Guy Rayner's My Lady's Novellettes

Front matter

No. L— Vol. I.] ONE COMPLETE NOVEL WEEKLY. [PRICE ONE PENNY. " Is she engaged then P " asked the captain, gazing still at the •photo. " No, why she has half the fellows we know at her tail, but php just flirts with them aU round." put " Uncle, are you married P " asked Harry gravely. " No, thank goodness," emphatically replied uncle. " Then you shall have our Iris, and then she wUl be our aunt," triumphantly exclaimed Harry. Hooray ! echoed the other boys. Just then the train stopped at a station and a very saturnine looking individual stepped into the carriage ; he looked grimly at the boys, nodded condescendingly to Hal, and seated himself at the otlier window. IRIS, A RAINBOW GODDESS.

Chapter I

love at first sight. In a second-class radway carriage on the London and North western Railway a lively conversation was being carried on by a party of big boys, who were returning home from their daUy trip to trie City of London School. This chat appeared to greatly amuse the other occupant of the carriage, and as the train had come to a standstill on account of the November fog, each word was distinctly heard by the gentleman. He appeared to have travelled a great deal, and was sun burned as to skin, fair as to moustache and hair, and both hand some anel distinguished in person. " Let me see it, Harry," pleaded the youngest, " I know Iris Grant quite well ; she would not mind me seeing her photo." " I daresay not," replied Harry, who was the very prettiest youth, with face like a young St. Sebastian — " but I scarcely Uke to hand a lady's photo about in a railway carriage."

" But Iris would not mind," said another boy, whose re semblance to Harry showed him to be his brother, although he was not so good-looking, neither had he so sweet an expression. " She is too jolly to be prim," urged the younger boy, who was red-headed, and dubbed by his friends " Little Mischief." " She is no end of a brick," put in another boy, " I remember her thrashing big Potter ouce." " Did she ? ' cried Harry, " How was it ? " . " Why, Potter was hitting his young brother, when Iris Grant came along ; it was when she went to school at the ' High.' ' What are you beating your brother for ? ' she asked in her pretty " That is one of our Iris's lovers ; he is a beast : he's a lawyer, and she hates him," whispered little Mischief to the captain. " He looks it," duly answered CecU. " What is his name ?

" " Henry Moritz." " Good Heavens," muttured Captain Heath, " we are old enemies ; that feUow was the means of getting me expelled from school. I had to thrasri him." "How strange, isn't it ?" Harry whispered excitedly. "Just fancy, you have only now returned to England, and first of all you get iu with your own nephews, and then you see your old enemy." And it was strange. The boys, Harry and Joe, with CecU Heath and Henry Moritz were the unconscious elements of a future tragedy ; their four lives, aud the rife of the charming Iris, would be by-and-bye bound up together in a volume of incidents, leading up to strange and unforeseen circumstances. But of this none of the five even guessed, although afterwards Joe acknowledged that the idea of possible rivalry betwixt handsome CecU and wily Moritz did pass through his brain, foreseeing how soon lovely Iris would be thrown into the society of Captain Heath.

The station reached, the other boys went their ways, not without %i tip all round from the newly arrived traveller. Joe ran on in order to break the news to his mother, 'whUe Captain Heath and his nephew Harry slowly followed, talking over famUy affairs. way. ' What's that to you ; go home to your Polls,' says Potter, and begins lathering young Ted more than ever. ' You are a bully and a coward,' says Iris ; ' why, I'd thrash you myself for two pins.' 'Yah, hear a girl talk,' sings out Potter. Well, she threw her books down, gave me her fur cape to hold, and gave Potter a regular licking." " Iris is as brave now as possible, and she isn't a bit vulgar or fast either, in fact, she's just perfect," enthusiasticaUy cried Joe, Harry's brother. All the boys had some anecdote to relate of their favourite, and she was unanimously voted " a joUy brick."

