The discarded wife;

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CHAPTER PAGE

I.— A VOYAGE TO EUROPE 21

Chapter I. A Voyage To Europe

ON the return of Andrew Courtnay to the Grange, preparations were completed for the European journey, and the family set out, taking with them old Betty as their only attendant. She pleaded so earnestly to go that her mistress had not the heart to refuse her, as she was still active enough to perform the duties of a waiting woman to both Mrs. Courtnay and her young daughter.

The party arrived safely in New York, and after spending a few days there, embarked for Liverpool, on a first-class steamer. The sea voyage seemed to act as an elixir on the health and spirits of Claire, and with every mile that severed her more widely from the land of her birth, she appeared to cast from her a portion of the heavy weight of sorrow that had so oppressed her.

Bloom returned to her cheeks, her eyes brightened with their old animation, and Julia again found in her

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a companion and friend, ready to share in her sports or amuse her with marvelous tales of giants, and genii, of which she had an exhaustless store in her own fertile imagination.

This was but another phase of the protean nature of this young creature, though her protectress flattered herself that she was forgetting the sad blight that had fallen upon her. Claire had only buried her passion and regrets in the depths of her heart, but above them lay the resolve she had expressed, and never for one moment did she swerve from it.

Her day would come ; that thought alone gave her courage to live — to recover from the stunning blow that had cast her down from perfect happiness to the depths of despair. She had struggled through her slough of despond, and now let him who had thrust her into it beware. She could wait, as she had said to Agnes, for she knew that she had much to do before she was herself prepared for the conflict she meant to wage.

While the voyage lasted, they had charming weather, and they were safely landed in Liverpool, on the eleventh day from their embarkation. A month was spent in England, and then they crossed the channel to La belle France. Andrew’s conduct was extremely circumspect, and his mother deluded herself with the belief that he had seen the folly of his love for Claire, and was arriving at that equable state of feeling toward her, which would enable him to resign her, without a pang of regret.

If she could have looked in that turbulent heart, she would have seen there what would have appalled her. Claire’s renewed bloom and brightness only intensified

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the resolve to win her at all hazards, either with, or without her own consent. He watched her at a distance, and brooded constantly on the possibility of success, in the plan he was maturing, to be carried into effect, when he was old enough to be the master of his own actions.

He would go to Heidelberg, and remain the stipulated two years, while Claire availed herself of the advantages it was Mrs. Courtnay’s intention to afford her. But that long probation once ended, Claire should be compelled to consent to what he believed would be for her own good.

Immediately on their arrival in Paris, Mrs. Courtnay made inquiries for M. Latour, as she desired to inform him, without delay, of the existence of the young sister she had brought there, as a claimant on his fortune.

The .reply given to her was, that the ex-banker was traveling in the East, and the time of his return to his native land was uncertain. So, for the present, nothing was left for her, but to carry out her own plans for her young protegee, which she hastened at once to do.

Claire seemed keenly anxious to profit by the opportunities for improvement her god-mother was willing to afford her, and, by her own desire, she was immediately placed in a first-class school, where every feminine accomplishment, was taught.

Her progress from the first, was pronounced marvelous by her teachers, and Claire smiled bitterly, as she thought :

“ Who ever had such motives for exertion as I have ? I will make myself irresistible : I will not only become mistress of a brilliant education, but I will study, above all the rest, the art of fascination. The time will come in which it will serve me well.”

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She watched with eager eyes the development of her own beautjr, and rejoiced to see that as time progressed, she grew into something fairer, more dazzling than her former self ; that as she matured into perfect womanhood, few would have recognized in her the unformed, though attractive creature, who had caught the passing fancy of Walter Thorne.

But this transformation was the work of years. When she emerged from her seclusion, she was eighteen, and as brilliant and beautiful a being as the imagination can conceive.

Andrew had gone at once to Heidelberg, and during his stay there, his mother resided in the town, occasionally visiting Claire, and keeping up a constant correspondence with her. The third year of their stay in Europe, Andrew traveled with a tutor, and Mrs. Courtnay took up her residence in Paris.

