Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1908 — A CROWN OF FAITH [ARTICLE]

A CROWN OF FAITH

CHAPTER XL— (Continued.)' In about an hour Lionel; Leigh entered the room. The young men hm) never ex;changed words before. Lionel bowed. Arthur pointed to a seat. - ' “Mr. Leigh, I have been excessively annoyed that you should have been subject to distress on the night when some miscreant tried to murder me. I am sorry, in one sense, that you allowed yourself to bo mixed up in an intimacy with my poor, hair-brained brother Dick. I suppose he made himself agreeable?” .. “Well, Mr. Calthorpe, your brother is too reckless, and loves trifles and pleasure too much, to be quite fascinating as a companion to me at all times. He is certainly amusing and dashing; but I pitied him. It seemed horrible to be the nephew » of a nobleman, and the twin brother of an earl’s heir, and to be banished from home, and living on his wits, at an Inn, borrowing. and running into debt. I wished the earl to pardon him, and allow him a regular income, and insist on his keeping within bounds.” “He would never do it,” said Arthur Calthorpe. “He told me himself that the hundred and fifty half-yearly payment always goes in a week ; and he said he never paid his debts/ either, if he could help it." “He has told me the same,” said Lionel gloomily. p “Well, then, I am sorry you allowed your name to be mixed up with poor Dick’s. I thought you might have suffered some annoyance. I know Dick wouldn’t care; he is off In Ireland now; and the next move he makes will be to France. He knows that I believe he Would not think of braining me, and he understands that the earl will never forgive him —the earl never does forgive; so I send him three hundred a year. But you, Mr. Leigh—-you are sure you have not been snubbed, in consequence?” “Not at all, sir. I think, on the whole, the Abbotshold people are aware that I am not an assassin in disguise; and I have not lost my pupils at St. Martha’s, even.” “Your sister is there, isn’t she?” “Yes,” replied Lionel dryly. “We Calthorpes are given to making love matches —Dick excepted. He is a cold-hearted savage in all affairs of the affections —would marry a broker’s widow if she had seven thousand a year, if she were short, stout, red faced, and fifty; but for me, Mr. Leigh, I am sincere; I hope and pray that some day your sister may be Countess of Beryl. What family of Leighs do you belong to?” “Mr. Calthorpe, my father was a Republican—what they call here a Radical. I know he was a scholar and a gentleman.” “But there fs breed about her,’ said the young aristocrat, moving his foot restlessly. "Have you nothing which speaks of ancient family honors?”

“Ob, yes: Leila has a gold cross, with • portrait of our mother in the center." “What would I give to see it? Jlring it to me.” "But, sir. although you speak honorably —most honorably—there is the earl.” “He is seventy-nine. I would wait ten years for Miss Leigh.” ..‘JJhen, Ella Watson?” “Why, it was a lark —a bit of schoolboy nonsense. Listen to me, and judge for yourself. I. with two college friends, Everson and Sir George Power, was fishing in the Highlands; and one week it rained, and rained, and rained, and we had nothing to amuse us, and we went into the town of Euravon, and ate short bread, in the baker’s shop, which was also the postoffice, and made love, all three of us, to this long-faced ’girl, who stood behind the counter." “Made love?” Lionel asked dubiously; “Well, yes; talked all sorts of trash to her. all of us; and we invited her to •upper at St. Swithin’s Inn; and she came; and this Ellen, having seen an envelope addressed to me, called herself Mrs. Arthur Cglthprpe, and I said nothing against it. After that, she wrote me a letter, asked for two thousand for her father, who is an unmitigated scamp, and bad the insolence to inform me that she was my legal wife, and that it was her intention to announce that fact to an admiring world. I was stupid enough to beg her silence, w’hereas an open contest would have been the best thing for me: but I feared the earl. I knew his obstinacy." _ “And now. Mr. Calthorpe, what do you propose doing?” "According to strict law, ano this atrocious Scotch code, which has never (been altered, I suppose that my madcap prank has placed me in this woman’s power. Anyhow, there will be a lawsuit and trial. There is no doubt about that; but, meanwhile, I have made up mind there is only one woman in the world whom I can ever love: and that woman is your sister, Mr.. Leigh.” ,

