Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1907 — A SMILING VILLAIN. [ARTICLE]

A SMILING VILLAIN.

■CHAPTER XVII. A hr::vv fall of rain ihat uight and all ♦fee following day ihu—an—end I■> Uio_ •kafir.? and made it impossible for any •nr lo stir out of doors. At first - the •hanre was welcomed by every one. A message was sent for Vera, who \yent •cross swathed in a mackintosh, and Lulu • nnoitmv.i her Intent ion of put the her — 4o'4V house tidy. Aileen sullied h«-rsel_f _ to rear! stftme new essays on the Greek dramatists that had been wailing her l>erusH since OiriijJfcMtS. MoVra gave iter• •elf tip to the imwonthd luxury of a morning's reading, and Bride seemed engrossed in some needlework. »~ Tfce morning passed very happily ami easily, hnt the afternoon 'dragged. Aileen •aw that Rridtft,was -growing restless, her gage travi led of:,.n to tin- h ivy rlmtdv. and after en-eh survey site beam the’girl give a weary little sigh as if the prospect bad disappointed her. Aileen suspis-ted that the unexpected rain had interfered with some ayrangement. Yeti angry as •he w ? a«. she'eouidnot but be sorry for the girl, who started nervously with brig 1 - g lace ami eager 'eyes at each •onud >h< < heard. There was a footstep on the gravel; the door —hell rang, Th<> "color flooded Bride’s fare and her hands shook. Prof. Lewisson wr.s - announced. For pity's sake Aileen forbore to look (ft her younger siVtot-as, they "welcomed the ii'S,ium,'t. TTerrr'wtfriwned the professor with unnsua! cordiality. "We are having n little too mueli of ••oh other.'’ he said. "Bride htts nearly yawned her head -off, haven't yon,—old galV”—ruffling her hair the wrong wav ,It a mark of brotherly affection. "Wlfiit have you done w ith yourself all (lay "l have read. I have thought," the professor answered, with a somewhat patheiiq smile. "I grew very tired of my •wn company and my thoughts, so 1 veil' tured to conic, here." "I am very glad yop did," Moyra said, •nd Lulu, who had left the doll's house —cron than she had found it. drew •ear and inquired what he had been thinking about. Moyra would have checked her, but the professor dal not resent the question. He Pitted Loin on to his knee. "They were not very happy thoughts. Lulu. You will never have to think them, because all your life so far has been •pent amidst happiness and Sfffection. Today happens to be my birthday, and one geßerallv™ looks IVft"ck * oit sttrft nrmtvep•iiries. and the pages are "mot always Tl ■ asnnr reading." "My hhthdny is in the summer. I shall •ovm be iw vi n." said Latin. who did not •arc a howt - eem i n isoewes. “1 low old are TO.it ?” "Lulu!” Moyra and Aileen exclaimed; but Lewisson only smiled gravely, as If the question amused hint. •. "Thirty years oU ler than you. Lulu—quite an old man. am I not V” “I don’t think so,” site answered refiectlvely, looking at him critically. ** You're not so old as father; hut I think you’re older than Billy or Angus., I'm so dreadfully bored being in the house all day.” she announced. “Tell me about when yon were a little hoy; when you ■were as old as I am?” The request evidently pleased, though Aileen smiled a little at the spectacle of the great Cambridge professor racking his bra ins for the pleasure of a little child. It was plain he was making the best of bis earty life ns she questioned trim, hut ft was not a very lively story. lie had »o recollection of his parents, lie had lived wi; h relations who were not very kind, be said simply, until h? was old enough to go to school, and so, by dint of hard work, to the university. "I don't think it was very amusing." Lulu said impatiently, and he laughed •ad tv. "No. it was far from amusing. Lulu; but it seems to me that il ls only now when I anr growing old and tired that I am realizing that I have missed everything that made life worth the living.” “Except fame." Aileen said. "Surely you have pleasure in your great fame?” He •miled rather bitterly. “It Is an empty glory. Miss Aileen. It Is good to have fame if one deserves it, but one needs more than that.” His eyes rested for a second on Bride, sitting In ber favorite attitude, “Fame gives you •atisfaction in your youth, and it increases your obituary notice by a line or two. But it alone cannot make one •ear fall for you. or'bring one sigh for you. or make you linger in the memory •f those who have no affection for you. It is a laprel leaf that fades quicker than •n\ thing else.” There was a little pause; then Moyra ■aid. her voice trembling a little; "There is only one tiling that lasts from youth to age. and if it is worthily bestowed it increases sevenfold every year, and that is love." “And you, duckie/’ said Terry, with a boyish hug, "are the embodiment of it. You’re just a bundle of love.” In the laugh that followed no one board the door bell ring, and there was •onsequentJy a little commotion when JLi mmond announced : "Mr. Charter!* and Mr. Fenton.” "We met on the doorstep." Bertram Mid, advancing first into the circle of the firelight. “How nice and cosy you •11 look! What have you been doing? Telling tales in the gloaming?" ~ ( “Talking philosophy." Terry answered. "Sit down, you fellows, aud prepare yoaraalvea ja stay for the evening. Moyra, dear, let as have much buttered toast and ■tv bread for tea.” With the advent of tea came the Rector. the twins; and Vera, the three latter very cold and hungry after their exertion* at Gerry’s bench. They were making a cabinet for & collection of birds’ •ggs. and the girls begged that the lamps •night not be lit; they were ashamed to lot their untidiness be aeon. It was a very lively tea, and Moyra. ■eeiag that Bertram was confining him •elf almost entirely to Aileen and Vera, langhrd aod was happy with the rest. .When the last of the tM cakes awl bat-

