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This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ C* document est film* au tsux de r*duction irdiqu* ci-dessous 10.x 14X 18X 22X 26X XX 12X 16X 20X 24X y 28X D 32X Th« copy film«^ d THE IIONOUKABLE G. 11. EMERSOX (TIBOIHIA WATER. IT, tOMW't, *. V.) Cbii llooh ii ^ebicattt), WITH Tni MOST ITICCIRI laTEIU, BT THE ALTHOIt. i.i //' '-' ■"- - HARD HIT; A NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. CHAPTER I. " OONE aOOSB FAW VANE, W008TAW." " I BAT, Major, what the deuce has come over Melbrook ? He hasn't fired a shot these three days, and, by Jove I it's a fact, told me last night he had changed his mind about our deer-stalking. He is not coming." The speaker. Lord Rooster, looked at Major Stalker, inquiringly. "He is one of the gentlemen of Verona," rolied the Major, smiling, " gone the way of all flesh." " How ? what do you mean ?" B • IIAHD HIT ; "I venerate your lordship's obtusenesi!," BEid Major Stalker, bowing with mock Bolpmnity, " He is in love," " 5fou don't say so! " ejaculated the merry lord, " Melbrook in love— that tine sporting dog muzzled— don't believe it." " I do, and upon the best of evidence." " Your eyes?" " Both eyes and ears. He admitted it." " Miss Lloyd, of course— the irresistible Hester— the Queen of Beauty who regards nil the charms possessed by your humble senant with so cruel and callous an eye." "No other." ' ' It's all up with mo, then. What a din she is, eh, Major?" " Siie ib likely to cost him dear." " No doubt of that, all the deer he nnV'tit have shot with us, if it's true ; but I Kuqu'ct he is not in earnest. He is a shy fish about matrimony, you know, like myself, and you too, ch. Major?" A NEWFOUNDLAND BTOBT. 3 "However shy he has been, I think he is securely hooked. If there is any trifling in the matter, it is on her side She Las counted her admirers by the dozen, perhaps myself amongst the number." "Well." said Lord Rooster, "candidly speaking, I can't agree with you. I think Guy Melbrook a good-looKing fellow, handsome and vain enough to tiy and turn any woman's brain." "Aw— Melbwook's doosidly spooney in that quawtaw," observed Captain Fizzle, languidly twisting the ends of his whiskers, " wowing in a boat, by Jove 1 evewy aftaTOoon, walking togethaw like the doose, nevaw see them apawt a ^- -gone goose faw Vane \.'oostaw— .Mel- bwook headed him too much— Vane down in the mouth and cwanky as the doose— cawu't speak or look at him, by Jove !— Uiink he's a lucky fellah though— he's missed a tawtaw-she Bnubs a fellah like the doose— and is always twyiug towoast me about the lettawthat comes B 2 •««lBi tvmam %:^: . i . .. 4 BARD bit; between q and i, as if I didn't know my awl- phabet. She speaks doosidly bad, Woostaw, doosidly bad — it takes all the brains b fellah has to make out what she's saying, and she is pwoud OS the doose." " Yes, she bother? some of us sometimes," said the wagfpsh lord, with a sly look at the Major, " the other day she kept ou oaying ask instead of osk, and answer for onswer." " Hi quite bagree with you, my lord," inter- rupted a dapper Httle man, who was chalking the end of his cue, " has true has my name's Po'l^^cr er hideas of Ilinglish beat me hout. She hactually knows nothing habout tho letter haitch. Ki erd er say egg hinstead of hegg once. Strange hit his so anl for people hof this country to speak grammatically, hisn't it ? " " Very," said Lord Rooster drily. " Not much chance of getting a mouthful of air this eTcning," observed the Major, looking out of the window, "we arc in for it, I think. It will soon blow a hurricane." A NEWrODKDLAND 8T0BT. O Comiortably housed, they could afford to let it blow. Smoking, sipping brandy-and-water and playing billiards, they eraily reconciled themselves to viieir captivity. A gay shooting party in that much traduced and more imper- fectly knov- island, Newfoundland, they had come prepared to accept everj- disappointment philosophically, and a hurricane was not by any means to be permitted to disturb their tempers. The Major was quite satisfied with his good strokes ; Lord Rooster as satisfied with his ; both counted their chickens as serenely and confidently as possible. The brandy-and-water, doubtless, did not diminish the number. " I feel 08 if this wan rr*^ of Sancho Pauza's hoUdavs," said the Major, benevolently admir- ing the amplitude of hi? vest, for he was very stout, " I could sleep till doomsday after this game." " You mean that there are lots of Quixotic elements here?" *^w- P HARD HIT ; " Well, yes, I should say so. This storm promises to be a very Quixotic element, for instance. Whew! there's a gust. Just look at those trees. It is blowing like fury. Light- ning, by Jove ! Suppose we close the blinds." The Major, after successfully pocketing his ball with indolent ease, vas about closing them when a dull, heavy sound made them all start. They listened attentively. Another. " No mistake about it," said Lord Rooster, rising, "some vessel in distress. The sea coast being so near, we could easily hear a signal of that sort. I am going to see if any- thing can be done." He moved towards the door. Another gone. " Bad case, I'm afraid," said the Jfajor, following him. At the door they met Nfelhrook. " You hoard it, then ?" said the latter. " Yes, we were just going." " All right , we'll go together." A NEWFOnNDLAND STORY. "Mr. Melbrook, how can yon venture out a night like this ? " cried a lady who had followed him from the adjoining room, " where are ycu going?" " Nowhere," answered Melbrook', laughing. " But I heard you say so. Don't go. Y'ou will be drenched, and the thunder is something fearful. I shall be terrified." "Just the sort of thing I like," replied he, getting into his overcoat with energetic expe- dition, " not your being terrified, you know, but the thunder. Besides, there is a vessel in distress firing guns. Poor fellows ! they must be in an awful pickle." The lady looked at him reproachfully. What right had an oceanful of poor fellows ia an awful pickle to beguile a lover from her side ? Besides, the poor fellows were in their awful pickle at a rather delicate and awkward mo- ment. The lady and Mr. Melbrook had been playing cluss after a very desultory fashion. So desultory and so uninteresting had been the ■MH I II i ■'.li 8 HABD bit; game in fact that they had abandoned it with mutual relief. Then Mr. Melbrook had taken to wriimg mellifluous poetry in her album, at her 3uggestion, of course. We give his rhymes to the public, if only to show to what ac abys- mal depth of manity an energetic man, doomed by the elements and sentiment to make love over a chess-table, will descend Had Cupid, when in wanton plaj He wing'd his arrow's viewless way, Known how keen would be the smart Left by his envenom 'd dart. He had, forsooth, with better skill Aim'd not to merely wound, but kill ; And thus, by one firm, vigorous thruat, In peace consign'd me to the dust. But, no ! the crncl little god. Instead of crushing, sticks in quod, My struggling soul lost in alarms. Inspired by thine unrivall'd charms, — Incarcerates — it seems absurd, Yet that's the most oxpressive word, Incarcerates, ther,, by direful art My simple unresisting heart ; And sn, alas ! like many fated, I find I'm at a blow checkmated. \ A NEWFOUNDLAND STORT. 9 It was in the completion of this moumfally amatory composition that it pleased the poor fellows in their awful pickle to intimate their distress. Delicious hopes wen trembling on the verge of delicious certainty. The reproach- ful look was perhaps excusable. But it was thrown away upon Melbrook, who, after a hasty adieu, was, with his friends, speeding to the scene of disaster. <; \ I t ■MMa -^^mm -«H!|^- lU HARD HIT ; A NEWroUNDLAUD 8T0RT. 11 CHAPTER II. THE GOT OF QCIDDI VIDDI. Boom ! Boom ! A minute gnn at sea. Ter- rible sound ! The raging, scetliing waters ; the black night, rendered blacker in its fearful abyss of darkness by the vivid intermittent lightning ; the incessant peals of thunder, Heaven's artillery, the frightful rocks at in- ten-f'? suddenly illuminated with territic and indescribable grandeur ; the cries of the dis- tressed seamen, whirled on the breath of the tempest to the straining ears on shore ; and, above all, in its portentous significance, the booming cannon. How depict the scene, its enormity of terror ! The appalling panorama must be seen to be realized. A disabled vessel was drifting upon the dan- gerous reef known as tlie Gut of Quiddi Viddi. In the glare of the lightning she could be dis- tinguished rising and falling upon the angry, reracrseless bosom of the ocean, the cruel, piti- less ocean threatening each moment to engulf her. Nearer and nearer drew the fated ship ; nearer and neater sounded the tenible gun. It was a frightful drama in real life, upon which the spectators gazed with bated breath, in inexpressible horror. Several fishermen and a few -..omen huddled together, seeking in such close companionship to ward off a little of the sense of terror at their hearts, were the only witnesses assembled until joined by the sport- ing party. Lord Rooster, with characteristic Tehemcnce, rebelled against such passive submission to what appeared inevitable. "Now, my lads, man the boat. I'll b" your coxswain. One thousand pounds to lue crew that reaches that ship. One thousand 12 BARD HIT ; A NEWFOUKDLAND STORY. 13 j| pounds!" yelled his lordship, as the wind sported .s-ith his utterance. " Come on." He had grasped in his excitement the brawny arm of a Newfoundland fisherman, named Corny ilegan, and endeavoured to drag him to a fishing stage mar which were anchored several whale boats, large but handy craft, splendidly adapted for boisterous seas, and rocking at their moorings as buoyantly as corks. Corny Regan remained immovable. " Faix, yer honour, it's not waiting for a tousand pounds I'd be if I could do dem poor lost cratures any sarvice." " Try at least, if you're a Christian. Come on, my fine fellows. One thousand pounds shall be divided amongst t)\e crew that reaches her." " Begob, yer money is safe enough," said a ■trapping fellow over six feet high, all boots and oil clothes, " wish moi sowl was as safo for hivin, begar. De diul a fear of a boat living in a sea like dat. If ye wasn't swamped, it's broadside on de- rocks ye'd be.' Corny Regan, first projecting a mouthful of tobacco juice on the rushing wind, bawled in Lord Rooster's ear, — " Dere'U be a big enough male for de fish, yer honour, widout us. I'd try if I had de min. But dere's not a sowl ud go barring yerself maybe, and de boat wants six hands. If I'd futting on dat vessel's deck, begob, I moight be afther saving her. Do ye see that bight there to leaward. I'd try and put her into dat. But dey doesn't steer her at all." The lightning for an instant revealed a fissure formed amidst the rocks, close at he. d. The ship once fairly wedged there, might hold together for a precious half-hour, and the crew escape by means of a hne thrown from the shore. It was the solitary chance. " Come, my goud man, let us try," said Lord Rooster. m^ mmm »■ 14 HARD HIT ; " All rifflit, bcgob, yer honour, I will," said the undaunted fellow resolutely. The souls of two bravo men held com- munion together. But the braver was Corny Regan's. The nobleman was rushing into peril carelessly, prompted by chivalrous senti- ment; the fisherman Dcted with the calm reason- ing courage that counts evcrj'thing and performs in the expectation of almost certain death. "Mike Daly," said the latter. "Come here. I want ye." "What is it, skipper?" "Bailout de boat." " Sure jhe'd fill again in a minute, skipper, and ye won't want her before de morning." " Hike Daly, it's not me that will be wanting her den. Bail her out." " For de love of do Lord, skipper Corny," cried the other pitcously, " ye are not going for to face dat sea." " I am, Jlickoy, and I as ye to como. Dere's de tousand pound begar, basoides." A NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. 16 .1 • " Skipper Corny, are ye sai-ious f" "lam." " Wliat wU yer poor childer do ?" An uncomfortable knot rose in Corny Re- gan's throat, so that he coald not answer. "Bogob," said Daly suddenly. "I'll go. Sure, skipper Corny, if ye sent mo to wouldn't I go for ye?" Three brave men. " Messmates," roared Corny to those around him, "who's going wid mesclf and 'Mike Daly to de ship out dere ?" " I am," cried a voice, so ringing, cheering, triumphant, that it sent a thrill through the hearts of all of them. "Bravo, IMeibrook," cried Lord Roo.ster. "Begar, it's de gintilmin dat gave us de suvren de odder day," cried Coniy Regan, intuitively divining his chance, " tree cheers for him. Now, me lads, bare a hand. Who's coming ? Don't all spake at once, now." " I " and " I " and " I " were the cries. I 'i -NiV IC HAiu) hit; " Come on, den." They rushed down, women and all, to the fishing stage. Beneath its friendly shelter they could"hnar each other speak without shouting. " What's got into ye, skipper?" cried Daly, in amazement, as he beheld Corny Regan gazing up at the rafters with a look of ecstasy. _ ^^ " Oh 1 Mickey, it's come down from hivin. " What has ? Is it do storm yo mane, sure, skipper Corny, yo look gone clane mad." .« Dc oil, Mikey, de oil ! Don't yo remimber coming from dc Labrador tin years agone ?" Hike Daly's reply was a look of exultant admiration and a thump upon Corny Regcn's back. In less than three minutes they were ready to start. The women up to this time had "behaved very bravely, even helping the men. but now that the brothers, husbands, and fathers were about to leave them, perhaps, for ever, thcv broke down. "0 Co"my, Corny, what shall I do ?" ssreamed f A NEWFODNDLAND STOUT. 