She dreaded the meeting between the two that must inevitably take place when her son rejoined them ; although he rarely spoke of Claire, and had used all his art to induce his mother to believe that his attachment for her had been laid aside with other childish things. Mrs. Courtnay felt that this bewilderingly beautiful creature, with her easy grace of manner, and her sprightly wit, was too dangerous a companion to be thrown with Andrew with impunity. He would, she knew, return to his allegiance to her, and the separation between them have been in vain.

Mrs. Courtnay one day said to Claire, as they sat together in her lodgings, in which the young girl had been received when she left the boarding-school :

“ My dear child, you have bloomed into marvelous loveliness. You will be sought after by many, and you

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may make a brilliant match. I hope you do not still cling to that old fancy about being bound to Walter Thorne, when he has not considered himself bound to you ? ”

Claire looked up with an expression of pained surprise, and asked :

44 Mamma, are you not aware of the sacredness of the marriage bond among all true Catholics ? With them, bound once is bound forever, unless death gives release.”

44 That is true, dear ; but yours is an exceptional case. If ever a woman was freed from her vows, you have been by the double treachery of the man to whom you gave yourself.”

Claire quietly replied :

44 1 do not wish to be freed from them. Why should I ? Do you suppose that, after my experience, I would ever trust my fate in the power of another man ? No, my mission is to break their false hearts, as one of them has broken mine.”

Mrs. Courtnay looked shocked, and earnestly said :

44 Don’t tell me that with your dangerous power to win love, you intend to adopt the role of a coquette ? It will be fatal to yourself as to others.”

Claire glanced at herself in a mirror, and with a strange smile replied :

44 It seems to me that nothing else is left me but to amuse myself with the agonies of the lovers I may win. Outwardly, I am brilliant enough, but if you could look into my dead heart, you would understand that now my education is completed, I can have no object in life but to gain love, and cast it from me as mine was won and trampled on. My brother will af-

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ford me the means I shall want, and I have resolved to stay with him. Her tones were hard, her eyes glittered with the fierce glare that sometimes betrayed the panther nature that might have lain forever undeveloped but for the fatal experience through which she had passed. That had hardened her feelings, deepened her resentments, and warped the mind which under different circumstances might have been trained only to sweet and gracious influences.

Mrs. Courtnay regarded her with surprise, and with a slight tone of pique, said :

“.So you have matured your plans without even consulting me. It is well, perhaps, for all concerned, that you should remain here, but I scarcely expected you to be willing to do so. Andrew has overcome his preference for you, I believe, for he has kept up a rather lover-like correspondence with Emma Carleton, since we came to Europe. It is my earnest wish to see them united, and as you suggest, if he were again thrown with you, he might return to his old madness.”

“ That is the only name for it,” said Claire, with a light laugh. “ Like most other hallucinations, it has passed away ; but it will be as well to afford it no opportunity to return. Your son is sacred to me, mamma, and I will never cause him a pang, if I can avoid it. I owe you so much — so much that I can never repay ! The heart that is cold to all the rest of the world, opens to you and yours, and I shall ever cherish the love I bear to you as the one tender link that binds me to my kind.”

“ So young, and at heart a misanthrope ! Oh, Claire, you have marked out for yourself a hard and arid path. A few brilliant triumphs, that bring no real satisfaction ;

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a few y ears of gayety, that must end in satiety and self-contempt, and then what will be left ? Painful memories, perhaps embittered by remorse — for such a career as you have sketched, is rarely free from that. My child, it pains me to the heart to think of what may be in store for you.”

“ Then don’t think of it, mamma. There is nothing left to me but the excitements of gayety and admiration. I should fade away and perish in the monotony of the Grange, if I could be induced to return there. I should think only of my anomalous position, and grow wild in that solitary glen, over the memories of the past. I shall never return to my native land till my husband is freed from the ties that bind him to my rival. No — she is not my rival, for his heart was mine, though he consented to give me up.”

‘‘Claire, do j^ou love him yet ? ”

A lightning flash came from her dark eyes.

“ Love him ? No. Scorn has swallowed up every softer feeling for the craven who would not stand by the woman he had chosen ; who meanly sold himself for a price. But he is my husband, and he shall yet be proud to receive me as his wife, and proclaim to the world that the tie which bound us together was perfectly legal. The jury that gave him back his freedom was made to believe that I was a mere light o’love willing to be deceived — to be his on any terms — and they shall yet know how much they were mistaken.”

