THE DISCLOSURE.
Winter had far advanced; its reign of severity and pitiless defiance was
near its end. Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by
a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in
resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch. An
occasional note from the returning songster was welcomed as the
brightest harbinger of the truly delightful season. Merry voices mingled
in tones of deep gratitude as they once more sallied forth to enjoy the
pleasure of the woods.
None were more exultant than the inmates of Government House. From Sir
Howard to the child at the feet of Lady Douglas, all shared alike in the
pleasure of anticipation. Foremost in gleeful demonstration was the
pioneer Johnnie, who danced and sang in the enjoyment of his native
element--light and sunshine. Every hour that could be laid aside for
this purpose was equal to a fortune.
But our young friend was no miser in this respect. Every available guest
must be in readiness to join the incorrigible Johnnie when bent on his
excursions. All stood on equal rights. Youth and age were all in the
same order of classification. It was a remarkable trait of Johnnie's
character that denials were not considered as sufficient excuse for
delinquency on the part of any favored with invitations, and, in
consequence, all made a point of being in readiness.
A bright Saturday morning had been arranged for one of those
expeditions. April showers had already been the means of bringing forth
flowers (if not May flowers), only to be found by the penetrating eyes
of "Trapper Johnnie," as some of the more mischievous urchins had dared
to designate their leader.
When, on the auspicious moment, at the marshalling of the clan, two had
dared to break the rules, so strictly laid down, surprise was
momentarily visible on many faces.
Lady Rosamond, the next in importance to Johnnie, had pleaded inability
to attend, with a desire to retain her friend and companion. There was
something in the pleading and beautiful eyes of Lady Rosamond that drove
vexation at a respectful distance, and welcomed, in its stead, a feeling
akin to sympathy within the heart of the manly boy. True chivalric
dignity asserted itself in every form when necessity demanded. Her
ladyship instantly received permission to remain, with a generous grace
that made Johnnie a true hero in the estimation of his fair suppliant.
"Accept this favor, Sir Knight, as a token of the sincerity of your
lady," said Lady Rosamond, stepping forward with a knot of pale blue
silk in her hand.
With the brave gallantry of a Douglas, our hero knelt at the feet of her
ladyship, and, receiving the favor, in graceful recognition kissed the
fair hand that placed it there.
"Well done, my boy!" cried Sir Howard, who had been watching the
ceremony from an open window, whence he had heard all that passed, and
the circumstances which led to it; "you have already shown that spirit
which I hope will always characterize my children."
After the picnickers had departed Lady Rosamond and Mary Douglas
returned to the house, where they were met by Lady Douglas.
"My child, are you ill to-day?" said her ladyship; "you are unusually
pale, while your eyes have a wearied look."
"I do not feel quite well this morning," returned Lady Rosamond,
languidly.
"You need rest, my dear, after the fatigue of last evening; too much
gaiety does not bring a bloom to my Rosamond," said her ladyship,
kissing the pale cheek of the lovely girl, adding: "My dear, you must
retire to your room, while I prepare a gentle sedative."
Lady Rosamond did retire. She also received the cooling draught from the
fair hand of Lady Douglas, whose kindness shone in administering to the
wants of others.
Poor Lady Rosamond's rest could not be gained by the simple sedative.
Physical ailments are not the worst form of suffering that afflict
humanity. Lady Rosamond was enduring a mental conflict that was crushing
in its intensity. The more she tried to baffle its power the more
forcibly did it affect her. Vainly had she struggled within herself for
aid, but no response. Faint hope dawned in the form of appeal. She now
resolved to go to her dear companion with all her trials and tale of
suffering. At intervals this hope died away, but in the end gained the
mastery. It was this resolve that kept Lady Rosamond from joining in the
festive train that set off that morning. It was this resolve that
detained Mary Douglas as well. It was this resolve that bade Lady
Rosamond to seek the quiet of her chamber preparatory to the trying
disclosure.
Lady Douglas little divined the cause of those pale cheeks, as she
ascribed them to the recent fatigue of an evening.
With heavy heart Lady Rosamond prepared for the reception of her
confidante. A most beautiful picture is presented to the imagination in
those lovely girls sitting side by side the arm of Mary Douglas around
her companion.
"Mary, my love," began Lady Rosamond, "I have often longed for this
moment, but could not summon the courage which the occasion demands."