" What a time we are stopping here," observed the gentleman with a sun-burnt face; "is it usual ? " The vdlage of Bradling was rather picturesque, although it had 1 an addition to its olel part in the shape of several new roads, and these roads were set about with red brick villas in spacious gardens ; to the eyes of the Bradling people tries villas were obnoxious ; they designated the dwellers therein as " City Cads," and did not eleign to visit among them. But the villa folks did extremely well without the old-fashioned and very poor gentry. They had parties and tennis among themselves; and in fact, they were a very lively set of young people in New Bradling, the leader of which set was Miss Iris Grant, the only unmarried daughter of Hewitt Grant, Esq., solicitor, practising in Bloomsbury.

Kate Conroy, her youngest married sister, also lived in the But this sister, petite and fretful, was the very opposite of Iris ; slie had named the young doctor of the place, a man of fine appean Zo and courtious manners; a man of who patients all said, " so very kind, so attentive and so cheerful," but of whom his servants, and wife were glad to see the back ; in fact when Dr. Conroy came home, he " hung up his fiddle," as the Kentish people say, " and took down his whip." Just now, it being dull November, the extreme youth of rig were spending all their money in fireworks, all their time in gathering material for a big bonfire. The older youth likewise were preparing for a ball, to be rield at the Starford Hall, on the ninth of November, in honour of the chief resident of the villas having got in as Lord Mayor.

AU these particulars were imparted to Captain Heath, as he walked with his young companion under a noble avenue of chestnut trees, leading from trie Grove to the ViUas. " Mother is dericate, father generaUy much shut up in his study, his chief occupation being that of analytical chemist, and we boys are mostly at school. There are twins of three, a baby of a year old, and one other girl of eleven, she is Maggie," was the finale of these communications, as Harry paused by the end letting his newly found uncle enter the carved swing gate before him. Pretty faded Mrs. Frame was much agitated by the unex pected return of her almost forgotten brother, from whom they had received but scant news all the time. " Oh, yes, by this train ; there is a Watford express to pass by, that is all," replied Harry.

" How long does it take to get to Bradling ? " " Just thuty-five minutes, when we do not stop." " I am going to Bradling ; do you know the Frames ? " con- I the gentleman. The boys laughed at this in an amused way, and little Mischief cried out, " here's two of them, and nice boys they are," indicating Harry and J _ o, who both looked very sheepish. " Of <x>urse you don't know me, boys, but have a look at my face ; am I like anyone you know P " " You are liko Harry," said Joe. " I am your mother's brother, so behold your long-lost uncle," said the gentleman, giving liis hand to Harry. " What a jolly young uncle," cried little Mischief. " Yes, sir, you are young, arn't you ? it sounds old to be an uncle," meditatively observed Harry. " I ran away from school when I was just your age, and have been roaming about India, China, and Australia for nine years.

Now I am commander of a ship, and have got leave for three months, so make up your minds for a good time, my boys," was the handsome fellow's explanation. " Hip, hip, hooray," roared all the six youngsters ; the whistle shrieked and the train moved at the same time, so there was a considerable hubbub. WTren the noise had subsided, Harry Frame brought out the before-mentioned photo and handed it round. All the boys gave their verdict as " Not half pretty enough," " she looked as though she were going to be hung," and so on. But when Captain CecU Heath took it in his hands, he said : " Just a lovely, English face, sweet and sensitive. Who is she ? " " How very handsome you have grown, CecU," she said, softly. " I think my Harry wUl be like you." " Yes, he wiU. They call him ' My pretty Jane ' at school," informed her uncle.

