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'te *J,ji.i,... .in '. i .Uj/-..&»Sk.r. i, I, ,il' •'<».. ,.'.ui,4.' .'„ t& ;^.\ ^.1* 1. ! 1 .»<». 4\ .V Z«a 9i >/ '•M':%M:'fi ^ '!. 4 f , I •>-' S 5", •^ ^■' S5^ / 1^ >^« ,''-^,^ .x^:^' •^i^'\*^a ''^^r.-j If^^J wi fcil.* r m^l ^.. w '■•> «'■ !^.A V .-\ '^^■A _^r - 1 AV 'H • t *f' ='i-*-' '^•^ "1. !f"ir 6:-. ■ •?, * ^^1 I I W V T-*^r ^ !^-i 1. y^io - / / / ,/;^. % V ■ '. x":;- ■V V.-C.^- X'. ^S. ^:i: I* I i .»t ■ ,-*A~ ./' ;-^v # :.-'f3 'OPULAII NOVELS BY MAY AGNES FLEMING. «.^XE NlfiHT'S M?ST«Ry y— KAT8 DaNTOV. *"• ••-HEIH OFCHARI.IOW »*-CAkRiF.D BY STORM ".-LOST K)R A W OMAN I..-A WIFK'S TRAGEDY iJ—ACHiNGPD HKART M.-PRIDE AND PAS^Iov •3.-SHARING MER CRIMF K-AWRMNGEDWIFp**^ 17— AI A UDE PERCt 'S sVcrpt 'I"* QVEEV OF THK I«!i v --THE MIDNIGHT OUEFv •i-EDITH PEkClvu - «-\VEDl.EDFORP,QUF O. W. Dilllngliam Co., Publishe„ NEW YORK. • "V. V '7 J V r r'^^^' ■ ,: GUY EARLSCOURTS WIFE. . J *<»?«A MAY AG1S1ES FLEMING, '^ AUTHOK OF **A WONDERTOL WOMAN," ONE NIOHT'S MTSllBBT,'' "A TERRIBLE SECRBT," " 51LLNT AND TRUE," "A MAD MARRIAGE," *' LOST FOR A WOMAN,'' **THX ACTR£St»l^UM;OHTER," ETC., ETC. ■^ MB^. J f r : K-OSV; YORK: Q, W, Dilitnzfiam Co,, Publishert, MDCCCXCVOr s. / //f ;%^; #»' ' FS^Q^ ' <^ 1^ J f'< GEORGK W. CARLETON , ■•5't :^«^ Earlicourfs fVt/g. V "•- -"V ,-a,St^ >-.N >■• C-g-NTpNTS." PA»T FIRST/ r.- -D«ke Ifuoo'i AdTcntvra IL— What Duke Mawn aav and ha«4 . IIL-*-Mr. Majun elopiit ^ ^ IV.— In the Waiting-room . . ^ ^ _ v.— Robert Hawksley . ] . . VI.— The dawn of the KourteenWof Aprf VJI.— At St. George*% Hanover Sqa«(« yilL—" Wnji^ed dibwn the Wind" . IX.— At lialf-Mooo Terraot — lold ia the Twi^t III. IV^. V,- VI.- Vll.i PART SlCCOMD. "After Foartaaa Tc -At MoDtaiien Priory -" All night in Lyndith -Face to Face . -PoUy*! Misdeeds ). . . . -Which treats of Love's \ oang Di«ui -liow.Robert Ilawktfey Lent his void. -Ladf Chartnris hears tfie tt«tk i^lBtrBaimoftte Nyir Lflr '^ -Tbf List Di^ i«l5 ^ . t^ " . " I< ' > ^ I* 31 ■^ 41 ^ ' "~iJ $7-^ fl 74 "^ • "I \ #4 ":'. t i«3 •e. itf ti ■13 ■57 ■to A • A" T»" iJ n- ^-«^»«f fe. ■ K 8 COKTTMJm. fAKT TKimo. vUhki i ~After Two Y«an n.- -The Rowl to Rate . (It-Puiliiu V —At Bn|>fatoii Vl.-In which Mm Lyie k diipoMd of Vn,~" A New Way to p., OW i>«bti" •^II.—" Camilla's >iu,i„^ „ IX. —On Christinas Ewe >C.-"Such a Mad jSlarriapfc,^ ^ PART FOl7RTa t— After !ttx Yean. lt~A Bdleof Fi»e III. - Held aaander ■ • « . IV.— Working in the Dark V.-" Paulina to Alice" VI . .-•• For a Woman's Sake" >^II.- -The Verdirt of the Coroner's Jv, fill -" How Pride boyrad awl Ml'* kX'-llatribatioo Ml M •63 »74 aS7 •97 jof 1--1 339 351 3M 3«i 999 ft. . * *» i f ^^* l^filf -J. Ml .•39 Mt ••3 S87 •97 joi J>r GUY EARLSCOURT'S WIFE. ••»• PART FIRST. 3J9 351 3M 3ti CHAPTER L ouKil mason's advxmiWkb. ' |irKE MASON had lost his way. There could be no doubt alwut it As he paused k perplexity and gazed arounJ him, five struck sharp] i» from the distant Specknavtn churches, rlearl/ )ieard" inrough the still, fysty air, and at 5:10 the express train fiom London left Spt-ckr.aven station. Only ten minutes to spare, *nd completely lost and bewildered, a stranger in Lincolnshir«i and with not a notion of whereabouts he might be now. Mr. ^1ason pausetl wiUi a face of tlisgust at his own stupklity, •nd looked ahou: him. Westward lay the fens and marshei melting drearily away into the low gray sky ; eastward spread tte wide sea, a bl*ak blast sweeping icily up, with all the chi? • of th« Grmian Ocean in its breath ; and north and soutlfi, the , ^ ^"f i v^y ., ■,. - .',J^"^-'- ':,:. yi-iL-'Jd^^'i^M 10 ^«rff MaSOJ^s AlVRlfTtntM. ^^\-^^n:.^TXl^Ti:^:: '^\ ^\ g-« on. as flat. a. a.e for .„. lL:"'\Z:^°l^:ilZ^ 5^' """ '"^I.'- "ajr, and find out if I can «,;,h ,„, • ' " "^J' °" « ''"'e Mr. MMOn-gaVe,m contemn i^"'",* '°""<' '° ">= "™"" He was moiinling the risin, »roMn,l ,? , * ™'"'- ""The (IT" '«r ,rf ■="- "-^^^ """""• It looked like the enc^^f t e wnrM^ a'? ^u'' ^^''"'«^'^- '' up abruptly barrinr^rfurtheV "n ^ '"S'» «-one wall rose gates frJwned darkly on ^^ib^er^eTnS^h"^ ''''''t^ ^'°"« trees of a nark anil in Si^ • . *^"'^'" '"^^e the wavinc chunneys aLr^pea^ed^'glbl^^^^ t^T ^'^'.^^ °^ ^^ ' ^ I)uke Mason had coumSonTerr/n^^^ fcht of the March day tnd the r«r ^^ '" *.''^ '''^'' *^ t'^' * habitation, "a haun?^\buse •* '^'^ ^^' '^'^' '"^ ^' »«^f«t 5eandho«r, He was perhap, „ n„,rt«r DCtCB MASOJifS ADVEtrrURE. „ oui i^iike s skin turned to •• eoose flnsh '» aa k- . j j *o«^. of the awfulTtorie. h/3 S .^y^^dn^uISi ruansion among the trees. ywnoer souuiy _ It w^, so deathfully still-it was ike the enchanted cutle of Uie Sleeping Beauty, only far mqre grim, else the luSd^.? young prmce had never sun,moned up courage to cnte^ h^^ Uke a huge mausoleum ; no smoke curled^p from the lr!2 J^ted cjumneys no dog barked, no sound bTt the mo^f/3 tomh'oTtS' ^^:^:Tj^:^t£x^ tellow could only get .n there now and see for him^f " The young man looked wistfully at the frowning ^ es, at th* Snd,. In 1 r '■''^r ^'"^ ^^"^" ^'^^^''^^r^ brave bu n.vTa ven^ commonplace young man from I^ndon. "" Day after day he had come thither and sketched thi. m,"™ «J2.in^Beau.,,W„ .way ^'i^'JUS Zt^^:^. The place was known as Lyndith Grange, and \A wmm^ Thomas Hood's Jlauated House, Wf J ^* Two hundred odd year« ago, before this gray March rioM. rfc. a^H '^ J'*J'".^^"'''^"r '^^^'^ velvef doublets and dSl uXn^J^ '""•'^1- '^''''. "^'ghbors under the fifth rib for yc« Ultle provocation, thc«. dwelt in yonder silent mansion a fi^ 2^! ''\^'' had brought home to the Grange a ^^e.^^ \ ftve young bnde. as fau- as a lily and almost as SooZT^ ^ ff^Sise'rurg tl!'!! I'rrr" '^^ been siH^nt, anS len^ i^nT^A^^^l 5^" "^'"fr *"** ^>e !»•« bride was left ^«H.r ^ **''';?• 'J?' •'^ '^"' «f » fair-haired. handiZ 2^; TiL"^''^" w#i5xougn the ponderouTdrTS?! ■mmirff betijiyal. of a fieiy husband wt£niag taOat ;Mi;.„ 4 '•*p-A r: '^''^BitCs'' IS I>UrB MASON* S ADVBfrrUKM, wrtA, offc dnd to the death in one of those oaken raomik an* 01 thehandsomr cavalier falling wiih a sword thi ust^thrt/oafc the heart at the frantic latj/s feet— of a mad woman shut ut. to Jhnek h<:r rniserable life aWay in those same dismal rocnis. and of a stern old general who fell at the head of his men. And thb bir-haired cavalier, and the lady with the m\6 ttreamins hav uid woful face, haiifUed (said the legend) Lyndith Gr&Lt m fi" present day. Ho. one lived hi the place lone, for cerUin. »lieth«r ft^wuyhe ghosts, or the damp, or the lonelineu ttM te;I f'" ff^'t^l*^^ things gradually fell to decay, and the L..j.dith family left the Grange to the -at« and the spectres, and Its own bad name, for nuny and many a long year. l dusk JPa May evening a ull gentlemai.— liark and gnm— ha.1 been dnven with a slender lady, closely veUed, to the hauiited house fr«Mn the S|ieckhaven station. After l^at, for three or four weeks, no more was known of Oiose mysterious |)eople or their doings. They were still at the Grange, but no one visited them ; their very names were ur. known, the great gates were always locked and bolted, and the Urd featured ol inaiter't •ecrets well and told no tales. One stonny June night, as Dr. Worth lat in hit parlor, in the ppWMn of his faiiiily, slippered and dressing-gowned, 'Jumkins his gr*ls that the work of that day was emled, th.;.-e came lu^ a iKundenng knock at the front ooor, and directly aAer luch a t«al at the office bell, as made the chief physician oi Si>eck tovrn spring to his feet and grind something auspiciouily like an Mth between his teeth. «» •- / " I«'8 a lady took sudden and uncommon ba4" hit servant tlie announced, " which the ^^ntleman says his caniage U U door, and you're to come imniedute. if you picase/cii. ' Df. Worth groaned; the rain was injuring, the night was darl ai tlif regions of I'Hito. and his ten o'clock glass of punch iiood In five oiinutes, cooteir Ui«** ant«ied, and his bed all r«ady ... ..,c «.muies. cottte« and naried, he loined the genUeibar waiting in the p«aM« fU had ?leclin^ to ciner, hi mi w. pawagt ■Jt' fe^^a*lia'!S8£eak of it, indeed— J who never had an adventure in-^my life. It was teeming, a cleai case of cats apd dogs, but what would a water-spout have i uU tered now?" ," ^ •Diiy readied the Orange— the ponderous gates flew cpen- ■Mr whtfled up a long avenue and «top|.ed. A minute latei tod the doctor, at the heels of his leader, was travcrsini Oraughty corr.dofs ai|l endless suites of dreary rooms. At the door of an aparunenl, in a long, chiU haH, the myfterioui gendenuin hatted Vonrpanenriih-re, doctor." he said. in.presBrelyr«lJi •U VOUI akili to-night Reniember. the lady must kt s€v*4 / •' Ado than he odd the duor opcas for the doctsi tp -mtm. i J^^^iiAitHit'i 'M ind gloomy enough foTa Leo,, W A ^ '^'2' ^« ^'"^"^^ one of the tiled fireolac^^^'?.^^^ ^ '^*'*^ ^'* burned ie "o.^ «.ri SaL^%etL:o; l!.";? '"'^ ^^^^^f^t^-ed oW 4hL ^^' "*^'^^8 <"» ""le garment* by the wai doctor hfc. never once seen 1 1^ fo ^ r u *" S|H;ckhaven b«.vy. «lken curtaiV." shaded h^r [n 1 ^" .P*"*^"^' '^« fece had been pers«L\^ r^L i r " ''''!'"''' «'°°'"' *"<* her piUows P«'*'sftntJy turnetl from hun and buried in the 4'S.o:e™lS.Tr;S"H^;r1^|'^^^^ '^^^ n-da wedd^g. "Wd"» replied dVwoS;'''^ ladv*. • .. «lTi *^\ Worth, rather shortly, •« it « well Th- " And she is sure to live ? " la^My."^"' "' «~™'" -id *. genUonan, .ngrily «rf " il'« « KirL »nd ttkinJ 1 ' ""f '"''''' "'"'nee. Stitt «« o« .hf «. m,„1ta*f,il"T'^ """''"TV and conuart "^ aUo, to .,».rr«t e'™d i^,' "2„'l M' """' -"^ find a ample. Mv man »iii a^. your fee-- 1 think you'U %- x^-vM.j'^'^^i' BOtE M4SOJir*3 AlfltEimntM. » IS Amf jurt two weeks later the ny^renons inhabitant! of thi Grange vanished as suddenly and r^nmgely as they had cone^ and uie old house was given ovet again to the murderod cava ucr and mad lady. For nearly two years, and then again, as unexpectedly aa b» forr, a tall gentleman came down by the lA>ndou train, bnu tag a slim, vriled lady and same two servants »ck. -Ilig , fentleman left the lady and retiuned by the nt^. tram, vA who they might be, and whether they were ♦J.e same, a^ what they could mean by such unaccountable goings on, all i^ conjecture m the town of SiJeckha^en. This waTtmp mon^ Vefore this twenty-fifth of March on which Duke Mason standi md gazes, and no one had penetrated the secret, or seen the lady yet. Jf he only could be the man. He had wished the same wish at least a score of times, and nothing had come of it ~ On this evening Destiny had made up her mind to let him have his way. As he stood there in the g;loaming, he heard, for the W tone, voices and footsteps within. His heart gave a lean. The footsteps wei« fast approaching, the voices tkawing near, carnage-wheels ground over the gravelled avenue. •• Youll need to drive fast, JosepK" said a woman's voice. 'You haven't ten minutes to get to the sution, and it's as much as your place is worth to keep the master waiting." " I>on't 1 know that— hang 'em ! " responded a sulky voice • •* a strine tf oaths fit to sink a ship if a chap's half a quarter o* a second behind time. 1 tell you what. Misses Grimshaw, the ijjges is good, 1 don't deny, but I'll be jiggered if 1 edn stand dus life much longer. Newgate's a pallis 'loncstde of it" The soand of bolts mthdratring, of a key tnrmng slowly in a rusty lock, warned the listener they were about to ap- pear. Duke Mason darted behind one of the huge buttress « es— the falling darkness screening him as welL He could see quite plainly, himself unobserved. A heavy-featured groom drove out in a two-wheeled chaise, and an elderly, thin-faced woman stood looktog after him, and swinging a huge key. "Look here. Joseph," she' said, " I wish you'd lock the Jate, and t ake the k ey with you i I've the m aster' s dinnetloJcet. and 7(>ii KfiOw how particular he is, and it's nigh on a quarter of a mi le's walk down here from the house, and it's nogood fetch- ing me down again when you're coming back. Just lock -t..* ^'M'.X'-k^^ iJ&rtaaV^'i;,, n 1 I6 tntATDOK^mjsaif saw Am bsaho. ;^..<. oa d,. .„.«^ Jo.,*, rtl ,«.. „d Uie d» u, )-j;h luoM .,„w1; "l*S,*:r'^'""'~ "^ ""^ CiiimAaw." '■*"«'"• "d "v. ,,our old bone^ Alotho b»tHtd''J„°Z'„r*'«' "'■ ■*' '^- »" n-c U.. ho™ CHAPTER IL WlUT DV» IIASOK SAW AND M.aiU,. if the fair-haired cavXr al Lrl L^*"!; "'.? u'"J^' '"''*"*«^ J^fflLdriiK. Xhe» would be ^^ i^to 5t""j, ■>'?«= ^ii&iaslii,'' .V.-'t., .»,«li,,<., J ^..-'si!, '..i.^i.i: WVAT DtUTB MASOlf fAtT A^D ITEAItO. ih « mflf 15 the house, l-lve minutev sharp walking bron^t hi» to it, kxMiirig uj» a blacker, bulkier shadow among the shadm A long, lew, irregular mansion, much inclined to run to chin neys and gab.es and turrets, with small leaden casements, u«l Jwo lanij.% burning over the portico entrance. If it had been broad day, and he could have deciphered anythitM iirough the ivy, the intruder might have read how the huaM «■ lal bern bu.lt by one Sir Henry Lyndith, in 1552, when goo4 Queen Bess, that first asserter of woman's rights, had ruled merry Rngland with a.i iron rod. The neglected grounds were entirely overrun with tall ferns : the trees grew unpTeasanily close to the small diamond pane casements. Onr gigantic elm spread its branches so near that, swinging himself into i'4, lower amis, Mr. Mason could sit at his ease and stare through the only lighted windows in the whole long fayade of the dreary mansion. Away in the rear another lidit glunmered from die kitchen regions, ^o doubt AJpng tk front, a red glow shone from the curtainless and open caae- raents, and more vividly interested than he had ever been b the wlKjIe course of hw life before, Duke Mason bem forwa^ to hMsn and look. " If it were a stall in th».h.».^ . 'en. JO 4»r to the n.a«:uhne Bn;?^ S' "~*'^''* ^"^ A very changing bit of still l.fe, after Watteau." th« rf». Ae toectator; "a very pretty interior, indecS N., J'^S d«m*ii8 perso^ae wouW but apjH^ar I " ' "* ^he though, had barely crossed his mind »hen, a. if i, >^ ^ wlav:^;'.;^^ ^^^^ -<* » y-^« i-i> cU :* ^^e best-looking young woman I've seen th,. rnun^ :rSun Mr. Mason was right— she was very pretty— very nretrv in «v»y ,,llo„ hair, ,ha. fell in a''h,„t;\ r^'.^^Tj ^ •¥*« suunf with kmt brows mto the t^^wig fir»Ugl4. nil / r* T«d tro». ' th6u.|;ht «, if the if it VjJ ujm' is the mu It Duke, nature •' . of Sun retry in t^at dark . iision ol r waist lings, so c lad/ 1 Pansiao r nude «rhethei id were iniondt ghi she iss, be naible he ret! lie iH) nt, ih« eWioi^ ' Duke . seems tobfl %* same pecsc, mrAT DUKR HASONr SAW AfTD HEAMD. >• If with a long, heartsick sigh, she started, crossed the room oiice or t*ice, always lost in deep and painful thought, tHen taj denly seated herself at the piano, and began to silig. She be /aiS very low and plaintively, but as she sung, her voice Foml her black eyes kindPed, a flush passed over the clear, darii pallor of I er fat e. Her whole heart was in the song, " Rp^^rU th^tu cfu adofof" lx)vingly, lingeringly, with a sort of ira.^ aasjupnate ijitensity, she dwelt on the name, on tW^ caxeiam lt«l)aii word^ "■ Rohrrto oh tu che adoro /"» A * Then, niore^idU^nly than she had sat down; die arose, hef whole face working, and held out her anns with a suppressed •^Robert!" she cried, "oh, my Robert I my Robert! come bark ! '' , Duke Mason thrilled to the heart as he watched that pa» rfionjiie, despairing gesture^as he heard that wild appeal. It was tire okl coinnionplace story, then— so old, so common, place, *«v!"'«l>eakably pathetic always— "crossed in love" at the house.nards call it. This beautiful and mysterious 'fiiiry princes^ 'ihpr.aoned here had a lovft- iri the background, just like ordmary^ young i)ersons, and a flirtty-hearted parent ot guardian hkd shut her up here, pending s^ time as she should pome to her senses*^ ^ Just ai fhat instai^t thej:«>id roll of wheels oiitsi^^ told Duke th^ chaise was returning. Aa instant laterv and th» gates wer« flupg wide open, and the "chaise whu^led rapiidly up the dri/e to th^ house. -^ «' " I wonder wh;jt he thought when he found t|ie^ey goue I" reflected Mr. Mason with a chuckle. The chaise stopped before the |>ortico entiance, and, by the'/ Uglit of ihe lamps, the watcher in the tree saw a tall man sprW ovt, say a few words rapidly and authoriutively, as one accni? Uwn-d to command, and disappear into the house. The «£- uge was driven round to tl:e rear, and silence fell upon Jraiige 1 he >oung lady in thf lighted room rod neard, and aec^ tqa IVhen Duke looked again, her whole attitude had changed Site «oo,l erect, her little figure seeming to dilate and Vow/toll, her kead thrown backi her great eyes alight, her small hands taelttlf clenched. . . "^ 7~- -^6— v "*f I -ike a VWe gamecock ruffling his feathers for ^e combat," Aought the watcher. "1 wonder if this is Robert^ now I Not ikety though, or she wooldn't looa qmte |K> belligerent" mov 1 &)rA»j*v,V«1r^ ■»•• •• *wr oma m^soa .u^ ^„o jnjfa. ' Hj whirled up the tuiJi rhli 7 ^T ^ '*'** *««''» *«<»'' »"■ licad, looked hAlf contempiuoQslf h»lf **" '** ''*' *^'' the ngid figure of the^irl ^' »^if «m,p. «wnatdy, at for Heaven's sake. -a4.// let . h^ve^nv t*" fe'^""'"r i "and. ir-s al» v«r> well on the bokni^nfr^ '«.'? ''*^'^*'y »*^">KhL Grange, and'the ra"''an|C Z^^J^d^ln ''"r "^ '^>'"^'^ gu .e^pre^., - i^ste. eo relTanr.etnln^r;.^^' than ever with cxc.fe,„enTand de^nc? tK T^. '"f ''« upon them both— a very stnkma «i^? *" ^"'•'«'" "^'^^^ «d «Wes8 and hK>se goldTn haf. Sn* h *" ' ?" J^ t^"*^'' ^^^^ •nd ptcm. powerful face T? *" "'*" ' hlack.^.mkbr&, jc« both u^t t;Jk^the J'rthr«i:is="*;^^^^ Ac man's iron wm A^^:^li^Z'T^M^ "' noned eyes. ^ "* ^flran^mr(as ^«4 her voice died away. ^ * ^*'^' *'P» '«in -•^- ~ -^ked at her with a sneering smfle. Miwlate^ means Robert Lisle is gone, and lAm rare LXi' ''"^ ""^f '° *""^^ »«^^ -^it? Yon wiU ««♦ "■""»"• upon us, rarely comes to as* yon wi» po t yiei dT May j ^^ ^|^, |&u ^^^ "nf^-V.-^r ■■■''-#i^'**'^ wi!».73«vn :^^,i,- ■•W 'Tv?>W-." looking an. Kim with » ? B'l?*'* ''*''•* *" **" ***'*• *''l*'«^ «>'«• " Vt-u know the ..t^nck Pool over yonder among t|ic firs ? Well, somedraea »«^en I renirmber all that is past, of all that is coming, I jun Uunk 1 mlJ go down there, and ilirow myself in, and irake tft . Kid of it" -- ^ The gentlernan sKnigged hU shoulders, tlie sneetrng niiU atiU on hw face. f " Indeed I Thai sensational idea I am quite sure aucet tway very quickly. . And then ? " The girl loo'-sd away^ from him into the fire. ^Yoo are harjlersist in rebeUion in this obstinaM bshion. And you know, my child, you owe us some reuaratioi * for the disgrace of the past" "Disgrace!" repeated the girl, with Sullen anger; "n»i 1 neejj t use that word quite so often, I think. 11? w/ matr* * bir Vane Charteris, if ihaf s what you mean. I'U hot I 1 U die '^' nrtt I *,-• Still Mk i.yndiih looke^. at her, as a man might Vook at a heaUstrong child, resisting with all its small might "You'll die tirst I My |i«jor little romantic l.ivey I It'i §$ ttsy to say that— so very hard U) do. Tiie heroines <,or tott fcvonie threevolume novels die u|>on the smallest provocatioii, I am aware— Hl.op quite nattirally of heart-ijisease in the mid« •la l»all-room, or go off with a hect-c flush uiwn their cbe^ka tod in unnatural lustre in their eyes, when their Charirws at fceu Roberts desert them. Kut we don't do that in even day flfc. and you come of such an unromantically healthy and lon» uved race, rov Oiivia^murh qiore hkely to finish with ap6plen S^JP"* Siy ./^ ' ^ hcartdis ei uK ' y OKied iiier A nd i"don4 — toBk you'U^kUl yoursell Life is very sweet to yoona p •i nuMtes^ cveM tlmigh thejr hcva loal Hwir tL^bm-J' ■'*■■ : T— ^ ■-"fk .4: % >.■.■.» TV "■.It" ■ "-JR. ^ WHAT DtnrB MAS6ir SAW AHD BEAM ever lived. You •arm,*&Z^! T^. ""'«''°« »"="« «« *»!>»» M .r~ have done r " ""*"''"»«•»»<• anren me to •»7 even n,, paSnc. I^'fo?^;:^ '•J'Ae''^*', "2 aot force you to obey I" , »^*rancei lake care I do ** Vou caiinot I " * il h»ni ? " "«'^Kynian down here, and niarrring you oat «;No dergyma. would iierfonn «,ch « mamWe.- fcnr I?? Reverend George U>«his would. fU^we. m. hi. n. ' 5^ *nd he underttands this case exaX wld kl!! T ^ ^ ■mI»» iii-rLi, ^.. "^ *^" hM not rf turned hit th>i ZZ: "»"^ *«e «kin. ud v^wn of ymn will «hI V«»w4 ■■/;.:/ 1 > . V 1'. .W'i'i T -'«■»;? If. V T^.'^-f^S.j-'TV JAT. MASHif Sk.OMS. H , Kke Sir Vane— women always, like their husoands after oiai page, 3fOU know, and 1 dare say you'll be a very sensible wife, %t wives go. yet. Vm going down to dmrcr now." lie pulled m\ his watch. ♦• Will you take my arm, Miss Lynditli?" •♦ No, i want no dinner." "As you please. Think matters over, my dear, and, ibi ^ty's sake, wed me to enter. 1 concealed myself in yonder tr«S^ quite vmpardcnable on my jpart, I know ; but, agaia ttnw^ curuMity must plead my excuse. And in that tree I must owm „^Iplayed eav esdrop u er. — L h a ve ovwrhe a rH *v i .ry «,»rH ^f ytw i ^:oonverMrion with the genleman who has jiist left this room. It kM>lEa rather suspicious, apparently, I own; but nabf tiM tOQVOTNUion, the whole occurrence has been so strange, so oH ,^ii&^^^Ait^le}j&miL h.^mJ/i , ,1' fi *». «A« •till doubtful ^ '' "^ '«''«'' « hi".!, sliU suprW ■lO business wj e,„ ;„ ,hT """^- ' ''»""■ ""^ !>.« whe,e, ..'. c^'"^°?4'„r.r,'SJ^:;' "«- ' "■^'' J^u may plc«e to name" ' '^ ^'''P »"«» *" •"V w., ^ face, /ioor ^DukVl'a :1^!, 'ralU ha'".""* 'i" »^ ^ ey«s were of the palest, n.ostTns.p d k v "^J" ""^ ^<^ Hi* *!CKlcd snub, his whiskers werrs arse /nH '"' "^ ''*'' » * vanety of pale-yellow anTTln 1 r !f' . 7F"^ *° ^^"'P "I' i»i sven himself. The ..0^1 !2 . ."^ ""^^''^' thai^ sun rU «e hfe of her n.ate Hero „" M^r ' , '^.'"t" «*'« <^""W n.,?fa «« school girl of them all n.th^h?"*^"'"' ^''^^" ^»' ^^e «S forlorn tails, and followed hun hon^ frl? k''"*^' ''*««''^ *«^ 5«ne lohimand cle,uancled7enmrJ,ri . n^^"' '^^^ tottchinc to see, on a fi^^, j'."'"*"^" » confident aMoranccL •W fdlow I "• before diivhln t^'^1' ^ ^^ ' " «d - Duk^T /. ,-.1 ■.»•„.*'■> i*-J«^*^k- >« )!*'tK'^"*''t*^'* ^ ^'^ -Ju^£i f '*}• t • "%: tat. MASON SLOPBX ii halfopen window. The moon rising now gieamed forth bom A bank of jagged clouds, an«J silvered the sweet, pale face. «• Will you help me to escajw! ? " she whispered, earnestly. '*I am a prisoner here — I hatre been for the last two months. My uncle is my guardian, and he wants nie to marry a man 1 iMte— 1 HAFfc ! " she set her little teeth, and the big, black ey«i iiAxA. " I will run away to-night, if you will help me." ** I will help you. Tell me what I am to do ? " •• How di prevent my escaping. Oh, thank Keayen • 1 believe 1 should go mad if kept another week here. But it is so much to ask of you, a stranger, to do what 1 want" *• Not one whit too much. Please don't think of me, Whal am I to do ? " The girl gianqed anxiously over her shoulder. " If you are seen 1 don't know what may happen. Mr. Lyndith is,— oh ! an awful man I and he will return here di- rectly. He is going to stay all night, and the doors and win- Jows will be made fast in an hour. If I get away at all it will be midnight fully before I dare venture, i* nd m the mean- time — " She looked at him more anxiously. "Yes. Miss l.yndith. 1 beg^your pardon, but I heard >Im> eill you that, you know." "My name is Olivia I.yndith. But between this and nid Ug)* t~ and it i,i tnf y seven o'clock now, oh, Mr. " ** Mason, Miss l.yndith." * Mr. Niuon, how will you manage ? These March nights •w io cold, and five Icng, lonely, freezing hours I No, it it koo moch I " * . She clasped her hands and looked at him in despair. Duke aniied. " PleaiMt ^/^ink of nie. Miss Lyndith. d the ple«.ure m Uiei 1 don't mind it — upon my word and honoi I don't I 1 like it — yes 1 do — it's an adventure, ywi see^ •imI 1 ««r«r had an advwinu^ before in the whole cmme cd X '^'^ a6 MR MASON KLOfBS. y "7 enitenoe. ' I will vo ha ir ^ tii^jout?" ^"- ^>' ' **k tow you propo^T fce? . "irough this window OM h« u- ^ . «»M' yo" My P " J"™!* ™"- And you have the ^^ ^^ »^^>fore .hey rj I'h'SL""''''''^ ^"A-" "~.S^ fa < wonSer Ae'thtghJ^" ""'^ " '" *obcr. in P»ri^ She spraijg back fiom the wi„H„ r. , *'y°'Klei«ncs,|» •8«of men, f notice are aoT^H ?""'?."'• " "•« most ii ■nic young \ud, hid"|,*JJ' "^Vt't^t""' <■*"« '»• fou didn't dine : M r» S ?''^'?-^on't, ' beg ; J ,», .,^ doub," the. Jul ^'J^^'iitdy ™"f^j '^"^ «-ngc VTJuTS **«/ J>ng, and theUd^.2J-^\-'r'T "<^ '^cJSSuS 8"^« a ?Mtn the honoia:" *^"'"^'>' *»^^^ <£«uUy cnouSI^ ' .m^iimsic^o^g h y'''°'^°°'^^^3^ «r_-^NorI«i^^^ ^ L^f f« ;^^ i4^*s.*fcf .» *•>. J'* ,- 4 J !A* AiJS ^•r^^pPh^rr MU. MASON Mi:6fMS, Com "A. the pronuKd wife of Sir \ntCbMmMf' "Bill, Olivia—" '^o:e"^'C-S:s.T\"; s:^ -j.-e '»- *. ...4,. piopose." ne cned. "1 luve something u already far a W b f^e uTper :S„.l:^"*^^^ T' «'^*"'«' «-Vforge. tharfet:rde*ad':fre"' K.^^^^ ^<1 «t- .tonny Ailannc, he is « n.^^h n m/^ai as he^rr*^"' *' ago here in Kndand The rh.W i. i ** "^^'^ y**" come to tennsU //. sake Yel I '^ '**' ^^"rce-she wiU she will promise anvthi^J^^^r )L^ ""u K'^*' **«' ^«^ ^hUd; the offer to-mo^ow*a^d"»„7th?'7*"^^u''«-. ''" ""^^ «« possession oTw' Chart?! ^j"'"*' ^"''"T ^"«= '^ come to an end, my lad? '' ^*'"' **" '^^ ^*P*»" '^ l^ese r"efr:s.reTs uShtle''^^^^^ '"*'» H^ iHwu. then ordered cand^- and .iSlH f '^^ "f*""^ ^' " -»•« light shone in an uuoAr In^' 'ir ^ """"'« »«errand S^ toM iLT»Sr^ won t bnng nothing back, mUit? J >!S1 ,-^3 ' tell you. L l e ft i t in th e ke irl mir i ^l* _ • Ai-. i^ iiiJ. ^. ^Jll-wtt KT*."^ ♦' A'Af-.'wwAi.iia^'^t^-f* fi^-'^'^'% ^.e.H»..y,.^^ > ■ ^ j.'J i -ti ^i jj'jtin v^llSifl^j^' :^w < i^ *'v^^.^ ■ ■• f^T^^'^^i^^^ \ Aau men the window was closeon ten o'clnrlr tu^ i j .- was saiUng ,il.ery up'the s^eepb^eslcv n f K^ ^'*'"^ •""<>' Duke looked at h.s watch. Ten 1 tJA ^^, I*' ''"'">' ''«^» wait, ,n cold and lonel.nesi and in a I ° "?"*' *'""" ^^ to •«y here till ".Hln,ght~a^J jl^? ,* *'?""'*^*' I'*'"^ ' "* mwl ««ved traduions. the gory Khc^j/""' "r"!,^'"' ^« "^l.^^- *c shnekmg iadyAn.g^l'^r^i^^ ^^^ J'"';^«^«i cavalier. a„d «n an appearance at all ' " • ^''J' intended to put t^ was quae diifereTv *. ^l"^" "'"'^'^ ""^ *»>«"t u„ J, . 'f^ut yourself m 4ii8 place "nn . h--- » >n • grav-yard, say „oi reTrted to ll K ' "**/ **^**"'* ««^. every glea.„ of moinlight Ln" a ^W Z"'"^^' '"'"^ *"*^ «*^ ^ the unearthly rattle of skeleton iSS "^ ^'^'"'^ '""«'» «^ '^ nev«L'i;t-:k?;^ret'l^'*^^^ "to think that I. wh. «»ost fellows, for any t'.^ JivrS^uTd "^"'^ *" "V'^^' '*« young person I never laid eve, «« ^ *^°'"* *<» this for a ^rs. To think thTt I^ who l^ev^r """' '"V**" ^'^'^ '"» twj •houhl be going to eow-^V .nH K*^ '" '°*"^ '" "'X lif*. whatwAo^innaty^fsl'co^^^^^^ iare ; rwl^tt c?yl'lL.rn ''"^ ""nutes-told off on hi, IjigKtly burned the frost7«i"Tl J^? 7 '^' »*"T^'«^ '^r^ Ac watcher grew^riuiXn Ji, "j f '"^'^ ^'"'" ''«aJ to fiiit wailed and fnoaned S^^i^^d JJ«!i i;*^"?"^"*- ™^ ""^^'tb^ •lencehe could hear tS^H^wi ?^»^ l^*^ ^''•^*^»J '" the de^ -rawtl ofr iL'rtTtr ^S^i'^ ^^- ^-^^ "-tiou. wn* •a brainpij and V^ , w I l!;j"r ^ ^"•t ^pving.™ jWCtwd. V,> j thcw ii,„ fSu^T ^ !^^ g'^; ami A I L 1 ~'i> ' *e window, and dr^ hen^f .rS^^'^u'*"" *° "'«^"«. <>?«««< lenUr down bcS^c .hl^? '"f/'^^h ^' '"^^^ '"^'^ ^ cuwJ by massive bolts. D^TJ!^^^ TTie «atc were m ««^on a^ „.oonht hUrollSl?::^^ *"^ ^^^ . She took h„ actn 4^ and Jiev h. "?" «°.^'' *«^ citeineni lent them sTrenith and L^"^/*'"^'^ ""^ E» ever walked in their iv^.^n Ti'^'^r***^'^*'*' "««her had dead silen, by the wlv-lLi « '^ .^"^ "^^ "'K''^ ^^^X wew iike a JeamLu^l.^iang'r^adT/n'^;^^^^ •n^Ch., weird, midn.gh'f rul^ay ^ *«^ o» ki. a dream." *^ oreaktest, he lhough^ "and find all thif he. black eye. l«o.«i „S"n .S^ V,"""'*"' «« ■«»; vr-' %v. ^v- ■i!flfe*#^ ''^- A ^rJiSfj! •>'• iiSlV->'J*A 'm^ ^^ :t 90 UK. MASON SLOPES. J^^ rewhed the town as t^e Sneckh.*^ -i i^ » £*inf the quiver itfter midnight ^^^ S^"^ M*t--H«lemnly .till-white «nd*coId liev h J?.?!^*! Mae noi. and -ieepy ilel «^cd\t 2"*" °' 7° o^ciaK wilfc ndon wm a ^0^ t«S^ ?'™ "°'""y' '^^ "«« -white as a spirit Duke lef^Ser k^J" 2 '**'' exhausted ie«ch of refreshment, -bm at h», k '' "^u* ^''^' *"^ ''«» " How can Y ever thank you. Mr. Mason"" * **°* «"od I or^4^sS^"t!;ti;i:f;e:^^^^^^^^^^ weakne.se. turne^very red. and dre^TjisS awl™^ •f^.'^^^^^'^S "« ger. burned him-mutterinff sontrh.nr?' ^ *^**'* •"'^ ^n mentioning it-takin« a httlaT,^^ k* '"*="*''^^'^"» »bout " noi ^^^ „ "«g « taking a litUe nap m her chair before the train "Wait a Minute," she said* «t«..^ j .» l Some day I mavseek vnnr k.i„ . * . * *® '^*"» <>' Mt Kou wiU LmT?'^' ^ *»<=»P *«*m ; *ad tf 1 .y« need yoa ^I Witt come," he uid. simply. =«pn B Earcit&l ' "^ *~i -^riBi^ lUi Hii -t^w.* *» V^"^ ^^/r/UCMOOM. ■JA one band, and IViVe •ems#«. ,«j .One f pcaJed from the lurion rloA a ^ wnutrs yet to wait, and ever? J^a ^"^ ^**" ^ «*«« oneJ-twol-Duke', heart wZ r^^J^l P^«»««. Hatf-pwl «-pen.e. Fifteen minuctT mo" ^f 5 S'""^ *nd fa« SU slept -poor child He tum«t r«7^ ^'-^^ f ** •"'* ^' ^ «»hc g stopped too, for can^S^e whell. i r^'^'''*°"--^« »»ewl • streets, straight S^g^to the USon. ^ "^"^^ ^' '^^ Midden .top-a man leaped ou^^H .J!!*'*''' "*'*'«'' A ^a.t.ng-roo..u He heardTlow J^rHl^''*^' *''*«*>* '" ^''« ^» all .Then with clench J J^rTi^ r^^ '"^'^ ^t ^t^'-l bi. usually peaceful br^Tt ^/Sl * ferociou. feeung .n Oeoflrey Lyndith. ^"^™"-^'''»i~«* conSwued Ma. '■j^f'^i CHAPTER IV. or TMK WAmMO-KOOII.' *»> scene on Ihc bo«d. """^ °* """^ » ««>llg Snidt -jg"'- Sh e F« OMHSS.1Sri^ t'' g« n«t lii. fall ■»» to ronaia tk^n. ««»« uqperceptibU oMMimi te ♦it 4i Afe&fc?'**' "rx& •« • "f TMB WAirtNO.ItpOm.l What d«et thw mean, Olivia ?" ^ t ^_««h« « uuokn, ,„„„„^ ,/^ ^_, ^ ■^i„«, 'A^ . q.»tio„ .cry ,„!.";"" ''" ^f^' '"-«* i k. , ^IJ you »lonc, Ohvu ? " •» '. ker 111 njofi c»lm. ■ *''• l-)™ i, _„„! ■ k- ^She rmued her arm with a gesture wothy \ Tjtjife' ^ TV» that orphkn't tribunal. I win g«« .^th. 1 withdral myXV^cv4h;"'%' -^»-<^ '« c«'hpl; J^d»^c^pe,.l!er eyes Si^CUX^t^ ^^^^ ^ "It still lives, then, and-i, weU-hanoT ?•• Mr. Lyndith smiled grimly. ^^^ persin/S^ ^^^ \:f\} ^'-^ «<» " happy .. ^^ " have it, to do wi^h iJ a, , "'*'"*^' "'"*^'y ^'e- Vou shil nwne, "that you Jll .riU V "^ *^'°"* emphasis on the «*ret ir,K,/ my word S°" '"I" '^ ^""^"^ "* "•*»«»»! • uy or do, ifS" ^ ^ ^ '^""^ ^^'^ "»»*» ^ Vane wiJ^ > 4' '^ta^'i' I^r '^ ^^^' '"^^ «Pon hi» with an 1 l»« I still refui ? '^ "" ' ^**" '^^•^ l****"^ ^ Now ni|» -^^n!urouV^ce X^^H? ^i '''"^^ '" *» -<» ging aU over. p ar.iyVT ^ 'Ti/' ^^ '^•8»'^«^'^"- She wm fr^ ^^^^^raKeTtrSj^ '^ with nenroSrf^SI^Sr^^ „V 'k i^^i^ <'-«,SS>^^l>.^«^/%SEiMwli>.- *if ' . ^ »**«n Zw^hT'P *«n never «; :, . ^ «^r:Il'^r^tr£t,'f .X"'^t„„l'--' best hiS^ ^'^h --"rage-^n, , ^^'^'''^ ^ if^oftheJ^^WaJso^ **: M -uoh thing, tei, '*^~-''"^ Jvnr* ti.^ tnr .fark. sandy wa.te glunmered tn ijJ bea^^ T^l JI^J*K fUhout he dreannes^ tuiling the utter misery will5rayi ,«gh*ed the wait ing-room to where Duke Mason stiH stood unseen. am ifomg with my uncle," she said hurriedly ; " there is J« altemauve. Whatever happens, with aU my heitrt 1 SLk «. hl^%o^^X'::;'y tt^ ^^^^u^^ «^,, ,, ••You ha.e a home,:* wife, mother, sister, perhaps? Ttl rl^r * A^'T' •"'^*' " " ^' •^^ • •*•»« »« >'*n» it. -yet * an,'^: iXiiT.\.r or.'^^^'^ ^- '-^ ^ s; ^.icu. h^^k^'"''' * .^/"^ ^*"' *" ^**P*«* 6«*, and « kind U^i h^. I know If ,, „ ever in yow pow«. Ms MasoM ^ ~Allr*e]y as I have ajilctl you UVftiuht, madwne." i cv«i mf^4 h m\ i . irii.^: ■( . MOMEMT BAWKSLEY, ^"/' •'f.^W r^-i" "end foryooMon— wmTOaeom.tome.iK. " I will come I " , ««k«l^a™«,„ under hi. .auow *i„, .od .KI?;,ilw^ , J Good p«iou, 1" he thooght, "Tuo^um coold onl, «, She left hi,a Mr. I.yndiu, « «ie i„ ,„d went to the ticket vvaierloo Bntannia, to Blocmisbury, and Rosanna ami huS humdruin coinmonolar«> hfo ««^ i i »L «^"»ann» and his old 'i< ciiArrEx V* »0»«MT ■AWKSLCY. '^, ^-^ J*^* T' April, in the year of grace 18^7 tk* 5?S?^^^r^;;«^£tM! r^^iTirfi^A^t.. ,h^h,^ I A s« MOBEKT BAWKSLBt: \ van of tke yew. We wffl weigh anchor thu evening In tiM Merery." v *• WfiU," the gentleman addressed made answer, " I am sum to hear it I- never feel so much in my element, as I do at levi. I believe an All Wise Piovidence originally cut me oul for an old salt, and by some mistake I was born Baron M on la tten instead Jfs the old story, captain, the round pegs gt atd the square holes, and rir^ vtrsA. As a first « lass seainitn I might have been of some use in my generation— as it is ' - ftii lordshjp shrugard his shoulders, and saimtered away. If you had told Nugent Horatio F^rlscourt, Baron Monta aen, that he was a very proud man, and an ansKKrat to the core of his heart, I don't thmk he would have l>elieved you. Ct was quite true, however. He went m for all soils of rrpub- lit;an do* trines. and radical reforms, and the rights of the jmjo- ple, and thought the Aiiieru-ans the greatest and noblest people ahve (or said he 'did), and would no more have entertained a mercantile pnnce, or a cotton spinning milllonnaire at his table, than he wuuld a chaw beacon otT his estat.- down in the 'T^een Wold of Lmcolnshire. A (T«*raldine de Montalien had come *frwi^ the Conqueror; a Rotlolf Montalien had forced King^ fohn to sign Magna Charia ; a I'nor, Francis of Montalien, had been great Ym\ Warwick's right hand man; a Cuy Mon- lalirn had died hghting for the *• White Rose and the long hea- ./ ,..; .i.«V,lB*bi. .?." ,"'■;.'■; V?' ~x^ '*'^'''"-"^"^. " "^ " ■*~ ''*t^^?i;^'^' He had been nakJng an American tivr incofnito as " Mr EarUcourt/' for the past nine months, an.l h«dJ««,,/ e„j„^ hnnsclf He had hunted buffaloes, and hvl a shot ' that-why don't I long lo see Frandi and (,uy, after a year's separation, /^ llnw l-liK-^'"'' K '"^"y ^';*" be pleased to see Guy agaa How Lke his mother the fad is? Poor Vew tia I nnafSSb Tont" ""r '^''" ' "'"' '" '" ^° '^^ '"^ ' ^ «^^ <^ I lawksley f " he laid his small, shapely hand-like a wom«,', ^anJsky " "^ "^^ "'f" '^'^^ "^ «*^*"8 " ^<^ «^ jrenty, perhaps, very tall, very fair, ver? good-lookin. Mon ftrifverydeinhs.-luxunant chestnut bea/d and liXandTfeT^ EnidKh skin, tanned gorden brown. .««!«»« Amom aU hu feilow-iMUttengofa acroM, the only one in «^iji;)£'ti't.,' '« ^ J v^k'Sto&afirta^'i ■ , tjim^^i:%. L\i,'.A. $;*■'«,* A.; '>W>lM«i>MiiiMn ■\ xr^A L^d MoKtalien had deigned to Uke the slightMt bterett «m tl IS young man. , Tnii young man who wore a rough, shabby coat, a ir\ hat and irho was too |x>or to travel in the first cabin. His name on the p'assenger hst was Robert Ha#ksley; ht was a returned Englishman, who had spent the last two yean in roughmg it in the Western States ; and who, judging by «» pearances, had not made his fortune. Since he had come OL board at New York, an intense, a sickening longing to reach England possessed him. He seemed unable either to eat of weep. At night, when the midnight stars shone over the pur- ple sea, he paced the deck, hour after hour, ever ga/:ng toward where England lay, with a burning hunger of impatience in his eyes. He. was a self-contained man, who said l.ttle to those about him, and this very reticence and quietude first dre?»r the nobleman toward him ; he sought to make iy> acquaintances —he was modesty and unassuming to an unusual degree, and l^rd Montalien, who kept sundry very wealthy fellow-passen- gers at a safe distance, and who knew every sailor on board hy name, was on the most friendlj- footing with Rol>ert Hawky ley. if he had sought to force bis confidence or companion ship u|)on him, his lordship would have sent him to coventn* I in three minutes, but he never did. He talked to my lore when ijiy lord desired it, and if he were passed by unnoticed he did not seem to care one whit. He was so thoroughly in- dependent, and manly, and simple, that his grave dilputy always commanded res|>ect "Well, Mr. Hawksley," his lordship said, "we are aknott there at last" "At last I" The young man drew a long breath, a lon& eager sigh. \ 7^- ** You say that as though we had been a naonth out, and yet we have had a reniarkably speedy passage. You are verv anj lous to arnve ^ " . " Very anxious ; the passage has been intolerably slew M ■ic, and yet— and ycr— perhaps, 1 had much better nor. hav« come at alL" "That depends. You have numbers of friendi, no doobt, wtto will lejoice lo greet you after two years' absence." The young man looked at him with those wonderful blikc fj^M, and then away at the golden light on the sea. — ^J have Ho^ friends, my lord— noner -There ii1»inillite"llT Kni^aMd who cares for oie. and she must be either mora or leu dian a ftisnd." ft^yi ^,«. i,s'afeM'4,-..M V'^- M «* .^^ (W &"" V"* t X ' e^n-in bterett #m It, a(r^ hat a#ksley; ht 5t two yean dging by af tad come ol' ing to reacfc ler to eat of )ver the piir- a/*.ng toward tience in his tie to those irst dreyv the :quaintances degree, and llowpassen- )r on board l>ert Hawky companion to Coventry to my lore f unnoticed oroughiy in- ave digni^ are almost ath, a long^ mt, and yet re verxaax bly slew M T noi; havi ^ no doubt, :e." derfiil bids I one m U aoreorkM »OMSJtt SAWICSLET. **Oh » I sec I—a 'lady in the case,' as they sar in Tri».i dnek rhen you come hon.e for a bnde ; that is L cau J of XlS burnrng unpanence. Uy lad, 1 congratulate you--I .ernim bcr bemg yuung once my«^lf; and it was very nire AnjT«/ l!Z''yJuV""' '^' ""^ ^' '^«"" even^:;;e*^imX3r a«'com!,;r' ''"''" "^"''^^^y' "»^^ ^-» -t even k«o,/l "What I You did not write and tell her? You wi«h m live her a meUnlrainatic surpnse. 1 suppos"?" ^^ , r* T"'"' '^'"-" ^^ ''e^ n'y lord. Dunrz the L. rears 1 have bem rcug.ing .t out there ^v^o^^Z\^^r\Tl Kave never had . I.ne .ro.„ her. nor from anv one .n'hlTand She does n„. ev.p Know that 1 am aUve. She \^ L^^t me^^Lurd AU>nt»..n^ m rank, out two years ago L Wd cZ^i^^'L^"^ r'"'' ^'''■\ *"^ y°*? ^«P^c» to find her un- ''MT.i>df!l1 ""'''"*; '^'^ '^^ * compassionate sn.He. SS rJL^ •/; 1!".°^'^^ ^"<^' « Po< ^t, who had severJ^,^ W|fl wiyevif 1 n u staae not, has toW us^A l lis vanity7 [tS^ ^1] ' I I § fcsitejfe,.;;.'- i. i«&MJ^i>6v.!.n',.. ..•,v_>,.2Ki"i '.a?!'*, V. ,«^rf, ..•? '^t^E 4« . •OMMMr HAmrSLMV, jjjobert lUwlule^ looked tt him witb^ u •avftt^^W J1?«LJ*ST^ J^'^t^*'* *«^«J y*>»^ see A m«i JV«rpect fidehty from hit wife, with some show of reaW k^ y«|»«ve never written to her in two years. Ilasi^tS « if ^'f °:'«««''» on your part, my dear boy ? " i. &; i!? ** *'*''•* ''**'". "*=•*"• ' »»ve told jou. my lord. sh« ' j, pV"****^ ' ^<»^ '^ * clandestine iiiarriage,the». I take «ni?i 7**- .^^^^ =**"^-^ *'<* '^onft I suppose-die was O^y sixteen, I twenty-two, she an heiress. and^^prouH SS L^ *"^ i"r '^".«'^"^' *"*^ '-* "^l^ody I Biit^we toved ^T^en Vdont^J*""' ""T^ T'' happy-iwere in heaved!" IM. J .. .. ? * *?y y°" ''^^^ ^one so very badly, with vour Itfe, after all." Ix>rd Montalien remarked. " Ther; Tre s^me ^ us who go through the world, and don't find f^r Ly,^ S^w^"^*^ ^"^^^ ^"*^ A"^ the flimy-heart^ undi l^tnl^ reasonable, and accept the inevitable? He "o J htt daughter away, and you becamq an exUe ? And now Zl ■re going back—may I ask-why ?" V "'' ^° Jf II- ^il"'" ""^ '^*'' '" '«'"^ °f '^•'"-to fetch her to America L hjt^'"''* ' "1 ^""^ ^^' » '^"™<^ there-not such S Ae has been accustomed to, but if i^e loves m- as she dii s^ J^,be happier wiih me in a cottage than without me ii a ^ * u // 'u'". ^^^ Wontalien repeated, half cynically, half sadlv • « »/she Iov«, you as she did, Robert^ I lawkTley. A nd shTh^ iilTinrh "^ * ''"''^^"^ * hoiHT-yes, my lad, I ho, h-^.' »fl^ find her an exception to her sex, and trul and lendlT. S" IMdy tt> riy with you to the uttennost ends o? the e^rth Voo m„^!; ^*i^I: ' *™ ^*^««". »"d handsc,;.e, anThere dS 14S.». ^Ti T' "** ' ' **"^ l'^** »"d novelists, iid pUy "S\ 1. K * '***7 young fellow I ke you, wcUmanmsrJ! S-t.-* ;*■ .-*■ J iK3».it3* ^* -. ■ ■.f."Xrj;^^;.*' I W •*If37' ' kOSERT HAWKS LEV, 4^ When Adam delved, and Eve spun Who was then the gentleman !' ^h^c*"^" ^ill the day come whe.1 monaichies will end and the sovengn People rule ? 1 like Americans 7 1 ifke the^r seen anilshould ■L^l^^^^U^'^^:,ZV^^^^^^^ among u.e roh:ng pra.ries. Lrds of buffL!o,^nd Tnd an tnbes. If I were not Alexander. I would be-the oSitZ^ If I w^renot Baron MontaI.en. efMonulien, J w^uldbTaNiT^ on the western pjams. But n^^/.x^re^^/i^vjand all Sat '^ri 3 Unng wh.,h ,n myca|«, means I mus, assume the old trlX^ Ufe of the House of I^rds,and society amJ.l.n^- ireaij-miu fo..h„„,i„g and find ,, all^a„1,,"lS';i;'^^lS''^^hJ ^Id no. thai ,„g^hea.M feglfsh anaucra.. ,h« 3, ^^ com. round sSddenIr >'>it"^s^J^T' ""^ **" yurg man s shoulde., "if you ever nebd a friend am? / »'j.n .£;&d*.?sJn.i;^j^. ?:;sdircir„-;ni bS; hU H '*^ • ^"' "^ " *» °"'y »^"* after all If ^; h*J ^r. his daughter, or niece, he would have behaved jus! th* Mm»e No, no. the same; I don't think Lord M Sen rJS ?nn ,i ^"'»'«/t7 gracious fc lAjrd Montalien, inhisT^ •on to say such thmgs. but haven't I seen him when Sa.'rS Jkc anT?«T ; ^ w°' *^"^ ^""^^ sarcastic sentences? hJI^ 4ke jai the rest of hi. order, bm x>i,_ah, my darling Jbe fl^ JSli'ofTem^S'rl "'"^•*^^ ^' '^ ^" b/happy%^Uiert ■ ■ri ^ >?/" u "J ^" fawkstcy; with hit hand some^l«^"iM ■•y^l* ^w his heart to his eyes. '^ «^y newday. the p.«e,ge« oT the "Und of CohuDbia" ht^&h^'A.»j. ir flu« -L^A t:^^^"'*^ 1& fW TR ■jy»»'* •!«<•/ w»P*»-'»--r't--if I, i-'" 44 kOBAPT itAmcszjtY, VH^t^ '? I'iverpool. Ix>rd Monulien shook hands witb Kobert Ha^rksley on the quay, without one tinge of condeicea uon or iiatronage. - Remember Hawksley, if I can ever be of service to wml come to me. i will help you if 1 can." t^m.".*^!*" Hawkslfv had said, "Thank you. my lord, I wiT remember." And so they had parted, and h«iw . and late in the afternoon I Sunshine flooded the quiet streets of riloomsb^ «i O^windows of Half.Moon Terrace^ happen.^'^oftS «ky. a skv S^^^ *T *'• *«a'"«^ '^th the golden light of d» fc^'^nsttid^^re panW "^''-''°«" '^A« - ' '^^^ v*-»«on had aer up hu hou«ehold godi. he bud | ■« It^I' ■^&<->i«'t» ^ * -^^ U&^B^- sS& Ammey-nrwp for neighbi>r hi the attic, and a l^me cokbl« jsted of four dimmutive rooius, a kitrhen, with a bedroon. «« for h« sister and housekee,>er. a parlor, ^itT diuo^ZseS ttd a dreary. un,,lastered apart.i^ut, also oi)eninK off the^JT^ kir *h.ch served him as a studio . for VinC^^ ^ ^J^l jou have been told-scenic artisi, nis httle sign over uTe do^ Jrformej you-ass,sta,.t scene-painter to the^oyal\vat«i^ anianoio. He was also second violinist, he likewi^ we„rcm ind played a mtch in Macbeth. Second CraveSS efc and juclM>owerfuI casts^ R,ing an au.p, in the KreS'CC fcj moreover a^lapted the plays oi that nation, diluting thfS with insular virtue, and straining tne French iioS'l 1^3 fraits when he got them to pai„t, so that you perce^^ iSr Ma Senr " «'^"';""^ °^ ^""'-«^ P-ts aJld gr^at versaUUty 5 hard V work '"rhe ^^fl^-'"^"^ ^^ «""ny April afternoon, nara at work. The ugly, bare room is flooded with sunshine and walls are covered with the works of Duke's fiiSe bms^* Conspicuous among these is his great histonca^ Lee th^ ?i L^'^^l f ^l ^^ '"'^'" ^^*"^ce. »nd Robert IW and King Mward I all ablaze with crimson lake and iamlJ- from the lund glory in the skies. 1 am not ^itive S ISS v^id:v^^ -- i r ^kbum- wouldn't sell, and the artis. had^iven up his .>^ i»ainting a«.l gone in for the Royal Bntannia. whit v LEtoS in income of forty-five shillings a week ""^ T'^^ > '^Wed htt This afternoon he is at work on a huge squaie that ocmnie. JI one side of the room, and he is standing ot, a li^tK t^J^ T ^^^''g^°""ds. Close, it looks one Lge dC^ ro^ and purples, and ultramarine and gold leXfron^^ doorway « looks like a grotto set ih gollen sTc .. a, Tin^ moog lune l^ht will no doubt come out*^in cfaL?^ .plrudit; iKeyes of the frequenters of the Britaii^nia. ^ *F*rudar to J»^p^ wijoinmgrW^RiFB^ * or t^rUw. «te •ewing Miss Rottnna Mawn. Sm fSl SsViHU^ i3^. ifitSi ■s«t. Yq# ;1'S^W»';f^V|1"«'«l'»' J« work ; a i^n'McT'^i'eTcS^ll*^^^ **^* -"<^ B^- y^uow iunlHfht floods Mi„ M^T2„e^ij/"i' 8'^* °' '^ flory. and \fwnt are a frivnin... " ■ *"° '**'• >» »» Ji detUmtdy mentipn^l a^tncc^.n k ^ ^I "*•*» *«e which Duke's -eior.and Duk"i,Xve^d'rw ^"^i!'" ^'^«» *« ipare. a, maiden \»>^e,Z^Z!;^t^T\' ?^' " '*" «<» •Ad fhin lips, and dee^^ey^^^^ %^^ '"«»' '^^««'' bone,, menW. frar^ral development I^d her h^ "^i *.*^*^ * ''^ hue called sandy, is tightly p"nnedYa H».^'' ''*^*' '» °' 'he Jei head He/dres^old^'rd f^fieVis damhW '*'"****^'' "' ^l eveiything about Vr. exccpl^n^r W H ^''*'\" ^*' '■»• Jovr^ and prays for. and t;raniSes ^ver^^ ^ ''' "*'°'" "^"k over the pi*, they lik,^ best °*"' " «>"»« "'Qnjen do 'i'here is flP tradition extant, that >ii «ij -j faj their lives, could have^^mamed ^l^th'""^^^ T'' '^^ A-re .s stiH another cruel TrX^thitall'old "^"'^ '^ *"^ ke married. Miss M£«m »r». u . • °'" '"*'ds «"»«/ to JH ih these particuW^^^No ma:;''h*r'' "'"'^l'^^ ""^^ ^^ ^ h.m, and no n.an .had ever hvj^ ^„^'"'\*'''^^ ''^' '^ "'a^T 1 hold her up before yorYn a ^w if? "^^^ **"*^ '« "^ •rho wis anSid .naid'^plrifeu .""' P*^"~-* "'^ ;P^ ".en ; she despii^ m^tVr^^i't^ '^,'^'- ^*** ^*' beings, with no higher aim thanXTr h.?Sr7*''' P"T»«»<=»I d'en. She had rto weakneaf Te«Ltf . 'T ?^i ^**^ ^*^^ ^- \^ cats; one engendered ;^as.the^ oh ^^"^ ?° P*' **«P. ' ^nsities. sSTcultivated flowers tJ'e :::fnd"' ^' ^/'^'^ mem at UM. moment, arid very ^aut.fi.? TI """ *"* ^^^^ «< LoiHion grune: and she lov«f 7k;?? "' /^^^ ^'^ *mid the toett sort, who lookS^uoon ^^» * Christian of the aus- ~»n. She was a thc^o^hiy w^ ?nd .f"*"" '^*' ^"' '''^P ^« »ay. whicH was a very JooLif^H *™''" ''°"»*" »» »»« net she woukl sit up tStHfu ni^hr?'*' ''?'^ " ^ou wet »««inc*; asking no VewiVanH^* i *5*' "«*'^ *'»0'^'»« no JJ»e lamp fltcker^e^'a^^'XlrSs tt^i :£f ?•• *•»*» *^ <" ./^ .j^^Vi/Eii«i.s irf. i> -' .ii; .V*3E i»AA.*£s*«i ' . V ;s»?*"'*' -«>i>A- ■*»; % i t'--\ -j, 48 r/fB POVRTRRSTH OF APRIL, hair roBc Dnke stood in awe of her ; hadn't $h^ bnwiht U> op«m« boyhood, and slap|H?d him, and scokkd him to hk wod. unia the poor hiile fdlow's hfe had becn^i misery to kirn? She had meant h,m to be a preacher, a piissionaJr to th« heath^ri, and lo I here he was, at five-and-twe.ty, a phry ar toil It Wis Miss Mason's bitterest ^ross, but she bore iC •* wc »1L .Mints and jinners, must. ^ ^ •ITie afternoon sun dropped low- Miss Mason glancing out M (he cnmson golden radiance yonder in the west, opined thai ZVS »*"'o»» "">* t« go and get tea. Duke must depart fot f? -^'S!?"' **^ ^"^"fss " as she always tnougl.t of the Britan- r J^ at half past six, and the pantaloons were done. She elanced t their wearer and her grim face grew a shatle more griL Jvery day." Duke was not doing anythin|^«y wrong-in fact, he was not Joing anything at ajt He 8a%>erched ol the top of the iS ^5 »hi .7 *"'' ''^^"*' ""T^' ^**^"8 ^^H' ^^^ a» nothing, »nd whisthng a^ pensive acconj^niir.ent to his thoughts. It •ras quite a new habit of his this day- ^ you may su^ pose, of the aJventure of the night of the 2Sth of March- S/k*"*^"^ felt tempted to pour the scbry of their follies Utto the vestal ear of Rosanna, and he had hidden the opal hm deep in the recesses of his pocket-book. He ha« told nobod? of that strange adventure, and he had Cintracted a custom of Ainkina about it a great deal ITie fai., proud face^fTC Olivia Lynduh ro«. very often between him and the canv^T and haunted his dreams. UTut had become of her? h3 •he mAZTied the baronet ?— he was a baronet, I hike surposeO - 07 had Robert turned up ? Of course not ; Robert was drowneo bL'^*L '' 7"*"*^ J«t a» present he wa. wonder mghowt^ young ladys escape had come to be disco|ered «o speedily li was the missing key did it, no dojbt. He had been the missing key. Mrs. Grimshaw had foiind herself unable to sleep that night on accounj of it. Had the spirit of the cavalier whisked it on. or Bad Miss Lyndith anything to do with it? After tossirg for hours, Mrs. _g!:;^l"a^ grew desper>iff„jitiii J= tQt& to. the-yoang lady's Wdsid^e to see that all whs safe The door w'as^Iocked' be4 MoUisturbed, the young ^ady gone. Half an hour aft** ..sJrn^ '-''.%'t?Y^M^'' okl Turk, hn , It attitade hiniael( «ndUid dmmher IjTKlfth wt. u*n„g along to the .Ution fa ««h/oC 1^ " W ;. T. Qufll got hold of the story he'd work if i.«/L - < " Diike," hi» sister said, in »d*ep o hnih. "*"'** *° ''" "»"*» position/ and laid hold of wi^ brushes m some trepidation. Jt •»- J» i^-i L^ "OW Of Im . those big fellows do nuke aT^l hf., !I f^ J wppoae As to what it mctdilt^tht/? !: , *?*^ • "<> *»«'P fo' it. and ,he piece "sf^ Ta X tC ;lH*%y*"1.* '^-P'*"^**^ !S,>anel^ if anything w^ L t, ^ J^e .r„T^* ^"1!?' * , Dismal Deep ,• • a^ ihere/arV.i?.? ^^ {-.o^M Cave, of the ! where the^Venus Ai>hrrvi;»- !; / . * "*"**• '" «» P«t, ? *nd sirens, a*? jLTl^w of ?' ?'**" •"••I'essed. aa mermaidi 3» Mrs. Ann Rii:i<>rk_ian!i v ^. !" . bosom of her (am- foung r;re.,i„ ,:;„c^-X^ jlP**^*' '?"'"'*'' ^« ^ lovely *e «=eo^« t^.' "^ *»*^« «» ^W^k douW« tidea. bSS; ^dis<j;'^^» .f. '^;# f i ■ ■\- : \ 50 rif£ FOURTEENTH OF APRIL,' \Jt'Jf^^'''^ .^'^.^''^^,/" '''s skies and clouds energ«ticaK mUie parlor was about to bri.i.? him to bo(,k ^ ^ I dont want to hear about your Coral Caves and exrst, and that my own brother is risking his eiern^i we fare among them. I vvant to knovv vvh^t o-fme^^^^^^^^ I by Umt 0C1.0US habit you have contracted of ii" ng %? J .ornethmg-don't tell me, sir~I know better!" swerI5r"Jo^"Eo^cd,r" '"""^' ^"^^""^'" ^'^^^ -■ YoVkn'Sw wh^^h'' ^''^" '"'T^'"' *^°"^h 'hat's bad enc gh. of laSorLd of— ?'.?"«^"^ '^'^^^'•- ^V^-^ts says : • In wofks gZedD^Je. ""''' Ro^nna;i know; ^.«V repeat it," voicf "^iDl'.Vnf^^" ' it's worse, Duke !" in her cruellest ft'MX ??"'P'^evariqatetome. You have fallen in luve " m^.f I ^V f' "^^^^ro'^er could hardly have looked rdbvnlX'h'^lS^'^- rf!''^°^^'^^^h--'teVbyday To .rk^M? u*'F?r'^^"''^"' ^*^«» to ^^ar an opal ring iJ ^^l^i^.^^:^^ ^ thrilling pause. Th,r-P°[i: "*y.'«^ord, Rosanna, there u rio youn-r woman That IS, tliere isn't-she doesn't-I meanll/"^ ' Kosanna shook her head bitterly it do^r hT-'" ""^'^ plausible, no doubt, brother Duke, but Oh Duke havrr r- 7^^'^ '^"'^' '^' doesn't/ in. le.^ stmed thpV.?! V *»~"8^h'>"" "P to this time of day. and in- filled the catechism mto you, only to see you come' o thU ? The theatre was bad enough, but to fall in love .° l^d n^L Cf th^ts^yP?.^' "^"^'^^ ' ^"''^ •' ' comma^S'U^l' don _crime "There is no hussy in the case, and I'm not in love and I )n t want to get married. Good G acious I RosaZf'^fJ Jiotton ori^t?4'^^ar^i?n^^^ postww, l?gn'< mind, RQwuoi rn^^-^** ■ ^''^«* *^« •M" ■■,^:,.y*fiK htit repeat it," thrilling^ pause. tn FotmTBMVTtt 09 iCnrt, """^fg SI f^» boanced off his ladder, and rushed to the dont. Tin MSUiian handed htm two letters, both a^jdressed to h)in«d£ RoAanna Mason had never been guihy of epistolary foUiei. any niote than other folUes, in het life. One was from TinaH k S|}angie, reproving him sharply for recent unpunctuality, aM* cotnnundvng an early attendance in the orchestra that evewiia - on pa^ of a heav> 6oe. Ihike flung this to the farthest xMt- ttcr of the room, and glanced at the other. Siipiicry wh>tf •tin paper, a faint oJor of peHume, a delicate, spidery fenub h^ a blue wax seal, with crest and a motta. All the blood ia Mr MawvQ's artenea rushed into his face; and there stood Ros^na— that frigvl vestal virgin, with piercing eyes hxed od thai furiously blushing (ace. She saw his look, and answered it with stinging sarcasm. " Oh I doat mind me. Read your letter, by aU meaiii, ai^ then tell me, when I ask you who it's from, tha«>.* there isn't -^' . she doesn't •■— that 'there's no Lul) in the case'— and that youVe • no notion of being iftarried.' I*ont mind adding a few n-ore ^ (alsehcKHls td your alrewly overburdened conscience. Read four letter, unhappy young inan, and teU me it's from thoaa play-actor men, irho employ you in their godless work, if voo dire ! " " One glance of scorn and sorrow combined, and Miss Masov stalked out to the kitchen. With a tort o. groan th«? badiierctf scene painter 0|iened the dainty nutttvc, and read : •• Voupromisffto come te wu, if isMtuU eier ivant ycu, Thi Hme has come when it remains forymtto keep that ptomise. Il come, at three if clock tomorrow mormiiff, to the address below. Be at the area ^ate at that ttme, and you wtll tonfer a drathUs* w'l^wn on her whom you onci to generously served. O L" There was an address at the bottom of this note— the num. bet of a honse tr. Paik Une And the blood left Duke's face. r, * *"°'^ ^l'"" '*" '^'"'"gh h»n>» M he thought d the dre3 Jil vossiJu'ities involved. Did she want him lo run away with her again ? Wasn't it a penal offence to elo|H: with an heucM ? He wasi. t sure— his knowledge of Ulacksione was foggy. And «je would want htm t> go to France with her, and hSTrcputa. jon wa* at stake not to s|ieak of his time; and what womH Xusaniia ?— no, he couldn't bear to think what Roaannc would yM»*nU^lHitf on as U tia. ff efoldedlRe letter up. ai^ViaS"" LS3 ^ cavernoua depths of his biggest uodiet, and loakad ^MictwOv oot at tba red U«hi in the tky. iki three «■ -•t lE^jSiit'k'^cit lA-jy,.. \ U- "-^•(^ ■ ft rjn POVRTtiENTB 09 UPMtL, *e morning I Why, there was something anholy in the very •our— « smacked of gunpowder plots, and Secret assassins Jon. If he were seen hovering about a gentleman's area^ al ftree m the mommg, what would the policemen who suard Park I^ne dream, but of burglary ? And if he were cauxht leaving the house with the young bdy I ^^ /"l worii leave the house with her I" resolved Mr. Mason. j!^x' »m ^ *'' ''"^ P''*^"^' *"<* *" **^ *>"» ^'" "ceher farthS H .?^'? ^^^"f ^^^ nobody any more. Adventures ake V TX '^'l^ **"' ''^ "***»«f ^"^e part « them on the stase d Je ftitannia than in private life. Til go-I would be a brute to refuse— and what excuse will I make to Rosanna? Not ftat It matters mucn, for sns won't beUeve me, let me fabricate irhat 1 please." n.*^*L''°**' *"**• P**^*^*^ "*^'y "P *"** ^o^ *« pallor, f««eHng Oke the wretched conspirator he was. He could hear Rosanna busthng about t|ie kitchen, the clatter of cups and saucers, ind ntte general preparation for tea. " I'll have to suvoa: all night," mused Duke. " I couldn't sleep If I went to Ded. What can she want ? I thought she promised to marry Sir Vane Charteris. It was bad enough to run away with a young lady. It would be worse to run awav •nth a baronet's wife." , ' " Come to supiier." called Rosanna, and Duke went' out to the kKchen, which was also the dining-room, meekly, and with all his wrongdoing palpable in his (ace. How was he to werful appetite of strong virtue that can reh&h weak tea and stale oread, saw all his confusion. ♦• You i.etxln t sit up for me, Rosanna," the artist said, with nervous \\yxxrf. "I shan't be home to-night Tinsel At Siian J /^^'«>'^" blowing me up for laziness, and 1 shall »rork *>ob.e tJdes to make up for it I shaU work at the Hnrr\ / ft^ fOUBTEBNTH OP AntIL, j| *«rt^ ^hroQgh which the gas lamps twinkl«jd One or twc Aat^ the town. I>uke took an pmnibus, and reach^l ^ fnT Tf"Tr ? ''" f""" »>«"' *»^*" he had done fo/w«S WnwJ K*!, ?»'*"«* .congratulated themselves that lej blow ng up had done their second violinist good. All through the five acts of the melodraml fhaJ night Dnki'f thoughts were away m Park Lane, and he played fal« "«« imd sometimes forgot to play altogether. It was an uhu°^r^ ble relief when the curtain fell, aiul the audience 13 on ujto the starht mght, and he was free to think L hTp^as^ It was just eleven. He turned away from the iteatre ^ Jis feethalf pnconsciously took him to Park I ane He fo^d th e h^Hi^e sought easily enough-a big. black-looking JZs^ mU«ts gleamed along ,ts aristocratic f.ont A little ^^^^;^^ »""g string of carriages blocking the way. toW - 1 wonder if she is at it ? " Duke thought. " I wonder whv Jhe couldn't have fixed one in the mori^ng. instep of thrle? Kow am 1 lo get through the next two houS?" '^ th7nf T'^^V^ ^^"^y brilliantly, the stars were numberless, the nighi mild as mulsumnier. This, at leai.» J« ,T!1 i^ of tu,„t WuukI she cirry hln, „'ff to Paris? An, hura- oeatwepersistcnt tnough could always do as C .Tj^^ never tUie to &ce her again— never I " / "*, i u /ttv/ by the numberless city steeples. Dukt lit a <^--.. hi e ^ eTf ^IS fl^niy^ ^ * strange, long nig ht it^ wa .. would ■• y " 'wgc'Tr— «ndliow was it going to end ?" wvw»Di^»L«ne_tt*,„W 1^ tl«c»hei>li«Mich«lit. ^ '« # »,i£l -. 'jka^A^ ho.' *£.'*. »tv» I ^ik?; 'S ' < .; ■■^■■^' S4 #a» FoufrBBtn'v op MPMiZ, oght gUnce^at hun inquiringly-one or twS^Sted 2d«J ^ans he passed, a few hansom cabs tore bv him T^th r?. k^ Of abnoonal hours, but the aristocratic s'rSts of J.eW^^^^ by very still under the stars. A feeling of awe ca^e ovlf^f »p a. he dlsnuU unlighled rajnaon. -Sen .^o d*Lnd .iS •"Jdenly. .„,! .w^ftly laid on hi.. 11, „an«L S b«S. .^ " I am." " nr" "T *^!."*^* ^^^^'^ who lent for you ? " He d«cen n.ore luKuri^a and hf "!S i l i th a n a..y the scene-painter h ad ever >>ehdd ^ * il»c C<»r«i Cfvei of t^e DisnuJ I>ep an v«| duite .4 * iiiSi*^ ,^,s/a J. ■j :. 'S^;:-.',...!^! iwr-'-^ na PounnESTd op AFht, IS •Jodej. no doubt," he thought "but for permaHcnce sive »r a big blick hoitsr in Park I,ane " "«Hcnce give ar - W*.t.here." the girl •ai;; laironically.' A second after lift •• It's uncommonly like the Arabian Ninhts." m-'sed Vr iu. «n. takink a «eat u,H,n a velvet fauteu!. .^hT^e^if ASSI Hassan ^Is 4slee,. at th^ gates of Bagdad and wakes to toJ iLw ^?T!!' "-^"f^'^ ""*^ ^^« thedazzSngV?nc«; af China^ 1 shall awake presently, no doubt, and hear "th* *e Jutle chu„ney.sweep uptairs starting on L^wSi^ SngZ:i^;r2t;s^:tf-^?^ arid blacker than ever in her suuJl Date^L7 a u^'^J Ij. ha^in both her owl « T^f rnln'Srabie'^r^^^^^^^ , A^;^ had parted, and looked athim with her darCsoremn •J ^ ^\iZ ^ ''""''J CQ'n^'" she said. « I knew I might trust JDU. I hkve,^nt for you dn a matter of life ihd death ioA^^ uTr-'T^y' ^<>^/-^» '"y weonde.Ueding that poUtenes. wqmred Hm. to ay something, and wondering if yuZ S tenerally regarded their weddina '*X « . f tti«hSd«lJ^1 ^'"i' T •**"* him-her life'would ht Mgted « her mothei^s has been. She must be removed oS »— kiuiriAd«c and out of their power. Thatii ^7a1iSI V .» ■ ^* J?. JL . It.'- ^ r;M y»v k i! i 5* . ,^}j'ot;iir£^jyTir OP APRIL, •w away with you to-niffht ? Will ««» T i! i ^"^^ "** paiO, a/id, If It li ever m my iwwer, I will clam. h..r V^ r. tu* head was in an, utter wl,irl ^'^ '"". like . cre«„,e half I ?a"2"^ ^'^ he" T.'T'r' "''= »'•""«' l)uke'. hand. "^ ''°'" """»'' "■ •^ c«.j3\ iiKh not bew live minutes in the hou^TaUoKcthtt u> • dreuny .woon. he foUawed toe .ouiii.. lEroS • ^ ^t*^^ .. '^.i^^i.'!^- Jidb uid lUirwajn, ontQ once more thejr atood ii»Jer tht J* Pat c« your thoea^^Uie girl said; "you wfllfindacaiv^wj ojermthatd^ecuon. ITie baby wiU nit awake until yoT^ a.e prewed the child mvn him. He took it mecharJcali, J S^d^overls '^ t UMcr„:2L ti\"^' '""^ K__ji. 5„ u;- 'c •..'rf^ » poucenum, with a susnicioot bundle in his anns. Still, like a man in a d^ea..^ he starte*! f« •und. and in five minutes more was rattling over the-stinv streets, Hloomsburyward. Then he opened^the shawL SJ kissed the lovely sleeping face, framed in nny flaxen curls. ,A V u*"** K^ *^*'"8 " »»*^"^«- 1'^» WM how the ad venture of this night had ended. And he had said he w^^ painnng at the Royal BriUnnii until daylight '''''"^^ iJ ^n^^A^ li^^'l' " ***""«*»» ^- Ma»on.tis very heart Ing to die withm hun. -What wiU lU^anna myf'^ CRAPTEl VII. AT «T. amwa\ junovn squam. I^IiTlI?'" 7*" J""*™**. *• the hansom tore thronA the quiet streets oT Bloomsbury, waking the iSaTfi rite-paying respectable, third-class inhibita^J" ^ Maion hJa not «?/"***"?• ^"r ** ""^ » phenomenon Z Mawn had not often witnessed in the course of his cl»«-k vn^ £i .nM T * **'."*"^* ««»«»• H>^tooked at i? noV2 Se wC^sk'rl^Xrii'ed^^^^ ««^ dee ^TSiS c^lffie dock, the hats HiM<4«tr». —-4 u ""^ •*="/«» oi me f & «*ik'»t* ^.^ ^j^^-'.a^ h.. ■."V 18 '^ MT sr,^Mo»€rs, BAifortu sqvamm. 1; puke .hnink guiltily even from ktm. The cobbKr^r "h^^.^ hllli!J^.k '^^^ °! *"' *****«' ''«ro. might have auailed P-tedaylight s>rea,„mg in through the one wJTg^J;^ Duke o^r.prcppiceandbrVakyoTn:J,;.\Hu^^ «yncdi,Jtrou.£~^at^!^r;^^ »-V " Not on I/, perhaps— but its moiher— " Go^^^LT'^*'' either-w help n.e I untfl three w«k, ,,«, £. uTeJe-r t: ^'c^d^tilf ^S ^^.^ ^ rgh, if Shi: „1 iTfi.T"' *y°^ '"^ it»^ n»tl»«^ i« iTiillir^' ""' ^ ^' ^"* U»e, tfuee weelT^ tf * And yet you fetch the child home I Mfaguided vonnc man I th jrou ei|>eci me to believe sMch a story as this ? " * J eai^ct you to believe the truth. Don't stare at me ia tta- uncomfortable way, Kosanna, as if you were the Coif cn'i heal f you'U take the child, I'll shut the door, and telf •oJ ac whole s-ory. 1 din'i know what to do with it. and here, iri waking up. ' .7 Miss Mason took the baby. Even A^hOles Had a vulnetm Me fpot somewhere in his heel, and Miss Mason had one ic fcei hem ; a child^ always found its way there at once. She .ook. It with wonderful tenderness, and removed the shawl iltogether, a real India shawl, she saw to hea great amaze The little one o|>ened Us eycs-two big blue ^i, and looked with a baby stare of wonder up in her face. It wasthe pret- hest little thing conceivable— a child of a year and a ha f or n«.rc with little chiselled features, a rose-bud mout^ and beautiful blue ey«L crystal clear. -A baby girl with daintt embroidered underdothing, a little bluesilk dress, the hue ol her eyes, and a goW chain and locket round her neck. C'ori osity overcame evehr other feeling, even virtuous maiden itt dignation, in the brj;ast of Miss Rosanna. thil' child ?"*"*"'" T^ ^^^' ''^ **°*? '* mean, and who ia "That's more t^I knpw.; I don't know hernan.e. noi^ her age, any more thak the dead All I do know 111 tell you «ow. Bat first you may keep those things." He drew forth tfie pocket-book. "There's i hundred founds herrwK her mothw gave me. and here's a ring, also given me by hei aother Now *«./ look like that, R^nna! Miss LyndioS Sn*iw •' ** "^'^ A^uikiei, 1 dare^say, would look down •• il/«r Lvndi^h I I thought vou were spe4|cing of this chUd^i •Otittr, Duke ? ' F osanna iaid, in a spectraT voice. So I am. If there's anything, wrong it's not my'faulL Wi a very queer a&ir from first to last, and much mire like Kid Ufe.^ *^' " '*'** Britannia than the events of And (hen while the Wttie one lay in Miss Mason's arms, alid C ..♦t^i/'-'u'"^.**'^?'"' ^**»y ^y*^** '^"'"^ *«nt b»ck to SI.. ?n il^y^f';^ "1 ^ \ ?1 ^ the story of ttm nig ht, alj he ha^_ hi?*ti!.-J" y '^ IhifiKraslhe cause ofhis dr«ramine«i^ Wjabjenceof mind, the change she had noticed in him! »■«• nm pMduced the ikfCe of the previous 1 *" j'i*i*w. i.at .1; y 1? I ■%n s4*5s»J' •rnft, i. >r 1 Unswilm^fe "Doiy." >.SSrs*X"?.'i:a .•fLt" '^^ °^' -' "•-"■^ " Perhaps it's her nurse." he iiii#»m»m1 u t .w l -A ' "'W^r* j^.tii -i^r^. 1-^2 •okj like Mm Lyndith, too,,|||«it the nose'Zi chL, «Sd Ithike," hit sister said, stemlv. '*nmvt^ w ^- u .u- »«M9 n Niw nlk; "but speak na umm of « aeatiue itS .E.<4V A ».!><» •\^^k»!*i ^^' befiUleli hfaa ?vei reaj « et Aii tb( rich, «M i nd tot thlt — . Kui ahc ie beauHful ttiseli^ea up. lerable spdJ Nature had nother. A raised the r life. Mj astoucdod nk now, ler rbom." . "Pully ot to get tractedljr : k." ireu and Mifcj aiis mirijigbr,- er. Sht iun, aad hear tha 4r ST. gmohg^s, ffAmvrjt squamI A the tiaj ore 1' h. teOi yoa this u her wedding-day, who \i cal'ed JwiT Ltmlith, and whd owns this child to be hers. She has rciason to b« thankful, poor babe, that she his been snatched frdni that linl of corruption, the fashionable world, at so -^arly anjage." The poor babe did not seem particularly ths-nkfijil . After calling for " Dozy" two or three ti-nes ih lain Poll) fpened hr r cherub mouth, and set up snch 4 falowl aa matM Rosanna's biood curdle with new terror. , 7 " Ditke," she cried, aghast, "what will the neighbors Mf I we can't tell them this almminable storv y«>u have just tcW tne, and we must account for the child in some ^ay. What is to be done ? " / "Tell a lie," said Duk^ « there's no o»her iiay.-^1Ve nave a cousin down in th^ country, or up in the liioon, who hat joPt toes up, and |pft us his only child, »• an heirloom. The W)usm was a male fcousin by the name of Mwoiji. Her natoe'i Polly Mason. Polly, I don'r cotton to that cognomen some now. She looks like l^uisa Victoria, or F.ukenia, 01 Evan gehne. PoIl>''s common for such a little g^ntliTwoi.ian as that- ill call her Duchess— she looks one— I'm l>uke— she's DticSi MS, by George I" aiid Duke laughed bovi^hlf at hi* ow« conceit. It was such a relief to have thc^ story told and Rosanna pacjfied. •• Little Duchess— little Polly, come herei and give me « But Polly had a temper, and flung herself aw*y, and wailed hsmally for " Dozy, and her bek-fas I " " Q^i way," she cried. Japping Duke's proffered face: " You's a big. \y^j man, and his IS a ugly place, and «he'8 a ugly thing, too. Oh, Polly rams Dozy ! Polly wants her bed and milk I" "P.illy sh.ill have bread and milk," Miss l|ifasoP said, sooth- flfiy ; "only do be quiet, dear. 1 8up|)ose we niuS, tfAffOVBtt \ tSTf. 'I* went to "W almo.! excited A S .?. j "'" "" » "^ «Im . |»ur of „e, shoe I, ,o>.ld ?ol ,'urch«LTfe;f V* ' •'' the Kr#ren heart of meii^ l- i !i I'urcnase a larin down w called the little oxx^L^r IZ^J^ \ T^t^ *» *«"• »>» •hor, curl of aubJS hlfr'and thTr; ^''%'^'^'^»- *» h^W a lifelike, from"hf roW^lLMi„?''1^"'r *' ^^'^^^l ^niUng, held things for ihelouS^ I^H »f." / *'"" fl^''**''''/. that life known-Lu iJul \7^1 i^eJT.J'""'*' *^"^^ ^'^'^ ^ad never ^ forty.year^>Id rik Sh.^T^^ u'^^'rf '"*^ '^'""^ i" her child ilmos as e^u i^%f*'^*^ ^*^ '*^'''^»' and kissed the Therr has been a infat J«fno T ' *'°°' ''1'*^ '''*Hy baby 1 to Ry the A"afry^ WeTSfeiTi? *^<= Ai hair,us. eight precisely, she immoned'ajEto brt^ak ?*V. J*"^ y°""g "'an found his sister in be«« ^^.S TWe if a^' ''^^ -ver kno#n her in his "fe at Siis^K? mere are airreat manv iifr>i>ui» »i.;-. 1 1 •^•''Ffwn'ur. of tl» child, ™ doiSt " "" '""^^'"8 iiUlue«J ^■ke «te hi. iMxsdtliut, «t«ed <* « M n^A| p^ ^ ^^ .. I .,1 'Wj 013 1 Sr V 7 ^ •cene-.oow sjtK.n on my pan, sup|H>«e we step in and ascettun ?" « gj, T! '?*?'" ^?^ *••* stra nger said, fa Uing h»^k m t^ -^::-r«r^#t««Vefr« wUte, hurry T**^ - - - ■■ ^ —— - . -r:»? :^ Drhcjiastened in, a Uttle sorpriaed. bat not nraek " 1^ »^«»»»» y«ui| nun, with the «ibi|ni o«ii api 1 '?. '.i jf 4s0 •^t^^^lm^^'^^ . .i^i i AT Mr. GMOKGVS, BANOVEM SQUAMM. ) lenuffkibly handsome face, shoidd be •Robert' now,**' h« diought : «« and she should r^ognize him, and shrieking, ' It IS H« I' &U swooning at his feet, it would be quite a liveb . %cene for St George's." These sort of rencontres were very coihmon on the stafe^ and Duke saw no reason whjr thejr should not be in erer^v JifeaswelL He led the way into the church. It was almost filled wi r elegantly dressed people. Two weddings were going on, ai A the altar was quite a bewildering s|)ectacle, wjth snow-whitfl and azure-robed ladifes, and solemnly black g^iitlemen. One er, of course, for bndes to look pale at this supreme >Jiour s. He seemed for an insUnt rooted to th« ^Mi^ Then the crowd, pushing on, bore hun, with it, and Mr. ■trsAfei still stood jn that ngid actitiule, like t mao iloyly nf ^f rv < ^s«' if 4 ■^'^ t /»; nom,'' h« eking, ' II i a lively the a , en •tow eryday filled wif igon, ai.i now-whita en. One or, as be- as a ven the fixed, eyes, be- inaly one. wedding, i the reg bnde was cast eyes. I by. The e was no I supreme ordinal y reat dark sighticsa I the con- lan — wai t4l as h« rose a p. ide oevei and the an awful i to rise ed to th* and Mr. m.- Tht" V'- t ">j ^ C'Tl --F "*^ •^^ 7TS-:;^^Y"'-^ ^}s^a'^-^<'^1^ i -^ i:*"* ^3" 1 w* fo^ / JIT ST. CMOMCrs, WAN07MM 9QUAMM, ^ "G«! f- thought the scene painti^r, " I rlidnM think any hu- man being Except the First Murderer of the Britannia coiild glare in that blood-freezing way. I suppose old Quill knowf what he is about, aflfcr all, when he writes melodnunaa. Thif must be Robert I'll aslf him, by George I" . Duke cleared his throat ** I ifg your pardon," he said, "for a «eem!nj^ ^npenineBl fiestion, but might your name be Robert t " " Robert ? Yes," the stranger answered mechanically. Hi did not seem surprised at the question : all feeling was stupefied within him. < " Oh, it is I Perhaps, also. It may be Lisle f •* This time the young man in the rough jacket did ttim roimd, ind looked at his questioner. •' What do you know of Robert Lisle? " he demanded. " Well, not much, only I have heard the naine, and if you were Mr. Li^le, 1 think I could understand better your very evident intere^jt in th-: lady who has just gone by." The young man, #hose name was Robert, laid hiahand heav ay on Duke's shoulder. " You know her, then ? " he exclaimed. " You I •* " Well," replie " The carriage containing Sir Vane Charteris and his bfide cached the mansion of Mr. Geiiftrey l.yndith, in Park Line. I>»e silence that reigned in Duke's hansom reigned also in this elegdnt coach and four. The bride sat like some marble biide, ^ pale, as cold, almost as hfeless — the bridegroom sat witb a leaden tice of abject fear; " Dnl Lyndith see him, I wonder ^^ he thought " He the church before me. To be balked like this at the last after waiting so long, after risking so much. At the last hour, when the game is all my own, to have itm start up as if from Ae very euih. And 1 thou^t, we all thought. Mm dead two /ears ago." He let down the glass and loosened his neckerchief ; sone- ming in ihe air seemed to «huke him. He glanced at his bride, and a storm of rage at her, at himself, at (JeolTrey Lyn- Olth, SI that apparition in the church, swept through him, *'She looks ii»ore hke a dead woman than a bnde. What »lU evety one say? Why cant she smile, or rouge, or do MMnrthirg except look like that— death in life ? I scarcely «iiww whether I love or hate her most— one day or other site ihail pav for this. And to think there should have been a child, too. and sjie should spirit it away. She has the cunninu of the «ld fierd when she likes." The carriage stopped. He descended, and hand«M) his bride Mt 1^ he other carriages disgorged themselves. Tbe Jlc^iied Mr. I . yn d iti | t he motioned him a|»art -^ - ^ **C«ae jaxm the library," be w4. •• | hitve • wwdl t» t»-'r- - V/ it ,^.. ;.'i; tVWi'&^J^''^ V r i \-' f. ^f ym: AT ^T. aMOMSfS, SAJ^aVMM SQU4MM, tf ^ . Ml. T^jmdith led the way insuntly SometyBf h»d hapimnad He read u in Sir Vane's leaden hice. **What is it?" he asked nervoaaly. "Qaick, Charteris / ihey mil wonder at otu aba c ncfc Let's luve it iu a, word." •• I will. Ruin I" ¥ "What?" f •♦ Robert Usle is aliVb l~ii here i— I n« bdm te the chnrdil'f ' Chartens, are you mad f" " Nut nuw I 1 was When 1 believed four story of IJalvfl team I teil you ihe fellow it a%«, and here. 1 aaw> him in Jiuicb as we cajiie out*' "but, great Heaven, Charteris I this%iust be tMy—mafi- ae%s I The " Ru>al Charter" was burned to the water's edge, and every «ml on board peiTshed. And fu tailed in t!)e " Royal Charter." ^1 lell you it is impossible I '! " And 1 tell /#» 1 saw Robert Ltsle, (ace to (ace, as Ileft the church. She did not, or 1 think, in my soul, she would have drop{»ed on the spot %JIe stood up, and gave me a look I'm Doi likely to foige*. Car««J|, l.yndith," he cned, in a ^dden ^ry, "do you tliink I umMl mistake him, of all men? ^eCon we leave the house, Robert IJakt wiU be hen:.'' - "(;reat Heaven!" « " Ay," the baronet cried. Wttetly. "ym wQ] believe ft whea ae conies. There will be a W>v(»j|| •oene — a beautiful •enaatioa foi fark larc. We know whai lA* will Jo^ ii she once catches sight of hiia AU the story, w loog hidden, will come out, and fo." ( f eoffirev 1 .yridith it means si&pTy raia I " '> He shall tiot see her. By'Obd, he shall not t" " Prevent the meeting if yoo can. J|Ie is a desperate man - if ever 1 saw desperation in humanfJeyea. You will hnd a dtiferent tfian from the Robert luale of two years ago. And IK4W, as you say, we will be miaaed. We mtut go up and smile and make speeches, and play our part» onti^the spectre appean at the fcMt" He luide out of the library. Mr. Ljmdith ftiUowed hfan. 1 here w.k« no help for it — ^^their abaencc mm already conuiMmlad oc by th-u iruesta. The? took their puuiet at the table, dtf igotter with silver and crystal; and everybody noted their al> tersd looks. Such a ghaislly bride, and such a strarge paUot •0 the faf:es of tlMK host and Sir Vane. Something wat wi« e iat:< rbodv e very body w«tg<^defanousty"eir|jcctant eg Vn^ai they waited for came. The breakfast was not quartw , when a k»Hick thuiMlercd at the grand eniranc»-«n H.. fe!ij^»ii/.11'. AlMu.. '•"♦*!- f^' ■*■-■, -5^ i«i«gs»«atei i,, 4«^«(.i 6k "^ifmaruD down tom wnni^ M. \S,!^^^"ir'*.^"^'^ *^** thrilled throagh them .IL Sb Jjna A dead «Jence fell In that silencTthe iound of b al^rcation 4„ the haU reached the... in tha. distant .jSut^t Mr. Lyn^throse abruptly -while and stan-ruaile . h^ SaTh ni. ^* di'tuf banqe was quelled ; hut Geoffrey l.vh SSk^^** f^T'.'^^ What did it n.ean? Even thJ X ^ bnde imed her heavy eyes and looked at tiifeleadcp^ •r the mu she bad Dymid, and waited fox what wju to dSfcT * .1 '1 •*■ CHAfTER VIIL 'WRBTLXD DOWN THE WnSi.'' [EOFFREY LYNDITlrs (ace wa, an md«. o^ hii character-wer two yean a£u. Df a cowardly and infamous plot, worthy the Newgate aJen! •kr ; that power he still held over him, bat who knew? HU part m It might co.n; to light after all, and what horrible shame ' ^^ST^.\^^ ''*'"'? •"/"'/'^ ' ^"'^ *' ^he first sound oi wjjwjice, at the first sight of hft face, his niece would Hy to hil •an, to dina to h . m thrnn^ n. — ^^death. if ueed w e r t .' »■• WM poor, and ui tiece was nui; ket money would •!# ,i',»k!,- .i...' ■K, ■/■: X-i'iitLei.St^ '->>. « ' T*.' ami he acted u|xm it, in every crisis of :tife, and up to 'this tuiie/ha() found it succeeded. His foce looked as if carved in gr&ni/e, as he descended to the entrance hall, for all trepi* ^^iion, surpri&e, angei, fear^ or an/ other human emotion it ma- Rlayed./ , ^' ' -— _-^ A p>prte^, a butler, two high fo6tmen, |11 were formed in a body ito <)p]>ose the enemy — a tall, yuun|')nian in rough coat ^ and broad briiiiiiiifd hat "We can't do nothmk with him, sir," the buder explained, in an mdignani voice, "which he says, like his impidence, aa he ril' s»?e you, Mr. I.yndith. sir." The two men ItKikeo each other 1^11 in the face, one leveL 'powe^-fiil ga/.c The younger man took off his hat Oooo Meavrn I what norrible reason Geoftey Lyndith had to know ^ai handsome, sunburnt face. ' " I know this |>er8on, Edwards," Mr. I./ndith said, very fu^etly, " and will sec hun. Follow zoe, sir." . i^l/ He' led the way .to^^the lihmry, a stately apa T^M t fiCIed wi h bo>)lis arid bi^plr^and bronzes, and into whtchuie noon iuriered through closed venCtiana. "lieoni-e) I.yndith rximetl thfj key in the door, (irnssed'^the room, «a«.ed his elbow upon the ggnison-velvet mantel, and laced ' Us opi«onent It was a due^iv the death ; and both knew it, 10 q larter to be ask«^ or given— one or tU|e|||^er mujie go lowp before :hey left that rooiiL ^W llie gentleman of the Old Gtiard; otherwiie the nusterof rl IiWifti Von sailed two vears and a half ago in the ship * Roya< Charter,' loin Souihaiiiptfm. The ' Roraf Charter' was burned, and aB 9n iVMid peiiaJl^ed. May 1 asa how you came to be alive?" - / ■•**« V^nttsTiMDi-pown tbe »a»»« ^3^ ^*^^ cool ; hl« &CC ■T*'«"HS#| the ftiieness of tht weather, anrf ^ L»fe aaswe<;i^ le paiiengcr lilt, an accin-J'.»«.e, "you hav, Ut» ..Ivanu^ Nwt^ U^ «,oa. urnwd h«, . M«n™.. Ugh. in U, -!>• yon r one ,»oor hour. J^na if you have coh.e to fc*W ,uit pome two year, and three month. to« rtn^m\*erytm for two or three monthi after f^P^fe fron, Kn,land i will x^m..aad.tHen il>ek)ired tlie lin l-er yog ^• abrupt 7 t^lMMn' than .he had ever • loo, mm Ala /• \ /I Cvitied l*.i«-,l.