Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
L
562
« Charlie, who had little Alys still in his arms,
Yeeding her’ with cakes and wine-and-water,
now gave her to the motherly care of his hostess,
iand went to his room to have a wash and
‘change his torn clothes. He was very anxious
labout Star, and meeting Dennis and the doctor
on the stairs asked for news of her. '
“SHer hands are burned, and her leg is
broken; but she is plucky, and will pull
through,” was the welcome reply. 2 ot
Charlie felt relieved—ordered champagne to
be sent to her at once with a request that he
might see her fora few moments. . - .
eeply grateful for his timely help, Star sent
wort to say she should be delighted to see him.
.. He found her lying on a low couch covered
with an Indian shawl’ that he had brought
home-for her, and had not yet taken to her
house. . :
- Her face had been bathed, her hands
bandaged, and her leg was set. -
he was very pale, and her hair hung in}
Joose golden waves over her pillow.
There was a bright light burning, and the
air from an open window lifted the light
tresses on her forehead.
- Curled up in a lounge-chair was Alys, and
trim and clean by her mistress’s side stood
Sally, her thick red hair neatly plaited, her
red-brown eyes still smarting from the smoke,
and anxiously watching her mistress whom she
adored. :
« Charlie put a kind hand on Sally’s shoulder.
“Got your war-paint on, I see, Sally.”
‘Not mine, sit ; but some other fellow’s.”
She moyed back, placing a chair for him,
** Where’s Dennis?” he asked, surprised not
to see him by his wife’s side,
She smiled faintly, .
‘He has gone to see the finish of the fire;
he isso fond of fires, that I verily believe he can
enjoy his own, and call it a jolly sight.”
“ Ah, and I believeit was the master’s cigar
that started it; he will drop the vestas abont,
regardless of lace’curtains and cretonne-covered
furniture. To think a man should put an
enemy into his mouth to steal away his home!”
rauttered the irrepressible Sally.
**T think Sally may be right,” said Star;
“Dennis is careless.”
Just then a waiter brought in a supper-tray.
Charlie tempted Star to eat a few mouthfuls
of chicken and drink a glass of wine, feeding
her like a child to save her poor hands, at which,
she laughed, and Sally, who thought feeding
her mistress a duty that devolved upon herself,
elevated her queer little freckled nose.
Presently, just as the hotel was closing,
Dennis came in excited and in high spirits.
“‘The house is completely gutted—it' was
*_ sight 1” -
g .
“€So would he be a sight, if I had my will,”
thought Sally as she held little Alys to him
to say good-night. .
‘Tt was a mercy you were not all burnt in
your beds,” said Charlie as he kissed the
e : :
“The fire would have to be about four in th.
morning for us’ all to be burnt in ours; them
clubs is a providence against fires at night-
time,” snapped Sally witha scornful toss of her
head as she went.
“Sally never loses a chance of getting a
shot at one,” laughed Dennis as he helped
himself to chicken and wine.
Star closed her eyes wearily.
‘Shall I carry you to your room, Star?”
asked Dennis.
**No, thanks; I have decided to stay where
Jam; itis cool andcomfortable here. Sally
is going to sit up with me to-night.”
*Let me stay too,” said Charlie; ‘I feel
tao excited to sleep. I might be of use; at any
rate, Ican read.to you. I’ve got a batch of
new books in-my room; a startling novel
would help to- pass the time. I insist upon
Ashtaroth Ietting me have my own way,
Dennis.” ve
i Y think it awfully good and unselfish of
a, old man, and she would do well to accept
} ourofer, For my part I am fagged out. Te
I offered to sit'up I should be asleep in five
nutes.” . .
Star smiled coldly. oe
St Well, I accept your offer so far, Charlie ;
you abalj git up for au houf or two while Sally
TES INTERNATION AL. ©
gets anap in one of the armchairs—she must
tired out.” : .
When Sally returned Dennis said good-
night, and Charlie brought some brandy and
soda, a box of cigars and some books, leaving
Dennis to occupy his apartment.
“It was ‘a long and painful night for Star, yet
it was not without its redeeming points.
‘. Charlie’s good spirits were infectious, and
his kind sympathy was so genuine that Star
felt 2 growing respect and regard for him.
Sometimes he would read to-her, and when
she seemed to weary of that he wonld tell her
tales of stirring adventure, or make puzzles for
. One of these was very good, she thought, for
it was true. It ran thus:
- Tam a noun of plural number,
: ‘A foe to ease and peaceful slumber.
Now almost any noun you take,
By adding “‘S” your plural make ;
But if an “S” you add to this,
How strange the metamorphosis !
Plural is plural now no more,
And sweet what bitter was before.
The answer being, add an ‘‘s” to the bitter-
ness of cares, and they are turned into the
sweetness of a caress. .
Many and varied were his means of diverting
er.
‘And then he was so anxious for her ease.
He made his hat-box into a little tent for the
injured limb, so that not even the weight of
the rug that covered her should rest upon it. -
Together, both a little worn and tired, they
watched the grey of the morning gradually
cast aside its mists, and grow into the glory of
young day, like a widow casting off her weeds
for a new bridal.
Then as the sun grew warm and_ bright,
glinting upon the sparkling sea like gold,
Charlie founda maid-servant and asked her to
provide a tempting breakfast. -
Sally still slept serenely until Star’s voice
awakened her, bidding her attend to - little
Alys. . .
And the child was brought, fresh and sweet
as a flower, for her mother’s morning kiss.