" And where is Iris ? " asked Harry. " She has gone to tea with Kate Conroy." " 0, what a bore," cried Joe with dismay. " Well, I can only say " Iris," but to us she is friend, sister, companion. We bave lived next door to her for eight years, and not a day passes but Iris does something for one of us. As to our dear, delicate Mater, I do not know what she wUl do when Iris G rant gets married." " They aU seem mad about this Iris," said the captain, ruefuUy, " even a brand new uncle is nothing to them." " Yes you are," cried Maggie, embracing her new uncle with fervour, " I shaU love you for ever." " And us and all," echoed the twins. " This seems like the home coming I have pictured for years. Out in the sultry Indies, the glaring sands of Egypt, or the wild shores of Arctic coasts, when my physical powers were over taxed, I used to picture an English fireside, and kind faces," said Cecil, in a low voice.

" But for that villain, Moritz, I should never have left England." " I never rightly heard the story," timidly said his sister. " And I shan't rake it up to night," was Cecil Heath's reply. taste and artistic to bestow them, about her muslin apron and brown stuff dress. " This i§ Iris, a typical English maiden, now trilling a little song as she puts her own special sitting-room in order, now giving a soft wriistle as her deft fingers turn over the knitted socks which the twins have kicked into holes, and note what a long time they will take to darn. Then with nimble feet clearing the small hall with a bound, into the orderly kitchen where Sarah and Martha are quarreUing over tho process of dish-washing. Iris can look stern if required to do so, and a few sharp words of reprimand set the maids right in a very short space of time.

After this uttle skirmish with temper, Miss Grant dons her walking things, and walks with elignified gait through Bradling, to the slummy part where she is adored by the poor of her district.

Chapter II

" She ain't a bit goody-goody ; she just laughs wi' the chddren and talks to us free like ; there is always summat in hor pocket useful ; out comes a cake of soap, or an ounce of tea, or a screw of tobacco, and then Miss Iris blushes so pretty as she ses, ' it is not much, Mrs. Jones', but then every little helps,' and so it do." This is how the bricklayer's wife speaks of her, and plenty of others wiU acknowledge that Miss Grant gives gracefully, so that a mite from her helping hand is always gratefully accepted. And in aU Bradling but one person hates her, and triis is the mother of Henry Moritz. She is a canny old woman, and detects trie fact that Iris plays with her son as a kitten tosses a tiny mouse. Hard and cruel as Henry is to others, to Iris he bears the ono love of his life and nature, and the girl knows it ; but with the airiness of youth and gaiety she amuses herself only.

And why ? not from sheer heartlessness, but because sbe has never had a real heartache in her life, and therefore is quite incapable of rearising what it is to other people. However, this one flaw in her character was just the weak link in trie criain whicri ultimately brought down upon her helpless head the wrath of the furies. at home. When Cecil Heath awoke on the morning foUowing that first night in an English home, he could scarcely realise that he was absolutely free for a time to do as he pleased, to enjoy the com forts of daily life, and the society of refined women and innocent children. Although he had knocked about all over the world and seen girls of all sorts, his heart had never yet met with its queen — for every man's heart is a kingdom, and women rule it. Men do not like to acknowledge this, but it is most certainly true, and unfortunately a bad woman more frequently finds out the secret of a man's weakness, than a good one, so that it is not to be wondered at that men's lives are often l uined by women.

And now Cecil turning over in his snug feather bed with a sense of luxurious comfort heard the voice which was to be to him the sweetest and most magical of sounds. It proceeded apparently from the garden, and in answer to the clear girlish accents he recognised that of riis nephew, Harry. " Look here, Iris, I won't put up with you're poking fun at my uncle. Why should you caU him a jaundiced Indian, indeed ? " " WeU, I daresay he is, I haven't seen him yet, but when you rush at me with the cry of ' O, we've got an uncle fresh from India ; he has travelled aU over the world ; Ma hasn't seen him for ten years,' I naturaUy picture a sort of Nabob — " " So he is," called out another voice, " with a grey beard and thin legs ; such a mummy, Iris ; you won't make fun of him to his face, wUl you ?

