III.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 51, Issue 51, 22 April 1898, Page 24

111.

I

In a few moments they were driving through the darkness of many trees to Mrs. Crawford's villa, now glowing with light. Carriage after carriage rolled away from the door ; the rise and fall of the newest valse floated forth in soft melody. It was not long before Rhoda caught sight of Cecil Layton, divided from her by the fashionable throng. She hoped that he would not 6ee her or approach her. It would not be difficult to escape his notice, she thought. The night wore on. She had taken refuge in a bower of palm and fern overlooking the garden and the river ; the shadowy trees waved to and fro "in starry darkness dear as day." Into her solitude came the notes of a sweet, pure voice singing a plaintive melody, which filled her with an indescribable longing and yearning for " something better than she had known," — a happiness that neither riches nor flattery had given her. It seemed as if there slowly grew out of the patience and stillness of night and the loveliness of the distant music the knowledge that true joy is gained by promoting that of others, until her thoughts and feelings led onward and upward to a resolve, which henceforth would be the keynote of her life : " If it is in my power to make one poor heart happier, one crushed spirit brighter, I will do it. God has been so good to me ! May I try to be good to His creatures ! " " Rhoda, Rhoda dearest !" Startled from her meditations, she looked up to see Cecil Layton bending over her in the old impassioned way, as if between there lay no gulf of wrong or change or parting. She drew back coldly and decidedly. " I did not expect to meet you here," he said, less confidently, less ardently. " Whioh is why you are here, perhaps. You have not returned my letters, though you have received your own. What motive have you in keeping them ?" " I had intended to return them, but they recalled my happiest (lays— all that I had, all I hoped for ; and I could not break the last link without one more appeal to you." He bent again towards her in a passionate pleading that moved her despite herself ; that seemed to lay the healing touch of auld lang-syne on her wounded pride and love. The happiness of her life trembled in the balance ; she was about to choose between good and ill, joy and misery, hovering on the brink of an irrevocable mistake. One moment more and she would have renewed her promise and believed his vows. The words were trembling on her lips when there came quick steps, the rustle of silken skirts, and Mrs. Arnold appeared, looking very much excited. She acknowledged Cecil's presence, then turned to Rhoda. " I've been looking everywhere for you, dear. What do you think ? One of the vocalists is wearing your diamond brooch !" " O mother dear, aren't you mistaken ?" " Well, at first I thought I must be ; but I spoke to the lady in order to examine the brooch at close quarters, and it is unmistakably yours. You may remember it, Mr. Layton. It is the one my brother Edwin designed, and had made for Rhoda with the diamonds which he himself brought from South Africa." " I remember it perfectly," said Cecil, wondering at Rhoda's sudden change of colour, and at the breathless earnestness with which she regarded him. " Who has got possession of it, and how ?" "We must find that out," replied Mrs. Arnold, answering the laßt question first. It is Miss Daintrey who is wearing it." " What is to be done, mother ? We can't accuse her of theft." " But we can ask how the brooch came into her possession. It must have been stolen from your case, sold, or pawned, and she should be able to give us some clue. I asked her to come this way without saying why. She should be only too glad to explain, if she can." It was rather awkward for Cecil. He felt driven to bay, though as yet he had not realised his gigantic mistake. He had not expected to meet Rhoda here ; still less had he expected to be brought face to face with her and Claire at the same time. " I had better withdraw, perhaps — " he began ; but Rhoda's voice cut sharply through his sentence. "Be kind enough to remain, sir. I particularly wish it. Ah, here comes Miss Daintrey !" He hastily resolved to act as if he were an entire stranger to Claire, devoutly hoping that she would give no sign of recognition when he did not. She came in, flushed with the delight of a success that would open the door of health and comfort to her mother ; and Rhoda's keen eyes passed from the shining bar of brilliants to the radiant face above it, with a new compassion. Her voice was unusually gentle. " Miss Daintrey, do you mind telling us where or from whom you got that brooch ?" Claire involuntarily started, so utterly unexpected was the question. Not until that moment had she been aware of Cecil's presence. He surveyed her as if he had never seen her in his life before. She was too bewildered to reply, and Mrs. Arnold not unnaturally misunderstood her silence. " I fear we must insist on an aDswer," she said, suavely but firmly ; " for the brooch belongs to my daughter. It was missed only last night. How did it come into your possession ?" Rhoda again interposed. " You may naturally suppose that we are mistaken, and that there may be other brooches of that pattern in existence. But will you look at the back ? If it is mine, there will be a small ruby and amethyst in the setting, for my initials — R.A." Claire hurriedly detached the ornament, examined it closely, then mutely extended it to Rhoda. The shock, the dismay, the humiliation, the mystery of it all, had reduced her to silence and utter pallor. " Do you know anything of this ?" Rhoda asked, turning to

"Pray, what should I know of it?" he retorted, in genuine surprise. " You did not give it to Miss Daintiey, for instance !" "On my honour, Rhoda, I did not !" he exclaimed, indignantly.

