A Dozen Ways Of Love

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blew over the rocky shore; it could not rustle the bright green weed that hung wet from the boulders, but it set all the tu

for there is something I must say to you to-d

my hope and desire that you should become my wife. He told me what I did not know, that you have already tasted the joy of love a

owed then with all the strength of a child's heart

my wife?' sai

but say "yes," I

, and the curate was very happy. 'But tell me,'

I loved him, but afterwards we found that his mother had been ma

not marry?' sa

ward, 'because the taint of madness is a t

ou lov

hands. 'But madness in the blood is too terr

way?' said

and he died. He loved m

said the curate, 'for you

were at their doors breathing the mild spring air. The fishermen had hung their nets to dry in the market-place near the quay. The western cloud was turning crimson, and the steep roofs

uffins, Mrs. Ye

wife of the baker, in a s

ets?'

tical cast of mind, and commonly spoke of the sale of her goods as one m

let our second-floor front for a while. It's a great thing for us, sir, as

he curate, '

he place of their heathenish worship again. It's been shut

u're quite mistaken in ca

house. It's not been open in your time; likely you'll not know it. The new r

e curate; 'what are t

w, for it's Friday at sunset they've some antics or ot

up, and see what they're

he west. He felt a sudden sympathy for this stranger who had come to minister in his own way to the few scattered children of the Jews who were in the town. He knew the unjust sentiment with which he would be surrounded as by an atmosphere. The curate was broad in his views. 'All nations and all people,' thought he, 'lust for an excuse to deem their neighbour less worthy than themselves, that they ma

slate, as if compelled to take some notice of the fire, threw back the red where, here and there, some glint of moisture gave reflection to the coloured light. He had come near the end of the town, and, where the houses opened

re was a small ante-room to the place of service, and in this a dull-looking man was seat

you've got your sy

e sound meant for a respo

will there be

f families, and two grow

up a service, for som

har, wrinkling his face with sat

u don't always kee

nd related at some length what he knew of the present reader, which was, in fact, nothing,

r the service,'

ar; 'it's short to-night,

at or ceremony, and turned down to a subdued light. The evening light entered through the domed roof. Hebrew texts which the curate could not decipher were painted on the dark walls. He took off his hat reverently and sat down. There was no one there. He felt very much surprised at finding himself alone. To his impressible nervous nature it seemed that he h

There was little to be seen of his face but the hair upon it, and one gathered the suggestion, although it was hard to know from what, that the man and his beard were not as clean as might be. He wore a black gown and an ordinary high silk hat, although pushed much farther back on his head than an Englishman would have worn it. He walked heavily and clumsily inside the

ss and surprise. From mere habit he supposed the chant to be an introduction to a varied service, but no change came. On and on and on went the strange music,

from the town might come in and mingle with the chant. He strained his ear in vain to catch a word of the Hebrew which might be intelligible to him. He wondered much what sort of a man this Jew might be, actuated by what motives, impelled by what impulses to his lonely task. All the so

see if the ray within the stone would remain still, but it did not, turning itself to meet his eye as if the tiny star had a life and a light of its own. Then he looked at the setting, for the stone was set in steel. A zigzag-barred steel frame held it fast, and outside the zigzag bars there was a smooth ring, with some words cut upon it in Hebrew. The characters were very small; he knew, rather than saw, that they were Hebrew; but he did not know what they meant. All this time he had been stooping down, looking at this thing as if it lay very near the ground. Then sudd

ok, and then in the twilight of the nine dim lamps he stumbled ou

easant fact that we hold no stable relationship to them. He rushed out into the street. Issachar was at the entrance as he passed, and he fancied he saw the face of the reader peeping at him from t

e sitting on the doorstep. It was quite dusk; perhaps

wn in the corner of the shelf, so I brought them

he was really losing his wits, and he plunged into talk with the woman, saying anything and everything to

it's unexpected. Miss Violetta's a sweet saint, just like her ma, she is, an' her ma's a saint if there ever was one. Mr. Higgs

Violetta is like her m

ike her ma when it comes to paying a bill, not but what they're to be respected for keeping a heye on the purse.