" At this utter perversion of the truth, Cecil sprang out of bed in hopes of seeing the girl divinity of the young Frumes, but was doomed to disappointment, for she was hidden by the wall on which the boys were seated. He was in time to hear her cry out saucily : " I'll come and make up to the Nabob to-night, ta-ta. My old Pater is waiting for his breakfast." The boys got off the waU, and Cecil proceeded to dress himseU, gazing with great satisfaction at his own good-looking self in the looking-glass. " Jaundiced Indian ! AU right, Miss Iris, you shall see," he ejaculated. Meanwhile the boys were laughing over Iris's misconception. Joe had thought it a good piece of fun to describe so opposite a picture of what his uncle really was, and intended to further mystify Iris. The children saw their new uncle depart for the City with Mr. Frame with deep regret.

He had thoroughly taken them by storm with his merry generous ways, and one anel all eagerly looked forward to the evening when Uncle Cecil was going to bring an awfid lot of fireworks home. Iris having got through her day, dressed as she invariably did for her father's late, or perhaps early dinner at six o'clock, mind ful of ' les covenancis ' even when alone, and then gave herself a half hour by the fireright to rest. Leaning forward towards the blazing fire, her piquante face haU in shadow, half in light, she looked indeed " fair and good," and so thought Captain Cecil Heath, as he leaned over the slight paling separating the two front gardens and caught his first glimpse of "Iris, the Rainbow Goddess." Her robe of claret velvet trimmed with yeUow lace, half low at the throat, was made after a quaint fashion of her own, for Iris never followed the fashion unless it suited her.

The coils of her ruddy hair were pUed up over her brow, and gave a queenly air to the girl. "Ah," murmured Heath with a little catch of riis breath. " Iris Grant, you are indeed all that the boys have said, and I think if to be won, / shall win you." The door of his sister's house opened wide and Harry stood on the threshold. " We heard steps on the gravel and guessed it was you, captain," he said advancing. "Ah, you have forestalled me, I thought that we shoirid have the pleasure of showing you our jewel, anel now you have stolen a march upon us." With that Harry threw a small pebble at the window, causing the girl to start and blush. " Those boys, how they startle me," she exclaimed, rising and proceeding to the window, but both the captain anel Hal fled precipitately. " What do you think of her ?

" asked Hal, as tliey stood in the hall. Iris had a busy day. In the first place there was a pUe of little socks to mend for those twins next door, a whole heap of parish magazines to distribute, aud a very fair amount of cooking to superintend, for, my dear readers, Iris Grant is not a lacki dasical specimen of ladyhood, but just a bright, active, graceful girl, eager for pleasure or work. Tears or smiles, she had a heart with an immense capacity for riving and loving ; life to her was something real and tangible ; no dreams of romance or tragedy disturbed her everyday routine. She "got through," as tho yankees say, with more actual work in one day, than rier other girl friends did in a week. If anyone had told her to-day that bitter sorrow, temptation and almost ruin were inthe near future, she would have thrown back her pretty head and laughed aloud.

But as we see her on the dull winter morning she appears like a bit of colour against the greyness of the day. A brown curly head of exquisite shape surmounts a sright but rather taU figure, whose waist, wrists and neck are arike small but symmetrical ; her chief beauty lies in the colour of hair, eyes, lips, cheeks ; brown hair with golden glints here and there ; grey eyes deep and changeful ; red Ups, and just such a rose bloom on her face as a healthy girl should have ; knots of blue ribbon where it was good " Why," returned Cecil, merrily, " she's all my fancy painted her ; she's lovely ; she's Divine." And CecU Heath, years afterwards, could always recall that first sight of the ono woman in the world to him. An hour later, the children's bonfire was alight anel blazing high, squibs and crackers were in full fizz, the boys rushing hither and thither ; Uttle Mischief, or rather Robby Ray, was in fuU force.

