The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-08-08 00:00:00

4 SECRET FOR YEARS.

CHAPTER V.
MISS WACE'S DIARY CONTINUED.
Fezi,
str, arY 27th. A week has elapsed. am
iie„i'ger---mentally and physically stronger. I shall
pr'ol ect no longer the task I have to perform, and
6, ceed
eUrred at once to give the substance of all that has
--.
keleast Thursday I commenced the duties of house-
-0rt1)10g; they are not light, nor are they easy of per
lult_
unce. Thirteen servants are rebels to my authority.
Eide fourteenth, Domingo, has enlisted himself on my
; bat, knowing the nature of his race, I have
aboa faith in him. He is a fine, handsome black,
Mr. Ingestre's age—a West Indian, he tells me,
81-
• a slave at ten years of age. He and his twin
ster
Worked on the Ingestre plantation. It is a day-
tv,'C' battle with the peculative, pragmatical butler,
; thievish cook, lazy housemaids, and quarrelsome,
atIVP, Ping grooms and men-servants, who eat, drink,
1402°unge in the servants'-liall all day long—Miss
04°,'re and her dogs their pet and plaything. Only
i
„c
ter' thing is to be urged in her defence—she is
m
ha, 3' unconscious of the impropriety of it; never
(1,,,g had anyone to impress upon her that horses,
yo°B' and grooms are not the fittest associates of a
'ng lady.
U
Tr• -lagestre is feared, but not respected, among his
Mp), - _

isZs ie. His actions are freely discussed, and his I ---
all„,.
,morals the theme oftenest canvassed. I have 1 "You can do nothing," she returned sorrowfully;
°37 heard much that is derogatory to his life as a
"the only thing is never to say what you saw this
eas,'
I.stian and his honour as a gm assented, The ' mornina."
'"ant-naaids are only too glad to gossip to me of I ted, and we went in.
811911t1 '
alivo.iings, but I forbid the subject of Mr. Ingestre's The rest of the day we passed alone, Mr. Ingestre
and his son did not return from St. David's until late
Ik 4 ingS being mentioned in my presence. The evil
s a°w of him suffices me—l require no more; to look at night. I shall take the first opportunity of making
uPon my own life is more than sufficient. An
ask _ some inquiries about this Mrs. Faunce.
iseid
as ent took place bearing on this theme, and it may Saturday.—This morning the hounds met in front
svc'ell find a place here. of the house, and the first object I saw, on looking . --
at's,n, the Thursday evening I speak of, we sat in a out of my window, was Cleland, mounted on a The Times of _lndia, commenting on a remarkable
tss'a nrawing-room which has not been usedfor some spirited horse, dressed in a scarlet riding habit; and contribution to the discussion that has been going on
o,l'isera• This was my suggestion, as I thought the large wearing on the top of her wild black locks (which I for the last 12 months about the social status of
lax, uch too good for the animals Cleland and her have considerably shortened and thinned), the small Hindu women, their position in the household, and
„avnner always carry in their train, and the monkeys, hunting-cap worn by the men. The young lady was their relations with the other sex, says: "The story
gave., 8, and birds of all descriptions, they persist in evidently in her element, managing her horse with
i she has to tell is a sad one, and no doubt all the sadder
at.eerira-
ss, around them. After a late dinner, Mr. great show and skill, laughing and jesting, and fling- i inasmuch as her letter shows her to be possessed of
4411,, ,eStre came in, Ross hanging on his arm, as usual, ing her smiles from one to the other of the numerous very unusual natural abilities. The 'wicked practice
hgcl
,deep in a discussion upon the merits of a hunter scarlet-coated gentlemen and grooms gathered round 'of early marriage' has, she declares, destroyed the
b
8 ad
te fj. . ought that day. Cle gave them no time about her. happiness of her life, coming between her and the
ss utsh it; she rushed at her father, and seized his Cleland was naturally a simple-minded and well-
tnthings she prizes above all others—study and mental
, a disposed girl, I knew, and utterly unconscious that cultivation. 'Without the least fault of mine lam
Papa! don't you hate this nasty, old-fashioned the men who applauded and encouraged the childish doomed to seclusion; every aspiration of mine to rise
Isn't it dingy, and small, and musty? ' coquetry of her manner were not quite those on above my ignorant sisters is looked upon with suspi-
it ;_Aot at all he replied. "1f Miss Wace approves, whom she should bestow her smiles. I saw it at a cion, and is interpreted in the most uncharitable
not for you to offer an opinion, Young woman. I glance, and felt instantly that the girl had no p
