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Under False Pretenses

Under False Pretenses image
Parent Issue
Day
22
Month
August
Year
1889
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

K 'OW fora tast race, Bruno. Tomorrow the romping country lioyden i 1 1 be formed into a sédate city g i r 1 . Only think of it! Ready, old fellow. Off we go!" It was a sight to stir one's sluggish blood - the loveJy, laughmg girl bounding lightly as a mountain gazelle down the sloping liülside, through the sweet lush grass and red tasseled clover, a great black Newfoundland dog leaping and prancing at her heels. It was June in New Hampshire, and the setting sun cast slanting shadows across the picturesque Chesterfield hills, touchinsr the far off mraintain mot. with rose and gold, a shining aureole. Down where the purple shadows were already deepening and darkening lay a lovely lake, gleaming like a great soft opal on Mother Nature's breast. At the foot of the hill, where ran the dusty high road, Bruno made a sudden detour from his young mistress' side, and bounding toward an alder thicket emitted a hoarse, sullen growl. Vera Lyndon stopped short, breathless with running, just as a handsome, fashionably ciad young fellow emerged from the leafy covert that had hidden him from view. At the first rnovement he made, however, Bruno crouched directly in his path, ready for a spring, lashing his tail furiously, showing his fangs, and ever and anon giving vent to a vicious snarl. The new corner turned pale under the becoming bronze of his handsome face, "Cali off the ugly brute, will you, Miss Lyndon? I believe he would tear me in pieces if I were to meet him alone." A mischievous smile curled the girl's red lip. It was plain to seo that she rather enjoyed the situation. "Quiet, Bruno - behave yourself, sir!" she cried, seizing hold of the dog's collar. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself? Now take yourself off!" The faithf ui creature only slunk back a few paces, and sat upon his haunches, glaring ferociously at the man and stilí emitting a sullen growl from time to tune. "Strange that Bruno should have taken such a dislike to you, Capt. Haxton. I never knew him to be so savage wim any one bei ore." "Ifc ruatters little so long as the brute's lovely mistress does not share the antipathy." Vera Lyndon's dimpled cheeks flushed redder than ever, and the slender little hands, with which she made an attempt to smooth down her wind ruífled hair, trembled perceptibly. Look and tone were so expressive. No wonder lier sensitiva heart gave a leap and her pulses throbbed more quickly. She was an innocent, unsophisticated child. Her little world was bounded by tnose rugged New Hampshire hills, where she had lived her brief life of eeventeeu years with a widowed mother. Into that world Capt. Digby Haxton had come unexpectedly somo three weeks before. He was stopping at the summer hotel down on the shore of the little lake. Accident had thrown the young people together in the first place. Of course the gallant captain had made good use of his opportunities. He was so different f rom the farmers' sons in the neighborhood, Vera could not lielp feeling pleased and flattered by his attentions. So handsome, polished, and well dressed! And yet some subtle instinct warned her to beware of hiin. "I was on my way to the farm house, Vera," he said, smiling into the girl's blushing face, as hestroked his luxuriant dark mustache. "Is it true, the report that has just reached my ears, that you are going away to-morrow for a long visit?" "Yes," Vera answered. "My grandmother, Mrs. Wallingford, whom I have never seen, has sent for me to come to Boston." "Not tho rich Mrs. Wallingford?" She did not see the Btart of surprise he gave, or the eager, questionimg look that leapt like a flash into his bold black eyes. "Yes- my grandmother is a very wealthy woman, I believe. Is it possible that jou know her, Gapt. Haxton?" "I spent last winter in Boston, and met Mrs. Wallingford once or twice," he answered, in some co'nfusion. "Isn't it a little strange,"he added, after a pause, "that you should be living in this out-of' the-way place when you have a rich relative who might do so much for you?" "O grandmother never forgave her eon for marrying my sweet mamma. She is a proud, haughty, selflsh woman, I have been told. Up to the present time she has ref used to hold any communication with us. It was a great surprise when she sent for me to come and visit lier; but mamma thinks I had better ro. " Digby Haxton stood looking ut the lovely girl a moment, a curious glitter in his inscrutaMe dark eyes. She had fairly bevritched him with her pretty face. It would not be a bad stroke of policy to win the wealthy Mrs. Wallingford's granddaughter for his wife. Suddenly he bent his handsome head, taking Vera's trembling littlo hand in his warm, strong grasp. "I shall miss you sadly. It won't seem liko the same place when you are gone," he whispered, ardently. A moment later he was pouring the oíd, oíd story into her listening ear. Vera thrilled and quivered under the ardent gaze of those dangerous, dark eyes. Of real, abiding love she knew next to nothing. "What answer sha might have made to his eloquent pleadIng it ís impossiWe to say. But all at once Bruno shot past her witli an angry snarl and sprang viciously at Haxton's throat. He seenied