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1 ^ ' i/^ 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 BY 
 
 CARRIE J. HARRIS, 
 
 Author of "Mr. Perkins, of Nova Scotia." 
 WOLFVILLE, N. S. 
 
 KT 
 
 WINDSOR, N. S. : 
 J. J. Anslow, Book, Newspaprr and General Job Printer. 
 
 1893. 
 
 ^?il 
 
 ■^ 
 
t 
 
 Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada^ in 
 the year iSgj, by Carrip: J. Harris, at the Depart- 
 ment of Agriculture. 
 
 ■-■ '"-' t^- 
 
) 
 
 ^ 
 
 1 
 
 A MiAimiB RSMANCE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 The Lover's Parting. 
 
 "You will not forget me, Eva, when I am gone ? 
 No other man will be allowed to take the place in 
 your heart which now belongs to me?" 
 
 "No, dear Charlie ! No other man can ever find 
 a place in that heart which beats alone for you ; 
 and if you were to forget me, and wed some proud 
 belle in the great cit)'' where j'^ou are going, I should 
 have no further wish to live." 
 
 " No fear of that, my darling ; the proud belles of 
 New York are not likely to honor me, a poor clerk, 
 with their fancy, even could I be base enough to for- 
 get my sweet little Eva, in far-away Nova Scotia," 
 replied the ardent young lover, taking the golden- 
 haired Eva into his arms and imprinting passionate 
 kisses upon cheek, brow and lip ; — "You wrong me 
 by such suspicions, you dear little goose. You have 
 trusted me with your priceless love, and I will be 
 
 
A BdiilTIJO iiiilil 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 The Lover's Parting. 
 
 "You will not forget me, Eva, when I am gone ? 
 No other man will be allowed to take the place in 
 your heart which now belongs to me?" 
 
 "No, dear Charlie! No other man can ever find 
 a place in that heart which beats alone for you ; 
 and if you were to forget me, and wed some proud 
 belle in the great citj'^ where you are going, I should 
 have no further wish to live." 
 
 " No fear of that, my darling ; the proud belles of 
 New York are not likely to honor me, a poor clerk, 
 with their fancy, even could I be base enough to for- 
 get my sweet little Eva, in far-away Nova Scotia," 
 replied the ardent young lover, taking the golden- 
 haired Eva into his arms and imprinting passionate 
 kisses upon cheek, brow and lip; — "You wrong me 
 by such suspicions, you dear little goose. You have 
 trusted me with your priceless love, and I will be 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 true to that trust, through time and eternity. So, 
 lay aside your doubts, my darlinjf, and let us be 
 happy, on this, the last evening we are likely to 
 spend together for some time to come. I promise 
 not to look at any young lady I may meet in New 
 York, my cousins excepted. You will, of course, 
 have no objections to my being civil to them ? It 
 will be expected of me, you know." 
 
 "Charlie, did I ask you to give up the society of 
 any young ladies you may chance to meet? I know 
 I can trust you, darling, and I also know how lonely 
 it will be for you among strangers, so far away from 
 your home. No; I ask no such sacrifice at your 
 hands. Enjoy yourself when you ban," and she 
 looked into his eyes with a trusting smile. 
 
 "Tell me, little one," he said, as he smiled back 
 at the fair, beautiful face ; "tell me, what shall you 
 do for your own amusement while I am away ? 
 Like your namesake of long ago, shall you bring 
 out the wheel and distaff, and spin the family linen 
 by the kitchen fireside, or will you find a more 
 modern way of passing the long winter evenings ?" 
 
 "I shall turn to my music for employment," she 
 answered, a little sadly. "Every hour I spend at 
 my piano will remind me of you. You must not 
 be able to tell me, when you return, that you cannot 
 listen to my playing, after hearing the performance 
 of the accomplished belles of your adopted city." 
 
 "Still harping on those New York belles ! Well, 
 
A Ri mantle Roviance. 
 
 I suppose I shall have to stand it ! Who ever knew 
 an Eden without a serpent, or the course of true 
 love to glide along without a ripple ? But I cannot 
 find it in my heart to scold you to-night, love ; so 
 let us kiss and be. friends." 
 
 They made a pretty picture in the soft moonlight, 
 those two young lovers, as they leaned over the curb 
 of the old well, exchanging their vows. The well 
 where the beautiful Evangeline and her stalwart 
 lover might have stood scores of times, nearly two 
 hundred years ago. 
 
 The same moon looked down upon the peaceful 
 scene to-night ; the same grand old willows waved 
 their branches above their heads ; the same fertile 
 meadow lands stretched away, almost from their 
 feet, into the misty moonlight, until their outlines 
 were lost, and land and sea seemed blended. The 
 sails of the passing ships, glinnnering in the moon- 
 light, appeared like the white wings of giant birds, 
 as they floated majestically up the Avon and Corn- 
 wallis Rivers, while the Kingsport and Partridge 
 Island lights tried their best to rival the beams 
 which the fair Luna still delights to shower upon 
 the world. The gentle lowing of the cattle came 
 up from the dykes on the balmy September breeze, 
 and the sleepy twittering of the birds, all helped to 
 give an air of unreality to the peaceful scene. Away 
 in the distance old Blomidon lifted his stately head 
 against the cloudless sky, seeminglj' placed there 
 
6 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 for the sole purpose of guarding his peaceful valley 
 from the rude touch of the wicked outside world. 
 Could sin or sorrow ever force their way past such 
 a sentinel, and enter this (juiet Arciulian retreat. 
 Yes ; gentle reader, even here, in the days gone by, 
 has been heard the roar of the cannon, the rattle of 
 musketry and the clash of the sabre. Only a few 
 yards from where the lovers are now standing, the 
 bones of many a hero lie mouldering in one com- 
 mon grave, their only monument the sturdy apple 
 trees that grow above their grass-grown sepulchre. 
 And now, although the inhabitants have no fear of 
 the scalping-knife and tomahawk of savage, or daily 
 dread the invasion of the terrible armies that were 
 constantly contending for the possession of our fair 
 Province in the past, a more modern system of war- 
 fare is carried on at the present day. 
 
 Even here the seeds of infidelity are sown broad- 
 cast through the land by the pernicious works of 
 Ingersol and such as he, warning the soldiers of the 
 Cross to be as faithful in defending the forts of 
 Christianity against the assaults of the Archfiend 
 as wei'e our brave defenders when they protected 
 us from the wily redskin and their allies, in the 
 days of long ago. But nothing of this is felt by 
 the lovers who are so soon to part. The last good-by 
 is said, the last kiss given, and, as they are about 
 to separate, she throw^s her arms around his neck 
 and sobs upon his breast. 
 
A Rvmantic Rcnnance. 
 
 "Oh, Charlie," she moans, "I feel as if I shouM 
 lose you forever if you leave me now. Why not 
 stay here and make a home i Why must you leave 
 us at all ?" 
 
 "Nonsense! you goose,'' he answered, somewhat 
 impatiently. "Why, darling, what can part us? 
 Not until the tide cea-ses to ebb and How on yonder 
 beach will I forget, or cease to love you. Do you 
 want to kill my ajnbition, an<l tie me to this little 
 country village ? W^hat can I do here ? You know 
 how I hate farming. No ! be brave, my dear Eva, 
 like the sweet little woman you are. I nmst go 
 now, but I shall soon be rich enough to return for 
 you ; and then, no more partings for us." 
 
 With those words ringing in her ears, she saw 
 her lover turn and pass swiftly down the little 
 garden path. At the gate he paused and threw 
 her a last kiss from che tips of his fingei*s. She 
 waved her white hand towards him as he vanished 
 from sight in the moonlight, and, with a heart- 
 rending sob, she entered her home. "He is gone,' 
 she moaned, sinking into a chair by the open win- 
 dow. "Oh, Charlie! will you ever come back to 
 me ? It cannot be that we are parted forever." 
 She looked around the room, which was Hooded 
 with the bright moonlight, and wliere every article 
 reminded her of her lover, and again tiie memory of 
 his words brought back the vague feeling of despair 
 which she had felt when he ha<l first spoken them. 
 
A R(mianti€ Romance. 
 
 What strange freak of fortune had given her the 
 name of Evangfeline ? "The modern Evangeline" 
 slie had always been called by her young friends. 
 Was her fate to resemble that of her predecessor ? 
 Was she only to meet her lover again at the grave ? 
 "Ah, well!" she sighed, "if fate should part us in 
 this world, we will spend eternity together. There 
 are no partings in Heaven." 
 
 Long after midnight she remained seated by the 
 open window, watching the clouds sailing over the 
 bright moon, until, thoroughly chilled, she sought 
 her bed. 
 
 She was awakened the next morning by the 
 scream of tlie locomotive, as it dashed into the 
 little station, and, arising and going to the window, 
 she saw the cars disappear, bearing her lover away. 
 Would he ever return ? To what dangers might he 
 not be exposed in the wicked city whither he was 
 going ? But not a doubt, not a single fear entered 
 her heart that he might prove false. She would as 
 soon have imagined that the sun would cease to 
 shine, as that her lover, the man who held her heart 
 in his keeping, would ever break his vows, or prove 
 false to his plighted word. 
 
 Oh, woman ! why were you placed in this wicked 
 world to be the plaything of fickle man ? 
 
 As the cars l»oro Clmi'lie from his native villao'e, 
 the slight Horrow he had felt at leaving home and 
 Eva began to grow less. Was he not going to the 
 
A Rontantic Romance. 
 
 9 
 
 great city of New York, to make his fortune ? 
 What folly for him to mourn because he was leav- 
 ing the stagnant little country village behind him. 
 He pictured to himself the time he should return 
 for his bride, and bear her away to the beautiful 
 home he should prepare for her. 
 
 True, he was only to have the position of a de- 
 pendent clerk, at present, but it was to be in the 
 employ of a wealthy uncle, — an uncle who had left 
 his native land many years ago, a poor lad. He 
 had worked his way to the top of the ladder un- 
 assisted, so what should prevent his nephew from 
 prospering, with a rich uncle to reach him a helping 
 hand ? In a year or two he saw himself rich and 
 prosperous, and then, no more parting for him and 
 Eva. 
 
 Blame him not, dear reader. Who among us has 
 not dreamed of the bright future that was to be 
 ours when we made the slight effort that was neces- 
 sary to bring a brilliant fortune in a glittering 
 shower around us ? At twenty we are all prone 
 to look at the world through rose-colored glasses. 
 When, in after years, we learn, by bitter experience, 
 that nothing great is lightly won, we wonder at our 
 childish folly, and scorn those who dream, perhaps, 
 those very dreams that once made life so sweet to us. 
 
 Although the time has passed away that our coun- 
 try youth are completely bewildered when they first 
 visit a large city, yet even in these enlightened days 
 
' 
 
 10 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 no person can fail to be surprise*! when they first 
 enter New York. Charlie's uncle met him at the 
 steamer and escorted him to a grand mansion on 
 Fifth Avenue, where he was warmly greeted by his 
 aunt and cousins. As the young ladies came for- 
 ward to welcome him, arrayed in their handsome 
 evening dresses, he mentally contrasted them with 
 the little country maiden he had left in her Nova 
 Scotian home. "Could he ever," he asked himself, 
 " have the courage to bring Eva among those haugh- 
 ty and graceful women ?" • 
 
 Poor little Eva, are your fears so soon to be 
 realized ? Though your devoted lover has been 
 but an hour in New York, he is already drawing 
 comparisons between you and those brilliant city 
 belles. 
 
 The evening passed pleasantly away ; and, at 
 what seemed to him a very late hour, he wavS 
 shown to his sleeping apartment. 
 
 " Well, girls," asked their father, after the young 
 man left the room, "how do you like your cousin ? 
 Is he verdant enough to suit the popular taste. I 
 understand rural relatives are very fashionable now 
 in society." 
 
 "Not too bad, papa," answere<l Mildred, the young- 
 est daughter. "A little rustic, but nothing like what 
 I was expecting to meet. He appears to have en- 
 joyed very fair educational advantages for a country 
 lad. He neither poured his tea into a saucer, nor 
 
A Jtomantic Romance. 
 
 11 
 
 picked his teeth with a fork, as the country cousin 
 invariably does in novels. I think, with a little 
 tuition from Clifford, he will be fairly presentable." 
 
 "Of course Clifford will have to have a hand in 
 the transformation," scornfully exclaimed Maud, the 
 eldest sister; "nothing can be complete in Millie's 
 eyes without his aid. Is that young gentleman ex- 
 pected to have the usual fee for his services, or will 
 he work in this case gratis ? I do not imagine 
 Charlie's present salary will stand very many les- 
 sons at lawyer Stanhope's regular prices." 
 
 At this allusion to her lover's mercenary spirit, 
 Miss Mildred blushed, while her sisters laughed as 
 merrily as was considered allowable for three such 
 well-bred young ladies. 
 
 Clifford Stanhope was the eldest son of their 
 father's partner, and already, though quite young, 
 a very popular lawyer, as well as a brilliant society 
 lion. Either of the four had been quite willing to 
 wear golden fetters for his sake ; but, to the sur- 
 prise of the others, his choice had fallen on Mildred, 
 the youngest and plainest of them all. Consequent- 
 ly, when occasion offered, the other three never lost 
 an opportunity of indulging in a bit of sarcasm at 
 his expense. 
 
 The evening after his arrival, Charlie was pre- 
 sented to Mr, Stanhope, who took quite a fancy to 
 the Nova Scotia lad, and soon had him fully initi- 
 ated in the mysteries of New York society. He 
 
 V 
 
12 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 soon became quite a favorite with the young ladies 
 of his acquaintance, but none pleased him as well as 
 Clara Stanhope, a sister of his cousin's betrothed ; 
 for, though quite a stately young lady, she fre- 
 quently reminded him of his little blue-nose love, 
 and his attentions in public soon became so marked, 
 that it was whispered that an engagement existed 
 between the two. 
 
 "Well, Charlie," said Millie, entering the drawing- 
 room one evening, about six I'iOnths after his arrival, 
 and finding the young man alone, " When are we to 
 have the pleasure of congratulating you ?" 
 
 "Congratulating me!" he exclaimed, in evident 
 surprise. " Why, Millie, what do you mean ? I 
 was not aware that any special good fortune had 
 befallen me ; that is, anything to call forth con- 
 gratulations. 
 
 "Let me be the first to congratulate you on your 
 engagement, Charlie ; for, of course, such devoted 
 attention as you have shown Clara all winter can 
 have but one ending, and as you are probably not 
 aware that engagements in our set are always an- 
 nounced before the end of the season, I thought it 
 would be as well to give you a little hint on the 
 subject." 
 
 "My attentions ! Mildred, you are talking in rid- 
 dles. I have never thought of asking Miss Stanhope 
 to be my wife, and if I should so far forget my 
 position as to do so, I would expect nothing better 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 13 
 
 than a severe snubbing for my presumption." 
 "I do not know about that. I should imagine 
 that papa's nephew might be considered a fair 
 match for Clara Stanhope. I know the family 
 think you good enough for her, and neither papa 
 nor Mr. Stanhope will be pleased with your con- 
 duct if you do not ask her to marry ypu. You 
 have rendered her conspicuous by your attentions, 
 and kept other young gentlemen at a distance. As 
 for your presumption, that is all nonsense. I can 
 assure you that Clara will not say no, when you 
 ask the all-important question." 
 
 "Here is a nice dilemma," thought Charlie, when 
 his cousin left the room. "A fellow engaged to one 
 girl, and expected to marry another. Millie seems 
 so well posted, that the affair must have been talked 
 over among them. That is what Stanhope meant 
 the other day, when he hinted at a partnership. 
 Clara is a nice girl ; and, were I free, I might do 
 worse than make her my wife. My success with 
 the firm will be at an end when I tell them I am 
 engaged to another; but there is no help for it. I 
 cannot throw poor little Eva over, come what will. 
 Here are some more of them coming to give their 
 gentle hints, confound them!" he muttered, as a 
 light footstep was heard approaching. "Well, as I 
 am not in a mood to stand any more of that sort of 
 thing to-night, I will bolt out this side door," and 
 
14 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 he made hit* escape as some one entered at the op- 
 posite side of the room. 
 
 "A letter for you, sir," said the housemaid, coming 
 towards him, as he crossed the hall. Mechanically 
 taking the letter from her, he mounted to his room, 
 locked the door, and lighted the gas. "From Eva," 
 he murmured, tenderly, as he sank into a chair and 
 tore it open. 
 
 "Only a few lines ! This is not like Eva ! What 
 can be the matter ?" Glancing over the epistle, he 
 threw it aside with an impatient exclamation, and 
 going to the window, he opened it wide, letting in 
 the cold night wind which blew freshly from the 
 river. For over an hour he remained by the open 
 casement, with his head bowed upon his hands, but 
 was at lahC aroused by his cousin's voice at his door. 
 
 "Chailie, ' she called, "are you coming with us 
 this evening ' If you are, please hurry, it is time 
 we should be starting." 
 
 "I will be with you in a few minutes," he ans- 
 wered, and, hurriedly dressing himself, he joined 
 his cousins in the hall. 
 
 "Do not forget my hint," whispered Mildred, as 
 he escorted her to the carriage. "Clara looked pale 
 this afternoon. Better put her out of misery at 
 once, you will have plenty of opportunities this 
 evening." 
 
 " All right ; stand guard to keep off listeners, 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 15 
 
 while I bnibon-hole her in a corner," he replied, 
 with a mirthless lau^h. "If laying such a trifle as 
 my hand and fortune at her feet, will bring back 
 the vanished roses, you will see them blooming 
 brilliantly enough before morning." 
 
 "You speak al:>out your hand and fortune; but 
 how is it about your heart, young man ? Did you 
 leave that most important article in your Nova 
 Scotian home ? I hope it is not already bestowed 
 on some rustic belle down East." 
 
 "Did not know such an article existed at the 
 present day. Thought it went out of date in New 
 York society many years ago. Here we are. Shall 
 I escort you to the cloak room ? " 
 
 An hour afterwards, true to his promise, he led 
 the fair Clara to the music room, which was de- 
 serted, and laid his hand and fortune at her feet. 
 As Millie had told him, she certainlj' looked pale ; 
 but the roses did not return as she listlessly listened 
 to his proposal, and accepted with a faint smile. 
 No word of love passed between them. The young 
 lady evidently did not expect any sentiment, and 
 Charlie was in no mood to declare himself about to 
 be consumed with tlie tender passion. 
 
 "Thank goodness, that is over," he growled, as he 
 closed the door of his cousin's carriage ; and, light- 
 ing a cigar, he started for home, conversing with 
 himself in an undertone as he walked. 
 
 "I suppose I .shall have to speak to papa Stanhope 
 
 
16 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 to-morrow ; ask for his blessing, and all the rest of 
 it. What an icicle she looked to-night ! One would 
 find about as much pleasure in making love to a 
 statue. They would probably pay about as much 
 attention to a fellow. Oh, my darling Eva ! How 
 can I give you up forever ! But I suppose one can- 
 not have everything they wish for in this world. 
 I will probably have a good supply of money, so I 
 ought to be content." And, with this sage reflec- 
 tion, he entered his uncle's home, and quietly made 
 his escape to his own room. 
 
 On entering his place of business the next morn- 
 ing, he w^as surprised to find that his chief had 
 recjuested a private interview as soon as he came in. 
 He tremblingly followed the messenger into Mr. 
 Stanhope's office, where he vas kindly received by 
 the old gentleman. "Mr. Smith," he began, as he 
 closed the door, "my daughter tells me you have 
 something to say to me this morning." 
 
 "Your daughter, Mr. Stanhope, did me the honor 
 last evening to accept me as her future husband, 
 subject, of course, to your consent." 
 
 "You have, I understand, no private means, — 
 nothing, in fact, except your salary ?" 
 
 "No, I have only what I can earn." 
 
 "Then, may I ask, how do you propose to support 
 Clara ? Your present income would not begin to 
 pay her milliner's bills." 
 
 "We are both young, sir, and in two or three 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 17 
 
 le rest of 
 ne would 
 ove to a 
 as much 
 I •' How 
 one can- 
 s world, 
 ley, so I 
 e reflee- 
 ly made 
 
 t niorn- 
 ief had 
 Jame in. 
 ito Mr. 
 ved by 
 
 as he 
 
 have 
 
 honor 
 sband, 
 
 pins, — 
 
 pport 
 in to 
 
 ihree 
 
 years I ou^ht to have a salary large enough to 
 begin housekeeping." 
 
 "No doubt; but I do not propose to have her 
 kept waiting for two or three years, and perhaps- 
 at the end of that time to have her thrown over for 
 a younger and fairer maid. I have had enough of 
 that already." 
 
 "Do you think, sir," began Charlie, indignantly,, 
 when he was interrupted by the other. 
 
 "No offence. Smith. To be candid with you, Clara 
 was engaged to a young villain for some time, but I 
 refused to give my consent to the match, for I 
 strongly suspected that it was her fortune he was 
 after. However, a few months ago he inherited a 
 large fortune. His first act after taking possession 
 was to jilt my daughter, so I shall have no further 
 waiting. If you wish to marry her, you shall do so 
 at once. Her private property will provide you 
 with a junior partnership in the firm. We need a 
 younger man to look after the business. I shall 
 give her a furnished house for a wedding present. 
 Arrange the matter with Clara as soon as you wish. 
 No thanks, please," he added, as the younger man 
 attempted to express his gratitude. "I have other 
 business to attend to, so be off to your desk." 
 
 Charlie soon found that he was to have no easy 
 task in arranging the matter with Clara. She 
 would listen to no proposal that involved a wed- 
 ding before September. She was tired out, she 
 
18 
 
 A Mimiantic Romance. 
 
 declared, with the ijaioties of the preceding winter, 
 and must rest during the suniuier. 
 
 The tirst of June tlie family left the city for their 
 Hudson villa ; but soon, to Charlie's dismay, he 
 learned they had gone to a northern watering-place, 
 where her recreant lover was staying. But if Clara 
 cherished a secret hope of bringing him again to 
 her side, it was speedily dispelled, and a kindly- 
 worded note was sent to Charlie, asking him to 
 join them. 
 
 A few weeks afterwards, they all returned to 
 New York, and the wedding took place. Mr. Stan- 
 hope, true to his promise, presented the young 
 couple with an elegantly furnished mansion, and 
 they began housekeeping on a scale of magnifi- 
 cence which .surpassed Charlie's wildest dreams. 
 
 (l^: 
 
 'iV'i)^ 
 
A RoDiantic Romance. 
 
 19 
 
 »g winter, 
 
 for their 
 sinay, he 
 ng- place, 
 
 if Clara 
 a^Hin to 
 
 kindly- 
 
 him to 
 
 inied to 
 r. Stan- 
 young 
 >n, and 
 nagnifi- 
 'anis. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 BuoKEN Promises. 
 
 The long Nova Scotian winter was a dreary one 
 for Eva without her lover, and the letters which 
 came regularly were more precious than gold to the 
 little blue-eyed maiden. He told of the busy life 
 he led, of the beautiful mansion where he dwelt 
 with his uncle's family, and of the handsome cousins 
 who had received him as their brother. How her 
 heart went out in gratitude to those lovely women 
 who were so kind to Charlie, her Charlie. 
 
 True to the promise made the evening of their 
 parting, she spent all her leisure time with her 
 books and music, for on Charlie's return he must 
 find her fitted to take her place among his wealthy 
 city relatives. Months had passed away since she 
 had heard from him, but still poor Eva hoped on. 
 No letter had come to gladden her heart ; but he, of 
 course, was coming soon, and wisiied to surprise her. 
 Every stranger upon the street was closely scanned, 
 
I 
 
 20 
 
 A Momantic Romance. 
 
 and every Sunday her eyes wandered to his father's 
 pew in cliurch, expecting to see the loved form that 
 was to come soon, so soon. Oh, loving, trusting 
 TJiaiden, soon are your eyes to be opened, and soon 
 is your heart to bleed for the fickleness of man ! 
 
 One morning she went to the post-office, as usual, 
 for Charlie's letter. "Nothing but the paper, Miss," 
 said the postmaster, handing her the local sheet. 
 
 Carelessly opening it, she began to read, as she 
 turned towards home. 
 
 Now, pitying angels, haste to earth and comfort 
 the poor little maiden whose heart is to die when 
 that paper is opened, for there it is announced that 
 Charlie, her own lover, has been for some days the 
 husband of another. Charlie false ! It is impossi- 
 ble ! But why those months of cruel silence ? 
 
 "Oh, heaven !" she moaned, "it must be true." 
 
 She staggered into the house and up to her own 
 room, where, Hinging herself upon her knees, she 
 prayed, as many a stricken one has prayed before, 
 for death, — the death that will not come at the 
 bidding of us poor, weak mortals. 
 
 Oh, little Eva, although the scar will never leave 
 your heart as long as life shall last, yet Time, which 
 heals all wounds, will also bind up yours. But he 
 is yet to come, so you must learn to suffer and grow 
 strong. 
 
 For weeks she wandered around the house, the 
 shadow of her former bright self. Books and music 
 
 Lrt, 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 21 
 
 his father's 
 J form that 
 'g, trusting 
 fl, and soon 
 jf man ! 
 •e, as usual, 
 iper, Miss," 
 ti sheet, 
 a'l, as she 
 
 d comfort 
 ' tlie when 
 meed that 
 ' days the 
 5 impossi- 
 ice ? 
 true." 
 her own 
 nees, she 
 before, 
 at the 
 
 \ 
 
 'er leave 
 
 e, which 
 
 But he 
 
 id grow 
 
 tise, the 
 d music 
 
 were thrown aside. Of what use would her educa- 
 tion be to her now ? 
 
 For the last year she had studied so hard to pre- 
 pare herself for the position in which her lover was 
 to place her, and now that po.sition was occupied by 
 another. She packed away her books, locked her 
 piano, and gave herself up to despair. Her father 
 tried to reason, her mother scolded and coaxed, l)ut 
 nothing would rouse her from her grief. 
 
 Going out one afternoon for a walk, to please 
 her mother, she wandered listlessly to the old well, 
 where Charlie and she had spent their last evening 
 together. Throwing herself under a hedge a short 
 distance from the spot, she tried to picture to her- 
 self the future. How was she to spend the weary 
 years that were to come ? She was aroused from 
 her reverie by tlie sound of voices near, and, not 
 wishing to meet with any of her young friends, she 
 was about to move away,, when she caught the 
 speaker's words, chaining her to the spot. 
 
