The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, 12 October 1916, Page 3

The Storyteller

REE’S DIVORCE (For the N.Z. Tablet, by Emmie Golding.) (Continued.) Ree and Ellen accompanied Lady Dexley to London, and the solicitors were immediately communicated with. After hearing all details and thoroughly considering the case, they advised Ree to live very quietly for some months. She had better go in the country somewhere with her servant, they said, and when the case was settled and all proceedings in connection with it were completed, she could assume the name of Mervyn, as stipulated in her grandfather’s will. When the time came for her to make her entrance into society, under Lady Dexley’s wing, there would be no one to connect her with the divorce proceedings, which could be managed as speedily and quietly as possible. Ree agreed to follow the solicitor’s directions, but asked them not to prosecute Hall, as it would only make the case more public and could do her no good now, and she added : ‘ Although I know now in what an unscrupulous and dishonorable manner he has acted towards me, I feel assured he was entirely guided by the woman Tranner, and however much he deceived me, he never treated me unkindly. I can see, now it is too late, that I ought to have exerted more will power and not have let him take things so completely into his hands, but I had received no worldly training and had no reason to doubt his sincerity. You see, she added, turning to the senior partnera grim old lawyer,— ‘my papa had been so friendly with him. Papa, of course, had no thought of his base motives any more than I.’ The man addressed laid a hand on the girl’s shoulder, saying: My dear young lady, one has only to look into your face to know that you have had no worldly training— use your own words. Would that there were more such pure, good faces in the world !’ Ree’s fair face flushed a rosy red as she wished him good-day. Acting on the advice received from the solicitors, Ree, accompanied by Ellen, went to a quiet little seaside place in the South of England. Here the girl kept strictly to herself, and made no friends. Time passed pleasantly enough for her ; she was young and energetic, and found pleasure in any simple occupation. She loved to watch the sea, and would sit and. weave romances round her future life—the life she would lead when the time came for her to emerge from her hidingplace and take up her position in society. Sometimes she related these little mind-pictures to Ellen, and she, good soul, shook her wise old head and said: * Miss Ree,’ may your future troubles always glide off your back as easily as your past ones have done !’ Ree laughingly answered : ‘ But, Ellen, I am not looking for troubles ahead.’ No, Miss Ree maybe you are not, but you’ll find they 11 come your way whether you look for them or not.’ ‘ Then, Ellen, when they do come my way, I hope I shall be better able to act for myself than I have done in the past. I think I ought to be a little wiser after my so dearly bought experience.’ Ellen looked at Ree’s animated face and sighed deeply. It is given to some women to see a little into the future; perhaps the faithful old servant saw rocks ahead for her pretty young mistress. ***** l At last ! At last ! To think lam now Miss Mervyn, and can have and do in reality the many things I have been dreaming aboutYTuring those months by the sea,’ exclaimed Ree, gaily, as she and Lady Dexley chatted together the morning after the girl's arrival from the seaside, to take up her abode in her ladyship’s town house.

‘ Well, child, now that you are free of that man and have unlimited wealth, it will be best for you to bury the past and try to look on it all as some bad dream. Ido not consider it at all necessary for your marriage and divorce ever to be mentioned. It is common knowledge that your grandfather disowned his daughter but had left his fortune to her child. Now we must make preparations for your presentation at Court; then, I suppose, a time will come when you will think of marriage, and if you follow your dear mother’s example and marry for love, there will be enough money for both. 1 will do my best that no harm shall come to you. I grieve to think that it was through me Traimer got her information regarding your fortune and set that man on your track.’ ‘ Yes, Lady Dexley, but if it had not been for your pleadings, my grandfather might never have left me that fortune. I often heard my parents remark how astonished they were that he should undertake to pay for my education after refusing to forgive my mother.’ 1 Your mother and I had been such devoted friends that when I heard of your birth I entreated your grandfather to make you his heiress.’ ‘ Then, Lady Dexley,’ replied Ree, gently, ‘ do not reproach yourself on my account; the past is dead, and after all, I have not suffered so very much over it, have I?’