terribly exasperated. A short struggle ensued. It was all Vera could do, by dint of altérnate coaxing and threats, to induce the dog to release his grip. Capt. Haxton was livid with fear and rage. But he made a mighty effort, and controlled himself. It would have done him good to shoot the vicious brute, only he did not dare. "Answer me, Vera," he entreated, falling back a step out of harm's way. "Don't let that snarling beast of a dog keep back the confession I long to hear. Say that you love me and will become my wiie." But the girl had experienced a sudden revulsión of feeling. All at once she remembered her gentle raother's warning - for Mrs. Lyndon had never liked or trusted the handsome stranger. Surely the instincts of the two who loved her best could not be wholly astray. "- 1 am so eorry, Capt. Haxton," she faltered. "I shall always feel grateful for your friendship. But it is useless thinking of any other relation. Gfood-by. Mamma is waiting for me, and I must ero." With pale lips and cheeks she glided past him, keeping firmly hold of Bruno's collar, and turned into a footpath that led toward a low red farm house, wíth a straggling orchard stretching away in the rear. Capt. Haxton's lips had fallen apart in unfeigned amazement. He had anticipated making an easy conquest of this guileless, simple hearted country girl. "Curse the brute!" he broke out, with a hissing, deep drawn breath. "But for him, I believe, on my soul she would have surrendered. I'll give him anounce of cold lead one of these days. And the gm- with what an air she declined my offer of rnarriage! An experienced belle couldn't have done it more coolly. But," a wicked sinile creeping slowly about hls lips, "it will be a reversal of the usual order if she slips through my fingers now I have really made up my raind. Mrs. Wallingford'sgranddaughter! Who would have dreamed of flnding such a prize here?" Excitement brought back Vera's ebbing color as she flew down the narrow path. She had beeu deeply stirred. The handsome captain was her first real lover, and had beeun to ñmirr. íarovW in her girlish dreams. Now, strange to say, she experienced a sense of real relief that the matter had been so unexpectedly decided. "Dear oíd Bruno, you sa ved me f rom making a serious mistake, and I thank you for it," sheexclaimed, stopping short to wreatJie her arma about his shaggy neck. 'The faithful creature barked joyfully, and began to jump and leap about her, his ill temper entirely gone. A slender, sweet faced woman stood in the open farm house door. ïour trunk is packed, dear," she said, fondly kissing her daughter's cheek, "and now we will have this last evening all to ourselves. I have put in my pearl colored aük and that Flemish point. And I you shall have my pearl brooch and the bracelets to match." "Oh, mother!" Vera's lips quivered; her blue eyes filled with tears. She knew how highly Mrs. Lyndon prized these treasures- her only ones- and what it must cost her to let them go. The silk was her wedding dress, the jewels a present f rom her dead Jiusband during the happy period of their honeymoon. "I wish I had inore to offer," the gentle lady said, with a suppressed sigh. "Of course Mrs. Wallingford will think your wardrobe shabby and old fashioned, but we have done our best. Vera, dear," with another deep breath, "I do hope your visit will bo the ineans of softening the proud old lady's obdurateheart. We are very poor- poorer than you dream! And it is wicked to bè so hard and unforgiving. Your morner ougnt to do something generous for her dead son's only child." Vera affectionately kissed tho thin, wan cheek. "I alniost hate her for being so cruel to you, little mother. Just because you aro only a farmer's daughter! But I wil] try to forget her injustice and win her love for your sake." Early next morning the lumbering yellow stage coach drew up in the shadow of the drooping elms growing beside the farmhouse gate. This was a nondescript vehicle which made daily trips to the nearest raihvay station, twelve mil(s away, for the transportation of passengere and a liinp leather mail bag- limp because the Chesterfield people wero never great letter writers, and there were no large business concerns to cali forth an extensive correspondence. "Going to visit your rich old grandmother, eh?" the genial driver said to Vera, with the cordial familiarity of an old f riend. There are no faraily secrets in these country towns, and the girl'a prospects had been discussed at nearly every supper table for miles around, the evening before. "It's high time she sent for you. Her own flesh and blood, as one might say, and she rolling in riches, I with only one other relative in the world! Now I hope she'U make amends by adopting you and leaving you all her money." Thero was a tearf ui parting between Vera and her mother; and at last the former was well staited u:i the twelve mile journey over the hiUs to the little inland city where she would take the train for Boston. She reached her destination late in the afternoon. The cab stopped before a large liouse in the Back Bay región, which loorned grandly against the blue I gray sky. Vera's heart beat quickly as she cümbed tlie stone steps and rang the bell. A messenger boy carne up just behind her, bringing a yellow envelope. Vera was conducted through a Iofty hall to a reception room whose gold fleckecl walls, multitudinous