LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 424, 21 October 1875, Page 4

LITERATURE.

A WELCOME WINDFALL,

(From Chambers' Journal.}

In a luxuriously furnished drawing-room, whose windows faced Hyde Park, one lovel.x afternoon in June 18—, sat a lady, whos< age, judging from her appearance, was about twenty-three. She was alone, but, by her restless movements and varying expression, it was evident that some one was momentarily expected. Her face was a fair one, but bore on it the unmistakable impress of anxiety, which shaded features of no ordinary beauty. She was simply but elegantly dressed in a pale mauve muslin ; and on her white lingers glitteied some rings of great value, in addition to the one plain circlet which proclaimed her to be a wife. She glanced with an anxious look from the window towards the Park, and sighed. ; ,<Not a sign of him. What can it be? Then she paced up and down the room, until a knock at the door arrested her, and her maid entered, holding in her arms a, fragile and perfect dress of white tulle and costly lace, which had just arrived from Madame Elise, with an inquiry whether Mrs Vivian would wear it that evening, or decide upon another. Mrs Vivian—for such was the lady's name—without a glance at the dress in question, replied: ' No, Forrest; you can put it away. I don't think I shall go out at all to-night.' Forrest retired at once, not without sundry suppressed comments on the extraordinary decision of her young mistress. 'Not going out, after ordering this lovely dress, and to the duchess's ball too—well, I never !' And feeling quite aggrieved, Forrest carried it up to Mrs Vivian's dressing-room, and deposited it carefully on a sofa. ' Maybe she'll change her mind when master comes in,' she reflected sagely, * so I won't put it in the wardrobe.' At seven o'clock a hansom dashed up to the door of the Vivians' house, and in a moment or two Mr Vivian was with his wife.

'Oh, my darling Charley, why are you so late? I have been in despair about you.' ' I couldn't help it, Alice; you don't know how glad I am to get back even now.' He kissed his wife fondly, and they seated themselves together, whilst he prepared to explain the reason of his delay. ' I see it is bad, Charley. Don't be afraid to tell me,' she said eagerly. 1 It is bad indeed, Alice ; it hardly could be worse. I have moved heaven and earth to try to get some more money : but unless a miracle happens, nothing can save us. Everything has gone down, down, down ; and unless a marvellous rise comes within the next week, I shall be utterly smashed.' 'We can but hope,' murmured Alice; 'and if the crash comes, we have each other.'

* My own wife, my brave, hopeful, loving wife,'responded Mr Vivian fervently, 'you are indeed a precious comforter ! Yet it is principally on your account I dread it.' 'Don't think of me. I shall be happy wherever we are, and feel I can bear anything better than this uncertainty ; it seems like heing on a precipice.' The two sat talking for some time, in turns comforting each other on the subject of some coming disaster which it was evident they considered it impossible to avert. They had only been married six months ; and when [Alice Annesley became the wife of the rich banker Charles Vivian, the world in general smiled on her nuptials and considered her a most fortunate girl, for he was young, prosperous, and handsome, and most truly in love with her ; whilst she, entirely returning his affection, thought little of the pecuniary advantages of her marriage, in comparison with the fact that her lot was in future to be linked with that of one who so thoroughly possessed her heart. Miss Annesley was an orphan, and, up to the time of her marriage, had lived with a married sister, some ten years her senior, a Mrs Frederick Atwood. Mr Atwood was a city man of considerable wealth, and it was through, him that Alice had made her husband's acquaintance ; and in six short weeks after meeting for the first time, they were married. Little was known of Mr Vivian's antecedents beyond the fact, tbat he was a distant relation of a very old family of his own name ; that he possessed no near relatives, but was eminently agreeable, belonged to a first-rate club, was a general favourite with both sexes, and was invariably met in the best circles, which was a conclusive proof that there was nothing objectionable about him. He had, not many years before meeting Alice, become a partner in a bankinghouse in the city, and as from that time his wealth seemed constantly to be increasing, it was generally believed that his business was a first-rate one. And, indeed, so it had been ; and when he married, he could afford to install his bride in one of the nicest houses in London, with every appliance of comfort and luxury. It was a wonderful marriage for Alice, who only possessed a small yearly income of one hundred and fifty pounds, which, however, her father's oldest friend and family lawyer, Mr Upton, insisted should be settled safely upon herself. This caution on the part of the lawyer was deemed by Mr Atwood to be superfluous; but Mr Upton was firm, and, in spite of remonstance from even Alice herself, did his utmost to make the bridegroom elect settle an amount uponjheriin addition; but here he failed, and was obliged to be satisfied with having secured her own money—a good deed, for which no one thanked him at the time.

Mr Vivian gave his wife magnificent presents ; the Atwoods were most liberal ; and friends seemed to start up in every direction, eager to add their offerings to the bridal gifts so plentifully bestowed on the future Mrs Vivian. To be brief, the marriage took place, and the pair went abroad for a few weeks, returning to England, first to pay a few country visits, and then to take possession of their new house, and to take their part, in due time, in one of the most brilliant seasons ever known in London. Mr Vivian was rich, Mrs Vivian was a beauty, and before she knew it herself, Mrs Vivian was the rage. Every one called; invitatioDS were showered upon them; and though they both agreed in thinking a quiet evening now and then would be very welcome, it was almost impossible to achieve such a thing. But a shade seemed gradually to envelop Mr Vivian, and though his devotion to his wife was evident, still, it was apparent that his marriage was changing him, for he was now not the same man. Alice perceived the alteration, and first wondered, then trembled,

and then charged him with it, nor desisted until she had gained his fullest confidence. Tn the midst of their gaiety and magnificence, she heard that her husband was on the verge of min. He told her all, unbu'dened himself to her sympathising ear, and so relieved himself of half the anguish which concealment had entailed. It was the old story : speculations had failed, which, as a partner, he shared in ; others had been ventured on, but were equally unfortunate : and it now required but one whisper against the solvency of the bank to insure its ruin. To avert the possibility of suspicion, Alice went out as usual, and received visitors in her splendid home with a smiling exterior, which covered, alas ! a sinking heart; while he struggled to avert the dreaded crash, returning home every afternoon jaded and worn, only to have to brace himself up to accompany his wife to some gay scene, sadly in discordance with their feelings, but a necessary effort to avoid suspicion. Matters, they vainly hoped, might yet be arranged, and they would be able quietly to withdraw from their present position without the fiasco which a sudden collapse would entail. They must fulfil their engagements, and, worse still, allow a ball, for which Mrs Vivian had, little dreaming of what _ was imminent, issued innumerable invitations., F'oor Alice ! no wonder that her heart sank when she thought of what might be in the future, or that she almost recoiled from the sight of the lovely robe held out for her inspection by her maid, and which she had intended for that particular evening. Her husband had been most anxious for her to go to the Duchess of -s ball, and when an invitation came, Alice too had been highly delighted, and sent an acceptance, little dreaming what an ordeal it would prove. To be continued.