Mildred at Roselands

by Martha Finley

  Chapter Fourteenth.

  "How poor a thing is pride!"

  "The beauty you o'erprise so, time or sickness Can change to loath'd deformity; your wealth The prey of thieves." --Massinger.

  The most open-handed hospitality having ever been the rule atRoselands, it was no difficult matter for Count De Lisle to get himselfinvited to stay to tea and spend the evening; in fact it was long pastmidnight when he at last took leave of Juliet and went away.

  The thud of his horse's hoofs as he galloped down the avenue, brought apale, haggard face to an upper window; but the dim light of the starsrevealed nothing save the merest outline of the steed and his rider,and that for but an instant.

  The watcher turned away, sighing to herself "I cannot see him, but itmust be he," hastily crossed the room and stole noiselessly into thehall beyond.

  The hours spent by him in dalliance with Juliet (they had had thedrawing-room to themselves since ten o'clock) had been to her--his muchtried sister--a time of bitter anguish and fierce mental conflict.

  How could she permit this wickedness? yet how prevent it, when the onlyway to do so was by exposing him--her brother?

  It seemed a terribly hard thing to do, for she loved him, and hisdisgrace was hers, and that of the whole family.

  She was sorely tempted to leave Juliet to the fate she seemed to bedrawing upon herself by her egregious folly,--that of becoming the wifeof a spendthrift, and one whose vices had led him to commit a crimeagainst the laws of the land, the penalty of which was a term of yearsin the penitentiary.

  It would be a sad fate, but perhaps not undeserved by a girl who wouldrush into it in opposition to the known wishes and commands of herparents.

  Harry had unguardedly admitted to his sister that he had no hope ofwinning the consent of either Mr. or Mrs. Marsden; that they were, infact, so violently opposed to his suit, that he dared not visit theirdaughter in her own home; but he had exultingly added that he wasperfectly certain of his ability to persuade Juliet to elope with him,and meant to do so sooner or later.

  Well, should he accomplish that, and escape to Europe with his prize,his family probably would not suffer any ill consequence. No one hereknew his real name, or had the slightest suspicion that Miss Worth wasin any way connected with him; but she felt morally certain that incase Mrs. Dinsmore discovered the truth, her situation at Roselands waslost; she would be sent away without a recommendation; then it mightbe months before she could get employment elsewhere, and that meantbeggary to herself, and those nearest and dearest to her.

  Surely no motive of self-interest urged her to stretch out a hand tosave Juliet Marsden from falling into the snare spread for her unwaryfeet. Yet pity for the girl, a strong sense of justice, and more thanall, a desire to do the will of her new found Friend, prevailed overall selfish considerations, and she fully determined to give thewarning, though in a way to risk as little as possible, and for thelast half hour she had watched and waited for the opportunity.

  Juliet came up the stairs with a light, quick step, and as she passedunderneath the lamp swung from the ceiling, its rays, falling fullupon her, gave to Miss Worth a moment's distinct view of her face.

  It wore an expression of exultant joy; the cheeks were flushed, theeyes glittering, the lips smiling.

  "He has offered himself and been accepted," was Miss Worth'sconclusion; "there is no time to be lost;" and stepping forward, shestood directly in Juliet's path, confronting her with calm, pale face,and determined air.

  "What is the meaning of this?" asked Juliet, recoiling, and regardingthe governess with mingled anger and hauteur, "Will you be good enoughto step aside, and allow me to pass on to my own apartments?"

  "Excuse me, Miss Marsden, but I must have a word with you," returnedthe person addressed, in low, distinct tones, and not moving a hair'sbreadth from the position she had taken.

  "Indeed!" was the scornful rejoinder, "and pray, who may you bethat take such airs upon yourself? My aunt's governess, if I am notmistaken, a person with whom I can have nothing in common. Keep yourcommunications for those in your own station in life. _Will_ you stepout of my way?"

  "Not yet; not till I have discharged my duty to you, Miss Marsden,I must speak a word of warning; I cannot see you rushing headlong todestruction without crying out to you to beware; and I have no motivefor doing so but pity for you."

  Juliet's astonishment was unbounded. What could the creature mean? Whatindeed, but to insult her.

  "Pity for me!" she cried with withering scorn, "you, a poor dependentgoverness, pity me! me the daughter of a wealthy Kentucky planter andan heiress in my own right. Keep your compassion for such as want it,I will none of it!" and she would have pushed past Miss Worth, but thelatter laid a hand on her arm, not roughly but with determination.

  "It is of Count De Lisle I would speak to you," she said almost underher breath. "No, I call that back; for he has no right to either thename or the title."