 "Yes," said a voice, which she recognized as that 
 of Charlie's sister, "he is married. Eva Parker 
 thought she was going to get him ; but the very 
 idea of such a thing ! A nice wife she would make 
 for a man in his position. She is the greatest little 
 dunce you ever saw. Just fancy her being mistress 
 of Charlie's New York mansion, ruling his servants 
 and entertaining his guests. Oh no, my brother, I 
 can assure you, is not so foolish as that. Why, he 
 
 

 22 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 has marrietl into one of the first families of New 
 York. The bri<le had a large fortune in her own 
 right, and her father made her a present of an ele- 
 gantly furnished mansion." 
 
 "But," said another, when the Hrst speaker ceased, 
 "I understood that he was engaged to her when he 
 went away. Do you consider that he acted honor- 
 ably in marrying another under those circumstances ? 
 I am told she had no idea of his falseness until she 
 read an account of his marriage in the newspaper. 
 It must have been a bitter blow to her, poor girl ; 
 but she can console herself with the reflection that 
 she is well rid of a worthless scoundrel, who, sooner 
 or later, is bound to come to grief, for there is a 
 fate, even in this world, that punishes such villainy. 
 He may have won a large fortune by his marriage ; 
 but, mark my words, his future will not be a happy 
 one." 
 
 "Much obliged to you for your compliments, my 
 dear Mrs. Wilson," returned the other; "but, sup- 
 posing he . was engaged to her. What does an 
 engagement amount to, anyway ?" 
 
 "Nothing, it seems, if both parties do not happen 
 to be honorable people." 
 
 "Charlie told me, in his last letter, that there was 
 a sort of childish engagement between them, but he 
 did not consider it binding. He said he never asked 
 her positively to marry him ; and, in his present 
 position, she would be the last person he would 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 28 
 
 iies of New 
 in her own 
 tit of an ele- 
 
 aker ceased, 
 er when he 
 cted honor- 
 umstanees ? 
 5s until she 
 newspaper, 
 poor girl ; 
 ection that 
 i'ho, sooner 
 there is a 
 h villainy, 
 marriage ; 
 e a happy 
 
 nents, my 
 but, sup- 
 does an 
 
 t happen 
 
 here was 
 1, but he 
 er asked 
 present 
 3 would 
 
 think of making his wife. When they were chil- 
 dren, they used to plan what they were going to do 
 when they grew up and married, and if the little 
 dunce thought his attentions were serious, I do not 
 consider my brother should be blamed. Every 
 young man flirts, more or less, before he settles 
 down for life. Old Parker, they say, is furious, 
 and would be trying a breach of promise case, if he 
 had any chance. That, I should think, was proof 
 enough there was no engagement between them. 
 Charlie seemed very much amused at the idea of 
 introducing a green little country girl like Eva to 
 his friends as his wife. He intended, he said, when 
 he married, to select a lady for the mistress of his 
 home. I can tell you, it needs pi educate<l person 
 to hold her own in the circle in which Charlie 
 moves. They say the poor girl is breaking her 
 heart over her loss. It is a pity. I feel very sorry 
 for her ; but she should not have allowed herself to 
 get so desperately in love, until she was sure her 
 aftections were returned." 
 
 Eva wfiiteil to hear no more, but swiftly and 
 noiselessly left the spot. 
 
 "Well, Eva Parker," she said to herself, when she 
 had withdrawn to a safe distance. "Do you not 
 think you have acted the simpleton long enough 
 for the pleasure of the Smiths ? It is about time 
 now to show them that you possess a little common 
 sense, and can manage to get through life without 
 
24 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 their precious Charlie. Yes, my clear Miss Mattie, 
 you will yet see poor, foolish, despised Eva Parker 
 occupying as high a position in life as your honor, 
 able brother. 
 
 "And so, Master Charlie, you wanted an educated 
 lady for the n)istress of your home, not a green lit- 
 tle country girl. Be careful, my young gentleman, 
 you have yet to learn what it is to incur a jilted 
 woman's hate. I will show you all I am not quite 
 ready to die of a broken heart, even if I am so des- 
 perately in love. I can live and enjoy life for a 
 time, I think, without the aid of the Smiths." 
 
 But, as the indignant girl spoke those passionate 
 words, she felt, in fancy, her young lover's kisses 
 upon her lips, and again those words were ringing 
 in her ears, — "Not until the tide ceases to ebb and 
 flow on yonder beach, w ill I forget or cease to love 
 you." Her tearful eyes were turned toward the 
 sea shore, almost expecting, for an instant, to find 
 the tide had ceased to flow ; but no, the grassy flats 
 she had noticed when she first came out, were now 
 almost covered with the rising tide. 
 
 "There is a proof of man's constancy," she mur- 
 mured, resolutely forcing .>ack her tears ; and^ 
 springing to her feet, she hastened home. 
 
 Her first act, on reaching the house, was to make 
 a package of her false lover's letters, picture and 
 ring, and address them to him at New York. One 
 long, last look she gave the portrait, before consign- 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 25 
 
 iss Matfcie, 
 
 va Parker 
 
 our honor. 
 
 I educated 
 green lit- 
 :entleinan, 
 ir a jilted 
 not quite 
 m so des- 
 ife for a 
 liths." 
 assionate 
 's kisses 
 3 rinirino- 
 ebb and 
 E) to love 
 ard the 
 to find 
 ssy flats 
 ere now 
 
 le niur- 
 
 *; and 
 > 
 
 > make 
 
 re and 
 
 One 
 
 nsign- 
 
 ing it to the packet. "This is the burial of my 
 dead love," she moaned, as she covered it reverently 
 with the wrapper. "Oh, Charlie, who could believe, 
 to look at your pictured face, that you could be so 
 false and cruel ! Now, the first step is taken, the 
 funeral is over, what am I to do with my life ? It 
 must be spent far away from here, if I wish to suc- 
 ceed in the world ; but the first thing, I suppose, is 
 to obtain an education. If papa and mamma will 
 consent, I shall at once enter some first-class board- 
 ing school. After graduating, there will be time 
 enough for me to decide on a future career. I have 
 no fear of papa not giving his consent. He will be 
 so pleased to find me trying to forget that scoundrel, 
 as he calls Charlie, he will be willing to agree to 
 almost anything likely to assist me. But mamma, 
 will she be willing to let me go ? However, I must, 
 in spite of all opposition ; so I may as well broach 
 the subject as soon as papa comes in to tea." 
 
 "Why, Eva!" exclaimed her father, looking up 
 with a pleased smile as she entered the dining- 
 room, gaily hunnning a popular air. "You are as 
 gay as a lark this evening. Where did you gather 
 all your roses, little girlie ?" 
 
 "How could any person be otherwise than gay 
 on such a perfect night, papa ? If you are going 
 near the post-office after tea, will you post this, if 
 you please?" she asked, handing him the package 
 of letters. 
 
26 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 I {i 
 
 Her father placed it in his pocket without a 
 word. He could see, although apparently so cheer- 
 ful, what an effort she was making to appear so. 
 
 "Eva," he said, at last, breaking the silence, which 
 had lasted for some time. "How would you like to 
 go away for a visit ? Don't you think a trip to 
 Boston would do you good ? See if you cannot 
 coax your mother to go with j'ou. We have many 
 friends there, some of whom she has not seen for 
 years. The change would do you both a lot of 
 good." 
 
 "Oh, papa, if we only could go ! But how would 
 you manage while we were gone ?" 
 
 "Nicely. Of course it will be rather lonely ; but,, 
 if you come back in a few weeks and tell me you 
 had a real good time, I shall be glad to have you 
 
 go." 
 
 As her father ffnished, Eva felt that now was the 
 time to gain his consent to her plan of remaining in 
 Boston, and attending school. 
 
 "Papa," she began, somewhat timidly, "if mamma 
 and I were to go to Boston, could I not stay and go 
 to school this winter ? Could you afford to send 
 me ? I will study so hard, and be so saving, if you 
 will only let me stay." 
 
 "To school ! Why, Eva, what ever put such an 
 idea as that into your head ? Don't you know 
 enough already ? You seem to be about as well 
 educated as any of the girls around." 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 27 
 
 without a 
 so cheer- 
 ear so, 
 »ce, which 
 ou h'ke to 
 a trip to 
 « cannot 
 ve many 
 seen for 
 a Jot of 
 
 w would 
 
 ^y; but, 
 
 me you 
 ive you 
 
 was the 
 ning in 
 
 lamma 
 and go 
 
 > send 
 if you 
 
 eh an 
 
 know 
 
 well 
 
 "Be that as it may, Charlie thought I was not 
 well enough educated to be his wife, and I should 
 like to show them all that I am not such a little 
 dunce as they seem to think me. Besides, papa, I 
 cannot bear the thought of coming back here this 
 winter, if we go away. We have good schools in 
 Canada, I know ; but I would rather go farther 
 away from home. Everybody I meet, if I go out, 
 looks at me as if I were a being to be pitied. They 
 will probably forget about everything, if none of 
 them see me until next summer." 
 
 "Very well, ry child, you need not come home if 
 you do not w' .1 to. I can afford to send you to 
 school as long as j^ou want to go, so make your 
 mind easy on that subject. I have a tidy little 
 sum in liie bank that I laid away to buy your 
 wedding fixings, but if you would rather spend it 
 on your education, I am quite willing for you to 
 do so, only you must not study too hard. I do not 
 want to see my little Eva coming back without her 
 roses, even if she does bring a big diploma with her. 
 Health is before everything else in this world. But 
 talk the matter over with your mother while I am 
 gone, and do not be afraid of bankrupting me when 
 you are getting your iinery. I can stand anything 
 in reason, and will get you some money to-morrow 
 to begin with." 
 
 Eva drew a sigh of relief as her father left the 
 room. She had been so afraid of her parents re- 
 
28 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 fusing their consent to her going away, for she well 
 knew how hard it would be for them to part with 
 their only child during the long, lonely winter. 
 Could she have heard her father's soliloquy as he 
 left the house, she would not have been so much 
 surprised at his ready consent to her wishes. 
 
 "So that's about the size of it," he muttered to 
 himself, as he walked down the street. "My girl's 
 education wasn't fancy enough for you, Mr. Charles 
 Smith. Well, if you have managed to get hold of 
 an educated woman for your wife, you are the first 
 one of the family that ever possessed such a luxury. 
 Eva won't be long in showing you all what kind of 
 an education she can obtain, when once she gets 
 into one of these swell boarding-schools ; and that's 
 where she's going now, if it takes my last dollar to 
 put her through. We will have her graduating 
 with high honors before many years are gone by, 
 or else I am very much mistaken in her. Poor lit- 
 tle Eva, the old farm will be lonely enough without 
 you ; but we must not be selfish. Your mother and 
 I would soon have had to give you up in any case. 
 If you go away to school, we can have you home 
 for the summer vacations ; but if you were married 
 in New York, we should hardly see you at all. So, 
 perhaps things are better as they are. If you can 
 only learn to forget that villain, all will be well." 
 
 The old gentleman gave the package a vicious 
 tug, as he pulled it from his pocket, by way of 
 
 .., ' I 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 29 
 
 »r she well 
 part with 
 y winter, 
 luy as he 
 
 so much 
 ishes. 
 ittered to 
 My girl's 
 '. Charles 
 t hold of 
 
 the first 
 i luxury. 
 ' kind of 
 she gets 
 id that's 
 lollar to 
 duating 
 one by, 
 ?*oor lit- 
 kvithout 
 her and 
 ly case. 
 u home 
 narried 
 II. So, 
 ou can 
 '■ well." . 
 k^icious 
 ^ay of 
 
 emphasizing his last remark ; and, entering the 
 post-office, he started it for New York with any- 
 thing but a blessing for the one to whom it was 
 addressed. 
 
 — «-^^»>j<;'i^?l^«'— 
 
30 
 
 A Momantic Romance. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Leaving for School. 
 
 The next few weeks were busy ones for Eva. 
 Her mother first opposed the young girl's leaving 
 home ; but, being overruled by her husband, she 
 soon gave her consent, and began the necessary 
 preparations for a lengthy sojourn in a Boston 
 boarding-school. But, although she gave her con- 
 sent to the departure of Eva, she firmlj'' refused to 
 accompany her; so, one fine morning, the express 
 train bore Eva and her father away from their 
 little country home. 
 
 Arriving in Boston, Mr. Parker lost no time in 
 placing his daughter in one of the most popular 
 schools of the city ; and, giving her a liberal sup- 
 ply of pocket-money, and a charge to be sure and 
 not study too hard and injure her health, he re- 
 embarked for his native land. 
 
 Eva soon grew accustomed to the routine of her 
 school life ; and, in following the course of study 
 
A Romantic Kovtance. 
 
 31 
 
 for Eva. 
 I's leaving 
 iband, she 
 necessary 
 a Boston 
 ' her con- 
 refused to 
 e express 
 ;'oni their 
 
 ^ time in 
 popular 
 eral sup- 
 sure and 
 1, he re- 
 
 e of her 
 of study 
 
 laid down for the graduating students, she began 
 to forget her disappointment. It is true, the face 
 of her old lover would sometimes, in fancy, come 
 between her and the printed page over which she 
 bent, but she would resolutely drive the phantom 
 back to the grave in which she had consigned it, 
 and turn with renewed energy to her books. Her 
 ambition to learn, and her untiring perseverance, 
 soon placed her at the head of her classes, and 
 made her a general favorite with her teachers, 
 while among her classmates she made many warm 
 friends. 
 
 She spent her Christmas vacation with a Miss 
 Bertie Morley, her room-mate, whose parents lived 
 a few miles from Boston ; and, while there, met fre- 
 quently with a cousin of her young friend, who fell 
 violently in love with the fair young Evangeline. 
 Several times during the winter he went to the 
 city, and drove the two girls out to spend Sunday 
 at Bertie's home. 
 
 Her friend used frequently to tease Eva about 
 her conquest. 'Only think, Evangeline," she would 
 laughingly remark, "how furious the girls around 
 home will be, when it becomes known that you, a 
 stranger, have secured the matrimonial prize of the 
 community. They have all been setting their caps 
 at him ever since he returned from Europe, but you 
 are about the only young lady of whom he has con- 
 descended to take the slightest notice. His first 
 
32 
 
 A Jiomantic Romance. 
 
 love, in fact. Not many young ladies of the pre- 
 sent (lay can boast of being the first love of their 
 husbands." 
 
 "I was not aware that Professor Morley was my 
 husband, Miss Bertha!" 
 
 "Well, if he keeps on at the rate he has been 
 going lately, it will not be his fault if he is not 
 your husband before many months are gone by. I 
 believe he actually counts the days that intervene 
 between his trips to Boston. I have been here two 
 years, and before he fell in love with you, no one 
 thought it possible for me to be homesick, or have 
 the least wish to see 'Riverside' occasionally. I 
 thought myself fortunate to get home once or twice 
 during a term ; now it is nothing new for us to 
 average three or four trips a month. I wonder 
 how often I would get an opportunity of going if I 
 did not invite you to go with me. How grateful 
 I should feel to Madam Siddons for putting you in 
 my room, so that we could become such good 
 friends. I wonder if Walter will have the courage 
 to come for us to-morrow ; he came last week and 
 the week before. He wanted to know last week if 
 you were going home after commencement. I asked 
 him if he intended to go too, if you were, and bring 
 you back transformed into Mrs. Walter Morley. 
 He said he would like to do so, but would it be 
 possible for him to accomplish such an undertaking, 
 did I think ? I offered to sound you on the subject. 
 
A Ronmntic Romance. 
 
 88 
 
 of the pre- 
 love of their 
 
 rley was my 
 
 ^le has been 
 if he is not 
 ^one by. I 
 at intervene 
 en here two 
 »^ou, no one 
 ick, or have 
 sionally. I 
 ice or twice 
 for us to 
 I wonder 
 going if I 
 )w grateful 
 ing you in 
 such good 
 he courage 
 week and 
 'St week if 
 ;. I asked 
 and bring 
 r Morley. 
 Duld it be 
 Jertaking, 
 le subject, 
 
 and report at our next nieeting ; but, will you be- 
 lieve it, that instead of feeling grateful to nie for 
 my disinterested kindness in taking an interest in 
 his affairs, the fellow actually t<jld me, if I did so, 
 he would never speak to nie again as long as he 
 lived. There is gratitude for you. I have heard 
 there is nothing so unreasonable as a man in love, 
 and I, for one, am quite ready to believe it. There 
 is nothing under the sun to which I can compare 
 their uncertain tempers, unless it is the renowned 
 Burdett's description of the Bay of Fundy tides. 
 You never know how suddenly they will rise." 
 
 "The gallant Professor must have been at a loss- 
 for a confidant when he selected Miss Bertie Morley, 
 Do you think you are acting fairly in betraying his 
 confidence in this way ?" asked her friend. 
 
 "Come, Eva, darling, don't you get angry too; 
 for the displeasure of both at once will quite over- 
 come me. How do you suppose I was going to 
 help telling you ? Learned as my sedate cousin is, 
 for the most part, there are yet some things for 
 him to find out, and one of those is, — never to trust 
 a school-girl with secrets, especially if they concern 
 her bosom friend. I have been bursting to tell you 
 ever since he was talking with me, and consider 
 that I have done remarkably well to keep it to my- 
 self for nearly a week. The poor fellow had to tell 
 somebody, I suppose, for his love is almost consum- 
 
:h 
 
 A Rtnnantic Romance. 
 
 ing him, and ho dare nut declare it to the fair object 
 of Ilia adoration. 
 
 "I wonder, l>y-the-\vay," ai»e went on, looking 
 roguishly at Kva from under iier long lashes, "why 
 men are such cowards when they fall in love ? 
 They give one the impression, moping around the 
 way they do, of some person just recovering from a 
 severe fit of sickness, hay, girlie, the next time 
 you meet Waller, just smile on him as sweetly as 
 ever you can. Give him a chance to propose, and 
 put him out of his misery. When once you are 
 engaged to him, he will .soon recover his spirits." 
 
 "What makes you so sure that I shall be en- 
 gaged to him ?" said Eva, with a laugh. "Allow 
 me to inform you that you are making a great mis- 
 take. I have no intention of accepting Professor 
 Morley for my husband. It is true, he has not yet 
 done me the honor to ask me, and I sincerely trust 
 lie never will, for it will be no pleasure for me to 
 decline the alliance." 
 
 Bertie stared at her in open-eyed astonishment. 
 
 "Do you mean to tell me, Eva, that you will 
 really decline such a brilliant match as Walter 
 Morley ?" she said, at last. "You must be mad to 
 think of such a thinif." 
 
 "That is exactly what I do mean to say." 
 
 "Then you are a greater goose than I thought it 
 possible for you to be. Why, he is considered one 
 
 V 
 
lie fair object 
 
 on, looking^ 
 lashes, "wliy 
 all in love ? 
 ? around the 
 ering from a 
 e next time 
 IS sweetly as 
 propose, and 
 •nee you are 
 his spirits." 
 diall be en- 
 ?h. "Allow 
 a great mis- 
 ig Professor 
 has not yet 
 eerely trust 
 
 for me to 
 
 nishment. 
 t you will 
 as Walter 
 be mad to 
 
 thought it 
 idered one 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 .S5 
 
 f the best matches in all New England. His father 
 »ft him a large fortune, which he has more than 
 oublud during the last five years." 
 " His fortune would not influence me, if I cared 
 BDr the man." 
 
 "You have always appeared to like him well 
 nough. What has come over you ?" 
 "As a friend, yes, I like him immensely; but, as 
 husband, — that is (juite another matter. (Jirls 
 re supposed to love the man they marry." 
 
 "Love! Fiddlesticks! Love is an old-fashioned 
 Idea, gone out of date many years ago. There is no 
 uch thing in existence at the present day. A 
 )rilliant position is what a girl aims at in the.se 
 nlightened times ; and, certainly, the girl who be- 
 omes Walter's wife will have that." 
 
 "You are not very consistent, Miss Morley," 
 aughed Eva. A few moments ago, you declared 
 our cousin was nearly consumed by his love ; now 
 ou declare, as positively, there is no such thing in 
 xistence." 
 
 "Did I say that ? Well, I take it back again. I 
 hink I ought to acknowledge the existence of love, 
 :'cr I have conjugated the verb Arao in all its moods 
 nd tenses. But, if you are not already in love 
 with Walter, I see nothing for you to do except 
 fall in love with him right away. I should not 
 suppose that a very difficult operation for you to 
 accomplish, with a handsome husband, a splendid 
 
36 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 
 II 
 
 establishment, and a lot of other good things i 
 prospect." 
 
 "Not so very difficult, perhaps, if one is onl}' 
 heart-whole to begin with," 
 
 "Oh, Eva! do not tell me you are already engaged 
 You wear no ring. What a blow this will be for 
 poor Walter! It will break his heart!" 
 
 "Hearts do not break so easily," said Eva, a shade 
 of sadness in her tone. "If they did, mine would 
 have been broken long ago. I am not engaged, for 
 the man I was to marry deserted me for a wealthy 
 New York heiress ; but I can never marry another 
 My faith in the sex is completely destroyed." 
 
 " Never marry another ! Who ever heard of such 
 nonsen&e ! Pray, my dear young lady, what do 
 you intend to do with your life ?" 
 
 "I have not altogether decided upon my future 
 «.areer. I have some thoughts of becoming a trained 
 nurse, it seems to be such a beautiful life." 
 
 "Beautiful! Yes, very! I can imagine nothing 
 more beautiful than holding the head of some 
 low-bred Irishman, while the doctor hacks off his 
 maimed limbs, which have become crushed in some 
 drunken street brawl ! I have heard that the life 
 of a nun was more bealitiful still ; but, unfortun- 
 ately, you are not a Roman Catholic. Now, Eva, 
 do listen to a little common sense ! My advice 
 would be for you to smile sweetly upon Walter, 
 and when he plucks up courage to ask you to he- 
 
 ul 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 37 
 
 pod things u 
 
 f one is onr 
 
 •eady engaged, 
 is will be fo] 
 
 Tt!" 
 
 J Eva, a shade] 
 d, mine wouL 
 t engaged, foij 
 for a wealthy! 
 larry another 
 royed." 
 heard of suchi 
 tdy, what doj 
 
 •n my future 
 ling a trained! 
 ife." 
 gine nothing! 
 ad of some I 
 lacks off his I 
 shed in some 
 that the life! 
 it, unfortun- 
 
 Now, Eva,! 
 
 My advice 
 pon Walter, 
 
 you to be- 
 
 fconie Mrs. M., (and it will not be long now before 
 he does, if you give him the least bit of encourage- 
 Inent), just say yes. Show the man who jilted you 
 that you can enjoy life as well as he." 
 
 "Bertie, if you had ever loved, you would never 
 idvise me to marry one man, loving another.' 
 
 "If I ever loved! Do hear the girl! I think I 
 
 [mve been in love twenty times, at least. Let me 
 
 ^ee ; my first love was a boy of twelve. He used to 
 
 mil for me every morning, and draw me to school 
 
 bn his sled. How I did Irve the little wretch ; but 
 
 (he jilted me for Amanda Stone, and a pretty little 
 
 Ithing she was, with long golden curls, — mine were 
 
 lonly a common brown. What pangs of jealousy I 
 
 (endured for a whole month! It was awful while it 
 
 [lasted. Then another admirer took his place. The 
 
 ()ther fellow had a pony, and I used to ride on its 
 
 back. That was a triumph, for the snow was gone 
 
 then, and poor Amanda had to walk. It was fine 
 
 while it lasted ; but the pony broke his leg, and his 
 
 I master was not nearly so nice afterwards. 
 
 "However, I got another beau I liked better be- 
 fore the summer was gone, and Howard consoled 
 himself with another girl. My last love was my 
 ideal man. He had the most exquisite little mus- 
 tache you ever saw. And he was so very neat, it 
 was a real pleasure to have him kiss me. He was 
 the most divine little figure ! His tailor fitted him 
 without a wrinkle. He took another girl to the 
 
38 
 
 A Romantic Roraance. 
 
 opera one evening when I was ill, and that endec 
 everything. It almost broke my heart at first, buti 
 the wound soon healed. I never liked any one haltj 
 80 well as he, but I do not intend to wear the willowl 
 for him all my life. I will tind some other tailor's! 
 block to take his place before many years go over! 
 my head, of that you may be sure ; and, if you are! 
 wise, you will follow my advice and accept Walter.] 
 I will wager, if you do, that you will be as desper- 
 ately in love with him, before a month is over, asj 
 you were with the other fellow !" 
 
 Eva shook her head, half gravely, half smilingly, i 
 "My dear," she said, "I have already told you that 1 1 
 can never love your cousin; consequently, I shall 
 never commit such a crime as to marry him for his , 
 money and position. 
 
 "Shades of Troy! Cannot love him? What is 
 there so objectionable about the young man ? I do 
 not believe there is another girl in Boston who 
 would refuse him. You ought to be packed up 
 and sent to Barnum as one of the greatest living 
 curiosities of the age. A girl in the nineteenth 
 century who actually believes in love and con- 
 stancy ! The best thing you can do is to go on 
 the stage. What crowded houses you would have. 
 Be sure and make your debut in New York, so the 
 man you love so fondly can be present to cheer you. 
 He will probably bring his most intimate lady 
 acquaintance with him, (not his wife, of course ; 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 39 
 
 ^nd that ended 
 ft at first, but: 
 1 any one half 
 ear the willowf 
 other tailor'sj 
 ^ears go over! 
 ^d, if you arej 
 ccept Walter.! 
 be as desper- 
 h is over, asj 
 
 ilf smilingly, 
 d you that I j 
 ntly, I shall 
 ^ him for his 
 
 ' ? What is 
 man ? I do 
 Boston who 
 
 packed up 
 atest living 
 
 nineteenth 
 5 and con- 
 s to go on 
 ^ould have, 
 ork, so the 
 cheer you. 
 nate lady 
 of course; 
 
 gentlemen never escort their wives anywhere in 
 New York society). Engage some friend to take 
 a seat near them, so you can learn his opinion of 
 your acting. I can fancy I see him now, stroking 
 his mustache with a reflective air, as he tells his 
 companion you have a line figure, rather pretty 
 complexion, but not altogether his style, although 
 he is almost certain that you are an old flame of 
 his when he was a youngster. Then, he will pro- 
 bably remark that such a pretty little thing ought 
 to have married before this. Then, with a self- 
 satisfied smirk, he will insinuate that your fondness 
 for him has kept you single. 
 
 "Men are all alike, with a few exceptions, Walter 
 being one, of course. But I will not say another 
 word in his favor to-night. Sleep on what I have 
 aflready said, and I will wager anything you will 
 agree with me in the morning." 
 