17 Mrs. Regan, do sivintecn chilJcr, Corny, de sivinteen childer, tink of dem." • " Childc' dc divil, ould .oman. I'll bo back to ye all roight. Put on some pork and petaties now and boil dc kittle. Let go dc painter dere, Flaherty or Sullivan, and Kitty Mavoumccn, dry up. Bcgob it's ycr fayther dat knows bow to take care of himself." " Jlikc, ilike, come ashore, and don't let me dah go." " Wisha now, Kitty, make ycr swate moind aisy, we're safe as ould gould." "Hallo! one moment there. You are a man short," shouted Lord Rooster. "Not now," said someone in stern tones, springing into the boat. Something black jumped after him. It wiis a huge Newfoundland dog. " Trow out dat dog," cried iliko Daly, who was resting on bis stroke-oar. "Let un be." said Corny Regan authori- tatively, " de baste can do no harm. He's saved many a man's loife before now may be." Bpri um^^^""" -mumm^mi fm^m I i i I '9m 18 HARD hit; Lord Rooster was nearly into the boat. Ten pair J of hauls suddenly held him as if in a vice. " The devil take you ! let me go," shrieked his lordship in desperation. " No, no, yer honour, wc won't let yo go wid six miu as good as dead. Who'd pay do poor orphans and widdics if anyting was to happen yo?" " D " began Lord Koostcr. But it was too late. The boat was akeady committed to her destiny and bounding on the waves. A NEWrOUSDlAND BTOBY, 19 CHAPTER in. oil, AND WATER. A NEWFonsDLAXD fisliing stage, slippery with gore and exhaling a deliciito aroma peculiarly its ovrr is not the most agreeable spot to witness even tho most tragic catastrophe ; but, onder the circumstanced, these objectionable • features w3ro forgotten. Lord Ivoostcr, defeated in his efforts to join the daring men in the whale boat, resigned him- self, after a malediction or two, to his disap- poiutment, and chatted to Major Stalker with great volubility. lie predicted the swamping of the boat, the destruction of the vessel, the impossibility of a soul being saved ; all these calamities doubtless to result from the unwar- c 2 I 11 m xi H — W I . III1 H w "BCTlUB^ V • • u"<,"^- '» - nn^ > II 'm'^^^-'mf— ■! ' • > i r t n r^ H . I 20 HAitD niT; rantftble detention of Iiis ionlship bj the rutlile.ss hands of venal fislicrmcn. " If tliat confounded follow and his dog had only missed their footinf?!" growled ho sa- vagely. " By the way, Jlajor, who was ho ?" "Why, don't you know ? Didn't you recog- nise him?" " No, I'm hanged if I did. I was too much taken np with that brick of a fellow. Corny something and his oil." " It was Vane." " The devil ! Lucky dog, I envy him." " Aw— Woost.aw, that is mnah than I do. Bet you ten to one he and Jlelbrook Li.ili miss tlio taw-taw this time. I mean the nunibaw of tlioaw mess, by Jove I " "Hi quite hagreo with you," chimed in Mr. Bodgcr. 'i'liere seemed to bo an unanimity of opinion on this point. The boat was tossed about like a shuttlecock, now elevated on the crest of tho waves almost perpendicularly, now jjlun^in" A NEWFOUNDLAND STOUY. 21 desperately downwards, ilclbrook, the salt spray dashing iu his face, felt as if his oar scarcely brushed tho water ; It appeared to be no sooner buried in the sea than ^\av;ng in tlie air again. To his fancy no crew couhrbe in a more pitiable predicament ; it seemed impossible to contend against such overwhelming odds. Tho boat swayed and pitched, rolkd and swerved to such an extent under the miitca action of tho winds and waves, that to steer was a work of no small difficulty; and once broad- side to the elements, all would have been over. No wonder Captain Frizzle's bet had no takers. Instead of assisting the disabled ship, it was as much as they could do to help themselves. But Corny Beg;m l„id tak-m his place iu tho bow of tiio boat, and lieen very busy during Mulbroolc's futile nourishes. To tho latter gentleman's astonishment his oar held the water, and held it as continuously as if dipped into a mill-pond ; the boat ceased to rock and glided easily ahead. A voice just iu front of I rmww III! !■ I mm . i . [ . y 22 HARD hit; him, tl.at of ilikc Daly, whose broad back had been striking against his knuckles witli the regularity of clockwork, explained the pho- nonicuon. " Give to with a will, me hearties; bcgorra, the skipper's got de oil going." "Ay, Alike, dafs well enough, but ain't it wort over tirtj pound a tun ?" said a voice ia answer, " and who's to pay for it, begob ?" " Sure de tousand pound w'll, Larry." " Bcgar, Jlikc. dry shuld pay for de oil, too, if dey was gintilmiu." "IlCuld ycr tongues dcre," cried Corny. Regan, " wud ye git de tousand pound at all if it wasn't for dis blissed oil ?" "True for you, skij.pcr Corny," answered Larry pacifically, " Init, begob, do giutilmin won't bo so hard as to make poor min ^oso good oil loike dat for Lolin" " " Moind yer oar dere, and liauld ycr tongue . Do gintilmiu will do de roight ting, never fear." A NEWFOUNDLAND STOIIY. 23 During this collfx]uy the distance between the distressed ship and the whale-boat had sensibly diminished. So rapidly was the vessel drifting towards them that very little time re- mained for Corny Kegan's contemplated ma- ncPuvro. But by a lavish expenditure of the oil she was reached and successfully boarded. Under Comy's dircction.s two men' lashed to the rigging poured the oil upon the angry sea. The effect was Magical. Pour o'\ ou Hrc, and you feed its fury; but it brings water into in- stantaneous subjection. This was Corny liegan'E simple secret, a valuable secret tested by his own experience. But there was no time to lose. If the vessel once drifted past the creriee in the rocks for Nviiich he aimed, all ■would be Io,=Nt. The ship, laden with rum and molas.sos hailed from the West ludi-s, and },ad got dis' ubled in the storm. He gathered this tVom the captain, who, panic-stricken, talked somewhat incoherently. His crew, ho said, despairing of i I II "wiimwwm^^ — I www ■?; j."i P— ' ^ -"r ^iiiiM^' i~i It. -'"' 1 [ i " ii t » mrr i » — j-'H" ' 24 HARD hit; life, J.ad broached tlic liquor and were all in- toxicutcd, two or three, seizing life-buoys, havuijr jumped overboard and been drowned in a fren/Jcd eirort to rcaclz the land. He him- self had stood by the gnn. Conij Itogau sprang to the helm. " Keep de oil going dcie." They conld hear the deep, sullen roar of the breakers. Only r.n accident favonriug such Josperate measures could save them now. The yawning chasm upon which they depended for safety could be seen by the aid of the lightnin'^ still to leeward of them. liegan took his boanngs. During the inten-al of darkness »l"it succeeded the vessel surged forwarda. Then came a shght shock on the starboard side a aeavy thnd on the port, a creaking of timbers, an irregular oscillation, a momentary stillness, and she was fast wedged between the rocks. A NEWFOUNDLA.N-D STOHY. 25 CHAPTER IV. "heroic D.\nixG i.\ nion ufe." "Now, yer honour, jump in de boat. AH hands now, in wid j-c." " These poor denls fii-st," cried Jfelbrook. Several of the sliip's crow, inebriated, lay inert upon the deck. Thev wore carefully lowered into the boat; Corny's tliree men, the captam and five othcr.« following than. ^ "Room for two more," shouted Mike Daly. "Bear a hand, skipper Corny." " Toi-Tie enough for me, Mike. Keep dc oil gomg, and don't ye lose dis loinc moind." Ho threw an end of a coil of rope into the boat. Suddenly a crj-. a woman's cry. smote their 26 HARD hit; ears. It came from the companion quite closo to tliem. It produced a lively etfect upon the hearers. Corny Regan, superstitious, crossed himself. Terribly conscious of the awful hazard he ran in remaining hy the vessel, he thought it was a spirit, and took tlie cry for a death warning. Melbrook, bolder, instantly :an towards it and clasped something that mo.st certainly resembled flesh and blood. It fairly tumbled into his arms. In the glare of the lightning he looked down upon a woman's face. Haggard and despairing as it was, nature bad ftamped upon it ineffable beauty. The od,l, or, at leas*, apparently odd chances, which so often give an unexpected turn to our lives, are as siugular and inscrutable as they are varied. This moment of extraordinary peril, life uncer- tain, death imminent, was pregnant with results for Jfelbrook. "There is a latly here," cried he in au agitated voice. "Be quick, yer honour, you and de A NEWFOUNDLAND STORT. 27 woman," urged Corny, " we are going down, begar." It was too true. The ship was gradually sinking. The heavy thuds p.i the ^ time she struck and the ceaseless crunching against the rocks had both opened and shattered lier. Melbrook passed his now senseless burden into the boat ; hesitated ; then followed. He felt a pang of remorse. It seemed too much like, desertion. He looked wistfullyinto the weather- beaten face of the intrepid sailor, and for a brief instant vaguely wondered if he should ever see it again. He never did. "Moind dat loine, on yer sowl now, Mike." "Never fear, skipper Corny." The boat was set adrift. A receding wave carried her clear of the wreck. The oil did the rest. She was soon stranded on the beach. Lord Rooster and the others hurried to their assistance. The women anxiously pressed for- ward. ^Vllo were the saved ones ? 28 HARD HIT ; "Corny! Corny! Where is my Corny?" shrieked Mrs. Regan. "Be aisy, will ye ?" naid Mike Duly in en- couraging tones, " we'll bt afther hauling him ashore now dis minute." He began hauling in the line. To his speechless horror it almost leaped into his hands. It was broken ; probably severed by the jagged end of some rock, in its passage through the water. "What's de matter? Why don't ye haul in ? " screamed Mrs. Regan, " sure me husband will be drownded ! " Daly was powerless to answer. " Mike Daly, ye're desa?ing me. Corny is dead." The nature of the accident was explained, and then a frightful wail, prompted by a common impulse, went up into the gloomy sky, for Corny was much beloved. " Corny, Corny, is it to be left all alone on de ship to die dat ye are ? De cowards, de A NEWFOUNDLAND STORT. 29 cowards, to let ye stop dere. And dis foine gen- tilmin, dis lord Tid his dirty gould — curses on him ! What shall I do ? What shall I do ? .*nd de poor childer! Mike Daly, Mike Daly, how could ye foiud it in yer heart to lave him ? I'll never forgive ye, •'sver. Pork and petaties, he said to me ! Faix, it's poor pork and petaties he'll ever see agin, tanks to ye, ye cruel lord, wid yer gould boying and selling de loike of us. Look ye, I curse ye. I'll die cursing ye. Corny, Corny me darling, left to die out dere all alone." The wind howled past the distracted woman like a dirge. " That man's death will lie at my door," groaned Lord Rooster, " are there no rockets to be had ? Arc there no means of firing a line from a cannon ? If he's saved, I'll double the money." " Ah ! do ye hear him now wid his dirty gould agin ? Belike he'll give ye all to de fishes. Mike," and her voice changed to piteous en- / *. 30 HARD hit; treaty, "did poor Corry say anyting to ye for me?" Before Daly could reply they were startled by a loud barking. Vane's dog bounded into their midst with a cord fastened around its body. Corny Regan had discovered the parting of the line before Mike Daly, and with quick mother- wit utilized the dog. But a fatality over- shadowed the poor fellow. He insisted that Vane should precede him. As speedily at pos- Bible he. followed, the last to leave the ship. He left too late. She was almost under water ; the rope to which ho ;lung for escape dipped into the sea ; his he. all a hoax, then. "Ry Jove I T ask ten thousana pardons. Will j >u forgive me Mr.— Mr.—" I *i o ll " Swiz; lestick, my lord." "Thero is my hand. Mr. Swizzlestick. 1 admit I was too hasty. Shall we be better friends over a glass of wine ?" " Only too happy, my lord. I was about to make the same proposition. Will your lord- ship condescend to walk upstairs?" The honour of hobnobbing with his castigator more than coujpensated for the caning. In the plenitude of his delight, Swizzlestick would, to please his lordship, have taken quite kindly to another birching. Upon enterirg ♦' :■ rlour they suiTrised a gentlemar adi' 'nng hir If in a glass. He toyed with his stunted whiskers approvingly ; adjusted his spotless collar and spotless wrist- bands ; passed his right hand delicately through his liair ; critically inspected the set of his coat ; turned himself round slowly ; and, to his slight confusion, fou id he had been observed. He was really a good-looking fellow enough, quiet, unas- suming, gentlemanly. Although below the f^^mumn^-.. . ■' M *•,-.. ■*■ yM^ ..^^. ' ■'■f^ ■'■■■■ 2' 34 HARD HIT ; A NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. 35 medium height, his figure, well proportiont'd, coucealeil this defect. He was between forty- eight and fifty years of age, with dark eyes, hxrge and luminous ; black hair sprinkled with grey ; and a complexion highly toned by the iigeucy of stimulants. He picked up his hat leisurely, and passed out with a slight bow. "Who is that, Mr. Swizzlcstick ?" " I'm half afraid to tell your lordship." " What ! that's not what d'ye call 'em, Joulter?" The editor nodded, facetiously twisting his shoulilers. To his surprise, Lord Rooster's features expressed pleasure. " By Jove ! he's a deucedly good-looking, -,'entlemauly fellow. I Uke him. Thanks, I'll take brandy. But he might have let me down a little easier in that squib of his." " I wish he had, your lordship." Swizzlcstick again worked his shoulders suggestively. "Come, old fellow, I'm sorry. Forget all about it. Here, I'll shove this cursed cane in the fire." Poor Swizzlcstick was charmed. Here was a real lord, alive and kicking (or switcliing, much the same thing), actually addressing him, Swizzlcstick, as " old fellow." He yms in paradise. What signified a purgatory of switching ? Nevertheless, vanity is such, that his happiness was greatly dashed. He thirsted for Mr. Blazer, of the Smithwick Sun, another radical, to look in upon him in his glory, not to share it, but to die of envy. D 2 36 HARD HIT ; A N':WFOUNDLAND STORY. 