No, dear, happily you have not, and that is a great consolation. Then, by way of changing the subject, Lady Dexley remarked : ‘ I heard from Delphine this morning, Ree. I wrote and told her I was expecting you to come to me very soon. She wants me to take you to see her, she says. The nuns speak often of you to her, and think what an eventful career you have had for one so young. Mother Yictoire was very troubled over the part she played in letting you leave the convent, but, like you, she had no reason to be suspicious of Mr. Hall’s actions, and he had so satisfactorily answered all her questions regarding your future welfare.’ Do try and go over to Paris soon, Lady Dexley. I should love to pay them a visit, and Delphine would be so delighted. You have no idea how the girls loved to be called to the parlor to see their visitors. I know myself how glad I used to feel when papa and mama visited me.’ ‘And you were happy at the convent, Ree?’ * Oh, yes. Although I am not a Catholic, it made no difference to the nuns.’" ‘ Delphine says the same, and is quite happy and contented there. We must take the first opportunity of going over, Ree, but it must be only a hurried visit, as we have a busy time to look forward to with dressmakers and other tyrants.’ Lady Dexley and Ree managed to spare time to go to Paris for a few days. Whilst there Ree visited the parents’ grave. She chose a beautiful headstone to be erected over their resting place; it was the one and only thing she could do for them now with some of the money her grandfather had left her. Ree was welcomed and made much of at the convent. She was always a gentle, unassuming girl at school, and was a great favorite with both the nuns and children. After making numerous purchases at the wellknown shops in Paris, Lady Dexley and Ree returned to London, and a few weeks after Ree was presented, when her good looks and graceful bearing were the subject of much admiration. She thoroughly enjoyed the gay time that followed on later, and plenty of attention was bestowed on her by admirers of all ages, but she remained quite unspoiled. It was the night of the Duchess of Malton’s grand ball. Ree made a charming picture—the vivid scarlet of her lips and the soft peach bloom of her rounded ' cheeks showed up to perfection against her shimmering white dress. Lady Dexley was justly proud of her fair protegee. .She was besieged for introductions to the lovely girl, but none of the . men attracted any special attention from Ree, there was such a sameness about them all she thought. Only when Sir Felix Dale was intro-

duced to her did she suddenly become interested. She looked up at the newcomer to find herself held spellbound for the moment, by the steady, searching look in the man’s eyes—the light in them caused the color to mount to her face, and. she trembled slightly. Sir Felix was a fine specimen of manhood—of some 27 years, tall, and well built, his face, though not handsome, was of a strong rugged type, a face that inspired confidence and trust. His deep-set grey eyes had seemed to penetrate Ree’s very soul, and his direct look caused her body to quiver. Ree danced with Sir Felix, and for the first time since her -debut felt unnerved. She confessed to feeling tired, and her partner escorted her to a seat apart from the dancers. ‘ You must not overtax yourself with too much excitement, Miss Mervyn,’ said he, and his voice, though deep, sounded singularly kind and gentle. ‘ I think I could stand double the excitement I have had so far,’ she replied, smilingly. ‘ You look thoroughly happy !’ ‘I am, delightfully so!’ ‘ I hope you always will be. Your face was not intended for dull care to leave its mark upon.’ ‘ I have had cares though, but they left no impression on my countenance,’ and she laughed happily. ‘ No,’ he said, pretending to scrutinise her face with those deep-set eyes of his—‘ I see no lines or wrinkles of any kind yet!’ ‘ I am very glad of that; but if one should make its appearance and you notice it first, I hope you will tell me of it,’ she said, in mock seriousness. ‘ I will, certainly, but I shall want to see you often, or otherwise I shall not be able to watch for it,’ replied Sir Felix, assuming a very serious air. • ‘ I suppose we shall often meet at various places V ‘ I suppose we shall. I intend calling on Lady Dexley to-morrow afternoon.’ ‘ 1 doubt if I shall see you, then, as I spend my leisure time of the afternoon in the schoolroom.’ ‘ Then I shall see you, as I am a privileged visitor there ; little Cicely and I are old friends, and when she hears of my return to London will expect me to call on her with a present.’ A partner claimed Ree. Sir Felix stood looking after her, with that same steady light in his eyes — light which told its own tale of some purpose in view. Sir Felix Dale was a close friend of the Dexleys and they thought most highly of him. He came of an old and distinguished family, and had succeeded to the title and estates a couple of years previously, when his parents and elder brother had been lost at sea. The tragic death of his only relatives so shocked and grieved him that he sought to divert his thoughts by wandering in South Africa for some months, and he had only returned to England a few days prior to the Duchess of Malton’s ball. Sir Felix sought every opportunity of meeting Ree. He knew he loved her—had loved her the first time he looked at her, —and the more he knew of her, the more determined was he to seek her for his wife. Sir Felix was a frequent and welcome visitor to Lady Dexley’s house. He was a special favorite of little Cicely’s, her ladyship’s youngest daughter—charming little girl of six years,—=who was always delighted when he found time to visit her in the schoolroom. He usually found Ree there, busily employed in amusing the child. On arriving there one afternoon, he found Ree alone, hastily painting a picture for Cicely. ‘ You are very busy this afternoon, Miss Mervyn.’ 1 Very, Sir —this must be completed before my little tyrant returns. I bribed her to go to the dentist by promising I would paint her a picture during her absence. ‘Have you almost finished?’ * Yes, almost, why?’ looking up at him, ‘I want to talk to you.’ 1 ‘ Talk while I paint.’ ‘ Impossible.’ ‘Why?’ again. ' * ‘I want to hold your hands.”