 ^'^^^^^^^''^y^ 
 
40 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 ! i 
 
 The Engagement. 
 
 Eva pondered over the advice given by her young 
 friend before she slept. "Bertie was right after all," 
 she thought. " Walter was rich, young and hand- 
 some ; and, as his cousin had said, she had every 
 reason to think he adored her. What a triumph it 
 would be for her to marry him. As his wife, she 
 would occupy as important a position in society as 
 Charlie now occupied. But could she bring herself 
 to commit such a crime as to mq,rry for wealth and 
 position ? True, she respected him, she told herself, 
 more tlian any man she knew. Bertie was right, he 
 certainly was an exception to the average young 
 man ; but respect was not love, and what right had 
 she to mar his life, as she certainly would do, if she 
 married him without loving him ? If she could 
 only learn to love him, things might be different ; 
 but that was an impossibility. Her heart was dead. 
 The bright fountains of love were dried forever. 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 41 
 
 ■ ^»er young 
 t after all," 
 and hand- 
 had every 
 triumph it 
 
 wife, she 
 society as 
 ng herself 
 ealth and 
 Id herself, 
 > right, he 
 ?e young 
 fight had 
 do, if she 
 he could 
 htferent ; 
 I'as dead. 
 
 forever. 
 
 Henceforth her life was a desert waste, with not a 
 single oasis to gladden her weary journey. She 
 would become a sweet Sister of Mercy, watch over 
 and endeavor to alleviate the sufferings of the afflict- 
 ed ; and, perhaps, when life was ended, she would 
 reap her reward in the better world. Walter would 
 find, somewhere, a sweet wife, who would love him 
 for himself alone, and she would rejoice to see his 
 happiness." 
 
 Poor, foolish Eva ! You are not the first who has 
 made those heroic resolutions in the darkness of 
 your chamber, while suffering from the pangs of 
 unrequited love, nor yet the first who has changed 
 your mind when morning, with its rosy fiush, comes 
 to convince you of your folly. Life never yet was 
 made so sad for mortals, but some gleams of sun- 
 shine are to be found behind the darkest clouds, if 
 we are only brave enough to search for them, or 
 patiently wait the bursting of the thick curtain 
 which hides them from our view. 
 
 The morning brought Walter to drive the girls to 
 "Riverside." Eva firmly refused to accompany her 
 friend. 
 
 "No, Bertie," was her answer, when urged to go ; 
 "I will not do your cousin this great wrong. I 
 have already told you I can never marry him, and 
 it will only make matters worse for me to encour- 
 age false hopes." 
 
 "I am afraid you did not sleep well last night, 
 
42 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 after all," said Bertie, with an indignant glance. 
 " If you had enjoyed a good night's rest, you would 
 not feel so decidedly blue this morning. I think, 
 myself, you had better not go out to-day. Let me 
 tuck you up in bed, and I will ask Miss Siddons to 
 send for the doctor. I fear you are going to have 
 an attack of brain fever, you look quite wild about 
 the eyes. Perhaps I had better send for a physician 
 at once." 
 
 "Bertie, come back!" called Eva, imploringly, as 
 her friend turned to leave the room. 
 
 "All right ; get ready to come with us, and let me 
 hear no more of this nonsense." 
 
 "Oh, Bertie, I cannot," she answered, with a sob. 
 "Why do you persist in torturing me so ?" 
 
 "For your own good, you little goose. If you 
 were not as stupid as an owl, you would understand 
 that without further explanation. Come, I never 
 give up when I once set my heart on anything I 
 want. If you do not come with us this morning, I 
 shall have Dr. Allen sent for. I can manage the 
 old gent famously, and see if I do not have you 
 invalided, and sent out to 'Riverside' for pure air, 
 and to be under my father's treatment before the 
 day is over. I have set my heart on seeing you 
 Mrs. Walter Morley, and I never give up anything 
 I undertake, while there remains a ghost of a 
 chance to accomplish my ends. Fates are against 
 you, young lady, so you might as well yield with 
 
A Bomantic Romance. 
 
 43 
 
 fnant glance. 
 't, you would 
 ig. I think, 
 lay. Let me 
 is Siddons to 
 oing to have 
 e wild about 
 a physician 
 
 )loringIy, as 
 , and let me 
 
 with a sob. 
 
 ?" 
 
 e. If you 
 understand 
 le, I never 
 mything I 
 morning, I 
 anage the 
 have you 
 r pure air, 
 )ef'ore the 
 )eing you 
 anything 
 lost of a 
 e against 
 ield with 
 
 a good grace, for you will certainly be compelled to 
 yield, sooner or later." 
 
 "Bertie, I did not think you could act so cruelly." 
 
 "Acting cruelly, am I ? Well, Eva, you are amus- 
 ing, even if you are obstinate. Is it cruel to try to 
 stop a foolish girl from throwing away her future ? 
 Is it cruel to endeavor to open her eyes, in order 
 that she may see the perfections of the man who 
 adores her ? Some day, young lady, you will go 
 down on your knees before me, and, with streaming 
 eyes, humbly ask my pardon for the great injustice 
 you have done me, which will be readily granted, 
 for you are a lovable little dear, in spite of every- 
 thing. Now, kiss me, darling, and get ready, for 
 we have kept poor Walter waiting long enough." 
 
 "Bertie, if you have no mercy for me, do you 
 think it fair to your cousin to bring us together in 
 this way ?" 
 
 "Oh, I have not the least anxiety on his account, 
 I can assure you. But, seriously, Eva, as you are 
 so conscientious about accepting him, having loved 
 another, why not tell him about thiB early love, 
 now dead and buried, for I suppose it is dead and 
 buried before this ?" 
 
 "I suppose so," Eva replied; "but, even now% I 
 cannot help feeling, sometimes, that, in spite of 
 appearances, there must have been some mistake, 
 and that Charlie was not altogether to blame." 
 
 "May heaven grant me patience ! Who can sound 
 
44 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 the depth of woman's love, or measure woman's 
 faith ? Not believe him guilty, when he has jilted 
 you and married another, without even takin.C; the 
 trouble to let you know he had changed his mind ! 
 He must be one of the greatest villains on earth ! 
 I can believe in love and constancy, when the object 
 of one's love is true ; but to be true to a person who 
 has proved false to his heart's core, that, I must say, 
 is altogether beyond my comprehension. But, let 
 me hear no more of this foolishness, and do not 
 keep us waiting much longer. I am going down to 
 tell Walter you are coming." 
 
 "Will the girl be foolish enough to refuse him ?" 
 she thought, as she hastened to the reception room. 
 "I must give Walter a hint of affairs. It is hardly 
 fair to the poor girl, but it will be better for him to 
 know. She is a true little darling, and worth the 
 trouble of winning. If he does not get discouraged, 
 he will succeed in time." 
 
 But even wise Miss Bertie was somewhat sur- 
 prised when her cousin Walter came to her a few 
 hours af£er they reached "Riverside" for congratu- 
 lations. 
 
 "Oh, Bertie," exclaimed her friend, when they 
 were alone that evening. "Walter was so kind and 
 good this afternoon, I could not say no. I hope I 
 may love him some day, for he deserves it." 
 
 "I hope so," answered her friend; "but you are 
 telling me nothing new when you say he is good. 
 
 i 
 
 IIjHI 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 46 
 
 5 wonmn's 
 Jias jilted 
 
 his mind ! 
 on earth ! 
 the object 
 ?rson who 
 fnust say, 
 
 But, let 
 d do not 
 
 down to 
 
 'e him ?" 
 on room. 
 s hardly 
 1' him to 
 )rth the 
 )u raged, 
 
 at sur- 
 ' a few 
 figratu- 
 
 He has always reminded me of chocolate candy. 
 When is the happy event to take place?" 
 
 "Not for a long time yet. After I graduate. 
 You will be my bridesmaid, Bertie darling, will 
 you not ?" 
 
 "Of course I will, you old silly! Do you think 
 you could get through such an important affair 
 
 without me ? I am not Oh, Eva, I do hope 
 
 you will be very happy," she suddenly exclaimed 
 throwing her arms around her companion, and Eva, 
 looking up, saw her eyes were filled with tears. 
 But they were brushed aside in an instant, and the 
 laughter-loving girl was herself again ; but those 
 tears troubled Eva for many a day. 
 
 A short time after her engagement, the school 
 broke up for the summer holidays, and Eva, her 
 left hand adorned with a band of glittering dia- 
 monds, sailed for her native land. 
 
 1 they 
 fid and 
 hope I 
 
 •«^^^.«j^e'— 
 
 >u are 
 good. 
 
i ! 
 
 46 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 Eva Meets Charlie. 
 
 Two years have passed away, and to-night a 
 large and fashionable audience has gathered in 
 the assembly hall to witness the closing exercises 
 of the school. 
 
 More than the usual amount of interest is noticed 
 this year, for it is rumored the talents of the gradu- 
 ating class are far above the average. 
 
 A brilliant array of young maidens filed into the 
 hall at the ringing of the school bell, and among 
 them all, none looked more lovely than our fair 
 Nova Scotian. 
 
 She was to deliver the valedictory, and after the 
 others had given their essays, with the usual amount 
 of applause, she was introduced to the audience. 
 
 As her eloquent voice rose in a touching farewell 
 to teachers and friends, every sound was hushed, 
 and at its close all were ajjreed that she had carried 
 off the palm. 
 
 11 
 
A Romantic Rcnnartce. 
 
 47 
 
 >-ni>ht a 
 hered in 
 exercises 
 
 =! noticed 
 e gradu- 
 
 into the 
 
 among 
 
 >ur fair 
 
 'ter the 
 unount 
 ice. 
 
 irewell 
 ushed, 
 arried 
 
 After the diplomas were awarded, the fair gradu- 
 ates withdrew to the reception rooms to receive the 
 congratulations of their friends. Professor Morley 
 took a position by Eva's side, and wonderingly saw 
 her turn pale as a lady and gentleman came to- 
 ward her. She made a violent effort to recover her 
 self-possession, as Charlie's well-rememl)ered voice 
 reached her ear. 
 
 "Allow me, Eva," she heard him say, "to offer 
 you my warmest congratulation on your success 
 to-night, and also to present my wife. She is very 
 anxious to know the heroine of the evening. Mrs. 
 Smith, my old friend and playfellow, Miss Parker." 
 
 Eva turned to the lady with a distant bow and a 
 murmured "Mrs. Smith does me too much honor," 
 and immediately turned, with outstretched hand, to 
 a young gentleman who had, with difficulty, made 
 his way to her side. 
 
 "Ah, Master Fred," they heard her say, "you 
 really did us the honor to come, after all. I 
 have been in tears ever since I heard you were 
 not going to encourage us by your presence, but 
 I might have known you would not desert us at 
 the most important moment of our lives," 
 
 "Important moment of your lives ! What fibs 
 you girls can tell. The most important moment 
 of your life will take place a few weeks hence ; 
 but you m«iy be sure I shall not desert you then. 
 Walter has had my promise to be on the spot for 
 
48 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 years. Where is Bert ? I have a choice piece of 
 news for her to-night. Ta-ta, Eva. Will see you 
 at 'Riverside' to-morrow, I hope ?" 
 
 "Oh, yes, we are all coming out in the morning," 
 she answered, as Fred Morley moved away. 
 
 Friends were crowding around, and what a tri- 
 umph she felt was hers. The heroine of the evening, 
 and Charlie to see it all ! Charlie, who thought she 
 would disgrace him with her ignorance, if he pre- 
 sented her to New York society as his wife. In- 
 voluntarily, her eyes turned to the spot where he 
 was standing with her rival, and a scornful smile 
 curled her proud lip, as she gazed at the faded 
 woman by his side. 
 
 At length the reception was over, and the two 
 girls were alone again. 
 
 "Oh, Eva!" exclaimed Bertie, as she closed the 
 door of their own room. "I have had such a pleas- 
 ant surprise to-night. My cousin Clara, of whom 
 you have heard me speak, came from New York to 
 see me graduate. Think of what a lot of trouble 
 she took for your humble servant. There was a 
 party of tourists coming this way, so she and her 
 husband joined them. She is the dearest old girl 
 you ever saw. I am sure she and you will be great 
 friends, for everyone falls in love with her at first 
 sight. They are coming to 'Riverside' in the morn- 
 ing. What fun we shall have, if Walter does not 
 monopolize you during your visit." 
 
5ice piece of 
 
 ^ill 
 
 see you 
 
 e morning," 
 my. 
 
 what a tri- 
 )he evening, 
 thought she 
 
 if he pre- 
 ' wife. In- 
 b where he 
 rnful smile 
 
 the faded 
 
 d the two 
 
 closed the 
 'h a pleas- 
 
 of whom 
 V York to 
 )f trouble 
 re was a 
 
 and her 
 t old girl 
 
 be great 
 r at first 
 he morn- 
 does not 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 49 
 
 "I do not think selHshness is a vice of Walter's, 
 But let us go to sleep, or we shall not be tit for 
 anything in the morning." 
 
 But, rtlthough so anxious for slrep, Eva wooed 
 the drowsy god in vain. Her old lover's handsome 
 face was constantly appearing before her mental 
 vision. How dare he have the audjicity to speak 
 to her ! It was an insult, but to introduce his wife ! 
 And to call her, Eva, his old friend and playmate! 
 Woultl he care to tell Mrs. Smith that siie was once 
 his dearly loved Eva ? For she still lifclioved he 
 ha<l loved her once, until it came to a choice be- 
 tween her and gold. It was gold that had been 
 her rival, not that plain and faded woman she had 
 met to-night. Would Walter have served her so, 
 she wondered, if he had been placed in the same 
 position i All men were alike, she murnuired ; and, 
 with this reflection, she sank into a troubhid sleep, 
 from which she was aroused by the ringing of the 
 dressing-bell. 
 
 "Come, Eva," cried Bertie, gaily, "obey that 
 tyrant of a bell for the last time. The ca^age 
 will come for us soon after breakfast, and we nave 
 so much to do before we go. Just think, our edu- 
 [ cation is finished ! No more hard study for us for 
 the future, nothing to do except enjoy ourselves. 
 But I forgot, you are going to be married right 
 away. What a selfish fellow Walter is. He might 
 have allowed you a year of liberty. It seems like 
 
50 
 
 A Romantic Rommicc. 
 
 walking out of the schoolrroom straight to the altar. 
 If it was not to be for a year, now, I could have 
 you with nie part of the summer, and then go down 
 to Nova 8i;<:>tia and finish it out with you. Who 
 ki s what I nnght meet there in the shape of 
 fate i Some handsome young gentleman might 
 captivate my heart, and settle me on his broad 
 acres to make Imtter and feed chickens. If it 
 should turn out so, I will keep the biggest and 
 fattest for Professor Morley and family, when they 
 come down'^East to spend their summer vacations." 
 
 "You will probably get enough of Grand Pre 
 during the fortnight we are planning to spend 
 there. And, as for your rustic beau, I do not 
 imagine Miss Bertie Morley is the sort of a young 
 lady to lose her heart in a country village." 
 
 "I do not know. I met a gentleman last evening 
 who was handsome enough to capture one's heart, 
 wherever he was found, and he was from Grand 
 Pre. I should have fallen in love with him, if he 
 had not already possesseci a wife. I must find . ut 
 
 if he^fas any marriageable brothers. If he has 
 
 Bother! Tiiere goes the breakfast - bell ! Come, 
 Eva, for the last time." 
 
 "A gentleman from Grand Pre, handsome and 
 polished," thought Eva, as she went towards the 
 dining-hall. " It nuist be Charlie she has met. 
 Some one has introduced them, — but what non- 
 sense ! How could Charlie know any person wIr) 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 51 
 
 ,'oul(l be likely to introduce him to Bertie ? But 
 [he New York cousin ! There was a party of tour- 
 ists ! He and his wife, of course, were of the party, 
 'he cousin was to be at 'Riverside' for a few days, 
 ind she would have an opportunity of hearing all 
 ibout Charlie and his wife. 
 
 "But what cared she, Evangeline Parker, about 
 pharlie Smith, or his wife either. How she wished 
 pe cousin had stayed at home with her husband, 
 md not come down just now to spoil those last 
 Iveeks of freedom for her. They would take all 
 Gertie's time, leaving her for Walter to entertain ; 
 md he was so tiresome, playing the devt)ted lover in 
 the way he did." 
 
 Shortly after breakfast, the carriage from "River- 
 side" was brought to the door. Their schoolmates 
 had all said good-by, and the two girls went to the 
 private room of the Principal for a final leave-taking. 
 
 "I believe, Bertie," remarked Miss Siddons, "you 
 ire glad to leave us, you appear so hap])y this 
 
 liiornmg. 
 
 "Why should I not be happy?" asked Bertie. 
 
 ['My M^ork is done, my education finished, and I 
 
 im going home for good, with nothing to do for 
 
 the future but enjoy myself. Who could help being 
 
 appy, with such a prospect in view ?" 
 
 "Ah, my dear child, life has some more solenm 
 
 iUty for you than mere enjoyment; but, whatever 
 
 ^our future lot, I trust it will be as full of sunshine 
 
52 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 as your past has been. Good-by, my clear ; you 
 have my warmest wishes for a happy life. Of you, 
 my dear," she continued, "I have no fear. Your 
 fntnre is assured, as far as it is possible for man to 
 be sure of anything. I have known Walter Morley 
 from a cliild, and the woman who has been fortun- 
 ate enough to win his love, cannot fail to enjoy a 
 happy life. Good-by, my dears ; do not forget your 
 Alma Mater." 
 
 "My future cannot fail to be happy," thought 
 Eva, bitterly, as she followed Bortie to the car- 
 riage. "How dreadfully things do get mixed in 
 this world. Oh, if I had never known Charlie ! 
 They say love makes a woman's life. It has ruined 
 mine ; and yet, what would I not give to see his 
 face once more. But I must not give way like this, 
 or Bertie will wonder what is wrong," she con- 
 cluded, looking up, and forcing a smile, as she 
 seated herself in the carriage. 
 
 As they \vrere bowled swiftly through the streets 
 behind Dr. Morley s matched bays, she kept on the 
 watch for a passing glimpse of Charlie ; but, when 
 the city was far behind, she gave up the hope of 
 seeing him again, and, rousing herself, began to 
 talk with Bertie until they reached home. 
 
 Kind, motherly Mrs. Morley gave them both a 
 hearty greeting, and sent them directly to their 
 rooms to dress for dinner. 
 
 "Be sure you look your very best," she called 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 53 
 
 after Eva, as she ascended the stairs, "for Walter is 
 coming down immediately after dinner." 
 
 "Have Clara and her husband arrived?" she 
 heard Bertie ask her mother, as tliey came up 
 together behind her. 
 
 "Yes, they came down with Walter and Fred 
 this morning. Walter will bring Archie and Min- 
 nie Blake down with him, so j'ou will be quite a 
 little party for this evening." 
 
 Eva sank into a chair with a weary sigh when 
 she was left alone. Ever since she had mot Charlie, 
 she had been longing for a few moments to herself. 
 Now that she had gained her wish, she felt she no 
 longer cared for solitu«le. Why had he crossed her 
 path. She was contented with her lot until he 
 came ; but his coming had upset everything. Well, 
 the dinner-bell would ring in a short time, and she 
 was not dressed. 
 
 Getting up, she selected a simple white dress ; 
 and, throwing aside her dusty garments, she un- 
 fastened her golden hair, which fell in a glittering 
 shower far below her w^aist. As she was gathering 
 it up to twine around her shapely head, she started 
 as if she had received a severe blow. People were 
 talking beneath her window ; and, peering through 
 the curtains, she saw a number of gentlemen, and 
 among them her old lover. "How came he here ?" 
 she asked herself, and turned white to the very 
 lips, as the truth occurred to her. Bertie's cousin 
 
54 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 m I 
 i 'lii 
 
 was Charlie's wife, and they were both visiting] 
 here. 
 
 "Oh, heaven! What have I done to deserve it) 
 all ?" she moaned. "How can I bear it ? To sit at 
 table with him for days. To be obliged to treat! 
 them as friends. If I could only go home !" 
 
 The white dress was tossec' ;.ontemptuously aside, 
 and an elegant silk was selected to take its place. 
 Charli*^ should see that she could dress as elegantly 
 and b; ave as gracefully as any lady of his ac- 
 (juain ance, if she was but a country girl. The 
 reflection that looked at her from her mirror satis- 
 lied her fastidious taste; and, taking a rose-bud, 
 she pinned it into her dress as the dinner-bell rang. 
 
 "Why, Eva," said Mrs. Morley, as she came into 
 the drawing-room, "what a good little girl you are 
 to mind. I did not expect you to get yourself up 
 in so regardless a manner, when I cold you I wanted 
 you to look fine. Walter will think you are perfect ; 
 V>ut I suppose he thinks that already." 
 
 "As a matter of course," answered Eva, with a 
 little laugh. "They all think that of the young 
 lady of their choice, or say they do, which amounts 
 to the same thing, I suppose, as long as we are 
 green enough to believe them." 
 
 "You little skeptic," replied her hostess. "No 
 one ever before accused Walter of insincerity, no 
 matter what might be said of other young men. 
 But, allow me to present my niece and her hus- 
 
A Rommitic JRomance. 
 
 55 
 
 both visiting 
 
 to deserve it I 
 t? To sit at j 
 iged to treat! 
 ome!" 
 
 iuously aside, 
 ike its place, 
 i as elegantly 
 y of his ac- 
 y ^irl. The 
 mirror satis- 
 ' a rose-bud, 
 ler-bell rang. 
 le cnuie into 
 girl you are 
 yourself up 
 ou I wanted 
 are perfect ; 
 
 Eva, with a 
 the young 
 
 ch amounts 
 as we are 
 
 tess. "No 
 ncerity, no 
 oung men. 
 I her hus- 
 
 band, from New York. Mrs. Smith and Mr. Smith, 
 Miss Parker," 
 
 "I met Mrs. Smith last evening, and Mr. Suiith I 
 have also met before," said Eva, with a graceful 
 bow to the lady, and scarcely deigning to notice 
 her husband. She went forward with a bright 
 smile to meet Dr. Morley. 
 
 "Welcome to 'River.side,' Lady Evangeline," cried 
 her host, as she came towards him. "So you girls 
 have burst your chrysalis and emerged into the gay 
 world. Did you come down from Boston on the 
 
 wmg 
 
 ?" 
 
 "Yes, I think we must have tlown," answered his 
 companion. "They tell me, young lady, that you 
 carried oft' the highest honors at the Institution last 
 evening. Sorry I could not be tlu^re ; but, ' business 
 l)efore pleasure,' you know. T feel very proud of 
 my niece that is to be. Only eight weeks, they 
 it'll me, before Walter will have you fettered again. 
 The selfish fellow ! Well, little one, if you are to 
 be caged, your prison bars are well gilded. I was 
 <lown there this morning, and I can assure you 
 there is nothing like 'Maple Grove' to be found in 
 these parts. Where's Bert ?" 
 
 "Coming," replied a mei-ry vcjice, and the owner, 
 rushing forward, nearly smothered her parent in a 
 hearty embrace. 
 
 "There, there, puss, that will do ! I did not know 
 that Madam Siddons made bears out of the young 
 
5C 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 
 ladies sent to her establishment. Eva, I will have] 
 to place her in your charge. See if you cannot im- 
 prove on Madam. And now, Miss, allow me the I 
 pleasure of taking^ you down to dinner," and, with 
 a low bow, the old gentleman drew Eva's hand 
 through his arm and marched her off, leaving the 
 rest of his guests to follow. 
 
 It was (juite plain that Eva was a great favorite 
 with all the family. He seated her at his right 
 hand at the table, and the two kept up a continu- 
 ous stream of gay talk during the meal. Charlie 
 listened like one in a dream. How came Eva here, 
 so far away from her home ? 
 
 After their return to the drawing-room, he could 
 not remove his eyes from her face. What had 
 changed her so ? The Eva he once had known, 
 M as a quiet, dear little girl, whose greatest pleasure 
 was to nestle by his side and receive his caresses. 
 Could it be possible that this haughty and brilliant 
 belle was the same Eva to whom he had bade good- 
 b}'^ that lovely September night, nearly four years 
 ago, in her far-away Nova Scotian home ? He 
 almost laughed aloud, as he thought of his sister's 
 words the niorning he left Nova Scotia. Could she 
 see Eva now, what would she say to the change ? 
 How she had remonstrated with him when he told 
 her of his engagement. 
 
 "Charlie Smith," she had said, "are you crazy? 
 If you succeed in New York, as you are likely to, 
 
A Romantic Mornavce. 
 
 57 
 
 'a, I will have! 
 ou cannot im- 
 allow nie the 
 er," and, with j 
 Eva's hand 
 leaving the 
 
 freat favorite 
 at his riofht 
 p a continu- 
 eal. Charlie 
 ne Eva here, 
 
 om, he could 
 What had 
 
 had known, 
 
 test pleasure 
 
 his caresses. 
 
 Lnd brilliant 
 bade good- 
 four years 
 
 >onie ? He 
 
 his sister's 
 
 Could she 
 
 lie change ? 
 
 len he told 
 
 'OU crazy ? 
 ti likely to, 
 
 how can you ever think of taking such an insignifi- 
 cant girl as Eva among our relatives?" When he 
 told her to remember that Eva was his promised 
 wife, she had answered, with a harsh laugh, that 
 promises were easily broken ; and, in all proba- 
 bility, before a year had passed away, she would 
 be the promised wife of another. "For, o»it of 
 sight out of mind, you know," she had said ; "and, 
 sooner or later, j^^ou are bound to hear that your 
 loved one is the bride of some rustic swain. Eva 
 is not the girl who could be constant for any length 
 of time to an absont lover. Moore must have had 
 some one like her in his mind when he wrote, — 
 'When we are far from the lips we love, we have 
 but to make love to the lips that are near.'" 
 
 How angry he had been with her at the time ; 
 but her words were partially true, after all. Their 
 promises had been broken, but Eva was — instead 
 of the bride of some rustic swain — to be the bride 
 of one of the best parHs in New England. He had 
 visited her future home that morning, little dream- 
 ing, when he passed from one niagnihcent apartment 
 to another, that the girl he once had loved so dearly, 
 was soon to be the mistress of it all. 
 
 "Oh, Eva!" he cried in his heart, "why were we 
 ever parted so cruelly ?" 
 
