The Pontypridd Chronicle and Workman's News

A BITTER SECRET. BY THE AUTHOR OF "A Vain Tbicmph," "THE HIGHEST Biddeh," "Twekti STRAWS," etc. CHAPTER I. Lord Yoxford sat in his library at the Castle, with a little heap of letters and circulars in front of him. One of the former he was in the act of reading, and as tie read, a smile just moved his grizzled moustache, and a pleased expression came into his eyes. The very thing," he said, unconsciously uttering his thoughts aloud; "if only Gwennolyn will consent." He put out his arm and rang the bell, and to tin- servaiit who answered it he said, "Tell Lady Gwen- dolyn I should be glad to speak to her for a few toinutes." The man bowed and departed; and presently there was a little rustle of silk in the oaken luill:i faint odour of perfume, just that dainty suspicion of sweetness you smell in spring when the wind ha- frlown over a violet bed, and the door opened to give ,entrance to a slender white figure, who advanced timidly into the room, giving a little scared glance at the letters on the table. u Come and sit down here Gwendolyn," said her father, pointing to a chair opposite his own, where the full light fell upon the fair. flushed face. "J iiavc just had a letter from St. John." She started slightly, but in a moment recovered lier composure, and asked gravely if he were quite well. I believe so; but lie does not speak of his health," the Earl replied. "He writes to tell me that he is coming home, and means to settle down tiow and become a respectable member of society." Quite time too," observed Lady Gwendolyn, quietly. He has been four years away." "Thanks to you, Gwendolyn." Lady G wendotyn coloured vividly up to the edge Of her golden-brown hair. You attach too much importance to the boyish passion he had for me, Lapa. At twenty-one he could not be expected to now his own mind." You are wrong there. St. John knew his own Inind when he was ten years old. He had always an indomitable will: and when lie had set his heart tipon a thing he generally carried it through. Because he had a weak mother to deal with, who could not deny him anything. I dare say his in- domitable will has been considerably modified since lie went into the world, and found his own level. *1 told him when he asked me to marry him that i should not make a good slave." He was desperately in love with you, Gwen- dolyn, you know that quite well." In his arrogant overbearing way, I suppose he vas. But at seventeen one wants to be wooed, not to be taken by storm; and-I didn't like St. John, papa." "You were young and foolish then you may be viser now," he said, "I can assure you he is a very fine fellow." You mean physically, I suppose? l'hysically, mentally, and morally," replied the l-arl, with decision. "When you consider that he vas his own master as a mere child—for his poor mother's influence was nothing—and that he never got into scrapes although lie had almost unlimited command of money, it shows what good stuff he must have been made of. There was Lord Berrenger, who was similarly placed, and he was nearly ruined before lie came of age, and had such an evil reputa- tion into the bargain people did not care for him to be seen in their houses." "Yes, poor fellow! I met him once at Ems, and could not help feeling sorry for him, he seemed so good-natured." I am surprised you would sympathise with such a vaurien, Gwendolyn," responded the Earl, Severely: "1 know he used to be very bad but they say lie has reformed, and you can see he is dying." "Through his own folly and excesses. A man who gets drunk every day soon wears out his con- stitution. But I did not call you here to talk of Lord Berringer, who is supremely indifferent to me, of curse; 1 had something ox far more inportance to discuss." Lady Gwendolyn sighed, and rested her pretty cheek on her hand with an air of patient resignation, knowing quite well what was coming. "In the list four years," pursued Lord Yoxford, you have refused exactly twenty-five offers, Gwen- dolyn." "Have I indeed?" she said, evidently a little s artled at the categorical statement. "Are you tare?" Positive, for I have taken careful account of all tl'"se that I have kn )wn about; and there may be ciders you did not mention to me." Lady Gwendolyn hung her head guiltily. "Some v ere too contemptible," she stammered out. Un- fortunaiely, I am supposed to be an heiress-" "Supposed to be I You are, of course. Meadow- lands is unentailed, and will go to you if you marry to please me and the estate is worth £10,000 a year. .All the rest will be St. John's but let me tell you there are not many women in England so well pro- vided for as you will be." "It never occurs to me to trouble about the future ] have always had everything I wanted in the vorld." she replied. That may he but how would it be when 1 was gone, and St. John was reigning at Yoxfurd in my etead: I have never thought, papa; indeed, I thought you would take care of me." Of course I should do my best; a man is bound to provide for his own, apart from any feeling he may have. At the same time, I am getting old, and should be glad to see