37 CHAPTER V. the j o u l v k r 8. "Jane." " Silas, dear." Mr. Joulter, \m elegant figure swathed in a light dressing-gown that descended to his heels, was perambulating his cosy sitting- room. Anon, he extended his arms horizon- tally, then drew them back with a quick motion, as if exercising with duml^-bells ; anon, sipped brandy-and-water. E's gestures indicated in- tense cerebral excitement. Loose sheets of paper, pens and ink, ornamented a side-table. Mr. Joulter was getting up an article for the Smithwick Telegraph. It was warm work. " Jane, I'm thoroughly sick of all this slaving T away for nothing. Why, I don't make sixty pounds a year at it." " No, Silas, dear." A pause. Sip of brandy-and-water. Dumb bells. Excitement. "Upon my soul, Jane, it doesn't pay my wine bill." "No, Silas, dear" (with fervour). "Jane, you're a brick." Mrs. Joulter looked pleased. She doted upon Silas. "If it wasn't for 70U, Jane, I'm if we could live at all." Mr. Joulter took two or three desperate turns around the room. " Don't be so excited, Silas, dear," said his meek wife gently, " it will all come right when you get that appointment. Three hundred a year, just fancy ! " " Three hundred devils, Jane. I have aS much chance of that as I have of being governor. If it wasn't for taking in lodgers, Wk-Jt :s^;yei BARD HIT ; and your teaching music, and sewing, we should have starved. ' Put up that work, Jane, ttud let us talk a bit. I can't go ahead with that article till I've blown ofif the steam. Two or three sips and more perambulation. " Jane, I'm treated abominably. Here I've been writing up the French Shore Question, like a nigger, showing everybody everything, and what do I get for it ?— what do I get for it, 1 say ? Absolutely nothing, Jane, absolutely nothing {sip). Then that Washington Treaty business ! Who workr ' thet up ? You know. The result ? One million dollars indemnity paid into the colonial funds. I, the man that licked the whole thing into shape, receive wliut ? Not thanks, Jane, not even thanks. They don't even make me a beggarly Fishery Com- missioner." A succession of sips. "But, Silas, dear, you don't call five hun- dred a year beggarly ':*" " It is, Jane, beggarly, yes, contemptible for A NEW! JUNDL.\ND STORY. 39 the work that I've done. Agam, there's Sand- ford Flemmiug's magnificent Atlantic Ferry Scheme. By Christopher! landing a man in New York five days from the old country, dropping him from the moon as it were, just by putting a railroad through this island. Didn't I write the thing up tUl they went for it neck or nothing, made a survey, voted a subsidy and everything ? But they couldn't, for the life of thcui, put a poor devil like me on the survey. Ha ! ha ! the Miing would be too absurd." Brandy, pedestrianism and dumb bells. " If the plan is carried out, Silas, dear, they will give you sometliing, won't they ?" " The cold shoulder, Jace, that's all. They'll have presidents and directors and secretaries and superiuteudents, but tliny won't make me one of them. By gad ! Jane, I'm shot if they'd seud us one of them as a lodger." Mr. Jouller got so indignant and excitable that he swallowed half-a-dozeu sips at a gulp. maat' «> 40 HARD bit; His simple-mincled partner sought to distrar^t him from his chronic troubles the very worst way in the world. " Silas, dear" (cajohngly), " would you give the fire' a poke?" Mr .Joiilter fired up instantly, like one of his imaginary steam engines. " For God's sake, Jane, don't ask me such a thing at a moment like this. You see the way I am, almost crazy. By Christopher ! wlien a man's wife goes against him, it is enough to make the very stones cry out." "Silas, dear?" " Yes, Jane, it is. Here I am fighting bat- tles for a set of Lilliputians, as it were, who only want to get rid of me. Wasn't I another Gulhver in the way I attacked the Blefuscudian fleet of quibbles, and by one strong, irrefraga- ble cable of rhetoric, drew them to destruc- tion." ■ " Silas, dear, don't be so cross." " Cross ! Jane, is it any wonder I'm cross ? A NEWFOUNDLAND 8T0RV. 41 I'l , leave the country apd you with it, ■ By gad ! you're as bad as the rest of them." ^ Mrs. Joulter burst into tears Mr. Joulter at once grew calhi and peniten- tial. Tears always told upon him. ^ ' , .'Come, Jane, don't turn on the water- works. I was only blov^'ing off the steam. I know I'm a fool, and, what's more, a thought- less berst. There now." He saluted his spouse with a chaste, kiss. " Silas, dear! I do so wish you could be more fortunate. You will be some day, I am sure you will." " Never, Jane, never. I shall always be a lazy dog, devouring everything without eammg it. It is that that cuts me." " Silas, dear, you must not say so. What could I do without you?" This was one of the unanswerable arguments that always stumped Mr. JouH.er. It tickled his vanity and put him into good humour. " You're the queen of wives, Jane, and I 42 HARD HIT; won't forget it when I get this bias — , I mean blessed appointment. Here, what do you say to this thing on the railway ?" With a serio-comic air he collected his " copy " and began to read. But at that moment the door was thruoi open and his little boy, some seven' years old, ran in, dragging after him a wooden spade, covered with mud, much to the detriment of the carpet. The fond parent gazed upon the sturdy proportions of this boy, his only hope, with delight. "Well, master John Cabot Joulter, and what's the news with you, sir ? Have you been turning up the first sod for the rail- way?" " 0, pa ! I couldn't find a single baby, aud J looked every^vhere." .'• . " What does the darling boy mean, Silas dear ?" asked Mrs. Joulter, regarding the cherub with a look of maternal admiration which speedily changed into one of abject horror. A NEWFOUNDLAND STORT^ 48 ■' Pa said if I wanted a baby, ma, to dig in the garden for one ; and I have dug it all up, every bit, and there isn't one there." " Johnny, I hope you didn't touch my rose bush. It is mamma's favourite, dear." " Oh, yes, ma, I dug that up first, right by the roots." "Did you find one, my boy?" roared his father. " No, pa, and I dug down two feet." " Silas, dear, this is positively shocking, atrocious. Yesterday he tore up all the flower- beds, scampering over them, trying to catch the birds with salt. Last week you told him to rub the cat s tail against his cheeks to make his wliiskers grow. Look at the marks on his poor face still." "What! of the whiskers?" "No, of the cat. And now he has gone and rumeu I'ue garden, hunting for babies. It is reJly too bad, Silas, dear." " Get him one yourself, then, old woman." 44 BARD HIT ; '* Silas, dear ! and before the child ! This is too much." "Ha! ha! One too many for is that it '? Come, Johnny, never mind mamma. Have a game of railway." This was a pastime of Mr. Joulter's own invention. He stretched himself upon the floor, extend- ing his arms cruciform fashion. Master John Cabot was then interrogated as follows : — " ^ly name, sir ? "Grand Trunk lailway of Newfoundland, pa. " Where's Smithwick ?" " That's the capital, your head, pa." " Where's St. George's Bay ?" " That's the terminus, your feet, i.a." "Where's Brigus?" " That's your right hand, pa." " Where's Placentia ? " " That's your left, pa." " Where's Petty Harbour Long Pond ? " A NEWFOUNDLAND STOBT. 4S A knock at the loor interrupted Master John Cabot in this ingeniously original physiological geography. The Grand Trunk Railway of Newfoundland reached the terminus, his feet, in no time. " Come in." " Please, mum," said a neat serving maid, looking in, " the strange la'Ly's compliments to know if you could see her in her room ?" " Say yes, certainly, Susan. "How is she by this time, Jane?" asked Mr. Jonlter, "better?" " Yes, Silas, dear, much better this morning." " Wh '■ her name again — Bromfield, Brom- ford, Brou-pton ? " " No, Silas, dear, it is Miss Bromleigh." 46' HA'.tD HIT ; CHAPTER VI. A FOOTSTEP. Hesteb Lloyd, five-and-twenty, placid, prond, beautiful, had nejft lored. She had had adorers by the score, but up to thif, time had never more than merely Hked soric favoured one, hked, in a very hazy, lazy, sentimental sort of fashion, because, perhaps, it was tho easiest thing to do. The fever of passion, the * "pes and **"> fears, the jealousies, the self- torture of it, she had yet to experience. It was decreed that Melbrook was to fire the magazine. She tried to account for her more than liking for him, as if she was dealing with a Chinese ^ azzle very hard to put together. He by no means came up to her standard of excellence in a lover. Handsome, and the master of cer- A NEWFOUNDLAND 8T0RT. 47 tain attractions hard to resist, he did not per- sonify exactly all the graces she had held to be essential in her ideal lover ; a... yet, in some incredible, unexpected way, ho had crept into the snug little dove's nest of her heart and already T," there. It was a puzzle indeed. The inauuci in wliich such a state of thinffs came about entirely baffled her comprehension. She neif^'or knew when and where it began, nor, for that matter, when and where it wai to end. The puzzle, complicated as it was, could not be settled in a moment, no, nor in many moments. She daily retired to her bower, a quiet little natural arbour with a rustic seai in it, where she put ail the pieces of her puzzle together, in very imaginable combinati'^n, without success. ' was a very fascinating amusement, very. Perhaps it was selfish to play at it singly. What if sopie one helped her, Melbrook, for instance ? Two heads, it is said, are better than one. Melbrook ! the name gave her a Uttle shock. Why? she asked herself. She 48 /• HAB6 hit; ' did not know, could not tell, hardly dared to ' think. Thd idea of being startled at a man's name a little whil6 ago would have appeared absurd. But now? re just now. I wonder if Aber- crombie's stories are true 1 " " ^iiy. you are trying to frighten me." " No, ( ear, I am not, I aetually thought I saw it. Hold ! There it is again ! Put your foot out and touch it." She conuettishiy, with a quick movonwit, threw out her foot, and k^-^ked an imaginary object. "AL! it is gone, Miss Lh)yd, Hester. It was curious, but I hope not prophetic. Pshaw !" Ho spoke moodily. Then, with a gay laugh, ha cried, — f) " By iFove ; Hester, that exquisite foot of yours wculd exorcise any demon." Mutual smiles, and— well, they were just betrothed, you know — kisses followed, for love- making is very much the same thing all the world over, and our smitten ones were very busy at it. mmsf^^mmm^ff^^^ \ 64 HARD HIT ; CH.VPTER Vril. CREOl.KAK BLOOD. Mns. JouLTER, before asccndinrj the stairs, care- fully tidied her hair aud smoothed out the crumples in her dress. Miss Bromleigh hud already inspired her with a certain subdued awe. But in one of the gentle Jane's disposition, it did not take much to do that. Guileless, affec- tionate, OL" of the dovos amidst the serpents of the world, shu was prepared to do reverence to everybody. She tiipjied softly at her lodger's door. " Jlay 1 come in ? " whispered she tremu- lously. " Oh I Mrs. Joulter, it is so kind of you! " A lovely, agitated girl almost flung herself into her arms. A NEWFOUNDtAND STORY. Go " I feel so friendless, so deserted. You don' know what it is to be alone as I am, in a strnnget land." "It must be indeed distressing, my dear, but do not call yourself friendless. Silas, that's my husband's name, Jliss Bromleigh, Silas and I will be only too glad to be of sen-ice to you, as well as the pleasant, good gentleman who brought you here." "Ah! yes, I remember. He snatched me from the grave, and I don't even know his name." "His name is Mr. Jl.dbrook, my dear. Silas knows him very well. Silas kno\. ■ every- body. He called yesterday, and said he would have asked to see you, only he was afraid that your neiTes must be still shaken by the memory of the wreck." The girl shuddered. "The frightful scene, indeed, haunts me still, Mrs. Joulter, the fearful wind, the roaring f=^a, the lightning, those terrible rocks." Hi 1 I If GO HARD hit; "Poor dear! How much you must have suffered ! The shock would have killed me, I am sure. It was an awful uight. Several trees iiud a house were blown dowu. What cau I do I'lr you, my dear? " The girl by an effort collected herself and Kpoke in a voice of forced calmness and decision. " Sit d>wn, please, Jlrs. Joulter. I have certain things to say to you, certain, though only partial contidences to make. May I ask you to keep them a secret from every one ? " Certainly, my dear young lady, that is, excei)t from Silas. There cau be no secrets between husband and wife, my dear." This was one of the admirable Mrs. Joulter's lixed principles. "In that case, then, I must be more re- Be r\-ed." " It need make no difference, my dear. Any- thing you tell mo in confidence will be held as sacred by Silas. You don't know Silas, dear, lie is 80 good and kind, and cautious. You ». A NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. gy Will be sure to like him. dear Miss Brom- leigh." " Don't, please, call me that, Jlrs. Joulter, it 18 not my real namp." " Not your real name I " The idea of an assumed name the truthful and sensitive Jane confounded with some valmll try and teach thH„. Take this -ng. Sell it. Itis.Iknow,ofvaluesuffi.i..t to cover ,ny present expenses. My other jewels werelost in the wreck." " Your expenses are already covered - "How?" " Tliey were paid for in advance." " ^"ou astound me. liy whom " " " Mr. MeII)rook." " He a,'ain ! He must be my guardian angel. But such benevolence I cannot :,c..„,it. Dispose ofthering,Mr.s.Joulter,ass„.,n as possible and repay hini." ' " Mamma. Jlumnia ! " The voice was the juvenile voice of Master A NEWFOUNDLAND STORT. 79 John Cabot. Its ow-ner followed the voice into t .e room and stood gaping at Miss BromleiH. all eyes. " " There's a man with papa wants to .see vou," Baid the precocious youngster, •• I I.eard Ixim say so. " Johnny, go downstairs at once. Who sent vou here ? " "Nobody, ma. I sent myself." " Well, go away then at once." " What am I to say to the man, ma"" " Nothinp. sir. Leave us." "If it should be Mr. Melbrook, Mrs. Joulter. I thmk i ought to see hi-.. How much • uve I not to thank him for! " "True my love. If . .u like, then, we will «2^and 1 11 introduce dear Silas at the sar.e Whilst the (adies are .