Wanted-an Heiress! A novel

Chapter I

" Give me leave to enjoy myself." WANTED, an heiress!" "Wanted, an heiress!" ""By jove, how well it sounds ! and how exactly it suits my case ! Most seriously and intensely do I desire to obtain possession, — and that right speedily, — of some dear creature who answers to the above description ! And, moreover, I am, in my genuine eagerness, by no means particular as to whether the lady in question — who is destined to become queen of my heart, if she will but grant me the privilege of becoming, in return, king of her purse — be tall or short, dark or fair, English or foreign, so that she be not actually deformed, or does not squint. I think I must draw the line at a squint, for my own sake, for how terrible it would be, if, in my strong sympathy for her misfortune, I should myself contract the habit !

She must A Wanted — An Heiress ! also be an heiress in possession, and not merely in prospective. Matters are far too desperate for me to risk waiting for dead men's shoes ; they are that, by jove !" The speaker was talking to himself, and actually, for once, exerting himself sufficiently to sit upright in his earnestness, and to look, though no one saw him, as though there really were — somewhere beneath the impervious shell of laziness with which long habit had encrusted his handsome person — the possibility of energy, given sufficient motive to rouse it into activity. Rising from the luxurious lounge on which he had been reclining, letting fall, as he did so, the novel, a sentence in whose pages had called forth the above soliloquy, he walked to the mirror, and there, taking a leisurely survey of his own good points, continued aloud : — "And it would be a fair bargain.

Surely so handsome a fellow as I am would be justified in setting a price on himself. Why should not the tables be turned sometimes ? A handsome man, a really fine-looking fellow, is quite as rare among the mediocre majority as is a really beautiful woman." It was a pity for Harold Thurston's pride and self respect, that he had not, before indulging in the folly of thinking aloud, assured himself that the door was closed. He had been too much absorbed however to think of that ; and started with a muttered anathema when a smothered laugh announced the presence of an unwelcome audience. "I say, Thurston ! Are you rehearsing for some forth coming dramatics 1 or what are you up to, old fellow ? That last pose was really fine, and would have brought down the house ! " Wanted — An Heiress ! 3 "Ah, Strafford, my boy !

Is that you? I did not hear your ring. Come in." "For a very good reason. I did not trouble the bell. Instinct told me that your well-preserved complexion would be safely esconced behind these cool blinds this dusty, sultry afternoon." "Your instinct — marvellous possession — was right again." Harold Thurston had relapsed into his usual drawl, and, sinking languidly down on the lounge from which he had risen, he motioned with a white aristocratic hand to another near, as he spoke. The newcomer was a great contrast to the " man in possession." Slightly built, dark of hair and eye, with a fluctuating complexion, on which a bright flush came and went with every passing emotion, telling of highly strung nerves. His small, somewhat thin, hands were seldom still, and his numerous friends — for he was a general favourite — could tell of many a broken paper knife and nibless pen which owed their mutilation to his restless fingers.

Thurston, on the contrary, was tall and fair, well proportioned, possessing a length of limb which corresponded well with an unusual breadth of chest, speaking of no ordinary physical powers, which had, however, been to a great extent untried, and apparently had been bestowed in the wrong quarter, for no one ever knew Harold Thurston to take any exertion of his own accord ; and at length it had ceased to be expected of him. His large blue eyes — genuine blue — were seldom really opened ; their heavy lids having contracted, from long habit, the trick of Wanted — An Heiress ! drooping, as though their owner were always sleepy. Light, waving silky hair surmounted a broad forehead, which indicated latent capacity, and would have roused intense impatience in the mind of an enthusiastic phrenologist.

Tranby Strafford picked up the book which still lay open on the floor, and, glancing at the title, said : " Pooh, man ! How can you waste your time reading such rot as this ? I bought the thing when coming from town the other day as the title caught my fancy. But, 'pon my word, after the first two or three chapters, I opened the window and flung the book as far into the fields as I could throw it." "You did? What a waste of money! Now I have found a good deal to interest me in its perusal." " Well, the whole thing seemed to me to be twaddle or worse. There is no accounting for tastes ! But," he added, starting to his feet, " I must be off again sharp. I merely ran in to ask if you felt inclined to join our pic-nic party to-morrow. It will be about the last do of the kind this season, I expect."