The maids of both households being on the spot, some rather wild romping was going on. Iris, her dress sriielded from the flames and squibs by a water proof, was holding the twins, who half scared, haU laughing. clung to her lovingly. Harry came up to her, and leaned his hands on her shoulders. " Iris, I am as taU as you now ; see, I can look over your shoulder," he saiel merrily. " How is the old uncle, I haven't seen him yet," said the young lady archly, without looking behind her. " O, warming his thin legs before the fire I expect," suggested Joe, as he ran past holding up a Roman candle, Hal went after : Yarmouth. A swarthy youth uinted him with being " kept * , .' a certain ext < .th Mrs. Fr .re of an aunt boyish . ■ >wn at his persecutor . for the* had ve •el in his brain, and whilst of the thin. him, he turned witb *,.,, "Good evi bome from id Mr. Fruine. rceive," returned Moritz, with c grin.

"I he felicity of '»» did I ne., him with a bound," and was s of the smoke. "Here, nurse, take these babies, I want to let off something : the squills are infectious I think it Miss Grant. ,;t with the rest ; Robby was her special prey ; she I dfutly ; presently another fi the scenes, but always just sufficiently in the backgrou Iris had just escaped from a bouncing cracker, wheu r > with eyes half blinded by smoke into somebody's arms, whom she thought to be Hal, she exclaimed," O Harry, ; nto the • fore I am quite as black as see the old Nabob." "Give ine a kiss, and I will," said the supposed Hal, laughing. "Yo" _ing too big to kiss, Iris, turning up her face, and perceiving not Harry, but a some body unknown. " What a shame ! " sbe exclaimed. " a strangi i too. I thi a very rude young man." '■ My dear, surely you do not mind kissing your old i submissively replied the captain.

" O goodness," cried Iris, ruefully, eyeing him as the newly stirred bonfire sent up a lurid glare, and shewed tho handsome captain more plainly, " that horrid Joe ; won't I give him, give bim — well, I don't know what I will do, it is a sl " Why, don't you think I am much nicer than an old man?" he said, gazing down into her liquid eyes. Bi her's feU. she only said : " Young men are so common, you know, and one eloes not often get the chance of an ancient N "Thanks," he returned, i " but I am not one of the common sort ; do you think s< * " O, I can't tell by tbis light," retorted Iris, preparing to run away, but he laid a restraining hand upon her arm. " 1 think we will go in and see Mrs. Frume, shall we ? " " The boys won't like it," eieeided Iris, " we can stav here U you like." rtainly not," ret il, bluntly, "' trie boot was on the other leg. ' I thrashed you !

"—and he looked very much as _h he would have liked to repeat the action. " Let bygones be 1 put in Mrs. 1 . days are i " Don't look quite so fierce," whispered Iris, laying hor hand on the captain's arm. " I'll lock y< iu up on the next occasion," which speech sent the boys, who' hated Moritz, off into peals of iter. i would like to serve old Morry as you did big Potter ? " suggested " little hould so," returned [i - her attention to the then new waltz, " Myosotis," and chatting tones to her new lover. " I'll drive Henry v '-.lit," she whispered to Cecil, " if you don't mind, by flirting with you ?" "Oh, certainly, I should like it immensely," retorted the cap- And Iris did flirt. They retired behind the curtains of trie bay windows, and were very ejuiet, excepting now and then little silvery peals of laughter came from Iris, who was receiving the full and true account of trie fight and its ultimate consequence. ;' You see, Miss Grant, I made him my enemy, and on every occasion he sneaked to thi till at last I feU into un merited disgrae* " I always hated that fellow, and now I own that I admire him," was rier enigmatic remark.

" Admire him ! cried tho astonished captain. " Whatever for?" " Ah, ah ! Iris, how do yor. like the jaundiced Indian ? " cried Joe, now perceiving the two together for the first time. " Very much indeed, thank you, Joe, all the better for having been deceived, you know," she returned, composedly. Joe was much disgusted ; he expected a wordy war with Iris, a loved ; and Harry was almost as much put out when he saw trie two young people engaged in a very interesting conversation. He had offered Iris to his uncle as a probable wife, and now a sharp pang of jealousy shot through his heart, only a boy of sixteen — yes, but a boy with a man's heart in his youthful frame, he wondered at his own pain, trying to anaiize it as he turned away. " Surely I am not a Judas," he asked mentally, " to have so deadly a feeling rise up in my mind, yet I feel as though some one had struck me."

