The Rhos Herald

JALL RIGHTS RESKRVSD]. A Knight Defender BY LADY VIOLET GREVILLE, Author of The Town Mouse," "A Strange Misfortune," &c. It was Carnival time at Nice. Lewis Fair- fax stood still; the din, dust, and confusion made_ his head giddv. All around hilarious gooups of g, .-sqi-ie and comic figures danced And sho" in wild confusion, pipes squealed. flute; whistled, drums banged, con- fetti flew in »■ ery direction; a look at any- body immedia; y brought retaliation in the ehape of a she er of paper missiles, which lodged irritating f in the most hidden re- cesses of the attire, and slipped easily down the back. The motley crowd pressed, pushed, and enjoyed itself fj.O outrageously that an un- used spectator might be forgiven for imagin- ing he had fallen into a horde of violent lunatics. With exaggerated dignity a strange procession passed along the dusty street, monsters, dwarfs, half-dressed women, tinsel glitter and filled the lumbering cars. Aloft rode the Carnival King, a huge figure, with rays of electric lights proceeding from his head. Mounted on an enormous eagle, behind him came Mme. Carnival, a joyous dame of majestic proportions, cars containing pierrots, beasts of all kinds, gods and god- desses, nymphs and shepherds, blowing their harsh sounding 1 J followed. Lewis' eyes ached, his throat marched, he felt tired and bored—a lonaiy stranger in the mirthful company of masks. Suddenly a slight stir beside him caused the crowd to part, a female figure in a yellow domino darted forward and clutched him tightly by the arm. He was about to shake her off when she spoke. I "You are English," it said, "do protect JDe, please?" "Certainl", madam," answered Lewis, who was young ajid gallant, as became his age. "From what shall I protect you?" "I have lost my party, and those men," she I pointed to two dominoes with monstrous nosee, who stood a little way off, "have fol- lowed me and frightened me, A-rid-I thought -1 mann.-I knew yon were English, and so The sentence ended abruptly. "What do voli wish?'' asked Lewis, kindly. To find my party--three pink and one green domino—we wMe all together till I got separated." "Very well, let us walk on and try to find them," said Lewis courageously, though he felt the almost, impossibility of success. They started on their futile march, Lewis grave and determined, the yellow domino clinging closely to his arm, which she evi- dently regarded as her only chance of safety. Progress was difficult, as soon as they moved a few steps to the right, they were generally buffeted back to the left again. After some time of struggling the couple, panting and breathless, found themselves 4ung into a quiet alley off the main street, where the lady sank down exhausted on a door step, and the gentleman standing over her, worried and doubtful, wondered which was the wisest course to pursue, yet could not iielp noticing her tiny foot and trim ankle. "I cannot face that crowd again," she osid breathlesslv, I should certainly faint." "Shall I 1 ake w p home?" asked Lewis. "No. no, it i* inc. early they will not have returned, and lj;ilt", I have never seen a esrnivi6l before, it would be too silly to miss it all- now art) here." C, I agree with you then listen to my pro- posal. Will von trust yourself to me for the remainder of the evening, enter into the fun, see the illuminations, come to supper, enjoy 411 advent 11 re in short" She hesitated. "You need not fear, we sJlall probably never meet again. promise to respect voni incognito if vou will be my companion. I am alone, and was horridly bored till I met you. Take pity on me, forget your scruples,. and let us m ake happy carnival together." She laughed. "The idea is original, cer- tainly." "Then you consent?" "I ought, not to." she said. "Retnember I am English, but just for once I should like to enjoy the fun." "Just for once there is no harm; we are tare to amusti ourselves." "Very well. that- is dtlod, J throw myself Dn vonr courtesy." "You shall not repent it, Now what do you say to some -.refreshment?" It would be most aoee?if»ble; I feel as if I had already swallowed the traditional peck Of dm_' Lewis soon pweeized that his companion was onlv a girl—her php/urnf innocent com- ments on men and things amused and inte- rested him. He took care flilt to say the im- pertinent things which arcs permitted to the license of masks at this season, and even "<' f rained from silly compliments. The entente cordiale was so quickly arranged that they inight almost have old friends meeting and conversing together by mutual