mirrors, carved chairs and costly bric-a-brac I ly dazzled her unaccustomed eyes. A hot feeling of indignation went over I her as ehe gazed around. How many I comforts inight have been purchased for lier poer care burdened mother by the money any one of these elegant trifles raust hare cost! But no! selfish, worldly Mrs. Wallingford had never forgiven her son's "low marriage," as she was pleased to term it All these years, up to the present time, she had ignored the very existence of his widow and orphan child. "But for the hope of making my little mother's last days pleasanter, I would go away this minute!" Vera thought, her eyes flashing, her breath coming thick and hurried. The "other relative" to whom the stage driver had referred was lier cousin v una iynüon, a BaHimore beauty and belle. Vera liad never seen Viola. As the latter was rich in her own right, there could be little conimunity of feeling between the two. But, if justice were done, they would share and share alike ín Mrs. Wallingford's large fortune. "Though that is too much to expect " Vera told herself, "I shall be quite satisfied if grandmother settles a few thousands, that wil] never be missed, on little mamma. Then she could enjoy Ufe a little and need not work so hard." At that moment the rich portieres draping an arch at the lovrer end of the apartment were sweptaside, and a strikingly handsorue young man carne toward her with outstretched hands. "You are Miss Lyndon," he said, in a mellow voice, smiling down on her in a way that instantly inspired a feelin" of confidence and trust. "Welcome to Eoselawn. I must, perforce. introduce myself. I am Herbert Falconer. Of course you have heard of me?"' Yes- though she had quite forgotten, for the time being, that there was such a person. Mrs. Wallingford had been married andwidowed tvvice. Herbert Falconer was her last husband's nephew- therefore no relation of Vera's. Now she distinctly recalled having heard it rumored that tne young man was a great favorito of Mrs. Wallingford's, and liad long reeided at Roselawn. "A telegram has just arrived from the other Miss Lyndon, your cousin," he said, displaying the yellow envelope left by the messenger boy. "Aunt Wallingf ord took a sudden whim to send f or you both at the same time. Strange as it sound?, she haa nevermade anee ot either grandehild. She wishes to judge between you, and decide which shall be the heir, it may be," with acareless laugh. "But your cousin sends word that she has been unexpectedly prevented f rom coming." Vera looked relieved as she glanced wistfully up to the young man's frank, handsomeface. She was quite sure Viola must be proud and haughty, and had no desire to meet her. "May I go at once to grandmother's room?" "Certainly. She doesn't expect you untu to-morrow, but that makes no difference. Come with me, please." Three minutes later Vera was standing before a wrinkled, yellow oíd woman in black vel vet, whosecold gray eyes keenly scrutinized her f rom head to foot. "You have the Lyndon look," Mrs. Wallingford said, graciously, at length. "I am suro we shall get on very well together. I like your dress. Such simplicity is refreshing in these days of ruffles and rich apparel. It might mako a difference, only everybody knows you can afford to do as you please in such matters." Vera gave a little gasp. What did the oíd lady mean? She liad no idea how pretty and lady like she looked in the soft clinging gown of steel colored cashrnere, relíeved by little knots of scarlet ribbon here and there. Not the least like a country girl! Before she could recover herself to replyHerbert Falconer had produced the telegram and was reading it aloud. It was signed, "V. Lyndon;" but by some oversight the name of the place from which it was sent had been omittpd "Froiu tliat New Hampshire f?irl," Mrs. Wallingford muttered, half contêmptuously, sinking back upon the soft cushions with a sigh of relief. "Of course," said Herbert, serenely. "Well, Irnust ownl'mglad she isn't coming. No doubt she is a bold, forward creature, with the manners of a savage, who would put mo to the blush a dozen times each day. What better could you expect of a child brought up by such a mother? I never forgave the designing creature f or entrancing my son into marrying her; though I did think of relenting enough to do something for tho daughtcr. Well, I ana sincerely glad to be spared the ordeal. I should havchated the girl because of her origin." Vera's blue ey es flashed indignan tly. She tried to explain- to reeent in some way the insult oflfered her gentle mother - but there was such a choking in her throat she could not utter an audible I sound. "Come, dear, and give me a kiss," she heard Mrs. Wallingford say, coaxingly, in the midst of her tumultuous excitement. '"I have taken a real f ancy to you, just as I expected, An old wonian like me f eels the need of some one to love and leanupon. You and I will be all the happier for being spared the amiction of this country cousin's society. " Vera flung her hands over her face and held them there a moment. Like i flash carne a sudden thought that made lier head whirl and her heart throb faster than ever. Mrs. Wallingford was a woman of violent, deeply rooted prejudices. Slie seemed wilüng enough to take Viola to her heart. Why not profit by the very natural mifrtake that had been made- assunie her couain's identity. be Viola until she had won her whimsical grandmotlier's love? 