Smiling brilliantly, Ree looked up at him again, ‘ My bands are engaged for the present, Sir Felix.’ He gently and firmly took the brush from her, then taking both her hands in his, said : ‘ It is just a month to-day since I first met you.’ ‘ Yes, exactly one month, Sir Felix.’ Ree, I love you you know it, child —he drew yt her into his arms, —‘ and you love me, Ree ?’ ‘ Yes, Felix, you know it.’ ‘ I wanted you, Ree, the' first moment I saw you. I recognised you at once as my dream wife. I have always hoped and longed for a wife like you —a wife whose, face was stamped with innocence and sincerity. Tell me, Ree, no man has ever held you in his arms or kissed your'lips V ‘ No, Felix; I have never kissed but one —my own dear father.’ For one brief moment Ree thought of the past. Should she tell him of her marriage ? Lady Dexley had told her to blot out that page in her life ; what need, then, to speak of it now ? Sir Felix, still clasping her in his arms, continued speaking, and the thought of her past life fled from her mind in the rapture of knowing herself loving and beloved by a man so worthy and upright as he. ‘ Little Ree, there is no need for a long engagement. We shall be so happy together; why prolong our separation ? When shall it be ?’ ‘ I will consult Lady Dexley, Felix; there will be so many preparations.’ ‘ Then please make the date as early as possible, my darling. lam impatient for the day when I can call you my wife,’ he said, kissing her fondly. Lady Dexley was delighted with the news, and advised Ree to wait at least two months. It would be impossible to complete arrangements earlier than that, however much Sir Felix wished it. She congratulated herself on having secured so good a match for Ree, and it would leave her free next season to devote her time to Delphine, who would be making her entry into society. Lady Dexley did not mention the girl’s early marriage ; she never gave it a thought, as she, like Ree, was living so entirely in the present. The engagement was announced, and congratulations were showered on the couple, they being great favorites in the world in which they moved. Ree was very happy, and the first month of her engagement' passed swiftly. Sir Felix proved a devoted lover, and impatiently awaited the time when Ree should become his wife. It wanted but three weeks to the marriage when one afternoon, as Sir Felix was on the point of leaving his house to pay his usual afternoon visit to Ree, his servant announced that a lady requested a few minutes’ conversation with him. ‘ Did she give any name or say what she wanted, Hales?’ asked Sir Felix. ‘ No, sir.’ ‘ Someone begging for a bazaar, I suppose. Show her into the library; I can spare her a few minutes.’ The person awaiting him came forward as he entered the library. He eyed her narrowly, wondering what possible business she could have with him. Her presence aroused a feeling of repugnance in the man. There was no mistaking the woman’s mode of life; dissipation was plainly stamped on her face—a face that at one time had been fairly handsome, and he determined to get the interview over as quickly as possible. The woman did not keep Sir Felix long in suspense regarding the nature of her business with him, but said boldly and with quite a perceptible sneer in her voice : 5 1 Are you aware, sir, that your future wife, Ree y/Mervyn, has already been married and divorced V ~ The startling words, uttered in such insolent tones, filled Sir Felix with amazement. The thought of this woman - of the streets daring to insult the fair name of the girl he held dearer than his very life, lashed him to fury. He s raised his arm as though to strike the lie from her lips, but swiftly mastered his anger. Had she been a man he would have felled her to the ground. - ‘Woman'/ he demanded sternly, and his