^ .cendmg. we steal a prefatory glance.' ^r- Silas Joulter, who ,s f ,''^^"- ng-om, grinding away -t anu.her article, only in a better humour 80 HAUD HIT ; Melbrook sits facing J,im. Upon that gontle- mau-s entrance l,e had been liherally snpi.hcd with brandy and cigars. " Excuse me one second, old fellow. I am a matador, giving the finishing stroke to a Govern- ment bull." "AH ri,^l,t. I am glad to be in at the death. Do it artistically, u'ind." Melbrook took a siirvoy of the room. It was ttered with books, paniphlots, peri-nlicals, newspapers. But what arrested his eye and excited his curiosity were f..i,r tall bottles on the sideboard, labelled respectively, " Socui, Ancmalies," "Politics," "Rkligion," "Hcm- BUO." There was sucii an air of mystery in this peculiar nomenclature, that the moment Mr. Joulter laid down his pen with a mighty gasp of satisfaction. Melbrook asked him about' them. "Quite simple," was the reply, "I always call things by their proper names. A spade is a spade. It took me ten years to discover tho A NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. gl . genuine titles of those stimulating fluids. My -tides in the S.ulnncl. Trir.raph saturate .vou m a diluted form. Coming through the -'% channels of my brain they are charged «'ththe ross of mannerism, plagiarism, arti- «-d embelhshment. In this unpretending roeepaele behold the pure, concentrated essence '■% Jove lit is brandy," cried Melbrook. -ilia this, sir, 'Politics?'" " Whisky and-Irish, if I mistake not." "Correct. This-. Religion ? '" ;_' Jamaica. Come, Joulter. that is too bad." Not at all. You little dream the fervour it '"«P'ros. Thi8,now^.Humbu.?-" "Gin?" " "Yes, sir, vulgar gin. J can reel off any -'ount of humbug out of that. You see I eass,fv or gla.ssify, if yoa prefer it, my articles ".or these four heads, so that When I want an article I know exactly how to get it." I ; KtKnia 82 HARD HIT ; " Ingenious — rer}-." " Yes, sir, and what's more, saves a worl.l of troiihle. Trv some more of tlie Anomalies." JMcIhrook liere made tlie inquiry about .Afiss BromieiKli, wiiich tlie oflicious joun- Cal.ot lost no time in carrying upstairs. " That seems rather a smart little boy of yours." " Yes. Did I tell you «by I called j,in, John Cabot ? No ? Well, because John Cabot, not Scba.stian, was the real discoverer of Newfound- land, and I sacrificed my vifc'H predilection for Silas in vindication of his memory. JJut some one is coming in. Ah ! Jiine, my turtle dove, is that you? Here is Mr. Jldbrook, Jane.' Who is that with you ? As I'm alive ! The last ejaculation was uttered under his breath. He darted to his feet, hastily compos.d liis features and his costume, and stood in an attitude of the most polite deference, waiting to be introduced to .Miss Bromlcigh. There was a momentary iiause. The four stood looking A NEWFOUNDLAND 8T0RT. 83 aUach other in involuntary Silence. One could -rth.t,ckmg r-oce TK.k-t.ck, tick-tick. Nothing could ""'''« all things and stops for nothin.. Jo.Z"^ i« Silas, my Silas,- b^an Mrs. But before she could finish her companion stepped forward. ;'This.Iknow,isMr.Melbrook. I am sure <» 't- O, sir, I owe you mv life t " Hor eyes were swimming with gratitude Gratitude in the eyes of a beautiful woman i of -.vellous potency. She held out her ha d Melbrook took them both. wol'l n °" "''""' *''" '''■°'"'^'^^^- A°- ''ne ^oiild have saved you." "I -'- it might have homo 1 7 ^'"'' ""'^ <^<">t»'ning a noble sheet of -^r. U .as both secluded and pictures^u C : "" ''""^*- ^-'^ R^-t^r-s shoot. "" I-rty -ere the guests of Sir Henn-, whose -p. aht, was proverbial. His amiable spons n adanral-s daughter, wooed in the Un^ ^a>;s of h.s budding reputation, disehargd the '^.foso hostess with sweet, unconscious gra "ester herself was also no mean additL t 80 n.vnD HIT ; the charms of tl.e spot. Since her engage- -ent w,th Melhrook ,.er l.„ppi„ess h.n.oen - "I'l-arent that. .iti. . «in,„, exception, the -"W gathered one sunn, uftornoon on the !;;■" '" ^'■°"' «' "- '"O"-. fWt it infectiouB. rhe exception .as Hurley Vane. Ue was here because, as he wo„I.] ],.ve acknowlo,]...,] ^e''couh,n'thelpit." For a da, or t.: -ok after his repnl.o. ho had kept aw^v strngghng to master In's p„.sio„. ^ efrori ended .n faih.re. He was near her agai,, on '-foot.„gofa„o]dfriend.,fshehked.h: r "" "^"^ ^'- She. so perfect was her happiness, was as cor.lial to ].i„, as to every- b'% else, perhaps a little more so. for a fed- " ^' of compunction for her unavoid.Me nyection of h.s suit still li.,,,,.d. Why shou, .,; now that all was over between them, add to h.s' n^'^ery by unnecessary coolness, she. who had S:;7"; \?^"-'^^"'^'- "■'.<> r^t so Joyous So Harley lane was permitted to be near her She was momentarily expecting M.-lbrook. who A NEWFOUNDLAND RTORT. 87 was already an honr behindiiand. She framed every excuse for him. How she would rally him, though, when he came, about some imaginary attraction that kept him from her side. It was nothing so serious this time as a wreck she was certain. "Aw— Miss Lloyd— this lake is quite an oasis in the desawt out heah." "You think so! But you are not an admirer of this countrj-. Captain Fizzle ?" " Aw— cawn't say that I am, Miss Lloyd. No society heah— nothing to keep a fellow alive. You can only shoot, and doosid litde to shoot. By Jove ! You cawn't even pot an ahowigine." "But I mean, Captain Fizzle, the country itself, the scenery, not the people. I know you don't admire the people. They speak so illiterately, introducing letters into their words quite obsolete with you." " Aw— they do speak doosidly strange. I cawn't always make them out. I can undaw. •w J'.-...,/!!*. ; ••■ ^■^^ '■-•^"^*^^ ^ crW;^-:'-'ie?I." "^"^"''*'^^" ^^^'=^^- -^- <^^**^, V.1^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) '^^O w '%. :^ / t/. fA 1.0 !f 1^ 1^ ^ iSf III- i.j i^ m 1.6 1-25 111.4 % /^ yj/.. '^i 6^; Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MS80 (716) •72-4S03 tV ;\ ^ ^ ^ s\^ V I' ) !l i I Ms 88 HARD HIT ; Stand Podgaw, for instance ; but he was bawn in London befoah he came heah. Mrs. Pod- 8^^ is not so easy. You, howevah, speak Enghsh pretty well." " Yet somewhat differently from you, Cap. tarn Fizzle. In common with other natives, I have contracted a bad habit of using the letter r." " Aw-indeed ! " rejoined the rless son of Mars, studying her attentively through his eye- glass. <• Some of tlie natives have also a bad habit of saying vewy wude things." Lord Rooster and some of the others politely stifled their amusement in folds of cambric. Mr. Podger, a gentleman largely interested m agricultural pursuits in various parts of the island, came to the rescue. Heverybody hi've met hin this huncivilized bisland speak hungrammatically. has the captain says. The lower borders want heducation. Hat St. George's Bay, where hi do ban hex- tensive business, hi had to teach them Hinglish A NEWFOUNDLAND 8T0KT. S9 before they could hunderstand me. Mrs. Podger can tell you that hit was really quite hamusing." " Yes, dear," supplemented his wife, a large square-built woman, with very heavy-looking features, <• it was wonderful what you did for them, and they were, I assure you. Miss Lloyd, very ungrateful for it. I shall be so glad to get to England again. Don't you thmk, my lord, that eveiything is very low out here, ver^ Irish?" "Eeally," said Lord Rooster, thus appealed to, " from my hmited knowledge, Mrs. Podger, I can't agree with you. I was, in fact, ag-Jer- ably surprised. There are no savages, either Hottentots, Bushmen, or Aborigines. Things are quite as much advanced as the opportunities afforded would warrant any one in expecting The country itself is, I am convinced, one of immense natural resources. To develope these the Irishman will be indispensably called into requisition, as he always is where there is heavy work to be done. Mrs. Podger, I am hi ii 1 Nl i It Ml (i ii 90 HARD hit; afraid I am too partial an advocate for my countrymen. I am Irish, myself, you know." Mrs. Podger evinced sj-mptoms of con- fusion. "Oh! indeed, my lord. I beg pardon. Podger, my love, see where our Author is." " I think I see him," struck in Lord Rooster, like a skilful general following up the retiring enemy, " he is cutting out h's on the bark of that tree over there, doubtless getting himself into practice for the future." " The dear ! " cried his intellectual mamma, "I wonder if his feet are warm. Author, Author, come here instantly," and, in a touching exu- berance of maternal emotion, she waddled away to secure her truant offspring. Mr. Podger, whose paternal feelings wero deeply affected by Lord Rooster's flattering allusion to his son's occupation, followed her, interested in seeing whether the ambitious "Author "cut out his h's creditably. " Will you take a walk through the avenue, ■^ X* >*4| A NEWFODNDLAND BTORT. 91 whicli you all so much r.dmire?" said Sir Henry Lloyd, after a pause. They assented. The avenue was everyway beautiful. In natural charms it far surpassed any furnished by the puerile embellishments of art. Interference with beauties so prodigally bestowed would have robbed it of half its claims to admiration. The trunks of the trees were knotted and twisted in- to every imaginable form; their roots concealed under beds of moss or fern leaves. Through the overiianging branches, intertwined gro- tesquely, played flaf lies of sunlight. The path- way, chequered into shatlows by the waving foliage, was overgrown with grass and abounded with miniature flowers. On either hand low bushes, laden with berries indigenous to ti:e soU, offered their tempting fruit, adding in colour and variety to the wild but pleasing disorder. A brook meandered through the woods, some- times bursting into view in bright, foamy cas- codes ; at others, smoothly gliding on in a noiseless current. !» I! I "** (, 92 !:: I ' It Jl HARD hit; "How very charming!" cried Vane, who, somehow, with Hester, had got ahead of the party, "just the spot for a modern Philoclea or Pamela, is it not ? And we have one." " Come, Mr. Vane," retorted Hester, laugh- ing, " I am not to be outdono in Area- diana, the language I ought to speak. We i>ave a Musidorous or Pyrocles „s well, joa know." ne thought this said rather pointedly. It put him out of countenance. " Doosid good place for an ahowigine," lisped the redoubtaole Fizzle, behind them, "but I don't see any.' He looked regretfully into space through his eye-glass and dispersed with a wave of his dainty hand some smoke which inopportunely obscured his vision. " li i's aw-an awful pity. They potied the last m 1825. Vane told me. It was a he one Gave doosid good spoat-wan like the doose and dodged Uke anything. Gwate deal battah A NEWrO0NDLAND STORY. 93 than dcah shooting. Wish I could stalk an abowigine, by Jove I " ''Captain Fizzle is quite right," said Vane, glad to cover his embairassment, " none have been seen on the island since somewhere about 1826. ihcy then not only shot the last male, but captured a woman of the tribe. She was christened Mary March, the name of the month m which she was caught. She died shortly afterwards. It is surmised that the last of the Abongmal BcBotliic, or Red Indians, migiated to Labr-do., for none of them have been met ^•tb since. It is true several families of Indians reside in the i.land, but they are of the Micmac tribe. Nova Scotians, who came from Cape Breton." "All war paint and feathers, I suppose." said Lord Rooster, " quite in Cooper's style." "No; they dress like onrstlves, some in garment, of mora than Nubian blackness. In Nova Scotia they do little more than make head ornaments, baskets, or butter-tubs, a very un n II, If li I ' X ' f. 94 HARD HIT ; romantic although hardly uncoopcrlike occo- patiou." " Poor Cooper 1 " laughed Lord Rooster, •' i' be could only see them now." " Egad ! I'd sooner see some partridge," sighed Major Stalker. " I ,vish sjiootinj.: time had come in. They are called ptarmigan here, I believe, Vane ?" "No, major, that is a common mistake. They are more a species of Norwegian grouse. Newfoundland grouse would be a better name, but they are decidedly not ptarmigan." " They have a delicious flavour, I am told," said Lord Rooster, " and so nas your venison." " All the game in this coimtiy has, and it is something for us to boast even that." " Mr. Vane, will you open the gate ? " said Hester. They had reached the limits of the avenue which abutted on the road. A horseman at that moment was reining up. " ! Guy, Guy, what a way to serve me ! " A NEWFOUNDLAND 8T0RT. 95 This war wormwood to Vane. But Melbrook's reply was not of. the happiest character. It betrayed irritation. Hester was P-qued. lie did not dismount with the most cheerfi.l air in the world. She observed this and lelt indignant, for although he was the mnner, she .as ready to absolve him. To make matters worst, he feU into conversation with the ilajor, in.stcad of talking to her. She took Vane's arm in a pet. A cloud no big greatly refreshed in spirit. He was a barrister; he pleaded a case that day with nm.sual brilliance. He was a politician, the Attoruey-General of the Colony. He wrote an article condcrauatory of the policy of confe- derating Newfoundland with Canada, which, touched up here and there by the facile fingers of Mr. Joulter, quite charmed the readers of the Smithtrick Tdegmph. He was. funher, a rhynister. but now committed to the flames verses conceived and executetl. with the aid of whisky and a pipe, on the night of his last rejoctiou by Hester. The poor fellow must evidently have been "hard hit." SMOKE. W«tch the weird wreathing* of the imolce, Tobacco smolce I Whit strange ipecalatire mu.ing. the miatr elond* evoke, — See, in erolutiona rare. How the/ float upon the air, A NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. 