you prefer this snug little place to the large there. lace manner.' She writes with a good deal of feminine
arat's.P?se emphasis, but she amply proves her case, that the
1 wing-room ?" he said to me. I went downstairs, but got no further than the rich and poor, the old and young of her sex suffer much
thou g,ave the reasons already stated, adding, I breakfast-parlour window, where I stood looking out misery and pain and degradation through the strict
tots gat it best to reserve the use of that hand- upon the gay scene of huntsmen and hounds, de- observance of social institutions invented by men for
4,9 room for company, as it was not needed for bating what I had best do. I felt I could not act their own advantage. The ' Hindu Lady does not
Y use
44 , • without the father's authority, could not forbid the belong to the ' Shrieking Sisterhood,' but she
hells" e never have company here," said Cleland; "no daughter such company, unless he put his veto on it certainly writes out of the bitterness of
was7ns have ever been into the house since old Mrs. too. I noticed that Ross was there, but not Mr. • her heart. ' Our law-givers being men have
asZictln left; gentlemen come, but they eat and get Ingestre; and I was urging myself to seek him, when she says, 'painted themselves pure and noble, and
I,a-'pa in the dining and billiard-rooms, nowhere else. I heard his quick step in the hall. A sudden halt, have laid every conceivable sin and impurity at our
Uew ;,;why don't you have ladies come to see you and inquiry in a low voice, and then he entered the , door. If these worthies are to be trusted, we are a
over she said, awkwardly running her fingers room. I set of unclean animals, created by God for the special
asth the keys of the piano, and eyeing her father He shook hands with me, hoped I was better, and service and gratification of man, who by right divine
tisas.a• droll look out of her large, bright eyes all the would soon be quite well; sorry he could not wait to can treat or maltreat us at his sweet will. Neither
11°ss t breakfast with me, but it was an unusually early religious nor social customs interfere with the
etga urned to inspect a p'eture on the wall ; I was meet that morning, as they anticipated a long run; liberty of men in any way. Marriage does not
bat tged with my work, and her father had no choice in fact, were rather doubtful about a fox altogether. form an insuperable obstacle to their studies. Every
° hear and reply. . And then he turned to the looking-glass to arrange his ' woman, on the death of her husband, even of a child-
sae fY:ifiat do you suppose ladies should came and see neck-tie. ! husband, is condemned to a life of perpetual widow-
tit r ? Am lan ogre, a monstrosity to be stared He was dressed in complete hunting costume, and hood. But a man may not only marry a second
a evidently well aware how admirably it set off his ' wife on the death of his first one, but can marry any
,
Perkl4..°, Papa, dear," she laughed; "but I heard handsome figure. George Ingestre is not a vain man, ! number of wives at one and the same time. Even if he
has r and Forrest talking together this morning, but he is quite conscious of the personal advantages , has only one wife, he continues to live in the bosom
NI, could not quite make out what they meant. he pcssesses. lof his own family, and has never, under any circum-
la,e4st said she supposed that now such a strait- And then I spoke of the thing on my mind. I stances, to submit to the tender mercies of a mother-
eolo,l lady as Miss Wace had come to live with us, asked whether he approved of his daughter joining in in-law. What would not a gathering of strong-
bsiu L Towers and the rest of 'em wouldn't mind such a masculine pastime as the hunt. He turned minded women at home give for such substantial
saidgtng their ladies to the house; but Parkins round instantly— ! grievances, and even in India itself these in-
thas: ',evil a bit they would do that now, any more "Why, I never gave it a thought; the girl rides equalities would in great part disappear if many
y0„`" When that nasty Mrs. Crosbie was here, that well—she likes it. Why not?" women were able to speak out with the eloquence
,
I h "Grooms and dogs are not the fittest associates in and vigour of this paracular Hindu lady. But
lead heard no more. Ross upset my work-box with a the world for a young lady." 'it is chief among her grievances that the men have
%sr crash, and all its contents were strewn upon the "No, certainly not; "he laughed. "And I shall be conspired together to deprive all her sex of the
tion';While Cle forgot to end her ill-timed communica- glad when you nsake a lady of the little minx; but, benefits and advantages of higher education.