you settled in life." "I can't understand why, papa, if you have no fears for my future. You surely will be a littl lonely when I am gone," and she looked coaxingly into his face. 1 shall be very lonely but that is not the ques tion." I- 1 think it is the question, since I don't want to marry. Iï I were iike poor Mr. Marston's (iaugi.crs. and only your life stood between me and ab^ohi:. destitution, the sooner I found a home thebeit". but under the circumstanc s it cannot, surely, matter whether I am an old maid or not." "Would you like to be an old maid, Gwen- dolyn ? '■ Yes," she answered hesitatingly, and with the csady colour tiying to her cheeks. Why not ? It is a miserable position for a woman." For a poor woman but as an Earl's daughter, with £ 10.000 a year, I should always have a position, and the means of making myself )espec- ted." A woman ought not to live alone." enunciated the Earl, positively. W h ist she is young it if compromising, when she is old it is very forlorn. I Would rather, on the whole, see you poorly married taao not married at all." "That is because you don't understand, papa," she said boldly. Most girls would rather remain single than have to take a man they dislike." "My dear Gwendolyn, my experience of youi leX is that they like anyone who likes the in." "That isn't your experience of me, pa.pa." "No; and that is where you have puz/v 1 m-, I nmst own, because why should you be different to the rest ? "I think you are judging us all from a few. papa. 1 know some women don't mind what their husban is like—personally, if he only have money OUt they are not in the majority. Look at the L'uke oi J.can.shnes daughter, who, in the full zenith of her beauty, allied herself to a poor country clergyman.' "Exceptions prove the rule; and she kllew, oj Course, that if her father's party kept in power, she could convert her country clergyman into a biahop Ill' a deau at least." "lie is not even a dean yet, papa." No but he is on the high road to it." "Anyhow, you will admit that Lady Mary was vejjy disinterested." j Astonishingly so, I admit." I "Then can't you give me credit for some of the quality, papa ?" I would rather not," he replied. It may be a good thing in its way; but it ofien leads to follies you regret all your life afterwards." Lady Gwendolyn's beautiful liead sank upon fier bosom, and her sweet lips quivered convulsively. It almost seems as if his careless assertion went home to her inmost heart. *'i suppose in this trorid oue has to buy one's happiness very dear," she said, iu a low, shrinking voice. Not if you choose wisely." "How can you choose wisely, papa? Men never show themselves in their true colour until after matrimony; and the most charming creature un- der the sun may turn out to be a brute—when you know him better." There is something iu that, certainly; but I think a man's character is pretty weil known, as a rule, by other men, who are ready to warn you if they see you on the brink of mistake. A bully always has plenty of enemies ready and glad to betray him." But lie mayn't be exactly a bully, and yet very bad to live with, papa." My dear Gwendolyn, there are all sorts of nn. pleasant possibilities III this world which are not ikely to affect either of us individually, and there- fore do not need to be discussed. The subject we have before us really is St. John's return, and his unaltered affections for you." Does he say that, papa ? "Assuredly, or I should not have told you so. 1 was greatly surprised myself, for I fancied he must needs have forgotten his boyish love long ago. But as lie has such a steadfast nature, I sup- pose I ought not to be surprised." There was a minute's silence and then the Earl looked at his daughter gravely, and added: "What am I to tell him Gwendolyn? He asks if there is any hope of your relenting. He says he is willing to wait even another four years, if at the end of that time lie may have the supreme happi- ness of calling you his wife." The beautiful bloom died out of Lady Gwendolyn's face, and she was snow-white as she answered, "Tell him there is no hope." My dear Gwendolyn, this is absurd. You are four years older than you were when you saw him last; and this interval may have altered him as much as you. At any rate, it would be only fair to give him a chance of winning your heart." "And then refuse him?" If you couldn't like him." "As I know already that I shall never like him, surely it is fairer to tell him so at once, in- stead of allowing him to indulge false hopes." "I think that ought to be left entirely to him. If he chooses to come under those conditions, he must take the consequences, supposing you rejected him afterwards. But I know that if Iliad been in his place when I was a young man I would have taken the risk gladly, in consideration of the possi- ble gain." I would so much rather he didn't come," she said, with nervous haste. "I never could marry him, and I don't think he would forgive me in the years to come if I gave him any encouragement. If he understood at once that I couldn't marry him, he would soon learn to care for somebody else, and