"Rosamond, you startle me by your earnestness," said the former with
deep surprise, dropping the title, as familiar companions, at the
suggestion of her ladyship.
"Have patience, my darling; you shall hear it only too soon."
Between sighs and sobs Lady Rosamond told the whole history of her
troubles--the letter and its stern proposal--not forgetting her father's
kindness and his great love for her; "but oh!" she continued, "he cannot
realize the depths of my misery."
"My poor darling," said Mary Douglas, with great tears dimming her
beautiful eyes, "why did you thus suffer in silence? Can it be possible
that you can have passed the long winter with such a weight upon your
heart, my darling Rosamond?"
"Ah, my Mary," replied her ladyship, "I hope that you may never know how
much the heart can bear, or how much woman, in her uncomplaining nature,
may suffer. If I could only learn 'to suffer and be strong'--in that
source lies my weakness. I am only one of the many thousands of my sex
who have had such struggles. I do not wish to shirk the duty imposed on
me, but if more strength were given me to bear it."
Mary Douglas sat in silence for some moments, as if waiting a sufficient
reply. She knew her friend's disposition too well to venture any advice
that would require a third person's knowledge of the matter. Gladly
would she have referred it to her father or mother, but the idea gave no
relief.
"Rosamond, my darling, if I could afford your mind instantaneous relief
I would gladly do so, if even at a very great sacrifice. Of one thing
rest assured--you have my service in any way that you wish to command
me; besides, you have my sympathy and interest for life. It may be that
I can slightly alleviate your sorrow. Can I not propose some plan in the
future to re-arrange those affairs which at present seemed so irrevocably
fixed? Kings have made laws to be broken when the cause demanded
retribution. Darling, be more hopeful--trust in Providence and do the
right--in the end you will be happy. Let me read your horoscope:--dark
clouds within the visible horizon, succeeded by bright stars in
ascension--hope and joy without fail."
A spirit of inspiration seemed to shine upon the face of Mary Douglas as
she read her companion's future.
A smile lit up the features of Lady Rosamond.
"Thank heaven, darling, for that smile," said the gifted daughter of Sir
Howard, throwing her arms around the sorrowing girl and kissing her
affectionately.
Lady Rosamond felt happier and more encouraged from the fact of having
such consolation and hope.
Mary Douglas had shed a ray of comfort in one unhappy heart. She knew
not the load which was thus removed.
Lady Rosamond clung to those kind words with a fond pertinacity: not
only the _words_, but the manner in which they were uttered.
Some evenings after the preceding interview had taken place, Sir Howard,
Lady Douglas and family were assembled in the drawing room. Miss Douglas
was seated at the piano, while Miss Mary Douglas sang the song so dear
to every Scottish heart--Highland Mary. Lady Douglas listened to the
melodies of her native land with heartfelt admiration. She loved to
cultivate such taste on the part of her daughters. None could give a
more perfect rendition of Scotch music and poetry than they.
When Miss Douglas sang "The Winter is Past," another of Burn's melodies,
Mary Douglas fancied she saw the beautifully chiselled lips of Lady
Rosamond tremulous with emotion. The first verse ran thus:
"The Winter is past, and the Summer's come at last,
And the little birds sing on every tree;
Now everything is glad, while I am very sad,
Since my true love is parted from me."
The finely cultivated voice of the singer entered fully into the spirit
of the song, giving both expression and effect as she sang the last
verse:
"All you that are in love and cannot it remove,
I pity the pains you endure:
For experience makes me know that your hearts are full of woe,
A woe that no mortal can cure."
"One would judge that my sister had some experience, if we take the face
as an index of the mind," said Captain Douglas, in playful badinage
directed towards his favorite sister, who in reality did have an
experience, but not of her own.
She felt the blow thus unconsciously dealt at Lady Rosamond. Luckily for
the latter, the coincidence thus passed over without any betrayal of
feelings. In Mary Douglas was a firm and watchful ally. In her were
reflected the feelings which passed unobserved in Lady Rosamond, or
attributed to absence from home, separation from familiar faces, or
clinging memories of the past. Another great source of protection lay in
the composition of the character of the gifted ally.