eyes flashed with indignation, ‘ how dare you foul the name of my future wife with your vile lies !’ ‘I dare speak the truth !’ she answered, defiantly. The truth he asked, a terrible fear gripping his heart, and as he spoke his voice sounded no louder than a hoarse whisper. ‘ Yes, the truth ! she answered, heartlessly, —and her eyes shone with malicious enjoyment at the consternation depicted on his face—-‘ which you can easilyfind out if you take the trouble to enquire into Miss Mervyn’s past life. She is not the innocent young girl you perhaps think her, and as she appears there’— pointing to a photograph of Ree which adorned the library mantelpiece, — ‘ but she is a woman with a past—a past which she has cleverly hidden from you, if I’m not mistaken, for it seems clear that you do not know that she was married in Paris to a Mr. Reginald Hall, and that she divorced him’— ‘ Cease !’ commanded Sir Felix, who could bear no more. ‘Yes, I will be silent now and always, if you will pay me for my silence she retorted. ‘ If what you have told me is true, then whatever you say or, do now will not alter matters for me.’ ‘Then you will not buy my silence?’ Her voice rang out in disappointment. Sir Felix did not deign to answer her— pressed the bell, and on his servant appearing in the doorway said : ‘ Show this person out; Hales!’ The door closed on Cora Tranner, leaving Sir Felix standing as one turned to stone. The woman surely had mistaken Ree for someone else ; but no, she particularly mentioned her name, had even pointed to her photograph. He was dumbfounded. What could it all mean ? Should he ignore the woman’s words and drive the subject from his mind ? He shook himself as though to throw off the information he had just received. He laughed aloud at the very idea of his little Ree having been married and divorced ! He would not think of it, but would hasten to her side, when she would laugh and ridicule the idea just as he was doing. ~ In spite of his endeavors to forget them, the woman’s words rang in his ears, and by the time he reached Lady Dexley’s house and entered the schoolroom his face wore an anxious and troubled look—a look so unusual for him, that Ree on seeing him cried impulsively : ‘ Oh, Felix, you look so strangely distressed ! Tell me, what has happened to disturb you so?’ He looked into her facethe face of the girl he loved so dearly— then laughed aloud again as he had done in his library. Ree watched him wonderingly—he was so unlike himself. What could have happened to have altered him so ? Sir Felix began to speak, slowly and deliberately: ‘ Ree, I had a visitor just before I left my home—a woman— did not give her name. She asked me, child, if I knew that you had been married and had divorced your husband —’ , Then, instantly noticing the startled look on her face, a feeling of dread took possession of him. He grasped her hands, crying hoarsely : ‘ Rut she lied, did she not, Ree? Tell me quickly that she lied.’ His grip on her hands was awful. She bit her lips to keep herself from screaming aloud, the while her thoughts moved rapidly. So Felix had heard of that page she had blotted out of her life and has taken it badly. Why had she not told him herself; oh why ? ‘No, Felix, the woman did not lie; she spoke the truth.’ Her voice sounded strangely mournful and her head drooped on her breast. He loosed her hands and fell back from her as though recoiling from a blo.w. ‘ Great God !’ he cried, pain and anger mingled in his voice, ‘ I would have staked my life, my all, on your innocence and sincerity, Reel’ He looked round the familiar schoolroom, saying huskily : ‘ And it is only five weeks since here, in this very room, you told me, as you lay in my arms, that no man save your father had kissed you, and now you tell me this horrible thing

