The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-04-10 00:00:00

LALL RIGHTS RESHRTED.I
THE HEIRESS

AMRSTONE GRANGE.

nr TRH AUTHOR OF
"Allan Thornton," "Effie Baird," "Almost a
Criminal," " Leonora's Legacy," 4-c.

CHAPTER V.

MARRIED.

My love has sworn with sealing kiss,
For me to live—to die;
1 have at last the namelets bliss—
AR I love loved am I.—Ctnnrit BELL.
ir was no dream, though for the moment Leonard
Atherstone rubbed his eyes, and tried to believe that
tie should suddenly wake somewhere else. The
neautiful actress—the star, whose name was flaring
dawn on the passers-by from every hoarding in
London—was in very deed Beryl Joyce, the girl he
had sought for so long and so despairingly.
More beautiful now, by reason of good dressing and
Plentiful living. She looked like a glorious vision of
the unknown actress who had charmed the
tlasyinpathetic Drizzleton folk on that memorable
ight and he stared at her feeling like one bewitched.
Bruce Carnaby recognised the actress also, and
knitted his brows, as he saw the wild look of delight
Which passed over his companion's face.
"Here's a pretty state of things," he said to him-
elf. "Heaven grant the girl's married! It would be
the best thing that could happen. The only thing to
de any good. By Jove ! she is lovely. I don't wonder
at Len's infatuation."
, Beryl Joyce's rather unformed beauty had developed
into almost perfect loveliness. She moved with grace
find ease, yet with perfect modesty; and her voice in
its sweet modulations moved the audience to alternate
smiles and tears, as the various passages of the
Character she represented were depicted. Tier perfor-
taance wns a triumphant success, and bouquets fell
tireund her in a fragrant shower when she was led to
answer the congratulations of the audience at its
tenclusien•
It was not until then that she saw Leonard Ather-
Stone and his friend. A thoroughly conscientious
actress, she had never let her eyes wander round the
house in search of admiration, as it is the custom of
ner class to do; but now she looked all around, bowing
het thanks, and their eyes met. There was a sudden
Ilnsh and start, and then she turned so pale that they
feared she wa's going to faint, but she recovered her-
elf, and was led away amidst the cheers of the de-
lighted spectators.
, "Wait for me, here, Bruce," said Leonard, struggling
Into his coat with frantic haste. "I'll come back.
going round to the stage door."
"I'm coining out, too. I want a smoke," said Bruce
Carnaby, as they strolled out together into the
street.