 He was a lonel;y^and disappointed man. His 
 child had died soon after its birth, and his wife, 
 a fanciful invalid, looked upon her husband as a 
 
i ll 
 
 58 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 ■ 
 
 sort of a machine, who existed for the sole purpose 
 of ministering to her wants. How he longed to 
 take Eva from the gay crowd which snrrounde*! 
 her, and pour his troubles into her sympathetic 
 ear. But what right had he to burden her with 
 his troubles. The tie that bound them once was 
 broken. The handsome young professor leaning 
 over the back of her chair liad a right to all 
 her sympathies, if, indeed, such a gay lassie ever 
 gave a thought to sympathy. 
 
 If Charlie was surprised at the change in Eva, 
 Bertie was still more so. But wliat had caused 
 this sudden change in her fi-iend ? Uidike Charlie, 
 she could detect the undercurrents of bitterness, 
 and the false notes in her apparently gay laughter. 
 These might escape observation by the man, but 
 could not the sharp eyes of the watchful maiden. 
 As the girl's wed<ling-day drew near, did she repent 
 of her engagement ? Was she still pining for her 
 old lover, Charlie ? Her old lover ! A sudden flood 
 of light was turned on the mystery. Charlie wa.s 
 the name of the false lover, and he had married a 
 New York heiress. Charlie Smith was a Nova 
 Scotian. He had also married a New York heiress. 
 The villain was actually beneath the same roof 
 with the girl he had so bitterly wronged. What 
 was to be done ? She well "knew Eva was not 
 capable of keeping up this appearance of gaiety 
 for any length of tinie. The poor girl was likely 
 
A Romantic Rwnmnce. 
 
 59 
 
 sole purpose 
 le longed to 
 
 •surrounded 
 sympathetic 
 en her with 
 'n once was 
 !sor leaning 
 •'gilt to all 
 
 lassie ever 
 
 Jge in Eva. 
 hatl caused 
 ke Charlie, 
 
 bitterness, 
 y laughtei-. 
 " nian, but 
 ul maiden, 
 she repent 
 ng for her 
 dden Hood 
 larlie was 
 married a 
 5 a Nova 
 ■k heiress, 
 ame roof 
 J. What 
 
 was not 
 >f gaiety 
 as likely 
 
 to break down at any moment ; and then, what a 
 blow it would be for Walter if anything should 
 happen to prevent his marriage. Eva must be 
 rescue*] at any cost. But how was it to be accom- 
 plished ? They liad invited Clara and her husband 
 to spend a fortnight with them, and she could see 
 no way of getting rid of their guests till the end 
 of that tim^ Eva was to stay with them till she 
 was no longer needed by the stylish dress-makers 
 who were preparing her wedding trousseau, and 
 then she and her frien<l were to sail for Nova 
 Scotia, to remain till after the wedding. 
 
 Plan after plan was rejected, till at last she laid 
 the matter Ijefoi'e her father. 
 
 "Oh, Bertie, if I had only known when I asked 
 them here ! I might ask them to go, but that 
 would be betraying the poor girl's secret. She 
 evidently wishes him to think that she no longer 
 cares for him. I would like to kick him out of 
 the house, the scoundrel !" he muttered, savagely. 
 Why must such villains be tolerated in society. 
 Cannot you get up some excuse for going away 
 somewhere with the poor girl. A previous en- 
 gagement with some of your schoolmates, or some- 
 thing of that kind. Does Walter know anything 
 about this other love ? I suppose not, poor boy." 
 
 " Papa ! Eva is as honest as the sun. Do you 
 think she would deceive Walter in that way ! He 
 knows all, but not that the villain is so near. If 
 
60 
 
 A Romantic Roman ce. 
 
 he did, I am afraid I think I will tell him, 
 
 though. He may be able to help us." 
 
 "Yes, I think it will be best. How some girls do 
 manage to make a muddle of their lives. I hope 
 you will try and keep a level head on your shoul- 
 ders, Bert." 
 
 "I do not believe in falling in love. I do not 
 think it is in me," answered his dau^iter, with a 
 laugh. 
 
 "I hope you are not going to set yourself up 
 among those women who pride themselves on 
 having an icicle for a heart. But no, my daughter, 
 you have a warm heart, only love has not touched 
 it yet." 
 
 "Bertie smiled bitterly as she left her father. 
 "Never yet been touched by love," she thought. 
 To the world she was a happy, light-hearted girl ; 
 but sometimes, in the solitude of her chamber, bit- 
 ter tears were shed, as she gazed upon the pictured 
 face of a handsome young man, who was wandering 
 in some foreign land. She, too, had had her love 
 dream ; but the bitter awakening had been her 
 own folly, and remorse was mingled with her 
 sorrow. 
 
 Following her father's hint, she sent a note to 
 a school friend who lived a few miles further up 
 the country, asking for an invitation for herself 
 and Eva. "We want to spend a few days away 
 from home, to be out of the way of some disagree- 
 able New York relatives, who have come to visit 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 61 
 
 •ill tell lii.n, 
 
 iome girls do 
 'es. I hope 
 your shoul- 
 
 I do not 
 iter, with a 
 
 ^'ourself up 
 in selves on 
 y daus^hter, 
 lot touched 
 
 her father, 
 e thought, 
 arted girl ; 
 amber, bit- 
 »e pictured 
 wanderino- 
 1 her love 
 been her 
 with jier 
 
 a note to 
 irther up 
 r herself 
 tys away 
 disagree- 
 ■ to visit 
 
 us at such an inconvenient time," she had written. 
 "I know you will be delighted to have us, or we 
 should not abuse your hospitality in this way. Do 
 not forget, if you can find time to come for us to- 
 morrow, that it is a promise of long standing, and 
 that you will be very indignant if we think of 
 breaking it, even if our house was filled with 
 visitors." 
 
 Walter was dismayed when Bertie told him of 
 the contemplated visit, and the reason for it. 
 
 "Yes, Bertie, take her away as soon as possible," 
 he had said, when his cousin had told him all. "Do 
 not allow her to remain under the same roof with 
 the villain longer than is absolutely necessary. 
 Poor Eva ! I wondered what could be the mat- 
 ter with her last evening, she was so unlike herself." 
 
 Their old schoolmate came for the girls that 
 afternoon, and on their return to "Riverside" a 
 week later, Charlie and his wife — who found it 
 very dull after their departure — had left for home. 
 
 Eva told Walter all the first time he came to 
 visit them at the old farm-house, but he firmly 
 refused to give her up. 
 
 When she tried to show him how wrong: it would 
 be for her to marry him without loving him, he had 
 taken her by the hand, as he answered, "I hope to 
 win your heart some day, my sweet wife ; but, if I 
 do not succeed, I know I shall always have your 
 respect and friendship ; and, with that, I shall be 
 content." 
 
«2 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 (CHAPTER VI. 
 
 The \Vei)1)in(j. 
 
 Behtie was cliarinod with tlio olii historical homo 
 of hor t'rieiul. Siie was never weary of roaming 
 over the breez}' dykes, clad in their rich June ver- 
 dure. From morn till nioht she wandered around 
 the quaint old villaoe, with her note and sketch 
 books, in search of subjects for brush and pen. 
 
 For the first week after their arrival, a continu- 
 ous stream of callers invaded the home of Eva, as 
 she laughingly remarked one morning at the break- 
 fast table. She declared that she was quite worn 
 out receiving her guests. Had the population of 
 Grand Pre increased lately, for she was sure if it 
 had not more than doubled during the last three 
 years, why, the same people nmst have come twice, 
 anyway. From the wife of the village squire, down 
 to the old negress, wiio had first washed her infant 
 robes, all came to welcome her home, and to offer 
 their congratulations on the grand match she was 
 
A Bomantic Romance. 
 
 V)l\ 
 
 I'ical home 
 f roaming 
 June vci'- 
 ed uround 
 "(I sketcli 
 nd pen. 
 I con tin u- 
 )f Eva, as 
 lie l)reak- 
 lite worn 
 lation of 
 uie if it 
 ist three 
 ie twice, 
 i*e, down 
 1* infant 
 to offer 
 she was 
 
 al)out to make. Presents were also daily arrivinfj 
 fur the fair younfj bride, causin|:r another source of 
 amusement for the two girls, as they unpacked the 
 various articles which every mail brought to their 
 home. 
 
 "For the wealthy Mrs. Walter Morlcsy !" exclaimed 
 Eva, with an unmistakeahle sneer, as she tore the 
 wrappinjjs from an elegant silver and gold-plated 
 card-receiver, the day before her wedding. "To 
 Eva, from her loving friend and schoolmate, iMattie 
 Smith," she read from a card which accompanied 
 the gift. 
 
 "Loving friend and schoolmate I How ridicu- 
 lous!" exclaimed the fair recipient. "Tlie girl was 
 grown to young ladyhood long befoi'e I learned my 
 A B C's. What shall I do with it, niannna ? Send 
 it back ? I shall receive no gifts from any of the 
 Smith's." 
 
 "Keep it, Eva, and send it to Miss Mattie for 
 a wedding present when she marries," said her 
 father. 
 
 "I am afraid I would have to harbor it for many 
 a year, if I kept it for such an important event as 
 that," answered Eva, with a harsh laugh. 
 
 "Not at all, my dear young lady. You must not 
 imagine that Miss Eva Parker is to b*; the only 
 bride we are to send from Grand Pre this sunnner. 
 Miss Mattie is to unite her fortunes with a wealthy 
 Halifax widower in a few weeks." 
 
G4 
 
 A Roiiiant'iG Romance. 
 
 "Is that so ? Then her gift is accounted for. She 
 thinks I will be able to return her present with in- 
 terest. Well, I will not disappoint her. I wonder 
 how much the thing cost ? Put it out of my sight, 
 please, mamma; I shall never take the trouble to 
 carry home a gift from Mattie Smith." 
 
 Mrs. Parker picked it up w^th a sigh, as she 
 noticed how easily the word home slipped from 
 her daughter's lips, and placed it on a side table, as 
 the young girl opened another package, this time 
 bringing to view a handsoine covered work-basket, 
 elaborately adorned with colored flowers. 
 
 "From poor old Nancy Jedrow, I do believe !" she 
 exclaimed, with misty eyes, as she lifted a crumpled 
 paper from the bottom of the basket. I wondered 
 why she had not been to see me before. See, Bertie ' 
 The spelling and composition are not elegant, but it 
 was a true heart that penned the words." 
 
 Bertie took the paper from her hand, but could 
 not resist a smile as she puzzled over the contents." 
 
 "FORMISEVFROMHERHUMBLFREND 
 NANCY," she read. 
 
 "Is it English ?" she asked, with a laugh, as she 
 returned th'3 paper to Eva. 
 
 " I guess so," replied her companion, " But, Bertie, 
 I wish you had seen Nancy. She is the most origi- 
 nal character, and would have given you lots of 
 information about the early settlers, as she calls 
 her tribe. Poor old woman ! How much time she 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 65 
 
 limst have spent making that basket. And among 
 
 [ill that medley," pointing, ahnost contemptuously, 
 
 DO a table groaning under its weight of gold and 
 
 diver plate, "there is not a single article ottered me 
 
 nth one half the good wishes which come directly 
 
 From the heart that accompanies this basket. In 
 
 iiy eyes, it is the most valuable gift I have received 
 
 this morning, even though the donor resides in a 
 
 lowly wigwam. Now, one more and we have done. 
 
 [Suppose you open this, Bertie, my fingers really 
 
 lache. I have quite worn them out untying so 
 
 (many knots." 
 
 "All right," replied Bertie, gaily. "Come, let us 
 [make a guess. What will you say this box con- 
 tains ? It has U. S. stamps, and has be'*n to the 
 [Custom House. I say a silver cake basket, from 
 one of your old schoolmates." 
 
 "For the sake of opposition, I wdl say a dressing- 
 case, or writing desk, from one of Walter's forty- 
 second cousins. Open, and see which of us has 
 come nearest the truth. However, I sincerely trust 
 it is not another piece of plate." 
 
 "Sorry to disappoint you, Miss Parker," laughed 
 Bertie, "but it is another piece of plate, you see, and 
 a handsome piece at that. Another cake basket, 
 'with the compliments of Mr. and Mrs. Charles 
 Smith, New York.' Not so far out either, for Mr. 
 Smith, I presume, is a schoolmate of your youthful 
 days. What a pity we had not put up a few pairs 
 6 
 
66 
 
 A Romantic Rcmiance. 
 
 of kids on the subject. A nice lot of work is iil 
 store for uie, to pack and direct all those preciouij 
 things for home, and I do not suppose one singlt 
 grain of pity for poor me, or my tasks, will be be^ 
 stowed upon me by Mrs. Walter Morley, as sh( 
 floats swiftly down Halifax harbor, on her wa}'] 
 to Europe." 
 
 "You need not trouble to pack or direct thai 
 thing for home, Bert. If it were not for his wife! 
 I should pack and direct it to New York. But, 
 leave it on the table, mamma can stow it out ofj 
 sight somewhere, after we are gone." 
 
 "What, Eva! Stow all this beauty out of sight !| 
 I say it is wicked. Observe how lovingly those 
 doves hover over Cupid, as he sits astride the 
 handles with his drawn bow in his 1 uid, appar- 
 ently aiming his shaft. It is a crying shame to I 
 hide such a work of art from the light of day. 
 Can you not think of some use to which it might 
 be put, even if you have already seven cake] 
 baskets ?" 
 
 "Yes, now I think of it, it will be a capital plan 
 to send it to Mattie Smith for a bridal present. 
 How I should like to slip the card-receiver inside ; 
 but I suppose it will not do. She will think she 
 made a good investment, till she finds it belongs to 
 the family." 
 
 "Here comes the train!" cried Bertie. "Walter 
 and Fred will be here in a few minutes, and we 
 
A Rommitic Romance. 
 
 67 
 
 Ire not dressed to receive them. But, never mind ! 
 Have your stren^h for to-morrow. Walter will 
 ^hink you look divine in that cotton ^own, and 
 I'red will never know but that you are got up 
 In the most elegant silk. He has about as much 
 Idea of a lady's dress as a five weeks' old kitten. 
 ^Ve have a lot of packing to do yet to-night, re- 
 uember ; so, stick to your calico, I say." 
 
 T^ ^ ^ ^ ^ V '^ T^ 
 
 The wedding morn dawned fair and bright. The 
 lir was fragrant with the flowers which were bloom- 
 ing everywhere, along the streets and liehind the 
 )alings of the old-fashioned gardens. At an early 
 [liour the friends and acquaintances of the bride be- 
 Igan to till the little church, which the deft fingers of 
 [the village maidens had transformed into a bower 
 I of roses. 
 
 As Eva passed up the aisle, leaning on her father's 
 [arm, the choir broke forth into the grand old bridal 
 hymn, which had welcomed every bride to her por- 
 I tals for the last two generations, and at its close the 
 old clergyman, who had baptized her in infanc}', 
 came forward to speak the words which should 
 make her and Walter Morley one. A few hours 
 afterwards the gleaming white satin robes, lace 
 veil and orange blossoms, were exchanged for a 
 handsome cloth travelling costume, the good-bys 
 were said, and, amid showers of rice, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Walter Morley boarded the train for Halifax en 
 
68 
 
 A Momantic Romance. 
 
 route for England and the Continent, i'ur an er 
 tended bridal tour. 
 
 The next day, Bertie and her brother, the packing 
 all done, sailed for home via Yarmouth, leaving Mrj 
 and Mrs. Parker alone, with only an occasional let-f 
 ter from Eva to break the dreary monotony of theiij 
 existence. 
 
 ' \ 
 
 "»^'y^^L^^ 
 
^e. 
 
 ent, for an er 
 
 ler, the packing 
 ith, leaving Mr] 
 
 I occasional letj 
 notony of theiij 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 A 
 
 / 
 
 69 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Mrs. Smith Selects a Wedding Present. 
 
 When Charlie Smith and his wife left "River- 
 |side," they turned their faces homeward. Mrs. 
 Smith had taken a fancy to Eva, in spite of the 
 young girl's dignified bearing. Perhaps the con- 
 tempt she showed so openly for the husband served 
 to increase the wife's liking, for Clara, after her 
 marriage, apparently hated the man to whom she 
 had bound herself, and never wearied taunting him 
 with the fact that he had wedded her for her for- 
 tune. The poor man bore his humiliation bravely. 
 He felt he deserved all he was forced to endure, 
 and her family excused her ill-humor on the score 
 of ill health. While at "Riverside," she learned 
 that Eva was to be married in a few weeks, and 
 immediately decided to prove her friendship by 
 sending the bride a handsome wedding present. 
 
 "I wish, Charles," she said to her husband, the 
 evening after their return to New York, "you 
 
70 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 would step into a silver store, on your way down 
 town in the morning, and order up some handsom< 
 cake baskets, I wish to send Miss Parker a wed 
 ding present, and I do not feel equal to going down 
 and selecting one myself. Be sure you tell them to 
 bring up something very nice, for I wish my gift to 
 compare favorably with those of her other friends." 
 
 Charlie looked up from the paper he was reading, 
 with an intensely surprised look on his face. "Do 
 you think, Clara, that you are at liberty to call 
 Miss Parker a friend of yours ? I thought, from 
 her manner while we were at 'Riverside,' that the 
 girl actually disliked us. She appeared to take a 
 positive pleasure in saying disagreeable things 
 when we were present." 
 
 "I really must congratulate you, Mr. Siuith, on 
 your powers of observation. I noticed nothing of 
 the kind, excepting the sligh'ting remark she made 
 one evening about persons being base enough to 
 marry for wealth. 'Tis true, what she said might 
 apply very nicely to your case, but I fancy it was 
 a shot fired at random ; and, for my part, I cannot 
 see why she should be blamed if the cap fitted one 
 of her listeners to perfection. She cannot have a 
 greater contempt for fortune-hunters than I have." 
 
 An angry reply was trembling on Charlie's lips, 
 as his wife finished speaking ; but, with a violent 
 effort, he mastered hip indignation, and spoke to 
 her calmly. 
 
ce. 
 
 A Romantic Roimmce. 
 
 71 
 
 yonv way dowr 
 some handsome 
 i Parker a wed- 
 to going down! 
 ou tell them to 
 ivishmygiftto 
 other friends." 
 le was reading, 
 his I'ace. "Do| 
 liberty to call 
 thought, from 
 •side,' that the 
 ared to take a 
 eeable things 
 
 Vlr. Smith, on I 
 !ed nothing of j 
 ark she made 
 Lse enough to 
 le said might 
 fancy it was 
 'art, I cannot 
 !ap fitted one 
 mnot have a 
 ihan I have." 
 'harlie's lips, 
 ith a violent 
 id spoke to 
 
 "Clara, I do not often interfere with your wishes, 
 Ibut I must ask you to-night not to send a wedding 
 present to Eva Parker. She will not expect it of 
 us, and you are not strong enough at present to 
 |undergo the fatigue of selecting one." 
 
 "There will be no fatigue attached to the aelec- 
 
 [lion, if you are kind enough to do as I ask you, 
 
 and order the baskets in the morning. Perhaps 
 
 I you are afraid I shall spend a few dollars of my 
 
 own money on my cousin that is to be." 
 
 "You are at liberty to spend every dollar of your 
 fortune in any way you choose. You well know it 
 has been invested in your own name for some time, 
 and if you were well enough to look after it your- 
 self, I should not handle a dollar for you. I will 
 order the silver for you in the morning ; but, if 
 you send it, you will <lo so against my express 
 wishes." 
 
 "I shall send it, all the same, with a car<l attached, 
 bearing the compliments of Mr. and Mrs. Charles 
 Smith. And now, if you will be so kin«l as to ring 
 the bell for Martha, I will retire, for I am complete- 
 ly tired out." 
 
 At his wife's request, he calmly rang the bell, 
 an<l politely bowed as he bade her good-night, but 
 a wearj^ sigh escaped him as the door closed behind 
 her. How would Eva receive the gift which Clara 
 proposed to send ? What a fool he had been to in- 
 terfere. If he had been content to let matters take 
 
72 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 their course, his wife would have sent the basket inl 
 her own name ; and, as a relative of Prof. Morleyj 
 why should she not send a wedding present to hisi 
 bride ? If the card bore his name, as well as Clara's,! 
 she would look upon the offering as a positive insult. 
 Well, there was no help for it ; the basket would go 
 in spite of his opposition, and all he could do was to I 
 hope it would not be contemptuously returned to 
 the donor. j • 
 
 Accordingly, in the morning he obeyed his wife's 
 conunands, and sent an elegant assortment of cake 
 baskets to the house, from which she was to make 
 her selection ; and, when he had returned from his 
 place of business for the day, the one chosen was 
 packed and on its way to Grand Pre. 
 
 From the time that Clara left "Riverside," her 
 strength failed, and, a short time after Eva's mar- 
 riage, she was too ill to leave her room. Her queru- 
 lous temper vanished with her strength, till the 
 peevish, fretful woman was entirely lost in the 
 gentle invalid, who clung to her husband fondly, as 
 he daily carried her from her bed to her couch by 
 the open window. 
 
 "Charlie," she called, one evening, as she heard 
 him passing her door, "I want you to come and sit 
 with me. The nurse has gone out. Bring a chair 
 here and sit beside me, for I want to talk to you 
 to-night," she continued, as he entered in obedience 
 to her summons. "The doctors say I have not long 
 
A Momantic Romance. 
 
 78 
 
 t the basket in| 
 frof. Alorley 
 present to hisi 
 
 veil as CJara's] 
 
 positive insult. 
 «ket would ^o 
 ulcl «Io was to 
 ^ returned to 
 
 'ed Jiis wife's 
 nent of cake 
 ^as to make 
 ned from his 
 chosen was 
 
 ^'erside/' her 
 Eva's mar- 
 Her queru- 
 
 'M^> till the 
 
 ^ost in the 
 
 d fondly, as 
 
 r couch by 
 
 she heard 
 •nie and sit 
 n^ a chair 
 alk to you 
 
 obedience 
 e not lone 
 
 to live. What will you do, my husband, when I am 
 <:jone f 
 
 "Doctors are fretjuently mistaken, my poor Clara. 
 I cannot believe them in your case. While there is 
 life there is hope. When the cool weather comes, 
 you will find yourself much better. It is this fear- 
 ful heat that is destroying all your strength." 
 
 "No, Charlie, it is useless trying to buoy me up 
 with false hopes. I know I can never recover. I 
 knew I was dying Vjefore I heard their verdict. I 
 have been a poor wife for you, my husband ; but I 
 should like to feel that you will miss me when I 
 am gone. Perhaps things might have been differ- 
 ent if my baby had lived. You little know what a 
 blow his death has been to me. I had fondly hoped, 
 when he was born, that, although you cared nothing 
 for your wife, you could not help feeling some affec- 
 tion or the mother of your child ; but his death 
 destroyed all my hopes, and made me long to be 
 laid by his side beneath the green turf. Not even 
 when they carried him from my side, as he lay in 
 his little coffin, did you come near to comfort me 
 with one word of sympathy. If you had only 
 known, Charlie, how I longed for your love, you 
 surely would have pitied me in my dark despair, 
 and a few words would have made me so happy." 
 
 "My dear Clara, could I only have guessed the 
 truth ! But I thought yo'ti New York girls cared 
 naught for love ; that, in fact, the tender passion 
 
74 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 was lo<)ke«l upon hy you all as a something that 
 existtvl only among rustic belles and rural beaux, 
 and not for an instant to be tolerated in polite 
 society." 
 
 "You can spare nie your excuses. I know all 
 now. I have learned why my etibrts to win your 
 heart were not crowned with success. You were 
 once engaged to the wife of my cousin, Walter 
 Morley, I suppose you cared for her, but the 
 temptation to gain possession of my fortune proved 
 stronger than your love, and the poor girl was 
 thrown over for myself. If I had only known the 
 truth that night, when you asked me to be your 
 wife, how different would have been my answer ; 
 but it was not for me to know, so the double sacri- 
 fice was made, and you gained a fortune by making 
 shipwreck of two young girls' lives. In the years 
 to come, sweet Eva Morley will be happier far with 
 the man she has married, than she could ever have 
 been with you ; and, when I am gone, you will soon 
 marry again. But, Charlie, if you have one spark 
 of pity in your breast, never forget the recjuest I 
 am now going to make of you. Do not treat my 
 successor with such indifference as you have ever 
 shown toward me, for nothing can so completely 
 embitter a woman's life, as to feel herself irrevoca- 
 bly joined to a man who shows her he cares nothing 
 for her happiness." 
 
 For a few minutes after his wife finished speak- 
 
A Ro7nantic Romance. 
 
 75 
 
 Jiethin^r that 
 
 [rural beaux, 
 
 ^'^ in polite' 
 
 I know all 
 'O win your 
 You were 
 sJn, VValter 
 ^^•. but the 
 une proved 
 J- ^irl was 
 known the 
 
 to be your 
 
 'y answer; 
 
 >uble sacri- 
 
 by making 
 
 ' the years 
 
 t* i'ar with 
 
 ever have 
 will soon 
 
 >«e spark 
 
 re(juest I 
 
 treat niy 
 
 ave ever 
 
 inpletely 
 
 rrevoca- 
 
 nothinir 
 
 iii^, Charlie sat as if he had suddenly been turned 
 to stone by her chilling words. "'J'he shipwreck 
 of two girls' lives!" Was the woman losing her 
 i-eason ^ 
 
 "Clara," he at last began, in a husky voice, "you 
 little know how you have wronged nie by your 
 charges to-night. If I have spoiled your life, I 
 never knew what I was doing. Would to heaven 
 I had earlier known of your love for me. We 
 might have been so much happier, my sweet wife ! 
 But you have chained me with falseness towards 
 Eva Parker. I have listened patiently to you, you 
 must now hear what I have to say. You are right 
 when you say I was engaged to her once ; and, had 
 she been true to me, no worldly wealth would have 
 ('ver induced me to break my plighted word. But 
 the matter <lid not rest with me, Clara. I was the 
 one thrown over. Yes, my wife," he continued, as 
 he noticed the incredulous look on her face, "as 
 heaven is my witness, the night I asked you to 
 marry me, I had a letter from Eva in my pocket — 
 a letter telling me that henceforth our lives were to 
 be lived far apart. I never found out what I did 
 to earn her hatred, but hate me she certainly does, 
 if one may judge by her conduct when we met at 
 'Riverside.' I never thought of wronging you when 
 I placed a wedding ring on your linger. My uncle's 
 family were anxious to see us married, and I was 
 informed that we were both in the same position. 
 
7(j 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 Ill fact, your own father told me you liad been 
 jilted by your lover only a short time before. Had 
 I dreamed you cared for me, I would have told you 
 all ; but, as we both had been served alike, what 
 folly it seemed to me to rake up a past that both 
 would rather have remain buried." 
 
