A Plunge for a Wife, and other stories

Front matter

•OlPROSE &. BAT&MAN iHEFFIELQ-ST.UNCOLNS INN FsELDS.LONDON.W.C, "A PLUNGE FOR A WIFE, THE SEA WALL AND SANDS, KYDE. THE PLACE OF MEETING AND FRAY BETWEEN TOM AND SIR GEORGE HARDNUT. I PLUNGE FOR A WIFE gUtfr otljer gtttfrte#* By J. H. BRAME, Author of " The Dulborough Mystery" LONDON : DIPROSE & BATEMAN, Sheffield Street. Lincoln's Inn Fields, W.C. LONDON : D1PEOSE, BATEMAN AND CO., rP.INTERS, SHEFFIELD STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS, W.C. •H- CONTENTS •§* PAGH A Plunge for a Wifs 5 A Spring Storm 22 A Will and a Will not 44 An Awkward Mistake 64 A Race for Life or Death 81 How Mistakes are Made 103 Checkmated 121 A BY J. H. BRAME, WAS disgusted with the world. I had played a game of hazard and lost ; I had made an offer and been rejected, or rather, I had contemplated making the offer, but had been forestalled, and the ground cut from under my feet, consequently I was out of sorts, and at enmity with all my surroundings I was the son of a younger son.

My father's elder brother had a house full of olive branches, that took him all his time to keep in order, and as he troubled himself but little about me, and my prospects in life, I returned the compliment in full. Even in early life there was little in common between my cousins and myself, and as they grew into manhood and womanhood, every year drifted us further asunder, until at length I had almost forgotten I was in any way connected with the owner of Shrubsole Park. Unfortunately, my mother died before I reached this stage of affluence, but it was a source of happiness to me that I had been enabled to augment her little income, and procure for her all the necessaries and comforts she required through a lingering illness. Some years before a friend of my father's had procured me a situation in the Poll Tax Office in Somerset House.

Living, as I had been, in con stant union with a loving mother ; when left to myself, I felt all the yearnings for love and affection, that I had been accustomed to receive from childhood upwards. My companions termed me chivalrous and quixotic ; and had a laugh against me, upon the score of a weakness in the direc tion of fraternal charity ; because, hating cruelty to animals, I had once thrashed a costermonger for illusing his donkey. It was, how ever, no laughing matter to the coster. Although his head was as hard as mahogany, after a few minutes' warm work, he cried ** hold, enough ! " For the usual pleasures and My father had died when I was young, at a time when his care was most wanted — as all younger sons who have to battle with the world appear to do — leaving a widow and myself to continue the battle for ourselves.

Chapter I

head erect, and glared defiantly into space. Something must turn up, and soon — otherwise — well, if not ; — I smiled grimly as I pursued my train of thought, which upon this point was very much like the morning — extremely foggy. 1 was sitting in one of the re cesses of the bridge, resting my back against the cold damp wall. It was early morning, and com paratively few people had begun to pass. The few early stragglers, whom misfortune or business brought in that direction, appeared to regard me with an air of derisive pity. As I leaned my head back against the wall a deadly faintness came over me. I closed my eyes, and my senses at once became in volved in an ideal world. The dark misty clouds that obscured my vision slowly divided, and. rolled back like a scene in a pan tomine, giving place to a heavenly brightness as a strange scene gradually developed itself.

This transposition produced in me a feeling of peaceful calm and security, as I found myself sur rounded by an innumerable host of shadowy forms, gently and noise lessly moving around me, and holding out hands of welcome. Suddenly, as if dividing th& crowd with a purer and more per fect light, came a never-to-be-for gotten face — clear, bright, and angelic. HY I found myself one morning in April on Waterloo Bridge, with a single penny in my pocket, it is immaterial to my story to explain. It is the simple fact. I had not fared sumptuously for days, nay, for weeks, and the last twenty-four hours had tried me most severely. I had not tasted food for a longer time than I care to talk about, and the hungry tiger within me grew every moment more and more rampa gious. If anybody can supply me with abetter word to express my meaning, I shall be happy to accept it.