Mrs. Courtnay gravely said :

“ I think you are mad to dream of righting yourself. A life is in your way that may outlast your own ; and were I in your place I should shrink from again placing myself in the power of so unprincipled a man as

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Walter Thorne, even if the opportunity should be afforded.”

“ The power will then be in my own hands. The unformed, loving child was at his mercy ; the brilliant worldly woman, with every fascination at her command, will hold him at hers. As to the poor creature, who stands in my way, her heart will break before my charms have faded, and then — Walter Thorne may look to himself.”

Mrs. Courtnav saw the expression of fierce determination on her face, and sighed heavily. What could she say to this willful and resolute creature ? — how turn her from a purpose that seemed, to her, so forlorn of accomplishment? — and even, if successful, must bring to herself and another, supreme wretchedness. She softly asked :

“ My dear Claire, do you ever pray to God to give you back the tender, childish heart that once was yours ? You must know that the course you propose to yourself is opposed to every command given by him as our rule of action.”

A faint shadow flitted over the fair face of her companion, but she coldly replied :

“I go to confession regularly, and my spiritual director imposes penance on me, when I confess to wrong-doing. If I were not a true daughter of the church, I should not hold my marriage vow so utterly binding upon me.”

At that moment Julia came in beaming with health and happiness. She had grown into a slender, graceful girl of thirteen, with the fair beauty of her mother — also inheriting her gentle temper.”

She held a letter in her hand, bearing the Strasbourg post-mark, and joyfully displaying it, exclaimed :

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“ Andrew is coming back to us, mamma. He has written to me a long letter, telling me all about his travels. He has seen so much, he will have a thousand things to tell us when he returns. Read it, and see for yourself that he will be here in a few more days. Dear Claire, I am so glad that you have left that dull school, and will be here to welcome him.”

Mrs. Courtnay glanced over the letter, and said :

“ He is really coming immediately. He may be here to-morrow, for this letter has been long on the way.”

She glanced uneasily at Claire, who laughed, and asked, in a low tone :

“ Had I not better go back to my school, before Andrew appears ? I wish to spare you a moment’s uneasiness on his account.”

J ulia overheard her, and with wildly distended eyes, said:

“ What can you mean, Claire ? My brother will expect to see you, and if he does not find you with us, lie will be sure to seek you at the school. I thought you had come to stay with us always now.”

“ Did you, pet ? But suppose I have only come on a visit, and a farewell one, at that ? I am going to live in France, you know. I have always told you that, and your mother speaks of returning to Virginia.”

Julia turned to her mother, and incredulously asked :

“ Do you really think of going back, mamma, before I have finished my studies, too ? You were anxious to come to Europe, on Andrew’s account, and now we are here, I think you might remain on mine, at least till I am seventeen.”

“ By that time you would be so completely Parisian,

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that you would be unwilling to go back to the old home, in the lonely valley in which you were once so happy, Julia. My affairs require my presence in Virginia. I shall take back with me an accomplished governess for you ; and when you are quite grown, I may return to visit Claire, for she refuses to go back with us.”

“ Go away and leave Claire ! What will my brother say to that ? What shall I do without her ? ”

With a droll look, Claire said :

“ Let me foretell what you will all do. You will occupy yourself with your studies, and model yourself on the pink of propriety, mamma will select as your preceptress. Andrew will marry that pretty Emma Carleton, who came once to the Grange, and bring her back there : and you will all be happier without the marplot I should prove if I consented to return with you.”

“ You a marplot, indeed ! How can you speak of yourself in such terms ? But what could you do, if left here alone ? ”

“ I shall not be alone, petite. T intend to keep house for that brother of whom you have heard; he will make his appearance in civilized life again before many weeks have passed away ; and I have settled my plans quite independently of your mother’s arrangements.”

“ But, Claire, why can’t you be my governess ? I would be the best of students, and give you very little trouble. That will be better than staying here with a strange man, even if he does happen to be your brother.”

“ I know that you would be the sweetest little pupil in the world, but teaching is not my forte. I should not like it, and — in short, it is my choice to stay, and your mother thinks it will be best.”

J ulia turned to her mother, with a reproachful look, but Mrs. Courtnay gravely said :

“ It is quite true, my love. Claire and I have talked it over, and I cannot insist on removing her when she has a protector here who is anxious to assert his claims upon her. M. Latour has written to me from Constantinople, stating that he is on his way home, and if his sister chooses to accept an asylum with him, he shall be only too happy to have her as his companion.”

