The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-02-04 00:00:00

BARRIER BETWEEN

REPENTED UNTO DEATH.

CHAFFER VI.
HAROLD'S HOME-COMING.
a.}?°trit years have passed away since the day of that
Lragic accident which gave back her young protegee
Arny's companionship and control. They have been
15Pent by her in seclusion from gay society, though
the few chosen friends she claimed were received by
her both at her house in town and her cottage in the
country, where all her summers were spent.
Time restored to her well-balanced mind cheerfulness
in the present, and tranquil confidence in the future.
Rer own lot in life was fixed, and she placed a true
Value upon the independent position she held, and
raised a thankful heart to heaven for the good which
had been granted as her earthly portion. Mrs. Chard
Was a noble, true and conscientious Christian woman,
Who clearly saw the duties before her, and lovingly
Performed them; for no cold sense of mere duty
Prompted that warm heart to the performance of the
deeds of mercy which linked her name with all that
Was benevolent in her native city.
Her adopted daughter was all her fondest hopes de-
sired, for, under the tender sunshine of judicious
affection, Rose developed into a most lovely, high-
°Pirited girl, incapable of comprehending a mean or
Ignoble emotion.
Mrs. Chard's old friends, Mr. Danvers and his
daughter, still lived alone, for Harold had evaded all
their entreaties to return to his native land. The form
Of the father was bowed with years, and his venerable
head seemed to become of a more silvery hue with
12Very letter from the absent son, refusing the one
Yearning cry of his aged heart—the prayer for one
last embrace, before mother Earth claimed her worn-
Son.

singular mystery still shrouded Harold Danver's
ridden marriage. It was known to his friends that
e avoided his countrymen; that ho had even, on
More than one occasion, refused to receive those who
,llad been well-known to him before his departure from
cdagland. The few friends who saw him described him
aa failing in health and depressed in spirits, but of
?Ars. Danvers nothing was positively known. She had
not by any chance been seen by the few who suc-
ceeded in gaining an interview with her husband; but
letters from her were rcgularly received, breathing
the same refined delicacy of feeling and genial culture
'Which characterised the one written on the occasion of
her marriage.
The aged father cherished these missives until the
desire to behold their writer became the strongest
feling of his heart. His replies to them were filled
With entreaties to his son to return home, that his
ea might rest upon his children once more before
they closed on all sublunary objects.
:Po these entreaties Harold was deaf, until his health
failed him so utterly, that his physicians assured him
tlle only hope of prolonging his life, for a few brief
ran, was in a return to his native air. Even then
luatrvers wavered; but the yearning heart would po
longer be crushed down. "Let me look on them once
More, and then die," was the cry that would be heard;
Mad he wrote to his father that he had resigned his post,
and would return the very next week.
It was like the return of the Prodigal Son. Every
11.1'eparation which could gratify his pride or his affec-
tions was made for his reception; the near friends of
tllie family assembled beneath the paternal roof to offer
linn a cordial welcome. But, in the midst of their
Pectations, a brief note came to Mrs. Anderson.
"egging that they might be received strictly en.famille,
as his wife had severely suffered from the sea voyage,
and she was unwilling to see any one except his father
and sister.
His wishes were regarded as laws in his own
Zarnily. Those who had assembled to meet him
"i?rriedly departed, and soon afterwards a carriage,
With the blinds lowered, was driven to the door.
Prom it alighted a pallid shadow, looking more like
the unhappy wraith of the gay man who had left
those walls seven years before, than a creature of
flesh and blood. He handed out a lady so wrapped
in furs that no portion of her person was distinguish-
able.

As they ascended the steps, he spoke, in a low
tone—

" Adelina, you are an inimitable actress, and I con-
lure you to make an effort to realise the impressions
have given my family concerning you. For heaven's
'lake, curb your fantastic nature, and do not break
Illy- father's heart by showing
'My real self," broke in his companion, abruptly.
It Was not my wish that you should have made me
Other than I am. They must see my true nature
v,Booner or later, so where is the use of deception now?
let all the horror of the little brown, ugly, ill-
bred creature burst on them at once."
These epithets were uttered with such emphasis as
to lead to the belief that they were maliciously quoted
from his own lips, and a livid pallor over-spread the
features of Danvers as he walked on in silence, en-
deavouring to nerve himself for the meeting he had
long dreaded more than death itself.
As they entered the hall the father and daughter
tlet the long absent one with a welcome that melted
hiS heart and drew tears from his eyes. Tender
caresses were also lavished upon the fur-clad lady,
'who received them passively, and did not utter a word
I 1 reply.
They passed into the brilliantly-illuminated parlour,
and Mrs. Anderson aided her sister-in-law to divest
herself of the wrappings which so effectually
Ilisguised her. At length she stood fully revealed
°eneath the bright gaslight, and a cold chill of
l'oPulsion passed over the high-bred, refined sister as
he beheld the brother's wife she had so ardently
desired to meet.