consent. When they finally sat at after joining mks far as comfort permitted in the revels, after dancing at the street corners to lively music in a^haruro-scarum fashion that would have astonished Lewis' colleagues at the Bar, where he was kncpon., as superlatively quiet ,and decorous, after staring with thejerowd at the really beautiful illuminations, which al- most turned night into day, they had sub- sided into a calmer and mope sentimental mood. Without committing herself to any revela- tion of her identity, the yellow domino prattled freely of her like-i and dislikes, her opinions and desires, until Lewis felt that he already knew her nature intimately, and every. word that felt from her lips charmed him more and more. The girl was so wise in her own, ingenuous w.*y7 so frank, so gay with the irresponaible gaiety of a child, tnat fee fell completely under t'ise itpell of her per- sonality. < He was seated in -the closest and most de- lightful intimacy, alone, St night, with a -beautiful girl-th glimpses he caught be- neath the tantalising mask of rosy lips, pearly teeth, and dancing eyes assured him of that fact. She had placed herself trust- fully under his care, her hand lay caressingly on his arm he could feel her soft breath on his face, and the gentle movement of her swaying figure as she pressed more closely to him. It was indeed a wonderful and novel ex- perience. The night, so warm and still, in- vited to sentiment. Where they sat in the little deserted restaurant among the Orange and jihnond trees, they could hear the faint echo of the noisy revellers and the soft lap- ping of the waves on the shore, and catch the glitter of the bright moonlight on the water. They were "together in solitude and silence. Just then a .ueighbouci ig clock struck three. The £ ,irl started. "Three o'clock ainvsdyl Oh f I must go at jonce. What will they thínk Tn "iut? have been. Vary careless of von." I '■ said Lewia lightly, "but I am glad, for I have profited. Don't go yet—what does it matter? This is carnival time. No one dreams of obeying convention* now. The night is so beautiful, and perhaps"—his voice shook with emotion—we may never meet again." "Who knows?" echoed his companion, "perhaps never again." '"The world is so small—I believe in our star of destiny—I believe we sltall meet again. I could not bear you to go out of my life like this—for always. I don't ask your name. I shall not even try to find it out. 1 1 will be honourable and true to our compact —only stay a little longer." "Yet I must go. I have never passed such A delightful evening before," she added with < sigh. "Nor I—it will never fade from my memory. It seems like an enchanted dream." "We have been in fairyland, for the rest of our days we shall be 'fey,' as people are who have been touched by the fairies." "You are romantic," she said, wonderingly. "No, indeed, the most prosaic of men, en- gaged in the most prosaic of professions; my name is Lewis Fairfax, just a dull barrister out on a well-earned holiday-and what a holiday it has been!" "Lewis Fairfax, a nice name—the man that bears it should be loyal." "I trust I am loyal," he said, proudly. "Then Lewis—may I call you so—promise me one thing-if-if we should never meet again-and I need you-I might, you know- and I cried for you to protect me-as you have done to-niglit-will you come to me?" "Always-frora the end of the earth "Thank you," she said simply. I know your promise will be binding." "And now promise me something." H8 pulled the gold signet ring rapidly from his finger and placed it on hers. "Will you wear this always in memory of to-night?" "In memory of to-night?" "We ure in fairyland." "And this Tingis enchanted," she added with a happy laugh. "You shall be my liege lady, and I will be your knight defender." "My knight defender!" she mused. "Will you not give me some name to re- member you by. some pnet appellation?" "You may think of me as Hazel," she an- swered quickly, under her breath. "Hazel' what a sweet, rare inniie. I have never be¡r:¡1 it before. Hazel, my dear, little ecu?]' anion." Then they rose and went out arm-in-arm,, but the glamour had gone 'from the night, ike moon lay behind the clouds, ami the air grew suddenly chill. Hazel shivered.. Lewis quickened his pace, and wrapped the long cloak he wore round h»r. At the corner of the street, the name of which she had whispered to him, she sud- derd, stopped. "You must come no further, my house is close at hsud. > "It is not safe for a woman to be out alone at this hOllr," he objected. "But the ,10m: is