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fNOW FJUST PUBLISHED.J BEATRICE AND BENE- DICK A ROMANCE OF THE CRIMEA. By HAWLEY SMART, Author of "Breeze Langton," "At Fault," "Tie and Trick," "Lang Odds," "Without Love or Licence, &c., &c. lALL RIGHTS RESERVED.± Cn.VPRER XXVII.—" WHAT SHALL I Do ?' I j the philosophers ■us, is at the bottom of all our actions: that even ^\XmSPy %jthow few Rood o A 1/ deeds upon which y^~y' we look bad: with "Y pleasurable pride -Ji ■' 1 and satisfaction »- j have been promp- v ted chiefly by the desire of gratify- oar vanity or dazzling our neighbours. ■ no upholder of this cynical creed myself, though nobody can deny that the sin of Ostentatious benevolence is rife in the land. Still I am sadly afraid that Tom Byng's tenuous exertions on behalf of his friend ^ere not altogether disinterested. He might not be conscious of it himself, but lurking somewhere in the recesses of his mind must have been the thought that if his most inti- mate friend should many the most intimate friend of Miss Smerdon, be and Frances would -b,ol tly come together was pretty well as cer- tain as that two and two make four. He Crtainly had worked hard to bring that mar- riage about, and that he should be awaiting toews from Manchester with considerable im- patience was only natural. He knew that Jlusjh'B letter bad been despatched and for- ^aril-d, and yet the days slipped by without his getting a line from him. But if Byng was anxious as to what Miss lynden's reply might be it was nothing to the impatience which possessed Hugh. Not a day passed but what he visited the Tarrants' cottage only to receive a negative shake of the head from Polly in reply to the inquiry if there was anything for him." He had hjstowed largesse on Dick with so liberal a hand that that worthy pronounced him quite the gentleman." lie would have re- garded Polly in similar fashion, but she obsti- 11 at-IT refused to touch his money, saying' that whether she had acted rightly or wrongly It should never be said that she had done it for money." He tormented her a good deal as to whether she was sure she had made no to^stake about the address, and to qui t him trolly was forced lo explain that though she *ttew an address to which a letter directed ould eventually reach Miss Lynden, she could not tfil where it would be forwarded, a.nd that, for all she knew it might have to go Abroad. llub, too, was very anxious to a:'n some particulars of Dr. Lyndon's death, about that i\ "y could tell him nothing. She had his datiguter's own word for it that he was dfad, and that was all she knew. A week had elapsed, and still Polly only shook her head. Whai to do or what to thiiilj Hugh did not know. lie did not like to leave Manchester lint 1 be bad received his rel»ly, :i'ld as to where Miss Lynden actually Illas it was quite evident the secret was still her own, and that Mrs. Tarrant could not "five betrayed her if she would, He walked as ususl one morning, and noiiced care- Je«fcly that the window contraiy to custom doped. The door opened before he could *r>or:];, aud Polly, arrayed in her bonnet aud 8hawl, stepped eagerly into the passage. "Go in/' she whispered, "I shan't be back for an hour at least. Good luck to you, sir," *tod with these words Mrs. Tarrant vanished. paused for a moment. His chance Avas conie at last, he was there to plead his cause to win it, he earnestly hoped, but for all that he was conscious that he was going into c°urt with hands not quite clean. He pushed °Pen the door, and Nellie Lynden, in her Sombre draperies, stood before him. Hugh," she said, in tones that she vainly eildeavoured to render steady, "1 have come to hear from your own lips the truth. I have Ravelled from France to hear you give the Qellial to this story I have beard about you "'ith your own mouth. You could not stoop to lie to a woman still standing in the shadow her father's grave. 11 My dearest Nellie," he cried, advancing as if to embrace her. "Stop Hugh," she said, sadly. "1 must have a full explanation from you before I decide whether we meet now for last time °R tiot. 'I liree tiiues have I thought that I should never see you any more, and the last tinie was immeasurably the most painful of the three. I had wept for you and mourned ^or you as dead, when the terrible news came home that you were missing after the 8th of ^pteoVbeT, that no tidings could be gained of y°u, but—stop, don't interrupt me," she ex- c^aimed as Hugh once more attempted to take her hand; the saddest parting of all \Vas the bt, when I was, told you were false to every row that yon bad made me, and that tbe mtn for whom I had prayed for the last ^cw, &nd who bad cost me so many tears, had foraott,m me. and was on his way home derided to another woman." ft was all falae, false as can be," cried Huh conscience-stricken at the torture to "'hieh he had subjected his betrothed. Who Put this abominable rumour about I don't 1rnow, but if ever I do, and it's a man, he fill render strict account to me for the lie he has uttered. How it reached your ears I don't know, but the first I heard of th< Cilumnv was from Mrs. Montague." A alight smile passed over Miss Lynden's face at the recollection of that lady's epistle. My father's information about thing3 in