 "Charlie, had I known they told you that! And 
 papa, too, how could he have treated me so cruelly ^ 
 About three years before I met you, I was enojaged, 
 for a short time, to Ernest Wildmere, a handsome, 
 good-for-nothing society beau, possessing all the 
 accomplishments of the profession, and, also, all the 
 vices. However, for a few short weeks he was per- 
 fection in my eyes. One evening he came to my 
 home, and, finding me alone in the drawing-room, 
 he urged me to fix the day for our marriage, when 
 I reminded him that my father had not yet sanc- 
 tioned our union, and that, before deciding to take 
 such an important step, I considered it necessary to 
 have my parents' consent. 
 
 "'Clara,' was his answ^er, 'if you disliked all the 
 fuss attending those fashionable weddings one half 
 as badly as I do, you would be as anxious as I to 
 go quietly away to some country church, and there 
 have the knot tied as securely as if yourself and a 
 <lozen bridesmaids were arrayed in miles of satin, 
 lace and flowers. Besides, it takes time to get up a 
 lot of finery, and I do so much want to call you all 
 my own as soon as possible.' 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 11 
 
 'I told him that he must ol)t«..n my father's con- 
 sent, mill then I would marry him, as soon and as 
 (jiiietly as he wished. He continued to urge his 
 scheme for elopinjj;, till, Hndin*^ I was firm, he at 
 'rtst sulkily promised to speak to papa in the morn- 
 inf^. During the following day I watched for his 
 coming, but the evening lamps were lighted before 
 I heard from him. Just before papa's return from 
 his office, a tiny note was brought to me, and, 
 (|uickly tearing it open, I mastered the contents. 
 For a moment I was almost stunned by the blow 
 I received. 
 
 "'I have seen your father,' he wrote, 'and he in- 
 sists that your entire fortune shall be settled upon 
 yourself. Now, darling, perhaps you <lo not know 
 how aw^fully poor I am, and if he has all your 
 money tied up in this fashion, what in the world 
 are we to live on ? We cannot exist on honey and 
 kisses, and if we could sustain life on such exquisite 
 diet, we should require means to procure the honey. 
 So, you see, after all, we shall be compelled to 
 patronize that country church and parson I have 
 already told you about. After you ara^once my 
 wife, you can do as you please with the cash ; until 
 then, the old man can hold it in spite of you. Such 
 are the terms of your grandfather's will. If the 
 old dolt had been willing to divide, we might have 
 come to terms ; but not a bit of it, although I must 
 confess it struck me as rather strange, that the old 
 
78 
 
 A Romamt'ic Roimmce. 
 
 curinudp^eon was willing to trust ine with his daugh- 
 ter, when he was so determined to hang on to the 
 gold. 8end a line to my address, telling me when 
 and where to meet you ; and, oh, darling! let it be 
 to-night, if possible, for I shall know no minute of 
 happiness till I clasp you in my arms, all my own. 
 We can return in the morning for pt^re Stanhope's 
 bl' sing; for, when he finds the knot irrevocably 
 tied, he will know it is useless to kick.' 
 
 "Indignation prevented me from finishing the 
 epistle ; and, tearing it up, I enclosed the scraps in 
 a sheet of paper, upon which I scrawled a few lines 
 in order to show my further contempt for one who 
 would dare insult me with such a letter. Old man! 
 Dolt ! Curmudgeon ! Was it possible that I had 
 ever consented to become the wiff' '^f such a villain? 
 Had actually insulted my dear faiher, by urging 
 the cur to enter hi presence ! I was too proud to 
 show my contempt x^r him openly, and my parents 
 seemed to have conceived the idea that I suffered 
 from his desertion. When you asked me to be 
 your wife, I thought you cared for me ; that the 
 large foHune I was to receive on my wedding-daj- 
 was an inducement for seeking my hand in mar- 
 riage, never for a moment entered my mind. It 
 was in vain I looked for some proof of your love, 
 some tender caress, for the first few weeks after 
 our engagement ; but, after a time, I vv«s obliged 
 to acknowledge to myself that I had only escaped 
 
A Romantic Ronumce. 
 
 79 
 
 ith his (laugh- 
 ing on to the 
 ling iiie when 
 ing! let it be 
 no minute of 
 all my own. 
 e Stanhope's 
 b irrevocably 
 ck.' ^ 
 
 inishing the 
 he scraps in 
 I a few lines 
 for one M'ho 
 01(1 man! 
 
 that I had 
 3h a villain ? 
 
 by urging 
 'o proud to 
 'ny parents 
 '' I suffered 
 
 nie to be 
 ; that the 
 ^dding-da}' 
 <i in niai-- 
 mind. It 
 your love, 
 ?eks after 
 3S obliged 
 y escaped 
 
 fi'om the net of one fortune-hunter to be captured 
 in the meshes of another. Knowing, if I broke my 
 engagement, I should have to endure a storm of re- 
 proaches from my family, who liad taken a strong 
 liking to you, I resolved to keep my promise, but 
 also vowed to make you rue the day you made me 
 your wife for the purpose of possessing my wealth. 
 You well know how my vow has been kept; but, 
 looking back from the threshold of eternity, I can 
 see all my mistakes. Forgive me, my husband, for 
 all I have caused you to suffer. A« far as lies in 
 my power, I have atoned. I have divided my for- 
 tune between you and Millie's children. Now, kiss 
 me, Charlie, for the first and last time. I will try 
 and rest, — I feel — very — tired !" 
 
 As the agonized husband bent ovei his dying 
 wife, he felt almost a murderer. When his lips 
 touched hers, she made a violent effort to return 
 the caress, but the long story she had just related 
 to him had completely exhausted he** strength, the 
 blood pouied in a crimson tide fn her mouth, 
 and, with a faint struggle, she fell back upon her 
 pillow, a corpse. 
 
 "My poor boy, she is gone," he heard Mrs. Stan- 
 hope saying, as he frantically calle I for help. " Poor 
 girl ! how little anj^ of us knew how she was suffer- 
 ing, when it was in ou'* power to have made her so 
 iiappy. What fearful mistakes are frequently made 
 in this world ! Her fatal pride has ruined her life ; 
 
80 
 
 A Roniani'iG Romance. 
 
 but our Heavenly Father willed it so. This has 
 been too much for you, Charlie ; you must now go 
 and take some rest." 
 
 A few days more, and the <lead wife was laid by 
 the side of her infant in the family lot of the 
 Stanhopes, and the bereaved husband went back 
 to his counting-house. 
 
 Everything he now touched seemed to turn to 
 gold ; but wealth could not fill the aching void left 
 in his heart, or bring back the wife he had loved so 
 little in life, y^^t so truly mourned after her death. 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 81 
 
 so. This has 
 must now o-n 
 
 'e was laid by 
 y lot of tl]e 
 d went back 
 
 d to turn to 
 ling void left 
 had loved so 
 ' her death. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 The Bridal Tour. 
 
 When the bride and groom reached Halifax, they 
 Were informed that the steamer would not sail for 
 some hours ; so, after going on board and disposing 
 jf their luggage, Walter proposed a drive through 
 the city, instead of moping around the decks of the 
 Isteamer. 
 
 "I do not imagine, Eva," he remarked, "that we 
 Iwill be fortunate enough to find anything to inter- 
 lest us in this little out-of-the-way corner of the 
 Iglobe ; but, as we are not likely to come here again 
 Ivery soon, we might as well have it to say we have 
 'done' Halifax. We shall see nothing except water 
 for the next week, so let us cling to the land as long 
 as possible. I have often heard the boys at school 
 banish their friends to Halifax, when they were 
 very much displeased w.uh them ; and, as they in- 
 variably used the tone adopted by the street roughs, 
 I when they request their friends to travel on till 
 6 
 
82 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 they come to very objectionable quarters, I imagine 
 Halifax must be a pretty mouldy place. However, 
 we will take a look at their bricks and mortar, it'| 
 the town will furnish light enough for us to sec 
 them through the smoke and fog." 
 
 Eva smiled when her husband finished speaking, 
 but made no effort to defend the capital of her 
 native Province from his sneers. 
 
 The last rays of the setting sun were gilding the 
 grand old city as they stepped upon the pier, and, 
 calling a cab, they settled themselves among the 
 cushions. 
 
 " Where do you wish to go ? " asked the driver, as 
 he mounted to his seat. 
 
 "Oh ! we are not particular. Of course, there is 
 nothing to be seen here ; but we wish to while 
 away an hour or two before the boat gets ready 
 to leave." 
 
 Again a mischievous smile flitted over Eva's face, 
 as she proposed going to the public gardens. 
 
 "What in the world do you want at the gardens, 
 Eva?" asked her husband, as the horses started off 
 at a brisk trot. 
 
 "To procure some flowers, of course. Do you not 
 think it will be quite pleasant to have a few flowers 
 to brighten up our cabin during the voyage. My 
 bridal l)ouquet is already faded, and there will not 
 be a rose-bud left by morning." 
 
 "Sure enough ! What a stupid I am not to have 
 
A Roiiumtic Romance. 
 
 83 
 
 I ordered flowers sent on board. How fortunate you 
 happened to think of them." 
 
 A few minutes rapid driving brought them to the 
 jT^ardens ; and, re(iuesting the man to wait for them, 
 they alighted, and began strolling along the gra\'- 
 elled walks, among thousands of pleasure-seekers, 
 all arrayed in their holiday attire. 
 
 "'Tis like a scene in fairy-land!" whispered her 
 husband. "One is almost afraid to speak above 
 their breath, for fear the magic picture may vanish, 
 and leave us standing on some barren spot, alone. 
 It is all here, lights, flowers, music — and even the 
 fairies themselves. What handsome girls Nova 
 Scotia can produce ! Those complexions remind 
 one of peaches and cream. No cosmetics are need- 
 ed here to improve the fair beauties we meet. A 
 bath in these limpid waters, and a few breaths of 
 this glorious air, are worth more than all the pearl 
 powder ever manufactured. I do not wonder you 
 smiled so knowingly, my little wife, when I said 
 there was nothing worth seeing in Halifax. If 
 there is anything needed to complete the picture, 
 Her Majesty's red coats supply the want. 'A 
 thousand lamps shone o'er fair women and brave 
 men,' — and there -s the cannon!" he exclaimed, 
 with a slight start, as the nine o'clock gun was 
 discharged. 
 
 "Well, as much as I admire all this, I suppose we 
 will have to tear ourselves away. It will not do to 
 
84 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 let the steamer sail without us, for it would be ilej 
 cideilly inconvenient to be left in a strange cityj 
 with nothing except the clothes we stand in. I aiiij 
 afraid it would serve to remove some of the polishl 
 from the picture. I think our best plan is to look] 
 up our Jehu and go on board." 
 
 A short time after reaching the quay, the steamerl 
 weighed anchor, and, before an hour, Halifax, withl 
 her myriads of twinkling lights, was completely lo.stl 
 in the distance. The decks, which were covered 
 with passengers at starting, were quickly deserted, 
 as the huge ship steamed majestically down the 
 harbor towards the open Atlantic, and the next 
 morning, when Eva appeared, Nova Scotia had 
 been left far astern, and there was nothing to be 
 seen except the boundless ocean, through which the 
 gallant vessel was boldly ploughing her way to the ! 
 eastward. By night, the passengers had all settled 
 themselves in their places, and acquaintances had 
 been made with the recklessness which is usually 
 practiced on board ship, and the days passed 
 pleasantly. 
 
 "I think, Mrs. Morley, you must have been born 
 under a lucky star," said the Captain, coming up to 
 her the morning before they reached Queenstown. 
 "I do not believe a bride ever crossed the Atlantic 
 who was favored with more magnificent weather 
 a succession of fine days and beautiful moonlight 
 evenings. The sea has been like a mill-pond ever 
 
■f 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 85 
 
 '- would be deJ 
 t strange city, 
 ;an(I in. I ami 
 oi* the polish! 
 5lan is to look! 
 
 y, the stearnerl 
 Halifax, witiif 
 ^"ipletely lost 
 tvere covered [ 
 kly deserted,! 
 ly down the 
 ntl the next 
 Scotia had I 
 )thing to be I 
 :h which the 
 ' way to the | 
 d all settled 
 stances had 
 I is usually 
 ays passed 
 
 been born 
 ming up to 
 ueenstown. 
 le Atlantic 
 t weather 
 moonlight 
 •pond ever 
 
 since we left the docks. It would be impossible for 
 a person to be sea-sick." 
 
 "And yet, Captain, how soon one becomes tired 
 I of the dreary monotony; and what can be more 
 monotonous than floating over this glassy surface 
 day after day ! I declare, I have been almost pray- 
 ing for a violent storm, or a collision with an ice- 
 berg, every day since we left Halifax, but I have 
 begun to think those seas we sometimes hear of, 
 being piled mountains high, hav^e their existence 
 only in the imagination of sailors. I hoped, when 
 I came on deck, that we were soon to have a change, 
 as the sun was trying to hide under a clond ; but I 
 am evidently doomed to be disappointed, and I will 
 not be able to write home, giving a description of 
 any hair-breadth escape from the depths of the 
 angry ocean. If I am only to relate my own ex- 
 perience, I will be obliged to confess it is rather a 
 tame monster." 
 
 "Ah, young lady, if you were to cross here some- 
 times ! But, I trust, as you are so anxious to meet 
 with a storm, you will be more fortunate on your 
 return voyage. Then you will be able to give your 
 friends a verbal description of your adventures. 
 However, the monotony of the glassy sea is almost 
 at an end for you. We w^ill probably sight Ireland 
 in less than an hour." » 
 
 The Captain's prediction, however, w^as not veri- 
 fied, for over two hours passed, and all were seated 
 
 J 
 
86 
 
 A Romantic Roiiumce. 
 
 around the luncheon taV)le before the signal of thel 
 lookout was heard, and a general rush was ina(le| 
 for the deck. 
 
 Eva felt a thrill of disappointment, as she looked! 
 towards the east. There was nothing to be seen I 
 except water. But, at length, after straining her 
 eyes for some time, a tiny cloud appeared on thel 
 edge of the horizon, which her husband informed] 
 her was the outline of Ireland. 
 . "See, Mrs. Morley," said the Captain, approaching ' 
 with a smile, and offering her a set of powerful 
 marine glasses, "yonder is the boundary of your 
 glassy surface, but you will need the aid of these 
 to tell you that it is the Emerald Isle we are near- 
 ing 80 rapidly. Shall I arrange them for you ?" he 
 asked. 
 
 'Thanks," she answered, taking them from his 
 hand. "I confess I need somethingr to convince me 
 that that little cloud is a portion of our globe, as I 
 feel decidedly skeptical, in spite of the assurance of 
 those around me." 
 
 "Well, look and be convinced that we tell the 
 truth sometimes," he replied, with a laugh. "You 
 nmst not expect to see the branches of the trees 
 waving in the wind, nor have the songs of the 
 birds wafted to your ears; but still, I think you 
 will have to acknowledge that the little cloud is 
 composed of rocks and earth." 
 
 "I confess myself in the wrong, and yield to your 
 
A Ronmniic Rinnance. 
 
 ft7 
 
 signal of tliel 
 i«Ji was made] 
 
 as she looked 
 ff to be seen I 
 training hei' 
 eared on the] 
 nd informed I 
 
 approachinir i 
 of powerful 
 iry of your 
 aid of these 
 VQ are neai-- 
 >r you?"he 
 
 n from his 
 3nvince me 
 globe, as I 
 'surance of 
 
 'e iQ\\ the 
 ?h. "You 
 the trees 
 g-s of the 
 hink you 
 ' cloud is 
 
 I to 
 
 your 
 
 superior judgment," she laughed, handing him back 
 Ills glasses. "This glaring light has given me a 
 dreadful headache. I will go below and rest till 
 we get into port. 
 
 Late that afternoon the passengers and mail for 
 Queenstown were landed, and Eva went below for 
 a short rest after they left the pier. When she 
 again came on deck, she found her husband con- 
 versing very earnestly with a strange gentleman, 
 while, a short distance from where they were stand- 
 ing, a handsome young lady was leaning over the 
 rail and gazing, with longing eyes, at the shore 
 from which they were fast receding. 
 
 "Eva," called Walter, as she paused a short dis- 
 tance from the two, "you have frequently heard me 
 speak of Jack Hartly, my friend and classmate at 
 Leipsic. Allow me to present him to you. Lor<l 
 Atholstane, my wife, Mrs. Walter Morley." 
 
 Eva looked up, with a bright smile, as the young 
 man came towards her. 
 
 "Your husband, Mrs. Morley, is an old and valued 
 friend of mine, although we have not met for some 
 years ; and, owing to an accident, our correspond- 
 ence was broken off. I am truly delighted to see 
 him again, and accompanied by his wife. Walter 
 tells me this is your first visit to Europe. He has 
 promised to spend a few weeks with us at Athol 
 Towers, before crossing to the Continent, if yc)u 
 have no objection to changing your plans on such 
 
88 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 short notice. You niust not refuse, ray dear Mrs, 
 Morley ; remember, Walter and I have not met for 
 80 long, it would be cruel to part us. But here is 
 Lady Atholstane. You must make her acquaint- 
 ance," he continued, as the lady Eva had already 
 observed came foi'ward. 
 
 "Gertrude, my dear, this is the bride of my 
 American friend, Wulter Morley. It was yester- 
 day, was it not, we were speaking of him, and 
 wondering if it were possible to obtain his address ; 
 and now, here he is. Walter, this is my wife, Lady 
 Gertrude Atholstane. Walter has promised to come 
 with us to the Towers, if Mrs. Morley is willing ; 
 so, I will leave you, my dear, to persuade her, while 
 Walter and I pay a visit to the smoking den. I am 
 dying for a few pufKs of my meerschaum." 
 
 Lady Gertrude turned to Eva with a charm'njr 
 snide, as the two gentlemen disappeared in the 
 direction of the smoker's cabin. "Lord Atholstane 
 will le invisible for the next hour, if he can per- 
 suade Profejjsor Morley to keep him company while 
 he enjoys a few putfs, as he calls it, of his pet meer- 
 schaum. I have often heard him speak of your 
 husband, Mrs. Morley, in very glowing terms. He 
 has been very anxious to hear from him for a long 
 time. The two were room-mates, I believe, at 
 Leipsic. You must try and arrange matters, so 
 you can come with us for a few weeks, or Jack 
 will be vei-y much disappointed. We are planning 
 
A Rornantic Rotuance. 
 
 89 
 
 "ly dear Mrs. 
 ' not met for 
 ^ut here is i 
 'er acfjuaint- 
 ^»a(j already 
 
 '^•ide of luy 
 wa« yestei-- 
 '*' him, and 
 ill's afidress ; 
 wife, Lady 
 sed to coino 
 is willing; 
 ' her, while 
 ^en. I am 
 
 
 char 
 
 -d in the 
 ^tholstane 
 
 can per- 
 i"y while 
 5et meer- 
 
 of your 
 ms. He 
 i" a lono- 
 
 ^ ^ 
 
 leve, at 
 ;ters, so 
 :>r Jack 
 lanning 
 
 to spend a month or two on the Continent later 
 in the season ; perhaps we can manage to all ^,^0 
 together. 
 
 "We planned to spend a few weeks in England, 
 on our way home," said Eva; "but, I think, Lady 
 Atholstane, if Professor Morley is willing, we might 
 remain a short time at present." 
 
 "I understood Lord Atholstane to say that Pro- 
 fessor Morley left the matter with you, so you must 
 promise to come with us, to-morrow. We will re- 
 main in Liverpool till morning. It is very quiet in 
 the country at this .season of the year ; but we will 
 do our best to make it pleasant for you during your 
 visit. Jack will be so delighted to have his old 
 friend with him once more. I fancy they will be 
 like a couple of boys let loose from school. 
 
 "I was not aware that the Jack Hartly I have so 
 often heard Walter talking about, bore the title of 
 Lord Atholstane," said Eva, when her companion 
 ceased. ' 
 
 "Nor was he Lord Atholstane when your husband 
 knew him. He was only a poor lad, struggling for 
 an education. He was very ill while they were at 
 the University, and would actually have suffered 
 from want, if it had not been for the kindness of 
 his friends. About three years ago. Lord Athol- 
 stane, his predecessor, a distant cousin, was killed, 
 with his son, in a railway collision on the Continent. 
 •Shortly after, a nephew died, on his passage home 
 

 IMAGE EVALUATION 
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 V 
 
 
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 "9. 
 

 V 
 
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90 
 
 ^ Momantic Roman 
 
 ce. 
 
 C„J"eS','r f ' « "■"« ^ '-^'^ fat,., .w 
 
 '■•fe had been o„;wlTr'' ?*"''^"'''°' -•><>- 
 Ij^-l 'o enjoy h s p:iSl"""' •""'"'^- °"'^ 
 But here a., our Zv^2<l 1^7 ■''"'!' y^^' 
 their own society already" "" P'P«' ""d 
 
 spend the next few 11 ^?" '"'^* ^"'^•^^ to 
 
 Gertie, we might u a„al . ^'^''- ^ ^hink, 
 
 about th«,e wfei^3 f Z. ° ^"^ "" ""^ t""' in 
 
 be very pleasant to t^v!^^'"*^ ''fPP^"^- « «'ould 
 
 think sc r ™'*' *°S«"ier. Do yon not 
 
 f-';:tit:."arw3"7 *? '"^- ^'^-^^ - 
 
 the dinner-bell, and lam „t' f' "^'" "'«^ '« 
 Shortly afte; dinner EvT,*^'^' 
 . «nd Lady Atholstane^el !■'•■■ '"'"f "'^- ■""< ^^'-l 
 *>•« h-ghts glimmeringXLT I '"'"'• "•'""'■"^ 
 *amed swiftly up the Mely * ''""' "^ ""^ «"■> 
 . ''""'■'"•shand tells me "aairfh- t . 
 ■»« to Eva, "that you ar^ 7^ ^''"''"'P' '""- 
 eannot imagine how glaTi a!"? f^"""' '^°» 
 always said the onlv ,1? u ? *" ''«" "'. ^r I 
 «on, was the faetS himl\^' '° "^""-'^ P^rfeC" 
 eve, he has ^medied tt wf r/'"^""=*"- ^ow- 
 "■aTying a subject of Her m^T r" "^ ^^^''- ''^ 
 When a mans better ha TsLtTT ^"^""'y- 
 -y be consider loya, to thl-Un" ofi't^ 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 91 
 
 ther, who 
 an, whose 
 -rty, onJy 
 3rt year, 
 'pes and 
 
 as he 
 2ided to 
 
 think, 
 tour in 
 
 would 
 'ou not 
 
 ey be- 
 lere is 
 
 I Lord 
 tching^ 
 ti ship 
 
 turn- 
 You 
 for I 
 rfec- 
 [ow- 
 i, by 
 sty. 
 nly 
 tie. 
 
 you must induce Mrs. Morley to be presented before 
 her return to America. The modern Evangeline, 
 the society papers will be calling you, if they dis- 
 cover you are a native of Grand Pr^, and also that 
 your name is Evangeline. But here we are, ladies, 
 opposite the landing. Prepare to disembark. I 
 suspect, Mrs. Morley, that you are not sorry to 
 have the opportunity of placing your foot on terra 
 Jirma once more. Gather your traps together, 
 while Walter and I look after the heavy luggage. 
 It is getting so late, we must get to the hotel as 
 soon as possible." 
 
 The landing was soon accomplished, and the four 
 were comfortably installed in a quiet hotel, before 
 Eva realized that she was actually in England, the 
 land which she had dreamed of visiting for so many 
 years ; and she was not only here, but her compan- 
 ions, during her sojourn, were to be members of the 
 British aristocracy. She, who once was not con- 
 sidered a fitting mate for a humble clerk" in New 
 York, was in a short time to bend before her 
 sovereign, presented by the Lady Gertrude's mother, 
 one of the most popular Duchesses in the kingdom. 
 How Mattie Smith would envy her the proud posi- 
 tion, when she read an account of her triumphs, 
 which were sure to be recorded in the provincial 
 papers. And she owed it all to Bertie! If she 
 could only share her honors with her friend, she 
 would be the happiest woman in existence. If 
 
92 
 
 ^ liomantic Romance. 
 
 Bertie had Jeffc h ===: 
 
 ■".^ane enough to rlfut wl'l' ""T^ '"'"« *««» 
 
 Towers they „ent t^ ^lon "T'^' *'""" ">« 
 . ■'toy, crossed to Paris- th "'"'• ""«'• " short 
 
 "'he^ their party waTioileT-K^". '" Switzerland 
 brother and his wffe T. ^^, ^^ Atholstane's' 
 J-'-Weyed. sometimes' i„Z'T\^'^'''^^riand they 
 »te, sometimes wander^nl „, "''" '"""^ »*' tour 
 '^t^ of the Alps. ""^ """'''ff the rngge.1 ha„,- 
 
 At Lake Comn *k 
 «Pia.-ned. JIL^.^f «■ «s Eva ianghi^,^ 
 «" the no,.d cities of lS!'V'«^-- A for 
 ^iove the begi„„i„„ of LoL "^ '" ^ ^''P'o'-ed 
 -"« to be Pi^entecraf the hW T^"' ^''«° *=''" 
 
 Willie they were at lit r? ^T'^S"^""' 
 Pnsed one evenin. to se! i! T"' ^"^ «">' sur- 
 7"P by which they Ce si ""?"" '«-« the 
 th room to greet a'^^tZge" "'''^•'' ""^ ""^^ 
 
 One of Walter's r„,v • . 
 <« she observed the evMenVLr'"'"*''' ">« "•°«'Sht, 
 unexpected meeting. P'"^-"* "^ both at the 
 
 ">--w7:i?-<^-^a'terp.-sheas.ed,when 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 93 
 
 "Stanley Winthrope," he answered. "He has 
 been travelling in Europe for several years. He 
 used to be a fine fellow, but wealth has spoiled him. 
 I thought once that he and Bertie had decided to 
 become life companions, but it amounted to nothing. 
 I should have brought him over and introduced 
 him, but he declined. I fancy he is a woman-hater ; 
 possibly some European coquette has spoiled his 
 life." 
 
 When Eva, accompanied by Lady Gertrude, en- 
 tered the breakfast room the next morning, they 
 found the stranger and Lord Waldo, Lady Ger- 
 trude's brother, conversing in a friendly manner. 
 As they seated themselves, his Lordship introduced 
 them. Winthrope acknowledged the introduction 
 by a distant bow, scarcely deigning to glance at 
 either lady. Lord Waldo, who appeared much 
 annoyed by the coolness of his greeting, turned 
 immediately to the ladies, and began conversing. 
 
