Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Two New Years' Eves; Or , How I Became A Mason.
TWO NEW YEARS' EVES ; OR , HOW I BECAME A MASON .
( Continued from page 11 . ) BY A VETEKA \ BROTHKU . CllAl'TKR IT .
I REMEMBERED no moro until I awoko and found myself in a dimly-lighted chamber , but in tho returning moments of consoiousuess J conld discern that it was more comfortably . and richly furnished than my own was in tho City . The canrllo was shaded
( this was an ago anterior to gns or even " moderator lamps ) and all was wrapped in what appeared to me a death-Tiko hnsh—for in the City , at whatever hnnr of day or night , there- is always some sound vibratinc on tho stillness of tho air . There wns snmo one stealing
gently across my room , as I opened my eyes languidly after what seemed to me a troubled sleep . " Who is there ? And whero am T ? " T gasped with the first
brenth I could gather . "Hush ! poor fellow , " whispered tho faithful Tack ; " you havo had a narrow escape , but you must not talk more now , there ' s a dear fellow . "
"Bnt she ! Is she ?" "Safe , " replied Jack , "thank God . " "Thank God" was tho only sigh in which T conld echo the whispered utterance of my friend , who with the tnndornoss of a
woman moistened my lips with some kind of liquor , and I fell oil once more into a profound slumber . The sunlight was slanting across tho meadows and into my chamber window , whou I awoke and heard voices speaking in low tones , at tho other end of the apartment .
" He'll be rather shaky for a week or two yet , " I heard one say ; but there is no danger , and he may be safely removed to-day , if necessary . Ho has sustained a severe shock through being so long under the water . "I shall not hear of his quitting my roof until ho has perfectly
recovered , " replied another . "To him—whoever he is—I owe the life of tho sweetest angel out of heaven , my only daughter , and I must thank him as I ought to do . Poor Adeline ! How cruel of me
to have left you at home when all your friends were starting off so full of glee for our ' summer banquet . ' " And then the strong voice melted into a sob , as though a heart was breaking .
'Now , Captain , " chimed in a voice , which I instantly recognised as Jack's , " you must not give way now thst danger is past with them both . Wo would have gladly sacrificed our li ^ es to save your daughter ; but it was not required . The Groat Architect of the
Universe overrules all things , and we shall all live to bless Him for his interposition in n uv behalf this day . " " So mote it be , " groaned the Captain , who I then of course knew to be the father of her who had so nearly been claimed by death .
He had by this time recovered from his emotion , and went on to relate more of the circumstances of the previous day , of which I was yearning , of course , to hear . So , feigning sleep , when they each by turns came to look upon the " patient , " I heard the Captain's explanation , which I quote as nearly as I can recollect .
" Well , you know , Fenton , they did me tho honour this year to elect me Master of my mother Lodge , after my return from Abyssinia , and of course I was highly delighted with the favour the brethren conferred upon me , more as a compliment , I thought , than because I deserved it . I determined to make my year a pleasant
one all round , and in order to render it especially so I invented what it was my pride and whim to call a ' summer banquet . ' By that I mean , we were to transact a little necessary business in Lodge , which meets in the City , and afterwards invito the ladies—sweethearts and wives yon know , Fenton—to have a pleasant drive down
here to old 'Squire Cotton's park , which he generously placed at our disposal for the day , which is no more than a good and true Brother and Provincial Grand Master should do . We accordingly met , and on leaving home early , in order to meet the rest of my Lodge , I somehow had a strange presentiment that the pic-nic would not be a
success . I am not a superstitious man , as yon well know , and I have faced death in more forms than one . But in some singular , indescribable way I fancied there would be a mishap of some kind—what I could not tell . My daughter kissed me on the doorstep as I left ,
and when I asked her if she would not like to join our party , her eyes gleamed with a strange admixture of pleasnre and pain . It was a struggle between her own gratification and love for her poor mother , who has long been an invalid and cannot leave the house .