Poor Hal. We may laugh at calf love, but to the one who labours under it, it is very real, very true at the time, and hardly a man exists who does not, albeit he may laugh at riis earlier love fever, feel a faint pang at its recoUection. The fun among trie bigger boys growing fast and furious, trie nurses decided to take the younger ones in, and Iris followed them, with Harry and Cecil for company; the whole party troopeel into the kitchen where cook e in cutting md jam for the babies. Harry pleaeied hunger, and Iris confessed to an um-omantic vacuum, so amid laughter, and merry jokes, the three young people sat on the kitchen table eating strawberry jam. Iris, ever pretty, looked always at her best amid commonplace surroundings ; now, with a twin in her encircling arm, and Harry's hand in hers, she shines the lovable household fairy, and Captain Heath became quite enraptured by her alternate sweetness and arch wa " Come, you twins, I'U put you to beel just for a treat ; al! the jam is gone ; so tired, little ones.

Good night to tlie old Nabob, and to brother Hai," and Iris led the little things oft to the Iris lowered her voice anel whispered : "I always think he is much like trie picture of ' Satan ' in a great painting, that's why." " Oh, you dreads ul girl ! And do not I resemble any painting P " he asked, with a look of admiration. " Yes, like tbe archangel Michael," sho replied. " Iris," he said, delighteeUy, " I wish I was one of those boys at this minute." "Why?" "Because I might kiss his infatuated reply, as he leaned nearer the little witch Iris. blushed, hung her heart, and faltered ont iu a good imitation of Violet Cameron : t's all in the family " So the captain took trie implied consent, and bestowed his first salute on her glowing cheek. Unfortunately, the oscillatory demonstration happened at a moment when a lull came in the lation outside of the curtains, so that the boys and Moritz plainly heard it.

Harry coloured up, Jo6 tittered, and little Mischief got under the t:* Iris rushed out and took refuge by her friend's side. " Your brother is hke all sailors, ' the lips that are red are the sweetest, when lips that we :• ay>"' sbe si ing and blushing very prettily. not know Mr. Heath as a chUd, I presume," sneered Moritz. " No," returned Iris innocently. " I wish I had." " Iris Grant," said Mrs. Frume severely, " you are iucor " What is it, my love ? " asked her father who was just a trifle deaf. '■ Only that I am in. she said easily, going over to his side and patting riis bald head affectionately. t a daughter should led the old mac, who loved his youngest aa his ' say all of u I Joe seating himself at the piano and playing in n rollicking manner. " For he's a jolly go.d fellow ! " liber of whist was 1 the four eiders, including who, at tl il, Iris, •- boys free for any-tiring.

So presently they adjourned upper regions. By and by Mr. Frume came down from his study, Mr. Grant, a young friend of Harry's from lower down in a little knot of admirers gathered round r Iris sing her I .special song had a charm for Harry ; it was the old one of " Our bar: met, but n ' irts." Boy as he was, tho sent mt to Captain Heath the}- bore no meaning, only tho sweet voice whicri gave expression to trie words I the very play of Iris's shadow over the music exeion for tho young captain. Yet evi * 'ing the moves .ee. It was in trie yard or playdescribed ap the hindrance, of little Mischief, set about getting ready the stage for the performance, which was to take place in the now unusod school-room, a long room built over the stables. and given over to the children's devices. A piano of sriabby mco and cracked tone stood at one end of the room, this was the orchestra ; the auditorium was the other end ; the stage being set on the slanting part of the apartment, wbich was of uneven shape, a door led from triat particular end into a small lumber-room containing the " properties."