By VIOLET M. FLI NN.

tend toast had disappeared, she suggested a' better light, hut a chorus of voices negctived the proposal. "Fin afraid >ou have no roe try in you!" Terry exclaimed, as h'; s.irred the huge tire vigorously! “Above all things, 1 love a big fire and easy chair, and some one to entertain me. Now, then, who is Doing to t-niertnln -me? ~ Moyra, tell ns one of your titles." 1 . But Moyra refused promptly and de--1 ‘d dly. and he turned to the professor, Nvj,p also declined. ’•‘lt is no good asking you, Fenton. Bertram. you are a traveler. Spin us a yarn." But it was no traveler's yarn that Bertram told in his musical voice as they gathered round the hearth in the firelight. — It was an ordinary fairy romance. oT an enehnnted princess, a castle"" pcrilous, a wicked magician, and an heroic prince ; but it wqs. told with such: humor, with an undercurrent of pathos, that even the Hector grew interested in the narrativt? ; It brought an added luster t»■ Bride’s eyes, and caused Lulu to forsake Tier jiost on the 'professor’s kneg and draw nearer to the enchant ing narrator. On and on went the rotnauee; Bertram seemed carried aw.ly by his own- fancy,. Ihe auditors listened, the younger ones with absorbing interest, the elders as if they were half ashamed. The noisy rTnuror of -tire dinner -bell —was received with a chorus of lamentation, and Bride heaved, an impatient sigh as she was thus brought hack to the reality >of life. —"1 don't want any dinner !" she. ex-. ciainicd *i\Yho could eat mutton after being in fairy land?" "Then yoo—shall ha ve jetty, *' Moyra - said smilingly, as she, too, moved reluctantly. "Thank you very much, Bertram. I think you ought to write that pretty tale down," * She spoke with unusual cordiality, for the charm lie had exercised was still on her. and for the time she fprgot her prejudices against him. He looked at her almost gratefully, as he held the doot open while the girls went off to make hasty toilets. When in after times the Beresfords recalled that evening, they always' remembered Bertram as its particular star, lie was unusually entertaining at dinner; it seemed as if he had set -himself to combat all existing prejudices against himself. He was so pleasant that Billy began to wonder if 'he had been hasty in Iris judgment.-', .ami Moyra wondered sadly it she hard allowed the past to have too much influence on her ideas concerning hint., "Perhaps I have been unjust," she reflected, with a little pang. As a consequence she felt more friendly towards hi in than she had done for many years, and it was she who asked him to sing when they, were again together in the drawing room. "I am afraid I have nothing but songs you have heard dozens of times,” lie answered, as lie sat down at the piano. After a while he began to sing softly some quaint French melody. He had a sweet and expressive voice, and from the melody lie passed to something more weird and harrowing. lie was beginning the second verse when Bride, starting up with a little sob, hurried from the room, the tears streaming down her face. Bertram stopped at once. "Poor Bride! I’m afraid my singing is too much for her,” he said, as Moyra followed her sister. “Tell her I won’t •sing any ’more.” “It was too harrowing for her delicate susceptibilities," Terry remarked. “I’ve been watching her sniff all through the first verse. Ralherawawkish song, don't you think, eh?"