But as indignant a cry broke from Claire's lips. " You gave it to me on my birthday !" she protested. And it was Cecil's turn to change colour. " There is a mistake—that is not the brooch I gave you," he stammered, completely losing his self-possession. " Yes, there is a mistake," said Rhoda. quietly ; " but I believe I can correct it, Mr. Layton. You may remember that when our engagement was broken I returned you your letters and presents. In my hurry and agitation I must have sent you nay own diamond brooch instead of the sapphires you gave me ; the cases are alike. I discovered my mistake to-night. When searching for one I found the other. From your point of view, it may seem a pity that your eagerness to bestow presents on one lady did not allow you to examine more closely those returned to you by another. From my point of view, the incident is providential ; for it opens nay eyes completely to your true character, and to the worth of the promises you were making only ten minutes ago." For one moment he actually contemplated a leap through the window as a means of escape from the astonished indignation of Claire's gaze and the cool disdain of Rhoda's. He was found out. Feeling mean and small, without uttering a word, he walked away, an uncomfortable sensation of heat about his neck and ears. Mrs. Arnold fanned herself, as if to waft away all memory of the despicable fellow ; and Rhoda held out her hand to Claire.

" You never loved him." she said ; " but you mi^ht have come to do so, and have had the same bitter awakening that has been mine."

The night's incidents were stale ere Claire confided them to her mother, who, instead of fretting, rejoiced that the matter had not been disastrous to Claire's peace of mind and happiness. To the girl, herself, the chief sadness of it all lay in the thought that through Cecil's unworthy trifling she had lost a good man's heart ; for at length had dawned on her the explanation of Dr. Arden's conduct, and the reason why his family visits had ceased. She found herself recalling his words, and how uttered — with what smile or what expression — until the very accuracy of her remembrance became a new source of pain, revealing as it did that all unconsciously his life had been growing into hers. She reproached herself for her own want of prudence, which had helped to place her in a false position. Maiden pride helped her to feign an extra gaiety and lightness of heart ; and those who saw her daily did not observe the gradual fading of her roses and sharpening of her features. But to one who had not seen her for a few weeks the change was startling. Dr. Arden, coming unexpectedly face to face with her one evening, experienced a shock — a pang of fear that convinced him he had not conquered his love for her — that she was more dear to him than ever.

" I hope you have not been ill, Miss Daintrey ?" he said, not releasing her hand. " I am very well," she replied, listlessly. "And happy, I presume !" " Scarcely that," she said, unnerved by his solicitude— by the mere fact of meeting him.

" I was sure you must be, engaged to the man of your choice." "If you mean Mr. Layton," she replied, with spirit, l> lam not and never have been engaged to him. He is the very last man in the world to whom I would wish to be engaged." There was a pause, fil led by the cries of happy children at play, and the slow grinding forth of '' Dorothy Dene " from an asthmatic organ.

" My mother and I are going to the country to-morrow," said Claire. "I am glad of this opportunity of saying good-bye." " You trusted to chance for that ? If we had not met, you would have gone away without one single word to me ?"

'• Did you want one single word, then ?"

" I did — I do. You know what it is. Be my wife, Claire ; let me fight life's battle for you and yours, as a strong man should Let me shelter you under my wings from life's storm and stress. I. have always loved you. Claire, will you say the word I want — will you say ' Yes ' 1 "

Mary Cross, in the Avc Maria.

Never affect to be witty, or jest so as to wound the feelings of another.

Under the caption " the cloven hoof again," the Sydney Freewan states that Alderman Norton appears to be stirring the Orangemen up. At the Town Hall inquiry on Monday last, in reply to him, Mr. Lutton. Inspector of Fish Markets (formerly conductor of a sectarian journal), denied that he had threatened the vengeance of the Grand Lodge of L.O.L. on a certain person if he supported a certain alderman. Alderman Norton said he could pi-oduce a letter to that effect. Lutton also denied that he canvassed for subscriptions for a certain election in Corporation time. Alderman H. Chapmaa then remarked : "I saw you do it, and heard you do it, and heard you do it, on the Town Hall steps." Later on Lutton said : "I do not say it is untrue. I did ask for a subscription for a Parliamentary election." Alderman H. Chapman : '• That is what I said." Lutton : "It was not Corporation time." Alderman H. Chapman : " It was in the daytime, and I was coming up the steps."