The Struggle for Empire/Chapter 16
Chapter XVI
Conclusion
When the Solar System was cleared of the Sirian war-ships, Alec Brandon was sufficiently recovered to be able to journey back to the earth in an ordinary passenger interstellar ship. He performed this journey for two reasons. He wanted to set his affairs in order before taking the step of marrying, and he was going to break off his engagement with Flora Houghton. The long time that he had spent with no other company but that of Celia, and the great personal attractions of that young lady, had made a complete conquest of his heart, and he had proposed to her and been accepted. The image of Flora Houghton had altogether vanished from his mind, being effaced by time and by the influence and presence of another beauty. Being a man of honour, he was going to tell Flora of the change that had taken place in his intentions towards her; and this was all that the rules of politeness and good breeding required him to do in our time. In the old days of the nineteenth century there used to be some kind of unpleasantness known as a breach of promise case on such occasions, but that has now become one of the curious antiquities of a bygone age. A man or a woman is allowed to break off an engagement of marriage at pleasure, and is thought none the worse of for that; and no girl would dream of telling the story of her disappointed love to the world.
On his arrival at London, which was already rising from its ruins, Alec wrote to Flora, telling her of his adventures at Neptune and of the change that had taken place in his feelings towards her, and asking for an interview, that he might say farewell to her, as he would soon be leaving for Neptune.
She opened his letter with eagerness, while her cheek was tinged with love's fairest colours. But as she read on, her cheek turned pale, and she tottered on to a sofa. There she remained for hours, gazing far out into the country with a vacant, hopeless expression in her eyes, but not a tear fell. Later on she collected her senses somewhat, and wrote a note to him in which she wished him every happiness and success in his new life, and expressed a wish to see him on the following day. He came, and she received him with a calm stateliness that awed him. They talked for some time about the war and its results; then she gave him her hand and they parted—for ever. As soon as the door had closed upon him, she threw herself on to a couch and burst into an uncontrollable fit of weeping. Two and a half centuries of science and all the advances and changes that had been made in manners and morals could not alter the nature of that gem of creation, the heart of a trusting woman.
Later on Flora Houghton found a consolation for her wounded feelings. James Tarrant had always admired and loved her in the days of his intense scientific labours, and now he laid his fame and his heart at her feet. At the conclusion of the war he made a triumphant return to London at the head of the fleets to which he had given victory. All classes vied with one another in doing him honour. He was made Prince of Kairet, Duke of England, Admiral of the Fleet, Field-Marshal of the Anglo-Saxon Empire, and the President of hundreds of scientific and learned societies. But loaded as he was with the honours of the Universe, he felt that there was one thing wanting, and that was a woman whom he might hold dearest of all. He loved Flora the best of all the women he had ever known, and she returned his love; for the girls of the twenty-third century were too practical to pass all their lives in sighing for a worthless man. Their nuptials were celebrated at London with unheard-of splendour, and were attended by all the chief dignitaries of the Anglo-Saxon Empire. Later on they departed for his planet, accompanied by a guard of honour of war-ships, and now Flora reigns with him as Princess of Kairet.
The End
Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, London