CHAPTER XII. Lionel Leigh loved Ella Wycherly. Notwithstanding the strenuous effort made by Miss Worthington to banish him from Wycherly, it fell out that be was not fortddden to teach German to the colonel’s daughter; and during the three months which followed the ball he had given his three weekly lessons. ' He would tell her that, though tutor, ■nd she heiress, fie whs still man, and she woman; that he had dared to love her boldly, If without Half In rage, ■nd half In trinmfdiaut pride, .he had vowedqhat the confession sbou.d be made. She should learn of Chateau Moreauville, •nd the possible title**and estates which had escaped-him-Sometimes it seemed to -Irinnel that he hated Ella Wycherly more than he loved her. Now he was asked for sympathy and belji for another lover; but whax a lover! —an earl's heir, a spo.ied world’s darling. No; this j>ain]H>red aristocrat f could not lore as he loved. At last lie •aid: "Mr. Calthorpe, you will change your x mind. When you are free of Nellie Wat■on, you will not wish to marly a gov•nMM.** ’’But I declare it!” cried Arthur, flushtag—"l declare It, air, to you, her broth-

er,\on my honor as a man and a gentleman ! Can I Bay more?” “No, Mr. Calthorpe; you are sincere. I will’speak to my ‘ sister. But what -about. Nellie Watson?” “You know, jpL course, sfie is out of prison, and all chance of discovering who it was-that tried to murder me seems lost. It was certainly not Nellie, nor her father. It was proved beyond doubt that old Watson was in The postoffice at- Euravon, in Scotland, on the night of the seventh. Nellie herself says she should know the man if she saw him; but refuses, with a smile, to describe him. There is something more in this affair, Mr—Leigh, than any of us dream of. Dick, my brother, is quite tncapable of such a- crime; it was not his figure which I saw flying away and leaping the palings before I fainted, after the blow. But let us talk of other things. Will you take that brooch and bracelet to your sister, with my, devoted love? They are not diamonds or rubies, only gold, set with pearls and pale-pink topaz—a design I chose myself.” Soon after this Lionel was on his way to Wycherly Park; the case with the jewels was safely stowed away in his pocket. He strode through the woods the February sunshine was streaming, between the naked boughs. A turn in the path, and Lionel came upon Ella Wycherly—-Ella, in green velvet, with a high crowned hat, and waving, black feather—Ella, with cheeks aglow, and eyes glittering, and red lips apart, not smiling. ~ K - “Mr. Leigh, have you heard the news?” “It concerns you ! You are about to be married, Miss Wycherly!” “It is something infinitely less pleasant than that, and it concerns you, my good German master! It is an important thing now, since it so concerns that fashionable costume of my worthy instructor; for you are worthy—are you not, monsieur?—good and learned, wise and philosophical, fitted to become the instructor of erring, faulty youth—the guide, philosopher and friend of giddy pates, empty heads, dancing dolls, pouting babies, like myself!” s She sprang about as she spoke, executed a back step as if she were taking a dancing lesson, then stood suddenly still, and drew a long face—-at least, a face as long as it was possible to manufacture out of her rosy, dimpled, piquant physiognomy.

“I am an unworthy specimen of young ladyhood, sir,” she said, speaking in a nasal twang. “I shock your notions of propriety, Mr. Leigh. If I had my scent case I would offer it to you,- -for you possibly may faint, and that would be so awkward.” Lionel laughed, but his voice trembled nervously. He was desperately, madly in love with Jihis fascinating, wild creature, and she was mocking him. He was amused, enchanted, tormented, all at the same time. Whatever impelled Ella to tease her tutor so, it is difficult to imagine. Was iff “Simply the outburst of high animal spirits, and the triumph of an exultant vanity? or was it a mask assumed to hide deeper feelings? or was it a genuine and cruel love of making a captive feel her power and smart under it? The tide of passionate love which had been swept away for a few moments from Lionel's heart, by the cold blasts of Ella’s sarcasm, rushed back again impetuously, and engulfed his-whole being. "Ella !” he said hoarsely—“ Ella !’’ She started; she turned pale; she drew herself up, cold and haughty as a statue. “Listen! Steps I Somebody pulling aside the branches I Do not speak I” And Ella glided away down a side path, leaving—the- tutor —with-his face blanched by contending emotions. lie glanced uneasily about, not knowing where to go. or what to do. He dared not follow 4111 a. Was she offended? Had her haughtiness taken offense? He walked on almost sullenly toward the Hal. Turning round , a huge withered trunk of an oak. which obstructed the path, he encountered a tall, sinewy figure—a man in a gray suit, with a blue velvet cap pulled low over his forehead. His shaggy light eyebrows met in a puzzled frown. Suddenly he raised his deep-set eyes, and they flashed kindly recognition on the German tutor. “Hello! Mr. Leigh. The top of the morning to you I was looking for you. I have a proposal to make to you.” Dr. Dundas came atpi linked his arm in that of Lionel. "Walk back with me. You are not in a hurry, are you?” “Not very much; only the lesson Miss Wycherly——” "Ah! well; she can wait. I have a proposal to make to you. Should you like TO come apd reside at Wycherly HaH?” Lionel’s, heart gave a great bound, then thnmped madly against his side. He was afraid that the doctor would notice his emotion.

