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Lost And Found

Lost And Found image
Parent Issue
Day
21
Month
December
Year
1877
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The wind whistled merrily round each corner and over the roof of my thirdfloor chambers, as I stood packing my portmanteau one bitterly cold night, jast a week bef ore Ohristmas day, 18 - . It was none of the wailing winds that come down chimneys with a melancholy bowl, seuding heavy pufts of smoke into the already foggy atmosphere of rooms, and are altogether suggestive of damp oninibuses, wet umbrellas, and muddy, plashy streets, but a brisk, continuous, whistling wind that made the flre burn brightly and sent the snow-flakes on the window-sills eddying around, like chips from the top of a twelfth cake. I suppose everything seemed cheerful because I was ; and who had better reason to be in good spirits that cold night than Henry Marsden, a rising barrister, aged 27 years, within a month of his marriage, and with the prospect before him of a thoroughly English Christmas in an old-fashioned country house ? My father was a country gentleman who sncerely believed in and imitated the manners of the old school in everything save their excesses ; a dandy was his especial abhorrence, and, although well-readhimself, Ifear athorough bookworm would not have held a very high place in his esteem, unless he had had some idea of "going" straight across the country. Being an only son, I might fairly have been brought up a specimen of those embryo squires, so common in England, who have scarceïy two ideas beyond a horse, a dog, or a gun. My father, however, encouraged idleness in no one, and I was early sent to college, where I somewhat óistinguished myself, and was entered at the bar, where, at the time of which I am writing, I had already begun to fall in for a fair practice, which promised to be very lucrative in the time to come. I never cared much about London amusements, and my great delight, whenever I could get away, used to be to go down to my father's for the shooting, with my bosom friend and college chum, Frank Baeburn. What jolly evenings we used to have - my father and Frank, my two sisters and myself. But after a time thoso visits became even dearer to me, for my Cousin Maud came finally to live with us. Early in life my father' 8 only sister had married - against the advice of all her relations - a rich proflígate, who died within a year or two of thoir marriage, and before he had had quite time to spend all his money; however, the income with which my aunt was left to rear her infant daughter was but a slender one, and, on his sister's death, my father took Maud, of whom he was very fond, entirely into his own care. I don't know how it was that I feil in love with Maud. As a growing young man, I used to think her rather an awkward, bashful school-girl who loved me less than my sisters, it is true, but then only because she had seen less of me; but somehow, as she came near her 19th and I my 25th year, I began to find that I was becoming wonderfully interested ns to the expression of those dreamy brown eyes with their long fringes, and that a strange thrill went through me whenever they were lifted to my face with that pretty, pleading look they so often wore. Well, at last we were engaged. I hardly know how we oame to arrange it all. but I found that Maud had loved me all along, with an earnestness and with a fervor whioli she only could love, and 1 - well, never mind what Ifelt ; any way the two years had elapsed which had been fixed in order that I might have : some standing in my profession Defore getting married, and, when I returned i to my work again in town, bright, blushing Maud Granger would be my wife - for my father, with his old-fashioned love for the season of peace and plenty, had wished us to be married at the begininng of the new year. With all this whirling in my mind, no 'wonder that the portmanteau was somewhat hastily packed - indeed, I have an idea that I " jumped the olothes in," that is, stood upon the lid till it simt. Presently the cab was announced at the door, largesse given to my ancient laundress - which no doubt materially benefited the public house at the corner - and I was soon rattliug down the Strand. How bright and cheerfnl all the shops looked, especially the grocers', with the mountains of raisins in the windows, interspersed with bowlders of citrón, and with snowy summits of blanched almonds, all looking so delightfullf tempting and bilious that the apothecary's lamp over the way seemed to twinkle more brightly at the prospect of the increased custom that the puddings would bring its owner. And then the railway station ! I think the most gloomy man in London would be eniivened by the prospect of a railway station at Ohristmas time - that is, if he had not to stay in town with but a vague prospect of a dinner. The usual scène of bustle was going on when I entered. Trains were coming íd, and pouring out their loads of jolly-looking passengers, all rushing frantically to get their luggage out ; traiiis