 "Your husband, Mrs. Morley, has gone off with 
 a party of excursionists for the day, leaving you 
 in my care. I have pressed Mr. Winthrope into 
 our service. He will devote himself to the ladies 
 Waldo and Atholstane, leaving me free to look 
 after you. I think you will be pleased with your 
 cavalier, ladies ; for, although Winthrope was born 
 in the United States, yet he has been in Europe for 
 so many years, that he is almost civilized." 
 
 "Are you not afraid, Hal, of affronting Mra. 
 
94 
 
 A Romantic Rmnance. 
 
 Morley, when you speak so disrespectfully of her 
 countrymen ?" asked Lady Waldo. 
 
 "Not at all ! You must remember, my dear wife, 
 that Mrs. Morley is not a native of the States !" 
 
 "Mrs. Morley not an American!" repeated Win- 
 thrope, looking up, for the first time, at Lady 
 Gertrude. "I beg your pardon, Madame, but I 
 understood some one to say Professor Morley had 
 married his cousin. I now see I am mistaken, but 
 your chance resemblance to her caused the mistake." 
 
 "You are still mistaken," chimed in Lord Waldo. 
 "The one you are addressing is my sister, Lady 
 Atholstane. This is Mrs. Morley ; and, as I have 
 already said, she is not from the United States, but 
 is a Nova Scotian. Ladies, I have chartered a boat 
 to row you over to some of those islands you all 
 admired so much yesterday. The boatman is to be 
 ready at ten, and, as it is past nine now, I suppose 
 we will have to hurry, if we wish to reach the shore 
 on time." 
 
 Obeying the hint, the ladies hurried to their 
 apartments, and, in a short time, they were all 
 seated in the boat, rowing rapidly from the shore. 
 
 Arriving at the island, Lord Waldo endeavored 
 to assign the Ladies Waldo and Atholstane to Win- 
 thrope, but he seemed to prefer Eva for the com- 
 panion of his rambles ; and, seeing this, the young 
 peer good-naturedly fell back with his wife and 
 sister. 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 95 
 
 y of her 
 
 >ur wife, 
 
 es I" 
 
 d Win- 
 Lady 
 
 but I 
 ^y had 
 -n, but 
 'take." 
 Valdo. 
 Lady 
 
 have 
 K bufc 
 
 boat 
 a all 
 o be 
 pose 
 lore 
 
 ieir 
 
 all 
 
 re. 
 
 ed 
 
 n- 
 
 rj- 
 
 d 
 
 "Kindred spirits," thought his Lordship. "There 
 is a trans- Atlantic manner about the little lady that 
 has given the poor fellow a fit of homesickness; 
 for, in spite of his wanderings, his heart sometimes 
 turns to his native land. He evidently knows 
 Walter's cousin. I wonder if he and Walter have 
 over met?" 
 
 As if in direct answer to his mental question, he 
 heard Winthrope saying to his companion, as they 
 paused at the foot of a mossy bank, "I met your 
 husband last evening, Mrs. Morley ; but, not feeling 
 very well, I did not wait long enough in the salon 
 for an introduction to yourself. I used to know 
 Walter's family well, a few years ago, but I suppose 
 there have been many changes since I left Boston ?" 
 
 ■'Of course, in a large city like Boston, there must 
 necessarily be many changes," answered Eva; "but 
 there have been none to speak of in the Morley 
 family during that period." 
 
 "T used to frequently visit at Doctor Morle;/ s. 
 Are they all well at 'Riverside.'?" 
 
 "All quite well, thank you. The Doctor and 
 dear auntie, you know, are persons who will never 
 grow old." 
 
 "Ai d Fred and Bertie, I suppose, are married be- 
 fore this time, and settled in homes of their own ?" 
 
 "Fred is to be married in a few weeks, while 
 Bertie, although a warm advocate of marriage, as 
 far as her friends are concerned, seems rather in- 
 
96 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 clined to steer clear of the matrimonial quicksands 
 herself. We often tell her she regards marriage in 
 the same light that her father does his medicines. 
 It is a pill she is anxious for all her acquaintances 
 to swallow, but one she herself does not care to 
 taste." • 
 
 "She is young yet; probably she will change her 
 mind and settle down some day. But where are 
 our companions ? Shall we go back and find them ?" 
 
 "I think it will be our wisest plan. It must be 
 nearing the time when we were to start on our 
 homeward journey." 
 
 Professor Morley was somewhat surprised, on his 
 return, to find Winthrope among his friends, and 
 his wife the young man's chosen companion. 
 
 "He has found out Eva is a warm friend of 
 Bert's," he thought. "Poor fellow, I wonder if he 
 will ever get over the vain little flirt's treatment. 
 How little those girls know what a wreck they may 
 be making of a man's life, by what they call a 
 harmless flirtation." 
 
 "Did you tell me that Winthrope was an old 
 beau of Bertie's ?" asked Eva of her husband, when 
 they had left the salon. 
 
 "Yes, they were engaged once, but it did not 
 amount to anything." , 
 
 "What parted them?" 
 
 "I do not know, but I fancy Bert did not know 
 her own mind. Stanley worshipped her ; but they 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 07 
 
 were always quarrelling, and at last she put an end 
 to the engagement. The poor fellow left Boston, a 
 short time after his dismissal, and has never been 
 home since. He was with you to-day. Did he in- 
 quire after Bert ?" 
 
 "He asked if she were married, and seemed mucb< 
 pleased when I answered in the negative. He iriBO 
 told me he thought of going home this winter. I 
 think he mistook Lady Atholstane for her at first. 
 He had heard that Bertie was your wife. I fancy 
 that was the reason he refused an introduction to 
 me last evening. He could not bear the idea of 
 meeting her as Mrs. Morley." 
 
 "Possibly. I hope he does not still cherish the 
 hope of winning her, for it is quite evident that 
 Bertie cares nothing for him." 
 
 In spite of her husband's assurance that Bertie 
 did not care for Winthrope, Eva was not convinced 
 of such being the case. 
 
 "Why," thought the astute little bride, "if Bertie 
 cares for no one in particular, does she not accept 
 one of those excellent offers she is constantly de- 
 clining? I think I will tell her about meeting 
 Winthrope, when I write. I think very little en- 
 couragement will take him home ; and then, what 
 happiness, to be the means of uniting them, if they 
 do really care for each other." 
 
 With this sage reflection, the happy wife fell 
 asleep, and the next morning the letter was written 
 and dispatched across the Atlantic. 
 7 
 
 \ 
 
98 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 \ 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Homeward Bound. 
 
 Weeks had passed before the answer came. The 
 gay party had explored Italy. English tourists 
 were turning back to their beloved London ; and, 
 among the number, Lord Atholstane's party, with 
 Winthrope still in their train, were preparing for 
 their homeward journey. 
 
 "I had a letter from Fred to-night, Eva," said her 
 husband, at the dinner table, on the last evening of 
 their stay in Rome. 
 
 Stanley Winthrope, who was sitting next Eva, 
 looked up somewhat anxiously, as she inquired 
 after her friends. 
 
 The look did not escape Walter, as he answered 
 carelessly : 
 
 "Fred thinks Bert has really decided to settle at 
 last. She has been spending a week or two in 
 New York; and, while there, made the acquaint- 
 ance of a young naval officer. He was very atten- 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 99 
 
 .'• 
 
 le. The 
 tourists 
 n; and, 
 
 y, with 
 
 mg for 
 
 lid hel- 
 ling of 
 
 Eva, 
 uired 
 
 leered 
 
 le at 
 o in 
 lint- 
 fcen- 
 
 tive, and has followed her home. She appears to 
 like him immenselj% and the family hope to prepare 
 for a wedding soon." 
 
 He looked away, as he finished, to avoid the look 
 of despair on Stanley's face. 
 
 "Poor fellow," he thought, "it is not pleasant 
 news for you ; but, better hear it now than later." 
 
 Eva also felt much disappointed at her husband's 
 information, for she hud been weaving a delightful 
 little romance for her friend, of which Winthrope 
 was the hero. But greater was her sorrow the next 
 morning, when he came to bid her good-by. 
 
 "Why, Mr. Winthrope," she exclaimed, with tear- 
 ful eyes, "I thought you intended to return to Boston 
 with us this winter." 
 
 "I did think of doing so, at one time; but you 
 ladies must not think of monopolizing the privilege 
 of changing your minds. The fact, my dear Mi-s. 
 Morley, is, that I have spent so many years in 
 Southern Europe and Africa, that I am almost 
 afraid to face the cold and stormy Atlantic in 
 mid-winter. Perhaps, some time during the sum- 
 mer, I may surprise you all by a visit Please 
 remember me to all our friends, Mrs. Morley ; and 
 I trust you may have a very pleasant voyage 
 home." 
 
 A moment after, he was gone, and Eva remained 
 for some time, thinking sadly of his disappoint- 
 ment, only rousing herself from her reverie when 
 
100 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 the waiter brought the riiorninj^ mail. The ex- 
 pected letter from Bertie was placed in her hand, 
 and mechanicailly she broke the seal. 
 
 •• 'Riverside,' Monday Evenino. 
 ''Dear Old Eva: 
 
 " Your welcome letter at hand. You must be having a 
 gay time over there among your Ihikea and Lords. Don't you 
 dare to flirt with them, and make Walter jealous. You never 
 can guess where I have been lately, so I might as well tell you at 
 once. I went to New York to visit some friends of mamma's, 
 and stopped a week at uncle Stanhope's. Poor cousin Clara is 
 dead, and the bereaved husband has mounted the heaviest crape 
 hat band to be procured in the city. If there is one thing above 
 all others I despise, it is a hypocrite ; and, if there ever was a 
 born hypocrite on the face of this earth, that man is Charlie 
 Smith. He managed to crawl into his wife's good graces before 
 she died, so as to obtain a will leaving him the greater part of 
 her fortune ; but, not content with that, he has made poor old 
 uncle and auntie think him a perfect saint and martyr. I expect 
 he is fishing for their property now. ^ 
 
 " But I must not forget to tell you about my latest conquest, 
 and the sad loss which I have been forced to endure. When I 
 was in New York, I became acquainted with just the sweetest 
 little specimen of humanity you ever saw. Well, I brought him 
 home with me, and the family were planning a wedding on a 
 scale of magnificence never surpassed around these parts. But, 
 in the meanwhile, what does the villain do but upset all their 
 plans by falling in love with that detested Amanda Stone. 
 What reason I have to hate that girl ! I will not shock your 
 fine feelings by uttering threats of vengeance. 
 
 " And so you have been flirting with Stanley Winthrope. 
 Has he a bride along with him ? Of course he has, or he would 
 not be tolerated in your party, a single man among a lot of 
 pretty brides. I was insane to ask the question. Bui, whatever 
 you do, please do not let him know I asked such a question, or 
 
 ./ 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 101 
 
 The ex- 
 her hand, 
 
 EVBNijso. 
 
 e having a 
 I>on't you 
 You never 
 *eW you at 
 mamma's, 
 '1 Clara is 
 iest crape 
 ing above 
 ^er was a 
 8 Charlie 
 «8 before 
 >r part of 
 poor oW 
 I expect 
 
 mquest, 
 When I 
 wee test 
 fht him 
 g on a 
 But, 
 1 their 
 Stone, 
 t your 
 
 irope. 
 A^ould 
 ot of 
 tever 
 D, or 
 
 the conceited fellow will think I still have an interest in him ; 
 which, of course, is not the case. 
 
 ' ' I am going to a large party this evening. I do not care 
 
 much about it, but I do not want Captain Jack to think I am 
 
 pining in solitude, while he is floating around to the entrancing 
 
 strains of our old brass liand. Papa and mamma send lots of 
 
 love, and hope Eva will soon be home. Fred is to be married on 
 
 Wednesday. Give my love to Walter. And now I will say 
 
 good-by, with heaps of good wishes to my dear old friend, 
 
 Kvangeline, from her devoted friend, 
 
 Bertie E. Mohlev." 
 
 The letter fell from Eva's hand. Then it was 
 not true, after all, that Bertie was going to be 
 married. If the letter had only come an hour ago ! 
 But it was too late now. 
 
 "Do not tell the conceited fellow I have asked 
 about him. Ah, Bertie, if you do not car^, why 
 did you ask?" thought Eva. "And Stanley's abrupt 
 departure, immediately after Walter's news, is suffi- 
 cient proof he is still attached to Bertie. Well, 
 nothing can be done now, so I might as well go 
 and help Flora pack for London." 
 
 A few days after they left Rome, they reached 
 England, and were comfortably installed in Lord 
 Atholstane's town mansion, to await the opening of 
 the great social campaign. People of rank and 
 fashion gathered around the pretty little Nova 
 Scotian matron, and the amount of flattery she 
 received was sufficient to turn the head of a far 
 more sedate woman. She was presented at Court 
 by Lady Atholstane's mother, a stately Duchess, in 
 rich old- brocade and diamonds of great value. 
 
102 
 
 A Romantic Roraance. 
 
 Shortly after her grand triumph, she received a 
 letter from Bertie, telling her that Mrs. Morley was 
 suffering from a severe attack of inflammation. 
 They decided to cut short their stay in London; 
 and, tearing themselves from their many friends, 
 they were soon on the broad Atlantic. 
 
 If Eva wished for stormy seas, in vain, on her 
 voyage to Europe, she was more fortunate on her 
 return, for a more dreary passage could not be 
 imagined. From the time they weighed anchor in 
 Liverpool, till they reached New York, she was not 
 able to leave her berth. Fortunately, her maid was 
 a better sailor ; and, assisted by Prof. Morley, she 
 was able to give the poor sea-sick woman the best 
 of care. 
 
 But, at length. New York was reached in safety, 
 and the day after landing, in spite of Eva's exhaust- 
 ed condition, they reached home, where they were 
 warmly welcomed by Dr. Morley and his family. 
 
 Mrs. Morley was slowly recovering from her ill- 
 ness at the time of Eva's return, and poor Bertie, 
 who was nearly worn out with watching, was much 
 relieved when her kind friend insisted upon taking 
 her place in the sick room. Hour after hour, Eva 
 would amuse her husband's aunt with glowing ac- 
 counts of her travels. 
 
 "My dear child," she said to her one uay, when 
 she finished relating something that had occurred 
 while they were in Switzerland, "I never met but 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 103 
 
 ^. on her 
 te on her 
 I not be 
 Dehor in 
 was not 
 naid was 
 t'iey, she 
 the best 
 
 one person who could interest me as well as you, 
 but he had been abroad almost from infancy. How 
 I should like to meet him again, but I do not sup- 
 pose I ever shall. He has probably forgotten all 
 rtbout Auntie Morley, as he used to call me, long 
 before this." 
 
 "Who was he, auntie ? Any one I know ?" asked 
 Eva, when the other paused, apparently overcome 
 by painful recollections. 
 
 "His name was Stanley Winthrope. You never 
 met him. He left Boston the year before you came 
 here. I used to think once that he would be my 
 son. I loved the lad almost as well as Fred ; but 
 Bertie, although she appeared to like him much, 
 was never content, when he was present, unless she 
 was quarreling with him. I " 
 
 "Stanley Winthrope !" interrupted Eva. "Auntie, 
 he was our travelling companion last winter. He 
 lias not forgotten you. I was charged with all 
 sorts of kind messages for you and Doctor Morley." 
 
 "Did he ask after Bertie?" 
 
 "He wanted to know if she were not married. 
 He promised to write to Walter when he left us, 
 but I have not heard of his receiving any letters 
 from him." 
 
 "Did he have a wife with him, when he was with 
 you?" 
 
 "He has never been married. I heard Lord 
 Waldo telling him, one evening, that his object 
 
104 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 in going home, was to look for a wife. Winthrope 
 did not deny the charge, but always changed the 
 subject, with a laugh. Indeed, I often thought, 
 myself, that it was the chief object of his return to 
 Boston. The evening before he left us, he was tell- 
 ing me how much pleasure he anticipated when he 
 reached America. He had promised to spend the 
 first few weeks of his return with us, and I im- 
 agined Bertie was the one attraction strong enough 
 to draw him across the Atlantic. He w^as never 
 weary of talking about her, and nothing seemed to 
 give him greater pleasure than to praise her talents. 
 However, that evening, at the dinner table, Walter 
 told us he had received a letter from Fred that 
 afternoon, and that Bertie was engaged to a young 
 naval officer. Winthrope disappeared when he left 
 the table ; and, early the next morning, he came to 
 retract his promise and bid me good-by. He told 
 me he was going to sail that day for Africa ; and, 
 about an hour after he left, I received a letter from 
 Bertie, denying Fred's news. But the denial came 
 too late. Had it been a day earlier, I firmly believe 
 Stanley Winthrope would have been with us now 
 at 'Riverside." 
 
 The door opened noiselessly, and Bertie came 
 into the room as Eva ceased. 
 
 "Stanley Winthrope would have been with us 
 now at 'Riverside,'" she repeated, much excited. 
 " Eva, tell me, what do you mean ? Is Stanley 
 coming back to 'Riverside' at last?" 
 
A Bomantic Romance. 
 
 105 
 
 Mrs. Morley looked imploringly at Eva, for some 
 moments, before speaking. 
 
 "Would you like to see him again, Bertie, dear ?" 
 she asked, as she watched her daughter vainly en- 
 deavoring to subdue her agitation. 
 
 "Would I like to see him again ? Oh, my mother, 
 if he does not come soon, I think my heart will 
 break," she sobbed, throwing herself into her moth- 
 er's arms, and bursting into tears. 
 
 "How came he to leave you, Bertie ?" inquired 
 the elder lady, after she had quieted her weeping 
 daughter. 
 
 "I was so cruel to him, mamma. He was forced 
 to leave me, at last. I used to get so very angry 
 with him, when he asked me to pay more attention 
 to my studies. At last, I told him, if he was so 
 very learned, he could not be satisfied with a com- 
 mon-place wife, and the best thing for him to do, 
 would be to return to Europe, and marry one of 
 the accomplished ladies he admired so much. When 
 he tried to reason with me, I flung his ring at his 
 feet, and told him I never wished to see him again. 
 I did not think he would take me at my word ; 
 but, when I came to my senses, he was gone, and I 
 have never seen him since. Till Eva met him in 
 Italy, I did not even know what part of the world 
 he was in. I always felt as if he was coming back 
 some day ; but, if he does not come for years, he 
 will find me still waiting for his forgiveness." 
 
106 
 
 A Romantic Ronumce. 
 
 "My poor little Bertie, it may be years before he 
 eoines back," said her mother, tenderly stroking 
 her Hushed face. "It would be cruel to buoy 
 you up with false hopes. Stanley has gone to 
 South Africa, and he may never come back. If 
 we could discover where he is, we might write and 
 ask him to come home, but there might be much 
 difficulty in obtaining his address. You must leave 
 me now, my daughter, I want to rest awhile, and 
 then you may come ? i and read to me till tea time. 
 Eva will take care of you till I awake," she added, 
 with a loving smile, as the two girls prepared to 
 leave her. 
 
 "Eva, do you think Stanley will ever come 
 back?" asked the poor girl, when they reached 
 Bertie's room. 
 
 " 'Tis hard to say, my dear ; but, it is my impres- 
 sion, if he had the least idea you might wish to see 
 him, he would fly to you on the wings of the wind ; 
 or, to be more exact, he would come as rapidly as 
 wind and water, aided by steam, could bring him. 
 Come, you must not get down-hearted now ; you 
 have borne the separation so bravely for the past 
 five years, you surely can endure it for a while 
 longer. We are sure to hear from him soon, for 
 his last words were a promise to write to us. 
 When he discovers you are still free, he will not 
 be long in reaching your side. You must lie down 
 now, and rest. I will call you when your mother 
 awakes." 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 107 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 'J'he Shadow of Death. 
 
 A YEAR has passed away since we last visited 
 Riverside. This morning we will take a peep at the 
 hospitable mansion, which we lind is no longer occu- 
 pied by the genial Doctor and his kind-hearted lady. 
 The chair on the lawn, where auntie Morley used to 
 sit, is filled this morning by a youthful matron who 
 holds a tiny white-robed baby in her arms. At her 
 feet lies a magnificent English mastiff, which gazes 
 contentedly at his mistress as she coos softly to her 
 infant. A short distance away we see our old ac- 
 quaintance, Fred Morley, reclining on the velvet 
 turf, and looking at the trio with a world of love 
 expressed in his honest blue eyes. 
 
 "Fred," called the little lady, ceasing her baby- 
 worship for an instant," throw that horrid cigar 
 away and pay your respects to baby. Papa has not 
 been to see us this morning, has he, pet ?" she con- 
 tinued, resuming her occupation. 
 
108 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 "Treason in high circles," he laughed, as he rose 
 lazily to his feet and threw the obnoxious cigar into 
 a clump of bushes, a short distance away. "Let us 
 have a look at the peerless infant. Really, Stella, 
 he grows to look more like you every day of his 
 life." 
 
 " We think we look more like papa, don't we, dar- 
 ling ?" said the fond mamma, as she laid the infant 
 in his father's arms. 
 
 "Halloo, old fellow ! you seem very well content- 
 ed, but you cannot roost there long. I must go over 
 to Maple wood and see how Walter is this morning." 
 
 "Poor Eva! How she must miss Bertie. If it 
 was not for baby I could go over and help her, but 
 I suppose it would not do to leave him alone with 
 the nurses?" 
 
 "Do ! I should think not. Let me catch my lit- 
 tle wifey going into that fever-stricken place. Eva 
 will not expect it of you, and would probably be 
 very much annoyed if you exposed yourself so 
 rashly." 
 
 "No, Eva is not selfish, but still it would be a 
 great comfort to hei to have some one belonging to 
 the family in the house. Have you written to your 
 father yet?" 
 
 "A letter can do no good. If he is no better I 
 shall cable to them this morning. Take baby into 
 the house soon. I think there is much dampness 
 lurking around, although the sun is so bright. 
 
. A Romantic Romance. 
 
 109 
 
 Goc^-by, pets," he exclaimed, as he gathered wife 
 and son into his arms. 
 
 "Fred, I do believe he knows you are going away," 
 said the proud young wife, holding up her rosebud 
 mouth for her husband's kiss. 
 
 "Not the least doubt that he does! Well, take 
 good care of him till I come back, I have a pre- 
 sentiment that something dreadful is going to hap- 
 pen soon. I hope poor Walter is not worse ; but I 
 must go and see." 
 
 "If anything should happen to Walter, what :n 
 the world will poor Eva do ! She has no darling 
 baby to console her, has she, my pet?" she fondly 
 asked of the unconscious infant, as she raised the 
 precious bundle in her arms and carried him to the 
 house, where she laid him in his dainty bed and 
 rocked him to sleep. Then seating herself by the 
 open window she watched for the return of her hus- 
 band. It was over an hour before she saw him 
 coming swiftly up the avenue, and hurried down to 
 meet him. 
 
 "You do not bring good news, I see it in your 
 face," she cried, when he came up to her, as she 
 waited on the stoop. "Is Walter worse ?" 
 
 "Walter will suffer no more in this world," he 
 answ^ered sadly. 
 
 "Oh, Fred ! he surely is not dead." 
 
 "Yes, he died just after I reached the house. He 
 was unconscious till the last." 
 
110 
 
 A .Romantic Romance. 
 
 "Poor, dear Eva! Shall I go to her, my husband ?" 
 
 "No! She expressly forbids your coming. You 
 must run no risks, for baby's sake, I must start 
 immediately for Boston, as I have to arrange for the 
 funeral, which is to take place in the morning ; and, 
 also, to cable to father. What a blow it will be for 
 them. If Eva could only have Bertie with her now t 
 Poor old fellow ! Who would have dreamed of this 
 
 a month ago? If father could have been here 
 
 But the poor boy was doomed from the first, and 
 fifty doctors could not have saved his life." 
 
 "How does Eva bear her loss?" 
 
 "As well as could be expected. The poor girl is 
 quite worn out, and hardly seems to realize what 
 has happened. She was lying down when I left. 
 You must try and persuade her to come here, as 
 soon as the funeral is over. We must all leave 
 here as soon as possible. It is going to be a very 
 unhealthy season. The fever is spreading rapidly. 
 Here is the buggy coming. Good-by. I will get 
 back as soon as I possibly can." 
 
 As Fred Morley drove away, his wife sadly as- 
 cended to the nursery, where she found her child 
 still slept. 
 
 "We must get away from here as soon as possi- 
 ble," her husband had said. "Then, if there was to 
 be a change, there was plenty of packing to be 
 done, and what better time would she have to 
 begin than the present moment, when her baby 
 
A Romantic Momanre. 
 
 Ill 
 
 was sleeping so peacefully, all unconscious of the 
 dark sorrow which had come to his family ?" 
 
 Before Fred returned from the city, his wife had 
 most of the packing done, ready for their departure. 
 The next morning the mortal remains of Walter 
 Morley were laid in their last resting-place ; and, 
 before a week had passed, both 'Riverside' and 
 'Maplewood' were left in charge of a few trusty 
 servants. Fred had taken his wife, child and nurse 
 to the mountains for the summer, while Eva, accom- 
 panied by her faithful maid, sailed for Nova Scotia, 
 where she proposed remaining with her parents 
 until Doctor Morley and his family returned from 
 abroad, w^hither they had gone, the year before, in 
 search of health. 
 
 The quiet little village of Grand Pr6 was very 
 welcome to the bereaved wife for the first few 
 weeks. She felt that she had at last reached a 
 haven of rest, where she would be sheltered from 
 the storms of the outside world. But she sooij 
 found, that, in spite of her determination to pass 
 the summer in seclusion, she would be obliged to 
 appear in public frequently. Walter had left her, 
 unconditionally, the greater part of his fortune; 
 and, even in this little country village, she found 
 people ready and determined to worship the wealthy 
 young widow. That she was not willing to accept 
 their homage, was of no consequence. Scarcely had 
 she arrived among them, clad in her widows' weeds, 
 
r^ 
 
 112 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 before the country gallants began to trim their 
 plumage for conquest. Who should become the 
 successful candidate for the hand of the rich widow, 
 was a question that required the verdict of the en- 
 tire community to settle in a proper manner ; and, 
 had any person the audacity to suggest that the 
 glittering prize — if she contemplated matrimony 
 at all — would look pretty high for a successor to 
 her talented and gentlemanly husband, they would, 
 in all probability, have been almost annihilated for 
 their presumption. That a person born in Grand 
 Pr^, even were she the chosen friend of some of 
 England's proudest nobles, would not consider one 
 of her own countrymen a fitting mate, never for a 
 moment occurred to one of those unsophisticated 
 youths. 
 