the Crimea was both extraordinary and accu- rate. as there not a Mademoiselle Ivan- hoff ? » "Yes," returned Hugh, "and that is the lady with whom my name has been so falsely COupled. But I am neither married to her lIor have I ever been engaged to her. I was and am pledged to you Nellie, and am anxious ever to olaim my bride as soon "-and he Paused; and glanced at her dress, as I can obtain leave to." „ And you are sure that you have no feeling Mademoiselle Ivanhofl ? She nursed you through your long illness, did she not ? and 8he put the question Mips Lynden watched lover's faoe keenly. Yes, Sister Marie's nursing no doubt had a A94 deal to do with ro.vjpuliipg t&rougb, The doctors all said I owed as much to her care as I did to their treatment." It's possible that Miss Lynden bad her own misgivings as to how far feelings of gratitude had carried Hugh with his nurse, bat after all the rumours she had heard, it was a triumph to find her peccant lover still at her feet. She knew that patients at times do conceive a tendresse for their nurses, and in her delight at finding he was still her very own Hugh she was disposed to ignore such frailties as might have befallen him in his days of convalescence, but she would hardly have been a woman if she had omitted to ask the one question- Is Mademoiselle Ivanhoff pretty F And Hugh would have been the veriest fool if he had replied otherwise than— Ii No, I :don't think so, but I have heard men call her good-looking." Ah, Madame Vashta, if you could only have heard that one little speech, how de- lighted you would have been with the results of your handiwork. But by this time Hugh bad not only ob- tained possession of her hand, but might be said to have taken possession of Miss Lynden generally, for she was clasped in his arms and he was pressing passionate kisses on her unre- sisting lips. "Do be quiet, Hugh," she said, at length releasing herself from his embrace. .^it down do, and tell me all that has happened to you since you were taken prisoner." My darling, I haven't seen you for so long, and I feared 1 had lost you." "Now do be rational. I am sure if all the other young men that have been to the Crimea are making up for lost time as quickly as you, their sweethearts have nothing to complain or. Now tell me exactly what hap- pened to you after you were struck down in that dreadful Redan. I have not much recollection of the first part of it," replied Hugh. "I have an idea of feeling very ill and only wishing people would let me aione, but when I first came fairly to my senses I was with half a dozen others in one of the country carts, suffering great pain and tortured with the most hor- rible thirst. I fancy 1 was off my head a good bit after that, for my memory seems all a chaos from then, until I found myself in bed in the hospital at Batchi Serai, awfully weak and feeling nothing but a languid curiosity as to where I was and how I had got there. From that there's nothing much to tell. I slowly came round as men do after a long illness, and when I was really about again, found myself a prisoner in the capital of the Tartar Khans, The Russians were all very kind to me, but life there was pretty much what it is in all country towns, dull and monotonous." "And this Mademoiselle Ivanhoff nursed you ? Yes, and a very devoted nurse she was to me and many others," replied Hugh judg- matically. We parted, I am sorry to say. on not very good terms, and it's not likely 1 shall ever see her again. But now, Nellie, it is time you told me something of your pro- ceedings. Your father's death, for instance —how did that happen ? Was he ill long It was horrible," said the girl with a shudder. It was at Boulogne only a month v ago. There was nothing the matter with him. lie went out to smoke a cigar on the pier, as he had done two or three times before. I went to bed, and when I awoke the next morning I was told that he had been found in the water quite dead. The whole case was at once taken possession of by the police, and there was a rigid inquiry to show how he got into the water. But nothing ever came of it. There was a heavy bruise on his temple, most likely caused by his striking against one of the piles. It was a darkish night, and my belief is that he accidentally walked over the side of the pier, was stunned by the blow on the head he received when falling, and so was drowned almost without a struggle. There were vessels lying close by, and sailors and so on were about all night, but no one heard his cry for help. I only know poor papa perished with- out a hand being stretched out to save him." And a tear or two trickled down Miss Lynden's cheeks for one who, though not a sympathetic, had always been an indulgent father to her. I am very soiry for the poor Doctor," said Hugh; it must have been dreadfully tad for you, el1." Yes," replied the girl softly, for I thought I was left all alone in the world.' "Ah, but you know that is not go," re- joined Hugh, gently pressing her hand. You were mistaken about that. But what made you leave Manchester so abruptly without telling anyone where you were going? "1 don't know. Our life has been a puzzle to. me from that time to my father's death. We left, as you would say, without beat of drum, remained a day or two in