Gods of Gold

Chapter I At Ascot

George Umfreville Sandilands, Earl of Sandown, stood beside his drag, that faultless equipage shining pre-eminent among the array of smart four-in-hands that flanked the course on Ascot Tuesday. Did it not bear on its natty cushions the light burthen of his lady love, society's belle, the peerless Ruby Lynndale ? Their courtship had been the interest of the past year, their betrothal was the story of the season, their wedding was the great coming event of which every detail was discussed as public property. Was not Lord Sandown that all-important personage, the most popular sports man in England ? and his promised bride, the very flower of beauty, the acknowledged queen of the hour? It was a day of sunshine and glorious apparel. The rank of coaches flanked the course farther than the eye could take in from any one point of vantage.

What with the faces and the dresses, and the swaying parasols displayed a-top, they assumed the form of a huge bank of flowers or a hanging garden, built, as it were, to balance the lines of palatial stands opposite, filled with the fine sieur of royalty, rank and riches. Sandown's equipage had taken up its position well in the middle of the long line. His fair betrothed occupied the box seat, conscious, as the centre of the show. The day being tropical she was draped in white Eastern silks, following the long lines of her form down to the dainty feet stealing ' like little mice in and out ' under her petticoat. This garment was not obtruded on the observer, only delicately suggested by frillings of lace that framed the arched instep in soft mysteries above the satin shoe-straps. She wore no veil to break the rich red and white that glowed and bloomed upon her rounded cheek, only a carmine sunshade tempered the light to her violet eyes.

No hat, only the smallest knot of lace and flowers, sat upon Nature's dark gold crown. Like a Royal princess she affected a bonnet on these occasions, when it was a grace and a kindness to be seen as far off and as generally as the multitude of eyes could take in her charms. Business called her lover from her side, and he was now making all due dispositions for her comfort, and that of her escort, Sir Gerald Chernocke, her uncle, with his lady. The favourite carried Lord Sandown's colours, and those about to enjoy the honour of his alliance were to look on at his triumph from his coach, while he himself was occupied else where. Ruby had her misgivings, for she grudged him even the exchange of a word of courtesy with her coming rival, one Nellie Potter of Chicago, who was gradually creeping up the ladder of fashion and had boldly installed her self for that day on the opposite side of the course, just in the thick of the grand stand, with an unimpeachable British lady of rank as her chaperon en titre.

The American girl possessed a millionaire papa and a style of beauty opposed in striking contrast to that of Ruby. Of course she could only marry an English peer, and was a keen sportswoman after any game worth the chase. Moreover, Sandown, for his position, was poor, and Ruby was some thousands worse than penniless. So her lord left her to the world's admiration and the hidden discomfort of her thoughts. He stood to win or lose all upon this race, backing his horse for heavy sums up to the moment of saddling. It was a final plunge. If he lost, all might go, even honour. If he won, he would be safe for the time being, and the marriage could go on. Otherwise, he had drifted too far into the usurers' power to dare the shock to their expecta tions of binding an expensive and indebted wife upon his own embarrassed fortunes.

Of all this Ruby knew nothing, but she was troubled by what she partly guessed, partly caught from the broken sentences and subdued hints that floated about, like diluted poison doses, on light lips in mixed conversation. Half guessing at her own obligations, which she had neither the skill nor the courage to add up, it was a grave question with her how she should face the honeymoon with a bride groom scant of purse, however large hearted in desire to cover up her maiden short-comings. She had just ventured to drop a hint of her small troubles — which it would soon be his exclusive right to share. Seeing that the bare mention of such things brought a shadow of displeasure over his face, she was tactful enough to avoid or evade all further detail. But she had her lesson, and knew his loss of the race would mean, at least, her difficulty and humiliation.

Might it not even imperil their approaching union ? Postpone or break off the match ? No, no ! That could not be. They were booked past recall. She flung it all behind her ; looked, laughed and enjoyed — or seemed to enjoy. Altogether showed at her best, as the crisis approached. Another few minutes ; the course was cleared : the exciting in cidents of the start swallowed up all sense of one's personal existence. The vast mass of humanity, great and small, writhed and palpitated like some enormous snake hatched in the sun-world, and spread, a dark spot, broadening and lengthening as it uncoiled over the surface of the orb of day. One living creature built of a multitude swayed and rolled as the flying horses passed, re-passed, and the struggle was lost and won — the favourite beaten by half a length.

