ ‘ Ha, ha ! Of course, you cannot be expected to understand, Mr Stubbs. I was merely making use of some terms in our favourite game of cards, which appeared applicable. It’s a sorry joker the wretch would make, as he has found to his cost. ’

‘ Yes,’ said uncle, * he was certainly up to a dodge or two. I’m mad when I think he got over me. ’Cute idea to say he’d gone home, when he was in gaol. It’s the only home he’s likely to have, though. I did make inquiriesjabont the passengers by the ship he pretended he sailed in. There were several white headed ones like him, so I thought it was right. See so few of such varmint out here. A man gets too unsuspecting.’ After this we saw very little of either Mrs Robinson or Julia. The old gentleman, however, often dropped in to join uncle and Mr Bowden in a game of euchre, or to have a yarn about matters pastoral. Mrs Robinson wrote a verysharp note to Miss < Irave, accusing her of heartless ingratitude and shameless behaviour, and desiring her never to show her face in their house again. This tirade of abuse did not cause much dismay in the young lady’s breast, for aunt at once begged her to remain with us until Harry had

completed the purchase of a block of land in our neighbourhood and built a bouse on it, of which it was generally understood she was to be mistress. She gratefully accepted aunt s invitation, and we were altogether a very jolly party. Stubbs and bis good lady had returned to Auckland. The kick on his leg did not turn out serious, ard soon succumbed to the careful nursing he received. Harry, of course, was to reside with us until his new home was habitable. His land was principally high fern with a little bush. , This class of rich fern land about our locality was very easily transferred into fine grass paddocks without the expense and labour of ploughing. The natural growth was burnt off, grass and clover seed sown on the ashes, the land well fenced, ami stocked heavily in the spring, when the cattle greedily eat the young tender fern shoots, and by degrees destroy it utterly. If this precaution of heavy stocking when the fern is young is not adopted, it gets the better hand of the grass and chokes it out, and your paddock again becomes a waste. . Just as I was thoroughly enjoying my daily companionship with Fanny under the altered circumstances, uncle called me into his study one day. • I’ve bought that big block of land ten miles north of here. Shall want vou to go up and manage it. Take up Tom Hardy with you. He’ll look after the cattle and cook. Then those two contractor fellows will soon run you up a slab hut. A tent will do till it’s ready. They can go on with the stock yard and horse paddock after. 111 go up with you to-morrow. Get your traps together, ready to start. I’ll give you two pound* a week and found. You can put on some stock of your own into the bargain. You’ve got some coin saved, I know.’ This programme I could not hail with unmixed delight. After residing in our lively home circle I should find bachelor quarters unquestionably dull, and the loss of I anny s society would be a very severe one. Yet I should be very much more my own master, and instead of being virtually a stockman at the regular wages of one pound per week, I should be an overseer drawing double that remuneration, with the extra privilege of running a mob of my own cattle with my uncle’s. I did not inform him that I should be unable to take advantage of this part of the offer at present, for knowing his great aversion to mining speculation, I had judged it wisest not to let him know of my folly in not regarding his advice. Indeed, I now bitterly regretted that I had not the money in my pocket instead of what appeared to me as so much waste paper. I could then have purchased a small mob of cattle. I seriously thought of selling out at once, but when I found that at the current market price I should not get half my purchase money back, I thought I w-ould let things remain as theywere for a time. I busied myself that afternoon with looking up our outfit, putting a few fresh straps on the pack saddle, mending a hole or two in the tent, and getting things ready for the morrow’s journey. Tom Hardy, who was to be my factotum, was a good sample of the regular old hand. Nothing ever seemed to come amiss to him. He could drive a team of bullocks, break in a young horse, do rough carpentering, put in a day at the garden, slaughter a beast, cut your hair, or serve up as good a dinner as you need wish to sit down at, with the same imperturbable coolness and good humour. He had at various times served in a great variety of capacities. W hen wanting a job he never refused a good offer whether he knew anything of the duties or not, trusting to good luck and a general aptitude for adapting himself to his work, whatever it might tuin out to be, to pull him through, which it almost invaiiably did. I never yet remember heating him acknowledge that anything was beyond him. He was that nara avis, a jack-of-all trades, and master of—most of them. It will be easily understood that he was exactly the man foi me.

ITO BE CONTIXCED.I