" 'Ton know , Papa , how glad I should be to accompany yon on such a delightful day , but you see there is no one at home to look after our dear invalid , so I must stay ; ' and wishing me an enjoyable trip , I cantered off to join the brethren , who had just assembled when I arrived at the ' Claremont . ' A merry party it was , and a glorious
drive along the dusty roads to Bickenham ; but my heart was not in tune with all the gleeful surroundings . I was ill at ease , and jnst as the brethren and their friends were mustering for our al fresco in comes old Jinks , onr Tyler , saying a brother was waiting admission , ' properly prepared ' with an invite , bnt that he was accompanied b
y a friend for whom he conld not vouch , aud who indeed was not a Mason . I immediately refused the latter , because when the subject was first talked about in Lodge the pic-nic wns { Lilly opposed by
some of the more fastidious brethren as an innovation , and I only gained the point by promising that none of the male sex should be invited who were not Masons . However , the two visitors withdrew , in dudgeon , I dare say . "
Two New Years' Eves; Or , How I Became A Mason.
Here Jack mninininod a wise and judicious silence . " Well , '' continued the c'plain , " in less than two hours , at any rate when the dance was in fnll swing , and I began to laugh at the foolish fears I had entertained ai to tho success of my ' innovation , ' a messenger arrived in breathless haste , aud in a second tho whisper
flow round the park that the Worshipful Master's only daughter had been droivnetl ! " I cannot relate to you the scene that followed , for my brain was on tho whirl ; but I know tho music had ceased , aud as I drove frantically out of the gates tho brethren stood aside with heads
uncovered in respectful silonco as I was hurried along in my unutterable woe . Yon remember , Fenton , tho scene that followed here—how that joy succeeded to frenzy when I heard that the worst had not been realised , aud that both my darling aud her deliverer , though not thon out of danger , had not succumbed to their fearful
peril . Tho doctor says she will speedily recover now , but a change may be necessary , and your friend thore , being of a strong constitncion will more speedily pull though . Bnt , hush ! ho is stirring . "
When Jack and tho Captain came over to peep in upon me this time , I could grasp each by the hand , though my lips failed for a time to express my gratitude for the deliverance which had been vouch , safed to all of us .
It is not necessary to recapitulate the gratitude which broke forth from tho Captain , more in action than in speech , when , later in tho day , T ventnred downstairs . I was auxious to get back to my own abode , to rest and quiet , and away from tho hearing of such profuse , though well-intentioned , thankfulness . Moreover , if she were then
to appear upon tho scene , her acknowledgment of tho slight servico rendered would have unnerved me . So , proof against all expostulation or coaxing , it was resolved that I was strong enough to bear the exertion of two or three hours' slow journey back to town , and snu < dy ensconced on pillows in the Captain ' s own carriage ,
Jack and I were driven gently away for home . In tho last hearty handshake with mo , as the carriage was moving off , I felt tho Captain pass upon my finger a ring .
It was hers ; and it is through the red , tho azure aud the gold that sparkle in the firelight now , on this bright , crisp New Year ' s Eve , 188 * 1 , that I see the panorama of my life from that time—forty , two years ago—up to the present moment .
CHAPTER III . Had it been in these days tho invitation would have undoubtedly come by way of delicately scented note papor and envelope , and through tho " Penny Post . " But iu those more prosaic times things were different , and the letter came by messenger , penned on " blue post , " and fastened with an enormous seal with crest . It was written in a bold soldierly hand , and ran as follows : —
" Manor House , Bickenham . MY DEAR HEWLETT , —A few choice friends havo promised to join us for Christmas and the New Year , and our company will not be complete without you . I shall reckon upon your old friendship to
crown the circle of our enjoyment . I have a secret in store for yonan agreeable surprise . I have written to your old bosom friend , Jack Fenton , and he will accompany yon down . Wo will try to make yon both happy .