"Wait a minute, old boy," said Bruce as Leonard I
would have rushed off without a second's breathing
time. "There's no hurry. The lady won't be fit to
be seen for the next half hour."
"Don't stop me, Bruce, and don't preach. I can't
eit to listen to you. Why, man, she may be gone !"
ne said, impatiently, as his friend laid a detaining hand
uPon his arm.
"Not she, and if she is it is only to come again to-
Inorrow night. Look here, Len. I don't want to
Di reach, as you call it, but think what you're doing.
'Cave things where they are, and no harm will come
to it. Renew your acquaintance with Beryl Joyce,
itud trouble will ensue. Think of your father."
"I can think only of her, my beautiful Beryl. Is she
not lovely, Bruce ?"
"She is, but be reasonable, Len. Think how long it
ts Since you met her. That you have had no chance
°f finding out anything about her. Why, for aught
You know, she may be happily married in her own
12,liere of life. Perhaps to that fat man who brought
her on the stage to-night. Is it wise to try to disturb
11er Peace of mind, think you ?"
"Don't torture me, Carnaby," said Leonard, passion-
" I don't believe she is married. If she is I
will hear it from her own lips. If she is not, she shall
be my wife, please heaven! If she were a wife I should
not have read the joy in her eyes that sparkled there
When they met mine just now."
Remonstrance was useless, and Bruce Carnaby could
inot but let his friend go, inwardly hoping that the Fat es
"41:1 provided the actress with a husband in the time
lhat had passed since they had met.
But the Fates had decided othewise, and Leonard
Atherstone learned, with a wildly-beating heart, that
le was still free. He asked for her by the old simple
and wondered to see the grim-looking book-
eeeer stare, and mutter that there was no one of
Haat name in the theatre.
Before he had recovered his wits, or remembered the
reand new name that was already so famous, a voice
,llind him said: " It's all right, Mr. Atherstone. Miss
'°Tre is here." And he turned round to see Mr. Whiffin
r-Inding in the doorway. A very different person
Ir,PM the steady-looking Drizzleton manager was Mr.
hilfhin now, Well-dressed, in a wonderful befrogged
1111 fur-trimmed coat, he looked like some Russian
eL)°teutate, and his glasses and wig were marvellous to
vehold. He was evidently glad to see the young
gPritteman again.
"I saw you and your friend in front," he said. "I
Was at the wing. Not on the stage. Oh, dear no! I
„Ine not considered good enough to support the star of
'Aeland. Though I flatter myself, if I had the chance,
should create a sensation. It is the way of the world,
11r. Atherstone; the way of of the world, sir."
Leonard interrupted him by a question about Beryl
Elnd his wife.
"13eryl and I am alone now," was the reply. "Mrs.
‘Vhiffin is dead. She lived long enough to see her
kd°Pted child famous, and to share the comforts of
11r improved position, and then she went. It was a
other trial, sir; but she is better off."
Leonard sympathised, as in duty bound, and then
pUt the momentous question that was making his
clean throb and his brain whirl —was Beryl marriee ?"
"No," was Mr. Whiffin's response. "She did not
,eetti to care for anyone in Australia. I fancy she left
ner heart in England."
, " And took mine with her. You have lifted a great
load off my heart. I feered I scarce knew what."
'Don't hope too much, now," said Mr. Whiffin
Illaking a mental resolve to do all in his power to
Prevent Beryl's marrying at all while her popularity
as so profitable. "I only said she was not married.
''.oll may not be the right man, after all, you know."
"I must have that from herself," said Leonard, as
'be door swung open, and a quietly-dressed lady,
follow
„ ed by her maid, emerged into the street, where
"le two had been walking up and down.
" Beryl ! Miss Joyce !"
, Tie had taken her hand, and lifted it to his lips,
°efore she wag aware who it was, and then she could
?Illy falter some brief words of greeting in answer to
te °nerd's passionate tones.
, But the purlieus of the stage door of a London
theatre are no place for love-making, and Leonard
tore himself away after obtaining permission to call
;Von Mr. Whiffin and Beryl the next day, at their
odginga in Bloomsbury-square.
" Its no use arguing with you," Bruce Carnaby
!aid, when Leonard had pouredout his rapture at find!
irig Beryl free, and caring for no one else. I wish yon
Well through all the storms you are brewing, that's
Ikhd• Any way, old fellow, I wish you well, and se
"4PPy as I hope to be myself.'
There's no need to tell of the course of the love
between the infatuated young hearts. It would be
°ray the "old, old story "—the tale that Adam whis-
Pered to Eve under the rustling trees of Eden—the tale
that man has told woman since the creation of the
World, and will tell till time shall be no more, and all
joys and sorrows of fleeting time swallowed up in
a boundless eternity. Leonard Atherstone was ,
fortunate in that Beryl Joyce was a good, virtuous
girl, unspoiled as yet by success and admiration. He
Was not ensnared by beauty alone, to be cast off by
and by for some new fancy.
Bruce Carnaby said no more. He must let things
etake their own course he knew, and when the two
triends left London, at the end of their brief holiday,
the actress had promised to be Leonard Atherstone's
Wife.
b Not without opposition from Mr. Whiffin. But
'„erYl was her own mistress, and Leonard had money
°' his own now. Before that was spent his father
We ould surely come to terms with him, if he did not
forgive him at once. And, with such a daughter-in-
law as Beryl, he could not fail to soften very soon.
Bruce Carnaby's stylish wedding in the West End
Was speedily followed by a quiet ceremony in a dull,
Old-fashioned city church, where the banns of marriage
between "Leonard Atherstone, bachelor, and Beryl
Joyce, spinster," had been duly proclaimed the
orthodox number of times. No one in the parish knew
Who the two were, and when they presented them-
to be married, there was nothing remarkable
about their appearance. They were very quietly
uressed, and drove off in a cab when the ceremony
Was over, no one about the church knew where.
So the parish clerk told Mr. Carson, who made his
aPearance at the church three days later, and
'emended to see the entry of the marriage in the
register, "and asked enough questions to drive a man
his head, and never once thought of a glass of
anything short, or a pint of beer," the aggrieved
I)fficial said after he was gone. "There's something
In the wind about that wedding. We shall hear of it
4gain some day."
Jle never did hear of it again, though there certainly
was, as he had expressed it, " something in the
Win (Le
Squire Atherstone was furious—more so than ever
"Is eon had expected—and refused to believe the truth
°1 the story at all till the lawyer had seen the real
la,trY in the parish books. That his son should marry
4' all without his permission was a sore blow to him,
hut that he should marry an actress—a creature of the
\elicited class to which Angela Delphine belonged—was
ou,tterer than death itself. His son sent him a copy
the certificate,. and a sensible manly letter. Not
ie,xeuelng himself ror what he had done, but sorry to
a
offended his father. He was gone to Italy with
e_1•• wife he wrote. He should make no attempt to see
:7 of his friends till the wonder.and atTgance at the
'2._ee he had taken had somewhat worn 'tfiemselves
"1- He should leave all to time he said.
Ir. Atherstone said very little, but gave orders for
t'irurt Carson to go to London, and ascertain the exact
h about the affair, which he did without much
tr
t °lll3le- Mr.Whiffin was still in town, and bad nothing
b°se.onceal. The lawyer went back, and reported that
114 d heard nothing but good of the lady, of whom