e curate, fumbling with his latch-key in the door. 'Suppose you co

, and I said, Mrs. Jones having gone to see her son, that you'd 'ave no one,

tly woman began to toast his muffins. The flame lit up

letta is in the least like

ed in the bone comes out in the flesh; but it'll be none the worse for yo

nervously up and d

strong to-ni

he says anybody could see with 'alf a heye that she was a real saint. The subs

most devoted helpmeet to the vicar, and a truly good woman. At the same time'-he coughed-'at the same time, I should wish to say distinctly that after being niggar

woman talk until this speech of his had been made necessary; but at all times his humble frie

trading, and greed's in the family, and it's the worst sort of greed, for it grasps both at 'eaven and earth, both at this life and the 'eavenly. And," says he, "no one c

er--' began the cur

e only gets that riled at Mrs. Moore sometime

the curate, for the third time, 'that

Then she went away, leaving the curate t

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she wrote, 'but he comes of an old family, and that is a great thing. Dear Violetta will, of course, inherit my own fortune, which will be ample for them, and his good connections, with God's blessing, will complete their happiness.' So they came down. There was the vicar's br

ooms the day before and took away his best clothes, that she might see they were well brushed for the occasion. She di

at the vicarage,' said Higgs in a crisp little voice. 'Mi

urate absently; '

she was just reminding me of it. But that was in honou

he curate, 'all t

died of love. He went to some foreign countries and took up with low compan

d the curate very gravely, for he

e attaching to any, that I know; squire's wife was as mad as a hare. Miss Violet

looked charming. She does not look a day older than she did when I saw her five years ago,' said

d the maiden aunt to Violetta. '

er look more charming than ever. Then they had dinner, and after dinner Violetta gave

py occasion, and I thought that something of my own would be more valuable than--' Here the mother's voice broke with very natural emotion, and sh

nderstand,' said he,

ose and embraced Violetta and wept, and the aunts all shed tears, and the

but rejoice at finding a son. The barrister pointed out that as the bride was only expected to move into the next house but one after her marriage, all talk of parting was really quite absurd. The vicar did not say anything; he rarely did when his wif

!' cried Violetta. 'Ho

aid the barrister in

lders of the group with his double eye-glass. 'I am not aware that I

t, sister Matilda?'

er liked being asked questions at any time. 'I am surprised tha

he beginning of the years,' persisted El

explain that this stone has been lying for years among the jewellery which poor uncle Ford bequ

t pity!' th

r dear uncle Ford possessed such a r

ou never mentioned it

was not

st in such things. Life is too short to allow our attenti

ry true,' s

lover the ring. 'Look,' she said, holding up her pr

d that it did so. He looked at Violetta. How beautiful she was in her white gown, with her little hand uplifted to display the shining stone, and her face upturned to his! The soft warm curve of the delicate breast and throat, the red lips that seemed to breathe pure kisses and holy words, the tender eyes shining like the jewel, dewy with the sacred tears she had been shedding, and the yellow hair, smooth, glossy, brushed saintly-wise on either side of the nunlike brow-all this he looked at, and his senses grew confused. The s

nk he is ill,'

a chair, and fetched water and a glass

for him,' said the dean. 'Joy is

ork,' said the vicar, 'I n

t. 'Did any of you ever see an

n odd idea!' said

' said the dean in a low voic

metals,' said Mrs. Moore. She spoke as if the idea were a personal affront to herself, but then she had

ou think of it?'

ather absurd,' said

sively of gold is modern and crude. In earlier times many beautiful ar

bottom of your dressing-case. It looked as if it might be made of steel. It wa

have several old trinkets. I

ure you will be the better for a cup of

k, if you will excuse me, I will walk

vening with them. Violetta gave them some more music; and they all made themselves exc

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and quite light, for the March moon was

ted till the sound of the horse's feet had died away, and then he walked back down the

dd counterpart of his vision in actual fact. It was no doubt a mere coincidence, but it was a very disagreeable one. Of course if he saw the old trinket described by Violetta, the chances were that it would be quite different f