- , ^r*** I ', "s-^J^'^^-^Vr^Wp ^^»>a?B,i'^^-ra^ ^ 1 * ^ * , _^ •0* '- tsenger iW 5 ♦W. e to'leiva :e fur yod, ;o it ? " rd, (iiaer- yda and ty to niy- the eldei L(i vantage resort to pe rtc bjr you can, ^' wife t b c husband she loved--lk a v e tt I I c^^ 'Wftsti r-i ■**" ' \ ... N ."I •J ■I ^j %|>£%tf^i <■ ikisj ■^ 'r' ^ 7a *"^^f^TL^O DOWN TBBH^tfDn •way to Scotland^lSd goes thr^?Ln^ ^ °I o'*'^" "^n* «oiy. that nuS^ass fof ml,2l ^L ""! *°'^' ^' ^<^«*<^h cere- to knowCtte^Ty^t'o^i S^i ^J ^^'^^W «no"gh, at least, ri*«c, th.e child illeguSe 'f ^'"'^ "^*«*^ '^^^ "^ '»«■ p J..d over h.s banned Lee' * ""^ '""^ ""^ * ^^ flush " The child I •• he said ;" there was a child ? " ^^Zroclr:.;:.t;r-^^ -th.neaUygWdov« was she b„t a child herseV "cLr ?i^f|7f ' ^*"'^,''"0''S- VVhat •stray. L.ttle w<,ncler ^e Tho , ' *'^' ''^*^" >°" '^^ ^er now. to ad?1' '\''°'y '^' ^c- . . tlie work] know R ?.' J, , T "'*' "^'^ '*'*»*' ^^^ have blight the hftTan intlren, "^r'T ^' '«» than ™a„ to Lord ^^^x^^^J^^^ u!!, h r '™"' *'^'''^''' »*<» J^i w3^ sec hc^ a, itfstl'^ W /T bps alone wHl I take „ v H Lh '''^ ''^/^'^'y- " ''>«'" her i Will oU-y |.er-yes h ,u^ h r "^f!' u ' ^ ''^^ '""'' '"*^ '» 8<^ , *oiir: Bui I knci L of -^i , ^ r^S''* V"8 '"yseU w.thin fh^^ tut hcait, or .ruTrhonorf 8^^''". ^^^L'^-^* '"^" ^'^ !«sl' me she hates n e. It-t h^r hM "^^ ^""^ here— let hei «ver trouble ^J::^^ thTs worK?' *^°' "' ' ^' ^''' ^^ "WKlfier her 6rst . ibe thioJu tt wu. kn ow w ha t yo ».^^>^ She^:;^^^. - "^*«f.r" binding or noiJ-lie^ST * She believed you deai-Jifc. ihc^7SS\ m > \ a- f',' Js8ed over th, thank 's. What Ju led her ry- And :over her y she be- han have man to moisture 1? Had iired? roin her le to go^ thin the an with . ifraid of -let hei fo, and <" more ^ dead "tnnSTTMD DOWS THA WTinX^f 7t ^-tW\. if t. w: •elfa widow, and has married again— a man whoiu the lopes, •S m her wildest fancy she never cared fur yoa I>o you W^OW Wiiat the consequence of bringing her hert will be? K will kill *»". ' thiiik-jusi that I The exposure, the scandal, the km of the husband she loves. She w«.uld never hold up hei head again. If you ever loved her, Robert Lisle, you shottW •pare ner now." ' •• I oved her f Oh, Heaven I " He flung himself into a chair„and buried hi* foce io Itk hands, Was Geoffrey Lyndiih not right? She had been proud and sensitive of old, and now the wife o( two men. PjUied froni>th, and the first a . He shuddered Uiiough all his frame, as he sat there. ^ ]e^l^'^ **'^''' "'*° **'' his advantage, and foUowe^ it up piti- •• You insist upon seeing !^y Charteris ? Well, if yo'i are deteniiined u|>on it, of course you can. Would yeu like to heaj the result ? She is torn from ihe arms of her bridegroom —ihe story of her folly is given to the wofid— she is known as tne wife of two men, until at least it is proven that the first w^ no marriage at all. If the blow does not kill her, she is \o pme reunited to Sir Vane, but the scandal follows her her Ufe long. Supposing the first marriage to have been legal even a divorce can be procured, and she is still free. In a,w case! all you can do to Su Vane is to separate him for a few monthi from his bride to whon. finally (jJways supposing the exposure does no. kill her) he will be again united, .^nd now for your I.« the hour you stand face to face with OUvia Charteris. - you shall be given over to the hands of the law. For her sake 1 snared you two years ago-forher sakt you shall be branded ■^,f!if,^i».ef you are, then. Do you know what your sentence will>e? One-and-twenty years, at least, on Noriblk Island. Yott will have broken her heart, driven her into her grave, ia allj>:'jbability, and youi-self in a felon's cell Now, choiiel lb n'i'ji.-.e.-t.- .,.->.>.-Mifi d4^A-jii.;»5^' -l.,.,. »flW^''5F^'. ^"4 ^T MALP.MOa^ r^JUtdj^ •fii- raw <» the ahonlder, cold wflh he sud, " dfdde I Go np and boe. He inirard le; "V b;u th deniQ ^m^'^^V''''^'^ Quick!" - ' l^^\i:^t^^^ ^"^-^^^^ Jort^^^ Tom. 6. r "I have decided" hr^^lr^.''''^'^ ^^^^'^a^t- ^ tfwve judge youT; iu vl r'"'^' " M^ '"^^ ^= God J,Jough ii.y blood redH.nJH ^^"^*^^ *s niuth a murderer u •#t of n.rne. She 'bJed Z ^'°''^^' '"" '" ^*^^'"^ through ;vl^ik^ and traitor !-!!Is 3^ nJ^ ^"r^"','"^ "'^ y«" ^ ^; ttdeahe will si.end her life f.?^ f^ "'^ "'^^ ^^^ ^^°^ - OS both, Geoffrey Lvndith mo & ' """"^ ? ^^^ '^^^^ ;•*? -^ 'fW% ^^iT'^f- AT KALTMOON rMMKACM. i cold wiUi ■o op and of., yomler Ho hit df . In that ^ eait ths God irderer aa J Kevei be e through you wiH, by ,who8« dealt by i!" led He i his he^ ^ eat dropf victoiy U breatk ived Ti ik, and irhfle a ^isfiKM' '.*?. PV«iK* iKarqnis arranges hia necktie, and bowt kin imilini •dieux to his friends, on his «ray to the gtiiliotine : fits Vane tat at the head of his wedding breakfa5t, knowing that »he brida he had so hardly w6n might be torn from him forevT in tea minutes, and smiled, Vn J jested, with an upmcved frorL Bat, would Geoffrey 1 .yndith nevei come ? He came at last— very, very |»ale, everybody noticed, but quite calm. He a|H)logized with courtly fluency, for h ac prostrate cabman; ront of a try's skill. But he moan oi ron ♦he I shbuld le braitt. ;w days. lar prao of dniff lere waa nd med~ hatdBU H tbtt flf<"/ '7f '7^ " 1^ ro use,- the apomecary said ; «• he isn t able to answe. OP onderatand yet. He may in a few hpurs, iho'jgh. IH«I you kno« where he hves ?" ^ J^ii^fT"^^ T'"u'?i'' ^^"'''^' "' "'^•^ Mwhimin m, hfe nntU an hour and a half ago. UTiat shall 1 do. I coul Jn i Lavs mm m your charge, now, I suppose ?" n;/,'w? ^° u *?".'''"'*• ^^''^ '"'«^' «** ^^ admitted into a hot pital, though, dare say, if you set about it pro{M;riy. And non you really must take h.m along, fo, i, isnVa pleasant sight f« customers-a man lymg like dead here, you see. I s,Tpn,«e you ve got a hon.e of your own ? As you seem to> a C/icni 01 bis, I should thuik you might take him there " H "Should you indeed?" retorted iJuke, in bittef sarrasiv Suppose you had a sister there, with a temiKjr no, better than tt ougnt to be, and shar|»ened by one tnal already to^%y I Here, you I ' to the coachn.an, " bear a hand here, and help me back wuh the ,K>or fell«w to the cab. I can't desert him • I must take hmi home until he comes round, and the Lord only knows what Rosanna will say." ^ He gave the order, •• To Half-Moon Terrace f " and sat with leeUngs by no means to be envie(i, watching the streets Hy by. and the death-like face of the man before hiil^ untU Blooni Oury was reached. ^•She likes nursing," Duke mused, darkly ; " that's the only f^ i T ^".V ^ ^^''''"' '^•^'^ behave like an angel to me if I only had galloping decline, or asthma, or somei^iing o^ diaj sort and was laid u|K)n her hands half the time; but while mr presem powerful appetite and digestion remain, theres no hopJ «f an,thmg like that SKe'll nur^e this young man, I have Jio doubt, like his mother or guardian angel, supiH.sing him to iwve either, and as soon as he's better and well out of ihr houae. won t I catch it I That's aU I TU not hear the last of it to ten years to come." Full of Uiese gloomy reflections, Duke alighted It was a second time that day a hansom cab had started tht tahabitants of Half Moon Terrace out of their nonnai stale d 5^ A&i iW*i^7SH5ji repose. And this iimt female hrat h tf r d'd not fhe^ae^^o^k " JM Kobert Hawksley was home into the little dingy parlor, 01C9 into the Utile ding} bedroom adidinina, vui laid qd Duke^t s *t!^^ jfj> ^>«»-^M.; v^i >^^* ^«A>ti4V, 'jflki>iai. ■'}^<' % " - y-'t. 11- if I I • ft r^ n2^ ^T V\ ^"^^ *^^ dismissed, and the tug of war ven Dear. I>ukc had to lot^k at his long-sutfenng sister now. aad ^ expressipU. of that stony face mi^-h- have fr^hleneu aTia?^ ' " QjK Rosinna J don't scold. I could not help iC uroo ro» iOflU just listen half a minute 111 tell you all about if ' '« » ?K ^^"J^^P""' [o"" ^he second time that day, Duke poured aisanna. adventure into the wondering ears ol' ' J^^"'^''^'^^^ I help it-<:ould I ? I p„t it to yourself. Ro. sanr^^ Uu wouldn't leave lain to rlie like a d.- in the s leet : would youi» And he'll come round in h..lfin hour, or so the • apothecary sai.} he would ; an.l go home himself where he b«- &-t)X;^n:^!. '' "^-r^ ^"^ - - »^- '^^ ^^ " <'" 7^.1 ^«"»d jo Mr. Jelhip this very minute ; tell him if s » case of life and death, and don't st^nd chattering there like jnoyergrovvnmag,.ie." was Rosanna's answer: 'Vthit man will die If something « mit done for him shortly, and ri.Ftiot «,in2 \P have any dea< ny^ on my hands. If Mr. Jellup isn't h^e 1 ^ , fc'e minutes, I)uke Mason—" ■' »'^ *" Km Duke did not ^^ait for the completion of the awful spn- .I'^'^K ?%""*'!'"'*' ''°'"'''*''*'*^A He clapped on his hat, and rjished after his sister's favonte jpr^titionc;, and Mr. JeUup vai there in hve minutes. - ■ ^ 1 ^ ^ ' Ulielhcr Mr. Rtiberl Hawksley liv^^ of died, the scenery fo, tL.. r«^*'""^'*^J^"*"*' Deep" must »Je paint ed^and .&,ld''^"?' r^'^ ^ fun<^,„ore than furious, af Slu '?k'^^'' 7"*^ '"*'"' ^"''"^ ^d stand th^ phials o/ ifl *'"]?'*"'' Pv« them as good as ihtfy .brought. Afr tf.lup ard Rosanna would bring th. .yo•ang^nan mund, tf Acre was. any earthly possibility of it, and wondering' a W deal whether or no he might not be little l'dlly>» papa,*Mr.^ Mawn went whistling to his work « "^ *^ ' ^ - y to hLTmI^ "l-pn-nidnight when, the play ovfr. he returned S„?« r . ^1""^^;^.*" rf"" "ght shone from thi paxlof window, ; he let himself in mth hispight-krv. Ro^nna" « W^ttlnng then. That was notJnng unus»a>. '^S^'^.^** I.;r'^'^f.^°"'^."^^ ' 9 "^^ »'"^' ho^i:s.>|,d be up wrtb tiM • *?• wom&K'i ''****^^'^ '*™°*^'^«:«P lipstSSi, am} fed <■ ^ I :h. :r i* l> 4' : *'^ ■/--■». J^/?^K wax vtrj now, Mad < a biavck , • ■■'■./ upon rot enzy; "tf I' • \ e poured I ears cf rself, Ro he street 3r so, the • e he be- , like that, 1 him it's here like man will lut gving t here in •^ful Sjtn- his hat, r.JeUup ' - " .( 'nery f(M ted, and ipus, a? rs. Tin- hiais oi It. Afr. jund, if '" a rgreaf pa, Six. /^ ettimed parlor najwu * t t.'^^f^ j-sX', rrtb t fat Jtf »AL^ tte opened the fwrlor door softly, and hu diter omC Uv Irith Uui ear iplittinis '^hifh-h^l " noott norsei aiect. •« Oh I " said Duke, 5he'l here ttill, ia he / And hoj»*t h* DOW, Rosannal^" \. • He looked into the little bedroom. Robert tXAtfi haad ■ome face looked fwftilly bloodieaa in the diiq, i>ale light, boi ke ilept tranquilly a^ a child. * ' ^ *• He'll be up UMiiiOrrOw, I thall watch with him to-ni^ Ihrouffh to give him hi» medicine, and you can sleep on the ■0&. Dukef You'll f.nd Vour supper in the kitchen." Rosanna was as mild as sweet milk. . She might be old, the might be grim, she had no| the faintest touch of sentimcnta^sm in her nature, *«/ she wis a woman still, and a man tf&ck down in his strong raaohoofl, and the pallid beauty o< that Warded face, wen| straight to all that wail womanly in hergriioi ' ^Id 8|Mn8ter heart. • ♦' Shell be a perfect angel as long ashe's-aick on her hands," thouf;Kt Ihike, pouring out his tea, with a sort of groan ; •' and th^ minute he's gone, dow^ she'll come on me for ever fetch ing him here. A maiden sister's, a blessing, no dbubk but i think some benighted bachelors woOld be more satisfied if they did not have blessings." l- . T^Dttke stretched himself** the sofa, dressed and ill, and ieiil thr slee^ of the jusU The sjck man slept in his bed ; Polly slept in ^.ers ^ff the kitchen ; tad sleepless and uprigh Rosanna sat and rjead her ''Book ot-Cwnaxow Prayer, as behtted he solemnity of the hour and xKcasion ; «nd the small houn fore" on, and another day grew gnray in theiCaSt How much had happened in the last ^ntv foM hours I A sick man to nurse, and a little cbil^ to carcs R>i\ Ah« *i^>ie M she thought of Folly, and stol^ ofiJi^toe to the bedside. Tht baby slept, het dimpled check* flufPii. hei ro»ebud lips oartM V— A lo.'ely vision, is all sleeping children are. The io(k«l ^limmrreJ in the light tJf Rpsanna'l tandlt ; with the chikiia '■ oming it had cowte o|»en, and the*tinj^ » url of auburn h»a h««|^ mien ooL Rosanna took it up, looked at ij— looked at t^^|^ • ''Xctu'c*^ ^^**^* — quietly at first— then wuh strange and sudJen^ , volensitv. Achang* came over her owis face \ she uncl|piped ±e lorket, took it and the litila curl into ihe sick man's room: •*|he laid the tress close t*^ his^hV"^ ;*the two w^e the same e* ■rti y— cnjot^ teatige, curl She hijirt the pictured fuce ckm « m i* A'- b^.i»w a bei^BeM' fce, and~tfi^^ beard. op4 iMitta* >. lijii ateu^r* JJ?. ^••''? P*lt " '''^^ ^«»*"*^ the locket agai, apout iftc .Jiilds neck. The same thought crossevl her «Sn> ' TiiLT* 1^ i'' "T"'"«' ^^^f ^-^ » ►^^'''•i*/ in spite rf- i ? Spangle. It was his firsf thought as he sa. «» llJn ^. to find the little k.tchen gloke.1 by a bUrs,"f "Jh^ tt^break/ast ,n a state of ,>re,.akat,on, and Rosanna S ^ «" hu» jnth a face of owl^.ke sole.nn.ty. VV'as^h^ "J uL^.T^^^u '"^^ '^' ^""'^1 "' '^^ ^'n about to falU° -«..*' .f"»«"*^«^ Rosanna,^"! have somethinir ver* •trangc to teU you. That child hai a locket. wTih a .„T5 ^ £;r i"fh'sf "' ^^i'^"' »>" neck '"i^'jt ;.^^^; ;:;«,- hair both belong to that sick luan.' V *^ " Rosanna < " *• It ia true. IxMk for rourself i^ von HV* t^-- —^ • • he's the child's father I " ^*'"^"' * ^^^ ^'^«' '^ » ««> "Ptn»ot and L?'!!L\'li/"*'T"'"°"''' "''*''>•" "^'^ Duke. "We'll tn Mwtrew Polly, u .tnke. mc 1 should like to know her n^L IS The brother an* dster breakfasted! togtthef. Duke went oni for hi, momjng snioke, and Rosannn w^he get ap." ^N». / His cy«« tharvked her. Iliey wci-e beautifal eyei, wore and ■mntf like I'oi'.y'* every second. She bathec' nis hands and fiwe, placed his tea and ioaafi aeatly before him, and watched him, with that profound »ati«&» ion only niirsej know, eat a few morsels and drink his tea. ■ " My brother will be in directly, and wiU help you to divs% ft(Mann4 said, kindlv. " Here he is now/* l»uke sauntered in, imelUng of the stables opposite, where he »iaukc, and took the chair his extempore valet glared for him among llie roses and geraniums in the sunn; nndow. There was a bottle of wi.ie in the house, kept for rare occir lions, and Rosanna gave hsr brother a la»ge glass for ho ***" And if he'd like to smoke, Duke, I d» «v.i " If I had known wheye your home and hiends were, imae . laid. " I wouhl have uken you there. But you were quite iiWpable of sjKfech, you see, and I bumght you here." " 1 have no home," Mr. Hawkslev answered, in the saiM quiet tone, "and no (riends. I stand quite alone m Kngland, r-Vtre-wofliJ,^tn«te«t^ 1 only reached I «njon yesi«dariiH»ii^ int. after two years' sojoum in America. ^ Hut 1 wiU not trj* f ftM upon yoiu kuidnete much Ibngei^ fl 1 niiy further trovDH .V*. '^ . •^ ^ .#■1 '■ f Is AT.^ALF.atO0ii rtujiJicM, fw » j*t me • cab and ti-ll thi» man to take me to ^mmm TI„ ?1'^ * '?''" /•"*t'*nd »«»»n by the very ne»l fteaw«.' In that ca«e,' said I hike, "ypu shall remain iri.er* ymx a>« ««J tcMw^w. at least Our Wms are of the humWett," J „ With rathrr a nieftiJ look around, " but such as they are. the* •re at ycmr service, and youll be brttei here than in a \xqJL . 21!" '"•"' l'*^"»'*''y a» you are still rather w^ak." ' Robert Vi awksley stretched out his hand to the scene fMintw. L"^ , 1"'.* ^"^ *"* ***^* "°"? "«^*«»'»* *ho w,.ni by m the dmgv htlle street below. He ate his dinner. *hen Ketner in the par^,«. And the belN dashed out again for evennig servir- ^n-■*■ " --,« ! re T* y$m ait ' luinblett," Wf, they n « oouifi, If p«iPtw> i^ti theiit> gitt wxihia noke intC (reel ring- > went bjr rhen ilin- hen weni he room, t, but sha hff. ., Ked him , she oe- into thfl ly long, {etrtpr ^n { service, to jbdd, lent and uiie out he- »»s hlhiaelf hiniftcK et, even bet w^si in lh«,t tuiu fc^ ,>;..%,■ V/S" f •*&.<, v» fM^ or m hntr^MT, ^ y ■ ts TOtJ» m THB TmUOHT. |0U wmider, very likely," Mr. Hawkriey began, wMl perfect abru|*tne«is "that I should take a journey dl the way across from New York, and only remain three Of four days before going back. Yoii will wondfli oaore, when i tell you *hy I came. I came to find my wife." " Apd— you havf> found hfcr f" ventured Duke, h^ alarmed •I his own temerity. ^, * •' Found her, and lost her forever, in the u4|fe hoar." "She !• dead ? " I hike had hazarded again. ' " Yes," Hawksley said, ii^ a strai^ge . compressoi sort d voice. " Dead — dead. 'Would you like to hear thp history of a life that has been.a failure } I f^el in the mood to-night-— for ■ the first tune in two years — ^for the last time {i^rhaps in my life. 4 rdinantic story, mygood fellow," with^a sort of . laugfi : *'ol jow t^te son of a yeoman won and lost ' a lady of tiigh degr« e,' AS the old song has it A yeoman son, etli^cated far above hif sphere, by an eccentric godfather well-ta-do in life, and started to pii&h/his fortune at the age'o' twenty -^twd, as secretary to 9 gentleman in the House of Commons. I fulfilled my duties, n apftears, so satisfactorily, and was willing t(^rece:ve such very «lender wages, that my gentleman, who wa^'prlJier rich not generous, resolved to retain' n»e as long as he could. And when .the house dissolved, he took me with him to his country- seat down .ia the heart of Staffordshire.. I met hsaf" there. It .18 "over three yeacsago n6w, but in .this hour, at.d to the last of my life, I will see her a* plainly as 1 saw h<;r that first day, itan«iing breast-high aijiidihe waves of barley, „her harnls full ol x>m flowers and ^^ippies, her white ilress waving in the sweet «inhaa,h';ifest, jn^jaeed f^om her tenth year to a baronet, ■■> i i»«md.M matry hii'v by her f i tfVrXde {; i;|ih <» d iniiinrrion -h« ^pe*T (oi^ilne devirA4«Bt on it— if 4^ ri!ifii8e4t that lurtuw inn|^ Ml ourluw to4 tmilti ft hbavitai «od i^MtCjfv . ' • 4S / » !i^^<.-' V. • #'» -•v ,A' ■k 'i... ..> >01D W TBE TWILIGHT .y Iwiviir nothing of the tether ii would fi llVi now it would have been more \ engragemcnt— ii Is <;ioubffuI niatterei' :l» if 1 Jiad; still Joiiest'on ht 't H.™^ ..''"'"=*'■'>"'»". And she loved »»/• »«-». lenK.,) ge,™„„„. .„d h.d hi pale face £, ZS^ Ke e S hl7- ""'^T ?"'"« **='«"' '« Scotland; .Ta,^ inere to hinder mv fo owr^nff »a\ k^m... fonnecl there. IV^'vate larr^V IL '^l^yTn 'SaTl 'To hcense, no w,tness_a quie, ceremony some^ fiL dat an M^ our happmess was secured for hfe. iJ,e w« a Imie f;, ,h Ia %^'^A ^» ^»^^r*^-l P-l-osaK bm The%on:nt^''^:^ «i:,t^=e,^:ra,t7^h'„,id^J' -.rrrii ' m.t.1 he lool.«i ., me whh woje,, but h. pa„„J T,, *! 'f^' oJiSlSi' T',.''''; °' "■'' *™»'- •paring September da. our mamage took plaw. A «,«rrannja.cj Jid .Ln, "ho SS ooiiie Had caused a nsiwnsion of li > daoe^ oerformed thiV «™«.n,- re-dJ, eno-gi. fb, a fe. cro.„a We'^ere mlL ^ •nwKwtii <)u«stiQa. ■wj;. } r-'^f'S^ roiDwm rwtuG9T^ 'jscap-^; •s 1 ** I wonder, Mfl M asun, a* f ou sit there, and listen to thif •tory, if .>'ou kre not thinking me a viU^n. To win * young girl's affections, to inveigle her into a clandestine mairiage-^ to expose her to iioverty, to bring uj>on her the anger of ho *•> friends, data seem hke the deetl of a scounJi^'L But we lovetj eadi other, and twenty-two does not often stop to reason. Sh* was inipulsivs, impassioned, i^oinantic— I waf nuuUy in Isvt, Wt headed, and with a brilliant career^before me. , Twenty twe 'Always looks forward to a brilliant car«er, )ou know. Wt . would marry at all hazards — tiure enough id lijtcn to conunbn Knae afterwardl " s " When her fortnight among her Scottish f.nondsv^rpired, she femnted home, i followed h.i* in two days after, and things wen on in their,old way — the .noonlight walks, the secret meetings, tht oU! vows, and talk, and bliss — old as Eden— ^the sweetei alwkys for \v\n.^ stolen. i " She pleaded so hard not to be sent back to school until after Christmas, that her uncle, indulgent in all minor n^itters, consented/ Before Christmas we thought we would run away together, leaving a letter for Uncle (JeoBfrey, telling all, iroulor- ing pardon, and Uncle OeotTrey would foam, and rage, and swear for a while, like the !*.ght-comedy father in ^he play, apd the curtain would descend finally u|H>n a beautiful tableaw^f ' reconciliation, we at his feet- on our knees, and he with nil ^ hands outsuetched, sobbing forth ' Bless you, my children, and be happy.' /- ••The aufumn passed r-such^a golden autumn I We had ' been four month* married, when o\u well -guarded secret was ' discovered. My employer said nothing — he was a man raihei to act than to talk — but suddenly, without a word of wainiiig, , my wifr was spirited^anray. 1 was sent early one day on a CoiniiMssion to the rilighboring town ; when I came back she KW gone. That is more thac two and a half years ako 1 kay< never seen her but for on^ moment since, ar>d ll4»Hi«a4^ festeiUay." P He paused again to light another cigar. Drtke understood him perfectly. He was intensely inter Cfted in this story — far ukmv interested than the nanatm yet knew. *• There was no scene ; the anclf met me even more blandly poUte than usual ; but 1 felt he knew all. 1'wo days after, w hll f I waa jtilL oinrpmlved wriai course to pursue, h« ciUx ne to hit study — hit valet was busy about the rcMiav I iwwwoi tv raJSitj^i. ^ . t % ' ..>»' _•.* .A, -( *fc. ■■■»- '^ii'f'^r--^, ' M t!Ol^ IM nt^ TWtUQatS <^ \. \: u ili> J ber, at th4S tiine— a^d loekej up in hit tafe, in mj pr««nce, i quantity of unset jewels, and a sum of money in bank note* l\ was an old-fashioned safe, with an ordinary n»ck. by no meana me kind in which to intrust three thouiand immukIs' worth ank.' ^ w "/' 7^y^^ ™^*"* ^ *« «fte^oon. At the tlusk of the Weak December evenhig wore oh, the postman brought the waiL There was a note from hef, dated Ix>ndon, beimng me liucome to her at once— to Iosm/ not a moment There waa-. *e address of an inn, where I Wi|[s to sUy, and at suth axv Iwur Je would couie to me there. I never doubtetUhai note Wkat wa^ my employer, and hii diamonds and his safe, io m« •I u '^*" *" '"^ ^^"^ packed tny'portmanieau, waited onjiJ the house wak quiet, and that ve^ night, wuhout inform. fc»f any one, was on my way to lx>nd<^n. I reacheil the inn • le the hext day. A great pa^t of the journey was'peiforhied to stage-coaches. I wau«d fcW my wife, but she never catue. f waned three days. At the fend of il^jit time there came, in- *^jofOlma^er tmde an 4 a^ pfficer of the la w, ani|«ir with Om the nigitt of ihy d^spaiiurl^ my \ \ B 1 r c I C \ / yy-, r :^ I !WflC6( t tk note* \u rneaai rorth at HewM him pal bert,' he probably care i^ Vhv not retaken H;e with lad they sinisfer iddleof ; round, Lhe ave- I be M \ in r i* rjtn ^-trruGMT, ^ V itftier unexpectedly, I8bnd the safe unlocked, the iewels and money none. / »'»s jjone, too. hvcr)- "iiimatc of lhe honse was A^iarained, but all proved '.neir innocehce criumphantly. i C was the giiiit> party beypuid a doubt, and I was followed. After two days' search they found nie. I and my luggage were to be examined* 1 -listened with astonishment and angei an« scorn ! Kxamine ! Let them examine as long as they pleased '. They 'searched me— a degradation 1 submitted to, aiiire witt .rage ! They examined niy portmanieau. ThSfe, carcfiiU) ' sewec up in the Uning, the jnveU and money were, found I •« i^y late employer disnnssed the detective. We were left alone together. He looked at me mOre in sorrow than b anger; and I— I sat benunvbed My gufiU wavi>lain ; there were Uie J2wcls and money-^the number of the notes all taken ariu found to correspond. What had 1 to say for myself that 1 sliOdld not toe handed over to the law ? 1 had not a word. I KU stunned, and listened to him while he talked. For m) • dead parents' sake— poor but honest people— for godfather's sake, he was willing to spa^e pie, On condition that I left the country at once and forever, Ishould not be given over to the fate / deserved — hard labor and penal servitude, most likely, foi life. Ills niece, who had been greatly shocked by the news, had begged him to hand riie a note ; he would give me half an hour to decide and to rea'd what she had to say. I tore open I tie note as he left me, stiU too stunfted to utter a word. " 'She knew all,' she wrote : 'she fe^ed me for Meaven'i' uke not to provoke her uncle t<) prJ^Kute. He was nraerci-. less, if once aroused, and everything, was^against me. She be- Heved in my innocence, would always love ine, and be true to. me, but I miist fly now, and without iseeing her. She 6^*^ not see me, it would break her heart, it would kill her, il J were arrested and condemned, as I wo^ld surely be — hanged, even, perhaps. She fell as though she were going mad— I must bb«7 now. '"^* " What could I do? What would yon have done m such • ' > 1 kn^-w there Was a vile conspi acy againit m^ of hei .r ,1 :5-«e aaele'9 making, but 1 never thought he forged those lettiBft To have been arrested would hAve been aa eid u» ell bopt > fe:v ■l'»?i ■'■^-'^ A f^ rmtueffr. m. n i#,g«flt seemed pajpable asthe light o/ noon. Tr « «ute oi JuUen fiiry accepted the scdundrd's teiins— I left Knaland Dying from the consequences of a crune I had ntr^i comSitlec —almost maddened— with no ho|>e. save in hei hutij and 6 dehty and love. ^^ "I began «,y new life in a thriving wettem village, riiim fest to a populous town For twelve ...oi^|i#.uck wenT stead^r igau,st n,e ; then the ram can.e. I in./an^od;er surt«j in • buimess that flouhshf.d ; we made money-tl.e object of d i life was bemg fast ac.;omplished— a sure and safe competforj oLl^^r'l 'r'"^ 'f beh.nd .„e. I tell you here on^ V. pUiu, sunple facts jf my story—of n.y sufferings— of rny de «, / and by th.- loss of all man holds dear- 1 tell you noth «t^ of what sleepless nights and wretcheil days her silence and my ...spense caused me. For she never wrote-no letlei came from her to the address in London, to be forwarded to I!If; n /r""" ^'"" ^"^ *8*'n to that adilress— the letters lay uncalled for. I, was wbrse than useless to write to her to th*" court ; IJiMw her uncle well enough to be sure they would never re up ever along claii ra-ucif however r. There were times when I was ready to throw the tide m my affairs that was leading me slowly ^ and nish back to Fnglanti, and brave all, and lif these moods passed. It would have been her out unlil I had a home, however humble, !ke that to which she ha«l been accustomed, to bring her to, m iJus new, strange land. UTi^n at last cormoon sense, reason, pnidence, all were forgotten, what do vju thini caused me to leave all that was becommg so precious to m.. and rush madly back tnto the very danger from which I fled?" Uuke made no rep5y. He was scarcely breathing, so vivid 1^ his inleresi, Robert Hawksley did not seem to ex,,ect a teply-he was looking out at the darkening, lam|>lit street A dream— neither morf nor less I A dream broujiht me back to hngland. On the night of the twenty-third of Alarcb -iw T u"^'"" ^" "••' ^'^^ ^"'^ «'*^ *' "'y ^«.- . I I"--' ~r^ raiB (/f tint Twiuegr, 99 "On the mght of the twenty-ftfth of March, having been very tmty all day, and suffering from headache, I retired eaily. I d'd not fall asleep directly ; 1 lay tossing about, and thinking of my d I earn, tuU of fears for her, and doubt for myself. I think it was nine o'clock, the house was very still, Jie room nitii-ety darkened, for I had closed die shatters an^ curtaim, ind therc'was neither fire nor light I was not asleep ; I XBt perfectly aware of it ; { was as broad aw|||| as J am at thif aainute, an J m» eyes were 6|>e% when lu^fjffy a picture shone before me through the darkness, and I saw every object mon plainly than I see the lamps shifting down there, in the twilight •*I s;»w a room — long, low, dark, old fashioned, lit by a wojmI- fire, on a broad hearth. I saw an open window. J could feel the cold night air ujion my face, as I lay. An open piano 8tot*d near the window, through which I caught a glimpse t^f a stonny, moonlit sky, and tossing', wind-blown trees. By thr window, looking out into the night, stood a girl, dressed in a iirk red silk robe, which trailed behind her, and glimmered \ike rubies in the firevhine. I could see the diamonds tlashiiig f\ her ears and on her hands, her yellow, unbound hair, her large, dark eyes. It was Olivia ; pale and wan, as I had seen her in my dreams, her sweet face hof»elessly sail, the large eye^ hollow and haggard, I saw her stretch forth her hands with a passionate gesture, 1 heard her wild, despainng cry-^' Oh, mj Robert — my Robert — •■ /- -'^.-. ;•'"■■* /• Pr a* . ■ U IMAGE EVALUATION ^ TfST TARGET (MT-3) /'' ' y ■ v.. -'■' / . 1.0 I.I 115 U2 I L& 12.0 18 lg II '-^ 1 1-6 #« w 1! Corporalion 23 WCST MAIN STKEiT V»nSTIII,N.Y. UStO (7Y«) S73-4503 ■^ ' \ ' ^ ' ■ "-r • X "C -■ ■■ * / / / ^^^ '>>^ ^#^ * «* * • < ! • V ► . ^ »• M r •* - . ''■• " 1 -t -L c ^ ' X ♦ • • ' .f-- '^' V ' • V ' " ■. ■ ' *, __, *■ \ \ * », • \ ■ '. ^% ^ *. " •" *■- ■■> k 4 \ ^ •^1 5 . % \ : '.,.^ ; t » ' * -. V K..,^:'r Aitth > Wm:..: . ' %.. \ ro£i> m m rwnjcMr: ^y«w toa^id hrr marri^ to Sir Vane Charteria. The UmI- ^o, «w i» ,x. ir mion was Miss Olivia I.yndiih ; and on tS7.w! «-ght-ihc twenty-fifth of last n.onth-/ skrar?d h«Lj1J *^tj *ha, vou saw and heard in that singular viW'^ JKolvTt lUwksley wa» fiilly aroused now K© had tolrf hi. «ce fl!i8hed diep red as he rose. *"" *«"i^ a•i^^/^i^^:^::'^^•^'^^~-'3^. •^Yoo wad- wtele"aZr"7H" Ik"^ ' " ^"'^'^ interrupted. " Fll tell you thd ^r w^leard i^" f ""P^ ^'^'^ "'°« -""^erful thing 5 Mirer was heard »* GooJ gracious 1 what would RoLm. Then nuke Af».son, with breathless volubility, quite unlike ^nT ^^ ^^i*" ""^ ^'"""^ ^^^"^ "^^^^ he had heard, all Le h2 •ecn, up to the moi/ient of Geoffrey I.yndith's awJara^cT!? Ae wamngroom of JiW Speckhaven station. ''^^'^'^'^ *» Irinmnh rt' "J'*' '-""^'"d'^^1' out of breath, and elowing with friumph, " Hhat do ycu .hink of that f Are you latisfi^f Z? that she always loved you-always was true to you """^ °^ a.oTe on" HalTsIej' ^at ""^^T ^k"" ^*^*' '^^ ^*"« <>"<=• tuwic un nawKsieys face. Only the tremor in his voir*, h* **>^f "^ *"'*' h'^ '^^l^ «^hen he answered : ""* •*• *t^'JIJ*"» "°' "**^. ^° ^^'^ «"^ "^ strong emotion off th. ^a«l ^ k"'!""'.**- ^'•" ^''^^^^^I'ng'r uncomfortab^ Hawksley bn.ke tl.e silence, and looked up. ^ to^^W ,1 , ""* '^hat argument her uncl^ used to mdJ!Tm to >ield, and go with him ? Vo.i say she defiini h;I« -Ta-? «k! w^ resolutely ben, on going w^you "^'^ hun at fir^, . .She wa.. ,H.ke said. " I, p„„,«, „, fo, ^^e time, but I in rtl tku ' . .. . %\m P««k« «« h«k«TOl «d nld U>« Bttl. ^i^iK..'iil I th&t rery hetri in n." " d told hii til Uni^ oo wocU llyoath^ thing that Ru^anna \ te unlike night of il he had u-ance at nng with ti(^ Dot len onc« 'oice bo when I r uncle's My dar- uuid up nt dead off tht J ucefaM at 6nt, i, but I did not Lfe it a % «}•¥ rOlD tH TbM TWrUGMl. 91 Ime •ni! fear and nine months before, when Di Worth had been rooted out in the rain, to assist at the birth of a babf girl, at K^ndith Grange. Once more Robert Lisle started erect, and eag-r to listen He renieml'cred the words Geofre) Ljrn- dith hail let fall, of a child that nad died on the day of iti birth. •• My pinion i?," Duke said, "that old fluke of an nnde ab dnctcd the child and kept it from her all along ; and on thai digfft, in the waiting-room, promised to give it up to her il sht irould cfllnsent. She thought ) ou dead ; she would sacrifice anythmg, given the "Ther is the mysteriou to make and hair r ^ hke most mothers, for her baby, and she consented for its sake. And," continued Duke, in a perfect burst of triumph, ['that child is in the next n)om f " " In the next room ?' Mr. '.isle could but just repeat "In the next ioom ! " And once agam Duke began — there seenied no end tci the story-telling— and related the receipt of Olivia's note, and| how sinj^ilarly on her wedding morning she had :hild to hts care. can be no douM whatever about^it," Duke said ; " it e cb'ld of Dr. Worth's tale, and your wife was thr lady She told me plainly the child was hers, and surance doubly sure, it has a locket with^your picture lund its neck. My sister recognized the^ likeness this morning, a|nd siioke to me about it You saw the child half a dozen times to-day — yours beyond the shadow of a doobt Its paternity is written in its eyes." There wjas still another pause. Duke got up and lit the ooip — he avoided these blanks in the conversation. " I'll fetc^ Polly in, if yoa lie— she calls herself Polly— 'tiMt is, if she's njot asleep." A Rut Polly WAS asleep ; and not (or a regiment of ^Ahfen would K(/salnna have her disturbed. She was reading BUif*! Sermons by [a solitary dip in the kitchen, and looked about ai plai'ahle ami )'iel(ling as a granite Medusa. ' "A J Mr.l HaA-kftley has waited so long, I dare say he cat trait until lAoming,' was her grim reply, as she went back te Kail's SeraK^Dx « Your sifter is ri^ht," Mr. Hawksley said. He was white as nuible, a^d looked abnost as cold, "i will' see the child \p^ morrow toi aay_good by." i^ . , . . — *^30« hands, and great drops stood on his ,uillid u- r \r\ "^ ^''*'P """ ^'°"' * suicide's cowaiJly endl" them. So Duke Mason, with bated breathy and a great com passion in his heart, left him. * . «.t^lnr"'"i? ??"!: ^^'^ *"*^ ^^rcv^X. A I^ndon fog had set m, and a sky like brown paper frowned down on the sniokt city. Bu, little Poll, in her blue-silk dress, bronze Z^tl fn W^K ^^''l' f""^ *'"'^" ringlets, looked sunshiny enough to hght up the whole parish of Hloomsbury herself The strange gentleman with the blue eyes so IjUJier owa and tawny beard, took her in his arms, ind locjBfeto hS jniall face; and Polly, who flouted Duke ahilBEna L liaughtily M though she had been Czarina of ♦ll oTRussiaa^ f • took to hun •• in a way that was quite amazij^ She k S lh» bearded l.ps. let him look at her locket. toiU him he, t«S Iwas Polly, and that " Dozy" was •• all gone a^ray " ^I suppose her name- is Mary," DUke suggested, "and %ht /calls herself Polly for short" «, •««« iiw " Her name is Paulina," Mr. Hf wkslev said quietlr. «« | am quite certain of it^ Pauline was the na^• of-of her inateiS grandmother, and of her mother's twin sister-an old f JunS naine ainong the I.yndith.. This child's name is pluUnl J» I .\ '"'' "»ot*^«''« "«»«= in America, and ihall kw. It let her grow up as Mason; keep her with you alwava 2;^m-^"^if gW. wistfulljr. and put her dowv «•« an l*jiif later, and be haTT^TSlf.MooB T^nu:.!? ^ ^ f". \ ;-.i ttage of i\) name, » greaia nt, of al' her. ] we meet im inn* r.es» and talk of iscretion nd I—" is |>alHd Kcndl" rd upon at com- ^ f". s A- \ rOLB IS THE TWIUGBT. n ' The '1.And of Columbia ' leaves agsi«* to-aorro«," ke said to Doke ; " I shall return by her." .T.iey shook hands and parted with no more words, an'l Uw Kene-paintei went to the Kntannia. He was not sentimeatai aor unaginative ou^^^ for my ckUd'i iftke. Oiire a year • will write to you, and you to mt, 'e.ling me of bm riogreis and weilare. I go to make a fortune for her -, pleaw (fod, mv" wugi,:er «haU be an heiress, before «hom those who Kom her now ihafr yet U«w down. Let her grow up as your own — in utter ignorance of ha awn stury- I f I live, I may one day retom to England, and to her- -if I ii», be^ baha^ in o^y stead. 't t "ROBBET HAWKSLVf.** And so the first cEfiptei in little Folly's stnmge histoihfr vnu t'ead and Gilded PART SECOND. CHAPTER I. ■-jfj AFTER FOURTEEI*. YEARS. |VD It wil' be the most splendid thing ever seen Is Si^ckhteven, Rnsanna! Figure to yourself yards and yards of Chinese lanterns sparkling ihroMjrh •-he tr^es, plashing fountains, and the divine nrmsrc of Flolrr 4sdale's military brass band! Fancy the long tables groaning— that's the word— groaning under the roast beef of oid England, and foaming flagons of ale! Fancy flags flying, and bells ringing, and everybody eat- ing and drinking, and making merry, and four'litile Polly sharing the glories of the hour with the Honorable Guy Paget Earlscourt, second and favorite soq o( Lc/d Montt lien, of Montalien Priory, Lincolnshire." " Polly r ** Wei; I mean as the prettiest girl at the feast. And T m quite determmed to go, RosAt^a, so iron my white muslin dress, like a dear old love, and say no more about it." The spirited speaker of this oration stood in the middle of the floor, a tall slip of a girl, with a slim waist, sunburnt hands, and a clear, ringing, sweet young voice. The pretti- est Mght on earth— afair, joyous, h ealth y girl of sivteen. ~ It WasT»rdrfi nnnn n.r 't A^y,,.:^.,„ t.._- jt.. _. . j . ' It was high noon of a delicious June day. and she stood in a burst of sunshine that flooded the parlor that flashed in tih i^K-' m " AfTEH y0VMTKElf YBAAX ^ her diort aohnm cnrts, and »j>arkierf back from her joyoiu e>e<*. Fourteen yrars ago you satr.n?r a lovely baby, ani now she ifc tl " Rnglish miss" of sixteen. And hias the jaubisLhy beaaty ftiJlf kept 'ts promise in the girl ? Well, at first gbnce you might be in cUned to say •#. Crop the flo^rtg locks nf the Venu* Anady . onene, give her a sunbturnt x^mplexion, and a smudge of dul »n iiei no^e. put her in a torn dress, and what becomes of youi goddess bu a good-lookmg yo.tffi|; woman with a pair of fuM* eyes? Fo ^ Ubors under all those disadvantages at pie&«nt. after h^l^nU- • dusty walk |hroiigh the blazing noonday sun ; boi it ipite*6f the smud|e on Ker nose, it is a very pretty nose^ perfect in ^lape and chiselhng. The mouth may be a trill* larger than a rose-bud. (terhaps, but it is a handitonr^ month, witn thai iw^uare cut at the corners, which makes a mouth, at once resoi'ite and sweet She may be tanned ; you may see $ few i/eck;r« under her eyes, but oh, those eyes I— so blue, bO radiant, rta^hing with life, and health, and fim, and rrischief; frooi itioriung till night I You neither saw freckles nor tan, once tiiei/ lustre Aashrd m»on you. The auburn hair is short- cropped^-and all curling round her hea«i ; and standing there in the June sunlight, she lo«>ks like a saucy boy, an audariously saucy boy, ready for anything- in the way of Kin or fi jlic, from ■moking a cigar to riding an unbroken colt round th«. paddock, without saddle or bridle. Rosanna sits before her — Rosanna, whom old Tin.e no nnort dare apfiroach than any other man. Fourteen yea.f liave lefJ hrr absolutely and e^'Tely unchanged — grim of arpect kindly o^ heart. shar)> of tongue, and a model c^ all the ( hiistian and domestic virtues, with only one weakness, ai.d Ml it — Pul'iy I Polly, who has been her torment, her plague, h"* idol, any nnie those fourteen years ; whom she worries abou; *il day, and fHose ii:nun\<:rable sin* and ill -doings k?ep tun awake aO night i whom she scolds, and loves, and spoils, «i.d to whoM *ili she bows m as abject sabnu&uon as ha 'weak-fbiAdc4 tkinthei hiin»eUl Polly's f arliest recollection is of this pleasant eight-roAmed Jmuse, in 'ht suburbs of Speckhaven, with its littfr. Ilowergar* den in front, lu kitchen -garden and paddcck in the real, it» MWtles* whitenes5 of walC and brilliant green of shattera. Of London, and " Ikuy," and her baby life, all roenwry u fona 9ie-beltevad the iiwf ^ herself current in the ^artnt^m^ntf •imple itory —thai .she is the orpnan child of dear old r>iike'i oousin, dea^ and gone, asd left aa the aoU: legaqr fii tibf ^' tag ^^ ] 96 V A^TER FOVRTREN YEAKS. " And a precicras legacy I have been »" PoI1> wai wont te pbiierye in fwirenthesis.' "Duke don't mind inv enormiticaj indeed, if I murdered sometKxly, I don't thmk it would surpriM or rrouble ktm any, but tl.at poor Rosapna ! Tvo been biing tt| her gray hairs (she won't dye) with sorrow lo Spcckhaven iLe^.tery, everv hour since she got me first." -*i?li*'**oJ! **^*^' "''• ^^^ "''"*• '''*">'• healthy, and self. w\Ax Z^ ^'^ I'ersisted in catching every disofdtr incidenUi '• childlHMd. She had matie Rosanna sit up wiih her frr weeki »nd weck« together, and she had torn more new dresses, and himbled off more diz^y heights, than any other child on record, hhe hked her own way, .and insisted on having it, with an energy worthy a better cause, and here she stood at sixteen tha prettiest and wiUlect nodcap in Lincolnshire— a handsome l>lue-eyed brunette. With Robert Hawkslcy'sfive hundred pounds Puke had pur- chased this pretty cottage, just outside the large, busy town of bpeckhaven ; and Rosanna's dream was realized of a cottage in the country, with Hower-garden and |>oultry yard. Once every year since then, Duke had received a letter, con- Uining fifty pounds, and all of those fifty jKMinds were safely nestled in Sfwckhaven Hank for Polly. ,\lr. Hawksley ha^ lone to California when first the gold fever broke out thete, t^d fiwi Christmas, when his letter came, was there sdH ; bul whether making that promivd fortune or not, Duke h\d n« meant oi knowing, and Mr. liawksley never said Polly icnet* him as her godfather, and wvi ♦'ery much obliged to him indeed "T for his handsome presents, which constituted such a nice littli sum for her in the bank She wrote him a letter every yeai jBnce ahc first learned to w^^te ; but beyond this of herself or hmi slie knew nothing. Duice still persevered in his old voca tion. and was scene paint-rm-chicf to Speckhaven Lyceum, and poi trait painter to the town.\ ^The fourteen years had glided on smooUilv. uneventfully- Jtwi which one eventful month shone out a bright oasis in the desert He walked to I;y7i«lith ('.range tometimes. in the grat li u"""'"*" *''*'^'"8- S"»<»"»««g his pipe, and thinking o^ that cold ^l4ich night so long ago, when the romance of his life te- Sin Of the actors in 'iiat romance he had never seen anr '"»t»\»c5 t h** day he ha«l bid den farewell to R«l>crt Ha-arkdcy -Of Mi.-4-^iffn-y r yndith. of Su Van* in,f r.aiTv aiarterii, li oev«r ^^ Reard the names. They ni:ght be alt dead and kiinc4. w oompteieiy had they dropped out of Lu liJe. !>• :iiik^A I. ^.vi--,*i,K,.i,^ ■~^. • wont te lurmities ; Ifi surpriM een bring wckhaven and srtf. incidenui for week I ihses, xnd m record. , with an xteen the andsome, had pur- ' town of a cottage tter, con- re safely sley hard ^»el^, apd (tli : but ■ b\d n#?^ •Ilv lr1 voca ?uin, and V.fully - is II) th; the gray ! of that ( life be- sen anf- I tent, hm iad aiMi 1 TW aid Grange was utterly deserted n^ ; 0)e arim gateway #odH jneid to any hand that chuse to push it, out few ever chose. Stray artists wlio thought it pictiursque in its decay,' made sketches of it wSen the sua^ shone, but afier nightfall neith<^i artist nor |)easant hke*! to bnger in its gloomy precincts. ThtHW visits, and an occasional look a/ his treasured opal ring, wtrc til that remained to Duke, besides his bright Polly, to keepjjit /neiiiory of that past time alive. ' Dr. Worth still told the stdrj 3f that rainy night, when he had been carried olT bodily tif tiil Giange ; but i>eople were getting tired of hearing it, aud weie more, inier^ested in the great house of the neighborhood, Mon- talien F*riory, where great goings-on were this tune taking pla<.e. Ix}rd Montalien's second son was just of age, on the third of Jane, and jhere was to be a birthday celebration, ami that's why Polly stands here flushed, and swinging her gypsy hat by its rosy ribbons, and talking with many gestures and vast inter- est to Rosanna. " Dinner at sunset on the lawn, Rosanna," the girl was say- bg, with her face all alight ; " all the tenantry and all the trades(>eople belqnging to the Priory, and anybody the bailiff and Mrs. Haiii()er, the housekeei>er, like to invte beside. 1 have an invitation from bcjih of 'em, and I'm going with Alic« Warren. Then after dinner and %^eech-making, you know, and all that, there's to be a ball in the great entrance hall, among the old chaps in armor, and the antlers, and battle-axes, and boomerangs, and things. A ball, kosanna — a real out and- out BAi L," retieated Polly, with owl-like solemnity, and largest capitals. " But, PoWy, you* re not the tenantry, nor the tradespeoi retorted Rosanna, who, having not an atom of pride for heisel bad yet heaps for Polly. " You're | young lady, and— ' " Fiddle I I bog your pardon, Rosanna, but I'm not a younf lady. I'm Duke Ma.Hon the scene-painter's |HX)r relatioo. biought up out of charity, and nothing else. A ycNing lady, tc my mind, is a |>erson like — like Miss Hautton, now, who nevei lOi^ted a muffin, nor washfd ud the tea-things in her lif?. I «na« what 1 am — 1 wish I was a lady, but I'm not. And Vm going to the dinner and th ," Well, Polly, if yoo insist— but tniad, I don'* '•**-ie it— "^ *' Of course ^-011 don't, Rosanna; you nevci uo like Ain and 4^iriic, and we're all wonns, ain't we?. Rut I m going thotigt^. ■M please hun y up and iron my new mubiin dress, for I prym bed to call for Alice at four o'clock. And oh, Rosanna I fi^h« iliQiirs f perhaps l.ord Montalien himself may ard Montalien would nave m^de all lii to-dn wh*n his eldest son and iMir came of age, instead of this younger one." " Mr. Gr.y is his favorite— everybody knows it "Mrs. Ham- per toid me tlie story. Lord Montalien," said PoPy, intensel) interested in her theme, " was married twice — 1 heard aP itx>ut U in the [r-erage, up at the Pnory. 1 1 is first wife waf> rich, and otain, and ten yekrs older than my lord, and a match cf hia fadter's choosing. Ixjrd Montalien was m love with somebody die, but ho yielded to his father and marrieii the nch and ugly MiHi Iluntiagdon, and hated her like poison." "Pollv!" ' Well, I don't know, of course-^1 should think he did— %/ ^routd in his' p'ace I Put, fortunately, she died two years after let marriage, le.-iving Mr. Francis, and there was his lordship jee ag^iL Of cinuse he miiucdiately returne d tu ms first love, ^Hto ItaJian lady, iiiA oh, sunn a bN^uty T Her picture's up tbert Hb her boudoir, and M}. ljr«y la ker son. She died before • .iSt-Sa-M , AfrMtt fOOBTMMM fBAMS. neat wlifit tM, and LclU jMimtilien hai Wsen a iMt •< >■» fyld More Carew ever nace, Tan^ertng ahsot like Naaii^i dove. iMl fitM&ig na rest for ^ Mrfe 01 his Mot. "PoUv— don't beinlverentin ^ > '^ And so you tee, Roaanna," p^inued KoQjr, p(iyin| no attcn tkm, " if ■ clear etkough how Mr. Gujr comet td be hia fiaronte. Uf I looks like hii miother, w%iQi his Cather loved» and Mr. Fraincis looks hkeAii mother, wh^i his (atfier detested. Thaf i togic, isn't it? Mr. Francia >/ yenr nell-lbokini;, yon kiMnr. bat Mr. Guy— oh, Rosann^l Mr. Guy's an AmoblI" With which Polly bounced away before Itoaanaa'a shocked exclamation had time to be uttered ' '* Make my dreu nic« and stil^ Rosanaa," she. mauled, 6v« her shoulder ; ** don't Sf^e starch, pleaae. I moat go and teO Duke." She ran up stairs, tfarele at a time, like a boy, aad whistling as ihc went, as few boys whistle. It was one of the dreagfbl habits she had contractejd, of ^vhic^ Roaanna could qever break her, and which half broike hiv ^**^ She impetuously flung open a door uptaira aojd ifihed-ni upon Duke like the god dess or Hebe. I It was a room big aol baie, and altogether very much likf that other painting-niNm^ at p Half Moon Terrace. The ** Bat- tle oi Bamiockbum,'^ biased heie in the annahine, aa iMiad done for the past sixteen j^ea^ a tiiie dioiiaeff and dustier perh^»s with time. ^ i Duke himself was nnchangad— the same pale-b&^f hair — pale- buff complexion, mild, li^ue eyea, and paint-danbttii, shabby coat To say that Duke idolijBed Pc^— ^ farkht, laughing, joyous fidry, who glorified thejtf l^ilwim hotis^old by her radiant presence and ringing T«|>ice^iV(nUd har«Uk be doing him iustice He was her abject uave. Sie twisted fun round her little fit. ger. I%e tyrannized Wer hiin, and tormented and adihir&i him after die &shi«n df a wfmKti^ yoonger sister. Sie made him teach her howie pafat, tv wlu^ to iww a beat, to fire a gun, to rou|^-ride thS pouiea. ta pUy tfie fiddle, and to suig tomic songs. She ha^ a beautifU voice, a clear, aweet, vibta img contndta, and khew everythii^ from Kathleen Mavoameen to Jim Crow. She sapg in a chcnr m one of tiie chnrchea, and on one occasion, at a Speckhav^ tea-party, only »hree uondM ^b^ne^^ad n«uV«enriftottG.AiC into fits by givira tibea ""rtr ught before lomry w«s Vetched" iHien soflcited lor a amag. Tke awkeace. wha h#d exnecteti • £ver of Thee," or " Beaui^ r \, 1~aA^^ ^f, Vt^' y^ ■'•S&y ^ • fir ..jjjt- M 3lM," Mt ipeU bonnd fcr an fastant, and then foUoved b I the roar which Duke led. Evei^ing '^ Polly did, or nid, op dMa|[ht, was good and admirable in Mr. Mason's sight "Have you heard the qeirs, Duk«??" the ymipg lady de- ■MUided ; '*aboui the dinner at thetPriory, I m«an r* M Yea," Mr. Mason placidly answered,' he bad heard bo»» ffi?****®"*'*' ***** hadn't^ paid much attention. Ixirds anJ ladies and theu- jinketiitg didn't greatly trouble his repo«e. ^ " Well, I'm going, Doke ; and as it is my iirit ball, I ahoiiki li)lnk you might take a little interest in it,, and^not go on paint hf there b that unfeeling way." "A person may paint and not be unfeeling. D^t be c&- reasonable, Polly I So you're going to make your d^but. are f OD } What does Rosannajuiv ? " HRosannadoesi^'t believe m balls, and thinks dani^g the high road to— " Pblly pointed downward. " But she's ironina my ^ss to |o^ all ^ same." Duke looked at her admiringly. "* ^ " What a devei Uttle thing yon are, Polly. I wish I could manage her hke that They sav the Iron Duke was a courage- 0U8 man," tlM scoie-painter said, rather irrelevantly. «• I think he and Rosaima must have been made for each other, and that he missed h Duke Mason wiw very caiefolly putting a streak of pArple mto the horizon of his'ikitch, but the brush sudd^ly dropped from his fingers and stNWe<4 the opal-gray sky, in an unsightly "Sir VTan^ and Lady Charteris I" he repeated the names looking at her blankly ; " Sir Vane and Lady CharteHs I " For fourteen yean he had not heard those iuunes, and now to bear thein from >k,*'J wis|i I^ h^ ^en bom in America," Polly went on, haf Mat eyes flasfun^ ; "there's eooalify^there, where a newsboy a;! ten may be President at thi!^^y.e— ^u tne'eqaal^,.of Kinga.^ But if s no use talking— I'm only Polly Vaaon, and rU neref be anything efse." ' ,*-^^ *' Unless some poor fellow in a moment of madness should k one day marry you, Duchess." Miss Masqn lookicd up, the shadow clearing away, and ha smile at its brightest. ^ ; ** Duke, snp{M>se — it isn't tfltely, jtm know, of coarse — dial one of these young gentlemen ahould fall in lore with mt. Jane Eyre wasn't pretty, and jee ]pw she noarried Mr. Rochester. Not that 1 think it was any great thi|ig to marry a blind, mid- dle-aged gentlemaif with only one hai|d, and homely as sin. Duke, that Guy Rarlscourt issplendid— f/ilmilu/. His picture hangs in one of the drawing-rooma4-such a picfure, am) sochc drawing-room. He is handsomer than TiOrd flyr9n himself and I'm in love with him already. I say, Duae, you mi||ht call . for me after tlfeatre-titne-^the ball won't break up until roid- Dii(ht By-by, When 1^ dressed I'll txune in and you ^hall see howJlook." ; V She ran out of the room, and down the stairs, and Duke «as alone;^ The sunshine streamed on his spoiled picture, and ha itood staring vacantly at it, his bmsh poised, and his thoughts A hundred miles away. It had come at last then — what he had dieaded so often, and Lady Charteris waj alive, and here, and ^this very day would stand &ce>to face with her daughter. She «^had never once written — ^n'o letter t^qxa hear had ever reached Half Moon Terrace, and peyhaps she was eartkss, and proud, and had lost all interest in the child she bad given to a strangfer. Would she recognize Polly? she t^ad her father's eyes and trick of manner— 4would she recognizt-^^t ? would the namesIriSe hermeniory,-or-wasthe man to whom^he^^ hra- confided her baby daughter forgoti-entoo MVbukl this ineet-. injr of to-day end in^ Polly's being taken from them or-+-" ing of to-day ~' 9 -^ * t ■i^ ;^i*i!^ji%;fei41« , 100 S^TMM FOUKTEMN rEAKt. g^ thoughts. To low "the Duchess 1" lSiJm«1 "WiUIdo,Duke?^^^^^^^^ SomeduBf rose JB Duke's throat and n^, choked m^ Why, Duke I Dear old Duke. don'i^Dir want m. ♦« i I nevet knew it-whv did.'tW8a^^r7?ife? i?*»i?**' thmca. and sit h«e ^t\.^Z lif!? W'^ *^" ***« ©^ Acse ftP^h^w J? nere wiUi foa all the altovoon." ^ He held the hand, that w^ have iui^j the rose, oat of hei " No, Duchess, g» t» the ball, aMi enio? vowself— »>h r^ stayed—" swMay. Bat if jr** would rather I "I had rather y»aire«ldgo_iMi^eB't I said «»? Th-^i Aort^l£i'';Ji!';7*"l"^*^ «<« the white dr«» and the rTrl J^^ *^" ""^ P"^ «>«• ▼anished down the ^t^^ and Duke went back t0 his work. "™"*" •*^ ** i*'**'^)'. k.-/ |i.'.m£ ^^"^Ik ad i* ,.^i^*3 >-*"^S*i*'-. (-■% jir mam-AUMN »Knmr. '•S CHAPTEA I] 4T MONTAU«N PMORT. * IT was precisely half-past three, bjr the parlor clock, when Miss Polly Mason started forth to enjoy herself The white muslin dress had been starched to the propr* degree of stiffness, her kid boots were quite new, sh- had brushed up her'chain and locket until they flashed again, and altogether the jroung lady's state of mind can be described in two words — perfect beatitucjA The high road was dusty, but the white muslin was short, 2Rd she skuted daintily along ♦Jie narrow green fringe of grass by the roadside. The sun shone in the sky as blue as that of Italy, the grasshoppers 'iurped about her, and every person she passed gave the girl a wniling good-day, and an admiring glance. He would have been a churl, indeed, who could have helped admiring her — the fresh girlish face was so brightly pretty, so joyously happy, that it was a pleasure only to look at her. All her dreams were about to be realized— ihe was.to behold in the actual flesh those splendid beings -'«i^iittlai)i!-.vC^^tti£. ..\ '•4 AT MQNTAURN PM/OKY. I! I' I; ;i L^lfHSi^ M^' T ^*«»««'y ronuntk. Oh, to be th. Udy Helen Mar, and to dress as a page, and Kek ou. ^ fodJike hero m his prison, to have hin.*^S5 C £r.rm ^ mSn ?• « hers, promiscuous, aj^ Mrs. Gamp wouid mV jpon hu. coffin That would be bUss I But L wm ^* ««» to wait upon, and whom the haberdashei's vounK aiMMW L«rd Mortimers were not for her. ^ «»**-*.« ana PoUy had read x»ther thi^s than novels ; she had astonished h«r t«Mchers by her aptitude for mastering mall^madcs Shf Uked htttoor and was weU up in all the su^^^ZI-a \^ T^ SSIftS^w^ ^""^ Monarch, a Marie Antoinette. . tau^h«; tn^ l^cing-inaster of Speckhaven, who had HS, %i ^ '?"' *. ^^' ^ *»«> t»"«ht her to speak trench. She could pUy the violin beautifuUyf though shT^ He^dev^ li«?JS:r r^.^ *^^i^ '•°''* * ^^'^' she wS ner toKlay, and her tS'wIi'targl^hTxAc^In^^ t«r2?* ?L****' ?°^ *** *^« «^t entrance gates, PoUv en- "Yes, PoUy," a voice from as open window M»*r^ " WW a rtioment untU I find my parasoL^ ^^ *Mwcrad, irilS* *''«,«'i^t °^ ^**«'' ^'^n* Ae bailifi; and Matfaew wofidan e. She came out of the voie-wreathed doorway now-- pwmr Ahce Warren, two years PoUy-s senior, resSc^i; ^^^. S^f^iS? "*lfi7 "^^"» ^ her'richC^U ABCTcyre people who cailgrf Alice *" •iftw«atniktootlun.andpd%foriruunu««r SSTSS ^'i i^^^M^^iAsta ,A&.-JI!S!ii^ii^MMmh^^^i AT MotrTAumn Fttnttt. io» |oar voy Ideal of a nude beauty — phimp — rosv'^-dinqpl'd — a ikia nulk idute and rose pink — ^i^te teedi, U^t-blne eyes and abamlant, nut-brown tresses. " How nice your white muslin makes up!" Misi Warren te marked, with an admiring glance. "Bosanna's such a Isnn diess. Oh Polly ! " with a sudden change of tone, " Fve gD< •Dch a secret to tell you 1 Guess who came home with dm from Speckhaven last night ? " " Peter Jenldns," Polly hazarded Peter Jenkins was a miller; zsA a rery worthy young man, iHk) had been " keepmg company" with Miss Wanen dnring liie past twelve months. " Peter Jenkins ! " retorted the baiUfTs pretty daughter, with iHtat, in a heroine, would have been a tone of ine&ble acorn. "No, bdeed I Polly, youil never tell, now will you ?" Polly protested. "Welt then, it was Mr. Francis Earlscourt, the HtnorablA Fracds Earlscourt ! " said Miss Warren, her yfbsAit face one |^k>lr of triumph. "Alice I Mr. Fraadal Bat I dMMg^t they only came down this raoraing." " He came last night, and it was ahnost dark, you know, Polly ; ktarlight, and that, and I was all alone, and he came up to me and spok«, and I knew him at once, and he remembered me too, thouj^ he hasn't seen om for four years. And, Polly, he offered me his arm, and I wac afraid to refuse, and afraid to take it, and he talked all die way, and 1 declare I hadn't a «ord to say." " What did he talk about? Did he talk like Clive Newcom* or Ivanhoe, and oh, Alice, is he handsome ? " " I don't know n^hat he talked about — mv neartwas in my mouth, I tell you, Polly, r He said it was a beantiftd evening and that he liked the country, and he told me I had grown tiS and — and prettier than ever," said ^Vlice, blushing. " And 1 dunk hi|m handsome ; he's tall and thin, and wears a nwwtache ; and has the softest voice and hands, and — " " Head, perhaps ! " said Polly irreverently. "I wirii / wU been in your place, Fd have talked to him, and if my heart gol into my mouth, I'd have swallowed it i You'll intrpdu4e^lQ t« MB, won't you, Alice ? I should like him to ask me ta dance. ' ~** *?• w^!!I*"L*^"u"" fi^ '^o are the bifie* ap on tkc temce? ri knoir who they arc, of courie. but I don't fa^ .'S^^"?"'"'^. ^' ""^^ ^' " ^^ Maid ch^:;?..!;^ «i!JTJ'\'^T*^''' '" *^ P'"'' '^'^'^ » W"» Maud Cbaiteik- «ud the bailij coming up, " and that small, dark lady. wiSS. for hau and Wack dress, is her mamma. The taRm Zm Udy IS Miss Diana Hautton, the gentleman beside hir Hf? iSSeS'S^^ir^Wn^^JK'?'-'"^*^ r"» gentleman wiS bllik whiskera 18 Su- Vane Chartens— and the tall, elderly eentleman with white hair is my lord himselC Now you iifll Hot wamtto g«;t a seat, come along." ^ ^^ ^°" .f "^* 'k'^J''*''".' ^^r,**" ^augi^ter's intense delight, to the ubie ?Lr^** '^'*°*^" Earlscburt presided. That Seman'sY^ iSle^ alSllllsh"^^ °^ ''^^ -«^^«- at^ t'^TAS story o begin w,th,f thought Polly.) " Here's a seat-l in^t upon it_you shall sit here' and heVm« Jo tJ^e honors." mirinX^f^* P^*" ^°'- ^^' ^^'^^ ^^°"" ^''•"g al'nosi as ad- wh^^ ^ 1 r /=°TP!°''*"- ^"^ ^*^^« *" °o "'om for Polly who declared she hadn't come to eal and drink, and S hungry and would wait. The bailiff left her ; he had a tiio^ sanJ things ^o do, and Miss Mason, leaning LiW a ^Z' tt^;r'"*;r , *' '^^^ *^^^*=' ^^^S^^ed the ^pfe onT terrace with longing, dreamy eyes. She did noVknow what J pretty picture she made standing there, the slanSng sCZhtl,; u ' ^** a pretty giii I what a vary striking face ! » cxdainiei. rf r^.^ ' ''w'^'^ ^*' ^*^y ^^"»«"'^ yonk«! alnoM *at came^iid^J we% ^^^^3.'""?^ *«=«. «d the «SS Her «,„™^ d^"*^^f1Sc^:dLf ^^ n«*** •" •"«'' • wed her paUor now. K^^nao^ne, with gold leaves, height " Lady Charteris looks like a Der«in wK« i. People were accuston.^ »« . J^ '^"° *"** seen trouble." Enable c^S bTihe SJ °^ 'I?' *"? ''^*^" '^^"d^ed w£. -^ enough knoS^ bit wh^t of ST^^S^i.*?'^"^ **» '^ K>ve their husban^^are noft rl^n/ ^•^*''' '^ ^«»'» W* open scandal nor the iJw- ? ' ^ ,f Jong as there is what does a litt'.e Z^ S^S. ""'' "^ f ^ ''^^^ requisition, Sir Vane and Srh,S^^"^"*''«"'^y' litest and mo« aml^fe fer^^7£. k""""^^' ^^"-^ ^'^ *<^ Po an public occasS^'Ssf^em'S '^'^^'^ out the ^Z^r^^k^^^S^'-;^ ^ ^r y«-« blotted band she had loved S^dio^^^^S^^^^^^ ^^^^^ bus- bad given to stiangVw? Her nfo S^^^'u*"' *?''*^' ^bom she dark eyes kept ftfricret w5f 1 '"'^u''^ '^^' ber cold, leaning idly against a ro^ w^SflS •if"^.'^- ^be had been when Allan Fane's words «.«» k ? . * •'"*>' *^^"e below, chestnut-tree. She mw a ^L ^^°*'*^ wandering to the . profile turned towLd Ter ' h"!^' ^"'^ '» ''bite muSin, hci *nri he. heart tXrhaS'^L"": rnt^o^ ^^''^"^ """'^ Ce one sudden lean TKo* J P^, '°^ ^ '"any years. ^ she seen tSem £efo^' IJ!^." ' ''^^ attitude I ^ihe,^ tbe question, and SrnS Sint S^ d^r^ '^^'^ •" ^*»*^ ^^''^d lert she started ud S*1 kl, T I^^ '°'' " "^^Unt The -"IttkcdthT^estion!^ "^^ "'^ ^ y°""« artist-^ *' ^^^ is diat girl ? ' ^^^z^zz^r^.^ ^.^ ^ ^-«d ««y lady like a blow va^SjS. -^^ J^ *,^** «" *« beart •< wsemblance to that ot^ &r.^ ^Jl^* ^^ "°w bore no « Whorls that girl ?•• sjS ' ^!E!/°' ^'^^ *««> ye*«. thiog. sS» MT MOittMMti MUOkV. Ill d noir— her Hpt were apart— 4ier eye* imfpd fartentiy Hm fyrt duldUi free that iboiie Uke a iter wider tiM cbeM Mr. Fane did not know, would aioertab, if het ladjnhip lieh the «lighteit interest in the matter. He was a languid yowtf nan, with a delicate pale fiu%, and ilender, n^te hands, wtixt. ■nd softer a good deal dian Polly's. '* Of coarse yon don't know," L4idy Chaiteris said, as if to herselC ** Inquire ? No, thanks ; it is not worth while. It b a' striking style of prettiness for a fiumer's dau|^ter — that is alL" Her lisdess manner returned — her interest in the girl seemed" tofiule. Not so llr. Panels; he ran down the steps to inquire on his own accooiit **If I coi^ 1^ her to sit to me for my Rosamond," he kooght, '*Miss Hantton would do for Eleanor. It is a strik dig style of beauty for a fiumer's daughter, as her ladyship says From iHiat under which KigMvfed, profile, and had ten quarter ftat quite alone? Mr. Fane be introduced MathewWi sore. ** I say, my all these wat< highly I &ui thoosana a year, chieftam <^ ' ^e derive that arched instef might now f bova what ^e of * highly wed, Mred ' aristocrats did she inherit that Grecian imperial poise of the j^acefnl head ? If she a year, instead of the Hon. Diana, or haU| or I go no and address her ; she seems I't aware whetb^ or no it were necessary to thb class of yopng persons ; still he beckoned over to him, simd signified his gracious plea- fdlow, you're the bailiff I believe, and know of coarse.^ Who^s that pretty giri over there? Introduce Mr. Allan Fane was a clever young man, who had made hii mark in the/ arademy,'and he qwke with a languid drawl of highlifi^ high. Bond Hei^as certainly I The He sits so/gracefolly on strong young men, six feet the diird son of John Fane, Merchant Tailor, London, iriiQ #jm^ son of— well I suppose the St moat have had agrandiather in reality, but he none to speak o£ lie Diana Hautton wanted a husband, no doubt, and Allan /Fane was good-looking, and elegant, beyond doub^ bnt if she nad been aware at this di^acefU fiict, (of whidi we ' die^^«adermc«ii i - i_ . langJung « her. buT^^^'JL S a°^j!^^° **^ ^ "^^^ -«^c Miss Mason woold be verv innrhTS! ^ a T *''""*'«^ Ye?, Soing to ask you to ke^^'Sf^hrro Jnd ^f ^"^^"^"e-^ . fenov^you dance like a f^ry Miss Mason T"' '"^ °^^ ^ ^ Do you know we were wonderina- 1^ ^ *"'^" ^'^^^ys telL terrace-you loorjo me^^^ sl^^ci^^ '^""'^ ^' "P on the *Qe beeches ; it s pleasampr th-.Ji T* J- . * *""» under ««"*- Who ddg«i,',?iSfe "U'i:^^c5^ •• ^'iisA^i^iiS^ik- '••*■ AT MONTAUEtr WKmtk T. V, tiS CMght tfiat glance, a^d again the Oaxp pang of reaemblanca HDOte her to thi; heartX^ ) Ohi whowaithisgirlP^^ulditbe — > Her face olancbed tp a gray, chalky pidlor, a sudden wfld thou^t croaied her brain. Could it be ? She would be^about tiie age of this gH, ttoir— ^^us girl so like — yet unlike the only ralm she had ever Iwed. Other eyes saw them as they paired <^ I»- *»l mvselt liTi «°'"« »■> anywhere/ Ti,!!?^*'"^ walti with • i„~Jr* . , ' ••V* pnote Latak» i . "^'^ m • -"ane to have thin« atf h^„^ '^^•. **» !*« \i ' c". ,>i*^\ --*/■ .y Mr*ma, / -«V|«» the deace briiifs ymt herer You needli't troahk JwrjNetf t. «, h. F*.,e,V obmred Guy, with ^^S^^^AvZ lJh.tapceA^«t •?««u«Uy on him ; « your (kcTiTh ^ wi^gh. Dote't It, Miw Maaon ? Miu Mmob m4 id fnendi, or ought to be, which amounts to the mom A*'f.n ■*^"**".V^ ^"^ my portrait for the paat tM Ae tell, me, ana reaUy, my dear fellow, you can'teM ri^n^t^ i!^ ^ l^iwed mte unlimited da^cej/tti Hm to going to waltz with me in two rainutet. ^ " Rad» promiset are much better broken than kept T» la-la— our wait*, Miss PoUy I " ui« .epi. in He whirled her ofllaia the last thing PoUy saw was the a. noved face of the artist 7 -"w wm me a« iJj'LlS!! '^**'*^ '^^ "^P*"''- ™» was OKatemenL' Wo gentlemen—gentlemen actually quarreUing-about her a< S^rJ «S^ ' K^*"SS*rf ^^ "^ ^^ how bSutiiblly he *""<*U,.She hoped Ehia Long was looking, and dvii d "^^Tx ^ "^ ^ °"^ calledTn'n^JSfo?: "Why wasn't Duke here, and Rosanna, and why hadn't she ^n born m a sphere whpre Allan Fanes and Guy^EarlsccsS! were eveiyday occurrences. If she had only been Miss jSud . S,^rJ?r* •J^^"**'- daughter, and ime day, per^ V. this splendid guardsman wooldfidl in love with her, ^5^^^*^ , The walte ended all too soon. And " J never regretted die dose of a dance »>efore." whispered Mr. Earlscom^^^^ .> i^TtS'lL ^ ^^"'^ brought her refreshments, and l^V^l ^ '^ Z^**"* "P «^ Mr- Phuids, requestSi Wf brother to. present him, with his suave smile. ^^ Ae«>tiUon, and led her forth ahnost directly. Alice wiS •tail P"^J blue eyes were flashing wiST&umph and d2 TOie efc s hn mi n. '* ^ ^ ^e^Wii htke goldeuTayidh - ^^^ , ■■" - "■ " ■ '"-^p *«^ wiui me golden ^ •e setong sun upo« her she looked positively daaslinfr Tw. V f h u'l 'S tie x1 n> than ever with en»v ^ M. vl^ *^?" ??»*"« «f«n«t •gteeable to h^ Z^ „ J™"' T^"? hmwlf generall, tSe to devortHfe ^T",' *«--,«'!»^ lord, had ni friend out The z«t ^L^c/^-,,"* u '"'*""8 *» *="* ^s bosom with her. and Aenlo^d^" o L:t' ^%^'^ ^^^ ^ upon the terLe P^:^^i5* ^SiS^ *"'°''^ * there to witiiess her triumDh IfVh^ j" Sp«:kha*en were Lady Charterii was waSa h., I J^ **"'y ''"«*" how would have CSer^LtS* Zt^rT^VJ^"^- ^'^^ *""'»Ph lower world P^UM^d'oS knol^'^l"?^ '" T ?' *" went down in a red and ^ wl^? L^ ' - 5 PJ*»*="t"y *« sun aflush. Swinair.7u u *? .° g'ory.^and the whole sky wan llieytalk.liS^£r^S±l?i?i^^.^^««^^ What did ♦ y -.wi ^* ^ , 'miUltaj.^A&^^i AT MOttTAURU fAlOMY. Uf .1 '•iv4.«^>£i;i^k^^ h» book*, of the opera, of the dieatres, of poets who had gtin-ed hei very heart, of authors at whose feet she could almost have fallen and worshipped. He talked to her as he rarely talked ; it astonished even himself. But such a listener --surely Polly at that moment might have inspired a fai stu pider man. How pretty she was I how pretty I how pretty f And he must marry the Honorable Diana, with her three tho« land per assjm, her crows -feet, her sallow sicin, and her thirty two years! The next moment he could have laughed at hii» self for his foUyT-bewitched by two blue eyes and the face of a handsome peasant child. " Some men — lucky fellows with ten thousand a year, and a name centuries old— might afford this sort of thing " (this sort of thing meaning marriage with Miss Polly MasOn), " but for me, a tailor's son— bah I I'm booked for the Hon. Diana, and Polly is a delicious Uttle (airy to help while away a long sum mer afternoon." The rosy sunset faded, the white June moon rose up, and the stars came out Mr. Francis came up once again, and asked her to lead off a contra.dance with him. ' Where Was the voura^man from the grocer's, and the othei voung man from the haberdasher's, tunv I Annihaated I They had not once ventured to approach her that afternoon. Miss Long sneered as she went by. Polly laughed in her happy triumph. ** What I sitting out still, Lixa ? " Miss Mason said superbly ' How stupid it must be I ," ' The Hon. Francis heard, and laughed inwardly. "A countess or my coutui Di ^,^y.^ «V'*lt -Mi fc^^^^^lL ..A '* ,. v' .^1 &\.Jr"/^C^&'yi1^K>4 AT M9ftTAUBN ^ItiMtY, tif < Yet, my Udy." "Who is that pretty girl in white I saw you dancing with fkJf an hour ago? Ah I there she is now, with Frank — iiir bAired, And dressed in white." Guy turned his lazy brown e^es in the direction indicated. "Thafs PoUy," he answered; «'and Pony's as joUy as she i l>retty, which is paying a good deal That youiu person i« vhite — see how she laughs I— it does bne good to kxA at het I —is Miss Polly Mason, my Lady Charteris." " Mason t " One slender wlute hand of the lady rested on the youth's shoulder. He felt it close there now with sudden, ipasmodtc force. "JI/arMi/" There rose before her at the sound of the commonplace name the vision of a dreary railway waiting-room, a shivering figure crouching before the fire, and a pale-faced young man repeating his name and address, " Marmadukt Mastn, 50 Half- ^fOH Terrace." She grew so white, so rigid, that Guy half euoved his cigar, and looked at her in surprise. " Vy dear Lady Charteris, you are ill I Has the sradl ,'' she interrupted suddenly, *'wBl ym give me yoox ami ? i idtould like to go ^wn there — Xm — " Iter voice died away. llie yomVul giuirdsman gave one regretftil si|^ as he flung his cherished «na newly-lighted cigar away, and arose. Some men are bom Mr the mai'^s cross and palm, and he was one of them. Even Lady Charteris, usually the roost silent and quiet of creatut^ict, herself^ was suddenly going in for excite- ment, and he wa» singled out to be the victim of hei;^ caprice. He gave her his aiui, with one gentle glance of repvoachfiil sur- prise, quite thrown away upon her, as it chanced, and led hei down below. A thousand — a million, it seemed — colored lamps flickered^ •mong the trees, the band still played, lads and lasses stiH" tripped the light fantastic, and Gaffers and Goodies sat on rus- tic benches, and contentedly watched the fun. They would idjoum to the great domed entrance hall presently, where « second feast awaited them, and at ten o^dock dus goodly company would retire, with three cheers, and "many happy re- turns to Mr. Guy, God bless him P' ?i witih a son of a neighboring squire. Who had seen her a •C timet before and never ncHiced her uatil to-nl|^t L^LC^JK^iiLV^y- : ^^. E-J-- *-it- ,.'-. %, 120 ^T MONTAUEN PRIOR V, Tnd f.H K "^ 'V- P^'"^^ ^' ^'S^*'3^ ^« 'hough she trod on air ct\ ^t^ j^eenjier first dance instead of her twentv-fim Guy looked at her in undisguised admiration '""""'^-^'^^'^ hadn W •/ ''T ^^''^^^^ "•" h« njurmured gently «• if T naan t seen It with mv own *>u<.c t^^* ^ ^ s*^'"-'/, ii x could possess the sTa^yin^po^: • otM^^ ^r^"\'TT call, woman the weakej sex !" ^ '^ ' ^"^ '^^y rcaion*'1.id"S\™^" approached from the opposite di- shouW^e concSld L^d °"'''^*=" ""^"'^e polia Pleafe Mr Bas,'j)1' "^°" •^'?"'' ^^'"^ ^'^^ ^^ ^o soon . Mr R.!^.? T' ' '?'f ' 'P^^^ '° ™y ^'ousin Duke " ' Mr. Bassfet released her, and Pollv all airlow h^r ki eyes shining like azure s.ars her lios' TaLhlnl a ^^"^^ tossing back her short curls, r'an'up t'o hlm."'"^ ^"' ^P^"' You haven t come for me so soon, have you Duke ? T JJuke ! lowenng her voice, and her face beaming •• if h.. been a heavenly afternoon !" oeammg, ,t has I. 'i T™ R^*' '"y ''™^ at the theatre. Pollv " Dnki- c=.iH PIT , , '/o'"e for you as early as ten. vou know •• would L his peTanXlaytttag'S^o^'oi^^S^aT; Jn'^Hr"''^ Their eyes merand ilcft'i^^^^^"-^ ivory^_ =cffird-Robert Lisle's ^^-^^^fS^^^^i^^T^ S iS 'in '"^r \"^ '"^"^"^^' «ood yondfS aSd beau.* tif ul in the moonlight, among Lord MontaUoi'i dt^dwu '^^^iiii^Jt'^\4&'jtiA i.-s^P'-^t "- (r*^^ir*"H^ ^ •*■!»■« "ALL NIGHT Iff L YNDITH GRANGE:' 121 At ten o'clock, precisely, the merry assembly broke up, and departed, with ringing cheers for my lord's younger son, to their humble homes. And Polly was driven home in the tax- cart, of course by Mathew Warren ! Was she indeed ? Alice went in the tax-cart, dutifully, if you like, and Eliza Long was seen home by the young man from the haberdasher's ; but Allan Fane, forgetful of the Hon. Diana, her three thousand a year, the gentlefolks making merry in the long drawing-rooms — forgetful of all the hopes and ambit ions of his life, walked home through the blue, moonlit night with Polly Mason ! CHAPTER in. **ALL NIGHT IN LY«DITH GRANGE.** |HE nine o'clock sunshine streaming in Folly's win- dow, awoke her next morning. Polly, as a rule, was inclined to be lazy o' mornings, but brisk Rosanna routed her out without mercy at six. To-day, she let her sleep. The child hadn't got home until half-past eleven — three miles, you know, on a lovely moon- light night, with a handsome young man beside you, is a long walk. Rosanna knew nothing* of the handsj)me youngr man, she knew Inothing of the hours during which little Polly tossed" on her bed, and could not sleep. Sleep f The red, the yellow, the purple lights flashed be- fore her, the band music clashed in heir* ears, and the faces of Allan Fane and- Guy Earlscourt swam in a golden mist. Her breast was full of delicious unrest ; he wis coming to- morrow, and all the to-morrows, and this was bliss, this was love. Poor little Polly*1 " All this glad tumult faded away in sleep— she awoke with a sort of gUilty start to see the new day's sun- shine. She felt tired, and worn, and suddenly grown old. Yesterday she had been a little girl running wild about the streets of Speckhaven, tearing her clothes, and tor- men ting Rosanna. She felt as if all that were over, as ijf a giilf lay between t^e ToUy of yesterday and the Mason" of to-day. Yes, she was had called her so— she was a ss ** Miss Mason ;" they grown-up young woman^ „AA&V&«£|', 'Affii-i^ . fsr '., B|*MJ^ -^^ ■1 ""urt by a leather stf»n i wu l!^j *. "f "®" round her ibin Miss B^d SS Ld^L***ffl* **^ wear pink dlk like «t>sy ribbon., Her^ i1,Wa^ her auburn lock, witfc the garish idomin^ ^--A^ l^T" "f P»»«: th« eyer in about her. ^She^^hI7 pk i ' • t»ce of good looki haired twnbdv^' .!^ 71 ^^^ Long had called her, "aVed worekfpiM EthelMd »««!? t Newcome ever have those ySung S hS JT^ ^? >*^f *^ for Juliet, i/ cn^ui.?^1??4.cSon^^ ^^^ hair clipped dos* to their Probably *ewoul??:.TwSrh *°k ''^Jl?' ''" °»«^w" POiyer, somehow, an? wen 5o^" S. v"' ' "^^^ ""^^ »»« painting-room, RownnT wL JT* ^^-^ ''*' " ^""^ "» hi. door, up tu hir e^^nT 5 * xTn'^ ^"** «"^"de the back two cup. of teJr S'.£ gorht «i^T *^T'k*"^. ^^ materials, and Drenared t^JtZ '^^M^ and her drawing tog from natu/T^ R™^, .^^r?'^ J^ *« "hore-skefci- tempted. '^*™" ^''^"^ "P from her .uds and ib- U» for dimier? iS'j Poll?^l,i2Z^ *"^ P*"*^?*^ *« •he abhorred the thouSt of w«h^ f "* t*^"""'^ ""^^^i **^^y^th»l^rXTd^u^!^^^^L ^P ^^t'^orW where j rilver cover., ofS™^"?ii T^^ of exquisite dishes in ' wwds a. Sh Lf^J^r Si,^!"' *^'*.^«'« no such •he prepared to ol^y im?X„ i?l* * "*^'. •?"*!«» feelin& •««5«*«« fore w« TOOK except the c^tolol^ ^j^^^^^ Blow a utti- life u^ your dead eyes and jik iNlS St*'*" «d ;S^i!S ^^ wwoot^i •■ ■«« go %, i»wiev« *- %.-. . /) mu mnmr m LYttBtrm smah^e,^ m OB Ae garden waH, and went wandering off itto a drtam; rereriie. The faces of yesterday shone before her in die ton •hinr— die darkling splendid face of Guy Earlscourt, with itf brown, brilliant eyes, and lazy, beautiful smile. The face oi Allan Fane, fair, womanish, perhaps, but eminently good-lopk in^, and «^ Polly prized more, aristocratic. TaU« haughti Diana Hautton, dark, pensive Lady Charteris, litde Miss Maud^ irith her rose-silk and streaming ribbons. Such high-bre^ bees all, such lofty, high-sounding names. And she was Polly Mason. Polly Mason, hopelessly vulgar, and comipon. " 1 suppo^ I was christened Mary," the young lady thought ** MaiV s no great things, but if s better than Polly." And then mechanically she fell to drawing. The faxx thai haunted her most was the face her pend^ drew almost without volition of her own. The pencil sketch was careless and crude, but bold and fiilLof power ; so absorbed did she become ovei her work that sbe never heard approaching footsteps, and a voice at her elbow suddenly made her jump. "A very good likeness, Miss Mason, but don't yoii ^think you have flattered % little— just a litde — our friend Guy J^" " Mr. Fane I " Polly jumped fr(mi her perch, with a gasp, and tried to hide away her drawing, in overwhelming conf^j^ What would he think of b*^ ? What could he dunk but diat she had had the audacity to fidl in love with this splendid young' guardsman, who had a«ked her for unlimited dances, and tl^en what-yoa-caU-eiiis,Hrena,vouknow,ortiM ifflgeasSea,' iMBldtai a oqooet \gf Miatake on iKliocoiiulHra ootat." I / ij6 •'Mi. ittGirr in Lv/fD/rA gmangm.^ J^ Y^ ^ °° ^*nf fr'cftdly accent. ••-pnn ^J^pt roa out » mjr dir. B«e.«q,; »«l*l,^^5iS it .