quite near, wait at the, eorn-r till you tr it shut." They clasped hands. Lewis would fain have I 'kissed,' if her cheek, at least her hand, I but something pure: and dignified in the girl's manner forbade him. »4 Good-bye to the nicest, most courteous and most loyal gentleman I have ever met," she said, then slipped away rapidly in the dawn. Lewis waited till the sound of a clos- j ins; 'door edtoetl' tlowfi the silent street, thee j <i.d away, a deep sigh., His exciting advenhtre was finished, his one. night's kne Idyll at an end. j j Five years afterwards a garden party was ia full swing at Munbarne Rectory in Devon-' shire. It was a mixture of bazaar, flower- show, fete ehampetre, and- .'charity entertain- ment. partly in. aid of the funds for a new ehurch-tower, -parllv to please the rector's wife, who imagined that her forte lay in eii.- tertaining. The county mustered strongly, the jolly" Duchess of" Brixton brought a large! party, including the great heiress, Miss Don- j caster, the judges and barristers on circuit snatched a brief holiday to attend it, the bishops, the clergy, the "master of hounds,; and the fox-hunting squires all mude a point I' of attending, to further a good object and gratifv the vanity of the rector's wife. Lewis Fairfax, one of the leading barristers, found himself strolling across the grassy lawn be- side a lively little lady, who treated him to t% riiifd dose of scandal and the family his- torv of all present. Not much interested, his thoughts began to wander to the evening five I years ago, which hud formed the turning point in his career. Since he had tasted IOVf.—since the hitherto cool man of the world had lost his head, his heart, and placed Ms signet ring as a pledge of fealty on the hand of an unknown girl, his life had been one of effort and self-denial. He had sought one of effort and self-denial. He had sought her everywhere, in the parks, the theatres,1 the troweled haunts of men, but no girl with a soft winsome voice and Hazel's own peculiar charm had come within, his ken. "Yon are not attending," said nis com- panion., acidly- "I wonder what you are thinking ht-re comes the Duchess of Brixton with Miss Don cast er. They will amuse vou better than I can—though I have been telling you all' my best stories." The buxom Duchess smiled at him kindly and at once introduced him to her charge, j who-blushed violently. J "Now do, like a dear man," she said,, 'takl\" Miss Doncaster to the refreshment tent and get her an ice or some fruit, she is jast dying for it." Lewis offered his arm, wondering what had caused the almost painful blush on the cheeks of 3fiei5 Doncaster. She was not only all feeiress but also an extremely pretty girl, with brown eyes, full of a de-t-p pathos, golden brown hair, and a complexion like a peach. Ske remained provokingly silent, however, and Tonchi-sfed only monosyllables, to Lewie's small talk. He brought her a plate of strawberries and crsaaa, which she at* with «>me difficulty. "Strawberries are tiresome things to eat when one has gloves on, shall I hold your plate while you remove them?" he asked.' She shook her head. "Obstinate," thought Lewis, as well as silent. "I suppose sue is purseproud, being an heiress." The strawberries consumed, Lewis pro- posed a stroll, though somewhat bored at the prospect of his wasted efforts at ion. "You live here, I suppose," he said, "and know everyone—I have only just arrived and feel a complete stranger—it is very awkward when <me has no acquaintances." "Te-s," she acquiesced. "And yet," he continued, "sometimes a chance acquaintance may prove dearer to one even than an old friend." Vow don't believe ill. friendship' She looked him full in the face with her beautiful expressive eyes. "It depends." At that instant the Duchess, with an escort of young men and girls, pasaed them. s'i forget, Hazel," she f4cid to Miss Doncaster, "that we meet in half an hour at the entrance gate." She nodded kindly to Lewis and walked on, and now it was Lewis's turn to colour and look embarrassed. "Hazel!" lie said, "is that your name-i it—can it be-take off your glove, please." "No," the girl replied, with dignity. "I do not choose to, you have no right to ask it." "Not if I beg this small tiling of you as a particular favour?" "Why should I grant it?" "True I beg your pardon it was im- pertinent of me—I have no claim on you. I am only an acquaintance—but I thought—I fancied—your name surprised'me, it is so nn- common—and I once knew a girl of that name whom I cared for very much." "I see—an old friend." "No—but