Yours ever faithfully , HENRY MAYHEW . How it snowed , as Jack and I once more travelled along the same road wo had done on that broiling Midsummer-day , when earth and skv kissed each other in very rapture of sunshine , colour , and
brilliancy . Now , on this bitter Christmas Eve , as tho horses' feet crumpled over the frosted roads , and the snow was hurled by the fitful gusts against our carriage windows , tho contrast was intense . Yet the journey was not without its pleasantries , for two hearts linked together in the strongest bonds of love , as men only can love
each other , were once more in anticipation of a happy reumon , and this time there was not the slightest shadow of a doubt as to the result . No cruel Tyler would be there this timo to question the " invitation for two . " We dashed up the broad drive towards the Hall , in whose windows
glistened a brilliancy which defied the storm without ; and our gallant host was beside himself with joy in bidding ns welcome" fine old English gentleman" as he was . The holly and the mistletoe darkled on the walls , and every apartment wore an air of the most refined and luxurious elegance and comfort .
Shall I say with what warmth we were commanded—not invited only—to be " at home , " and how could we be otherwise ? Tho company was small as to number , bnt great in everything that tends to make life worth the living . There was scarcely a shade of that awkward hesitancy which invariably precedes an introduction , and
immediately we were on a friendly footing all round . As we entered the drawing-room there came the soft strain of an old Wallachian melody , which the Captain " picked up , " he told me , afterwards , in his travels abroad ; and as the notes were touched by tremulous hands , could I not guess whose heart it was that breathed life into
that weird yet soothing composition ? As soon as it wat ; ended , our host walked gently to the piano and led the sweet player to the end of tho room where we were seated , and in glowing terms—spoken in the brnsqno honesty of the soldier , who knows not the fawning platitudes of modern
compliment—presented me to Adeline as the saviour of her life , and the preserver of his clearest joy . How vividly come back to me now , even in my old age , the emotions which filled my breast on that eventful night of joy and
despair , and hope . How utterly unworthy of the thanks that were spoken with such artless innocence and frankness by the angel whose loveliness and grace no pen can ever be permitted to describe . I would that I bad never come to realise the joy which had been in my dreams both day and night ever since the day described in a
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Two New Years' Eves; Or , How I Became A Mason.
TWO NEW YEARS' EVES ; OR , HOW I BECAME A MASON .
( Continued from page 11 . ) BY A VETEKA \ BROTHKU . CllAl'TKR IT .
I REMEMBERED no moro until I awoko and found myself in a dimly-lighted chamber , but in tho returning moments of consoiousuess J conld discern that it was more comfortably . and richly furnished than my own was in tho City . The canrllo was shaded
( this was an ago anterior to gns or even " moderator lamps ) and all was wrapped in what appeared to me a death-Tiko hnsh—for in the City , at whatever hnnr of day or night , there- is always some sound vibratinc on tho stillness of tho air . There wns snmo one stealing
gently across my room , as I opened my eyes languidly after what seemed to me a troubled sleep . " Who is there ? And whero am T ? " T gasped with the first
brenth I could gather . "Hush ! poor fellow , " whispered tho faithful Tack ; " you havo had a narrow escape , but you must not talk more now , there ' s a dear fellow . "
"Bnt she ! Is she ?" "Safe , " replied Jack , "thank God . " "Thank God" was tho only sigh in which T conld echo the whispered utterance of my friend , who with the tnndornoss of a
woman moistened my lips with some kind of liquor , and I fell oil once more into a profound slumber . The sunlight was slanting across tho meadows and into my chamber window , whou I awoke and heard voices speaking in low tones , at tho other end of the apartment .
" He'll be rather shaky for a week or two yet , " I heard one say ; but there is no danger , and he may be safely removed to-day , if necessary . Ho has sustained a severe shock through being so long under the water . "I shall not hear of his quitting my roof until ho has perfectly
recovered , " replied another . "To him—whoever he is—I owe the life of tho sweetest angel out of heaven , my only daughter , and I must thank him as I ought to do . Poor Adeline ! How cruel of me
to have left you at home when all your friends were starting off so full of glee for our ' summer banquet . ' " And then the strong voice melted into a sob , as though a heart was breaking .