were going off whistling and shrieking as though impatient at being delayed ; fat old ladies, bound for Clapbam, were complacently seating themselves in express carriages for Dover, and, on being unceremoniously bundled out again, were asking piteously, amid a chaos of their various , longings, "where they were to go;" ( newsboys were yelling out, in a shrill, monotonous treble, that they had the latest evening "papahs;" the bookstalls, bright with the various covers of their many-colored books and annuals, were tempting people to stand and look, till driven off by successive charges of porters, whe.eling Brobdingnagian inasses of luggage ; a hurrying crowd conetantly passing and repassing through the swinging doors of the refreshmentroom, a chorus of bells and whistles sounding at once from everywhere. I saw and heard all this, which it has taken me some minutes to describe, as I j hurried through the station to get my ticket - for I had but little time to lose. Before long, with a shrill, waiting serearn, the train moved off into the wintry night; and, with a bald and particularly cross-looking old gentleman for a companioD, I found myself flying, now through the open country, now through a plantation of firs, with their snow-laden branches waving like gigantic teathers in the wind, and settled myself comfortably down, well on my way to Maud and home. How glad they all were to see me, though I was a little disappointed that Maud had not come to the station; but my sister Alice said that she had a slight htadache, and did not like to venture out; so I could do nothing but wait and listen to the chatter of the girls as they volubly told me all the news of the neighborhood - who were coming to stay with us, how the cliurch was to be decorated, and how the preparations for the wedding were progressing - till the wheels rattled on the hard carriage-drive, and I saw my father, standing as it were amid a halo of light at the open hall-door, waiting to receive me. I knew the favorite nooks in the house well enough to be tolerably sure of flnding Maud, unless she was in her own room, and passed at once into the library, a large oak-paneled room, lighted only by a shaded lamp on a distant table and the flickering blaze of the wood fire that burned upon the hearth, now lighting up the room and casting a thousand fantastic shadows over it, now dying away into a dull red mass of embers that left it almost in total darkness. To my surprise, as I entered, my Cousin Maud and Frank Kaeburn emerged from the conservatory at the other end, and came toward me. Could it be that the wavering light of the fire had deceived me, or was it some strange freak of the imagination? Surely Maud was encircled by his left arm as they walked, talking "earnestly. Pshaw ! it was only fancy; but for a moment the idea startled me. They saw me at once, and Maud carne hurriedly toward me, holding out her hand, and exclaiming : " O, Harry, you here so soon ? Why, I did not expect you for an hour yet !" I laughingly referred to my watch as I shook hands with Frank, and said that her time must have been pleasantly filled up to fly so quickly, for I was some time overdue. "Indeed," she replied, confusedly, "I must have been mistaken." I thought that Frank would have left us. knowing that we had not met for some weeks; but he remained, and the three of us stood there, talking in a commonplace, desultory manner, which contrasted forcibly with the meeting I had been looking forward to, till my father and sisters came in, and the dinner-bell warncd me that it wan time to make some change in my dress. During dinner the conversation was general, and, though Maud sat near me, I could get no opportunity of speaking particularly to her; and it was not until late in the evening that, going again into the library, I found her leaning pensively again st the chimney-piece gazing into the flre, How beautiful she looked ! The clustering masses of dark hair were thrown back over her exquisitely-shaped shoulders, the long dark eyelashes contrasting with the faircheek ; but there was a sorrowful look in those dark . eyes, and one white hand beat, fitfully on the chimneypiece, indicating a restless impatience painful to witness. As I drew nearer - she had not heard me enter - I saw that her eyes were glistening with tears. " Why, Maudie !" I cried. The abruptness of my address startled her, and, with a slight scream, she turned, looked at me for a moment, and then flung herself on a sofa and burst into a passion of tears. At flrst I was seriously alarmed, and moved hastily to cali for assistance, but a hurried gesturefrom Maud stayed me, and I endevored to soothe her, using every endearing expression that I could think of till she grew somewhat calmer; but, with all my efforts, I could not asoertain the oaxise of her agitaron, and she at last begged me not to prees her with any fnrther inquiries tlien - that in a day or two she would teil me all, but implored me to say nothing to my family in the meantime ; and, before 1 could interpose or say one word to hold lier, she had glided