I never forgot her." "After five years—how strange!" "How do you know it was five years5" "I don't—I—I thought you said so." "Miss Doncaster, I am but a dull escort for you—your voice-your name has raised in me old memories—I fear I caunot amuse you —shall I take you to the Duchess?" He rose and stood before her. "Not yet—I came out to amuse myself, you know, and the Duchess docs not expect 'met for half an hour." Fairfax looked distressed. "Come," she put cut her hand, "I have been teasing you—it is an old habit of mine. —I wanted to try you." Well "-FairÚíx"s voice sounded hoarse- "and you have found me wanting." "No, indeed—perfectly lovnl—I have some- thing of yours—see," and quickly stripping off her glove she showed him the signet ring bright and glittering on her finger" "Hazel!" he took her little hand in his- "my dear-my love. I beg your pardon, Miss Doncaster, you must think me mad." "No—I have often wished to meet you again-and we are here together—alone-- as at Nice," she added, softly. "Alone-together-yes, but it is not the same, not the same at all." He let himself drop on to the seat beside her. "No, then we were chance acquaintances, now we must be friends." "How can wep There is an impassable bar- rier between us — I am no fortune hunter, and you are a great heiress—there is nothing to be said now but good-bye." His voice sounded hard if a trifle shakv. "Oh, why?"—the girl looked distressed— "can't we be friends? if vou knew how friendless a rich girl is. I have often heard of you, of your success, of your brilliant gifts—of your popularity." "I am a poor man—no friend for vou. Miss Doncaster—in pity let me go. I have schemed, dreamed, longed for this day, and now-let me forget it." "Forget," the girl murmured. "Yes—forget my folly—forget that I pre- sumed to love you, that I shall never love any one else but—not you Miss Doncaster, but the little winsome girl that sat be- side me and wore my ring at Nice." "I have worn it ever since," she said, "and yet you wish to leave nie-voit refuse my friendship. Oli you men are' cruel" a big tear rolled down her cheek. "Hazel, forgive me—I can't sttv-1 daren't as a man of honour good bYe- good-bye." He stooped, kissed the hand on which lay his ring and rushed away. Hazel, the great heiress, for the first time in her life, was left sitting alone and neglected on a garden seat. She remained there some minutes lost in thought, making little pat- terns with fcor parasol on the gravel, then, with a sigh, she rose and walked back slowly to the Duchess. "How different he is to the others," she said to herself, "how different, and how much I want to see him agnin." A tiny smile crossed her lips. "And I will, too." Lewis Fairfax reached his chambers in a state bordering on insanity. That he should have at last found the girl that had tilled his thoughts for years, whose image, hud spurred him on to furious •• effort, for whose ,I ke he had toiled and laboured, that he should meet her and in the same instant lose her, moved him bitterly. She was as far removed from him as the stars in heaven, nothing couid bring them together, their fortunes could never be equal, labour as he might, and his pride forbade all idea of existence on hia wife's means. Indeed, her ambitions would be in a very different direction, she might marry a Duke, a Prince even, with her beauty and her riches. So the days and months passed, and Lewis never saw his lady love. Occasionally h read about her in the Society papers, learnt that she was at the duchess's ball, that she looked beautiful at the opera, or wore a wall- fitting dress in the Park. But he never wished for news of her, he only prayed that he might forget her. Meanwhile success followed him in his profession he was making quite a decent income and a name for himself as a rising barrister. One evening he came to his chambers after dinner prepared for a few hours' hard read- iug, when he found a little, note on his table, addressed in a woman's hand. He took it up carelessly—women often wrote to him they often came to him and consult him. lie was getting quite a ke-n insight into tho psychology of women's hearts. No sooner, however, did he open this note with the care-, less indifference of a busy man than he dropped it, and his face completely changed. "It has come," he said to himself, "the burning temptation I dreaded." He into a chair, and read the letter attentively. It contained only a few words. "You promised to come to me when I needed you. I need you now. Come here to-morrow at four o'clock." Then followed