flew :4 a fit of laughter at his awkwardness. She really, I never gave the thing a thought?' In India all the boys and girls are betrothed indis-
the 13' assist him in restoring the scattered things to " There ! look' at Miss Ingestre now, sir, and tell solubly almost as socn as they are born, and are
Itt atox, and I, with great temerity, ventured a look me if a girl of her age should be-where she is, and SO brought together in physical union by the time they
a
• Ingestre's face. occupied?" have completed their twelfth or thirteenth year. At
iswa" Was standing on the hearth-rug, frowning He walked up to the window, and watched for a the age of eight at latest a husband must be found for
elisairlY, and pulling the ears of a black setter few moments in silence the child, as she sat—thecentra every girl. Girls are generally, perhaps, married at
deg., ing up his knee. His eyes were fixed on the of a group of huntsmen, as I have before said—laugh- this age, and their parents are still at liberty to send
th• and I got his face by heart. You do not lag, smiling, and her pretty gipsy face wild with them to school until they are ten years old. But
ask 1 .
ess le Is now what he was seventeen years ag o? . excitement, after that the leave of the mother-in-law must be
saceja
h '' • " Humph ! How old is she, Miss Wace?" obtained. 'But even in. these advanced times,' ex-
sadis glossy brown curls are grizzled, and his whiskers "Fourteen and a-half." claims our correspondent, 'and even in Bombay—
are beard are larger than of old; his thick eyebrows "By Heaven! too old to smirk and grin with those the chief centre of civilisation—how many mothers-
tts sas jetty as ever, and the large piercing grey eyes fellows. Fool! never to think of the risk before, in-law are there who send their daughters to school
is elrlight and beautiful as in their youth. The mouth Miss Wace, I thank you. Wait here a moment, and I after they are ten years old!' Thus the girls are
the 'nged : its bold, handsome curves are gone, and will send her in." taken away from school just when they are beginning
i
keutta the
large and slightly sensual. I read in that "Mr. Ingestre, no, no, indeed!" I cried; but he was to understand and appreciate education. Even girls
beaut ofe altered nature of the man. The calm gone, and in a minute more he was striding up to belonging to the most advanced families are mothers
tharaycte ' expression, which I remember as the where she sat. before they are 14, and
have thenceforth to devote
eava ristic of his face, has disappeared. It is And then I saw him raise one powerful arm up themselves to the hard realities of life. And if
%orand tender by turns—bright and clouded, and lift her from the saddle, fling the reins of her our correspondent can be trusted, these are very
la and sunshiny ; nevertheless, a strange charm horse to the nearest groom, and turning back, drag hard indeed. No Englishman, we are told, can
rlis figure her in. Ross saw it, leapt from his saddle, and all realise the loss of mental and physical freedom which
syn., has enlarged considerably; but its fine three came in the hall together, where I stood, feeling a girl experiences the moment she steps into her hus-
nietrical proportions remain, as well as its old rather nervous lest some scene should follow this. It band's house. We need not stop to contrast this
a'atte of
and „_
.movement; his hands are very beautiful still, did. with the joyous ' home-coining 'of the English bride,
)41,s:it. is his custom now, as ever, to overload them Mr. Ingestre pitched her towards me with an oath. and the freer, truer life that. henceforth begin! for
With t.