> ^lJ*^KW«s•»«Sf Kp^^ :v, J V *»AU. mawT m LmtTm m ^^i tJf 1W two jroimg flpfttkinen said good4>7 to P0U7, taihleA bar. Mr. Fane made no further allusion to4he sitting i» his Faifi^PMmond Oua afternoon. Queen Eleanor wiihed him \m drive her to Hieatherholme, ei^t mites olSy and dLxjimiwt ahr m«st take precedence in all things. It was almost one, and dinner was over in the cottage when PoUV went in. Her portion of die hash stood covered for her in^e oven, and she sat down to partake of that refiwsh JBcnt with an appetite four hours' old, and sharpened hy th« sea wind. One may be in love, but one must eat ; still she took time to i^ick oat the onions — ^never again would she eat vulgar ipriiw onions : that d^radation at least it was in her power to avoid. <* Who is diat yonng sweD in the chimney-pot hat and dandy boqts?" Duke asked, when Poll j paid her aftenloon visit to his painting-room. *' I don't moan Gay EarlaoMrt, jou un- derstand." " The other was Mr. AUaa Fa**," PoUv reqwwled, looking out of the window. . <* He's an artist, Dokc, and wants me to sit to him for Fair Rosataondr "Allan Fane! Allan Fanel" Duke repeated, stroking the red and yellow stubble <^ his ckia. ** I've heard that name before, and I have^|een diat face somewhere. Ifs a (ace I don't like, Duchess ; if ^a weak, wonsanish ^icc, a Calae face, or I'm greatly %nistaken." PoUv looked at him reproachlUly. "Thaffr not /ii# yon, Dokc," she said; ^yoa don't often speak ill of the absent, and of a straMV, too, whom you don't know. Mr. Fane was very, very kma to me vestoday, and — and — he came home with me last night I didn't iride (don't be angry, Duke), I didn't ride in the tax-cart He didn't let me sit out a single dance, and he left the ladies at the Prioiy to wait on me, and of course I feel grateful, and all that" Duke looked after her as she walked out of the room, with a ^«tfttl light in his eyes, die yearning li|^t you see sometiraea Vt the «yes of a dc^. Polly had been under his shelter far 'wrirek years — ^was the day i^ hand when all his love codd hieU hei from danger no kmger ? Pnlly went through her usual aftemoon's work of^ kdping ftoaanna ** redd np," in a sute of dreamy, happiness ; fittle ^tiila^o f SBo g bubb bm^rhCT lips, smflei^io^^ ' •Mb other ova- her nice. She was alwaji happy, but snwshim Ihc san Mver shone so brii^tly nor had lifc ever SMnad m ,^-. .?*•-"'* i|>«;v5 ■wett u tKMlft^ RoMan* looked at Wr, and congiatuku V hereelf that she had auUle her go oof that ml^rmng. Aai pretently when tea was o»er, she took her hat and went to tke »te to^watch the new moon dse-^and wish— what did little Folljr wish ? It was very quiet The new moon shining in tha oi~«ky, a nightingale suigihg vonder in Montalien woogm, the feoft flutter of the evei^ng wind sweet from the sea ; the licfc nO» ti Rosanna's rda^s and geraniums in theope^ winduw^ .7^ * "**"*• ^°^ '*"*' *•»*" »^'hw **'• Allan Faac would have toW. her, had he been there to see the taU, slim iprl, with die sweet, happy Cace, and dreamy eyes of blue, sofUf Migi"g "The Young May Moon." • »» "7 As she stood there a group of four came up the road from the town. PoU/s dreamy eyes turned from that silver sickle m the purple sky, and brightened into a light not sq pleasant „ to see as she^bcheld hey arch dnemy, Eliza Long. Miss Long was.gaUanted by the haberdasher's clerk, and behind came A^ Wairen and her '♦young man," Peter Jenkins, of the . " Here she is herselTt " exclaimed Miss Long, with malicious ♦ivaaty ; "I've just been teUing Samuel of ihe grand conquests y«i ve made. How are all your friends at inf Priory, Polly, "All my friends at the Priory were quite weU when I aw ftem last, Ehza," responded Miss Mason, promptly. " I'll tell - them you uquired the next time I see them ; the/U feel flat tere<^ particularly Mr. Guy, who danced with you— once, wasn t It, Ehza ? and forgot to come back." " I didn't encourage hun as much as some people miriit.' retorted Miss Long. «I don't beUeve in gentlenien Wn danglmg after country^ls. 1 should be afraid of what people might say of me," ccmduded Miss Long, with a virfuous toss of ner bead. ^ ^- •*Then yon needn't, Eliza, qohody will ever talk of /w ia ••t way, I'm quite sure. ^Gentlemen have such bad taste." •tVes," said Elixa. with a hysterical Uttle giggle, "I thoukhi w myself when 1 saw twojof them go by with mm. I wonda RoMuma isB't afr^d." ' • ' ^^ """^ "Afraid of what, Bliza? PU thank you to speak oat" rtaft eyes were flashing now, as only blue eyes *a«H »« Wt aU know Polly isn' t afrifld of aaything. " cned .the ?«■» =a^^ftmr the faaberdi^KePs, ii^ was mmtaJ) v JMloaa. "3» ••■Wn't go three miles out of her way, as Jenkiiui did ^ week, rather than paaa the hanmed Grangs.** "Vo," WMwer«d PoUy, diadainAilly, ** I wonld bol" •< That's easy to uLf," Miss Long said, with a second lOMi >< if iL not so easy to prove. Polly's u much of a cvwanJ as ths lest of OS. I dare say. if the truth were known." ^^^ Fm not a coward, and I'll thank you not to say so. Bl^a. Jm not >iiraidof yon, or n^iat people may say, nor of ghostv adier, if it comes to that." ^ •'Prove it," cried the tanntinf Elixa, " prove it, if you dart, fbUy Mason." ^^^-^^ Miss Eliza. Long nhderstood her antagonist weU^^ lAu^i PoUy to do anything — however mad, however foolhardy, insure its being done. Had she not risked her life, only last winter, one stormy day, when dared to go out in a boat to the other side of Speckhaven Bay? And now into Polly's eyes leaped the light that had shone in them then, and^her hands clutched together. She looked her advers^ straight in the face, ;],^*.' You dare me to wAoT, Eliza ? "' '^•«To pass a night akme in the Grange. Yoa are not alhud of ghosts 1 Prove U, if you dare ? " " Oh, Eliza, hush I " cned Alice Wairen. '< You hush, Alice I " PoUy Mid very quietly. She was al- ways quiet when most dangerous. **/wiU m i// I am not afraid of ghosts, but if I w^ as sure as that I am standing here, I should see the ghosts of the knight^ and the lady, 1 would go. I will do it this very night, Ehia Long ; will diat satisfy you I " "No, no, PoUy," Alice cried again : and, " oh, by George, no, you know," exclaimed .die young man from die haber. da^er's in consternation, while stolid Peter Jenkins stared aghast : " Duke wouldn't let ym, you know." " I shall do it t " Polly saio, f<^(fing her arms, and lodung daggers and carving-knives at her enemy. "Yes^' said Miss Long, <'and Duke need never know. UTe^re ah going to a dance at Bridges' ; that's only two nulet from the Grange, and I'll tell l3uke and Rosanna jrou're cosnmg with u& We will go with you to the Grange and leave yon tfiere, and call for you again when the dance breaks up, at twe O^dock in the OKMrning. That is, of course, if you really mean to go, yon know. 1 wouldn't, if 1 were you, if I felt the learn •fraid." TKeword, the tone, liie iniblMl «l«l^ «iihf |^^ ■teaat it should. She opened the Ate, and came out so iod isaly and with such a wicked exp^oun ^at Elisa raooM . ,-H* ii^^ii^tMsS'Jii h? -sC <:x^' i,»f -t i-vteRf^r'jJir t p-i-ywij ^^^•r' :!': |i tj6 fmn p I vnixfru 6X4j»aa.o i.r!r^ ■"?."■ cowird, UiM Long, and vou know W onA ^i,^ RK«?^i^° 'u^***^**»<* y^' but rU go aU the same^ n „ ** **' «• tf we had murdered rou, if—" *^^ ^^ PoUy stooped and kiiKxl her. SS^JTeiTl^ '{"***" f? to deep a. comfortably in the h« .rs'^nt^r^ '™** "^ '^'^ "^ •^^'^ •*« cn^Nei^r'^H^^r^Kif'** ^-•"^'^ her hate, hel pStewShi^^ •* ^* *»? P« * night in the Gn^\ ^L«S. ?*** *** ^"^ nm, had bSn found .tarkX S^triS^go.'''"**'^ ever kb-e her, AeSj'aS:^ gSL.. SSf ST . / «»Je. •>«» they would be at the G«Bt^ ^ pcay rattled on ; a ^inmger Light havV Jw. to ^ «P k« courage, but in reaK?- aS gWWnilSlii wis ,.','„.. - r~- ^-Aliaid, every nerve quickeMd witk «. «J«^t^ longed 10 d^m thi.'viirfictiv?rivSrf iSThS ~™'~" -^ was to her touBifc ^^r*" The gredt gates, the grim wall, looiued up before^eio at last jm) Alice suddenl) flun(^ both MtM abmit her frieKpS. M Ytftt shaU not go, Polly— yob :Lill not i What will every lody Hiy, and who knows what may happen ? P#ter, don't let Mw go— Eliza, speak to her !" *' She may go if she likes, for me,' said Peter, boorishly. •'Certainly, Polly, I wouldn't go if 1 felt the lebt af — — ']^^ She did not finish the word, PoUy ttmied upon her so swiftiy. ind fiercely. | •• Yo« had better not I " she said. 'VA|ice, dear, hold your :ongiie ; there is no danger. There are no human things there, md I am not kfraid x>f t»»c ghostSb None of yon need c«n« iny farther, if you don't wisiv." She opened the gates— they creaked and moved heavily on their rusty hinges, and walked resolutely in. Mr. Jenkiiu held Mck, but the other tliree followed her ; Alice still dingibg to ner, and half sobbing ; a Satnoic gleam in ElLta's greenish ayes. They walked up ime aveiroe hi dead^ rilence ; tha unearthly itiUD«*88 and gloom of the utace awed them. Polly spoke, ai •\^ house came in view, aod het voioe sounded uneaithly. ** How am I tfoiua to j|«t to r I'htms's a window 1 know of —if you can only raise it fut uie, Sam." It was the very window, near the elm-tree, in which Dnkc aad sat and stared that meuKirable ni^L The ivy made an earn ladder for Mr. Samuel, wto fai some trepidation moved and shook the casement Wind and weather had done theii work— the window went crashine into the roonu Miss Mason tnroed and fiaced Miss Long with the look ci • duellist waiting to fire. '• Will that room do, Eliza, or is tfiere any apartment in die Qouse more especially haunteil than another ? I should like to please you, and it is all the same to me." " Oh, don't ask me," said KUjia, ahivering slightly as she s}K>ke ; '* don't sav I want ;-oo >^gp ; 1 don'L 1 think 70t» had nuco hotter turn back." Polly laughed bitterlf \ ' ' "l cnder«t]uid yoo, fiUsa I If aoythina kappeni, yoa muei lipva jifor innocence. wiL her (ace in Hm- han^. -^i -j i. *""'° "T* one knelt . ^^^^ 7 M-w aaoai, aaa^uien cuddled herself up in the arm lSd^to"SE5^or't£ S^;' "'d'^ ^'°7. '!«"» »>-' ^'^ Ac wind or ^" afm^ t^K.'t 7*** ****?• "'* *° »»^«' •J' Ae"fo^*:3^ «« "he l«rt d» ««, cUng «i, rwt >'i# »» -s^ ; «, - h •i; MC* rO FACE. IS3 WW w«, that ? Stircly, footstepf— hniMii feotttept •••H itt haU outtide, and approaching the door. Yet, the handle tuiTjed, the door creaked and opened I the girl rose and stood up by no volition 0«J»« <*^ J~ ,^ed staring straight at the opening door. Her JJMtMd \^ to beat-«he was icy cold all over. Wa. J»i« fwl She had consciousness enottgh left to wonder. 1 he ae« S:nedwide-there was what seemed *«» J^»"yr ^^ J^"^ p^tural Ikht, and in that glow «he saw the fam of * wwnaa , enteiiog, and OMning straight toward her. '^t CHAmcK nr. rAci to rAcs. IAD OUvia, I^y Charteria, rrfaHy giwn «5^ ■ heartless ? Had .|he entirely forgotten the duld ^ had deserted fburteen years befoce?^Was she a \a ing woman with a heart of ftone? There were peo- Die who said so, people who said her nature was *» cofj ™ ?lTle« as he; Vale, unsmib.^ ^J^^^^" '''^ T**^ lo.=d neither husband nor chUl Perhaps those people were light in that last surmise. Her estrangement &«>"» Sir Vane cLteris the whole world was^elcome to know, so bxvk (he was concerned. They d#elt under the •a^%~ ""ce the bmj. 5 tSe Maud-no one knew the cause. They met by ^ t^^m the .ta«, or in the pa.«i?es, ^the onljr P«^f« ^fy^ met alone.) and the lady iwept by with head «««* »n J25\^i** ^"« ***** ^^^n**' her; bat- -God hU-i k-l God Ahnwhty bless h*r I " thouirht rhik/nfoJf^ 5^ "•' were stan Jni? biir and hriahf !« 1 • v *!*«»"» «nd tne tean The summer light had faded entirely out of the A^ -„^ *i:- Lyndith. ^^ '^ "^"^ *" *• «!» tree, (br^fci, like a wan star. ^^ °^*' "® "** ^^ foldi ••Come! "she saicl "come with me." fcSToul' Hf ;;L.^1!! ;:l^", "-^ ,I>»ke .h«id««i at inembered legends^n of^lfr*^?' >"! ^"^* *« he re- les. mortals to Aeir™^ ^ *. k. A. IS!1 '^ * "^'^^ ^^^^'Ofc him as he 8poke~MJ« P^i • >he btche n on washing, ironing and bxlciW^tl^ . ^^y* "» TOW Oil her oval ch***/«X«i^ ^T^i^^J^^***^ ' ^(^*T^■5*^ // fAca, r% 9A€M, iSf __ the youg Uuiy heraelf obienred, with An ia^cd «ir 75*1 the couldn't so much as look at a pot o» a k^t with out half the black flying off and transfcning toelf to h<* coon doe* she think she k?" the \aA) tcnance. ••Does she know— irtjd ^^She^thinks she is PoUy Mason, ian orphan, the duld of i icounnofmiue. Thi thichess^^'t anotoonof who sh* \ b<^yoax paitko, my lady, I caU her the Dachess, be OBMcXshe looks like one, not that I lever was personally ac «iamt^ with any duchess," Duke put m parenthetica%. "She doled herself PoUy ; but I never took kindly to Hht name of My." <• Her niune is Panlina." . . ••Yes," rtid Duke, forgetting himielf for the second o?" . ,. . .. J^a% The solemn, dark eyes were fixe4 «» ^ ^e» **»« friendly darkness hid th^piilty red that lushed it at the question* ••Who said so? who cqold know her name?" the lady de manded, suspicioudy* , • . u u •• It was— it was a sick nM»n who stopped with us, when sue came." stammered Duke, who never could learn the iMnnen of good society, and teil poUte hea; "he suggested that ho name might be Paulinas" ^. . . ^» •• How should he think of it— who was this sick man ? •• His name wis Hawksley, my lady." « ^ _w Duke's heart was throbbing against hi* rib*, u sue 009 •• If she uk* questions enough, she'll sore^ fad h •■t,* !>» thought, with an inward groan. " I never cmid fltaad pomp. Bjic my lady's thouahti had drifted away to more importaal ^ tfm^s than » A menby the name of Hawksley. ••Why did you leave London ? " she asketl ; " do you knoj I wr >te to the old address twice, *nd my letters were returned. Ths last fell into the hands of Sir Vane, and there wa* a scene ; iie twisted her ftngers together as though m pam : "and 1 ■ever dared trnteapn. Twould rather have »reu ay d«*lm» iaad than that he should find her out law tiM wawnblinrw, and diaoover Ohlifheshouklreco(- I IJt fACM to PaCM. l,'«nf i!SL°°* ^^ 2**' "y ^y" I>"ke said quietlA «tf «« fasiieri .. n ? i^t " *• J"**" ^' You do not" hb haJ! «M|»ed, as he asked the questioa. "You wfii ,«» »»iL u *way, my lady?" '^»««h. you wrU lot taiie her five her up? '^^^ *^®'"*^ »- g"e^e yoi tr T A^i^ If**''' ^''^^^^K o" *^arth could grieve me so rf*. Jl« ||AiHi your mter-TAe lores her too?" Ae w« ineffably eta i„X d"if^ **" *' '°°^«* "P fr«. herS4S«r "^ h"-!"' 6o». the ™UI_^ '* Hei enemies — she has none." nedme. "IJat fortuha •ra, so left me that it fsilstoiri ™»»wil. c««e «to ,B i»comc «f Bioe thooiiuMl « y«,-lS iIlyMasoi^ thelreaem- ►t," hte haji >t taUe her ere yotf tv lo deeply Jiild, but I nrare th«ii e. lling — the aoked up 1 "Ob vkl — salf ^lozes^ r r 20 maay e comes ia> a." aojr rewai4 ot be worth ou a paltry nthout the t he wouM self for tke has sevMi •teris, with and gives ike, readjr retty mess nly a veiy to Poll/a present of ear. He s how he this veiy hen, aud Minllone Vddrew ! to-mor- d. as she :ntureto ! always the car. ^hfmeet rw I ft«P»w i - % ^JtCM to fSCM. «- t4« 0^^ HmetL And I go for something I left iMSpk ^ me in my f^ t fourteen ^ears ago — ah, you remeniber that night } My husband's miniature — my lost husband's — Sir Vane Chanerii 19 only that in name — some letters — tnnkets — the few presents 'he ever gave me^ They are dearer to me thaii anything in the morld, except his child. I had them ready, sind forgot them, somehow, that night in my haste. They may have been removed bat I think not — 1 left them in the secret drdfwer of an Indian cabinet, and I know none of the large furniture was ever taken from the Grange. At twelve, to-morrow nigh^ I will be at thr gates — will you meet me there ? " ♦I will" Shelook his hand and kissed it, as she had done that night kwig ago In the waiting-room at the railway. ^ ** Heaven bless you, best at niends. And now I must leav« yoa — he has missed nle long ere this." She flitted away with the words, and he was left alone under the red lamps and night- ingale's jw-jug. He lodfed at his watch— nine o^dock— the first act would be over ; but better late than never. The fii;st violinist of the Lyceum itrode away at a tremendous rate toward the theatre. I^«cisely at midnight, the following night, Duke, in a light wagon, was waiting outside the ponderous gate of the Priory. ■♦Were his nocturnal adventures never to end?" Duke4»ron- donMl, and ** what would Rosanna say to4norrow when she found his bed unslept in ? " I^dy Charteris was punctual, and ho drove her along through the quiet night to the haunted Grange. **You had better wait outside," the lady said, ** and keep natch. I know how to effect aa entrance, and 1 am not in'tUe least afraid." She approached the house witk a rapid and resolute step. She might be afraid of Sir Vane Charteris, she ceitainly was Mt of -supernatural visitants. The open window caAMt>s. ^ Udy Chaneri. p«..d on U. u^^j with . ,ow. .t^u.^ f J^iu ** ***^°** "» '^h'cb she had been ho« • f« H^ th- ve^»^th.chUd«d«iS^r «:^t?.c"^^^ m each CHAPTEX V. rou.y's Misbiuts. ™k and b™,gM'-£t"»S^^i,rrif,r •«■ i*or an «nstant.tt)dtlvJlSBM 141 «t, tod -«n iow, ciaiUj^ •cetc Cmt I ;ht, ii On d d6nr hei )t{ ll-bouiid- - supernat- one more ecogriized n impulse rords, the Charterii ghost of isely ner IVho an leaish* plebeiai dear ta inacib • girliii^ be half banlij tm*f _ ?" PdOf lauilMd A tittle hyftariiiaByxllMv •«Oh, Ladf Chartoii, it wu tooluh, I know, and Dnke an^ Rojanna will be ao angnr when they find it cot I'm half-sony now 1 came, bat I could not help it. Eliia Long, you don't know hef , di codrae— but f^ hate each other, sJie an^ I— dared Be to come here and spend a night akbe among the ghostit and I-f well, 1 know I'm a bttle fool I " I^oUy cried piteously, Mki looking ap, with her big blue eyes at the great lady, "but if sbe dar^nie to jump into Speckhaven Btty, 1 think I would do it They left me here, and are to caJV for me i/dock. It must be near that now. And please, my -»very humbly,) ** don't teU ; 1 was not afraid, indeed 1 « and I slept nearly all the time ; but Duke would bef (Duke's my cousin, please my lady,) and he's such^a aeat«< cousin, I hate to make him sorry. Oh, l*ady Chartens Polly clasped her hands^" I know this is your house, but I not know that you or anybody ever came here, or I'd ne ^ have done it Oh please don't say I've done anything so very,, reiy wrong." , . .. . PoUy could talk at all times, and awe cage ukij^ b, " It it just half-Da8t\3^» i!^L.^ ? u *'" ™* ** *»«« ' " people .tT ??i«?.^ i:^;^;;^ ****" «»^ "^ »h« chance ta.ee them, that vw^a^ ^° u* "'V*"**^ J^ " My ladv lij*.««J«r '*^,*^** "»ft me here. Now come." fc»^ them find ^e 1^ VSl t^rff ''Z:' "r ' ' "^'^'^ -«»ld never hear L'SJ oMt " " "*** ***'J' '^'"^ ^ •Oh, Ahce Warren and Eliza Loni m^nA »-« a^3^"--^i^wr.'wiu' r fj^^,-^^>^^«^>aw... k.<*|,'kg§1^4YT'*-^'^ ';-. POLL rs misdeeds: UJ ' «A ««»lding! Duke scold r P°"y ^^llR^.f d^lr na Csl'nna wo"u7rsc7d^n7l shouldn mind a bit ; but Suk^" Pony shook her head with contrition : No. I know Duke won't hear of it" "•^m.jie ilaiJi oot-lrom me.^ A«i I «■* f» •»« »«^ MNihere. It «€e»i»» •lu»o«t cruel*'* «« ««- ^•Vou «e very kind, my lady. Imt d<«'t ««»*«*; f^** 1^ and I i#«i*»i go, thaf ■ the amount of it. Plea* lei HiSii Me a brave Uide giiL Good-night, and don t come ""^ki^LT^crion given with the ki.. waj utte^ in the Udyihe^ Polly hJliVHjKer out of the wmdow, and watched Xf M .he flitted down the avenue, her light .tep. lost on the ^r^o^rLder what brought her here?" thought K^ Mason, "all alone, and at thi* time of night-morning, meaa "Sf Tf close upon two tfclocic I. Ae ping to w^ »» ^ way to Montalien Priory, and does her Rusband know wf% ~Pouf^a^'^'-i^*^JT^ir^,tte She had not hmg to wait Before two struck the q«frtctte ,t<«d under her wiSdow, filled with remote and dire n«««vmjL W^W they find her alive when they returned ; would thg. Sn^her at'^aU? Might not Ae<^ahe,'. ghoat ^her^ aodily to th- land of resUess riiadoW^when^ he «««'»»» pSfy, a. bright as a new •hillin«, stood smdxn|befoieA^ Sa liapedSth the bound of a kid out of the mindow and mto me arms of the haberdashti's young maa *#..«. -That will do, Sam ; I don't want helis; said Miss Maw^ «th«rdi«dainfidly. After Allan F«e ««i Guy &xbc^ it wa«it likely she was ever again goinf to t»lerate tradesmerfs ^Lke/ "Ye., I'm ^^^^^ "^ ^^^l ^^Z^tJ^ ;Kr and the rats ; and ^ve h«l * «i^le ^^^r^ % aiMMuM? piY^jlessant ifrul now li. Vbope ywi're convinced I'm not ^_ -- . , oL or\S i yol^ Ut Duke or Rosanna tod n]k (br Sundays. PoH v S »w ^ T''"^ »n"*'in and a . wiut^. blue merC ^ ^'^cT'^'^''^^ «' *nd las. niHN &ded a little, but \^^S'^^!^ '^'^ *»*"« •»« colot that suited her best «?^ ^ -Iwrt^eeved, and the ^«* of her ej^ to tie up tS^ClT ^ .*»'°' ^^"^ ^^ the whole <7Sr adci^nL ^S^P,*^^*"^** ^^ '«^a« * iJje rounded ariS^, t^TSd thfL^i*^^ '»»«»*t ^ M POLLirS MfSPSMMt. H7 trtrted tM««hly vittk hn- smaU, pinched featnrei and sickl] paikR-. She «im ^-etiwd like « 4oU now, in tartan «lk of kril- l Wtt hoeft, a white lace acait a Paria tut, wreathed with pink toae-bmls, ami dainty boota, and gievesi and pink-dlk and point iant parasoL PoUjr Mw it aU, and the foded blue merino, and her bare, brown hands, and her straw hat, with its che^ ribbons, looked, ab \ so unutterablf shabby and poor and mean. How could Mr. Fane e/er kwk at her twice, beside the glittering little but- torfly, this baronef s daa|;hter, dressed in rwse silk ? She turned dck with hopeless longmg, and — ^yes, the truth uust be told, mvj^ — and was driven to Montalien Priory, to silent and de- wessed, that she hardly luie# heriell How could she tell that Mr. Fane nevor saw the tartan silk, the Paris rose-buds, or the point lag^^ne only knew that the baronet's dauriiter was saUow^Hitny and not pretty, and that a cirl as bngfat, as bloon^iPiPPeeautiful as Hebe's self sat beside him, witti two blue eyes, whose like he had never seen before. Miw Charteris deigned to talk a little to Mi^s — aw — Mason, as the step|>ers bore them along. Had she re^ly lived all hex life in this duU, country town f Had she never been to school nor to Paris — never even to London ^ It must be dreadfuU) dull— such a life. She regarded the shabby merino and the common straw hat with pitying wonder. She wa5 vnuttera&ly condescending to this dpwdy country-girl whon* Mr. Fai-c wanted to paint The uttle embryo lady took tti* airs ^ a grawU dame as naturally as a duckUng takes to waier 9ad widi every question of the disdainful patrician, Polly grew more and more angry and sulky, and sorry she came ; and it w^s in a very bad humor, indeed, that she entered the dusay spien'^or oi the Priory, and followed Mr. Fane into an apartment wbei« (l*wers blooitned, and birds sang, and beautifiil pictures werf on 'Jie walls, and tadl va#es — taller than herself— stood, and a '1 m key carpet covered the floor, and silken draperies hung, ari Parian statur ttes glimmered in the pale-green light Her heat' lank more and more at sight of all this splendor. No wondei Maud tJharteris despised her — Maud Charteris, to whom this gorgooos temple was only an everyday drawing-room, and whu Dv^ m perpetual t artan silks. ~Mj."Fan*~teft h^r Tor a m6nVenri(rgo~^i6iri^df"MlMr Haatton, he said, who was to sit for Queen Eleanor. Misi Ckv««ns leli'lier, eacnsmg herself elaborately, to renKwe hai PoUjr was alMM. SilMica leigMd ItwuKki k... .jm..' f . (wn jesting, sorely. Wh. thrLw„ t . "J* ™" '»" .dj«s ^JidprfS"ed-^';^j:^rr-.*'~''''~'"'-^^^ ■ JVor^fed^ „ describe Ae u^f^hionable n«k,„, UU, ^ *' How tiresonie of Mr. Fan«»' ♦« r-»«k u m. ' • ■': • 'ivT"'^^'- •** ''d hair and frUteT '""^' ' ^'" * -S?L:S;1,;«:?erer""^*^ "«".«« fel, fan ,„bu„ung Fane ever broueht her here ? <;k- „!;. "J*""^*^^' *hy nad MR •ut; how, she L^knJw through ?L''P^ *"^ T^^ '^^ '~) dowj that ™d gildeSL'd^^"e§ .tS.r%tr"^^^^ / Ae house, ant into the bhaht «,J^- .?^* . ^"^ ^^ ^^ o* chokedher. ™* '**^ »*«« » «welliiig m her throat that nearly dr^XT^^i country^girl, with r«l hair and freckles I •• tk./ U-^ .entencc rang in her ear. like a SftltSSrii J^^ dr^aTbhf ^LT !^1..r"^ •?*^ *^ off the bl« It was* q.Se^fS^.'^ j^^^ « »5^^^^ •mi looked it $h? had Ted h^? ♦^ • She «w a dowdy, frw'iiea Tlieli«ht«rjJ;.T!! the «ame, and she had A* counted levS^Ser^.^"*^ •^^ '^*?'"« ^^' 'V^ ae wa. neither ZvTnorZnZr^t^'^jf''' **^ o^''^' j^(PoU, kaew F;r^hT?hent;-'dafrc^"l^^ ^ifn, _ „___H ~ " Jj JT^- r^^y " ^'tf °" M ,>■. jmu.y*s MtsitiKna, »•» Ae f «t a table to henelf^ and ircmed those dodies Urith a vin- dictive energjr, that left her cheeks crimson, and her cjres foD of streaming light. She was dead idlent, too, and dechnei tak- ing her tea, wheii tea-time came, and went out into the rardea to let the evening wind cool ofl| if it could, her flushed face • And as she reached the gate there stood Mr. Allan Fane ii person. " Miss Mason — Polly 1 " he began, " what on earth made jroi on away ? Did I leave you too long ? I give you my word 1 ooold not help it, and I hope you are not offended. WLat waA Pdly looked at him with flashing eyes. She would have cut off her right hand sctoner than let him know how she had been knmiliated. *• What is it, Polly ? I think yon said that I might call yoa Pbllfv" with a tender look. ' " Yoii may call me anything you please, Mr. Fane — a dowdy, stupid country-girl, such as I am. If I were Miss Diana Hatit ton, or Misi^ Maud Charteris, it would be quite another' thing — Ixit how could a shabby, ignorant, red-haired pxsdc ex^>^ either respect or courtesy I " ' * " PoUy— -Miss Mason i Good If,eaven I has any one insulted jrou? Who came into the rooms while I was away?^' ." Not a soul, Mr. Fane. But you should not be surprised at •rythingA person in my class of life may dO. We don't kn<6* any better, and I got frightened, very naturally, at all tfa« splendor about me, and fan away — just that One word, one look from so grand a lady as the Honorable Miss Hauttoa would have annihilated me ; I ran away. Don't waste youi time, I beg, Mr. Fane/ go back to the Piioiy and the h^gh nori ladies there." ,. '4' " Vou are as thorough a lady as the best of thetn. Miss Ma •on, if you will pardon my presumption in saying so, and 1 wouldn't exchange five minutes with yon for a day with tbs Cureat of them I " He told the truth — there was a glow on his placid fac? verv* anusual there. Polly, pretty at all times, was tenfold pretlia when thoroughly angry. The ^haughty poise of the heiad, ftashinit fire in the blue eyes, the flush on tbS'bval cheeJM^ fiba rogip i Ttonfs of the^ dear voic e, bec a me h er^yeU.. C " Some one has o£fended— sonoTe on&has insulted yot^, it may be, Miss Mason, but it was not I. If I only dared put \% words what I think of you : but no. even the deepest admiration may x,»iif*> '< 10 'MlLr*S MtSAgMSS. ^'T •ometimet «ppm impertinence ^TcU me ymt m mot mm with me^I could not bear AW, Polly." ^^ ^18 vwoe softened to a wonderful tendemeM, the eyei thai ^f.T. t" ^^ e«»"6d, tremulous light ; but .Lf Ughed MucUy eren while moved. i "»» ■•.^ « you are talking' treason to your Wrereign, Mr. F*iA * what would Miss Hautton say if she heard you?" ' ^^ HWus Hautton may go Jto Paradise, if she likes. What f Miss HauttontoM#/" "The fiitwe Mrs. Fane, or rumor tells awful stories ( " Rumor does teU awfiil stories, always did. If I cared fa. Ms. Hautton would Ib^ here? Polly. Vou must ritXtS gcture, only, by Jove, I shaU have to paint »w lor Ouee^ Eleanor, tf you look a. you do just now.*^ Wo^vS^ S^ m,andgivemeK>m<»tea,plea*!? 1 came afkei V*» in web haste that I never waited for luncheon.- «» J^ " wicD to walk three miles ? Oh. Mr. Fane, -W^ think n^ a gream goose than you can help. Come in. if you like, and I JSnS if Rosanna wiU let you have the tea." «. «/ wm see "That doesn't wund too hospitable," the artist wud. "but I^Va **"!" ''^^ ^S^ *P ***^ **»« '**'^. one mnit not stand on the order of h,, invitation. We .Lall have the Mttin« here, Mist PoUy, inMead of at the Priory." ^^^ ^'; ^S *^* "^"^ ?*** "**»*=*** 'h* fi^«J gingham : he iSe td ^l£i^ "^« ' '^'^ «~» '^^P^^ PoUywa.aU mortal man could dewre, and he lingered until lie moon wa. up, and the loud-voiced kitchen dock struck 22?.i?**.K 'l*^/.'^* i^ was, what a beamiful, blissful •arid altogether I And Ro«nnacaUed life a •rearypUgrimaft •ad earth a vale progreaa at every sitting as yob have Amc at mk. tha hit AoMtmond wiU be OMipUlMl bdn« Im \ r Mr. Fam^ POllY*S MISDSMM.' isr Kwnr U.** Her deai laugh rang out, the truth being the artrt 'had tjotfreiy foigotten fair Rosamond, Allan Fane beuw so eis STOMed by Polly Mason. He Ut his cigar and walked hoiw Srough the soft summer night, with the uneasy convirtio» dawmng upon him that he was falling helplessly m love. TJert bad been moments, this very evening, when it had be«n »» O' could do to restrain. himself from snatcWng her to lus bre«». reaigning al' the hopes and ambitions of his life, and becow' Bossessor of those wondrous eyes of purple light, th^ darkling fparKling, beauteous face, that saucy, witching smfl6. " Jove !" he exclaimed, "what a fece that gu-l haa— what a pair cf eyes 1" ^ - . j He thoQght of Diana Hautton, and her thrrt thousand a year, her lofty oirth, her blue blood. She had blue eyes too, but aristpcratic m aU things, Miss Hautton/waa most msta craticaUy near-signiod, and the eyes were wofiilly dma and laded by oJmparison with tnose he had left ;. ..,. ^ "^ . "Why wasn't I born with two thousand a year?" the artist thourfit, moodily. " Tu marry that girl oiit of hand^ aiid go to Italy, and spend the rexn^oaer of my dayi lying at WW feet, looking up at her perfect beAWr, and fancy it always afternoon. Or why hasnH she a fortune f *iCy pretty Polly, I fear you and I must part." ^, / ' . Ux. Fane did not present himscll 4t the cottage next mom ing, as Poliy half hoped ; and after dmaer, putting on htr hat, she strolled up to see her friend, ^ce Warren. If Mr. Fane was coming, she would meet him, or if n< went to the hoi^, and found her out, it would do hito no hai.a to wait She (fid not meet him, however, and roiching the jwliff's abode, she found Alice aloiie, and in aomeij^lc^ty, „..„ . _. "Whafs the matter. Ahce?r Polly asked, "Whereri fw* mother?" /, , . ^ ' ^ j- ws. «' Mother's gone to Specblaven ; fcthei'i Mt attendinf tei business, and BiU/s off a-fialuH; wd here's a message fi on faUier that Billy's to go tip to the Priory aa fcat as he c«a There's a sort of water party, and they want hiw to row oo* « the boats." / . _^ . ,. . Miss Mason pricked up/ her ears. A water party 1 thif wm why iAx. Fane had not but in an appearance that monuac. Why had he t-!*■;■ ^ widden inspiration flashed across PoUv*. n.;-^ •P««k»ng 6ce of hers. .S*^ ccmW^- a •"**='**" *^ PMaesscd her to see howMr^aJ ^ '^ JT***^ «»"««*> •ociety of Mis. lUuttoiT He £S ^^t^ himsetfTS plainest terms, the IWaWe D^I i**"^!?**^"**''' » »*« ' nothing to hiin^ iy"/i^Ln f '^ **°''^' »«« Aw hooA^Aliee read W^ A^*^ ? P""* »»» both or (b .*- claspeH her US? "*«=*"«^««« <««««» b her face « "On, PoUy, don V she cried, aghast fail twenty rainute;,^r^,ut«^^***"*^ '^^ ^'^^ >««X fally she iJas beinTii^^ „^" ^^^fr^*^"** how shame^ be found out If I tm. it «»., . h"!; ""^ "And 1 won't jwce and hair wash, and Bin.'. S«Ta1-^ . **^ walnut- , Dear, fair, ^^^yTu^^fl^^^^J^i^r'^'*' Alice ! " . please remember this shodSJTJT ■*'^'^^<^ I am sure ; but a* fiiU of frolic as a kS^n^H . "^"^^ '^ o»iy ««een. . a. wise at sute."« fS^ i^t^t'^'sh/SiT''"?'' ''"^ "«« the eva and miierv ofX- mvi !X .•/ *"^ **" unpuIse-aU acted on im^l^! At^cvf^A^'l^l^ ST **^ S^e mtothebail&r.h^uTeaprrttTSt^i^^^ There hadgone a swardiy-skinned, black-K* S^^^^lZ^t'^ oaaco^ much slouched over his e^ wh^ir T "^^ **** **• ^e^ Ws jacket-pockets, and who^JkS^^^ T* "^^^ ^«V <« letter, *Alice lU>ked IS Jh^ In ShllJi^ ''^^ '™* ^y"' ■»ued with dismay. ' ^"«°«»« wonder, not an *^t« .S^r^St,'^' sSL^T/r" *^ »»^"^» covSred I" ^*' **"*» ««« graooHs ! if she shouH be dis. ''V«.,liiK,ln«l«,.-«lM».,«„,„^ H,^ ,-7-^ ^2J*%iLi-^^^^-A»-'^'* JtJ5£l,j(r* ^j J,tr--r-5ipj:w' •'r,S-5?JB*t "" ' POLLYS MISDEEDS. Ill egnised the necessity for it. "Cut across them mead ows now, and down td the lake like fun. Tlie gentfy'e •waitin' " ' . , The lad bmuuLbl acron the meadows^ erery pulse tmglin| irith eacitement and the fan of the thing. For tnc inipiopnet> —well, did not Vidla, in the garb of a pajje, follow her kuigh» t» the wan? And did not Helen Mar, in mJe attire, pene irate to the prison of her Scottish cnief ? and was not Hele» lifar but one remove from an angel? If pages' costume wer« die coreect thing for ladies a few hundred years ago, where wa» the great harm now in Billy's Sunday jacket and sit u pons ? Amid the wooded slopes of the great park Uy the mere, oi lake, a broad, deep sheet of water, embosomed m wooded heights, 9mi with two smlll islands nestUnglike |fter>ld* on lU shining breast These islands were famous picnic plares, and the present destination of the party. ,. , , , ^ There were three boats. As Polly t^rang lightly down the F' -een slope, she took in the whole scene. There was Mr. rancis, aheady launched in his white skL9, with l.adv Char leris and a Miss Mortimer, a near neighbor ; there was Mr Guy, with Miss Maud Charteris, and two other young la.djes a iky-blue muslin ; and there was Mr. Allan Fane, standing be gi(k Miss Hautton, and looking helplessly at his " boat iiiw the shore." Why had he never learned to row ? Would thai bailirs boy never udme ? For, if one may venture to use such «n expression with regard to so high bom a lady. Miss Ilavlton Vas in the sulks. Had not Francis F:arlscourt "chafed' Mr. Fane in her presence concerning his rustic inamorata, and, though the Honorable Diana was disdainfully upUfted and in- different to such people, she had felt a sharj) pang of angei and jealousy. Just now she was haughty, fiigid, and all Mr, Fine't efforts «p to this moment had failed to melt her. "Thank Heaven 1" he exclaimed; "here's that boy at last ITM're rare yoa can row, my Ud?" " Quite rare, sir." How the lad's heart was throbbing uiwJer ally's best vjcdstcott I bat the slouched hat hid the eyes diat flashed so wickedly. " Permit me to assist you, Miss Hautton ? " The gentleman nreMl wraps, and helped hu scornful, silent liege lady in wUli r^ . . ZY^^ .. oL-ii ; u ,a » hose water-lilies you ipoke of wmetime since, my dear Miss Hautton? **Aa y«a plawe," Miss Hautton answered, pohteljr, itrofilai fMi » ytvn : '"M imU one pltce w aoother. ^\ M^M^^'M..uii ,.... .. k.'_.^^. ^.. s. i<»l*'asSi.-«» IS4 *OUV*S mSDEMMS. A 1 Hautton was thc^ljy SUZfr J *^* '*» carriage, S ^k a pathetically Ser SS^S'CIli '^^b::^!W^ a heart of flint, Ah 1 PoUVSTiL^; '°°''* '"'?'*» *»»ve gone to, white parasol relented in tot .miu*?*'"'^ '^ under the '^/P« ofthegentlemai *"^** '^ especially gallanJ poes^riifueti;;;rn^^^ I wonder?" ' ^^'^ *PP'«''«"« JOur fine speeches ^^Sf^^tSn'^atU^S^^^^ ret .he hate* dear'SSls'HXWet tl':» " »'«^e Polly , „, fsque mogel, with StnylS^ «d ^iS'^?'" "^^ * Pi^^t^! for Greuze. 1 have tct m^h!^Zf^ ^^ **'"*= ^^^es-a model «d Eleanor- a suc^e^^'aSS^teSst^S"/ *f * ^^^^-^M ^ Rosamond. Who wodd makHJ^^T *" ^^^'^ ' '^"^ for my «We ru^c school-girl ? ^? /^tf * *" ^?? =^ '^^^ to I before the name, JS a looirr " l7elSr~~^'""* ' " * P«»* tailed tJ;fvCi;^e'^"!^h^^L''^^^ *»'^« yoa there?- ^ck there, / fa,^ ,?. '**'' '^^^o^wed at this juncttJe ; « tj^'„ ^He pointed to the I '/ "L-^-"*" i~«"*«^ to me smafler islan#i ^j- ♦u ._ Were making for the b«« a»^ ^"^ two-the other bo«N two hn.M J.. — f fll35^^. ^<* »«d«' the ^w h^.'t. »-« K • T^"» ,or tne larger. t'Z Sr«*»t eyes were flashinir. t -h -#• "Very well," the ladv i^'d. «.«.- j - 5c( there, then." ^ ^^ "^^ *«" »<>« fntckrn^ **|« *>Uy" rowed with ' " Ifaia II Ul« Mlamt "Lil i. lri.„^ - ^ !*-gg%- -~--2«». oeceiver she was sonethi I -i** j^'^jp^ji^Fsr-it' -J!''^'»i - ■ T like 'Mom 4 his rodci^,^ ave Kone I6, > well— tW >d told lioi Setl heireaiL •re swim fhan raw, and a fcngefiil resolution came into her wicked, plottmg little head. **ril give you plenty of time^ to make love, and propose, M^. Allan Fane," she ti)Oc^% as she ran her skiff ashore, and. leaped out . Mr. Fane careful!/ assisted his lady. Was the boy sure the jorasi was not damp, that the ground was not marshy ? Yei iLt boy was positive on these points, and Ted the way to wiierc dhe liUes gi*w — at a point directly opposite the landing, with poUard willows and alders growingj thick between. ^Go back to your boat and wait for us, my lad," Mr. Faae said ; ** we will return in an hour or so." *' fVUl you?" thoui^t the youth add r essed : " that remains 10 be seen.'* The artist made a seat (or the heiress, and began filling a nnall basket, brought for the purpose, with lilies and wild red berries. He did not mean to propose just yet— he ratlv|r shrank fix>m that ultimatum, amd wished to postpone his fettisrs IS long as possible, but omerwise he was all that the most ex- acting lady-love could desire. And yards and yards away ova ttie shining lake the bov and the boat had gone. Gone 1 Polly rowed straight to the shore, mdctfii tl^ boat, and with one vindictive, backward look at the distant green q>eck, went cooUy on her homeward way. ** H6 can't swim, and they won't hear him if he calls," though die avenger. ** When they see the boat here, they'll think he's returned, and won't miss diem for some hours. There's to be a dinner party to-night, and I rather think two of the guests wiUbelate." Polly returned to the baiUlTs, doffed filly's clothes, washed away the dye and walnut-juice, and went hmne. Rosanna wondered at her variable^tnood, for the rest of that day. Soine- times all aglow with mward wrath, and i^gain bursting into in- extinguishwle fits of laughter. ** Wrecked on a desert island," Polly thought. " I wonder kow thejr find themselves by thi» time ? " How, inde^ ? v The likes were gathered---the lady and gentleman had had a very pleasant tite-ii-tite — ^die sun was dropping low, and Mias Hautton looked at her watch. jElalf-past five, and they dined ft seven— qute time to go home and dress. She took her To ffiie boat, indeedl th« boat was gone. The fi^ looked WanlrlT \^ fm "!-■" t* "^ i I f.fj 1)0 ^ouys Mispmm^ ^e uked;f liiMM «mU > / /■ "Whatdoei this mean?" Mr OMUttle wretch have gone?" ] ' \ "-"^ He left tlu^ lady and went fouad the island. ^ In «-.« I»«:e of thetoyor the boatreSK^Sew^ W^UajWy. pride. !S?^U*JS?SS^Si tOT« dMMted on an iiland with Allan Fane. Ln^ iTS^TT?, fa«*i «. nwrimen, for month, to c^T" ' '"^ "" : •wme-Hdl in M^-fSrT-.. - "* * ^ ^g wind arose, chiU fror^^^^'^'- fann, red glow died out of the skr it tum«l\^ii land. a^rkness of night was wrapping sea and Mr. Fane SF^ang/upon him with an oath. ;/ trick r '^ ^"^^^ ^f""^ ''^"^' • "^^y ^'d you.play toi this y-^i. •ndC -i-/" i^S In^^H' '""■ "" '<"*«' "P ""■ • fi^' <>« «t"^Sfor.;r'™'' "'"' ^°" "" '""*• ' "'-v^ b~» here to-day afore.. And looking closely at him, Allip Fane knew he had not / *'"''"^"""~"T"''r"rfTTiiri i i n'i ii"''V'~ "ms" '•"p^ rW' tawra v9Uiro i>meam,and otmbm tmvGM. w And Ibni ftere dawned upon him a thought, a wild idea. ^ r^- troeone He said not a word :iHr helped Mum llauuon»\ mute neeldy, and did not ipeak five words aU the way honoa. For Polly, ihe laid her head upon her pillow that njl^twin (kc Yirtuoui pride of one who has .brought the wicked M khlfMUB retribution, and b'vped coala xA &r« upon the htai fr^4eoehrer and slanderer. / -J ^ > 'i»- \ wncB TKBAfs or lo^b's AfTto ovmit mnraa. lUCHESS," Mr. Maaon said, the foU«wing morning, is he arose from the ^ireakfast table, "when you're quite finished, and got the dishies washed^ 1 wisli yoa wooW step up to my room betore you go anywhere. I hava • a proposal to make to you." . "Oh!" said ^eDuchesSj "a proposal of mamage, Duke? Paying no aSicntion to this flippant inquiry, the sccn^^painter ' went on his mkw^tm^ to his own peculiar sanctum. He was unusuaMyg^fc iuid thoughtful this inoming, as PoUy might have noticed had she hot been in a rather spiritless state herself: The reaction that always follows excitement ha^set in, and though she had raged and Uu^hed alternately yeste^ day, this morning she was as duU as Miss Hautton had cajed her. She did not even wonder how they felt ^MH^^^^"^^* idventfi^ on the island. AVhy should she tr«Hr herself to think of them— she despised her, had called her ignominious^ oames, and he was amusing himself 19th her mstw; sunpliuty, ind Uughing in his sleeve at the effect of his pretty spefech^ "Ouly a handsome model," indeed I How glad she wa^^he had ii^ver given him ttnm. «Be sitting for the Fair Rosamond. Tbe Weakiast service ckared away and Ae little dining rO|Mn tidied, she went ups-^airt wearily to the paintin^room. lye perennial dabs of black wo f on the pietty face aiid hands, a^ IhrtDotwi pate^ hstJesi. Bhe^bund the sce^e-painter nal fH at wo^ but sitting before a small shaving-gjiass, roBtqp ptitivtfar «v)bbiiig the stiibble fill hip cbm. 7T — — *. ) ■> 1' ■'>,»i , "„-?%"TT^; T^iM' i!':i ■ 15s terms young mmam and otbem rmNCs. f li!^?.^ ^ J ^^ postpone it unta to-morrow," he «U£ iTOBt If I waited another da,, Duche.3." °>» ""U »« <~ ''DucheM,whafitheniatter? You're .sttinR thin Yoo'n « i^r*^ y°" "*^ 80 to boarding-school I' - . "Toboardmg.ichooI,Dukel" "*^ '*™*"" "To boarding-school. Duchess." *W iSi r«Si^. ^'^ *° C*" '^^ »»"• Now her ^f SHii^l^y.'^'' wa. t« go, and her first sensation wa, 4Uan FanT^ff PoSt!^^ had been the attentions rf Mr, there w«riL«^Kj '7 .•?*°* pleasure in them.^ To hi. X;^L:3?:S!5n*i'£lSi! • «crUege-like a desecrartl •awion^ >J^»Tr^ **'*"«« young mar talking of 4ove anuke, gravely ; " it shall come out of /Msi. Out of ■even hundred you can spare two (or your education, I should hope, and then when you can play the piano and woik Bcrlun- wool oincushions, and are five-and-twenty years old, we wdl marry Em to some sensible, middle-aged professional man— say a iwyer or a doctor," concluded Duke, with a ghastly attempt at a jest. . . ^ PoUy frowned and turned t« leave the roon. " 1 hate^sensible men-^I abhor middle-aged lawyers and doc / ton, and I shall never marry— never I I'll be an old maid like Rosanna ; and if Mr. Hawksleyever returns from those 8ava|e *landa, where they dig gold out «f the ground as people here d« turniiis, I'll keep his house for him if he will let me. And now, ai I've got to go into town for Rosanaa, I'U bid you good-mom ing, if you're quite done tlHth me." Polly dei>arted, dressed heraelf mechanically, and went on Rosanna's commission. The bright sunshine, the freshaif blew away the vapors of the morning, and befote she had been fifteen minutes abroad PoUy was herself again. Her step grew elastic, her eyes bright, hsr dieeks rosy, her smile radiant Go to school I of course she would, and itudy hard too, and come home accomplished, a piano- pUying, fire-si^een m*ung Italian-singing, crayon-drawin§ -perfectly-finished young laJy. MisiJHautton or no oi^ else ibouid caU her an ignorant rusUc It was late in the afternoon when she readied hone, and die first person she beheld as she^ seared the cottage was Mr. Allan Fane. She had spent the whole morning in Speckhaver dining wi t h a fr iend^be re a nd now as the western sky was reddeninc she sauntered bomeward trilling a aong in vc«y lladness of h art It was her favorite ballad of "Co«At| G^' v\d It Wf W Giv Earlicottrt she wm thiakinc m ika \ / "r ..* c-^. It. ifSo £orrs rotme dmmam and trmut rmmfs. Where theartut was concerned in spite of her pique and ^or Alton Fane had been a Uttle doubtful about his reception- s?.Ste ,*o"nu t '^'^T'' '^' " ^ thirst d^JeS ^55 ^ »«ft »»™ on the island to punish him for hL de^on, hMd stolen upon him. As he met that brightly dS^ jntj saucjr glance he felt certain of it ghe loolted lie a 1^ SS ^^'^ ^*^"?,'^ f 7«y "^y^ and^Ae blueVreS2 «uw preny sue was 1 how pretty I how nrmttv i h- -^ artist, remember, and an adSrer of b^ruiSfn il t "nk sSI wore the "seryiceable drab .ilk/' but SZ Ld lit he^elf^ tow « "If of cteny-colored ribbcin, andtr hj^i JST. yS low curls, was bare to the red sunshine. She waTsIriniinlS l^^cJ •S.'tSle": o^su^n^uT^^ ^' ^^"^ ^^^^^'^^ *niay f do W "^'^'^"^ '^ater-party to Lilyislfnd y^ ^roay. 1 do hope, now, you didn't tire yourself too mn^ rowmg ,n the hot sun.. If. lovely on Lily UlanA isn^it?"^ ta^'l ^~I'.**'" **"**"' " T" ''^ ''«" l^no"* neither Mn I swuD. As you are strong, be merciful Do 1 need S hLT "^ *!.T'»"^o»y *ccSent that befeU m?yes"crday1 Oum Hautton and myself alone on that confounded 1 u e tw^ rmayhalfpennf uland; how Miss Hautton wept Jtn li^^ •^ reaaotfn; how I swor^ inwardlfr at mySt ho^SS f^-^and the fog rose, and it was LJ pSt*^.? JaVIh" t fclSli'r forS^^cCli'io'n.^.' "^^ *-^^ pitied US if ^ou lis ?o"y llMUgf d her ■houldef rdtsdainfhltyy 1^ mZS^ VH ''**** i« ^deservedly puidwd. It wu «ut ^l*iti«nb,tK«fcr«amhilig said .r done. 1 a- iiiJTSJS \ mvmt ywntQ bmsam ahb orma, mam^ iSi ClMOB knen what he wMibooL M.d lenred you right. %^'h«t gn wcellcnt oppwtunity it afforded ytm, Mr. Fawe, erf tw7iin| l^night-errant, »uccoring beauty in distrcM. 1 thIiU yonahonid feel grateful for having been left." r^. ^ ♦•Knight-errantry went out of Ikihion with Dob Q^*^*! «nd succoring beauty in distreu— beauty beina exenrptaiW b) Miu Hautton— u a rd/* 1 shouldn't care to muTjirtake. V^ certain circumsUnces," with hia eyes fixed on Ihc fac^ befcrfc isa, ** 1 can (aacy a lifetime spent even en Lily Islaad inigM be pleasant." ^ .... ^^ B^t the same 1 jok given her now, had been gnren to anotha yesterday, and she met it with a ringing^augh : " Don't you think, undei all circumstance^ Mir. Fane, yon would row orer to the mainbmd after twelve hours or so, tb( th*- vulgar bread and butter of evei^day life, finding love and liUes pall a litUc ? No i.^/orget you can't row. Takeleasons, fir, before you go on a water-party again." "1 will take lessons in anything, Misa Mason, if yo«„wu tea''h me." «« , . , *^ His face flushed, hia eyes sparkled, he came a st« nearw There was something in her Oliver to^lay that made her hundredfold more bewitching than ever— a sort. of reckless defiance, that Ut her face with a new, bright beauty. «• I have better use for my tinae, sir. Instead of teafchin^ 1 am going to be Uught, myselH I am going away to school «' Going away to school!" __ The girl laughed. Coquetry comes naturally to most pretty women, and PoUy w»a a coquette born. Somehow, to-day she feli as though she irere vAsUy abovy this young man— older, wiser— his superior , . . , t. •af 1 had said 'goinr to Ifewgate,' you eould not took naow blank. Yes,. Mr. Fane, I am going away-»-f oing to tchocl ix liondon— no, Brompton— for the next two ot three years. " Two or threr years I ",, " ... . . He did look bUnk. the possibiUty of het ^fOMig away hari never occurred to him. He had not given the matter muci thought, but it had seemed to him that the bright nunmo montits would go on like this, in pleasaj>t i4|ennewt. and de lightfiil sittings for his picture. Thr end must come some tiin^ and he must leave this girl with the tawny hair and lap- \ I lay a golden mist of l«»ng delicions days and w'ekft Aad now rfie was going away, and there broke upon AUw ^\m\ ' ■^^•i> slbi •kf^jj-'-s^^^'i: ill ite « - ' -> % - 1^ her AUnft Faae was in lore I hT ^ "»» "lefTCBtCore flSrtationg, hi voice, hi. cif^Sfatt" dTSJ^^"^ • ■*^*?* ' '^» ^y^ ' ^ to be gone STn't 4^ tHTirTiL^^* ready-^d 1 S fore thanini^ ' *WP>«en my ve,y existence longbe "I shall never foi^get you ! " He spMce the truth. AUaa Fane n*Mr«. a\a , . Th^ hour came back to himTar, Ser ^*^J^.l°'^^ ^^' PMMJ he felt then. WeauTselfiS. S- ^? wmething pf the tins pam of loss was the^.n^ . k "'«*'* ^' »"d ^^ but rinies i^his after lif^^S he^w ht^^ JT S""*^ *'^^'' '"*"> the red light of the sunse? on ^7- ^ut-^*'"/ ^**^" a«ain with «f,«^mf.5 humS'il^hTflS^"^?,"^ ^^'-^ ^«»eam, #5;^^ anotne, ta^7uet.te"?^^^^ «he was aware, andbfld?JSr "* *=*"«^« *»«' »»«d befcw pompliments, and make ^S^^rL . ^ ?*^ *'*^ «« •« Mi-take Aemas^S^^cSST*" ^^u^"**^ '^ >. -~^: \ ^ (J*^ 5'f i0pmi rairrfc due am and otss^r Tamos. 163 •< No •*^ Polly said coldly— proudly— and trying to wiUidraw her hand. . •• 1 dare say you.<^/ car^for her, but you are go iM to uiirry her all the same. Y\tSk let go my hand, Mr, Fane ; they, will see you from the house." •'What do I care if they do ? what do I care if aU the woiW sees nie ? " He was quite earned away now by the cxcitenn^ Of the chase, and his face was flushed, eager. " Forgive »a« Mli» Maion -Polly— if anything I inadvertently said has wonudcd pou. Bclfeve me, 1 would offend a hundred Miss nauttOM woner than' lose your good opinion." ♦' My good opinion can affect you neither one way nor tly i)ther. You are a gentleman, f am—" ^ ^^ ' "A lady, by Heaven, if 1 ever saw oipl ,y " An ignorant country-girl," Polly went on, a tremor now Ji6 . Iier clear tones, apd she looked far away at the cnrnjion w«^t ; *"not so ignoran^ though, as^to be deceived by looks /knd words from you. Our paths he apart— let us say good-b^, and neet no more." • / " Polly I what a cruel speech I " / «'A sensible one, Mr. Fane. Let me go, prw,' ratha wearily. "Seel you have dropped something from youi oock.6t " It was a tiny morocco casket, which lay at his fert. He Dicked it up, oi>ened it, and took out a ring thjlt blazed in the sunshine. It was a cluster-diamond. The next mstant he had r--^ssessed himself of PoU/s hand, and the shining circlet ihone on, one slim hnger. ^ ; 4Ie lifted the hand to hii Ups and kissed it passionately— foi the first— the last tune I ♦« Wear It, Polly, for I love you ! " , Alas 1 for man's truth I A fortnight ago that nng ha<^ ordered of a London jeweller to fit the finder of Di«i* ton. klemeanttoprb^downin Lmcolnshire,.andtl CO be the pledge of the betrothal. Only an hour a^^o the Lon- ion express had brought it, an^ here it gUttered on tte fingei jf Polly Mason ! \«>« . . •. l . x. Heaven knows what fiirther height have said, what wortI% vhat piomises might hav^been exchanged; PoUj^t't nav^ Kcome Mrs. Allan rane, perhaps, and this story n«ipv5/ »>««> ^tren, for the great romance of this young wpmai\ s life you "^v^yertbIiear"urfatth1sir»ManT(5e^^^^^ by tier goai ing*^l, no doubt) there appeared apon ihe scene the g|aunt CwB. oifVoMuma. ■ummoning sharply her youthful charge in to teft. ■i- £\ \Sii&M.t. •^r « "!.♦ i<4 £0Wi I>MAM AffD on ■•^ '.-a ^Squiw or high SS! thTtSt "'^/our^liir riw, ol Jne aforesaiu Tri^kU liatf td i4 '^^ (A»S?| "•yV* her heart Ihrilling. aSTmJ thi *UKlified artist witlvh.!^^^^ **" ^^'^^ »"l>ject cf thu ■ Mid he-* only to «l»e»i™irL-,h^ I rf*' "^ ""gh-bo™ I |r«facatijrBSjrs.to*;,e^b.::?^s*d^^ . « good M^S^ ** '"^^ *"^« to «ay tol^?; She felt tODiclffiiat what Duke uid wMHElHht .tUl- •w 100^ a| h^ nng and^ lieart thrilled ■ \ \ bend ■ /. lerrs Youifis dream 4^0 other raiNfU. ii{ MM woKWf -wonli no fweet to jevery girl'f emi and iieaf(-«** / livi you /" And riieantiine Mr. Allan Fane walked home, and on tlw «ray foufkl oiit he had been mad, and a fool. What had h#^ done ? /Given up all the hope» of his life for a,'f»«'»ty face with Uue ej/es. Very rnxxi and pleasant things in their way, but not* fcvaila&le as ready cash : not to be exchanged for good dinner% iiorse^ opera boxes, ai^d a house in May Fair. What had lie ione ? Dire alarm hiled him as he walked along ; he cursed iiB oimfoHy and precipitancy with a fervor good to hear. Wai it, s^t^lSl, too late yet ? He had not asked Mis» Polly ^fa■oll to pc his wife. . J J He found Nf iss Hauttoii walking weanly round a^ round le great fish pond, and joined her at once. ' . Miss llauiton, like Miss Mason, informed hinishe was going *»Montalien bores me, I find," the lady said, carelesdA '«*more this year even than usual, and the Dncheis^of Clanron-X aid is going to the lulian lakes, and urg^s tae to—" A dreaiy j'awn finished the sentence. The Duchess of Clanronald I ^^ , Her grace of Clanronald had a nephew — rather an mipover ^ied nephew, who had made « hard running last year for the Hautton stake?. No doubt he would go to the Italian I^es, too. Starry blue eyes, a witching. gyi>sy face, a supple form, and sixteen sunny years, are very well, if set off with diamonds and gilded with refined gold. He couldn't marry Polly Mason ; he couldn't turn itinerant pprtrait-painter in this dull town, and merge his bright individual star of self into a shabby-hatted, rate- paying, taj-fearing, cradle-rocking, family man. It was written — ^was his fate — he must marry^ a rich wife ; and so — alas fcr Polly! Before Mius Hautton's yawn was quite ended, he had poured lirth the Ule of hu long admiration, and implored her to be Lt fife! , If) The rp«y llgWC of^hifriran went down, and Diana Hauttoii Offered by the fish pond witl^, h*?! accepted lover. Hcf accep* ted lover I ^^ lie" was pale and cold, ana tomething inside his breast, »htt t his paUfir. ftff oi , >:, iat{.fi...i «^;u on AIiss Hamton's lips Shi aked hSn ver;,'^"^, 1^' larir^pe'rd.'"^^'- -^^ '^^^^ ^ --t^ -p-^>* s; ^/AlnlfrlKi" n' ""^ 5 ^°""« 1^' ' y°""8". f^« even Oia* «e Honorable Diana Hautton,|tands watching that rosv U^ t^^^ '"ilLff h' ""' ?"'^^"°'^ ^^^ diamond ird'.ft "> 1 CHAPTER VII. t HOW KOBKKT HAWKSUtY KWT B^ WOIID. IT ,^ the third day after Polly Mason stood -it tl« I parlor window, looking hstlessly enough up arc dowi the deserted country road. • There was litU^ to bJ »K » u ^ seen^ there were few abroad. The fine June ^x^ that had lasted steadily over a fortnight, had broken uT-v« terday ,t hid rained aU day and ^ nX to^v 'iThS' ceased, but «ill a sullen, leaden sky frownf d darSf ou a ^ den earth and^^uddy roads and lanes. A Weak ronmla{^- wind.wailed up froi^the sea to the young ^Tr^dieSr^ ail seemed the very Jbomination of desolatil VVunr thL. jere ,n harmony-Rosanna was Uid up with tootoS. S Xirai^Xllan^Fa^fl^tr "' '^' ''^^^'^^ ^^ wi 8pu;us, anOAllan tafle "ud never once been near tl e mt tage since. There are time, in aU our U/es i^en Ivei^ih^. loe. wrong, days that are cold and dik a^La^'^itj a»«»^«e™s neitl^r Joy on ..arth nor hppe in^^^^'v**^ A. V^u u ^^ ""* ^''^^ "^'^ ^« co^'^e 8mce~-that was Ae b^k thougnt^uppermost in the girl's n„ndV^.*Jt^ Jwgv "B« L- y ai^hereto^y," was hei nr,t t i tou gS^^lS^ IJJi^^f-fter ^e had giveh her the ring. anSl^r^TLT^ fc«l glowed with such a new bapd«n nf beauly'all da " SS V p. " ■ ?. ^ - s« BOW ROBERT HAVFKSLBY KEPt VIS WORD. 167 1 Duke andRosanna had looked at her in wonder, and feU clined to be resentful that the thought of leaving tl em and go- ing to school should firo'duce such rai)ture. A fever,of restless- ness held her all that day and the next— a (ever that burred w her eyes and on her cheeks, and took away appe: te and reai. And he never came. Another day, another night, his ring stiil ladhed upon her finger, his words stiU rang in het ears, his kisi rtilJ burned on the hand that wore the diamond, but he n-v« -Ame. What did it mean ? Was he ill ?— had he gone awa> raJdenly? — why did he not come? Another time and she ieoild ha/e put on her hat and gone up to the bailing's house— shj would be sure of ascertaining there ; but a new, strange timidity had taken possession of Polly. She did not care to stir out — even to go shopping with Rosanna, fof her new clothes — heavenly occupation at any other time. She just wan- dered about the house — no flying footsteps, no trills of sonj, no banging of doors, no breezy rushing up and down suirs all day , long. The restless fervor held her, but she said nothing, only waked, strangely quiet and docile. On the thir.d day., reaction and lassitude followed. Rosanna was cross with toothache, Polly worked aboht, and listened t« her dreary complainings as she listened to the sobbing rain and wind. A presentiment of evil took possession of her — shtton wool for that jumpin|( toothache " And if it t I -mpv. ■i' m .: j68 Jfom Ml ''W" '*^'. isLMY rmr ms womb. .V^ ■"rn ffo Bti^» m^ 1 1 "^ *"**• ^^ » vengeful ffl«a. «|«ljmper, the housekeeper at Uie Priory ' "^ she had ever seen it ^ ^- ° *^ housekeeper, than , irhen she btoSPIid !•„, k r.'' """ '^''^ P^ aud pun. peaches. mHea, Xeh 1 t„„ °"«'l' """ "'"' l«l>ricots,'^„i PoUy iha„kX^bm'^.^'^;fesVs™lriX .r, "' '^ iien got back from town / ^ ^. . .^ »n« ,ip wding-schooi. ^^i^:^'^;lf^ :^y ^V>^f 2 Her heart thrilled as she !» Sk«l fh .• «. |j^,was news o<^A4an Fa^ F'^ ***^ ^^««^ She ^^Hieriu «^ ^ch ;^^ ^:„r^ Ha mp^aid; folding h ,i ^u ? \ li^lt^cfe ^i ,-^1^ « nothink of that is settled yet Mr. Fane wiU wait until my lord coices home and speaks to him as M»:js Haut- ton's nearest relative; though the young lady's quite hold enough to h&ct for herselt I say again if s a great matchfoi him -honly a poor hartist— a hearl's granddaughter, and Aree thousand a year." An eail's granddaughter, ^d thf-e thoosand a year U Polly had thou^t he was in love with her, and wo^ charmed to hear of her seven hundred pounds I A crushing sense of her own insignificance, poverty, ignorance, low buth, Itunnln9%er. What a litUe fool she had been not to know from the, first he had been only amusing himself with hei ■mplicity and vanity I She clenched the hand that held Uie qng firml y but unseen, and her fa c e stiU kept its uitermdiffe^ ^ce. He had proposedl>h Tuesday cveiiiiK and on I'ue^j afternoon he had told her he loved her, and had given her thai ifa^ He had gone straight from her to MiM HHattODt ana #,. j-iiiAi .mB... •jSm^r I70 ifow xoBBJtr jiA irjrszjs v 9SS WIUUK • /• I t.,. •deed her to be his wife, and they had ladghed together, mo« hkely over the love-scene witli the country|irl-^t?e S coT ceued rustic so easily gulled! Traitor! cSraid! TV ^S. Jiil%r* ^''^"/^-i^ looks had been lightning, and AlS; Fane there, he had never left tbe house alive. iJl'^t^T^''' "^ ^^^ K°' ^'"»* * ^^'^ disappointed She lad look -d to see anger, mortification, sorrow on Polly Mason'a »ce, and she had seen nothing. The girl had beard the newi hall were unfounded after all. It was quite clear tiat PoUv f^had sense, and thought nothing about him. ^ ouL ''i^^*'?™^*"'^'' ?^ P*?'''^ '*^y ^° ''^^ ^°or, and saw he. out When he returned to the parlor he found Polly sitting in f/r T'l ^"I?^/' ^^' ^^^^ lying wearily back, her eyes closed her hands folded, so unlike herself ^ ^^^ Kud.^il.r,"r'"\!'' ?^ '^y^''"™ '^"^«^^' Duchess?" Duke ff .T^ T^' ^l^*^ pause-so gently he said it. He was Jf!f^ ^\"^;" *"y ^*y' '^^ *^ "«^<^^ 'panted to mar^ ^l^^J,'" i' *1^ ', 5^"* I^^ '*""*^ prescience now, he knew jS js well how his little gul's heart was bleeding, « though the f loved and lost " business had been as familit to hiS he ^raping of his violin. "They're bringing out a new comedv /« three acts : 'The Prince of Pipesandbeersbad,^pd the e's a /screaming farce to foUow, Come, and have a good lauah / before you go to Miss Primrose and the blackboard " ^ / .^^ he girl looked up at him with a kind, grateful glance Wisdom-tooth stops aching." r ^^ •"« uw The scene-painter went back to his work. m,nmrr™ll" !i- '*?*"!!?*> "«»»«. doesn't care for the S^ili. w °* 0' He broke doWn as a woman might — his face hidden in his han^s his voice faltering, and asked her to forgive hii.i. She stood and looked at him — rage, -wounded pride, humilia- tion, scorn, pity, all in her glance. If she had never been beautiful before «he was beautiful in this moment. * " Forgive ybu," she repeated, and the hard ring died out ol her voic2 and a great pathos followed. " You ask me to for give you ! Well, Mr. Fane,J^ will try. It is not that l^ar^sfoi tou much — no, Allan Fane,'^! know now! never cared for you ut you ha.ve hurt pie ail the sajne. I shall never have the tame faith in mankind again— I seem to have lost my youth in - . 4»e moment it became mine. You have acted badly to me— " badly ! ba«ily ! "—the fire that can only M^e in bhie eyes flashed. from hers now— "but I will &y ind forgive you tf I can. Take your ring ! " ■ -^ " I cannot, oh, Polly f " • m , * She>fiung it at his feet in a niddeh umpcst of taty-^thf^ quick fury of a very child. Sp "Don't ever call me Polly— iiow darS^u do it?- Take fdUT riM this moment or I will walk straight out of this house HP tcr the Priory, ^nd tell Miss Hautton every word ! Aiid , four books, and your drawings —here they are — everything yOu ^- ever gave me, except the lowers, and those I threw into the ' ire an hour ago. Take them, I command you, Mr. Fan« ! " What could he do but obe> ? He' was afraid of her in tnat tout— afraid of her even if ^le had hot knbwn his Secret, «it ±$i ma4p him her abject slAve. He took the ring, he took |he linte package, and a Very soriy figure the conq uffrinjt heti * S'-.V-i * «< -xvt in the hour of histn^ph. It strucK Poll/d sense oF IST .todifrous.* In all uigedies do not the eiemeKts of the lidicO' hrat linger? and she btttf^ aut Uughing, with tbicjf^^imm tMn iliJl in hier ejret. ' * . iM~ i0 , :*■! f' ;* u. « >.. m9W MOMEMT HaWKSLM. 1^ kBPt MIS WOMA. if^ S'^.v iV '* Yon locfk like a colpoitear going his rounds widi tracts Don't let me ^tain you an insUnt longer, Mr. Fane ; Miss llantton may want you. Vou have had yoi r sport : and a verdant little countiy-girl has helped while awa) a >;imimei holiday, so there is po need to linger now; I have ton^rttu bted you, and given ydfi >our "l»elonging% back, and non tkc •Doner we say g9od-by the better." She made him a bow— Miss Hautton could never have sm passed it, in graqe or insolence, and walked straight out jf thi room. And Allan Fane left th«* house, and coming to th» garden well flung his bundle of books to the bottom. Ht i might have flung the ring aftei:vbut diamond rings cosj, and — - •no so he put it in his pocketj and went back to his high-borc^ bride. And an hour after he placed it on her finger, and Di ana .deigned to say she, thought it " rather pretty." Duke, from his upper window, saw the young man com* a»d go, and waited anxiously for supper-time and a pretext to gu uownstairs. ' Rosanna's afRicted molar also gave over aching about that tmie, and the brother ancl sister met in, the small dming-roona. ■*. Polly had got tea — the uble was set, the toast buttered, the tanip Ht, the kitchen stove bumirU; cheerily. Fdr the girl her ielf she jvas quite white, quite *ftill, jusery silent, and the blue eyes looked weary and heavy. She waj more womanly ftian Duke had ever seen herr but he sighed as"he looked at her. «• I suppose she's better so," he thought ; " q«»-i «md young ly-liks ; but 1 think I'd sooner have my wild btclr girl play- J FisheVs Hornpipe on the fiddle^ «r even Singiu^ ' The night ' bdore Larry was stretched.' " • Rosamia noticed the pale cheeky the silecu, «ni th« Uc^k ofap|H.tite, '.A "That child is "growing bilipoi," tM^lrttr lady lemarked. widi,her strong glare fixed on shrinktfig Pully, "or about tfi have an attack of jaundice. People iwyays tiim green antf fiU) into low spirits before jaundice. *tJU ymi feel a genera) (iiiking all oter, Polly, and an inclination to cry?" ' Poj^fy looked at Diike |ild burst on* Itughing-^rathei hyiter loUly^ihough. < . •'1 don't feel the least inclined tw -ly, Ro«anna,^ank you, ^l ^«fli.lj d«jfi*ntly, arid her, eyes had a dry, tearless glitter. ** I •iBow what yoB ^wiSTtuFyou shaA't ii^hize: me I VonT" lake Herb-tea, or. hot 1>aths, or vegettfBle pills, jor any of the jpa lUte r a > i »yi n fc„ ^ IX hx the wife to be the elder brings luck to thd house Mr. Fane aaid nothing but he looked somewhat ruefal \W # ♦ IS .v •JfT.. "Aj: ■^r i;6 fOW MOBBHT B WKSf^V ickpT ms WOBD \ ■ T^* »d have the •• tnflmg disparity " on the other side. «.-.^^i ?^ 1°"' approval, njy lo|4,M»e said, ming. •• and aiay connder all things settled ? " \ "^» mw ,- " You have my approval and DesJ: wishes Diana ii certaJRJi !^X?fn'' "^^ ^^' herself -^n the youn^^a ".Sl^ and her income, as you must kix>w, dies with hei. By the bt r«ne.— changing his voice with abruptness— ."you laixedj pod deal amon, the people at the ftW Uie other Zy, indli know--wa? ther« a man by the nahie of-of Trowel-^ XS, vlTT'TJ^ ^^^^'''^ " ''"•^ "P«" ^»^*» «^ca««n ?" Allan Fane sta-f;d, more nervously than before. I here is a mac by the name of Mksoh living about three , mfles from here. Jifawn i, a common pame, however • th^H may be many Mawm in Swsckhaven.". "^ ^ ' " M^ '^Z\''"'^' '^^1 ^"^ ^ ""=*" » called Marmaduke MMon, and has a m^dcn sister, Rosambn.iL-Rosalind-nQ ^^:^'^' ^° "^"^"^ ^-- f^ -upat,on ^a ."?^*u'?^"*"'"'y^**- Y«»»IkiAhim." And he has a ward— sh« passes forlus cAusin a irirl of siji teen— called Polly ? " /C *'^"'"*' ■ 6»*^* o» '«• . Had Lord Montalien not Neen so' engross<^ by his tablets* jod^estions he must have .^ticed ^^. Fane's^ttly cSl' "Yes,niylord,therei8aP61VMaTOn:!" * VThaf s the girl! •' HiA lordf h-p shut up his tablets with a toumphant snap. « Now.whaf s.he like ? lU iST my We shS ii." «;?K ''**"'1.'«»« yoiu-f^atake, ther;,my lord, ^iss Mason ' tt. with soinething of an iffort he saic' this, "one 1 the ve«* ^•^"?t ffV-T' 'Sah^ "'^^'^ ^^••-•^ °^^r 'ife" worsfforl AnK^" IpnJship sighed resignedly ;V' all the J^^l/ In -k"^ h«re.ft«^l ward with a jnub nose. Would U) «mJ «ghty thousand pouncte to her fortune I Ah, weE m,^ •S.^ir^/?."'^ tnartyrdom-this is onlv the list straV tS! ^likely wUl break the camel's back I " \ ^^^AUan Fane looked at the speaker with a >:« of gli^tlf > " My lord '; h ft Mjfl. » r dnn-t u nd ai.Uu.U. I ' ,* ' \ tu 1 V tt i b< •i t< i X '.« - P f r ' a s I f ; ■ , , — ^jf "• ■ * M _^ f i l f— Tfitl af J Ml f fit UPClg r B »' ™ * 1f i — — y^Wllii ■ ■ ■ ■■laaa ■■■ " «K ^l* '^■^.' #. ^ \ m -t^ inW nOSRRT HAWKSLRY KhPT Bti WOU>. " My good momr I-oni MontaHen said plaintively. '^Aj^ DO Jung of the kind. She is my ward, ^d she has ^^ thousand pounds at this moment deponted tn the firnds «w h« benefit No, dont look so unplonngly-if » «» ^"f » "g»2 to teU TOO- Therrs the dressmg-bcU-you snsB alT hear U al hI uose. Allan Fane quitted the room, and went up tj us :ai bell clanging high up in the ^?^ ^^^}^,i^^^ past seven, inforn^-ed Speckhaven and its "^^"a" »,^*; °?? tord and his family were about to dme. Lord Montalien took advantage of a few minutes before gq^ng m to dinner, and" pre- sented his congratulations to his cousin Diana on tfTuJterest. ing episode in her life. Mr. dripper brought up tWe^rearcl the dinner procession with Gpy.^nd wa^ mtroducad t^tbe oUier people around the table. , .' « *.:„ " He doesn't look like, the harbmger of romance or a to godfather, or anything of the kind." Lord Montalien^. remark^ » nevertheless he is. He comes to inform a M«? .jo^j^-jj of sixteen that she is my ward, and heiress »[ %hty thouwnC pounds. Do any of you beside Fane know hei^? H^rf name af present is Polly Mason!" u^ j .«« his, plate and seemed dowg petnfying-^Guy suppressed a whistle and looked unuttenMite - bi^gs-!nd 4p^y Charteris' spoon dropped into he^ «,up. rilit- ^^\h a aalh— Francis Eirlscourt w|8 eagerly interested, ind Sir Vane. Jter one steady look at his paUid suid startied 1 composure fot the peer's next words. I his lordship," you all look as if you Jne^ »«• feted before 1 begin, how will yon be UmUedDo- K„e 1 nave Rn,4hed? Shall 1 go back and begih »» jj* ^^ ning wuh ihisfomance of real life, as the Penny Heral4 caDi rt.>. light«nng-a|d-thunder serials? Yes, I iviir? . _ Lord MOntilicii pushed away his souft leaned back m BM ' , hearers. • ■ ftifc, waited wi^ " VVell,^' saic Being so ifttere 'fore 1 have fihl tfiyir and be fan tq '• tiirilL "MeTjust linwfi reals ago, on the •«=°^^-r- " nm^ 'y' > l I. 178 trow MOBEAT ffjIlFJCSLEy KEPT HlSWOiUf! Of the profound regrrt ««th wbich I left America. I've nM ^ much of what the world generally calls 'enjoyment' in m, !^£.t i t£ r '°"" "^ t^'e speaker was remarkable to hear! -iW K ff Tu T^"'""^^' °"* ^'^"'^ among the herds of jrUd buffalo, and herds of wilde, Indians on the vVe.ten. r>uZ ^"T"j' '/'^ / '^.^" r*^' *^°"^^ ^^"'- l^he passe,...:, Ae Lind of Columbia ' were the usual son .f people oni Jl^ nctv mercantile and manufac:turing pe..ple fiom th<. J«thern^at,Q8, with miil.,ns of dollars, g?ing over to maki ^"^ T^'k- ^Y'\ "*^ °"'y ^"'^ ^«^ ^^^"^ » ever found jmh the trcmhi. of talking to, and he was\ second-class fd A^"*" v?"^ proportions-tall and moulded like an atteir ApoUo, with a face^mll of intelligence and sel(.repression. ^1/ tod a srory~he puzzled me— to be puzzled inca^ to be inter- Sr dav om'"hl"f m''^ 'l^''' ^''^^'' Hawksley ; and on the iast day out, he told me his story, meptionmg no names not ^tT;;\-me"T ;" ^^"' ^ °" ^^'^^^^"^ '-" ^^-> "' "- p^tea, at times, to be assumed. "He was an Englishman, the only son of- a yeoman -farmer j^u educated as a gentle„..n. He had been twoTthrttycars man'hi'^^^'Zr ' "^*" '" Staffordshire. I think he said th ?eat ^am' '"^ r *"' "'"'"V^- ^'*'^^' "^'''^»^' ^ ^'^^' heiress, a g.eat b-'auty, and six years hi. junior. She was hom6 from school, romantic as all girls home horn school are, and s'.meeS my handsome secretary. What would you have ? U'U "aU i^ iove^wun each other, of course-run aw'ay to Scotland Indb? M> lord paused. The fish hacVbeen placed upon the table .n.l he took his knife and fork an.l refreshed hin se5 wUh aUt lar* change wa» pa.ssmg. and over the face of my lady a ^-^ .\ -w BOW ROBERT ^WKSLBY K&n^ HtS WOMD. ' ij^ oi'l jewels, and obliged to fly England. Now, \yo years tfter, ae had mju*» a honje and a conij»eience, and he was rej^umiim to seek ou^ fiis w^c and take her back to that new worlid. We [jkrted or 'ne qnay. As we shook hands I inade him promw* that if e'Pr, in^any way, I could serve^him, he would command me. I liKed the lad greatly — it was a^ brave and loyal nature, I tj-uly bciieve. ' , " We;i," sai3 1 Mrd Montalien, taking a little more tuibot^ * fiMirleen years pissejd, aurid 1 heard nothing more o^ or from, Wt. Robert HawVtley until yesterday. Until yesterday, when NI^-. James Gripn* r here, called upon me and infonned me I, IV as solicited to b'.f orae guardian (it a young lady, heiress of eighty thousand pounds and presenting me with a letter con- .^ faming fuHher particulars. "The letter was all the way from San Kraivcisco a id from my old aciluairitance, Hawksley. He .recalled the p'-of^iise I had voluntarily tpade, and in the most manly n^d frin'c way asted me to fulfil it now by becoming the guardian ar'lr protector of his only child. And he told nie his story in hvft, from the time of our partintg on the Livers " pool dock. " He had {>/und his wife — the wifje on whqse' fidelity he said to me on sh'pboard he could have staked his existence — how >/ do you think ? At the altar— the bride of another — a man to . ' whom she had been engaged before he had met her, of her own rank and station. There are more Enoch Ardens in the world than Mr. Tennysdn's herO. He left England again wij^ouf speaking a word to her, and he has never returned since, j^t by sonir mystery, which he does not explain, he discovered mat his wife nad givejj birth to a child — a daughter — five months *fter his first flight from England, which child, at two years old, ilie had given to a scene-pamter, named Mason, and Us lister, to bring ijp. I^e found this child, begged the Masop peoplr ^ take every care of her, and they should be one day well re i^^ ru-ded. Th^ day has now come. In the California gold mices t|us man has made a forttine — eighty thousand pounds he has 4epotited to be his lucky little daughter's dowry, ind I am appointed her guaidiap. ^ He a*ka me to plauce her at a school ^ where she will.be educated in a manner l<lain that inTfpad nf hit ^^^ H Mme being Hawksley, it is Robert Lisle that he had finiihad bf wp almiMt ai Ihutly u henell She had /aihted dead awnj I ^ *^ " CHAPTER VIII. 1 ^ LADY CHA»T11US HKAKS TKI TfcimL IS the nig^t wore on the rain increased At half past ■ eleven, when Duke and |>olly left the theatre, it was pitch dark and pouring torrents. Polly did not mind u A u ir ! "■*'" ' '?, ^9' *^f°"8 yo^ng girlhood sne had not had half a dozen colds in her Ufetime, and the two had a nice, long, muddy walk through the blackness. Hackney-coaches there were, but all had been monopolized by greater follis than tht scene-pamter and his cousin. They trudged contentedit along, and who was to tell either that it was fd^ the last time? That with the new day, so near breaking, a new life was to dawn for this girl of sixteen ? Rosanna was up, waiting with dry clothes, a good fire, and a cosey hltle Supper. She was very tender with her child now that •he was going away to school. Polly's spirits had risen with the walk in the fresh summer rain ; they were too «las»ic to be lone tfcwessed, and then her wound was only skin deep. She ate the^oast and drank the weak tea Rosanna had prepared, and/ laughed once more about the "Prince of Pipcsandbeei^ba*'^ ID a way that did her hearers' hearts good, and "went Off, half •n hour past nudnighl, tq her own room, sinMng gayly as s£ i:--,- ,'•*■■■ ' . ttia we] ^m 1 dl: roo •U> thn t i Ro mai ^ ^ den stai ing twc stai mu saw far \ nuu ^ hau < ] Is to MMl a faw hMN fcM (h« B^t, ay 4«w> ''Hunk Rearstt," Dgakc thought fervently, •• she cau laurii *iid nng agavi. If • a complaiiiit everybody haa. ev»ryboS geti over " ^ ' Very true, Mi. Ihike Mmion. moat people hiive it, and rooii rmM get wei it ^loo; a f^cuftfin/oraslairciKi n^iii- ^ ii WMl aoMt gf «s feiwvU, and mc » tnce reoMMM tp toQ \ COF get S bef( fdiil (ac( tOMi roit ten i" .%i.' t, inth a . tie table. Imoat ai < \ LADY CHARTRlUmif^AitS THE TttUTB. \%i ths odious disease has c'er been ; and others of us se* well, and dat, and drink, and are merry, but the soars remain* ^ruel and deep, to the very )jN>t d^ of our lives ! The scene-painter, with a yawn, took up his bedroom ran dls, bide his sister ^bod-nif{bt, aad was turning to quit tl» room when there came such x knock at the front ddot as liter ally made him drop it again with amaze. A knock that echoed ttirough the whole house, at a quarter to one, of a.pburii^ G'ttb black June morning, flv master of the house looked af ■ sister agha!st " VVho can it be, Rosann}>, at on^ o'clock in the morning ? ' ''Give me the light and I'll soon see," retorted the4ntrei>i«l Rosanna ; and takmg the candle her brother had dropp^ she marched straight to the door and flung it o|>en. Whoever Miss Rosanna f■ li^^'^i.A^r cbaMtrmis n^H3 tsb rit * had a right to that hated name. I am Rolwrt Lisle's wife, vuk Robert Lisle u alive, and yon tx^^ it. " My lady— ^' ^^ "You know it," ^he Repeated " Vo' have deceived me king snough, ;|ll of you. I am no child. I will be deceived no longer. This night you will tell mt 'he truth. I have ^ked three miles through darkness and stona to hear the Iruth, and you shall speak it. On the day— tut accursed da> "-cpon which I stood at the altac* Sir Vane Ch«i.e.i!,' bride, Robert, my Robert, ray husband oiy love, was in d.j church looking at my perjury. Ana you knew it UTte the rciu, ami hk? the rest have hidden it from me— you who knew ho,r 1 loved hin» — you whom I never wronged." Her voic^ sank to an unutterable pathos, her eyes looked at Wm unutterably sad, unutterably reproachfiiL Duke (airly fave way. " I did, my lady— forgive me if you can I It was wrong — 1 bought so from the first, but what could I do ? He bade me ^eep his secret from you— from you most of all on earth. iVhat could. J do but obey ?" nean — ? " >e man who called himself Robert Hawksley— \i\. Lisle, a^ I know very well now, and your hus- ^ere out of fengland — he bound me by a promise Jal his existence if I chanced to meet you again. What could 1 do, my lady ? I don't know how you have found this out, the whole thing is so confused that 1 hardly know which is the right and which the wrong. I wanted to tell you that night in Montalien Park, but I feared— I feared I What right had I to telJ you you were the wife of two living husbands, i>ound to each by the tie of motherhood ? And so 1 held ray peace. I am sorry for you, my lady— sorry from my inmost leait. I would help you, Heaven knows, if I could" ' You can ! " she said, still retaining that deep, unnatiu-al nahn. "I have come to you lot help. Twice before you ^Mdri me in my great need ; now help me again, for the third drae, m a greater extremity stilL" She held out bodi handi to him He remembered the ge» mre— the very same as she stood by the window of Lynditk Grange and implored him to aid b»r in her flight, as on that •igh f he answered niore moved than he cared to show : ■ "Twin help you, Ifl can. Tell me how, lady Charterik?" « Not that naoae 1 " ihe cried rising pawion in her voice and ? y I s wifSe, mbi reived nM deceived I have ) hear the iirsed da> iiib' bride, !