Alexander_Ralph_Wiltons_Weird.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
purple leather had a foreign look ;
on opening it a lovely face, most exquisitely painted,
appeared. was unmistakably the same as that so
frequently represented in the deserted chambers of the
mansion ; but changed and saddened and spiritualized
in expression.
. " is very beautiful," said , looking
long and earnestly upon it. " evidently the
same face as the others, there is something familiar to
me in it which the others have not. can fancy a man
daring a good deal for such a woman as this ! -
ever, it brings us no clue. must consult some of
these wonderful detective fellows and try what can be
done by extensive advertising. must now feel
satisfied that my poor cousin has left an heir or
heiress."
26o ' .
" , trust," replied . " foreign
, with the recklessness of poverty, and per-
haps principles, would be a terrible repre-
;) sentative of the house of ; a woman would be
less dangerous."
" , quite as objectionable, unless
caught very young ; and, according to your account
she must be past twenty. , we can do no
more to-day ; and, by , it is nearly six o'clock !
. was to have met me in -
dens on her return from a visit at . shall
be scarcely in time to meet her. dine at seven-
thirty, and shall have the pleasure of seeing you ? "
" shall be most happy ; am very anxious to
have thehonor of making . 's acquaintance."
** , then, will you be so good as to take charge
of this picture ? see you have your inevitable black
bag, and it is rather large for my pocket. , bring
it with you this evening. wife is a true artist, and
will be charmed with it."
these days of pressing occupation, it .was a rich
treat to and to have an hour or two
uninterruptedly together. visit to some of the
art-exhibitions, to the opera, or to a good play, was
sufficient to brighten whole days of comparative lone-
liness. was eminently reasonable. never
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tormented her husband to know why he was not in
time, or indulged in querulousness if he was compelled
to break an engagement. knew he regretted it
as much as she did, and was satisfied.
this occasion she had waited patiently, sitting
under a tree near the for nearly a
quarter of an hour before the sight of her husband's sol-
dierly distinguished figure, approaching rapidly, made
her heart leap for joy.
" am late but could not help it. what
have you been doing ? is the benevolent .
? "
" well, indeed ; but a little indignant because
we did not take her * drawing-rooms,' which were
vacant when we came to town, instead of going to be
cheated, as she says, * up and down ' at a hotel.'*
" what did you say .^ " asked , drawing
his wife's hand through his arm as they strolled
toward town.
" ! told her you had so much to do, that
was too far away. , , dearest
, really think dear old must have called
there while we were in . .
was out, unfortunately, but the servant described a
* tall, black-looking gentleman, who had very little
.' asked first for . , and then
for me. , no one could ask for me but ."
262 ' ,
" , my darling, what is like ? is he a
gentleman ? " asked , rather doubtfully.
" , certainly, a gentleman ; but not like you.
wears a velvet coat it is charming when it is
new ; but he has not always money, then it gets
shabby ; have seen it broken at the elbows j and he
has a felt hat, oh ! such a beautiful hat at first ^but
fear he sleeps in it sometimes, for it gets much bent.
, when has his purse full, and new clothes,
he is lovely ! have sketched him when they were
new, and mended them when they were old. is
handsome, like a - brigand. would
think he could kill ; and he is really as gentle and
simple as a child. are much more fierce your-
self, " looking up lovingly into his eyes, with
very little fear in her own. " should like to
j see him again ! *' she continued ; " if we meet, you
must ask him to dinner."
laughed heartily.
** we do meet, shall ; but he will be a curious
guest. us have our distinguished cousin,
, to meet him."
*' it annoy you, , to have poor
to dinner ? "
" , love ; but don't ask him to live with us,
could not stand that."
" ," said , quietly.