" What, another picnic ? How fond your people are of these scrambling parties. Where are you going this time ? What pleasure can you possibly find in seeking so con stantly the company of earwigs and spiders?" " We are chartering a coach all to ourselves and driving to the Fairy Glen, with the intention of extending our rambles as far as its biggest waterfall." "How many? and who?" " About twenty. Our people, and a few others ! " "What others?" Wanted — An Heiress ! 5 "The Dingleys, — father, son, and two girls, — the two Sidneys, and a few people whom I don't think you have met. Among them an elderly gentleman with his daughter and her companion. The daughter is a pretty considerable heiress I believe, and nice as well, I am told." Thurston sat silent a moment. " Well, are you coming. Or will the exertion be too great for you 1" "Very well, my boy, I will join you," Thurston replied, taking no notice of the latter remark, " what time do you start?"

" Ten a.m. prompt." " Early." " For some folks, it may be. Shall you be on the pier to-night ?" " Probably." Tranby Strafford looked comically at his nonchalant friend for a moment, then, with a shrug of his shoulders, turned away, and bounded down the stairs three at a time, shouting " adieu " as he went. Thurston had been on the point of refusing the invitation just given, for he usually voted pic-nics — and all other amusements of that kind, where he was expected to exert himself in some small measure, — an unmitigated bore. But one potent word carelessly let drop, changed very promptly his intention, and left him further matter for continuing the line of thought which his caller's entrance had interrupted. From a petted self-indulgent boyhood and youth, he had drifted into manhood, and, unfortunately, inherited a few hundreds soon after he became of age ; not enough to live Wanted — An Heiress ! 6 on, though quite sufficient in the right hands to form the basis for future competence, if not actual fortune.

The foolish youth had elected to live on his principal as long as it lasted, trusting to luck, and his much-prized good looks, to secure, before the whole was gone, the coveted "girl with money," who would be quite willing to yield her self and her possessions up to him in return for the pleasure of having ever at her side so perfect a specimen of manhood and — as he flattered himself — admired ease and grace. Where Harold had vegetated during the past seven or eight winters none of his acquaintances could have told. He simply disappeared periodically from their ken, reappearing again, as a chrysallis from its shell, with the flowers and summer days. A certain plain hard working little woman knew, however. For Gwendoline Norton, his half-sister, and ten years his senior, stuck bravely to her dressmaking duties, trudging to and fro to the large and fashionable establishment where she was forewoman, in all weathers and all the year round, instead of living, as she might have done, on the premises, that a home might be kept for Harold, — poor dear Harold — as she called him.

What fools some women are, with their capacity for blind, unquestioning devotion, lavished so frequently on the most unworthy recipients ! Ever since their mother died, and most of their income passed away, Gwen — pale resolute Gwen — had, without a question as to her rights, come bravely forward, and taken on her own shoulders the task of maintaining a little home, only asking that her young half-brother should sometimes gladden her, and make it more like a real home, by his presence there. It was far too much removed from that Wanted — An Heiress . 7 young man's chosen haunts to prove in the smallest degree attractive to him during the long bright days. As soon, however, as winter had set in, and a cosy fireside was the most desirable spot, he would appear without warning, and graciously receive the glad welcome she gave him ; returning for home and support — he contributed nothing whatever towards the expenses of either — a careless kind of interest in her doings, and his companionship during her hours of rare leisure.

And sometimes, and these were indeed red-letter days, Harold would accompany her to morning service at the tiny uninteresting church near by, whose want of external beauty was amply atoned for by the earnest words which, week by week, inspired the congregation within its four walls. Now and again, Gwen would come away with him, and walk by his side up the little narrow street, apart from the general crowd, her meagre frame thrilling with enthusiasm, and an unwonted fire flashing in the large dark eyes, which she was obliged now to protect by glasses, the long years of close sewing having tried their powers far too much. She met with no answering thrill in her handsome brother ; nothing appeared to disturb the serenity of his calm self-satisfaction. However, these were his summer days, and, if he some times cast a thought towards his sister still going her weary round of duties, it was merely to say "poor dear Gwen, she must be fearfully hot in those close rooms, when I am nearly melted here," and forget her again immediately.

To dwell on unpleasant questions is a great mistake for any who depend on their beauty for future livelihood. It is calculated to pencil lines where they should not be, and so mar the perfect contour of an Wanted — An Heiress ! 8 aristocratic face ! Harold Thurston understood this right well, and had no intention of spoiling future possibilities by expending any serious thought for others. The following morning rose clear and cloudless. Out at sea, there had been a stiff breeze, and the waves were touched here and there with a fringe of glistening white foam, and flung themselves on the beach with a restless, ceaseless roar. There had been rain during the night, which was, however, an advantage ; for even if there should be a blow as the party drove through the winding roadway to their destination, it would only be refreshing after the recent heat, and not, as was frequently the case, powder them thickly with fine dust.