Iv. gS. "Cle, my lass! you never go hunting again, mind i her. But the unfortunate Hindu bride may neither
sas •
IN, looking at him, and calmly comparing the that." sit nor speak in the presence of any elder member of
llowa of seventeen years ago with the one before me "What on earth is this for ? " cried the frightened
, her husband's family. She must work with the
a'
hoarse with passion—
and he lifted up his corrugated brows, and said girl. "Papa, what is this for ?'' ' servants, rise early, and go to bed late, and be per-
voice "It means that I will not have my daughter the I
petually abused and frequently beaten by her
aleland
kneland Ingestre, if ever I hear you repeating associate of my grooms, nor cut jests with the raff ' mother-in-law. She must live in the most rigid
Inu,sn the tattle of the servants or of anyone else, I'll of a hunting-field. You shall be a lady, Cle, and . seclusion. Her husband, who is entirely dependent
tiew,hip you." I on his family, can never take her side; and, fresh
. I not —"
Sas,Tr 'lands were stall busy in my box. I saw them I Ross's hand was up, and a lightning blow descended , himself from college, is apt to despise her for her
Nvax en, lY quiver' she turned as white as the piece of on his father's mouth. A horrible silence for one ignorance, and to tolerate her as a necessary evil. Our
Sit sue held between her fingers, and, a few minutes second; they each sprang, and they were grappling . correspondent is herself, as we have hinted, one whose
so:, *crept silently to her brother's side, who put like two fierce beasts together. 'hard lot it is to suffer the Unnameable miseries en-
qessaahis hand and took hers under the table. Fre- You may fancy it was no equal encounter, and that tailed by the custom of early marriage: It would pro-
liesY after this she cast wild, startled glances at it could not last long. Ross was hurled to the ground , bably not be well for us to say more than this, but her
Ala ‘asther, as if she feared every instant he would in a moment from the Samson-like grip of his father. , letter is genuine and unprompted. And she deliber-
tales "is horrible threat into execution. She never He rose again, but before he could spring forward Cle ' ately declares that—' The treatment which even ser-
tiNr left her brother's side the whole of the evening clutched his knees and I his hands. vents receive from their European masters is far
Mr. Ingestre sat in an arm-chair and talked to Mr. Ingestre looked at hint for an instant, burst better than falls to the share of us Hindu women.
into a hoarse laugh, and walked away. I did not look We are treated worse than beasts.' What wonder,
ay morning Mr. I
04 .
Bieigi , p nd. and his son went out after him: the poor boy's face was my study, for in it then, she cries, that the few English friends who try
eols.lnig ; the snow was deep and the wind bitterly was reflected most cruelly the passionate conflict to ameliorate the condition of Indian women should
Lolls 1 was busied until luncheon-time with the going on within. There he stood, with folded arms and find them timid, languid, melancholy, sickly, devoid
Vliele accounts, and had seen nothing of Cleland the:clenched teeth, white face, and veined forehead, doing of cheerfulness. The strength, both of mind and
did se,Of the morning. The bell was rung but she battle with his own great passions—devouring his body, is sapped by these early marriages. The
/I°6 aPpear, and I sat down to the meal alone, rage, stamping down his frenzy. There he stood, a children either die off like weakly seedlings, or grow
la "egan to feel uneasy at her absence, and made picture worth studying; a stripling fighting with, up without vigour. The women lose their beauty at
4 and conquering, of all the servants where it was likely she an conquering, himself—suffering intensely, but 20, are long past their prime at 30, and old at 40.
144 be. None could answer that question, and at with no childish sign of pain. We neither of us But a worse fate awaits them if, instead of being
asis meeting Domingo, I questioned him as to her spoke, and presently he drew a long breath of relief, Hindu wives, they become Hindu widows. Of this
tho'hreabouts. He admitted, rather hesitatingly I and, stooping down, touched his sister on the wretched fate our correspondent fortunately knows
the'ght, that he had seen her go across the park into shoulder. I nothing personally, and so cannot write from ax-
le f village early in the day. I prepared immediately 6‘ Cle, darling, I'm better now—it's gone—it's perience. But there are 22,000,000 widows in India,
0110
afq w her, and ten minutes after left the house with over." many of whom lost their nominal husbands when they
fat,. determination to forbid such excursions for the Then Cleland began to sob and cry most wildly. were children, and none of whom can ever marry
gre.