“You take me by surprise,” he said. “Of course I do; but there is nothing to be alarmed at. The facts are simply those: Colonel Wycherly has no male heir, and there is a vast property attached to Wycherly—more than Miss Wycherly can have need of. and, under ordinary circumstances, she might become the prey of fortune hunters.» That young lady is headstrong—very headstrong." He parsed a moment, and glanced very keenly at Lionel, with the deep-set, keen, sarcastic eyes. “We will guard her fro;»= all * ’-‘-nfurors; but the colonel has coine to the wiae decision that ninety thousand a year is a preposterous fortune for a girl. Tims, she might marry a duke; but Mrs. Wycherly is a very peculiar person; dnd so, in fact, twenty thousand n year is to be Ella’s Itoriion, with bar mother.as guardian. Estates to the value of seventy thousand, including Wycherly, are to descend by willto one Graves Power, a seventh or eighth cousin of thX colonel. We have had some trouble to rake this gentleman up: but he is found at length. He is coming to reside at Wycherly, with his mother’s full consent, his mother being a widow.” “Apd he is to marry Miss Wycherly?" “Indeed, no. He is ■ boy of nine, and

I wish you to be h* tutor. The boy Is delicate. He has be*n at a large public school, is industrious, and has overworked-; and I ‘ want to give him twelve months’ fish|ng, and shooting, and riding,? under the case of an intelligent tutor, who won’t .‘let him carry his gun nor swim, full meal, rtor sit with |his feet in the stream, ’ and~a~CTizing July sun on his head. I want you to 1 teach' him English and grammar and spelling and French and German, which have all been neglected at his great public school!, and then he will.be a young, merry companion for Ella. Poor child! she needs a ' romp sorely; and if you come, Mr. Leigh, the colonel will make it worth your while. Two hundred a year, a sitting room and bedroom to ourself; and when the boy goes to' Eton, you can accompany him as private tutor. I have heard it hinted that you are anxious to distinguish yourself in literary circles. You will have ample time to pursue your studies. Now, will you accept the position?”' To Lionel it was as if the gates of an encnanted palace had opened wide, and he had been invited to enter, Ella—Ella-r-Ella ! Would he listen daily to the music of her voice, and in time —who could say nay?—win her to something like pity, something like feeling, something like appreciation of his deep devotion—his intense love? Then he remembered, with some pain, that Miss Wycherly had greeted him mockingly, that she had told him the news -concerned,him and his velveteen coat, was something infinitely less agreeable than her own marriage, that all the Wycberly world were talking of it. He looked on the ground. Then he said : “Dr. Dundas, I shall be delighted to become an inmate of Wycherly. But, my other pupils?” “Give them a fortnight’s notice,” said the doctor bruskly tj "A fortnight is long enough.” “A month,” pleaded Lionel. “It would take a month for Miss Pritchard to\ngage another professor.” “A month, then —a month. So you will come in March, and train th's boy, and make him walk in the road he should walk in?” “I will. Dr. Dundas.” “You will dine with us,” pursued the doctor, “and spend the evening, if you like. But our evenings are usually dull; whist for us elders, and silence or a conversation with the cat for poor Miss Wycherly;” The good doctor shrugged his shoulders. “Old friendship with the colonel in India years, years ago ties me here.” He shook his head, and frowned. “Madam is a peculiarity, as you will fihd —a saint, a tyrant", all in on'C:” • “A thorough woman of the world,” said Lionel. The laugh of the Scotch doctor rang loudly though the bare February wood. “The world!” he echoed. “Oh, poor lady ! How amusing are the comments of outsiders! No, young sir; the mistress of Wycherly is not a woman of the world.” “At least she is proud !” “Proud; yes, as Lucifer. One might think she had fallen from some higher sphere, and disdained converse with mortals. -‘‘They do not receive much company?” asked Lionel. “Occasionally. There will be a dinnei next, month, and the boy heir introduced to the county. Well, here I must leave you, for 1 have a message to the woodman. It is a bargain, then?” “Yes, sir.” And so they parted. (To be continued.)