CHAPTER XVIII. The games were in full swing when M o.vra and Bride returned. The traces of tears were still on the latter's face, although she blushed and smiled nervously. as if she was ashamed of her outburst. She accepted Bertram's laughing apologies with downcast eyes, and, to play. joiuedMier fatlter and Lewisson at the fire. * The Rector teased her a little on her susceptibility to “sweet discords,” and resumed his discussion of national education while Bride leaned her bead on her hand'and stared dreamily into the flames. The professor did not accept the Rector’s challenge with his customary alacrity. His eyes wandered again and again to Bride, and when Mr. Beresford was summoned away, and they were left alone, he leaned forward and inquired anxiously how she was. , "It was silly of me to be so foolish." Bride answered. “But it was so dreadful. I seemed to see it all, and I did not want to do so” —with a shudder. * “It was forced sentiment, Miss Bride. Mr. Charteris himself did not mean it. It —it is a pity to Identify the singer with the words.” he said in his grave, precise voice. “When you are older you will learn that what it is easy to say it is infinitely more difficult to do.” His words sounded vaguely full of warning even to Bride. She looked up quickly. "Why does every one dislike him?" she asked, the color rising in her cheeks. “I cannot understand why you should all be ,so hard—even you. He lias been unfortunate, but that is not hi# fan**. He <s 'clever, you know that yourself, and he is so handsome and so kind. Every one is jealous of him because of his talents. There is no one who appreciates him—save me,” she added, in a lower tone. The professor sighed. After all it only natural that youth should believe in youth, yet he felt a sorrow natural enough in the circumstances. Disillusionment lay before' this beautiful, guileless girl, who took everything as real and honest, and believed that in every one was the sincerity that belonged to herself. Lewisson felt very tender towards Innocent Bride, with her child’s heart and simple thoughts. Perhaps of all who knew ber, be best understood the feelings

that Moyra had tows loved young sister. Bride needed shelter and prdtect.'on.' the storm anil stress of life were !)»t for her! The other girls ini girt have tlte breezes of the mountain top,, hut for Bride to be happy there must be the sheltered, sunny valley, where only balmy bio-zo. blow, and where the World's wild •lih "was never heard. That site should have set her fancy upon Tbartem'wap indeed to be deplored, the professor thought. lie did not feel that Bertram, agreeable as he was, possessed that power uhich would entirely satisfy Bride’s nr ilfT. While the lack of It w3tfTß make her utterly unhappy. And to Bride happiness was life. Later in the evening Billy found lilmself with Aileen a little apart from the others. ; ” —y - «■ • —■*' "I)o yon know, I feel an awful bounder about Cliarteris, and that dance of ours,” he remarked. “I djn't like him any the better, though I admit that he carried me away a blt in the school ‘room. He oughtnot to have sung that song—l believe he did it for sonic purpose. But Bride is so horribly keen about his going. She has asked me again to invite him. Of course I say the invitations are from the mother,-but she knows that it's just an excuse.” “I won’t have him invited,” Aileen said, all the more sharply because she •"felt t-h u shTciiiTglii be unjust. “He has got a wretchedly strong influence over her. I wish we had sent her away.” “How does site like the idea of going?” “She didn’t say anything, but I'm afraid we shall have a segue. I'm afraid she’ll get round father. He is so indulgent to her; lie can deny her nothing,, even when he knows he ought to do so. Oh. dear! I wish she was safely married to some one who tvaC fitted to take care of her.” Billy opened his lips and closed them again. After a while he asked casually: -4w-*4 true that Lew isson is going away on Wednesday ?” “ Aileen nodded. In spite of herself, the color rose in her face. “He intended to go on Monday, and then decided to. stay for your dance, li will be very nice if Angus turns up, dhXo-’I it.?’.' - ' -1 LP*..Tr^rtIlut Billy woiild not take her lead. He gazed gloomily at Moyra’s favorite palm. “I expect there'll be n good many tilings settled on Tuesday .night." he remarked prophetically. “I wonder how each one of us will be feeling next Thursday evening?” ‘ ■ "Next Thursday evening will tell sufficiently early,” Aileen answered,"moving away, a Aileen felt Aat she had all her work cut out for her in her self-imposed task of watching Bride during the next few drfVs. The girl was absent-minded, miserable, and, marvelous for sweet-tempered Bride, decidedly cross. Aileen found it very difficult to keep a surveillance on her without Bride’s noticing. As it was, once or twice, whether intentionally or not, Bride went out when her sister believed thing very wrong. Her frock for the dance had arrived —a sufficiently important event for a debutante; but she hardlv looked at it, and it was her sisters who insisted on her trying it on to see if it were perfect. They explained aud admired, but Bride remained silent. “Don’t you like it, darling?” Moyra asked. “It is beautiful silk. It looks like satin, and the lace is most artistically draped. We must ask father to let you have mother's pearl necklace for your first dance.” Bride had nothing to say. She gazed into the mirror, but she was not looking at the brilliant, white-robed vision it reflected. “I don’t want to go to the old dance,’’ she burst out suddenly. “I sha'n’t enjoy myself at all. I’d rather stay at home.” The elder sisters exchanged glances, which Bride did not see. . “Oh, Bride, why not?" Moyra exclaimed! Aileen readjusted her glasses. “It is a great pity you did not say that before,. Bridget,” she said, “Moyra gave up the idea of having a new gown that you might have a very pretty and good one, and Pelda would have been delighted to have had your invitation. I think you are very ungrateful.” Bride flushed. (To be continued.)