In spite of all this — something, I suppose akin to the obstinacy that will not suffer an Englishman to admit himself beaten, how ever hopeless the struggle, kept me up. I was conscious of the feeling that I was growing every moment, •more and more surlily indepen dent. I was not in debt, and as I have been careful to explain, I was not penniless. What did a few hours, more or less fasting, signify ? I asked myself in bitter irony; and I held my A Dream of delirium. 23 With a joyful cry — " Oh I my mother," I started up. With the movement the vision vanished. I was no longer in the third heaven. I awoke to the painful consciousness that I was on Waterloo Bridge ; with aching head and eyes, and the raw air penetrating my bones. A little shambling fellow, with a basket almost as large as himself perched on his head, halted, and eyed me curiously for a few seconds.

Apparently arriving at a satisfactory conclusion from his scrutiny, with a grin upon his un washed face, he said, as he turned to pursue his course. court, a planet around which other minor worlds revolved. As I thought of all this, I leant my head upon the stone parapet of the bridge. There was an aching void in my heart that was intensi fied to the highest degree. My head was throbbing with a burning fever, and the same feeling I had before experienced again took pos session of me. I saw myriads of angelic forms down in the cool waters, tempting and inviting me to come, whilst strains of delicious music sounded in my ears. This was followed by a feeling of delirious pleasure, and I leaned further over the bridge, and strained my neck forward, in order not to lose a glance of the ravishing scene, when I felt a strong grasp on the collar of my coat, and a not unpleasant voice sounded close to my ear.

" Come I say. None of that, you know." The grasp on my collar had turned me partly round, and I looked into a face that it seemed to me I had seen somewhere before. The action did not surprise me, I felt as if I were looking upon a scene that was being enacted by a third party, and it only served as a slight diversion from my ecstatic thoughts. I shook myself gently from the grasp and turned again to gaze into the river. "Look," I said, in a hushed voice, as if afraid to break the spell, " see those lovely forms, wading in the cool delicious stream." "I say, young fellow, you had better get home, quick — or that mother of your'n will be coining after yer." Without honouring this gentle man with a reply, I pulled myself together, and after a long gaze into the cold pitiless river Icurled myself up iu the seat, and I suppose I slept.

How long I remained in this manner I cannot tell ; but I was aroused by the noise and rattle cf the increased traffic about me, and felt the sun's rays falling gratefully warm upon my face. The fog had partially lifted from the river. I turned myself round, and kneeling upon the seat gazed down into the rippling waters, which were now tinged with va rious hues of the morning sun. There was a strange fascination in the scene. The steamboats, laden with city men, and deftly cutting their way through the waters, awakened a feeling of curiosity and interest I had never before experienced. Every man I could see was well dressed, well-fed, and full of busi ness energy. No doubt every man there was a king in his own little "Oh! I say," interrupted my companion, "Thames water deli cious ! That's rather too good.

Just sit down here a moment. I know something about this sort of thing," and suiting the action to the word, he pressed me into the seat, and then placing his hands upon my sorehead, with his thumbs he listed my eyelids and looked intently into my eyes for a few seconds. " Ah ! " he added, "just as I thought, the same old story. Here, take a pull at this," and be put his flask into my hands, but they trembled so much that I could not convey it to my lips. "Oh! come I say," he con tinued, " this is worse than I ex pected; let me help you," and half filling the cup and placing his arm at the back of my head, he poured the contents gently down my throat. iu his trousers pockets, was a study worthy of Toole himself. "You are surprised at my appe tite," I said, half apologetically, " it is not every morning you meet with a genuinely hungry man."

" Well, no," he replied slowly, with something like a sigh, " 'tis not altogether that, although I must admit you dissect a chop with a promptness and dispatch I have never seen equalled. But all this time I have been puzzling my head to know where I had seen you before. In spite of that wild unearthly look in your face when I first met you, I felt certain you were somebody I should know, and I have been cudgelling my brains for a clue, whenjust as you were crunching those grilled bones in such a masterly manner, you threw up your head with a certain defiant air that seemed familiar to me, and as the colour came back into your face, and the natural look into your eyes, then I was certain you could be no other than my old schoolboy friend, Dick. Come this is a surprise for both of us. I am really glad to have met with you."

It was now my turn to be as tonished. After a long look and a mental retrospective reference, that recalled certain incidents to my mind, I said, " If it were not for your seventy inches I should say you were little Charley Page." And this indeed was the case. The " little Charley '' whom I had left at school and had not seen for five or six years was now a man as tall as myself. After the remains of the breakfast had been cleared away, and we were left quietly to ourselves, Charley said gently and kindly : — " Come, old fellow, tell me all about yourself. How is it I find you in London in such a pitiful It was literally the water of life, I opened my eyes upon a new world, and for a few minutes I felt like a giant with a giant's strength. " Come," said my companion, after silently regarding me for a short time and taking my arm, Let us walk on.