Wh in the village I thought it best to inq
" Oh, Ross ! o•-, my brother !to think that this is again. For them the pleasure of existence is over.
seal en uire at all for me! How can I ever forgive myself? How For the rest of their lives they are deprived of
see: of the cottages whether Miss Ingestre had been could papa provoke you so when he knows—oh, ornaments and coloured garments, their heads are
the tPass that way. I was instantly answered in Ross! lam so sorry for this! so sorry! oh, my good shaved, they are condemned to the coarsest clothes
tlasia—urnsative. A labourer had seen the squire's brother ! " and poorest food, and wear out their days in seclusion
krunasllt,,er and the black footman g° into the Ingestre "Cle, what have I done? There was a devil in me, as the lowest drudges of the household. They have to
4 1
si "'zee hours ago. I think. What can I do—what shall Ido to atone for live like nuns, but amid all the temptations of a little
/ co ',owed no surprise at this information, although it?" world in which they are regarded as inferior beings
I'salanzleTs I felt not a little; but walked up to the! 4,1 don't know, darling. Ask Miss Wace; she is and when they hide their shame they are handed
‘ustatia'nuse, which was scarcely five minutes' walk very kind; she will tell you what is best." over to the English law for punishment. Here at
tiii entered and inquired if Miss Ingestre was They were both sobbing, and my eyes were not least, in the case of perpetual widowhood, all English
these. , dry. I was turning away when Ross called to me to people interested in India must earnestly wish that
1 ‘"res •
aasi , she was with an old friend of hers." The remain. some legal reform were possible, and social reformers
Nata(l,37 winked, and whispered to me, "Did I "Don't go, miss Wace; you have seen my wicked- would be wise if they concentrated their efforts in
*uile her? Then she was in the back parlour. ness, and it is only fair you should see my shame, this direction. The incontrovertible fact that
l'aysPassage was very dark—she would lead the What do I look like—crying like a girl? Cle, dear, 22,000,000 girls and women are condemned to life-
don't hold me; get up, and let me think what I long and unnatural misery calls for legislation. The
Itigtihke. threw open a door and I looked in. Smoking, ought to do." harsh duties of perpetual widowhood and its constant
ttars lug, and card-playing I saw; itinerant vendors, ' She did; and flung her arms round me, still heart- practice of austerities are crueller perhaps than the
ati3s, brickmakers, and navvies I saw; but not broken and sobbing bitterly. swift leap into the funeral pyre, and the one should
ill r 'looked for, Wait; a second and closer glance ' "Tell him what lie ought to do; comfort him! follow the other under force if possible of English
klzilillil,d, and in a dark corner, with her arms thrown Good Miss Wace, give him one little bit of comfort, legislation. It is the bitterest penalty of our rule in
a
Th Woman's neck, crouched Miss Ingestre. i for lie is so sorry ! " India that the most beneficient changes are hopeless
44011
jarta:t Woman was respectably dressed, but her I could give no comfort, nor did I attempt the when custom and caste and the dead weight of
p, ilvas off, and a quantity of fair beautiful hair mockery of offering it. The boy knew that he had apathetic usage are ranged on the other side."
Ne-rianeut her head and shoulders in a wild, dis- ! done wrong, and that such wrong demanded much
tlass 37asliion She a drinking greedily out of a sorrowful repentance. , I
1111°14,43 I Went
t up andtouched6C-leiand upon the
~ "Come with me, Cleland," I said, leading her
% sr. 1 away ; "he is better alone. Ile knows the right
at°°lieeascr,eatned at the sight of me, and the woman thing to do, and he will do it. Leave him to the !