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263
pleasantly, they enjoyed the sunshine of a
lovely afternoon, till , looking at his watch,
declared they would be late for dinner, and hailed a
hansom.
was very gratifying to to observe the
effect produced by on the sedate . ,
who was an old-young man. unconsciousness
of self gave her a high-bred composure ; her perfect
freedom from provincialism the result of having
acquired almost as a foreign tongue an air
of refinement, and her natural, simple readiness to lis-
ten, only caring to speak when she really had some-
thing to say, gave a charm to her conversation which
greatly impressed the cool, hard- headed man of busi-
ness. blind love may be, no man, unless
below the average of intelligence, is so hoodwinked
as not to see when other men think he has a good
excuse for his imprudence or not.
gentlemen did not sit long after had*
left them, and, on joining her, . observed,
*^ have brought the picture, , as it is
your pleasure to be so called."
he handed a small parcel to , who,
opening it, said, " at this, ."
was cutting the leaves of a book which
had bought that morning, and, looking up quickly
264 niLTOX' .
exclaimed, " ! how good of you ! you have found
ray picture for me. did you find it?"
*' picture ! what do you mean ? " he asked.
" picture of my mother, which was lost."
" are under some mistake. do not think
you ever saw this before."
" have seen it all my life; it is my mother's
picture."
" mother s ! '* exclaimed and the
lawyer together ; '* impossible."
" it is so. you raise the frame here, at the
side, you can take it out of the case, and you will find
her name at the back di
mine is formed from her initials of her
name."
lawyer and eagerly obeyed, and found
the inscription as she had described.
" is very extraordinary ! " exclaimed .
" appears, then," said . , " that, by a
rare accident, you have married your own cousin, and
. 's heiress. title and estates are
united."
** ? does he mean ? " asked .
** me, , was your father's name ?"
" , one of them. mother was a wealthy
lady, his father an . was
partly brought up in , by his mother's people, in
' . 265
her name ; he was early an orphan, and, imagine,
very extravagant. , when immersed in poli-
tics, he found it more useful to use his father's name of
. was peculiarly averse to mention my
mother. never knew her family name. picture
was always a sacred thing. father, who might have
been a great artist, painted it himself. , tell me,
what do your questions mean ? "
, holding her hand in his, told
her, as shortly as he could, the strange story of her
mother's marriage and disappearance; of the dis-
pleasure of her grandfather at his ('s) disregard
of his wishes in the choice of a wife ; of the consequent
destruction of the will, and the difficulty in which he
and . found themselves as regarded the
next-of-kin ; with a running accompaniment from the
lawyer touching the nature, extent, and peculiarities
of the property inherited by the obscure little heroine
of 's railway adventure.
" this mine, which ought to have been yours,**
said , when they were at last silent ; " or, rather,
yours through me do not seem able to understand
or take it in."
pressed her hand to her brow.
^ , you believed in me, and loved me, when
was desolate and poor, and utterly insignificant;
now am thankful that can bring you wealth ; but
k
266 * .
oh ! gave you most when gave you my whole
heart ! "
of a to . , y'm
th ,
" shall certainly be with you on the 12th, if noth-
ing unforeseen occurs. feel exceedingly curious to
see you in your new home^ and to thank .
personally for the plenary absolution she has
so kindly extended to me. confess myself guilty of
the cold-blooded worldliness you lay to my charge,
while acknowledge that few men have had a better
excuse for a piece of extraordinary imprudence.
we were mere bundles of high-toned emotions, sym-
pathies, and aspirations, marriages on your system
might answer ; but, being as we are, much more
animal than spiritual, more self-seeking than sympa-
thetic, is it wise to act on the impulse of a temporary
brain or blood fever, which puts a certain set of
fancies and desires in violent action for a time, only
to be overtaken and swept away by the everlasting
flow of every-day wants, ambitions, and motives,
which always run their course, however excitement
may blind us ? am growing too profound for an
old soldier; the upshot of the argument is that
stand to my opinion in a general sense ; your extraor-
dinary luck in no way touches it. most warmly
' . 267
rejoice in your good fortune ; and, though greatly
regret your quitting the old regiment, am not
surprised that your new position necessitates the step.
is no common story ; and little thought, when
was * taken prophetic * the day you * interviewed '
poor old . , that so fair a lot would be the
ending of * 's .'
" your sincere friend^
" . ."