To the east and south lay the sea, vacant, except that on the eastern verge stood a palace of cloud, the portals of which were luminous with the light from within, and now they were thrown open with a golden flash, and yellow rays shot forth into the upper heavens, spreading a clear green light through the deep mid

round to the west. About a mile away there was a rugged headland, with some crags at its feet, which had been broken off and rolled down into the sea by the Frost Demon of bygone years. The smallest was farthest out, and wedged behind it and shelter

oonlight nights by the spirit of a woman who had perished in the wreck. It had been a French vessel, wrecked five years before, and all on board were drowned-six men and one woman, the wife of the skipper. They had all been buried in one grave in the little cemetery that was on the top of the headland; and it

he edge of the cliff, over the grave of the shipwrecked people, stood a marble cross, large enough to shelter a man somewhat if he leaned against it. Upon this cross was a long inscription giving

eak and white, for the moon, having left the horizon, had lost her golden light, and the colouring of the night had toned down to white and purple. Patches of wild white cloud were scudding across the pallid purple sky beneath the stars, and there was a silver causeway across the purple sea. The purple was not unlike that of an amethyst. The cliffs sloped back to the town; the boats and peaked roofs and church tower were seen by the sharp outline of their masses of light and shade. The street lamps were not lit in the town because of the moon, and on

bitants of the town would venture near such a place at such a time, nor could he think of any one else who was likely to be there. Besides, although he could not see the stranger distinctly, he himself was standing

'It is a fine night,' he s

of the cross. It was only one word, but the curate rec

rvices the other day,' h

es

r people did not

was no

aid the curate. 'I hardly k

tly. He spoke good English, but very

ly, if y

very much t

ld not influence my mind. I assure you I came of my own free will; it wo

ance then. I desired that yo

hat you have a power ov

rare; but I could not prove that it is not chance. It makes no difference to me whether it be chance or not. I hav

esponsible for a very disagreeable drea

as the

t you should be able t

if I influenced your imagin

uch earnestness without eagerness, such self-confidence without s

honest Christian,' sai

t Christians

ause to see what is honest it is necessary to

The most I can say is that I t

in your own honesty, I should have doubted it.' Then, in a

rusalem before their nation lost the holy city; but he himself did not think that this could be true; he only knew that it was ancient, and possessed very valuable properties as a talisman to those who knew how to use it. About five years before, his sister, who was beautiful and wayward, had loved and married a French sea-captain. The father cursed his daugh

vain. The people said they had not seen the necklace; that it had certainly not been buried with the girl. The people seemed simple and honest; the brother was a shrewd man, and he believed that they spoke the trut

own was graven on their hearts, and they went to see him. He was a mere boy, a pretty boy, and when they asked him about t

ritable lady of the place had besought him to take her with him. There was a great rain and wind, and it was with difficulty that he led the lady out and helped her down to the shore. By that time the wreck had been dashed to pieces, and the fishermen were bringing in the dead bodies of the crew. There was a woman among them, and when they brought her body in, they did not lay it with the bodies of the sailors, but carri

gain if there was no doubtful character there who might have had the opportunity and the baseness to commit the crime. At that the dying man fell into profound thought, and when he looked at them again the fever-flush had mounted to his face, and there was a light in his eyes. He told them that if there was any one upon the sho

w, 'that he was the son of the old man who live

ke giant feathers in the white mist of the moonbeams, and the ch

any inquiry which might frighten her. We sent a message to the goldsmith in London who mends her jewels, asking him to watch for this necklace, and so we waited. At last we heard news. An amethyst which we do not doubt is ours came to the goldsmith to be put in a ring; but there was no necklace with it. I came here to see if I could do something, but I have been here for

in the wind, and had sat down on the frosty grass below the cross. The blast w

for, try to find out for me if the other part of the amulet still exists? I will give you a drawing of it, and if you find it as I describe, you will

ot a drawin

have i

dream was but the reflection in his own thought of the idea in the Jew's mind. He did not stop to ask any explanation of the fact; the fact itself pressed too hard upon him. While the match was still burning he mechanically noticed the Jew's fa