It was no surprise that Sandown did not return. He would have arrangements to make ; that was understood. He was so thoughtful as to send a message by a friend, requesting Ruby and her party to go home, and not wait dinner for him. He would come in time for the evenin^ dance. Sir Gerald looked grave and sympathetic. My lady descanted on the perils of betting, and the ample value of the mere stakes — if men would only stop at them. Ruby was wisely careful not to spoil her face by tears and worry, for that evening, at least. Meantime, Lord Sandown had been called up from the enclosure to Miss Nellie Potter's side — on urgent business. She had, he knew, a few moderate bets on his horse, and something was due to a young lady who had so far ventured herself in the same boat with him, and shared in his upset — with a difference.

He was promptly seated, pale, but perfectly self-possessed, at the American heiress's side. ' Look here now, Lord Sandown,' she began with frank fellow-feeling, ' we've lost, and that's over and done with. I stand to win next time. The longest purse is always safe, if you know your business and don't be afraid, that's my dad's principle.' ' A good one for your American fortunes. We can't do it on such a colossal scale in our small, hard-up little island.' ' Well, then, suppose we go shares. Busi ness merely, I mean business,' said the soft, pout ing lips, with a cool unconsciousness that was more seductive — to him — than the most adroit coquetry. ' My dear Miss Potter, my business just now is in a bad way. I should deserve a horsewhipping if I offered you to share in my position at this moment.' ' What ! up a tree ?

Then we must see if we can't bring you down, and set you on your legs for a fresh start. Oh, I'm not afraid to go in with you ind win. I know I shall. I'm the luckiest girl alive. My dad says everything I touch turns to gold.' And playfully she laid her gloved hand upon his coat arm. ' Except me,' he smiled, answering. ' I am not to be turned into gold, but to be turned inside out, like an empty glove, and flung out of the reckon ing. Perhaps I may have to cut out of England, or shoot myself, or — ' ' Oh, Lord Sandown, is it so bad as that ? ' ' So bad ; and worse than I dare tell you.' ' I thought you sportsmen made it a point of honour to — to keep within the line of what you could meet.' ' So we do. It's just a toss up if I save my name. It's certain I have lost — everything else.' ' But, Lord Sandown, how could you do it?' ' God knows ; I don't.' ' And they say you are going to be married.

Is that so ? ' ' It was to have been.' ' Well, I'll stand your friend and pull you through, if you like ; and later on, we'll chum to gether and keep you in order, we two ladies — me and the wife. How much do you stand to lose to-day ? ' ' My dear child, you don't know what you are talking about' ' Yes, I do. A million dollars more or less is nothing to my papa ; and he has never refused me a single thing since I was a baby.' ' But I couldn't let you do it. If you pull me through to-day — I dread to think of what is behind that.' ' Can't you take me into your confidence ? Pa always says I've a business head well screwed on.' 'If I told you everything, and you were generous enough — how could I ever repay you?' ' That's got nothing to do with it. I hate money. I want friends. I'll be frank with you.

I'm not in the set I want — the tip-top set, don't you know ? Give me a shove up and pa won't grudge what it costs ; he's that proud of me ! ' Sandown believed in his heart there was only one way to do this — marry her, and face society as Lord and Lady Sandown, covering their mutual deficiencies. But so straightforward and practical was the girl, it was impossible to con nect the slightest suspicion of flirtation with her plain, open dealing. The two had been talking in a quiet corner. Lady Ogilvie, as a chaperon who knew her business, warding off any would-be interrupters. But now Lord Sandown's eye was caught by a person in the crowd beneath, whose claims, thus brought to remembrance, sent a cold shiver down his spine ; a man of his own set, whose bad blame would go far towards social extinction.

He rose and led his companion down to the gardens for tea, duly followed at a little distance by the faithful sheep dog. ' You are more than generous, you are noble in your ways of thinking, you American people,' he said ; ' but we must limit ourselves to what is possible. If you will help me so far as to try our luck together, let it be done in this way. You take the risk for what sum you please ; I'll do my best. What that is, I am not in a position to say till to-morrow. I'll join you — advise — do all that is in my power. And then, whatever the result, we'll go halves, gain or loss.' ' I understand. But you have lost enough. I would rather do the whole thing, through my agent, Mr James Bond. Let him make the book for us — subject to your approval, of course. He won't let us in for anything that's too risky, and if we don't gain a lot at once, we can go on till we do.

That's the way we coin and coin and coin, till we build up the big pile.' ' Ah, you have the secret ! Well, are you not afraid of me ? ' ' I'm afraid of nothing.' ' I owe you the truth. I stand here to-day a ruined man.' 'We'll stop that. Wait till Jimmy Bond takes you in hand.' ' I don't know the name as a racing man.' 'No, you wouldn't. He's a stockbroker — my father's agent over here.' ' Lays the odds on stocks and shares ? ' 'Never, not he; his work consists in taking care of us foolish gamblers.' ' I know nothing about money markets. Does he know all about horses?' ' He knows everything. I'll see him to-night at the opera. Now, that's settled. Let's come back for the next race.'