  "How dare you!" cried Juliet with flashing eyes, shaking off thedetaining hand and drawing herself up to her full height. "What do youknow of him?"

  "Far more than you do," returned the other calmly. "I have known himall his life and I tell you he is not what you suppose--not what hegives himself out to be;--but a man without fortune or title--anAmerican by birth and education, and seeking you merely for yourwealth."

  "I don't believe a word of it! It's all a pack of lies that you haveinvented because you are envious of me. Stand out of my way and don'tpresume to speak to me again on this subject, nor any other."

  So saying the angry girl swept proudly past the humble governess, whomshe regarded as a menial and an impertinent meddler in her affairs, andgaining her apartments, shut and locked herself in with a noise thatroused her sleeping sister.

  "The impudent creature!" she muttered.

  "Who?" queried Reba, starting up in bed. "Have you actually discoveredthat pa is right and your count a mercenary adventurer?"

  "Nonsense! no; I've learned no such thing!"

  "What then? who is the impudent creature you are anathematizing?"

  "Aunt Belle's governess. She actually waylaid me in the hall and forcedme to stand still and listen while she uttered a warning against him,pretending that he was an old acquaintance of hers. I shall complain toaunt and have her turned adrift for her impertinence."

  "Better not," laughed Reba; "'twould only tend to rouse suspicionagainst him. It must be very late; I advise you to wake up your maidand get ready for bed."

  The encounter had left Miss Worth in quite as unamiable a frame of mindas that of her antagonist; for the insulting arrogance of Juliet'smanner had sorely wounded her pride; it was hard to take such treatmentfrom one who was her superior in nothing but the accident of wealth,and in fact decidedly inferior in the higher gifts of intellect andeducation.

  "I wash my hands of the whole affair; I will leave her to her fate,"Miss Worth said to herself as she turned in at her own door again andsecured it after her.

  With that she endeavored to dismiss the whole matter from her mind; shewas exceedingly weary and must have rest, and presently everything wasforgotten in a heavy, dreamless sleep.

  But with the first moment of wakefulness the burden again pressedheavily. She could not be indifferent to her brother's wrong-doing norto the danger of his discovery, arrest and punishment for his formercrime.

  But the holidays were over and she must return to her duties in theschoolroom; perhaps it was well for her that it was so, since itcompelled her to give her thoughts to other subjects.

  Still taking her meals in the nursery, she saw nothing of the ladyguests till Mildred came in the afternoon with a recitation.

  Mildred was quietly and steadily pursuing the course of study which shehad laid out for herself; mingling to some extent in the employmentsand pastimes of those about her, but contriving to retire betimesalmost every night, and by early rising to secure the morning hours forthe improvement of he
r mind; a season safe from interruption by heraunt and her nieces, as it was always spent by them in bed.

  In fact there was so utter an absence of congeniality between Mildredand the other two girls that they were generally better content toremain apart. And as Mrs. Dinsmore preferred the companionship of herown nieces, because of both the ties of kindred and harmony of tasteand feeling, Mildred was left to follow her own inclinations withlittle hindrance from them.

  But though continuing her studies, Mildred, because she felt that thegoverness was entitled to the full benefit of the holiday rest, hadnot, during the past two weeks, gone to her for assistance or withrecitations.

  She was glad that she might now do so with propriety; for since theepisode of the previous morning she had not been able to forget MissWorth's pale, distressed countenance; and was really very anxious abouther.

  She felt quite sure there was some deeper trouble than mere physicalpain, and had a longing desire to give sympathy and relief; a desireuntainted by a touch of prying curiosity, and that strengthened sogreatly during this afternoon's interview that she was fain to giveexpression to it; doing so with extreme delicacy and tact.

  It was when the business part of their interview was over, and Mildredhad closed her books and risen to leave the room.

  For a moment Miss Worth was silent, her features working with emotion.

  "You are very kind," she said at last. "I wish I might confide fully inyou, but you are so young: too young and free from care to understandmy--"

  She broke off abruptly and with a groan, dropped her face upon herfolded arms, on the table at which they had been sitting.

  "Perhaps so," Mildred said in gently compassionate tones; "I couldalmost wish for your sake that I were older."

  Miss Worth lifted her head, and with almost startling suddenness, anda feverish eagerness in her tones, asked, "Miss Mildred, where is MissJuliet Marsden to-day?"

  "She has passed the greater part of it in bed, I believe," Mildredanswered in utter surprise.

  "Has--has her lover been here since--since he left her last night?"

  "The Count? No."