 Eva, at length, became so disgusted with the 
 attentions of her would-be lovers, that she deter- 
 mined to return to "Maplewood." The summer 
 was nearly over before she left Nova Scotia. 
 Before leaving, she had, after much persuasion, 
 obtained a promise from her parents, that, if the 
 Morleys did not return to America before spring, 
 they would close their house and go to Florida 
 with her for the winter. 
 
 When Fred Morley and his wife, who had re- 
 turned to "Riverside," heard Eva was coming to 
 "Maplewood," they immediately decided to offer 
 her a home with them for as long as she chose to 
 remain. 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 113 
 
 "Of coui*se you are coininfr with us," Stella had 
 said, when she met her at the <lepot. "Do you not 
 think it looks unreasonable, that we would allow 
 you to live in that great house alone ? You would 
 be a lit subject for a lunatic asylum before many 
 weeks." 
 
 "But papa and mamma will be here in a short 
 time, and then I shall not be alone," insisted Eva. 
 
 "Well, let them come. We have room enough at 
 'Riverside' for you all ; but, if you wish to be inde- 
 pendent while they are here, it will be time enough 
 to open 'Maplewood' when they arrive. For the 
 present, your hon.e will be with us ; so, let me hear 
 no more about it, brt get into the cariiage and 
 come along." 
 
 Eva, too tired to argue the matter, smiled good- 
 naturedly at her cousin's impetuosity, and followed 
 her to the carriage. In a few moments the gates 
 of hospitable "Riverside" loomed before them, and 
 Fred came down the broad granite steps to wel- 
 come them. 
 
 When she reached her old roon% she sank into 
 an easy chair with an exclamation of content. 
 Here, at last, she was safe from persecution. No 
 lovers, rustic or otherwise, would be allowed to 
 annoy her while she remained here. How kind 
 the Morleys had always been to her, and why had 
 she been so stupid as not to think of asking after 
 that wonderful baby. She must atone for her 
 8 
 
114 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 neglect at once; and, rising, she started for the 
 nursery. But, on reaching the door, it was tlirown 
 open, and the young gentleman appeared in the 
 arms of his triumphant mamma. , 
 
 "Is he not a Iteauty?" questioned the mother, 
 proudly, as she placed him in the arms of her 
 guest. " See, Eva ! I do believe he knows you 
 already. The dear darling! Ask auntie Eva if 
 she would not like to have a pretty little boy like 
 you for her very own." 
 
 Eva bent over the tiny bit of humanity to avoid 
 an answer. 
 
 " What do you call him ? He was only baby 
 when I was here last," she at length asked. 
 
 "Harold Emmerson, after grandpa. A pretty 
 name, is it not ? Fred wanted him called Walter, 
 but grandma Morley objected. We have had much 
 trouble to provide him with a suitable name ; but, 
 at last, papa came to the rescue, and promised him 
 ten thousand dollars if we called him Harold. So, 
 Harold it is to be. Come, darling, we must go 
 back, and giv# auntie a chance to rest." 
 
 Mrs. Fred did not see the mischievous smile on 
 the face of her guest, as she trotted away with her 
 offspring, or she would have been much annoyed. 
 The young autocrat ruled the entire household, and 
 those who refused to \k>\y to the reigning sovereign, 
 might expect to be visited with Mrs. Fred's most 
 severe displeasure. 
 
Romantic JioniancM, 
 
 115 
 
 That evening, after the son and heir of the house 
 was settled for the night in hia little crib, the mis- 
 tress of "Maplewood" proposed a visit to her own 
 domains. 
 
 "You will find everything kept in excellent order," 
 said Fred, as they walked up the ave:me between 
 the two rows of handsome maples with which the 
 road was bordered, and from which the mansion 
 obtained its name. 
 
 "Old Chase and his wife are the most consci- 
 entious couple, and take as much interest in the 
 estate as if everything belonged to them. If yo'i 
 were to hunt the country over, you could not find 
 two people more devoted to your interest. But 
 they are a most amusing pair of old fossils, and 
 have no love for me, I can tell you. I think they 
 have taken it into their heads I am trying to oust 
 them." 
 
 "Dear old Maggie! I think she loved Walter 
 better than her own son," said Eva, sadly, as she 
 ascended the steps. 
 
 Mrs. Chase came quickly to the door, in answer 
 to her ring, and a joyful exclamation escaped her, 
 when she discovered who her visitors were. 
 
 "Oh, Mrs. Morley !" she cried excitedly, reaching 
 her hand towards her mistress, but suddenly draw- 
 ing it back, when she thought of the liberty she 
 was taking. "Oh, my dear mistress, is it really 
 you ? And us never to know a word about your 
 
116 
 
 4 
 
 Romantic Roraance. 
 
 coining ; and everything in such a state ; and the 
 rooms all shut up ; and nothing tit to be seen. 
 
 And the angry glance with which Fred Morley 
 was favored, was enough to send that young gentle- 
 man into his boots, had he been at all sensitive ; but 
 the shaft fell harmless at the feet of the one for 
 whom it W8S intended." 
 
 "I think things will do very nicely," replied her 
 mistress, with a smile. "The rooms cannot be very 
 much out of order, with you at the head of affairs ; 
 but, even were they in the condition you seem to 
 think them, you will have plenty of time to get 
 them ready for me, for I am not coming home for 
 two or three weeks yet. But, are you not going to 
 shake hands with me, and invite us to walk in ?" 
 
 "A thousand pardons. Did any one ever hear of 
 the like ! Me standing in the way, and stopping 
 you from coming into your own house ! Come 
 right in, and I will open the parlors. John," she 
 called from the open casement, as she saw her hus- 
 band crossing the lawn, "here's Mrs. Morley home 
 again, safe and well." 
 
 Anotheu sad smile crossed Eva's face, as she 
 stepped through the window to meet the old man, 
 who came hurrying towards her with such a warm 
 greeting. The love of this old couple was very 
 precious to her, and there were tears in her eyes, 
 as she placed her hand in that of her faithful 
 servant. 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 117 
 
 "I would like to look over the house alone, 
 Stella," she said, as she ushered her companions 
 into the drawing-room, which her housekeeper had 
 thrown open, letting in the fragrant evening air. 
 
 Leaving her guests, she wandered through the 
 deserted rooms. How the presence of her husband 
 seemed to fill every apartment, as she listlessly sur- 
 veyed them. "Stella was right. It would never 
 do for me to live in this great house alone," she 
 thought, as she seated herself in her dressing-rcom. 
 "She must remain patiently at 'Riverside' until her 
 parents came to her. If she could only have Bertie 
 with her, how contented she would be ; but Bertie 
 was far away, caring for her invalid mother, and 
 she must learn to do without her. Perhaps, by the 
 time her father and mother wished to return to 
 their native land, her friend would be home, and 
 the two could live their lives together." 
 
 The voice of some one calling from the hall be- 
 low, roused her from her reverie ; and, hurrying 
 down stairs, she found the twilight had faded into 
 night, and her cousins were anxious to return to 
 their homes. 
 
 A few days afterwards, she received a letter from 
 her mother, informing her that she was to start for 
 "Maplewood" in a couple of days. 
 
 "Tom and his wife," she wrote, "are going to take 
 care of the place this winter. They came home 
 from the Western States very unexpectedly, and, 
 
118 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 having nowhere to go, were, ot* course, very glad to 
 come here. As they wanted to come at once, I 
 hurried matters to make room for them. Cousin 
 Ella is home on a visit from Boston ; and, tis she is 
 going back this week, I have concluded to come 
 with her. Your father will stay here till after the 
 fall work is done. Likely, by the time you receive 
 this, I will be in Boston, for it always takes longer 
 for a letter to go. Send to Ella's for me, for I do 
 not suppose I could tind my way out to your house 
 alone." 
 
 Eva started from her chair, without waiting to 
 finish her letter. "The boat has arrived hours ago." 
 she said to herself, as she hurried across the room. 
 "Poor mamma will be nearly distracted, if she has 
 to stay in that stuffy little lodging-house where her 
 cousin Ella lives. I must send for the carriage, and 
 go for her at once." 
 
 She soon had the faithful Flora dispatched to 
 "Maplewood" for her horses and carriage, while 
 she went to her room to prepare for her drive. 
 
 She was soon on her way to the city, which she 
 reached before dark, and drew up before the door 
 of the despised lodging-house, with a feeling of dis- 
 gust that it should have sheltered her mother even 
 for a few hours. Ascertaining that Mrs. Parker 
 was within, she entered the portals, after telling 
 the coachman to drive around the streets for a 
 short time, in order to prevent the horses from 
 becoming restless while they were waiting. 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 119 
 
 As she anticipated, she found her mother ahnost 
 distracted by the noise and confusion which sur- 
 rounded her; and, notwithstanding her fatigue, 
 extremely anxious to take her departure. 
 
 "I think, Eva," she said to her daughter, as they 
 bowled swiftly along on their homeward way, "that 
 I should have died before morning, had I been com- 
 pelled to remain all night in one of those close little 
 cupboards which Ella called bedrooms. How in 
 the world can people ever get used to such homes ? 
 Especially any person accustomed to having every- 
 thing as nice as she did when she was a girl, at 
 home in Nova Scotia." 
 
 "I was afraid, mamma, that you would be home- 
 sick, if you were obliged to spend the night with 
 cousin Ella. I was there with papa, when he 
 brought me to Boston, and I never had any desire 
 to repeat the visit, although, I must confess, the 
 poor woman tried to make it as pleasant as possi- 
 ble, with the means at her command. You should 
 have sent me a telegram from Yarmouth, telling ine 
 you were on the way, and I could then have met 
 you at the boat." 
 
 "Yes, I should have done so; but I had no idea 
 that Ella lived in such a way, and I thought it 
 would be very pleasant to go there and rest awhile, 
 after I came off the steamer, before I travelled any 
 farther." 
 
 "How did you enjoy your journey ? Were you 
 sea-sick ?" 
 
120 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 "A little; not much. I would have had a fine 
 time, if it had not been for that awful lodging- 
 house. Oh, dear, I am so tired ! How long will it 
 take us to get there ?" 
 
 "We will probably be home before half an hour," 
 answered her daughter. "You will have it quiet 
 enough at 'Maple wood,' for, although we live such 
 a short distance out of town, it is as quiet as though 
 we lived in the heart of a forest." 
 
 "Do you burn gas or oil ?" 
 
 "Neither; the house is lighted with electricity 
 and heated by steam, the same as cousin Mary's, in 
 Windsor, and aunt Kate's, in Yarmouth. I hope 
 you and papa will enjoy your visit here so much, 
 that you will never wish to leave us." 
 
 "I do not know about that, for I fancy that 
 neither your father nor I could be contented very 
 long away from the old farm." 
 
 "No, I suppose not. I must not be too selfish, 
 but try and be contented to have you with me for 
 the winter. Here we are, at home at last; and I 
 am so glad, for I fear you are tired out." 
 
 '-•CfX^^^ll^^K^jN' 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 121 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 A Visit to Europe. 
 
 When Mrs. Parker entered the almost palatial 
 residence of her daughter, she was too tired to 
 notice the magnificence of her surroundings ; but, 
 when shf^ awoke the next morning, after enjoying 
 a good night's rest, she was quite prepared to 
 examine and admire everything. Eva had told 
 her, when she showed her to her room, that all 
 the apartments communicating were for her pri- 
 vate use ; but she had paid little attention to the 
 information at the time. 
 
 A loud-toned clock, somewhere in the distance, 
 announcing the hour of eight, caused the old lady 
 to start guiltily from her couch. In all the sixty 
 years of her life, unless prevented by illness from 
 rising, she had never remained in bed till such an 
 unheard of hour. "What would Eva think of her 
 non-appearance at the breakfast table," she thought, 
 rushing around in search of her clothing, which, 
 
122 
 
 A Momantic Romance. 
 
 with the exception of a gorgeous crimson dressing- 
 gown and a pair of bedroom slippers, was nowhere 
 to be found. Scarcely had she got herself arrayed 
 in those articles, however, before her daughter en- 
 tered, clad in a dainty morning wrapper, and bear- 
 ing upon a silver tray, a cup of coffee and a slice of 
 toast. 
 
 "You are early this morning, mamma," was her 
 greeting as she crossed the room. " How do you feel 
 after your journey ? And did you rest well last 
 night?" 
 
 "Early!" repeated the elder lady, scornfully. 
 "You surely do not call this early ! I believe, Eva, 
 you grow lazier every day of your life. It is a 
 good thing you didn't have a farmer for a husband, 
 or you would have to be around before this time in 
 the morning. Yej?, I rested all right, and feel as 
 spry as a kitten this morning. You look as fresh 
 as a daisy, as your papa would say, if he were 
 here. But, Eva, where in the world did you put 
 my clothes ? I cannot find a thing to put on ex- 
 cept these,' she grumbled, gazing ruefully at the 
 crimson folds in which she was enveloped, "and 
 these," thrusting forth her slippered feet. " I should 
 not care to appear before the servants in those gar- 
 ments, or they would be sure to think I was some 
 fresh arrival from the circus." 
 
 Eva laughed heartily at her mother's doleful 
 face, as she surveyed herself in one of the numer- 
 ous mirrors with which the walls were lined. . 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 123 
 
 "Gome into your dressing-room, mamma, dear," 
 she answered, when at last she was able to speak, 
 "and, after you have eaten your lunch, we will try 
 and find something more sombre in which you can 
 clothe yourself. Your present garb, I must con- 
 fess, is rather striking for ordinary use. Come 
 and drink your coffee, before it gets cold." 
 
 She picked up the tray, from a stand on which 
 she had placed it when she first entered the room, 
 and passed into the adjoining apartment, followed 
 by her mother. The old lady gave an exclamation 
 of surprise, as she sank into an easy chair, and 
 looked around at the elegant furniture by which 
 she was surrounded. 
 
 "What a beautiful room, Eva!" she exclaimed, 
 after she had surveyed the contents for some time. 
 "I declare it is too fine for every day use." 
 
 Eva smiled at her mother's enthusiasm, and for 
 answer placed the breakfast tray upon a stand at 
 her side, then turned away to an open press, from 
 which she selected several garments, and left the 
 room. 
 
 "Do you feel like taking a bath this morning?" 
 she asked, returning, as the old lady finished her 
 repast. "If you do, the bath-room communicates 
 with this. You will find it at the end of this short 
 passage." 
 
 After the bath was finished, Eva led her mother 
 back to the dressing-room and carefully dressed her 
 
124 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 in a becoming morning robe and dainty lace cap. 
 ff After she had triumphantly gazed at lier handi- 
 •^^ work for some time, she proudly declared that her 
 mother was one of the handsomest and most stylish 
 looking old ladies to be found in the State. The 
 day was spent in explorinc-.' Eva's grand home. The 
 old lady felt she had much to learn regarding her 
 daughter's magnificent way of living. However, 
 before her husband's arrival, which followed her 
 own when a couple of weeks had passed, she was 
 able to instruct him in all the new-fangled ways, 
 as the old couple called, in private, all modern 
 improvements. 
 
 One of her first acts, when the two were alone, 
 was to impress upon him the fact that he must not 
 express any surprise, before the servants, at any 
 thing he saw in the house, but that whatever he did 
 not understand he must wait and ask her or Eva to 
 explain when they were alone. 
 
 It was not long, however, before both were initi- 
 ated into their daughter's way of living, and soon 
 learned to appreciate the magnificence by which 
 they were surrounded. 
 
 • A few weeks passed away and the trio departed 
 for Florida, where they proposed spending the win- 
 ter. Mr. and Mrs. Parker were both delighted with 
 the sunny Southern climate, where they could wan- 
 der out of doors and pluck the flowers and luscious 
 oranges, while the snow was piling drift upon drift 
 
A Rornaniic Romance. 
 
 125 
 
 over the fields and roadways at home in Nova Scotia. 
 Both declared, when they left in April, their inten- 
 tion of returning, if their lives were spared, the fol- 
 lowing autumn. 
 
 Only a short stop was matle at " Maplewood " on 
 their homeward journey. The spring was advanc- 
 ing rapidly, her father declared, when pressed by 
 Eva to make a longer visit, and it was time he was 
 home to look after the spring's work. At last, find- 
 ing it useless to urge them further, she bade them 
 good-by, on the pier in Boston, and watched them 
 sail for their beloved Nova Scotia, where she was 
 sure her father would be always ready to relate, to 
 all he could prevail upon to listen, the wonders he 
 had seen while on his foreign tour, as he persisted 
 in calling his visit to Florida. 
 
 A short time after her parents' departure, Eva re- 
 ceived a letter from Bertie, telling her they had 
 decided not to return to America till the autumn. 
 
 "But why," she had written, "cannot you join us 
 in Rome, where we shall remain for a few weeks 
 longer ? If we cannot come to you, there is nothing 
 to prevent you from coming to us. You can take a 
 steamer from New York direct to Marseilles, then 
 change for one to Civita Vecchia, where papa will 
 meet you. You understand French well enough to 
 get along without difficulty. But even if you did 
 not, you have your faithful Flora to help you out if 
 you should get stranded among the articles which 
 
126 
 
 A Mumantic Romance. 
 
 compose their lingo. Do, dear old i^v > , suy you will 
 come as soon as you can. We are all dying to see 
 you, and your presence would do mamma a world of 
 good. Flora will take the best of care of you on the 
 road, and Chase and his wife, assisted by Fred, can 
 look after your affairs while you are gone." 
 
 " Bertie is right," she thought, as she finished her 
 letter. "What is there to prevent me from joining 
 them in Europe ? It will be much nicer than help- 
 ing to worship that wonderful baby here, or going 
 down to Nova Scotia to be admired by the country 
 beaux." 
 
 Having made this decision, it was not long before 
 the preparations for her departure were completed, 
 and before a week had passed she had cabled to her 
 friends that she was comingr. 
 
 A day or two after she embarked, accompanied by 
 her delighted maid, upon one of the floating palaces 
 which ply between New York and France. 
 
 -^TN^I^^i^* 
 
A Romantic Rortiance. 
 
 127 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 The Shii'wueck. 
 
 Not until after the ship left the docks did Eva 
 realize what she wns doing. Had she allowed herself 
 time for consideration, she now felt that she never 
 would have undertaken the journey across the At- 
 lantic with no companion except her maid. 
 
 As she watched the shores from which they were 
 rapidly receding, and saw the crowds which throngeil 
 the pier they had left, growing every moment smaller, 
 a feeling almost akin to despair took possession of 
 her. Before her stretched the boundless ocean, upon 
 which she had voluntarily made herself a prisoner 
 for the next week or so. She contrasted this voyage 
 with the one she had made by the side of her devoted 
 husband, scarcely two short years ago, and felt that 
 she was only now beginning to realize her loss. 
 Day after day she would be compelled to come on 
 deck and mingle with the strang^^rs who surrounded 
 her ; but with the exception of Ik . maid, hardly a 
 
128 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 soul would she be able to atMress, for nearly all 
 were jaVjberin^ away in What was to her almoHt an 
 unknown tonfjue. 
 
 Wliat a mistake she had made by followinj]j Bertie's 
 advice* and crossing direct to France, True, she had 
 thus avoided many changes, but had she sailed from 
 Halifax to England, she would in all probability 
 have had the opportunity of relieving the monotony 
 of the voyage by an occasional conversation with 
 the captain of some English boat. Here, the ship 
 and all her equipments were most decidedly French, 
 and it would re(iuire more courage than she pos- 
 sessed to venture to address the surly looking 
 individual, who stood upon the raised deck above 
 their heads and gave his orders in such a command- 
 ing tone, as he sc vied upon all around him. How- 
 ever, she had placed herself in a position where 
 there was no possibility of turning back now ; so, 
 wisely resolving to make the best of her situation, 
 she leaned over the railing and pictured to herself 
 the pleasure in store for her, when she reached the 
 end of her journey, and was once more united to 
 her beloved friends. 
 
 So absorbed did she become in laying her plans, 
 and thinking of what she and Bertie would do 
 when they were once more together, that she did 
 not notice her veil had become detached from her 
 hat, and was floating across the deck. 
 
 "Pardon me," said a voice at her side, causing 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 129 
 
 her to turn quickly, "your veil has succeeded in 
 making its escape, and I have inanaj^ed to rescue it 
 before it got fairly started upon an independent 
 voyage." 
 
 "Thank you very nmch," she said, sweetly, reach- 
 ing out her hand for the truant veil, and raising her 
 eyes, at the same time, to look at its preserver. 
 But, as their eyes met, the words "Charlie !" "Eva !" 
 bursit simultaneously from the lips of the two. For 
 an instant both were too much astonished at the 
 meeting for further speech ; but, Eva, quickly re- 
 covering herself, quietly laid her hand in that of 
 her old lover, saying, "This is an unexpected plea- 
 sure, Mr. Smith. I was just beginning to feel very 
 lonely, as I realized that I had condemned myself 
 to exist without companionship for so many days, 
 and wondering what in the world I was to do to 
 pass the time, for one cannot rea«l continually." 
 
 "No; reading certainly does get rather monoton- 
 ous, if carried to excess. But, are you alone ?" he 
 asked, as he returned her warm greeting with the 
 old pleasant smile, which Eva remembered so well, 
 and which, even now, after all those years, caused 
 her heart to beat much faster than usual. 
 
 "Has Mr. Morley trusted you to the tender mer- 
 cies of the stormy Atlantic without guardianship ?" 
 
 "Professor Morley !" she .repeated, in a surprised 
 tone, as she looked at her companion. 
 
 "Pardon me," he answered, with a laugh, "it was 
 9 
 
130 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 only a slip of the tongue. Is not your husband, 
 Professor Morley, on board with you ?" 
 
 "Professor Morley is dead, and I am indeed alone," 
 she answered, sadly. "I am on my way to join 
 Doctor Morley and his family in Europe. They 
 have been abroad for nearly two years, on account 
 of Auntie Morley's health." 
 
 "Yes, I remember hearing the Stanhopes say that 
 Doctor Morley and his wife and daughter had gone 
 to Europe, but I heard nothing of your husband's 
 death. When did it occur ?" 
 
 "About a year ago," was the answer. "He caught 
 a dangerous fever while nursing some of his poorer 
 tenants, who were suff'ering from its effects, and as 
 his constitution was never strong, he soon became a 
 prey to th ^ malignant disease." 
 
 "Your luther and mother, I trust, are well. Have 
 you seen them lately?" he asked, breaking the 
 silence which had lasted for some time. 
 
 "Quite well, thank you. They spent the winter 
 with me in Florida, but returned to Nova Scotia a 
 few days before I left home. How dark it is getting • 
 I must lind my maid, and have my cabin prepared 
 for the voyage. I have been moving on deck ever 
 since I came on board." 
 
 "How fortunate it is that we both happened to 
 select the same steamer for our voyage. Like your- 
 self, I am on the way to join friends in Europe ; and 
 also, like yourself, I am crossing the Atlantic without 
 
A Romantic Momance. 
 
 131 
 
 even the companionship of a servant. I was be- 
 ginning to feel pretty blue about the time the wind 
 kindly brought me your veil. I had compared 
 myself to a stray sheep among a flock of goats. 
 The jabbering going on around me was like so much 
 Greek to my untutored ears. Allow me to assist 
 you across the deck," he pleaded, offering his arm. 
 "I had not noticed how rough the sea was getting. 
 Good-by !" he murmured, as he left her at the door 
 of her cabin ; "we will r.ieet, I trust, again, at dinner," 
 and, raising his hat, he walked away, as his compan- 
 ion made some inaudible reply, and closed the door 
 of her private room. Looking around the room 
 and finding she was alone, she threw herself upon 
 a couch and reflected on the afternoon's encounter. 
 
 "How strange," she thought, "that she should 
 meet Charlie here just when she expected to be so 
 lonely. How pleased he had seemed to see her and 
 receive her pleasant greeting, and how swiftly the 
 time had passed while they were talking. He evi- 
 dently thought it worth his while for him to be 
 friendly with her now. Once she was but a poor, 
 and comparatively ignorant, country girl. Now 
 she was a highly accomplished and wealthy young 
 widow, who had mingled in some of the highest 
 society in Europe, and been presented at the court 
 of more than one reigning sovereign. Although he 
 might become a highly successful New York mer- 
 chant, he never could be in a position to receive the 
 
132 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 honors which had been showered upon the deserted 
 love of his youth. No doubt he and his fa.iiily 
 would now consider her worthy to become one of 
 themselves, but she who had once been so despised 
 by them could, if the opportunity occurred, show 
 them how thoroughly she despised them. And why 
 should she not make the opportunity ? Once Charlie 
 professed to worship her. Was his old love so com- 
 pletely a thing of the past that it could not be 
 revived ? She had only to make him think she was 
 not indifferent to him, and she felt positive he would 
 soon be at her feet. She would prove the truth of 
 her father's favorite maxim, that old brands are 
 easily kindled, and when she had won a declaration 
 of love from him, how she should enjoy laughing at 
 his presumption." 
 
 Be careful, my dear Eva. If old brands are 
 kindled quicklj'^, watch that they do not, in your 
 case, flame up suddenly and envelope your life's 
 happiness in a dreadful conflagration. While you 
 are preparing the stones of vengeance to throw at 
 your early lover, be sure that you are strong enough 
 to throw them with a firm hand, or they may re- 
 bound and destroy your own loving heart, while 
 the adamant wall, which you used as a target, may 
 escape unharmed. A woman's love is hard to kill ; 
 and, though yours has been buried for many years, 
 there still may be some tiny roots deep down in 
 your heart, which may only require the pressure 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 133 
 
 that years have placed upon them removed, to 
 cause them to spring up and become a thriving 
 tree. If you play with fire, you shall be burned, 
 has been truly said. And what caused you such 
 exquisite happiness this afternoon, while you were 
 in the society of your old lover, if you are altogether 
 indifferent to him ? 
 
 "Be silent !" commanded Eva, to her inward moni- 
 tor. "Am I a child, to again fall in love with one 
 who has treated me so shamefully ? Of course, I 
 was pleased to see him to-day ; and why ? Because 
 I had no prospect of being able to speak to a single 
 person, except Flora, in an intelligible language. 
 'Twas like an oasis in the desert, to see a familiar 
 face appear at that moment. I have no fear of 
 consequences, but will arm myself for conquest ; 
 and, when I have him again at my feet, how I 
 shall delight in crushing him ! I will soon show 
 him he has no love-sick maiden, dying for his affec- 
 tions, now, to deal with, but a stern woman, crying 
 vengeance for the wrongs of her girlhood." 
 