As Harold Thurston sauntered towards the rendezvous, and his eyes lighted on the group of merry girls who were dancing round the char-a-bang, depositing wraps, umbrellas, and provisions in all sorts of places, and chattering at the same time to their less gaily-clad companions of the sterner sex, his eyes wandered curiously from one to the other of those with whom he was not already acquainted, wondering which was the heiress, and how old her father might be. Tranby Strafford's sister, a lively little brunette, who possessed a somewhat caustic tongue, had climbed to the box-seat, and from that lofty position hailed him as he drew near with the remark : — "Ah, Mr. Thurston, there you are I see. Just in time to help with that large hamper. It needs both height and strength to place it securely.

I am glad we left it till the last." Harold raised his hat, and, greeting one and another as he passed, pretended not to see the hamper in question or Wanted — An Heir-ess ! 9 to hear the request. He might have known that she would not so easily let him off, however, for, as he turned his back on her and proceeded to seek an introduction to the strangers of the party, she signed to the driver, who, with his assistant, had seized the hamper, and was preparing to hoist it inside, that they should let it alone. Then, in an amusing tone of command, said : — "Come, Mr. Thurston, it is time we were off. There will be plenty of opportunity for introductions en route. Everybody has been doing something. So please do oblige us by exercising your thews and sinews for the general benefit. What is the use of being tall and lithe, if your friends may not claim assistance sometimes ?

" There was a merry twinkle in her dark eyes, and her ruby lips formed themselves into a bewitching pout, as, pointing to the solitary package which blocked the path, she continued tragically : — "Alas, for our degenerate race ! How are the days of chivalry gone beyond recall ! Am I not, by virtue of this being my birthday, entitled to make demands and insist on obedience ? Or what is the use of being elected Queen Bee of this our hive ? " "There, Thurston, that is unanswerable," laughed a slight, fair young man. " Come along, I'll help you." "No, sir, excuse me," exclaimed the coachman, hurrying forward. "Them there things is no small weight, and you'm no fit to lift mun. I'll lend a hand, sir," and, touching his hat to Harold, he waited for him to take the initiative, which, much against the grain, our persecuted Adonis found himself compelled to do with as good a grace as possible, saying, as he gave the Wanted — An Heiress ! required assistance, "I did not know that this was your especial party, Miss Beatrice, or I would have hastened to pay my respects before."

Everybody had taken their seats ; still, no one among them answered to the description of the heiress and her friends. Could they have decided not to go after all ? he wondered ; and was more than half inclined to consider himself a deeply-injured individual. "Don't forget to stop at Cragside," called Tranby Strafford, as he climbed to a back seat, and the driver took the ribbons. "No, sir. Three more, I think, sir?" "Yes. They are sure not to keep us waiting." Nor did they. Quite neglecting the lady who occupied the seat next himself, Harold looked out curiously for the remainder of the party, who must be the people in whom he felt so much interested. Yes, there they were at the foot of the crag, — an elderly gentleman, with white hair and military bearing, accompanied by two ladies. The latter were great contrasts.

One, surely she must be the companion, was no longer young, and already exhibited a decided tendency to embonpoint. The expression of her face was pleasant, and a gentle light beamed from her clear, grey eyes ; but, for a fashionable man of the world, Ethel Burton had never possessed many attractions, and the few which had fallen to her share the fast-fleeting years diminished. Mary Carson, on the contrary, immediately attracted the notice of all who came under the spell of her beauty — tall, lithe, and graceful as a lily, she carried her auburn head erect, and walked with a stately tread, that, by those who Wanted — An Heiress I 11 did not know the rare sweetness of her disposition, in which power and genius of no mean order were blended with a gentleness and humility irresistibly attractive, was often taken to indicate inordinate pride.

" Surely," thought Harold, as, carelessly passing her companion by, he gazed with an unwonted thrill at her beautiful face, with its pure roseleaf complexion, and noted the delicate pencilling of the well-arched eyebrows, above which, natural and abundant waves of hair, in whose depths the sunlight glistened and played, rose in a curling mass, beneath a large shady lace hat, constituting a fitting frame to exceptionally delicate and well-formed features. " Surely," he thought, " this is, this must be, the heiress ! What a beauty ! and what a lucky fellow I shall be if I can succeed in winning her and her money. It will be no unpleasant task to render myself agreeable and loving in such a quarter ! " "I've saved this seat on purpose for you, Colonel," called Beatrice Strafford from her lofty perch.