Chapter II An Invasion From The East

That splendid day was the date of another happy meeting, small and obscure by comparison with the hippie festival, yet asserting itself as a counter celebration and anti-gambling function, promoted and petted by simple, benevolent souls. Through the forethought of provident parents, Ruby counted among her possessions a substantial bevy of well to-do godmothers, selected for solid money worth rather than show. There was even one of them so eccentric as to take the mere perfunctory office of sponsor au grand strieux, and to vex her own soul about the condition of Ruby's im mortal part, starved amidst a dry and barren world whence her own good offices were rigidly excluded. This well-meaning god-parent was one Mrs Seaton, a richly-dowered widow, of alert though ripe years, whom various interests had combined this summer to draw up from her castle in the north, and plant for a few months among the delicious groves of Sunningdale.

She had a nephew and heir at Aldershot, and a mission, very close to her heart, lying within AN INVASION FROM THE EAST 11 hail of the docks, but not too far away for occasional visits by way of the convenient South- Western. Her garden at Sunningdale was open to all manner of school treats, fresh air gather ings and frugal feasts for young and old ; and to her many a gutter child owed its sole ex perience of a happy day in the golden glow of summer among the flowers ; many a helpless cripple, many a blind wreck, was carted away at her cost to enjoy what they could of the sweet country ; the sight of Nature's beauty, the sense and instinct of her bosom's perfume. Not less happy in their way were these outcasts than the dancing feet and astonished little faces that could take it all in like a whiff of air from very Paradise.

Mrs Seaton's business co-adjutor on such oc casions was the Rev. Arthur Wright, junior curate of St Austrobarta's East-End parish church. This shepherd of the poor was both ' high ' and something of an enthusiast, with a good ballast of practical sense to make weight against a few fads. One of these latter was to use an innocent outing as an improvable occasion for gratuitous insult to the sport-god enshrined so deeply in the British heart, that no great newspaper can live without calling on his name ; no other form of worship succeed in abolishing his golden image and rites of human sacrifice. Suffice it to say, that with a view of putting down Ascot, Mr Wright had fixed his own particular Sunday School excursion for this public holiday. Now, the grounds of Mrs Seaton's summer villa were bounded by an old mail-coach road. which, on a day like this, was apt to have its quietude broken by unusual traffic.

It even suffered assault — on this day of all others — from the ubiquitous news-boy. Cries connected with the profanities of the betting ring mingled their discords with the love notes of the birds and the music of a Collard & Collard grand, evoked on the garden terrace by Mrs Seaton's skilled fingers. Mr Wright and his staff of teachers had the girls and boys well in hand amidst all their fun — with a few exceptions. There was one especially difficult boy to tackle in Sunday school — that academy of saints where no discipline is known but the persuasion of love. Impudent little Johnny Wainwright was the despair of the mature, mild-eyed maiden to whom he was told off, with some dozen others, as a class. He was only seven, or eight at most. He would jump up and let fly at the feather in his teacher's bonnet, and demoralise every child within hear ing, during the explanation of the most solemn texts.

He had been known to interrupt the teacher, during the reading of a most sacred and memorable event, while she was exerting herself to the utmost to mark and impress the simplest detail in natural language upon the pliant wax of youth. ■ Did Peter want to have his feet washed ? What for ? ' shrilled the profane urchin ; ' I don't want nobody to wash my feet ; I can wash 'em for myself, and I'd rather not' This was hardly bearable, but had to be put up with, as the teacher, Miss Anchoretta Auldjo, agreed, upon consultation with Mr Wright. AN INVASION FROM THE EAST 13 ' I can't think why the boy is sent to us at all,' said the lady; 'the father is an Agnostic, and preaches it too.' ' All the better for the child that we are allowed to gain a hold on him. No ; we cannot turn him off.' ' I tremble for the others.' ' I do not.

It will all come right, I trust ! The boy is clever, and clever children are often impudent and troublesome to manage. We must put up with the natural drawback.' And so Johnny boy went on with his pranks. The present deponent has known of a gentle man's son mercilessly flogged at a high-class school for the misdemeanour of sniggering in church while one of his masters occupied the pulpit. The world has been informed of the custom of choir-practice, with the ready birch suspended in the organ-left ; but the symbol of chastisement is arrested at the doors of the Sunday School. There, devoted volunteers must fight the foe with milder weapons, or, being defeated, grin and bear. This day saw Johnny in his glory, exultant with loud ' yah-yah's,' aloft on a see-saw of swing-boats, on round-about and donkey-back.