Mary Douglas was possessed of a temperament most keenly sensitive to the
finest perception of poetic feeling. Life to her was music and poetry. A
beautiful picture either called forth joy or sorrow; a pathetic song
thrilled her soul with well timed vibrations of feeling; a touching
story brought tears to those lovely eyes, that would move one with pity.
Thus was concealed the sympathy for Lady Rosamond, as none would
sacrilegiously question those motives save in playful reminder from
Captain Douglas, who bowed in fond adoration to the shrine of his
sister's loveliness and goodness.
The entrance of Mr. Howe changed the current of conversation. Politics
naturally took the lead. The House of Assembly being now three weeks in
session, having opened April 15th, many important discussions took
place. Much turmoil had to be suppressed by the sagacious judgment of
Sir Howard. His predecessors had loudly contended against the troubles
arising from the sources and expenditure of revenues. Happily, in the
present administration, this matter had in a great measure subsided. For
the general advancement of the Province, His Excellency left no means
untried. His waking moments were almost entirely devoted to the
interests of political welfare. His conversation within the family
circle very often showed his zeal and the subject which lay near his
heart. It was at this very time that he assembled all the legislators
and influential citizens of Fredericton, addressing them in terms of
burning eloquence, impressing on them the value of extending the
progress of agriculture, showing the nature of the soil of New
Brunswick; its perfect adaptation to the different kinds of products,
and the independence of a country that can largely subsist upon its own
resources. "The day will come, I hope," said Sir Howard, "when our
farmers will be nobles of our land, and their sons and daughters
ornaments to society, proud of the soil which raised them above the level
of their less active fellow creatures."
As the speech had given rise to much comment throughout the different
classes, it was freely discussed at Government House. This intelligent
family often formed into a party of politicians and assumed the measured
terms and knotty difficulties of political lore with an ease that was
both instructive and amusing.
"If papa would favor this august assembly by taking the floor of the
house, we might be more free to avow our feelings."
"I beg you will allow me to correct you, Miss Mary, as being rather
sentimental in the choice of your last word," said Mr. Howe, appealing
to Sir Howard with the question, "Your Excellency, have I not a right to
make the correction?"
"I acknowledge your suggestion, Mr. Speaker," said Mary Douglas in her
own defence, "and hope, before the session is over, to make a decided
improvement both in views and technicalities."
"What!" exclaimed Captain Douglas, coming towards Mr. Howe. "Are you and
Mary to take opposite measures already?"
"Not at all, sir," returned Mr. Howe, "I was merely setting her right
on--" "technicalities," said the young girl, with a merry ringing laugh.
"Ah, Mary!" cried Charles Douglas, playfully pulling back the clustering
ringlets from his sister's white forehead, "poetry and politics cannot
exist on very intimate terms of friendship, at least too much poetry."
"Have a care, young man," said Sir Howard, laughing at the last remark.
"Ah! there are exceptions to every rule, sir, which you did not give me
an opportunity to add, and I still make the former assertion to be, to a
certain extent, counterbalanced by the latter."
From the appearance of different speakers the house seems to be out of
order.
From playful remarks followed an interesting and varied stock of earnest
political conversation, in which Lady Douglas joined with apparent ease.
From agriculture the question led to education, one in which His
Excellency had spent much time and labor.
It is to Sir Howard that the present university owes its first
existence, its various stages of progress and final success. It was he
who procured the first charter granting the privileges of a university.
Few can realize the difficulties that Sir Howard met before
accomplishing this great boon, and fewer still could see the way for
raising the means necessary for the support of this institution. But an
endowment was raised by grants from the revenue arising from the sale of
unoccupied lands, and equal grants from the House of Assembly.
The next barrier presented by the colonists, for the suppression of the
Thirty-nine Articles and the admission of Dissenters, was in itself a
formidable array of difficulty, notwithstanding the next uprising of
Episcopalian remonstrance. A sea of troubles! But reason, the true
pilot, never deserted Sir Howard. The greatness of the cause was
sufficient motive.
As the story progresses we hope to give a few facts which will prove
what success awaited him. In the administration of this distinguished
military ruler, New Brunswick found a warm and true-hearted friend and
adviser--one whose memory is yet cherished within the hearts of those
who had once seen his benignant and happy smile. Such is a faint picture
of the domestic and political bearing of the gifted and distinguished
Sir Howard.