>j church tcii, ano kew Lo»r 1 looked at ike fairly wrong — ] ' bade mc on earth. iwlcsley— your hus- I promise ou again, ive found dly know } tell you I! What msbands, 1 held my ly inmost unnatural fore you the third I the ge» Lyndith on that Lrterb?" oiceand ■'0y: lADY CHARTEktS IfEARS TtTK TRUTH. itj tkee •• Never again that nanw 1 I loathe it. I abhor it, a« I d \ ♦ '\ » » ' * • ■ '■ r .. .1 . .. A. «>. ■ - t » I ^ . ' • '. ^ ^' _. _ ^ . ^ , „ „ ■ . .. 1^... ^ .,^ :. i-: .\:.. . ..:. . : , . . , ■..^:: ... .. , ■_.■ ' , ■ ■ „ ■ , ^^ - r ■ 1 ■ ■ - ■ • • ' ■ . ' '' «' '>• • ..'■St .^ ~ •■— .. ,„ > a ^ ,. - »■ F * ♦v. 1* r f / < , ■ , -i • «., . •• .-, , J - ^•-. \ V - "7 ' 1 v^ ( X 7 tv f ' ■* i \ \ >■» ' ■ \ ^ 1 k \ \ ^ ■■■ *i i,. 1^ J. IMAGE EVALUATION JEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 111 ■ 50 ^^™ 11:25 i 1.4 2.0 1.6 A _Scieiices Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STRUT WIBSTtR.N.Y. I4SS0 (71«)S72-4503 ■'"-*. ■ ' ■i ■ *\^ .*v tk'i^W :^u - H 1' -Ml • li i "^ 1I4 iMiY^guAnrEtus m^Jts m ntork ^,^^^"^1- ^-^ ' *?^*^ *« "^ "tt^^ly wretched u^ tort creature tfifs wide earth holds. There aVe tmiM^.«i ^S;i'?,'^^*T^ ^fyo« have any pit^b^hlJSfo JO m^erable a wretch, yon wiU n>eak to-^S wS^l^JJ vofci^n/*'" ^°" ^^^ *^** °'y "^y*" Duke^annrered, h» vwce fiiU of great pity « Heaven knows I would have toldh J«ilongagoiflhad4«red A great wrong has bin cwie- Igrcat and cruel wrong. Whether it can ever b^r^Si now IS not for mc to say. The dead and the living iS^Ske to blanie. Geoffi-ey Lyndith and Sir Vane Charte.fsr^„ boA^knew on your second wedding" that mSril ^ wnen we stood face to face, I remember the thoueht cowino Hr^ nZt \^' w^^^•* ^'^^"'^ "^ Robert STS? I^Ja thi JH ^^ '°?^''"' ^"^^ ''°''^' ' 'hink, that first sug jested the idea-a look I cannot describe-such a look as onfi ^^"y^>^^n^btI ^-u-ToJ-jB & V^ a '*?^ * '^ '^"* .nd hi. ey^ met UiSe'S £.Jn^ "• ^ "*''*' "•'" *"<* » change coae over ant SrliLlJrlw" Hawkaley aad -yadf .ndr;S.4U!S >. fc.'iiV.,^a3L'^^a ^:; i^ vsi.-. ij^i.:iW^i.-.-Ji4ii5S.vi.-;i! • » etched aad neswfaen i or heart foi tell me dir sfwered, hk tave told it 'en cone-- « repaired i; are alike 18 ! They : Lisle wai cally, and he scene- le kitchen time, and id people face, were but some but little fand Mr. e the child t)ert Lislf morning, t coming le in the hrsr sug- k as on^ ity weai le wa) 'd eremoi^} ou caioc not see re fiaed pasfou those of tver anjf Mtant— left the LADY CMARTERIS BEARS THB tttk iSf "Hmrkaleyr " He called himself Hawksley, my lady. I tukned to hiio; a&d ^xed him then and there with being Robert, l,isle. ' My name IS Hawksley,' he answered, ' and I mart follow ihat man.' <* We left the churdi together, called a lunsoro^ aitd drove to tour late uncle's house on Park Lane. I remained in the cab ; mT descended, and after some tarable was admitted, and youi ancle cajne down in person, and they Went into the library to gether. ' <' I remember I I remember i " my lady said, in a hushed, awe-struck voice. " I remember the altercation in the luill, my ancle's leaving us at the table, and a strange husli of expecta« tion (ailing upon us. Oh, my God ! to think tlat in that houi he was under the same roof with me — in that hour when it waa not yet too late I " "ItfMif too late!" Duke Mason answered. "Haul he in* fisted upon seeing you, that very instant he would have been given over to the hands of the law to answer for a crinie he had never committed. Yet I doubt if that would have held him back. He was made to believe that you abhorred his memory, diat you believed him a thief, that you had grown to love Sir Vane Charteris, that if you knew the truth, the shame, the an- guish of publicity, would break your heart He was told the marriage was no marriage, and wonid be so proven if he made any attempt to see or speak to you. 1 1 was too late, my lady. Your uncle triumphed. Robert Lisle left the house, and fell like a dead man on the street before he had gone ten stejps. I took him home— my sister cared for him, and next day, as we sat alone together, he told me his stor>. He believed what Geoffirey Lyndidi had said — that you were utterly .false and faithless. My lady, I knew better. 1 could no^ fo«ar to hew fOB so accused, and right or wrong, told him all I knew. Iti iraa then that he learned that the Uttle child prattling about th^ k^ise was his. I believe that knowledge saved him fix>m a loidde't grave — it gave hun sometfaiiMr to live for. Where you were concerned all hope was at an end — tiis mind was made up n leave England again at once and forever. His last words were of little Polly : * She shall be an heiress yet,' he said, ai we shook hands and paited. Every year since that time he kM sent her a Christmaa token of fifty pounds, and a few t>Mirt ^itMm to fttk if the ^'^ *^" Th..r..j my lady , b the iloiy oir Robert Hawksley is I kmnr it liay I uk ti0w jnfv Vw lavoed t^ be i» alive ^^ %rji»k!«*.a*'.i»«>4i 186 "V \. LADY Ca^RTRRrs HEARS TITS ntUTO, uid I fainted. 1 «^s n ml « ' ^ ^J*^^'* '*^^'"'^ f<^'">& first time in fourth yetTbesr^ leJlnn^r'"^^'^^ **^* pointed to the door • ' PrT «.,t !5^ . '°°''^'' *' '^™ and come into it4a1ri-4"ar;ou'livJ^ '^'^^^ °-« 4t each otherT no one sookV hI J ^° "^""'^^ ^"^^^ ho.x-s and hours uTeeS to m. rT* t °"'^' ^"'^ ''^^^ ^^ away-my mind^ras afc^'^^^^^^^^ '^Y ^'^^ appeareu to fade the pictures on Ae w^U^the pattern of fh""""^""' '"^"^'"S ** lights burning on thfe taht l>f ,■ ^^^ ''^1'*'^' »» ^he wax- cacd face;ioo];i"g atTe i" S^°Zh llSl"";'' ^"^ " '"«^*- ^ran^ from ti.e L^ seted" SS^I 1 Jte^tL"' "^"^ ^ of the room and the house. 1 ,^ jPT^/"^ '^^^'^ "^^ gifes , they were open i,tik bv^a^^ ^ *^°7" '° **»* straight here. I never feffe l\^^ ^^^""^^^ *°** ' *=*«* • perhlps I an yet" ^he r«ih. I .appose J was mad- M^^^^^kcd at^VrntSlter"^^^^^^ "^^ f -^- ^^ of a coivse-her ey« swS Zt^ T* ^ ^^''*^ " *« ^ voice was straneelv aui^ aL ^ * ?^' **"«''* g''ttf r~l»« though speakiSknwher ^"^''f-^he spoke of her^if ii /^./her^oubrt^^d L w'''^"mT"""^«*«*^ •ima? "" orain? Should he summoQ Hoi with a crash, a man', k. ^^" *^* heard it flung open TT, TO, ed%htl7 to ^f untold de . ' Lord Mon^ ily, "with I roih the tm ed his naiOQ ly— a griae ned reeilng^ >vered, with srls (for the a: bm and ' anct never nen looked id I ken for :. . i don't reu to fade looking at It the wax- n tensity of s pattering then, all at reat tliops i! Robert h a fright- : mad. 1 ushed out wi to th« I I came IS mad-r- r. Dulw ithe£ac< tter-Jio» lerieif ii IgtOthlR. lOfQiloi carriage ng open U. lilt iirVMir tdDY CBAMrSKis HFaKS THE TRUn. ,g. C-jce^again Duke's thought* flew back fourteen )ears i^^ the Speckhaven waiting room, at 'the same abnormal horn, and M«cftey Lyndith standing dark and grim as Sir Vane Charterii •tood now. Once again with the same gesture th" kvated lad^ Ufted h6r tatad and looked her pursuef fu J in the lace. Tlie usuallv florid countenance of the baronet was faded noH to a duU Uvid pallor. There was a look about his mouth ant^ Jyf Monta t>x of Mi. rioui day >nnshin« > >us> tows ason sal uiddeso ^\n thai blesooM^ lo more torment om him. awaj to elunsin| »ligUet , Aor daD, gray^olored life with her sunshinr presence ania fihit aow she was Lord Montalien'f ward, and heiress t f e^tf aousand pounds, and as lost to .aini, abnost, as tnomdi the cooin lid had close«J upqn her. He sat there, unshorn anu unwashed, nether hacdsomr not .^^*'®*""« *o loolt at, but with a sorrow as profound, a despair ^ peat, as the veriest hero of romance could ever feeL He had not been to bed all night. He and Rosanna had . iat side by side in the Uttle kitchen, while the storm clouds sleaied away and the rosy morning broke, not talking, and with i.»e same thoughts uppermost in both minds- Polly was eoina and forever ! / » •"•» WofiUly gray and grim Rosanna looked in this new day's sunshine, but she went about her work without tear ot sigh, hiding her trouble deep in her heart, as few women do. imd roehng it all the more bitterly. And upstairs, widi her flushed cheek resting on one rounded arm, and her sunny curls on the pillow, PoUy slept, while hei new life dawned with the new day. " Who was that came at such an unearthly liour last night ?" she asked at breakfast " 1 heard doors banging and people talking till daybreak, it seems to me. And here you and Duke kK>k as solemn as a pair of white owls this mornina. Rosanna. what IS It all about ? " ^ >«-»««• They put her off with some evasive answer. It was impo& sible to tell her. The blow must come, but it was beyond iheii itrergth to inflict it themselves. Selfish, perhaps— but aie we net a'l selfish in our love and our sorrow ? The morning mail brought Duke a letter— a foreign letter— waJ inclosing a bri-f note addriessed to "Paulina Lisle." Duke laid it aside— that name smote him like a blow— and read his own. No words could be more manly, more gratefiiL nore kindly than those of Robert Lisle, but the decree ftf part- og was irrevdcable. By birth and fortune Paulina was a lady. A* such she had her place to fill in society— in tnat world to irhich Lord .Monuheri, as her gpardian, could present her. It was all qmre rignt, he felt it plainly as any one, but the i>atn waa oone the less acute. He sat there for hours, with that •pen letter in his hand. Rosanna sat idly by the kitchen fiw —and when had Rosanna be--- idle before ? Polly ha.1 gone -Mjnake an early ^all upon iier^end Alice, an d * al kid K > m \m ■ew clothes and her new school prospects— the ticking of tii« Md clock fovftded pretematuraily loud in t>« bl«nk ttilliytn 190 : :i? THE DAWN OF THE NEW L/FE. And «o, i^en at half-past eleven Lord Montalien leadied tht house, an4 knocked at the door^ lie fcind them Roaanna's face betrayed no surprise when she adini/ted hei g2««»«J^ed- ^.suor. Yes she answered. Mr. Duke MaTo.^ Z^l' ^""^ .''*' disengaged, and would see him. Sh« Mhered the peer mto the hu.nble parlor, and Duke got up, ^^ put his letter m his pocket, and went slowly down stairs. "tKo**** 1'''°''' ?*'*'• ^^'' ^**'"'" '"^J* 'o^dship said. quieUf „. IT know the errand upon wnich I have com^ Y« OAve had a letter from California by this morning's post" "I have, my lord" ^ 6 i~» ^ -la^ w^^iibtless painfiil to you to part with your adopted daughter after all those years, but the thing is inevitable In any case, you must have lost her sooner or later. Mr. Lisle is unbounded in his expressions of gratitude and respect for you Have you told her yet— does she know ? " ' " She knows rjothing; my lord !— I cannot tell her \ " Some u^ni; u"''^ •n''^'^ :!'^ *" ^^ ^°^*^« ^^<^ '■ac'^ « he spoke J^A f i '?"' *^«he thought from the first, that she is the child of a dead cousin of my own. You will kindly undeceive hcr-you will tell her the truth. It mil not be a hard task •uch pleasant news ! " He spoke a little bitterly-hi« Ueart was very sore. Lord Montahen looked at hiir kindly. ^kI'^ am quite sure the young lady wUl sincerely regret the Jangeofguardians-Lhe news is pleasant, beyond doubt, bu. Je wiU uot eave her old friends without sincere regret Mr Mason, you know more of this young girl's history than even i •to, for you knew her mother ! " Duke started. The eyes of the two men met- the scene P*'!?l"^«',ftarUed. alarmed; the peer's, keen, sh»,p, intelS ''Don t distress yourself. Mr. M.so., ; I „m . ot Lw t^ ask you any quesiions. I had much raihe-r, indeed i.? hear the nu,ther> name It is a vary painful storylla u hope the wo^^t 13 over. * ^ ; 'tt u;. He spoke with acertain gra>e earnestness that made Duke thmk heat least suspected ihet.uih. He averted his eyes un- /f^Mi"' m"^'^ '" ^'H""' ^'^"^y ^'^^^^^"^ butc'arid not " Miss ^^le ?n°"lTh^' n'^f? "" P^^'""'" "^^^ ^ '^'^-'' MISS Lisle in.? I should like to see her I nresume you have no objection to my telling her at once r ^ course. She wUl be in presently. May I ask how sooM He stopped, ashamed of the choking in his throaU \ f cached tht dmi/ted hei uke Mason him. Shff got up, HLbC ^airs. lid, quiellj )08L" ur adopted iuble. In lir. Lisle is ct for you. I" Some he spoke, she is the undeceive hard task regret the loubt, but [ret, Mr. an even I he scene ntelligert. : about to leed, not y — Itt us ide Duke eyes un- ared not. a smile, presume once, of soon" — rjU tt^tf Qjr y THE NEW LIFE, ■91 •• I shall leave if at txiL^Xj to you and her," his lor damp ao- iwered. " You are aware it cannot be postponed long, but 1 ■hall not hurry her away. She is to gc to school. I propoic sendmg her to tl?e C&n^nt of »he Sacied Heart, in Paris. J' ^ve a prejudice a|ainst fashionable boarding-schools, as a role. Had I a daughter, she should uever enter one ; and 1 believe aiOM nuns of the Sacred Heart to be the best teachers and •OBt a^comphshed ladies under the iun. But, for a few weeks, A ane cnuoses— " , He did fl^ finish the sehtcBce. The house door opened, a quick, lights step crossed theiiiL, a fresh young voice trUled * merry tune, the parlor door opened, and PoUy herself stood re vealed ! Lord Montalien looked at her earnestly. What did he see ? .m ja"' slim figure, two flushed cheeks, two bright blue eyes, and a head " rumung over with curls." She paused short, her »ong dying away in a sort of consternation at sight of so un looked-for a visitor. Duke rose up, and led her forwaixL "My lord," he said, "this is youf ward. Polly, Lord Mon- talien ha^ come here to see you and tell yon some wonderful news. Try and not te apgry with me for kas^ng it from yon so long ; and when you have heard all, read this letter.''- He put her father's note in her passive hand, ihd went out of the room. Polly sank down ih the chair he had vacated. with bnght, large eyes of wonder.^ I^rd MontaUtfl, took her hand m both his, and looked at her with a vmmKaX went straight to her heart. . . 'W#-" „' " You have your father's face, my chUd," he said. * J li^d hmi the moment I saw him first ; and I like you." " My father ! " the girl uftered. " You knew my fiuh^r. mv lord— Duke's cousin ? " ^ ' ' J Not Duke's cousin— no rie of blood or name binds rou to this good young man, who has brought you up. Yom father it ili^e! That letter you hold is from him, and you are PoUv Mison no longer, but Paulina Liste 1 ' She grew ashen pale, and began to tremble. IVhat was this ahewac about to hear? The h^nd Lord Montalien held new cold ;n his grasp. "- ^^ " 8"=»» " No n^ed to tremble— no leed to fear, my child. Mr new« »• wonderful news— the best of news for you. Your lather Uvea a»d hat sent yoo a fortune. You are iheheireit of ciriiS^ t^ucand pounds, and I am, appointed your guaidiau. Mm ranliua I^osle. let me be the first to congouulate jou | " 1 k -iSS,:.., f9> TOE UdWN Oi^ THE IfEW U9E w i t ' back in hex chair. Lord Montalien lUrted She fell fluddenlf ap in alann.' ^i:x'^i'^' '^'' '"^ ""* p*^' °"* *»"« •-"^ -> ijl^"" cu ^"^ '^^ ^ * ''°*<^* *•»** trembled " I shan^ooT ^ H.H.^h!*"*' "P 5'*^f'y^" "^^^^ '1^*^*=' "^ tried to mdle wJd?. ; fi?* '"'"P'"? ** ""*'^ <=°'^ »^»"^ «»» looking tondly in the pale young face. Lord Monialicn told her "aU " mSTRn'S^H^T? ^*=*^; J*^ »'^<1 <^ome over from America mth Robert Hawksley-of the story Robert Hawksley had told lum-K)f the promise that had passed between them -And how Aat promise wa9 to be redeemed-^f the fortune that was hers --of his guardianship-^f her new name-of the new life begin- J fting so brightly. < * She had heard aU. He paused, stiU looking at her, wonder- J>g mwardly what manner of girl this chUd of sixteen wZ. She sat quite still, quite pale, the loud tick-Uck of the kitchen clock almost painfully audible, the sunshine streaming uuSS owed in among Rosanna's roses and geraniums. At Uut dw •poke, to ask a question, looking at the nobleman beside her with big, solemn eyes : " H^Ao turns my mother t" U^ LthrntT"" '' """*^ *"«'' ' "'™' "^ -"« "Does Duke know?" "1 cannot tell; I think it probable. But my dear Miii t48^c. there may be reasons why you should not know." *• »vhat reasonl ? " '<«Ii'^''***"" y"»^"'»''= fo'- me to explain," his .ordship said, tanung away m some embarrassment from the gaze of the m .Tft»* you should know, he will tell you." •• Right! A daughcer should know her mother's name'" fte g.rl repeated slowly.^ "My U^ you have told me about ■V &ther-roy father who left England five months after hif marruge. and never returned for two years. How then caiM l£aTS?" t« Duke M^n-howcame he to know «,yihin, -I^.t'*'*?- «*^ J^**" '<» ^^^^'^ Wason, of course.^ I4W Mopt^Uca f^t rather awkward u he aofwered-lHf klien suited Cunt! ; i hand aad 1 shaD^oor id to snifle ell me all.' till looking her "all." « America ey had told —and how u was here life begin- T, wonder- Lteen was. he kitchen ig unshad- it hut she ^side het ther ne/et lear Miss Iship said, >f the in If ii i> name?" ne about after his len caobe anirthing red- At rwa DAWN ojr raw adw tiWM ig^ UKe bi%ht eyes still solemnly scaaned his face. .After afl telUng this young person her own story, was not so easy a mat ter^s he had thought s J J' My nwther was a lady, you say ;" PoUy-s heart thrilled ajX ■fce said It •• Of high birth and station and wealth, and she gives me away to a poor mechanic, and never comes to see or * T'u "^ *"* *«*'"• '-^'^ Montalien, is my mother ahve^ " The situation was gT(fwing worse and wgrse; Loid MontalieB felt more uncoinforuble than he had ever remembered feelina aa his life. ^ "i iJt*^! !]^"°" *° **'^''*''* **>* ^" ^^ answired slowly. Why did she not leave everything, and go to Amenca with * my father when he came for her ? " " Paulina— I don't know. Yes, t do— I'U tell you the truth, come wha< may. She did not return with him because— he found her the wife of another man." > The girl's very hps blanched at the word* "** "The wife of another manl She thought him dead, "She did." *! S* *** "°* '**'' ^^^ °'** "^ undeceive her ? " » J' >J ^^ **^ England again and returned to America." tV>nt blame your mother, ray child; she thought him dead; she was coerced into the second ffarriaj?uk' ioher eyes, the joyous ring to her yoice. She was rich, rid •eyond her wildest dreamk. She was a young lady of bir* lod fortune. Lord Alontalien ^as^her guardian. AU th- nnons of her life were realized— mere than realized Wai Mks dreaming or awake ? ' ^ "It is like a fairy tal^/' she said; "like a story from the A|»bian Nights. Qh, my lofd, is all this true you have beea teUmg me ? Am I asleep or in a dream ?"•' -^ Lord Montalien git up to go with a smile, holding out hit hand m farewell. ; ^ " Cood-by for the present, Miss Lisle.- I shall call again to morrow ^By that time you will probably have convinced yourself that It is a very pleasant reality. Vou.^and your good incQds here, shall fix the time of your departure. I shall not hurry you, but i shall certainly expect you during your stay in apeckhayen to be a constant visitor at the Priory " " Polly tliought of Allan Fane and Miss Hautton, and flushed all over her fair face. " Or why not make your home altogether at the Priory dur ing the few weeks you remain ? " urged' Lord Montalien " It is your home now and for the future, you know, and 1 need not tell you how charmed we all will be." "And le^ve Duke and Roraniia!" Polly said, looking at .rtheMmt"' "^'^ "^' "»>' »°^<^ Thank you very nfud. "At least you witf come to see us every day ?" . PoUy shook her head. _ "^oi will dine widi us, then,'once before you go. Don't be •HjJwMite, Miss Lisle, and force me mto the rdi^ of tyrannidl . ^oardian so soon." ' *"*"**' " Well — if you insist — but — " , Her reluctance w^ very visible. It was not shyness that he ■«w. It the gu-1 had been bom in a palace her manner could ISI„ ik » "^ ™°''f "l^'P'/' """'^ "^^'^'■^J' "'ore unaff*ct«dh •My. What^wasit? Lord Montalien wondered. ,H^ knowaotne of my people, t think,^' he iaiff ; mPSn^^ < MM yajr tell me they are acquainted with you, and AiUn Fine li Vnti* an intuuate friMHi" T N ze with he ,. u,j1 "* J*^' unacisiUMJC "I !k n V ^*»'r. '°-«»«"ow." he jaid, moving to the doer I shall fetch Onpper (Orin>er's ymuhwyer. n.yXri^j he hjis come down here to draw up thtf n.ieswv dSuLnn •PP<,mrinfr me jruu, ^^,rdian. and To ^^Xr "you t^e ri ^ cnfe^tances und^r whldt you come into V^ fortune Th?. T.'^T''^' """a*^tunconMder,n«y„iTthe?,;t^„^^^ natural Now, .«j/^e;^. g.^xi daf tc you. Kt S' S the^u«. of advising yoa } Of cour-e yii wiliT^ " . Pol y Jaughed. She was dispownl to like tWs nlea«ant h# guardian already; a^^,!, indeedTwa, nHaxd tST rZf w^ien tahke 1 ord Montalie^ .She watchS^biii'^/^JSJ' Atfn she went slowly mtp the house. She op«eS^h« tSi' mother hve», my child," ie wrw* • ". U.4, J^ t j !^?* the wrfe of another ^t^^ ^Xt\Z tl^x^^ ^ \^ - ^^<^ thoughts of her. ^ ^^^^ :!:^^Ti^^:^z^t.''^ Of h " fS.*' '•^""' ^* it in her b«u«, and went in search ^■itTTV^ ^"'"^'l* *^» *«• ^'t<^*«. liking unuttembh rim aiid stern to hide all she felt. " Duke^ fpS^S said curtly to tne gi^l. and tuhied her hackuMn hrf^?U«» ^mdcd the spinster undoubtedly ^ra^^tKifnot^stZ enough to bear the sight o<,J>oily J„^t then. ''**^ ' l^e was^pamtmg jinU uukUilv.^ funously-^waM a M*n .-rf jreat mental disturbance. H. looked- rZft^ hiXrl ••Weil, Dukel'^'^ P«uieM ana Uuie i aJence meant ; ane imaentooii ttiem per .'*« tf« PAWN OP tBM VMW UPA, ^ly, AaJ kscej :haa hetttt in this hoar than erer befeie tt ">#ki> knowc bat I have b«eo a prophet," the •cc»e-paintfcr »iJ, jrtiil trying to speak ^ayly. '• You may be a D Miss Lisl6 I sunpose ward and the is the corre heiress of eighty •.nneis yet: thing to caU Ixird thmisami, Ifiv Montalien's Lisle." "Ehikel" He dropped his bpiiali and held out his hand. ' ••1 wish YOU joy* thichess— upon my soul 1 do. I And I lope you'h tfe as happy in your new life as— as I have tiiet' i; luke you in this. You're going away, my dear — going away to come back no more ; but 1 know vou will not quite foraet Duke and Rosanna." 7 His voice brok« He drrpped her nand and rvalkcd away to the window to hide ihe tears of which his oianhodd \r« ashamed. Two white amis were about his oeca in an instant, two warm lips imp«(luously kissing his averted face. " Duke I Duke 1 dear old Duke I the best, the kindest frient' erer was m this world I Forget you and Rosanna I Why what a horrible little monster you must think me ! And j don't know what you mean Ulking about my going away, nevej to come back I If I were Queen Victoria's ward, and heiresi of fifty hundred million pounds," cried this impetuous youns woman, " 1 should come back Jur.t the same. This is my home —at least uniil my father returns from California to claim me. His right is first, and meat sacred Oh, Duke I to think, Polly Mason should ever have had a father 1 " Duke smUed in spite of himsel£ " It it extraordinary. I should have liked tojhave told jm ages ago, but you see I was bound by promises to both, and dared hot" " Promises to both. That means my mother, I suppose ? " '^ Your mother. Yes, Duchess." "Tell me all about her, Duke. My mother I how strange it •Bonds I What was she like? Was she handsome? Am I nke her? That sounds conceited, I am afraid, but I don'f Bieanfe sa" *« She was—she is beaut'ful, and you are not in the least like ht^ You have your father's face and eyes,'and a rery good fcce and eyes they are. Jifo- eyes w ^e black thanjrou." VU ipak* dreamOf , tfainkin( of ite gratt, dM|MMn| IdM* ■A rmm dawn o^ tmh hew utm. 19^ tjt% liat hkA looked fit him lo Uteljr, MI of womao't uttemMMt woe " Dak content Ix>ve her w oracJi m ^tj^ '* """"^^i"' " ^-^'^ ^^^ f"' the best. bS Ycmr mother g»vc u me on the night I siw her Ar,t ' "^ A^esf fegjjf °P** ""« *°^ ""^ " *»" «'^' "^ ''o")^ • »K». And It u all 1 may ever know of her," Polly sighed " li £iftr» "^ *"^ r^^ ""^"S:*- ' ««^ t° think ft ^uld U iS^i^ I"^' * history _t« be a heroine of romance; and i-^ ^ loMiehow It saddens me more than amnhin. ever did before To think that I shotUd have a liheTwhS dare no* acknowledge me; that some day I may m^?heT Ind J>xj« at her and not know her. To Itnk /sEd have a ^Jl ^ •'*•* '^^ *^^ '^^^^^ *^"™gh no fault of his, and ^^''mT V*^. But I will go t, him, if he doS not SSd.^ SI H J. ' ?"^^' "*"° "J' ^''^ gears' school-life are ended, if he does not return to me I will go to him It will De hke 'Ehrabeth and the Kail*, of Siberia ^ over Cain A^d Xr na»! « ''^ *** *^"^ "^ ^* 'P^t, dashing off pagi^ after page m an mipetuou., ninning hand. There was no eS «i°d^^.2.r '"n "^ '"^"^ *"' -^^^ "^ -*- of erdrati^;^ S?rn^ *i 'P*="»"8 "'I graiiunar ; but when one's heart is d?es a S«TT *"^ ""* *' '^^^""8 person of sixteen, whi does a.htllc broken orfnography or syntax signify? Pollv's ^L.1: ^^"l ^''"'^' °"' *" ^" Krancsro, smiled a good dc^ over this eptstle even with the tears in his eyes. * came'o«rTLr'l ''^" '^'^^'*- ^''"^^ ^»*« »«'""«^' stars came o^t that night, every man, woman, and child in Soeck' ■**»?? •» ^. The heiress herself had rushed hea.'.Icng to see i^^f?~ Lf '''^" picture, which .Vliss Wairen had seen dJJJ^J^n J"'"^ and promised her unlimited jewelry and (irr-goods, when she came into her fortune. AiJrl; "***" ' ''*''*' '^*'"°* y"" "hall come an""- — -J - • • ^^ long, long letters ; and I shall aA Mooi^lien for enough of my fartaac lo bay a locket fo . '\ . II ,J&^ m DAWN OP THR fTEW UFM. ,gg rd.S^'^S.e;^ TTJ '"''':"'• '^ '"*"^ 5^- >^»^ oK Alice » isbng « Hive ^^ ''"'' ''^'^ * '"'^ ^^^ ^« ^^^ of It* Her d/eanis a/^^ rather brokerj that nieht and it »^^^^ L Her the new day would never dawn. She h^f fearid^e^^ Te^Wf'^t !/n "J'^ '^^''"^^^' *"^ ^hVwoui^'wa^/t:^ Pl^hia ! itu r.^"""" again, instead of Miss PauUna JS .-^j! wu • ' ''•^*^ repeated the pretty name over anJ^« JTpolirt TT'/'^^f^'*^ ^"^^^>- Sn? had hated he" n^ tJ^y ^\^?u'^ "^ '^"«^^ ^°' so^e beautiful, stately awS? her tenfold more pleasure than the thought of her nX Xr le«rf '^°"*^''^" came over next day with Mr. Grippen which !Sr ^^'V^" r^"^^^ documents tied with red tae^ read them solenmly aloud to his bewildered little chent I't wa^ wiiS[ht mind ^a'"' r^" '^°">' "^^P^ °- - two^conci i^^ waJd umn "?'"*^,S^^f»^^^ '" Passmg. She was Lord Montalien's ward until she ohould come of ag^ or marrv If I «rH m ? hen d.ed before either of U,ose e'veni^^po," of a^SS • new guardian was vested in him. AnH in .h. i, '^'^?[* This was the proviso which his lordship had mentioned on S £.r?7 tr ^ """^•'>^- ^^ '^ easy en^ghb^elSS hlr fr .'^'''^ *.°^ ^'''''^^ ^° underaund it-li was To S?ve her from her mother's fate How litti. k-^ T- .5 w Jd'^'wirfcalL^'^ ?" ^"T ^^^ "P°» Lo^d Montaliek'. Mf ,^fnci:tht:^^°o"urL^^^^^^^^^ r*-^ ;;dmijed and liked ve^^^uch, a^d st\t e^'cU'r ^ repelled her with his coarse mouth and fulsome cXhSk^ St.SlTJS'l;^'' '^'? "* her with such SS^, x ^'TmL n5f'^, Chartens could not have the happKSnT ■M Sf «lfi^i:i r I *^»""'"« acquaintance. Lady Charterii •M lU, confinorl to her room-a nervou., hysterical atuSTbS ' ^^!a^^^&»%vf„.- ^lia^^iM^ l .:-,?:, :.y m DA¥rN OP THR tfRW UPM. woaM probablf be able to trayel on the momnr, ivfaen Iw pto^ poMd returning tojown to consult an eminent phjnidan oa S^ii?^**^ o^ her health. Miss Lisle listened very coldly, ibe disliked both him and his daughter, and was relieved when they went away. Miss Hautton also called with her kinsman, Lorrf Montalien, elegant of costume, indisputably high-bred tmi patncian, but looking more elderly and fad^d than ever by con trut with that fresh, bright face. Mr. Allan Fane^J fuH caD —he was eating his very heart out with rage and baffled love. Retribution had come verv swiftly to the tailor's ambitious son. Lord Montalien's ward, obeying the behests of her guard un, spent one evening at the Priory. Only one— Duke and Rosanna must have all the rest. She went dressed in white t^latan (white was tne proper thing for a heroine), with a blue nbbon m her ambei curls, and a blue belt around her slim waist And she looked lovely ! The white arms and neck ghminered through the flimsy larlaun, and there was a flush on her cheeks and a light in her eyes. She entered those stately rooms a guest, an equal, she who had been Polly Mason last week ; and she sat at Lord MonUlien's right hand at dinnei and was the little queen of the feast. The dishes at that din- ner were of '• such stuff as dreams are made of." She had things put on her plate, and she ate them, and wondered in- wardly all the while what on earth they could be. She drank some sparkling Moselle, and she had a slice of pine-apple, and did not make one single mistake. She was not awkward, she was in no way embarrassed, neither was she in the least *"<». ward. Altogether she was charming, and Ix)rd Montalien -as secretly fascinated by his little ward. " How true and clear she rings!" he thought ; "if she had been bred a countess her manners could not be more simple and perfect What a charming little rose-bud she is, and how gloriously destined to bloom in the future I " AUan Fane sat opposite "Miss Lisle" at dinner, widi tli« aided eyes of his high-bom betrothed fixed idly apon him. He was pale and cold, he sat silent at the banquet, with dw ubled vulture of Prometheus gnawing at his vitals I Thit beautiful little heiress might have been his, in thiis hour, «iid he had given her up, and bound himself to a woman he did not ^M^ never could love. "It migh t have tx;en.' ^ He h»L^ "Wiodpr Hi IS^perj with his own hand. If Polly thirsted lot vengeance on this recreant lover of hers, she had it But iIm od ncM.: ihe had met him iri|h a w^ile of yetUct fiiovolni^i *V-,.i, :.- •<,4iU4i».*^ -* . i-^' TMM 04WN OP tiMW U9S, aoi good hnnior and forgiveness. He was so utterljr indifferrct to her row, that £he tuid no room in her heart for him even to wian him unhappy. He might many Miss Hautton to-morrow, and she would gt tc hi' wedding with pleasure. He knew it too ; no wouian'i ores ever looked so frankly into the eyes of a man for whom ine cared one straw. In the drawing-room after dinner, with solne little urging, PoUy sang. She did not mind singing at all, but she on^ fflay'ed accompaniments of her own ; she did not understand tha |Mano. "* What does that matter. Miss Lisle," said Guy Eaiiscourt , "who cares for the accompaniment / know you cski sing— I've heard you." Polly laughed, and blushed at the remem brance. " That song has haunted me ever since, I assure you Sing it asain. Miss Lisle, and exercise it." \ He led her to the piano, and she obeyed. Her sw^t, cleai voice filled the rooms. With proper training that voice alone ■light have made her fortune. She sang again ** County Guy." "AbCoantyGinrt di« hoar b alch, Tbe nia baa left the lea. The ormnc* Sowei pcHunw* th* buw, 'Dm breoe i* oothe wok. The Urk whow lay Lai tnllcd aO day Siti hukhcil. hispartBer Qvk^ Bteeaa, btrd, aod Samm ocafeM ^ hont, Bui when is County Guy t" He was beside her, bending over her, Kis dark, dreamy, Italian eyes fixed on her face. VVIiat did Guy Earlscourt tliiidc of her ? In days to come did that sweet, youthful face haunt his dreams ? In the girl's memory that- night lived forevei, the first of her new existence, and there were hours when Guy Earlscourfs dark face rose up before her, like the face of a reproachful ghost She never forgot it^ nor him, as he stoo^^ tibere beside her, the dark beauty of his southern fiaice, and hit' jet-black hair, such k marked contrast to her own. llowliand ■ome he had looked ! How happy she had been f She had le&son to remember it — bitterly in the years to come. Allan Fane, hovering afar off, took his punishment in sullea nlence. He had lost her himself, but that was no reason whj be should not be sav age'y jca Ious of every other man on whom Ae smiled, tiuy had Ijeen "Ks waiwMt fri*»nd— fie^ felt as lojraUy toward him as it was in hit shifting, selfikh nature to bt k^al to any one, but he could haw murdered him t»iif|^ ,i-V *i^(* ng, endleM jwaii.^ Two years! Those faithfuhheans knew ^betiwlSiir^ ttat : MM fw two year*, but for aU tirae-4Mever. When thay X' # T^ LAST DAY, '^ MS had Mid good-by, they had said it ;, their lives lav apart H wras Duke himself who hurried on the preparations' for depart- ore. Had he so willed it, the girl might have remained with them until September, when the Convent of the Sacred Heart opened Us school But it was ineviublc. and the soonet it «ai all over the better. A sort of dull resignation might come when she was jrone— If any calm, a calm despair." To see her no^, knowing it ^ns the last tune, was simply intolerable. Lord Montalicn had made a pioposal of taking the young lady for a midsum- mer holiday sr ami>er through southern France, the TyroL and up the Rhine ; and Polly's eyes had flashed their electric, joy- ous light for an instant, and then grewX^T grave and tender. Thank you— no, my lord," she said ; "I had rather not go ; 1 want to stay with— with them to the last" But Duke had decided differently. \ " You shall go, Duchess ; never minkabout us ; we are ffoina to lose you, and what does a week or two earlier matter? You shall go to southern France as soon as ever Rosanna has aU your things ready." Her things were all ready now, and the day ^as fixed for departure. It was a wonderful fit-out in this young lady's eyes -silks and muslms of all hues and the finest textures, and linen, like drifted snow, trimmed with re^l Irish lace. Nothin* hke It had ever dazzled the eyes of the late Miss Mason's mends. That seven hundred pounds, so long laid «,way in the bank, was drawn forth to furnish this wardrobe. For himself and sister, Mr. Mason positively refused a farthing. His pale face flushed— his mild eyes quite flashed as Lord Moutalien. ever so delicately ftiade the offer. " All the gold in the Bank of England could not repay me for the loss ^ Polly," he said. Unless you want to insult me, my lord, you will never Ulude to th«s again." For once Duke was dignified. Lord MontaUen wrung his hand, and looked at him admiringly. ^ "You are a fine fellow," he answered simply, "and have fal. Iiired your trust to Robert Lisle right loyally." For Polly, she would have liked to fiU the little house with tonptuoiu adomings, and load^down hei^two friends with c osU ? imsr^^liey-refiised everyihtng, andtf was only w^n, hurt anf wounded, the girl was turning away, that Duke cocsented to fepiace his big sdver watch widi a gold patent lever, and Ro- ■^"^ ber nia^r brown with a new bbck iflk, stiff enough i^ € M4 DAY. ■X •*it8 gUsteninf richness to stiand alo^e. Miss Alice Warree fot a locket and chain, and numbers^pf pretty ornaments besidCi She woald have Hked to have sent gold wjitches and silk dresses to every one in S|>eckhaven — the chanty children in- cluded, ahe had even made friends vHth her old foe, mik whom she had waged vendetta so long. She had met EUzt Long oh the street, and that young woman had turned a«r%) with sullen eyes and .bitterest envy. There had been a mo unenf s struggle in Polly's breast — then that generous nature corquered, and she went up to her with extended hand and pleading eyes. ♦•1 am going away, Eliza," she said ; "don't let us part bad .friends. I dare say I have been most in ^ult all through, but I am sorry. Do shake hands I " Brave word^ to comei from so proud a spirit I They had melted Eliza, and a reconciliation took place there and then. And that night, when the handsoniest brooch and ear-rings money could buy in the town reached Miss Long, she fairly gave way and sobbed over them, struck with surprise and con- trition. - She was at peace with the world and all therein — happy Polly — and no shadow of the darkness to come marrod to-day's brightness. *' The visitors at the Priory were nearly all gone. ' Sir Vane Charteris, his ^e and daughter, had left the day before the one on which the heiress dined here. My- lady, closely veiled, and tottering as she Once, as Lord ing his hand in walked, came forth leanmg o^ her maid's arm. Montalien said farewell, she had paiised, catcb- both her own, and clinging to it as though ha last hope were I there. But Sir Vane had come forth, and sIm had dropped iti and fallen back in a comer of the travelUng t^riaf^e, with her black veil over her face, and so the peer saw her for the last time on earth. MiikS Hautton had gone to Scotland two days after, to join life Duchess ojf Clanronald ; Mr. Fane was to meet them in l/>ndon, and ^cc^ipany them to the Italian I^kes ; I^rd Montalien, wii(|n ml ward was safely deposited in her convsnt •chool, was to i start^ for Syria ; Francis Earlscourt was guing bock to Oxford to read for his degree ; and Guy wa^ .o rejoin his regiment at |Cnighf s Bridge. So the actors it. this Uie- drama w ere situfted this twenty-first of July, hxedior PoUjii^ departure. Widely enough separated, it would seem, tut like Ac cards in the same pack — sure ta come together again 9 ttM mliveHMl ilMiffle. n' •-J^ .^li^.'vM&s.^.t n» LAST D Alt. ^ The* were to tta.v by the noon-day mail, in time to catch Ibe tkiBl train dut ewning for Folkestone. She htii bicklen >ood-by to all her old friends in the totm, to her garden, to her pets, to her viofin, to her little attic room. XahA ^(nntar lien's carriage awaited her outside the garden gate. My lorle wiped »w^ her tears, and wondered if Guy Earlscourt would also be It die station to say farewell He 'was not there. She felt a paag of disappointment as sh* »w h rancis alone. " I liked htm best, and he might have coir.e," she thought, M my lord handed her into the coupi reserved for themselves. It wanted but two minutes of starting-time— he would not come. "Good-by, Miss Lisle; I wish you a pUasant jounftry," trancis had said, shakmg hands and stepping back. And then, at that instant, a tall, black" horse came thundering in a cloud of dust down the road, bearing a breathless rider. The black horse was Thunder, and the nder Guy Eariscourt, late because tie had stopped to fill a dainty little moss lined basket with arest flowers and fruit. He leaped off his horse, and gave the tesket to the guard- for Miss Lisle. The young lady's heart bounded as she saw him ; flushed, giowing, handsome. "Rather a close finish," he said laughing, and holding oct his hand. " I should never have forgiven myself had 1 been loo laie. Good-by, Mi.ss Lisle ; don't quite forget your Speck- teven friends in your Parisian convent, and don't, 1 conjure you, take the black veil. We cannot afford to lose you." She had barely time to touch the. hand he reacJied her throud) die window, when the whistle shrieked and the train start^ She sprang up for a last look ; it fell upon him standing there, hat in hand, the July sunshine on his handsome head. And 30 the last Cice the girl took out of her ad liie. with the smik dponn tliat lit it into'such rare bcantr, wm the dark i t«»«« iKC of Guy EMlscoort ^ / \ PART TlllRD. r K CHAPTER I. \ , \ V, \^. AFTER "T\^0 years. IHE glory of a golden September day lay over the earth. It wastht middle of the month. Down at Montalien Priory, for the past two weeks, the sportsmen had crashed through the stubble, and turnip- fields, and the sharp ring of their fowling-pieces efchoed all day lopg through tWe golden richness. Very fair, very stately, looked thKgrarrd ivied old mansion, with its wealth of glowing dog roses and shining ivy, its waving oaks and cedars, its yellow harvest-fields, its |)looming gardens, all gilt with^the glory of the cloudless September sun. '1 here were a half dozfn men, all told ; Lortl Montalien and his brother Guy. Allan Fane, the artist, and husbatad of the rich Diana Hauttoii, a Mr. Stedman, a Sir Harry Gordon, and Captain Cecil Villiers, of the G^iards. AH good men and true, and not a single woman in the house to mar their sport, all day among the partridges^ noir the per- fect dinner Mrs. Hamper got up for their delectation in the evening. It>as LiDcriy Hall, lord and guest did precisely as they pleased, and enjoyed themselves admii-ably:^ ^^ There are^imes when women gre Ti e sir able. na v i 4Bevita- ble," Guy Earlscourt said, in his lazy voice. " They embellish ft [307] ■nmsi-rifm*. ^•^^- foe 1' " black^yed houns, or bluf^yed balW-girk" ^'^^ r 3^. ^ ^^oTAc h ouse of Montdien h.d b«« eofetfS gW^^ ^■"tJ^Sg^*"--^ mother of th present lord bi|^ -ti « ■^'^ \ - Nv* tl'»5*/#/f ■1^ ^ 'i i^rak TWO VMAks. W' ,;^' lole extasptiofv The first wife of Nngenl, late Baron Montatteo, had be^n'hard of feature and sour cK temper, •• her picture still could show you ; and on this point, Francis, twel^ BarQ»^ Montalirn, was especially sensitive. For Francis Eariscourt was Lord Montalien now. die late <« lord having twelve months hfcfore passed to a better, and (witf ill due lespect for the British nobility), let us hope, even li^her sphere, where bor*dom is unknown. And his elder bob reuneU in hfs stead — that elder son whom, like his mother, Iw Wi never loved. llic men dispersed in the South Coppice, and soon tfirough the sultiy noontide the sharp ringing of the guns qleft the hot, • still air. Lord Montalien aJone was missing as the afternoon sun sank low in the summer sky, and a fuct, sweet evening breeze zxfjit and stirred the leaves. " Fr^mk. bags other game than partridges," Gujr said with a shrug. " iie'a deuced close about it ; but I knbw he's after that little^ girl like a ferret after a^ rabbit,, or a tenrier after a raL" " Not a very poetical comparison," lau|^<^ Mr. Stedmaa ^ " I should compare the lovely Alice to anything bat a rat-^^ See I yonder he comes. His wooing, if he haa been wooiniL has not sped smoothly. Behold I the thunder-cloud on Jovei god like brow I " Wf pointed away to a fir plantation a quarter of a inilti distant, where a solitary figure emerged, carrying a gun. It was l.ord Montalien, his straw hat pulled over hia eyea» and a moody expression on his bet. , *' ( hope it has not sped smoodily," Guy said, regardmg his only brother with no very brotherly glance. " She's a nice utUe tiimg, and 1 shouldrt't like to see ner come to grie£ Monti had better take care. She's engaged to a fellow in the town, % dusty mUler, w)u) would shoot him as &s| at I this covejr ' Jere." His Ibwling-pieceltog out, and two birds came tnmblini lown. ^ " Yoo diink, then—" Stedman befran. ** Bah I " interrupted Gny. ** I kmno. And yon tnow, my good fellow, so don't try it oh with me. "Frank's Jnst the sort i of man not to lose his head after women, and to go straif^t to ' Ao i1iclr*nii Mfn he does. If t no affair of yoora or ntfac^ : ]iowevef ; we nnther of us ^re prepared to set i^ tf CCnaOV^ ted Miitreap Alice mwt look oat for lienelf;" "^ 1 .<„ p-^^ ,"j,h ,.,.,. A A>-- '-M* . ,210 APtA^ TWO YBARS, Re ptaimsd Into the .o|>pice an,-! diiappeared StedinM tooked after him inth a pt culiar smiJft. »'»'^"*- ««h»iw " If Mifffl Warren is cai.*SIe of lookiti* out for heraeif it it dearly enough, bin you ar. Uuul as a mole whelT you iw ^ thoughtftil brow a retxeaimg cSn. a thin mouth, «J riKifhng, hazel eyes. He was I^-rd Montalien's Especial fhJ^ .?erb:th ?h *1!."'L^ '" ^•^ ^"P- ""^^^'^ nittir^o? the two 11^^ , •" truth .nay as well come out^thoroughly cold '^^^ »P^ urpnncmled at heart and Outwardly m Jcls of *^ domestic an' '**"'"'*' ''"'^*^-' pale brown hair hia «ht eyes, his Haxen wh.skars and mustachi, his pale co^ Hex on. we, e all of the same ne«:ral tints. H e was a HuS 7b ^11 over, people said, not one look of tiie bnlhant swa.th^ KAilsaMuts. uie han"'^' noUa'e told .J.nl \ 'T^''''^ nature. n,^.le no conf.dants. He could ^^t youn^j man, an e.e.npiary yo..ng man. wh<. ...the^ T,'i - a luu. c(o,. wnn h.9 .non^v irt the everydiy cor rerns of he u«» pa.ei v...nfe ^uiirdsman, h.s l>rothfr. Of »|| n-en Atueusmi I'j 1. It> wr rat ~9Wt« ^tt'-^WI •meied the tibraiy bj^ *„ o^^sn x«„:uch window A no<>te mmi -,6jA;y*^^^^§«f^'.- AFTRf TWO YRAMS. air Its itmr v»tT« HrHod w^th bookR, atatnes, and bronzes, e v er f wheir writing rabies a&d easy chairs strrwn around, pleasant recesses for reading, and the fncUow, aftrrnoon sunshine flooding alL There were three pirvures in this library — three pictures hang- ing tc^f Ihei over the tall, carved rnanteL They were three portraits —the late I .ord Montalien, his second wife, and yotmsei »>}c. Vrnetia, I^dy Mootalien, a portionless Italian girl, wilb 1 face of perfect beauty, such as one does not see twice in a tifetine, and harny eighteen when her son' was bom. That •oil's portrait hung by hers — the same dark, brilliant fiu;e, the same lustrous eyes of southern darkness, the sameTproudly hke to them as though they had been sensate filings. •• Ay," h** «aid, " yoy have had your day — it is «y time now I There you hang- — the father who could barely conceal his dis- like — the woman who supplanted my dead mother — the boy who would have supplanted rne had it l)een in his father's (tower. You left your ypunger and (avoritfe son, your Etenjamin, every penny you could leave away from the entail ; now is the time for rue to show my gratitude. In your lifetime h? was always hrst — his beauty, his brilliant gifts drew all to his side, while Jt was passed over, v' V^at a pity (luy is not the heir I ' my father's frier Is used to say. ^ ' Poor Frank is so dull — so like his mother! ' Vou thought so too, my lord — \K>oi Frank went to the wall in jour reign. VNTien the heir, of Montalien came of age, who tnew or carevl ? When (»uy came of age, bells rang, bonfires : lazed, and the tenantry were feasted. Even those boors said ' Wliat a pity Master Guy isn't the heir.' Ah ! well, we'll change ill that ; I am Ix^rd Montalien now, and Guy Rarlscourt if wheA. I have led him, on the high-road to ruin — ^nay, a ruined man and a pa»)|»er to-day. 'Semper Fidelis' is the motto of our house ; and ' Always Fnithftii' to my revenge, he shall pay -a>el>ack.|t*r every sneeiv every stight, every ^Klvantage overi to the utterm'ist farthing." It was the secret of his life. Franda Eailioouit hatad e^ taottMsr, i .»^%jSij!Cii»Jr^t>.(4i.ts 913 AfTER two YEAXS. Once, It was very long a«o. some one. an old Wend of hk lather's, had remarked to (iuy how like he was to hia second ^^'^.^fe'* ''^'**=°"'^ "Yes." the lad answered, with the mefiable ^hn that always belonged to him, " 1 believe Clara U very handsome. The Earlscoiirts have always been a good looking race, thank God I l-rank is the only exception on rec •Md, and as he inherits his yellow skin and lantein-jaws fiom he distaff side, poor fellow, I suppose he i& more to be pitied dian blam^" Frank was not fifteen at the tune, bnt from d\e hour m which he heard that flippant speech of his precocious youngw brother, his hatred, dormant before, took shaj^e, jfod grew with his growth, all the stronger, all the bitterei, a.yiWk deadlier, for being so closely hidden. It was the old S|bry pi Cain's crime over again— he hated his brilliant, careless, i^nd some younger brother, and there was no evil that could have befallen him that would hot have rejoiced his fratncidal heart He turned away from the thret? pictures at last— the smiling faces of Guy and the dead Lady Veneti^ seeming to mock hun nam the canvas. " The day is near when I shall have the pleasure of putting you all three in the fire," he thought " The day is near, mr Lord Montalien, when your beloved one shall drag out the re- mainder of his brilliant existence within the walls of the fleet Prison, or become an exile for life from his native land." He turned his back u|X)n them, brightened as they were by the long red lances of the September sunset, and began pac- ing up and down the long apartment Ruby and orange and purple, the sunlight streamed through the painted windows of the stately room, bringing out in lund fir«^ the crest of his noble house, the mailed hand, and the loyal nnoitto, " Skmpbr Fidbus." ^ He paced up and down, up and down, while the sun dropped lower and lower, and not all the glory in the heavens could bnghten the dark moodiness bf his irate fzcc "Curse her obstinacy," he muttered, sullenly. "With her fair, drooping head, her fawn-like eyes, her timid blushes, and lattering repUes, she has the devil's own will I She tfvw'/>%'.-' would be strong in his indignation here. Sir Harry Goidoc uid Cecil Villiers were officers and gentlemen, to whom he arould no more have breatheaU« -of poyto nmg hiy o w n moth erif te contd faenefirhinMelf fay tfaff=^^ old lady's demise and not bt found out Yes," he said, n» oonadously loud, "Stedmao will do it" Aiti^^^ ^Skf^^U^At. kj^1< !^' .Li iKae,te 1 ^*>/i SI4 dPTEM TWO VMAMS, HIU he, my friend?-' said a cool voice, and a tall firm darkeued the sunlight, as Mr. Augustus Ste Juno^ by *n the goddesses ol Ol^inpus, by the honor of many Stedma/va, by my frther'i beard, never to reveal to mortal man the sec/-t about to bt, divulged. Manshallah I Upon my eyes be it 1 " ^ " " Stop that rot J " cried Lord Montalien, impatiently * '• bt »Tous for once in your life, if you can. Can «ou fiira«, Stedman, what the business is in which I want yoOr help f" ^ " Something aboat our blue-eyed Hebe, the blushing dnm =4^, ^moseearthiy name ii Afice Warren.**" ^ rr:"^. — _ — ,^ ** Jb»cAff Ga»~i'ni hopelessly done for ia th«l (|iMf|«4 ' "I _-;^ V^.**;^ '■^^■. 'A-r' r-Hi^KK'?^' ri "b« ^/•rff^ rrrc? y£^^5. 31$ " Knew it ages ago, my friend. Not an hour since I was •^marking to Guy that it was as clear a case of spoons as ever I saw in my life, Watched you coming up from the planta- ■ lion, and knew your little game in a twinkling. Oh, niy. pro- phetic soul ! Of course, it is all right, and it.is * Two sools witn but a. single thought, two hearts that beat as ere.* Hey ?" "Everything is not all right," answered his lordship testily ; " if it were, should I come to you for help V* " Probably not 1 confess 1 don't very clearly see v\j psu h) this domestic drama. Is the Uttle Alice insensible tQ yocL manifold attractions, and do you want your faithful Stedn-.An to go plead your cause with his honeyed words ? I saw \in Elush Celestially last Sunday as you walked up the, aisle, ro^ thought your passion was reciprocated." " You don't understand, my good fellow. That is all rigKf ^ough. The girl loves me with all her heart, but she is fea** Ailly and wonderfully obdurate on the point of marriage. Shf is quite ready to resign me, and break her heart in die most approved fashion, and go off genteelly in a decline, but — " . " Sh^ insists on the nuptial knot," interrupted Mr. Stedman, " whicii, of course, is smiply preposterous ; and so there's lothing for it but to break both your hearts, and part A case of Lord Lovel and Lady Nan — cee over again. Or is tbere lomcthing else on the cards ? " " Yes," said Lord Montalien. And then, still pacbg up and down, he laid bare his dark scheme. Augustus Stedman listeiied, smoking-with an innniovable face. "Yesj" he said slowly, at last, "I see. The thing can b< ^one, I suppose, hut it seems radier risky. And my part, deai boy ? Am I to play the parson, and ie 'he knot ? Unfortu- nately, la petite knows u\y interesting ph;; siogrLOmy almost ti fjell as she does your own." " Of course not ; but you may know some one who uill plaj parson. You have a very extensive and not too select circle of acquaintances in London. Think, and see if there is not One among them who will do the business ; and believe me, 1 itiail not speedily forget yoiu* service." There Aioi from the eyes of Stedijrian, as Lord Motitalien mok^ the last words, a gleam not ^ood to see ; over his thin hm dksre dawned a laint, chill smile, that never came there I t- .-— : The acqoaistvice of dioie twb congenial spirits had ooom ^bonX latber cunoa4y. Years b«fore, a certain dailiin|; yo«9f ^^i. 1(6 APTBk TWO YtAkS. S" TZr^^J^"^^^ Augustus Stcdnan in her ro.e bold, handsome face to recommend her-coarse, heartless. wS when the Honorable Fra» cis Earlscourt ap,>eared upon Uw •rene, with ^the longer pu.se of the two/'lt is anT,"s<3^ !S*SI./'L*'*f"lrr?'^'*^^*^*°^*^'**<^- Stedman retirJd^ \ !r\^^rr''K''^"^*^''r^*^^'Jy^*»^»- FromthachSi \ riLr?^^ ^"^ u^°'!" '"*'"<* *"** associate of Francis Earls- \ COOrt. foipiang hun handsomely for his somewhat treacherous \ ^duct m the httle matter, and. with the patience o?^S \ chief; bidmg his tune to wij>e out the score. \ iZ^ yf*'' H passed, and the time had come I Wh !^^ '" ^' f^y^^y^ the pale smile on his cynica £^e ^w«T^ r""*"? ^l •"' *=«'"i«»"«°"- - He had tum^ hi. ^ZWi:""" ^"^^^ *' '^u*™*^' "«»>^ »" *« "Oft west, era sky— at the green b^uty of the sloping glades. For fiv« "^^ We'u'fl'^h! SS'^L*^" his.lordshi'p.?paT„Tc gave ^y Mnmllr" *'*'*"' *^^^"^ ^"'* ^ impatitnt. mv Lord Momalien ; a ,nan can^ieview some six or JTven hundreds ?Zw"rr "*' '" * '"^"**- ^'" '^'^^p y°" ^-^ *i» nj;s« ^^ ' know the very man you want" "Voudo?" , point ^ receivmg or icrs more than once, but the nintr tL been always postpon^. H,^ is the slave of the brandy b<.tS? . *nd ready to do anytlung short of murder-a highwavVobD^S T- J^V^l""^ "°^*- '* « "'y be'it^ he will nev-r be w- dained ; but he w.ll marry you. He lives with hi, u^de 2.e mcunibent of the Church of St Ethelfrida. in Z^ SJjj nothing will be easier than for him to adrS" ySu, aid Srf^ the mock Ceremony in ihe chuich after nightiklL" "In the church?" * to 'kin * r **"?'*^ . T"" ""^^^'^ » down in Essex, as I happen fcL^-iT' 't' * [°«"»8:hf s iioliday ; the nephew can obt.2^ rt! fceys when he pleases. Hkw soon do you want it done ? " M Jjn»«^tely -day afker to-morrow, if possible." AJi I ' Stcdman said, with a cdvm sneer ; " the provcitiia] ??M?^" n^t:7:uLi^"^^^^ ^ "^^ ''^^ ^'?^ =:*w«^ were-stniost equaity^ wr gone. ' • . — -:g.T3 — - "Stedman I I bought you had forgotten that I WM only a Ud of onr «nd twenty thMt" her rj«e g bat ha ^esB, and smed near, upon the ■n e])iso^ etired baf- that hout iCis Earls- cachervua an Indian lis cynica umed hia soft west- For five {ave way n't you? tny Lord ndred ac- ter- anif on the lui y botti^ robbery r be or- acle, the ity, ud pcrfonn htppeii cmin kh«, ?" Kveriiial A^rMg rWO YSAMS. «lf "Old enooi^ to be my successful rival,'' lailghe«< Stedooan. * Dviy after to-morrow will be rather sharp work, but, if the iadv be willing, I don't say that it is impossible." "The lady will be willing. I shall see her this very evening and arrange alL How do you propose to manage ? " " Thus : I shall go up to town by die first tram to-morrow, aU on the pnan we want, bribe him, procure a si)ecial Ucense (to satisfy herself), and have the job done next day. MiM Hi^arren might go up by to-morrow* r rmening train, and remaifi quietly at some decent lodging, until the wedding-hour. \ onx own movement^ you must settle yourself. Shall yonaccoro pany her from here ? " "No," replied Lord Montalien. "The whole matter muit be kept dark, and my name in no way mixed up in it I .shall appeal to have nothing to do with he. or her flight She mu8,t^ go alone. I shall follow on the next day. You see I have a" character to keep up," with a short laugh. " I have a lady k^ view, whom I mean eventuallv to make Lady Montalien. Be^ ing vcixxsA up in such an affaL. »- ^his might be a serious drapW back." ' "i " Veiy true. Would it be iM-esomptuous on my part, to ask the name of the fortunate lady you intend to honor so highly?' "She is Paulina Lisle, my late father's ward, with eight]! diousand pounds down upon her wedding-day. Sir Vane Char- teris is her present guardian, and she is still in Franc^^ bul coming over shortly. I remember her, a handsome, spirited — girl of sixteen ; and nade up my mind, two years ago, to luarry her as soon as she left school" " Happy Miss Lisle 1 I think I have heard of her. But yoa \Jiov!i imagine you are going to have everything your own way ^ere. Handsome young ladies, with eu^ty thousand doi^n on their wedding day, generally find more than one adniiier." **I mean to marry her," Lord Montalien said, shoitiy »*We won't discuss that question. I^t nie see. Guy speadu ^ going up to town to-morrow evening — why i^ould not Alice tnvel with hin ? " , *' An i he be set down as the c^^npanion of hrc fligiit 1 Not ' Ittlf a bad idea. Well, my lord, suppose now you go, and talk the matter over to Miss Warren, as everjrthing depends on ha consent ; and upon yOur return, I will pack my pcvtmantean, and rua «p by ther eairbest traiiiT^ Loid Montalien leued hit hat and gratped Mr, StodioM^i hand with a oor^slitjr very unwonted with him. 9I8 AFTEX TWO YEARS. -h^l'^rtfo^etthiV^"'*^''"^^' Wk^- Vm»b^ poor^ant S^o"* "^: "1* <»"lut Ju . or by foul, he must win Alice Warren 1 "^- "i' «^ '»'5''W du"'c^r eve" nt'Lt-tSi'' ■?? ""^ t? DoVumeaiTiir **'""^"'' »<> I he« ,«, «" « L*fno'L2; «rr,'ss?,„ r^ "<«• -^ *«"- '■^■^m: AtTRM TWO VEAMS. the opui vai k Aud tften in Mft caressing tones he told her what si Jo. To steal quietly from home, and take the 8.50 train tor London, to go to a quiet hotel, whose address he would send her, and wail there for him until the following dav. And ai hour after his arrival they would drive together to some ob ■cure church, and be married- Would she consent ? Conser t ! She clasped her habds doaer around his arm, h^i ttir fece rosy with joy. ' " Frank ! to be your wife, I would '^«k, would do anything Only tome day soon, soon after our b^suiiage, you will let me write, and tell father and mother. I cant bear that they " "Of course noL After our marriage you shall teU them everything. Don't fail ; and, by the wa^, if you should meei my brother at the sution, yon can travel ander his protection. Not a syllable to him, of course, for the present, at Least If you love me as you say, Alice, you wC': be content to wait a uttle before I present you to the world as Lady Montalien." If she loved him I the innocent eyes looking up to him were (nU of deathless devotion. They smote him— heartless, selhsh as he was— they sra'>te him, the loving, faithful eyes of the girl he was betraying. A great bell clanged out over the woods, the dressing-bell at the Priory. He stooped hastily and kissed her. " Good-by, nn' Alice — for the last time. . On the day after to-morrow we Will meet in London to part no more." It was done ! He hurried away through the fir woods, and along to the Priory, triumphant. He had won f he alway» won — the prize he had wooed so long was his at last ! Augustus Stednian still sat where he had left him, The hm«« te feeble candle. She bleW it out, and sat JowS by the open mudow, to look at the ^eatj white. ,ui2mer stars, a^ fhinC »^Ki T* ?°T K^«** *>« '^a». how good, how gfneroui, how yS?w„°rL^ff'°T' ,*Vf ,ih«^^l* >^ing.amfln|*ill the kilTg* Jf the world, half so kmgly. half so brave I ShpiSved him. aiu) Ae w*s to be his wife-aii was said in that " KWs not for hit nmk she caxed-his rank only frightened her-jTloved Francis E^lscourt, and was going to be his wife. .^ She sat there m a trance of bliss untU past Midnight The IZttl ^ fr'i^u ^^ ^ ^^'"^ >**= '^^ »^ ^^ fi^™ home. ^sl!^o?fer Joy ''"^' *"^ "°''" with a sharp pang, in the They would Iknow the* glad truth soon, of course ; but mean tome they would suffer, they would miss her. If she only dared mite to Oiem-but no-ri»e dj^ not. she would Jayioo "I wiU write to PoUy,- she thofight ,- " / must teU PoUy I " She arose softly re-Ut her candle, and sat down to write. lUe few words she had to say were soon written : " Mt own DAauNG-I most speak one Word to yoa be^ra I «,-^ -the b«t, the noble* of «.. o. «rth. Some dTy ToTwZllKoIrS i:S*^.'^ct^5"J*"*'~^ **» ^^^ to "MUe. Paulini ^V anH t- ^*'*!? **?' "*?^ ••*' ***•' *« '°*^ket from bet ^.fr u**f ** 5^* pictured face. " Darling UtUe PoUy." she J«d,^ "to thmk that when next we meet. AUce wiU be a hS, tije bright btoad day was shimng gloriously in before the happy •f^ TO sealed by sleep. The new d«y-th« Usginmni^i ,/ V, ^ i#i^;-f;^:p^' - i^„ -r '"vs<^.sM^ ^E«5.t, r«*. V^ 'V v/. ..\ . *.f "V. «l n^^. KOAD t6 MUiM. CHAPTER 11. THB ROA0 TO KUIM. ^jKRI^V on the following morning Mr. Auntxtui Ste4 man '*took a run up to town." And late in the even ing, Mr. Guy Earlscourt was driven down 'from the Pnuiy to catch the last express. The gray of the winimer evening was fast deepehmg to darkness as Mr. Qojr Earlscourt jumi)ed out, and ran to the office for his ticket Ii» V two mi.nutes the train would start— one of these minutes he ^nt at the ticket-office, the other m lighting a cigar and \o6kf ing about him. Half a dozen loungei;s were scattered abiondrn, and — and I am frightened to go alone, \light I — would vou— " " Now then, sir," cried the guard, holdmg open the door ql^' die first-class compartment. " Look sharp, if you plea^^ei'' ' "Tbi» way, Alice," exclaimed Guy, and thethyte word«, ipoken in half a whi$per, reached the ears , of "the guard, lo he ffAVtn on his professional memory, and destined to be rf peated, yean atter, with such d^adty peril to the unconicioiu speaker. There was no tunc . for' parley, no time for questions or re monstrance. .He' assisted her in, sprang after, tiie whistle shrieked, ,aHd the express train flew away through the darken agni gHt •• 7 Now theii, Miss Alice wafi*en,explMnydti^^^^^ does a voung lady from Speckhaven mean by running away to London %t this unholy hour, alone ? I give you my word V %■ ri-. ■-.''■'1 as9 TWE ROAD TO ROM. ifSSl'* ?? **** • ?«P«=««d to behold the CiariM of a the RuMUM at the sution as you." u« « ■» «.JJ*i l[!?*lf*l'"" down-its .friendly shelter hid the bumina •' I am obliged to you, Mr. (?uy." * \k2^ ii^ *"*" 'n ' ^^'P*^/"^ eve^rbody's sake, iiy pld fiiecd Mathew knows all about it. And. if he does, my old S end Mjrthew ought tp be ashamed of himself-le ting hi, ^t^ Jjughter run wild up to. London. Where is Peter fcrS ^ 11 !^ ?°* ^^ *ffi*nccd," Alice replied, between a laugh and J sob ; " I never was. And my father and rtiothcr don't know '1?W™*^P'*^*« don't blame them, Mr. Guy." aU ? if"?: 'li'^K' r ''"^ ,''"^'*' '""f r" ""g^'^ ^° have come a» ^^La I- f ^ busmess of mine, th£t is certain ; but, for old I Si'^H Jt''*'^'''' '^'"?. '^^''y' «°°^ f"«"ds, Alice, you tnow ^Ishould hke you t0 teU me what is taking you to Londoh/^ .^ ^. * IJ*'^*^ amMamestness in his tone and face v«y unusual He wa« the last ma^ , m the worW to tu" ^nsor of other men and women r iClSey went all wrong, and -came to gnef why, it was only the usual lot, and what h^ ~i?^as no°^""^; ^ Frank might do precisely as he pLsel Ae Jn^M ?• "Ia *l" °' '^y "»*"''' ' '^^ ^^h a woman of where a i.?fi'ir"*H *"^r ^^'^^^ " * ^'^y '^^"*' <^«'"est. Where a fair field and no favor were all either had a right to expect But this, was dLferent-this fresh-hearted, iiuie coun jy-girl whom he had known from childhood. ^"As in a bUs^ caiieil a)>OD to remonstrate. ' ••AJice," he said. "I don't want to pry into any seaet ^bh WlUpenmi me to see you to youf destination. WK ttwk from her purse a shp of paper ac i huded it to hkn 1 >. * A': TBB KOAD TO nVW. there. If jrou #iU take me to it I ISJ very *■ I an goinff rery thankfuL'" " Mrs. Howe's I-Mgings, 20 Gilbert's Gardens, Tottenham Court Roiii, read Guy. " Ah, I don't know. Mis. Howe*! lx)dgings Gilbert's Gardens, sounds rural, though. Yes, Miu Warren, I shall certainly see you there ; and now, with ywas permission, will read the evening paper." - And then silence fell betwe^en them. Alice Warren pa? back her veil, and lo<>ked out at the flying night-scene. 'Wit sky was overcast— neither moon nor stars were visible. How weiril, how unearthly this wild night-flijj;ht seemed to her ! What would she have done but for Mr (iuy? He looked to her almost as a guardian angel, Tn her loneliness and strange- ness." If it were possible to ihmk anything but what was good of Frank she^niight have thought it a little cruel, a little selfish, leading her thAs away alone to that big, pitiless, terrible London. But Frank knew best, and this time to-morrow she would be his wife. Her heart throbbed with the joy, the terror of the thought She looked askance at her companion. If Mr. Guy ' knew, she thought; would he be so kind to her as he .was now? If she had known, "^ that thought need not have dismayed her Ix)rd Monulien, like King Cophetna, might have married a beggar-maid, and if she were wel^-dre88ed and well-looking, Ljfutenant Earlscourt would have embraced his new sister, and never given a thought to her Antecedents. It was close upon midnight when the countless lamps di lAindon first shone before the country-girl's dazed eyes. The bustle and uproar of the station terrified her : she clung in affright to Mr. F^arlscourfs arm. And then they were in a foiu wheeled cab, whu-ling rapidly away to Gilbert's Gardens. " les rather an unearthly hour," remarked Guy, looking at his watch. ♦• I only hope Mrs. Home— no, Mrs. Howe —ia prepared to receive us." Mrs. Howe was. Mr. Stedman had arranged that as well at Otlier matters ; and Miss Warren wa» affably received by a thin, Htde woman, with a pinched nose and a wintry smile, and ■hown to the ladies' sitting-room at once. She gave her hand to her companion with a glance of tett fi:i gratitude. "TTiankjroa very much, M r. Guy. I d on't k now how 1 -shook} ^ave got here but~l&r you. X16od-i>ight, iuiia~o^~~ please"— -piteously—" don't say anything to anybody dov» bone aboot h^iTUig met me." ■Mi ■ -fk \ / '^:i^> h? -^ 994 rm ROAD TO Mum. lit '*CertainIf not, Alice— f{bod- night" He had reached- the door when a sudden inipuise ttnick Um and heWned back. He took both h«r hands in his cira and looked kindly, pityingly down In the sweet, tear-wet face. "Little Alice," he said, " I'm a good-for nothing fellow, bof I have a very tender regard for you. If ever youjird yoatseli - ap a tree — I mejui in trouble of any kind — I wish you'd cumt to me I'll help you if I can. Here is an address to wluck you can write at any time, and if ever you call upon me I w^l ttever fail you." The dark, handsome face, the brown, earnest eyes swam be. fore die srirl in a hot mist. If he had been her brothet he could haiAy have felt more tenderly toward her than at tiiat moment. Trouble I He knew, if she did not, what dark and bitter trouble was in store for her, and he was helpless to wanl kofi " I've had the fortune to come across a good many inscruta- ole Cards in my time," he thought, as he ran down stairs, " but for inscruubility, Monti puts the topp-^r on the lot What an infernal scoundrel he is ; and what an inconceivable idiot that poor child I Of course, he's going to marry b^^r — nothing else would have induced a girl Hke that to uke so'th a step." Mrs. Howe led the way up stairs with a simper on her faded face. '♦ I know all about it, miss," the whispered, confidenrially ; 1 the young man as was here this mommg — a most genteel young man he is — told me that you was going to be married, you know, miss, and that is the sentieman, of course, a military gentleman, as one may see, and 'iie very 'andsomcst as 1 ever set eyes on." Alice shrunk Away, almost with dread. How dare Mt Stedman tell this strange woman her secret ? She entered her room, a neat Uttle apartment enough, but insufferably close and stuihr, as it seemed to the country g.rl, used to the fresi tneath of the German Ocean, and the sweet breeze of the iio colnshire wold. lira. Howe set down the candle, still sinpering, still couteiy- *•• ' "And if tbere'i anything else, miss, hot water, or a cap of Uai, or a plate of cut ' a m. or anythmg as you mig ht menl" VMS wr ■ pwc oi cm am. or anytnmg as you might naentioa, t VTOre ril be MOtt lappy. UTiirh thf g«.fif«>;.r ynntig ^" this «4 morning paid up in advance, most generous No. thank you ; I want nothing,". Ahce answered, hurrieiay ; the stmpeiinp landlady, with a last dip, walked awf y. •.f>»lA$^ ^ Ll r nm MOA» to mfitt. u% )tion, nscruta- rs, "but Hiat an liot that ^ ing els« She dosed and locked the door, and sank down oii hm knees by the bedside, her l^at and shawl still on, with an over- powering sense of desolation and loneliness. What were thef doing at home? What did they think of her? Thev wcnild miss her at the hour for evening prayers, and they woula search for her 'n vain. She could see her mother's scared, white Esce her (a'her's stem, angry. Qjv what a bad, cruel girl she ws* only tliinking of herself and her own happiness, and nevei cai ing for the grief she was leaving behind! Very soon the} would know the truth, that she was the happy wife of (xwo Montalien, but until then, what grief^ what shame, what fear, would she not make them suffer I A clocK in the neighborhood struck tluree. She had scarce!) slept the night before — involuntarUy her eyes were closing now She got up in sl, kind of stupor, removed her outer clothing, threw herself Kalf-dressed upon the bed, and slept deeply, dreamlessly until morning. It was broad day when she awoke and started up—nine 0^ clock of a dull, rainy morning. The crashing noises without naif-stunned her for a moment, until she reauzed she was in London. It was her wedding-day I She sprang up with a bound and ran to the window. The ceaseless rain was falling, a dim yel- low fog filled the air, the sky was the hue of lead. The dreary prospect, the muddy street, the dismal-looking figures wiUi un- fiu-led umbrellas, passing beneath, struck with a chill to hei heart Was it An omen of evil that the sun had not shone o« her wedding-day? She washed and dressed herself— the landlady brought her up breakfast, and she sat down by the window to try and \y»99 ,the long, long hours. In the tourse of the forenoon Mr. SteJ- nan called ; she was glad to see even him thien, though do^s b a. home she had disliked him. Everything was in readinea^ Mr. Steadinan told her ; she might look for Lord Montaliea • ditle before six o'clock. Seven hours to wait — would they ever pass, Alice dioaght She asked the landlady for a book, and tried to b.% her atten tion upon it, but in vain. For once a novel failed to absoirt Miss Wanen. She listened to the hours, and the quarters, r, ' they chimed two, three, four, five. in Gilberfr Gardens the daricTatny^fanr way dMit!gi^Witf|f= •ad yellow lamps gliinraered athwart the log. Half-past ftve-^ f ioaiter ai six — uh, would he itever come I She had woriwA / .1- ;.'i.;.^;,^SiiP,.pi»i''j«f, ^M'^-*'i- 'w^*r^'"^* ■■.^'■- i'^^f^-i^-'*^^?^^^^?^ ,ffUpV'. 9tf6 rmi $040 ro tvm. heneif vp iii^d a fever of longing and tmjHitiftface, when • hm ■on) whirled up to the door, a man vrry much muffled itnm4 out and rush^ up the stairs, and, with a cry of joy, Alice flooff herself into the arms of her lover : ^^'^^ frank! Frank! I thought you would never cornel I ne day has been so long — so long I " He was so closely muffltd that the eyes of love alone could tare recognised him. He looked flushed and eager as a pro ^lecuve bridegroom should. "Dress yourself as quickly as possible, Alice," he said. bur ntdly ; "we will drive to the church at once." In five minutes the girl's straw hat and simple shawl were or*. She drew her veil over her face, and with a beating heart was led by her lover to the cab. A second more and they were whirling away, and the. curious eyes of the landlady were re moved from the window! " I could not see his face," she remarked afterward ; '• he was that muffled up, and his hat was that pulled »ver his heyes, Dpi 1 know it w»a the same millingtary gen: as brought her the Bight afore." * / The Church of St. Elhelfrida was a very long way removed doni Gilbert's i«Gardens, and it was entirely dark by tlie time they reached iL A small and di.Tgy edifice, in a small and dingy court, with not a soul to ol^serve them, arid only a soli tary cab waiting round the corner, horn which Mr. Stedinan sprang to meet them. An old womau in pattens opened the church-door— an old woman, who wi.'h Mr. Slednsn was to constitute the witness of the ceremony. A solitary Ump lit the daik edifice, and by its light th-y saw a young man, in a sur- pUce, standing behind the ra'ls with a book in his hand. Loid Montalien led the palpiuting httle figure on his ann up the kislc, and in less than ten it'inutes the young man in the sur- face hwJ gabbled through Ah* ceremony, and pronounced lixncia Eailscourt and Alice Warren man and wife Then .C«B.e signing and ccunteisigning in a big book— a fee waj •UppeJ fi^om the palna of die bridegroom into that of the yowig oian m the surplice. Alice received her " marriage lines " ano ■U WM over. At the church^oor, the bridegroom stopped to ihake hands with ha faiUiful friend a::d accomplice " Vou're a trump, Ste«i When Guy Earlscourt told Alice Warren that he was " a good for-nothing sort of fellow," he uttered a fact in which he would have found a great many people agree. As fast as man could tread that broad, sunlit, flower grown highway, known as the "Road to Ruin," Lieutenant Guy Earlscourt had been treading it for the past three jrears. Ever since when at twenty years of age he had begun his new, bright life as fledginig guardsman and emanci))ated Etonian, he had been .going the pace with a recklessness, a mad extravagance, that knew neither bounds nor pause. He was but four months past three-and- twenty now, and over head and ears in debt, and irretrievably ivined. Just one year and a half agO his father had died, away in Syria, of typhoid fever. Amid strangers, in a strange land. Nugent, Baron Montalien's long exile 6f sixty years had ab- ruptly ended He drifted out of life as quietly, as thoroughly self possessed ana gentlemanly as he had drifted through it In his last hour there were no vain regrets, or longings (at -cme and friends. Once he had thought he would like to sec Guy ; it WAS but a passing weakness ; he did not wish a second time for what was impossible. It was rather a relieC on the whole, to go— to make an end of the general weariness and do- tusion of livine He had neither loved nor hated very strongly for the put for^ years. Wher- was the use, in a world where life at its best was but as a summer day, and in its first dawn, in its bi'ghtest noontide, the eternal night might come? - He had looked with a soft of piTyihg wondeTupoir 1rir**~ WW men madl\ batthng along the highway for fame, for weakh, far rank, for powei'^uals that led nowhere. H« had "m .l\^^b«:;st»M,4i.&u«^- •SS TOB ltOAt> TO RUIN, diMemen in the first fiuitjon Ts, w&s h's in iti fiillest— the knowledge of life's nothingness — and ii made hioi a weary wanderer over the earth, with even heaven sometimt* looking only a beautiful, impossible fable. .His will had been made before he quitted England. Al mat It was in ius power to leave his second son he had left It was not much as that son lived— but a drop in tht r%an ocean of his debts and expenditure. He had but one troubU»— the thought of the girl whom Kob* ert Hawksley had left in his charge. Whom should he apfiyint guardian in his own stead? He thought over all the men he Imew, and there was not one among them suitably or, if suitar ble, willing to undertake ^ the troublesoiiv? duty. He had al- most given up rhe problem in d«fspair, when Sir Vane Char- tens suddenly appeared upon the scene, it was no premedi- tated meeting : it was the merest chanc»»— if there be such a tomg as chance— if the destiny that was .:^ping the ends ol Paulina Lisle had not driven him hither. He was the one man whtfm his lordship had not thought of A vague dislike and distrust of him had been in his mind ever since the day upon which Lady Charter?? had made her passionate declara- . Hon dut he had insulted her, and that she would never foreive him. " Poor Lady Charteris 1 it mattered Kttle whom she forgave now ; she was the inmate of a mad-house ! She had nevei recovered from that sudden illness down at Montalien ; and three weeks fi-om the time when her husband had taktn her up to town her mind had enVirely given way, and rJie had fieeo ever since Uie inmate of a private asylum. Her delusion w»i a singular one. Sir Vane Charteris was not her husbani the persisted ; her lawful husband was alive, and in America, to ▼hori she was always trying to write. And having placed Iqi msane wife in safe keepmg, and hit daughter at a fashionable boarding ^hool. Sir Vane Charteris alvi'set out, to drown Um great trouble of his life, sight-seeing in distant lands. ilt the close of a bright summer day, he entered the Iitt'< Bjrran village where my lord lay dying. It seemed a Pro^dencf to the sick man. Almost ♦he first words he spoke were th« fnca tton— would he assume in his itead the guardian«lii n.«^ tkoliiui Uide I • "i--^ — Thara roie op over the swanhj boe of die baranet a flpil 4. ,t .