'The deception r?n harci no one," I sho reflected. "Of courso I sliall disclose the truth as soon as my purpose has been accomplished. If I could only bring tliis proud old lady face to face with my sweet mamma, how quichly she would feel ashamed of her silly dislike!'' When Vera raised her head at length, Herbert Falooner was gazing at her curiously. Not even attempting to analyze that look, ehe touched her lips to Mrs. Walliugford's wrinkled cheek. Somehow thoughts of her dead father stirred lier strangely. "Only be kind to me, and I will always ove you, grandmother," she said, tremulously. The mistake had been allowed to pass unrectified, and retreat from her anomalous position was no longer possible. But when she found herself alone in her elegant boudoir, with bath and dressin room attached, she walked restlessly about, scarcely deigning a glance at her luxurious surroundings. "I can never, never keep up the deception ! I shal 1 betray myself a dozen times eacn aay. u why, why did I make the attempt?" But it was easier than she would have believed. She had acquired many graces and accomplishments in her country home. Her dress was always so neat, pretty and becoming one never thought of the material, but only noticed the effect. And Mrs. Wallingford had not the faintest suspicion that this lovely, lady like girl was the simple country maiden 3he had secretly made up her mind to dislike. It was astonishing how quickly a week .lew by- the happiest Vera had ever expenenced. Had she thought to analyze lier f eelmgs she must have realized how much Herbert Falconer had had to do in causing the days to pass so very pleasantly. There was only the fact of the false part she was playing to mar lier perfect happiness. How she hated herself now for that weak yielding to temptation! "Everybody is so good and kind to me I shall never have the courage to confess the truth," she of ten moaned in the solitude of her chamber. "How shall I ever be able to persuade errandmother it. w.-, all the impulse of the moment, and not a deliberately laid plan? What will Mr. Falconer think of me when I teil him I am not Viola- only poor, despised Vera?" And a vivid crimson would suffuse her üheekt One evening Mrs. Wallingford sent Jier into the conservatory to gather a few roses, her favorite flower. The'fragrance breathing bower was dimly lighted. AsVeraglided under the trailing green arches she heard the sound of suppressed voices in a shadowy corner. These suddenly ceased at her approach a glass door opening on the terrace closed wiarpiy, ana Ann Briggs, one of the maids, a bold, forward girl, glided out of the obscurity. "What are you doing here?" Vera demanded, struck by the maid-'s evident terror and guilty looks. "I carne for this," Ann stammered, displaying a crimson blossom she had snatched from one of the potted shrubp in passing. "You were not alone. I heard voices. Some one has iust erone awav. m' Wallingford would be greatly displeased if she knew you received visitors here." Words of denial were upon the girl's lips, but she thought better of it, and did not utter them. "My brother saw me through the j dow, whilc on his way to the kitchen door, and stopped long enough to deliver a message," she answered, insolently tossing back her head. "Go, teil my mistress, if you like, Miss Lyndon. Idon't imagine she will think I have committed a capital crime." Vera instinctively distrusted the girl. Something told her she was both nmg and unscrupulous. Of course she I was keeping the real truth back. But it would bo wiser, perhaps, to overlook this transgression. '"See that you are not guilty of a I ond offense, and I shall not betray you," I she said. hastily gathering the roses för I which she had come, and turning to I trace her steps. Just then a suppressed sound caused I her to look quickly around. She saw a I masculine figure rise suddenly f rom the shrubbery beside the terrace door, and üurry across tlie lawn. The man'ü hat was draws over his eyes, but Vera caught a inonientary glimpse of lus face I in the moonlight. "Capt. Haxton! Can it be possible?" I she rourmured, reeling giddily backward I against one of the pillars, as "if struck a I sudtlen blow. Ann liad hurried up to her, and was peering curiously into her face. "What ia the matter, Miss Lyndon? Are you ülï" "No, no." Vera made a mighty effort, and recovered herself. A glance through the glass side of the conservatory into the grounds shovved her that the man had disappeared. "I-I-am a linie fanciful! That is all. I will go Qow." Ann stepped aside. But her lips were ominously compressed, lier eyes shone I witli a lurid light. "I must have been mistaken," Vera said to herself, as she slowly rptraced her iteps to Mrs. Wallingford's room. "Capt. laxton here, holding a stolen interview with that vulgar girll Impossible! Ho I xpected to remain some time longer in I he country. Of course the man was a . _ stranger. My iüaagination exagserated a passing resemblance." d8Seratea a PanhWaS absent minded and ill at ease all the rest of the evening. Once or nWr S TT her UpS t0 =Mn, wllT nf w , Bhe remembed Capt. HaXton bu she refrained. Such a question SXíed!10113 t - [CONCLUDED NEXT WESK.]

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Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Register