the signature "Hazel" and the address. Lewis sat for a little lost in thought. His cheek grew ashen grey, his brow moist with anxiety. It would he horribly painful to see her again, to be brought in contact with liar as an adviser, and vet—she' had his promise, and never had he broken it. He must go All night he sleeplessly on his bed. Then, knoeking off work at an early hour, he went for a walk in Kensington-gardens to calm his nerves. Precisely at four o'clock he rang the bell at the house in Grosvenor- ■quare, and was shown up to a small boudoir filled with flowers and redolent of refined luxury. "This is her house," he thought bitterly, "how could I ever think she would care to share mine?" Hazel, somewhat paler, but as beautiful as ever, entered, dressed in r. simple white gown, with a at her breast. She ad- vanced quickly ;Hi<l held out her hand. "How kind ot you to have come, how very kind!" "I could not do. otherwise," he said coolly, "I had prumiet1. "1 am in trouble. I want, to tell you all about it. Sit down. They sat down side by side, alone, as in the intimacy of long ago, but how different were the circumstances—-the girl had lost her sweet unconscious serenity, the man was stiff and jwsarred. I am an heiress, as you know," she bega. hurriedly, "but whnt you do not know are the persecutions, the lies, the deceit, and meannesses a girl IiJ-'e me is exp">d to. If _,III, ii If I go to a ball, half-a-dozeu men i have barely seen before propose to eve, probaoie engagements tsri discussed in the papers as } if 1 w.-rj a public character n;y people worry me to make a suitable marriage, as they call it, aicl r,icl themselves of an intoler- able anxiet' I have told them I will ouly marry for love." "Surely you have the right to choose." "That is exactly what I am denied I am expected to make a great match, my own inclinations count for nothing just now there is a duke. "You are worthy of one," he said ad- miringly. "He is old, hideous—a widower, and I hate him." Then, with one of her old buoyant laughs, she added, "Oh! Why, why can we not always be at Nice in the fairy- land, when I was myself, and you—cared for me, she added tenderly. "We will leave that subject," he said dryly. "I am here professionally to help you, but np to the present I do not see how. The whole matter rests between, you and your parents." "Precisely; marry the Duke I will not—en- dure the persecution of my family any longer I cannot. The men I meet and who like me I despise. What am I to do?" "Remain single," he answered, "if you can trust no one." "But I can—I trust you." "Thank you." Lewis bowed. "I have discavered something—if I marry without the consent of my parents, I forfeit nearly all my fortune. Do you understand?" Wild thoughts surged in Lewis' brain ha could marry her, give her love and happi- ness. "If I marry for love the rich heiress disap- pears. "You will not be guilty of such folly," he said, regaining with an effort his composure. "Love may not last; poverty is unendurable to your nature." "But not with some people, Mr. Fairfax. Lewis, you told me once you loved the little girl at Nice. She loves vou. Will vou take her?" Fairfax rose hurriedly, he dared not an- swer, he could not think, the temptation was too great, too terrible. However, he controlled himself, and said quietly, "You are not in earliest. I could not do you such a wrong." "Then what is to become of me?" she asked hopelessly. "Must I fling myself into the river to show you I am in earlh>st r' "God forbid! Wait. The right man will come some day." "The right man has come. It is you- you "You hardly1 know me; it is impossible." "It is possible," she said; and ]KT voice rang out triumphantly. "1 have gi.en up my fortune, and I have nothing no* but your love. You won't refuse it ><i me?" "Hazel, don't try me 3iy darling, don't make it harder for me. Let m go no-s." -Ne,, or She opened her anus to him. "Lewis, I love you He stoad dazed for a moment; tlu .i pru- lenee. woridliuess, all the scruples with which was trying to kill his affection, "re sud- denly swept from him, heaven and happiness beckoned, and with one cry of 7ir "ound emotion, he took her in his enib-uc sn held her to him. He stroked her hrir, be kissed her eyes, he looked at her w <1: the kng- repvessed hunger for love. and she nestled jontentedly closer and closer to him. "Is it true. Hazel?" he asked, "I can't be- lieve it. Ten me it i trIP." "It is true," sh? said, qui'tlv, "we are fey" you know, touched by the fairies, as "Oll wished we should be." Then he kissed her again.