'Now , Captain , " chimed in a voice , which I instantly recognised as Jack's , " you must not give way now thst danger is past with them both . Wo would have gladly sacrificed our li ^ es to save your daughter ; but it was not required . The Groat Architect of the
Universe overrules all things , and we shall all live to bless Him for his interposition in n uv behalf this day . " " So mote it be , " groaned the Captain , who I then of course knew to be the father of her who had so nearly been claimed by death .
He had by this time recovered from his emotion , and went on to relate more of the circumstances of the previous day , of which I was yearning , of course , to hear . So , feigning sleep , when they each by turns came to look upon the " patient , " I heard the Captain's explanation , which I quote as nearly as I can recollect .
" Well , you know , Fenton , they did me tho honour this year to elect me Master of my mother Lodge , after my return from Abyssinia , and of course I was highly delighted with the favour the brethren conferred upon me , more as a compliment , I thought , than because I deserved it . I determined to make my year a pleasant
one all round , and in order to render it especially so I invented what it was my pride and whim to call a ' summer banquet . ' By that I mean , we were to transact a little necessary business in Lodge , which meets in the City , and afterwards invito the ladies—sweethearts and wives yon know , Fenton—to have a pleasant drive down
here to old 'Squire Cotton's park , which he generously placed at our disposal for the day , which is no more than a good and true Brother and Provincial Grand Master should do . We accordingly met , and on leaving home early , in order to meet the rest of my Lodge , I somehow had a strange presentiment that the pic-nic would not be a
success . I am not a superstitious man , as yon well know , and I have faced death in more forms than one . But in some singular , indescribable way I fancied there would be a mishap of some kind—what I could not tell . My daughter kissed me on the doorstep as I left ,
and when I asked her if she would not like to join our party , her eyes gleamed with a strange admixture of pleasnre and pain . It was a struggle between her own gratification and love for her poor mother , who has long been an invalid and cannot leave the house .
" 'Ton know , Papa , how glad I should be to accompany yon on such a delightful day , but you see there is no one at home to look after our dear invalid , so I must stay ; ' and wishing me an enjoyable trip , I cantered off to join the brethren , who had just assembled when I arrived at the ' Claremont . ' A merry party it was , and a glorious
drive along the dusty roads to Bickenham ; but my heart was not in tune with all the gleeful surroundings . I was ill at ease , and jnst as the brethren and their friends were mustering for our al fresco in comes old Jinks , onr Tyler , saying a brother was waiting admission , ' properly prepared ' with an invite , bnt that he was accompanied b
y a friend for whom he conld not vouch , aud who indeed was not a Mason . I immediately refused the latter , because when the subject was first talked about in Lodge the pic-nic wns { Lilly opposed by
some of the more fastidious brethren as an innovation , and I only gained the point by promising that none of the male sex should be invited who were not Masons . However , the two visitors withdrew , in dudgeon , I dare say . "
Two New Years' Eves; Or , How I Became A Mason.
Here Jack mninininod a wise and judicious silence . " Well , '' continued the c'plain , " in less than two hours , at any rate when the dance was in fnll swing , and I began to laugh at the foolish fears I had entertained ai to tho success of my ' innovation , ' a messenger arrived in breathless haste , aud in a second tho whisper
flow round the park that the Worshipful Master's only daughter had been droivnetl ! " I cannot relate to you the scene that followed , for my brain was on tho whirl ; but I know tho music had ceased , aud as I drove frantically out of the gates tho brethren stood aside with heads
uncovered in respectful silonco as I was hurried along in my unutterable woe . Yon remember , Fenton , tho scene that followed here—how that joy succeeded to frenzy when I heard that the worst had not been realised , aud that both my darling aud her deliverer , though not thon out of danger , had not succumbed to their fearful
peril . Tho doctor says she will speedily recover now , but a change may be necessary , and your friend thore , being of a strong constitncion will more speedily pull though . Bnt , hush ! ho is stirring . "
When Jack and tho Captain came over to peep in upon me this time , I could grasp each by the hand , though my lips failed for a time to express my gratitude for the deliverance which had been vouch , safed to all of us .