Mrs. Danvers was a low, heavily-made woman,
With a very dark complexion, and a quantity of ill-
atranged, lustreless hair. Some faint resemblance
could be traced to the portrait which hung upon the
library wall; but to the ideality of the artist the
Picture owed all the charms it possessed—for charms
the original certainly had not; even the redeeming
°lle of a bright expression was wanting—for a more
Unfriendly and disagreeable glare could not have
flashed from the eyes of a foe than now met the
gaze of her new relatives. There was a sharp
shrewdness in those small, dark orbs, which revealed
the fact that nothing escaped her observation, and
that she was ready to catch and intrepret disagreeably
ItlaY expression of disappointment which might appear
11Pon the faces of the two so completely taken by
Pnrprise by an apparition so different from the person
they had expected to see.
In place of the elegant, stylish-looking woman they
'were prepared to welcome, was this insignificant little
dowdy, evidently ready to take offence at the slightest
C'Epression of disappointment.
The proud sister grew pale, and the father almost
rasped for breath; but he glanced at the suffering
ace of his son, and recovered composure sufficiently
to Say—
" Kiss me, my daughter, and let me again welcom€
~YoU to your husband's home. You have made my be-
loved son happy, and you have my thanks."
She did not move, but, with a withering sneer,
Pointed to Harold, and said—
, " Happy ! ha! ha! Look at him! Much happinesr
naa he indeed found with me!" And sitting suddenly
down in a large rocking chair, she commenced oscil
latiog to and fro with great rapidity.
The father and daughter looked at each other, then
at the pale, gasping man, who had sunk upon a sofa,
and they both burst in tears.
Harold half arose, and, with an expression of anguish,
said—

" Father ! sister! I should have prepared you for
this. But I could not--I could not !"
" What does this mean? Is this person really your
.svife ?" asked the old man, in bewilderment.
"That is Mrs. Danvers. She can, charm—she can
render herself even fascinating, when she chooses; but
he is ruled by the most capricious and perverse spirit
that ever tenanted a woman's form. I implored her
to show the fairest side of her character to you, and
With this result. Father, lam dying, and that woman
is thrusting me into my grave; yet I must keep her
beside me. I cannot rid myself of her—behold the
tad secret of my expatriation, and ask no further.
Icor my sake, pardon the waywardness of my wife,
and excuse her caprices; it is all you can now do for

• There was such a depth of compassionate anguish
his voice and manner, that the two he addressed
Were touched to the heart by it ; but his wife sat im-
Passive as if nothing unusual was going forward. Mr.
banvers replied with emotion—
"My son, Ely poor boy, I am prepared to do any-
thing for you that can contribute to your comfort and
happiness. In time, your wife will learn to know
and love us, and then the charming spirit breathed in
her letters will reveal itself to those who are so
anxious to appreciate her highly."
"I did not compose the letters," abruptly broke in
the voice of Mrs. Danvers. "If I'm ugly and un-
ladylike, at least I'm honest. Lookat me, and judge
if I should be likely to write such sentimental stuff as
Was sent to you in my name? He," pointing to her
husband, never intended that you should see me,
and he had them written by an accomplished French-
woman. I did not care, so long as I had no trouble
about them; but when he found that he must die un-
less he came into his native air again he tried to per-
suade me to act the character the false things had
given me. I refused, because I don't choose to dd
anything that does not suit me; so you see me just
What I am."
This voluble explanation was listened to in appalled
silence, and Mrs. Anderson tufted an imploring
glance upon her brother, as if to entreat an ex-
Placation of this painful scene. He feebly said—
"l am quite exhausted, Madge. Bear with me—
with my wife; to-morrow her mcod may be more
agreeable."
With a significant toss of her head, Mrs. Danvers
seemed to hint the opinion that his expectations
Would be disappointed, but she said nothing; and with
Chilled hearts the family group drew toward the cheer-
ful fire, while the poor old father endeavoured to intro-
duce something like a conversation on the subject of
their late voyage.
Supper was served, but Mrs. Danvers sat in in-
different silence, tasting the dishes that were offered
to her, and then contemptuously !ejecting them ,as if

