Page:Mysteries of Melbourne Life.djvu/20

16 Poor creature, I had dared to dream that he would some day come to me, as I bent over the terrible sewing-machine, and, after denouncing the hard taskmaster under whom I earned my bread, carry me away to love and happiness. But the cold current of this world went on, and we met not as lovers do. And still that meeting, that acquaintance, was to me like the season that in America is called the Indian summer—a blessed period, an oasis in the desert of my life. It was the only bright period of my life—the only dream of mine realised. But why dwell on the short gleam of happiness; the vision is departed, the dream is no more, and I am alone! Yes, alone! though butterflies wing their ephemeral flight ever around me!

"And who destroyed my happiness, who tore my love from me? Who but that girl known as Linda? They say she is beautiful—I cannot ackowledgeacknowledge [sic] it. Can that light-headed creature love him as I do, with a passion so strong, so wild, so undying? Has she waited through the day and through the night, in the cold and in the wet, that she might catch a glimpse of the form that was more than life itself? Has she stood upon the brink of the river, and glanced into its sullen depths, ready to hide her sorrows there for love of him? Has she preserved through a life of sin and sorrow one unspotted affection in her heart, pure as the heaven which all hope to reach? Is she ready to sacrifice on the altar of her love all that is sacred, and pure, and holy? Is she prepared to surrender to the loved one all the comforts, the pleasures, the prides, the friends, she cherishes? No; that faint-hearted creature loves him only as the bright, handsome fellow, whose affection gratified her vanity and gave her a triumph over her less fortunate companions, as the obedient husband who supplies her with all the costly paraphernalia necessary to a modern wife. She love him as I do! No, no no!

"I have already told you that I thoroughly approved of the scheme you have laid before me. The only objection I have to it is the length of time it appears to take to carry out. Have I not supplied you with money to no end, that you might be in a position to carry on your operations; yet I see no signs of the long-looked-for results. You carry things with a high hand, speculate and bet, and have become a notability amongst the so-called 'talent;' and at times the suspicion comes across my mind that, having used my money as a ladder whereby to climb, you have flung me away, now that your end is attained. But you know me! Marian Lee has not lived the life she has, not to be known and feared. If in this you play me false, you will soon find which is the most powerful. As sure as you read these lines, if you turn traitor, another few months will sec you the abject wretch you were half-a-year ago—and even worse than that, for, through the police, I know crimes for which you could be put into prison. And no one knows better than yourself the disadvantages that would result from a too close inquiry into your past life. I expect some result, and that very quickly.

"I have failed to find the least traces of my unfortunate family, although I suppose my father and mother are now in nameless graves in that great Melbourne Cemetery. But I would like to find Bell, the companion of my early days, my confidante—sweet sister Bell! Cannot you help me?

"Your letter has not taken me by surprise. Knowing as I do your impetuous nature and the wild passion you entertain for Robert, I was quite prepared to receive such a rhodomontade. But, like all women, you are most unreasonable; you make no allowance for time and circumstance; you think all obstacles should be leaped at one effort and the goal attained. How different to this is the ordinary course of life? Objects are only attained by steady perseverance, although I must confess I have always been incapable of practising what I preach now, and know to be right. Your suspicions about my proving unfaithful I forgive; for I know your experiences have been such as to considerably destroy your faith in man or woman.

"If you had given the matter any consideration, you could have easily seen that there are circumstances which make me as anxious to consummate the scheme we devised as yourself. You know that what Robert was to you Linda was to me; that for years I have loved her with a love surpassing yours for him; and that I may attribute my fall solely to the failure of my suit. Had she loved me—had she become mine—I would now be a respectable member of society, as the phrase goes, instead of one at war with it. Robert Wilton stepped in, and took from me the prize which was all in all to me. And do you think I have forgiven him or forgotten? I tell you, Marian, that notwithstanding the way in which people laugh at the idea of revenge nowadays, that passion is stronger in my breast than