-iri^W^vi?,^ ..V'ij.j'^.l TMB ^OAD rO RUm, Ml that wms not the rosy light of the Eastern rantet H* had never thought of this! Among all the chances that wwe to place his wife's elder daughter in his power he had never thought of this ! It was a moment before he could anawei^— a inoracnt during which his face was turned far away from Um ^ng man, and his black eyes gazed at tlie rainbow hght iu Ji« S]rrian sky. Then he s|K)ke very quietly : • If it will relieve your mind any, my lord, I willinely acirept the charge. With my unfortunate domestic affliction I had not thought of ever again making England my home, but my duty to my daughter, perhaps, should be paramount over- every mere personal grief. I will become Miss Lisle's gtiar- dian, and fultil my duty to the best of my ability. She and Maud will be coin]ianions, and my sister Eleanor — Mrs. Gpl- braith, you recollect— ^will preside over my home." ' The necessary documents were iinmediately drawn »»p ; and dut night, when the great white moon rose up out of the Orient, Nugent, Lord Nfontalien, lay white and cold in death. ,Sir Vane Charteris lingered in the Syrian vill^e longenouj^ to |>erforn> his last duties to his friend. The body was em- balmed and transported to England ; and perhaps am^^g all who stood bareheaded around, whilst the great vault down at Montalien o|)ened to receive another inmate, Guy Earlscoun was the only mourner at heart It had not been the way of father or son to speak of it, or even much to think of it, but -in their secret hearts they hail loved each other wonderfully welL For Francis, the new Lord Montalien, he looked, as he alwayi did, the model of all Alial -virtues and quiet grief ; but the dark spirit within him exulted. His was the power now and the glor)'— he, not »he d^ad man's favorite, reigned in Montalien. He listened with the same expression of subdued sorrow when the will was reatl, and knew that his father had not left Wm one memento of fatherly regard. All had gone to Guy — 4 trifle, perhaps but alL He gras^ied his brother's hand when diey were alone together, and looked at him with glistening •yes. " Guy, old fellow," he said, " thirteen thousand is not modi to you with your habits and ustes, but when you are up a tir« «all upon nie without fear. The income of Montalien it « t ob » e one , ami JUshall s h a re it a s a^ brother shou l d. Stint yo«^ =^^= Mlf iu no way- your debts shall be paid." Guy lifted i«is dark eysbrows, and pulled his nnMtache ii doue bewildcnnenL ^-^ ■ , ( N i«k^JMi«v^ ^' ^i*'^'^ i . «?•- Md TBM. ROAD ro MUnfi Hai r/«nk gone mad, I wonder? 'he thought, "hi ray my debts / Why, the selfish beggar wottldAnot give a sou to keep me from starving! What the deuce does he in^an b» guahmg m this way ? " But aloud he had aiis veied ; Thanii ▼ery much; you^e not half a bad fellow, Frank I" aqd had •traightway proceeded to squander his legacy, which be mauaaei •wy completely to do in a year. , Sir Vane Charteris made an end of his Eastern, tour, and la tmning home by Paris, proceeded to caU upon his ward H« Bad infixed Miss Lisle by letter of the change, and the young tedy had shed some very sincere tears over the news, a few for Lord Montalien, whom she had liked, and a few for her- seli; that she should be the ward of Sir Vane Charteris, whom she disliked with a heartiness which characterized all this youna person's likes and dislikes^ The baronet called upon her one July day— the July preceding the September of which I have , written— and there descended to the convent parlor, a tdlL * dim young ladv, in a gray dress, with a pal^ face, and la;?e, bnffht eyes. She gave her hand rathet coldly to her guardian, and listened whilst he unfolded his plans for her. She was eighteen now, and the time for leaving school had come. Early in October his town-house would be in order .and his fcister and daughter ready to receive and welcome her! It was his wish she should entei society at once ; her Grace, the Duchess of Clanronali had offered to present her at Court Pending the ides of October, Would Paulina mind remainina quietly where she was ? o Bi."u*!'" ^'" '''*'*' ans'^ered, ^ decidedly, she wou/d mind it She had no notion of spending the midsummer vacation in the convent She had promised her friend, Mile. Virginia I>upont, to s|>end August and September in the fraternal mansion, a! Vetsailles. And she was quite willing to make her d^biil io society immediately, delighted, indeed. If Sir Vane .Charlcrii »hould choose to come for her about the middle neighbor ^ood of Berkeley Square, for her reception— UirdMontalien wno had made up his mind, entirely to his own satisfaction, to m»rry her. and tFie s{>endthrift and prodigal Guy; who wai 8tK.ngly recommended- to do the same. His advTser was aii old maiden aunt of his father's, from whom he had expecta:ions w-ho had already paid his debts half a dozen times, and the thought of whose prospective legacy alone kept the Jews from ^woo|/mg down upon him. " Vcu are the most reckless, Jhe most wickedly extravagant . man m the Guards," this ancient gtand-aunt said to him in i. passion ;» and 1 will pay your debts no more, sir ; do you an- derstand? Gambling and drinking and horse-racing are hii enough, Heaven knows, but let there come a whisper of any- thmg worse to my ears, and I disinherit you, and give every- thing to Frank; do you understand?" "There is ho mistaking your meaning, my dear aunt," Guy answered, with imperturbable good temper. " I dare Say you wih„eventually ; I'm an unlucky beggar generally, and it wiU only be of a piece wuh the rest, if you do disinherit me. If s a pity, for Pranks sake. I don't go to the bad altogether" "You have gone there, sir!'? cried old Miss Karlscourt. Vou re a disgrace to your name and family, sir. Why don't jrou get marrierl ? answer me that, and change your life, and ^ leave ths army, and become a decent member of society ? " Guy looked at her with a face of unfeigned horror. "Get married! Heaven forbid! My dear aunt, I don't like to doubt your sanity, but tp propose marriage to a man ot my agt-three-and-twenty, odd !. No, it is not ?o dsepeiate u that, while there is prussic acid enough left in the Chcmiif 8 to tnable nie to glide; out of life." Mis* EarJscourt struck her stick vehemently on ^e gnraiML looking very much like a venerable witch. ^^^ "Lieuten ant Earlscou rt, I s ay you Ma//jnany,and af niwi< There 18 this girl, who was your Cher's ward, sb: is ridk ■ undsome. I say you shall marry her I " ** Sbatf If" Qumnured Guy, lielplei«^. rich dk a fJJ 31 PAUUNA. She it comJnff home next mooth. I asked Prank vmk he told me, and you shall make her fall in love with you. and marry you. You are handsome, one of the very hanj •omest young men 1 ever saw. and a favorite with all »he women. I don't go into society, but I hear— I teH vou •ir, you shall marry this Paulina Lisle, or I will disin'.icrit ■ fOU I •• But, my dear madame — " " Not a word, not a syllable, sir ! It is your last chance before you become altogether disreputable. I have paid four debts for the last time, and-my money shall never ec to be squandered like water. Marry this-young womSn ■ wich her eighty thousand pounds, and you shall have every farthing I possess. Don't tell me !— a man with such a face, such a tongue, ajid such elegant insolence of manner as yours, can do anything he likes with,the women ! Now go! kud the witch's stick pointed to the door: "don't • let me ste your wicked, spendthrift face again until you come to Aunounce this heiress as your affianced wife 1" CHAPTER IIL PAULINA. [WAY Along the dreariest part of the Essex coast ■ there Stood, and stands still, a lonely old manor- house, closed in from the outeiswprld by funereal h«n«. JT"' w""^ '-'^il*''* " '^'•*= *"'"•" ^^" the country. house of Sir Vane Charteris.aud had never been visited .«ml'!li *" ;* P^^t' ^"^/"^y y^^'^- ^ gloomy and grew tome place, {i^r, mi los from the nearest country neighbor. !.1^"k i.^''""^"'''"^)?* 'y'"S *>'^'o«^' il'C long waves for- ever breaking upon the shingly shore, and the gaunt -Vw^'J'w''^'"^: 'i- ^'"O'hcring it all around. ^ l««J«I Moated Grange " could hardly liave been a more £.^^ K ^^u"".". '*"^*"'"^' "°'' *=o"'«* " Mariana " have WtT^r !1k i?;^'°'J" *'*='"8^ ^»'"' "P »here much more Oalb th Mistress of "The Firs," the Widow , Mis. Weanor Galbraith was the only sister of Sir Vane Ckar- ttns, ai^d had spent the last nineteen years of l)cr widowtlQod i's4,t»cji»..iirii lu cfiance e paid verge ^oman • : every such a lanner Now •don't • ii you fel" PAOUNA. ^ii doing penance at " The Vns." When one^nd-tirenty .he hud thrown herself away upon a subaltc-n in the 6me young widows are almost certain to marry weU a second " 2 No i 1 believe the father was of ^cotcK descent?*^ "She is an oiphan, of coutae 7 " '^i^^ifc^'.-.. ■ ■ .- % v^J —3 * *iie^Jfllt. ■•■wv» PdUUNA. m Oh, no, the fal>i-r rtres out in California, bat oot b ttu I i *:? '^ *°; '''^''" "^ "^'"g'*"*!- He was an old frienji of i-ord Montalien, and intrusted his heiress to him, with tha power to appoint a guardian in his stead in ihe erent ttOber, had spent the chief part of his time in town, chan^ » be m the house. He was a frequent visitor. The house m^\ plea^nt, the wii.es arid cook excellent Mrs. Galbraidi a capital hostess and a clever woman, and little Mand, in a rn^[|?KT' ''°"*^ ^ namageable. Her mother'- fortune »oilJ be hers, and should Miss Lisle prove obdurate to his •uit. why. It nugh^ be as well ta win the regards of Miss Cliar- . tens. To marry a nch wife he was resolved— at heart he war a yinry miser, and worshi|)i)ed gold for gold's sake. "A sickly, sallow, spiritless creature as ever I saw!" was Wrs. Galbraiih's contemptuous verdict on her return to the irawmg-room. " There will not be much credit in chaperon- mg her. 1 dare say she will marry ; girls with eighty thousand pounds are pretty safe to go olT, but half the men in London mil certainly npt lose their senses about her I And mr brothei told me she was pretty I " "She K/aj' pretty," said Lord MontaUen, "more than pretty tf I remember nght. two years ago. Allan Fane, an artiS friend of mine, the man who married Di Hautton, you know nearly went mad about her when she was only a poor, bttle penniless country-girl. Some girls do grow up plal^^ and I suppose ^ IS one of them. \Ve shall be treat«id to austere convent am^ no doubt and have ... listen to Monastery Bells and Vesper Hymns, whenever she sits down to the pi»io." Lome to dinner to-morrow and see," was Mrs.JG«lbfaith'i tt^nse. And his loidship laughingly promised Z; ith the p:^^•n^ nofretum to his own elegant bachelors JuOgings b PicciMlilly, but drove to Gilbert's Gardcis, and spent Ihc even- ing very agreeably ia the society of a lady whom .le called Aflce, and to whom he did not speak of the return at raiilina Lisle. TjK>rd Montalien, as a privileged friend of the family, came rariy to the h ouie^fBtf-Vw»Ch*rteriythefoaoiring eve ning *i i.— - L . 7.- ~..- ».c foilowing eveiitnc ■''"* F^ to be a dinner-party, but he was the firrt qf tC f c i b o ci « & bi otf m ^Mdt.:ii^ J ^-i*- ji iJS*"4kf PAUUNA. ,|Oerti to arrire. M: «j; ^i-^» w, .mTe. Mr^ Galbraith, in crimson relm. lUrdf >d .uajestic. rrceived him in the winter drawiMK ro^i TwJ rhh r I?** "2' *'''! ^PP*^" « P"^"^ ^"°thcr, tall and^et w blue sUk, with violets m hei shining, gold brown hair Ix^ Montauen approached her at once with'ou^^Tt^heS^d ♦•As I was the last to say fareweU to Miss Paulina UsJ- o. E?g&^"' " ''' "^ ^^ ^^ ^»» ^ welcome he, ^1^ luJ^i^th IVCg^l e7eT'' "^' ^^^^ ^ ^" ^^ *-«^ " I beg your pardon, you were not chc l4»t to sav farewell ta me upon my departure from England." she retorS aXt liJ d«jactenstic that her first word? were a con^^^n uy^ .Jtr *^^ *"^' y°"' ^'- Earlscourt." Not Mr. Earlscourt how mv H«.ar »» .»«,>^*i.i • • Mr.. Galbraith. •• Lord Mo"'taT!en " ^'^ "^''*^ .™^^''T "^ ??° bf whatever is most famUiar" with a Ion., tender glajic. " a. so old a friend *ould" ^ J.e ^d'lcy^S"^" *'^L;^"P--rd Montalien. " My dear Mrs. Galbraith, I don't w»oc \t discourage you, But your si)iritless dC'biitante mill give yon » much trouble in the future as ever debutante gave chaiierone . That young lady means to have her own way or know tb> i^eajon why." " Young ladies with eighty t^iousand^ pounds generally tU hacvc their own way," th6 lady answered. " Do you mean to tnter the list, my lord ? The competition will be brisk. She is a handsome girl, despite yesterday's «ea-sickness. Just the sort of girl men lose their heads for most readily. By the by, she has been asking for your scapegrace brother." Mrs. Galbraith rose to receive sonie riew guest, and Lord Montalien approached the window where M iss Lisle still stood ^ '', ^azing out at the twilit street She glanced over her shoul ^r, and asked him a question before he could speak. "My lord, how long js it since you were at Speckhaven ? " "A little/bver a week, Miss Lisle. K^m mean to visit it coon, 1 suppose ? By;> the way, there is quite an old friend di fours stopping at A^ntalien." " Indeed ! ^ ^mkcr Old friend, like yourself, whom I have probably 8ee!| mr'ee times.'' " More tlwn that. Miss Lisle. I allude to Allan Fane." "Oh!'- ^d Paulina, and laughed and blushed. "Yrs, 1 taw a gou^ deal of Mr. Fane at one time. He wanted me to 4it foi {^picture, you know. Mrs. Fane is there too, 1 sup- pose?" •* ^lo, Mn Fane is alone. Mrs. Fane is in Germany ibr hei (|ea|||i, which is poor. They meet once or twice a year, 1 be- lieve, and are always perfectly civil to each other ; but, as a fiile, they get op much more happily with two or three hundred leagues b ^tw^n them. Mrs. Kane giuws old and sickly, and ii uptoriously jealous of her husband " " Pool Mr. Fane ! And your brother, my lord- -is he, too^ at Monulien?" " You remember Guy, then ? pctor Guy 1 " ** Certainly I remember Guy. 1 sa w a yreat deal tatan of Tte^ ffiai Tever dTd oTyou ; aM two yeawiB nm iodi an "^ nity 1 And why ftor Guy ? " MMarMUM — iw^tisp — you haven't heard, then?" *y«* PAVUSA, **tdnl Montalien, I only reached England late lart <4|^ t iKNr iras I to hear anything ? Nothing veiy dreadful hai be fcllen your brother, I hope ? " " Your interest does liim too much honor. He it qmt« k> worthy ol it" «• Why, please?" " Because— my dear Miss Lisle, it it not a pleasant story rai ne to tell, for you to hear. Guy has gone to the bad, as the> WKtt if you know what that means." " I should think I did ; it seams tolerably plain Enghsh. It means, I suppose, be has spent all his money, and got into liebt" «*It means that, and more," Lord Montalien answered, gloomily; "it means debt, and gambling, and all sorts d horrors." "Yes. But you are very rich, my lord, and he is your only brother. I should think his d^^bts would not signify much while you have plenty of money." The dark blood rose up over his lordship's face. ' " Miss Lisle, you don't understand, and it is impossible to explain — to you. Guy has gone to the bad in every sense ol the word. Pray do not ask me any more." He shifted away from the gaze of the innocent, wondering blue eyes. She did not in the least comprehend what he wished her to comprehend by his innuendoes. Guv gambled an^ spent his money ; she understood just that, and no more. "Well," she said, too highly bred to press an unwelcome subject, " that was not what! wished to say. Did you hear— was there any news ? " ,.She hesiuted a little, and a faint flush rose up over her fair ace. " Has anything been Jieard o4 Alice Warren?" The question confounded him, and yet he mi^t have ex* peeked it ' . "Auce Warren," he stammered. ** Alice Warren? Who k the ? " " Wkp is she t" Paulina repeated, emphaticaUy; "you^ «ot need to ask that question two years ago, when you admired bar tc greatly. Lord Montalien." ** Admured her so greatly I oh, of course, I know no»w— how MBpid 1 am-^you mean the bailiff's daughter, of courae ?" —^ "Yet, I mear t he bail i ff's d a ughte r . ^ nionr, last September, beside your brother, 1 suppose?" =^^^ori-— Allan Fane, Siir HanyGordonTaSa^Caiitali " m .SM.'', PAUUNA. 241 ••AndvonrMlf?" •«And myself." She looked at him seard.tPf(tfr a moment his face baffled itct. She turned away, and resumed her dinner with a lesolui* ur. ** I shall find out," she slid, quietly ; '* I am going down to Speck haven the day »iW to-moirrow to spend a week ; I shaB Izti oaL" "Going down to Sp^cVhaven," he echoed, "to spend a week irith your old frienri Mason, I presume." " Yes ; dear o'd Duke ! He will be glad to see me. And I shall find out all about Alice Warren." ^ Lord Montalien was by no means allowed to monopolize the oine of the evening. .Sir Vane had invited several veiy eiigi- \t unmarried men, and Miss Lisle's beauty and spirited style conversation h?.d already produced considerable impression. Her manner was simply perfect ; a belle of four seasons pould not hdve been more entirely and gracefully at ease. She talked very much better than most young ladies. Paulina was clever, and had ideas of her own, and it was quite refreshing to some of those mep about town to hear her fresh views of peo- ple and things. She was charming ; that was the universal verdict — beautiful beyond doubt, accomplished' and rich. She sang after (hnner, and her rich voice astonished her hearers, fo fiill, so sweeL " She is equal to Patti I " was the verdict of more than one present " It is a superb soprano." Altogether, Miss Lisle's first appearance, though her part this evening was a small one, was an entire success. Lord Monta- fien found h^self fascinated in a way he could not understand. She was so unlike the ordinary English Miss he was accustomed to ; she, was so piquant, so sparkhng, so brightly liandsome and tudacious, that she bewildered him. She possessed that spell in rsistible in man or woman — the gill of fascination — her joy-* 0U3 laugh, her ringing voice, the bright flash of her eyes, Xxxk. |it)ur heart by storm before you knew it Miss Lisle had said, in all honesty, that sl:e meant to go do»n to Speckhaven in two days ; but with the best of inten^ dok.3, the sincerest affection X her two friends there, two weeks dapsetjf b gfore the prom jseo visit was made. ^^l^dnddn n.ighi be empty to some people, and the over^ but to this young lady, fresh from her twili^t convent life, ^t WW the roofft poputoos «nd delightfiil of dtJCf* iihf ^^\' a43 PAVLiiyji^^ went oat continuaBy ; and October was very near its k\xm when, one frosty eveniiig; Miss Lisle opened the btde cardeK Sate of Dnke Mason's, an;l walked through the open from oor. There were changes, many and great, in hersd. started for his daily, brisk, twiligh\ walk. On this particular evening, his steps turned shoreward : he strolled along through the lamplit town, and down to Pperrk- haven sands. The Cave was a favorite resort of his, wheie he could sit and smoke and watch the gray, whispenng sea, and think, perhaps, of the girl who had first brought hm, thne. He was thinking of her now as he advanced along the shirgU path, whence she had long'vago led him. Tiie last rays of th< ftrting daylight wehe in the cold, gray skyj pale-yellow gleami of wintry brightness tit Uic west, and there was a nng cf sharp^ ness m the evening air. His steps echoed 'oudiyon the sands, Ukd a quiet figure standing at the enwance of the^'avc, watch mg those pale yellow gleam». turned j^t the sound. And 1,« lad Paulina laaiesto^ Mi t'acgtQface^ 7^ He turned pale at the .^igut; He had not cxearosd she waj bi Speckh«v«ii. H« had t)««« thinking of her, imard Montalien mentioned your being at th« P:iory, too, but I havl actually forgotten all about it" Yes— the whp^s story was told in those lightly spoken words — she had " forjjo'ten all about it," and all about him, at cona- ?letc.ly as though ae had never entered her life, lie had loved 4er as honestly And strongly as an honester and' stronger niaa -*«e had given her up mniDnplac« the words sounded I _ ' " You will permit me; to see yo\i hotne. Miss I..isle — it wilf be quite dark before you are half way, and the town is fidl of strangers, down for the October meeting." A provoking smile dawned on her face. She had not en irely forgotten the past, and the temptation to give hini » vnall stab was irresistible. " I am not the least afraid ; thanks. And, beside —it is quite unparjonatle Afraid, but 1 have heard. Mrs. Fane is-^j< ■he ^uld mind very greatly if 1 permitted you l«ine7' ry much, Mr. Fane to say it — I aof Do you think to ea corl m* He looked at her — a dark painful flush rising on his (ace. f* You are mercileM," tie aaid. ** You had pur leveime Mr« . ^,..%, P40UlfA. rem ago. on. «).« J.iy j^ gave me back my lin* I You midt fisire me now j ' ' — » •"•»- " Tne nng you presetted the same night to Nf iss Hautton I WW II o:: ner fingti when i dined at U»e Pnory. Plea« flon t tn to be sentimental, Mt. Fane ; I have grown dreadfull* »U and wise smce that foolish nine, and pretty sj^eches are iiulje tJjfown away ujwn me, 1 assure you. And you nay jnX\ home with me^let us hope Mrs. Fane »pU never hear ir.' a «« e)es were laughing wickedly. IndeeU, it was a weak (▼ aess of this heroine of mine. "She is always laiighing^thjit Miss Lisle," an aggrieved ad. aurer had said > "and the deuce of it is, a man doesn't knon whether sl^ is laughing with him or at him." "Pretty speeches are thrown away upon you, are they?" Wld Mr. Fane, as they walked along, side by snle. " I can be- Jeve It— surfeited with them as you are. Do you know what Madame Rumor says. Miss Lisle?" " Very scandalous things, no doul^t. What ? " .."T'l** y°" *fe t^> ^e presented *next season a« my Ladv KConuhen!" ' ' "Then Rumor telli most unconscionable &bi I " answeted Faulma, carelessly. " I'm not I " • " You never liked F'rancis Earlscourt" "Didntl?" ^ " You don't like Lord Montalien." " Don't I .?" " Miss Lisle, you know you don't ! Your fdce tells the story of your likes and dislikes plainly enough." " I must be verrungrateful, very -unjust, if I do not. Lord Montahen is most kind, most courteous, and we are all com- * irg down to spend?thristmas and the hunting season at tie Priory. To speak ill of one's future host in his absence is a return of hospitality not strictly Arabian." •* And how does London life suit you ?" *' Oh, excessively I have been out every night since my return, and I don't know the meaning of the word fati-'ue • and I look forward to next season as a child to a hoiuJay' Do you know— Ijier girlish pleasure shining in her great eyes — ♦' the Duchess of Clamonald is going to present me ?" "You are to be envied. Miss Li.le. And after one or two brillia nt seasons, the Morning Post ^\\\ announce a brilliant nrafnapT He could not help harping on this string. He bad lost her iim X MtnjNA, r Mi mmS he loved her nowai we do love the thing;i we have forevet Everybody mames, and I suppose 1 shall after four or five .e* sons, when 1 am quite— oh, quite an elderly person of ftmr oc five and twenty— some 'fine did English gentleman wl^ Lat » great estate. Are you quite alone at the Priory, Mr. Fane; and might iane ask why you bury yourself alive there ?" "1 am working hard. Miss Lisle, and 1 find -nspiration ta fte air of Sp^ckhaven. Do you recollect the • Rosamond ind Jiieanor ? Yes, 1 see you do— 1 am finishing thai for tfe» »pnng exhibition." ** She looked at him saucily. • "And what little country-girl have you chos^ for Fair Rosa naond now ! Please be merciful as you are strong, Mr. fane 'nd don't tm-n her head with your flatteries." "I paint my Rosamond from memory— my Eleanor is on« of the housemaids at the Priory-a tall, blacky browed, Roman- nosed young Ionian, And 1 am quite alone up in the bia rambling old mansion. Guy was with me during the races but he has gone." , ^ «« /•Ah! Guy Earlscourt! Do you know I have never met him yet ? and people speak of him as though he were the mao in the Iron Mask or Guy Kawkes, or anything else dreadfiU Mrs. Galbraith calls him ♦ a detem.ental,' whatever that may be. Pray, what has that unhappy young man done ? " "Nothing to any one save himself "You have heard of the road to ruin r suppose ? Well, he has been going at a gallon alor^ that highway for the last three years. The end must come very sopn now. If his old grand-aunt does not die, and leave iMiu her money, he must, in a few months at the most ■end in his papers to sell and fly the country. He is involved fceyond redemptum. Mrs. Galbraith is quite right ; in a mar nageable point of view he is a detcnnental." •• Poor fellow," PauUna said, her eyes softening. «• 1 «» sorry I used to hke him very much. He was /# hand lome." ^ "And is stilL I wonder lii^ handsome face ha« not wc o hin an heu-r.ss long ago. It would, 1 think, if he tried, bat he sceay tQ have no time." , ,^ hejtfLruined. as you «jty. how d oe « he liv e ?g " By a well-made bttting-bi'^ok, by a mn'oTfJck at tank, bv UeverlywntteD magazue aruclea Once or twice his aunt hai X Ij^ld^^l iM * ^A ^ ^■w^- -f^^' ^ fAVUNA. pid hit dftbt»-he teUa me ihe has refiued tc do it anhi Hehas ^ne across to Germany fo^ the autumn races " They had reached the house now, and Rosanna was waitini wnously m the doorway. Miss Lisl? bade him good-ni»hL «nd Allan Fane strolled homeward through the sharp Ociobw Biglit thmkmg— well, not of his wife. &r Vane Charteris came down for his ward at the expiratioi •r the w«ek, and Paulina went with him very willingly. It wa* pleasant to see her old friends, no doubt, but life in Duke Ma •on's house seemed hopefifesl^duU to her now. Is there evei any gomg back in this world ? Had she never left it she would . hav- grown up Acre happy and content; now she could no more have taken up the old life than she could have wept bummg tears over the sorrpws of Amanda Fitzallan, On the night of her return she went to see Ristori in "Mary Stuart." The hoUse was full, the actress magnificent, and Misa Usie, m pale, flowing silks and saris, looking charmingly^ Iwo or three of her admirers were in the box ; and wheii the V»t act was nearly over there entered Lord Montalien. His ^es 'if as thev fell on H^r hers gave miu the briefest, coldest X)Sh,ole g*aWce. She did not like Lord Montalien. The girl's perceptive faculties were very keen. She knew him to be false •!!A11 who remain." "Ah I you allude, of course — " ^ I allude, of course, to ro/^dearest friend, Alice iVarren. I *uW /ou when 1 went to Sjieckhaven 1 should peiictrate th« myster> of her flight, and— I have failed." There nas a satisfied imile just perceptible about his mtwtfa -^one in an ii^stant •* 1 fe»ed you would. Her father could tell yon nothing." ' Nothing that you hid not akrady told me— that yoia Mother travelled with her up to town." •' Then Guy is the man. Are you satisied now that mr nu. pwoniaie right?" ^ i yww ^ Would you like me to teU you whlxn I do iiupect, i^ ** Undoobtedly.;' aMbcied at him—ftOl, bright, danntleidy. and m. M^ VV -^:'..;, PAOLItfA. ^ '♦Mu» Later " My lord, you. brother Guy was nevtr the nuui Alice tdl »ome to iPAiry. She never cared for your brother— $h« did lor yon. Guy may have travelled up with her to London— hi ulnowledges it, indeed, but he had no part in her flight H< irent to Mr. Warren's house, and told him so, and the old mac believes him. He tells, frankly enough his share in the busi ness. He met her at the railway station, he travcllet^ up with her in the same, carriage, and at her request he drove with hei to her destination. That destination he refuses to tell— she bound him by promise herself not to do so ; and Mathdw Warren does not urge him to revealA. He is bitterly; cruell) angry— he never Wishes to hear hername— tf she came to his door a wedded wife he would not take her in. He will nevei forgive her— he will rjot lift a finger to seek her. But I wUll ' —the blue eyes flashing—"' I shall find her, and that before long ! " " May I ask what you mean to do }" •I shall advertise-4l shall employ the best detectives in L.ondon — I will move heaven and earth to find her ! " "And when she is found, will she thank you, do you thitik, tor thus forcing her from the privacy she seems to desire ? " "She will forgive me— we loved each other. Lord Monta- ien, will yo^ tell me the truth, will you acknowledge you know \ where she is?" " Miss Lisle, fi:om any otl'.er lips the question would be an suit I know nothing of Alice Warren. Wherever she is, ever's wife she may be, sh»« is not mine. Will you not lie- heve me, when I pledge you my honor, 1 speak the truth ? " She turned from him, and back to the stage, as the cortait went up on the next scene. Her face was set with an expiei •ion wgm to every one who saw her. ^ •*« 1 shall never rest until 1 know the truth ; J will nevei de list iintil I discover this secret I shall find Alice Warrco il ihe be in Enjgland^ and the man who pronuaed to Ms wifel" '1 ,^, **s -fom / £«a, jj^j, ^o^ ^,. ^,^ ^ ^^^ ■.«^ • t'K' "awd now I CHAPTER IV. "VK, AHD NOW Uy UFt I| DONII f" T was the afternooD of th^ first of November , ra.n. that^'et a:S chS ^ to ^1"""*^ ^''^ It was aJioiit lour o'clock InVi .i i u ^^"^ O'afow. At the window If thettg h^^^^^^^^^^ «^^.how.w^ iZiety. weariness, l^st^^ *^'^"« P^^'°" ^°' a"othe, lorltTfoldlsT^ IS^S'Cr'^ ^''^'''•i;' ^°'^" -'^ She had sat for hou^ ^ she « n^ ^ "^J'O''. and-lost ' in h« lap. her hagg^d e^ '^^fn " /k*"*"' *T^* '>^"K »>^avuy The ^m was « He Jam tt ? • ^"''^^y' '-o^don sk/ iodgi% -ever to bi A fiJe^ul^'? "t. "^"'^^ "^^ '^°'^d«' fitU^^enWtable stood a glasH.ti Jth ^'T *"V" ^« , i-«e8. Their fragrance fille,rM^l, T^ ''*'"°'^ ^"d P«nk i"« of the Bunt^r^^^^,^'^^^^ «'-<^etness Lreath T^e netot church dock sL^X^u ^ '°'' '^'^^ '^» ^»^ing Je he^d it, she ""oved restL ^^^^ P"^ i^"'- Ap U iiitense pab crossed her fe^f "^ "^i ^ ""^'=' ^-^^^ « »P*« . « He should Iiave been here an hoar Lm " a- - • i • "rf frightened whisper, "WiUhen^*^* f« »aid, in * aon nevei cow again ?^' «^^ he not a «ie after all? Will be .■fc, -XT "'"'^t^^W*'^' "X- •h^^^i LtVR, AND MOW MY LIFE IS DONM*" 245 Sll*t2 ^i"'l"*/'*'u^?^ crj-ing until the^j were no mora to *iows end she beheld the natural result, dim, sunket ^ff *"****"*"<* swollen face, it is not given to ali, alait I to ««'* ach«^ Jltte. She had dressec" herself in her one best dress-ooa • ui u *°^ blue and white that "Frank" had once "sai* •e Uked, but it hung .oose from her shrunken figure row. Beiuty. and yoa rj., and brightness had all gone. She slinink •imy, almost m liorror, ffoiu the sight of her own paUid face her hollowed, dulled eyes I ^^ •n t^^y^. "*^ *® P*^*'^ ™y pretty looks I " she said. " Wh* will he think of me now?" She felt, withtmt being able to think very deeply, on that 01 any other SMbject, that her pretty looks were the only links that bound hiin to her. And her face was faded, her beauty gone in seven weeks I She was not the sort of woman to swerve PTr . *u"'*'^*^* P*^ *^^ impunity ; but if her lover had been, fcilhful she might at least have forgotten in the bliss of that " week ''** °°' ^^**^--*»e had wearied of he~r in two brief Her pretty face and her tender heart were all the gifts she Had— good.and pleasant gifts, but not likely to long enchain a man of Lord Monulien's stamp. She was not cleve;— she could not talk to him, could not amuse him, and he yawned ir jer face three days after that ceremony in the Church of St Cthelfnda. Already Ae fatal speU of a fresher beauty had captivated him --tfie friend she loved best on earth ; the friend who best loured fcer bad taken him from her I The sparkling beauty, the saucy, lelf willed, outspoken, graceful audacity of Paulina Lisle lielj liordMontahen enthralled. \ *? « It WM ten days since he had been near Gilbert's Gardens len endless, dreary days. She had nothing to do, nothing to ''""''ij — u.to his^mV '^^ '' ""' "' •" '"Wte****. flung hefi- zr^' forbid you evi to^ ^.rv°cj:iv„^;,„3^ He turned the key in th» /»«^ u l'/ ' I - kerencitcling ann, Cg^LlTintot:** ""«^'' ''« '^^''■ JJ^^gLrr '-^"■^ '^'^rJfd7.;^k^-^"£-^,^ti,^ 4^S;rtee''n"'s.:;,^,-.^:j^ '^;i^i.g.wa, Ae , ;' vr 'vj **>■ JK ■■«*<;■ ,--!. v| '■•t' Frp^ JodI— oh, [e sprang came I rv wedr a5< I.3w!T°'^ '"I** ****"'* ' '''<^*" and scenes, repioach« «e seized tne poV<5r, and irave thr fir#i ■> «;«'^ i- t» l^d^hn^ hi. felf hat 'on thf*fl^*L'lSer„randt uS.' ij^low face was set in ar. angry scowl. He looked a very d ffer^ •retthe cha-r ^^^hna Lisle at the theatre onljr the ni^"! «M»iN|om the ardent lover who liad woo«d "" Uown^unong the clover-fields and fir by a great effort, and coming timiJl) im me, )^oie — verv Alice Warren trees of M<\n She swallo «ver, knelt dg "Don't be I^Won me, Frank," she pleaded- "l'l«n'. mean to reproach>u ; but 1 am si much al^e and I t^J nothing tD do, and no one. to speak t& and I aef\h?„i,- c home, and get low-spirited. Wotft yd^ teU ' «Sa.?k ^1"* ''^ •a/e stayed away so long ? - ^ ' ^ '*^' ^^"f y^'^ He looked at her with hard, cniel ^yes. Bro^5 ' "'*' ^ ^"'' ^""^ '^'^ °^ ^°"^8 ' Wm that do, Mra don't think i should ever have give :^«|fthe trouble of coming De«ff doing stoce 1 saw you op ipown. Pray, what have you .•.UaJ^ou"'"'*^*^'^^^^ "Only " Frank, you ask thfit question ?" «U l^'dl mlTrlj^r'^r * '*^"'^' ^"d « t»^« fi«t place, Sli. rlJ r ''°': y^" discovered my address at aU ?" ^^ She iheU no tears now , fmejTMm*^ steadily she felt cdld &« death, and her ihriok at last. 'M' JW \ ' .'S- /■ ■a». <.». '^■\ p sf ) '^trow I uvB, Afn> sow my upr ts Domi* rhU ^*? ** "^*'* ^V""* ^°' y**"* "y lord-io go to /ou, If) cno8<*. 1 am your wife I " o " /"»*» " ' _ He HstrnedVith a smile, his head lying .gainst the back ot the chau-a smOe of insufferable insolence "My wife J " he reixjaied. " Well vcs. of rnnro. «« ^:.< to the Church of St kthelfrida togetheT ^u^Ty^l* ^ ^t me give one piece of adv,ce-.iSn't yc a presZe 7n i^ b Itfe ceremony. Don't you write to me agiin, and don't /i^ me UBt.1 i ^ve you leave. Perhaps you Id nox SL my nue. " My brother I " fell upon the roses on the t,bk. He sprang to his fe;t ^ My brother has been her<» . " he cried. " H« has." h.f*lf ^^'^'T'^ '?•"' q^i'^tly Her heart felt cold and still in "^^cn^rr^e'^s-^tr "^^ ^"'^^^" «' ^"^^-^ »^- -^ his"rn,Tfi *" ""''"'^ **^VF»='Pi"« her wrist iintil the marks of his cruel fingers remained-his fc.cc white to the very lins. L •»as his way when really moved ^ ^ " ^nd you dared do it I You dved, after all I said, brina him here! Guy, of all men I You dared teU him-" * hurt me I" °'*"'^' ^^ »°'«1. '^^ ^ou let me go ? You ligh'llnt^ltL't';^'^"* "^ ** "•' '^'^ ' ^^'^°- "How came he here? You must havn bsoueht him or he rflL*!.? Tvf "^i '"%?'*' '^"* "^'^^ Vo" reme^nber he tm r eUed up with me from S|^eckhaven. He was v«vy kind he Wm aU«ysku,d I don't know whether he suspect o:;e^'et^ ^^} know he adv,se4 me to go back while there wa. y« ^I wish to God you had taken nit advice I " mm JSt *"»7ered. sti" very quietly, "it it a pity. Bn* we won t tpealt of thaL gjnfg \* t'q rafk... ' ..■ - • .. " " ^* ^ 1^. **^ 'i'8.''' ''*^*^° «rereached*Undo,.; it ^J^ ft? i^jMge^to DM ;^ 1 wa. afraki : and I •tk.d luM ti c«^^^ r^Li^'^laiWW./ i. •'tfOW J LIVE, AND NOVr MY UFR IS DONMi" m .! The pressure tigl tened oo her wrist again ; he breath for a moment hard " You did I ^ After all your promises— after all I told yoa— you brought him here ! " "I brought him here; but I told||m nothing, and 1 nevtt '«id eyes on him since until yesterday." ** He was here yesterday ? " " He was. Frank, do you know thty think at ttotnt. 1 fle4 jrith him— that — that 1 am — not a wife." " Yes ; 1 happen to be quite aware of that fact ; and what is aiore 1 mean they shalJ contmue to think so. Hear me out, i| you p.sase, and don't internipL Do you suppose I am going to ruin my prospects by acknowledging my marriage with you? A pretty story, forsooth, for Belgravia, that Lord Montalien has married his bailiff's daughter ! " " lx>rd Montalien should have thought of that seven weeks ago." " I know it No need for you to remind me what a fool I have been. And what brought my precious younger brother here yesterday ? " , " Friendship, Only that. Mr. Guy was always the kindest of friends, the noWcst of gentlemen. He thought of me he brought me» those flowers from Montalien," her eyes lighting, " because he fancied they would remind me of honje." The nobleman seized the roses and flung them into the fu-e. The girl started forward with a cry ; if he had struck her he would hardly have dorie a more brutal thing. " Silence ! " he said, with an oath. " (^o on I What brought him here ? Did you dase to tell him that 1 — " " \ told him not In ng— nothing, God help me I I have kept four secret. Lord Montalien, at the price of my own good name. 1 have broken my mother's heart, bowed n«y father's kead in sorrow and shame, giving up the home where I wa« bappy, the triends who cared for me, for you ; and this — this it my rewati" Sae laid her ann^upon the mantel, and bowed her &ce upon it But in the dark tjcart of the nran beside her there was tdther pity nor remorse " Will you swear to me my bractier knows nothing— that yoo =ikftve faot told hifl^? " **I hKve not told him," she. reiterated, aod did not lift bei uhen face as she made the reply. . H9 tuiDc^ and began pacmg to and fro ap ud «^ be;t^:ri:n7u;Tid^''''^' ^°" '^^^ ^^^"^ ' ^\ Her voice was broken and low, no tinge of color came to he^ wiMc face as he stooped and kissed her * .Me's!;rhvi5*ag\t'"' ^°'"^'^" *^^^ "'-' ^*» -^ hope J^^ " T ""^ '''''*' ^''" ' ^"^ "»^' to P^«^vent a rep •M?e?' '^'"'' ^°" """'' '~^' this lodging at once." ^ wiu'S; r.?K*r"'"^ ' wm engage another, and to-morrow 1 evening you will be quite ready to go ? " ^*And as it can't be any particular pleasant ui me to keei 3S.Z ^'^^J J^-" °»« »^"do" lodgir^g to anothe,, for fS ^«f out o?'Fn f t/°" f y. '° ^^''^S ^^^ «• *he coilntrj', o» e^ out of England for a little Ydu would be bette, ind bap. JnmV ;r. ''*'• "^"^ "*, "**'^ *° a\cciSntry life, and 1 would oome to see you just as often. What\do you My ? " " I have nothiag to say, J^Th a t i» ■e ttleX ihen.^ \— — J ■**■»• wmmw • I will do ^hatevef fou plcMfc" •«iU ^be^pler than to .end lu» out of the <«M»tiy du^ I. , r'\ '.Si. *»SOW I LIVE, A/TD NOW MY LTTR IS DOSBi*" jry "To-roorraw, you will leave here, amcWilmn the we^k joq ■rtali go to some pleasant country home, either m or oat al England, w^re you will remaintintil it is in my jwwer to pro- claim you tS*the world as my wife. You hear. Mce ?" " 1 hear," sh; answered, wearily. " Frank ! " she looked tt» at hini suddenly, "is it true that Paulina Lisle is in London? "Guy told you thit among his other news, I supfxiM? ' *• I le did He told me, too, that you were her lover, or thai lepcrt said so." * " He told you a lie J I visit at the house of Sir Vane Chai teris, and I see Miss Lisle, of course." He spoke carelesvlj enough, biitiin his heart he recorded a vow to add this" to the tong list of hatred he already owed his younger brother. ''I meant to speak to you of her. Why did yoO write and tell her of your elojHftiHent and intended marriage ? After all niy in iunctions of secijBfy "^d your promises. Was it well done, Mice?" ♦• I meant no harm. I did not tell her who I wa« going to marry." " But you knew she would suspect. You knew she was aware how greatly I ajways admired you ; but I overlook it, Alice — that and all the rest— and look forward to the day when ( can proclaim yoif to the world as my lawful wife. And now, Carewell. Tomorrow atftemoon, at this tmie, 1 wUl uisit you at . ^our new lodging." ' r His lips touched her forehpad in another traitor kiss, and then the door opened and oiibsed. and he was gone. (k>ne I And Alice, sitting there alone before the hre, knew her fate- knew in her heart thftt he lied to her— that he would never pro- claim her a« his wife — that hoperwas at an end, to the hours as they tollctl, in a^rt of dull stupor of misery, ihe hid loved hiin, she loved him still, and this was the end. The cab came early next morning for " Mrs. Brown*" Before leaving the previous day his lordship had paid tb« kndiady, and told her of her lodger's departure. And now, b the dark November morning, she watched her drive awa« almost with regret. "'**®~*®**'*w "»* dt'ralh itself as she bade me guoci-bT^ Howe said afterward ; " it wtnt ro my heart only to see ben' The new lodging o which the cabman drove her was in one pf Uie obacurc streeu leading from the Straod to the riv«r<^ w' 1* 'M^xii iiSiui-. ^ «ik« v»^.. F. - ■> m. itK / tS6 ""O'^ t tlrKAfD StLt^ UFM IS DOM,. ■ A, J .1 c . ', *" ""«^ '" '•"' "O'W lo care ? " ™.^;-^u,^..cp up .„ hi. r«.j.^ lint r^:;^:. , V^ ,!*v» hg h a t a conf ess ion to H wik< ; abew i Tidvk* &«•-"«-■■'' ■ 'T'""*'"^ w» "»*•«« about 8cmre^v«y«SS «S JlirrT^n^T^' '"'^ about agieat crime he h.lpedij SS^ «t Mvlir iwcnty yew »^. He om't Jie. he ^vm^ \ But "h« how UDHt, y from (he seless pale her hjiiji} foggy daj ^lontalirn e scent oS trees, tht softly and her eyes :e, she fell oar of the i ope'jing drea/ned, g Of pity ted. He crtintry I ROW but ler, the/'e let! face, jrbing cf >t a inu- »j-d, and There T, and I I gsnt'e nearest [htily in 'as her ({hi be, 4» CO|» ■ ~^. t-' ' hM confessed it. Maybe if. snh and whae; oh, Lord I s^ still and white-sTeeuin/rnd .h^^. .H K*^^'''^'"*"' *"<< you'U find her, and give it to her S •he 8 alive. Promise me that ? " ' He glared up in Lord Montalien's face with hollow, wild iJiV^°"'* ''"°\?^ '^^o™ you're talking, my^l^feUow" hi. lordship answes^xoolly. '^VVhois.A^" y g«pi leUow, his eves werriT,! r.> K J*%i' *"* '^nartens ? " His hoU< ^« J .1 of bumin^^emess as he asked the quesuon. ^K^lT^^ ^^"^ ^^"^ °' Si^ Vane itoteria." ^ "And Lady Charteris?" 'fr ' "And l^y Charteris." ^« J. she alive? TeU me that~is Ladj Ourteris aliv, «d ^^ll^"^ Charteris is aUve certainly, but not quite well She Tll« SU^k nft«M ^»«» I16V6S== I know it-I know in awl I did it I I wish 1 fc*dSopped €l^ / \,....3i^. V. ■MVi 4 258 -JlfOM^/ LIVE, AND MOm dead pHbre I^^ver cons^nt«|l ! ai fo(^ haunts mf hight an^day^ Bi late yet Per&|p8 he's ^mW" ' "Who?" ms- ^% ■ " *' Her husbanit^hiin ^W^ loved so deaj^^ * You rneao Sir Vane CHaYt^rii ;;^" No/ no, no I - Shs? hated Ij^ i'heKreal 'tmsband-^ isle." H Lisle if ^aljve and 'well .PJ["i i«|, i^ iitoni Jittered a cry — a shro^ irbrdlesa cry of de- .Jpod t thank (Jod ! then it's net, too late I wfaereii 5^/^#U tell nie that ? Not in 'fiigland ? " bt ii^il^ngland, of course, since h0V is a criminal amena le to the Ikw. Out in Aiperica." ;^% ' .^'He is no criminal. It wa^ me thaftl^ it — me ! And Mr. fek)ffrey l./ndith paid nie for doing it. ^.urish my right hand ft'Vi dro|)|>ed off when 1 lifted it against hifc ! But I'll tell you fjl, and you'll write it down, and Robert Ltjjkle will corne back, #id perhaps God will forgive me. Do you Ihink He wiU, if I CQQtess all- -all ! " " Well— Het-ns hope so," replied his lords^, rather out of his depth. " Who are you, to begin with ? " He drew ^he paper toward him, took up the jJen, and pre- pared to write. , He was full of curiosity and interest What revelation of viflany was this he was about to hear ? " I'm Janres Porter, and I was valet to Mr. Geoffrey Lyn- dith twenty years ago. Will you promise, on your honor as a gentleman, to give this paper you are going *to write into tJw iunds of Lady Charteris, and no other, when 1 am dead } " "I promise. Gdon,*' ^e sick man clendied the bedclothes, and began at oncci mth feverish rapidity : ' "1 told you I was Mr. Gtfoflrey Ljmdith's valet twenty yean 1^ If 8 cigher on five-and-twenty since I^^rst entered his ser- ^ noe, and a very good place it was. He to have his 6wn way, but he was frei kind enough master. Wh^n I had b feur )WJ||L Robert Lisle came as XgMM||l'l'i' " ^l" — tn6 SICK b^oYeimb, as he spoke "At^ai «c handaometl, I think, I Intern man, he liked s money, and't htm well upov hd confipanipn like. es looked dreamily- ■'■■ e young qsati, and 'h«t« were a gr«it .■#''■ ^JjJ ■♦^« ^v lily ^' ^l^0W i MJTk, AffB HOW MT IWB tS AAWf /• jjj •.^T f«naemetM Mid baronets, and lqrds» nwd to vial l.yiidiilh U-iut at S«ptemi/er and Chrtstman, bat there wasn't one, Mt^«»g them, lords and all, looked half i^ lordly, to iqy nimll, as ne did. He was cleverer han mastev, and wrote hu si/«<>d\e8 and leaders for our coanty"pa{»er, arid letters, and aI tiui. • Master set no end of store by him» Until he go. to lutf hiin ; and to them he hated, he was the very devil I " Master's niece came home from school: imd a rare beauQ she was, only sixteen, with big black eyes and yellow hair — the kind <»f beauty you don't often see. She .w«f brought home from boarding-school to live in the house with a ypung man a« handsome and as clever as this Mr. Lisle.^ And we in the ser vants' hall just saw how it would be from the first But mas^ ter — lauks, sir, it's wonderful how blind the auiartest people be ' about some things ; these sort of things partic\ilaily— master !.«• was like a n^ole. They w;crc a-courtmg from the ftrst day, and he couldn't sre what wa« «{Oing oh .under hia very nose. I used to watch 'em in the pl|ea^ant moonlight nights walking up and down under the treet ; and time and wain it was on the top of my tongue ^.«|five Mr. Lyndith a hmt. But I was ••keeping companr with a yoon<| woman — the upjwr house- maid she was, andishe wtialdo't hear teli of it All the women B) the hpuse were half in love with Ihu Robert hisie ; his good looks, and his gentlemanlike ways, and his pleasant voice took them all down somehrnt. 'And,' says Lwcy, 'our mas- ters old en«jugl and big tfiioogh to kx>k a/ifcr his own niece, vnd :^s not fqf playing the spy uo her ycu get "vour wages. /ie'Il %nd It out soon enough.' ••That week Miss Olivia went to Scotland on a visit, and .•6e week after— 1 think it was— Mr. lisle followed her. And Lacy says to me : ' Mind, James, Miss Olivu and >lr. Lisle will be manned in Scotland as sure as I'm talking to you. And won't master be tearing mad, when he finds ^t out ?" * " You ce«l #> t^a Mr. LijJe, thou^ h« looked and spoke, tndl'had^hrVdication of a 'cai leadema^, was only tb*^ too o t yeoman farm -i. J,', '♦Well, sir, Lucy WIS rVbt— they did |et married in Soil tanJ, 4n^ came notae, not together, but rolioi|ing each otha ' veiy soon. Xnd^ to, this day 1 reuiera^^r what happy, happy *cps tb pse ti^ had, hpw miss dimceJ about the hoese u««^ inlTandiin laugh was tM preiO'-iSt, i^eetest inoMC I r«inshir tver heard. A id Mr. Lisle duin't say much or laugh oiud^ it wuD't'kM «•/ ;^W MM^ichow, he looLisi Uiies^ a^ oobtei ,^A' ♦ Vt, h ■i A\l a 1 - ' a^ ■if>yMw t uvjs, .uri, jfoir „y ^„^ ^^ ^^^^^ J^ve^'^^wWeMhW^C^f ^^^"' ^^" seemed smiling /OKeJirdTe'„ti.he?slvl^°;^,e™daw3'o'^Kr*°-' - W else in, the liouse l:ne/,^rfe«ly^ °"' °' ""^ ='«y ie''eve^'s^j?i"i;'Co?3 fc^Sr^rh^^'^ 'r-." " °'" ="'-- his niece awav from%Jff^i T -^.^ '"'^ = ^^ J"^^ whisked sent for me and Tsked^f iT\ f ,' '''"^'^"' ^"^ ^^'^^ he pounds? ^'^ '^ ^ "^""^"^ ^'^^ ^° earn fiye hundred of 'Lone"y?'S:d'rwamed\7 "^^^ l^^^ ^^^^^ ^-^ buti cciv^h. a^^^^^^ 't"^'^^ ^^'■«'^« that oath t.ll now, untojd^ \ ^ ^ ^''''^ — ^ ^^^^^ ^'^ ^^'tJ' ^^'7 wicked stol^ goinj ^.^ay h.:m.eif'as if o^r a f ^v davs'^ L^^n^ ' '^ff ' ^"^ to-dr,:-S S tifce .t'"'' """'^ ?'>■ »<' «'^ ''°»''-=d l«™nd3 1 ■ ' * \ a^ ■m y \ "L I^, V ^j ••-re M^ I LIVE, AND NOW MY LIFE I^ DONE P 26 1 *' |\ v:u, sir— it's a bad thing lo tell~l did it. I took the five hundred pounds, and I sewod up tha money and jewe's in the TfOOTjyouna jrentleman's tfavelling-bag. It all turned out as master had foreseen-he got th.- letter, he packed his clothes.and started for London, and he was taken .there and searched and the valuables found. ' ' ' "The next I heard, he had left England. I rot my five hun.3 dred pounds--my wages of sin— and Mcft Mt" Lyndith's ser- vice, and married Lucy, and set up the public-house. Cut I never prospered. Luck went a-anst me from the first. The money was ill-gotten ; it was Liood-money— and everythino- went wrong. ^ I couldn't forget 'vhat I had done. It haunted me as if I had committed a murder, by daj ^nd night. I took to drmk to drown thought, but I couldn t drown it. I knew I had made two innocent people miserable for life, Ai^d two years after our marriage Lucy died; and then I gut quite des- perate, and the money went, and went ; and at last I was ruined outright. And from that day I have been Bdriinken vagrant, and now I'm dying here, and I couldn't die with it^n my soul. Have you got it all down — all— a!l ?" | He raised himself once more on his elbow, looking^ hke a galvanized corpse than a Lving being. "AH," replied J^rd Montalicn. "Are you able to sign th's paper ?" " I'll try— give me the pen." The door opened on the word, and Mrs. Young, the land- lady, entered with an elderly man, a clergyman. " Just in time .0 wii ne-is this man's signature," rempxked his lordship coolly. "He is dyinj-, he says,'' addressing the clergy- man, " and has made a deposition which I have taken down. Will you just witness his signature and afTix your^l^^- It was. done. Lord Montalien folded up tlieli^and arose. ^ r r '♦ Your ^'ishcs, my poor fellow, shall be carried' out to the letter. ^ .le lady ior whom it is designed is known to me, anj w.ll receive it at once. Set your mind at rest about that." He t,jitted the room, the precious paper in the breast. .cket of his coat, his eyes shining with a green, cat-like t ^ , AtwJ-^ Paulina Lisle is the d d c r da ughter of Lady OfBits- teri<*r and inherits in law my lady's fortune of six thousand a year in addition to her father's fortune. Yes, yes I If I had never made the re§plution of marrying her. willing or unwiilina ,5-^«~ >•■;; ''. 9^ lii ■ ■ ■ * ■ "^ ,/./ f *n»a; >iw /rtf jr iff jm3« jgr D4Wmi» M nake H now. Why, ghe will be one of the ridui« lietre«*e» in the United fCingdom I Whether you like u or do, fon ih&U be "ray wile, my peerless Paulina I " . And then a vis io j U„jai^ J||fons him of Paulina as he had seen bar last iuf^t—0!0lfmmhjt y,'^ pink silk, and tulle paffiiifi, •nd dewy roaerlfads m hcf |[olden hair— a vinion whose very lecoUection seemed to li(ht op the dingy lodging .ious<«Ib Barton Street, Strand. *" " And now for the other," he thought, opAiing Alice's dooi —alas I poor Alice I "What an inconceivable ass 1 hkve ffiide of myself about thi« milk-and-water, insipid, weeping non- entity I Bat she shall be diifx^sed of as surely and s^Uel^ as Geoftey Lyndith disposed of Robert Lisle," She sat shivering before the smouldering fiie as he entered, pad rose up without a word as he approached 4 ( The dull daylight waala»t fading now, but in the^low^olT th«, fire he could s«|iy. in our position, it w inevitable. 1 \^m sacnhce fanr you. < Don't be less gen. sacrifice for ine. Wait udl I give yoo Yoa understand, Alice?" •*AlMlymiwiUobtf>' - k \ the riduiM le u or no, i had seen le puftuifi^ whose very lice's dooi ss I hive epin|[ non- 1 s«fel^u e entered low oJr Uui, ch a co^/ I *" irs since I iet, and 1 ^ with a EarUcoufi ' he went L" ire plainl| r I should lelf would rite to me oJta^ at liable. 1 less gen- pve pm esfcst.- dr 9MmBT6M. a«J ''IwOlohry." " f)n no account maiit you admit my brcther or Stedman, oi tty of the peo^.ie we know. Go out as little as possible, aud When you do go out, wear a thick *eiL In a few weeks, at most, J mil find you a pleasant country home, where you will »ait, m peace and comfort, until 1 can bring you forward as— U Lady Alontalien ! , Yoa pledge yourself to all this, Alire. »d you will try not to feel lonely and low-spirited ? " Sae lifted her eyes to his face for the second time smce hii JOtrance— such hopeless, hopeless eyes. "I will try;'«*Bhe answered, in a voice more mournful than •• T)i4n. good-by, Alice. Keep up your spirits, and don ♦ be discouraged if I shouldn't be here again for a couple of weeks, iijst me that J will come as soon as 1 can. Good-by." ^ _**rrood-by." She said it as mechanically as the rest, not Irtirnng. He put on his hat, opened the door, turned, came I back, stooped and kissed her. For the last, the only time, a pang of compassion touched his heart of stone. " My ptoor httle Alice ! " he said ; " good-by/' And then he was gone. Back to that bright other world- D^c^ to the velvet-hung, wax-lit world, where lovely Paulina I*isle shone a queen I And Alice stood where he had left her, "^fcUff u^^'^* ^°^ moving for hours and hour*. An outcast —from home, from parents, from fiienda, from lov»— alone fbi t^ver and ever. CHAPTER T. AT IRIGHTOll ,, IN the day lucceedirg this memoreDle aeironA ol November, Sir Vane Chartens took his fiundj co Brighton to spend the remainder of Uie autumn. He ,^ . j^ hired a large furnished house on the East Clik -Tha^ifeti ou was chafmm| ^ tlie b foad, b r ig h t i^l spfrodawa" Ud away nntil it melied into the bmad bright sky. O^ ven OMrdAfi you saw the bold coast of Diqq^ from tbe wiitdoira. •tfn,^-^ M'i t«4 4t BMtGm%M, rf MIm Lule for whose benefit, the rcmiwal had chic fly been, en^ycd l^,ghton amazingly. irtfiffi^place^tJe fi« S r.J.hJ" "^To^*" Pl«-'asantu;q^ind't^n;-- rX:viv5S ?.™her2ir?'^"^'"'" *^''"' P'o-W. equal •,o[hirof 5.t::^.;;^^":h!;^':hna^tu*"L':'' k;"' "-r •« ye, who persisted in escorting them evervwher, «„ K.r^f «U,rr"T" " "*" S^'""" »"' '"= do«?; heT'drive^'S fmng lo lot MiM Liale. Dcnced deejy eti moi fellow, wy, and he jfy^'. imhut <«■• vie fly been, !re was tht iroiigh thr ien Siissei londs, and 1 the most le parade of sundry ovc to tht }rhe weni ■ — dining, ver grew ' es faded i been a •zen, and ST. And se, heaps udy \fiss er voice, Jir MM/GMTON. 96s that of J ' unny sea only one lien, her m being ves, her ■ eatre all >y night ^er they with the ^ to link . anrf Im i • jieart, ik>t a bit like the Earlscourts- a shabby beggir too, al bottotu^it was a pity so glorious a girl should be flunii away npon such a cad! » ^ At the close of the second week Mis? Uilc herself rebelled She had been trying for days back to throw off the yoke, but in vain ; there was a quiet power and detem^ination about hii kwdship that bent most people to lys resol^ite will But xhk foung lady of eighteen had a will of her«|wn, quite as stiona Vw "'*'*'*»''» she chose to assert it. ShVhad. dishked Loid Montalien always ; she simply detested him now. His eyes, his smile, when bent upon her, revolted her, the cold touch of his fingers made hef shudder with aversion; he stifled her wnen he stood beside her at the piano He was fast becoming the bugbear of her life. She could not eradicate from her nimd Uie belief that he was the man, who, under pretence of inamage, had lured the friend she loved away from her home. Pretence^ for of late the sickening conviction that it had bee« only pretence, had dawned upon her. She felt sjire that he, with his artful character and subtle wilfes, was the viiiain, and she hated him accordingly. And Paulina Lisle wv what Dr. Johnson would have liked, a "good hater." "He's like the death's-head at the Egyptian banquets," sh< said to Mrs. Galbraith bitterly ;" always present and always spoiling my plej^sure. Why does he n:ake pretence of stoppin4 at the Ship Hotel ? Why doesn't he fetch his belongings, and take up his abode at once in this house ? He is like one's shadow, or one's poodle, following forever, no matter whera one goes. Can't he see he is not wanted ?" ^ /'My dear, what language!' exclaimed Mrs. Gallvailh. His lordship's attentions are most flattering to you. It ii plain enough to be seen he is quite infatuated ; and it would be a brilliant, yes, a splendid match for you. His incline if clear fifteen thousand a year, and the title one of the oldest in Intain." "I don'^ obfccctao the title or the income," replied Mia Lisle, wiih%mrdm" the man I abhor I " " Abhor, f^ulmSf-l Such strong language ! " " Is not yoa^.ady-like, I know ; but my feelings ar« strong, Mrs. Galbraith, and 'my manners have not the repose which JjyJLUl^gast oLJ^ ere de Vere^L \B e n I feel s tronglyy=l^ must speak strongly; and 1 detest, athor, and hate Franrii Eatlsccurt, Ixird Montalien I There I ' Perhaps Paulina never rejfjly looked so pretif m when in • '/ AT BRIG men. puiio^ Her cheeks flushedup, her eyes sparkled, iei tHxrii fKe kindled. To the eyes of the man who had enteied un- .. heard, and stood screened by the curtained arch of th*'d6or way, she looked as a blue-eyed Cleopatra might when her Eastern blood was up. It was Lord Montatien ; and the old idage that listeners nrver heai any good of ti^Bmselves n&e ' never mnre fully verified. 'J You suipiise me, Paulina — you shock me ! Pray, let nc fiftj* but mine hear such language from youi lips. Your dislike ^ Lord Montalien is most unjust ; he is a model young man in ever/ respect." ^, "Yes, I know," retorted the wilful beauty, with a shrui "thafs one reason why I detest him. 1, can't bear mocfe* young men. His virtues are superhuman, 1 acknowledge*, and — I should smother in the same house' with him! Your model young men, who possess all Ihe cardinal virtues out- wardly, are always villains at bottom." "Paulina, I really cAi't listen to this! Iirepeat, he is an excellent, ^n exemplary young man. He is the best of land- lords, and his name heads every subscription list for most munificent sums." " Every published subscription list, certainly ! AJid I h; read somewhere, • Let not jrt)ur left^ hand know wijat your right hand giveth.' His name heads those lists for munificent %\x and I saw him raise his horsewhip to a •)oor wretch yes»Rr who asked him for a shilling. Lord Montalien has fifteenij thoiisand a year, an?^he is amiser. If he wants me at all' he, wants my eighty thousand Pfltts to add to htj stOTe. A^ >ou leem to be a friend of hiSf'^prs. Galbraith, suppose you drop ^ him a hint to spare me his company fur the future,. The more I see of him die more 1 dislike hill." " You are more than unjust. Miss Lisle ; you are unchfi$tian. I thought ycu were above ^rejpeating such Cruel i^luiAnitSk «t tkese behind his back." v "I will say thepi to his face, if you ^cfer it ! I will, T pro- test, if he does not cease dogging me asihe does. What bun- new have people to couple our names ?* I w6uk) die before I wouM marryhifn 1 You call me Unjust. \ tell yqu, ' passion-" ately,! I am not. 1 have reason to hate him — I know he is thi tut, who lufed poor Alice Warren from her home." : r i • '3^ rday f "#. ^ H i» FauGna I that person's name ag¥in f" said Mrs. G^llHEald^ with aoiterity.^ '^ Did I not tell you it ll|^ iadelicate of 'yoM . '" •ven to allude to her 7 " "x * ,>^ « .A,/,^ . •• • a wfaok eied un- *6'door- hen he? the old ves mti U lei nc r dislike ingman I shruL " r roooe' wledge> ! Youi ues out-' ie is 9X^ of land- br most X I hi ''ur right esfftrday 5 ftfteenj^ It all- he. ^% )Ott ou drop ^ he more hfisriJui. Ani(^ «f i;i'pr«>. lat bun- htXos^ I passkm>" He is thi f 3 AT BMtmMTOii, ««7 *•¥«■, yon told aae, Mr«. Galbraith," the gtii uisweted, witfc ft haxl laugh. " Vou do your duty by ine in ever)- respect She has been unfortunate, through no'^It of hers ; she is in nusery knd poverty, perhaps, and it is Wdelicate in her oUiest * friend ti^^nientiui^ her naine i Toot little Alice!" "Thrdugh no fault of hers I I don't understand "yon. Th« fauh tc/oj hbb air — there was not another man iniMLnK Mn who UK)k^ rdisnngujsRed" a.s he. ^hc renietnbcred him aa the had fe.low, and seen him mi It, with th« foil' liadnf 4* the bettei ast. l^H )ut that in- watch, and illing, s'lp- wecn MrSi- tereotyp^ i,hn-pulscd ke a gocK* ook them guardian, imagined 'tero(!i>x— .-sitatingiy. s and dis ever bad- )nginality, crowds oi iscinatir\g, «mght the as she lay hce. He ithing. I e, on her ugh some o Captain into her loifd — he hieatened ent el^e. us, gener- -haps, but ■urn. Me ; ar.(i he d sKch a lo ItHiked dT BJt/eitroM ^ ■Mae Ikhdnf np hi> dark face as he bowe<^v^>.' Th« dark ^.Tendoi of that (talian face was a trifle^C^f" :^? ana worn, and the great, iununoiis, pathetic brown eves 1 jokrS at you with a tired light. Withal, he was dress^ J in I .f^ fect..n of taste-a knot of RussianViolcts in his^u.tlt,!^. he^l^?'as'"u'sual^"Th'VV^^^^*^' *"^>°"^ »^-»»^« « sunshine, on ^w ^ 'u''*"' ^ '"'•an-prettie.t thing Ute JS5 Ss beuer ^L"f ' ^^VV' u'^'^^"^ '^*^""' ^^'ks better. Ihl^.=, ? . ^" ^"y S"' ' '^"''«' ; and she has eirfitv thousand ; and your brother is ,„aking play there in a wnvlhl^ leaves no roon. for lesser n.ortals. Look at her? CLt^ woman in the rooms— isn't she? " ^^veu-si Guy looked lazily. He had come expressly down to Brlchton for'r^eirtv of Bright"' ''' T'"^^"^ "-"• -^ -^t':." He h^ked iiS, uf 7 was he prepared to excit. himself xie looked, with languid admiration,-, at the exnmsit^ for* r.^'^" f *^" ^r' ^"^ ^^'*"« t •'"•- unde^T '^ Yes, he said, at last ; " you'rt rieht Villiens «5K- .• ^dsome-always wa.s though! I ren?e^nber_an? thorough ored as a princess. See how d.s^, his partner tiigb : v ' Braeie. bird, and Auww conl'eta th* koav, Bui where it County UuyT ** TIm Tfllage maid steals t)iraiich the " *■ Her tover't suit to hear ; ^ Ta Maiiiy thy, by lattice high, f't'i' Sings hi£h-lwm cavalier. The star of love, all start ahova, .. . Now reigns o'et earth atid sky, Aad high and low hit tnfluenqa kaaw Hut »hero is County Guy t " t '^ I fle had draws near involuntarily-r-he iRras standing cIom B<')siide her when she arose from tne piano, and she held out b«r hand to hini at once with her most radiant, her most sancjr Ouile. \',. •' JSut where is Gmnty Guy t I thought you would remem*,' ber the old song even if you ha7>e forgotten poor me. Mr. Eaflscour ^ 'h::- name oe led a little inceid with save and ;s followed low, grace I '" How , however, letbing 1^^ le arm of that Miss audience, lent filled^ ', Liettten :r, and the Y, while h» ding cloM e held oat nost ssMiqr lid remein»f me.. Mr. tlie littb emt AT MMtGwr^m. m 'U I tad tewrcrly hoped for so great an totmor,*" he latd " aaMng the hundreds of new friends, of «dor,(^, who sinonni ihc belie of Brighton. Yoa mas| pardon my not coining lot ward sooner, and daimicg teo^tioii — it waj ray very gieai oiodetty, I assure you." "The finrt time I ever heard yoo creditcid with the virtue,'' bughed Paulina, ukirig his arm. §he was at her brighteci BOW ; she bad had what she so dearly- loved — h*r tiwn way. "Or any other virtue, I fear. Does^t Mrs. Galbraith da kar duty, and tell you what a monster I am ? " *' Mrs. Galbraith does her duty, and tells me what a monsta foa are. But I have a great deal jc^ courage — thailks to my early training ; and I'm not afraid o(A^onsters. Mr. EarU- court, I have been wanting to see you^ery much, to speak' to VOu upon a 8ubject,^the one trouble of my life, and I can', itre, among this crowd.. Will ypu take me somewhere wh^r* we can talk undisturbed?" Her perfect innocence, and the- ne;(imess of the subject to Vt heart gave her cdyrage, vernng upon bol^ess, perhaps. Itut she did hot mean to be bol^ and she went with him out on the balcony— if!fc '* Y^ fcnow what I want to^talk.to you about, I sBirpoae^ Mr. Earlapourt?" she began, impiilsiveff. 'MVhere u Alice Waii^n?'* The Mue, ramesf eyes were cuiiottsly watchibg him. Wtu , U guilty f No^ guilt never kwked back at her as he to&ked. 'M wish I knewt Mjs^ Lisle I don't, I assuie yon. I am tfilid our popi 'tittle fiidnd h^ come to griei" i' - " M l, JE a g^g ir Qurt , you know that t Kune pftwplt ay a ay/ !»- f ftce drbop^d a Uttlfe, "that she fled wj'ii you." ** I'kaow it. It ia mot uolu. * We were op w ni^['<^^:>'$A''''%'i n- « ,f t»wn tufvtlNi rtJa^V-..*^'* T .-ft' , ^ f -. !ii (»^ '-*"■*(, / AT BRIGBTOS. *• And you did ? " breathlewly. „ ° M ^*^ ^"-" ^*'"* "'^^^'" »*<^" ^" suite," »k!-!^^'i r ^ ^"^ ^'^ P'*'*^^ a s«^on«J tinie. She w:is t?1 ftTsiTtoii'^" Pal..d sha.Juw«f th. blcx>nnn^ Alice you kn"w «it 5he told me nothing, and 1 asked no u.J^ions Sh^^Ti known in the house.by the nan.e of Mrs. U,oS"' """' -on. prJiaS '"""Ok^AiVK'T"" ^;^.^;"^ ^•^''""•^^' ^^p^^- ' 1~ '•"'"»»• Uli, Air. Karlscourt 1 fe t sure vnu rri»l 4 .^ii "Gone!" wnuiaay, ana told her Mrs. Brown was about to leave 1 «in«l ^ breath. •ejaemca U, but I have vow.d to discover the uuth» u,d J Her/fcandaome lips set themselvei in » r.-8ol.ite Un* h« meaning "'IhTi^oidlncnlLj^^ ; of th^ H. ,,. .A;„ > ',> *<1 ik<^ me f4 stum iPrnn c WHS sriil you knew. She was coa'd tell it is roQ her very ars, made le gentle- arid Mrs. paid the I -t)ndt»n. er things othing oi bad, bad uspect- breathe sd her— r. And a» umI I ne—hei Hiiei. jir BXrc^TON. m «• ! love Alice HI e t sister. Those I Have j»c«. liked 1 likt alfrays, let them do w h^t they will." " Your friemls ar* fortunate people, Miss I.isle. Yoa should add n)e to the lis* • ii would be a splendid opportunity ol Cxercuing your rh^rity.' I don't deserve a friend, I am quite iwire, still I tKirk it would be'^ pleasant ta have one." " I am your friend," she answered, quietly. " WhiH ! in spite of ali the atrocious things Frank, Sir, Vano, U:s. (iaibraJth aiuf the norld must have told you of guca a black sheep as myself^?" with his rare smile. " In spite of all. If one deserts one's friends because they are-unfurtunat^ I would not give much for friendship." " Unfortunate ! " he smiled again. "That is a miW word to apply to such a ne'er-do-well as 1 am. Still, 1 thank you. Miss l.ifcle ; I will not soon forget your kind indulgence." She glanced at hirn, looking very haughty and handa^me \a the' dun hjgHt.- Then her head, drooped — she began pUyiRg nervously (j^rfth her tassels. He was in debt ; she had more money ihaih she knew what to do' with ; she felt a great com- passion for him si«rnng in her heart ; if he w^jld <»J)r let hcf help him. ■ r "Mr. f-^rlscourt," she faltered, "they — say— jou are in^^ debt," words coming slowly and painfully. "If 1 jyn yow fnend, will you not let me — oh, don't be hurt-^onl!jt be offendei of me is tiue. Whatever l^ befillrn me is mented. 1 l^ve wnwight my own ruin. And If.r end is very near. « Fcuihs dff^ensus Avernit* And I am U the 1mm torn of the pit. Well, the descent at least haa beoa let t^ waters cii»se over my head ; to go (Hit to the ««ile 1 ittv(» notiiy earned; to acccfH u^ fate and link frov «• :'/*^„".4-' 3* * J' ■f •74 u^MimrcM MISS usbM rs trsJKfSRH «# , nA when tike finale comcR — a ihot in a Kunbliitf htW mim likeir— to cover my hte and die"int/^"dignity. Am I tmnw^ fwu with a sermon ? and you shiver, •rhiie I sclftshly keep yoo here \j\ the cold. n<>n't waste your pity on me. Miss IJale I don't deserve it ; let me ta«e you back to tht ball room. ' Shs was shivrring, but not.with cold, and^he was very f»lt in the gUrinf gaslight when Ishe re-entered the wai ni roofBa He r«»8igned h-r with a lowjbow to her next partner. Vm ietn were hardly erhaps, for Auce WaTcn. Five itiinotes aft«»r IJeutenant Eariscourt quitted the ball By the ftrst train neat mommg he quitted Bnghton, carry tn| »tth hin the meiiiory of the iweet, imuassioaed (ace up9*i whfecit tile BUn had i^ioae. - t ^ V CKArrKu VI \ . f^^v ■r IN VHICH MISS USUI IS SfiBNHKB Of. ' \ [ISS ly ISLE was destined to have still another tite-i. Me that roenKnable ni^t The redowa over, fthe sent her partctr for an ice — only a pretext to get )fid oi tJm, howevizr. The place was stiflingly warm, it «enped to her now ; the dances had been inteprtiinable, th« oonmonplace nothings of the young officer^ injuflerablyrtupid She passed along unobserved, as she f5tftcie*|i to the kalf-Ut, whoUy rjlipsented nmsic-roorn, an^' throwing herself into a seal ky the window, looked moodily oui at the coming dawiL Tlie 8«us had set ; faint streaks of rray in the east be- tokened the dawn of another mjrs^ng. T^ie baU. was breakiuf ■p already. ^ Mra. (lalbralth was looking fm h«, no doubt ; but sJie nevei UMiMfht of that Iorg-Hutfi;:n(ig4chaperone. Her heart was full •f a greju jHty \m tb4 laian who ha *< I^rd Montalien cives himself a gK^ deal of unnecessary tmuhle," she answered, in hei iciest voi@e,' and ignoring the n • proach altogether. "Miss Lisle, yoo have danced with every man in the roonui I bebeve, hut iny«elC What have I done?" " Nothing Whatever. Like Caesar's wife, my Lord M . " I beg your pardon, Miss J[.isle," bis lordehip said, witk i^Tii'y. " Vou might have spared me that gratuitous affront I tlid not watch you — you went out together open|y enoi^h foi , Ui in the nmsic-rooni to see, if they chose. What has Guy icen saying to my discredit ? '* " My lord, you /lo your brother scarcely justice when you uk that question. Cuy'EarlAiUurt.is no cowSud |o aub u Ihe dark." M " ;' ,. _ "He has a wanti friend' in you, it would seem." "He has," she an?wered, briefly. ■ ^; "Then, with all his madness, w:ith all his miserable reckless- tt«< i fc ha 4a 4tifc b e ' envied. -y^JU^Hfi^ ' ^hiin your friendste pr ** > d ypu shut me out Agaii^ ask. Miss iiisle, What ta»v? I dow / At ieasi t hav« the lijigliiiiiw IIMU I " . V"" " »"- fi^ ■ ('■» 'I.- l-\ tf6 B^ wmea mss usls /s msrosAD ojJ*. - ^^ "Ajjd again T answer, \jtnA Montalien," repliw! Piallaa •trugghng with arioincr vawn— " nothing ! Vour condua ia tvery phase of life is exsniplarv. Will that satu/y you? 1 bear Mrs. Galbraiih bleating after her lainbkm in the distaac* and must go." ' "Wait one moment I" his lordship impetuously exclakaed ^ • only one insunt I I can bear this suspense no lonair l-^J muit r peak to-night ! Paulina, 1 love you I Will you be raj A ^J^ y^'^U^"^ her, his eyes gl.>wing. his thin. Fallow fact flushed. The excitement of the chase had carried hini away • her very disdain, hardly concealed, spurred hitn on. He knew perfectly what her answer would Iw— yet he sjMjke. She rose up and looked at him, neither surpused nor embar. rassed ; then she turned away, ;> Vou h6nor me by your preference," she said, in her coldesi voice. " At.the same tmie, I do not think you expect me tu.. £y anything but • no ! ' " "*"■ iii()veoct m«." His voice broke, he turned away ; his acting was perfect but It uuis acung; and a famt, cymcal smUe ctirved the ijul's neifect hps. * ',' ^yl^^^" she said, and her sweet, clear voice rang silver? and distinct, " let us undei stand each other. Vuu do not lovp me whatevtr your motive in asking me to be your wife My feelings in regard to you 1 have not striven to conceal Be- fore you spoke to me you knew perfectly what my answcj would be. I b-eheve you to be. in spite of everything yoy kave said, the betrayer of Alice Warren-1 fed it-1 knlw it. Msurely as we stand here. Let th ere be aji^ejid^of^ihu i^xv±_ ttenratronce and forever-^ceasc to persecute me with ancB~" tMWW as onwelcoroe as they are useiesa." ffmm --^ -V ,,, J 1 1 1 1 % if rl Pinllst :nn(1urt it y you f 1 exfUuraed ong6r 1-^) yon be naj I allow face uni away ; on. lifl >oke. or embar- cr coldest ect me tu^^ , his annk the oldeit uch as to le hunter as Jacob I — do not 1 perfect, the gul's ig silvery not lovp it'e. Mj t-ul. Be- y assure "ing yoy know it, ihi» fax CI /¥ WHICH MISS LISLE IS DISFOSSH l^P, ^7K i She had fatrlj' roused him, fairly angered Wm. as she meant tc ii'i' i" °*'*" eiuuity was better than his hyi>ocritical devotion. " lake care ! " he said, under his bieath, as he always «Poke Jjrhin really moved ; •' even you rioiy gc too far, laulina. Much as I love you, even frotn you I will not enilme insult. H know nothing of Ahce Warren or her miserable stocy. Mi *• Aly lord, -wiU you let me pass ? I repeat I hear Mrs. Gal ijraith'ij voice." " You utterly and forever reject me ? " " 1 utterly and forever reject you 1 " "W-ll nothing move you— thd devotion of a life ? Think agam--J u'.jjre you— I offer you «uch a position as may neve 1 i" Mw P" ^^'^' '^"^ "^ *^ ambmous as you are beau liiul. Ihmk once more before you refuse to become L4»d\ Montalien." '' " If I thotjght for a hundred years it would not make on« atom of ditlercnce. You are right ; I arp ambitious ; and t« thr ..tie of Lady Montalien I only ocject, because you offer it rs tnat plain enough f Will you let me pass ?" He looked at her with a sneeruiu si«ae, Lis arms still folded across his chest. "if (iuy stood in my place, you mean, and made you the aamcoflcr, your answer would be very different." "I nwan that, if you like. 1 would a thousand times sooner nmry your brother, ruined as he is this hour, than you. with your spotless name and ii.nr.aculaie character. Let me pasa. 1 command you, Lord M jnuiien I" Her eyes were flashing aow— every nerve tingled at hii inecr, at hu insulting tone. " Pass, Miss Lisle,'" he saiv! ; "I forgive and overlook vow Kuelty, and wiU still venture to hope on. If you knpw tne D^lt* you would know 1 am not a n.an easily turned torn art put jwse on which I have set my heart, and my heart is set ten It^ongly on winning and wedding you. Will you uke my va to the dressing rtKini? You will not ? Ah, well, you are ex Cited now. The day may come when I will repeat ray offer. and you will listen more graciously." The day will ju-ver tnce. come," she retorted, in a blaze of deft th atico ^i!^ 'I^ y^" atl d ress s ii r h i n so l ent words m^mCf Montalien 7 V ou are less than word to yuij again as long as 1 hve I man ; 1 will never speak t' J _ ■ ■>"■■ ( '- V- r A / 1 j '' , *■■:; i 1 1 -f, ' ■ 1 1 1 CJ -■" 1 i ■ i / 1 ■ - - d -"-^ - '■ ■ t ' ' ■ •'.■ / 0-_l H^ f. ■i ■i ^'^ p*' •r. \ 4 W^ •• k !^ t\ y -^ ?!»., :;> ^ *> \:. •,' ITI ,-: «* . "irf r IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) .;; 1.0 I.I ^ 1^ 12.0 6" fe^ /. -r/^.*^5^* ^ "A / >f (A N .SoHices . HI 33 WCST MAIN STRHT WiBSTER.N.Y. 14580 (71«) •72-4503 l\ •s? \\ '^''u^i.hMi^iskitiKihA, kiJAiXt''i\^Ai. 'I 'ii4 '^4 vfg **r murcjr miss usib /s dis^osmd ok. lit only smfled. " A Child's threat, niy peerless Paulina." But sne had swept away like aft outraged voung empress, bei »> ?s flashing fire, her whole form -nstinct wilh anger and hatri»d "A child's Lhrcat," she thought, setting her vrLile, small teeth. " He sMl see whether or no I can keep a^'^.oman's vow." He stood at the carriage door when she reached it as thougb ajthing had happened, and courteously held out his hand tc usist her to enter. Her eyes flashed their (ire u|)on him u ihe reject td the help proflered» and sank back among her wraps m th^ remotest comer. ^Us. Galbraith followed, thcD Sir Vane, and, to her unspeakable disgust. Lord Montalien. He was completely himself again— no trace of ffie stormy scene in the music-room showed on his placid face. He dis- cussed the baU witn Mrs. Galbraith, his brother's unlookedioi appearance there with Sir Vane, and once or twice leaned ftnilmgly forwifird to address a remark to the sullen beauty ift the corner. Dead siltnce followed those remarks—Miss Lisle lould keep her word as well as he. •• She would never s^ak to hun again," she had said in her pusion ; it would seem she neant to keep hoi word. The pallid dawn was already overspreading the ^ky when Ihey reached the East CUftl His lortlahip followed them into the house. Miss Lisle and Mrs. Galbraith went at once to their resi>ective apartments, and Sir Vane, yawning wery much, looked weU disposed to follow ; but his lordship Uid his hand familiarly on his shoulder, and detained him. " Rather an unseasonable hour, 1 know," he said, blandly, "but could, I hairc a word with you in private, Sir Vane, before you retire ? " The baronet looked at him in surprise, and led the way to- irart* his jtudy. A fire burned in the grate, two easy chairs were placed before it, a i>air of waxlighis burned on the nun- «L By the j- light the baronet saw that his lonlship looked ai mleXy awAke, as little sleepy, as though it had been high noon. He flung himself impatiently into one (rf tne .arm-chairs, and pulled out his watch. "Half-past five, MonUlien," he said; "and Fm infemiily ■lee)^. Look sharp about it, will you, or 1 shall be as fiut if a church before you are half through." " 1 have no such fear, my dear Sir Vane ; yon will not ao to mn. Cm iteep until yo u have heard every wonji, j •««» g u i tj i mi XbAlMA, wbatit is I wish to 41^ ...