00 While abatractedly we stare At the ihadowjr forms that dara To ascend, — Poldy Tenturing to explore the mysteriou. realm, of -pace. In rolum., den«, concealing the smoker's meditat.ve face Soanng hi-her, higher, higher From the parent bowl of fire, Slowly waning from the sight, Softly winding on their flight To the skj ; How tii.7 curl and curl and curl, In a vague unceasing whirl, Till thejr vanish from the gaze of human eje ! Next, exhales a more luxuriant smoke,— rcrfumcd smoke ! In aromatic circles enshrouding like a cloak, While enveloping in mists. Vapouring round us aa it lists. How reflection it assists, The cigar ! Our memories gently stirring with recollections of the In deep melancholy, warning u, that r.« is fleeting fast As we puff- on puff expel. Feeling sadly, but too well, What brief moment, we may dwell On the earth ; And the power, of rcawn fail H 2 i\ 100 HARD HIT ; 11 i The dim FriuRK to unveil Of man, bound to bliss or bale From his birth, And that passage through the tomb, DaiAi) Etkhmit's stili, womb. Where it leads, and what its worth. Heavy hangs upon tin' soul, Killin); every thought ol mirth, Like a dearth ! And, last . scends that soul-appalling smoke, Unseen smoke ! Uprising from the ashes of blighted human hope, From the >carr'd and rivi n heart. By your fancy's subtle art. Watch it mournfully depart, Leaving smouldering beneath a human wreck. Seem- .g lost, lost, lost. Fearfully in anguish tost. With no interest in life. With insane impulses rife. Till eipires the light of Heason, like a sixxk. Oh ! this life-consuming smoke. Though its presence we invoke, 'Tis not until the km II ,.f Time hath toll'd its fi nal stroke Shall be rcvealM the horrors of this awful ' lIllIAS SMOKE ! About this time the world of Smitiiwick \v as A NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. 101 dissipating in the delights of Terpsichore. The ndmiraloftiie station, with his brilliant train of captivating Orlandos. had entered the qniet harbour and taken the inhabitants by storm. There is a charm about gold lace and brass buttons, dangerous to colonial peace. The Orlandos, in their palladium armour of lace and I'uttons, bade defiance to the dread ore of civilian insignificance. Oljmpias were snatched from the expanded jaws of giltless monsters by the dozen. Opportunities for such delight- ful seizures were gratuitously afforded. Balls, routs, assemblies, private theatricals, poncert.s followed each other in rapid succession. The carnival attained its height in a ball given by the Governor, at which the bewitching com- bination of gold and brass toM with dire effect. Local swains were discarded. Over the waxen floors skimmed light, joyous feet, and whisked the graceful swallow-tail. Without his armour Orlando would have been rated an ordmary mortal, and his presence borne without a sigh; r !< » I •*?'*'4i*i"*!5 I 102 HARD HIT ; 1 M but arrayed in conquering guise the fair ones struck colours at once, and were whirled off amidst hopes, dieams and palpitations to the airy, seductive melodies of Strauss. Lace ! Bi..„ons ! that we were girls again to yield to thy fatal witcheries, to gloat upon the Bcintillating flashes which the gashghts eli- minate as you bob here and there in dazzling, auriferous bewilderment. Hester with her various partners navigated the surging sea of buttons with practised and graceful ease. She looked radiant, yet was very unhappy. Melbrook di.l not make his appearance. He had neglected her sadly of late, and her pride was in anus. She danced more than once with Vane. But as the night wore on, with no Melbrook, she grew weary a^nd complained of the heat. " Let us try the conservatory," prompted Vane, " the air is really too stifhng hero." The conservatory was little better ; the heat radiating from the adjoiuing ball-room, made A NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. 103 it extremely close. Without, all was cool ar.u quiet ; no feverish excitement there. The moon shone brightly, tipping ♦be gently stirring leaves with silver, glistening on the roof of the mansion and lighting up the numerous walks and arbours in which the grounds abounded with pale brilliance. " It looks most refreshing near the fountain yonder. Miss Lloyd. Shall we take refuge there ^" " By all means, Mr. Vane. I am nearly suffocated. At any time I prefer moonlight and quietness to a gla-e and crush such as wc have to-night." " Aggravated by a vitiated atmosphere and ttie din of badly tuned iustrumeuts," said Vane. He might have added, "to say nothing of a badly tuned heart." " This is such a relief," cried his companion, inhaling the breeze greedily, " there is nothing I like so much as a scene like this. Every- thing i3 so still, so mystically calm. What (i » 104 ' I HARD HIT ; a contrast to the one we have left, where tl>e mind is stimulated without hein- satisfied reflections evoked which tend to sadness rather than to joy. Think of the diversity of interests and emotions tlint lie concealed under the mask of apparent apathy. What a chaotic medley of aspirations, jealousies, hates and loves would be revealed, could we only snatch the masks from human faces." " And what disappointments would be dis- closed," said Vane cynically, "what a collection of canker-worms eating into peace of mind and conscience, snapping the lieart-strings and drag, ging their victims down, down, for ever down, till the mere effort to wear the mask affords a diversion." "You draw-a melancholy picture," said Hester, with a shudder, " and I hope only par- tially a true one. Yet I agree with you about masks. It would not be pleasant to have a revelation such as you describe. If a choice lay between humanity with and humanity with- A NEWFOUNDLAND 8T0RT. 105 out the mask, I should say with, by all means." "And so should I, Miss Lloyd. 'What a fine idea that is of Calderons, ' Life's a dream ' I " " If it were only true, Mr. Vaue I " " It is, Miss Lloyd, as far as our actual life is concerned ; the mimic representation that we see with our bodily eyes seems indeed a dream, the mockeries and frivolities, the vanities and affectations are shallow enough ; but that deep under-current which whiris them away to evanesce hke froth is, a stern reality." " Mr. Vane, ain't we getting very dismal ? " said Hester, with an irritable laugh, " I wonder where Mr. Melbrook is to-night. He promised me he'd be here." Vane experienced a gnawjug of the canker- ivorm he had been describing. " I shouldn't be surprised if he was at Mrs. .Toulter's," said he, goaded to desperation by the bitterness of his feelings. It was a contemptible advantage to take of an absent man. " But in lOG lln ^1 I i I :i 111 ^ HARD HIT; -• nl-T '"''■'" '■'''""^'^ ^'^' ^'*h comfortable -Ph.stj7..' all ia fair." He .„st win at any P-e. he had staked his heartjus life, hi,s all "Mrs. Jonlter's! I know Mrs. Joulter. She teaches „,„3ic. What's to take him there ? " M.S Lloyd, that's more .han I can toll you Every man. you know, has his secrets " Bom !r"\; ''"" '^""'^^ *"^- You know 8om thmg. Mr. Vane. Tell me all. tell me all." ohe seized his arm. fear's.^'""'' ^''^^""''''- Verify my worst He hesitated. It was „ mean, dastardly, unmanly thing to do. he felt that. He knew what he was going to say would half kill her. let he said it. "There is a Miss Bromleigh there, I believe a girl he saved from the wreck, in whom he' seems to take quite a friendly interest." "Ah! the wreck. I remember. He told me at the time about some beautiful girl he A NEWFODNDLAND STORY. 107 saw rescued. But you were with him. You lier. Was she .-ery beautiful?" . " I don't know. I don't know. Miss Lloyd. There is only one woman in the wide world that is beautiful to me." "For pity's sake, don't, don't torture me." "I will, I will," cried he. transported with sudden pMsion. "Lo^e begets love. It is only time I ask for. and from what I know you will soon be free." He ahncst held her in his arms. She waved him away with a despairing gesture. "Love begets love, love begets love," reiterated she vacantly. "No— no. It is a lie. It is fa'se." She tottered a few steps forwards, grew faint, then clung to liis arm. Wlien she rallied the world seemed changed; life a blank. «l \\i !i ' HARD hit; • Z-T ""'■'' """'^^'^^'''•^•''^ --Portable leT;";"^^'^''" ««-«*- at an, nponit '"''''" '"'^''"^^•^«'^"-" "Mrs. Joulter's; I know Mn,. Jonlter. She tcacbes ^„3ic. What's to take Lim there ? " Mass Lloyd, that's n^ore than I can tell you Every man. you know, has his secrets " so. 'r"M "^"^ ^""''^ ■"^- You know 8ome.b:ng,Mr.Vane. Tell me all, tell „.e all " one seized his arm. fearl?""'' ^ '''' ^''' '''■ Verify my worst He hesitated. It was „ mean, dastardly, unmanly thmg to do. he felt that. He knew V ? ''' T ^°'°^ *° «"y --""Id balf kill her. Jet he said it. "There is a Miss Bromleigh there, I believe a g.rl he saved from the wreck, in whom he seems to take quite a friendly interest." "Ahl the wrecK. I remember. He told me at the time about some beautiful girl he A NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. J 07 rescued. But you were with him. You saw ter. Was she very beautiful ?" ^ " I don't know, I don't know. Miss Llojd. There is only one woman in the wide world that is beautiful to me." " For pity's sake, don't, don't torture me." "I will, I will," cried he, transported with sudden passion. "Love begets love. It is only time I ask for, and from what I know you will soon be free." He almost held her in his arms. She waved him away with a despairing gesture. "Love begets love, love begets love," reiterated she vacantly. "No— no. It is a lie. It is falpe." She tottered a few steps forwards, grew faint, then clung to liis arm. When she rallied the worid seemed changed; life a blank. 1i IT, 108 HARD HIT; !'» l! hi 1'/^ i )M CKAPTEE XII. THE THUNDERBOLT. "Ami oo...^a„cj, live, in ,,,„.. I,, Doth work l,kema.lno.,i„ the br.-.in." Vane'8 disclosure, indeed, l.alf ki„ed Hester S -had Jived i„uerl,i,g..,^,,^^^^,«- ;• stupor S^ ? ] '''■''^"''^ '" * ^t-'te of *n^ f;, flaUermg to l.er vanity and he n.ee].est and naost Christian of I' -X possess a httle of that. Hester Li ',d A NEWFOUNDLAND 8T0RY. 109 had her share. She was also very proud, although by no means tainted with the haughty superciliousness of the Clara Vere de Vere school. Her pride was of the lofly order that upholds dignity of character and prompts to strong resentments only under a sense of deep injury. This pride supported her, whilst at Oie same time it added, if possible, fuel to fire. To her stupor succeeded burning fits of anger, feverish outpourings of indignation maddening thirst for yengeance. There were intervals when she relented. But she could not afford to relent. She knew that to relent was to despair. From a lethargic state of despon- dency her pride preserved her, Melbrook she had not seen for some days If anything was wantmg to confirm Vane's statement, this was enough. So, then, the vows spoken by the brook under the whispering trees were broker.. Broken ! she could hardly reahze it; surely it was only a horrible dream, a nightmare 1 Alas! no. Soon her ii 11 I '.■ r. 'i.' no HARD HIT ; eyes, her ears, were to assure her of the bitter trntli. Walking had always been h.r favonrite di- version. She loved the couutrjr and fresh air. Now she walked more than ever. Plijsical fatigue helped to blunt mental anguish. Be- tween Arcatlia and the tovn of Smithwick lay a quiet lake nestled amongst the hills of Quiddi Viddi; It emptied itself into the broad Atlantic through the Gut already men- tioned. This lake had a great charm for her. There was something in the severe simplicity of the sceneiy, the bold, rugged rocks, the tumbling waters rushing through the narrow gorge into the sea, of which she neve/ tired. Thitherwards she bent her steps one morning, followed by Vane's t'og, who drew little distinction between her and his mastor, a mark of canine persrVacity very in- structive. The road fo Qniddi Viddi wound through woodland and marsh, now shaded by pines, larches and firs, reheved here and thera -^ A NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. HI by the graceful willow and flaming red berries of the dog-wood tree, now skirting bogs and ponds, the resort of snipe and wild fowl. No oaks, ehns, or beeches were to be seen In lieu of them birch, ash and po,,lar picturesquely intermmgled. Upon the open common cattle browsed, their bells tinkling with a pleasin<. tintmnabulation. Birds chirped and san-! Overhead was the azure sky, underneath the green sward, spangled with the daisy and dan- delion. The surrounding country was liilly and undulating, with green sunny slopes and purhng streams, miniature lakes and bosky dells, pervaded with a pure, i..;gorating atmosphere. Through gaps between huge chfls ,n the distance, a glimpse of the mighty ocean could be obtained, tranquil and sparkling in the sun. Hester pursued her way languidly. AVhat were all these beauties to her ? Was she not an exile on tho earth, crueUy banished from the fool s paiadi^e which she fondly dreamed was '!i :- 1 '! ! f ' J ^1 112 HARD hit; las forever? The dog gan^bolled before ber unheeded. He would race far ahead and return with the speed of the wind, hi« t„ng„e oiling. Ins black, bush, tail waving in the air; .en aash awav again, dive into the pools by the roadside after the frightened birds, or carry sucks and branches in his niouth, looking up at her with affec'uonate, beseeching eyes "Good C«8ar!" said she at last, "you are as true and faithful as your master. Ah ! If I could only bring myself to love hini !" It was an honest aspiration from the pro- fonndest depths of her heart. They reached the shores of the lake, and struck into a lane on one side of it, hedged With hawthorn. Here Cmsar chanced upon a neh trophy. It was a lad Vs glove, which he laid with pompous air and wagging taU. at Hester sf-xt. She picked it up. idly patting hiUi. No one was in sight, but close at hand was a gap in the hedge through which came the sound of persons talking. She drew near A NEWFonHDLAHD BTORT. Hg J "ug gin, whose bosom heavpH ^tu x-. affonv T>.» f , neavert with stifled ceased. Oh f f»r =f ., ^'^ *'™°st hul. Che r m T ^^"^ '° *^" herself awav -nc remained speii-bonnd. k iM M r n n '•I! Hi 112 BARD hit; o las forever? The dog gan^bolled befor. ber unheeded. He would race far ahead and retun, wUh the speed of the wind, lis tongue o"-g, Ins black, bushy tail waving in the air; hen aash away again, dive into the pools by the roadside after the frightened birds, or carry B .cks and branches in his n.outh. looking up at her with affectionate, beseeching eyes "Good C«sar!