"I feel the honour intensely, Queen Bee," replied the old gentleman, as he clambered to her side, while his companions were assisted to the only other vacancy, in close proximity to Harold Thurston. The day was a glorious one, and, as the four splendid horses bore their burden mile after mile, along wide roads, from which grand views of distant mountains, bare or wooded almost to their tips, ever and anon came into view, or dashed through shady lanes, where the sun had not yet penetrated to suck up the moisture which glistened on fern or feathery grasses, and shone on the abundant ivy which revelled everywhere, the spirits of the young people rose to Wanted — An Heiress ! 12 a pitch of exhilaration delightful to behold. Wit and humour flashed here and there, while song and laughter roused the echoes on every side.

By and by, the river widened out and displayed banks on which tall reeds and quantities of iris and marsh-marigold reared their heads, swaying in the breeze, until they, in turn, gave place to a more abrupt slope, and gnarled roots of ancient willows grew exposed to every gaze, the restless, often turbulent, waters of the stream having washed away a large portion of the soil they strove to hold together. "Oh, look," cried Beatrice at length, "there is the loveliest sward in that wood. Just the place for our luncheon. I vote we get down here. What do you all say?" " How far are we from the falls ? " asked her brother. "I don't know. You can tell us," she said, turning to the driver. "A good mile, miss." "That means very nearly two, I guarantee," interjected Harold. " Had we not better drive nearer to our destination ?

" A quiver of amusement passed over Mary's lips as she questioned, " Can we reach the much-talked-of falls from the wood, or must we come back to the road again ? " "No, miss, there's no call to do that," said the postboy, in a gruff voice. " There's a kind of a footpath what takes you long side o' the river right up to both the falls." "That settles it then," said Tranby, swinging himself down as he spoke, and coming round to Mary's side. "Will you trust me to help you down safely, or wait for the steps ? " Wanted — An Heiress ! 13 The words were scarcely out of his mouth when, with a musical laugh and a light spring, she had alighted at his side, while Edith gasped, "Oh, Mary, how reckless you are ! I am sure you will meet with a serious accident some day." It did not take long for all the party — each armed with bag, shawl, or basket, — to reach the coveted stretch of green sward beneath splendid overhanging trees, and close beside a rippling brook of clear sparkling water which had caught the fancy of Beatrice Strafford.

" Where be we to pick you up, please, Miss, and what time ? " queried the postboy, as, after depositing the last hamper, he stood mopping his hot face with a huge flaring red handkerchief. " What time shall we say, Colonel, I appoint you M.C. ?" " Much obliged for the honour your majesty wishes to confer upon me, Queen Bee, but there are many here who would fill that post more worthily. I defer to your judg ment, Mr. Strafford." "Nay," laughed that gentleman, "my whimsical daughter has made her choice, and I know we shall all be willing to abide by it. Make any arrangement you please. I shall be agreeable." " Then, let me see. It is one o'clock now. Suppose we arrange to join the coach at the bridge somewhere about six ? Or, better still, shall we send on a request that tea be prepared for us at the hotel half an hour earlier ?

" " That will do capitally." "But how about the hampers?" queried Harton Sydney. " We can't drag them about with us." " Of course not. I was wondering how you intended to Wanted — An Heiress ! manage," said Harold, who was keeping determinately near the stately Mary, to whom he had already procured an introduction. " Oh, they will be all right," replied the elder Mr. Strafford. " We will pack them up, and conceal them among the undergrowth until our return." Of course, a good deal of merriment accompanied the preparation and discussion of the informal meal ; but the long drive had made everybody hungry, so that at its conclusion there remained very little besides plates and dishes to restore to the packages, and only one or two of the gentlemen seemed inclined to exert themselves to do this.

Harold Thurston had found a comfortable spot at the foot of a splendid oak tree, which he had been fortunate in persuading Mary to occupy, and had also departed so far from his usual custom as to attend assiduously to her needs. Now, however, that the repast was ended, he was taking his reward ; and, lounging at her side, revelled in the beauty of the girl's face and form. Mary was amused at first ; but, as one by one reluctantly joined the packers, she jumped up, saying, " Come, Mr. Thurston, are you not ashamed to be idle when all are busy ? Let us gather up the remnants, and bury them out of sight. I do so dislike to see a picnicing spot littered with torn papers, etc." And, seizing an empty basket, she darted hither and thither collecting the scattered debris until it was full ; then added, " There, I have done my part.

Now, do you dig a hole in that moist mould, while I rest again and cool down." "I say, Strafford," whispered one young fellow in passing his companion bearing a pile of plates, Wanted — An Heiress 1 15 "beauty succeeds where even banter fails. Look at Thurston ! " " Hallo ! who's to thank for that metamorphosis ? Oh ! I see ! What a joke ! I say, old fellow, don't let on, there'll be some fun by and by. He takes her for the heiress ! " "And isn't she?" " No ! Didn't you know ? She's only the companion, and a jolly nice girl she is, I can tell you." "That's good! I mean to watch the denouement. Thurston is evidently smitten." "Now then, good people," cried Beatrice at this juncture, clapping her hands to attract attention, " I think we have about done ; and, before proceeding further, Mr. Sydney is burning to immortalise both himself and us by exercising his photographic talent.

