CHAPTER XX.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 186, 20 October 1876, Page 6

CHAPTER XX.

HARRY GBEENWOOD IN SEAKCII 03? A PEOFESSIOJT. Doctor Hartland at first set his face like a flint against this ball of brass buttons; he did not care to be one of a half-dozen civilians among a company of autocrats. More particularly did he sneer and scoff at the invitation to Laura. But he changed his mind, and engaged a carriage for himself and Hosine, when he found the , Colonel determined, and his mother making preparations for her own. and Rosine's costume. He went out and purchased a set of exquisite pearl ornaments for arms, neck, and hair, ordered the most perfect bouquet he could procure, and began to feel quite proud, being sure, he said, of the youngest and handsomest lady on the ship. The large man-of-war was made ready from stem to stem with much labor of time and taste, and with great expense, for the grand fete. All obstructions were cleared from the main and quarter decks, and the ships' sides lined with the flags of all nations, the stars and stripes everywhere prominent. Nothing was wanting that wealth could procure to make a gorgeous display. Lights of brilliant and varied colors, with highly polished reflectors, illuminated the festive scene, and an elegant tapestry of blue and gold, looped up here and there with knots of flowers and green wreaths, formed an awning over the dancing floor. It was indeed a radiant scene, and Rosine almost believed herself transported to fairyland. In the midst of the first dance Colonel Hartland appeared with Laura and his wifa on either arm. Amber beads glittered in Laura's short black curls, amber ornaments graced her neck and arms, and aa amber-colored grenadine

floated about her like a sunset cloud ; there were no remains of the bold, bright glance that had so nearly been her ruin ; her manner was subdued, and a downcast expression had imprinted itself upon her face. Miss Greenwood and her brother came forward and greeted her upon her entrance, but Ned, who stood near by with Eosine, bowed coldly, with a countenance stern and rigid, holding Eosine baclc by his influence, when she would have rushed forward to her friend. She felt a sense of meanness in being held back ; but too timid to carry out her purpose, she was obliged to content herself with giving Laura one of her sweet, friendly smile 3. It was not long before Mrs. Lieutenant Hartland, ushered in as she had been, and looking so beautifully sad, was besieged by gentleman friends of her husband, with pressing invitations to join in the V <B dance, all of which she steadfastly declined; she was trembling' W inwardly lest she should lift her eyes and behold her enemy. Miss Greenwood watched her from a recess made by some of the ship's appointments, where she was half hidden, and pitying her most profoundly, despatched her brother to bring her to her side. "I thank you most heartily," said Laura, as she took the Lieutenant's offered arm to go to his sister. From this retired nook the two ladies could survey the whole dancing-floor, unobserved themselves, for green wreaths hung in festoons over them, and green branches sheltered them from observation. Miss Greenwood had been drawn to Laura by Sister Agnes, who had said, " Dora, make her your friend ; you will find material wasting there for the want of some one to direct." She well knew how to make advances, and with her knowledge of Aleck's boyhood she soon found matter for conversation, but through much suffering to herself, for every memory of the early days of one brother was mingled with the remembrance of another, and brought back thoughts that she had striven for years to crush ; nevertheless, she did her part well, and Laura did not once guess over what burning coals her companion was stepping, while she entertained her with little anecdotes of her husband. Lieutenant Greenwood had passed over to Eosine, who was watching the company through the intricate frolic of a Virginia reel, which had been called for in honor of the Captain, who was from Virginia, and moreover, had expressed his old-fashioned notions about the round-dances, declaring " he had never been able to vinderstand how these young heads stood so much whirling." "I need not ask if you dance, Miss Benton?" said young Greenwood, as he observed her unaffected, eager interest in the diversion. "O, yes, I love it dearly," she replied, blushing under his earnest gaze, " but I could not possibly dance here." " And why not ? " he inquired, smiling. " O, there are too many people looking on, and somehow I don't fancy dancing with strangers. But you have not danced ? " she said, inquiringly. "No; I seldom dance except as a lay figure to make up a set. My brain must be very obtuse, for I could never see the ins and outs of the figures ; and when my friends get me on the floor, they are generally glad to let me slip quietly away again. It seems a strange, sad way," he added, after a pause, "to celebrate the departure of this brave ship's company to the field of carnage." "It does, indeed," she replied, her face gathering gravity from the reflection of his ; " one would think they would rather go to church in a body, and pray for protection in battle." " Yes," he said, slowly, " if one has a right to pray for protection in such an unjustifiable, aggressive warfare as this with Mexico, provoked by our own government, as some of the best men of our country do not hesitate to say. But do look at Ned in the corner there, jhe has been gazing at that statue of Psyche for a half -hour ; she does not seem to inspire him with any mild sentiments. Let's go to him." Eosine took his arm, and they moved to where Dr. Hartland stood, with his back to the assembly, and his eyes still rivetted on the statue. " Ned," said Greenwood, " I am afraid you ♦ wander through | the festive scene with soul but ill at ease.'" "Pshaw!" replied the Doctor, impatiently, "I'm thinking what a pack of fools they are ; chameleons fed on air j kicking up their heels over the guns that shaU soon bring them a rich harvest of blood. I'm thankful you are like to be out of it, Harry; I respect you for it; but what are you to do for a living ; you must have bread and butter, you know ? " " I can get on without the butter, Ned, if it is necessary, but I am coming to your office as soon as I get my discharge, for your% advice." 4 ' Humph ! Advice ! ' said the Doctor, shrugging his shoulders ; " that is what everybody wants, what everybody gives, what everybody asks, but which nobody follows." " You are in a sad temper to-night, Ned, what is it ? The brass buttons ? If that's it, you may have your chance even now ; the news has just come, that Surgeon Welsh of Aleck's ship, the X ,is dead. Don't you want the appointment V "No," replied Ned, almost savagely, "but I can recommend one — Le Compte ! " "Shame!" replied Greenwood, under his breath. "Come," he added, turning toward Eosine, "let us leave this crotchety man to his own pleasant temper, and Psyche for company." " No, Eosa," said the Doctor, laying his hand on her arm, " 1 want you to dance with me when the waltz commences." " O, don't ask me, there are so many people ! " " They shan't hurt you ! " he replied, drawing her arm within his. " Excuse me, Ned, but I would a great deal rather not," she said, entreatingly ; " please don't urge me." He dropped her hand abruptly, and turned again toward tho statue. While [this conversation was going on, Miss Greenwood and Laura, were fast learning to know each other. Impulsive and