 As she thus passionately declared her intentions, 
 her maid entered, to assist her in preparing for din- 
 ner ; and, under her deft fingers, the unpretending 
 little widow was soon transformed into a brilliant 
 belle. 
 
 As she emerged from her cabin, the crowd col- 
 lected at the entrance of the dining-saloon, which 
 was near, was expressing their admiration rather 
 
 I 
 
134 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 openly, when Charlie, who had been waiting im- 
 patiently for her reappearance, came forward, and, 
 drawing her hand through his arm, with quite an 
 air of proprietorship, led her to a table in a retired 
 corner. Seating himself by her side, the two kept 
 up an animated conversation during the meal, much 
 to the disgust of the foreigners around them, who 
 could scarcely understand a word of what was said. 
 
 After dinner, the two promenaded the deck, till 
 the crescent moon, sailing through the western sky, 
 tired of her journey, and, descending to the earth, 
 sank to rest in her watery bed. 
 
 When good-night had at length been exchanged, 
 each felt that the day had been a red-letter one in 
 the annals of their lives. 
 
 The days which followed were but a repetition of 
 the tirst. The two were never apart during their 
 waking hours, and when they separated for the 
 night, 'twas but to dream of each other. Both had 
 become indifferent to the remarks of their fellow 
 passengers, who were much amused at the infatu- 
 ation of the pair, and expressed their opinions in a 
 rather open manner. 
 
 Charlie's happiness was without alloy. He was 
 by the side of the only woman he had ever loved, 
 and the deck of the steamer was to him an earthly 
 paradise, into which no serpent could enter. 
 
 Eva, who still adhered firmly to her determination 
 to sacrifice her love, in order to make her former 
 
 I 
 
A Roinantic Romance. 
 
 135 
 
 lover suffer for his treachery in the past, felt, as the 
 coast of France drew near, that the end of the voy- 
 age would be the signal for the sounding of the 
 death knell to all her happiness in this world ; for, 
 no matter how well Charlie now loved her, he had 
 been false to her in the past, and she would never 
 again consent to trust her future in his hands. 
 
 Marseilles was reached all too soon for tl ^ poor 
 girl, who had managed to defer the important ques- 
 tion from day to day. They found, on disembarking, 
 that a steamer was on the point of sailing for Civita 
 Vecchia; and, hurrying their luggage through the 
 custom house, they started at once for Rome. 
 
 That night, as the little ship was bravely plough- 
 ing her way through the blue watei^s of the Medi- 
 terranean, Charlie resolved to learn his fate from 
 the lips of his fair mistress. After dinner, he led 
 her to the deck, and, beneath a radiant moon, which 
 was smiling down upon them from a cloudless sky, 
 he told her of his passionate love, and besought her 
 to share his life. Poor Eva could hardly force her 
 lips to utter a refusal to her lover's prayer ; but, 
 with a violent effort, the cruel words were at last 
 spoken, and her heart was doomed. 
 
 "I feel very much the honor you have done me, 
 Mr. Smith," she replied, when he begged her to 
 consider the question before giving him a final 
 answer ; " but, were I to consider for years, my 
 answer would still be the same. Our positions in 
 
136 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 life are very different ; and, pardon me for the 
 suggestion, but I might reasonably be supposed 
 to aspire to a much higher position than I could 
 occupy as the wife of a humdrum New York 
 merchant." 
 
 Ah, Mattie Smith, had you known, when you 
 threw that stone so remorselessly at poor Eva's 
 suffering heart, many years ago, that it was one 
 day to rebound and destroy your brothers peace, 
 would you not have stayed the fearful missile ? 
 
 Had Eva looked at her lover's face, she would 
 have been satisfied that her plan for vengeance 
 had succeeded. 
 
 "Say no more," he answered, bitterly; "I under- 
 stand all. Tlie wealthy widow of Professor Morley 
 needs but one link to complete the chain of her 
 ambition, and that, her beauty and accomplish- 
 ments, aided by her wealth, will soon secure to 
 deck her haughty brow. Fool that I was, not to 
 guess that the object of your present voyage to 
 Europe was to win a coronet I have helped to 
 while away a few idle hours, that, otherwise, would 
 have hung heavily on your hands; but, now that 
 I have outlived my usefulness, I am to* be tossed 
 aside, like a worn out glove. I have met with 
 many an accomplished coquette during my life, but 
 none that can compete with you." 
 
 "You are mistaken, sir. I have not the least 
 intention of searching for a coronet or a title. I 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 137 
 
 am going to Europe to be with my dearest friends 
 — friends who have ever been the same through 
 poverty and wealth. I shall never, never marry 
 again. If I was certain, Charlie, that you loved 
 me for myself alone, how gladly would I become 
 your wife, in spite of the past. But you deceived 
 me once, and I can never fully trust you again. I 
 should always have a suspicion you married me for 
 my wealth and position." 
 
 Too astonished to reply to her charge, Charlie 
 remained silent, as she left his side, for the poor, 
 tortured girl, fearing she would relent if she re- 
 mained longer in his company, hastened away, after 
 making a partial confession of her feelings for him. 
 
 "Is the girl crazy?" he thought, as he lighted a 
 cigar, the comforter of all masculine afflictions, and 
 leaned over the railing. "I deceived her once, she 
 says. There is some mystery here. Shall I try to 
 solve it?" 
 
 A loud crash and a dreadful shock, was the answer 
 to his question, and in an instant all was confusion 
 on the deck of the steamer. She had collided with 
 some dark object in the water, owing to the careless- 
 ness of the lookout, and was filling rapidly. The 
 boats were quickly lowered, filled with the alarmed 
 passengers, and pulled away from the sinking ship. 
 
 The boat in which Charlie had taken refuge was 
 the last to leave, and the man in charge had just 
 
188 
 
 A, Romantic Romance. 
 
 given the order to shove off, when Eva, who hod 
 been below when the accident occurred, came on 
 deck. 
 
 "Do not leave me alone here," she implored, coming 
 to the side of the ship as the boat was preparing to 
 move away. 
 
 "We must return for the lady," said Charlie to 
 the officer, who appeared to be an Englishman. 
 
 "Impossible !" was the reply. "The boat is over- 
 loaded already. One more would be sure to sink 
 her." 
 
 "Would you leave a helpless woman there to 
 perish alone ?" 
 
 "Better do that than imperil all." 
 
 "Order your men to pull back, then. She shall 
 have my place ; I cannot leave a woman to die like 
 a rat in a hole." 
 
 "Very well, if you like to make the exchange, 
 you are welcome ; but, be quick about it. She will 
 be at the bottom before ten minutes." 
 
 The instant the boat was alongside, he scrambled 
 up the side, and, taking Eva into his arms, he mur- 
 mured, "I will save you, darling." 
 
 She clung around his neck as he lowered her into 
 the boat, which was instantly pulled away, leaving 
 him standing on the deck alone. 
 
 "You are leaving him behind!" she screamed, 
 frantically pulling at the officer's arm. 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 139 
 
 "I know it," was the cool answer. "He volun- 
 teered to change places with you, and we have 
 accommodated him." 
 
 "Charlie!" Charlie!" she cried, as she was borne 
 away, "I will not leave you alone; we will die to- 
 gether, my love !" 
 
 For an instant Charlie feared his sacrifice had 
 been in vain, as he saw her making frantic efforts 
 to leap overboard ; but strong arms held her, and 
 he watched her disappear with a feeling of exulta- 
 'tion. By dying for her, he had proved his devotion, 
 and he watched the boat till his tired eyes could 
 perceive it no longer, then threw himself down on 
 the deck with a groan of despair, and waited for 
 the final plunge of the sinking vessel. How long 
 he remained in an almost unconscious condition, he 
 never knew ; but he suddenly raised himself with a 
 wild wish to escape from his doom. "There must 
 be plenty of materials for a raft," he thought ; " he 
 could surely tie a few planks together and escape, 
 if he had the time." 
 
 As he hurried forward in his search, he was 
 astonished to hear a voice hailing him from over 
 the water through a speaking trumpet ; and, look- 
 ing up, he saw a large ship a short distance away, 
 from which they were lowering a boat. Scarcely 
 had it touched the water, when three men sprang 
 in, and, seizing their oars, they rowed rapidly to- 
 wards him. 
 
140 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 "Jump into the water, if you can swim, and the 
 boat will pick you up," called the voice which had 
 first hailed him. "You will have to look alive, or 
 that sinking hulk will take you all down. If there 
 are others on hoard, God help them." 
 
 Charlie, who had once been perfectly at home in 
 the muddy waters surrounding his native shore, 
 did not hesitate an instant, but leaped into the 
 treacherous depths. For a second he thought he 
 was sinking, but he quickly recovered his equi- 
 librium and struck out boldly for the approaching 
 boat. It was onlj^ a few seconds before he was 
 pulled over the gunwale almost exhausted, and the 
 boat's head was turned to the ship. But, scarcely 
 had she begun her backward journey, before a 
 warning was shouted to the men to look out ; and, 
 an instant after, the ill-fated steamer leaped into 
 the air, then plunged into the depths of the Medi- 
 terranean, nearly swamping the boat as she disap- 
 peared. A few minutes more and they were all 
 standing safely upon the deck of the ship, the boat 
 was again hoisted to its place, and she had resumed 
 her voyage. When Charlie was welcomed by the 
 oflEicers, he was taken to the cabin and provided 
 with dry clothing. He was then informed he was 
 on board a U. S. naval ship, which was on a home- 
 ward bound voyage. 
 
 "It was a narrow escape you had," said the 
 Captain, after listening to Charlie's story. "I do 
 
A Romantic Roiruxnce. 
 
 141 
 
 not believe a man was ever nearer death and 
 lived. I believe, if the boat had been a couple 
 of yards nearer the st^janier when she sank, that 
 you all would now have been lying at the bottom 
 (jf the sea. I was paralyzed when I saw the awful 
 danger you were in." 
 
 "Do you think it possible for the boats to be 
 saved ?" asked Charlie. 
 
 "It is more than possible. In all probability, if 
 they are not picked uj^ before, they will reach some 
 of the islands near here before to-morrow evening." 
 
 "But they may not be able to find the islands." 
 
 "No danger there," laughed the Captain; "that 
 fellow you have described is shrewd enough for 
 anything. If he would rather sacrifice a human 
 life than overload his boat, he will know enough 
 to pull for land in some direction." 
 
 "I suppose you will not be able to put me ashore 
 somewhere ?" 
 
 "No ; it would deprive me of my commission, 
 were I to do so. I am very sorry, but I will have 
 to take you back to the States before I land you. 
 But, cheer up, it will not take us long to reach 
 home. You can learn the fate of your friend by 
 cabling after your arrival." 
 
 "The suspense will be almost unbearable, but I 
 will be compelled to endure it," he answered sadly, 
 turning away. 
 
 "Yes, you will have to endure it," replied the 
 
142 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 Captain. "I would help you if I could, but I can- 
 not; or, rather, I dare not. But you must rest 
 now. Let me show you to the cabin which I have 
 had prepared for you. I think you will find every- 
 thing here you require. Good-night ; " and the 
 kind-hearted man closed the door, leaving hia 
 guest to seek repose. 
 
 A few days after he had been saved from the 
 sinking steamer, they sighted the American coast. 
 How slowly the hours crawWd as he watched the 
 land drawing nearer. 
 
 "Have patience. Smith," said the Captain, as the 
 tug came alongside. "You will not be allowed to 
 land till I show a clean bill of health to the officials. 
 Do not be down-hearted now ; you will soon find 
 your troubles are all over." 
 
 His first act, on landing, was to send a telegram 
 to "Riverside," asking for the address of the Mor- 
 leys in Europe., and also inquiring if anything had 
 been learned regarding Eva's fate. In about an 
 hour an aaswer was brought to his hotel from 
 Fred Morley, informing him that Eva had safely 
 reached her friends at Rome, and giving him the 
 coveted address. With a feeling of thankfulness, 
 our hero cabled to the Morleys the intelligence that 
 he had been rescued, and the next day he was 
 again on his way to Europe, where he arrived in 
 due time, without further mishap. 
 
 mi 
 thi 
 sti 
 
 bui 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 143 
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 Bertie's Makuiage. 
 
 As the boat bore Eva from her lover, she watched 
 the sinking^ steamer, which still floated upon the 
 surface, till her tired eyes could look no longer. 
 
 "Do you think it possible," she asked, turning to 
 the Englishman, "that the steamer should not sink, 
 after all ?" 
 
 "Possible!" he answered, scornfully; "I should 
 think not. I am surprised to see her still afloat." 
 
 "Is there no hope of Mr. Smith being picked oft' 
 by a passing ship, before she goes down ? Are we 
 in the track of many vessels ?" 
 
 "He might be, but it is hardly likely. He might 
 make some kind of a raft, if he thought of such a 
 thing, and was at all handy. There is plenty of 
 stuflT on board." j 
 
 "A raft," she thought. 'Twas but a tiny straw, 
 but she grasped it readily, and hope sprang up anew 
 
144 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 m her despairinfr heart. If Charlie should be saved, 
 there might still be a happy future before them. 
 
 Soon after daylight they were picked up by an 
 English yacht" and, coming on deck, after a few 
 hours' rest, wnat was her surprise to see Stanley 
 Winthrope leaning against the railing and smoking 
 a cigar, with a very bored expression on his hand- 
 some face, which instantly changed to a look of 
 pleasure as he recognized Eva. 
 
 "You, of all people !" he exclaimed, grasping her 
 hand. "Were you among that boat load we picked 
 up this morning ? Or, has your ladyship provided 
 yourself with a pair of wings to travel about the 
 globe, and just lighted upon the Cellia for a short 
 rest, as you were passing over Europe ?" 
 
 "I was among the poor unfortunates you rescued 
 this morning. Can you tell me where we are going, 
 or what they are going to do with us ?" 
 
 "They are going to put them ashore, as soon as 
 we are lucky enough to find one, which will be 
 soon, I trust, for we are awfully packed at present. 
 Where do you wish to go ? that is the question. 
 Mention the place, and I will wager a good sum 
 that the owner of this craft will steer straight for 
 that point." 
 
 "He must be extremely accommodating, whoever 
 he is," laughed Eva. "I was going to Civita Vec- 
 chia, when we were wrecked, and I am anxious to 
 get there as soon as possible. I am on the way to 
 
 wi 
 
 m 
 unf 
 
 as 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 145 
 
 join Dr. Morley, auntie and Bertie in Rome, and if 
 they hear of the disaster, they will be very anxious, 
 for they know when I left New York, and will be 
 watching for my arrival." 
 
 "Is Bertie's husband with them ?" Winthrope at 
 length forced himself to ask. 
 
 "Bertie's husband !" she repeated. "Oh, yes, I 
 know ; Fred's nonsense about Bertie's marriage. 
 No, she is not married. The dear girl considers 
 herself cut out for an old maid, and nothing will 
 induce her to change her mind." 
 
 "I only heard of poor Walter's death a short 
 time ago, Mrs. Morley. I have been travelling in 
 the East ever since I left you in Rome, till within 
 the last few weeks, when I fell in with a friend, 
 who induced me to cruise with him in his yacht for 
 the summer. We are travelling wherever fancy 
 leads us, and I know he will not object to landing 
 us at Civita Vecchia, for I do not intend to lose 
 sight of you till I place you safely in the hands of 
 your friends. No objections, please. You must 
 grant me this pleasure, for the sake of old friend- 
 ship, and it will be, indeed, a pleasure for me to 
 meet with the Morleys once more. Please excuse 
 me for a short time, till I find my friends," and the 
 young man hastened away, while Eva seated herself 
 under an awning to await his return. 
 
 The sad fate of her lover was for a time forgotten 
 as she pictured the pleasure she was bringing to her 
 10 
 
146 
 
 A RoKwanixc Romance. 
 
 friends. What a sui-prise for them when she ap- 
 peared, accompanied by Winthrope ! Poor, dear old 
 Bertie, who had watched so patiently for years the 
 return of her lover, locking her sorrow away in her 
 own heart, and brightening the lives of all, where- 
 ever she went ! Truly, she deserved the happiness 
 in store for her." 
 
 "Allow me, Mrs. Morley," she heard Winthrope 
 saying, "to present my friend, Lord Frederick 
 Arnold, a cousin of the Waldos." 
 
 Eva looked up, and could scarcely repress a 
 smile, as she received the affected greeting of the 
 dandified little Lord. If dudes existed in England, 
 this certainly must be a noble specimen of the class. 
 She could not help thinking of Darwin's missing- 
 link, as she looked at the object before her. He 
 was clad in Turkish trousers of white linen, with a 
 loose blouse of the same material. A small white 
 straw sailor hat, secured by a narrow blue ribbon 
 to one of his jacket buttons, crowned his flaxen 
 curls, while long blue silk stockings and patent 
 leather slippers completed his costume. He had a 
 gold-rimmed eye-glass screwed into his left eye ; 
 but what caused it to adhere so firmly to the orb, 
 was beyond her comprehension. 
 
 'Mrs. Morley," he began, after he had surveyed 
 her with much deliberation, "our friend, Winthrope, 
 tells me you wish to be landed at Civita Vecchia as 
 soon as possible. I am awfully sorry to lose my 
 
 time 
 provi 
 her 
 jouril 
 hotel 
 saloi 
 
 rnenfcl 
 excJaf 
 
 "yI 
 
 didn' 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 147 
 
 e 
 
 a 
 
 ie 
 
 »n 
 
 su 
 
 Int 
 a 
 e; 
 ■b, 
 
 companion, but I suppose 1 will have to pve him 
 up to his American friends. We will endeavor to 
 make your stay among us as pleasant as possible, 
 and if there is anything you wish that can be ob- 
 tained on board, you have only to mention the fact, 
 and I will see that you receive it." 
 
 Eva was quite surprised to hear him addressing 
 her in such good English. She had imagined, from 
 his appearance, that his drawl would be almost 
 unintelligible. She thanked him warmly for his 
 kindness, and began discussing the probable fate 
 of her fellow-voj'^agers till luncheon time. When 
 he discovered that she was a warm friend of his 
 cousin. Lady Gertrude Atholstane, and, also, that 
 she had been presented at the English Court by his 
 aunt, he redoubled his efforts for her entertainment, 
 and the time passed pleasantly till he landed her in 
 Italy. 
 
 When the two friends left the yacht, they lost no 
 time in hunting up a lady's emporium, where Eva 
 provided herself with a few necessary additions to 
 her wardrobe, after which they continued their 
 journey, and presented themselves at Dr. Morley's 
 hotel just at dark. Being ushered into the grand 
 salon, she sent her name to her friends, and a mo- 
 ment after Bertie came rushing in breathlessly 
 exclaiming : 
 
 "You dear, darling old Eva! Why in the world 
 didn't you send us word you were coming, so we 
 
148 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 r 
 
 could meet you ? Oh, I am so glad to see you !" 
 
 "Is that the way you receive all your friends, Miss 
 Bertie ?" asked a voice at her side ; and, looking 
 around, she perceived Winthrope. Involuntarily, 
 she murmured his name, as he enrV, ' 'ored to clasp 
 her hands in his own. 
 
 "If you will pxcuse me, Beitie, I think I will find 
 Auntie Morle^ said her friend ; and, softly crossing 
 the room, sht. closed the door on the happy lovers. 
 
 Inquiring her way to Mrs. Morley's private apart- 
 ments, she was soon clasped in the arms of her dear 
 old friend, where, after gladdening her heart by tell- 
 ing who was her companion, she proceeded to relate 
 her own sad story. 
 
 When they encountered Bertie and her lover at 
 the dinner table, the radiant face and ringing laugh 
 of the former told Eva^ her friend's happiness was 
 complete. 
 
 The next day the impatient lover obtained Doctor 
 Morley's consent to an immediate marriage with his 
 daughter. 
 
 After a few days they all left Rome for a coun- 
 try villa near Lake Como, and preparations for a 
 hasty wedding were begun at once. Three weeks 
 after, they were quietly married in the flower- 
 decked drawing-room ; and, both declaring they 
 were dying for a sight of their native land, they 
 departed for America, by way of England, leaving 
 Eva to cs^re for the old couple, who were anxious to 
 remain in Europe till the autttnm. 
 
 Ev 
 
 (( 
 live] 
 
 yetf 
 
 Yoij 
 andl 
 
 sag^ 
 
 wit] 
 
 muci 
 
 be 81 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 149 
 
 1 coun- 
 t'or a 
 Iweeks 
 lower- 
 they 
 they 
 leaving 
 lious to 
 
 That evening, as Eva was sitting alone in the 
 moonlighted garden, thinking sorrowfully of the 
 past, the faithful Flora, who had rejoined her 
 beloved mistress, brought her a telegram. She 
 quickly broke the yellow seal, and ran her eyes 
 over the contents, then uttered a joyful cry and 
 rushed towards the house. 
 
 "Charlie is safe !" she cried, bursting into the 
 room where Mrs. Morley was resting, after the 
 fatigues of the day. "Charlie is safe! He was 
 picked ojff the steamer by a ship and carried home, 
 but is now on his way back," and, sinking at the 
 feet of her kind friend, she burst into tears. 
 
 "There, there, dearie, don't cry. He is coming 
 back, and we will have another wedding, and all 
 go home together.'' 
 
 "Do you think I ought to marry him ?" asked 
 Eva, doubtfull3^ " Would it not be treason to poor 
 Walter?" 
 
 "My dear Eva," answered her friend, "I have 
 lived many years in this world, and I have never 
 yet seen the wisdom of parting two loving hearts. 
 You were a faithful wife to Walter, while he lived ; 
 and T feel assured, that, could he send you a mes- 
 sage from Paradise, he would sanction your union 
 with the love of your youth. You have suffered 
 much, my child ; but everything in this world will 
 be sure to come right at last." 
 
150 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 Conclusion. 
 
 Eva was sitting alone one evening in the moon- 
 lighted garden, a few weeks after Bertie's marriage, 
 when she saw her lover coming to her across the 
 lawn. 
 
 "Are you glad to see me, Eva?" were his first 
 words, as he clasped her outstretched hands and 
 drew her to his breast. 
 
 "Oh, Charlie, if you only knew how glad !" she 
 answered, as she raised her face to his. 
 
 The fond lover drew her closer, as he murmured, 
 passionately, "Eva! Eva! you will never send me 
 from you again, will you, my darling?" 
 
 "No, Charlie, never again. I will forgive the 
 past, and all you have caused me to suffer." 
 
 "There is some mystery here, Eva, which I must 
 now solve. The night you refused to be my wife, 
 you accused me of deceiving you once, and you also 
 told me if you could be sure of my love for you, 
 
A Romantic Romance. 
 
 151 
 
 ge, 
 the 
 
 irst 
 ind 
 
 she 
 
 red, 
 me 
 
 the 
 
 nust 
 wife, 
 also 
 you, 
 
 that you would gladly marry me. Have I yet 
 proved my love for you sufficiently, my dear one ?" 
 
 "You would have given your life for me, Charlie. 
 What greater proof ca» man give of his love than 
 that ? Forgive me for the cruel words I spoke that 
 night. For the sake of my mad revenge, I would 
 have deliberately broken my own heart." 
 
 "You will forgive the past, and all I have caused 
 you to suffer! Explain your meaning, Eva, for I 
 know not to what you allude. I have never know- 
 ingly caused you pain. What mad impulse prompt- 
 ed you to send me that fatal letter, before my 
 marriage, telling me you no longer cared for n>e ? 
 I now see there has been treachery at work." 
 
 "Charlie, I never sent you such a letter. Some 
 one has deceived us both. Your last letter to me, 
 told me that you were coming home to spend your 
 vacation. Long I watched and waited for another 
 letter ; but it never came. Then, oh Charlie ! I s«iw 
 your marriage in the paper, and I thought I should 
 have died." 
 
 How the sweet voice quivered, as she recalled the 
 sufferings of that time, and Charlie's loving arms 
 clasped her closer, as he realized what anguish she 
 had endured. 
 
 "Then," she went on, with a bitter sob, "I heard 
 your sister say I was no fit wife for you ; that you 
 never thought of allowing me to disgrace you before 
 your New York friends. It was then I made an 
 
152 
 
 A Romantic Romance. 
 
 effort to forget my false lover, and show you all 
 how I could win as good a position in society as 
 you had already done. Aided by my kind friends, 
 the Morleys, I succeeded beyond my expectations, 
 and when I met you on the steamer, some fiend 
 told me now was my time for revenge." 
 
 "We have both been wrong in trusting to appear- 
 ances, and so cruelly doubting each other ; but, now, 
 tell me when can I call this little hand all my own ? 
 We have been parted long enough. Do not keep 
 me waiting many days, my dear one." 
 
 "Only long enough to prepare the wedding gown," 
 she answered, with a smile, and her lover kissed her 
 parted lips as she spoke. 
 
 "What shall we do to those who have caused us 
 all this sorrow ?" he asked, as he rose to obey Mrs. 
 Morley, who was calling him from the doorway not 
 to keep Eva longer in the chill night air ; and Eva, 
 raising her happy face to his, softly whispered : 
 
 "Remembering our present happiness, we will 
 forgive them." 
 
 The glorious September sun was bathing the pic- 
 turesque little villa in a flood of golden light, as Eva, 
 clad in plain white silk, was led into the church, on 
 her wedding-day, by her kind old friend. Doctor 
 Morley. The sunbeams played among her silken 
 curls, as the white-haired old clergyman united her 
 to the object of her young heart's devotion. 
 
 The same sun was smiling upon two ladies who 
 
-4 Romantic Momance. 
 
 153 
 
 were seated upon the veranda of a pretty cottage 
 in far-away Nova Scotia. The elder held an open 
 letter in her hand, from which she was reading 
 aloud. 
 
 "So that is the end of all your scheming, Mattie," 
 said her companion, as she watched the reader tear- 
 ing the epistle into tiny pieces, which she sent float- 
 ing away on the morning breeze. "And such a 
 romantic ending, like a chapter from a novel. We 
 have a sister-in-law of whom we can feel proud. 
 How I shall enjoy telling the Stacys what my 
 brother's wife wore when she was presented at 
 Court." 
 
 "Proud of her!" exclaimed the other, passion- 
 ately. " How I hate her ! hate her ! ! hate her ! ! ! 
 I will spoil her life for her yet!" 
 
 "I should not advise you to try it, my dear sis- 
 ter. Of course, all differences have been explained 
 before this, and you had better be careful, or they 
 will suspect that you had something to do with the 
 sending of that letter" 
 
 The End. 
 
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 For Sale by all Druggists, 
 
 Hattie ft Mylins, Agents for NoTa Scotia.