Claire looked surprised. She quickly asked :

“ Why did you not tell me this before, mamma ? I was trusting to my fascinations alone to win Armand to offer me his protection.”

“ I thought it right to inform M. Latour of your existence, and I wrote to him soon after we arrived in France. My letter, it seems, never reached his hands till he came back from the wild regions in which he has so long wandered. He ordered his letters to be kept for him by a firm in Constantinople, and he replied to me as soon as he received mine. It is nearly three years since it was written, and I had given up all hope of hearing from him ; but his answer was sent to me this morning from the banking house of Latour & Co.”

“ Will you permit me to read it ? ” asked Claire. “ I should like to see something tangible from this will o’ the wisp brother of mine, for I have scarcely yet taught myself to regard him as anything more than a myth.”

“ Of course you can read it. It was my purpose to show it to you, when I commenced the conversation Julia’s entrance interrupted.”

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Mrs. Court-nay took from her pocket an envelope,, hearing a large seal with a crest upon it, and Claire eagerly drew from it a sheet of paper, on which was

written the following lines :

“ Constantinople, July 10th, 18—

“Mrs. Courtnay — Madam: — I cannot express to you the surprise with which I read the contents of your long delayed missive. Until then, I was profoundly ignorant of my father’s second marriage, and of the existence of my half sister.

“ You tell me that M. Lapierre allied himself with a lady of good family, but no fortune; the first I was glad to know ; the latter statement does not signify, as money is of little importance to me, and I am anxious to acquit myself of a debt to my father, which has already stood too long uncanceled.

“ I have acquired a large fortune, and I have no family of my own to bestow it on ; if my young sister is as spirituelle and attractive as you assure me she is, I shall be most happy to receive her, and place her in the position that is due to one so nearly related to me.

“ The liberal intentions toward her, which you have expressed, have by this time been carried into effect, and I have no doubt that I shall find Claire accomplished and well-bred as I could desire. Express to her my fraternal sentiments, and say to her, that I should also have written to her, had time sufficed ; but I have much on my hands, and I must defer any communication with her till we meet.

“ There is something to explain, which cannot well be touched on, in a letter, and I hope that I shall find Claire prepared to listen candidly, to the statements I

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have to make ; also to disabuse her mind of any of the unfavorable impressions she may have received of me.

“ My poor father was unjust to me ; he severed himself from me ; refused me the gratification of assisting him in his poverty, though I won the means of doing so, through my own perseverance. If Claire thinks hardly of me for this, tell her to reserve her judgment till she has heard my defence ; she bears the name of my mother, and for that alone I am prepared to welcome her to my heart.

“ I am aware that she has a claim on me for money, which caused heart-burning between my father and myself, but the retention of that money was an act of justice to myself. I have increased the sum, and held it sacredly as a fund, for my father to draw on, if his resentment towards me ever softened sufficiently to permit him to do so. It never did, and now it shall go to my sister as her dower, with such an addition to it as my own fortune will enable me to make. She will owe me no thanks for this, for it is simply an act of tardy justice on my part.

“ I shall not return to Paris for several weeks yet, but inclosed is a letter of credit for the use of Claire, and she can draw for any amount she pleases on Messrs. Latour & C.o.

“ With the highest sentiments of respect and esteem, I am, Madam, your obliged and obedient servant.

“Armand Latour.”

Claire read these agreeable lines with brightening eyes and flushing cheeks. When she had finished she exclaimed :

“ What a liberal man my brother is ; my father

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must have misunderstood, and misjudged him, for the writer of this letter must be noble, and unselfish. Would you not say so, mamma? ”

“ I do not wish to sit up in judgment either on your father or your brother, Claire. The cause of their estrangement M. Latour will doubtless explain when you meet, and I hope it will prove perfectly satisfactory. In the meantime, you can make such use of his liberality as you choose, and anticipate the fair future he seems anxious to prepare for you. If you do not mar your own destiny, I think it may yet be a happy one.”

Claire laughed gaily.