past my outstretehed arm and left the room- nor did she reappear that night. I sat down alone in the firelit room, musing over the reception I had been looking forward to for weeks and weeks. I thought of how my bright little Maud used to creep to my side, and, laying her soft cheek against my own, talk to me go hopefully and lovingly of our future life ; but now - whatever eould have caused the ckange? She had never come near me once since I had arrived - till I had unexpeotedly given rise to such a burst of distress as I had never seen her under the influence of before. I sat for hours musing over the change in my life, but could find nothing to account for it; I could do nothing but wait, trusting to time to unravel the mystery. The next day I had to ride some distance, to visit a few country friends, and had to start before Maud camo down. My sisters said she was etill suffering from a headache, and, though they made light of it, I could see that both seemod grave and preoccupicd; my father wished to cali in a medical man, but this Maud refused to consent to - as I afterward heard - and so I started on my long ride alone, more troubled and perturbed in spirit than ever. When I returned home late at night, I found only my sister Alice sitting up for me. In reply to my inquiries about Maud, she said that she was better, and had gone out alone for a long walk in the afternoon. I questioned her as to any cause whioh she might know of for the change which had come to Maud, but she knew of notbing. She said that she had been ill and nervous for the last fortnight; and it was the more noticeable as she had for a month previouely been out riding or walking nearly cvery day with Frank Raeburn. "Why," I said, " I thought Frank eame down only a day or two before I ffld." "Oh, no," sho replied; "Frank Las been here for the last six weeks. Has he never told you so iv his letters ?" "No," I answered; " Frank has not written to me for some time past, nor did any of you mention that he was here." "How strange !" said my sister. " But, af ter all, Frank is so of ten here that you know we look upon it as quite a comniqn occurrence; but it's strange that he has not written to you. Yes," she continued, "he and Maud used to go oiit a good deal at first, but latterly they have not scemed to be so mueh together; I could almost fancy that they had had a tiff." I thought of the scène in the librnry on the previous night, and marveled more and more what secret bond there could be between Frank and Maud, and why she was so altercd toward me, and so evidently distressed in mind. I said nothing to my sister, however, of the thoughts that came into my mind, but retired to my room to pass the weary iiours, sleeplessly thinking, thinking, but unable to understand. Once or twice the idea flashed into my head, could Frank have proved false ;o me, and tried to win Maud from me ? No ; it could not be. I knew and trusted both him and her too thoroughly to entertain such a notion ; besides, it was generally thought that he and my younger sister Ellie had a liking - as the country phrase goes - for each other ; still the idea recurred once or twiee, and in the end, as I at last feil into a weary doze, it was in my head still. The next day we had a party of friends arrive from town, and amid them all 1 could get little opportunity of seeing Maud alone, but I watohed her every moment that I could spare, and became at last convinced that between my future 3ride and Frank Baeburn some secret understanding existed, and it was that, ;oo, I feit sure, which was causing Maud such anxiety of mind. At length I could bear the suspense no longer; and the day before Christmas eve 1 watched Maud into the conservatory off the library, and told her, in a few impassioned words, that I had noticed that ;here was some secret in her life that was preying on her mind, and demanded, as ier future husband, a solution of the mystery. For a minute or two she did not reply, and we both stood gazing out upon the wintry scène - a weird expanse of snow, dotted here and there with color, as the cold wind swept among the swaying trees, making the few remaining leaves eddy shiveiingly to the ground. At last Maud turned, and, l&ying lier hands on mine - how they burned even on that cold day - said: " Harry, there is a secret in my life. I, like you, can bear this suspense no longer, andto-morrow you shallhearall. Heaven knows that I would rather, far rather, be found a corpse on that snow than have to teil the tale I must; but give me till to-morrow night, and you shall hear all. If I could think you hated me, instead of loving me as well as I know you do, I should be a less wretehed woman than I am; you will wish yourself, in alter years, that such had been the case." She left me hurriedly as she spoke. I was bewildered at her gloomy, almost fierce speech. Could that be my gentle Maud - whom a rough word had once been enough to frighten - speaking with a prophetic sternness that reminded one of the sibyls of old 1 Good heaven ! what had happened to that fragüe creat ure - a child