Then he crept off, with a posse of chosen pals, to play a grand game of hide-and-seek among the shrubs and undergrowth that furnished them with quite a long range of burrows for conceal ment. Shrieking with delight, kicking and bolt ing like wild colts, they broke loose from their tamer schoolmates, and wormed their way gradually close to the highroad, towards which they were attracted by the roaring trade of the news boys, their congeners. Johnny's accomplished father was a turfite. 'Who knows,' thought the young chip, ' but he's this very minute in the thick of the fun on the race-course ? Wouldn't I like to see ? ' And so he crept and pushed through a weak part in the bottom of the boundary hedge, followed by a tail of some five or six urchin length, till the half-dozen small scapegraces stood up, torn and dirty, in the free highroad, masters of their own precious persons, and with a few half-pence in their pockets.

Of these, one coin was disbursed for literature, and the way was readily pointed towards Royal Ascot, for which region of unimagined glories the lot set out as fast as their legs could scamper. Meantime they were missed, and the Rev. Arthur, on his long shanks, disciplined in Alpine climbs, set off in pursuit, as it were a Jack in seven-leagued boots. But the youngsters had the start, and could distract him by rushing several ways, clambering over every obstacle that could retard the grown-up hunter. The clergyman raced and vaulted, but even if he could have caught them all, they were just too many to hold. Johnny and two more got off, and reached the great race-course, tongue in cheek. Too immature in stature, they could not see all they wanted to see upon legitimate ground, so they all three climbed up a convenient tree, which was forbidden by the rules, and all the AN INVASION FROM THE EAST 15 more to their taste.

Johnny had still enough of the child in his composition to be held, fascinated, rapt, by the mere sight of the horses, taking no heed, for the moment, of the dangerous game that blinds the betting man to every thought but ' what shall I win ? ' Unluckily, a too zealous policeman came by, and warned the truants down from the cracking boughs. Thus they were thrown into the open path of temptation, and quickly got relieved of their cash, and also of their boots, for a few pence to be ventured and swallowed up by the genius loci. They were looking very foolish indeed when the bell rang to clear the course for the great event of the day. No, they were not going to miss that for anybody ! Up the tree again ! And so they saw Lord Sandown's horse defeated, and ran away, all agog with the momentous news, which was being freely discussed on every side.

They were destitute, hungry and penniless, but they knew they had nothing to fear at Mrs Seaton's hands, and felt big with the tale they carried. Back they ran on bare feet, tattered and torn, and so presented themselves, half shame faced, half puffed with importance, as they yelled at her lodge gates : ' The favourite's beaten — Lord Sandown's right cleaned out' Mrs Seaton met them, scolded a little, and questioned much. The rascallions stuck to their story. They were amazed and delighted at the effect it produced on their hostess. There was no spirit in her for another word of reproach. She turned away, as the errant lambkins sneaked back into bounds, f and disappeared into her private room, murmuring to herself : — ' My poor child — poor, poor Ruby ! ' sat down and wrote a letter, to be dis patched by messenger that evening, with the charge : ' See that you give it into Miss Lynndale's own hands, without fail. Wait for an answer.' 1;

CHAPTER II

I IN DEFAULT Mrs Seaton's note was brought to Ruby through the intervention of her maid, Leonie, as she sat toying with the silver toilet implements upon her duchesse table, having her coiffure touched up after the day's wear. The trusty messenger was thus fain to keep to the spirit, rather than the letter, of his instructions. While he waited patiently, Ruby read, overlooked by the manipulator of locks over her shoulder, — ' Dearest Child, — I have just heard the bad news. If any trouble should follow, come to me at once. You know I would do anything in the world for you. — Your loving godma, 'Beatrice Seaton.' This was the last straw. Ruby leapt to her feet as if a lash had been laid across her white shoulders, shaking free the yard of dusky gold that was but half twisted into its Grecian coil.

It fell in a disordered shower out of the tire woman's hands, with an angry stamp of the feet. The astute Frenchwoman understood, though her mistress ruled her tongue. Her silent thoughts ran on. ' What an insult ! So my godma sets me down as a failure and offers to take me in, because, I suppose, I'm not good enough for any one else. Vastly kind of her indeed ! But I'm not come to that yet ! ' Then recovering herself, she glided back to her chair, and restored the tumbled hair to Leonie's hands. A few minutes of patient silence and the man's knock was again heard at the door. Leonie brought the request for an answer. 'Oh, I have no time to write to-night. Tell Mrs Seaton she shall hear from me in a day or two.' Thus curtly, the matter was dismissed, and Ruby, in bravery of snowy gauze and flowers, crowned with her aureole of shadowy light, en tered the ballroom as the Venus Victrix of our modern day.

