Waverley Library (Octavo Edition) (no. 60) (1885 07 14)
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A ‘father. I perceive something has troubled you. a wv ; . ; ‘ 8 ) A WIDOW'S WILES. not an agreeable idea to the young man’s el- | reached her I cannot imagine. Mrs. Howard derly and jealous father. Deveril wrote this letter!” Mrs. Deveril knew it, and went on: ‘But how selfish Iam to think of myself! It is you, Hereward, who need all the sympathy. To be so cruelly, so unfilially treated! Herbert, just for the sake of a pretty face, to marry a girl like that! He, your heir!” ‘“‘ By Heaven, he is not my heir!”*cried the Baronet, starting up in his wrath. “For this | I disinherit him! Let him keep himself, or let the curate keep him. But it may not be true. I hate anonymous letters. Hark!” as a quick, firm step sounded in the hall; ‘‘here he comes, Thank goodness, we shall have the truth, at any rate.” Mrs. Deveril rose, with a little cry of alarm. ‘¢Oh, Sir Hereward! I cannot be present. It would not be right; we will meet later.” Swiftly she crossed the drawing-room, and disappeared behind a satin curtain, which cov- ered a door, as Herbert Cunningham entered. Did he notice the shaking of that curtain? His eyes were in that direction. Did he sus- pect who had passed through? “You have come most opportunely, Her- | bert,” remarked the father, with effort con- trolling hisexcitement. ‘‘I desire to speak to you on a subject which bas caused me consid- erable uneasiness.” The son looked curiously at the other. The reflex of the storm yet was on his features. “Tt has come too soon,” thought Herbert. | Then, aloud, deferentially, ‘‘ My time is yours, What is it?” “This,” And with one hand Sir Hereward | indicated the letter in the other. ‘‘ Herbert, I | put no trust in anonymous communications, so shall accept your word if you deny the truth of this, ‘Is”—his eyes fixed steadily on the young fellow—‘ what this letter states true or false?” With deep misgiving, Herbert Cunningham, taking the paper, read it. As he did so, he started violently. Then bis brow contracted, his teeth bit his lips, all color left bis face. With rising wrath the Baronet watched. “Well?” he demanded, when he saw his son turn the page. ‘‘There isno more. Is it true or false?” Herbert Cunningham raised his head. He | was very pale, but calm. His glance met Sir | Hereward’s steadily. “It is true,” he answered, clearly. ‘“‘ May is my wife. It is a pity the information should have reached you through sucha source. I would rather my own lips had told you.” “ Source?” ejaculated the Barovet, with diffi- culty keeping his fury in curb, ‘ You mean you know the writer of this?” “J do; though how the knowledge has ao “Mrs. Howard Deveril?” cried Sir Hereward, the blood rushing to his forehead. “It is false! She was in ignorance of your folly till I in- formed her of it.” ‘Tt is true, sir; for no other than she exists who would have sought to do me this injury.” “Have a care, sir! Do not malign a woman you have already so basely insulted. What interest could your low amours have to her?” “That, sir, of revenge.” “ Revenge?” : *“No less. Listen to me, father. I may have done wrong—I have, I confess it; but, partly, it was for your sake. At any rate, in common justice, you will hear my extenua- tion?’ exclaimed Herbert, with sudden earnest- ness and force, ‘Speak, sir; Ido not refuse you that. At least one thing you cannot deny—May Rivers is your wife?” “She is, father. would not deny it.” ‘Tt is well,” interrupted the Baronet, halting in his angry pacing; ‘‘ for that, sir, is the price you will pay for your mad infatuation for a pretty face.” ‘Did dear May only possess that, then would the price be too much; but she is as good and truo as she is beautifull” exclaimed the young husband, with enthusiasm. “If you did but know her, as one day I trust you will—” “ Never!” “You are angry now—Jjustly, angry, owing For all Cunningham I | to the source from which you have learned the truth; yet I will hope, knowing that your heart is not so stern and pitiless as you believe. That my secret warriage was a grave error I confess. Nay, hear me! It took place before I left last for college. May had many suitors, two of which her father strongly favored. With the fear of lovers, I could not rest until I had put a barrier to her union with another, which nothing but my death could destroy. The time was too short to obtain your consent. I knew, until you were better acquainted with May, you would never consent.” “Never!” interpolated the Baronet. He was again pacing the room, his hands behind his back, his fingers twitching con- vulsively. He had given Herbert permission to speak. He listened with little interrup- | tion, for he had already pronounced the ver- dict, and had his son spoken until doomsday he could not then have altered it. As it hap-— pened, he made matters worse. ‘““We were married privately,” proceeded Bertie. ‘‘I went to college for my last term. Eagerly I looked forward to its conclusion, de-— termining when we again met to tell you all. But, to commemorate my return, you: gave & 4 ft rts
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