It is not necessary to recapitulate the gratitude which broke forth from tho Captain , more in action than in speech , when , later in tho day , T ventnred downstairs . I was auxious to get back to my own abode , to rest and quiet , and away from tho hearing of such profuse , though well-intentioned , thankfulness . Moreover , if she were then
to appear upon tho scene , her acknowledgment of tho slight servico rendered would have unnerved me . So , proof against all expostulation or coaxing , it was resolved that I was strong enough to bear the exertion of two or three hours' slow journey back to town , and snu < dy ensconced on pillows in the Captain ' s own carriage ,
Jack and I were driven gently away for home . In tho last hearty handshake with mo , as the carriage was moving off , I felt tho Captain pass upon my finger a ring .
It was hers ; and it is through the red , tho azure aud the gold that sparkle in the firelight now , on this bright , crisp New Year ' s Eve , 188 * 1 , that I see the panorama of my life from that time—forty , two years ago—up to the present moment .
CHAPTER III . Had it been in these days tho invitation would have undoubtedly come by way of delicately scented note papor and envelope , and through tho " Penny Post . " But iu those more prosaic times things were different , and the letter came by messenger , penned on " blue post , " and fastened with an enormous seal with crest . It was written in a bold soldierly hand , and ran as follows : —
" Manor House , Bickenham . MY DEAR HEWLETT , —A few choice friends havo promised to join us for Christmas and the New Year , and our company will not be complete without you . I shall reckon upon your old friendship to
crown the circle of our enjoyment . I have a secret in store for yonan agreeable surprise . I have written to your old bosom friend , Jack Fenton , and he will accompany yon down . Wo will try to make yon both happy .
Yours ever faithfully , HENRY MAYHEW . How it snowed , as Jack and I once more travelled along the same road wo had done on that broiling Midsummer-day , when earth and skv kissed each other in very rapture of sunshine , colour , and
brilliancy . Now , on this bitter Christmas Eve , as tho horses' feet crumpled over the frosted roads , and the snow was hurled by the fitful gusts against our carriage windows , tho contrast was intense . Yet the journey was not without its pleasantries , for two hearts linked together in the strongest bonds of love , as men only can love
each other , were once more in anticipation of a happy reumon , and this time there was not the slightest shadow of a doubt as to the result . No cruel Tyler would be there this timo to question the " invitation for two . " We dashed up the broad drive towards the Hall , in whose windows
glistened a brilliancy which defied the storm without ; and our gallant host was beside himself with joy in bidding ns welcome" fine old English gentleman" as he was . The holly and the mistletoe darkled on the walls , and every apartment wore an air of the most refined and luxurious elegance and comfort .
Shall I say with what warmth we were commanded—not invited only—to be " at home , " and how could we be otherwise ? Tho company was small as to number , bnt great in everything that tends to make life worth the living . There was scarcely a shade of that awkward hesitancy which invariably precedes an introduction , and
immediately we were on a friendly footing all round . As we entered the drawing-room there came the soft strain of an old Wallachian melody , which the Captain " picked up , " he told me , afterwards , in his travels abroad ; and as the notes were touched by tremulous hands , could I not guess whose heart it was that breathed life into
that weird yet soothing composition ? As soon as it wat ; ended , our host walked gently to the piano and led the sweet player to the end of tho room where we were seated , and in glowing terms—spoken in the brnsqno honesty of the soldier , who knows not the fawning platitudes of modern
compliment—presented me to Adeline as the saviour of her life , and the preserver of his clearest joy . How vividly come back to me now , even in my old age , the emotions which filled my breast on that eventful night of joy and
despair , and hope . How utterly unworthy of the thanks that were spoken with such artless innocence and frankness by the angel whose loveliness and grace no pen can ever be permitted to describe . I would that I bad never come to realise the joy which had been in my dreams both day and night ever since the day described in a