- said she at last, "you are as true and faithful as your master. Ah I • If I could only bring myself to love Jiim !" It was an honest aspiration from the pro- foundest depths of her heart. They reached the shores of the lake, aud struck into a lane on one side of it, hedged With hawthorn. Here C«.sar chanced upon a „ch trophy. It was a lady, gbve, which he lau, w.t, pompous air and wagging taU. at Hester sfe^t. She picked U up, idly patting h.m. No one was in sight, but close at hand ^asagap in the hedge through which came the sound of persons talki:.g. SI e drew near A NEWFODNDLAND 8T0BT. 113 auvanced no further. Melbrn.1,- ^' ' ----.aii.:;:::t::;\r ^e-in, 'Cehry::r^°^'^'^"^^^^ <='^nnotletyougo CoJ "'^"'"'•'^^I I do." ^ Confess u. You feel as "No.no. You talk too wildlv It ^. '•e. You don't 1 „ "■ *^*° ''ever iuu aon t know 11 leii u «■• figw.. could .„|, CJ •■""'■ fc«l * r.t J "^' '» "" "='-« "" sac reniainod speii-bound. ■0 •^-5»- V 114 HARD UIT ; "You talk in riddles, Laura. Notliing you could say could change me. Not magic itself. You are my destiny, I tell you. I feel it Lore." He struck his hreast. " I nover felt like this before. An unseen power compels us." " Don't urge me, don't urge me. Dispel not my dream, the only happiness my miserable life has known. Enough that you love me. I shall die happy, blessing you. Guy, you don't mind my calling you Guy, do you ? " She looked up and Hester saw her face. One glance sufficed. It was indeed beautiful. Hester could have torn herself in pieces. And that name, Guy, issuing from the lips of another, was like a poisoned dagger in her heart. It was rilling her of property pledged under the most solemn oaths. " Laura, my treasure trove, I had no notion I'd so sweet a name till it fell from your lips." " If you would preserve it sweet, then, urge me not. A word or two, — and your iiiinie com- ing from my lips would stiiig you like an adder. A NEWFODNDLAND STORY. II5 Gny, be wise in time and do not tempt me to acnhcethesolitaryjoylhaveon-earth.your ^ve. I pray for you mom and night, upon my knees, for you, my preserver." "Laura. Laura, trust me. Have courage. Dc^tmy governs us, J tell you again. You ea^mo fight against Fate. Say the little word 1 «ant, and be true to yourself, to me " Ju^T\^"^'' """"''• ^"-^ "^"^ °°t ^l^at ouask. A^hatyou call destiny has ordered -vise. There is an impregnable barri.r between us. My God ! " Her figure seemed turned to stone. An unutterable agony swept over her features It ng tened Melbrook. and startled Hester. But ; ';' ^- experienced at the same time a thrill ten S-would move heaven and earth to win him back again. "Laura, calm yourself. I know not what your awful secret is, nor do I want to Le ver buried. Here, on tl I a "8 grass, I pledge mp" ■■'7^m^:-tTJ\ 118 HARD HIT ; III ■ii; .» i I •lU 'll; f'l' ! you life-Iong devotion. I am yours, body and soul," He dropped on one knee on the earth, raising his hand to heaven. ^ A strange gleam shot from the gi.rs eyes. She -vr, inspired with sudden resolution. " I will test you, Guy." The name was pronounced with fond, linger- ing emphasis. Then, in a quivering voice, she uttered the fatal words : " I am married. My linshand lives." She dropped her clasped hands before her, and looked down upon him with holy pity, pity for him, pity for herself, for had she not extin- guished the sole happiness of her life ? Melbrook fell backwards clutching the earth. Again did Hester, beliind the hawthorn, feel a spasm of wild joy. Laura Bromleigh did not move. With clasped hands and benignant compassion, she gazed upon the man grovelling at lier feet. "" The world, the uniTcrsc, was biotled from her sight. A NEWFOnNDLAKD STORY. H7 She had dared the fatal revelation, and for a few moments reaped her reward in the con- sciousness of having discharged a sacred duty Melbrook got up, torn with conflicting emo- tions. He paced before her. backwards and forwards, hke some restless spirit of the nether ^orld; his countenance convulsed; breathing J-eavily. It was «ome time before he could "peak; his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth. * Who is your husband?" he managed to say at last, with a thick, choking articulation. "Hear and judge." " Oo on, in Heaven's name. You have been an arch-temptress." " ^^''•■'^'f"' Heaven ! pardon me for this." She threw up her hands wildly. " Ay, ask Heaven for pardon. Mv destiny nreyou? You have driven me mad. " I am in tor.nent.s, my head is hot, hot as fire. Ha f ha ! There is something cooling here." He was making towards the lake. If l! ' lis HARD HIT ; \f " Good-bje, Laura," cried he. turning upoa -er w.th sudden and unnatural calmness, "no- tluug extenuate, nor set down aught in malice. you know. I joved. not wisely but too well ^alha! Othello, by Jove I You beautiful demon, rd strangle you. if you were worth the cord. He caught her and shook her savagely "Please, dear Guy. let go my arm. " I have somethmg better than a cord." "A fool's cap for me. do you n.ean, vou basdisk ?" "No. Onlytliis. Take it." She gave him her dagger. "You saved my life. It i. yours. Here is my heart." "Laura. Laura, are you mad, or am I? What IS all this ? It is some hideous vision ? • He struck his forehead. " No, it is only too real. But listen. How can you judge before you hear ? Is it fair ? " " Go on," answered he wearily. A .NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. 119 She briefly told him what she had before related to ^,irs. Joulter. Hester listened breathlessly. The barrier was indeed impregnable. Thank God for that. " Laura," said Melbrook, slowly, when she had finished, 'forgive me. But, upon my soul, I was temporarily insane." " It is I that must ask forgiveness, Guy. I ought to have told you before, but oh ! it was so hard, so very hard." " I believe you, Laura. And now that I am sane again, do you know what I shall do ? I shall marry you to-morrow. We'll keep the dagger for Sefior (Jomez, if we ever see him, but we never shall." It was well that both were so full of their own concerns, or they would have heard a heavy, catching gasp behind them. " It is impossible. Guy." " Tut. tut. Laura. Any one can see that your marriage was a mere sham. I don't mean a pipe, you know, alth agh it does end in smoke.' T' I! M I ), 1 120 HARD HIT ; " If I could onlv nmk so r!„„ t t •. " "en she came to herself «J,o » tI,A l„„, ^ '^^'^^ consc ous of iiie low murmur nf a „ ■ , . "" uj murmur ol a voice whisperinfr jn th^ :";°'7"- •»'■!. but. m,r. J, ;°,,l'^ whispered m her own Th„ j ber bands. ^^' *^°^ ""■" "'^'^g •'Poor Csar!- moaned she..., our mas. A NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. 121 CHAPTER XIII. MR. JOULTER MAKES A MISTAKE. ''Here's a pretty go. Well, I'm shot. Jane. Jane, where are you, Jane? Upstairs, eh? tome down." " I hear, Silas dear. I'm coming." Mr. Joulter stalked into his parlom-, his meek partner at his heels. He put his hat on a chair, his stick in a comer. " % dressing-gov^-n and slippers, Jane, and, by Christopher, don't forget the Social Anoma- lies. Well. I'm shot! but this is a pretty go." " What's the matter. Silas dear, any news ? 18 It something for an article ? " " Something for an article I Something for a dozen articles, yuu mean. However, Jane jou know me. I never intrude upon the sacred I ' Itt HARD HIT ; I) * 1 f 1 I domuin of private life, or investigate that mystery of a person, whicJi even Carlyle respects. I am above it." He waved Lis ]iand magiianimonsly and got into bis dressing-gown; then lit bis' pipe and bolted his brandy-and-water. "How is Miss Bromleigb, Jane, that ex- tremely iuteresting young person ?" " Quite well, I bope, Silas dear. But I bave not seen her since breakfast." "The deuce you haven't! How very sin- gular!" His eyes twinkled : perhaps the brandy was too strong, but we doubt it. " Did she say she'd be in to dinner?" "No, Silas dear." " I should rather think she didn't." Mr. Joulter chuckled. " But I say, Jane, don't look so confound- edly innocent. You can't gammon me. You women tell each other everything. You know all about it." A NEWFODNDLAND STORY 123 "All about what, Silas dear? I know nothing." " A marriage in Cana of Galilee, eh ?" He laid his fore-finger by the side of his nose and winked knowingly. " Ah ! Jane, Jane, the two of you h^ve been very deep, very deep indeed ; a brace of conspi- rators plotting against the tranquillity of a certain friend of ours." " ^ •''''^^"'•e- Sila« dear. I don't know what you mean. What friend?" "Melbrook, Jane. There, now do vou know ? " "No, Silas dear, as true as I'm sitting in this chair. What has happened to him ?" "The very worst tiling in the world, Jane. He has got married, been and gone and done > . the sly dog. Honestly now, you knew that. "No, Silas dear, I didn't. But are yon sure ? I thought he wasn't to be married "for some time." / t '/ [^ .1;. tl : t : '< • . I >, * 124 Bard hit; _^^';0h! so you did know Bomething about "Certainly, Siias dear, what all the town knew. vVasn't it known a fortnight igo ? " "What, old woman ?" " His engagement to Jfiss Lloyd." "Miss Lloyd, the angel! What the heavens lias Mm Lloyd f,- to do with it ? " Either the braUy or the excitement of the Inng was makin,. Mr. Joulter „se strong language. ° " ^ '^'""'"^ imagine, Silas dear, if it's a wed ding you are talking about, that she has every- thing to do with it." " Old woman, you have been asleep. Give me some more of the Social Anomalies You 'ave been as blind as a mole. The affair must bave been going on under your very nose, and now you know nothing about it. .Jane you never would have discovered the laws of gra- vitation. It is not in you." " Silas dear, don't tease me. Who is it he A NEWFOUNDLAND 8T0RT. 125 has married. Poor Miss Lloyd, what will „. say? What a scandal I" Her curiasify was now thoroughly aroused. Mr. Joulter very wickedly determined to make the most of it. "HI tell you who told me, Jane. No other Imn Harley Vane, and a deucedly smart fellow he .s too. If he only minds his p-s and q-s he 1 be S. Harley Vane before long He and I are the same shade of pohtics, you know. He B-d to me the other day, talking about that ' We 1 T .r" " ''"""^ I>evelopr,ents, Well,Jo„iter.-sa.dhe,'that wasinfe.-nallv well done; that issue of the 7. V«,,/, ought t be sent broadcast over the globe.- idevilth cleverfe,lowisHarley,Icante-you.a: -h h,m well. He promised to use his in- fluence about that appointment, and -" "Oh! Silasdear, dotellmewhoitisf" ;•And, by Jove, Jane. I shouldn't be sur- Pn-d:flget it after all. Three hundred a year le not to be sneezed at. I can tell you. II 1 * ; I '' 1^1 I I ill! I IM HARD HIT; A plum like tlmt doesn't grow on every tree. And don't I desen-c it Jane, now honestly ?" " Silas dear, I am dying to know wlioit is." " That article of mine too on the raUway told Uke the old boy. I toi- you what it is. Jane, I have got some friends at Court yet Why, what do you think ? You have heard speak of Lord Rooster, Jane ? " " Yes, yes, Silas dear, of course I have, fifty times a day, but tell me about Mr. Jlelbrook.'' "Well, Jane, his lordship and i are as thick as hops. I must take some more Social Ano. malies. By Christopher ! hP is eternally joking me aoou. a. picture of his thni he sayn he'll pay f ■!• handsomely when it's done. Upon my soul', he's a most comical old buffer." "Silas dear, don't be so aggravating. If you go on that way, I'll g„ „p.,tairs and leave you to take tea by yourself. You are doiug it on purpose, I know y„u are. Who is it Jlr. Melbrook has married ? " " Don't get crusty, old woman, and Fl] tell A NEWFOUNDLAND BTOHY. ]27 jou all about it. It was consumedly well done by Christopher ! But how the mischief you didn't twig the thing is more than I can make out. Social Anomalies again, by Jove ! and you a woman too ! " He sipped hi', h. v ind-water, puffed a cloud or two, an^ critical, scrutinized the tea things. "0 Silas dear, don't go on bo! You'll kill me." "Well, as I was 8aying,-By the way, Where's John Cabot ? " "Oh I he's getting his face and hands washed. Silas dear, you'll have me distract'^d." " Well, to proceed. Poor Melbrook got his goose cooked at Portugal Cove, that's nine mdes from here, you know. He drove out there m Tim Dooling's coach. By Jove ! Jane, now I come to think of it, that very fellow drove yea and me to Topsail on our wedding day." " Silas dear, never mind that." " But I do mind it, Jane. By Christopher ! m W^^ Sif-t, ■h-iy^ :^.- %.w -'•> nit .^ ::'■. Mi Mi II 'H If] 128 HARD hit; I've had to mind it ever since. It is indelibly impressed on the tablets of my memory." " Silas dear, once for all, will you, or mil you not, tell me who it is ? " " How impatient some of you women are f By Christopher ! ain't I coming to it as fast as I can ? You know Melbrook couldn't have picked out a quieter pkce than Portugal Cove to save his life. There are only a few fi"sh flakes' there, a score or so of houses, a little church just big enough to he married in, and an obliging parson, who asks no questions outside the Prayer-book. By Jovel Jane, wlmf fools we were not to go there instead of Topsail ! It would have saved no end of money. There is a snug little place there too, where you can get ham and eggs, and fresh codfish, and all sorts of things for next to nothing. I know if—" " Silas dear, good night. I can't stand this any longer. I am going to bed." "Iknowif I'd to do the thing over again, it's not Topsail would bring mo up." A NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. 