You feel better, don't you ? Your blood wants circulation ; you'll be all right soon. I am just going to breakfast and want somebody to join me." I have but an indistinct recollection of the events of the next half hour, and to this day I am uncertain of the locality to which my companion led me. I can only recollect entering some hotel, and after some few minutes becoming more and more conscious that I was eating ravenously. Not a word was spoken between us, and the waiters obedient to signs, quickly removed and ex changed dishes, until at length from sheer inability to sustain the pace, I paused and looked up at my companion who was seated opposite to me at the table. The look of blank astonishment depicted in his countenance, as he leaned back in his seat, with his hands thrust almost to his elbows " Who is the lady?" 25 plight, and within an inch of com mitting suicide ?

Ah ! it is no use shaking your head. The fact was unfortunately too evident. I thank the little annoying in cident that brought me over the bridge this morning at the right nick of time, otherwise, I am afraid you would soon have added another to the list of unrecognised gentle men who have been found in the delicious water of the Thames." England, and when I first knew him, he was living in Devonshire, trying his best to lose it upon a model farm. On this farm he expended his time and his money in introducing new kinds of machinery and in trying scientific experiments, that he fondly hoped, would revolu tionise the agricultural world. This amateur farming was his hobby, and it was well understood by the men whom he employed that although stern as justice itself when in his library, he was a perfect baby in their hands wheu stumping about the fields.

He was troubled with periodical attacks of the gout, but of these he was rather proud and ambitious that it should be known he suffered from such an aristocratic com plaint. He paused. I was not ready with a reply, and be continued, "Let me help you. Who was it?" he added reflectively, " who was the dingy old rascal of the east, some old Blue Beard who always spoke in proverbs and platitudes, and asserted that a woman was at the bottom of all the mischief and trouble in the world ? No doubt he was a gentleman of large experience, and his words were words ■ of wisdom. So following on the beaten track, I will ask, who is the lady ? " The history of my life up to a certain point had been uneventful; and like the needy knife-grinder I had nothing to tell. I had been brought up from early childhood by my bachelor uncle.

Mymother, who was his favourite sister, had committed a grave imprudence and offended her family by choosing to marry for love, rather than for The first event of my life worth talking about, occurred soon after my return from college. It was a bright sunny day in August, and without any defined object, I had strolled lazily through the fields and woods until I came upon a scene that even now makes my fingers thrill at the remem brance. I had crossed a stile leading into a field of standing corn, rich and ripe in golden beauty. A gentle breeze was stirring the heavy wheat ears, that yielded a gentle murmur in response. money. There must have been a vein of gold running in some manner through my uncle's composition ; for although he only forgave my mother on her deathbed he tookthe entire charge of me from that time, and lavished upon me every kind of tenderness, apparently by way of reparation for the injustice he had done his sister.

In the distance could be seen the bright slashes from a running stream that was pursuing its tortuous course amongst reeds and bushes. As the sun's rays slashed in my eyes, I leaned my back against the stile, and my thoughts flew off at a tangent. I was so absorbed in my train of thought that I heard nothing that was passing around me, when I My uncle in his early days had made a lot of money in the coal and iron trades in the north of i I was thrown into the most absurd attitude one can well imagine, by a large Newfoundland dog bound ing over the stile by my side. 1 felt its hot breath on my cheek as it passed me ; and the action was so sudden that I started violently aside, and was almost thrown upon my knees. With a gentle wave of her handr she dispensed with my services,. and bowing gracefully she went on her way.

My life had hitherto been much the same as other young men in. my position. I had flirted and played the fool ad libitum, but so long as I was dependent upon my uncle, I felt I was in no position to dream of love and matrimony. Therefore, when I found my thoughts straying oftener than usual towards one particular star I resolutely closed my eyes and heart against the temptation.. In consequence I had reached the age of twenty-three and had never been in love. My hat fell off with the move ment, and after a short scramble to recover it, I found myself con fronted by my unceremonious visitor, waiting as if prepared to welcome me either as a friend or an enemv. was not kept a minute in suspense, for with a joyous bark, evidently not meant for my benefit, he performed a series of panto mimic gyrations and bounded for ward.