^ 1^. i OK. r And hat/CHl ;, siiial) teeth, '8 vow." I it as though his hand tc i{x):i him u aiuong her illowcd, then [ontalten. r ftic storrojr ce. He di»- uniookedloi twice leaned en beauty iii^ —Miss Lisle never s^ak lid seem she e iky when k1 them into at once to { very much, aid has hand aid, blandly, Vane, befwe the way to- easy cnairs >n the ntan- ip looked aa A high ooon. i-chiura, axkl m infemilljr beasfutM . fN mnCJT Ml^gS USLB IS Disfoikp, ^n ill not fo to wnie ''I am no Gi:oer jjie inlirnts tKat unhappy disposition from ? Not her taotliei, surely— Lady Charteris, it seems to me, was the gentlest oi aci*te«l lyings.'' Ine bxrooet rose from his chair — his 4ark (ace turning yellow. " What do you mean ? " he asked. " What hat the name of Lady Uhartv-^n* to do with Miss Lislfe?" " Sit down, Sir Vane ; prdy don't excite yourself. I merely said Paulipa must inherit her temper and headstrong disposition Vom RoDert Lisle. Lady Charteris being the most tracUble of iriyes, the most >'ieldifig of women." "T>^d Montalien, what am I to understand — ** "Thki 1 know all,'' bis lordship interrupted, tersely. "That iady Chaiteris — nay, give her her rightful name — Mrs. Rob' trt Lisle, is Paulina's mother !" The baroneKsank down in his seat, livid with amazement and constematioit •' By what right," hp demanded hoarsely, " do you dare nuke this insinuation ? " » By the right of knowledge, by the nght of truth, Paulina Lisle is the eliJer daughter ^d heiiess of L'je lady tibe world thinks your wife. Thinks, only, for she has never fairly one second really been tliaL RobcVt I'isle is her husband. Pau , lina Lisle is her daughter and hdress, as I said, and fOiK daughter is — " lie paused. Sir Vane sprang from his chair OQt« more, i very devil of fury in either eye. " If you dare I " he cried, " I will throttle you wheie yoo sit" "Then I will not dare," returned Lord Montidieh, witn Wi quiet smile, that was like oil thrown ujion fire. " Sit down, Sii Vane, sit down, and don't you lose your temper, ai well t» youi war d. It is only a weak nian's foily — a wise one never ~npennit« himself to get angry. STt down, and let ttl taOl tfib «wter out quietly and clearly if we can. 1 hum yon would kc 4*-» J, -. ,1 Oo m- ■' ' m mncBiirss uaji js otsrosao #,. :» AIL ■ 1^**''' """"*' by promise nevpr tn r»^.#.« •P, aware of .h. whole i,^' »"»P«"isle or — vour wife let ... /.,n u """ucr wnai Kocert for it ? v« '"^e—let us call her your wife— woulj not irire i^l^ you ,«.," 0.. b«»«. «M in U.. «« 1^ 1 want to marry Paulina I.isle." « wITc" V*"" ^! '"'*""* °f ''*any prison, Mrs. Galbraith saysu Take her down •Jiere ; keep her there until she yields." " lx)rd Momalien, it cannot be done. She has the obstinacy of the deuce, an^ the cunning of the (}amon. We might keep her shut up ther^ for months, and she would not yield ; and what would the world say ? " " What will the world say when I' discover Lady Charterii/ idding-place, and give her the papers I hold ? What will the world say when the conspiracy of the late Geoffrey Lyndith eomes to light?" ' *' A conspiracy in which I had no part" ]/Ord Montalien smiled grimly. " Robert Lisle was in the church upon the day of your mar (iage, and you saw him face to fa< e. Six o'clock." . lie pauied until the last chime vibrated, and then arose. " I will not detain you from your needful rest a moment I question. II ras over, and iie East Cliil cture, with itt l>et, its proof il-Are, and iti I shone frostly iriDy up from ise before the I the fu'A glow lite as lovely, reading also, Charterii, «i was decided Sir Vane left to take Of t« I a concert M sic amounted Uson was to t upon goinr. Bsooth, e vea isr wmcB MISS lisle rs otsposed ow. 2%l Miss Listens eyes fell once morr upon the pages of Le FtttA and Miss Lisle's lips set themselves in that resolute line that ws. Galbraith very well krew meant "break-rs ahead" ^ "Paulina, dear, you heard me?" in her most dulcet tones • Maud, ring for Pauhna's maid. It is time to drefs 'or the toncert. There will be such a crush, that it is best to be early ' "Don't trouble yoursj'j; Maud," said Paulina, quicllv ; " i *Ai! not go." ^ "^ "Not go, Paulina?" PauUna laid down Le Follet, and looked across at hdh du perone with steady blue eyes. " I shall not go, Mrs. (lalbraith. More— I wiir never gp anywhere again with Lord MoniaUen. If he had come here to duje to-day, I should have left the table. It is quite out of mt power to forbid him the house, or Sir VaE^s box at the theatre or you from picking him up whenever we go out to drive, but what IS in my power to do 1 wUl. It shall be no fault ol mine, if people couple our names together. I told Lord Mon- tolien last night pretty plainly what I tho.:ght of him— now I I '^'"■v "*** '"^^ ™y **'''"* "^^^^ *"y difference in youi plans.V You and Maud are both dying to go to the d^but of his new Mano. Go, by all means— I shall not !" And then she went back to Le FolUt. All Mrs. Galbraith could say was of no avail Miss Lisle's ultimatum had been spoken, all the eloquence of men and angels would not have moved her. Lord Montalien called, and Mrs. Galbraith and Maud went He listened, with his cahn smile, to the story of PauJna's head- strong caprice "As the queen pleases," he said with a shrug; "a litUe • aolitide will do her no harm. In half an hour she will be fran he that she has not come." Would she? The L.jtaAt the carriage drove away Paulina hnq-ed up, flung Le FolUt z.cjo%% the room, and rang a peaS fcr her maid that nearly broke down the beiL ^^ "Quxk, Jane," she <;ried r" dress me in two minutes, an^ make me as pretty as ever you can." '^' w3'"^V^^ '^"^ dancing now.' It was Uttlc^ wild, mischievooi PoJy Mason once more. "Janewasj w-il-trained English lady's- maid, and n othing todrr the canopy oTfieaven ever surprised her. She diftog ^ young mistr-ss in ten minutes, and to perfection. Panlins looked ailicncif »ih» ^Ims, and sr.w that the flowing pi^ silk, 4' .*^ 304 t» wmca Mtss usti. is djsjvsmd •nd Ac long trailing clustei of liKes b her golden haix irerc «qiasue Diamond drops sparkled in her Sarsjsoft UJoao. TOse-silk, her bouquet of hlies and blush roses kj «drbf wk Uhe looked hke a lily herself-tall, shm, Cur. ^ ""' °^ "*** . "Now my opera cloak. Quick, Jane." Jane flung it over her shoulders, and the hotod ovei her )-^«4 ^:^^ !![ ""^ ^" 8^''^^'' «^'^«^«d "P her shi,nm«rin, •Uken train, and swept out of the house with that dancing iidB m hereyes, that provoking smile on her hps. * ^^ bhe tnpped down the front steps and along the lamp-lit street fr^ a few yards. Then she rang the beU ofa large ho Jse/iS ras a»lmittt^ by a footman. 8^ uuuw, ana **w^'^'' -^'^herly at' home?" she asked, fhrl^r" *^"|i"»'" exclaimed a lady, in the act of crossing ^r^\ K ^"k '^"''"8 dress- "here I alone I and at uS hour! /thou'' ^ '«l^*t it J J^ conduct has beer\ " Su Vane, you may usr that word once too often. Neithei M,T.'l t"'"?'!; •^o"'"""'', that you shall .«ep?h^" "^ M.M l,,s|; siiuled quietly and took a seat lA)rd Montalien has laid a coiiiplaint-aKiiiMt me ku h<^ V' *k,"««^ l>i,iv> ■..f,!*^ i iiiif ■i 396 «r wmc^r m/ss l/slj^ /s disposed or. m I 1 w||| never step across his thieshold, or sit at lh« umt toble with him. 1 will not go down to Montalien at Chn^itmas 1 hope M^^is conclusivel " u, »*''?*" ^*^ "**'" ^"^*^ ^" guardian, white with anger - -UntU you do speak to him, sit at the same table with lum and consent to marry him, you shall remaii. in your roow watched. The escapade of last night sJ.all not occur anic Sohfary confinement, perhaps, will teach you obedience, N(nt^ _ Miss Lisle rose at once. He had expected an outbi.rst rk mdignant protest and passion, but who was to judge this giil ? *e got up with a provoking sniile on her face, and walk«?d straight out of the room. In the doorway she paused. '* 1 have only one request to make," she said, still with thai provokmg smile; '^ilea&e doa't feed nje on bread and water I shouldn't like to grow any thinner, and do be kind to pooi Uttle Pandore [her poodlej. For the rest, Sir Vane, 1 hear bu^ to obey." She went up to her rooms. She had three on the sunny southern side— bed used. still with thai L(l and water, kind to pooi le, I hear bu/ >n the su:injf sitting-room, gazines were rk, heaps ol en her maid' r. ler here, an(| ; to lock my ou want aiale face was fluslied, and a pcrpetuil imile hovered exultanU* aboRt hts lips. ' "Everything triumphs with n^e," he cried; " everything | WT»ei. Paulina is my wife I shaU ,have nothing icft to wish foil Ilear-ns ! how I love that girl I Her beauty, and her devilish pfide, and pluck, and oJ[)stinacy^ have bewitched my senses, I believe I would marry her if slie had not one farthing. 1 shaV ^-osper in my love as I have pro8|>ered in my hate I Ah i my biilltant Ctuy Farlscourt, hqiw is it with you fum/" He paced up and down the exqt^site rooni, that diabolical ■nUe of exultaron still wreathing his thin^ sinister Ups. He had but come from a funeral a few hours be^re, die fonera) ol ^Reh^graBd«ttnt^ Mtss.EarlscourL AfterSe tewmT ^e wiB^ bad been read in the lawyer's office, the will that, to the utf^ ol everybody, save the \mtt and Irg»^ull even p^j^\en and \ ... J.! ^ t I chambers announced "Mr. KalcoS" '"* *^'""'" ^^ ^' Lord Mont^hen paused in his walk, and crosMng over to tfie chininey.piece, leaned his arm uiwn it, and I(H)*«t T.M 1? k Guy came tjlowly forward, and stood directly opnosit.; in b,« Jtthe ofher end of tbe mantel. He too wJre'E^.'^A^i ace was very grave, very haggard, very pale F)iTt TVi 2;;S""hi' ■ ?ff "I "'" ^^^^"^'^ -^ -'- ■ hi brlhir 2 fe S^. .f^ r 'f n*r- "'^ ''^^'^'^^ handsomer. nob?er now taJMS uttei dowTifall, beyond all comparisor, than the wca "n, i:ri;;:;rci i'tr^'** ^ ^*°"^^^°- ^^^ *•— ^i-tij; nJlT!"' ^"y:'^^« *>fK»" "'ov/ly. « and so the worst ha. c«nc. IU,T yoa visaed me to congratt»^te n,e, or to ask .nr .^^^ ^or your own great nj^s.ortune ? Who wo«ld lave^CS ^^Ucourt ,,ouJd have had the heart to dasiiSerit iSX ^ T^ nipckinir tone, the exultant look.^, indew:,^,^^^ ';w/f, a»-the I I hate him fore, r virish lask, and leU lim have his arrely taken ooiii of the over to tlic ' full at his :ilace. He h^ nfan he* ore hirn, in sitt! 10 kiim, Jiimii.^, hjs a?k ci/cles broih.«r m) "bidr, nun le wealtn), ii^lscou/t hucntne, 'ny sympft. vt thought erit hei l» '■^ -1 « -*ii- *%. -» ???r!!'^*?P^''' ^"^^ "^ '«>^««*« "of it. I have ^ bownu,choLir.rTwol«trr'^^"°'"r* "^"^^ Kou why I Aa:rrcJ„;^ J^^ ^^^^ °' ^^»«^«= ^o^t Shall J teM ^^Xllir^l^r^J'^'r'} ^^n» on the W of you, ' tTknowr- ^e*^ "^'-* »-'ah* .as.-on .nistressef when you ^g^llLT" "* '" ^^' -^^ ^ nan's, I believe n ml i^f,? xZ/""'^'? '^ '"'"•^"^ "I lCDr.Ddrel who has lJdwL„! ;!? '^'^ **• ^^^ •'C thi . Hei. aic (Jilt mv lord . \ i k '^ ^' ""'^'^^rromise of inmiage. . ^ w*r dua'j beb[iyaL I repeat, if you have one spark of manhood left, yo« vilf atone for the wrong you have dune her." *' As how ? " with h)s sneering smile ; " by a real marriage i make the bailiff's daughter my i«ady Montalien ? May I a^ to selC I .suppose? You are not mad enough lo try and rema n in Kngland }" Vtxxy bowed his head in assent, and turned to go. '♦ Pray do no*: be m sucn haste- -1 have not half finished whai I d ^sire to say to you. Have you chosen as yet the place o£ f AU outlawry }" •• ITie j>lacc of my outUwry ii a matter Uiat '^ no way con cems you" gBj " Very true ; and what does it signify— SRerica, Australia. Algc.ia — it is all the same. But don't you feel a curiosity to know how you came to be disinherited ? Most men would. 1 think, and you were suth a favorite with old Miss Earlscourt, as with all women, young and old, indeed" \ " Through your brotherly kind^es^ Frank, no doubt" •' Quite right— through my brotherly kmdness. Kut for me fOU would to-day be heir to our lamented maiden aunt's large fortune, able to snap your hn^ers in the faces of the j^ws, and . marry Paulina Lisle yourself, il you desired it She was ready ' to forgive you, seventy times seven, to pay your debts to the end of the cha|)ter, and leave you all when she died — but f forgive and condone, but not the luring from home, under pre- tence of inairiage, and ruin of a youns and virtuous girl, whos* &ther all his life had loved and served you and yours I I went :o her two weeks ago, my brilliant, careless Guy, and 1 told her this. I made her believe this, the only thinjg that could have ruined you ; and that night she tore up the will that left you alt •-you hear — all I— and made me her heir I " He pausei. Satan himself, triumphing over a lost soul, tould not have looked more dialnjlically exultant For 'luy, le listened, his elbow on the marble mantel, his calrr, pale (ace Ificioved, his eye? fixed steadfastly on his o^'y brothef ■ fac^^^^>o ** Vo» did this," he said, slowly. <* I know you alwayr haitodi «c» but 1 did tiot— ^^ 1 did not t hink, base as I k n ow you tft_ with ^, ffiaTyou were cat>able of diis. Frank," with a suddei ^nge of tone, " will you tell me why you have hated w} I Mve been a wocthlets lellow, but 1 never injured y0u," 'ili^XiiSSiAaiai^ ijAm . \ J93 "-^ fntW WAY TO f AY OLD DEBTS.^ 1J^.J^ ""*'" ^^^^ Montalien ground out, with v'^te* Ottb. "Why, curse you, I believe 1 have hated you* frung person here who says she muA •ee you. 1 have remonstrated — " iJ^^T^'^^'^h '^^^ y°""8 P«^" had had the audac 2^ to follow huI^ yd stood now uixjn the threshold. It wu ' 1''^** "^^ <'°' Robinson ; I will see this woman f Go r The groom ot the chambers vanished, closing the door after rS: * n "5^l?'"8 the heavy curtain of crimson cloth that .•nectuaUy shut in every sound ; and Alice, wan as a spirit cov ^ VZ^^ *"?*' ^^ *'*'•' ^y*^' *"** ghastly face, stood befon ij«rd Montaheu in all hit splendor. His face was liter JU bUck with rage. He hated^her, he loathed her, he had forbid den her in the most emphatic manner ever to write to him oc ^Wtnide upon him , to d 9S as yot i^kewhen hfi passion was greatest — "how 4are ?cu here?" ' She was trembling with colA She was mixorablf dad Mni fctigued, but he otfered her no chair, did not biH her approach the fire. She remained standing near the dr, hei facty awfully cor])se-like^ turned u|Kin him. •• Why have you come here ? " he thundered " Spade al •BGC — why have you dared to come here ? " " I have come for justice, Ixird Montalien. I mm your wife, and you leave me to starve I I am your wife, and «n outcait from home and friends! FrankI Frank 1"— her voice rising to a shnll cry — •• I have not seen you for six weeks — I had to pome here — 1 should have gone mad or died if i had not come." "It is a pity you did not !" he bruully answered. "Go road and die— the sooner the better ; but don't come tonnent- ing me with the sight of your miserable, white face." Shie clas|>ed both hands over her heart and staggered u thougl. he had given her a blow ; her lips moved, but no sotmd C£|ne forth. "\Vhat do yon mean by coming here -for justice, as you call it ? " he went on. •• Justice means money, 1 sup(X)se. Well^ here are ten guineas — take them, and pay your bill, and be gon^ ! " She rallied again ; after an effort or two words came from * her aahen lips : * "i came for justice, and I must have it—I am your wife~ four lawful, wedded wife— why, then, are you trying to maiTf I'auhna I. isle?" • * ^ He strotle a step towards her, then stopped. " VVho has told yea this ? " he cried, with suppressed fiiry. " Mr. Siedman. I ipet him to-day — he told me you wert maged to marry Paulma Lisle, and would many her. Frank, It must not, shall n«t be I 1 can bear a great deal, but nof Uut. 1 love Paulma; she shall never be ruined as 1 havi been. You shall own me before the world as what I am^ your lawfiil wife, or 1 will go to her and tell her alL" There was that in hci face, in her eyes, in her tone, a firm- oesK, a resolution, he had never seen there before. The oiiahed •oinc had turned ; he knew she meant what sl;e had — id — ii Vou wi ll ^ thi s 1 " he exctainied, hoar sely^ - "= ** I iweai 1 will I My heart is br^n, my life mined— that M ^ hope— yoo hate me, and wi^^cast me oft Bat ify ^!mii:iMmi,..^. ..^.„.„,^,„^,..,,..„^,...^, '11 U I 294 "A NEW WAY TO PAY OLD DEBTS." shall be saved— my good name shall be saved. Unless be- fore this year ends, you promise to proclaim me as your wife, I will go to Paulina Lisle and tell her all." " Then go ! " he buf st forth, in his fury ; " go— weak, drivelling, miserable fool! My wife ! Why, you.idiot, you . have never been that for one hoor, fpr one second. The man who married us was no clergyman, but a worthless, drunken vagrant, who entered into tlie plot with Stedman and me. My wife! Faugh ! I was mad ertougli, but neverthalf mad enough to do that ! Now you know the truth at last— no more my wife than any street-walker in London. Go to your friend, Mr. Stedman, and he will indorse my words." There was a chair near her— she grasped it to keep from falling, and in. the height of his mad fury he had to shift away from the gaze of the large, horror-struck eyes. " Not his wife ! " she whispered ; " not his wife !" "Not my wife, I swear it ! I did not mean to tell you until I had got you quietly out of the country, but as well now as later. And mark you -if you go near Paulina Lisle —I will— kill you!" The last words came hissing through his set teeth.* " Not his wife," she repeated once more, in a sort of whisper ; " not his wife ! " She turned blindly toward the door, groping like one in the dark. He lifted the curtain, and opened it for her. "Get a cab, and go home," he said. "I will call upon you in a day or two, and see what can be done. I will provide for you, have no fear of that. Here is the money — go back quietly and wait until I come." She did not seem to hear or heed him. She never noticed the money he offered. She went forward in the same blind way, the servant looking at her curiously, and passed from the luxurious wealth and light of those costly rooms to the bitter, drifting snow-storm without. "So much the better,'' muttered his lordship; "if she perish in the storm it will save me a world of trouble. Half-past nine ! The devil's in it, if I cannot go to Paulina now ! " The devil was in it— he was apt to be, horns and hoofs and all in the same room with Francis, Lord Montalien> Before his wr aps were on, the door w a s flung open for the third nme, atid Mr. Stedman announced, "Didn't expect to see me, old boy!" his visitor said, swag- ,^e^hi|[ in with easy familiarity. "Going out, too, to c^U upoft f "^ NEW WAY TO PAY OLD DEBTS,* a9S die lov%iy raulina, no doubt. Well, I won't detain you many minutes. So let us sii down and be comfortable. HTut a coiey crib you have here, Frank, and what a lucky fellow yom are I All Miss Karlscourt's money left to you, insteail of thiyt unfortunate beggar, Guy. AdkI now the rich Miss Lisle m going to many you, they say. It's better to be bom lucky than rich, bui when a man's both lucky and rich, what an en- TiAble mortil he is ! Ah ! the world's a see-saw. and some of aa go up and sc .ne of us go down I How comfortab'?! t»t3 cow 4rc is such a n.^ht— the very dickens of a night,. 1 cih tdl you. By the by, whc do you think 1 met out there just noi^ in thf storm ? " He looked cunningly at Ix>rd Montalien, but Ixird MonU fien ditt not spcik. His face was set in an angry frown. *• That poor, .ittle, unfortunate Alice of yours. 1 put her in a cab— she didr t seem to know where she was going, and paid the driver to tal e her home. , 1 believ*;, in my soul, she would have perished b fore morning." '• I wish to H ;aven she had and you with her," burst out thi badgered peer. " What the deuce brings you here, Stediuan J Don't you see Im going out?" "Now, that IS mhospitable," murmured Mr. Stedman, re proachfuUy ; •♦ a nd to such a fnend as 1 have been to you, toa Didn't you tell me I had a claim upon your gratitude yotr would never foigel when I chose to call upon you? The time has come. 1 leave England, in three days, to seek my fortune m Australia; and I have called u|X)n you to-night, Lofd Montalien, for a check for inree thousand pounds." l^rd Montalien laughed scornfully. " Three thousand demons, perhaps ! " he said. " No, ray lord, one of them I find quite enough to deal with It once. 1 want three thousand pounds, and 1 mean to hava It before T quit this room ! " " You are mad or drunk — which ? " "Neither, most noble lord. Your i«a«t ii iratlli Am ♦mney." " What f ecret ? " with • scornftii stare. "That Alice ^Wanten, the bailiff's datuiitef. is your lawfaL wedded wife I " V TT, ' ^ _.>* *(.■ ^ — Mr. Stedman looked tip at him widi an eroltaat unife ot ^wer. *' Tluu Alice Warren^ whom ten minutes sfo yon tuim^ se i^ vij*«i^' .S^AO^M ;se~ ! I u 196 *^A NEW WAY TO ^AY OLD DEBTS* frwn your doors to perish in ir.c anow, is your fawfiil ^^A 4 wife, a. fast « the Archhishop of Canterburi^, li^n^T^* Clergyman of the Church of England cLn n"2^e her I yi^? *' ^ «xr.t, .ny lord I You thought I would beyoJr eat W." ■ony had been performed under the roof of St. (Jelree',!nJ! .?r^ he «,d. "why have you done thi,?" ' '^*- " And if I do n6t ? " friend .he wi«"iV'Si. oT: STcTirSr " ^^^1' 'My promise, my lord, which I will i,^ ri~ ^ ^ ^JL7jjr:;z ^^-"^ -^ '^ ^ -« ^ ^^J^'. my lord, and CueweU. I wiU deuin ,0. » He took hii hu and appioached the dmir Tl— k- 4_ .j t,^- pfWSlUi^ *''i ^p' H v«dd«4 ;nst and j 1 2^fai/u •cat's-paw. ▼ork, and r inifftake (1 the cere ge's, flan ike, easily Uien knew atlJy pale. I my lord, thought I ke. The d the bat* for three «•#«. CAMILLA'S BUSBASD* »» ;".'^' And then he was alone. Alone f No ! Unseen tempters, Jark spirits, filled the room. He threw off his oveicoat, and walked up and down. Hour after hour struck — it wau lea§ past midnight, and still he never paused in that ceaseless walk. Hour after h«iur wore by— morning dawned, white »nd cold, ovet Ij«*.i4,- aL. Hirf ..-,!}, 'J!«»- 9^ ^CAMILLA'S J/VSBAKD* ^rd had noi the bar3net whisked hi. whole fiunfl) back M ^^^^(^nll^^i "^^ by their world, but Mrs. Atcherly, £e Md of n!^i„S?^ * country-seat at Twickenham ; and 6n Jul S,r Vane ruliit etherise/ •iiter '^eU U^r^v % '''^P^l^ >PP«^n to call." he said to hi, M^ GiL^th^, ^^I"; '^' ™».i.yfirs., and »as told, u, VVMthe list of Miss Lisle's enormities never lobe fin«lr .^f^n^J,erL"^i^„:Soi".J'■-^^^^^^^^^ » oS ''L'Sd!"'^?^'^ "'S- *'!;"'™"'' *»' *« «""ot greet h«n;o:r,^„^^itT.X":rr.;e'ret!.' '" '° ^-'- rfZr P'"'™"^".f''' ""U in a voice that rang, "enouri, *e ?t nV'™ "° '^''<'."' "^ "'"PP"' «"<) I"" to fed, a° voi «e 6t--no poor, timid, spinlless creature, to be tm?m^ «»^J!^iS:errhe^'.'J^ "'«■"»« .0 Uk. he, to • -H- «»« gmupMtbelid I Snei. capable or anythim. She AaJ -CAMILLA'S HViBAlTD.^ S99 Thr om know Ker destination until we are fairly started— Elcanof mU fabricate some story to satisfy her. Once at 'The Firt ' 1 as lonely and desolate as a tomb; and I will take care she does not pass the gates. You will be with her day and oiSJ Thy then^'""' *"" "*"*'''' '° '"*^' ^^^ ^^«« "V*^ jJvf.%i'*^?''°"'^"*'^''^*' "*'*"' °'^*>»^ SheshaUonii leave • The firs' as my wife." ' He rose as he spoke, and Paulina flitted away. ^ In her own roonls, she sank down white and cold. What nomble plot was this they were concocting against hei } Ther month!7h^'^ ""^'r" ^^' ^* "^^^ »*''"' f°^ "months and months that dreary house Mrs. Galbrauh ever spoke of with a shudder. And Lord Montalien was to be her constant c3 pamon, and by fair means or foul, she was only to leave it hu mfe Her heart grew sick within her. Her own will might be strong, but that of those two men was stronger. Cpris oned there-fn^dless-:%how could she hope to outwit them ? ru k1 ^;" "'^^^'' g? *« 'The Firs'," she cried, clenching her lit tie hands frantically; "I will die first!" ^ What should she do? She was-for the first time in her bi^ve hfe-Kombly afraid. What should she do ? Tell Mrl Atcherly, and ask her to help protect her? Sir Vane was her guardian, and what was more natural than that he should choose to spend the winter nith his family down at his place in aI ino *■ r^' coiild not, dare not, help her. Should hio ^r^^\"n^*'"- ^^l °'^. ''^'"8? Alas! she had only two or hree shillings m the wide world, and a London detec- tive would find and bring her back in two days. And Sir Vane Z»?f/'h °^/"y^hing-he might takeout a writ of lunacy Kf }T^ u ^"' ^t' "P '" "^ mad-house, as he had dohe lid^ n,- h? ' ^h*»-^hat should she do? She spent a da, *nd a mght, and another day, almost maddened by doubt ani fear. How she hated and abhorred these two men I By the ?;!!;i f ^ e'jening of the twenty-second came, she had wrought nerself i p to a pitch of excitement that made her ready for any- !k I'. 1^ anythmg under the canopy of heaven to escape Ae fete that threatened her. Something must be done ^ niffht. she thought as she dressed herself for Mrs. Atcherlv'i „^ ,°*'^ '^' "ot the least idea what, but somsthinir oi««t W ^ » "S Z.^ ''•'"• "'»• "ig "^ -» ^ y» ^CAMflLUtS SVSBANB* 9ie wu thinking this as her maid dressed her-^thinkini li Ai they drove rapidly through the cold, moonlit night— thmKinp it as she entered Mrs. Atchrrly's pleasant rooin% .liU'ef) with Ffr«uuin|. people. She was looking beautiful in a dress of silver- d1u£ moire, with, diamonds sparkling in her ^old hair, on het marble throat and arms. She was pale as marble herscU, 1)ut there was a feverish &re in her eyes that told of tht; tinreiH ^thin Sii Vane, Lord Montalien, even Maud, attended this party CO Witness the thearricals. Bills printed on white satin were passe^t around. Th<* play wa3 " Camillds Husband" " Ca- milla" by Miss Atcherly, and the young artist, who is the hep* of the piece, by Guy Karlscourt. '• His last appearance on any stage," laiighed his brother to Sir Va,ne, " before he goe^ forth into the outer darkness, to be seen and heard of no more. He was always a sort of |»et with those people. He has sold out, you know, and must k-a^e England within the week, or the Jews wnll be down upon lurn, and all his brilliancy, and all hjs beauty, will ft wasted sweet- ness on the desert air of a debtor's prison." " How you do hate your brother," Sir Vane thought ; " and you do not possess even the common decency to conceal it." Perhaps many of those who read this have seen the play called '* Camilla's Husband," A young lady, persecuted by a tyrannical guardian, mak^s her escape, and asks the first man ^e meets to marry her. 1 he first man is a strolling artist, who consents, marries her, rsccives a purse of gold, is told he is never to see or seek het again, and she disappears. Of course it ends, as it ought to end, in ihe artist saving her life, and eventually winning hei tove and herself. , 'Ihe cjrtain arose md the play began. Miss Atcherly, beautifully dressed, and for an amatew fOim^ actress s|)eak.ng loud enough to be heaH by the firsr three tows oi auditors, at, least, is received with applause. Mi. Earlscoujt, as the .lucky artist, looking wDntierfully handsome in a suit of black velvet and gold — appropriate cos^ tttine for a |)enniless painter — speaks so that everybody can hear his deep tenor tones, and comes forwaid to the foot- lights, trilling a song. Nature had given hmi every lequisitQ for ^ first-rate acto r ; a darkly splendid ftice,^ tall, com mand ijKg Tinn, a deep, rich voice, and )>erfectly natural aitlon. r*fo Orofeiuonal actor could have pla/ed better th«o he ; hi* geiu«t m.,.. J.'»'*,^ti*-i s^* *^ '•CAMILLA'S m^^J^A* \ 301 ereti tranned up the pthen in their parts, ancj^gave Mil i Atch erly coqtm^ f o And her voice. . Scdres there remenib^tri^ foi jreara %ftet, how hit, looked that night— the last night, as ihej thought, forever of his old life, li was all over ; tlie crash hat) come — his briJIi^t Bohemian existence was at an end ficcver." Outlawry — exile — disgUce was his 4Jor^on, and h: stood bcforf tiiem, looking handsomer than ever, arid acting as thoigh 11 bad not a care i|) the world. Paulina Lisle sat watching the progress of t^e play, led awaj irom the great trouble of her life in its interest. How well _h«^ played, she thought, how magnificently he looked I tft»w like^ "Camilla's" fate was to hw-tjwn 1 Oh I ifjA^cou'd but cut the Gordian knot of her difficulties by asking somebody to marry her too T^ The hour that made her a wife, n.ade her a free woman, out of the power of Sir Vane and Lord Montalien, and her fortune her own ! She did not want to be married — ahe was not a whit in love with any man alive, but if she cerbly ; and when, in the last mommt, . he opens his anns, and his wife falls in^o them, the whole huUM bui^ forth mto a tumult of applausw, in the midst of wluch ^ curtain fell, and the play was over. * How well he acted," a voice near Paulina said, as a young officer of the Guards arose with a militaiy friend, "for a man irretrievably mined His debts are enormous ; and his ol^ aunt hu died, and left all to that cad of an elder brothei. Wl^ tpity the days of Faust and Mephistopheles are over I Gu} ""l&u-lscourt-wourdlieTrhislourtolRe Evil One, 1 verily believe — ~- >« -•« < without a moment's hesiution^ for twenty thousand poundf He nmit leave England ii»-a day or two^ and fevcver/' V- If'W' ^ " CAJH/lLjes MVsJtANb* h.^ •*Tt*^'!f^? ^'^ • ^* •''* "8»^»-»roken words h«< beec heard and heeded In that instant, as she l«tened. U JftSS •pon Pjuhna Uke a hgt.tnm» gleain. Guy P:arls^ourt iSTthe ^-tbe man to mamr. a J save hdr. 'Ae inan to take JuS OCT fv,rtune and leave her forever. .«^*' ??* "?* nioments in our lives when the sanest of ai fLx^ si "^^ ^T' 'J "*^ °"^ ^' '""^^^ mon.ents lii r*ulma. She «,«// have been mad, her brain was half.' ^he instrument, the au / Xturntn^'V" r' ^'' ^°^ ^ *^*^^^^'"' ^^"'nUated 'price, «r S'^ ^^/^"^'''"g'y »*^y^| »*«t /rom his admirers. Tnd saw ZL^fZrT"^i^'^^°''- ^'^'y '^^ ^"^^^^^ The deadly tCi*il -wa^^'r iS ?"^"« l^nghtness of her eyes, what diS "What is It? "he asked She caught his arm. " ' ''*"» yo". ' she said, in a breathlesiiDrt of way »e out of this room." -^noiway. !^^°!rr'*?;*"'^'^' *^*'"' '^^ ^^'^ her hand within iS bt boud H,,, ^He ^a^the fiiend of the house, and he khew it .ri^H ijght^ ijjjg n.oonlight, filled tiiis small room. "'jhW^'^th perfume. He dropficd a vol '~**^y, ant| turned tc her. "^^'gj^uncommon was coming, iie the bi^ng lights in^h er eyei rnfnwy lit buud HI well: A lowers n,^_ vet curtaii^^ "Now?"^ knew not wl She look Ktened vSlf^JT^^**.'**' •" *^« fi^s' stage of a braipfcyer? - VoM V^oing to leave England ?" S»e asked abn^Uy : sur <% t' : ^i ''LAMiiLjts m;sMAim,'» "Iim,* ,--^ -V wotid lam foing to leek mjr Ibrtnat bk >a will never return to Eaglaiid — i^erer, never I " "N.ever, in all probability." ' ^^"Pien what can it matter to yodi It will make your fax.'. •o worse, and it will save me.. You shall have hal/ my fortnot - The Firs' — that desolate, abandoned' old manor-house, on the Essex coast ? They are going to im- prison me there until 1 consent. They will do with me as was done with njy mother, compel me to mArry a man 1 abhor. Ap4,;there is only one way of escape." ^^^'jiind that is to marry some one cbe." He was entering into the spirit of the thing now. Mad es capades of all sorts nad been the delight of his life. What (Xmld be better than to'finish his career in England by the mad- dest escapade of alL He understood her as few men would have done, and (Htied her intensely in'^this hour of her despeia^ tkm. " MiM Lisle, he laid, "will yon marry me?" He Lad spoken the words for her I She gave a s«>.■ 964 ■ '•CAU/LLA'S HUSBAND** •*T«e first is easy enough— the second— well, net so pleuAAl . Still, to oblige a lady m distress—" ^^ There was a small Bible bound in goJo and rearl, on he U We. She snatched it up and held it ot«n to hi.ii "Swear," she cried; "swear, by ill you huld'sacr-d, ne#« to molest me, never to claim any ri^^'t as my husbar d ue«K conie what may to betray my secret, to leave lue at A* thoid «*H)r. bwear I " He took the book without a second's hesiution. and :ouch«^ It witti his lips. . •*! swear I" he said. '''« She drew a long breach of relief. The cold dew was sta^dina SJC*^ "•"* *!!' ^""^ '*''"* ^^''''- She sank down in a chair and tod li^ face IT her hands, with a dry, choking sob. The youna ♦Poor child!" he said very softly; " it is hard on you. And now — when IS It to be ?" "They mean to start for 'The Firs,' by the earliest train, on Christmas eve. Once there, all is lost." ^,"Then we must be beforehand with them. Gad I what » toiumph «t will be over Frank I" He laughed as he sfn.ke- r^med, and exiled, Guy t:arl9court could still laugh. "Let u, *T'a jT yo"?« .manned in a church m* this city, Miss Lisle »t day-dawn, Chnstnias eve?" ' " Not in a church ! such a marriage in a church would seen a mockery— a sacrilege— anywhere else."- . "Then, by Jove! I have it ! What do you say to a mar^ nage before a registrar ? You walk into an HtRce, very much like any other bffice, and you see an official, very much like any other official, and a tew words are said, a little signrng. ind countersigning, and the thing is ov^r. A marnige before % registrar between the hours of eight and twelve in the forenooo. rith oi»en doois, in the presence of two witnesses, ^c. etc AKthing can be njore simple, and you will kav^ the office at legally mamcd in Ihe eye of the law (what y^u want, I take it) as though a dean and chapter had done the business. There rit w If* ^ * ""'' ^^''■"« ^'^"^ 3^°"^ age i i will arrange that. Will that suit you?" • ''J^^^^^^y- ^y wa'd »"" accompany me, and I will go di wctly 2^"^ *»e" Jhe ceremony is ove r, and ^ell them then mat I am out of theii power -at last. If ycMi wilt call at the home, m mnnU «f k^.... !„._* «•:- t/, _!.' .. ***• » . "- — ~" t~"».i m,K tmax. «| jrwi will Cail at tlM bpase, a couple of hours lat:#, Sir Vane ihaU pay over to yoi Ihf Mim 1 have promised." ' *CAMILlJPS &USBAND* SOS He wiifled slightly. '•i sijdl call Miss Lrt€. And now as to the hour W« uost he vcy earlv, in order to be beforehAnd with theta 3*9 between eigl.: and nine ? Can you bef ready so early ?" ♦♦1 could be ready at midnight to ^ve myself from yow brother I At eight o'clock, I and my maid will steal from th# )9ase, and meet you wherever you say." '•My cab shall be m waiting at the comer. The c oacnm a w nil do for the other witness. Is your maid to be trusted ?" " I think so when— well paid." . ^ »,. " And you will not change your mind— you will not fiul ? He wjotild not have had her fa J for worlds now. The ro nance, the piquancy of the adveniure, fired his imagination. Of the future, in that hour, he never thuught ; just at present it looked a capital, practical joke. "Am 1 likely to faU?" she cried, bitterly; ''Mr. Earte- court," turning to him with sudden passion, " I wonder what you tiank of me I " •• 1 underitand yoo I " he answered respectfidly. " Desper ate cases retjuire " Have you no regard for your good name, Paulina," she de- mandc-d, drawing her away, " that you hold private interviewf with that most disreputable young man ? 1 think it is Ome w# "Tsre going home." Pailmalaughed— a wild, reckless laugh. ■ ^ \ •• 1 think so too, Mrs. Galbraith. I want to go *>«»«• ft! IS. Galbraith gazed at her in real alarm. She looked any thing but sane or safe at that moment •• You shifl go home, Paulina," she answered, soothmglj, • Sit here while I go in ssarch of my brother." Two. hours later, Paulina l.isle was safely back in the quid •r hex own room, standing pledged to become the wife of Gnj -E a riac ou rt ^m the momir^of Cbmm ja a jaa^ ^ ^„^^^ Difiiue evftr wtNiMo contiBCted. ■:m '^^i&:mMtst^^iiM3ii&ieij-l^Jm&^kA^itMii»^^ S06 ON cbxistmas evm. CHAPTER DC OW CHRISTMAS 1V«. TceSnil'^h^!; *" ^^ *"8y •edging*, on the nijw p« It was snowing without, and was verv cdM V3o thaT^ S^^^ fcit anger, or sorr. tmttsrMA:^ 'ivA. W I ind, mthout a worjd of warning, Lor^ Montalien itood oefiMw her. She had never thought to see him again in thii world Sht looked lip with a low, strange cry. " Frank ! " *' Yes, Alice, Frank I Frank come to beg jroiur paidoa Ibf the cruel, thoughtless words he spoke the other night Fraiik :0m'; back to tell you he loves you, and to ask you to forghr* iitn for what he said." " There is no need I am not your wife," she answere'*, in »^b^, dull way. " I had rather you had not come. I ^y , liplf to see PauKna, and die in jMsace." "' "You want to see Paulina? And why?" ^"'^ * " To tell her all — to save her from you, Frank ! Poor Polly ! She used to be so bright, so happy, you know, always laughing and singing; it would be a pity to break ^ heart. Mine is broken ; but then it doesn't so much matter about me." Still the same slow, dull voice — the same mournful apathy ; her eyes fixed on the fire, her hands outstretched. " I shan't live long, Frank, to trouble anybody ; but I shaO live long enough to tell Paulina. She will be sorry for me, I think ; she used to be fond of Alice- They used to call us thfl two prettiest girls in S|)eckhaven — only think of that, Frank Only think if they could see me now I" She laughed — a low, faint laugh, that might have curdled hei listener's blood. He bent down and looked at her closely — his face set and stem, though his voice, when he spoke, was forced in'o gentleness. Had her trouble turned her brain ? •• I will tell her 1 am not your wife, and she will go down nome, and tell father and mother when I am dead, and |>eihapi ihtn they will try and forgive me. I've not been a very bad spr]— I'm not ai'raid to die. It will be such rest — such reft!" She drew a long, tired sigh, and leaned her head on hei ♦anW"g away from •er. Can you be ready as early as eifiht o'clock or ^Llu^ fore It, to-morrow morning ?" * ' °' *'^'^° ^ " VVhenever you come for me Frant t ^,- k j ^ country-girl are ap, ,o be%hal, Xe ,he„ ,o " ^-"^ ■Wllher wno» morning, when I shall call for »o "• "^ "**' He left her humedlywith the words. And Alice alon. t-i. *n™ «d bo,ed her face upon her handCand tanS^^ •** wber^Meny Chmmias." hut i ^^..^TT-tril^.r*^ ^-L T;;^^J;"KLV J^?P«c awoke m the great «ity t© -i«h^ .s.,;.-;^. -..*«»• :':»■,■£. f^' mger, u 1 niysel/ mH isps- n't deceivo rath. Van vel. and ai >'ou, and J u doim to et, Alici." >s« and lav He shrank ' hurriedly iway from r even be- uly. Ch foa aigain, you say this poor She was her one ateis are ucd if we i^ draw- noney to e to the >re eight ne knelt 1 (rod— fr«t do heavei good a ell seal w eve. to w»«If= g Ihnp ON IM^ISTMAS MFM. .^ „ * 309 mere was one happier than this poor creature, in h*. 1.1-1. own. siuinTtherX' """'^ '^^"^^ *"^ '^°P^"°« »>"» her She gave a little cry of delight ••Ooodby^iMrs. Young," she said- "an#» »Ko«v * your kindness when I wis ill." ' ^ ^^^^ ^"^ ^« She ran do^n stairs and out of the hou«s Th- 1 j, Wd and Mri«, he, „„ b»«d. hir„.'"Xd ,2^„ ."^".S toUmg ei^h, ., I„ qui„ed ,hc Strand He d^e^;^°"'' «.i5 J r^ .1^ ' '~"^'*c*» a remote and foreotten trart >. m'rJrs^fc;;^ '"^ « - ^- deLr^^^L"; "you'^nrirt getTu"^°« "^^ "*"" '^^ »^^ »»--'•• »»e ^^ '. He sprang out himself and gave her his hand to de^o-nrf They were close upon some descried brick fitlS. IT? iJ made a n.otion for her to follow him! ^"''^^^^'^ ^^ ^ A^i^^rZT "' "^^ ^^°"^" *^^ -^' -*^- » --Pl-ce f I le Kcmcd strangely familiar with the desoUte locality If. l^ost an unposstbUity. She shrunk' awayTZil' n^eS btI'rii!,°^i.!.L'^'' y*'^ '" * <^htened voice. «a 4an't «, »io atir hideous place. Oh. mv c;nH i.v,„r7 u «"* |oingt>do?" ^ ^ ^'^ *'*^' '^^^^ "^e f«i "7>A.*r/«r/k/r /--you fool-you babbler I • he awwewi I / ■•: .:',.^ Sto ON CBMISTMAS AVE. in a horrible troice between his ^ * ^.f "'*' "^ ? "''^""^ "«J d~th been install toeou. ? No J by a -mighty effort she half msed herselJ^ clasped her anns aroupd his knees. "c«cii, ana ^ Frank ? " she whispered, " Frank I " and* ths old death lik* &m'::2„'^7S^i^"'^^'"«^y'^ "Krankl-ySfh^ W»e-J mc-and 1 loved you so-I_loved-you-i> I Ok God, have mercy on me— and forgive—" *«« . un, She fell down with the sentence imfinished— dead tbe"cLt«t7emh*o7th1f^ "" ?^^^ '^' ^^ ^'^^X «to S w2[e hnrkf o " ^J^*^' PJ^^ "P ^'^'^ ™^»>''*h and heap, « waste bncks again. Thousands of i)eople might oass th*t T^A T' !^^ "^^^^ »*>"^«^ ^his frightful plac^^ ^ ^' .«« ?? *" '^ **"* *«*•" •" *»»« •'g»'t of day, with the white to breakfast at ten at the house of S^Vane Ch^teril 7^ :^dT;^:. r:szi ""' "^^ '^ ^- ^^--^ noSr Jrc^hfr ^r^ ^°^*^ »way_^ve furiously until the r^enL h^ste^^„d\;"?*if"^""^>'" »«»^"' '^'^^ »^* ^KCHcu nis speed, and at half-past mne was chanirinff hi* dress m his own hixurious, firelit rooms. ' • changing hw He felt neither sorrow, nor remorse, nor fear Alice haA ^n ^ obstacle i„ his way, and he had relnived that JbJS^ fcl^ '^f ™«st miprobable diat the body rfiould ever £ fcund, oi If found, the deed ever traced to him " £nVr JeTaV^^X ^S^^^l ^ -;*,? ^ SJS^^fof^^ef ^c^^ ^^' " ^« sunerUuSiS! « AJi^??«« ""^ handsonje, high-spirited Pylina I " he tho««ht JJMLttg^succee withme,andioihali^| U i^^^ i # '^ ?A ' ,) ' \ - -—-J — 1 ■ . '\ » ' I • s >»* • , ( 1 t ^ ■ ..:..r*.. ■ ■ ' "^rx' ' ,. ■ \- *■ • ■■1 ■1 ■ wmt HI m^ And beibrt' aih, a report, been instaa- I herself and >Id death-^jLc k — you have a— «o I Oh, id. iy away into ih and heaps ht pass that ith the white Vith bowed e, was to be e. He wis arteris, and i^e enou^ Iy until the n ; then he lianging his Alice had that obstar Id ever be f, the bri-Je re of relief HiitultleMlr >e thonfht ktmf roG». ^^ ' — — "^ ^SVCtt A MARRIAGE N&VER ITAS MMFOMM* ||| CHAPTER X. "SUGH A MAD MAltlUAOK NIVIR WAS BKrOKS." IT her chamber-window, very early in the mot ninf d that same stormy Christmas awe, looking out at tlu whirling, fast-falling snow, stood Paulina. Through ^e gray, chill light her face shone marble-j*ite, mar ble-cold. Her lips were set in that hard line of iroc resolution they could wear at times, and her sombre blue eyei looked straight before her at the storm-drifts. The hour had come that was to witness the crowning recklessness of her impulsive . life. The same defiant spirit that had long ago made her pass ' a night alone in the Haunted Grange, andgo to the picnic in inale attire, spurred her forward still. During the day and thv light that were gone, she had not oncerlhought of hesitating »f hn-ning back. To falter irresolutely in any course, whethei for good or bad, was not like Paulina. Come weal, come woe, •he would go straight on now to the end. She was thinking «his as she stood there, her heart full of bit terness and anger against the two men who had driven her tc tiiis last desperate step. Mrs. Oalbraith had brought her home from Twickenham, fuU t/f wonder and apprehension. What did that interview in the boudou- with Guy mean ? With any other man it would have meant a proposal of marriage, but marriage and a ruined spendthrift were not to be connected together. During the day and night that had followed Paulina had been ceaselessly watched. There was no knowing what scch a girl might «^. And Paulina had laughed scornfully at the surveillance. "What are you afraid of, Mrs. Galbiaith?" she asked] ^diat I'll run away to America, or the anfpodes, with Gui Barlscourt ? He hasn't asked me, though I should decided!}\ prefer it to the sort of life I have been leading lately." Late in the evening of the night preceding this snowy mom- big, she had spoken to her maid for the first time. The girl, as I have said, was a well-trained English domestic, otherwise a bwum auiofiU^OB, only hearing to obey. Thi< gvl, howe¥e^ happened to be attached to her young mistress. With the prmcely spirit Nature had given her, Miulina had been lavisii •f prescnto and gradous words, and the girl's heart was woo, » A'V,* .vjv, $il •SUCIt A MARRUOB NEVER IVAS BEPOItE^ " Jane," Mies Lisle said, " I want you to do me a great ser Tice, and more, l^-want you to promise, on oath, never to re 1 w ?^i? any human creature until 1 give you leave. Dob'i look frightened— I am not going to ask you to commit atrima, ©nly to keep a secret. Are you willing to ^wear?" Jane's curiosity was rou&ed, but still sl)c hesitated "Of course. I don't ask you to do me this favor for nnth 5P \fi3s l-jsle went on. "What is done for nothing in thit irorld, I wonder? Yoii are engaged to a young man in WaJei. I think you told me, and only waiting to save enough to be «».-ned. Do what I want ttMJUy, and to-morrow 1 wiU give fou three hundred pounds." AH Jane's scruples gave way at this magnificenj offer- you change ihose^btatlTdoti^Mt s dreadfiil bad lurk to bif raarried in black." INulin* laughed bitterly. •' If i wore crape from hMd t^ •3m»»i-f>. .4 Afl.-.J%t.Si4&i'*r->, Miss ^SVCB A MARRIAGE NEVER WAS BEFORE." 31] foot It would be the fittest attire for my wedding. Put then on, Jane, at Once." She had on a dr<;ss of soft, noiseless black silk — th*; plainest tei her wardrobe. The lady's-maid threw over her shoulden 1 black-velvet nuntle, with wide, flowing sleeves, placed on ibe (air, head a black h9t, with a long black ostrich plume, aadi k«w down a thick veil of black lace. Tlie girl (inished her work, and regarded this sombre biidt ffitb almost a shudJer. "Im a |>oor servant," ^he thought, "and I wouldnt be tiarried in that suit for all Miss Lisle's great fortune." " Five minutes of eight," Paubna said ; " now, then, Jane, some." ^ She walked out of the rootn, down the stairs, along the front ^11, and noitflessly oi)ened the house door. The drifting mow, the bitter wind blew in her face, and seemed beating her back. For a moment sh6 did pause, turning sick and faint. Great Heaven! what was this she was about to do? fhen die hated image of I^rd Montalien rose before her — a vision of that dreary old house, down on the dreary Kssex coast — and her last hesiution was over. She never paused v>r stopped to fimk again. " There is the cab at. the comer of the street,* Jane said : " a four-wheeled cab, and see, there is a gentleman waiting." It was Cluy — in furred cap and overcoat pacing to and uo to keep himself warm. He espied them the insunt they appeared, imd came rapidly forward. " Pnnrtual ! " he said. " It is eight precisely. Miss Lisle ; \ hope you are well wrapped, the morning is bitter. Take 0/ inn — the walking is dangerous." She declined with a pesrare — clinging to Jane. "Go on, Mr. Earlscc urt ; we will follow you." He led the way to ths caVv *a1 held the door open for tfieni to ei.ter. Then he closed ii, a^i sprang up beside the driifer, Mlacing himself with a cigar. Pauhna shrank away in a comer of the cab, her vefl held dghdy over her face, her heart Iving cold and leaden in her breast Jane's quiet face b^traved none of her wonder at thu strangely fomied runaway match, where the bride declined taking the bridegroom's iirm, and the bridegroom mounted uj^ and rode beside cabb^ in t he in owstomi. They whirletl impidly along, rit) ward, tfirouah interadnable MNetf, until th^ ce«ch«d tbMrear oC Temple B«r. OtiQt W I '\<,^^MiHSA%-r t pi- ' -A jt4 **S(rCS 4 MARRl}tn mVER WAS BEFORE.^ jpun Paulina looked at her watcn . a quarter past dght. sad the cab still Hymg along ai a tremendous pace. ^^^ f his part of London was.as utterly strange to her as a rftim. 'aguely, that Mr. Earlscourt need come all thS way ? T^ They stopped abruptly at last, the cab door opened t^ »TUy stood ready to help them out v^*"^ *^ "This is the place," he said, briefly ; « allow me " ' ' ' .^\ A I ^'^^""^ ^*."''"* *^*"'"' '^^'^ her hand within his vm K^i^ ^^' ""^^'^ ^ ^^ ^"^'^ ^ » '°"«d «ove, and a cuS, little boy was sweeping, ' ;; Where is iVIr. Markham?" Guy asked the boy. 'Been called away sudden, sir. Left word, if a party came to be married, he would be back in ten minutes, aTHu^ to take a seat and wait." », «"iu yuu was He placed seats befor^ the stove, staring hard at the kdv dressed in black and closely veiled. 6 " « me laay "Biased if / ever see such a bride," he thought :« looks ottore like a funeral, I should sa>/' ^ ' ..." frorn'of^re'to";'."'"''' '''" ^'''' ^" * ^-^«™ ^%Jr in "This i ry, tint unavoidably detamed. Now, then {f the lady wil! staA.d up, and the witnesses, approach, we'll d( ftai little iob for y\»U in a twinkling." Her hesirt was throbbing with almost sickening rapidity non — ^irobbins so that <«he turned sick and faint once more. She lovked about her for \ second with a wild instinct of Hight, bui tt was too late, .puy had led her forward — how firm, how res olute his clasp sealed * — and she was standing before the legal official, answerijig, as she was told to answer, and hearint Guy's clear, dc^p toner as in a dceaniy swoon. She heard, . still faintly and;' far off, i\ seemed, the solenm words, " 1 pro nounce ytsh .man and wife," and then she was signing hei name intlwr busir-ss of pajnhg oVer tilt liirty thousand pounds will be transacted." ** 1 will call" Guy answered, bnetly, " if I may we jtm fiv * OMMneot ID say faurewelL" A ^ lir^r B-'^'V \^ i I .M I' .' it, I whole extn«rS^ iXJJin^ „*^^*"''"'''»*"''^'"«1 *« 8m lime, «Kl Te, hfs ai^L .."""* "N" ''" «'' '" •l^' •we wholJ; gone iii» ■ '"°*°"- Weiknen and fauilaiK ^M:» l-ile," he demanded, .temlr, "wW doe. to ^-ve"unt'<^i.™f?eT'he^ttl'**';K ^""''"'^ " •« Earascourt?" '^^'"^ *» <»<«"»• "You have mamed Gu, ••ihavemamcdGuvEarlSfcourtl" ' o-^me^Wh^a^^Sars^^^^^^^^ 2 I would ha,ee^,^bvlai ^ i^f" "°°'^" '""l"^ •fhi.enleha.mam^dme 1^5'fr,2l'' '^l""^"^ o" <^ <« fc„-^_~ ' r* "" »"*^*^ yo" certainly would not Mr K««'ii«>^ »«»»..«, happen, u, po«e« A.'n-nlmJS'-.nd ^eS^ I ,S&,>'--.- fflHpa^par!^^*^^ """S-vf^g^ys'T'- [>the stepi arched the \Vhai did afte a:i? eij for thr 1 flashing, idacHy, iS. I fainiiieM does thia Lrth frown i^ — van- our slave, ns that I »Iy as h ll » ^ -SUCM A MAKJf/AGE 2^SVEA ^aS bEFOMK.* -rick, tired, numbed, as though sWe never qired to i\u S^cd atldl'""^^ ""^ "" ^^. ^^-» «^-- J*- Jlif n P'*''^' ^'" ^"''"*' Sir Vane sends his c«,apli S^Vtw— ^'^^^ '^^»''°"" ^° '^^^ "»^'->- ^V"S ^ W^ 'T u^ ,*J°*'y' Pa'*"ft»"y. and went down. It was do* «.? J 'a*"*".'"^ ^K""' ^"^ 'ocJ^^rf the door the inTanl «'.. Sf ;^. .'^""'^"^ fig-iVller. slighter, stood lean "g a«* in< n'Sd"ar^,r"^™^'K-othehre. At .,. Pau^uKI voL^'''^hat'^S?'];^f ^'■•'\^'^ ^"°"^^ ^'^ •'" »>» '"o^t kind!, " ThatTi of*;!" "'"^ ''^''''^ 'y^'- ^-y -^"-^ - I uj part of the compact was not in the bond at least U I have served you I an, content Kcan only ho, J that thi d^n.ay never come when you will regr^ morthryou do a! ft^t thave°ffi'"°t 'r ^^ "'W. I distUly rt M. oirer would ^ a degradation you must^,/ „" to d" Pfuuauuiiy, out If, at the other side of the woWrf thm v You will return." she slowly repeated. U I can, with credit to myseU— witft, my debt? oaid ■ tt«ainly. But you need ha/e no fear : " mU ^1^™; :^ u L s h h « h h d ll .:k-«^.,''v%-^i^'-^:i^^^t^^^»«fai^i^ PART FOURTH. iCJIAPTER L AmtK m rtxas. T was a hotiiight in Virginia. Up and down a long, bve-Iookinff room, an o^Cca paced restlessly, his haniTs crossed behind him, hu brow beni, his e"-5 ftxed on the floor. The roooi wmt Ae private a|>artnient of --.« officer commanding the catralry division «ution«l for the time at this outjiost, and the cfficei was Colonel Hawksiey, of the — th. He was a very tall, very fair nian, this Colonel Hawksiey, with a face so thoroighly Saxon that not all the bronze of foreign suns could hide his oationaluy. He had dark, close-cropped, brown hair, a niagnihcent Uwny beard and nmsuche, and eyes blue and bnghi an the Virginia sky without He was a man of six and fir>rtvj inagmficently proportioned— a model for an atf.letic */oilo -looking younger than his years, despite the tilvei duetds streaking his br.wn hair and ih*. deep lines that care a iiought had ploughed along his broad brt w. Up an igh» i s faw ; he ir siitRciemly- rrcovgrrrt tr valk uvei. I have haif a miad k. s*nd hx lua, leatore him hit 4FTEM SIX YE4MS, \1\ Re topped to glance out at the night The great, bright Southern stars blazed in a cloudless sky, not a breath 3f aiii stirred the hot stillness^— it was certainly quite fine enoion ma hsre." 1 he soldier touched his cap and withdrew. 1 he colonel glanced at a little package lying upon the ta^lfi^ .it wa» a gold repeater, set with jewels, and hanging from ibi •lender gold chain. a locket of rare beauty and wuiknvmshipi The officer took up this locket, touched the spring, and looked long and earnestly at the face within. A beautiful and noblf &ce, and a graceful, girlish throat — the photograph of Paulina Lisle. " What is he to her? — how comes he to wear her portrait 1* Does he know ? — but of course he doesn't I It is strange-^ strange." v It was somewhat The circumstances were these : A battle had taken place five weeks before ; aftd during the heat of th« engagement, Colonel Hawksley's attention had been attracted by a young officer of his own troop, whose cool courage and superb fighting rendered him conspicuous even in that hour The battle had raged from early lyoming until dark, and al day long, where the fire was hottest and the blows fell thickest, the dark face and tall form of .Lieutenant Guy Earlscourt ha^ been foremost And at last; as victonr turned in tneu favor, half a dozen tremendous blows aiiiaed at him at once had hurled him from his saddl*- " Killed," the colonel thought, with a passing pang of regret, beyond a doubt. It looked like it when they carried his senseless form into the hospital, and among the list of " killed " retun^ed after tkf' fray was the name of " Lieutenant Guy Earlscouit" Hut kt bad not died. Covered with wounds from head to foot there was U'Jt as it turned out, one of them mortal, oot even vet| dangerous. In five weeks Lieutenant EarlscouH wu able to quit hit bed, and walk about, for a few moments at a tune, in the hos- pital yard. 0B^e day aucceedtnf the batty, white he still Ity setkaetettr lus colonel had visited the hospital ex|>ressly to make inquiriet after hun. The yoisig man h dKl you? 1 rtwoldB'tluve thouih"^ h very handsome face, coloneU-is it not ? " ir»p^':::i Jl:.d^'!r tS'^^^ *«•* ^ ^- ^^^ • p»«^ ta.^f *'I.*?r i'?*15** ^'"K *"^ earnestly at this secuod pic a^Mj i iUuia^att y ea rs - ol d er th an when H e had w^p set tiiC— ■we beautiful inher sutely wouuiah^ even th«« the tirSt ^rtiih free aad forai ^ remember«d so veil ^'^ 'i j. "^s S*4 AfTER SIX 'YEAmX He handed it back with a bow and smile, crown TbTautr'"'!?! '* ' '^'^ '"^ "^'' '° **^«^'"« '^«»'«'- not the k*- d of f.^r ''*^^*^«"'^*^ 'hat face anywhe«. It s uui me K.wa of face one sees every day " ' ■■ His colonel watched him as he s,>oke-keenlv^lo.elv ou. Hu «ereac counten^ce kept hiJ secretsnitel^^',!!;; ''Mr. Earlscourt." he said, abruptly, "lam mxn^ to Mk ^i* Ai -tcqiuiixtufce., colonel, .ress of^knu^ng h.r and" ^the We 1 iefc. That u the history of her H»ctuxe m m, «v!!^J*l!{ ***t *"^i'* ^™ ''*^** "*^^^ »"'* habit both had «iht"hlv'^bi:o-i" ^"' "^"'''^^ "^^ " ' !^^^ y- • Ijl"^ "^l^,?^ ^"^^l ^"^ *^°'^"*^ I ""^^^ ''" that Mis, iSi ^S. ' '"'t^ ***f "^y- *"*^ *^" «^"' ^*>""°^ *>" »iw EJ^Thn^J" ""^ ^""""'^ '"*^^- O"*^ "^«ht as K«n Ion •oaie bnght particular •tar.-etc" , I^A whim, perhapt, like wearing Miai Liale't pwtrmiL" " You are an Engb^hnuii, ai leaat." *• Undoubtedly, coloawt," coo^V' "^ ^^ °**"^ ^**" **"" foa'firtt came t« tlui •• Sti fean, preciiely, nexi January." kal . ^. *?"'* ""^ questions are intri,«Ve^lmpertin«nt. per iiff *. but 1 am a il Kn gi ishman my.df, ar,d. icuihow^-S^ -»«ir»i«rmtereilU,youL You remind mc-your v-Kt^.^^^ I— «< QQ0 Whom 1 knew nrant/twe y«tt» m* \ t;^ I I (u n«^ AFTEJf SIX YEAKS. 325 der if you knew hira-he was a man of rank-Lord Monta' His lieutenant looked at the speaker, suddenly, with a new h" rSer's^nZ^: T"'^' '' ^'^ ^^^"^^ "^^ th^e nltL'cJ w! I . L"^l^" ^y^c^mt clear. Why. the vf ry name of Hawksieyai,,^.hthave tolJ him. taken in connection w^t^the recognition ot 1 aulina's picture, this man was her faXr " Vou k.e^vr l.ord MontaJi.n r Colond Hawksl<^y 'aid leann,g forward. Your face shows it. at Last. You are like h.m yet un.ike. Was he anything to you ?" ^°" ^'^ '^'^^ „ •• \/« 11, yes ; he was my father." " ".Your father?" - t( Yes, colonel. You were not aware Derhan P^^i^l^^l'L:;^:^^' -•'-- yP- the author of « jiitTiM srx rMAMX iImmw tv» vtxrki akme. Thdr popularity orer here hu bMi ■omething iirnnente." '^They have paid tolerably weD— If they had not I thonld ■At have been able, at 1 have told you, to p«y olf the larger portion of my debts. My estiavagancei in the past make my very hair rise now. I'na a reformed character, colonel ; thcrf «u great room for improvement, too, 1 assiue you. I pfvsvnd my scribbling here in camp ; it passes one's leisure hours, sad •s fu as remuneratjon goes, I find the pen decidedly * uu|^ua dMUi the sword.' " " Mr. Earlsconrf," the colonel said, " you are one of the devsrest novehsu of the day." Mr. Earlscourt bowed with gravity. ** You are destined to become a famous man, and I am proud to have made yonr acquamtance. It was as your fisdief's ward, then, you hrst met my — Miss Lisle ? " "Your daughter, colonel — the confidence may as well be nrutnal Of course, 1 know you are Robert Lisle." " Ah, yet ; 1 suppose my histoiy it familiar to you bota your bther." " And from others. Vf^te you not rather surprised, colonel, when you discovered upon whom my father pitched as his successor in youi daughter's guardianship? Now I should imagine Sir Vane (^harteris would be the last man alive yor would wish to place in power over Paulina." A dark flush crept up over the pale bronze of the colonel's bee. "And why? "he asked. "Shall 1 really answer that question, colonel ? Yoa see I have had time to think since 1 came out here, and I have managed to connect past events pretty clearly. 1 remenibc^X my bther telling your story at the ear«, •hen I hav«; thought inysel/ the veriest eoward and idio* to bf hnnte4 dOi^n as 1 was, to deseit her to her tyrants. But I lay under a criimnal charge whi^h I co^t not disprove— and she iras hib 11^5, and J was made to ^believe loved him. And there wotUd have followed exposure, and " "Betie» exposure than such misery Ik she has been made t« mffer. Colonel liawksley, do you know she i« the inma^te o< i mad'housc now ? " " Yes," tht vord dropped slowly, heavily from his pale Dpi "I know." ^ " Your daughter told you. I wonder you did npt return to * England when /mi ftrsi leamfed that Sir Vane Charteris b«H been appointed hei' gaan/ian," " I did not know it for many months after. She wrote ra^ from France— telling me A the change, and that s}ie was satis- fied— that 1 was in no wa) to trouble mysi'lf about her. The| the war began, and I camt here, and I shall remain untU the end. Why should I return now — England holds nothing but bitter memories for me." "Have you no wish to se6 vour daughter?" " Every wish. When she (s some good man's wife I shaV jg*sk her to come across the oc«an to visit me." " Have you no wish to cleid- the blot off your gootl name- to disprove the false charge b.ought against you by Geoffrey Lyndith?" ' i "It would be impossible after aII those years." "1 don't see that," Guy said, coolly ; '.'more diificult things are done every day. London detectives are clever, ^tnd you are rich eno«igh to pay them well for. their work. Geoffrej Lyndith is dead— you are freejp.-ttftum'if you will— if for no other's s*ke, for that of your wife." Colonel Hawksley rose up passionately. " Do ytou think I could bear tb !>ee her," he said, " like that ? Why, good Heavens, the thought of her ai she is now nearly drives me wild." "t • Insane^ you mean. Well, now, I aib not so sure of thai either. E^ery one is not insane who is «hur up in a ma^ iMuse." ^ ^ •>■ •' Young Wuui» what Ho vou mean ? *• \Uii»— that wfiitcver l^ady Chartcrfi naef be now,' •he was nonmre ins&ne than you ot I when placed tiien -rfj. ssi AFhGl M 5/jr yKAMX " Great Hetver. f " j^^'',^*"*" Charteri. \ a man capable of a veri, yillanooi toe fact of her madness was announced no one cvrer thou -lit ^ doubting her ladyship's perfect sanity. They were «ira L^ for years and vears before the birlh of his only daug)*er be h«pr. but perfectly ci^il to one another. I.ad/ Charter^ footed a, I ha told you, when my father related^.o,uTon {•hi nt.?";'^^'"'^^'".'^'^ appointment as Pauhna'sWrS That n.ght. U trar. spired, she fled from the Priory to ;L huuS IB Speckhaven m which Ouke Mason lived, and S^ Vane ?o? ^eJ and brcught her back. It was a stormy nig t, tZ^{. ^t, aud wnether from the wettfhg she received, o? ht-r exS ment, she was taken very ill. As soon as she was able tn £. removed Si, Vane took h'er up to town to ptaceTer under t£^ Jat .he had gone insane, ind was placed in a privateXiJ^ No one was pernmted to v.s.t her, not her own daughter luud but ,n spue of the baronefscare, the form of her lujcv trans pned. She.efusedto acknowledge Sir Vane Charteris a^ h« husband said her nghtfurhusband was alive and in a f^rei^ Uind. Now, thmk. whether or no this statement wis he utte^ ance of insanity." . - *^ ""^"^ •'Dreat Heaven! my poor, heartbroken Olivia If I iK)ught~if I thought this^cre true—" five if^^" would return. It is true |- Does Lady Charteris still " She does. Paulina mertioned her in her last letter Sh#. i^^isro^rrhjr"^""-^- - ^^-^^^-^^^^^^^.^ jn^hrr dehverance, m the power of such a man a. Vane Q^^^ i -J!!* f°^^?^' ^^^^^'^ abruptly in his walk, came over ami kid his hand h.av.Iy on the youngern.an's sh^uS. * ^ F^rlscourt.' he said, " I wil] c^o back to En>Und ai jpced^ly as may be, and you shall accon.pany me, and^d ra" m the usk of recovering and reclamung my wife. ReL"J jrant we may not be too late " ^^VV*^ ThlMft?)! ,^"V^« oy of thequestion that / should ret»m. ^^£SrJ i^ Jil*"?? «^*«^Touicnow^n(l the Jews d,^^^ AFTtM S/M tJUJU^ %»9 /illsinCTai :s before OligJlt o< strangeharteris »iu storjt uardiin. "i house 'ane fol- I recol- ' excites e to heg ider thT- ard was asylijra. Maud, y traqs as ho utter- ris still z, and nd ai «d iQe ei«vii gturn. write at least tj^ mor? highly popular B«veli bcfcre J can fcce the Ismelites of l^ndon." •• Coitle with me," Hairksley said, eameidr ; " I aik it as a tavor. Kqr/^our debts you will accept a loan from me until those two yhew novels are written. You will not objec'— I take u as i personal favor your comine. England will be uk« a s^jange^land to me after a score and more year. You will come?/ ' He iield out his hand— Guy placed his thereia 'M/will go, colonel^thanks all the same fo» your kindncsa An4 now, with, your permission, I'U retire— I don't feel quite as^gnong as Sanuon, and — " -^ /tie reeled slightly as he spoke— faint and giddy from weak ;ss and recent loss of blood. > The colonel hastily poured out glass of wine and held it to his lips. "1 should not have brought you out— yon will be the worst for this. My servkftt shall accompany you to your quarters-^ you are not fit to walk over that distance alone. Good-nieht" " (-ood-mght, colonel." " Th-j orderly, with the wounded lieutenant, crossed the moon ht sward on their way to the temi>orary hospital. And lone after Guy Larlscourt lay asleep, with his handsome head pil- towed on his arm, a smile on his lips, dreaming of England and Pau ina, Colonel Hawksley paced to and fro in his apartment, thinking bitterly of his wasted life and of the fate that had held him and the wife he lovjed apart. " My dirling ! " he said, " my darling ! and y-oi always loved me— always were faiUiful— I know it new. And I-^di. Heaven ! why did I not brave all that tho« plotters cuuld do. and claim you. But the day of retribaMua ia at h.»w ^^ J^ tao^ who «tacd between at tatie caic i " '"' ^ come .ve t» ^M^hiC^iA&sb. / '-U ^^S^^^&«,«^feSi>tJ!iJi'-^^I"S« "^^V- *iij. u.>a,-«kM.-i*v ( ^J^. .► 330 OP PIVA CHAPTER II. A BKLLB Of mm SXASOm u t ■ [\ULINA!" There, was no reply. The lady addreued nl ah sorbffd over a book. "raulina," rather louder, "it is abnost five, .n^l quite t,me to (Hve. Do you hear ? " ^ "" "U'eU, yes, Ihear, Maud," and Paulina Lisle lifted a oair of serene, ^apuhire-hued eyes from her book "h t I r.ST dbn t thmk L shall go. It I very plearintTere by'he L'tti t'^« stfr;:; fer ^^ -- ^'-^ ^-"- "What!" ciied Maud Charieris, -not eveo when this i. ^e first day of Lord Heather land's ;eturn fronTscotland an3 you have not seen hnn for a fortnight. You are sure to meet " ewlfli t aiitllr «" " ^^^ '^' ^'^-^ "«P^° wh?n^ h S ft;« 1^. ^''f"'.°^ ''°"'"'^' " »« *" understood thLiXt iK bciutrful M.SS Lisle, the belle of London, has no hwft I y^;^ »F?«« u IS at aU a necessary adjunct' to a futulre duch M^dTJirrtr* **" »%htest tinge of envy in the tone of Mis, Maud Chartens, as she said thew last words. She wmiW never be a duchess, and she knew it She wL a smaU s^lfow complexioned girl of one-and-twenty now, v^^ palTa^ 'S' jnth eyes like sloes, and dead, black h^ir, 2d a 1^ Tk Vane Chartens all over her wan, fretted laie * *°*** *^ '^^ rhe eyes of Paulina Lisle feU suddenly and rested on the fir- mth something like a smothered sigh. *" "No heart, Maud!" she repeated stowlv • "I someri™- eccur, and we were bom without hear;* without memoiv with o«t<^nsc,ence^ Our past enormities SouW^ SSi^ ^ tmbitter our wkole future lives." '^ ^ J*/*5i^in*^*''"' 1""*"*^ °"* ''^^ ^^^'^^ impatiently. ' o""! « come here to talk metaphysics Miss I iaJe A««. gnr:ir '" '^y ^" '"■ -- ''' d ? .. .ii Ly v::s » •tagtnt ram^e cortuiwi berself as she sjiou! « Y« d^T a pau really v 4 BELLE or firk ^vc_ SEASOWS SSt ^JF meaif to gay, Paulina, 4ut a new book, no matter how Interesting, is a stronger attrartion to the reigning beauty of the •eason man a drive along th« Lady's Mile, at the faahionable hour, on a lovely May day? pbnt tell me lo, foi 1 <»uUirii beueve iL - "It is perfectly true, nevertheless. My book is intenseb b|teresting, and the daily drive at the same hour, in the tvm place seeing the same fs^ces, acknow'edging the same bowt becomes after bve seasons— wei, to speak mildly, rat' er ma notahous." /» -v »«•• " What^s your book, Paulina ?" r ^,' ^?rrs '^'^^^'"'^n Cross: by the author of * Paul Rulher- ford s Wife and • Gold and Glitter,' the two best novels of the day, you remember. Even you, Maud, who never r-ad any- thmg except the 'Court Circular' and the > Morning Pos/ thing except the read them." "I remember. They were books of English society, and \ read them because they were so true to nature, to reality. Half the books of that class are the most wretched caricatures, i his man, evidently, knows what be is writing about Thev were charmmg stories. Do you know, Paulina, the heroine ol the first, was v-ry hke you ! " "Like me I Is that« a compliment to me or Margaret Rutherford, I wonder ? " * "To you. Paul Rutherford's wife was a bewitching creat ure, and I am perfectly sure she was drawn from real life— from_y<7«, Miss Lisle." " Let me see," said Paulina with a smile ; "as far as I can remember, she was an impulsive, headstrong, rebellioui. paa. sionate woman, with good impulses, / grant, but spoihng every- thing by her reckless iin|)etuosity.. Yes, I suppose, that MWj hke me-m the past, Maud ;" a flush rose for a moment wi Je perfect pallor of her face. " I shudder- I sicken wlien 1 flunk of my desperate deeds of the past Good Iiea»en I what a perfectly wild, perfectly reckless little outlaw I was !" "Indeed! You never murdered any one like Lady Audle»*^ t luppose. Or you never marned a head groom, or awythint rfihat.sort,didyou?" '^/"uui The flush deerened— deepened ^perceptibly on Miu Litle'i •Ihave done what I can never forget n6r forgive," she an fwered in broken tones ; "what wfll haunt me with griet and *«ine^ and Temotse uxy life long." She wa» »peaki-g more t* .^ ISk*,' , ^^s^ .# \-.' T x»tT $$9 4 BEILE OP FIVE SBASOffX her own thoughts than to her companion now. " PeopV whi knew me six years ago tell me I have changed out of all kr, owl rl^*' . ' ^T '.'^ave-I hope I have-in no way. loo^ o, Character, thought or action, would 1 resemble the Paulina l-isls (if SIX years ago." •"""« "Then you /la7r a secret in your life. Paulina ! That's xfy BUUitir: ; and, if you'll believe me, I always thought so. Voui 5 rl* / ^T 'H''^*'"°''- ^^'^ '^'^^"^'^ '" y"" somehow, do im know, I always fancieo you were like the h-nnn.- of a a.5,e.l, and hat! gone tlirough the loved and lost idea ,K,et;; make luch a nowhng about. Do tell me. Pau.ma. who was he?- Paulina look-ed up and laughed— her own sweet laugh .Aly dear Maud, my prophetic soul tells me Mrs. (lalb/aith »m be here in hve n.inutcs to ocold us both. 1 suppose I hng book until by and by. One hour with you is worth a do^en m the I,adys M.le. What a farce it all ,s, ;\raud, ihA everlasting routine of dressing, and driving, an comedy, at best, and we the prettily-ljressed. p.ettily pamted actresses ;. and when the lights are.Out an.) the nJay over, I wonder what account we will be Si-ked to give of lives and talents so spent. There, Maud,^%look so disgusted, dear child I will run away and di^s^aJprose.no niofc." ~ M'ss Charteris walked away to Je door with a peculiarly •arcastic smile on her pale, thin liv^ ^ h"!^? ^Y,.r^\.^^^^ to the/lost Noble the Marquis of Heatherland hke tins, I wonderf" she said. » Does she con- tehs to him those heinous cnijfes and secrets of the past, and . ^ '^er generaUreanness and disgyst of life and rank and society ?" V Q^'^Ma^ Heatherland is *4housand times too goinl for such ff .vu, s,Ty '^ ' am— no one kliows that better than 1, Maud. *nH in ''"'; -?'* ^^-^^.^ ^g f*^^ him all the same, Paulina j And, in spite of your fine romance and secondhand fcnri nientalnv, you are marrying him for his rank and his coronet, )u5t as J or any of us in Vanity Fair would do. Paulina Lisle. yon re a-.f s not a very elegant word, but exceedingly expret live— you're a humbug I " ^ ' ^ With which Maud Charteris quitted the room, and Paulina JHtf a lone. ^^"* •J-he half-sisters (still ignorant they were such) were coniidr- ahly attached to each other wmw^^ 4 d MMLIB OP PtTM iAjSOMX I3i Maud, with env> and bitterncM in her hfait kt vrists, and the bronze brown hair, riin Jini !ow on the perfect forehead, gathered in a shining coil U Uf »ik Qi the stalely, sn.all head. Sh.- is tall, she is grandly pra portioned, every movement is instinct with grace and majesty the throat, the arms, are marble fair- she is one of those ei- . ceptional women which all n»en think beautiful. Thc^face and foim that Rotten Row went wild about, painters and sculptors coveted as a moilel, and poets mitht sing of in if, noble mo- •nanhood. The golden-brown hair, th- eyes of liquid, sapphire ri I ^'''^'''^ ^y"^^ *"*' ^"^ S'^'^y'^g gf^ce of motion, whether she waltzed or walked, a skin delicate as the petals at a -engal rose, and as devoid of color in repose, and a smile and a voice that even women who envied and disliked hei were forced to allow had a charm. She had changed almost out of Knowledge in the past six years— the reckless, impetu- ous. self-willed girl of eighteen, had grown to be the most wo- maa.y of women, the gentlest of gentlewomen. The lips were sweet as well as ptoud, the brilliant eyes had ieanietl a softer, tenderer, it _may be. sadd,^ light, the girl had been faulty, errina, rash to madness, the woman was perfect in her sweet thought for others, her unselhshness, her gentleness, her goodness to all A beautiful and graceful la.ly she sits here, with softly brood- Iftg eyes and lips a httle parted, even m repose, thinking vury kindly, if not lovingly, of the man whom in thiee weeka s/;e is to marry— the Marquis of Heatherland,^ only son of the Duke of Clanronald. She would fain sit and Wait for his comm. Here, but Mrs. Galbrasth has issued her decree, and with the gertJe temper that has «rown habitual to her of late yea:«, tht sacrifice of self she has learned to make, she rises with a low • ^h, and goes forth into that brilliant May time world, of which ■ne 18 one of th; acknowledged queens. It has taken three volumes to record half a dozen months at fcer life— the past half a doecn years may be rendered in ai That eventful Chnstmas, six years a^o, to the great surprise of MrB.(^Draitb, was neither spent at "The F^ji" ndr at Montit oen FtUKff OUT did JPaulina become the wife a/ Lord MonU ^iU^ (^.I'v^/i) _ I ' W^tU >'-^ilA'dAiL& --)■ iu ^ BMLLE OP titri SAAS0»X "^ S;*^^^^! ^^^''\ \ •"" "^ ^"'''*^' "^^ ^''^ taken to Fianc S M 1 rr ^^Tu'^' ^''\ ""*^ ^''*»" '*'« »cht 01 friend!^ Ixjrd Mon.aJ en and herguarciian had quarrelled not loudU nor^vjolencly. but the quarrel was non2 the let ll^^tl " »,»t^? J^" ^"^ ^"' ''^"^ '"y ^of^." S> Vane had said. n«>. ant r»e forced to marr/ you " / ~« wiu; "-h'l 'f'^ "^^^ *'''" '^°'"^'' ^'^ ^*"«^ ChartenV he had said Eng and ^nce! ^"" '''""^ '"^ ""^^ " '' ""^^ -^"™«^ »» Paulina's, secret was kept Neither Mrs. Galbraith nor Lord Momah.n dreamed of u. Jane u.arn'ed and settled m WaS J^d had ke,.t her oath, and M.ss Lisle had her freedo n and^S he eyes o the world was Sir Vane's ward still She snei? Her Grace'the Duchess of Clanronald, a handsome hauchtv ^owager of seventy-five, had taken a great fancy^o theS br.ght fajr face, and presented her ; and the • Morning P^st^re curded M.ss L.sle's diamonds and general splendor of a,,, e^" ance, together with her n.ost renurkable beauty And S" a^:rKw„"ht"t.'"""" :.^""'"" season; and Thosett it ^t^^J:^^^^ ^- - and wondered a UtUc Aliss Lisle was a greac success— men raved of her perfect face necJ and lihhk d her with a sincerity that was the highest con.oH «^nnhey could pay her charms. She made score ffcinque^^^ «Kl ha. three bnlhant offers that first season. She declmed S 'k ^^'^'f ^«*J"«»«- ^'^•"re had made her beautiful^S gifted her with that rare, subtle fascination of n.anne tlk^k even better than beauty. She could not fail to p leas^ io a? ^tm spue of herself. Mrs. Galbraith cried ou'Stl^ U was a sm a cruue, to refuse such offers as Pau ^11^^! S^^/oneofl'"'^^^?- ''^'' ^'^ '""^ «'^' «I>ect7Dira ,. rr" . '"J"* piuiu cs CO propoae i -tea Iwtened^Bd wnireT— imnle sadTy. a little wigtfullv'aiid *e Uue ,ye. looked dreamily afar o^ and GurFiurt^ '■■t i,- . >iJ ,<-!■ 4 BMILM 9P 0JVA SMASOiiX m '"¥ iMfcee came back to her horn over the sea. Where he waa. fn.'^L^*!!"'/*"^ *15 ^ f°"*^' **»* ^^ °°t know; she onR kn' »nd her palJ Jieeks flush •^jmmpi those men about her had ever done* nr^Jr'M ''MK-^""^!' ^"<^°" *««on, the Dudiess of f.«fr^?^l^T^"* ''"'* r*y *° *»« <*"^a"« Highland easUe, to spend the autumn and winter. She liked Pauljia. witli a hkmg that grew stronger with each year. At Clanron! aid Castle Afiss Lisle encountered, that autumn, her grace's ^1"°^ "?? ^t^"" °' Heatherland. He had been S^J m the Last for the past seven years, and had come home ona Ivmg visit to his mother before starting for Equinoctial Af r*1^*.J?* "^* ****"?• * «™^*' 'weather-Beaten man of seven K nSrj* *? ^V "^'TJ?".**' **^*^"i »?*»» »" * 'week, and h« met Paulma Lisle, and his (ate was fixed He feU in^love with her, as .ewes of other men had done before him, and Equinoctial Afiica and gorilla hunting were forgottea He was seven-and-forty; he had n^ver been in love in kik Kfc • women and society bored him ; he was grave, silent, am* noi handsoriie, and bs fell m love as men of seven-and forty- -VWttr potent, ^se, aaJ leverend seijfneurs-KJo (all in love at thai ab normal age, without hope, and without reason. In three days his infatuation was patent to the whole house, -vhe duchess was alarmed, and remonstrated aftar the fashion of moJiera. iLT^'^u**'^"?.*^ **?'■ "*^ ^ ^ H«atherUnd married and K^ ms wild, roving life, but not to Paulina Lisle, much ■a she liked her. ^ ^^ "It i; "iadness-itifatiiation on your part, Heatherland,'' she M. ** This a:ul u infinitelv h<>lnw •//», •« «>.b cu ' . f_ ^^^ Thisgu IS infinitely below you in rank. She passes b -joaety a* a lyiuve ofthelate Lord ATontallen, mJ^»K £r ILV I U" ^**f '■ *" America, in self-imposed exiie; Mm mocher ia— Heaven knows where 1 »Jo not even kiipi ^.v^,: «"^v»' 3S6 A BELLE OF^ THE fX-. . that her parents \^ Icffallv not breathe a worfof t SEASONS. niarried. C us to ai'y but ourse I would I like the girl JSof Cla.'jronald excessiveiv. have been accustomed to mary •' ine marquis list^^-d r-'^h hi * ^ «miie. and answered quietly • ^'"^' ^''"^^' ^'^oughtful " ftx«l as f^r* «w u ^ ^" '^ **''^ *'""'<• accept liie' V " «•!». Th^ri. or. » . ' uners, Dut she will not »?fust Mil'u.lfA" '^ '" "' '^'^ "^'^ "TT"' » "0 hop,, wck at heart A narlf..t ..r a. ' ' *'"w'y. »veariy, looked for Thr.!! */""^'' "^""^' '«*•.» u ^e hao »e«o- t^-Cy. '^i**- ifce »UMi danced with him under IV w„rij ,J^ J ■'r,v. . A ■"-i*^?