* Sally bathed her mistress’s face, arranged her
beautiful hair, and was about to redress the
wounded hands when Charlie returned from
his morning swim, and seeing the girl’s clumsy
nervous fingers were bungling: at the task, he
undertook to do it, and managed it with such
tender skill that Star said to him:, -
“Why don’t you take a wife? Iam sure you
would be very, very good to her; and I consider
a man who can be kind and strong must make
a good husband. Such traits are never wasted
on a womay.”
‘* What are you, two sentimenting about?”
said Dennis’s voice..
Star started, and was annoyed to feel her
face flush hotly ;,but Charlie continued his
task, saying lightly:
*«Star considers 1 ought to marry.”
'"] hope you have too much sense. ‘A young
man married is a yourg man marred,’ some
wise man has said.”
Star’s face hardened strangely.
Charlie looking up, vexed at this ungallant
speech, saw her eyes flash proudly.
“It is equally unfortunate for a woman
sometimes. Many of us, I daresay, would give
the best years of our lives to be free from our.
lords and masters.”
Dennis was wartied by the tone of her voice,
he knew that she often had the best of it in
their wordy warfares, so he sald kindly
enongh + {
““What sort of night have you had, dear?
Good, I hope.’
“(Much better than I expected. Your cousin
has been most kind.”
“Good old Charlie! it’s just like him. I
know I must seem a selfish brute, but I slept
like a top. I did intend to get up after an hour's
rest, but ‘pon my soul. I couldn’t.”
_ His satanic majesty ought to have made
ou paviour-genera »” said Star, as she turned
er face. away wearily to look at the sea and
the many gaily-dressed people already on the
parade. .
She drank some coffee, and then closed her
eyes and lay back on the conch,
The flowers on the balcony - smelt very
delicious, she thought, and the sun-blind kept
out tha glare of the sua. “
Gradually the sound of voices grew faint and
far off, and she slept.. =. -
“Mamma’s asleep now,” said little Alys
softly, ‘‘ Poor mamma! we must be as quiet
ag mice, mustn’t we, Cousin Charlie ?’-
“Yes, indeed, pet,” he said, taking her up
on his knee and smoothing her yellow heart
lovingly. ‘‘ You and I will go for a nice walk—
won’t we, Midge—tosee the shops. By-the-bye,
Dennis, what is to be done about providing
your wife and child with a new outfit? Idon’t
understand these things, but I think everything
could be got at Folkestone.” :
«Of course it can; there are splendid shops
there. Money can do wonders, But I, as you
know, am hard up... But Star has the money you.
so generously gave her. Like the careful soul!
she is she paid all our little debts and put the
balance in the Post Office Savings Bank.”
“That must not be touched. Forjunately
the l.oase was let furnished, and was heayi jy
insured. We must sce about taking anotlicy,
for I know your wife objects to hotels, which is-
natural enough with a child who has been used
toe its own home, I should suggest a little.
villa somewhere close to the Lees as a change ;
it will be more lively at Folkestone than here,
and when we are gone, which must be soon, it
will be lonely for Ashtaroth here.”
“ What a thoughtful fellow you are, Charlie!
No wonder all the women worship you.”
“IT hope they do not.
fond deep love of one such as your-Ashtarotls
now; I am sure she is a devoted wife and
mother.” .
«« Almost too devoted for her own comfort,”
said Dennis, as he cut himself a delicate slice}
of ham. . .
. Charlie had always cherished a keen regard
for Dennis ever since they were at. Etou:
together, but for the first time he felt dis-)
appointed in him; he felt afraid that he did not
appreciate his beautiful wife, and the idea
came to him that he would know her worth:
when he learned to miss her in the somewhat
solitary life on the plains or in the woods of
the Wild West. «- .
_. He knew Dennis was just the man fo be of
use onthe frontier; he had courage, and the
training of a soldier—the sort of man to win
the respect of the cowboys, and keep the red-
skins at bay. - :
» Charlie had been too modest to tell him the
extent of his possessions; his herds were
countless, his stores of immense worth, their
profits growing daily. -
He had the confidence and support of the
government; his ranch had become quite a
settlement, the railway not being far- distant
from his home, Peel’s Platte.
He was thinking now as he looked at Star's
pale tired face how he could give up his log-
ouse and have it made comfortable and taste-
fol for her. Truly it adjoined the stores and,
was crowded about with log-cabins; but it was
all the safer for that, the militar? station being
near to protect them from the ruids of the red-
skins, © : .
He pictured her in those wild: picturesque
scenes, a thing of light and bjauty. Thero
would be refinement, home-life, rest, where she
was, and he told himself that she would never
regret trusting the fortune of ber nearest and
dearest to him.
Long after Dennis had gone to the bar. for
a chat with the pretty barmaid, Charlie sat
with the morning paper open before him, lost in
thoughts that were all of the future and the
new interest that surrounded them,
He was too simple-hearted and honourable to
see any danger in this strange fascination all
that concerned his cousin’s wifa had for him; he
only saw in her a good and beautiful women,
whom he might love as a sister.
He felt a profound pity for her too; she had
seen the seamy side of life’when sho should
have been securely sheltered in the sunshine.
He liked her honest pride and simple beabits, ,
and the bright intellect that made her n_
companion for a man. co.
He longed for her to wake up to makea list of
her necessities; he inwardly determined to sup-
plement them lavishly with womenly luxuries
that he knew her pride and independence would
cause her to forego.
I could do with the,
a Sally, too, must be pro- .
_| vided for; be liked her for ber devotion toSter -