Her affianced lover came very late, and then claimed and led her away from a little army of expectant partners, into a quiet corner of the house, a small tower-room, appropriated to himself, where no one was likely to follow or interrupt them. ' Ruby,' he began, in answer to her questioning eyes, ' don't be vexed at my keeping you to my self just now. To-night is my only chance of a word with you. I must go to town to-morrow by the early train.' ' You must leave me here because Wildfire ran second. But you will be back for the Cup day ? ' ' Not here. There are reasons. It is neck or nothing with me now, and I can't have you mixed up with the business I have in hand, which may mean my ruin and disgrace.' Ruby turned very white, and gasped with a deadly sickness. Her lover's arm was quickly round her, but in its support there was an unde fined something that failed her in the hour of need. 'You will be ruined, and I — ' ' I said, I may be.

It is just possible I may pull through — if the luck turns on the Cup day. But it will be a long time before I can be put straight enough for — our marriage.' She knew it was coming to that. She rallied a little, and shrank from the arm that was fast letting her go, to face her fate, alone. ' My people will lay the blame on me,' she said ; ' they call me extravagant, wasteful, ruinous to a husband or father. They forget how they brought me up. If I have spent too much, I did it to give you pleasure.' ' You did, my darling. We both like the same things, and you have a right to them — the beauty of the world.' ' Don't speak of that. I have been too great a fool.' ' I have done my best to help you, Ruby ; you had £500 last month.' ' You have been more than generous — and my people are so mean.

I am ashamed to come to you like a beggar.' 'Never mind, dearest' ' But I don't see how it is to go on — if we can't be married this summer.' 'They would not let you wait for a penniless lord, eh? Well, I'm ready to set you free perfectly free. It is your right' ' No, no, no ! I don't mean that. How cruel of you, after all that has been. If you throw me from you now, how can I face my people at home ? ' ' My darling, it might be better for us both to end it all. Do you realise what it means for us two to marry and be miserably poor? I can never earn a penny, and I am so deep in the hands of the Jews that I can never extricate myself, unless I am helped from outside. And you, poor child, have nothing of your own.' ' Some other woman could pay your debts — and I am to be sacrificed.' ' I never thought of such a thing.

But we have been rather rash in fixing our wedding day. We ought not to have given it out till after Ascot, and, even now, it will be necessary to put it off.' ' You say this to me, and you know my own mother will despise me as a failure in life, my sisters will hate and persecute me for standing in their light, my father will be ashamed of me. Ah, my God, if I have to tell them it is all over between us ! ' ' I have been a wretch ; but whatever comes I am devoted to you, body and soul. My darling child, I could never bear to see you belong to anyone else.' ' I couldn't — I hate all men. But you will — I see it in your face. You will sell yourself and break your word with me.' ' Don't talk like that. Be reasonable. Give me time ; it will come right in the end.' 'You will not stay with us here for the Cup day ?' ' I can't — I can't. You don't know what may happen to me.

If I should escape by the skin of my teeth, I'll look in and have another talk with you on Friday morning.' So he put off the evil day, failing in resolution beneath the glamour of her eyes and clinging arms. But the girl discerned his inmost thought, as she felt the sword-thrust piercing her through and through, joints and marrow, spirit and life. Closer and closer she grew to him with the clasp of one about to perish — all in vain. What is a woman to a man in a strait like his ? And yet he loved her — the pearl he would cast away. Was Sandown worse than others in his own esteem? I trow not. With a truce to reproach, they parted, Sandown vanishing from the scene, while Ruby returned, smiling, radiant, unconquered, to play her part that night, and for two days more. And then, no matter what.

It ran in her blood to meet fate bravely, and the pride of her beauty bore her, like an Amazon or an actress, through the fire of battle, and shot of critical eyes. The next morning Sandown was closeted with Miss Potter and her astute adviser, Mr Bond. Full confession of every bet recorded in his book was the first condition imposed upon him ; the second, a free hand to Mr Bond. Judicious hedg ing was to minimise the risk where wiser people detected him in rashness. No fortune was to be coined in a day's venture, but in his well-guarded partnership with the fair American, there seemed great possibilities in the long run. Eager vanity flattered him with prospects alluring, but still floating in a cloudy future. There was no sign whatever in her look or manner that she meant anything but a stroke of business on both sides.