-s, th- alarmed. I saw instantly she was not sober, . guidance of his own heart, and the dictates of his ,
‘, oev.friglitful inanity of her large blue eyes. ' conscience, and he will find his comfort there.
a sv",, miss Wace I" Come!"
She followed me unresistingly up-stairs, and, still i
the .°.‘s She? Who. is that lady, Cleland ? " stuttered
crying bitterly, told me how these frightful
: out-
governessaursts of passion are the sorrow of hr brother's
4 cIA. Oh, Miss Wace, don't tell !"
c)t. t • nly pretty darling! And why should she life.
Nsa 811 that n He knows how wicked it is, and he tries so hard
e,;te has know,you have been to see a poor old friend,
to conquer it, but very often he cannot until the I
4-il'cing loos better s
days?"
1,,,,5t1ia 40, at the child. " don't see why shde mischief is done; and papa provokes him over and
over again, by flying into dreadful passions all about
I,l`4at Et ' tell all the world how kind you are, an
heart you have. Oh, tell Squire nothing. Wait until you have seen the squire in a
F all means, ma'am, that his daughter
v.,Reatrecaaritable .
fine passion, Miss Wace, and then you will know
NN,73, kiroi I£l
where poor Ross gets his temper from.
i F3to,,n° Poor Mrs. Faunce, the baker's wife, who
"He never struck papa before this, though, never!
so?. pa,n.7g.t_ out of the village a long time ago.
13,4;!ter tiZsce• ma'am, and once upon a time was ban I'
dm- and I think papa must have said something very
You! I suppose you're come to be the o , v
bad f me • for • oh, Miss Wace! it is in taking my
1 , tilUitross
gitl kayed to now,
eh?" part that most of these dreadful quarrels come
stsas a„,„ hear no more. I left the room, but the about. I will never go hunting again, though I am
t0,,0a to,:_nrne. I did not release her hand until we so fond of it! I will give up everything in the
'4cl ether
ale,"itle rin the park, and then I turned her world for Ross; and—and I know what I'll do
directly ;" and, without another word, she rushed out
q .L
of the room.
lie°tetOh
te'elss Wace," she cried, " you saw it all;
17i.1i 1..,°f file; don't tell of her. If papa knows it,
kat ailll did not anticipate that she meant mischief; she
I " • nie. oh, • 'll tell
promise me you will never a was not exactly in the mood for it then, so I let her
go. About an hour after, I had occasion to go into
ts eie
frti'' I aslauiln,d,, the still-room y the window of which looks into the
Who is that woman ? "
- th . , b tell yout I'll not lie, and I'll not tell the itchen-garden. I heard a furious crackliag noise,
and a strong smell of smoke surrounded me.
(Iretifarlift
_d_On't let. papa or Ross know; it will be
For an instant I was alarmed, and felt sure theea, ad tha Jun do:, place must be on fire; but on seeking the came of
ti, tititt_pc'earsiona.sked what reason she had for seeking
the smoke and noise, I soon found it. s In the middle
'ee 'Aist of a large vege •bl bed outside g fire Crsditor: "Look here, now, do you know that I've
: it to _ not tell you; it is a secret, and I must
of wood and brambles, and Cleland standing beside called no less than ten times to collect this bill?
it. sa au.“iYself. Maxall told me, and Domingo said
a rte it with folded arms, mournfully regarding the des- Don't you suppose I've got anything else to do than to
th' bllt till; and she wrote to me, and I believed
41,8,M., ifPapa(, does not know nor Ross • and don't tell,which /us caught a be running around
truction of her huntingsdress, I• t' after my money from such fellows
'-tlt •-n Please f ''' , ' glimpse of, singeing and aa-eorchng mu the midst of thea ,as..you?" iVebtor : "It does seems hard, but I don't
g Qs /
anl..;, ~ or then4ll4s-0041.1011tosisent , fire. know what you can do unless you charge it to the
I I /eft the house instantly t‘d remonstrate with her running expenses."

Iran up, opened the door, and wont in, Ross was
lying on the ground, insensible.
(To be continued.)