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the curate spoke. He told the Jew quite truly that he believed the vicar's wife had his jewel, and that he suppo

n simple surprise. 'That

er openly what we think. You fear that she will deny her action; I have no such fear; an

our hands,' said the Jew

Jew's arm and said, 'I should not have your forbearance. If some one unconnected with myself had wronged me

us,' he replied. 'The sin will surely

aid the curate. 'You cannot bel

from circumstances may have in him the making of a saint, and his children may be saints; but with tho

ocent for the guilty,' sai

ishonest are dishonest, unto the third and fourth generation. Fight against it as they may, they cannot see the difference between right and wrong; they can only, b

responsibility i

t as seems right in our own eyes, the more bound to restrain and instruct ourselves, for by this doctrine is laid

and they walked down the street in the driving rain. The wet paving-stones and roofs reflected the grey light of the clouds which hurried overhead. The ruddy-twigged beech trees at the vicarage gate were shaken and buffeted by the storm. The t

the amulet, and added, 'I have reason, madam, to believe that it has come into your possession. If so, and if you have it still by y

ak as if you attributed to any inanimate object the saving power which belongs to God alone,' sh

the Jew in u

one. They are as dead and powerless as the idols of the heathen; and to put the faith in any such thing that we ought to put in God's

se things are as we think of them

see your error, and turn from it. Can you

Jew,'

entering into a long argument in a dull dogmatic way, but with an e

she had talked much, 'that you desire grea

of the irony. 'For what else are we placed in the world but

you say, and that you desire greatly to do me good. But, putting these qu

I ha

ast of my sister when she

life. I could not have allowed any of our poor women to see such a valuable stone on the neck of a girl like themselves in station; it would have g

on the table and bowed

sing, 'I will thank you if you will g

e against my conscience to give you what you would use profanely. Providence has placed it in

er in his soft brown eyes. 'You have had the

e value of this stone. I am very much surprised that you should ask me to give it back. Surely any real feeling of gratitude for what I did for her would prompt you to be glad that you have some

not make it yours to withhold, whatever

possible that I should steal? I took the chain from your sister's neck with

almost persuade me that you are in

e inward apprehension. It was a piteous sight-the poor distort

will promise me never again to regard it as having any value as an amulet or talisman,

the necklace and Violetta's r

ontrol. They might have argued with her for ever: he frightened her

ot hear of this affair if you delay another moment to get him the chain

truly believe,' he said, 'that it is as you say, that this

out the chain and the ring reverently and putting them in

He did not return at once to his parish, but found a substitute to do his work there, and went inland for a month, seeking by ch

d sight for sore eyes,' he said. 'Not but what we've been 'aving an uncommo

ed Higgs, but he inquired af

Moore is no

he've fell out with some one. That's her way; she takes to bed whe

aked. The yew trees in the churchyard were bedewed with tiny drops. At the little gate that led from the vicarage into the churchyard, between the yew trees and the beeches, the curate waited for Violetta, after evensong. She came out of the old gr

ver, and then greeted him with a little smi

n very poorly and ill. It has grieved her very much indeed that you should have so misunderst

why I treate

no good. Mamma told me to tell you that she had made up her mind to forgive you, and to say

vaguely, for he did not

those people; every one says that the man was a very common and vulgar-looking person; and of course to regard such a thing with superstitious veneration is a very great sin, from which she saved them as long as she kept it. Mamma says of course she knew she ran the risk

ough simply admitting that

say nothing to papa or any one else. People think so differently about such things that it would

e matter to your father, or to any one els

n she is better, and you have shown her that you regret having misunderstood

igs above them, the starlings talked to one another rather sadly, and far off through the stillness of the mist came the sound of the tide on the shore. The curate was very pale and grave. His tall frame trembled like a sick woma

s you speak before God, that you do not think as you have spoken. You are a woman now, with a soul o

ou want to know what I think'-with temper now-'I think it was most unkind of you to give away my ring. After it had been given

uld do no good.' There was a heart-broken tone in his v

hin sharp sound in her v

rry you,' moan

she exclaimed

shall ever be my wife; but I will never marry you;

one?' she asked, her br

darling, I would gladly die if by dying I could open

shness at the very moment when you are selfish

and covered his f

er cheeks flushed and her brea

a,' he said, and t

anything so dishon

the curate was in disgrace with