The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-11-13 00:00:00

BY THE AUTHOR OF

'Allan Thornton," "'Effie Baird," "Almost as
Criminal," "Leonard's Legacy," 4-c,
CHAPTER XLVH.
IN A GLASS, DARKLY.
I'll have these players
Play something, like the murder of my father
Ilefore mine uncle.
lii observe his looks. If he but blench,
1 know my COUrSe.—SUAKESPEARE.
411. l"

She recovered herself with an effort at the sound of
bver's voice, and looked up at him with her old
itching smile, chasing away from Noel's mind the
Clouds which had been gathering there as he
her agitation.
4
r: K. rBhaw !" he muttered. "It was but the shade of
1t curtains that gave her such a look, after all. I'm
,4:llBpicious, jealous fool. Thank goodness she does
t know what I have been thinking about!'
d then, seeing her questioning look, he bent
ly over her, and asked who it was she had ex-
fl ged glances with in the opposite box.
1114 Two very old friends of mini', Mr. Atherstone,"
the replied, with an air of mock hauteur. "One of
eta you ought to remember."
1 ''
Indeed ! which?'
' I'The little one, who looks like a dried up
"Beryl I"
"Well, I remember your making a remark very
like that concerning the same gentleman," she
ered. "It is Dr. Twist. Don't you remember
4 Mg ?"
..4 Of course—and I also remember thinking that he
"4 not the most agreeable party in the world,"
'y returned Noel. "Who is it in the box with

,!ta
04/.
krit

%ked

touitni,

NISIv(

j'Athu,

'Mr. Masters."
" What! your old manager ?"
Yes, your mother has seen him—haven't you,
`uttie ?" she continued, turning quickly to Mrs.
therstone.
Mat lady had not caught the question, however,
A it had to be repeated to her.
Oh, yes," he replied. "That very pleasant,
°manly person who called upon us. Is he
?9,
teryl pointed him out to her, and then turned to
qoei.

,
I 4thersto)
kul
here •

"I should like to see them ?" she said. 64 Would
4311 mind bringing them here, Noel—that is, if auntie
not object."
'Object, my dear child! Cartainly not."
"I think you must be mad," grimly muttered Mrs.
in Beryl's ear, when Noel had left them.
Such people as those are best kept at a distance."
Beryl shrugged her shoulders contemptuously.
What harm can they do to me ?" she replied, in
;!to same low tone, though they might have spoken
t'llder without attracting Mts. Atherstone's attention,
which was riveted on one of the most exciting scenes
1:4 the play. "It's no use avoiding them. Such a
atlrse would only lead to remark, depend upon it.
oot a word—they are here."
,And wreathing her lips into a smile of welcome,
11% turned to greet the two gentlemen, who just then
apPeared at the box-door, followed by Noel.
"So glad to see you, doctor," she said, extending
uer hand; and you, Mr. Masters. It almost makes
Ito long to be back upon the boards once more, do
Yoll know, when I see such a piece as this. I think I
Could have played that part."
"I think so, too," drily replid the manager.
I.But although Beryl pruli ssed so great an admira-
n for the play, she took very little notice of what
Zts going on upon the stage. Indeed, from the
anner in which she talked and laughed to the two
gentleuken, it almost seemed as though she were
Striving to divert their attention as well.
, Noel could not make it out. She was not wont to
L4Y herself out so openly in entertainment of others,
Particularly when those others happened to be rather
Prosy, elderly men, whose only answer to her
hVeliest sallies were made in the stiffest possible
tones.
Indeed, neither Dr. Twist nor Mr. Masters appeared
to be already at their ease, and more than once Noel
fancied he could detect a strange look of intelligence
Pass between them.
At last the act-drop went down, and the conversa-
tion became more general, though Mrs. Daltcn still
took no part in it. She sat moodily back in her chair
behind the others, watching intently the face of the
fair girl who sat there, looking so bright and happy,
while
"Why cannot I laugh and jest as she does ?" she
thought inwardly, with a strange shiver. "I have
to more reason to fear. I suppose it is that I am
getting old, and my nerves are not as strong as they
were. The least little thing serves to upset me
now!,
The truth of which she very shortly proved.
Mr. Masters had hardly spoken to Beryl till he sud-
denly broke into the conversation, apropos of nothing,
aS it appeared, and addressed her.
"You have been in Edinburgh lately, I believe:"
"Yes. Indeed, I have only lately returned,"
answered Beryl, faun ng herself with an air of sang
froid.
"You have not heard any news from there bine()
You left ?"
Beryl shook her head.
"No, I have no correspondent in Scotland.
Why ?-0
"I thought the newspapers might have informed