I had begun to think myself unassailable, and up to this morning had felt a pride in my stoicism ;. but this unexpected meeting with the fair unknown had effectually undeceived me, and I knew, and. felt I was very mortal indeed. With distracted thoughts I wandered homewards, and was fortunate enough to meet my uncle on the road in one of his . melting moods. Too full of my adventure to be silent, and pro bably with some extravagant com ments, I told him all the particulars . of my little adventure. Taking my arm ; with an audible ■ chuckle, he began an elaborate explanation of some improvements • he intended making in a mowing machine, the details of which lasted until we reached a paddock at the back of the rectory, where we found Mr. Medway, the rector, busily superintending some ar rangements for the shelter of a lot of little pigs.

My uncle introduced me to this gentleman, and after a few minutes' conversation we walked together to the house. As we entered the room, coming as we did out of I turned in the direction whence the dog had travelled, and a per fect vision of loveliness broke upon my sight. Mounted upon the first step of the stile stood a young girl, graceful and beautiful, with all the freshness of youthful innocence. Her face was shaded by a large flag hat with long strings carelessly thrown back over her shoulder, leaving her throat open to the summer breeze. There was a fund of merriment in her eyes, and I saw it was only by a strong effort she commanded her voice as she said : — " I hope my dog has not hurt you, nor frightened you very much. He is the best tempered dog in the world, and I am sure he is as sorry for your little upset as I am."

"Thank you, no;" I stammered in reply, " I am not at all hurt, nor fiightened, it was the suddenness of the attack only that knocked me over," and I made a movement to assist her over the stile. Ruined by a legacy. 27 the sun, the place appeared to be in a state of semi-darkness, and until my eyes became accustomed to the change I was unaware it had any other occupant. I was therefore rather startled by Mr. Medway when he said : — " Amy, my dear, this is Mr. Probus, nephew of our good friend and neighbour, Mr. Hargrave." A lady who had been seated at the piano with her back to the door, arose and came forward. I had repeated to Charley, when taking advantage of a pause, he said : — " Such a state of things was too good to last. You were looking forward to years of happiness when I suppose the evil genius appeared ?

" " You are right. In this case the evil genius came in the shape of a good action. Like the prisoner in the Fleet, all my trouble has been due to a valuable legacy." Charley looked at me interroga tively. I continued, "You know something about that Svvindlem burgh Bank over the Border, and the doings of its managers. At one time you may remember the dividends paid by the bank were so large and the bonuses so liberal, and the public had such confidence in the business capabilities of the managers that shares in this gigantic concern were considered a long way preferable to Govern ment stock." Oh ! my prophetic soul. The lady turned and instantly her face became crimson, and at the same time I felt myself blushing furi ously. Mr. Medway looked from one to the other with some surprise. " I have had the pleasure of seeing this lady before, to-day," I stammered.

"Oh! yes papa," said Miss Medway, following up my expla nation, " I was taking a few little things down to poor old Patty Smith, and when crossing by Wilton Grove this gentleman was standing against the stile, and Milo without any ceremony jumped over it and frightened him, or perhaps I should say, startled him in his meditations." Mr. Medway, who was in easy circumstances, and required no addition to his income, had some shares in this bank left him by his sister at her death. Scarcely had he accepted the legacy, and signed the necessary papers for the transfer, when this precious concern burst up, and he in common with a host of others, was sucked down in this ruinous whirlpool. When my uncle made a movement to leave, Mr. Medway in sisted that I must first see Amy's conservatory, and the garden laid out according to Amy's planning, and Amy's birds, and all Amy's domestic pets.

It was thus my acquaintance with Amy Medway began. As may be supposed, I improved every occasion, and after a short time, with the full approval of both my uncle and Mr. Medway, we were formally engaged and were fondly looking forward to years of domestic happiness. Some portion of these particulars Before he even received a single farthing of the money, he was in volved in this unlimited liability. It was literally ruin. Every thing, all his favourite and cherished possessions were sold off, and, in short, after fighting his way step by step, it ended by his dying of a broken heart. To be just, I must admit that during the fury of the storm, my uncle used every exertion to stem the torrent, but all he could do was of no avail. his consent, would ruin all my prospects in life ; and suggested that our engagement should at once end; and endeavoured to extort a promise that all cor respondence between us should cease.

With the exception of about fifty pounds a year, which could not be touched, Amy was left destitute. As soon as matters had a little toned down, and I could do so with propriety, I applied to my uncle for our marriage to take place, in order to shield Amy from any further trial or trouble, when to my indignation and dis gust, he stated he considered Amy was no longer a suitable wife for me, and he could not consent to my marrying any girl who was without money. Astounded at this unexpected reply, I gave vent to my feelings in no measured terms. Unable to He had calculated well. Amy's pride rose to the occasion ; and whilst she refused to give him any promise, or enter into details of her intentions, she simply informed him she had accepted the offer of a situation, and in a few days would be far away, and he might, therefore, rest happy upon the success of his plans.