129 shriekPf] J..- u / '*' ^'raost J„ ■ " '"^^ "-«"'• '•"«„. ,„., "-.^X\:=;; --/:■- :;:'trr•"■'■*'--■'■™" H« composedly bl™ a s„coe„io„ of liveh Sr"""° "-■"">• ^i~«.n or .:,: Jfrs. Joulter was stupefied qh« i , , 130 HARn HIT ; 'I i i! ; I t " Miss Bromleigh?- echoed she, in a smo- tliored voice. " "^'^'' "^^ '^''™a°- But, l.y Christophe- 1 I never saw you like this before. Whafs up now ? * Asiuj^lar transformation had taken place. The hitherto quiet woman appeared metamor- phosed into a virago. She walked the floor yith as much euerfry as her husband would have 'l-'"c during fhe mysterious incubation of one of his most withering articles. "The wicked, bad girl. Silas! the wicked, bad P'-. Ill have everjthiug belonging to her 1'aoke.l up at once. an.I sent out of the house " It was tne first tin>e in h^r life she forgot to nppeu.l the connubial monosyllable. The acuto "'stincts of Mr. Joultertold him somethin<. was »'" I?, but for the life of him he couldn't telJ just then wli:ir it was. " She's a ...la Montez in very truth, a Lola Moiitez." " By Jove ! June, yon nro right. She's uot A NEWFOUNDLAND STORT. 131 If ''''' ''''■ ^'°» ^-o., I saw Lola once. S^'e was on board a .learner that touched in re short of coal. For Heaven's sake. Jane. ' '^r "" ^'°" ' ™ "-^"^^^ t'^« room like a Wic. You'll spill my Social Anomalies, a momeuufyou switch ahout like that. There I^m^nged if you haven, switched my new ha; mt. the fire-place. Are you gone crazv ? " ^^^^WOome.Se«orGome., Hewil, These words and the wild gesticulations of »s^-e. scared Mr. Joulter. His hair fau-Jv bnstlcd with fright. He was not physical^ rave -n. although a bolder, mle daiig mm upon paper never breathed. He trembled •n every „erve. He imagined his wife was -od.t at he had worried her out of herJt Watching Ins chance when her back was turned e |gnomin.ou.y Hed. with presence of min "Look here. Sus.an." said he to the servant K 2 ' . 'L. ^m 132 HARD HIT ; I '4 " I don't quite like the look of your mistress. Give me a shake-down to-night in the spare room." He rummaged the kitchen dresser for some- tiling to eat ; then, with stealthy, cat-hke tread, mounted the stairs, doulle-lccked the door, and, falling on his knees, registered a solemn vow never again to tantalize his wife, or any other woman. It was too tickhsh an experiment. A NEWFOINDLAND STORY. 133 CHAPTER XIV. UNAVAILING REOREt. Mklbrook was married. Laura had taken him for better or worse. The morning suc- ceeding the interview behind the hawthorn beheld them man and wife. It was an irre- vocable step. Both felt that. It was their predominant feeling. They loved each otlier passionately, devotedly, but worldly considera- tions would obtrude. The matrimonial noose had caught them, and pulled them up short and Bliarp in their headlong career. Laura was thinking uneasily about Senor Gomez ; Mel- brook about his family and friends in England, and, with a twinge of conscience, of liia base treachery towards Hester. ♦I ' 1 1 134 HARD HIT ; The accommodations at Portuj,.il Cove for a newlj-married co„p]e were ver,- limited. There -as o«l, one small house of entertainment open r ''^"' ^''P' ^y - »>"-- Jame. rejoicing in the name of Mrs. Jacob Halhbut. She d.d the besMnherpower to make them comfortable. They were shown into a tiny parlour, with two h tie windows, overlooking the sea. The table -as between the windows, and the dimensions of the room so contracted, that when the pair sat at It, they had a window a-piece, which was very convenient. A choice was proffered .i,em between hams and eggs, pork and cabbage, and fisha p,,eoes. For a beverage they were provKled .nth spruce beer, which, indeed, they found very palatable. Being in a happy state of gastronomical indifference, thev electo,! pork and cabbage. Whilst it was preparing they took a turn as far as the fishing stages under the guidance of Master Silvester Hallibut. who furnished a vast fund of information about the catch and cure of cod. His " dah," he told A NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. J 3.5 them, owned several boats and a codseiue He was a planter supplied by a large Smithwick • marchant." He took them int6 the stage where the fish was being headed, split and «alted. prci^aratory to the drying process. Seve- ral girls were employed •' cutting throats " and malting. It was a very busy scene, but hardly the most appropriate for the initiatory stages of a honeymoon. The odour was too pungent. The men had a hard time of it. he told them, while the fishery l.sted. but in the long winter ruonths. they made up for it. and led an easv hfe on the summer's profits. T' ey made some- ^mes as much as sixty pounds a man. but Paddy Marshall's rum shop, over the wav. got a great share of it. The liver of the fish, he pro- ceeded to explain, was thrown into puncheons, which he pointed out, and rendered into oil by the sun. Sometimes though this was done by an artificial process: they had just passed a foctory used for that purpose. The heads went -^ manure the land. Nothing was wasted. in; HARD HIT ; used bv , ; T "^"*^''^' '^"•^ "'---'y used b,,e French an bait in the catch of «ar- d^ues. Indeed the French Minister of Marine Buidme fishery was diminishing, owing to the s.|i:i%ofhaitnotbein,ade,nat:;othede:ad Tb.s IS a p.ece of information, however, which Silvester Halhbnt d,. not voh.nteer. it brown out as a hint to aJliovers of the sardine. to show ,ow much they owe to the land of ,od Silvester concludedhis uc.oription with a delicate ;nt.u.at,on that a copper or two to ge , mornn>g".,„,d be gratefully appreciated Molbrook, wzth the generosity bom of early eonnubml bliss, gave him a dollar. They then "t';t"'^^"^^-^*^e,andspru::bi:; with to erable success. Mrs. Hallibut offered' to supplement the repast with a bowl of i„ni per tea; ^ut they said the spruce was s„ffi' C16Ut* Mer dinner Melbrook determined on a three or four hours- absence. He wanted to see i I A NEWFODNDLAND STORY. 137 Mrs. Joulter to make arrangements for the L'orrow. " You can't stop here, you know, Laura, it is too dull." " Dull ! and with you ? Guy I " She did not like even this temporary sepa- ration. However, he saddled the horse and rode away. He wanted to be alone. He wanted to reflect. Had he been too precipitate ? Had his engrossing passion for Laura hurried him beyond due bounds ? It was curious how the Marriage Service had sobered him. Senor Gome;, was an awkward object in the vista of the future. He was not at all sure but that the West Indian man-iage was a legal one. He had pooh-poohed it to Laura, but could not pooh- pooh it to hhnself. Then again he had an un- comfortable feehng about his conduct to Hester very like remorse. He had intended all alone* to be Uiuuiy, and own to her the change m liis I ■' «l 138 HARD HIT; h u h If III u ^w : i affecfion«, but invariably broke down wi.en it c^n.Motbep„3h. He eonU fa. tbe :X' oa and dangers to life and iin,b. but sb^-nk '7 ---terin, tbat bctraved wo.an. At" .0^ or ^enotntbe ecstatic .ood or n-d p:.pert^bndegrooa,. His conscience pricked iJim , his honour was stained. "Bah ! •• cried he, putting spurs to his horse before. There . yet time. .She will hardly know anytinn, about H before to.norr.w I^ xnuko a clean breast of the whole business •• He t„ned into a cross roa.lle„dn„ to Area- la. H reached the avenue gate and stopped to ocons. er It was a very unpleasant t k ho -1 set hnnself. He dropped the reins „.. deeded. The gate being open, and so^etcnpt- ^ng grass in sight, his horse walked leisurelv in and began to crop it. •■ Im l,»,wl if I „„ ,,, ., ^^ ni'V" '—"■•■"""«. ™.' take ,„., A NEWFOUNDLAND BTORT. 139 He gathei^d up the reins. He had invoked clmnce. Chance was at hand in the person of Hester Lloyd herself, who was walking towards li.m. The blood nished to his temples, suffused hi8 face, then left him pale and faltering. Hester Lloyd came on calm and composed. He had time to c' ye how thin and worn she had grown, to note the deep rings around the eves, and the languid, despondent air about 'her whole person, so different from the gav, happy look with which she had been wont 'to greet l:im. Was he the cause of this sad change ? His conscience smote him. All he was worth he would have c>cn gla.lly to be anj-where but where he was. But it was too late; the wretched farce Had to be enacted. He raised his hat as she approached It was the only thing he was equal to doin. .u.~.'7fiit*Mfc- r ll if 1^! i ! I i .m ^' M«i. '.I , "AKD HIT; " Wlio's tliero ? " " Jfc, sir." " ^VJio's nie ? " " I. sir, Susan." Ho puardedly unlocked the door «n i • , • » cautious wlnsper,- ' '"'^ """^ '« "Howisshenow, Susan, quieter t". ies, sir. ;; JJotnvving about sonaeSenorGo^e.?.. "TimnkGodI Where is sl.o v •■ I"berbedroo.n.atherpravers.sir." iiy Christopher ! what a Sori.,! » Onou,ou:entraginghkea i! L:?^^- her nrfivor= ti ^ ' ""^ "''■tt at "YM,,ir. Mr. Meltort i, ,. »!'. »Mlingl„,eeyou." " "'« P"l»ir, " I» lie ? Thai', .1] ^ ^, , A NEWFOUNDLAND STORl . I4.5 T^ ^'7 "'« ^'-,n if it's necessary, m .et down the best way I can " . " He ghded down and past his wife's door with ^-eless step, hke a phanton. The si^ ^ielbrook revived his sinking cou^ J ' h' ea^.ht his hand and shook it ;arn.iy Glad to see von, old bov TT«^ r> , ■'• -How are von ? Congratulations and a„ the rest of it. SI, dl" 2'' No .0. though, knew it half an hou a!:' A pretty „,ess ifs got me into. Here's ,;" ' ^-;' -e and nnning n.y spun new h^ >^ could get a new hat every day. She. ^ts^^ofabngbear. called sLr Go.::: " Senor Gomez! " " Good heavens ! Jfelbro,)!.- i. lellow, kcej) quiet." ^ Melbrook had given utterance to a frightful Jiiiprecation. 'no'itiui 14G HARD HIT • CIIAriER XV. THE PACKET. 7^ '■« any thing but a holiday for Sanchn '« «l'at I caJJ a regular burster" ^,2/:S''' ^'^- ^^' ^- ^"^0 hotter Lord Rooster UU.I his fnen.] wore asoendin. ci.fl flank,,.. t],e entrance to the harbour of a..Ulr. I od,erexchan..d sententious oh^ "Vane, old fellow," cried the Major, ..don-t A NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. I47 «;o..iUutso^st. Letus.stheTeando:,oy They had reached a little plateau which com- "•an ed a fine prospect of the harbour ■^ What a splendid place for a naval r.ndez- ^"usl exc,a,med Lord Rooster "It is all that," said Vano, halting for them JO- Imn... this neglected spot is virtu.,™ "- key to the New World, tL Gibraltar f A.ncnca. But al, the fortifications are hs -tied, you observe. Wo are .eft help, Itj a ..taken policy. A natural stron ho,, I'ketJusoug, to be more valued " "I should say so." remarked the Major. When I think too of the blood spi,t ,„ gaining possessioi of it T a™ ♦, astonished.;- ""^ "'^ '"'"•« "You allude to the fight with the French Air. Vane." said Hester. ' " Ves. Perhaps you don't know, Major "•"V- ;-«2 a French s,uadron from rT;* -prised the place and made an oa.y eon j:;. 'iSC$-f-:?3_ * ■ i i 4 i fi K Hard hit • •»! comi,„„„li„., „, ,, .., '"• 'I'eAitoi- A*r... ,„„".:'';■.""'"''■'■ '^'"»"«' meni.tl,eHi..n , " ■■"•''" ''"'"'"■■1 credit." ' "'"'" •^■°" ^^''l ^'•^•.•.■.Iv ■ifniK , r,i ),„*.„, " "-" J"". 1 111 evenai,.- " """''' '' ^^ --" '*' ■ i:lH=-i p- ll^^'^ ; \ ; * 156 HARD rilT; impossible. " Fainf lu.„^ aiiit l.t-art never won fair h,tv " h's iiidom.tablewiU, so now even IW wiiKH mat arc ever new p-„ • i ♦1 ix i^f ne^\. i^ree intoicianire nf ^yt, constant. „„i,tern,pte.I inters -"atu,,,re.,u.ofthispro,.in,„itv,wie; an .us.d.ous influence over Hester SI ;-.-. Tl. inane, pro^:: ^;::: fl.v^».onsne,erHo fashionable .ian.s.w,thtU obaliow wu. or fickle village n,ai,]ens. Liferas •'o/ A newfounhlasd story. 157 too grave a concern to be flittered away in liieaningless puerilities. She was not flirtiu" with Vane, but day by day better appreciating his worth. She was suq)rised to find she had been hitherto so ignorant of it. It was a matter for self-reproach. " How bright and lovely ever} thing is to-day, ?'r. Vane ! I could glide ove. he dear old lake for ever if it was always like this. But are you not tired ? " " Not in the least, Miss Lloyd. I might lie if it was to be a pull for evei, ai you wish. There is nothing, you know, agreeable as variety. I enjoy a storm so; jmes as much as anything." " Ah ! we differ. I dislike change." "But it is a natural law. Our moo("s of mind, how they vary ! " "I was just thinking that," sail Hester, " dark and clou in if! I 1G2 HARD HIT ; " Mr. Vane, don't. You are really too reckless." He was seated at her side, clasping her. "Love begets love, third and last time," cried he, his month close to her ear; "if you love me, say so." " Go away, sir. I can't tell. But 111 try." A NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. 163 CHAPTER XVn. 8EN0R GOMEZ, "Jane, what's the quarrel between you and Mrs. Melbrook ? She's been here a week and you are barely civil to her, a charming young thing like that too, just married. By Christo- pher ! what a pair of eyes she has !" " I have my reasons, Silas, dear." " Your reasons ? It is the first time I ever heard you talk of reasons, Jane. Ever since you got that insane crotchet in your head about Seiior something or other you have not been the same woman. You talk in your sleep and wriggle about most confoundedly. It is impos- Bible to compose eitlier myself nr my articles when you kick the way you do. Last night 1 M 2 i! \'J i % m i*1 tj 164 HARD hit; was elaborating a splendid dodge for catching fish by electricity when you caught me by the throat, screaming you'd protect her. Protect whom? Look here, Jane, I'll haye a stop put to this nonpense. Hand me the spittoon." Mr. Joulter assumed a pugnacious air, clap- ped his feet on the fender and took his pipe. " Silas, dear, you have no consideration." "Consideration the ! I'U not use for- cible expressions. Nice consideration you ex- hibit, disturbmg my rest and scattering to the winds all the ideas that, like angel's yisits, gild my slumber. Old Swizzlestick remarks the absence of originality in my articles already. And all on account of that bugbear Senor Gomez is it ?" "Yes, Silas, dear." " Well, who the mischief is he ?" " I dare not tell you, Silas, dear." " Dare not tell me ? By Christopher! you have the best of reasons. You don't know." Mrs. Joulter sighed and went on with her A NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. 