(loes

balton,

"I seldom look at one," coolly replied Beryl. Is any
one I know acting there?'
"It is not that but some old acquaintances of yours
have met with a sad mi:fortune."
"Old acquaintances of mine !" repeated Beryl, with
a puzzled look. "Whom can you mean ?"
"Well, perhaps I was wrong in speaking of Edin-
burgh—it was at Birmingham you knew them. I mean
John Jarvis and his wife."
"Oh! of course," interrupted Bersl. "The good
rnan who used to carry me as a little child to the
theatre. I saw them only the other day. What has
happened ?"
There was no trace of agitation in her voice, only a
natural interest in the subject, but Noel was conscious
that both the gentlemen were regarding htr very
fixedly, and wondered not a little at the same.
Another thing struck him as being very curious,
too. Mrs. Dalton was leaning eagerty forward, as
though to catch the answer to Beryl's question, her
hand grasping the rail of the tha'r before her like
one who was labouring under some strong excite-
rent.
"What has happened ?.' to them reretted Beryl.
" A most terrible thing for rople in their condi
tion," answered Mr. Masters. "The house they ltved
in has been destroyed by fire, in which the old man
nearly lost his life: As it was, everything they h
In the world was consumed."
"Good heavens! how shocking" exclaimed Beryl,
her face paling, and soft tears filling her eyes. "Poor
old Jarvis! I must send them some help at once.
You remember them, auntie, don't 5 ou? Tho:e dear
people who have got my likeness."
" Yes," returned Mrs. Atherstone. "I daresay
they will be sorry now that they did not let you have
It, for I suppose it has been burned with the rest of
their things."
"I suppose so," said Beryl. "And rm not sorry
for it. I daresay it was anything but a flattering
likeness. Cheap photographs, taken so long ago as
that was, rarely are."
"You are mistaken," gravely broke in Mr, Masters.
"Luckily the portrait is quite safe"
"Safe!" echoed Beryl, with a scared, bewildered
look.
" Yes ; Mrs. Jarvis was not at home when the fire
took place, and, oddly enough, she had taken the
photograph out with her."
" rm sorry it was nothing more valuable that they
contrived to save," answered Beryl, in a voice which
her utmost efforts could not prevent sh tking
perceptibly. As it is
She broke off suddenly, alarmed by a low cry behind
her, and turning rotmd saw that Noel was supporting
Mrs. Dalton, who was apparently unconscious.
Don't be alarmed," said Dr. Tw,st, after a brief
glance at the insensible woman. " She has only
fainted."
And they carried her out into the cooler air, when
she soon recovered, though looking very white and
ill; so much so, indeed, that Dr. Twist advised her to
go home at once, and the party left the theatre, Mr.
Masters and the doctor taking their leave at the
door, and going beh.nd the scenes.
Allan Temple had gone through the business of his
part that evening in a state bordering upon utter
blank incomprehensibility. Indeed, at one part of the
performance he had almost broken down. Graham
Carson told him that Beryl was to be there, and his
eyes wandered round the hous- in a vain se trch for
the woman to whom his whole heart had been given,
only to have it thrown back again l• s a worthless
gif t.
Mr. Chetwynd came round to him just before his
entrance with the news th it Beryl was realty in the

house.
"You can't see her from this side, of course," he
said. "But just wait tilt you get upon the stage, and
then cast your eyes towards the second box upon the
grand tier. Upon my word, she is a lovely creature,
with hair that shines like golden threads in the gas-
light. Everybody has been staring at her, an I the
handsome young fellow with the party—her intended,
I presume."
"Golden hair !" repeated Allan, in amazement, and
not noticing the latter part of Mr. Chetwynd9s

speech.
And then he walked upon the stage, to be greeted
with buds plaudits—sounds that rang upon unheed-
ing ears, for Allan Telnple's sense of place, time,
everything, WAS gone for a few brief seconds, while
he stood, almost immovable, and staring with blank,
distended eyes, at the box which had been pointed
out to him, the box wherein sat one whom he had
hoped to call by the dearest of all titles; while

now-
How he got through that act was more than ever
Allan could recount in after times. Fortunately for
success, Cara Belassys saw his agitation, and,