affectionate, Laura by a few words had convinced her companion, that whatever there might have been in the past, there was now no infidelity to her husband, in a heart that listened so eagerly and with such simple, pleased attention to stories of his youth. The company increased, but they continued their chat unobserved. In a group directly bei'oro the: a .stood Captain Jones and two other officers of the ship, evidently much absorbed by the subject of their conversation. A rush among the dancers caused them to step back, and Miss Greenwood and her companion heard the words, " Sur» eon Welsh of the X ,is dead." At the naming of Aleck's ship, L tuia involuntarily caught Dora's arm. _ " There are several names spoken of for the appointment," Jr/aid another officer, "ibut.l'm told that scamp, Le Conipte, has the *best chance." ♦ Laura pressed her hand over her mouth to check the impulse to scream, at the sound of the name that brought so much terror to her heart. " If he stood any chance of being shot," replied Captain Jones, "it would be the best thing that could be done with him." He finished his sentence in an aside, in which Laura only heard her husband's name. He then continued aloud, " However, he's a fine surgeon, has powerful friends, and wants the position." Determination and strength of will alone kept Laura from fainting, as she leaned on Dora's arm till the first paroxysm was over, not answering her attempts at consolation, bearing her agony in silence ; not till she reached her own room did she give herself leave to think of the probable consequences of the event proposed. Le Compte, surgeon in the same ship with Aleck, was the thought that ran backward and forward through her excitable brain like liquid fire ; and the missing ring, it glittered before her wherever she turned, and the piercing eyes of her enemy glared at her through the tiny circle. Would Aleck believe she was true to him* should the knowledge of this loss ever come to him through Le Compte ? Why had she foolishly concealed this loss in the letter to her husband, wherein she told him she had opened her whole heart. O, the false shame that had led her to hide the truth ! it Avas bringing its own punishment in fearful torment of mind. The letter from the Secretary of the Navy, accepting the resignation of Lieutenant Greenwood, was at length received, and a stormy time they had at the Commodore's. He had from the first hoped something would occur to prevent the acceptance, and now that the matter was finallyjaccomplished, and his son no longer an officer in the navy, and a candidate for naval honors, his taunts and reproaches were most exasperating, and renewed c<aily ; it Avas Avith difficulty that the son, a man of honor and bravery, could restrain himself under the charge of cowardice ; but for Dora's imploring look out of her large earnest eyes, and the finger on her lip, he must have answered in such a way as would have broke-i the last remaining link between father and son. Day by day he went through the same denunciations, arraign c 1 and impeached before the tribunal of his father's Avrath, but each day brought him renewed strength from above and beyond hims«-l: . The hour of meals was the usual choice of his father as the time Avhen he should open the vials of his vituperation. Once only did Harry so far disrespect his parent as to leave the table in the midst of the repioaches. Rosine had been brought home by Miss Greenwood in one of her journeys into the city, and the absence of her father, as she stipposed for the day, gave them promise of quiet, but during the dinner hour he returned. The presence of Rosine no doubt exasperated him, for he entered at once into a tirade, in Avhich he vilified his son as "a poltroon, that Avould have been cashiered in the first fight." This, under the circumstances, Avas more than Harry could bear ; he left the house immediately, Avithout a Avord ; it was three days before he came back, and Dora feared lest the harshness had driven him finally from his home ; but he returned calm and placid, Avith no trace of the passion that had been kindled in his dark eyes. He had sought those helps and consolations which are given so abundantly in times of trial and temptation, and sin, to the Catholic heart in the sacrament of penance ; and by a short retreat in the House of the Christian Brothers, dAvelling continually in the presence of his dear Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, he had prepared his spiritual armor for future warfare. In another Aveek he called, according to promise, at Doctor Hartland's office for advice as to his future course.