  "Can you tell me if she is to go out to-night? and where? and who isto be her escort? Ah, I see you are wondering at my curiosity and itis only natural that you should; but believe me, it is not the idleinquisitiveness it must seem to you," she went on rapidly and inanguished accents; "for I have a reason; there is much at stake--I--Ihave tried to be indifferent--to say to myself that it is nothing tome if--if that vain, silly girl should meet with the fate her follydeserves; but I cannot; I must try to save her--and him. Oh, if I couldbut save _him_."

  And again she hid her face, while sobs shook her from head to foot.

  "Him!" Mildred cried in increased amazement, "what is he to you? No,no, I do not ask that. I have no wish to pry into your secrets."

  Miss Worth lifted her head, and wiped away her tears.

  "Thank you, for withdrawing that question," she said in a brokenvoice, "I cannot answer it; but--but this much I will tell you in thestrictest confidence. I have known him in other days, and he is notwhat he professes to be; and it would be ruin, _ruin_ to her!"

  "Is that so?" Mildred said, with a startled look. "Then surely you willwarn her?"

  "I have done so, Miss Keith, though it was like drawing my eyeteeth to do it; but my sacrifice was unappreciated, my motives weremisconstrued; I was treated with scorn and contempt, and have said tomyself, 'I have a just right to be angry and indignant, and shall leaveher to her fate.'"

  "But you will tell my uncle? He might be able to prevent the mischiefby setting a watch upon them, and forbidding the man the house."

  "No, no, I cannot betray him!" cried Miss Worth in a startled,terrified tone, "and you--you will respect my confidence, Miss Keith?"

  "Certainly; but--surely you will not suffer Juliet to be sacrificed?"

  "I have warned her," returned the governess, coldly, "and since sherefuses to heed, on her own head be the consequences."

  It was Mildred's turn to be troubled and perplexed. She stood for amoment in anxious thought.

  "Will you not make one more effort?" she said at length. "Would you notsave him from this wrong doing? May not the consequences be dreadful tohim, too? may not her father take a terrible revenge, as men sometimesdo on the deceivers and betrayers of their daughters?"

  Miss Worth started, and her wan cheek turned a shade paler.

  "I had not thought of that!" she said, drawing a long breath. "Oh, whatshall I do?"

  They consulted together, but with no more definite result than a mutualagreement to keep a strict watch upon the movements of Juliet and herpseudo nobleman.

  Mildred was again about to withdraw, when Miss Worth stopped her.

  "Pardon me, Miss Keith," she said, "but you have not answered myquestions."

  "They all go to the theatre to-night, and, as I happen to know, Mr.Landreth is to escort Miss Juliet."

  "Not the count? but she will meet him there; I am sure of it. You donot go, Miss Mildred?"

  "To the theatre! oh, no!"

  "Then I must go myself, and watch them."

  "Surely that is not necessary," reasoned Mildred, "Uncle, Aunt,Reba--all close at hand."

  "Ah! perhaps not," assented the governess, "Possibly it were wiser toleave the task to them."

  Mildred went to her room to ponder and pray over the matter, for shewas sorely perplexed, and not a little anxious for Juliet.

  She asked help and direction for herself and Miss Worth; and that thelatter might be led to do her duty, however difficult and painful.

  Greatly she wondered what was the tie between her and this spuriouscount, till it flashed upon her that his familiar look was a stronglikeness to the governess. Then she knew it was that of relationship.

  Her own duty in the affair formed a serious question in her mind.

  Much she wished Miss Worth's communication had not been made inconfidence, and that she were free to carry it to her uncle, whowould, in that case, be sure to interfere effectually to save Julietfrom falling a prey to the schemes of this false, designing man.

  She could not break her word to the governess, but at length, recallingthe fact that she had heard Reba say her father was suspicious of CountDe Lisle, she determined to repeat that to her uncle, and thus put himon his guard against the villain, and his probable plot to inveigleJuliet into a clandestine marriage.

  It was not a pleasant thing for Mildred to do; she would much rathernot interfere, but Juliet must be saved at all risks, and neither shenor Reba had seemed to make a secret of their father's sentiments.

  She went at once in search of Mr. Dinsmore, but learned that he wascloseted with a gentleman on business. Then a summons came for her todrive out with her aunt; tea was ready when they returned; after thatshe was occupied with company in the drawing-room, then in assistingJuliet and Reba to make their toilet for the evening.

  Thus the time slipped by, and when the carriage had driven away withits load of theatre goers, she retired to her own room, without havinghad the least opportunity for a word in private with Mr. Dinsmore.