165 knitting. It was the first secret she ever had, and it oppressed her. " Do you think these socks will be long enough, Silas, dear ? " " Listen, old woman, when you stood before the altar at that interesting ceremony which gave you the right to look after my wardrobe you promised to love, honour and obey, didn't you?" "Yes, Silas, dear," replied Mrs. Joulter, counting the stitches softly. " "Was there anything said about this infer- nal Senor Gomez ?" "No, Silas, dear." " Then let there be nothing said about him now. It is not in the contract. Where's John Cabot?" " Here, papa. Have a game of railway, pa." " No, my son, the engine-driver has blown off all his steam." " Hark I isn't that a knock, pa ? " " It sounds like one, my boy. You are too ii. ';i J m ■i 11 t imjijm .^ -strntrnm 1C>G HARD hit; oungfo „couBUcB. else r,l explain tl.c philo- sophy o Us reaching j-our ears and setting your lively little tonj^e in motion." " J'll go to the door, Silas, dear. The mrl IS ont." ^ "So is my pipe," said Mr. Joulter, so- lemnly. His wife shortly returned, nshering in the gentleman u. the velvet blouse. He was very pohte. and bowed with the unction peculiar to foreigners. He spoke good English, with a musical accent, doing the language much more justice than either Fizzle or Podger. Ho at once announced that he was in search of lodgings, and drew his card from his pocket- Mr. Joulter, who had got upon his feet reciprocated the bow and referred him to his wife. With another bow, much more unctuous than the first, the stranger gracefully put the card into Mrs. Joulter's hands. A NEWFOUNOLAHD STORY. 167 She looked at it for a bare second. " The Lord have mercy on me — Senor Gomez ! " The couch was behind her. She fell upon it insensible. " By all that's lovely, Jane, this is some- thing awful. You must be possessed. Don't stir, sir. Let her he there. I regret to sav she is in a very delicate state of health, subject to hysterics and odd fancies, you know. It will wear off in time. Take a chair, sir, and some brandy-and- water." 'I give you thanks. It was strange the name affected her so." "Not at all, sir. A feather would knock her down just now. It will wear off, I assure you. How do you like the stmgo — I mean the brandy?" " It is very good. I have a very nice cigai-, I think you will hke." " Thanks, i'U try it. My pipe doesn't draw. John Cabot, clear the stem." '11 1 168 HABD HIT ; " Yes, pa." «er eo„p]a.ut !.„« beco.„e chronic, and ..sun.ed " '- sort of wJiat, sir '" slmnfo i ti Btarting f.o his feef. ^^""'^'^ ^''^ "'ranger. "Sit down. sir. I don't wonder at your ben.g aanned. it is enough to „p t , e nerves of the boldest of our Bpocies. W Ln -yhnghear. of course that is not the si:; e™. but ,t best describes what she suff s W Good God. sir, what are .ouabo:^" A pistol was levelled at \m head " I came to th. island prepared. No man A cold sweat broke ou;.n.ver Mr. Joulter Mercj sir. I apologize. Have ^ou got 't^oo? T.e worlds mad. I'm the on", sane n-m,t. -H.u Cbo, ye- We ,o„r "J about you, ring the beU." A NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. 1G9 The pistol dropped. Mr. Joulter's idea was to send the girl quietly for the nearest police- man. He forgot that she was ouf. Mrs. Joulter was coming to herself. "Silas. Silas." cried she, iu a thriUing whisper, " come here." "Go to bl , I mean to bed. Jane. Your tomfoolery has nearly cost me my life." ' "0 Silas, quick. I am too weak to move. Tell Mrs. Melbrook to fly for her life." "By all the gods, she's raving still. We Bhall have that scarecrow Seiior Gomez again. I won't say bugbear. I'm afraid." A click of the pistol made him jump. " ^^'^^^ you persist in lu.altin- me ?" hissed the stranger. " Insult yon. su- ? There's nothing further from my mind. By Christopher 1 am I to be hunted and shot like a rabbit ?" " Not if you are a gentlemr.n. Here is nnnfh»r pistol at your service. Let us go wheie there :i( 1 1 ,>..-: i >•* • ^ 'I ^/.■.•■> » :. ...V ■ I » 1 170 HARD hit; is no foar of interruption. ' ,„„st wipe out t]u8 (lisorrace. Are you ready ? ' ' The trembling Joulter, in extreme trepidation einpliaticaily disclaimed bemg u gentleman, that IS, l,y the stranger's chivalrous standard. By chance his eye caught the card lying on the floor. He picked it up. " By all tiiafs fatal ! here's that confounded Gomez again." Click went the pistol. "Jane. Jt.ne, save me, Jane." "0 Silas, Silas, don't lose a moment. Tell Jlrs. Jlelhrook that Senor Gomez lias cuie Tell her to ily." A ligiit broke in upon Mr. Joulter. " By Juj.iter ! Jane, is that really his name ?" " Yes, yes, Silas. Will you run, quick ? " She made a det-perate efl'ort to walk. "No one leaves this room till I tell tliem," said the stranger, covering the door with a steady aim. Mr. Joulter collected his powers. He was no A NEWFOUNDLAND STODY. 171 longer groping in the dark. He felt ine ground beneatli his feet, like a man, who, after stnig- gling for life, through tlie boiling snrf, at last touches the shore. " Mr. Gomez, I understand it all. I beg your pardon with all my heart. The mistake was mine. Will you sit down ? It is all right." Serior Gomez slowly seated himself and looked at him sternly, putting his pistols on the table. Mr. Joulter wasn't out of the ?urf yet. " It is not all riglit. I want more explana- tion. How came your wife ac(piainted with my name ? Who is Jlrs. Melbrook ? " " She is a young girl just married, who came — " " Silas, hush ! for the love of heaven." " Hold your tongue, woman. Do you want me butchered in cold blood ?" "Who is Mrs. Melbrook?" The speaker fingered the triggers. " She is a West Indian—' "Ah!" W M 172 HARD hit; :J : The deep, guttural intonation of that " Ah " made Mr. Joulter's flesh creep. This Senor Gomez must be a wild beast. " Who got TVTecked on the coast a short time ago, lodged with us. got married, came back here, and is about to -o to England with her Jiusband." " Very ^ood. Where is she ? " " Upstairs, I think." "Conduct me to her." He rose, pale and calm, deliberately cock- ing the pistols. "Jane, you go, that's a darling." " I can't, Silas, and I wouldn't if I could I'd die first." " It matters not who goes. I must see her." "Jolm Cabot, you g„. On your honour, Senor Gomez, you won't hurt the little boy?" " I don't deal with little boys. Lead on." It was unnecessary. At tiiat moment Laui .. closely followed by her husband, entered the room. A NEWFOUNDLAND STOrxY. 173 CHAPTER XVIII. TUE DUEL. She looked at the Spaniard for the moment petrifitHl ; but neither her senses nor her courage forsook her. She was nerved for the worst. With dilating eyes and swelling bosom, she paused by the side of Melbrook. Master and slave regarded each other lixedly. " Come with me," said Gomez, in a com- manding voice The girl's eyes flashed. " You are too bite, Setior Go ncz. I belong to my husband now." " I am your husband." "You are not." " Here is your marriage certilicate." J I I I I I 174 HARD HIT ; " It is false." " Bj it is uot ! Oue word, will jou come or^-" Ho completed the sentence by pointinf? a pistol at lier breast. " Bully as you are, you dr.r« v.r.l fire. In this country Scnor Gomez would bo iiau^-^d." Melbrook interfered. "You have t'. advantage of me, sir. You areamed. us reason calmly. This huly 18 my wife." •' " She ia miue, an.l I mean to keoj) her •' " Only dead, then," cried the Creole fiercely, drawing her dagger. "Put that up, Laura," said Melbrook quietly, "leave all to me, I wish it. Go up- stairs, Mr. Joulter, will you, and Mrs. Joulter- leave us for a little?" ' " Only too haj,,,y. For Heaven's sake, come on. Jane I'li carry you if you can't walk John Caboi, open the door." "Laura, you must go," repeated Melbrook A NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. 175 firmly, " I wish it. Everything shall be ar- ranged amicably. Go, like a good girl." " Guy, Guy, be cautious. That- man in temper and implacability is a fiend." She reluctantly joined the others. "Now, Mr. Gomez," said Melbrook, closing the door, let us sit down and talk it over like men of the world. This is an unfortunate, an awkward business." " For you, very," said the other, "be wise and wash your hands of it. At home that girl's my property ; here she is my wife." " I know all the circumstances. You coerced her into what I believe was a mock marriage " "Sir?" " I repeat it." "As a man of the world, sir, there is only one answer to that. Yon have given me the' lie." He rose for a moment and bowed punc- tiliously. "I understand," said Melbrook; "you shall have your satisfaction presently." ] 'I, Im i , 11 mi III! !^ 17G HARD HIT ; ^«0-f:oo.l.sothatiti8l,efore,]ark This w getting interesting. A cigar?" "Tlmuks." ;'Inm willing," continued Melbrook, "to .•a- all ri,i, to an investigation, that is, conditionally. What is your tigure for keeping everything a secret and leaving U3 in peace ?" "More than yoii can pay." "Name the sum." "Allyouareworthandfiftytimesasmuch more. " It is life and death, then ?" "Life and death." Melbrook pondered deeply. His cigar went ;;" J''" °"'- '''- li»'e clouds of smoke ".rough his nostrils, a favourite habit .-.-th bpaniards. "Suppose. Mr. Gomez." said Melbrook. Wdmg a last resource, "you drop the man of the world and be cliivaJrous." 177 A NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. "How?" " ^<^' ^'«r choose between us " into a fit of boisterous laughter. It was so hear J and prolonged that it gave g^-eat rehef to the anxious hearts upstairs. Melbrook it half maddened. Laura was right. This man was a fiend with a vengeance. " Further words, I perceive, would be wasted 3fou persist in your bogus claims " "^:^'°.no,Mr. Melbrook. not bogus. Your law IS too good, too just, too noble. She is mme m the eyes of your law. " Melbrook nsmg; " come, Mr. Gomez, I am at your service. We have yet an hour of da; i^istols ? — "Yes." " '^"•Ife your choice of these T „.„ •ill. either of ta... "^ ^ "'""'■" I! "Very well." • " Seconds ? I know no one here." "I'll find joii cue." " Good ! What is this cognnc like ?" He drank sparingly. Melbrook took two glasses in quick succession. He felt a sinking at his heart veiy unusual with liim, a depres- sion he could not master. They were only a few yards from the house when they met Fizzle and i'odger. " Just the fellows," thought Melbrook. He introduced them, and drew Captain Fizzle aside. " This gentleujun and I havv,. i)rivate business to settle, old fellow. May 1 count on you ? It will be twelve paces." " Aw— no objection. Who's his fwend ? " "Podger most likely." " Aw— in that cusel'odgaw had bettaw mea- sauwe the distance. Hesteps shawtawthan I do." " All the better. I must see if he'll come." At first Mr. I'odger declined, but finally cou- Bented, mentally resoivmg to load with powder A NEWFOUNDLAND STORY. 179 only. They secured a surgeon and drove, under Meli)rook's directions, to the preserves con- tiguous to Arcadia, where the sound -of fire- arms would attract no notice. Shortly after- wards Laura might have been seen hnrrj-ing to the cab-stand. She had missed Melbrook, and was on his track. The ground pitched upon was a sequestered dale not far from the head of thr lake. There was a tangled path leading to it from the Avenue. They left their carriages at the gate and proceeded on foot. Captain Fizzle scoffed at Podger's suggestion to draw the bullets, and loaded with as much coolness as if he was going to "pot an abowigine." The Spaniard smoked unconcernedly. Melbrook alone looked grave. He was filled with gloomy forebodings. He had passed over the very spot where he had seen the apparition. With the air of a doomed man he took the pistol from Fizzle's hand. "If you don't pot him, Melbrook, will yoa fiah anothaw wownnd ?" n2 \ i I I I 3 I V > 180 lUIlD HIT ; He did not answer. Tbo Spaniard's eye was upon hi.n. cold, glittering, deadly. TJie signal was given. T«o lUtle jets „f flame, two little putTs of smoke, and HeHter-s,uond,un lover f..ll welter 2 - ^- l^iood, shot throng), the heart. Ihs treachery was fearfully avenged. Senor Gomez was uninjured. r„,],,,r, wringing lu's ^-nds. urged hinr to t,y. Captain l.^r with something like a tear in hi. eye, ..aeulated; Poah Jlelbwook, he's got potted himself ■• A no.^,„ the direction of ,he Avenue startled tlum. Some „ne was crashing through the -'-•;- " The surgeon put his hand hghtly on her shoulder. " Come away, come away." She shook it off passionately. A NEWFOnNDLAND STORY. " Guy, Guy, speak ! What !— dead ? " "Here, girl," said the Spaniard. approaching her, «• come with me. That dog's bark is over." "All is over, Se/ior Gomez, you double assassm. Bear me witness that marriages are made in heaven." She waved her dagger on high, an.l buried it in her heart. The spectators of the traethiDg of the spell Which bound her to the traitor's boiom, — Still, midst the vengeful fires of hell, Jionie flowers of old aflection blossom." la-l HARD HIT; A NEWFOUNDLAND BTOIIY. There is little more to add. Gomez, actinj; oil the firet law of life, sclf-prcsen-ation, dis- apiiearcd. The other parties to the duel kept their own counsel. Lord Rooster and his friends, saddened hy Melbrook's untimely end, returned to En{,'land. Mr. Joulter, through the influence of Vane, obtained his appointment, and revels in his " Social Anomalies." more than ever. His wife solemnly declares that she will never keep a secret from " dear Silas " again. Vane him- self is about to become one of the happiest of mortals, and swears that he well deserves it, for no man was ever so Hard Hit. \ TBG END. Gilbert ud HiTinnton, Priotwi, St Joh'.'i Square, London.