almost - to make her talk thus to me of hatred and wretchedness ? I could only wait - wait while all thai was bright in my life seemed fading away. The day before Christmas we were busy decorating the church. T joinec the party with reluctance, for so miserable were my thoughts that I wanted to be alone to think; but I had promisec some days before, and could not refuse now without exciting remark, whicl above all things I was anxious to avoid Maud was with us, too, and worked witl a boisterous hilarity which surprisec me, till I proved how unreal it was by asking her once, as I stood near, whei and where we should meet that night In an instant she turned deadly pale and gasped out : "Hush! I don't know yet. 111 see yon perhaps by-and-by." Those were the only words she spoke to me throughont the day, and I fel nervously uncomfortable lest any one should notico the estrangement, as i must seem to them; but they were all too busy with their own affairs. So the da; worc on, till the diiylight faded, and tht, stained-glass windows were only lightec by the reflection of the snow-claa ground. 7 hftd to play the part of bogt, fcha night, for my fatlier was detained at a neighboring county town till long past the dinner hour; and I certainly feit thaukful that it was our custom ever on Christmas eve to break up early, my father always holding that late hours the night before destroyed the enjoyment of Christmas day; and we rose hom the table at half-past 9 - an exceptionally early hour for our house. As we rose to leave the table ono of the servants handed Frank Baebitrn - who had regularly avoided me during the last week - a tiny note; he just glanced at it and nodded. As I followed him out into the passage I saw Maud waiting nnd Frank join her. Before they had been in conversa ion I passed the door, and heard. Frank say : " We can't speak here - it is madness to try to do so. Meet me night at 11, at the old place." I thought Maud seemed about to expostulate; buthe moved hurriedly away, and went toward the smoking-room. Maud, at the, time, looked so utterly woe-begone and miserable that I had haidly the heart to speak to her then, but went up to my own room, waiting for the summons from her which I feit vould decide my life. I sat for some time by the wood-fire in my bed room, thinking how miserably all my hopes had been shattered; for, without actually knowing what it was, I feit sure that Maud's trouble was of no common kind, and would, in all probibility, lead to our separation. My poor 'ather, too, who had so set his heart upon the match, and knew nothing of what was going on- how would hc bear he intelligence ? I sat thus, I know not ïow long, till tho üre was a dying pile, 'rom which occasionally leaped a tranient fíame, bringicg forcibly to my mind the lines: I saw the light ñames falling fast, I eaw tie asiles í'all and die ; So bright at firat, bo dark at last, How likc, alas ! love's mystcry. But it was getting late now, nnd with a weary shiver I arose and looked out of ,he window. Beneath me stretched tlie lawn, covered with a thick carpet of snow, manled by weird shadows, as the wind moved the fir trees to and fro; the moon slione out only at intervals, as the light scud üew across the sky; and the plaintve murmur of the sea, which was close :o us, was an appropriate adjunct to a scène desolate enough. As 1 stood at he window watching the quiet picture with an apathetic kind of curiosity, I suddenly saw a dark figure emerge beneath me from the house and cross the awn. availing itself as far as possible of ;he shelter of the trees. Who could it be ? The figure was ust gaining the shadow, when the moon hone out. Great heaven ! It was Laud. What could she be doing alone, away from the house, at thst hour of the night? Her speech of the day before lashed into my mind- "I had rather, 'ar rather, be found a corpse on that now, than to have to teil the tale I must." To seize my bat and hastily gain the ide door of the house was the work of % minute or two ; but, quick as I had jeen, when I got out upon the lawn the ignre was no longer visible, and it was ouly aíter a quick run - my footsteps jeing, thank goodness, deadened by the bnow - that I caught sight of Maud again, just emerging from the park gate, and taking the path that led to the 'Sisters' Leap," a remarkable cliff which the action of the sea had scarped away till one might drop a plummet-line rom the summit to the rocks, hundreds of feet below. Wearisome as the ascent was, Maud went up quickly, as one who had a fixed object in view. I kept some few yards jehind her, taking advantage of every joulder to screen rarself, lest she should urn and see me, and determined to rusli up and seize her should she have ;he object in view that I dreaded. Just as we neared the end of the path that led to the flat summit of the cliff, and I was preparing to dfirt forward and stay her at any risk, I heard a man's voice whisper, cautiously, " Hist, Maud! are you alone?" and, standing above he rock behind which I crouched, I saw Frank Baeburn. Maud joined him, and they stood in