“ Armand can give me all that I most eagerly desire ; position, fortune, consideration. With these, I can extract some enjoyment from life, in spite of what has happened to infuse bitterness into my lot. I shall draw on his partner at once, and please myself by giving Julia the watch set with brilliants she is so anxious to have. What can I give you , mamma, for all the kindness you have lavished on me ? I do not offer to repay you, for that would be impossible, but I should like to find something to suit your taste, to offer as a souvenir of the naughty child, with whom you have shown such patience.”

Mrs. Courtnay kissed her, and smilingly replied :

“ It is like you, Claire, to think of giving in the first moment of your newly-acquired wealth. I will not deny you the gratification of bestowing the watch on Julia, for I can see how much she is enchanted with the prospect of getting it ; but as to myself, your love is all I ask in return for what I have done for you.”

Claire returned her caress, and said :

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“ You must always have that, at any rate, mamma ; but it is like you, too, to refuse any tangible return for the benefits you confer. I shall find a way to prove to you that I only value the means placed at my disposal so far as I can use them for those I love.”

“ Oh, Claire,” said Julia, “it is charming to know that your brother is so rich and so liberal ; but I wish, all the same, that there was no such person. Then we should have you all to ourselves — and I had rather not have the watch and keep you.”

“ I have no doubt of that, pet, but as you can’t have me, you must take my present, as the best substitute I can find. To tell you the truth, I think you will be a gainer by the exchange.”

“ I shan’t believe that. You are my own darling Claire, and you are the prettiest creature I ever saw. I wonder what my brother will say when he sees how much you have improved? He has never seen you since he went to Heidelberg.”

“'Oh, Andrew will scarcely give me a thought. He is in love with his cousin Emma, and he means to marr}r her and settle down in his native valley as soon as he returns home. I am only his sister, you know.”

Julia shook her small head doubtingly, and her mother threw a troubled glance toward Claire. She observed it, and drawing near to Mrs. Courtnay, spoke, in a subdued tone :

“ Perhaps it will be best for me to go back to my seclusion till the time for your departure draws near. I can plainly see that you are uneasy at the prospect of a meeting between Andrew and myself.”

Her friend reflected a few moments, and then replied in the same tone :

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“ No, my dear ; I cannot banish you during the few weeks that remain to us in this country. After your promise to do nothing to attract my son, I think I can trust you together. Julia would be inconsolable if she were separated from you.”

“ You may trust me, mamma. Andrew can never be more to me than the friend of my childhood ; and I should be base to attempt to rekindle in his heart the preference he has suppressed.”

So it was settled that Claire should remain till her brother came to claim her ; and, as soon as Mrs. Courtnay saw her safe under his protection she intended to commence her preparations for departure.

Enchanted to be able to give in her turn, Claire drew on the bankers for a large sum, and bought an exquisite watch for Julia. She also purchased for Mrs. Courtnay a rare and elegantly illustrated work in several volumes, which she remembered hearing her say she would like to buy if she could afford it. A limited number of copies had been printed, but, regardless of cost, Claire spent nearly the whole of her money to obtain it.

When this magnificent present was sent home, she purposely absented herself, for she feared that her benefactress would reproach her for the extravagance of which she had been guilty. She and Julia went out for a long walk, and returned only in time for supper.

The books were lying open upon the table, and Mrs. Courtnay was examining them with evident pleasure. She looked up, as Claire came in, and said :

“ You have afforded me an agreeable surprise, my dear, and I will not refuse your gift, though if I had

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known that you designed spending for me so large a sum as these cost, I should have asked for something of less value.”

“ Oh, thank you, for accepting them so graciously, mamma. From me, nothing can be too costly to offer you.”

“ Provided you could afford it, Claire,” replied Mrs. Courtnay, with a smile. “ I am afraid that you have impoverished yourself to give Julia and myself what we could very well have done without. How much have you left of the money you drew ? ”

“ Fifty francs. But that is of no consequence — my letter of credit is unlimited.”

“ True ; but you must not draw for money again very soon, after using so large a sum. Did you purchase anything for yourself ? ”

“ Thanks to your kindness, I needed nothing,” replied Claire, with a laugh. “ Let us look over these exquisite illustrations together, and say nothing more of their cost.”

“No, my child ; we will say nothing more about that. I only wish to impress on you that you must not abuse the generosity of your brother. You have a taste for extravagance which has hitherto been repressed, and in the future you must be careful to put a reasonable limit to your expenditure.”