We could not have a better background than this group of splendid birches. Come along ; this slope is just right for effective posing. No, Mr. Thurston, I cannot have you there. Two such fine figures as those of you and Miss Carson must be distributed among us inferior folk. Don't you all agree with me ? " " Not on the question of inferiority, I am sure," said Mary emphatically ; but she was not sorry for the opportunity of leaving her persistent companion, whose devotion had already become somewhat of a nuisance. " Come, Ethel," she added, "it won't be the first time that you and I have figured side by side in sun-pictures ; let us sit here." "And I shall just fit in between your two heads. Only you will take off your hats for the moment, won't you ? " Wanted — An Heiress ! "Certainly, Mr. Strafford," laughed Ethel Burton, "we would not be so heartless as to efface you utterly ; " and, as she spoke, her face lit up until it looked almost beautiful, and would grow more so as the years passed, for her's was one of those faces which, though some might call it plain in youth, reflected a beautiful soul.

Age always adds to, instead of detracting from, this all-too-rare possession. " Where are you going to settle, Queen Bee ? You are flitting about in true harmony with your name," she added. " Oh, I wanted to see everybody else settled first. Now, I think, we shall do beautifully. Don't move, any of you, whatever you do. That is kind of you, Colonel. A seat between you and Ethel is just what I coveted." Harold Thurston, separated from the object of his sudden passion, had wandered to the outskirts of the group, and leaning carelessly against the trunk of a graceful silver birch, turned his gaze in her direction, quite unconscious that his tall head was out of range, and that a headless trunk would consequently mar the success of the enthusi astic amateur's effort, a fact which caused much amusement when the plate was afterwards developed.

He had had what Tranby Strafford called his " innings " with the beauty ; and found that by no means could he afterward succeed in separating Miss Carson from her companion. Strafford, also, persistently accompanied and paid equal attention to both, when the whole party presently sauntered up the slippery, winding path towards their ultimate destination. Thurston, at last, gave up the attempt, and, falling behind, allowed all to precede him ; then, throwing himself on a grassy knoll, lit a choice cigar, and yielded himself up to somnolence and day-dreams. Wanted — An Heiress ! 17 The sound of merry voices and laughter grew fainter and fainter, till, dying away altogether, the deserter was left to enjoy the silence of nature ; and yet how unsilent is nature to those who have ears for her many voices !

Here, a squirrel darted suddenly up the bole of a tree, and was lost among its rustling foliage — there, a tiny bright-eyed tit mouse nodded his active little head at him — anon, a saucy silky-plumaged blackbird sang a solo for his benefit — while the gentle murmuring of the stream kept up a continuous accompaniment to it all. But Harold Thurston had no eyes or ears for these things. He was far too much absorbed in considering his own especial difficulties and the way out of them, which, he fondly hoped, appeared to be perceptibly near.

Chapter II

Why do visions, idle visions, Tempt the soul of this poor man ? May he not with some assurance All the golden future scan ? Who dares claim a golden future, If his life be all awry ? He who shuns the path of duty E'en must suffer by and by. — Evan May. Harold Thurston sat on, more and more oblivious of his surroundings, still lost in a maze of hopes and fears, when he was suddenly startled by hearing a shrill scream of terror followed by a crash of branches and a dull thud, which brought him immediately to his feet. Pausing a moment, a low groan indicated the direction of the sufferer, and he dashed to the spot in time to see a woman almost D Wanted — An Heiress ! 18 fly down the incline, and fling herself at the side of the unconscious man with a cry of anguish. Hearing footsteps, she looked up and sobbed, " Oh, Mr. Thurston, he is not killed, say he is not killed ; it was all my fault; what shall I do?"

The Colonel, for it was he, had fallen with his head on a sharp stone, and one arm was doubled beneath him, apparently broken. But, on a hasty examination, Harold was able to assure Miss Burton that life was not extinct, a fact of which the first attempt made to move the sufferer convinced her as well, for he groaned in agony. " How did it happen?" Harold questioned hurriedly, as he laved the livid face with the water which his sorrowing companion fetched from the stream in an improvised paper cup. "He grew tired," she replied between her sobs, "and we stayed behind the others to rest awhile. I happened to see a rare plant on a ledge beneath the one on which we were sitting, and he tried to get it for me, though I begged him not. He lost his balance, and went crashing through the branches of that tree.