^~- ■'TrsiN(«a^Jj^?ir4^^ M BKtZM OP Frwn i^SJSgMS. " . juit •*-■■' , t of Mnntalirn, duHng »hat bright June day. As the had mcq < hull «n:h the «ur.shiiip on his daik face, as he rude up t6 bet CArnai;e to say gmxl by on the day she l»ft Spcckhaven for sc".i«x>L As she had 6<»en him last in the Iibiaiy6f .Sir Vane C.harteris' hou#e. wher he had refused the money she pi'offered, saJ had goni lorm penniless to his exde. Killed ! And thea i>e mist cleared away, and she forced herself to read. There va^ a brief paragraph concerning hirn — very brief and HDquent iht was an Knglishin.iH, and he had fought hke a liuii duril^g rtie wijole day. And it hid been newly discovered he was the anonyijuhis author of those two books which had created such s scnsaii jn in the literary worl<| " I'aiil Rutherford's Wife " and "Cold and Oiitter." The paper dropped from her hands, she sank down on net . knees ai d bunted her pale face in them. Long before $he ardie they wer.? wet with her tears — tears that came fast and thkk from b stiicken heart. She had loved him, and he was dead Miss l.isle left the Highland Castle abruptly enoiujh next day — no ASUIVDUL UY KARLaCOUkt I No myth, no fllunan of tfat sensfg, no «hado«r from the dead, bat the livin*. bN-athing, vigoroiiB pian I Somewhat thiniiw, some. what browner, domeirhat worn aixd grave. ai> if he had Sought and suffered much in the span of the past rix years. Dut as surely as she stood there looking at hiin— Guv fiarir court' ^ ' She did not cry out. she did not faint, though, for an instant, he^ rooms, the hghts, the faces, the flitting forms, swam giddUy ind there was the surging roar of many waters in her ears. She stood there stock stjll. her great eyes dilating, every drop d bUwl leavins: her face. Dimly, after an interval— of five m< .ond% In ieal.ty-_of five hours it seemed to her— the voice dk Lord I ea?herUnd, sounding fcunt and far-ofl; c^me to her ear : ^ " Paciina, yoo are ill— yott are going to faint I For pityi 8ak«, s« down a moment while I go for a glass of water I" She caught at the back of a chair he placed for Aer, and saw n?m humedly disap{>ear. Tlien, by a mighty effort, she collected her dasaJ senses, ahd turned, still dizzily, to leave the room. On the very isstant of her recognition Guy E^dscpurt had turlled aJowly away and disappeared in an inner apartment. She t?.A(le her way— how, she never afterward knew, sick and \\j7.y as She felt— out of the crowded rooms through an open . i«ndoj». and on to the piazza. Ther VV^ ,fr r' , , *\" ''^'" ^ ^^^" '^'-"•!Sht-*uiidenngaVhers8lf .lat .he could tnmk of so tnv.al a ihu,g_how hand.on.c h Ja k. thoughtful eyes! He had chaMged— gra^^n graver and ;;ld,r. ,„o.e ,n.Hly, ...ore noble than irfthe pafT /'i hid e trZVnt\T'' "" rt of ^,uy for the mar.iuis w a sis ^erly way, and putting love entu-ely out of the quesltun, she haS Weed him very much, and esteeme.l him very nighly That he hterally worshipped her she knew ,o be tnie-how bitter the pang would be then when, wunout reason withcuT excuse, she broke her ple AsvHt>Ak. ■\ hirert \Xi the land. And in his reckless generosity, he i ad ■acn»ced every hope of. home, of wife, of all nun holds most •dear — for her. Her cold hands clasped themselves over her pale face hei bram ceased to think, a sort of stupor, partly of r.old, wai creeping upon her, she crouched there in her lares and dia monds, as n;iserable a won«an as the great city held. Oh, Heaven ! to be able to retrieve the past— tu recall :}.e woik ol Uut iong.gone Clirism.as eve. Hew lo.-ig she had been thcit ane never Knew, probably not ntore than t%^r;nty ni:nnles-an etemify of sulienng it seemed to her. In after years, whtn ail this terrible tune was past and gone, she could nev-r recall those moments on the pia/za without a shu.Kler of the auo, she had felt then. She was intensely proud— the world ' :anie hew her so high, so spotless— and now the tiriie had cJJiie When she must descend from her pinnacle, and be known as the Yretchetl, unworriuidy creature she was. * AWnd was laid on her shoulder~a voice sounded i^ hei dulledVyCars. ** ^'^'^a ' ^'Ood Heaven I what, are you here? Do you know you will get your death } " ' She looked u,v-to his d>ing day he never forgot the durnh infinite misery of that first glance. It was die Marquis ol Heafherlar^d s anxious face that bent above her " '♦^''w' is It, I'auhna ?" he cni^^. MM /^I ,i ; V A^ , S49 0MLD ASVKDSM. \ wre, remain. Oh, my lord, how can I make ypa anderitslkJ —what a base, base wretch 1 hiust scent to ydo. 1 cannot- -^ fou hear me. Lord Heaiherland ?; 1 cannot be your wife? " ».Jirul ''''?' P»">>"a'"he said, growin^,m«t as white ai herselC " but 1 cannot understand Will W be good enouijb to explain r ' V • ' , Wded his arras over his cnest and waited to hear what she had whJt'he'^f ft** ^^^ ***"°' ^ ^ ^"^ bctokemng in any way « I cannot Think I have changed my miad, think I am a heartless coquette, ^nk anything you will, only release me. Let the world think it i* you who cast me oF— I deserve it— "»a— and what does it matter > In a day or two I shall leave cngland, and forever." Her voice brokft in with ahoUow sob— if she could only die. she thought, and end it alL ^ ^ "At least I havped Into. her hands. She still knelt before him— drooping^— in t strange, distorted attitude of pain. He had listened withont a woid, without a movement, the dull pallor still blanching hii bxx — his arms still folded. When she ceased, all that was ereat tltat was noble in the man's nature was stirred. She har dtme him a wrong, perhaps, but she was the woman he loved and she knelt before him in her great trouble. He stooped* Uid tried to raise her up; ^ "Not here, Paulina! not here," he said; "kneel only to Kour Maker." "Yes, here, here!" she cried, wildly; "here on my kneei It your feet ! Oh, my lord, you cannot forgive me — but yoa night pity me if you knew what t suffer." "1 do pity you," he answered, gravely, "from my soul lise, Miss Lisle — \ command it!" * ^le rose at once. , "And this is all?" "This is all." " Let me try to understand it, if T can. Yon are bound by promise to marry this man of whom you speak — ^yoii mean to marry him ? " ^^lAy lord, I will marry no one. I have told jron I mean to leave England and htm forc«rer in a day or two. Of my ow* free will I would never look upon his face again." " Then you do not care for t\i|n, this man to whom you stand pledged ? " with a thrill of hew hope in his tone. Her face dropi>ed — she turned it tar away from Um in thr starlight ' " Paulina, yoU hear me. Do you or do you not caie fat this man ? " '• I — I am afraid I do." « He paused at her answer. The hope that hiid ariieiicr!idied out in his faithful heart forever. ,, "You care for him," he said, after that pause;- "and jfoa ' tell me in the same breath that you are going to fly from him, ly piide that yoiu^wflr never be his vrifeVAfiM^^L hav« t^ m« fart of your secret, but not alL Nay," as she was about to f tell me DO mcure — I do not^ it ; I fr«c von vttei^ 144 V MMtUf ASptfDAM. y^; %■ house.'* ''' *"'^ *" ™*^ <^«'»<^"" you back to tlie spccted hiMi'x td t ^' .::z ;r' '""• "^^" ^-^ ' nobJe eve.y one was-thn, ^ "* gt^nerous, ho* »w are tfCik to tell how utter v iifvTi,*^i .1.- T ' owu sight-how buterly she des Ld Kdf A.lT "" ^f was crushed to the very ekrih. Shenw.th ^11 her pride •iJence they walked back r„ ,r'''*' '""^^'^ ^'». and in dead «lT„, iZ . '"""■ ! I>c niarqais led her lo a ku ^:> ^^ for a „,o,„en., looku.g down upon her, then hdd oT ^"^rnX-„ru^--s^ ';i.'^h -i^iLr;. ** You are going away ? " I» kTL"^*^. *^'^' ^^ *^*^ '"t '^rd* Guy had KK^ JO her w hgp «hc had ^a to ^ ^te8t ^ "*^-ie^ ■^^-^'^ ••t .^_ir "1> ^*^ **^ '-««* Motherland b«t .«he (U ■•» ipeak — Me could not ^^ ^^•. >f: %;. i«^SP** le heart ii c ^k you, • aliealor. ahd mtLD ASUffDBm. 341 i trav.;, :ciitra]' pohoa ■0«od by," he Tcpeatdd " * Her uphfted eyes, full of speechless pair, answeied him. One close, warm pressure of her cold hand, and then th« man she had pledge^ herself to iiiarry h^Cd^assed forevei out af her hfe. x If she could only go home — a wild desire tV|ly away from this housj and those people, and hide herself foYevcr, canie ■pon her. VVhere was Mrs. (ialbraith, where Maud or Sii ond time wa)& frozen Irs. Atcherly\>B. ohibly as they uima's strained Vane ? She looked around, and fori by the sight of Ouy Karlscourt. He was approachmg her, her his ahn, Mrs. Atcherly chatting came up. Low as the words wei;« :ar heard Ihem : " To be married in three' week«' IHfific', yon know, to the Marquis of Heatheiland — by far the ihost brilliant match of the reason. She is good enough and beautiful enough to marry a prince, / thmk. And do you know, (»uy," laughmgly, '* 1 used lo fancy — to hope, only you were such a shi>cknig wild Imjv, ihat you and she — you umlerstand ? But Heather land 'will make her a niuch better husband than you ever would, Or evei mil make any one, Ma.ster Guy." '* Mrs. Atcherly, dorf|i bcMvituoerative. I've turned over 'a new leaf — several new (e^^^es, And whpever the lady is who haf the honor and bliss fef.'becrihiin'g Mrs. P'arlscourt, slfe will ,-be blessed beyond her sex. Kor Miss Lisle 1 have had-alway.? tht ptofoundest and most hopeless admiration." She beard the carelessly s|H)ken wonls, and her heart hard eped acd revolted against him. I low dared he speak oC hei b that light and tlippant tone, whe.i his coming here h|MH> k*n her heart, blighted hei life ? Her eyes brightened, aflnni iinge of color came back into h6r f^e. She looked at him ttraight — a hard, cold, steady gl9.nce. "■ • Paulina, my child," cried the gay voice of Mrs. Atcheily, *• heit» is a suqjrise for you, a resurrection from the dead — the (Hf^igal returned — a prodigal no longer, (luy, I don't think there is any need of an introduction between you and Pau< 4niL" ** ^^ot ^e least, I hope, Mrs. Atcherly," Guy ansi^ered, boir ipg low. ISheliari^or^jfcred htarlwf lansd ; her face^liKriR) ovd M itonc ; n* smile of recoonition passed over tu llic QDldsiti iriightett, hangbtiett bvnd of th« head adMnnrledfed « M * > ":,. /iU ^Ss*^'^ 146 BttD ASUNDMM, £**i^?* ■Pokei "nd her voice sounded tt lurd wd icy « her look. d^oli*" * ?°^"»e- MonthB ago I read of Mr. Earltcourf. deaAm«^A«e»K:*n paper. But. perhaps, it was anotlS^; "No, I fancy not," Gny said cooUy ; " ^ was the oum •!»« obituary you wad It was rather a close thing, but TJSi WT •ssessed man m the room; heedlW whether the M^qds^ Heather.and's affianced bride smiled or frowned. She^^^ * '"J^J'^nt, suppressed anger, unjust as it wa. utroug When did y6u arrive ? " she asked. irertured rn'inf ^f"T" ' ^"'^ °" '^'^ ^""'^^'^ ^^ °W friendsWi J^tured to mtrude here to-night. Be.iue, 1 wished to ^ "To see me ? " with a fine laJ>'s stare of insolent wonder •«id what can Mr. Guy EarLcoirt. after his sUyearTexde' fossibly have to say to me?" ^ ^** at trtl,r^dtn*i' ™"^''"' '^^ '^' °^ -"--«»t "Nothing whatever concerning himself— with all his ore- jnmption he does not presume sj far as that. I manvhMe good nan w— her re coolly self tiaiquis of Siie sanr if friendshi| ed to Ki quivering t wonder, sars' exile. nusemcQt his pre- iie as the he future ff. Thii loie thaii^' coiur, iai t^hat ym lalfnuid kd Rob ;^ meiMik ^ "Hertrl" she criaci, "hete! mjr (kthorl tt latC ! Oh, Mr £«rbcouit, where is he — take me to him } At once i » once I" " Restrain yourself, Miss Lisle — at once would be imposs? ble. And his presence here must for^ time be a dead secret Above all, Sir Vane Charteris and his familj^ ve t* be kept ii total ignorance. He ba "Charing CROS4 Hotkl, fc-r-_i: . "'■7* '— Vou tee I have answereuke'8 cottage, and, above all, a va|^e, intangi- ble •omethin^ that haij always «lrawn her to tke u..riappy laAly. How stupid, how blm.! she had beeri, not \a gueia ihc irmth befcfc ! V"\ ' V % ** I never Iciew untU a few months ago," the let:*V went on, «* tlie ter slble fact that she was not insane when shut, up in a madhduse. Wr. EaiU :ottrt' told me. I have returned at thfearliesl possilile momeni, anc" I m\ »evei rest until I have found, have reclaiiiiee merciful Ir ViUiran error. I may be too l^i* to save Hfer. hut \ meant it for the hest. You will come to me here — I long to see you, my (iafiing — my Olivia', child. " " Von will ask for • Mr. Ifawksley,' and you will keep the^ct of mj presence in England a dead secret. Do not, in any way, show to Sir Van« Charteris that you susjject or know the truth. We must t>e suhtle u , serpeni-j in dealing "with a serpent. Mr. Karlscourt ^oes to the Countesf of Damar's )tail to give you this to-ni^t-j-to- morrow, at the earliest poui- We hour, I shall expect you here. Cntu 1 see ^ou. my own dear cihiid »dieu." f- \ * m She knew all at last— at last. T^e* mystery that for the pasi eight years had been the unfathomable •fiystery of her life wai solved. Her mother was found. The reading of the letter had calmed her. She held it to the lighted tapers and watched it burn to-ashes. Then she ex- tinguished them. The ros / ilawn of the sweet May-day wa4 lighting the east ilready as she drew back the curtams of silk and lace and flung *ide the casements. The fresh, cool air bl«»w in like a bene- diction oil her hot and throbbmg head. W^ha^ a ni«ht the past night ha.l be':n — how a few hours had changed her whole life I A y*ar set mod to have elapsed since yesterday — bil^ce yester- day, wiien she stood here with Lord Fl'eatlierland's ^nng on \\n ingei and trills of song upon her lips. The Hashing diamond f IS gone now, only a |)la-r circlet of gold on the thnil hjiger d \bi left hand and the opal nng f)uke had given her kVng age ff mairicd. She was peculiar m many things — in this, that she rarely wore jewels of any kind. She h)oked now at that shio- iiAg wedding-nng— strange tJiat she had always worn Mat, and ber thoughts reverted back to hiin, to herself. "Why had he returned?" she thought, "and h>w will it end? He scorns and despises me— how can he do othenriie rhat-is-niy-life tu-ber-bowid ta h4t»,^md hel4^i^»f t ff«>nvhiBh W *y that very tie of marriage ? And i thought I could have left Eagiand «ad him iorevei, and now a new duty hdda me her* y ■A. iiO BELD ASUNDEM. ^ "^fl^i^^ *"y ^"^^^ «terest of my own— /mil r««.I. S.SS^ndt'^r™".''^^'""' ^'^'«''. ^d bear thewcffl illlwL!!. "'""X broken engagement— worse than Aat ^^iH r- "-l "«»' h™ « I trSued hin. last nithT' ^ She Urd her head against the cold gUss with a K tir-l ta^be^n ror Vt^^, .IS"p::KnTa:r h^r'ra.t' i«*own. and rfng for"her *S ^''" *° """ "■ » ^'* ^Clear away tjiose things, OdiUe, and fetch me a cup of te. tad??ch,l"JSr'^,,*' *™r« *"»»"• »"<1 bunt ap her youn. Iae«^«ti^^I'T"'^ "■"*'''• '" «f'«» "Ii""t« M^M ^^f^t 'i.;r<;Tn3Ti„:f-'r4E 4^;^^ p^.r-L'-.r^ro^d;:- -iHo-i^-^^^^^^^^ :^ *. d^e,'"" *""" " -^ '^«' » cab, a'nd g^/ISe ord» « •' Charing Crow Hotel" kJii-rairgrnS.* .-„r •''^-- »«*«'r - -» At iMt, at last— in ten mmute* itui ««« ACT unieen lather mmuie* iha would be lue to fkc« t"^. ^ M: "f* vnll reraab lud then— e, anj^y e and play- he wcrltfi than ihat< ight ' long, tire^ fe seemed / ■ busy day ;r floanng piikleifS — sping the a a dresfi- up of tea awav the : up Misi ^ the tea; am go- can tell er young ites Miss , a cioae to Stan ble pe» ordsr to aa the to fact ,-t^L.' W^MrWG^W m DAME, CHAPTER Vt\ ; irORKING IN THK DARK. S«f "»*> nature. IN his room at the Charing Cross Hot«l, Robeit fhwfav . ley sat alolfe by the open window, smoking his ii|eer- schaiim, anaek b«r veilpand father anadau^tter stood Cue to futie^ For the s^iace of five seooads they stood in dead alenet looking at each other. .Sttf saw a man brooscd ud "^ THE nair rjpplir^ low over. ...^^ ur •▼eet, sertuMve l.,,s. and a liur|^i,rve,!, ., ■Thev veie stjiikingly alike, t^e yes, casoal observer might hav^j^Mi! the ' f""led— a snii'e c(f great (jontent ilry-s bearded Jp-^^d he cam^for^ «v ^ ««lVes oi ejclainaf^ons. t^sijp. t>iv-fouiid relatives flm^ ther^ftelve* itatic screams. Mn re4lif4f,vhen On aiimj, __- ^^ ... ... ' 1 "l \ Er.i'r. i'.*^ i-'^'' •". "-" >' " "«= far I ^'i ' — — -.v^.iii Kij.-ia I .isnr was never at ^ ari^.hcr heart was full, and vu wonls came. He was the nu\r? ^ %WPHH»sed and seir,H.s..s:>.d ryf.Me two. f - .^^^-^Iscourt gave yi,tt my letter ? " - ■ .Sft fh^Tl"*"'^ ,\*""'' «^'«^"<^'' that /A,/ name should be ' "tUiit^it the first word frfiin his lips. „ I' What a sun)rise it npisi have been to yon I " ;'• VV hat ^(«hJ would It have done?" - . nev'i., h,L ''^ k' ^''^' '^""« "''• " ''^*' S'^ V,*ne Charteris should Qp|!f have shut my mother up in a ma" He dve DtfM 1 wtfuSPRiduie harbhor*, ti„\„ „t \ .^* •iawjial-. T thar aj^. WVRmSG Iff TBS DAMX, SS3 ^, and the lif^phen pw:||nd '' ■\'-' ■ a loss j||r qll^verift^ the uidre hould btf igret yoo is shnuid Hy sornt I Jl **"* '"^an^^e only did he ever try to omkc me. and K*<1 hitn in that." - -^ -n —-^f ,. H^r fac^ g!oon.e.i over as she spoke. Had not that iniUnu ^Tn whict, she had baffled him embittered her who.e Ufe } "fns i! .^*^'" *"" ^'^" **"*' "y^"' 1«^"«" ««ver told tae. Ooold not have h.lped n.e } 1 fought my own batUe and mlZ He wished you to n.arry some, one he had chosen for you- ■• SW your fortune, no doubt ?" «- He ^:ilwty„e to marry Ix>rd Montalien. From what rao- bve, I do not know. Lord Montalien, with fifteen thouiand . ' y^ of his own, could scarcely tdsh to many nic fortny for - ." [;0^^ J^^oltairen ! AVhat ! Guy-* elder brother r\ "Mr. Karlscourt's elder brother." Robert Hawksley looked at her searchingly. The n-oud. and -.et at the memory of that past time. ) ' ^^ '■ Anii you wou-vi not ? \'ou did not care for him ? " 'I not only did not care frtr him-^ne niMht get over that -/ hated him I beheved h.m to haVe ^rlfrged a fne d 1 He was watching her still-a grave smile upon his face. I wonder l that^hatred extends to (;uy ? 1 hope noL foi have grown as fond of hm, as though he were my own soi ." " Her (ace Hushed all over-a dee^, painful, burning red. I have no reason to dislike Mr. EarUcourt," she answer vi the words cou.mg with-an effo.t ; " he did me a great serv « once— a service fe* men would have rendered " •• You intLst have been e(,ually astonished and delighted wh » , u fwT blu •" ^^ ^'^"" '°" ^^* '''^^' *^ ^' ^«'^'^^''' Jli^"l"'''''^ '"'T'^"^ ^yP"«!Af""bt, since I thought hi . ^a.1 Do you noVknui^fthav4i#3Uh was announc^, nut „donais ago m one ^f the An.encan ,Hf>er» you sent mfe ^ " i did not know It. And you really th.MiRht him dead uifi b i opi^eared like a ghost before^you ? Not that Guy much reattr! Dies a ghost at present. It was as close a^ thing as ever I nam ^teHHi^lf a^iundred,wougds/artd%ug^^^^^ paigi^like a lion It wa. wlffe he lay sicl in the1ic,,HUl, d to death, that 1 found your picture,, in » locket Httacboi .... ■ . jU. . 4 ■V' jV , s^ 1,'*% . ' . ■?■ ■ ' * ' Sf4 fntmffi 6 m ran dmk \n bis watch-chain, and diacovcrcd that he kn«w foo, a»4 «w a countnmun." That deep dush rose up once more on Paulina's faix face. '* My pictuieJ^" she said. '* How came he by that ? I ca taJnly. never gave jt to him.'^ ♦• He told me as much afterward — owned that he fn^oioed bass sou^mir or England and yoOf to /carry into his exile. Ah, he u a brave lad, and a gallant onei He ^ved my life once at the risk of his own." "Tell me about it— father." Her voice was rtrangely soft and tremuloas — ^her face dropped forward on her father's shoulder, something vagiie and sweet stimng in her heart It was a theme Robert Hawksley liked well — the young man had grown as dear to hint as a son. He told^)^r, while the moments went "by, stories of his bravery, ol his generosity, of his genius, ( youi- le ladf, ingoott- f s^» ^ r» WORKING IN THE DARK, 355 ; "Since last night." ' \/ , 'Did you love Lord Heatherland, my dauffliter? The world speaks well of him." ^ s " And hj deserves all the world can say— he is one of the bast ine.i I ever knew. But— I never Itfved him. I don't know that I ever Uved any one -that I am capable of it I am hard, and selfish, and worldly, and ambitious, and -all evil timrs— unworthy to be any gojd man's wife. I shall never marry— yo I n_^ed not look ajt me in that way~I mean u. M/ ea,^^g'm,•nt w th Lord Heatherland has ceased— what I am now I wi|l goto my^grave. When we hnd my mother -ah! why should we talk of anything but her?— we three will leave this London liie and all pertaining "to it an 1 grow old, m peace, somewhere out of the world " Her voice gave way in a sort of sob. Not capable of lov- tny any one, when she knew that she loved Guy Earlscourt d ariy— iearly, and that she had loved him from the first- ay, in the days wh-n Allan Fane, the artist, had whiled away m her company that rosy summer eight years gone " Let ns ta k of my mother," she repeated. "What do'* you propose to do— how to find her ?" "Tae n\jst skilled daectivcs of Scotland Yard must do that. Can you. l,ving under the same roof with Sir Vane Cnarteris. thro v no light on the pi ce of ht^r concealment ?" -, "I am afraid not; and yet," Paulina said thoughtiuly perhaps 1/can. I have repeatedly ask. d him, and so has Maud -his^own daughter, you know— to take us to ffet- her bjt his ansv^er was i.ivariably a refusal. It was no .sight for yonng girls, he said. Once Maud told me in confidence she thought her mother was confined somewhere at Ches- wick. in a private asylum there. At least it is a clue— you might follow it up." ^ *• I will. If^i*ci is in England, it should not be so hard to hnd her. My poor Oliv.a ! what has she not suffered all her hie long.? Can anything in the future ever atone to her fo|,the past ?" • Let us hope »gtay father. If we can only find her, I am quae sure .vv^pf make her happy. You are certain." 4;g^^L" ^^. i^JJi ner^ rtj^Yriage r" -.^ — ^— : "Quite certain— it is beyond dispute. I shall ^et detec tives on tiie track at once, and remam quietly here to await events. Can y<»^ , me to see me often, Paulina, or will it . inconyenience y^ loo much ?" |^, / 'isMsis^ i^'^t \ , *'#■''■ S5n. "Qne cannot decide lao innK>rt ant a question^ r 4 awar^fte pm^ of maiculme beauty aU in A moment." , " "All in a moment l^exdauned Maud, "\v4iy, raiilina, "^ ySu knew C.uy a^es ago, d^fmh Lincolns^e, and wH|i vou , first canW r.ut-*-or was it b«k«e you camepuv^ere inj Loiidon I " And J'm sure, last night, you and he had quit^^'inteiestf conversation, to juilge from ycur looks jjj^^^lfere we Ic Mr. ChaUis says Lady Edith Cive ivijAe love .to liiip foi ^Ihf rest of (the night" ^^R * .."So%edidi' pursued ^|^.panisWSo #e women tlwzfi did, eveftlw||etr Lhe fellow was going ipaight to the dogs. St ^MF *"^"^""^ t^ll '"'T-I know you. Farlscomt's clsyeii a^tleucedly gooil-looking, and the fashion, and may have bii PJ^ and choice^ before the season ends. lie ought to go la -fer the l.ady Edith ; h e r fo rtune i5"soTnething^TnnnCTiie."~^ "Yei," said Mrs. Ga.orairli, " he s very handsoroe, an^ dcvw, and fajKioating, alwjL/s r-as aud has just Uui ton if "^^ V WORKING IN TUB OAAX is; '%■' % «> imtatiop wVich makes ail romantic f^rls lose their :eadi at 6fice. Hut. •ny.'-u»*»r' giris, oon'l either of you ever be luu? enougli t'o 'jJl iu love with a literary man. 'J'he wives of nie« Oi EeniJS aie the tno.st miserable creatures under the «in. Did )-ou ever read the life of liayden ? Antl if so, you com MMionated |K)or Mrs. Ilaydsn, 1 hoj*. l.,ook at Lady Hyron, *j|-ady Bulwer, hosts of them, always the same story* — private iN«(rry— public separation. The reason 13 plain enough. The ftlfections of your men.of great latcui are npt cemred on[ wife and home, like those°^f cominqnnlace men. The painted cmnvas on their easel/the blotted iiiliiuscript in their desk, are uca^rr and dearer 16 tlieni than wife or child. IJklarry .'iiian witn^ut two ideas in his head, and his heart in the Hght'place, ird yf)n will stand (a better chance of happiness t^an with so b.'iUiant a liteiary niytcor as (luy Karlscourt." "Qu:te an clocjuer.t speech. Aunt Kleanoi," commented .^aisd, "ami tnie, no doub» — though where _y<7wr experience ol dm) t^f gpnins corn^ from I don't know. Uncle Ralph was Qflv oveiLur'Jeiied with brajns, from all I've heard of him. \nSRn spue c^ vour warning, I think I should prefer a little inil»l imjiiiJtholy MS the wife of Mr. Karlscourt, to the perfect bliss ipl^aipcak of with a man ' who has not two ideas in his head. " ijft^oice and face softened ax she pronounced the aalne wiHi iVK*-''^'*ii tent'.emess, and a faint flush rose up in her p;«Ie faoc!^ffAi}ttut car« foi oje, strongly enough to tife my wife." It created a proiounu sensation. People saia very hanl ^8« of M'M Lisle b ehind her back, called her a heartless j ilt. -who iwj^leridrnp doubt, as^ she deserved, by being an old^ maid "^ut they looked upon her with new interest, as a woman apable of trampling under foot a ducal coronet ; and 'At beai> tilul heiress was mure sought after than rver ^ ./i 'v" :*,.-, i^:; If 3«t> WOKJnNG IN T/V& DAMJt. 7' N,«Tly a fortnight had passed. She visitrd iic. ftthei -vwi r.!t nf M r , /'"^ I'::n>et..ally-day and night, and mihZ Jftow.d him. They rarelj .s|><'ke-a formal bow in passing wai . ^e only greeting tney exchanged, but in her hear shTk^e, t S k\Tk''1 ■''■"'"'"• ^'^'--"'^n-t, vvouldnoTmarn a/^L mis.rable-the world b.-jjan tc .ay she was regreumR the nep she had taken wuh the .narm.s-.hat she was appruacnL ^ ve and-twenty, and gr..wmg er niorning visit to her father, she found hur. paang , anS Jown his hote sut.rtg roorn-riushed, excited, Jxious^ ' ^ ^on h^s t: '"""' '-' '" ^'^^ '-'^'^^'^ '^^^ h - ^'- looked _ He had found her-^r rather the defective in his e.fiploy had >ms hand— I a.^ Lhartens was in folenihly ^jood. health both nien.ally.and bo.hly. an,) the n.ed.cal si.pelt.uLnt had been ' . cx.Hfct.ng the b,rone, every day for the past iKrft weeks t^ come at.,| take his wife home. Th^ asylu n was'TV.r^ i,f -|-tab.e institution, and.ady Cha^!: r^,^^ ^^J *bno,t entirely fcstyred, and ready at any ..Wnent^^; .iLibv^y v" '^"'''r'"^"^""^-'^**'^'^^ the pat,cnt"aughter " jefttby Sir V,ane,^to bnng her home. Here ,s a note I E *ntrn-a pretty good imitation of his har^dwriting. 1 th nk^I^ ^.ch he says illness prevents his accompanvmg^yhu You pa the asylum, you will take the first train for lancohislnre"' Go to y.u, ohi friend, Duke ^lason•s-I w.Vf^^^ 10^ Qn^^^^^^^ «r*y you can break to her t»« news of my a ivaUp^par" jfer ' cab trilr :^.f^^l^'>:;^:t t r:5 ^-^ -^-^^^ - at^,^^ ^i II *-.! . i-i. miles, and she was sD-'wiir- aiottf ranidiv Chfii«>wi<~b' v^a^vi t..ii.. ,. "« ap.cuiir \ ■ t^, ^^jM l y Chcsinci yatd . f u ll y pic^aic-d fo. Oiciiait' Sr^ . i t b D t< Ti 1« fa' "vi vdi sh lo ■Jill 'I' cr Si se to puy. tU) 4 r- 4 er> discov- id wiih the -dith Clive assing wai she kiiew lo^ inarrj ; hill whc ;w restless etung the She was >iy for the -•ir free to t, rna[fing g u|) and le looked ]>ioy had ( id' CSS in ilth, lioth. ^lad been iveeks to oroiighly ned, was feav'e. ir faihei laughter, ' e I h%.vc think, in I. You hen you lUishiref On the* >are her " t, tei Sir, credible fItOKKING IN THA OAMK. The jjart JOi ^K ^, , . requirei little durlicitjtoeo Ji/oni Miss Lisle met the medical su, erinterdent, ard L herself as Lady Charlens's daughter.- Che gave hin. uv. .-.uer-s forged note— he readmit as a- matter of coiirse^^ bowed low before the stately, beautiful woman, and led her at once to h.s panent. Paulina's heart beat fi.t. How was she to teil her nunher might not betray her in her first surprise? !Hie paused as th-; uoctor was about to ^pen the door .Cc 'h'L'^^'k'"'.'^' "'"7 '"°^''^' '^^^ '^^^ se^-n "^e for manj jreirs, The shock may be too much f^j her. Do you m iii . 4nd. teil h^ i am here, and let us meet quite alone " ' J^/'V'^ please, i\Iiss Chartens," the polite superintended •aid;.. "you can wait here." , He usher^;d her iAto a sunny apartment. She stood, Her back himed to the door, looking out of the window, trying to calm her rapid heart-throbbmg. She was not kept waiting loha. i„ , three minutes the door opened, she turned slowly rourj- mother and daughter stood alone 'together I -ilil'vr ^'^yj^'''.^^ misery and imprisonmtjnt had done th«ii w«rk flpon the Wife of Robert Lisle. Her>rc had blanched ' t«a,4^ waxei? wh«eness-her goldeo hair had 'turned to sil rer^ -pie great bla^ eyes looked out froM, the bloodless face 3Sl^;5.f'^ "*''^'.'^''"*'''^ ^'''''^^•- ^^"^ «^°°^ "" the threshold . OTes^ittp-^l.-^emb ing— she did not.recognize this lall, Juno hke -with \\\,- \c\v^\\t fi«-« ^^A 1 . ;. ; , . ■' VttuiUyi^^wuh the Jov^ly jace arid large, pitying blue eye|^ . . ^^^^l sjie faltered;^ "no, you are fiot Maud" sa* drew away trembling vioj^ntly all over. " ] don't know yovw" she said ; " did he send you here ? " Paulin/ came over, put her strung young jjms al^ htr. and -'- ^ile^ f ■'*"" '"-^^ ^^""^ frightened face with a ijfve, Iclviiig. 1. •• ••* I am not M*ud," she whispered with a kiss : /l tm Pau- '■'-4 ^J"^ }''sl'^-'"Qiher-dear little, sutfens^ mother. Ncv donJl Su Va^e Chi^trfnanows hotting abcMit iu Don't wait to aik Tiestion.-mo>v.-an*d be caln,_ion't excite suspicion. I aS going' t»t4ifce you ^way-the" doctor thinks l\m gi^ Vane'i aaugUt.^r^don•^«ndece^ve him Co. get ready tit oiSi.-ever, •econd is i)rtfCious, ^nd b^ caim-Lft^ all our sakiiH^apd^ t&f^Uel^'" f" "i-^^jhe ^wer«i fi^- M«.^ ''■"■■ ^ i- ^ ; If ""IF-" " .1 A, 9fo r WOMKWG th r^A OAMK. ai«^fif" ' ' requiret npw. And how about the »uccS The ilinS Z^l^T^ '4^ ^*^^" ^^ ^^ adieu to the baronefs raSl^ "^ ^^ ^^« into the cab. Thf Lmen, ^^^ daughter, and assisted my lad, fro,., the asylum ^heH r J f ' '*'*^''' "^^'^ ^^^^'^'^nft away il had been?ncar^;ra5.d '""« ''^''' '^'' P°°^' ^^ <= '^on.at, . -You look bewildered dX^ natural the na...e comes l^Jc """"'^'^-^% vl^w easy, how me. the rapidity with whi^h tL^ h k"""' ^°^^>J*=r you, or -^^Jou^cUiLTyoutf^^^^^^^^ J know -\ou think has told ,..e?" SheTu.?! -'^'^'"»- ^^'^^ ^^^ »>peali^r twic« lid lips. :ar good g home to h«i, tn yon wicked unk of hertt*" WOMMCING IN THE DARK. 3«J andSlm^^.i" '"" """^"^ ""*^^ am„l«tw«B ro« Her mother fell back, nearly fainting. Paulina caajr*-! both hands, and loc>ked stra.ght, almost sternly, into her^v.l Ma2;^ ?. 7"'!!'' ^'^ «"""« ^°«^ »« Lincolnsnire, to I>akl Mason's My father will follow by the next uain. 7a^l Jjve you leave to famt, .f you will insist upon it MeantimJ } «m going to fasten th.s veil over your faci; the»e is^iSSLi 'Miom we may meet at the station." icuikg By one of the fatalities which rule our lives,* and which we term chance. Sir Vane Chartens had chosen that ve^ Sv to 'u^: ih ""^rr"^" '^•^""^ fr«™ ^he asylum to aSS pnson. She had been received in all gooenMenden^ exc laim ed. «« s ir Vani, JKMi^ter his inessengerT An^ your note said^u Wc« 1 your^ has been a speedy recovery." aiy"iIS?' "**'*' ' ^^^ understand you. 1 W, come fai ^W. «» A moKK-iKG -It rstt daMk. I ,'Clr«e.' '^ ' " '""" "•'" "°". ' •♦ My dau^iiter ! In.possibler' I " She announced herself j.* I a/lt, r*k\ft». -i j . ' Mnie thing, I take it." '^ Chutens's daughler-th. . "Wll yju tell me what she irar lib. > i !.<■. j . ' M«.d (11 at l,„„,e of a hea.lache " ' .^ ""'' '''''«'"'' tb.,. d,ov. upon .e.av,;rhe;e,";^|,„/;" ''"" """"' *'-'- »«»■ ' ^ps,tT^di a";:,":^n,i„^d':„:"..'"^"'»' -^^ /-!»«•= /. Vi^L^ r^uiinapossiDly have rrfken h >T t tuithrr > ' ll" .i 'T'T *«n. .«h.d!d no.'.h.;^;:,;rL^;j;:^' J,.'j,';;;;^;'j^, ■ ■ . ■-..■■. ^'^ - r ' r ** • ■ *■ _ <^^^^ k.iow > ' Gone! lideiirg aO mding hei n him with Lhe hue of so poor a ml enough u mean to left youi place the iccced m Iter— the daughter bcaatiful Id brown the very lich way "^ f n Vp^tell .>.4 ■ .' 3n^<^ye ... srif niid WOMiTWO tif-TttB DaMJC. 3«S ^ people he knew in London ; exccjU the itcherlvi. th^r* " 'i .^. ^ u t^^"' 'V'^' '"^r*'^^tian flashed uivn hun. She w . 1 '^'' ''^ I''neoIn.h:re, .o her old hbn.e, , < o.irse She would never atte.npt to keep her in London.' 1 ,S He looked at his watch-an express train wo,dd I-ave in an Lk h ; f t ' 'u''"'' thoughts, l,y any n.eans. If Fa, lina .^k her to Speckhaven, Lord Montai.en, at present at jll WoO'.. would hear of it at once, and hand' over the i air which miphcated hin. for b.gan.y. ///x .uarHaTe co M i.'V be proven .llegal, A.Jaud nieguunale/anX fortS L^ - .he|^^^;';t::*r-^^ '-hyd.dInotUnhe,whe„ HF reached the" London terminus, atid waS abtiut t#mak« m9uir.es concerning the passenf,ers by the mail, whkh tad leA ' two hours before. Paulina's commans, as he approached th* kaew'^Sr^' A\.:rh "it'"' '"^^^ ticket,' ^aratit We,,f the slouched sombrero. heTet ^^^1^2^ Mor.tahen>s revenge ,.a, all that was neeSlfc.r h s TxpJ;ur1 " an.| disgrace And yet.he determined to follow-to s^eS J play i.layed out-io face his fate without H,nch,ft« uTi^k hi. ticket and hi. place in a dtlferent compartmem from t^J^ of^M>ert Lisle, and London was left bellind lik^ a ^S^ were ungnt-^into the rustic heart tif Lin< «>! ■ • - VI ihi over/ * ||an tin ^ng westward as'd-VuiJJlrirti:^^^;::^^ Kkccpiuf out of «ght/ the b«pi%t waUii to^ -¥ .•> i^'M 5« •PAVUSA re 4L/CM» SeU^ J;l r f^ ?.^?~-?*' ^"*^"^* ^°°»^ another- -remdbiB. J«U m the relt. Duke Mason's house was -he destination bf ?n« ;^^TV '^ "*^f '""""*='^ ^'^»>^^' • 'i«Je sprang *^rand to uJL sTr V ' ^f-K*'" ^'^"' ""'^ ^^"•'^ steps approach ngmr hoih*. Sir Vane Lhartens also dismounted, also enter J thf den ai^ approached The house door was o^L^ h a woman s shr.ll screa,.., his wife's voice he knew an'' ,e ^ork. e many years, lying sidl and scnselesii in his arms. ji' CHAPTER V. 1 i- i' ie "P^UUNA TO ALICK." I^f hlf ' M ^"^J f '"* *J'^^ '^'^ ™" ^Ps*^ '^'th the sense of h s utter defeat. He set, his teeth, and strode rcsa |. lulely tnto their midst. The two husbands of the one wife after a quarter of a cen ^ury were once more face to fare J 4wier of a qen- 1 "le baronet took the inif itive I ' J «v*' if ^t''.'r*"»"8 «' this ? " he demanded. « Who are ftifb.:?!.,^ "' ^*'," '^"^ asylum where I placed her?" leSijT ^"^ "''^ '"^'y' *"" ^^^ interfered -quite •* Mison, win yott car*y iny wife unraui l PtoUna. vou —li •cconnniny Miss Mason, and endeaWli.esto^Te? j2 dus man, /will answer his ..uestions.' "* *^" PwlmA clas,>ed her ^nds anxiously about his arm. '•o«r H>.«oaltefc«ion~|tf,^,i8^nieth*t" \ '^ T ^- 5* >^H. '' , ( *. \' \ y # i ..hi* as in the :rt Lisle -^j Jic world'.,, '^ <>" '^PAVUtfA TO aUCM.*" ^ ^ He smiled gravely. ' ' " ^Ih!/"^'"'*"*'*' my dear ; I have not the slightest Jitention of WOitenng or quarrelling with Sir Vane CKartteris. A stron^ei power than mine ^hall deal with Him^lic^ English law " He placed Ohvia's fainting for 'n Duk^s arms, and watched nun and the two women vjtiit . room. Sir Vane made* •econd noisy attempt to interfere • Lady Charteris shall not qui room I Mason, on vow penl you touch my wife !V . x ^ ' rJ^ti^^^i- "^""^^ 7T baronet^-^rveyed the six foot, powerful-lookmg, soldidrly figure before him, and wisely heri- ta^ed before trying to'enforce his words by deeds. Xn a mo- IT ■ they were alone. , ■ ^ ^ w then; Sir Vane Charteri^^said Robert Lisle, folding I C ^.f r*^ •??'''"« ^""^ ^ ^^ siiiall, pursy figure of the f/a et, " I wUl hear ;irhat you have to say. Vbu asked me a nK:o.ent ago who I was-I don't reaUy think you tver needed to ask that question." .-— ^ ' " .^**". are Robert Lisle, the yeoman's son, who tiiirenty vc-is ago inveigled a srniple girl into a sham marriage, who absconded with her uncles money and jeWels, and afterward fled to Amei- ica to escape transportation. You perceive I know you well" I thought so. For the sham marriage, as you call it, it is a . marriage that our f.nglish law holds binding. Vou, Sir Vane Ihartens. are a bjganiisit with intent. Ohvia Lisle never, for \^e instant, was your wife. Vou saw n?e in church on the morning of that mockery of marriage. How will you answer to a British jury for thati W-Tien Olivia discovered i was alive, you shut her uf) m a mad-house for six years— how will vou answer a ;ury for /^/ As to the other absurd charge you speak of. 1 was a fool— the greatest of fools, ever to let ^ bugbear alarm me. ^jSleith-r you no» nor Geofl^rey Lyndith. i^ Je were alive, coi»ld support that trumped-up atcusatior Foi tti« rest, 1 have worked as you did, in the dark- 1 have found mjr wife, and I mean to keep her. The Uw snail judge be- tween us of the legality of the-first and «^nd marriages. Vou are free to act *s^ you please, in all respects, savTintnidini nere— yonder is the door— go— and never dare to degrade tS boose by your presence again, unless you wish me to take the Uw in my own hands. Did you ever hear oi Judge Lyruh, —aL-Vane? I-xome from a land where he is wdt icnown ff^~ fou ever cross vonder threahoid again, lU strangle you' at I fould a snake tbat crawled across my path. Now go I " ir^l .' « ^ 1 I' s« \ "FAVLttlA hf AUet.« ft^J™""" ^"' ""»"™'?" M.J a voice -1, Ihe door** llo» for .h- 1^. ' ^ '^' Lot, ton seaam in the «'4iV-'". a,fd. disposed, vane here a ttle grudge, and am inclined to wipe it off Hav^ you^any recollecuon m your past hfe of a nu.! ^ ^^Z witl^^nlTlirb?.?:'' 'T'^'ll »^--'l^'"-^. «"'! Sir Vane stoo^ dith-iUaJw; wir; '"""'' '''"" "«"' 10 Geoffrey lyn \ I'emaps mat wUl aid vour nienioi-y." "* ^ "o;srll:J;ife-:^-'- Uvidt,iS^''f;a "^'H r '^'^^''"'' '"'•'^'•^ »»»* baronet Six Vane. Uvid with fear and fury. n.oveH toward the doo,.- ^ - ^"b"^" Vfl!.*'.^'^" *"=*^'f' f^ h.s^bdv.t4arJ retentwr ««t.c,ii4s.e snau answer for his-alx «f my wife. ^.e /«aid. tning brava^io ro ,h Y / \ \ "^^^^^^f^^^^^^ - } iooi haii Y / -JUCZINA #*■ UCM* ]«'' •» Th« law shall," Lisle said gravely. ** I tMtnk j>ir loid ihif for this une!Kp<:cied favor. My good rld, disappoinieil, soured man, H»had grown nervoui w'lli llness, and n the dark dead of niAt. the white lace of A lire \Var;re/i rost to haunt hiiu anddriwfef^pfron^ls piiloir. ^ She lay unburi^d and unavengeil, bin teihbutioit^aore dire llian any an earikly tribunal could inffict had come home to her, « niurfotmd.sf sensatioa Lisle. Now the n.ysterv of h,rt k"' ''^'''f "^'^ *^""' ^'i«» »ras «/,/an on.lun as Sf I [ ^'"^"'as cleared up, ^he mother's side.Tleast tr d'ce^ '^^ ""''•"-''' ^"^ on tne Sir Vane ChaVteris was a v.lhT. I "^ u' r^'^l'^<'*'^'>^'»hle. And tot^ h..eir ^T^: :;.;:^:' ^i^^^^; ;;^ to the Contu.e„. ^ *t ^': ^t^ll^'l:^ extinct • ^^ ^ fad d>.:arde7;he n:,r^of "S f /''^'^ and his wife rhe must pass of |>..ace. of^ctZe of hT" """''.>' ^''^^"'-r'-'l-ycars fully herself a^am She 3' "^^''l'»"r^« ^^^^'re she b. . au.e left her rde-s L flew to h^ ''".?"'' ^'^^^"^^'' ^^en Robert turned. Sh:'Le7in conl^ant' d T? ^J'^ l-nn,g w..n'he ^e- fror, ^..„ aaain— ^^ .h ? ! ^^'' "^ something tearina Pe -^-- ^^on. the scene of her rouble, Th.K ^"^ 'f'**^" ^^"'^'1' ^-aj fauhrja, .needed change in 'hos. ^h " ^ \ ^^' ^^'^ J"^"'' '^< had gfo'.n-th.n and p'Je as a shadow Arh^'' ?^ ""^"« ^^'^ a. l.tt h.r. she w.ntlc.red s.len .^1 A" ^^^ "''* Joyousness '*n»liar haurts I .r Ivi . '^ SFirUless about th»- old »er ,n wonder-it wa « ithU" P ^' '" "^" '"""^^^ ^ •icsrless shadow-«-hose" . ! 1 *7;'^'' ''^'^' ^•''^"f- (I i^^ ** PAULINA TO AUCB^^ 371 »ork in press, and was engaged to be married, so eveiyboke of physicians, and she lau^ghed at them -she would be quite well again, she said, when they stai ted on The last day came. Everything was settled— ^fr. Lisle"! perpetual flying up and down by express trains, between Lon- 2on and Lmcolnshire, was a^ an end. His legal business was .jansfactonly over. On to-morrow morning tLy would sr^ ^ hrcct for Pans, making no delay in London. / A gentleman accompanied Mr. Lisle from town on this Ust ^^ToToi h'.:tr"' "'°' '' '^^ ^^p^^"^ '^^""^ ^"^ - " Where is Paulina ! " her father asked. Paol.na was out as usual on one of her dafly, aimless .«». 9les It was a nurky son of day. with a light, damp fog clinK- mg to ever)th:ng-a^*t^ health to £. i •^*''',^^''»K'^''"^y evening-it seemed Somri.ow. like ha cold, gray lUr The last, h.igonng shadow, of tt^ dark di^ 1 ■^"^ • I r ■• /■ '5.. V- ^' ' ' • <" - - / . \ ' X ^ 1 I 1 y f%t ( J 4 ' i - ' ) •v . .- J 1 ^^ ■ / ■Mj ■ BH ■ / ^ ■ I I ^H 1 1 ■P IHHHil H|HH HRHHI HHHH^^^^^^H ^^H ■ P^^ ■ ;, ■ff^ifp^pwp ^9^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^1 ■ ..'V.. ^ i'i " " ■ ■ i 1 1 P ' ^ 1 '_> • - • t > ' "'/ • * 1 . f.'-,; . - • • .»'■ ■" , * ' - . ' - • , $&*' ■^f" - ■' . • ''> .. , ■/ •• '■f'l ; > -& • '- r' J ' >, . '4 \ 1 ' - >^ ' ' ; • \ • « ; •«' \ ( -#»i*«*= * . '■" ' ;( >■■ ' ' . '■ ' - •' ,_,- .. 1 * 1' V ■ J.-- * ■ . 'f;- ■ ' i^ . . ts_ ' '. ' ,1 •^ A IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) /. ^/ /. 4« ^ 1 /■ •'(«: 1.0 I.I ^1^ U£ IL25 i 1.4 Fholugicipliic ^Sciences . Corporation 2.0 1.8 1.6 23 WtST MAIN STRilT WiBSTIR,N.Y. 14580 (716)872-4903 \ iV ^. ■iS> ^ <> ^•V C^ '4«^ ♦ V uK i. I' I m **fAULmA TO Al^CE.* .«we departing as she came slowlv homeward In K«-» y mind, heart and bram, she was tir^.'j V.?, I ^ " "^^J *^^ fi»ce paler rhan usual her b " ' ""^^ ^'""^ "'^^f- her man-; tall , gureT;^ied jh l 7" ''^«^'*'' *'»' ''^^"''"- ^ seemed to cease"tV btn g^ u'^nr' N^^-ne' r' .'^^ hnce to recogn.ze (it.y Farls?ourt ^ ° ''"^ '^^ '-^ "e ^|v her and o,)cncd the gate. Without hft.V^ K to his fare, wihout sptakmi. ,h^ kI • ' "'^« h^r CT" passed Cn. but he stopped h^?' ^°*'^^ *"^ *°"^ hav, " and ^; r^:tk '^^::::^ ■- ^ «- t^ o^-p-«„ eight years a.-o ^-hen L » 1^ ^^ '"*'*^'- '*"^ '^e sake of D* hate meX ^^.i-oyi""' '^^"^' ^^en lutle .Polly • dtd conl^eX'j^Ltd'rp'o. c?[„t^^? T^^^ her-shestop,.d half turned aSay ^ '"'" "^^ ^''' reproachful iyes, kn^Toe'fore, that tl^T^'t ^'^ i!"^''' « ^^' ^^^ -- •ov. that wuuM remt Th^he'; ^ i::^ .ffirrr"' ''"""^^' -^r:^ ;r::;;t:r- ^^--^^-'overthem averted face. * t^rn'-his c>ra were reading her pale, tered'^^"-^^" '^" ^° "^ ^^r-weD to my mother." she fal- i. io^the'Ln.r"'r- ' ;:r n" ^°" -• "'^>' ^ -- ^ >« forever." ' ^°°' **^*^« '''•'gland in a few days and pasf-myhfe AsQonnoc ? **"' quietly, "and there Will be abroad then^^H ? '"^ m * ^'""^ 'P'^'"*"' ' '-^-« Vou ;♦ Forgive you I For what?" ror letting you sacnhce your life" F^ .o,M fit... r*" »«"-^ 1 see; clearly now thL '.h„ . ^"^^ '^""'>'' «' but not in that wiv v ""°"'^ have saved yon by their ,:irslc.S th! f" "'7 '"^*^ ''^"^ night-dn.en wild f h *>aiic.r'Ci> lay^'s^trxr^"' *" ' ' '"'-^^^ what you were loii a but i L? Tou-you s-arcely knew / ^ "••" "**^ y«»*^ lor Uking advantage ol y^D l#*^ P h( ai h u ar ro d( hi « I J I'-ht.'iikM.flsfe;, n bo«!j and «» ^^^"^ gtne"ltevtl "^^"^ ^^ ^°"^« windotj^'nd'r/ .'S -c^metT'L*"'' '"''^l''' "°'" ""^^ ^^^'n the doorway amie in I Do you not know it israininir ? " ' ^he was standing where Ouy had left her. motionless. ^ •upport. Ihc next moment her faLhcr-. strong arm encifcM " Vou will get your death," he said : " you look lik.. H*,.k now. Did you see Karlscourt ?» ^ * *^*^** " He\«"gone " "''''^ '^"'''''^ ''"^^'^ *"^ ^^^^'^ ^o™ l*'' «P» Her step grew hrin ; she entered the house, and no, e orr^ni saw anythmg n.ore than usual m herJpok *^ ^°* lea »as ready— Rosanna's be« <»eaiii-cakes. and fn..t ™-. and whjest rolls, in honor of th/occasio^^S they «^^^^^ n^und die bnght httle lamp-lit ubie. a loud knik Slife t '^ kstv^'Jt"; ••''"'" ""^ '^^'- " ' ^-^f'* w- c-y -a- - » .n,!i°'^"*^ ^^^^ ^"^'^ *"^ '*'' » middle-aced. sailor-lute muL * lota' stranger, standing there in the ram. »»«» ^« niM, ^^Does Mm Paulina Lisle live here?" -k^ jhi, ^^ Ihike nodded. Fajdina hearc^ and approachrd the duor, UxAiw * to# aea iitictK'^A^Si^^Krit.- ?i;' ! }H *PAmjfiA TO MJCMJ I "Ycm wart me?" she inquirrd ^' •en, missing. You Sii Vr ' T' *^"* * ^'^'' Alice Ww kcr, dead o? alive?^ ^"'^ * '^"'^^ >°" "^ci'^'^ct, for news S She gAve a low ciy, reached out, and drew tfa. ,«1a • "Come this way J" she cri».H " i ? 'P?*^' '°- *ho advertised, a/d am stSr rekdv ti T "^l ^'^^''"^ ^^^* •M 1 shall hear of Alic^^ ^ ° ^'"^ '^'^ ''^"'^^d- At " IWi-.. I "ciijcii oreatniess, expectant " ilurji,.J / " ck L '' ^'-^'.ed back. « yZt^i. ^^. ^^'■^^ '^«0"> ".h «h«, Up,. -oo,e„,, pr„.,„e JS,™t C ^ier.'li.'f'" "'"'i^'"* " ta many p,p<:rs. j,, ardW thLl^ , '""' P"«l rolltd It was aWet an' rha|„ Shl If "*'' " '» ''"■ "cognized h a. once I,' h^ U„'"i,'' '*'''"'' ''"'"'■' >'« we her de,«r,u,e for thLJ^Jk u .'"""^ «"" '"Alice •f h" 8-W=. ha,r. anH-llK « e'^Hde'Th; '"" ""<"« J-autina u /»,V<— ,a6o "' ''"rse side this uiscnp.ion ■ I .^X'r '^'i.n'irv'e'a'r'.?' "''-^ "^« OWltma. eve. On ChS.as e^^'/g'^ Z°" """ """ "^••rhS^:; :EV »-- ^o, . ^ •Kly reveal them now ""^ '" *" ''"^ i"" » « yoo . cZr'&oJ fu«T"£',h™rbr ' ~«'" 'o '»'"™'»« •Kd once befort. ourS ffi T' ^ ' ''?" "^ ' «"• 'o wl iw ■wTSr'r". *" ^»^"i'"da, I fot into ^ Wram^ b rfiS -iPM-»«^tl».,wiqr, «d nearly got* Ugged lo^^Sd^ *PAULrM4 tC AUCM, t% fcai bow. ai Msle wfui 5 Alice W«r for news of -. a. . - '^' »|Sier in. lulma Lille cwai-A Al aced a chair "She was •f her since "dered/" en lips, ^nibling a ircel rolled one, anc J it to her. "f cry ; she 't to Alice irhed the i a ringlet scripiion • L "Yes ars come g woman ixly lies a »r a a>o- ;ed to sit dreadful is it yea ve>4nade t to sea, lunUr r i7^ ?f^ ^^ ^ "^^r* ''"°'' ^'^^ ^'*^ have told now. but it kind of haunted me hke, and gaveine no rest ; so fo: the pj, twc momhs vcbeen a-trying to fifnd .you out. A precious deiU ^ trouWe ,es been, 1 can tei| yoS: This here's the way ( came by that locket." ~ " »hd stlll!^'" "^^ '*^°' *°^^ WsVeiy. Paulina listening white •• \fy name's Bill Saunders, nifss, which I was christerc*' W'lUam Jarnes, and I follows the ^a for a livin', as vou mlv jce for yourself I'd been away on'a r«r. voyage and w^^ ^fot home 1 started from Liverpool to see liyVld moTh« Uvm at that time at Hattersea-way. I stayed with the old woman nigh upon seven weeks, coming up to London off and ' °?'„f ? 'i^"'"f f "*''" Christmas week to sail for China iM the (tolden Pagoda,' on a three years' cruise. The 'Golden Pai^oda* Sh?f H ^"7 '^'J^^^^'^ ^bo"t noon, Christn.as ev^ and 2V K?''^: '" /^ "'°'"'"«' * «'""« "'y tjundle ove my Undin' '"°'^''' good-^, and started afoot ifo "It was a tamal stormy morning, miss, axin' your pardon S . / old Kngland. 1 was used to snow-storms though, ind trudged along never mmdin', though along the waste fields ind marshes, arid old brick-yards, it blew fit to take your heaS »1.3 1 T ' '^^ '°'' "^ "'"•■"'"' "^^ ^he time of day you H^oulu look to see any one out a-drivin', and so when I see a ttorse and wagon a-comin' furious in the other direction, I stood ind looked hard to see what the parties was like .hai 111 ^^ * "^^ ^r^^ * woman-I could jiist make out .nii ii/H^i Tf • .^i*" r*^ *° ."'"^'^^ "P a-^ SO *hite with mo#. While 1 looked, the wagon stopped sudden like, the •unju...ped out and helped the woman after. This w« m Mom""'''*' "°^ ''*^'*'''* ''' '"** * P^*"* *°** "» »»»'^ • " • Something wrong with the turnout,' I says to myseUjfey keeps well out o' sight and waits to see. The man lookSKfl about, and then takes the woman round an old pile o' brokPB bncks that hia them from sight. A minute after-it coukJ not :=^^»-*ot sartifr what L h^su^cted when the mar firsf tor " ? f JSi . P'*'' ''** «°'"8 °"' *":c. I stooped and picked"t uu ? '" "^f'^"^ caught ,u, niJss. lK,nt a httle, as vou see wTere i T, !^^' '^"'^ '«k^» jnd ,he httle chain broke off sW as -f t^ . T". ^^"'"''^^ «ni from her neck. J .-,ut it m r,f ■ '^ " ^'^^ ^et.n dragaed London. That ^lern^i Sie r!7f '^,""^ ^*'"l'-d aJSfto » her, and iVe nevcTset f^ot 'n '^"J ^^'^ ' ^'^^ ^<1 •- weeks a«o. ''V'""' ^" i.nj»land since, untU three *j< there ,„„„^ ^„„„^„ ™^- ,j"„",^-™;^h „„ deck ./ „,gh,. •' «-)^. **PAUl/ffA TO ALICE:* 'ight be lite I just twf?nt7 . for she s » back, I sees ng a secciu- ^f. you rnij wat< h, thci Nitk ; savin hen f rnadi >fhole, Uke . when thfli n dragged pp p' loose i^ot scores ad dragged doHTi ii«r f ,ied on^ dragged away to and ine til three e morn- »' night* I co uJd SS^IeltOry^ ^^ "^ '"^' * ''^*" '^'^^^^^ °^ "' '"^ ^««S5 »-J^irfu- f.''"g '" * coffee-house in Liverpool the niehl I rPrn^l r ^^ '''""^^^ f'*^'*^'' ^'^ y^»" «J«^ an'l there, a. f Prjv^dence had ,>ut u in my way. the very first th.r.g n^ w^ rrws of o^e'iV'v?'^'"^'"^"""^ "'^^"'^K * ^eward^or' InJ Thad o ? ""'i"^ ^'""^" '"^ *" ^''« '«"• That ^as^ had to go by. Any news wa, <, \^ br(,„ght to a law-f,r.„ n SsemenL^ r / V"^ "' '^." '^" '"?'• ^ «''"^-J '«^"' that ah'ng to say to her about this here business she might like to kndw ; and at la.:, after a deal o' fulin the^ pave n.e the direct.ori^ here. Here 1 came ; and ih.re „u2 |sd,e whole story. A^ice U arren was murdered ori C^S CVS. .862, ami her bohes lies a-moldenn' to this day, for wha I km w. m that hole on Baitersea Common."' ^ i« I Jn'";''? *'*'* r""^*'1 ^'^ ''"^y- *"*"''"* sat perfectly r.-nd, " A nH .K '^''' •"'?"^ '° '^^''^^ ^°^^ She spoke HOW f ^ ^^ And the man who inur.lercd hcr-tell me what he wai "I di.ln't sec his face, miss ; he waa that muffled up with he a'.^!,r *" * '•J"*^*; »°°''V:i? e^«^'-<^o^^ »nd i took Inm to .rr. i? I 1 i?' *"[^ "*"" * gentleman." Paahna's ihougnu Wly. ^ t ggeply stron gl y at^4^ «» t^jij, sub^^t, dif ~ •« :uo just to make ar.y nw^, Jccusatiun. in .o .upreS u 1^ m m J7« " rAVUKA TOAUCK.' bving Aljce ,-J,d 'Z six Sg'':^^^^?'*'''^^-!"-? Moi.ce!" ""■yiohm Someihing must be done, u3 fctS^Tcf u'k^ ""'''«™"' *»'. «<) .u^oK^ed boU. U ^IV™. „en looked « her in .1,™_^, fc„ .^,^ ^^ , Kendis-" ""^ •»» f"" mM been telling ,ou>' YoiS pnS':S'„tv:;-;^7/''' -^-4 si, .ear, >ro-.y.n, repeat to you wlut teSas saki » m, ,."■; ^'"'^ "'^" "" homble niunler." " T »■« to me— the homble story of ■ Jlownl Remember you ",aT."x,„°' P"^' sake, go and In |«t now you a|„«arU,e XeS'fo" a ST"/^"'"™"'' ^""^ ■ '^.'f 'j° i" '"V' -"Other, Pafli *''■''"' •*" » '^"gthy dulV heavy ,,ain tL'hW in ffieZTerher*!^" H^"!. '" ' ^ encircled «nth in iron banil • = k,!; ' j^ " forehead seemed Itad never been ill i^heM e A^^ sZ'i'" """^ k^' ='"• ^ »^^'^.^e'it^*= - i«-te?":§ KoX-aSd'r. w:"i^-th"^r -J "r s^e'" -^ "" '^ ■^' l"s "tor,-, alnwst word for worj arh. k i T? K"'"' "l-eatW ,. r>uke listened, turnip cold ^>h ^' '"'''." '" ''''"«''»• tole, pretty Alicil ^L ., '" <"''■ "'••J honor. Pon, "d th^ haS tie" hert,""' ' ^ ^enUe 1-beloved by aS*^' Lil'«^" "\'„'l;'l,r"" '^'■"" *' I«'i« a, once" Mr «a.<.a„d repe,^ ;„:"«„rrr^ T '° '""^ 'o-monow, mi •ost foul m.rder Lb-^rdo^j":" ■*' ""T" »>=">orit,e, 2 -•—He wu .t„ppu^ o,^ -^ J^JZ ^,''' 1?^ <»c^H.,~. ..""'" •"" '^eaduiMi.aiid aok hi-H_S.l= «-^ "- «""<»»« over «gi„ ^Hi. rf S^u^ tT h r i t i I h « 1 « Vv ,..;•.. NnfbL She redM-^enUe inbiiried and xi up, and it there. \Y«| t>e done, goA >ed both hei fully corpse- \ aimid Rob ou ? ■ Youi ago — lying s man wilj : story of a ught child go and lie orroHT, and a lengthy r frpm the e ill ? A id seemr^ yes. she no» / ^ jLsd re i^ chat the repeated lUliiiL '• Poor, )y all !— :e," Mr. TOW, my ties. A light"* '^tepitit^ 1 in the **fAULivA TO Mk.rCM." m Mr. Lisle the ftr«t thing in th^ te«rn, and woold wait upon morning. "This is a most shocking thing, MasoA" he said ; "and ia Paulina's present state of health there yk no telhng what effeci the new* aiay have upon her. She seems to have been ven itfongly attached fo this unfortunate Alice Warren." •« Veiy strongly," Duke answered,/ moved himself morp thati <»e cared to snow. "It is her nature to love with her wfcaU' •cart thoa* whom she docs love— And they wsrs like sisters Poor htMs Alice!" '^.. •* Who was the man with whoa she elopedK.Was it never mown?" 4 ^ " Never for certain." / "Itwaa suspected?" " It was." "Who was the mar?" Duke hesitated. It had always been a story he had shrunk a cm — now more than ever. • Who was the manwith whom she fled ? " Lisle repeated. ' "The .nan to whom she fled I don't know. The man wUh whom She left Speckhaven was— Guy Earlscourt." " I can I neip it," Duke said, do^edly. " Every one here k'^^i^V^^"^''^^*^*^'^^*^''"' ^"'^ travelled up to London with Mr. Guy ; ana most people believe hirn guilty. J don't —1 never did— no luoie does Matll^w Warren or Paulina." " Will you tell me ail about it, \^as^^' Lisle said, gravely. He was beginning to foic*ee the trfiutim.store for the youii man he liked so strongiy. ' ** v -e They sat together for^over an . , ^ •elf to simple facts, told ah nc kZew— the ietUr Paulina had received, the tiight in company mJIi 6uy the succeeding even- log --of the revelation of Guy u' "" ' - r o . . ihe had lepeated to Duke. Lrsi More grave. " Earlscourt is not the man," , ^^^.^ . ^..^ „ Mioply incapable of luring any girl delibciately to h* ruin, however many aiid great his faults of the pasu For the chatve M murder, m connection with h|m, it is of course utterly mon- strous. But hiB leaving the plaice, and accompli.) ing the girl to London niaypi^e him inj^iery disagreeable po^iion, un^ »e cnminal is foond. Were nbne of the other men stopnni «t the Pruxy sus|«cted at the i^e i" lour. Duke, conAning hira lew— the ietfir Paulina had li Guy. the succeeding even- Paulina at Brighton, whid« listened, growing more ajui le said, decidedly. " Gny it \ '*. S«o '^^AUUNA TO AUCAJ> M None. Thi^ is "-Dale* .en Diu faui.n.'- ''""^^«'-" Paulina snspectec ^m. He .nay have a.hn"ed AhS a^hJv all'n'rL **^'*"'' was the only one amona tu t' *\ '"'T *" fi"«' ; but (lui ^r flight, h T a of , ." "^'^ '"^"'" ''^"l''^ conntctei 80 long, had kept i, foreler- • '"« ^""^^ ^'' confcssi«B ^-'ha^:t;' :^':;ourri :r^^'^' ''-^^ '-^^'' -• »« ^ out or her s.ght * ^'^ *'"'*' *"'*"' ^' ^"sbanj l«k to the |,a,l'r ''"' '""''= ^'""^ '"""wing he, wrC'i';;'s,;\'hS.''"^ 'we.-h,s..e „a her nX'^k^n^o'cr "" """="• ''''"' ™ "" -pons. ,„ ^ptJZ^j! '^l^r " ^"" "■" "' "■• '" > " »- Lisle brougl„The'l;lL tlreT^o hT-i;r"lT™''- *"'''"^'' "^•"' Lisle's strong hands had forced he d blind suddea fi given ax th^ ,«#«•R the first time in her fotir-an;l-twenty years of life.* laulina lay ill— ill „nt<> ,lfaih. The airy,- ui.pci li-imbcr in which little Polly Mason hao slent hei hrirf, hnjiht life aw.ly. was silent ami .larkened now- ^ ereat I.on,l„n physinan h.id heen telegraphed for, andcime; «M* Kosinna gn„, an.l j,'ray.in ihe green du.k,, took her place by the l)e(lsi(le of her MiirNJing. -* » « *^ lJ^ I'f"", *?"*'"." :''"'^>^ l«"ke(l porteritons, and shook hit ,|.ea,l Unshed, an.! clol«-i.,us. and restless. I'ai.lina lay. talkina ln(oh-rently-<,r K.ssing in h.M, nnrefreshing slee,»-very, Ver? Ul. OfoHirseall further thought i^i departure was at an end -.who was to tell that I'auhna Lisle's hr^t jo-^ney^,ght.no." De t J ti.e ton;!; ? > . \ ° Andthegnefoffhe faithful hearts, who loved her so devot ed >-whu shall paint that f They had to banish her mothei by force from the sick r.,on.-her selfcomman.l had all rone m those long, miserable years of asylum-life, and her uncon- . t.ollal).e sohhinj. nlle.l.the plact?^she was utterly helpless and useless it needed but one word fryni the husband to uiake tier yield. /• Vou distress Rosanna— you may disturb Paulina-iyou wiU iniure yourself— con,c, Olivia." ^ ' , He was haggard and pale hmiself-his very life ^'seemed ' T" M"."i '" ""^ flew found wife and child— that d. u: .*"''" '"^ woriQ. iie has suffered a raa'.v v f too niuch.^n his reputation on this unhaift)y girl's ^crnV " ^ The story of the fl.ght, and the rest of it, .s no'^secref ev -r ' Did Burnham remember the .case of* the missinc rirl " AH •>, the .dvm,semcn.7 he would ..rubably recolS tf be 3 ' ^^ U« detecuve.. M,. Bun^r^'^^^' i^^f^; •• 1 rooember ;■ h* said, " I renirmber. Cut MOacted can / • '. ft'. a* ihnocemi "Ofy I haia ve fKilicc.'' ann. 1 t is as n^A, tt desires ll becope ni-, 9er tnat hi> |irnputatic>». igated, ari red aiiccavy s ACCOU »t. ret ; ev .r) it. he (ei than I) ter. found Juy oon .rain, flig^ u was told^Mttle i jt veal to e\o Fleet ct »r Bjrn ivi hiding iN blacT t, restless :gan with -^ jirl, AhV/i lad bccir y »ni5siV| i/possille ~ copy of .^w It 2tteiit)CD landed it t at on« ■ ted ctm- e4 eyes otfthe sailor's stolid, sunbur^d face. "Oh Chnstmas eve, i86a, pecisely at ha^lfpast eight, a.m "* Mr. Burnhain produced a dirty,4ttieket-book, and a, stumpy pencil, which required to be sucked audibly bdii|re it would make Us mark. "You're certam of the timeTmy man?" pausing with the' stumpy pencil poised, and transfixing Bill Saunders. " Freetsely half past right when the shot was/fted / You can swear to this,, if necessary }" " ^•Before the Lord Chief Justice, sir," responded Saunders, aturdily. "My watch is a watch wt^t nether goes, wrong. It wastwerSv "•-••— — -- ' ' .° ^ . f* shot, V ---:- — -,. -.. i.nn., aiiaip, 1 |cii iiic piacc.m U wasn't the siirt o' pleasant sjiot to, make a lu^n Unger." " Let me^ thf Itickct, " the deteaive said. ^ Robert I. isle handc»l it' to him. . •• You recpgnfzed this loclcet at once ? " he inquired, examin. log closely the 4nscnption and picture. "My daughter recognized it; 'Mr. Mison, here, recoenized It at tirst sight." » f » ««, " I coulil swear to the locket," said Duke ; •♦ I was with ' Misff I. isle when she purchased it, and ordered the inscription U> be engraved. That is also her picttue, and a tress of her SAU-. It is imi>os8ible to be mistaken."^ " .Vfr. AJasun," said the ikstective, " will ypu he kind •io«igI|» to Icll'me all you know of this girl's slory. i recoHec*, n«i5e iiitjx.ctly now, the rumor that she ran away from home witS •omt one— a gentleman much above her in station. 1 «r»» right, am I not } " rdily. • My watch is a watch w^t nefer goes, wrong. It itwerSy nunytes to nine when that ere phap fired that ere t, and It was just a quarter 6' nine yyben he jumped in his ) and drove ai^ay. At nine, sharj), I left the place myself ■v ,».?^»ff!l* f|k ^ M •*POM A tVOMA/rs SAJPM.** _"£he travelled up to Ix)ndon with Mr. Guy R*r!sc(»ort-. Lif aleiiant Fjirhcoorl, he was then, second son of Ix.rd Moo MM* » ^' '^" you, she didn't run away with /:t>n." "No?" Mr. Hurnhani was taking notes again, sucking the •turopy i^ncl as if u had been a stick of can«ly. in the inter rata. ^ ; She went up to I.ondon with hini, but she didn't run »way with hun. Now. now was that ?" "They met, by cha-^ce, at the station," answered Duke, ven wmh discomposxl : " by the merest chance. She loUl liir.i she ^ going up to l.on,lon-it was late in the evening, and she was afraid to travel i. lone ; and she asked hiiu to lake care ol * o." J"? ^ ' '"'7 "**"''^'- S*'^ ^^^"^^ him to take care of her. bhe had known \lt. Karlscourt a very long tunc, 1 supposed" " ror two yeai,?. off and on." "She was a very pretty girl— this Alice Warren ?" " Very pretty, indeed." " Did any one |>resent on the occasion hear this conversatiot jjassing between Miss VVarren and Mr. Earlscourt at the sta *' So one, that I am aware of." " Mr. Karlscourt saw her to her destination, then. \Vh»t was her-destmation ?" " Some lodging-house, Tottenham Co-rt Road way. I forirel of'th"TanS;^[;"' *"' '""' '" ^""^ ^"' '^^^ '^' •" <^»^*^* " Ah I " Hurnham ^id. " We must find that landlady. Dr you know, Mr. Mason, if he ever saw her again ?" "Ves. once. He told her friend. Miss Lisle, that several weeks after he visited her at her lo.lgings, and that he found her much changed-l.,oking ill and unhappy. He went again, -ext dar, but in the meantime she had been removed. She La* lever been heard of since, until n6w." .niVM'^'^d;' ^'•.**"'^"ham said, with a thoughtful gnnit . il WiM Warren leave no word, no message, no faiewell. to Anybody before quitting home ? " Lisle produceti her note, and handed it to him. 'She wrote this to my daughter on the night preceding her Pf^e- Vou see she s,>eaks of her marriage there, for ceruin.*^ Mr. Murnhain read the note attemively two or three tunes. ^en place«l it with the jocket in his desk. ''Si^ZSll^fSlll.^^^^^ M.«,n. ■r-- irlscontrt— vord Mon I." tcJcing the the inter didn't run ")iike, ver) Id liir.i shf ;, and she ke care o( ire of her. ppose f " iversatiot t the sta I. Whit I forgH n charge idy. Zk I ieveraJ le found nt again, She ItOM il gniut ewell, tu ding her certain/ e tuneaii Maaon, fUtiop and above her. The month was September. Were «hcit tuany fentlenien staying at Montalien Hriorv in September, i86a ?" "There were six," Duke answeretj, after a second's pause. '«Ix>rd Moniahen hims«lf. his brother C.uy, SU. Allan Fane, the artist, Sir Harry Gordon, Captain Cecil ViLiers,^ and a *Mr. Augustus Stedinan. 1 remember aU their names becaust them was so much talk at the time." •• V'^s ; antl were any of those gentlemen admirers of MIm iVarren? Did ihey visit at her father's house ?" "They a/.' visited there— excrpt. perhaps, Mr. Allan Kan« . who was a married man, and out of the question." " The others all visiled at the hn.[\itTs house, then. Did sat. picton fall uporwu)nc of these ?—.nomn' like all creation. He was a tall, slim chap, I ■ee that, wiih the look of a gentleman, but I couldn't teU hiiR •gain not if I ran slap agin him this minute." "Cabs waiting, su-," a voice called, and th; men went out tc *'. "J^^ "r*"^ ca^s were before the door, a id in the foremott «k»ch Inspector Bumham entered, a man sat who had as wBnai au, hke the inspector himself. A larre box was placed •n his knees. • •Til go in this, with my friend Timmins, ' Bumham said You three gentlemen will take the four-wheeler." He gave the word, and the cab started. In the second car nage the three men sat in profound silence— it was not a pleas- ant enand they were going u})on— to look at the sjwt where poor Alice Warren had been so fouUy murdered, and find all ttat remained of her after six years. 1 he drive was not a very long one. As the bl^ak extent di (jraite ground came in vjew, bleak even this golden summer day, Inspector Burnham stopped the cab, and with his com- panion got out. That companion carried under his arm the box before s|)oken of, and in his left hand a light spade. The occupants of the second carriage looked with some curiosity at these thmgs, but no one asked any questions. "You are sure.you will recogni/t the exact spot,~Mx. Saun- ders? the policeman asked. . "Sartin, sir," the seaman responded. "Pve seen it, 8l-»*ping and waking, every day and night since I was unlucky enouah to lay eyes on it first." ' . He went on ahead, the two detectives following, and Lisl • «id Duke bringing up the rear. The July afternoon was at it^ taeUowesi as Aey crossed the common— yeUow sunshine ever> where, and a bright, blue heaven over alL Ten minutes' wall Ing, and the sailor stopped short «i'i.^''u'*^'"*^'* ^^^ P'^^' ^"■'" ^^ ^^ *o the detectivet Ihings hasn't changed a mite since I was here six years ago There's the old kiln, behind which I watched the man, and thii fcore'i the 8|>ot where I picked up the locket. Oijf among this nibbish at the entrancs, and you'U £nd aU thafa left oi uuu yiere misfortunate voung 'tximaii." _^^ P'«g g to which he pointed was a sort of rxravation. hot lowtdou. of the high, clayey rmbankment, tfa« entrance choM op with rabbiih of every wan. -^^ 'il.A. \ iLt ■•i^^il^i^^iM. '•Pox A WOMAlf^S SAJta,* l«7 "Dig "nrnmins," Inspector bcrnham gaid 8entent^n«4y. ud IPftngdAirB his box. Tinimii < 8ft tix wurk. The dry rubDish came aw»y tasily enough. Ave miruies wotit, am] the entrance was cleair'i Mr. Bum un stuopedandluoked in. The hollow place r-t. quite dark a^ d quite dry— an earthy odor alone was jierccpti We. It was t 'crably large, not high enough for a man to stam' ip'»«ht in. It Sad evidently been made and used loag ago fa ire p-irfxise of hoKhng tools. 7 " Fetch along i>e Untern, Timmins," the detective/said. « 1 dioiight It might be dark,'* to Mr. Lisle, "and came provided. If ycu please, III trouble you to follow me in." Tiinmins produced a small lantern from the box, lighted the candle, and handeil it to his superior officer. InsiiecLor Bum- ham went in at once, holding tlie light before him. Lisle followed. The plate was perfecUy dry and of con nderable extent Three steps from the enOjaace, and what they sought was A human skull lay at the detective's feet, human bones 1» scattered, antl dry, and fleshless, a mass of long, brown hair, and, torn fraginents of a wouian's dress. " Ixjok !' said lns|)ector Burnhaiu. ,. He picked up the skull with«.pertect coolness, ai'd passed it lo his companion. B.;t Robert Lisle declined taking it by a nkotion IXath, b Its most horrible fonns, had been bmiliar to him i/« hi* check- ered career, soldiers he had seen mown down like corr. before the sickle, but this was different A helpless woman, murdered in cold blood, is perhips. '»1 all ternble and unnatural things the most terribl* an-J unrjt, oral And this woman had been his beloved dat tliic*r's deai est friend. * ♦• Timmins," Mr. Bumham said, setting down \ is ligol, aiu getting on his knees, "fetch us the box." Tinimins groficd his way in— the box was evidently broughl far the purpose of removing the remains. Lisle wat :l»d tiM detective and the nergeant, wondering at their pro?, ssional cooV MU. They gaHtered together everytliing— hair— I at«es— even ihred of dress. . ^^*^ Have we all?" ask e d U w ius pw i m, p— h^ wUk UHlT" Itni over the •nmnd. "Ithittksa No-HMMaU; whafs«iU«l* \ .'.„4,ai»feiiis ,S!i'-.i&v; # \ f;:ii Jtt WM a tiDT alk«n tMig, with a stnng. as if it hatl I>«en iron •Mat the neck. Sotn^rhmg Ike paper crackled within. In- q>«Ctor Bttmham op«;^ed the little bag, and drew out a tlin o« paper. Was it a marriage certificate ? No, it was an a Kbrti —tte address of lieutenant Guy h:arlscoun, FiccadUli— lU •ddress Guy had turned back to give Alice on the night of \m •nrn^ at Gilberfi Gardens, when he had told her, i/ ^^vt a ^v u°!i'?*^'^^ *° **^"** *" **""• *"^ ^^ *°"'J come to hT Alice --of his kind words and looks. And now it had come to beai « suent r.tners against hun. . Nothing ^emainttJ— the box and its ghastly contents were Jken out by I inimins. The three men once more stood in the bright sunlight, and the secret of that dark excavation was Its secret no longer. _ Timmins shouldereil the box and started back for his cab- the others foUowing—sdent, gloomy. A II sa ve 1 nspector Hum- ham— his silence was the silence of deep thought, net gloom. Here was a splendid case cropping uj)— a case that would crrate *'*'^*^"»'"'^"^ ''^'■°"g'^0"« ^fi* '^^ni^th and brea.lih of Knyland. The Honorable Guy liirlscourt, the brother of l^rd Monta fleu, the popular author, hunted down for n.urdet, and by him. Inspector Burnhara, Why. if he could track the deed clcarlj home to hiin, his reputation to^^life was made. He Unked his arm in Duke's, who would much rathv not. nd drew hun a little behind. "I have another question to ask you, Mr. Mason. Are you aware by what name this Miss Warren went in her lodsiucs? An assumed name, I'll wager." **It was an assumed name," answered Duke. "She was known as Mrs. Brown." c w» "And how do you happen to be «ware of it? Oh," car» tessly, " Mr. tarlscourt, no doubt, infonucd Miss IJile ?" "He di It's es- •ratial to fin»l that woman, Mr. Mason." "1 have hsard the name, but i forget. It began with ar. H — Ilobnes, or Hayes, something of that kind." *! ^ **'** *'''»*^ "^^^ remember, no doubt?" ^^iarJvisle u ill dfT>rai.-. fever— al.e w^t^mev^bn ueAkm^ DBke said» and relapsed mu; silence and giowa *V *7Vir A VirOttAirS SAKM* 38> f4Ur»> Mr. Hnmham left Duke and approached SaunJen . " And whrre shall we find you, my nun, when. we want VOB? Yoo are the most unportant (Personage in the matter just poiTf and mast ipve bonds by anectut Humhain. of the Metroi>olitan Police, wenttoworit St once, and with a will, working up this extraordinary case; (;xiiaor«iiiiary only in that so distinguished a man as (tuy Earls- Court was die suspec'.ed criminal. He notified the coroner ol the dim the hour Mrs. Brown entered your house unJ He produced the notebook, and gave the stumpy pencO a Mrs. Howe, in mortal terror of a detective began at the bc^ pnmng— the visit of Augustus Stedman to engage the loomt »r a party from the country, a runaway^^latch, goinif to b« ■Mumed the day after her arrival" •• Which," said Mrs. Uo««^ I* them were his own expressions." " You don't know this young man's name ?" " No, Mrs. Howe had never heard it, and never set eyes oe " SSSibS*hi£'!** ''*^ *^* **" ^ ''*"*°* ^' "*** mining. «Kf # f|r^ ODce seen veij eaaiiy i«nwiob«ra4. Ux%. Htm% «w- i^-rtlLbiarji • fon A woMdirs sAXfi* S9i air. :j W ^ good meiDory for faces, however, and hit off Mr. 1 pretty well " Well find him when we want him, I dare say," said the 4» lecttve, writing rapidly. "Co ahea.1, Mrs. Howe." Mij. Howe described- the arrival of Guy and Alice aboii ■idui^jht, and the apjjearance of both. Air. Bumham produced a second portrait this time of Alioa jWOCured from Speckhaven. " la this anything like her ? " "As like as like— that's Mrs. Brown, as I saw hw fiiit ; as jnrect and pretty a face as ever I set my heyes on. Not that her good looks lastea long, poor thing." '• What was the gentleman's manner ?•— affectionate, now. ai a lover's might be ? " < -» » «♦ Well^yes," hesitating somewhat ; "he seemed very careful of her and that, and called Jier • Halice;' and when he said good-by, and left the roonvfie ran back to her again. Yes, he tvas haffectionate, Mr. Burnham", sir." "Did you hear her address htm by his Christian name ?" The landlady shook her head. "No, sir, she didn't in m^ 'earing; I should have remenv bered it if she had. No, sir, W didn't And then he went away, and she went up to bed. \i\nd the next afternoon, about SIX o clock •! think it was, a cab drove up, and a gentleman got out, and ran up the stairs. I went to the front window to watch then: going h^fj to be married, bot^ couldn't see his &ce. He iiarl a wide, black hat slouched down over his nose, and hif coat-collar, that turned up— *here was no getting a look at him. And It was alter dark before Uicy came back. And when he Ciine after that, it was halways in a sort of disguis<». Most of hr tunes I was busy in the kitcheii, and iidn't .ee him at all —when I did, I couldn't get another look at his face. He generally came about dusk, too, and the passage is dark. Nol «r, except the first night, 1 never got a look at Mia. Brown'i 'naband's face." Mrs. Howe had very little more real information to give Ui ' Bimiham. Would she try, and think— had hot the tall, datk, miataiy young gentleman caUed afterward, unmuffled and un. ai^iit-.' .m,' '.'V'" *FOM 'A HVMA^S SAfM," $9} The years that have t>ecn so fraught with evci^li foj other% nave not passed without change over the h^ad ol AUau Fane. He stands here to-day with the yellow sunshine on his face, ^eatly changed, greatly improved, from the effeminate, weakly, indolent, and selfish young nun, who, eight ye&rs ago, fell in love with and deserted little Polly Mason. The fairer, some irhat womanish beauty of his face remains, but his long, goldef beari!, and the firmer curve of the lips, the giavei light of the syes, tell now of strength, and power— ay, gentus within. lU tt a celebrated man — he has won for himself fame and wealth and the Kond Street tailor has cause at last to be ptoud of hn •on — a son, who has sense enough to^be ashaiued of his hum- ble origin no more. A month after that October day on which he had met Paulina down in S]>eckhaven, afler her return from France, hit wife had died abroad. Her fortune had gone with her — that fortune for which he had so weakly sold himself, and once more he was free. He tried, manfully enough, to repress the feeling of relief and gladness that itvu/d arise — his wedded life had been unspeakably bitter, and eight months after then union they had parted by mutual consent — and he was free — and Paulina Lisle. He went back to his brush and easel, and worked as he had never worked in his life before. The picture was his long- dreamed of, long talked of '• Rosamond and Eleanor ;" and he painted his Rosamond from memory. All that winter he speht at Montalien Priory over this one painting, and in the spring it went to the exhibition. On the chances of that picture hif whole future hung — if it failed, his ruin was com|>lete. Tiie picture was a great, a wonderful success— crowds (locked dailvf to see it, the newspapers praised and abused it without boun(U — all London talked of it, a royal duke bought it at a fabulouf price — orders rushed in upon him. and the artist's fortune wu made. The world had not seen Paulina Lisle then, but a lit tie later and people began to talk of the marvellous resem blance between Sir Vane Chartens's ward and the fair Riwa^ mond, and to discover that Miss Lisle must have lat for tht oiwnal The picture wa? a striking one. You saw a bleak stone hall, a red, rising moon through id jMie wide_ open^ casement, renting its wax vp throu^ piwr» aL {•Sgercd black clouds. Queen Eleanor stood, a «Tathfi4 mttrdenmf woman, cs/bed in heavy gpmple dnpeiiei^ with beBU^ r'*^^!^" ' ft^if^ ^ ^ . ■(( > k&^'»43^''^ ■v A|94 '#a# A moMAJ^'s SAMA* /^ I?! M»ck brt»#% and evet of dusky lire, rroflering the btml ^94 dagger. Rosamond stood with the ted light of the rising uoda opon tier fair face and flowing golden hair— a. fomi skrder txyi gihshi drawn up to its fillest hcight^-the face white as death, fte hlue e)'es flashing as blue eyes only fla^ the whole fear- Jeia face full of pride and dehant so^m. So, surely, never looked the fair, frail mistress of the kiibi confronted by the jealous wife, but so Allan Fane had clioseo IP paint her. The face shone out so vividly, so startlirigh ™*-^ke trom the canvas, that you seemed to hear the scornfiiJ words of defiance with which she braved the infuriate queen. H«l PaOlma Lisle ever really looked like that, jHrople won dei^? Nb; but jr the twilight of a summer day, Polly Matin Aad,aj^ she nung his ring at Allan Kane's feet, and •toco before hit|i in her newfound womanhood, scorning him. Wh le life remained Allan Fane would never forget how she cokec how she spoke then » The picture was a «iccess, and his fortune nuade. He jd not |o into society that year ; he heard in silence of Her l>e .uty and her triump^js ; and the second season he met her. The old love, stronger than ever, filled his heart— he was f&fnous now, anfl rap'dly acquiring wealth, and he laid his laurel crown very humbly at her feet. He loved her devoted'v —•with a love that knew no cliangc-— would she be his «rife? Her answer had been a refusal, a refusal that crushed out fvcry atom of hope. "Th. timfe for all that is past, Mr. Fane," she said quietly, •♦ I coul I not care for you now if I tried. WUl you let me be four fuend ? Vour wife I never can be. It is too late." Too late! The old dreary refrain. Once her love had been within his grasp,, and he had turned away from the gift, and now it wai too late I He accepted his fate, with a brave patience titat made tier like him as nothing else could have ione, and they hid been " friends," as she wished it, sinctfT There are not many hien who will remain the faitliful friend J the w^pman who refuses them — Allan Kane was one. Wi.^Om and generosity were coming to him with years and - pofTeiing. •" ' He ttands this July afternoon paipting busily. He b not r '*''''^. P" * Turkidi divan, smoking a loitg, twisted pipe, ( ifietched at full length, lies Guy Kariscourt! It is the last dm .«l=iymafinrEngland--by the latest traj n he departs for liwr "" poo^ 19 wl ttMnonow for New Yurk, and hit last hotfl lie k . \ K ■ \- A WOMA/PS SAKJL* l»i V. ■1 q)ciMling «Rth his friend A greyhound lies at b-« reet,^cadi \boki up in his face irith darkly loving eye«. as Guy pulic his nbttfe^an through his fingers. There is silence in the little room— the artist works uidoa tnously, and (Juy smi)|^s and watc)w;8 with d-eakny e>fii throat of a girl in. her first youth— the li|is wear a »4i;c> Sliilci the sapphire eyes sparkle with laughing light, an J ^^llow yot wh-rtver you go. The picture is richly fiame.l, and nevei leave? that syiot— it is a portrait of " Polly MaaOii." "What do you think of it, Ouy?" the ait.Si says, at lengtk catching the glance •• It is like her, 1 tmna, as— as we kn^«» * her first." ' a / It was almost the orjy time fcr name nad passed his lips tb Guy. He dreamed neak, the door opened and Paulina Lisle's father i(ood before them. Guy sprang erect. " My dear of>lonel I Vmt\\crc ! 1 thougid vou had left Eng- land ihi|i(eekaio. N'otliingwrpng, I hopei*" For Robert Lisle was very pale, very worn, and grave,. •* Mrs. Lisle !