is the truth. Why deceive me? Why did you lio to me?’ The girl raised her eyes to his face, and the awful sternness of it pierced her to the heart. The sight of those beloved eyes looking at her in such condemnation and reproach caused her to break down completely. She threw herself on her knees at his feet, crying; ‘Felix, forgive me; I was so happy in your love that I banished the past from my mind —I just lived in the present. I deceived you, yes, Felix, though not wilfully, but I did not lie to you, as God is my Judge. I spoke the truth when I said no man had had his arms about me, nor had I kissed any man save my dear father!’ Sir Felix looked at her in wonderment, saying slowly : ‘ Ancb'yet you were married to that man V ‘ And yet I was married to that man ! ’ Ree repeated the words slowly and distinctly, and Sir Felix knew that she spoke the truth, and his heart rejoiced in the knowledge that he had not been mistaken in her purity. lie raised her from her knees and said gently and humbly—all the harshness had left his voice—‘Child, who am I that I should have so judged you? The thought of my cup of happiness being dashed from my lips, unmanned me. I have been angry, forgive me—but my heart is broken, Ree, 1 cannot now marry you.’ Felix, oh Felix she cried, a terrible distress appearing on her blanched face. ‘ Why not? There is no barrier—l divorced him, I am free.’ ‘ Yes, free, child, as far as the law of the land can free you, but in the sight of God you are still that man’s wife. I am a Catholic, and much as I love—desire you—l must obey the law of God.’ Brokenly his voice sounded as he continued : ‘ We must part, little Ree. Far be it from me to wish any man dead, but until that man lies cold in his grave, I cannot marry you. Good-bye, Ree; God bless you, dear; no other woman can ever fill your place in my heart ’ — then, looking pitifully at the drooping figure, so like a lily broken by the wind, he crushed her to him in a last fond embrace. Sir Felix sought Lady Dexley; the sight of his haggard face shocked and alarmed her. ‘ Sir Felix,’ she cried, in an agitated voice, ‘ something dreadful must have happened ! Your face tells mo so ! ’ ‘ Yes, Lady Dexley, something dreadful has happened,’ and in spite of his endeavors to appear calm, his voice shook with emotion as he related what had transpired between Ree and himself. ‘ Poor little one, I am afraid I was too harsh with her and judged her too hastily, but at the thought of losing her, the iron entered my heart, and I lost my self-control. Tell me, Lady Dexley, the circumstances which led to this marriage and divorce.’ Her ladyship proceeded to give him a brief outline of Ree’s life, and then added: ‘ Do not think that she purposely concealed the facts of her marriage and divorce from you; the subject has never been mentioned by either of us since the first day of her arrival here, when I advised her to try and forget it entirely. Blame me for the deception, if you can so call it, not Ree; she is the soul of honor and is the essence of all that is good in a woman. I love her as a daughter, and my heart aches for her in this sorrow. You know how she loves you and delighted in your love for her!’ * Yes, Lady Dexley, her love for me makes things more difficult for her, and the parting harder to bear, but perhaps, one day, she will think with me and understand that marriage is out of the question while that man lives. Whatever happens now I shall never cease to love her. Comfort her and guard her, Lady Dexley; I dare not see her again. I know you will keep me informed of her welfare. Let me know what she arranges to do; tell her it will be best for her to go away for a time and take Ellen with her. She would dislike to feel herself the subject of gossip, and it will soon be known that our, engagement is broken.’ Left to herself. Lady Dexley burst into tears. Her motherly heart was aching for the girl—poor child! What comfort could she offer her ? Time alone would

soften the blow and heal the wound, but she must go to her. She found Ree standing by the window where she had watched Sir Felix leave the house. She turned as Lady Dexley entered. Her dry, shining eyes told their own tale of wounded feelingsthis sorrow had already changed her, from her laughing girlhood to a thoughtful womanhood. She was suffering keenly and finding it hard to bear. ‘Child! Child cried poor Lady Dexley, * this is a terrible blow for you, and again I must reproach myself for the part I have taken. If I had not advised you to keep silent, you would have told Sir Felix in the beginning of your friendship, and then there would never have been any engagement. I must own, in justice to myself, that I never thought of his religion ; had I done so, I should have confided in him, as he would have guarded our secret.’ ‘ You must not reproach yourself, dear Lady Dexley. Whatever happened, it would not have altered the fact of our love. Tranner, in her thirst for revenge at her disappointment in not securing some of my money, has done good, for I can understand now that if it had not come to Felix’s knowledge until after our marriage, the parting would have been worse. I have one ray of comfort, and that ishowever much Felix may blame me for my silence, he will always love me, and who knows but that he may yet call me wife !’ ‘ Ree, you are a brave girl, and are taking this better than I expected, though I know how keenly you feel about it.’ ‘ So keenly, Lady Dexley, that if I had not that little ray of comfort to solace me, I should feel utterly despondent and break down completely. Ellen’s words to me when we were at the seaside keep ringing in my ears; “ May your future troubles glide off your back as easily as your past ones have done!” Good soul, I laughed at her then ; I see now the wisdom of her words. There are some troubles one cannot laugh away, and this is one of them, but I will try to bear it bravely and cling to the hope that I may yet be Felix’s wife.’ ‘ Surely, Ree, you do not wish that man dead?’ ‘ No, no, Lady Dexley, I can honestly say I have no evil thought towards him. He was a man led away by a bad woman, and I. feeble creature that I was, should have resisted his persuasions. Ido not blame him entirely, and I must own I have scarcely ever given him a thought, so happy have I been!’ ‘ Sir Felix suggested your going away for a time, Ree.’ % * Yes, I have been thinking about doing so, and have already planned in my mind what I shall do. I shall go with Ellen to the convent for a few months at least. Mother Yictoire will take me as a parlor boarder, and I shall be free to go about. I could not mix in society again just yetwithout Felix, It would be more than I could bear. I should miss him too much, and I should find the separation unendurable. (To be concluded.)