they were unfit to be eaten. When they arose from
the table, she asked to be conducted to her apartment;
and Mrs. Anderson accompanied her herself, resolute
that no show of courtesy should be wanting on her
part, though her efforts at cordiality had been so
ungraciously repelled.
When they .were left alone, the father and son,
moved by mutual impulse, fell into each other's arms
and the weakened frame of the younger man quivered
as if in the paroxysms of an ague. The broken voice
of Mr. Danvers asked:

"Harold, my son, what does this mean? Why have
you so bitterly deceived us in your wife ?"
"She is better than she seems; bear with her, father,
and ask me no questions, for I cannot reply to them.
Tisk, as the price of reason--nay, of life itself—that
the history of my foreign experience may be as a
sealed chapter between us. Notice Adelina's eccen-
tricities as little as possible; her temper is variable,
and she puts no control upon it; therefore she is at
times difficult to manage. In a moment of irritation,
I unfortunately offended her just before we landed,
and this humiliating scene has been the result. Pardon
her, and disregard her vagaries. I assure you she can
be a very attractive person when she chooses to make
the effort.

Mr. Danvers sorrowfully listened to this nervously-
uttered explanation; he gazed searchingly upon his
son, as he asked— _

"Harold, did you ever love this woman ?"
An expression of such utter and contemptuous
loathing flashed across the pale face into which he
gazed, that he hurriedly placed his hand over the lips
that were half unclosed to reply, and said:

" Enough ! Enough! lam answered! Let your
secret rest between yourself and Heaven, I demand it
not. From this hour this subject is banned. I will
do my part toward this being you have taken to your
heart, however difficult it may be to see you, the pride
and idol of my life, thus wretchedly mated. Do yours
also, my son, in the spirit of forbearance; for your
wife is evidently a person whose temper will not bear
exasperation. Thus we may in time obtain the bless-
ing of working a reform."
Harold sighed heavily, but he made no reply to this
forlorn hope. He alone knew what he bad to encounter
in the perverse temper of his wife, and he cherished
no such delusion himself.

Such was the first introduction of Mrs. Danvers to
her husband's family. On the morning after her
arrival, many of the relatives and friends who had
been so unceremoniously dismissed on the previous
evening, again made their appearance; some, doubt-
less, moved by curiosity to see the foreign wife, of
whom so much had been said and written; others,
really desirous of making the acquaintance of so
elegant and accomplished a woman as Mrs. Danvers
was supposed to be.
She positively refused to leave her apartment, or to
receive any one: excuses were made for her on the
score of her journey, sufferings from sea-sickness, &c.;
but it very soon became known that the wife of
Harold Danvers was eccentric ; that her prejudices
against the native land of her husband were uncon-
querable; that she regarded the elite of London society
as scarcely worth her notice, and a strong feeling of
dislike sprang up against her in the minds of those she
must hereafter inevitably be thrown among.
Her husband warned her of this, but she only sneered
defiantly, and asserted her power to brave them all:
her recklessness as to the future consequences of her
own rudeness.

After a week of such conduct, she suddenly changed
her mood; joined the family circle, assumed a most
caressing manner towards Mr. Danvers and his
daughter; asked pardon of them for her waywardness
with so much grace, with such an appearance of
genuine feeling, that it was at once accorded. The
truth of her husband's assertion was fully vindicated.
Adelina chould be charming when she chose. The play
of her wit, the ripple of her joyous laughter, brought a
new sunshine into the house, and the sombre spirit of
her husband seemed to brighten beneath the spell she
cast over him in those hours of gaiety; but only to
sink back into deeper gloom when the old wilfulness
reasserted its power, for the weird soul that animated
her could not long remain at rest, or permit those
around her to continue so. Mrs. Danvers had a passion
for excitement, and human heart-strings were the
playthings whose deep vibrations afforded her most
intense enjoyment.
She still refused to receive calls, and declined going
out until the evening of a grand party given by the
Misses Stuckup. The name struck her fancy, and
after ascertaining that Mrs. Anderson was too ill to
accompany her, she declared her intention of attend-
ing the ball, escorted by her husband. He did not
decline accompanying her; why, was best known to
himself.