— Paulina !" Guy exclaimed ; ♦• th^fy are well, Lionel?" ; ■ '^ ^ He still addressed liim by the familiar title that had been his when they first met. \ " PauUna is ill— very fll. I knew it was y\>ur last day . in London, and I called to tell you. Your people sfid I would find you here." Allan Fane dropped his briish, and turned verv pale. Guy f rowne d -^w hat he felt, his da^k face showing tu-Mfu— "Very ill,*' hft repeated, slowly i ** how long V < ** She was taken ill on the night you left us It is brain ItyfTr ^^\p bad a (erribli 6bock-^tt)Q revelation of t^f i/\ ¥ S96 -i'o* A troMif/if^siJsAjniy ^i drijMi of m dear friend, and this, couoled Vitn expoiure ic dain. M»«i prtvion. .L-heaJth, brought about this resuU. She has bee. deLrlous ever sir.ce-,he is vo stilL What the end will be lleayen only knows." s lu win m He malked away to the window. Dead silence fell, bioken by a Up at the door, and the entrance of a a Card. ■ " Insiiectcr Bumham, of the Metropolitan PoliJ Fane alouu. ' U'hothc deuce u Insiiccti^ Hi» vhat diws he want here f " f l^^Sf Robert l.ifile whcele I round from the wiMPvith a Anram^ expression. "^ wiui a Karuefl " He says his buKoes's is with Mr. Earlscourt, iir." the inaa anawered, " and is n>08t pressing " ' ^^ ^ Kai c looker* Joubtftilly at his friend. looV- ?"bu[ nri^'i^' ^^i'''^'''" ^'"y "'^ *""'*""8 that ^k^.^ but 1 U sec hun all the san.c. with your pen-Tssion, t,.\^\ Run.nam appeared on »he instant He bowed respi^rt- mlly to Lisle and atldressed (Iqy. • "^ai^i "la^cUeve,;- ln>pector Bumham began, poUtely, "I am 'Pmnng to the Honorable Guy liarlscouri ? " Guy ruMlded. " ' • "I have been informed,. Mr. Earlscourt, tha* it is yoo. ir tention to sail to-morrow for New York. Is it true ?" •• It IS quite true," answered Guy. "May 1 ask, in turn . how my departure can iwhsibly concern ><»«/•• " Indtd^An'd whjf;'"""^-""^ " ™"^^ ^ ^'^^^'" - nau/;h""'"*''*'"u^'*""^ *^ '^^) ^''^^^ "^'o had grown even ' Tstep nearer'' " ''"''*""' ~'^*''^ apologettcafly, and drew musttJIt.done." He au IrMifiMBMii I I i '^-^"- ''>?7*»^"* Guy-nhc^idc-. " M rmmSm1u^^!t^Wn^T^ k"^' »# k^.^.. J . wBSHBP^^w'^* arrest you on the charee of having caused, ••#»* A mcMAj^s SAn . evHZ'' '"^^^ ""«*"«^ »» the moming of Chnt^p., "Murdered | " he repeated the horHble wordTstarin. « ib.'^ officer inechamcally. "(;reai Htvvcn I" * _ Hi8 thoughts flew to his brother, and at the ai^il f-i..IWlJ.*: Out. uggested itself h« A. ce V\arren murdered. He ren«,„beted her as he hJ\Z - mJj;J['S'*'r' *"f ^l^"*^ in * wild uinter storm-^e^ . mcwberVd the look his brother's face had worn a f«. h.. !^ .later when he had snok,?n of her Who Wh? i^ , ^ J ^ interest in h».r H-o,K > i' w no mil iUontaiien had a«' VI^Za ;^%,<^ '«"f«^-^»« » the cdnsciousness^f guilt, h« forS'a^r "^^ '^'''"'''' ^^''^ ''^*^' ^°^^ '-^'^ ^'^ •»«tay ' whl.f »T u''" ^* '*'*^ "^'^^''abouttotellyouofthis.Cui Ouy grasjietl his hand JouTi Su r^L "I'**" **"' .Pre|H>sicrou, chiuge againM it^ forward ™i of Mr. Bunihani's astuteness V«.. —-II -"lutcncss Dinging itfiMirard at all- Vo-^pmve an a/«*, at once. Cai^ your^Sbi^ll Chwn-M eve, «a year, ago-the rcry tiLi, w»a itV^ „:^i!^.,iK^ t* **P0^ A iVOMilN'S SAJT^J* l\ i foo left' Kngland ? 1 ry ami recollect where and with whoa rou were on Christniaa eve, between ♦he hours o! eid.t axU nine." ^ Robett Lille laid his hiind affectionarely on the young man's •hfluldfT, and looked into his faw • wX the who e truth buist tipon f Juy. On Chrtsimas a'e, 1862, between the hours of eight and nint to iUange marriage had taken place 1 WKat smgular fatality was this I A dark -red flush rose up avei his olive face, then faded slowly and entirely away. He was very pale, but perf-ctly calm, as he turned to the detec- are " Have you a cab, Mr. Bumham ? I am quite at your se» nee. An absurd mistake this, colonel ! " turning, with a^srai^e, to lisle, and holding out his h^nd, "which will |)osti)one my journey to New York. Farewell, for the present I ' Let us hope a few days will set this ridiculous error right I " " But, good Heaven, (luy I " burst forth the artist, "you can surely disprove this monsh^ous change at once !, Make an effort— you certainly must remember what you were doing, and \.ith whom you were on Christmas eve at that hour." " I remember very distinctly what 1 was doing, and with »hom I was," (;uy said, coolly. "I do not see ht, howerer, lust at present, to take Mr. Bumham into my confidence. 1 am quite ready to go with him at any moment." "And when the time comes— in a few hours, or days — you vnll prove an iilihi, and overthrow this preposterous charge?" I lisle demanded, in intense anxiety. Guy looked at him with a smile— a smile that seemed to hav^ some strange, hidden meaning in its depth. "And if I cannot prove an a/idt—\f 1 cannot, or will not, re- Teal where and with whom 1 was on that day and at that hour, fill you believe me guilty, colonel ?" * Never I •• answered Robert Lisle, firmly. "But you do jOt mean this, Guy ? " V I mean it TTiis charge must, and will, doubtless, fall t» Ae ground of itself; but, come what may, it is owt of my power to prove an aMi. Good-by, for the present 1 The in ^est, no doubt, will set this disagreeable business aU ngnt' /*^ T** gO PcMcjre^theyL could si>eak— M r. Bumhutfl^ giikmer. He sat bacE in the carriage, his hand preMcd ov« **Cmi wis/ tnajf /liniHee^ my Mii f :^,.,. :^:^.-'Mnjhai^^^. fffS VERDICT OF THE COkONEH'S JURY. 39^ He remembered the words well, and to whom they were Spoken. Come what might, the secret of that Christmas eve never could, never would, be revealed. \. CHAPTER VU. TBI vnnicT OF m coitoirKm't jmr. do |T was late in the evening of that same day^-the dajp of Guy E^rlscourt's arrest. The prisoner was not alone — Robert Lisle paced up and down the narrow bounds of the apartment, looking much as a caged Eon might, with his powerful cavalry swing. He was speakmg impatienily, almost ai.grily : " And you persist in refusing to tell where you were on the ^ming iloth'e. nots Jonb, af;o«1 Sm?:^ a^^ *V *"*'^"'* ^*^^'/ attainable in NewM.e 1 suppose, during the ...onths of Au>ust and SeineinbTr n„ I my notonety wfll scarcely waft acn.L the Atlar c and I « ••Colonel!" .J'JJ?'! " ^* ''°'°*" *'*'° " *» ^e bottom of this ? Whom •W you trying to scrceu ? " ,. ^^ Guy laugl)e"' f^""* '°">^ of'strer,gth DUlty the chler man had never seen there before. penahv l^^C ^^ '''''*''^ ^^^'-^ ' """» '^ d«^»'h were ihc 5fo^ ^^' I ^"' "^ "° "'°'^ o" this matter, my friend- -aS £ .^n . • '^ ^"" ''•'« " better. Come what uiav vo.i I bust, will always believe me innocent ? " ^' ^ "' * "Always, toUieetd!" man^l!"*"^ "**** f"""'.^^' "'"•^"'^ '^' vain-fidelity to some one £L plr^ i '^ ri* '' "" '""'* *'*''* t^^^^^y^d that trist maJ •toe. Earlscourts of old. who had gone to the scaPohL .«..W tov,«yed their heads hy the betrf vai of r4t k^^**^ "''"^^ The iDquest beganj oiL rh e ,., urr 6 w. Th e n e w ! luu J api eai anthor, ' ujiniense crowd had «athcr»?d A b-oiher of a j)eer, was to be in«d>i • vilLge guL The sensador wu inuaeiue; ceiebtatetf uiunkr .5.,'- ,i,i Ssl^'y^J-'s^vV Whooi nm rMMitfcr of the coRoifatrs yvMit, 401 Unntani Siinvl/^ra, the seaman, was the first witn«^8s called '. ind Willum haunders told his story to the coroner and his |urr with z. quiet simplicity and straightforwardness no cross-quet' tioniBg could s^iake. He swore positively to the day and di*' hour, to the verv nioin»'i)t, alrnost, at which the deed had beer lone ; and te:>tihed to his r^urn with Mr. Lisle and the detec i»ft 3fficer, ard the finding of the remains. The secuhd witness was Robert Lisle, who narrated the.ar- iral, four days before, of the sailor, at his residence in Speck- ijtven — their visit to London and to Inspector Bumham nexf Jay — their going together to liattersea, and finding the sknD and bones in the cave. Those remains there present bcinf exhibited and identihed by him, Mr. Lisle stood down. Messrs. Burnhani and Tinimins^'were called upon, and gave their otficial evidence— identitied the remains found^ at Bat tersea. The next witness (and at the sound of his name a buzz of expectation and interest ran throueh the court>room) wai Mathew Warren. The crowd leaned forward to (Ook at him with eager interest Kale and upnght, white-haired and stern, ihe <«ld haihtf advanced and took his piace. AiJ-5 Warren was his On the evening of the twantjr , seventh, without a word of warning or farewell, she had left he* tioiiic, and hail never written or returned since. He had made no tntjuines about her — had nevei tried to find her — would have discarded her had she attempted to return, ^iton? VeS: she had had many suitors — more than he likedl Flinty —loose ir. Ser ways? No, not that he had ever noticed or (<-w then names knew^them all They ireix. (^rd MontaliK. <<>s brother, Mr. GuyEUrltcoort, Caf %M \W^^ *^^ ^ ^<^ CKirdpfi Qi the Guarda» iH)d 9 Mr ■R' :i ^^tT^i^X^^A. ».^ V. S^JteA'A' ,^it^-<- r* 402 7WS JTBRDICT OF TSE COSOirElfS JVRV. hoT/'" W=!f "hf • ^°^ °""' *<• "'"^ gentlemen visit hi, d-flferent tmes ; couldn't say which cameoftener- thef neveJ Not .0 often i^S ^g^"]^ \fX^i:Z^r t^^ as they chose. It ^l, ont yea ^entl rn^hTbe^n i3 "' ^, ?''°;y' ^"^ '^^^h Lo'rd^Montihen Tnd Mr Earls court visited his family whenever there. Alice seemed to it them both; she talked most of Mr. Gu^ hehoimht <;h^H i dark-brown hair, braided generally ifehind 'fa V shovel Yes ; her hair looked like that, only^darker and glossier ha The loct'tV^v'"'^-. ^f"' ^^'"^"^^^^ *he dofies he worf W K AT- • ^^f ' ^^^ ^^'■e a locket around her neck Jiven her by Miss Paul.ne L.sle before going to France ft^on Alice " engraven on the case. Yes; that was the locket. i^ouldn t swear posii.vely to it No .ho T/'^ If"''^ ^^ """'' ^o"" a rest out of the sun dft^n L Mr ^tJ""^ "^'"5 "f '"^--^ ^•^'*" ^"^ «'^ers, not ^ ^yrm 9mr certain. Had asked Alice, but Her ter only laughed, and \yk)S told her nothing. Had not| night previous t6 herHight that she had returned laf usual from walking — noticed something odd in her ms n»*xi day. Had seen her when she left home in the *\ thought she was going to S|>eckhaveh for something often wentj ana had taken no notice. Alice had kii before she left The witness here became so agitated that it was sdime time before she onuld go on. Knew what she wore verv well — it was a dark-brnwn merino dress, a white-and-blue shawl a lylack straw hat, trimmed with a blue ribbon, Ind a blackjlace veiL She had a bag in her hand, and believed she must halve taken in that bag a second dress, a blue-and- white plaid, heir Sunday best. Would know the latter again if iJie saw it. (Pieces of dress shown.) Yes, (greatly agitated,) this was the sajiue, f^ded and dirty, but the same pattern and material. ( Kraglnents of shawl produced, and identihed iinmerliately. Hair shdLm. ) Thai was the color of ^er daughter's hair, but brighter, and that was its length, and the way she wore it braided. (Identified Ihe locket riie note to Miss 1 .isle was shown.) Yes, that was her paughter'a handwriting:^ Were there any distinguishing marks laboqt het laughter's teeth ? she was asked by fhe coroner. Yes ; Alice lad very nice white teeth, but one of the front ones slightlj jvcrlapped and was longer than the other, and. tha eye-tooth on the right side had been extracted (The skull wis covered with a cloth, and the ^eeth exhibited.) Yes, thos( were like Alice's— fhere was the bverlapping front tooth tlu re the eye- tooth extracted \ Mr s. War ren began to Veep to wfl dly tfu t die wa i pcwnitte^ le iiax^dowA. ' \ John Snuth ▼•• next called John Smith wm a lulwaf oA «ai-« gpwd Ob tiM ev«owg Si^^l -\ f'VfV 104 ^''^ ^^DICT np THM COROftBirS JUKY. remembered it v#^ w,ll, /om the talk af.emard about ttv ^ng woman's fl.sht-tj4 only L„,ulon paiengerTfiSi Specchaven had been MyTony Karlsciurt, thl. p„3er and^ SL il 2 '° ^"^^ H*' °' *°"'» f« that effect. a-hJ tan was about to siartJand had neard hi.n distinctly "uLk ^S^^r*^ ^" T^' ^^'^'•" ^'»^*"y had men entered I about U,e won.an, and/watched then, when u.e ram reS btoa r";K hT H' "^•^^" *' "'8''« ^hen. They h;^ g^ into a cab and driven ^way at once together. "^ • rioUmlv"*^'!!', *f""T^' '^"^ "*^'" ^" ^^"^•^^ »he witness-box, nolenty agitated andf .p tears. Mrs. Howe was grt^atly in- cUned to irrelevant njarter. and was kept w,ih d.tficSl.y I the pomt Condens^a nfr evidence told dead against the p!2 at^lLdt^n^'.'''''''^^''^- "n<^'"<^"ot know his name- o^l^ rSr^' *^.^*'^"-^ ^"K'^f^-i ^he two best roon.s, *S parlor ^n.< bedroom they were, for a party fron'. the countn; co..u»vnp that mgfft. Reniembered the date, bLca^r^sS party was^iady, he toUl her, coinmg up to be mar"-*—* ,« 'i^n.? '"*'^'i About twelve o'clock that mght a lad^ and pentl«„,an drove up in a cab, and the gentleman a ked ff a fedy from the country wasn't ex,H.cted. They came m -hj fSLT'Lt fTn'-^T'^cw"'^""" ^^^^^ * blue-an and verl ' Zl«^J^^^ u- t*" ««"»'e«"a" *as the pnsoner, could iwear to it, knew him the minute she set eyes uiH>n hit^ I Je •ttyed only a few minutes, .an down stairsf and 'then ra^ bacl Sll?.h?^. r'ri^"8 '"^"^ ^'^^"'^ hear .what ias ^d Thinks she asked the young ^oman if that was the gemlemac ^1^ going to marry, but knows she wasn't told, ku Z^ m*n called next niorning Next evening ^t six o'clock a^ drove u^. and some one ente^ the huuiS. Kar u . from Se kitehen in time to see a n.an handing her lotlger uitL the cab ^UiL'"^*;/"^"JS *"•' !?^ ^"""^ *v i^M^^.. •It Ttn VBXDICT OF TWM COHONElfS JUttY, 40] *o »»tc, ard departing »o early iliat she didn't see him. He had a Utcn key, and let himself in. Her lodger called heiie If Mrg. Brown. She told her, her husband was a gentleman, ani) that she had run away from home. She wore a w.ed.linf rinfc and a locket and a chain round her neck. Yes, that was thf tocket. She had but two ilresses, the brown mermo, a I lue> and white plaid— very nice. She never got any new tnii<« " while at her house. Yes, this hair lot.ked like Mrs. Brown* Had noticed the irregularity of the teeth— U.ose shown weit precisely l.ke. After the first fortnight, Mrs. Hrowns .husbamlj visits giew less and less frequent— he was absent lof davs la |ether— when he did come he never remaineil more :har an Aour or two. Mrs. Brown began to grow pale and uiin. and she had ofler. caught her crymg. 0„ t*o or three occasions sh.- had caught sight of Mr. Brown, but he always had hi. fare muffled up, and his hat pulled over his eyes, so that she nevei got a g.KKJ look at him. And he always came about dusk It niight bf the same she saw the first night or it might not The height and the sha|K; were alike. She wouldn't swear either way^ Seldom heard him si)eak. On one Occasion, some time ^ .ti Novembt-r, she thought, on hel^ returri from market one Afternoon, her hired girl, Sarah Ann, had ihformed her that % ' L i . f ^' '"'''^*'^ «'*"* ^^^ ^•^" '^'^'•^ I" s^e Mrs. Brown, and had left her a bunch of rose^ He stayed about an hour The next aflenioon, just at dark, Mr. Brown came. He and Mrs. Brown had a quanel on that occasion— Mrs. Brown had cried, and he had scolded. Had not listened— had n-t heard any thing that passed. Mr. Brown came out after naif an hour, called her to him in ♦ie passage, paid the bill, and told hei Mrs. Blown was going lo '.cave next day. He was muffled as usiulj ana the passage was so dark she could not have re cognued a feature had he been ummiffled. A cab had com* and Mrs. Brown hatl gone next morning. She cned when ihc left, and looked ven' paJe and wretched She had never leen her nor Mr. Brown from rhat day to this." ^KUcn Young was next called Ellen Young was about twenty-three years of age, and gave her evidence clearly and totelltgently. She was the daughter of Mrs. Sarah Youn«, Ixxtong house keejw. Barton Street, Strand. Her mother wai r«> 111— dying, she thought, and quite unable ^ give ev'drnce ^Afioit sw years ago^ troine nelt^Nuvember:~a^man had tailed ~" « their house, and taken lodgings for a lady, a Mib. Brwwa J nd not se« hun myseM; eiiuer ihen» or at any other tupCf uct^ ■-siwiiig;;', NsisSjfci M*UAj4i<»At^ '^i t - i ■'I once and should not knew hini a^ ^, Mother came down M the kitchett and f^ld me ai»ur it; she daid he looked tike a gentieman—did nut describe hini. Mrs. Hrown came next da) —didn't remember what she wore—a dark dress, 1 ihmk. Shr wai pale and *ickly lookmg, but pretty. ' Lhe came alone 1 he gentleman came again next da/— mothei told me when ) came home from school, that another hxlger had died tka' ifternoon, and that Mrs. Brown's gentleman had stayed H-itt Mm, and written down a confession he had made. 1 don'i mink he. came any more untU near Christni5^?-.if he hac mother would have told me. 1 saw Mrs. Brown often dunna that time. She seemed very miserable— had uouW** on he* mind, and cned nearl. aU tnetmie. No one ever ca.hc to aeft her, and she hardly ever stirred out One evening, it wan vhnstmas week 1 know, I saw her dress herself and gc jut It wai near dark, and snowing hard. Two hour* after she »me home in .a cab, in a sort of famt or fit. The cabman had o carry her upstairs and lay her on the bed. He tf-d nio^iei And me a man had stopped him in St James Street ai.d put her in. and told him where to drive her. She was very bad foi two days, then she was wr 11 enough to get up. On the nighl •efore Christmas eve, mother came down to the kitchen, where I was picking raisins, and says: " Pllen, Mrs. Brown's gentle ^an has been and gone, and she's paid her bUl at Ust, and k >mg to-morrow." 1 saw Mrs. Brown very early next day, and *e seemed happier and better than 1 had ever tnown her. one said to me : " I'm going away, EUen,— home to the country, az.d to m% fiiends. My darling husband is coming for me at eight orclock. It was snowing fasi,« and very cold, and mother told we was too poorly dad to face the stonn. Slie only auglied,and said she would soon be beyond feeling cold. She wotK a blue-and-whitc plaid summer dress, a blue-and-white lunimei shawL Yea, those are fragments of both— 1 Un sweat lo them. She had en a straw hat and a veil At eight o'docUt m « jninutc or two before it, a wason for two persons drove up tc the door. A man was sitting in it, with a muffler covenng «L the lower part of his face, and a fur cap puUed away doiro over his eyes. Mrs. Brown gave a cry of joy, and ran oat of the room, and down to him at once. 1 saw him help her in. ,^^dn ye away. The doc ks w eic&tnking eigh t aa I » < nt A ww h 10 tte kitchen to help get breakfast That ia aU 1 kiio» MHi Young identified the lodcet, the hair, the |Wftkn« «» \ isdt^ts^ji^ i-^J^ii, ^ifev. I '^It ^' E s^l^^i i«t^*4 ^MOW MttDB BQW^p AirD fMtU' 407 liess, and wth the last witness but one called by the xifooia. Her mother was too ill to appear. Dr. I^onard Williams gave his medical testintonjr «« tig die mannsr of death. He had examined the skuU and fuund «i circulxr ai)ertu*-e in the left teni])le. On measuring it, it prOVtsd to be five sixteenths of an inch in diameter. It was his opin ion tlie circular aperture in the skull was made by a pistol ball •H vrry small size, lie had no doubt the i>erson to whom that ikuli belonged had been shot by a pistol bullet A shot ired into th'; skull at that place would cause instant death — tlie per ion would die from the shock or from hemorrhage. The men- ingeal artery had been* entirely severed, so that if th^ woman had not been instantly killed by the shock she 'would very speedily have died uf hemorrhage. The triaJ *nd all this evidence had occupied four daysr ° The coroner told the jury this was all the evidence he had to offer. It was their duty to say who th^ P^rty was whose remains had been found ; if she came to her death by foul means ; and if so, by whose hand the deed was done. The jury retired and were absent about an hour. Dead si- lence reigned in the crowded court-room when they returned and gave their verdict It was : " That the remains found were those of Alice Warren, and that she came to her death by a pistol shot fired by the hand of Guy Eailscourt on the twenty-fourrh of December, 1862." llie coroner then made out his warrant, committing Gtty Earlscourt to priton for safe keeping until let free by dm course of law. CHAPTER VIIL N, M HOW FRIDI BOWCD AM* riLL. ' |T was the afternoon of t"^ twepty-fint of Augnit — (in day .preceding that u}K)n which Guy Earlscourt wm n a pi/gar at the p r^hminary examination b efore a I'OUOC oaijutrate, previous to his committal to stand htt bial for the wij^l murder of Alice Warren. Jt was a ven irwm day — an nU^ iely warm day down among tk* OKiifiewi /^*v f- 446 ■"1 ■''^ , '^ntfT' Ck;/'^'^. »lffl»M BOWRh Al/t> /utrr^m ^•^^ Tfe atmosphere oi th^ pnson-room wiS Sflfn^ Guv', lofttf l..niJ. ^ y' . "T F'nson-rooin wa* ctifliv ■leiy something unprscedented. I'.uy Plarlsccnut ^>./ Gaardsnian. t »e wealri<> ^„.i , "' r^ris^ourt, the ex written a jecoiKl •• niil^ei •• .,, ..Vk , i' ., '.'•. •■•«'l««'"l had found h„„*i, ^(^^,t n^ h!^'^' 't',"'^" ''' H "■'«' would be Vk™„l*^„,^;j^"«''^^ *"'«' -"le PuWic I. » no. lien ,o « 0";?]?,^, V-, -"^^h^'r''"-"'"'''^, romance of real lifr ^ ..,a. \^ wtnets juLh a sen.s:iK>na^ i. noTew^r, leSTio ''""•«"■'?. I«" »>d celebrated a.itho, 'call, ^ISe^d ho, hifSfs fefl'off"'"";"'"/*''''"; "'™' «wited up ,0 Krve the rA^ ' """ "" bi. 4""Hetl"'Jj:ifl'''\"" '^*™'" "> '■'"'"^ "d nTk k^ ^^ ^* inaomty to clear K^MiselT Ji» inr mtb baror unutterable, that A« J^>i^ ^a. iTe^^cy S^.^ ^'^^%.^ Iio't beie to u Rifling, —be fa»J jB oppresM ad looked, worn, and w^ abao t. the ex brother • oi a |)easant was some icite even furgrmen ufies wert called* the ^il glancb ems, too, , and hit 3«»k3 were Uiurt had „ »ail nnfver ulitmle of ■ay of the le |>iii>lic idenined. n.sj:tional :d author It wat aiiajoly, of jiojr, :he dark Ml Kane, isionate, ■' he mat le aevei ;» pipe ute wai jer and w told ••/Wir i»ir/0« BOITKE^ AND WELL* 409 leiaJ^ • Great Heaven ! what a doubled) id villain he was, to luif away an innocent, trusttng girlj a^d then, when weary of her, Ir^diy murder her, He sicken^jj i. hen he thought of it XjoA Montalien had not been present at tne int^uest, but Guy iinewiit war one of the new witnesses to beeWhrtin^d on the morrow. M>«t feithful of ail his frieiids and visitors had been Robert Lisle. He had nevei missed a day. His father, h^ he been ilivf, could scarc2iy ha*e felt more bitter pain for (luy tnaiiiKs £d His own private troubles were lessening — his daughtei bng ago had been pronounced out of danger — had been able to sit up dunng the past nine days. Hut he could not leave Englanti while his yuung friend's fate remained undecided. He was with huu this sultry August afternoon, walking slowly to aid fro, always his wont when deeply nioyed. They had been talkmg of mthtferent things — of the new book Guy hao begim'm prison — he always avoided talking W his trial, il possible, but Lisle's moody brow showed t^at his thoughts were of u now. " , ( ••.1 ask you once again, Guy, if you do not nieam to throw wide this mail reticence, and vindicate your innocenc »: as you can— as 1 knou> you can ? You have engaged excellent .'H}unsel, but wed""'t want his eloquence — we do want a plain, straight- ^ni^rd statement of facts, as regards your doings on the morn- ing of the twenty foiTth of December. When an accu^d man refuses to account for his conduct with a strongs primA-facu case made out against him, the law is justified in believing that his silence arises from guilty or sinister motives. The evidence against you is purely circumstantial and erroneous, of cour^ but men have been hanged before now on purely circumsUMtcial and erroneous evidence." ''\ '• rhey won't hang me," said Guy, slkking up his pillows so U to get the cool tide out ; " at least, 1 hope not. The cr'i'- ilence, as 1 8a"d before, that suffices for a coroner or a police aL'gistrate won't always stand the test of a grand jury. U will !>«• unpleasant to be committed to Newgate until the assizes, bd t — well,^ the world is full of unpleasant things, and I suppose 1 aust co'me in for my share. An alibi 1 cannot prove — it is, u 1 told you before, simply impossible. If I am cleared, it n «t be by the breaking of this chain of evidence they have so •1 tfully wrought agai nst me— not by any revelation of my own. T^ 'n't let us talk about it any more, dear Lisle ; it's muc^ too ho : to discuss unpleasant subjects. Il> ^en to-day 7 '' How are thi^aU at Speck* ; .1 ' \ y r' 410 •*mOW PMIDB BOWED AlTD FMLL* Wht. *" Much as usual." to «. whidi she fell a vic,i,„ before vSm^T^ '* '°T ^ "' ooWng will mZ\„ rot.eak ' '' " '""''''" "'' "^^ «"<"-" her never learn this, if ii SU 1^ ' "'' "" «n»'»"ce. Lrt fcould„o.qui,elStlu i^^T"" •" .r'"' ••• > g".«.'-.-Z, 1 S'^i, WlZo'u'.Cin"';:- i-tL" '.?"'' -«impec.ed„rheTjrdT°Pr„±\to!ll°4'";!'?*'S',i iSt„^1;.^??sriit^'.t-''--^^^^^^^^ Of om^ J bMt »nti] U-.e matter if <^> dtcinow, but Is fnr yom I, K^2 iin jHt^JI wit| uy iiffair ? >r should er of hei in. An<^ the siib, ic nevo lorarc* ce. Let It it I a b(id —J lorf Wantfl think 1 Beheld iips tha 'ilun«Jt ffplNl ^ k ''MOW niDB BO^D ASp PEUJ* 411 hi total {gDorance. Take her abroaj^-^e will recover none the quicker for knowing At ten o^clpck next morning the prisoner waa taken intc court The crowd was unprecedented — many of those ii\\f kad fl ."d from London the second week of July, as ihougU i •ere pe&t-stiicken, had returned la witness the trial of Guj £ari|C9urt. He bowed and smiled to the many faces he kne* U he took his place in the dock. Mr. Carson, a very able iaw jrcr, had been retained on the part of the prisoner, Mr. Hard mg to conduct the prosecution. Mr. Harding rose on behaL of the Crown to address the bench and lay before them the fact* o^ the case. His address was lengthy, acd told forcibly against th^ prisoner. He summed up the evi^civ daid before the coro iier m an overwhehning mass, and proceeded to summon th< witnesses. All the more uni)ortant witnesses who had previ ously ap|)eared were again summoned, and among the new onei Mr. Allan Kane was first called Mr. Kane had very little light to throw upon the case one way or anqther. Had seen prisoner in company with Miss War- ren many times— both the September of her flight and othei years during his summer visits to Montalien Priory. H td nevei thought Mr. Katlscourt a lover of hers ; had not kiio* 1 him to pay any more attention to her than the other men did .topping at the Priory. Knew that he went up to London one evening late m September ; could not remember the date. H :ard next day Miss Warren was missing, and had gone with bin. Wa« 8un>n*^ at the news ; did not credit it. Believed N(r. Earls- court's own statement that he had met her by accident at the |ita lion. Was convinced the prisoner was quite incapable eilhei of deliberate seduction or murder. Knew his repuUtion had not been stainless in the past, but^iis guik had been die coja Bioo follies of youth, never crimes. A profound sensation ran through the court at the name oi lie next witness. It was Francis; Baron Montalien, the piis. oners brother. , lit came forward, his face deathly pale, dressed in black, aft MUAOus blue circle surrounding his mouth and eyea« looking tewpeakably uL He shrank away from the dock ; Kb voiw "^ Wen he s|»oke was alt.iost inaudible from agiution — »h^ luitural _!fi^?on 0/ M upri ght m fell* Had known Alice Warren off an J on for many years. I a4 Always had the highest resi>ect for bef personally, and foi tbe whole family. Had never heard her lightly s|>oken of. Visited the cotuge very often when passing— rarely wen! there pur poscly. Had often met his brother Ihere—aml met him walk- ttg with Miss Warren.- Had frequently jested with hiin abonf taB attentions to the baiUif s pretty daughter, but had never oonsidered them seiious. Was aware of his brothei's intentiot, Jf going up to London onthe evening of the 27th, but knew •othing of the girl's flight until next day. Was surprised and mocked when informed they had fled together. Came up to iDwn himself ne«t day on purjiose to remonstrare with hif trother, but did not succeed in seeing him then, or for many greeks after. Yes ; another of his guests, Augustus Strdman, Dad also left lie Priory for London about the same time, on Uie same day. or the day before his brother, could not re«iem- ber wnicn. Mr. Siedman had not returned— was out in Aus- fraha at present Sir Harry Gordon was in India Hi« jrother, Mr. Fane, and Captain Viliiers, were the onK other friends staying with him that year. He had remaiqed in Lon- don a week or more on the occasion of his coming up— then * totumed k>T a few days to Lincolnshire. Had never seeq Alice Warren after her flight Yes ; his brother had called before ti« departure for America upon him at his loelled m that h jut, Captaii- Cecil Viliiers came next and the (Juardsman. wit> ev ery wish, to serve his fneid. every belief in h|^ mjiocenc Od uiore to damn his case and hang him man all the mt md known Alice Warren, and admired hsr— alwayi admireii •■.. ^ ...tf^p^^^'si).- . ing himself by candle-light. Had called, and asked him whali the deuce he meant by getting up in the middle of the night ? The inisoner had answered it was half-past seven o'clock, and that he had a pressing engagement for eight. "There is a lady in the case, Villiers," he said; "and ladies brook of no delay." I fell asleep again, and did not awake until after nine. My servant came with hot water, and I asked him what time it was, and if Mr. Kariscourt had got back yet ? He said it was half past nine, and Mr. Kariscourt had not returned. Rarlscourt came in while we were s[>eaking, coveretl with snow. He told us he had been riding outside m the snow-storm, and was tremendously hungry. We breakfasted together. Hf made no further reference to his engagement of die morning At a httle before ejeven he left for the house of a friend — ^ VAn5'Charteris--to bid the family good-by. Two hours latei I liw him depart oy the noon train for Southampton. Uliile (^aptain Villlcra was hajting all this reluctantly ex toi'tnd from him, a messenger had made his way to Mr. Carson, »iid pljced a note in his nand. It was ot some length and of '^ evident iimortance — the face of the lawyer flushed up witk surprise and delight as he read it. It was the middle of die afternoon ; the court must speedily adjourn. jamuel Watters. the^se rva nt sjiok en of by Cap tain Villfgi , #43 the last witness for the prosecution called, and corrobort ted his master's statement conceniing Mr. Karlscoiufs actioai apon that moi ning, his calling the c^ fof bin>, ii)p Imw* i|f ^m '■ 4r4 *m>W PRIDR BOWEb AND FELL,^ With his evidence the case for the prosecution ddsed; %tA ft«n Mr. Carson arose with the pleasant prefator)r^reinark thai OM address would be a brief one. ^ He did not, he said, rise to assert thjit his cliert was gailt Jess of Ujs bcmble crime laid to his^charge— that was to be presuinsd until the (evidence had iWven him guilty. Thjt Ui« tvidence just heard had done^ he, Mr. Carson, dcnieiL Ii WIS, from first to last, cirjaiinstantial, and improbable in Iht sxtieme. He could cite^ scores of occasions where innoccnf aaer. had been con(}eitined on far niore conclusive circumatac nal evidence tJian this, their innocence discovered only wheit too late. Mr. Earlscourt meets this unhappy girl at the sta- tion, an^^ccompanies her up to l^ndon. She is a stranger --m the great city for the first time— tired and frightened, and «pquests him, as a friend and protector in whom she places every confidence, to see her safely to her destination. He does M) at once, using no disguise before the landlady, maVinc ao attempt at concealment On the occasion of his second visit, some weeks later, he did the same, going openlv and in broad day. Is this the conduc' of that other mauj wh6 visits his victim like the criminal he is, disguised, and after dark ? What evidence has been offered here to prove that my client and this disguised man are one and the same ? Mr. Carson here grew eloquent, and^owed distinctly the weakness of ow the court— Ihii his client had been from a few minutes past eight un-1 nins- thetune when the murder was committed at Batters^a--u company of this lady and her maid, in the dty of Undon. A sense of loyalty to the lady had held his diett silent, with a noble generosity, at the peril of his own liie. With a gen •rosity e(|ual to his own, that lady had now come forward to diumphantly vindicate hi« honor and his innocence. lUnesi liad prevented her hearing of Mr. Rarlscourfs arrest t ap wrhcf dlf^yfilerday she had discc» ned it in her howe mflff •*«M Tt. A ^-iiB.Tnur thrilled through the deatfi liM silence of tht crowded court. The face of the prisoner had flushed crimiOD to the temples, then faded away, leaving hiin ghastly pale. 'Die door of the witness-box opened, and a lady stood rfier^ robed »n dark silk, tall, elegant, veiled. Every creature in th« crowded court leaned breathlessly forward — you might have heard a feather fall. She lifted one gloved hand, and fluufl . back her veil. The rays of the August sun streaming io throi^h the\windows feU full upon her ; a thrill, an irrepressible murmur, rail through the court at sight of that queenly grace, of that matcfiless loveliness. And four hundred eager eye* fell and fixed onthe proudly beautiful face of Paulina Lisle I 1 She was white as marble, white as death, as she faced the! bench. Once!, and once only, she looked at the prisoner. ais face wcrC a strained, pa.ssionate look of appeal, as ii even then he would entreat her silence. A smile, the sweet- est, the gentlest, she had ever given him curved her lips her eyes lit up — the old dauntless resolution was there in everj line of that |)erfect face. He dropped his own, and shaded his eves with his hand. Until he stood up free, he nevei raised his head again. Mr. Carson leaned forward, and blandly spoke To all the legal genlleinen present Miss Lisle was well known by reputation, the celebrated lx)ndon beauty, who only a few weeks ago had refused to marry the Marquis of Heatherland. And the beautiful, the wealthy heiress and belle, stood here in a l^ndon police-court, to vindicate the innocence of a in^ luspected of murder ! ^ " Your name, madam, if you please ? " She came a step forward. For an instant the blood rose up bright in her pale face. Then, in that sweet, vibrating voices tliat had always been one of her chief charms, she spoke : •♦1 am called Paulina Lisle, but it is not my name. V«if vhen you have heard what 1 am here to »*y, you will nal JeiStand." iliere were scores present who knew her well, but with dif exception of rtrv, not one of them understood what thu meant Even, her father stood confoun-^ed. N »t her name ?— what did she mean ? Ai the thought cro8« sank into a state very nearly resemblins stupor -she rarelj . «niled, she rarely spoke, she lajr or sat, white and still, s}^edr leas, lifeless. She puzzled the doctors — by all laws of medidnr ■he shoiild have recovered with double rapidity about the tiihe recovgry stopped entirely. She distressed her fnends beyond Qieasure — they saw her dying before their eyes, and had no clue whatever to her hidden disease. *• She has somethmg pre)'injf on her mind," the learned Ixm-. don physician said, shaking his gray head, " and I t:annut min- ister to.a mind diseased. Until she tells you what ihat hidden trouble is, and you find a means df alleviating it, all my effort! are vain." , ' They spoke to h^r gently, lovingly, soothingly, and she looked at them blankly, and only answered with a tired sigh, and a lit- de impatient gesture : " Please let her alone. It worried hei to death to talk — there was nothing on her mind," Hushing an- grily, as she said it, and with all the old wilfulness. ^ Uliy uiould they think so ? She was not very strong yet — that was all." And then the pale lips closed in a line of weary pain, and flie heavy," melancholy light fiJied the blue eyes, and she looked away from, them all — away and away over the wide ocean, that tne could see like a stripe of silver ribbon from her window. Alice was dead — Guy was gone forever. Guy ! Guy f It wa» the old burden— death toned now. She had lost him forever ; and with him heart and life seemed to have go^e. He was far off in wide Amenca by this tune, chink bag hei base, and cruel, and heartless; and all selfish and un ronahly things, and he would never know how bitterly she hai repented, how dearly she loved him. ^ Her life seemed ended— irhat was there left to recover ar.d live for now P She ha<' gone »r«ng from first to last — her pnde, her lebelliou^ wilful ipiiit fead led her astraj^ ever since siie could reneiuber, and now the end'fcidcom6. If Pauhna had been m her a.ual healthy state of ntind and J>ody s h e could neve r ha ve wo r ked ho n wtlf uu tot h w inerbid ^ -anwholesome pitch, but tJl strength was gor**, oh/sirally and ■Hspt»Uy «ik1 thcte seepicd no power to r^. She sat ^ hit i» ' •♦ ^'■'-Is.' ' .jt . iSiSiA* •*'*'i- " ' ■ %. Atcherly, ■all intur^K iu It rifnif^ and Ik in.< -MOtr niDR BOWED AND FEttf 41; window the livelong day, gazing out with blank, dull ejrea at diat silver sea line, melting away into the blue, brg^t »ky, 4ia Ustless hands lying idly in her lap. She saw no one but the uunily — she 8hrank„even from her old friend, M when that lady ran^down to see her. She had los in her fnend's murder. Alice was dead — what » vh} had done the deed ? — she knew who had done i_ Guyfs brother, and i" would n«n refill Alice to life hunting 'lia down. So the cays and weeks went by and it was the Um Veek of August. I That same blazing August aAemoon prerediri Guy's ex ttnination 'oefore the |)olice-court, on which he had lain papl- ing for air in his stilling prison room, a woman drove up fitxu the railway to the cottage of Duke Mason. If was close; UM>n sunset, the golden light, slanted across the rich uplands and meadows, and the fresh breeze blew cool from thelwa. The woman was adlnitted by Rosanna— -a stranger to her.k strangei in Speckhaven, a little woman, decently dressed arid lookuig like a resi>ectable matron of Rosanna' s own standing " Docs Miss Paulina Lisle live here?" this womantasked looked lereoi a visibe one,' ! i ' Yes ; Miss Paulina Lisle lived there ; " and R gnm, and>«tern, as she made the answer. " Then 1 must see her, and at once. I have come matter of the greatest importance," the woman said, agitation. •• You cannot see her. She's been ilL She don't see respondf.'d Miss Rosanna Mason. " She will see ine — she must see me." " Must, ma'am I " Rosanna repeated, with her sten» and most awful bass. " She will see me, if vou tell her who I am " — the agitation inrteasfng with every word—" tell her itfs Jane that was hei maid six years ago. Oh, 'do tell her, pie ft matter of life or death. I've come all the way up from iriicip I live, on pur|KJse to see Miss Lisle." " Will you not .tell me what you want of her ? " Olivia' ro;ce saul >ver the shoukler of Rosanna. '• 1 am her Miss Lisle has been •'cr> iU—iuc slightest excitenisitt gcrous." Jane Seaver dropped a lady's-maid's courtesy. „*l' Jieggiitg yo u r pard o n, ma'am, " gLrt inuui'i «ver, i-itTi 'alei^ •o« kher. -M Paulina herself. Vt \ should like to a#k you iMS ui wmm 4ii • Jfl^ir F^IpM Bomu> AfTD FMtU» dimwh " —visibly cmbarrMaed. " Docs she know Utik^ dutf Mr. Karlscourt is bsinjg tried for his life for murder ? " "No," Olivia answered, in surprise; "she does nbt. W« keep all exciting topics from her. is it bf that jorxkmat to ipeak ? " ' ' \ ' 'the woman claj^ed her hands. Jll^l ^'O^ » 8*ke'tcl lae see her ! Tell her I am h/jre, and I »•» she will see me. I tell you, ma'am, it is a nutter of lifc -4dJ deatL" " The wonian's face tbjd she spoke the truth. Ro^nna aid Mrs. Msle whspered together for ajmoment then the Utter turned to the stranger. " Come in," she said quietly. " I shall teU my dailghter yu« •re here, and what you say. Whether she sees vAu o» not, •hall be for her to decide." T ^ She ascended to Paulina's room, pale atad uneasy. What ecxald this w;oman mean ? , " 1 wish Robert were here I " she thought at she oponed the «wr— "or even Dukel^' ' ■ A m^njent later and she reappeared. ' "Vou are tq i;o up," she said ; , " Miss Lisle will see yoo." -» The woman ascendet^ and wa^ shown into the youna lady's rtKMn. , ^ ' Taulina rose up from her chair, with a startled face. •• Jane I" she exclaimed— "j'iw /" And the woman had caught both her hands and kissed them, with a cry : ^ " Oh, Miss Paulina f Mis? Paulina f " Uri. Lisle saw no more ; she closed the door and went out Teaminutespassed— she had descended and joined Rosannt below -when a cry rang through the hou!.e— a loud, terrible tcreatu It was Paulina's voice. Both started andrtished up uyi broke into the room simultaneously. In the niiddle of die floor stood Paulina, ghastly pale, the «oman before her jx'le and trembling, clinging to her, and ira- plonng l.er to be cajin. * Rssruda h-uled her aside as you would brush a reptile. "What have you done to her ? Wh.it have you told her? radirji I Paulina I wh^t is the .liatter ? " ^ ' Misf Paulina, for the tove of Heaven I '' criaJ the nnging h«r h ands. Paulina turned, with e)es that flashed likeT lightning moB DOT nother and' Rotasiia. ^^ •*Why hart you kept i(i4 nuirHer to iny other criiiib./ Oh, great Heaven i to think •hat he should be lying in prison all these weeks— to think ther ihould be tr) ing hiih (or his life, and / the cause of it all I " " Paulina,' said her moiher, in terror, " of whom are yo« lOeaking r Surely not of jioor Guy Karlscourt?" " Of (;uy K-arlscourt— of Guy Earlscourt, whose curse I ha^ boen from first lo last. 1 bound him by oath, and he has kept It wfll— would have kept \< to the scaffold I ^Vhy did you not l.'ll ine? Did you want to make roc a msjrderess?" She broke. lown in a passion of hysterical tears, covering hei fece with her hands, and sobbmg untU her whole form shook. jane clung to her, entreating her to be calm. "They did not know, Miss Paulina— how should they? And It is not ;oo late yet— remember that. If >ou make your- >tlf ill you will be able to do him no good. For pity's sakc^ Wiss Pauhna, don't I To-morrow, all will be set right." SI.e lifted her face ; she uiught Jane veheiucntly by the arm. •♦ 1 o-oiorrow ? You are act deceiving me ? To-morrow \ tan sa*"" ivuii P " Befi'r« jane could reply, the door below opened, and mens /'MctJi were heard. It was Mr. Lisle and Duke reniming from I on*ion. " Thank Heaven I " Olivia cried. " Here is ray' husband I " She ran down to him, as she always did, happy and fluttered Sy his return, and m a few incoherent sentences told him what ha I taken place. Lisle listened very gravely. The old sqspicion that had n«!ver entirely left hun, that there was something between Guy ^A Paulina, nomothing secret and abnormal, was confirmed Did .his woman know the secret which bound them, yet held the in apart ? Me went up with his wife, and entered his daughters room. iHuing the bnef interval, Paulina had calmed strangely, ^he was walking up and down the room when her father «nt« reel, her lips compressed, her eyes alight; her brows knit n steady resolve. She came foiward to her tather at. onqe. "I have something i warit to say to you," she began, sbruptly. ♦• Rosanna, will you take Mrs. Seaver down stairii MM*, be kind to her — she has done me great «ervice to-dav Aiother please leave father with me ? " They quitted the r oo m, J^auhna^^l ac e d -, lier,>nd took* fctt h^Klf in Uie shade oC the tllM f^o f' iMMMINMtfMtMUMMtaimrilM 4ao '^mOW PRiDE BOWkD AMD FELL* . " P4j» I "r-in ♦he same abrupt way—" .\4r. Rarlsconn ii b li>riaQn, l(o be tried for fbe murder of Alice Warren i " " Yes^\ Paulina ; 1 am sorry to say he is." "Sorri to say I Surely, papa, y0u do not believe bin guilty? "\ "No, rrty daughter ; but the evidence is very strong vgi\ii him. Po<>r (lu>''s position is a most distressing one. .1 knot of nothing thai cail save hun from coninuttal to atoiron bul^t. ■clear aMt." " An a/tfii is proving his presence in some other place at iu hour the murder was committed?" Lisle nodded assent. "Alice was murdered — so this sailor swears — between tht hours of eight and nine, on Christmas eve, i86a, and cu-cum stances ix>mt to Mr. l^lscourt as the munlerrr f" Her voice rang out clear and firm — unnaturailjr clear. He fiM;e was set as stone. Again l.isle nodded, watching her uneasily. " Why does not Mr. J'^rlscouri prove an a/ibi t What does he say ? " * " Says it is out of his power — that he was driving about in > cab at that time, and never noticed the number. That 4s what he says. I believe he is screening some one — some (jne whora he thinks it dishonorable to betray. A woman, in ail proba bility." He looked at her keewly. She met thai look, and leaning forward laid her l^and on his. ^ " You ax- nght, father ; and / am that woman." " You I Paulina I " his bronzed face turning white. " I, father I " in the same hard, steady tone ; " and you can bnagire what his opinion of nie must be,- for having been ti lent thus long." " He knows the truth — t^ut we have kept vou in ig no; ante *nd only this very day he ^gged me, as a last and gfraie*' tfti'tH, to take you out of Eiigland, sUll m ignorance of iyi fate." "He did?" "He did I" She turned her face fi-om hira, and there wa« dead silenci br a bnef space. When she spoke again, her voice liemblet' wr tile first tune. ** He is to be tned to-morrow, is hr not ? Eatbet '4 ^ «ke me up to F-ohdjn— I um« provr hi? tnm>renft« '*y^a» 4« II?" -jfflum' fivH-l^ilitfii. i'i^ ^*. |!*,*i^J(Ja^^v,i,^..^*^'■T^«*4i.a;^^.^^,i&iS 'i^*»i *:E3ijl^i M .\^'. ' HOW lf*RIDE BOWED AND FELL.' . M 421 " I can do it. Between the hours of eight and nin(^, on Christmas eve, 1862, Guy Earlscourt and 1 were together. Jane Seaver was with ns ; she can provt' it.as well as I. Mr. Earlscourt is the noblest^ (the most loyal, the most gt-perous of men-^it is my lurn tooo an act of simple justice now. Pleaae leave me alone for a while. I shall trust you', my father , to take me up to town in time to save him to-niorrow.''« ''You may trust me, Paulina — Heaven bless my brave daughter." Ht* kissed her leiiderly, and quitted the room. And Paulina' was alone, and kttew ill. All he had suffered thtough her, all \v\s brave loyalty, his generosity, his noble fidelity. She sank, down on her knees, and hid'her face in her hands. How she suflered — how ^he loved hun in that hp:^ *^ii known only to ^Heaveii and herself. ' ' J^ne Seaver remained' at the cottagr all night—she was to iccompany Mr. Lisle and his daughter on the morrow. The morrow found Paulina (juite cahn, very gentle, very sad. Her pride had fallen from ber as a mantle — she was going t6 save Guy — she thought of nothmg but that. She stood m the witness box — she had seen his pale.jitartled face — all the intinite love and honor sl^e felt for him shone forth in her smile. The sea of eager human {aces melted away . —she only knew Guy was there, and that she was going to save ^im. The silence in the court, as with a little legal help she •)ld her story, was something almost painfuL '* 1 have known the Honorable Guy F^rlscourt for the past ^ght years. We were always very good friends. The de ceased was also my most intimate friend — that letter was writ- ten to nie — I gave her that locket. Mr. Karlscourt was never nei lover-— nev«;r — 1 krunt' it. On the night of December aid, ' 86i, 1 met Mr. Karlscourt at a party at Twickenhaii« We »e^>k>«ii together in a room for about half an hour. - 1 was in -jp-ttl trorble — my guardian was trying to force me into a inar- fiage with a gentleman \ disliked very strongly. I was in hia powei —until I came of age or marriea He was to take nie to Kwex en the 24ih, and iinprison me in a country-house of hia iintil 1 c »nsent«l. I tojd Mr. Karlscourt this — and he asked oie tu marri' hin/insteadi He did it only to save me. He was going to leave England-t-oui: marriage would make no difTer ^nce ift his plans. T^ siy again he only did it to save nte. Wben I married, my fbf t^ine W:ame my own, and 1 was out ul -^ ■^l>»*»*««MiMMg ■ ■■ '.-'■■>vit^''r-w(tf?':H^'^J<^i;'^ 499 '»jnW nfDM BOWED AND FMLlf woald keep our marriage a dead secret, that he would w^m afaert his cUuiii as my husband under any circumstances. Ht tHiund himself by oath to all 1 demanded, and said everything \hould be ready for o«r marriage on Chnstnias eve. The hooi fixed was very early in the mo.ning, because, about noon, my {[uardian meant to uke me down to F^sex. , We er ipisiion was given her to sund down, she had to graap the ratli ^> keep (irom failing. A second later, she was in ner fothei'i^ -^naa- iifeless^md cold. 1^ t^ t|f at Omg in^ tor l i fty Pb^ | W ^ ha^ fiime^ entirely iw^y, ..(S..^!<.^l*^v - i- \ ^^fb«^3!^-i^W bowing his way forward. As Jane Seaver descended, he niounted to the stand, removed his hat, showing a pale and agi- tated lace as he turned it to ;!^e bemih. " 1 demand to be swbm I 1 have iniporUnt evidence to giva b this case. My name is Augustus Stedman.'*' CHAPTER IX. RXTMBimON. T this second startling interruption of the ordinal y i course of things there was a general movement and murmur throughout the Court. Then dead silence, » and in that silence every eye fixed upon the tall, pala yoimg man in the witness-box, who had been sworn, and wai rapidi)' and incoherently giving his evidence. The couit itself had been so startled and excited during tht past hour owerl«s8 to control chained him to the si>ot where he stood. His hfe, perhaps, de{>ended on his escape now, but he stood there listening as greedily as the most un- coacerned specutor. 'I have been absent in Australia six year* tnis coming D© C«^ber,*' were the first words he heard Stedinau sjieak clearly; '• I only touched Knglish ground yesterday. 1 took up a pa^r, unil the first thing my eyes rested on was the arrest and trial of Mie Honorable (Juy F^rlscourt, for the murder of Alice Warren. 1 wa3 utterly confounded at first— then, without loss of time, 1 WteTie Alice was tolgo^ofl pdvately to London — he was to follow vx* ilay on ihe^u'et. J was to find some ohe ab'.e anil willing to play parson, and a mock marriage was to satisfy every doub*. every scruple. It was a neforious ploL / am not s<|^oken to by his lordship, and had consentrd to the secret n«^.rriage. . 1 believe she loved htm devotedly, she hsd no tnouph* of doubt or de- . ception. His lordship menti'ined to nie, as in' excellent joke, that his brother s that he knew nothing of her object, that he strongly s»»- pected, and urged her to 4um back while there wa.s'' yet time. That she positively refused, and that it was at her entreaty he %ent witn her that Srst night to Mrs. Howe's lo^diitjs Totteiv 44ni Court RoacL When 1 left l^ord Montalien. I had a piaa ^ vertgeance in my head. 1 liked ]|j|d an ol 1 grudge, as 1 said before, to wipe out «gain»t hun ^1 went to an ai^quaintance of uune, newly onlained^ and ami / *TM 'err' 'Vi 4at> itM Raamm 4> 1- ti the (sMiidi of St EtLelfrida, in the city, and fold Hn tin jthole ttory. 1 told h.Ti, by iterfonning the marriage ccreimmj, he would be preventing a grcfxt crime. He consented to per- form It The Heedful license was procured, rx>rd MontaJiqi arrived the foUcwing day, and about six o'clock in the eveiung tile marriage rite was o/er, I, and an old woman, bring the witnesses. 1 saw no more of ATice until ihf high: fireviotis to my departure from Englund. 1 had s|ioken of her lo his lord «hip on several occasions, but he was always impatient and in tolerant of the subject- told rae she was well, an«l that it was necessary for me to know no more. Once he swore that he had been a fool, that he had been sick to death of her in a w«ek, and that he wanted to gee her out of London if he «,ouid. She was beginning to be a horrible nuisance, as such wowen always were. He adniiued on this occasion that he had re., moved her frohi (iilbert's Gardens. He said that contempti- ble spy, his brother, had been to see her, that she had written to him, and made a devil of a scene. 1 knew Cluy Farlscourt was consitlercd die companion of her dight. i never contra- dicted the rumor. ".Go the* night preceding my departure for Australia, Xt Earlscoua and I dined together at the Cuards' Club, and ther set out Kjr a saunter, although the night was storniy. It wai the 2otl| pf December, 1 think. On our way along the Strand ^'c^wawonian hurrying through the storm. The gas-light ^^OJS^Tull u|)on her as she passed us, and *v'e both knew Alice. .ft was quite as nuich as I could do to recognixe her— si r looked so ill, so wretched, so poorly clad. She stopped at light of us, and said she wanted to sjieak to me. Mr. Fjirls- court iMissed on. She asked me, in a wild sort of way, if I knew where • Frank' was, meanmg Ix)rd Montalien. He had not been to see her for many weeks ; she was dying of wani Wid Iniscry, and she had heard he was in London, and paying Attention to a young lady of wealth and position. Was thii' true ? \ told her it was ; that rumor said he was on the verge of iiianiage with the young lady in question that I considered her sbaniefully ill-used, and that hhe should go at once to hii Iddgings in St Jar?es Street and deiiiand the acknowledg-iient of her lightr Sfe went with me. J took her to LonI MvHitap li'»n*f lodgings Mid waited outside while she went in. I meant -In calh ui>on himifterwarr! t lyse.f oii a littTe Miartri brinyowfiT the was gone about half an hour, then came out ak^ne. She litcined to have receivsd some hotrible akock^ «Le staggerod ^- kkTki^uTicti. -W ^ •nd fen as she toadied 'the pavement I uilled a tab and placed^ her in it, gave the man her address, (she hao told m« pieviously,) and told him to place her in the landlady's cari». When J went back, and was admitted to an int'>rview with hii kmlship, he seemed greafy disturbed and angry, i to'd hira 1 had met Alice in the street and sent her home. He swort jyei it, anc' wished we had both iwnshed in the storm. 1 toli mm 1 «vas on the eve of sailing for Australia, and asked hia for ihiee tlioutand |)our.ds He laughed at me. I told hin bis secret was worth that. He asked what secret. 'Jhat Alice Warren, the bailiffs daughter, was his lawful wek her two pair-back for a ladju a Mrs. 8rovn. " No," surveying Guy from head to foot ; " not a till lit Lin ; fairer, and not so gooor, pale, sickly young creature, with notiiirg to sav, *nd a broken hearted lock like. She sus|K?cted something wiong from the first, but did not inquire. She was a poor woman, and glad to let her IcMlgings without asking too nany ■ t Ulc a tlonfc 'fhe gentleman ^amc next day. and ntayestair9. When he was gone she aaked Mr*. Bmwn if that was any.rreianon. ' She answered he wai k«r htuband. After that 6nt vmt he never entered the houif .■bM. y- ] -iv- 4aS RETRIBUTION. \. *-• tmt once ag^n, and that was the'da> before Chiistiias ere That afternoon she let him in herself. Mrs. Brown was c.«ttei then, and able to sit up. Had been ill from the night the cab man fetched ner back ; remembered it vriy well. She had watched wheti he went away; He did not sUy over half as hour. Mrs. Brown came out of her room when he was goM with a sort of joyful loo!;, and paid her bill out uf half a dozei loverv'igns, and told her her husband was coming eatly next OD Jiriing to take her away for good. * I am going home, Mrs Young,' she says ; * to my dear, efore eight, i thi ii was, a man drove uj)< to the door. He was nuiffled up if at degree from the storm thai his faoe could not be seen, but J knew him by his shape and his long, fair hair. ^ Frank t } rank !' 1 heard Mrs. Brown say, in a joyful son oi wa_y, undei \ sr breath ; and then she bid me good by and ran down to ) im. He helped her up beside him and diove away I hav? Mever seen either of them since. I am sure she called hin frank ; can swear to it. I am certain 1 snmitn Know nua tgain, Look and teU you if I see him? Very well. "Diatt aot him," })ointing to Guy ; " not a bit like him." She ga/ed slowly all around the court. A hundred eyos wen turned breathlessly on Lord Montalien. He stood stock-still, ipeil bound, never moving. Her eyes fell upon hin. at last, ^e uttered a cry, half rose up, one flickering finger i)ointed Itraight at him. "That's him I That's the man Mrs. Brown called her hni bond I the man who brought her to my place, who took hei ftway at eight o'clock on Christinas eve morning, six years ago. 1 hat' shim. Thafshtmf The breathless silence of the court was brokei. by a hoar86> aiigry, surging murmur, like the dull roar of the sea. The ex- citement of Uie day had auained its climax. And still IxKd Mon^dieiritdod, to a strange ^wjrt of TipathciK trance, teokinf- quietly abont him, as though lonie one else, no*, he, were tilt Umixt tnd «ud of all tlwsc angry eyea tei JHM t<*w*- .■ ..■!f^iii% iV- 'f '^ 'i^T^f*. ■ MMfXlMor/OM 4*9 itet JMB '"HP' .',*^ Any Ear'taconit was diimissed—a warrant was made otit oii c soot for the arrest of lK>rd Moi.talien. The heavy hand oi Inspector Rurnham fell with grim satisfaction u| on his ahourdcr, and still he never roused. A numbness was ovr: his ui.'nd, his brain felt paralyzed, a bluish pallor lay fix div c-r ids face, his eyes looked straight before him at notJiing, wiili « nghtliss stare. Th»;y led him from the court -room. He wen passively. Once he looked back. He saw hi? br* ik«r, su? roundel' ny an ea^^er throng shaking hands and congraiulaiiof him. Iheii gunce met. He tiLneii away— he had looked his last on the face of the brother he hao natcd all his life. He was taken to the room Guy had yesterday occupied, and Jeft alone. It wis ahnost dark, the summer twilight linger»-.d softly in tl.e st eeia, but the prison-room was full of shadows. Still the sense oi nis awful situation did not come. He felt tired, his hewl seemed sleepy, that dull pain still in the region of his heart. He lay down,; dressed as he was, ujion the bed, and almost instantly |ell into a heavy sleep. It was more like stupor than sieep ; and, after some hours, disturbed dreams oroke it. \ black and temble nver lay before him, heaving onrkT a black and stormy sky. On the other side a golden lano shone ; and on that op|H>site shore he saw Alice. Not as he had seen her, once beautiful and bright, and happy, but ghastly pale and with the bloo^ streaming from a frightful wound in the left temple. She was on her knees as she had fallen where he had killed her, her hands were clasped, th« words she had faltered in her death agony she was Irjing to speak again : "Oh, (lod have mercy on me— and— forgive — " she couJd never finish the prayer. If she could, it seemed to him h* might have crossed the roaring river, and reached that goldei Other shore in safety. But the words died on her hiJs— the Uack, bitter waters were irgulhng hmi, and with a cry of pain And tenor he awoke. He tat up ir. bed, the jwrspiration standing heavy on hii brow. And thought and memory returned with an awful pang I He lat up in the lonely prison darkness, and heard a distant drck tolling one. He Mtt u p. and thou ght of rmyiree^anJ himself h«rfe- •*■ ttc husband of Paulina, and Ae was the murderer of Alice Guy wouid inherit the title and esutes, his children and Fauliiu'i )||i i |lil grow up ainid tke green beanty of Montalien, and he— ,-_^ m 0i^i!^n , £M.-^c, X^Bwi i i ii ..^i. 430 sBMmt rwMLxs.^ A vmon of a my 4awn rose before him — of a pk^ttfi, e$gm crowd— of a scaflbld, ghasily in the chill light— of a condemned man, led foffh to die. Me fell down on the bed with a second cry — a cry of anguish and despair, and lay 8*ill. Next morning, when the jailer brought in his hrcakfaxt ac was surprisedto find his prisoner still asleep. He placed tbf Ue.ikikst noiselessly down, and stole ouL At ten o'clock i tentleman called to see Lord Munialien. He was a ^el known and eminent physician, one of those whoni hi$ IbrJship' had lately consulted. He looked very grave as the jailer If^ him to the pnsoh«*r's room, and toUl how he had found him asleep wh^n he brought in his breakfast *'\nsieep] Are you sure he was ooly asleep?" the.doctof asked. ** Well, I thought so, sir," the than answered surprised. " 1 ' did not examine, of course." They entered together. I^rd Montalien lav in the same position, rigid and slill. The doctor approachetl the Inrtl, bent down, listenicd as if ^or His breathmg, placed his hand uiion the region of his heart, felt the puisp, and stood upright, lie was very pale. ,*^ « " It liis I suspected," he said'gravely ; " 1 kufw it would luU him. My fnend, your prisoner has got his discharge." ** Good God, sir 1 " the jauler cried, horror-struck ; *' do fWi mean — " *' 1 mean that he is dead I " ]r was true. Friendleis and alone in the dismal prison-rooi^ die dark spirit of Alice Wanen's murdeicc had gone fm;^ tu answsi Ibl its crimes. ^' n: 1 / :; ^ m ... J m na ' tef V^ < '■- an on 1 ^ ■ thii " ■ "\ * cou \ for - ■ . *-I ne CIUPrER X. 'SBMrSR PIDKUS.* Y thff last train leaving Tx)ndori for Tjncolnshke, Guy Karlscourt reached i?|>eckha ven. W hat new ho pe wa> sweet atid strong, ilnR Hushed his w i ^^i^ •"l^ *?'^ ^°^ '**^'™ "**■ Amcnca, aumna tW" c^n.'- .TfWhfl4p?oviMifi^'' "» >. #1 ■ *.if^i. iiilli lH i l' .S^k' -t'i- /■• ■ I ■•■'■" \, 43a ' i'. Mr. Lisle smiled. •• Go ask Miss Lisle— I beg her pardofi and yours— 4fr«. Earlscourt. Don't stand there during in that stupid way. £f she does not 1 egret having missed inarryin^g the Mar- quis LJl?^tHTtTa^:;^ Miss Ros- anna Maso» might tell in. after days, lie never could. Site was quiteulone — s^erose up at his abrupt eu' ranee. ••Paulina !" "Guy!" The names broke so naturally from both their lips, that U would have been the vert^t mockery to repress them. Both h:r hands were in his, and he was speaking rapidly, incoherently. "1 have come to thank you^I have not words to thank you, for your un,heard-of generosity of yesterday. I have not deserved it, but my gratitude is' none the less, Paulina — you are the bravest, the noblest woman on earth !" "Oh, hush!" she cried', shrinking away with a look of pain. "I noble! I brave! 1 have been selfish and a coward from firs*, tp last. Such words joi praise seem ike a bitter mockery from your lips, of all men !" "They are true — true as Heaven. I have fanciefl, in die past, that you hated me — 1 gave you reason, I know^ ^ut, in the hour when I thought you abhorred xx\^ most, i never failed to do you justice. It was my rightful pun ./ ishmeiM— t+tat yt'u. str^emie, so^weerttMrtt^ttae reft oT th« world, should hate me!" ' '•Ifate you !" she withdrew her h:inds from him, and sank back in her seat <• Oh, blind I blind! blind*" Hewasbend* I **SEMPMM Wl.r'BLIS.'^ 4j>j hlin-~ai' .jc living man or iroman had ever sect Gjr Eark. >urt, |K)unng forth his words in a torrent "Mavelljeen Wind I Car. you care for me, after all Pan- T^\ I !-'ave teen unworthy, but since the hou. that inaaem* fyy hjsbaruL I have nev^- done that which wcjuld have been * :!ti r"" '"^'""'^- \ ^*^*= '**"^*=" »° "^-d » bene, and ,'^*^* ^"'l vilencs/of the oast. Uaough all th.-se y.ars 1 /.ave had no hope, no thought, that KO. .oulJ ever care for i.e. F.ven n^w^if you sayt.t The wo. I, I go and leave you In peace forever; but, oh, Paulina. pa?.:ng^rbe"" ' '"^ /^-"-^ow buterer than d^ath su^ 1.« i^/'^'^ '"■"1'^ ^^^ * «""* ^^""0" o^ t-ndeme«s and ' Jes ,*n at even th. thought. Then the hands mat had been with Irawn claspwl his own once more of their own accord. iTsjCfker''*''' '''''*' ''"'" ^^^"^ bravely- though trembung Z " Juy, six years ago, I forgot my womanhood and asked rou .o marry me. , ask a greater boon now-^i ask you to •oyp nit and stay with me." /"" ^ " |auhna ! " with a breathless cry of wonder and great joy • do hear you anght? Do you not hate me. thel. after all ?- Mate yuy ! I have loved you all my hfe I ' A lid then. IS xuy Karlscourt held her to his heart in a ran- lure too intense for words, be knew that the woman he hid ■red ir-J lu ycarf ago was his wirs at laat | ^ rW ■f \ 3 -t- Before the sun srt that August day, the Ceremony per- formed before the London registrar was repeated by Vhe rt^tor of S|)eckhaven, in Diike Mason's little parlor The bn.lew.uld have vt s... She shrank then, and will to the Ia«,t day of hi r life, from the m. moty of thi.t terrible time ' and very quietly the ceremony was re perforn^ed, ani^ church, as well as Stata^ made her Ouy Earlscourt's wife. J«Iay. ( ; uy J^ri scourt no m< >re. T en minutes aftfcr the hen. ^=edreFRm=wp-pfnnmfrcear^^ looking gdntleman, in 1 lack, who took Guy asiHe, and wW J*?f:**y? ii*» «^ ihe news qi hi9 brother s death in orwyn, ."fej'S m ar^J !W » ^i wi wia ■ B fc.r ' ^"'■^ ^'■■- ■■■■■ ,^L4i.^_W ^^ .^) 434 It gave Mm a pwig— the tho-ght of *•« he had diea, tai tpkere was not a creature on earth to tcAiy rt^rerthe dead MO. And so, m the very hour of her niarruire, Paulina was Lady Monta!:t>M as happy in the future, even as I aq Jappy. In my husband you will find the temli-rrsi of lafl.cifc Come to me at once." Arid poor Maud had gone -wan and hollow^yed. and wi-tched looking. Her father's wrongHJcini had fallen bitterly upon her— sue shrank from his met'ory— Ibe never taw or wwhed to see hun again. 1 hey to<»k hei with Otem to Lyndith Conit, and in Rolrrt Lisle Maud indeed Ibond the t^derest of fithers. And Mr* Calbiaith, after her bnef retttra to that br^rni world she toved so dearly, found her -MT coodanued «»^il cod the bm qt i^r ^y| te 4wpp ««l 4mtmm >Mt r»vk$, ' '^(l ■ ''ft Of Sir Vane Ckaiiri. i .^ •nd inUroerrM bv lifc T^ r*'"' «y that 1m» ^ ,«fcfc^ iret or gr.«.ve for h,.n .„,„ h^ wi.'i:^i: * '^"^ '^^'^ ^ "■ »urshng a.;«av«. In th^ . J ""*'»«• and cru-d out for int» . Cr.yon%eajZ.' pr.si '^^ ''^ '-"''^i. there hu,;*i cne,n wherever they ^rnerl L nT.f""'*''* '^''''^y ^'«*« OB ' Ro8an„a. years anriiC ^ " **'' '^•■'» «»« delUjht Fo. .er h«...;S\,- j^--l^;;; -^ .lo.ng their aS'w.r^ together she was lard L noS^ ' f h^k"*? '^^^ 'l^''- ^^or day,' than ri-nce of eu.ploJ.L rservi^ J°'''''^*'**^ '^^'^«° '"«» •cutitecJ wi:h 'scorn. 1^ *"** ^"^ ^ «ie» Itoianna ilave I..,, ,„ yoltr rnl't'^daM^ IsV^""^ ^^^ ^-^ ,«^as character,st,Af?i;^S trr Vm'"''^'' '^"'^^ ^ oved her once, that nJo rr wo„!ln? ''''*' "^"'/^''^ '"'^" "»«» their hearts. \Vhat wa^ru^ Jnuj: TJ ""''"y^" »>« P'^cc ir , "^as true of the n.ost nobk- fhl vf """' ^'"^ «^«ne-,,ainrer, Allan ^ane,theartist in? Lv L^^^^^^^^^^ f K^cherlLnJ. of Ae had o,.ce .eigneci she VeLed rr ' "^^f V^^^^^ *^''»<=« with a start. signed foiever. Duke looked up toL''^:L'>''""n' Of course I do. !:«. Wcdne^Ujr. . «;i. of^Nclvefn^lrinTt.'S^^ ^'^l^^ '^' the J ' *ny idea haw, old j'ou Ic ?" ^^^ '^^'^ **»*^»^ h«ve y«a ^^^f^l.^r'^ -ther .tartled DuU •.Uskfor^ettinjo^rn^tai ,^"°^^^^ "How old 1 am?" I>..i.- u j .. * J ^erty iriiff *^ .^ • i ' " '" ^ tig fort y nipc.': . ^ ^"d^^l^T^S*^ '"^"'orecmelnrio.: / 1\ iMf. 1^ ' :^" »%»- ; ' 1?^M(T"'. 4S« •^SBifPBR FlDELtS.* like aij Miot In that way— you're none too young, are yoH ^ I iron't have a slattern of a servant about tlie house, and som* •ne must ccune to ukp charge of it and you. 'You want a wife Go and get married" " Bui— good gracious, Rosanna^" Duke began, ighatt, \ "do — and— get— married 1 " reiterated Rc«anna, ''i/ot t — mird iiow-- was a vary worthy young woman, kA wme seven-and-thiriy summers, a model housekeeper, cook, washer, ironer. and plain sewer, but she was also plain in [eaiure — uncommonly plam, indeecl, aa frft^uently seems to be the case with your exemplary unmarried j^omen of thirty-seven. Long had Miss Knapp secretly sighed for Diike, is Rosanna ^ery well knew, though h- did not. She had revOli'ed the mat ter — ^somebody raiist co-oe and do the housekeeping, irot Duke s shirts, cook his dinners and teas, and dam his stockinga ■^iAbeih tilted the situation better than any one jiersoij Rofr ^na knew — she was easy-tempered, too, and properly in awe ^her (Rosanna). Yes, Duke must marry Kli/abeth Knapp I Six weeks lat r, there came to Florence a pa< kage from England for I,o«l and l^dy Montalien. When open«M it wa< (bund to contain s<.*veral slices of bride-cake, of the bride's cwa making, and a letter from Duke, very subdued and huiuL4e i» tone. Wft was nurried. He had married Klizabeth Krani— her ladyship would recollect her ; and he and KlizalieJj acol their love and duty. Also Rosanna sent hers, and was cott fined to b«Ki with rheumatism in both legs, and he wai the* •bedient servant, Duke Mason. lady Montalier. actually cried ever tbk letter, the first teaii «t^ had shed since Guy had coiae back to her. Dear eld Duke ! " she said, with a soS thi^t ended, ia the laugh : '* it is a 41 light of Guy's provoking smile, in a hysterical „ . ^aliapie ! He waa tio good to be in arried I How can vou have Uie heaii to look like dfiat, sir, wncn my heart i -:^"IfT •11 ftfltanna's doings, and i wish slw had W* hiBa.aMN«*. . ^ lov« 4^% '»*■''#"• ^x- ^r|,j^ '*&RMrER FIDE US' te«fl 43/ I «noir he'n l*»ik<, and 1 nei/er wantefd to see him marritxL be niijierabke I " ^.She \o^A r)uke ! Ay, but not one whit not one thousandtk pait as Duke loved her. He married llitahech Knan,., and OrPtaght her home, and was gentle and patient, and neldiig to !»ei always, >| he had been Xu his sister, and I am sinceie!v»Uio; th, « •rttful, far-)ir loo^n his pale-blue eyes, and his thonKhtW)»ck. ••<* years ago :mo^e golden time of his life with •' I'ol^ he was the most f^hful of hitebands, and yiizabeth ha^Inn caitse to cod.plam, but> her heart of hearts shw -as binerli> |«Uous of that prctuie. iS|ie could have taken it down and uul I It in ihe hte witt. the greatek pleasure. Duke neyer suspected, f^ut Mis. Mason had her hoksehold skeleton, and hid it awa7 Ji all such skeletons aro hidd^. (if Lady Montalicn herself. ,6eautiful and ^acious, she nev^ thought or di earned of b.^ing jalous, but o Polly Mason's uiW she was- and wU be t" me la&t day of h«r life. \ . And miles kway. in Allan FanCtXstudio, another picture of that same wnihng ^rlish .ace hangt.\ Hr is wealthy and fum- ous now-he and Lady Montal.cn meVt bf-en in society, and are very sincere fnends His best wish^ Are for her and Guy's oapp'.ness, but he never goes to Murisi| . . . ' ^ Ihiought of remarrj-ii^ ^io one in this ^ be to him again quite wnai "Polly " was _ Dine years a^o. He will many again som^W. no'doubC bi r think Mrs h^, niun jer two, will ha- - q4te ai good xeaaon to be jealous cf)i picture as Mrs. DiJce Mabdip. ^ Wintei, »pr'>ig, summer passed, and when September lay DiTght on the^reen giades and waving trees of Montalien Prt orv, lA>fd an^ Lady Montalien came home. Not altogethet M they wcrt, for a Swiss nurse accompanies them, and then tea dark -eyed baby in long rohies, whom thev caU "Robert," nd who is the heir of Montalien. I I^e following spnng. when the Ixindon season opened, they ifeturnedjo town, and took their place in that brilliant Ixjndoi „ wor.d once more. They were flie attraction of the season— 4U8 fame, her beauty, and their romantic storv fonncd the Iri, and he has no ijwer world will ever that lovely June, Attnie of jueery tongue, Paulina hatFherenemieaF^Tihe WW W6 j>eautiful not to have, but she was too perfectly happy either l» know Or care. She and her husband love each other, witli • 9i«M^pei»Ba love, rarely aeeii. ^^tt^ 438 SEMPER FIDELIS: i She was Shininiar one nijrht, as she ever shone, the star and queen of a spkndid ball, at which royalty was piesmt. A prince, with rii bors and orders over his lich iniiorm, approached and listened to a gioup of ladies discussing Lady Montalicq. ... , j -..u " Ambitions, reckless, and a coquette ! he repeated, with a smile; pc haps so. I do not know— I have been absent from Kngland, and never saw Lady Montalien until to- night. But this I ■««^& / t'^A^M^S « -" i|r^*a^ '&.'*.^)|k» * »■ _'t !t„4^'J "^t?-^ y.^>i*£ • )iSa^ \- %"'■"-" >^*i' G. W. DILLINGHAM CO.'S PUBLICATIONS. Mary J. Holmes' Novels. Tempest and Sunshine. ... $i 50 English Orphans Homestead on the Hillside 'Lena Rivers ^ ^o Meadow Brook. , . , ' 150 Dora Deane '// ^ .^ Cousin Maude \ j ^^ Marian Grey Edith Lyle ' .'' Daisy Thornton [ _ , ^o Chateau D'Or // j ^^ I 50 I 50 5 I 50 "". "'''".'.'■*=" ?« nnmberles*. She i. in r^cie^H wre always life to I he kiiine eiiioiions. Inch are Cuiuuiuii aniung Darkness and Daylight.... $150 Hug.": Worthington , 50 Cameron Pride j .q Rose Mather i L Ethelyn's Mistake Milibank .'' ! 5° Edna Browning, I so „T "'"S I 50 West Lawn • . , ,_ Mildred Forrest House ine Queen ie Hetherton , rniri, ■ . Bcssie.Fonune....:::::;:; §:r--s.ones Marguerite ' ciLuen Mrs. Hallam's Co I 50 I 50 Madeline ' I so I so SO I 50! Dr. Hathern's Daughters mpanion . . i 50J Paul Ralston ^l^ew) ' Way Agn^s remlng's Novels. I 1 so I 50 •«tlon^o"'cK??r.*hrehre ch.K"" ""fl' I"'' "'"'« ""'>">" «v-ry dav Their A V Guy Earlscourfs Wife A Wonderful Woman, A Terrible Secretv A.Mad Maffiage Norine'iRevenge One Night's Mystery.. .$1 10 . I so I so I so Heir of Charlton ^15^ Carped by Storm ... Lost for a Woman A Wife's Tr^edy \ eart 1 SO A Changed ■ - Pri(f<' KateDrntoV::^ ^^ J So Pricfe and Passipn , Silent and True. I so Sharing Her Crime. I so I so I so I 50 SO 1 SO Maude Percy' Sec;;; Lixh f"^'' ^^''^ ^50 The Midnight Queen n TH n'''"'''^""^"'^^ Mo Edith Percital._ o' w .PTr" °' ^'^ ^^^^ '^^ ^^" ^lo| The Sisters of Torwood(; # V.:r"""""* »'?c"l'a me* ot her princ.pal fiL-nres, con^pm ot tuj, cmi.iciu buu.haru auliioress.'' •Si 75 • I 75 ■ W5 ^ 200 St. Elmo., Vashti... Infelice. . $3 oo 200 200 fieulah Macaria ; ^ Inez At the Mercy of Tiberius «''^^3oPAoto^ravur.a„ajfa//.,o»,S,>^ravo^s. Per -- - Julie P.. Smith's Novels. •very day. Widow Goldsmith's Daugh- ter. ....:... , Chris and Otho $r 50 I so Te^ Old Maids , l^ Lucy ^ , His Young Wife ,50 $r 50 I 50 The Widower Ihe Married Belle Courting and Farming. . . . . 1 50 Kiss and Be Friends.... Blossom Bud I 50 150 -^ Jk- L-.Tti^-tfaF." Marlon Harland's Novels. of cW%''-rJ:i':.{r„";Z^^^^^^^^ «-ne„ce. , By f„,rin„-c attention with th« ^Albne hidden Path. |lo8.sSide... :^emesis..?... Miriara Sunny Bank.. U»t .$r 50 . I 50 . I so . 150 I so My LtttleLove |, j^ Phemie's Temptation i 50 The Empty Heart ,50 From My Youth Up | 50 Helen Gardner , e,, i^l^""^ . so J«,an,i,i,. Husbandrand Horn^T^ iJolTrucasStcd, ,', j ,-4, % 'j^*' M' -If,' ]-4 lis*' V*'"'' ,lf ^ , if r^ \ * -i^ G. W. DILLINGHAM CO:S PUBLICATIONS. wmtmitlltr^ Albert Ross' Novels. Nmt Cloth Bound Eaitions, " There i« » RreRt differenc* between ihe ifirnclucMons of Albert "Ro«ii and t*<«»«e «l tome of ilie »• n atii>n. r. Ris^ • raiiiatic lukiio'cu aie »iiul|||^: Hw thar^Cieu become la hii liuuJi iiviiis;,. luuving Ciejaircs " ' /' thou Shalt Not. $i do His Private Character i oo Speaking uf Ellen i oq Her Husband's Friend i oo The Garston Bigamy ....... I oo Thy Neighbor's Wife i oo Young Miss Giddy i oo Out of Wedlock i oo Young Fawcett's Mabel. ... i oo His Foster Sister i oo In Stella's Shadow $i QO Moulding a Maiden i oo Why I *m Single 1 op An Original Sinner I oo Love at Seventy i oo A Black Adonis ^,. \oi> Love Gone Astray i oo Their Nforriage Bond l oo A New Sensation {New) . . , . i oo John Esten Cooke's Works. *' Tl>e thrilling bin'o icMoiirsof John F.«>e of ihe Mar ihefoi* tiliifHufS nan. Ashby, .lHck>on ;:ac.3, he wruie vol.ime afirr volunm^ l.iieii.>e in d.umaiic illteiekt,*' Surry of Eagle's Nest Si 50 Fairfax i 50 Hilt to Hilt 1 50 Beatrice Hallam' i 50 Leather and Silk i 50 Miss Bcnnybcl. i 50 Out of the Foam i 50 Hammer a>id Rapier \%\ 50 Mohun...,.\. 150 Captain Ralph I 50 Col. Ross of Piedmont... . i 50 Robert E. Lee i 50 Stonew all Jackson i 50 Her Majesty the Queen .... 1.50 vA ?"■''. A. 8. Roe's Novels. " There !i no writer of the present H ly who exceU A. S. Roe. In hll partlet4f«rTrW4 of ietion. tie i«di>iini(uithrd by hit fid- liiy to natme, hit frredom from affeciaiion. hU •vmp^tby with the int'-resMot e»ery> o../4 ...»..^,i... «* /l_ii__ HU (lOiieH appeal to the heart, andKtrengthr True to the Last, $1 50 A Long Look' A head 150 The Star and the Cloud. ... i 50 I've Been Thi nking i 50 JS To Love and To Re Loved..f I 50 Time and Tide j 50 Woman Our Angel « r. ,f 150 Looking Around ^\ ons. n^ How Could He Help It i 50 tJke and Unlike.. 150 The Cloud on the Heart. Ilesolution »..., i SO V ^'CA,,4; ..&,,^^.^V ..) te.' 45^ pt'uf^ ig-*^ tJ^IL^ife V M © m t- Jr si - .-►-r >x> ted amonc iho afur II iheSi«te« wiH.ttie of il>e war ihefiii- e>i.' Iii« llt kinceriLy of (eeiingi {e Loved..$( 50 ;• '50 el. • • • • 4y«, f 50 Heart. ... i 50 • •» * i|a ♦ - *• . Vi. ()■ "J ■i^j': 4» f.. 1, « •« 4*' ' ■^ r i«* »J*- i,' ^p- ■rv. •«>.« v» / • - ' f '« \ \ 1 1 r. • , J^.- f • # ' ■ ' - « i • \ m • i ' f % ^ . ■•■ ' — ^^ ... ' ' ■ . - . « 1 ■>. • * * * \ « ,*-- ^ fe ¥r -'tyr ■ / \*