I should have nothing with which to reproach myself with." You would have nothing to reproach yourself with in any case. I would take the entire respon- sibility." Papa," she exclaimed bitterly, "I wish you weren't in such a hurry to get rid of me. I would rather stay as I am than marry the King of ling- land." "I can't understand your objections; and I can only suppose they come of your indifference to the suitors who have, so far, presented themselves. If you loved any one you would soon change your opinion." She shook her head positively. I should be more inclined to take a man I did not love than a man I did." The Earl stared at her with a puzzled air. lIe began to think he had an enigma to solve that was far beyond his powers. Why, I thought you told me just now) ou wouldn't marry any one you didn't like." "So I did, papa; but I wouldn't marry any one I did like either—under the circumstances." "Under what circumstances?" he inquired, tak- ing her up sharply, although it was plaiu to see her last words had slipped out unawares. I don't know any justcause or even impediment." The impediment lies in myself and my own feelings." Then I should advise !you to conquer this feel- ing," replied Lord Yoxford, with a certain severity. It is very wrong and foolish, and will cause you to wreck your life if you don't take care." Again the pathetic, far-away look came into Lady Gwendolyn's eyes—a look that had often been there of late years, and puzzled and pained her father, who wished often that his wife's dying legacy to him had been a boy instcadof a girl. A boy 1 could have managed, and he would have un- derstood me, and I should have understood him," lie said to himself; "but girls are like a piece of delicate and complicated machinery YUIl can't touch them without putting them out of gear." There was a short silence and then the Earl added, "St. John must come. It is a matter of course that he should be received here on his re- turn to England, as he is my kinsman and the heir. But I willmakc him understand plainly that my invitation has nothing to do with you, and does not commit* you in any way. lie is an intelligent young fellow, and a mere hint will suffice." I should rather he had something plainer than a hint, papa. I am so anxiuus not to be misunder- stood." "He won't misunderstand you, he "is too sen- sible," replied the Earl, whose one thought and anxiety was to get his kinsman to the Castle and leave the rest to providence. He had always been very eager for a marriage between St. John and Lady Gwendolyn, and her refusal had been a severe blow to him. But since she was unmarried still, all hope was not lost; and St. John was such i tine, handsome young fellow, he thought she would jertainly change her mind if tliey were again ihrown together, now, that she was older, and ihrown together, now, that she was older, and could better judge of his merits. lie had been so glad to receive St. John's letter, md to find that his feelings were unchanged; u:d now there seemed a chance of Lady Gvven- lolyn's spoiling everything by her obstinacy. It vas so much the more natural and pleasant nrangement, because Lady Gwendolyn would keen ler old home and, moreover, Lord Yoxford had -ucli confidence in St. John, which was, naturally, t still stronger consideration; but if site would not lave him, he could not force her, and must make ip his mind to let her go her own way, though he a;ew she M ould bitterly regret it later. But, at any rate, St. John should come to plead iis own cause; and lie made Lady Gwendolyn .mdcrstand that there she should not move him so that, at last, she desisted, and only ventured to ask it she might go on a visit whilst the joung man re- niakied. "Certainly not," the Earl said. "You know here are several hours in a morning m-licii I am iccupied with my letters, and have to consult with the steward, and what would become of St. John ? lie could go for a ride or a walk, papa." "Alone? you have poor ideas of hospitality, Gwendolyn. Besides, it would be atlirect insult for > nil to take yourself off when you knew lie was omiiig; \and though you have a right to refuse iJin, you nave r.o right to insult him, remember." She resigned herself to her fate then: but she made up her mind that St. John should gain very j ittle satisfaction from her presence; and she would -how LillI plainly from the very first that she had nor altered her mind, and was not likely to do so. Of course she must be civil to a guest in her father's house; but she was not bound to be anything more; and if he chose to renew the attentions which she had once already refuted to accept, he must take the consequences. "Very well, papa," she said, rising. "I will give Mrs. Bcnderley her orders. I suppose St. John will have one of the bachelors' rooms in the west wlug? You forget that it is the future master of Yox- ford we shall be entertaining and, therefore, thel best bedchamber in our wing must be got ready. Besides, it would be rather lonely for him with all the wirrg to himself." "lie would hardly be afraid, I should think," with a slight sneer. ~™ (To be Continued),