When, however, her indignation had partially subsided, and she was left to herself to think over this meeting, apparently influenced by some trash she had read in a novel, she came to the conclusion it would be right and proper to sacrifice her happiness for my wel fare, and hold me absolved from our engagement, forgetting that nobody but the most contemptible cad, would accept his liberty on such terms. believe that any man could be so heartless, if he fully understood all the circumstances, I descended to expostulations and entreaties. To all this, my uncle had the advantage of me, for whilst I was hot and furious, he remained hard and cold, and at length closed the dis cussion by telling me he was going out for a few days, and would consider the matter, and I should know his decision on his return.

Our meeting and parting were painful beyond words. Where she was going, and what she was going to do, she withheld from me, she said : — Amy, at this time was staying at a friend's house a few miles dis tant, and being without any friend to whom I could turn for sympathy or advice, my state of mind can only be imagined. After a few days, I found my self unable to bear the torture ; and I drove over to Wilton Parva, and saw Amy, and here I may say my misery reached its climax. My uncle had been before me. He had called upon Amy, and in his best manner had played upon her feelings, and under the guise of friendship, had represented that anything like marriage without " It is better for you ; it is better for us both, that you should know nothing further about me. These trials are sent for some wise purpose.

After a time perhaps you will forget, and happiness may come to us, in some shape or other." If any man was in a fitting tem per to go joyfully into a Balaclava charge, I was in that state that night. When I got back, my uncle had returned, and the meeting was a caution to both uncles and nephews. When I have thought of it The logic of hard facts. 29 since, I have been literally aston ished at my powers of scarifying rhetoric. It is useless to recall particulars, words were said that can never be forgotten nor for given. However, we finished by agreeing in one particular. My uncle vowed I should not be another night in the house ; and I swore I would not stay, to save the whole place from destruction. of course, you don't know — but the fact is, I have always been a great advocate for matrimony ; in short, I consider matrimony is one of the duties a man owes to his country.

" For myself I have been engaged to be married for a considerable number of years. "I have plenty of money at my disposal, and there was no question of prudence to block the way ; ' but Fanny's father is no believer in the social theology of the present day ; that a man sins beyond redemption as soon as he does a useful action, and he has insisted, that as I should eventually take my position as a country gentleman, I should be able to do something better than knocking over a bird at forty yards, or, as he puts it, show what stuff I was made of, before he trusted his daughter's happiness to my keeping. " Accordingly he stipulated that before he would hear a word about the matrimonial project, I should make myself master of some trade, profession, or calling, and to prevent any shirking in the matter, our marriage was to be dependent upon my industry and skill in ac quiring some happy accomplish ment.

That night I slept in the village, and the next day came to London to make my fortune. "That is about all." " To make your fortune ! No doubt you expected to find a crowd of people at the station when you reached London, waiting to bid for your services ? " " I was not quite so bad as that," I replied, " but I certainly did expect to find something I was fit ting for. However, I soon became acquainted with a few hard facts. In short, I found I was no use anywhere, and not wanted in the world ; and if, as you suppose, I was upon the point of being allured into suicide, when you found me, I am not certain you did the kindest thing by preventing it." " Don't talk like a fool," returned Charley, good-humouredly ; " of course all the time you have been in London, you have been wander ing about in a half-hearted way, searching amongst the nursery maids in the park, and expecting to find Miss Medway flirting with a guardsman.

" No, old fellow ; that's not the way to look at the thing. This is not half a bad world if you humour it prcperly ; and whilst you have been talking, I have been thinking of a plan that will suit you, in fact, suit both of us well, or I am much "That didn't disturb me much. I had no special objection to the trade, so long as it was neither a butcher nor a sweep ; but I did object to the postponement of our marriage, especially as it was urged in support of this trade scheme, that we were both too young for matrimony. "Putting joking aside, it is really most astonishing what queer ideas people sometimes get into their heads. Here am I, nearly twenty, and Fanny is going seventeen, and we are too young. Did you ever hear such nonsense ? " " Yes, I must confess I have mistaken. " Of course you know — that is, heard something like it before," I replied. "Well," he continued, "of course to some extent it is a matter