London, and then crossed at once to the Continent, where we wandered up aud down with no conceiv- able motive. Dapa briefly explained be had business here and business there, but what his business was he never confided to me. Our wanderings seemed to be perfeotly aim- less, aud after the fall of Sebastopol papa seemed to be more restless than ever. As I have already told you, his information about things in the Crimea was wonderful, and I did ttiinif," she added, smiling fondly on her lover, "mänellously accurate. It was he who told me you were engaged to be married to Mademoiselle Ivanhoff. Perhaps the wish was father to the thought, for he never liked the idea of my marrying you. I don't know I why." Ah you see, Nell, my people didn't re- ceive the news of my engagement to you with much cordiality. I dare say the doctor thought that my father might have written to him more effusively on the subject. Bless him, he didn't know that dear old gentleman when things are not going to his liking." Oh, but Hugh, what does he-what do all your people think of our engagement now ? "So far," rejoined Fleming, they haven't had any occasion to think about it. As I didn't get killed, and contrived to be men- tioned in dispatches, they were bound to kill the fatted calf for me during my brief visit, and as I had completely lost you, there was nothing to be said about you." But what will they think of it now, Hugh I" Well, the governor won't like it; but then, as he wouldn't like my marrying any- body unless she had unlimited shekels, that's not worth considering. If she had only heaps of money I might marry a Hottentot. But then, you see, I've got to live with her, not him." But, Hugh, what shall I do ? I have no one to advise me." Do, darling, marry me quite quietly in two or three months, and then, you see, you will always have someone to advise you," a bit of special pleading which brought a smile to Miss Lynden's lips. Now that's settled," continued Hugh. How is Miss Smerdon f What makes her so huffy? There's no pleasiug her. We've done our best to blazon the colours, and paid pretty dearly for the right of carrying Sebastopol on them." "I don't understand you. Why, where did you meet her P" H I haven't met her," rejoined Hugh, "but I wrote to her to know where I could find you." (I Ah, she couldn't tell you because she didn't know." II No j but she needn't have answered me as if I was almost a stranger, considering the terms we were on before I left England." i< X think 109)ii explain all tbat," eaid Miss Lynden laughing. Frances is a very warm friend, and I had a most affectionate letter from her the other day, but she was not going to encourage young men in marrying Russian countesses." You haven't seen her, I suppose, since you left Manchester ? "No, nor heard from her ui til the other day, but why do you ask ? Oh, I don't know," said Hugh carelessly. We used to think you knew there was some- thing between her and Tom Byng." Yes, but I'm not clear that anything will come of it now. She wrote to him when we all thought he was so badly wounded, you know, and though I never saw bis reply I know very well what it must have been. She railed at herself that she should be so immo- dest as to write to one she knew would flout her." Yes. Tom has kept a very still tongue on that subject ever since thai. letter. But, Nell, be has stood by me in my search for you like a brick. lIe has taken no end of trouble, and it was he, you know, who really found out your address after all." tie has always been a staunch friend to you," replied Miss Lynden, from the day that I first set eyes upon you when he was coaching you in your match." Dear old Tom, I should never have won it but for him. if we find that they are still in earnest we must manage to put things straight between them," and here a discreet rattling of the latch warned them of the return of Mrs. Tarrant. You said you wouldn't be back for an hour," said Fleming reproachfully, as Polly entered the room. Mrs. Tarrant threw a look of the liveliest satisfaction at the lovers, and replied smilingly as Hugh rose to go, Indeed, Captain, I have been away much nearer two hours than one." Hugh murmured mendaciously something about the difference of clock-i, while affecting to consult his own watch, and then prepared to escort Nell e back to the lodgings at which she was staying. As he bid Mrs. Tarrant good day, she said in a low voice:- I- You've offered me a present, Captain Fleming. You shall give me a IU-W bonnet to wear at the wedding." "That I will," replied Hugh, "the very smartest you can find in Manchester," and as the pair walked away together Polly felt that Major Bvng did know something about these things after all. CHAPTER XXVIIf.—" LOVE MUST BK HEQUITED." Sergeant Evans, when he had once con- vinced himself that Dr. Lynden was decidedly not engaged in the manufacture of base money, looked upon his avocation as no longer any business of his. lie bad little doubt what the Doctor was. in his own mind, but granted he was a Russian spy; still the Ser- geant did not see exactly how he was to inter- fere in the case. Criminals of all classes he bad tracked and hunted down there was no offence against the law of which he was not thoroughly cognisant, but he did not see under what head the Doctor's offence could be classified. It was a crime not mentioned in the statute-book, and, therefore, the Ser- geant finally concluded it was no affair of his, and that, especially as the culprit bad fled, he would trouble himself no more about it. Still, to an enthusiast like the Sergeant, the thing had a great fascination. He positively revelled in the unravelling of the elaborate webs woven by the felonious classes, and although he could not exactly make up his mind that the Doctor belonged to them, and though profes- sionally it would be waste of time to further investigate the matter, still he was curious about the Doctor's former life and antece- dents. He read the account of his death in the paper, for it had attracted some little attention, for, though eventually determined to be accidental, there had been a suspicion of foul play in the first instance, and this re-called the affair once more to his recollec- tion. tion. It so happened that duty conneoted with the apprehension of a gang of swindlers who had been engaged in what is technically known as the long firm business carried I, him over to Paris, and on his way back he resolved to have a palaver with his brethren of the French .police at Boulogne with regard to Dr. Lynden's death. Ah, it was a strange affair that," said one of their number. We could make nothing of it. I don't believe it was an accident any more than I do that he threw himself into the water. There was no more unlikely man to do that than the Doctor—besides, he had no reason to do anything of the kind." You knew him, then ?" said Sergeant Evans. "Ah, no, not personally," rejoined the Frenchman, but we knew a good deal more about him this side the water than you did. You would find his dossier iu the Rue Jerusalem. He was an adventurer and a very sly old fox, quite of la premiere force. His colleagues have occasionally been laid by the heels, I but never himself. Why be left his own country we never knew, but he has been dabbling in financial aud political schemes on the Continent all his life." Was he ever in the employment of the Russian Government? asked Evans. "I can't say. Liliely as not. They pay their agent's well, that Government, and are clever at choosing them." You think he was murdered?" said the sergeant. "Ah! Who can say?" rejoined the Frenchman. I can fancy .there were some who desired his death. He knew too much." No further light was ever thrown upon the doctor's fate or career. With regard to the latter, it was, perhaps, as well that it should remain shrouded in obscurity. While, its regards the former, the Frenchman's remark was perhaps as appropriate an epitaph as any. He knew too much. Great was the exultation of Tom Byng when he tore open a telegram from Hugh, which contained these words, Victory all along the line. Dispatches by post. You most honourably mentioned." And when Hugh appeared personally a day or two later, Tom voted it as an occasion of high festival, and was speedily lost in anxious consultation with the cook and wine butler. High and late was the revel that night, but ere it finished Tom was solemnly pledged to act as best man, or, P.8 he more practically put it, had promised to see his chum through. 'He learnt next morning that Miss Lynden had gone to stay at Twmbarlym until her marriage, and that Hugh intended to follow her there very shortly, having received already most cordial congratulations as well as an in- vitation from Alrs. Smerdon. "And a very different note," he added. to the last from Miss Smerdon. Somebody, it seems, had told her that confounded story about the Russian Countess." Hugh Ileming and his fiancee had had more than one talk over this Beatrice and Benedick of the Crimean war. They both agreed that the less they interfered the better; but, as Hugh said, '( If they don't get thrown enough together over our wedding to settle their own affairs it must be through sheer perversity." She will rather die than give any sign of affection," laughed Nellie in reply, to which Hugh had rejoined- Then it will be for me to drum into Tom'a head that' Love must be requited. Numberless were the discussions that took m place between the two friends about Hugh's future. Where the marriage was to take place was also a topic of considerable debate. The Smerdons, who insisted on standing in the light of parents to Nellie on this occa- sion, were anxious that it should take place from Twmbarlym, vhile Frances, as soon as she bad definitely ascer- tained that Major Byng was to act as Hugh's backer at the ceremony, obstinately declined to open her lips upon the subject. Hugh, on the contrary, rather inclined to the wedding taking place in town. He was anxious that some of his brother officers and other of his old military friends, who were now on leave, should be present. Though Twmbarlym was a good house, the putting up of ten or a dozen young men would test its resources to the uttermost. Then, again, both Peter and Polly Tarrant would feel hurt if they were not present at the marriage. It was a point difficult to decide. Although quite aware that it was inimical to his own interests, Tom would not venture to express an opinion in favour of Twmbarlym. He knew, no one bettei-, the advantages of staying in a good country house under like circumstances. If a man couldn't manage to unravel the tangled skein of his love under those conditions, his case was indeed hopeless, and with a tinge of regret he found this momentous question eventually settled in favour of St. George's, Hanover-square. In reality, I fancy, whatever they might think, the decision by no means lay with either Hugh or Nellie. Milliners and dressmakers are paramount at such times, and issued a mandate that they must have the young lady in town, and that she must remain there, and that if not they could not be answerable for her thiigs"-a stupendous threat that no woman would venture to stand out against. It had been a queer fancy of Hugh's, and Nellie had yielded to his wish, that their wedding should take place on the anniversary of the fall of Sebastopol, the day that had so very nearly proved fatal to him, and on a bright September morning a gay party trooped up the steps of the old church, so famous in past days for fashionable marriages. There was a gallant muster of Hugh's old comrades and other soldier friends, among others Jim Lockwood, who told Hugh that be looked upon this as a very remarkable solemnity, and he only hoped he had been perfectly can- did with Mrs. Fleming that was to be, Be- cause," said the Hussar, if you fellows marry again in the way you come to life again, it won't be long before she has to bring her action of bigamy." But for all this chaff Mrs. Fleming numbers no handsomer souvenir of won't be long before she has to bring her action of bigamy." But for all this chaff Mrs. Fleming numbers no handsomer souvenir of her wedding day than the bangle sent by the Dragoon. Besides the group at the steps of the altar there were a few spectators scattered amongst the pews. Mrs. Tarrant was there with her husband and brother, taliing, we may be sure, the greatest possible interest in the whole affair,so much so indeed that Polly's eyes wan- dered in all directions. Nobody in the church was likely to escape her quick eyes. In her heart she thought the church by no means so crowded as it should be for a function of such importance. Suddenly she gave a slight start as she caught sight of two ladies in a prominent place, sitting to her right. Both were richly and fashionably dressed. The one was a dark-eyed, handsome girl, whose face wore a look of contemptuous scorn as she gazed upon the two principals. Her companion was a woman approaching the autumn of life, but still retaining quite suffi- cient good looks to make one wish one could only have seen her in her meridian. Polly craned forward to get a good view of this pair, and for a minute or so even the scene before the altar ceased to rivet her attention. Dick," she whispered, there she is again, the lady with the roses. Don't you remember the woman you saw coming out of Dr. Lyn- den's door at Manchester ?" No, is it are mu sure Quite certain, Dick." Well, it don't matter much anyway," replied Mr. Tarrant. "The Doctor's gone, and whatever his little game was he cau't be run in for it now, that's certain." Follow her as soon as she goes out. I want to know where she lives." What for ?" Never mind. Do as I tell you. I want to know who she is and Ir, Tarrant having growled a responsive All right 1" Polly became absorbed again in the marriage service. Well, Marie," said the elder lady, as, the affair concluded, friends crowded round the II newly-married pair with their congratula- tions, I really should like to know what your particular motive for coming here this morning was. Yes, I know you wished to see how these things were done in L'ngland; but it was something more than that." "illy dt-ar aunt." replied Mademoiselle Ivanhoff, Captain Fleming is an old friend of mine." Nonsense, child. I don't believe you erer saw Yes, now I look in your face, I think you have met before. Where ?'' "In the Crimea," rejoined Mademoiselle [vanhoff demurely. H Impossiole. I know he was there, and I know you were there, but meet ?" Yes, my dunt we took prisoners at times, you lmow-I took him." Marie, you're incorrigible," said the elder lady as she broke into a peal of laughter. He escaped me," said Mademoiselle Ivan- hoff, and I was curious to see what sort of a woman had captured the renegade. A h, I wonder who the next wiil be. He was rather nice, my Fnglishman." Mr. Tarrant; in compliance with his wife's desire, followed the ladies home to a house in Upper Brooke-street, and, having ascertained the number, turned into the nearest book- seller's and requested leave to lool^at a direc- tory. A reference to this told him that this was the residence of a Mr. Clifford, with which piece of information he went back to his wife. The name told nothing to Polly, and she was none the wiser for having dis- covered the identity of the lady of the roses, but happening to come across Sergeant Evans some few months later in Manchester she told him about it. He made no remark, but was probably the only man in England who saw the connection between Dr. Lynden's flight and the abrupt dismissal of Mr. Clifford from a senior clerkship in the Foreign Office. We are not told that Benedick married Beatrice, but when the curtain falls, as the Scotchman said, "Things look very suspee- scious. THE END.