silencc; for a minute, she gasping for breath, he smoking and watching her with a sneer upon his face such as I had never seen it wear before. "Oh, Frank," said Maud, after a pause of a minute or two, "I carne throngh all the blow this bitter night - won't you speak to me ?" "Yes, I sce you have come," was the cool reply- " what is it ? The old story, I suppose ?" "Yes, it is the old story," exclaimed Maud, indignan tly; " and now let us end it. Will you teli my miserable tale to Henry ? Marry me, and take me away from this place; I am sick of acting a daily lie such as my life is now. Take me away from here; I care not where 01 in what poverty I live, but to go on deceiving the man who has loved me so generously and truly I wili not." "Now, Maud," began Frank, inipaticntly, "you are going over the olc childish argument again. Have I nol told you twenty times lately that i' would be worse than lunacy in me to take the step you propose ? Onr love began in raadness, why end it in folly ? No one knows, no one can know, wha we have been to each other. Marry Marsden, and forget it all - if you can - and who is in jured, or the wiser ? No one. If I marry you," he continued with a cureless yawn, " there will be scandal and a row; you and I will botl be disgraced, and 'the happinefs of a whole family will be ruined. I can't and, plainly, won't do it. " "And so," rejointd Maud, "you Henry Marsden's friend - you who have piirtaken of his hospitality, enjoyed his friendship, and shared his conñdence - urge me to marry him, when you know well that, if he were ajquainted with all ke would spurn me like a dog - you urge me to do this ?" " Yes," was the emphatic answer, "! do." There was a eilence of some moments broken only by the dash of the surf a the base of the cliff. So this was the secret ! The frienc whom I had most trusted in the worl had deceived the woman whom I lovet better than my own life, and now scofi'ec her with studied insolence ! The bac blood went surging throngh my veins and I feit like a second Cain; friendship love - all were swept aside - noth ing but blood could wash out the wrong done me. The intensity of my feeling made me feel sick and giddy, and for momeüt I buried my face in my hands utterly unnerved. The silence between Ihem was broken by Maud. " Listen, Frank," fclio said; " I willno do what you wish. I know that if eve there was a feeling between us whic mmM not profane the word love, it i ver now - I know you are weary of me; till, had you taken me at my word toight, and removed me from tliis nlace, would have followed you like the verist slave, content with fare that the poorst wretch would not stoop to; but to jring dishouor on the man who has only rred in loving me too well, I wil] not. jisten ; to-morrow I will tell Hcnry Marsden all yourperfidy, my infatuation, uilt - cali it -what you will -and then" she paused, and almost whispered the ast words - " kill myself !" " Don't you thiuk you could vary the jrogramme by killing yourself first?" vas the reply, given with a jeering, brutal laugh. This was all that I could bear. Springng up, I dashed between the speakers, lid before Frank's exolamation and Vlaud's scream had died away I was jrispiug the former by the throat and ragging him to the edge of the cliff. 'he struggle was long and desperate - ie was the stronger man, but I was erved by rage, and at length got him mdei me and half over the precipice. ?or a few seconde I paused; and, as the moon revealed the agonized expression n Frank's face, I feit a revulsión of eeling - but it was over directly, and my age returned with tenfold violence. Should I succeed ? He struggled desjerately, and Maud's screams raüg loud ind shrill upon the air. 'At last he's gone - gone !" I cried, nd clutched convulsively at - " Hullo, there ! hullo ! hullo ! Why, ir, you'll have a fit !" I opened my eyes. Wliere was the liff- Frank- Maud ?_ Dim ae the light vas, I eould see that I was still in the ailway carriagc, and the cross-looking ld gentleman with whqm I had started was shaking me desperat'ely. "Ah, awake at last!" exclaimed my ompanion, in the crustiest tone. " Do 'ou of ten sleep like that, sir ? If you o, I think you might have mentioned ;, and I'd have got into another cariago." I was so bewildered that I could not peak, but only wipe the perspiration rommyforehcad, and ejaculate, "Thank ïeaven !" "Not much to be thankful for," mutred my companion. "Too much ork-pie- humph !" The train was slakening speed visibly now, and, in a minute or two, ran beside he platform of the terminus; and there were Maud, Alice, Ellie and Frank, wavng their hands to me as I leant from he carriage window. "Why, Harry, old fellow, how pale you are !" was Frank's exclamation, as ie wrung my hand. I did not give him my recent expeiïences then, nor nted I dweil upon later )articulars now; 6uffice it to say that, ïaving had my horrors out in dreamand, I never spent a jollier Christmas n reality, and no better wife now sits )eside any man's flre than she whom I ïad " Lost and Found."

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus