Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1892 — CAST UP BY THE SEA. [ARTICLE]

CAST UP BY THE SEA.

sCHAPTER XVll— Continueb. - Although Edith loved her mother, she was not blind to her peculiarities, gad she had long suspected that she favored the suit of Jem Stevens. Edith was more sensible than most girls at her age, and she well remembered tbe character that he had borne at school. —She had often beard her father, remark that the boy was “the father of the man,” and she thoroughly believed in the theory that the man was merely an older boy with the same natural character, perhaps in some instances modified by circumstances; thus, although Stevens was much improved, and made himself as agreeable as most men, she could not persuade herself to . trust him. Even had she liked him, th§re was a something which Edith could hardly have defined in the fond recollection of younger days, whan her girlish heart bad loved Ned Grey. The mystery of his disappearance had given a romantic interest to his name, which, although half-forgotten by many, was warmly remembered by her; and if she did not consider herself absolutely bound by the vows of a childish affection, she could at present feel no other. She did not positively

dislike Stevens; at the same time she had no confidence in her mother’s judgment. Accordingly she replied cautiously to her enthusiastic remarks. “My dear mother, ” said Edith, “I cannot think that you are serious. James Steveps has never said anything that would allow me to presume that I had gained his affection; neither should I wish for his love. Although he is certainly much changed and improved, I can never forget his conduct when a boy, and his unmanly hatred of poor Ned Grey. Ido not believe that boys realiy change in character when they be come men. They may be too clever and cunning tt# exhibit their true feelings, but the heart remains the same.” “Edith, my dear," replied her mother, “you cannot possibly know anything about men’s hearts* therefore your remarks are sheer nonsense. You must be guided by me in these matters. Do you not believe in conversion? Was not St. Paul converted? and did not he become one of the most faithful apostles? St. Paul must have been an exceedingly bad boy, if he ever was a boy, lor we hear nothing about his having been a boy in the New Testament, and I believe nothing except what is written in the Holy Book; but anyhow, he was converted; therefore why should not James Stevenson also have changed in disposition? especially now that he has succeeded his father to the estate?” “I do not doubt that you are right, mother dear,” replied Edith, who knew that contradiction would be useless; “but I have not the heart to love any man. In fact, I never did feel an affection of that nature, except—" Edith hesitated. ' “Except what? when? who? asked Mrs. Jones in the same breath. “Except long ago. I was very fond of poor Ned. He was only a boy of fifteen, and I a girl; but those were very happy days. Oh, mother! what can have become of Ned? Iso often think of him, and wonder whether he was drowned, poor boy, 1 'with my dear old Nero and the negro Tim, on that day when they walked on the beach beneath the cliffs and* l the tide came in!” “It is a dreadful mystery indeed,” ■aid Mrs. Jones, “but life is full of mysteries, my dear. For my part I have always believed that he was drowned, since I changed my mind about his complicity in your father's [ death." “That idea was too absurd,mother. My dear father, I know, wished to give me some advice about Ned Grey at his last moment, but he had no strength to complete the sentence. I have often thought of that sad night since I have been more able to r ? form an opinion, and I feel sure that my father knew that I loved Ned, and he would huve spoken to me about him.” “Well, my dear, he would, I am sure, have said it was a very foolish thing for two mere children to talk of slich nonsense as love; and as to Ned Grey, a poor little foudling, what in the world could he expect? He was a good boy certainly, but there are plenty of good boys. Now a good position in life is of great importance to a woman, and a good Doy has seldom a good position." “Poor Ned!” sighed Edith; “the last time that I saw him his fine Jponest face brightened up and his large blue eyes sparkled like fire as he vowed that he would win a position worthy of me. I can see him >now; that manly and generous heart that oould think no evil, and would even have forgiven Jem Stevens,and have made him his friend, if it had been possible to soften such a Oh, mother!" continued Edith, “do not talk to me of Stevetfs! When I look back to the past and compare him to dear Ned Grey, and think what he would say were he alive and knew that you counseled me to love his enemy, I feel unworthy of him, ifund almost despise myself that I Mould listen to such advice.” V The ooior had rushed to Edith's cheek and the tears to her eyes as she 1 thus compared the past With the present.and clung with fervor to the warm feelings of her youthful days “No, mother," she continued, “I Should be grieved to displease you, I,but my heart Is my own, and I can aot give it to Ned • enemy. " ■' Although Mrs. Jones was a weak

BY SIR SAMUEL W. BAKER

woman, she fras not devoid of a certain amount tact; and upon seeing that Kditff was not in the humor to be driven, she wisely determined to postpone hei*\attack until a more favorable opportunity /at the same time, with a pertinacity to her sex, she was resolved nottogive up her point, as she had persuaded herself Ijhat the match with James Stevens, of Heron Hall, would be exceedingly satisfactory. There were several families in the neighborhood who were anxious that their daughters should be intimate with Stevens ; thus, although Mrs. Jones would not have confessed it £o herself, she'had a feeltng of pride that would have delighted in their disappointment, phould Edith triumph in the love match. She accordingly closed the conversation with the following remarks, which were really sincere:

“Mv only child, Edith, do not worry yourself when there is no„ cause ; my only wish is to see you happy, and I advise you in order to ensure your happiness as far as I can foresee. Ido not press you to love James Stevens ; but as I feel sure that he loves you. I give you timely warning, with the advice that you should at all events not throw cold water upon his attentions. You may like him more when you know him better; and as to nis having been Ned Grey’s enemy, why, I feel sure, had he iived, James Stevens would now have been his friend. ”

On their arrival at the rectory Edith had a long conversation with Polly, whom she regarded as a second mother, but upon whose opinion she placed a much higher value than upon that of Mrs. Jones. It was natural that Polly Grey should regard Stevens with suspicion, as she had heard much of his character in former days from Ned ; but on the other hand, as she felt convinced . that Ned had been drowned by the rising tide, she had no feeling of jealousy should Edith form a suitable engagement with another person. Had Ned been alive, a marriage between him and Edith, whom she dearly loved, would have been the joy of her heart. She knew that Stevens’ position in life would be considered, in a worldly sense, as an excellent match for Edith ; but she was unable to give her other advice than to wait patiently until she should feel assured, not only of Stevens’ sincere affection, but of his altered character. Not long after this conversation, Mrs. Jones took an opportunity of sounding Stevens upon his intentions ; he at once declared his love for Edith, which, he asserted, had never varied since the time when he was a boy at school. He expressed his regret at the bad conduct of his younger days, and showed such con-„ trition for the past, that he entirely won the heart of the weak Mrs. Jonesr who, thereupon, explained to him the state of Edith's feelings respecting Ned Grey, and the resentment she felt toward him as his former enemy ; could that dislike be overcome, she did not -doubt that in a short time Edith’s heart would soften toward him. At this intelligence Jem Stevens turned deadly pale, which Mrs. Jones attributed to the violence of his affection, and hastily filling a glass of cordial from the sideboard, she insisted upon his swallowing it, which, as it was an excellent mixture of French brandy and bitters, he did without a moment’s hesitation. A few days after this explanation, Stevens, who daily rode over to the rectory, found himself alone with Edith in the drawing room. She had been singing at the piano with such exquisite sweetness of voice and taste in execution that even Stevens appeared to be touched with the softening spirit of her music. Mrs. Jones had prudently left the room, and as Stevens was standing by Edith’s side, as though enraptifred by her song, he gently took her hand and raised it to his lips, at the same time he said: “Forgive me, dearest Edith, but the fault is yours if lam wrong; your song has driven me from mv senses I can conceal it no longer! 1 love you to distraction! Say that I may love you, and do not make me miserable by a refusal! At this sudden declaration Edith hastly withdrew her hand from Stevens’ grasp,and, rising from the piano she regarded him fixedly and blushed deeply, while, with a trembling but decided voice, she said: “I cannot say who you may or may not love, Stevens; I have known you many years,’ and I used to think thut you loved no one but yourself." “Dearest Edith!” exclaimed Stevens, “pardon me for the faults of my boyhood. I acknowledge that 1 was often wrong and bad. Say whatvou will, and I will bear anything from your lips, except a word of coldness! Those days are long since past. Tty" me in every way and see if I am not changed; only in one thought and feeling I am the same: I always loved you when a boy, and I love you now dearer than ever, Edith!” Edith was for some moments silent; then, fixing her large blue eyes upon Stevens, as though to read his inmost heart, she said in a calm, low voice, as though she had screwed her courage determined!v to the task: “James Stevens, there shall be no misunderstanding between us; we have known each other too long for unnecessary concealment.' You say that you loved me when a boy; I did not love you, Stevens; but I did love Ned Grey—the good, generous, dear Ned Grey—whom you hated. If Ned

Grey were -alive, I would love no other; if he were poor, I am rich, and I should esteeqs his love as of more value than wealth or titles. I should consider it honor to be loved by one so good and true, so brave, and so incapable of a mean action as was poor Ned Grey, your enemy!” __ As Edith said this with almost fierce energy, her voice chocked with emotion toward the latter part of the sentence; then, almost overpowered with her excited feelings, she continued bitterly, “Oh why did you hate him? Why did you hate all good and true? one whom all loved? one who tried to .he your friend? one whom I loved, and now you ask me to love you? Oh, Stevens, we had better say no more; you have mistaken your own feelings!” Edith hid her face in her hands to conceal her emotion.

Stevens turned a ghastly white, and trembling from head to foot, he suddenly seized both her hands, and drawing them from her face while he held them firmly in his grasp, he said in a hoarse voice, with intense earnestness, “Look at me, Edith; look at me. and forgive me. If you loved Ned Grey, I have a secret that will distress you, although it be a comfort.” The blush that had overspread her features suddenly vanished, and a deadly pallor, that turned her beautifully chiseled face to marble, seized upon her. Releasing her hands from his grasp, she caught him by tbe arm. “Speak!” she cried, in a deep, unnatural voice: “what secret can Ned’s enemy know that he has concealed till now?” “I am not his enemy,” said Stevens, who looked like a man guilty eff murder. “I was his friend. It is now nearly six years ago that I was on board the Sybille We had lgft Plymouth the day before, and were bound for India. We lay to Off this coast to send a boat ashore with our last letters; it landed near Sanday Cove. When it returned two lads had been found on the beach, and the boat’s crew had pressed them into service. A black dog was with them. The lads were Ned Gray and the negro Tim; the dog was Nero.” Edith stared wildly at Stevens and sighed deeply. “Go on,” she said, calmly but despairingly. “Ned-was in distress, as he had no means of communicating with home. The ship sailed to India. We fought a French frigate, the Forte, which I have before described to yfcu. Ned distinguished himself in the action, and he was sent to Englnnd in the prize with myself. As you kuow, she was wrecked. I have never dared to tell you his fate, as I considered it better to let it remain a mystery. When the ship foundered I saw him and the negro swimming in the surf. I stretched out an oar from the boat to save him; at that moment a tremendous wave rolled over him, and neither he nor the negro appeared again. We rowed for some time backward and forward in hopes of finding him, at the risk of swamping the boat, but we saw him no more; both he and the negro were drowned.”

Edith sank upon her knees, and clutching vainly at something for support, she fell stretched upoD the floor. For the moment Steveus thought she was dead, and, teryified at the result of his story, he rang the bell violently and then endeavored to place her on.a sofa. In a few moments the house was in a state of excitement. Edith’s mother, Polly Gray and several servants were endeavoring to restore animation. It was some time before Edith recovered sufficiently to be supported to her room, when, as her mother was questioning Stevens below stairs, she threw ner arms around Polly’s neck and gave way to a burst of grief. When sufficiently calm to speak she described the dreadful story in a voice broken by deep sobs, and Tolly Grey became overwhelmed with sorrow.

CHAPTER XVIII. A few weeks after the supposed fate of Ned Gray had been described by Stevens, Mrs. Jones, who had felt deeply for her daughter, endeavored to renew the topic that was nearest to her heart. •‘A very gallant act, my dear, of James Stevens! Indeed, it was an act of generous devotion; he risked his own life, and nearly swamped the boat, to save poor Ned. He was Ned Grey's friend, no doubt; or, if he were his enemy, the act was doubly generous. Sailors are always gallant fellows. I am glad that Stevens was a sailor. Should I ever marry again I should like to have a husband of that profession." Here Mrs. Jones thought of Captain Smart. And then she continued: “You should make up your mind, Edith, mv child; if you lovod Ned, you ure under an obligation to Stevens for his brave attempt to rescue him. lam suro that the reason of his long silence upon Ned’s fate was his oxcessive modesty; he was over-sensitive and feared to extol himself. Your poor father used to say in Latin that ‘modesty was a good sign in a young man.' I believe that is in the Latin grammar. I wonder they said nothing about modesty in a young woman; perhaps the grammar was only written for boys’ schools. However, I am sure that James Stevens is a very modest young man, nnd I confess that I should like him as a son-in-law. Consider it, my dear child; forget the past as much as possible. We should always endeavor to escape from painful recollections; we should look forward and not back. Ned Grey was a charming boy, a gentleman born, there can be no doubt. I always thought so from the moment that I saw bis lovely mothers corpse. But

then he would have had an uphill life, full of cares and troubles. Death has released him. Think of him only as a dream of childhood, and make use of the present time. There are many worse than James Stevens, and in my opinion few so good. Heron Hall is a beautiful place. I don’t think I ever saw such magnificent oaks or so fine a park. Then I can come and see you, my darling child, and you will be perfectly happy. Don’t say no, my dear Edith. Trust to me, for I know better than you do what would tend to your future happiness. All this cloud about poor Ned will pass away„and the future will be as bright as sunshine.” Edith listened abstractedly to her mother’s glowing picture of her fut ure life. Since the day when Stevens had described the shipwreck and the death of Ned, she had certainly leant more toward him than before, and as his Visits to the reetbry had been constant she had often led the conversation to the sad event, dwelling with a painful interest upon all the details of the voyage, from the time that Ned had ii ret joined the Sibylle. With consummate hypocrisy Stevens pretended an extreme friendship for Ned Grey/and appeared to sympathize with Edith in her regard for his memory; he described with wellfeigufd admiration his courage in the action with the Forte, and also Ned’s daring act in plunging into the sea to save his life when he dell overboard in the voyage from England. These and many other anecdotes in which Ned was concerned, served to awaken a common interest between Edith and Stevens, which her mother lost no opportunity of supporting; nevertheless, Edith's heart was as yet free from all warmer feelings than those of a friendly intimacy. (to be continued.) •