IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT.3) 
 
 4p 
 
 ^ 
 
 :/ 
 
 % 
 
 
 1.0 
 
 11.25 
 
 liilU 12.5 
 
 |50 ■^* HHH 
 
 ■^ 1^ 12.2 
 
 m m 
 
 us 
 
 u i^m 
 
 u mil 1.6 
 
 
 m 
 
 ^>. 
 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 ^: 
 
 WJ> 
 
 V^ 
 
 V 
 
 o 
 
 / 
 
 /A 
 
 Hiotographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
 .^ 
 
 A^ 
 
 iV 
 
 '^ 
 
 <> 
 
 m 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 1^ 
 
 Ki 
 
 !■ 
 
 ^\ 
 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 Collection de 
 microfiches. 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 
 
■ ■ 
 
 Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques 
 
 The Institute has attempted to obtain the best 
 original copy available for filming. Features of this 
 copy which may be bibliographicaliy unique, 
 which may alter any of the images in the 
 reproduction, or which may significantly change 
 the usual method of filming, are checlted below. 
 
 L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire 
 qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les ddtails 
 de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du 
 point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier 
 une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une 
 modification dans la mdthode normale de filmage 
 sont indiquds ci-dessous. 
 
 Coloured covers/ 
 Couverture de couleur 
 
 
 Coloured pages/ 
 Pages de couleur 
 
 Covers damaged/ 
 Couverture endommagde 
 
 
 Pages damaged/ 
 Pages endommagdes 
 
 Covers restored and/or laminated/ 
 Couverture restaurde et/ou pelliculde 
 
 __ 
 
 Pages restored and/or laminated/ 
 Pages restaurdes et/ou pellicul^es 
 
 Cover title missing/ 
 ., Le titre de couverture manque 
 
 . y Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 . M Pages d6color6es. tachetdes ou piqu6es 
 
 Coloured maps/ 
 
 Cartes gdographiques en couleur 
 
 
 Pages detached/ 
 Pages ddtachdes 
 
 Coloured inl( (i.e. other than blue or black)/ 
 Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) 
 
 V 
 
 Showthrough/ 
 Transparence 
 
 Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ 
 Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur 
 
 
 Quality of print varies/ 
 Qualitd indgale de I'impression 
 
 Bound with other material/ 
 Relid avec d'autres documents 
 
 
 Includes supplementary material/ 
 Comprend du materiel suppldmentaire 
 
 Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion 
 
 along inte'ior margin/ 
 
 La re liure serr6e oeut causer de I'ombre ou de la 
 
 
 Only edition available/ 
 Seule Edition disponible 
 
 The 
 to tl 
 
 The 
 
 POS! 
 of tl 
 film 
 
 Oric 
 
 beg 
 
 the 
 
 sior 
 
 othi 
 
 first 
 
 sion 
 
 or il 
 
 The 
 shal 
 TINI 
 whii 
 
 MaF 
 difft 
 enti 
 begi 
 righ 
 reqi 
 met 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 distortion le long de la marge intdrieure 
 
 Blank leaves added during restoration may 
 appear within the text. Whenever possible, these 
 have been omitted from filming/ 
 II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout^es 
 lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, 
 mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont 
 pas dtd filmies. 
 
 Additional comments:/ 
 Commentaires suppl6mentaires; 
 
 D 
 
 Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata 
 slips, tissues, etc., have been r<ffilmed to 
 ensure the best possible image/ 
 Les pages totalement ou partiallement 
 obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, 
 etc., ont M film^es i nouveau de faqon d 
 obtenir la meilleure image possible. 
 
 This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 
 
 Ce document est film6 au taux de reduction indiqu6 ci-dessous. 
 
 10X 
 
 
 
 
 14X 
 
 
 
 
 18X 
 
 
 
 
 22X 
 
 
 
 
 26X 
 
 
 
 
 30X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 V 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12X 
 
 16X 
 
 20X 
 
 24X 
 
 28X 
 
 32X 
 
ire 
 
 details 
 les du 
 modifier 
 ler une 
 filmage 
 
 The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks 
 to the generosity of: 
 
 National Library of Canada 
 
 The images appearing here are the best quality 
 possible considering the condition and legibility 
 of the original copy and in iteeping with the 
 filming contract specifications. 
 
 L'exemplaire fllm6 fut reproduit grfice d la 
 g6n6rosit6 de: 
 
 Bibliothdque nationale du Canada 
 
 Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le 
 plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et 
 de la nettet^ de l'exemplaire filmi, et en 
 conformity avec les conditions du contrat de 
 filmage. 
 
 Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed 
 beginning with the front cover and ending on 
 the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All 
 other original copies are filmed beginning on the 
 first page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, and ending on the last page with a printed 
 or illustrated impression. 
 
 6es 
 
 Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en 
 papier est imprimde sont film6s en commen^ant 
 par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la 
 dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration. soit par le second 
 plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires 
 originaux sont film^s en commengant par la 
 premidre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par 
 la dernidre page qui comporte une telle 
 empreinte. 
 
 The last recorded frame on each microfiche 
 shall contain the symbol -^ (meaning "CON- 
 TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), 
 whichever applies. 
 
 Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la 
 dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le 
 cas: le symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVRE ", le 
 symbole y signifie "FIN". 
 
 re 
 
 Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratios. Those too large to be 
 entirely included in one exposure are filmed 
 beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frames as 
 required. The following diagrams illustrate the 
 method: 
 
 Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre 
 film6s d des taux de reduction diffdrents. 
 Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre 
 reproduit en un seul clich6, il est filmd d partir 
 de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, 
 et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre 
 d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants 
 illustrent la mdthode. 
 
 ly errata 
 9d to 
 
 nt 
 
 ne pelure, 
 
 ipon d 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 32X 
 
 1 2 3 
 
 4 5 6 
 
ROBERTSON'S CHEAP SERIES. 
 
 / 
 
 POPULAR READING AT POPULAR PRICES^ 
 
 ROS 
 
 W 
 
 OND 
 
 J 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE YOUTHFUL ERROR. 
 
 ■ ■■!'' f 
 : .if 
 
 — BY- 
 
 MARY J. HOLMES, 
 
 Author of Lena Rivers — Tempest and Sunsliine — Meadow Brook — English Orphans, etc 
 
 
 I 
 
 C O Mr L E 7 F. 
 
 T E N T : 
 J. ROSS ROBERTSON, 55 KINQ-ST. WEST, COR BAY. 
 
 1881, 
 
^0 
 
 ■■' T -J ■•» 
 
 ^. .1 i ' 
 
 r- ■» 
 
 .\ . i-j \ i-j ■ *■"/' 
 
 11 
 
 ;."-, -*!|: 
 
 ■ * * ; 
 
 at 
 
 tjB'Ay 
 
 ;Kt:^i^-l:X^^c:''.*-^-V' 
 
 "I .-i 
 
 . cid^Oi .u 
 
no s-A-DvconsriD. 
 
 H 
 
 CHAPTER 1. 
 
 THE OWNER OK RIVERSIDE. 
 
 All the day long the September rain had 
 fallen, and when the night closed in it show- 
 ed no sign of weariness, but with the same 
 monotonous patter dropped upon the roof, or 
 beat against the windows of the pleasantly 
 lighted room where a young man sat gazing 
 at the glowing grate, and listf ning appar- 
 ently to the noise of the storm without. But 
 neither the winds, nor yet the i-ain, had a 
 part of that young man's thoughts, for they 
 were with the past, and the chain which 
 linked them to that past was the open letter 
 which lay on the table beside him. For that 
 letter he had waited long and anxiously, 
 wondering what it would contain, and if his 
 overtures for reconciliation with one who 
 had erred far more than himself, would be 
 accepted. It had come at last, and with a 
 gathering coldness at his heart he had read 
 the decision — ' she would not be reconciled,' 
 and she bade him 'go his way alone and leave 
 her to herself. ' 
 
 • It is well,' he said ; 'I shall never trouble 
 her again ' — and with a feeling of relief, as if 
 a heavy load, a dread of coming evil, had been 
 taken from his mind, he threw the letter 
 upon the table, and leaning back in his cush- 
 ioned chair, tried to fancy that the last few 
 years of his life were blotted out. 
 
 ' Could it be so, Ralph Browning would 
 be a different man, ' he said aloud ; then, as 
 he glanced round the richly furnished room, 
 he continued — 'People call me happy. Why 
 was it suffered to be, and must I make a life- 
 long atonement for that early sin ?' 
 
 In his excitement he arose, and crushing 
 the letter for a moment in his ha- d, 
 hurled it into the fire ; then, going to his 
 private drawer, he took out and opened a 
 neatly folded package, containing a long 
 tress of jet black hair. Shudderingly he 
 wound it around his fingers, laid it over 
 the l)ack of his hand, held it up to the light, 
 ftud then with a hard, dark look upon his 
 
 face, threw it, too, upon the grate, sa>iiii,' 
 aloud. ' Thus perisheth every mementi) 
 of the past, and I am free again— free as 
 air !' 
 
 He walked to the window, and pressing 
 his burning forehead against the cool, damp 
 pane, looked out upon the night. He could 
 not see through the iUukness, but had it 
 been day, hi^ eye would have rented on 
 broad acres all his own ; for Ralph Brown- 
 ing was a wealthy man, and tlie house in 
 which he lived was his i)y right of inherit- 
 ance from a bachelor uncle for whom he ha«l 
 been named, and who, two years before oui 
 story opens, had <iied, leaving to his nephew 
 the grand old place, called Riverside, from 
 its nearness to the river. It was a most 
 beautiful spot ; and when its new master 
 first took possession of it, the maids and 
 matrons of Granby, who had mourned for 
 the elder Browning as people mourn for a 
 good man, felt themselves somewhat con- 
 soled from the fact that his successor was 
 young and handsome, and would doubtless 
 prove an invaluable acquisition to their fire- 
 side circles, and furnish a theme for gossip, 
 without which no village can well exist. But 
 in the first of their expectations they were 
 mistaken, for Mr. Browning shunned rather 
 than sought society, and spent the most of 
 his leisure hours in the seclusion of his lib- 
 rary, where, as Mrs. Peters, his housekeeper, 
 said, he did nothing but mope over books 
 and walk the floor. ' He was melancholy, ' 
 she said ; ' there was something workin' on 
 his mind, and what it was she didn't know 
 more'n the dead — though she knew as well 
 as she wanted to that he had been crossed 
 in love for what else would make so many 
 of his hairs grey, and he not yet twenty- 
 five !' 
 
 That there was a mystery connected with 
 him was conceded by most of the villagers, 
 and many a curious gaze they bent upon the 
 grave, dignified young man, who seldom 
 joined in their pastimes or intruded himself 
 upon their company. Much sympathy was 
 expressed for him in hit loneliness, by the 
 
 A 
 
 iH 
 
ROSAMOND. 
 
 people of (Jranby, and more than one young 
 gill wouUl ghuUy have imposed upon herself 
 the task of clieering that loneliness, hut he 
 seemed pcifectly invulncni'ile to maiden 
 charms ; ami when Mrs. I'eters, as she of*^en 
 did, urged him ' to take a wife and l)e some- 
 body,' he answered (luu-tly, '1 am content to 
 follow the example vi my uncle. I shall 
 prol)ably never marry.' 
 
 Still h(! was lonely in his great house — so 
 lonely thai, tli^igh it liurt his pride to doit, 
 he wrote tlie letter, tlie answer to winch 
 excited him so terribly, and awoke witlnn 
 his mind a train of tlioiiglit no absorbing and 
 intense, tliat he did not iiear the sununons 
 to supper until Mrs. Peters put her head 
 into the room, asking ' if he were deaf or 
 what '!' 
 
 Mrs. Peters had been in the elder IJrown- 
 ing's household for years, and when the new 
 owner came, she still continued at her post, 
 and exercised over her young master a kind 
 of motherly care, which he permitted be- 
 cause he knew her real worth, and that 
 without her his home would be uncomfort- 
 able indeed. On the occasion of which we 
 write, Mrs. Peters was unusually attentive, 
 and to a person 1*0 all skilled in female tac- 
 tics, it was evident tliat she was about to ask 
 afavoiir, aud had made preparations accord- 
 ingly. His favourite watlles had been but- 
 tered exactly right, the peaclies and cream 
 were delicious — the fragrant black tea was 
 neither too strong nor too weak — the fire 
 blazed brightly in tlie grate — the light from 
 the chandelier fell softly upon the massive 
 silver service and damask cloth ; — and with 
 all.these creature comforts around him, it is 
 not strange that he forgot the letter and the 
 tress of hair which so lately had blackened 
 on the coals. The moment was propitious, 
 and by the time he had finished his second 
 cup, Mrs. Peters said, ' I have something to 
 propose. ' 
 
 Leaning back in his chair, he looked in- 
 quiringly at her, and she continued : ' You 
 remember Mrs. Lefton, the poor woman 
 who had seen better days, and lived in East 
 Granby ?' 
 
 •Yes.' . ' 
 
 ' You know she has been sick, and you 
 gave me leave to carry her anything I 
 chose ?' 
 ., 'Yea.' 
 
 * Well, she's dead, poor thiner, and what 
 IS worse, she hain't no connection, nor never 
 had, and her little daughter Rosamond hain't 
 a place to lay her head. ' 
 
 ' Let her come and sleep with you, then, ' 
 said Mr. Browning, rattling his spoon upon 
 the edge of his cup. 
 
 ' Yes, and what'U she do days ?' continued 
 
 Mrs. Peters. ' 8ho can't run the streets, 
 that's so ; now, I don't believe no great in 
 ehihlren, and you certaiidy don't b'lieve in 
 'em at all, nor your poor uncle before you : 
 but Rosamond ain't a ciiihl ; site's tldrteen — 
 UKJst a woman — and it yon dont nund the 
 expense, I shan't mind tlio troiilile, and slie 
 can live here till she finds a place. llei' 
 mother, you know, took up millinering to 
 gut a living.' 
 
 ' Ccirtainly, let her come,' answered Mr. 
 Browning, who was noted for his benevol- 
 enee. 
 
 Till < matter being thus satisfactorily set* 
 tied, Mrs. I'eteis arose from tiie table, while 
 Mr. Browning went back to tin; olden men;- 
 ories wliicli had haunted hint so mueh tliat 
 day, and witii which there was not mingled 
 a single thought of the little Kosamond, who 
 was to exert so strong an influence upon his 
 future life. 
 
 Wl'i 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 ROSAMOND LEYTON. 
 
 Rosamond had been some weeks at River- 
 side, and during all that time Mr. Browning 
 had scarcely noted her at all. On the first 
 day of her arrival he had spoken kindly to 
 her, asking her how old she was, and how 
 long her mother had been dead, and this 
 was all the attention he had pai<l her. He 
 did not even yet know the colour of her eyes, 
 or texture of her hair, — whether it were 
 curly or straight, black or brown ; but he 
 knew in various ways that she was there — 
 knew it by the sound of dancing feet upon 
 the stairs, which were wont to echo only to 
 Mrs. Peters' heavy thread— knew it by the 
 tasteful air his room suddenly assumed — by 
 the ringing laugh and musical songs which 
 came from the kitchen, and by the thousand 
 changes which the presence of a merry-heart- 
 ed girl of thirteen brings to a hitherto silent 
 house. Of him Rosamond stood consider- 
 ably in awe, and though she could willingly 
 have worshipped him for giving her so 
 pleasant a home, she felt afraid of him and 
 kept out of his way, watching him with 
 childish curiosity at a distance, admiring his 
 nolde figure, and wondering if she would 
 ever dare speak to him as fearlessly as Mrs. 
 Peters did. 
 
 From this woman Rosamond received all 
 a mother's care and though the name of her 
 lost parent was often on her lips, she was 
 beginning to be very happy in her new home, 
 when one day towards the middle of October 
 Mrs. Peters told her that Mr. Browning's 
 only sister, a Mrs. Van Vechten, who lived 
 South, was coming to Riverside, together 
 
ROSAMOND. 
 
 ler eyes, 
 it were 
 but he 
 there — 
 et upon 
 onlv to 
 t by the 
 ed — by 
 which 
 Ihoiisand 
 y-heart- 
 ,0 silent 
 onsider- 
 illingly 
 her so 
 im and 
 im with 
 ring his 
 e would 
 as Mrs. 
 
 lived all 
 ie of her 
 I she was 
 liv home, 
 I October 
 pwning's 
 10 lived 
 together 
 
 with her son Bon The lady Mrs. Peters 
 iiad never seen, but Ben, who was at school 
 in Albany, had spent a vacation there, and 
 she de8cril)ed him as a 'great, good-natured 
 fool,' who cared fur nothing but dogs, cigars, 
 fust horses and ])retty girls. 
 
 Kosaniond pushed Ijack the stray curls 
 which liad fallen over face, glanced at tlie 
 cracked mirror which gave her (ivo noses in- 
 stead of one,and thinking to herself,* 1 wun- 
 der if he'll care for me, ' listened attentively 
 while Mrs. Peters continued — ' This Miss 
 Van Vechten is a niiglity fin*; lady, tliey say, 
 aid has liwip-s of ni}.'gers to wait on her at 
 lionie — but slie can't brings 'cm here, for I 
 ^^iloul^l set' em free — that's so. I don't 
 b'lieve in't. What was I sayin' ? Oh, I 
 !inow, she can't wait on lierscli, and wrote 
 to have her brotlior get some one. He asked 
 jne if you'd be willin' to put her clothes, 
 wash her face, and hhciic her victuals like 
 enougli.' 
 
 'Mr. Browning never said tliat,' inter- 
 rupted Rosamond, and Mrs. Pcti rs replied 
 — ' Weil, not that exactly, but he wants you 
 to wait on her generally. ' 
 
 ' I'll do anytaiuii nja-sonable, ' answered 
 Rosamond. ' Wlien will she be here ?' 
 
 'In two or three «lays, ' isuiil Alr.s. Peters, 
 'and I must hurry, (jr I shan't liave them 
 north chand)ers ready for her. Ben am't 
 coming quite so soon. ' 
 
 The cwo or tiiree days passed rapid- 
 ly and at the close of the tlnrd a carriage 
 laden with trunks stopped before tRe gate at 
 Riverside, and Mrs. Van Vechten had come. 
 She was a thin, sallow-faced, proud-looking 
 woman, wholly unlike her brother, whose 
 senior she was by many years. She had 
 seen nuich of tlie world, and that she was 
 conscious of her own fancied suj)eriurity 
 was perceptible in every movement. She 
 was Mrs. Richard Van Vechten, of Alabama 
 — one of the oldest families in the state. Her 
 deceased husband had been United States 
 Seiuitor— she had been to Europe — had seen 
 the Queen on horseback — liad passed the 
 residence of the Duchess of Sutherland, and 
 when Rosamond Leyton appeared before her 
 in her neatly-litting dress of black and asked 
 what she coukl do for her, she elevated her 
 eyebrows, and coolly surveying the little 
 girl, answered haughtily, 'Comb out my 
 hair. ' 
 
 ' Yes,l will,' thought Rosamond, who had 
 taken a dislike to the grand lady, and suit- 
 ing the action to the thought, she did comb 
 out her hair, pulling it so unmercifully that 
 ]ilrs. Van Vechten angrily bade her stop. 
 
 ' Look at me, gu'l, ' said she ; did you ever 
 assist at any one's toilet before ?* 
 
 'I've hooked Mrs. Peters' dress and pinned 
 
 on Bridget s coUai-, ' answered Rosamoml, 
 her great brown eyes brinnning witli mis- 
 chiet. 
 
 ' Disgusting !' returned Mrs. Van Vechten 
 — ' I should suppose Ralph would know bet- 
 ter than to get me such an iguuramus. 
 NVere you liired on purpose to wait on me ?' 
 
 'Wity, no, ma'am — I live here,' answered 
 Rosamond. 
 
 * Live liere !' repeated Mrs. Van Vechten, 
 • and pray, wluit do you do ?' 
 
 ' Nothing nnioh, unless I choose, ' said 
 Rosamond, who being a great pet witli Mrs. 
 Peters and the other servants, really led a 
 vei-y easy life at Rivevsule. 
 
 Looking curiously into the frank ooen face 
 of the young girl, Mrs. Van Vechten 
 concluded she was never intended to 
 take a negro's place, and with a 
 wave of her iiand siie said, ' You may go ; I 
 can dress myself alone.' 
 
 That evening, as the brother and sister sat 
 together in the parlour, tlie latter suddenly 
 asked, ' Who is that Rosamontl Leyton, and 
 what is she doing here ?' 
 
 Mr. Browning t Id her all he knew of the 
 girl, and she cuntnuied, ' Do you intend to 
 educate her?' 
 
 ' Ediicite her !' said he — ' what made you 
 think of that ?' 
 
 ' Because, ' she answere I, Avith a sarcastic 
 smile, ' as you expect to do penance the rest 
 of your lifetime, 1 did not know but you 
 would deem it your duty to educate every 
 beggar who came along. ' 
 
 The idea of educating Rosamond Leyton 
 was new to Mr. Browning, but he did not 
 tell his sister so — he merely said, ' And sup- 
 pose I do educate her ?' 
 
 * In that case,' answewd the lady, 'Ben 
 will -not pass his college vacations here, as I 
 had intended that he should do. ' 
 
 ' And why not?' asked Mr. Browning. 
 
 ' Why not !' repeated Mrs. Van Vechten. 
 ' Just as though you did not know how sus- 
 ceptible he is to female beauty, and if you 
 treat this Rosamond as an equal, it will be 
 like himto fall in love with her at once. She 
 is very pretty, you know. ' 
 
 Mr. Browning did not know any such 
 thing. In fact, he scarcely knew how the 
 young girl looked, but his sister's remark 
 had awakened in him an interest, and after 
 she had retired, which she did early, he rang 
 the bell for Mrs. Peters, who soon appeared 
 in answer to his call. 
 
 ' Is Rosamond Leyton up?' he asked. 
 
 'Yes, sir, ' answered Mrs. Peters, wonder- 
 ing at the question. 
 
 ' Send her to me, ' he said, and witl) re- 
 doubled amazement Mrs. Peters carried tne 
 message to Rosamond, who was sitting before 
 
 4 
 
 ■ii? 
 
 I SI 
 
 11 
 
ROSAMOND. 
 
 the fire, trying in vain to undo an obstinate 
 knot in hur boot-string;. 
 
 • Mr. Browning sent fer me !' ihe ex- 
 claimed, her ulieoka tluHliing iin. ' Wants 
 to scold me, I eupposf, tor )»ii!liiig his sis- 
 ter's hair. I only did what alio told me to,* 
 and with a beating heart she Ktarted for the 
 parlour. 
 
 Rosamond was afraid of Mr. IJrowniiig, 
 and feeling sure that he intended to reprove 
 her, she took the chair nearest to the door, 
 and covering her face with her hands, be- 
 
 fan to cry, saying — 'It was ugly in me, I 
 now, to pull Mrs. Van Vechteu's hair, and 
 I did it on purpose, too ; but I won't do so 
 again, I certainly won't.' 
 II Mr. Browning was confounded. This was 
 
 the first intimation he had received of the 
 barbaric performance, and for a moment he 
 t remained silent, gazing at the little girl. 
 Her figure was verv slight, her feet and 
 hands were very small, and her hair, though 
 disordered now and rough, was of a beauti- 
 ful brown, and fell in heavy curls around 
 her neck. He saw all this at a glance, but 
 her face, the point to which his attention 
 was cliiefly directed, he could not see until 
 those little hands were removed, and as a 
 means of accomplisihing this he at last said, 
 kindly — 'I do not understand you, Rosa- 
 mond. My sister has entered no complaint, 
 and I did not send for you to censure you. 
 I wish to talk with you — to get acquainted. 
 Will you come and nit by me upon the 
 Bofa?' 
 
 Rosamond's hands came down from 
 her face, but she did not leave her 
 leat ; neither did Mr. Browning now 
 wish to have her, for the light of the chand- 
 elier fell full upon her, giving him a much 
 better view of her features than if she had 
 been nearer to him. If, as Mrs. Peter* had 
 Baid, Ben Van Vechten was fond of pretty 
 
 g'rls, he in a measure inherited the feeling 
 om his uncle, who was an ardent admirer 
 of the beautiful, and who now felt a clow of 
 satisfaction in knowing that Rosamond Ley- 
 ton was pretty. It was a merry, sparkling, 
 little face which he looked upon, and though 
 the nose did turn up a trifle, and the mouth 
 rather wide, the soft, brown eyes, and ex- 
 
 ?[ui8itely fair complexion made ample amends 
 or all. She was never intended for a men- 
 ial — she would make a beautiful woman — 
 and with thoughts similar to these, Mr. 
 Browning, after completing his survey of her 
 person, said — ' Have you been to school 
 much ?' 
 
 ' Always, until I came here, ' was her 
 answer ; and he continued — ' And since then 
 you have not looked in a book, I suppose?' 
 The brown eyes opened wide as Rosamond 
 
 replied, — 'Why, yes I have. I've read ev»r 
 so much in your library when you were goiu- 
 Mrs. Peters told me I might,' she added 
 hastily, as she saw his look of surprise, and 
 mistook it for displeasure. 
 
 ' I am perfectly willing,' he said; 'but 
 what have you read ? Tell me. * 
 
 Rosamond was interested atonce,and while 
 her cheeks glowed apd her eyes sparkled,8he 
 replied — ' Oh I've read Shakespeare's Hi8t«jr- 
 icul Plays, every one of them — and Childe 
 Harold, and Watt's on the Mind, and Kenil- 
 worth, and now I'm right in the middle of 
 the Lady of the Lake. Wasn't Fitz-Janies 
 the King? I believe he was. Wlien I am 
 older I mean to write a book just like that.' 
 
 Mr. Browning could not forbear a smile at 
 her enthusiasm, but without answering her 
 question, he said, — 'What do you intend to 
 do until you are old enough ?' 
 
 Rosamoi d's countenance fell, and after 
 tapping her foot upon the carpet awhile, she 
 said, 'Mrs. Peters will get me a place by- 
 and-by, and I s'pose I'll have to be a mil- 
 liner. ' 
 
 ' Do you wish to be one ?' 
 
 ' Why, no ; nor mother didn't either, but 
 after father died she had to do something. 
 Father was a kind of a lawyer, and left her 
 poor. ' 
 
 ' Do you wish to go away from here, Rosa- 
 mond !' 
 
 There were tears on the long- fringed eye- 
 lashes as the young girl replied, ' No, sir ; 
 I'd like to live here always, but there's noth- 
 ing for me to do. ' 
 
 ' Unless you go to school. How would like 
 that?' 
 
 ' I have no one to pay the bills, ' and the 
 curly head shook mournfully. 
 
 ' But I have money, Rosamond, and sup- 
 pose I say that you shall stay here and go 
 to school ?' 
 
 ' Oh, sir, will vou say so ? May I live 
 with you always ? and forgetting her fear of 
 him in her great joy, Ifeosamond Leytcn 
 crossed over to where he sat, and laying both 
 her hands upon his shoulder, continued — 
 ' Are you in earnest, Mr. Browning ? May 
 I stay ? Oh, I'll be so good to you when you 
 are old and sick !' 
 
 It seemed to her that he was old enough to 
 be her father then, and it almost seemed so 
 to him. Giving her a very paternal 
 look, he answered, ' Yes, child, you shall 
 stay as long as you like ; and now go, or Mrs. 
 Peters will be wondering what keeps you. ' 
 
 Rosamond started to leave the room, but 
 ere she reached the door she paused, and 
 turning to Mr. Browning, said, ' You have 
 made me so happy, and I like you so much, 
 I wish you'd let me kiss your hand — may I?' 
 
ROSAMOND. 
 
 but 
 
 It was a strange question, and it sent tlio 
 bluod tingling to the very tips of Mr. Brown- 
 ing's fingers. 
 
 • Wi»y, ye-es.l don't knu«r. What made 
 you think of that ♦' he saitl, and Rosamond 
 replied, — ' I always kissed father when he 
 made mo very happy. It wa« all I could 
 do.' 
 
 'But I am not your father,' stammered 
 Mr. Browning ; ' I shall not be twenty-five 
 until November. Still you can do as you 
 please. ' 
 
 • Not twenty- five yet?' repeated Rosa- 
 mo. jd ; * why, I thought vou were nearer 
 forty. I don't believe I'd better, though I 
 like you just as well. Good night. ' 
 
 He heard her go through the hall, up the 
 Btaira, through the upper" hall, and then all 
 was still again. 
 
 ' What a strange little creature she is, ' he 
 thought ; • so childlike and frank, but how 
 queer that she should ask to kiss me ! 
 Wouldn't Susan be shocked if she knew it, 
 and u on 't she be horrified when I tell her 
 I am going to educate the girl. And sup- 
 pose Ben does fall in love with l;er. If he 
 knew a little more, it would not be a bad 
 match. Somebody must keep up our family, 
 or it will become extinct. Susan and I are 
 
 the only ones left, and I ' here he paused, 
 
 and starting to his feet, he paced the floor 
 hurriedly, nervously, as if seeking to escape 
 from some pursuing evil. ' It is terrible,' he 
 whispered, * but I can bear it and will,' and 
 going to his room he sought his pillow to 
 dream strange dreams of tresses black, and 
 ringlets brown, — of tierce, dark eyes, and 
 shining orbs, whose owner had asked to kiss 
 his hand, and mistaken him for her sire. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 bsn's visit. 
 
 The next morning, as Mrs. Van Vechten 
 was slowly making her toilet alone, there 
 came a gentle rap at her door, and RDsa- 
 mond Leytou appeared, her face fresh and 
 blooming as a rosebud, her curls brushed 
 back from her foreheati. and her voice very 
 respectful, as she saiil — ' I have come to ask 
 your iiardon for my roughness yesterday. 
 I can do better, and if you will let me wait 
 on you while you stay, I am sure I shall 
 please you. ' 
 
 Mrs. Van Vechten could not resist that 
 appeal, and she graciously accepted the 
 girl's offer, asking her tlie while what 
 had made the change in liar behaviour. Al- 
 ways frank arid tivitliful, Rosamond ex- 
 plained to the lady that Mi. i-irowning's 
 
 kindness had filled her with gratitude and 
 determined her to do as she hud done. To 
 her Mrs. Van Vechten said nothing, but 
 when she met her brotiiiT at the bn akfast 
 table, there was an ominous frown upon her 
 face, and the moment they were alone she 
 ifave him her opinion without reservtv But 
 Mr. Hrowning was firm. ' He should have 
 something to live for,' he said, 'and Heaven 
 only knew the lonely hours he passed witli 
 no object in which to be interested. Her 
 family, though unfortunate, are highly res- 
 pectable, ' he added, ' and if I can make her 
 a useful ornament in society, it is my duty 
 to do so. ' 
 
 Mr. Van Vechten knew how useless it 
 would be to remonstrate with him, and she 
 gave up the contest, mentally resolving that 
 ' Ben sliould not p.ass his college vacations 
 there. ' 
 
 When the villagers learned that Mr. 
 Browning intended to educate Rosamond 
 and treat her as his equal, they ascribed it 
 wholly to the influence of his sister, who, of 
 course, had suggested to him an act which 
 seemed every way right and proper. They 
 did not know how the lady opposed it, nor 
 how, for many days, she maintained a cold 
 reserve toward the young girl, who strove in 
 various ways to conciliate her, and at last 
 succeeded so far that she not only accepted 
 her services at her toilet, but even asked of 
 her sometimes to read her to sleep in the 
 afternoon, a process neither long nor ted- 
 ious, for Mrs. Van Vechten was not literary 
 and by the time the second page was reached 
 she usually nodded her full acciuiescence to 
 the author's opinions, and Rosamond was 
 free to do as she pleased. 
 
 One afternoon when Mrs. Van Vechten 
 was fast asleep, and Rosamond deep in the 
 ' Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner,' (the form- 
 er having selected that poem as an opiate 
 because of its musical jingle,) there was the 
 sound of a bounding step upon the stairs, 
 accompanied by the stirring notes of Yankee 
 Doodle, which some one whistled at the top 
 of his voice. Rosamond was about going to 
 see who it was, when the door opened and 
 disclosed to view a long, lank, light-haired, 
 good-natured looking youth, dressed in the 
 extreme of fashion, with a huge gold chain 
 dangling across liis vest, and an immense 
 diamond ring upon his little finger. Tiiis last 
 he managed to show frequently by caressing 
 his chin, where, by the aid of a microscope, a 
 very little ilown might possibly have been 
 found ! Tliis was Ben I He had just arrived, 
 and learning that his mother was in her 
 room, had eiitei-ed it unceremoniously. The 
 unexpected apparition of a beautiful young 
 girl startled him, and he introduced himself 
 
 1 
 
 ;kM, 
 
 V 
 
 
 
ROSAMOND. 
 
 to her good graces l)y tlie very oxprewivo 
 »'x<'lftiiialion, 'Thunder! 1 beg your piinhm, 
 Mii's,' he c(tiitir(Ui'(l, a» he met her .surpriHe<l 
 and reproving glaiioe. 'You BCiired ine ho I 
 diihrt know wliiit else to Ba,Y. It's a favour- 
 ite exjdTHsion of mine, but I'll (|uit it, if you 
 say so. I>o you live here?' 
 
 ' I wait u))on y(Hir mother,' was the quiet 
 answer, whicli came near wringing from tlie 
 youDi; nuiu a repetition of the oil'unaive 
 woni. 
 
 Ihit he remembered himself in time, and 
 then continued, ' How ilo you know she's 
 my mother ? You are right, though. I'm 
 Ben \'an Yeehten — the veriest dolt in 
 Hchncd, tney say. lint, as an otl'sct, I've got 
 a lieart as big as an ox ; and now, who are 
 you? I know you are not a waiting-maid I' 
 Rosamond explained who she was, and 
 then, rather pleased with his off-hand nian- 
 ner, began to cjuestior. him concerning his 
 journey, and ho forth. Ben was delighted. 
 It was not every girl who would of her own 
 accord talk to him, and sitting down beside 
 her, he told her twice that she was hand- 
 some, was cautiously win<ling his arm around 
 her waist, when from tiie rosew<K)d led- 
 8tea<l there came the sl)arp, (j'lick word, 
 • Benjamin !' and, unmindful of JJosamond's 
 presence, Ben leaped into the middle of the 
 room, ejaculating, ' Thunder ! motiier what 
 do you want?' 
 
 ' I want her to leave the room, ' said Mrs. 
 Van Vechten, i)ointing toward Rosamoiid, 
 who, wholly ignorant of the nature of her 
 ofl'ence, retreated hastily, wondering how 
 she had di.spleased the capricious lady. 
 
 Although Ben Van Vechten would not 
 have dared to do a thing in direct opposi- 
 tion to his mother's commands, he was not 
 ordinarily afraid of her, and he now listened 
 impatiently, while she told him that llosa- 
 mond Leyton was not a fit associate for a 
 young man like himself, ' She was a sort of 
 nobody, whom her brother had undertaken 
 to educate,' she said, 'and though she 
 might be rather pretty, she was low-born 
 and vulgar, as any one coi^ld see. ' 
 
 Ben confessed to a deficiency of eye-sight 
 on that point, and then, as his mother 
 showfed no signs of changing tlie conversa- 
 tion, he left her abruptly, and sauntered off 
 into the garden, where he came suddenly 
 upon Rosamond, who was finishing the An- 
 cient Mariner in the summer-house, her 
 favorite resort. 
 
 'So we've met again,' said he, 'and a 
 pretty loct ire I've had on your account.' 
 
 ' Why on my account ?' asked Rosamond ; 
 and Ben, who never kept a thing to himself, 
 told her in substance all his mother Ixad 
 said. 
 
 ' She ttlwavB wakes in the wrong time,' 
 le, ' and t " 
 
 ' Spunky, 
 that. But 
 I've no no- 
 mother does 
 
 wakes 
 said he, 'and she saw mu just as I was ab lut 
 to givt' you a little bit of a hug — so '—and 
 he proceeded todi^moiiHtrate. 
 
 Kosamond'H temper was up, and cipially 
 indignant at mother and son, she started to 
 her teet, exclaiming, 'I'd thank you, sir to 
 let III*! alone. ' 
 
 'W'hew-ew, ' whistled lion, 
 ain't you. Now I rather like 
 pray, don't burst a blood vessel. 
 ti(»ii of making love to you, if 
 think so. You are too small a girl. 
 
 'Too small a «irl,' repeated Rosamond, 
 scornfully. 'I'm fourteen to-morrow — ((uite 
 too old to be insulted,' and she darted away, 
 followed l)y the merry laugh of the good- 
 luiiiKired Ben. 
 
 1 wo hours before, Rosamond would not 
 have been so excited, for though nearly four- 
 teen, she was in thought and feeling a very 
 child, as was proved by her asking to kiss 
 her benefactor's hand ; but Mrs. \ an Vech- 
 ten's remarks, repeated to her by Ben, had 
 wrought in her a change, and, in some re- 
 s))ects, transformed her into a woman at 
 once. She did not care so much for the 
 liberties Ben had attempted to take, but his 
 mother's words rankled in her bosom, awak- 
 ening within her a feeling of bitter resent- 
 ment ; ami when, next day, the lady's bell 
 lang out its summons for her to come, she 
 sat still upon the door-step and gave no heed. 
 'Rosamond,' said Mrs. Peters, 'Mrs. Van 
 Vechten is ringing for you. ' 
 
 ' Let her ring, I 'm not going to wait on her 
 anymore, 'and Rosamond returned to the 
 book she was reading. 
 
 Meantime, flurried and impatient, the lady 
 above stairs pulled at the bell-rope, growing 
 more nervous and angry with every pull, 
 until at last, as she heard her brother's step 
 in tlie hall, she went out to him and said, ' I 
 wisli you'd send that girl to me. I've rung at 
 lea.st fifty times : and dare say she's enticing 
 Ben again. 1 knew it would be so. ' 
 
 Going hurredly down the stairs, Mr. 
 Browning sought out Rosamond and said to 
 lier, ' My sister is ringing for you.' 
 
 ' I know it, sir ;' and the brown eyes, 
 whicli heretofore had seemed so soft and 
 gentle, flashed upon him an expression which 
 puzzled him. 
 
 ' Thegi why do you not go ?' he asked ; and 
 theyouiig girl replied, ' I shall not wait upon 
 her any more.' 
 
 ' Rosamond !' said Mr. Browning. There 
 was severity in the tone of his voice, and 
 Rosamond rouseel at once. 
 
 ' She says I am vulgar, and low-born, and 
 have designs upim Ben,' said she, * and it's a 
 falsehood. My mother was as much a lady 
 
ROSAMOND. 
 
 at 
 •iiig 
 
 Mr. 
 
 to 
 
 and 
 ipon 
 
 here 
 and 
 
 and 
 t'sa 
 lady 
 
 i.i »la*. I am not vulear, and T )iate lion, 
 ind I won't Htay hero if I nuiat wait on hor. 
 Sluill I ^o awav ?' 
 
 If RoH.iindnclUift, tlio life of the lu)U«c 
 went with htr. This Mr. Hiowning knew ; 
 Imt man-like, he did not wish to he coiKjuer- 
 od by a^vonnn, and after (jUrRtioninj,' lier as 
 to the nature of Mra. Van Vechten'M oUcncc, 
 lie answered, * My Hiater Hny« 8(»nie foohHli 
 thinga, 1 know, hut it in my reipicMt th.it 
 you attend to her while nhe Htaya, and 1 ex- 
 l)eut to he obeyed.' 
 
 'i'in' 1 1st word was unfortunate, for Kowa- 
 inond iiad a wtrong will of hor own, and tap 
 |)inj,' her little foot uj)on the ground, hhe 
 Slid Haucily, ' And Hupposc you are not 
 ()l)eyed ?' 
 
 lie did not toll her she must leave Kiver- 
 sido, hut h(( said, ' Vou munt answer for yoii»' 
 dirtohedieiieo to me, wlio hav<! certainly Honio 
 light to control you ;' then, feariiij,' that his 
 own high teiniicr might he tried, mi.ic than he 
 cared to have it, hewalkedawayjiist iiitimeto 
 avoid lutaring her say, ' she oared no more for 
 him than for his sister !' 
 
 Ivosaniund was impulsive not to repent 
 hitterly of her con 'not ; and though siic per- 
 siateil in leaving Mrs. Van N'eohten to 
 herself, and refuseil to speak to lien, 
 whose face, in coiisoijuence, wore a moat 
 molaiicholy expression, slie almost cried her- 
 self sick, and at last, startled Mrs. Peters, 
 just as that lady was stepping into bed, by 
 declaring that she must see Mr. Browning 
 before she slept. 
 
 Mr. Browning sat in his library alone. He 
 did not usually retire early, but this night 
 he had cause for wakefulness. The burst of 
 })a88ion ho had witnessed in his protege, had 
 carried him back to a time when another 
 than little Rosamond Ley ton had laughed 
 his wishes to scorn. 
 
 ' And it is ever thus with them !' he said. 
 * Are all women furies in disguise? — and 
 Rosamond seemed so irentle, so good. ' 
 
 He did not hear the low knock on his 
 door, for his thoughts were far away in the 
 south-land, where he had learned his first 
 lesson of womankind. Neither did he hear 
 the light footfall upon the floor, but when a 
 sweet, tearful voice said to him, ' Mr. Brown- 
 ing, are you feeling so badly for nie?' he 
 started, and on a hassock at his feet saw 
 Rosamond Leyton. The sight of her was 
 unexpected, and it startled him for a mo- 
 ment, but soon recovering his composure, he 
 said gently : ' Why are you here ? I sup- 
 posed you were in bed. ' 
 
 Rosamond began to cry, and with her 
 usual impetuosity replied, ' I came to tell 
 you how sorry I am for behaving so rudely 
 
 to you. 1 <lo try to govern my temper so 
 hard, but it sometimes gets the ni!i.»ttory. 
 \V(>n't you forgive me, air? It wasn't Kosa- 
 mond that acted so — it was a vile, wicked 
 somebody tilse. Will you forgive mo?' nnd 
 ill her dread that tlu' coveted for;L;ivoiioHH 
 might b(> withhold, she forgot that he was 
 only twenty-four, and lai<l Inr luail upon 
 his kiivo, sobbing like a little child. 
 
 * Had she done like tliis, iiow dillcront 
 would my life have been,' thought Mr 
 Browning, and involuntarily oaie.ssiiig the 
 ourly heard, he was about to speak, when 
 Kosamoiid iiitorrupted liim, saying, 
 
 ' 1 won't deceive you, Mr. Ih owning, ami 
 make you think I'm better than 1 am. I 
 am sorry 1 acted so to you, liut 1 don't be- 
 lieve I'm sorry .about Mrs. Van Vochteii. I 
 don't like hor. for sh(( always treats me as 
 though [ were not near as good us she, and I 
 oan't wait on her any niore. Must I? Oh, 
 d n't iiiiiko me,' and slie looked beseeching- 
 ly into Ills face. 
 
 Ho eould not help respecting her for that 
 inliorn fooling, Mhich would not permit her- 
 self to betiiimplod (town, and though lie felt 
 intuitively that slie was liaving hor own way 
 after all, he assured her of hia forgiveness, 
 and then added : ' Mrs. Van Vecliton wdl 
 not recjuiro your services, for she received a 
 letter to-night, siying her presence was need- 
 ed at homo, and she leaves us to-morrow. ' 
 
 * /Vnd Ben?' she asked — 'does he go, 
 too?' 
 
 • He accompanies his mother to New 
 York,' Mr. Browning said, 'and 1 lielieve 
 she intends leaving there with a friend, until 
 his school commences again.' 
 
 In spite of herself, Rosamond rather liked 
 Ben, and feeling that she was the cause of 
 his banishment from Riverside, her sympa- 
 thy was enlisted for him, and she said, • If 
 I were not here, Ben would stay. Hadn't 
 you rather send me away ?' 
 
 'No, Rosamond, no; I need you here,' 
 was Mr. Browning's reply, and then as the 
 clock struck eleven, he bade her leave him, 
 saying it was time children like her were 
 in bed. 
 
 As he had said, Mrs Van Vechten 
 was going away, and she came down 
 to breakfast next morning in her 
 travelling dress, appearing very un- 
 a^iiable, and looking very cross at Rosa- 
 mond, with whom she finally parted with- 
 out a word of reconciliation. Ben on the 
 contrary was all aflFability, and managed 
 to speak to her, telling her he should come 
 there again in spite of his mother. 
 
 After their departure the household set- 
 tled back into its usual monotonous way of 
 living, with the exception that Rosamond, 
 
 i: 
 
 liii 
 
10 
 
 ROSAMOND. 
 
 ! 
 
 )eing proiiioted to the pop* of an equal, 
 jecatne, in many respects . •- real mistress 
 or Riverside, though Mrs. j. ^.^rs nominally 
 held the reins, and aside from superintend- 
 ing her work, built many castles of the fu- 
 ture when her protege would be a full grown 
 woman and her master still young and hand- 
 some ! 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Rosamond's education. 
 
 One year has passed away since Mrs. Van 
 Vechten departed for the South, and up the 
 locust lined avenue which leads to Riverside, 
 the owner ol the place is slowly riding. It 
 is not pleasant going home to-night, and fto 
 be lingers by the way, wondering why it is 
 that the absence of a ch'ld should make so 
 much differ* ^ce 'n one's feelings ! During 
 the year Roscinicnd had recited her lessons 
 to him, but with many others he fancied no 
 girl's education could be finished unless she 
 were sent away — and two weeks before the 
 night of which we write he had taken her 
 himself to Atwater Seminary, a distance of 
 more than two hundred miles, and then, 
 with a sense of desolation for which he could 
 not account, he had returned to his home, 
 which was never so lonely before. There 
 was no merry voice within the walls — no 
 tripping feet upon the stairs — no soft, white 
 hand to bathe his forehead when suffering 
 from real or fancied headache — no slippers 
 waiting by his chair — no flowers on the 
 mantel — no bright face at the window — no 
 Rosamond at the door. 
 
 Of all this was he thinking that Novem- 
 ber afternoon, and when at last he reached 
 his home, he vent straight to his library, 
 hoping to find a letter there, telling him of 
 her welfare. But letter there was none, and 
 with a feeling of disappointment he started 
 ii^rhe parlour. The door was ajar and he 
 uf.ught glimpse of a cheerful blazing 
 xlre within the grate. The shutters, too, 
 vpre open and the curtains were put back 
 
 I'ltst as they used to be when she was there, 
 t seemed l:ke the olden time, and with 
 (jpirits somewhat enlivened he advanced into 
 the room. His favourite chair stood before 
 the fire, and so near to it that her head was 
 leaning on its arm, sat a young girl. Her 
 back was turned toward him, but he knew 
 that form full well, and ioy fully he cried, 
 * Rosamond, how came you here ?' 
 
 Amid her smiles and tears, Rosamond at- 
 tempted to tell him the story of her griev- 
 PDO ^. She was homesick, and she could not 
 leaiu half so much at the Atwater Seminary 
 as at home — then too, she hated the straight- 
 
 jacket rules, and ha^^ed the lady-boarder, 
 who pretended to be sick, and wouldn't let 
 the sciiool girla breathe, especially Rosa- 
 mond Leyton, for whom she seemed to have 
 conceived a particular aversion 
 
 Pleased as Mr. Browning was to have 
 Rosamond with him again, he did not quite 
 like her reasons for coming back, <ind he 
 questioned her closely as to the cause of her 
 sudden return. 
 
 'I shouldn't have come, perhaps,' said 
 Rosamond, 'if that sick woman hadn't been 
 so nervous and disagreeable. She paid 
 enormous sums for her board, and so 5lrs. 
 Lindsay would hardly let us breathe for fear 
 of disturbing her. My room was over hers, 
 and I had to take off my shoes and walk on 
 tip- toe, and even then she complained of 
 me, saying I was rude and noisy, when I 
 tried so hard to be still. I made some hate- 
 ful remark about her in the hall, which she 
 overheard, and when Mrs. Lindsay scolded 
 me for it, saying she was a very wealthy lady 
 from Florida, and accustomed to every atten- 
 tion at home, I said back some pert things, 
 I suppose, for she threatened to write and 
 tell you, and so I thought I'd come and tell 
 you myself.' 
 
 There was a dizzy whirl in Mr. Brown- 
 ing's brain— a pallor about his lips — for a 
 terrible suspicion had flashed upon hir.i, and 
 leaning forward, he said in a voice almost a 
 whicpjr, 'What was the Florida lady's 
 name !' 
 
 ' Potter, or ^orter — yes, Miss Porter, that 
 was it. But what is the matter? Are you 
 sick!' Rosamond asked, as she saw how 
 white he was. 
 
 ' Only a sudden faintness. It will soon 
 pass off, ' he said. ' Tell me more of her. 
 Did she see you ? Were you near her !' 
 
 ' No, ' answered Rosamond. ' She was 
 sick all the time I was there, and did not 
 leave her room. The girls said, though, that 
 she was rather pretty, but had big, black, 
 evil-looking eyes. I don't know why it was, 
 but I felt afraid of her — felt just as though 
 she was my ev"' genius. I couldn't help it 
 — but you are sick, Mr. Browning — you are 
 pale as a ghost. Lie down upon the sofa, 
 and let me bring the pillows, as I used to 
 do.' 
 
 She darted oflf in the direction of his 
 sleeping-room, unconscious of the voice 
 which called after her, asking if it were not 
 dark in the hall, and bidding her take a 
 light. 
 
 ' But what dees it matter ?' he said, as ho 
 tottered to the sofa. ' She is not here. At- 
 water Seminary is two hundred miles away. 
 She can't harm Rosamond now. ' 
 
 By this time Rosamond came with the 
 
 81 
 
 er 
 
 Ri 
 ov 
 ur 
 
mimff^l 
 
 ROSAMOND. 
 
 II 
 
 the 
 
 pillows, which she arranged upon the sofa, 
 making him lie down while she sat by, and 
 laid her hand soothingly upon his burning 
 forehead. 
 
 ' We will have tea in here to-night, ' 
 she said, ' I told Mrs. Peters so, and 
 1 will m.vke it myself. Do you feel any 
 better ?' and she brought her rosy face so 
 near to his that he felt her warm breath upon 
 his cheek. 
 
 'Yes, 1 am better,' he replied, ' but keep 
 your hand upon my forehead. It assures me of 
 your presence, when my eyes are shut. ' 
 
 So Rosamond sat beside him, and when 
 Mrs. Peters came in to Jay the cloth, she 
 found them thus together. Smiling know- 
 ingly, she .vhispered to herself, ' 'Nater is 
 tlie same everywhere, ' and the good lady 
 bustled in and out, bringing her choicest bita 
 and richest cake in honour of her pet's return. 
 That ni gilt, freed from boarding-school restra- 
 int, Rosamond slept soundly in her own pleas- 
 antchamber,buttoRalphBrowninfi;, pacing up 
 and down his room, there came no moment of 
 unconsciousness. He could not forget how 
 near he had been to one who had embittered 
 his whole life — nor yet how near to her young 
 Rosamond had been, and he shuddered as if 
 ti. 6 latter had escaped an unseen danger. 
 Occasionally, too, the dread thought steel 
 over him, ' suppose she should come here, 
 and with ber eagle eyes discover what, if it 
 exis+^^s at all, is hidden in the inmost recesses 
 of my heart. ' 
 
 But of this he had little fear, and when 
 the morning came he was himself again, and, 
 save that it was haggard and pale, his face gave 
 no token of the terrible night he had passed. 
 But what should he do with Rosamond ? 
 This was the question which now perplexed 
 him. He had no desire to send her from 
 him again, neither would she have gone if he 
 had — and at last he came to the very sensible 
 conclusion that the school in his own village 
 was (juite as good as any, and she accordingly 
 became an attendant at the Gramby Female 
 Seminary. Here she remained for two years 
 and a half, over which time we will pass 
 silently and introduce her again to our lead- 
 ers, when she is nearly eighteen— a graduate 
 — a belle — and the sunshine of Riverside. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 BROTHER AND SISTER. 
 
 During the time which had elapsed since 
 Ben Van Vechten first made the acquaint- 
 ance of Rosamond, he had net once been to 
 Riverside, for failing to enter college, and 
 overwhelmed with mortification at his fail- 
 ure, he had returned to Alabama, from 
 
 which place he wrote to her occasionally, 
 always addressing her as a little yirl, and 
 speaking of himself as a very ancient person- 
 age in comparison with herself. But that 
 Rosamond was now no longer a little girl 
 was proved by her finely rounded figure, her 
 intelligent face, her polished manners and 
 self-reliant air. And Rosamond was beauti- 
 ful, too — so beautiful that strangers invari- 
 ably asked who she was, turning always for 
 a s coid luok.when told she was the adopted 
 sister or daughter — the villagers hardly 
 knew which — of the wealthy Mr. Browning. 
 But whether she were the daughter or the sis- 
 ter of the man with whom she lived, she was 
 in reality the mistress of his household, and 
 those who at first slighted her as the child of 
 a milliner, now gladly paid her homage as 
 one who was to be the heir of Mr. Browning's 
 wealth. He would never marry her, the 
 wise ones thought — would never marry any- 
 body — and so, with this understanding, he 
 was free to talk, walk, and ride with her as 
 often as he chose. He liked her, the peo- 
 ple said, but did not love her, while Rosa- 
 mond hcBuelf believed he almost hated her, 
 so strangely cold and harsh was his manner 
 towai d her at times. 
 
 This coldness had increased of late, and 
 when the Lawries, who, next to Mr. Brown- 
 ing, were the most aristocratic people in the 
 place, suggested that she should accompany 
 them for a few weeks to the Springs, she was 
 delighted with the plan, and nothing doubt- 
 injr that Mr. Browning would be dad to 
 have her out of the way, she went to him for 
 his consent. She found him in his library, 
 apparently so absorbed in reading that he 
 did not observe her approach until she stood 
 between him and the light. Then he looked 
 up quickly, and as she fancied, an expres- 
 sion of displeasure passed over his face. 
 
 ' Excuse me for disturbing you, ' she said, 
 rather petulantly ; ' I liave to break in upon 
 your privacy if I would see you at all.' 
 
 He gave lier a searching, look and then lay- 
 ing aside his book and folding his arms, said 
 pleasantly, * I am at your service now. Miss 
 Ley ton. What is it you wish?' 
 
 Very briefly she stated her request, and 
 then sitting down in the •window, awaited 
 his answer. It was not given iTumediately, 
 and when he did speak, he said — 'Rosa- 
 mond, do you wish to go ?' 
 
 ' Of course I do,' she replied, •' I want to 
 go where it is not as lonesome as I find it 
 here. ' 
 
 ' Lonesome, Rosamond, lonesome, ' he re- 
 peated, ' Riverside haa never been lonesome 
 
 since ' he passed a moment and then 
 
 added, ' since you came here. ' 
 
 The shadow disappeared from Rosamond'-' 
 
 M 
 
 ■« 
 
 'H 
 
 Jl 
 
12 
 
 ROSAMOND. 
 
 ^ace, as she replied — ' I did not suppose you 
 cared to have me here. I thought you did 
 not like me. ' 
 
 'Not like you, Rosamond?' and over his 
 fine features there came a look of paia, 
 v'lich increased as Rosamond continued : — 
 ' Y >u are so cold at times, and shun me as 
 it were ; inventing excuses to drive me from 
 you when you know I would rather stay. ' 
 
 ' Oh, Rosamond, ' he groaned, ' how mis- 
 taken you are. The world would be to me 
 a blank were it not for you ; and if my 
 manner is sometimes cold and cruel, it is be- 
 cause stern duty demands it should be so. 
 I cannot lay bare my secret heart to you of 
 all others, but could you know me as I am, 
 you would not censure much, butpitj'^ more.' 
 He paused a moment, then, scarcely know- 
 ing what he said, he continued — ' Rosamond, 
 we will understand each other. I shall 
 never marry — never can marry. In your in- 
 tercourse with me, will you ahvavs remem- 
 ber that ?' 
 
 'Why, yes,' answered Rosamond, puzzled 
 to comprehend him. ' I'll remember that 
 you say so, but it is not likely y oil '11 keep 
 your word. ' 
 
 'lam not trifling with you,' he said. 
 ' Marriage is not for me. There is a dreadful 
 reason why I cannot marry, and if at times 
 I am cold towards you, it is because — be- 
 cause ' 
 
 Rosamond's eyes were riveted xipon his 
 face ; — darker and darker they grew, becom- 
 ing at last almost black in their intensity. 
 She was beginning to understand him, and 
 colouring crimson, she answered bitterly, 
 ' I know what you would say, but you need 
 have no fears, for I never aspired to that 
 honour. Rosamond Leyton has yet to see 
 the man she could love. ' 
 
 ' Rosamond, ' and Mr. Browning's voice 
 was so low, so mournful in its tone that it 
 quelled tliie angry feelings in the young girl's 
 bosom, and she offered no resistance when 
 hf^ came to her side and took her hand in 
 his. saying as he did so — ' Listen to me. You 
 came here a little girl, and at first I did not 
 heed you, but you made your presence felt 
 in various ways, until at last I thought I 
 could not live without you. You are a 
 young lady now — the world calls you beau- 
 tiful. To me you are beautiful. Oh, so 
 beautiful, ' and he laid one hand upon her 
 shining hair, 'softly, tenderly, nay, proudly, 
 as if she liad been his child. ' I am not old 
 yet, and it wouM l>e natural tliat \vu should 
 love each other, but we must not — we can- 
 not. ' 
 
 ' And lest I should love you too well, you 
 have tried to make me hate you,' interrup- 
 te 1 Posamond, trying in vain to release her- ] 
 
 self from his powerful grasp, and adding, 
 ' but you can spare yourself the trouble. 1 
 like you too well to hate you ; but as I live, 
 I would not m^rry you if I could. I mean 
 what I say !' 
 
 He released her hand, and returning to his 
 chair, laid his head upon the table, while she 
 continued — ' I know just about how well 
 you like me — how necessary I am to your 
 comfort, and since fate has decreed that we 
 should be thrown together, let us contribute 
 to each other's happiness as far as in us lies. 
 I will think of you as a brother, if you like, 
 and you shall treat me as a sister, until 
 somebody takes me off your hands. Now, I 
 can't say I shall never marry, for I verily 
 believe I shall. Meantime, you must think 
 of me just as you would if you had a wife. 
 Is it a bargain, Mr. Browning?' 
 
 Slie spoke playfully, but he knew she was 
 in earnest, and from his inmost soul he 
 blessed her for having thus brought the 
 conversation to a close. He would not tell 
 her why he had said to her what he had — 
 it was not what he intended to say, 
 and he knew she was in a measure de- 
 ceived, but he could not explain to her now; 
 he could not tell her that he trembled for 
 himself far more than for her, and it was not 
 for her then to know how much he loved her 
 nor how that love was wearing his life away 
 because of its great sin. He was growing 
 old now very fast. The shadows of years 
 were on his brow, and Rosamond almost 
 fancied she saw his brown locks turning 
 white. She was a warm-hearted, impulsive 
 girl, and going toward him, she parted 
 from his forehead the hair streaked with 
 grey, saying softly to him. ' Shall it not be 
 so ? May I be your sister'' 
 
 'Yes, Rosamond, yes,' was his answer ; 
 and then, wishing to bring him back to the 
 point from which they started, Rosamond 
 said abruptly — 'And what of the Springs ? 
 Can! go?' 
 
 The descent was a rapid one, but it was 
 what he needed, and lifting up his head, he 
 replied, just as he had done before, ' do you 
 want to go ?' 
 
 ' Not as much as I did when I thought 
 you were angry, and if j'ou would rather, I 
 had quite as lief stay with you. ' 
 
 ' Then stav, ' he said, ' and we will have 
 no more misunderstandings.' 
 
 The next evening, as he sat alone in the 
 ppvlour, a servant brouglit to him a letter, 
 the superscription of which made him reel, 
 as if he would have fallen to the floor. It 
 was nearly four years since he had seen that 
 ha.i.l-writing — lie had hoped never to look 
 up(Mi it again — but it was then; before his 
 eyes, and she who wrote that letter \/a8 
 
ROSAMOND. 
 
 13 
 
 coming to Riverside — ' would be there in a 
 tew days, Providence permitting. Do not 
 commit suicide on my account,' she wrote, 
 ' for I care as little as yourself to have our 
 secret divulged, and unless I find that you 
 are after other prey, I shall keep my own 
 counsel. ' 
 
 The letter dropped from his nerveless fin- 
 gers — the objects in the room swam before 
 his eyes, and like one on whom a crushing 
 weight has fallen, he sat bewildered, until 
 the voice of Rosamond aroused him, and 
 fleeing to his chamber he locked the door, 
 and then sat down to think. She was com- 
 ing to Riverside, and wherefore ? He did 
 not wish for a reconciliation now — he would 
 rather live there just as he was, with Rosa- 
 mond. 
 
 ' Nothing will escape her, ' he said ; ' those 
 basilisk eyes will see everything — will ferret 
 out of my love for that fair young girl. 
 Oh, Heaven, is there no escape?' 
 
 He heard the voice of Anna Lawrie in the 
 yard. She was coming for Rosamond's de- 
 cision, and (j[uick as thought he rang the 
 bell, bidding the servant who appeared lo 
 sen<1 Miss Leytou to him. 
 
 'Rosamond,' he said, when she came to 
 the door, ' I have changed my mind. You 
 must go the Siprings.' 
 
 ' But I'd rather stay at home — I do not 
 wish to go,' she said. 
 
 * I say you must. So tell Miss Lawrie 
 you will, ' he answered, and his eyes flashed 
 almost savagely upon her. 
 
 Rosamond waited for no more. She had 
 discovered the imped ment to his marrying. 
 It was hereditary insanity, and she had seen 
 the first signs of it in him herself ! Magna- 
 nimously resolving neve*" to tell a human 
 being, nor let him be chained if she could 
 help it, howev^er furious he might become, 
 she weiit down to Miss Lawrie, telling her 
 tihe would go. 
 
 One week from that day was fixed upon 
 for their departure, and during that time 
 Rosamond was too much absorbed in dresses 
 and finery to pay much heed to Mr. Brown- 
 ing. Of one thing she w - sure, though — he 
 was crazy ; for what else made him stalk up 
 and down tlie gravel-walk, his head bent 
 forward, and his hands behind him, as if in- 
 tently thinking. Once, when she saw him 
 thus, she longed to go out to him, to tell hiin 
 she knew his secret, and that she would 
 never leave him, however unmanageable he 
 should bc3ome ! But his manner toward her 
 now was so strange that she dared not, and 
 she was almost as glad as himself when at 
 last the morning came for her to go. 
 
 ' Promise me one thing,' he said, as they 
 stood together a moment alone. • Don't 
 
 write until you hear from me, and don't 
 come home until I send for you. ' 
 
 ' And suppose the Lawries come, what 
 then ?' she asked, and he replied, ' No mat- 
 ter ; stay until I write. Here are five hun- 
 dred dollars in case of an emergency,' and he 
 thrust a check into her hand. 'Stop,' he 
 continued, as the carriage came round — 'did 
 you put your clothes away where no one can 
 see them, or are you taking them all with 
 you?' 
 
 ' Why no, why should I?' she answered. 
 ' Ain't I coming back ?' 
 
 'Yes, yes — Heaven only knows,' he said. 
 * Oh, Rosamond, it may be I am parting 
 with you forever, and at such a moment, is 
 it a sin for you to kiss me ? You asked to 
 do so once. Will you do it now ?' 
 
 • I will,' she replied, and she kissed, un- 
 hesitatingly, his quivering lips. 
 
 The Lawries were at the door — Mrs. 
 Peters also — and forcing down his emotion, 
 he bade her a calm good-bye. The carriage 
 rolled away, but ere its occupants were six 
 miles from Riverside, every article of dress 
 which had belonged to Rosamond had dis- 
 appeared from the room, which presented 
 the appeaiKince of an ordinary bed-chamber, 
 and when Mrs. Peters, in great alarm, came 
 to Mr. Browning, asking what he supposed 
 had become of tliem, he answered quietly — 
 ' I have put them in my private closet and 
 locked them up !' 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 MARIE PORTER. 
 
 The Hotels were crowded with visitors. 
 
 Every apartment at Hall, from basement 
 
 to attic, was full, save two small rooms, 
 eiijht by ten, so dingy and uncomfortable, 
 that only in case of emergency were they 
 offered to guests. These, from necessity, 
 were taken by the Lawries, but for Rosa- 
 mond there was scarcely found standing 
 point, unless she were willing to share the 
 apartment of a sickly lady, who had gracious- 
 ly consented to receive any genteel, well- 
 bred person, who looked as though they 
 would be quiet and not rummage her things 
 more than once a day. 
 
 ' She was a very high-bred woman, ' the 
 obsequious attendant said, ' and her room 
 the best in the house ; she would not remain 
 much longer, and when she was gone the 
 young lady could have it alone, or share it 
 with her companions. It contained two beds, 
 of course, besides a few nails for dresses. ' 
 
 'Oh, do take it,' whispered the young 
 Miss Lawrie, who was not yet thoroughly 
 versed in the pleasure of a waterinir plii^", 
 
 I! 
 
 ^: 
 
 '\\ 
 
 
 iM 
 
 ■' ' ., 
 
11 
 
 ROSAMOND. 
 
 And who cast rueful glances at her cheerless 
 pen, so ditt'erent from her airy chamber at 
 home. 
 
 So Rosamond's trunks were taken to No. 
 20, whether she herself followed them. The 
 first occupant, it would seem, was quite an 
 invalid, for though it was four in the after- 
 noon, she was still in bed. Great pains, 
 however, had evidently been taken with her 
 toilet,and nothing could have been more per- 
 fect than the arrangements of her ..."'lows — 
 her hair — her wrapper, and the crimson 
 shawl she wore about her shoulders. Rosa- 
 mond bowed to her politely, and then, with- 
 out noticing her particularly, went over to 
 the side of the room she supposed was to be 
 hers. She had just lain aside her hat when 
 the lady said, ' That open blind lets in too 
 much light. Will you please shut it Miss 
 
 1 don't know what to call you. ' 
 
 'Miss Ley ton,' answered Rosamond, 'and 
 you are — ' 
 
 ' Miss Porter, ' returned the speaker) 
 ' Rosamond started quickly, for she re- 
 membered the name, and looking for the first 
 time directly at the lady, she met a pair of 
 large black eyes fixed inquiringly upon her. 
 'Leyton — Leyton, 'replied thelady, 'where 
 have I heard of you before ?' 
 
 ' At Atwater Seminary, perhaps, * suggest- 
 ed Rosamond, a little doubtful as to the 
 manner in which her intelligence would be 
 received. 
 
 A shadow flitted over the lady's face, but 
 it was soon succeeded by a smile, and she 
 said graciously, ' Oh, yes, I know. You 
 annnyed me and I annoyed you. It was an 
 even thing, and since we are thrown together 
 again, we will not quarrel about the past. 
 Ain't you going to close that blind ? The 
 light shines full upon my face, and, as I did 
 not sleep one wink last night, I am looking 
 horridly to-day.' 
 
 'Excuse me, madam,' said Rosamond, *I 
 was so taken by surprise that I forgot your 
 request,' and she proceeded to shut the blind. 
 This being done, she divested her- 
 self of her soiled garments, wash- 
 ed her face, brushed her curls, and was 
 about going in quest of her compan- 
 ions, when the lady asked if she had friends 
 there. Rosamond replied that she had, at 
 the same time explaining how uncomforta- 
 ble they were. 
 
 'The Hotel is full,' said the lady, 'and 
 they all envy me my room ; but if I p ly for 
 the best, I am surely entitled to the best. 
 I shall not remain here long, however. In- 
 deed, I did not expect to be here now, but 
 sickness overtook me. I dare say I am the 
 •ubject of many anxious thoughts to the 
 person I am going to visit.' 
 
 There was a half-exultant expression upon 
 the lady's face as she uttered these fast 
 words, but in the darkened room, Rosamond 
 did not observe it. She was sorry for one 
 thus detained against her will, and leaning 
 against the foot-board, she said, ' You suffer 
 a great deal from ill health, do you not ? 
 Have you always been an invalid ?' 
 
 ' Not always. 1 was very healthy onoe, 
 but a great trouble came upon me, shocking 
 my nervous system terribly, and since then 
 I have never see a well day. I was young 
 when it occurred — about your age, I think. 
 How old are you. Miss Leyton ?' 
 
 ' I am eighteen next October, ' was Rosa- 
 mond's reply, and the lady continued, ' I 
 was older than that. Most nineteen. I am 
 twenty -eight now. * 
 
 Rosamond did not know why she said it, 
 but she rejoined quickly, ' Twenty -eight. 
 So is Mr. Browning !' 
 
 'Who?' exclaimed the lady, the tone of 
 her voice so sharp — so loud and earnest, that 
 Rosamond was startled, and did not answer 
 for an instant. 
 
 When she did, she said, • I beg your par- 
 don ; it is Mr. Browning who is twenty- 
 eight. 
 
 'Ah, yes, I did not quite understand you. 
 I'm a Httle hard of hearing. Who is Mr. 
 Browning?' 
 
 The voice had assumed its usually soft, 
 smooth tone, and Rosamond could not see 
 the rapid beatings of the heart, nor the 
 eager curiosity lurking in the glittering 
 black eyes. The lady seemed indifferent, 
 and smoothed carelessly tlie rich Valen- 
 ciennes laoe, which edged the sleeve of lier 
 cambric wrapper. 
 
 ' Did you tell me who Mr. Browning was, 
 dear ?' and the black eyes wandered over the 
 counterpane, looking ever' where but at 
 Rosamond, so feurful was ^;heir owner lest 
 they should betray the interest she felt in 
 t' e answer. 
 
 'Mr. Browning,' sraid Rosamond, 'is — is 
 — I hardly know what he is to me, I went 
 to his house to live when I was a little, 
 friendless orphan, and he very kindlj'^ edu- 
 cated me, and made me what I am. I live 
 with him still at Riverside.' 
 
 ' Ye-es — Riverside — beau-ti-ful name — his 
 country-seat— I — sup-pose,' the words drop- 
 ped syllable by syllable from the white lips, 
 but there was no quiver in the voice — no 
 ruffle upon her face. 
 
 Raising herself upon her elbow, the 'ady 
 continued, ' Pray don't think me' fidgety, 
 but won't you please open that shutter. I 
 did not think it would be so dark. There, 
 that's a good girl. Now, come and sit by 
 me on the bed, and tell me of Riverside. 
 
'vTigBr -)^ 
 
 ROSAMOND. 
 
 16 
 
 was, 
 the 
 at 
 est 
 
 t in 
 
 live 
 
 -his 
 
 rop- 
 
 ips, 
 
 -no 
 
 I 
 
 jre, 
 
 ide. 
 
 Put your feet in the chair, or take this pil- 
 low. There, turn a little more to the light. 
 I like to see people when they talk to me. ' 
 
 Rosamond complied with each request, and 
 then, never dreaming of the close examination 
 to which her face was subjected, she 
 began to speak of her beautiful home- 
 describing it minutely, and dwelling some- 
 what at length upon the virtues of its 
 owner. 
 
 • You like him very mucli, ' the lady said, 
 ncdding a little affirmative nod to her own 
 'question. 
 
 * Yes. very— very much,' was Rosamond's 
 answer; and the lady continued 'And 
 Mrs. Browning ? Do you like her too ?' 
 
 ' There is no Mrs. Browning, ' returned 
 Rosamond, adding quickly, as she saw in her 
 auditor's face an expression she did not un- 
 derstand, ' but it is perfectly proper I should 
 live there, for Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, 
 has charge of me. ' 
 
 'Perhaps, then, he will marry you,' and 
 the jewelled hands worked nervously under 
 the crimson shawl. 
 
 ' Oh, no, he won't, ' said Rosamond, de- 
 <jidedly, 'he's too old for me. Why his 
 hair is turning gray !' 
 
 'That's nothing, ' answered the lady, alittle 
 sharply. ' Everybody's hair turns gray early 
 now-a-days. Sarah found three or four 
 silver threads in mine, this morning. Miss 
 Leyton, don't you love Mr. Browning ?' 
 
 ' Why, yes, ' Rosamond began, and the 
 face upon the pillow assumed a dark and 
 almost fiendish expression. ' Why, yes, I 
 love him as a brother, but nothing else. I 
 respect him for his goodness, but it 
 would be impossible to love him with a mar- 
 rying love. ' 
 
 The fierce expression passed away, and 
 Miss Porter was about to speak when Anna 
 Lawrie sent for Rosamond, who excused her- 
 self and left the room, thinking that, after 
 all, she should like her old enemy of At-wa- 
 ter Seminary very much. 
 
 Meantime ' the enemy ' had buried her 
 face in the pillows, and clenching her blue 
 veined fists, struck at the empty air, just as 
 she would have struck at the owner of 
 Riverside had he been standing there. 
 
 ' Fine time he has of it, ' she muttered, 
 ' living there with her, and she so young and 
 beautiful. I could have strangled her — the 
 jade ! — when she sat here talking so enthu- 
 siastically to me, of him ! And she loves 
 him, too. I know she does, though she 
 don't know it herself. But I must be wary. 
 I must seem to like this girl — must win her 
 confidence — so I can probe her heart to its 
 core, and if I find they love each other !' — 
 she paused a moment, then grinding her 
 
 teeth together, added slowly, as if the sound 
 of her voice were musical and sweet, ' Marie 
 Porter will be avenged !' 
 
 That strange womaji could be a demon or 
 an angel, and as the latter character suited 
 her just now, Rosamond, on her return to 
 her room, found her all gentleness and love. 
 That night, wlien all around the house was 
 still, the full moon shone down upon a 
 scene which would have chilled the blood of 
 Ralpli Browning an<l made his heart stand 
 still. Upon a single bedstead near the win- 
 dow Rosamond Leyton lay calmly sleeping 
 — her brown curls floating o'er the pillow — 
 her cheeks flushed with health and beauty — 
 her lips slightly apart and her slender hands 
 fc>lded gracefully upon her bosom. Over 
 her a fierce woman bent — her long, black 
 hair streaming down her back — her eyes 
 blazing with passion — her face the imperso- 
 nation of malignity and hate ; and there she 
 stood, a vulture watching a harmless dove. 
 Rosamond was dreaming of her home, and 
 the ogre, standing near, heard her mur- 
 mur, '#clear Mr. Browning. ' 
 
 For a moment Marie Porter stood im- 
 movable — then gliding back to her own 
 couch, she whispered, ' It is as I believed, 
 and now if he loves her, the time I've waited 
 for so long has come. ' 
 
 All that night she lay awake, buminot 
 with excitement and thirsting for revenge, 
 and when the morning came, the il'ness was 
 not feigned which kept her in her bed and 
 wrung from her cries of pain. She was 
 really suffering now, and during the next 
 few days, Rosamond staid almost constant- 
 ly at her side, administering to her wants, 
 and caring for her so tenderly that hatred 
 died out of the woman's heart, and she 
 pitied the fair young girl, for in those few 
 days she had learned that Rosamond did not 
 know herself, though she was gradually 
 waking up to it now. It was a long time 
 since she had been separated from Mr. 
 Browning, and she missed him so much, 
 following him in fanCy through the day, and 
 at night wondering if he were thinking of 
 her, and wishing he could hear the sound of 
 her voice singing to him as she was wont to 
 do when the twilight was over the earth. 
 Anon there crept into her heart a feeling she 
 could not define — a feverish longing to be 
 where he was — a sense of desolation and 
 terrible pain when the thought of his in- 
 sanity, and tbe long, dreary years which 
 might ensue w>en he would lose all know- 
 ledge of her. She did not care to talk so 
 much of him now, but Mrs. Porter cared to 
 have her, and caressinglv winning the girl's 
 confidence, learned almost everything— 
 learned that there was an impediment to his 
 
 
 ; 
 
 v\ 
 
 i 
 
16 
 
 ROSAMOND. 
 
 inarryinj?, and that Rosamond believed that 
 impediment to be hereditary insanity — 
 learned that he was often ritful and gloomy, 
 tri'ating his ward sometimes with coldness, 
 and again with the utmost tenderness. Of 
 the interview in the library Rc)samond did 
 not tell, but she told of every thing else — 
 of his refusing to let her come to the 
 Springs and then compelling hex*, against 
 her will, to go ; and Marie Porter, holding 
 the little hands ia hers, and listening to the 
 story, read it all, and read it aright, gloat- 
 ing over the anguish she knew it cost Ralph 
 Browning to see that beautifnl girl each day 
 and know he must not win her. 
 
 ' But I pity her,' she said, 'there is coming 
 to her a terrible awakening, ' 
 
 Then, fcr no other reason than a thirst for 
 excitement, she longed to see that awaken- 
 ing, and one day when they sat together 
 alone, she took Rosamond's hand in hers, 
 and examining its scarcely legible lines, 
 said, half playfully, half seriously, ' Rosa- 
 mond, people have cidled me a fortune-teller. 
 I inherited the gift from my grandmother, 
 and though I do not pretend to mu?li skill, 
 I can surely read your destiny. Vou love 
 Mr. Browning. I have known that all 
 along. You think of him by day — you 
 dream of him by night, and no thought is 
 half so sweet as the thought of going home 
 to lii • But, Rosamond, you will not 
 marry .jiii. There is an mpedinient, as 
 you say, but not insanity. I cannot tell you 
 what it is, but I can see, ' and she bent 
 nearer to the hand which trembled in her 
 own. • I can see that for you to marry hiin, 
 or — marK me, Rosamond — for you even to 
 love him, is a most wicked thing — a dread- 
 ful sin in thesight ot Heaven, and you must 
 forget him — will you ?' 
 
 Rosamond had laid her face upon the bed 
 and was sobbing hysterically, for Miss Por- 
 ter's manner frightened her even more than 
 her words. In reply to the question, ' Will 
 you ?' she at last answered passionately, 
 ' No, I won't !' It is not wicked to love him 
 as I do. I am his sister, nothing more. ' 
 
 Miss Porter's lips curled scornfully a mom- 
 ent, and then she said, ' Let me tell you the 
 story of my Hfe, shall I !' 
 
 No answer from Rosamond, and the lady 
 continued : ' When I was about your age I 
 fancied I loved a man who, I think, must 
 have been much like Mr Browning ' 
 
 ' No, no,' interrupted Rosamond. 'No- 
 body was ever like Mr. Browning. I don't 
 want to hear the story. I don't want any- 
 thing Vnit to go ho! le. ' 
 
 * I will not tell her until it's more necessary,' 
 thought Miss Porier, ' but if I mistake not 
 she will go home much sooner than she an- 
 
 ticipates.' And she was right, for on that 
 very night Mr. Browning sat reading a lettei 
 which ran s '/Hows : 
 
 'I find myself so happy with your littli- 
 Rosamond, who chances to be my room-mate, 
 that I have postponed my visit to Riverside 
 until some future time, which, if you contiuui 
 natural, may never come — hut the mom- 
 ent you trespass on forbid(Un ground, or 
 breathe a word of love into lier ear — beware ! 
 She loves you. I have found tliat out, and 
 I tell it becaus(! I know it will not make 
 your life more happy, or your punishmeiil 
 easier to bear !' 
 
 He did n »t shrink — he did not faint — Ik 
 did not move, but from between his teeth 
 two words came like a burning hiss, ' Curse 
 her !' Then, seizing his pen, he dashed oH 
 a few lines, bidding Rosamond 'not to delay 
 a single moment, but to come home at once.' 
 
 ' She knows it all,' he said, ' and now, it 
 she comes here, it will be so much worse. 1 
 can but die, let what will hai)pen.' 
 
 This letter took Rosamond and the Law- 
 ries by surprise but not so Miss Porter. She 
 expected it, and when she saw how eager 
 Roiiamond was to go, she smiled a hard bitter 
 smile, and said, ' I've a half a inind to go 
 with you.' 
 
 'What! where? To Riverside ?' asked 
 Rosamond, suspending her preparations for 
 a moment, and hardly knowing whether she 
 wer ' pleased or uf-t. 
 
 , Yes, to Riveiviilp, ' returned Miss Porter, 
 ' though on the whole. I think I'd better not. 
 Mr. Browning may not care to see me. If 
 he does, you can write and let me know. 
 Give him my love, and say that if you had 
 not described him so incorrigibly an old bach, 
 I might be coming there to try my powers 
 upon him. I am irresistible in my diamonds. 
 Be sure and te 1 that ; and stay, Rosamond, 
 I must give you some little token of my affec- 
 tion. What shall it be ?' and she feigned to 
 be thinking. 
 
 Most cruel must her thoughts have been, 
 and even she hesitated a moment ere she 
 could bring hersell to such an act. Then 
 with a contemptuous ' Pshaw !' she arose 
 and opened her jewel box took from a private 
 drawer a plain gold ring, bearing date nine 
 years back, and having inscribed upon it 
 simply her name 'Marie.' This she brought 
 to Rosamond, saying, ' I can't wear it now ; 
 — my hands are too thin and bony, but it 
 just fits you, — see — ' and shellaced it upon 
 the third finger of Rosamond's left hand ! 
 
 Rosamond thanked her — admired the chaste 
 beauty of the ring and then went on with 
 her packing, while the wicked woman seated 
 herself by the window and leaning her h(.:ad 
 upon her hands tried to quiet the voice! of 
 
ROSAMOND. 
 
 17 
 
 go 
 
 (lonscience which had cried out against the 
 dee(] she had dune. 
 
 'It does not matter,' she thouifht. 
 'That tie was severed years ago, — by 
 his own act, too. The king shall go. But 
 will he see it ! Men do not always ol)servi' 
 such things, ' and then, lest he should not 
 quaff the cup of bitterness prepared lor him, 
 she wrote on a tiny siieet of gilt-edged 
 paper, ' Look on Rosaniond'a third linger." 
 
 This she carefully sealed and gave to 
 Rosamond, bidiling her hand it to Mi. 
 Browning, and saying in answer to her look 
 of inquiry, 'It is about a little matter con- 
 cerning yourself. He can show it to you, 
 if he thinks proper !' 
 
 'The omnibus. Miss, for the cars,' cried a 
 servant at the door,- and with a huried 
 good-bye to her friends, Rosamond departed 
 and was soon on her wey to Riverside. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 MAKING LOVE. 
 
 An accident had occurred to the down- 
 ward train, and Rosamond was detained 
 upon the road for a long time, so that it was 
 already dark when she reached the Granby 
 depot. Wishing to surprise Mr. Browning, 
 she started for home on foot, leaving her 
 trunks in charge of the baggage master. 
 All around the house was still, and stepping 
 into the hall she was about passing up the 
 stairs, when the parlour door suddenly 
 opened, throwing a glare of light upon her 
 face. The same instant some one caught 
 her ronnd the neck, and kissing her twice, 
 t»nly released her when she exclaimed, ' Mr. 
 Browning, 1 am surprised at you !' 
 
 ' Mr. Browning ? Thunder I Just as 
 though I was my uncle !' cried a famdiar 
 voice, and looking at the speaker, Rosa- 
 mond recognized Bwi Van Vechten ! He 
 had come to Riverside the day previous, he 
 said, and hearing she was expected, hud 
 waited at the depot four mortal hours, and 
 then returned in disgust. 
 
 ' But how did you know me ?' she asked, 
 and he replied, ' By your daguerreotype, of 
 course. There is but one such beautifu' 
 face in the whole world. ' 
 
 He was disposed to be compiimentaiy, 
 and Rosamond was not sorry when his 
 mother appeared, for in her presence 
 he was tolerably reserved. Mrs. Van 
 Vechten greeted Rosamond politely, but 
 the old hauteur was there, and her mamier 
 seemed to sav, ' If you are educated and 
 refined, I can't forget that you were once 
 my waiting-maid.' 
 * Where is Mr. Browning?' asked Rosa- 
 
 mond, and Bun replied, ' Oli, up in his den 
 having ilie .sua sL's. He moi;ei there all tlie 
 time. Can't yiju l)rc;i,k him of the blues?' 
 
 ' ril gi) and try,' an.swurcd Rosamund, and 
 «lie started up tiio stains, followed by Ben 
 whose uiutlier called liim l)iick, bidding him, 
 in a low voice. ' >t 'V whero lie was, and not 
 make a fool of hiioseU. ' 
 
 Shu coidd trust iit'r brotlier, but not her 
 son, and she thus did tiie former the great- 
 est favour she could have done— she let him 
 moot young Kosaniond Leytun alone. The 
 evening was ijuite dully f(jr .luly, and as, 
 since the receipt of Miss I'urter'is nute, Mr. 
 Browning' liad seemed rather ugueish. there 
 was a lire burning in the grate, and it cast 
 its shaduws upon him as he satin his accus- 
 tomed chair. His back was toward the 
 door, and he knew notidng of Rosamond's 
 return un il two, soft, wliite hands were 
 placed before his eyes, and a voice which 
 tried to be unnatural, said, ' Gues-i who I 
 am.' 
 
 ' Rosamond — darling — have you come 
 l)ack to me again?' he exclaimed, and start- 
 ing up, he wound his arm about her, and 
 looked into her face, expecting, momentari- 
 ly, to hear her say, ' Yes, X know it all. ' 
 
 But Rosamond did not say so. She mere- 
 ly told him how glad she was to be at home 
 once more, in her delight forgetting that 
 Marie Porter had said she loved the man 
 who held her closely to his siile and 
 smoothed her wavy hair even while his heart 
 throbbed painfully with memories of the 
 past and treinl)led for the future. He 
 longed to speak of her room-mate, but 
 he dared not betray his kno\A ledge of her 
 existence, and lie sat there waiting, yet 
 dre .ding to hear the hated name. 
 
 ' Did you ruoiu alone ?' lie asked at last, 
 and now renieniljciing the words, ' You do 
 love him, ' Rus iUiund moved quickly from 
 his side. 'She dues know,' he thought, 
 and a silent moan of anguish died upon his 
 lips. But Rosimond did not know — the 
 movement was actuated by mere maidenly 
 reserve, and sitting down directly opposite 
 him, she told him of Miss Porter, whom she 
 said she liked so well. 
 
 'How much of an i valid is she ?' asked 
 Mr. BroW'ung, when he could trust his voice 
 to speak. 
 
 ' Her health is miserable, ' i-eturned Rosa- 
 mond, ' She has the heart disease, and her 
 waiting-maid told me she was liable to die 
 at any time if unusually excited. ' 
 
 It might have been because Rosamond 
 was there that Mr. Browning thought the 
 room wa% brighter than it had been before, 
 ind quite calmly he listened while she told 
 him more of her new friend. ., 
 
 k 
 
 n ; 
 
 ! i 1 
 
 |.! 
 ■It 
 i 
 
 1^ 
 
 1 
 
18 
 
 ROSAMOND. 
 
 • She seemed so interested in you, and in 
 Riverside,' said Rosamond. ' and even pro- 
 posed coming nome with me ' 
 
 Mr. Bf-owning startdl suddenly, and as 
 suddenly a coai snappe<l out upon the car- 
 pet. This was an excuse for liis movement, 
 and Rosamond continued, " She thought, 
 though, you might not cure to see her, being 
 a stranger, but she sent you her love, and — . 
 You are cold, ain't you, Mr. Browning? 
 You shiver like a leaf. Ben said you'd had 
 the ague. ' 
 
 Roaamond closed the door and com- 
 menced again. 'Where was I? Oh, 
 I know. She said if you were not 
 a confirmed bachelor she would try her pow- 
 ers on you. ' '* She was irresistible in her 
 diamonds," she bade me tell you. But have 
 you an ague chill, reallv ? or what makes 
 your teeth chatter so? Shall I ring for more 
 coal ?' 
 
 ' No, Rosamond, no. Fire does not warm 
 me ; I shall better soon. ' 
 
 Rosamond pitied him, lie looked so white 
 and seemed to be suffering so much, and she 
 remained silent for a time. Then remem- 
 bering the noto, she handed it to him, and 
 turning toward the fire, stooped down to fix 
 a bit of coal which was in dang.n- of dropping 
 from the grate. While in tliis attitude a cry 
 between a howl of rage and a moan of an- 
 guish fell upon her ear — her shoulders were 
 grasped by powerful hands, and looking up 
 she saw Mr. Biowning, his face distorted 
 with passion and his flashing eyes riveted 
 upon the ring glittering in tlint firelight. 
 Seizing her hand, he wrenched it from her 
 finger, and glanced at the name — then, swift 
 as thought, placed it upon the marble hearth 
 and crushed it with his heel. 
 
 ' It's mine— you've broken it,' cried Rosa- 
 mond, but he did not heed her, aad gather- 
 ing up the pieces, he hurled them into the 
 grate — then, pale as ashes, sank panting in- 
 to the nearest chair. 
 
 Rosamond was thunder-struck. She did 
 not suppose he had had ti ne to read the note 
 and never dreaming there was any connec- 
 tion between that and his strange conduct, 
 Bhe believed him to be raving mad, and her 
 first impulse was to fly. Her second thought 
 however, was, ' I will not leave him. He 
 has these fits often, now, I know, and tfiSt 
 is why he sent for me. He knew I could 
 quiet him, and I will. ' 
 
 So Rosamond stayed, succeeding so far in 
 soothing him that his eyes lost their savage 
 gle^m, and were suffused with a look of un- 
 natural tenderness when they rested on her 
 face. He did not ask her how sh^came by 
 the ring for he knew it had been sent as an 
 insult to him, and he felt a glow of satisfac- 
 
 tion in knowing that it was blackening on 
 the grate. Ben's voice was now heard in the 
 ball, as king if they intended staying 
 there all night,and in a whisper Mr. Brown- 
 ing bade Rosamond go down and apologize 
 for him. She accordingly descended to the 
 parlour, telling Mrs. Van Vechten that her 
 brother was too much indisposed to come 
 down, and wishc' to be excused. Mrs. Van 
 Vechten bowed coolly, and taking a book oi 
 prints, busied herself for awhile in examin- 
 ing them ; then the book dropped from her 
 liand — her head fell back — her mouth fell 
 open, and Ben, who was anxiously watching 
 her, knew by unmistakable sounds that she 
 was fast asleep. It was now his time, and 
 faithfully did he improve it, devoting him- 
 self so assiduously 'to Rosamond, that she 
 was glad when a snore, louder and more 
 prolonged than any' which had preceded it 
 started the lady herself, and produced symp- 
 toms of returning consciousness. 
 
 The next day, and the next, it was the 
 same, and at the expiration of a week, Ben 
 had determined either to marry Rosamond 
 Ley ton, or go to the Crimean War, this last 
 being the bugbear with which he intended 
 frightening his mother into a consent. He 
 hardly dared disoV^y her openly for fear of 
 disinheritance, and he . would rather she 
 should express her willingness to receive 
 Miss Leyton as her daughter. He accord- 
 ingly startled her one day by asking her 
 to sanction his intended proposal 
 to the young girl. Nothing could 
 exceed Mrs. Van Vechten 's amaze- 
 ment and contempt. She would never con- 
 sent, and if Ben persisted in making so dis- 
 graceful an alliance, she would disinherit 
 him at once. Ben knew she was in earnest, 
 and so fell back upon the Crimean war as a 
 last resort. ' He would go immediately — 
 would start that very day for New York — 
 he had money enough to carry him there,' 
 and he painted so vividly ' death on a distant 
 battle-field, with a ferocious Russian rifling 
 his trowsers' pocket,' that his moth«r began 
 to cry, though she still refused to relent. 
 
 • Choose, mother, choose, ' said he. ' It's 
 almost car time — Rosamond or the war,' 
 and he drew on his heavy boots. 
 
 • Oh, Benjamin, you will kill me dead. ' 
 
 *I know it. I mean to. Rosamond or 
 the war !' and he buttoned up his coat pre- 
 paratory to a start. 
 
 ' Do, Ben, listen to reason. ' 
 
 • I won't — I won 't ; — Rosamond or the 
 war 1 I shall rush into the ttiickest of the 
 fight, and be killed the first fire, of course, 
 and black is so unbecoming to you.' 
 
 ' Stop, I entreat. You know you are 
 
Id.' 
 
 id or 
 pre- 
 
 the 
 ^f the 
 Urse, 
 
 in are 
 
 ROSAMOND. 
 
 19 
 
 *fraid of cannons :' tliis was said beseech- 
 ingly. 
 
 ' Thunder, niotlicr ! No, I am't 1 Rosa- 
 mond or tlie war— choose quick. I hear the 
 whistle at East Granby.' 
 
 He left the room — went down the stairs, 
 out at the door, through the yard, and out 
 into the avenue, wiiile his (list muted mother 
 looked after him through blimling tears. She 
 knew iiow determined he was when once hia 
 mind was msale up, and she feared his 
 
 {►resent excitement would last until he was 
 airly shipped, and it was too late to return. 
 He would never fight, she was sure, and at 
 the first battle-aound he would fly, and be 
 hung as a deserter, no doubt ! This touched 
 her pride. She would rather people s.'iould 
 say of her boy that he married a milliner's 
 daughter than that lie was lunu , and hurry- 
 ing to the window just as Ben looked back, 
 hoping for a signal, she waved her hand for 
 him to return, calling out at the top of her 
 voice, ' I relent — I relent. ' 
 
 'I knew the Crimea would fetch, her.' 
 «aid Ben; 'lucky I thought of that,' and 
 without going to hia mother at all, besought 
 out Rosamond. Half an hour later he aston- 
 ished the former by rushing into herpresence, 
 and exclaiming, ' She's refused me, mother ; 
 and she meant it, too. Oh, I shall die — I 
 know I shall. Oh, oh, oh !' and Ben rolled 
 on the floor in his frantic grief. As nearly 
 as she could, Mrs. Van Vechten learned the 
 particulars of his interview with Rosamond, 
 and, though at first secretly pleased that he 
 had been refused, she felt a very little piqued 
 that her son should thus be dishonored, and 
 ■when she saw how wretched it had made 
 hira, her feelings were enlisted in his behalf, 
 and tihe tried to soothe him by saying that 
 lier brother had a great deal of influence 
 with Rosamond, and they would refer the 
 matter to him. 
 
 ' Go now, mother. Don't wait a minute,' 
 pleaded Ben, and Mrs. Van Vechten started 
 for her brother's library. 
 
 She found him alone, and disclosed the 
 object of her visit at once. Rosamond had 
 refused her son, who, in consequence, was 
 neary distracted, and threatened going to 
 the Crimean war — a threat she knew he 
 would execute unless her brother persuaded 
 Rosamond to revoke her decision, and think 
 again. 
 
 Mr. Browning turned as white as marble, 
 but his sister was too much absorbed 
 in her own matters to heed his emotions, and 
 she continued — 
 
 ' Of course it will be mortifying to us all 
 to have her m the family, and may be Ben 
 -will get over it, but they must be engaged 
 somehow, or he'll go away. I'll send her 
 
 the room, but Mr. 
 
 dress, exclaiming, 
 
 hear me. I never 
 
 up to you immediately, ' and she hurriedly 
 left the room inquest of Rosamond. For a 
 moment Mr. Browning sat like one stupefied; 
 then, covering his face with his hands, he 
 moaned, * must this come upon me too ? 
 Must I, who love her so niadly, bid her 
 marry another ? And yet what does it mat- 
 ter ? Slie can never be mine— and if she 
 marries Bon I can keep them with me al- 
 ways, and that vile woman will have no 
 cauae for annoving me. She said Rosa- 
 mond loved me, but I pray Heaven that may 
 not be so. ' 
 
 A light tread echoed in the hall, and with 
 each fall of those little feet, Ralph Brown- 
 ing's heart throbbed painfully. Another 
 moment aud Rosamond was there with him 
 —her checks flushed — her eyelashes wet 
 with tears, and her whole manner betrayed 
 an unusual degree of excitement. 
 
 ' I understand from your sister,' said she, 
 * that you wish me to marry Ben, or leave 
 your house. I will do the latter, but the 
 former — never ! Shall I consider our inter- 
 view at an end ?' 
 
 She turned to leave 
 Browning caught her 
 ' stay, Rosnmoiid, and 
 uttered such words to Mri-. Van Vechten. I 
 do not wish you to marry Ben, unless ytni 
 love him. Do you lovehim, Ros\mond? D6 
 you love anybody ?' 
 
 This was not what he intended to say — 
 but he had said it, and now he waited for 
 her answer. To the fir?t question it came 
 in a decided 'no, I do not love him,' and to 
 the last it came in burning blnahes, stealing 
 over her cheek — her forehead — her neck, and 
 speaking in her down-cast eye. She had 
 never believed that she did love her guardian 
 until ^ that he wished her to marry an- 
 other jn it burst upon her in all its force, 
 and she could no more conceal it now than 
 she could stop the rapid beatings of her 
 heart He saw it all in her tell-tale face, 
 and forgetting everything, he wound hia 
 arms around her, and drawing her to his 
 side, whispered in her ear, * Darling Rosa- 
 mond, say that you love me. Let me hear 
 that assurance once, and I shall be almost 
 willing to die. ' 
 
 ' Ladies do not often confess an attachment 
 until sure it is retiurned, ' was Rosamond's 
 answer, and doubly forgetful now of all the 
 dreary past, Ralph Browning poured into 
 her ear hot, burning words of love — hugging 
 her closer and closer to him until through 
 the open window came the sound of Mr. 
 Peters' voice calling to the stranger girl who 
 had that morning entered service at River- 
 side as a waiting-maid in general. Maria 
 was the name, and as the ominous word fell 
 
 i ; 
 
 u 
 
 "'I 
 
 I 
 
 ( 
 
 N: 
 
20 
 
 -»•«» ^ 
 
 t 
 
 ROSAMOND. 
 
 upon Mr. Browning's ear, he started, and 
 pushing Rosamond from him, turned his face 
 away so she could not see the expression of 
 mute despair settling down upon it. S nk- 
 iog upon the lounge lie buried his face in its 
 cushions while 1\< iiimond looked curiously 
 upon him, feeling 8ure thatahe knew what it 
 was that so affected him. He hud told lur 
 of his love — had said that she was dearer to 
 him than his life, and in confessing in tlis 
 he had forgotten the dark shadow upon 
 his life, and it was the dread ot 
 telling it to her — the pain of saying ' I love 
 yju, but you cannot be my wife,' wliich 
 atTected him so strangely. But she knew it 
 all, and she longed to assure him of her 
 sympathy. At last when ho seemed to be 
 more calni, she stole up to him, and kneel- 
 ing at his side bent over him so that her 
 bright hair mingled with his own. 
 
 'Mr. Browning,' she whispered softly, 'I 
 know your secret, and I do not love you 
 less,' 
 
 • You, Rosamond, you know it !' he ex- 
 claimed, gazing fixedly at her. ' It cannot 
 ))p. You would never do as you have 
 
 •done.* 
 
 ' litit I do know it,' she continued, taking 
 both Ins hands in hers, and looking him 
 steadily in the eye, by way of controlling 
 him, should he be seized with a sudden at- 
 tack, ' I know exactly what it is, and 
 though it will prevent me from being your 
 wife, it will not prevent me from loving you 
 just the same, or from living with you either. 
 I shall stay here always — and — and — pardon 
 me, Mr. Browning, but when you get furi- 
 ous, as you sometimes do, I can quiet you 
 better than any one else, and it may be, the 
 world will never need to know you are a 
 madman !' 
 
 Mr. Browning looked searchingly into her 
 innocent eyes, and then, in spite of himself, 
 he laughed aloud. He understood why she 
 should think him a madman, and though he 
 repented of it afterward, he hastened to un- 
 deceive her now. ' As I hope to see another 
 day, it is not that, ' he said. * It is far 
 worse tjian insanity ; and, Rosamond, 
 though it breaks my heart to say it, it is 
 wicked for me to talk of love to you, and 
 you must not remember what I said. You 
 must crush every tender thought of me. 
 You must forget me — nay, more — you must 
 hate me. Will you, Rosamond ?' 
 
 • No — no — no, ' she cried, and laying her 
 face in his lap, she burst into a passionate 
 flood of tears. 
 
 ' Leave, ' he whispered, ' or I shall go mad, 
 for 1 know I am the cause of this distress. ' 
 
 There was decision in the tones of his 
 voice, and it stilled the tumult in Rosamond's 
 
 bosom. Rising to her feet, she said calmly, 
 * I will go, but I cannot forget that you de- 
 ceived me. You have wrung from me a con- 
 fession of my love, only to throw it back 
 upon me as a priceless thing. ' 
 
 Not thus would he part with lior, and 
 grasping her arm, he begnn, ' Hcavon knows 
 how much more than my very life 1 love 
 you • 
 
 He did not finish the sentence, for through 
 the air a small, dark object came, and, 
 missing its aim, dropped upon the hearth, 
 where it was broken in a hundred pieces. 
 It was a vase which stood upon the table in 
 hall, and Ben Van Vechten's was the hand 
 that threw it ! Impatient at the delay, he 
 had come up in time to hear his uncle's last 
 words, which aroused his Southern blood at 
 once, and seizing the vase, he hurled it at 
 the offender's head — then, rushing down the 
 stairs, he burst upon his mother with 
 ' Great thunder ! mother ; Uncle Ralph is 
 making love to Rosamond himself, and she 
 likes it too. I saw it with my own eyes ! 
 I'll hang myself in the barn, or go to the 
 Crimean war !' and Ben bounded up and 
 down like an India-rubber ball. Suddenly 
 remembering that another train was due ere 
 long, he darted out of the house, followed 
 by his distracted mother, who, divining his 
 intention, ran swiftly after him, imploring 
 him to return. Pausing for a moment, as 
 he struck into the highway, he called out,^ 
 ' Good-bye, mother. I've only onechoiceleft — 
 War! Give my love to Rosamond, and tell 
 her I shall die like a hero. You needn't 
 wear black, if you don't want to. Good- 
 bye.' 
 
 He turned the corner — he had started for 
 the war — and mentally resolving to follow 
 him in the next train, Mrs. Van Vechten 
 returned to the house, and sought her 
 brother. 
 
 ' Ralph, ' she began sternly, * have you 
 talked of love to Rosamond V 
 
 Mr. Browning had borne so much that 
 nothing startled him now, and returning 
 her glarce unflinchingly, he replied, 'I 
 have." 
 
 ' How, then — is Marie dead ?' the lady 
 asked. 
 
 ' Not to my knowledge — but hist, ' was 
 the reply, as Mr. Browning nodded toward 
 the hall, where a rustling movement was 
 heard. 
 
 It was the new girl, coming with dust-pan 
 and brush to remove the fragments of the 
 vase, though how she knew they were there, 
 was a question she alone could answer. For 
 a sing e instant her dull, gray eye shot a 
 gleam of intelligence at the occupants of the 
 room, and then assuming her usual appear- 
 
ROSAMOND. 
 
 81 
 
 it back 
 
 ^e you 
 
 jh that 
 turning 
 led, •! 
 
 |ie lady 
 
 was 
 toward 
 it was 
 
 list-pan 
 I of the 
 
 there, 
 For 
 
 shot a 
 |of the 
 
 PiRar- 
 
 ance, she did what she came to do, and do- 
 narted. When they were again alone, Mrs. 
 Van Vechten demanded an explanation of 
 her brother, wlio gave it unhesitatingly. 
 Cold-hearted as she always seemed, Mrs . 
 Van Vecihten had some kind feelings left, 
 and toutiied by her brother's tale of suffer- 
 ing, she gave him no word of reproach, and 
 even unbent herself to say that a brighter 
 day might come to him yet. Then she spoke 
 of Boil, announcing her detorrniuation of 
 following him that night. To this plan Mr. 
 Browning offered no remonstrance, and when 
 the night express left the (Jr uiby station, it 
 carried with it Mis. Van Vetchen, in pur- 
 suit oi the runaway Ben. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 NEWH. 
 
 Nearly two weeks had passed away since 
 the exciting scene in Mr. Browning's library, 
 and during tliat time Rosamond had kept 
 herself aloof from her guardi.ui, meeting him 
 only at the table, where she maiiitaned to- 
 ward liim a perfectly respectful, but rather 
 freezing manner. Slie was deeply mortified 
 to think he had won from her a confeision of 
 her love, and then tcld her how useless — 
 nay, worse — how wicked it was for her to 
 think of him. She knew that he suffered 
 intensely, but she resolutely left him was 
 growing more and more a wearisome burden, 
 and wiien, just one week after the library 
 interview, he received a note in the well re- 
 membered handwriting, he asked that he 
 might die and forget his grief. The letter 
 was dated at the Springs, where Miss Porter 
 was still staying, though she said she in- 
 tended starting the next day for Cuyler, a 
 little out-of-the-way place on the lake, where 
 there was but little company, and she could 
 be quiet and recruit her nervous system. 
 The latter had been terribly shocked, she 
 said, by hearing of his recent attempt at 
 making love to Rosamond Leyton ! 'In- 
 deed, ' she wrote, 'it is to this very Icve- 
 making that you owe this letter from me, as 
 I deem it my duty to keep continually before 
 your mind the fact that I am still alive.' 
 
 With a blanched cheek Mr. Browning read 
 this letter tJirough — then tore it into frag- 
 ments, wondering much who gave her the 
 information. There were no spies about his 
 premises. Rosamond would not do it, and 
 it must have been his sister, though why 
 she should thus wish to annoy him he did 
 not know, when she, more than any one 
 else, had been instrumental in placing him 
 where he was Oiice he thought of telling 
 Rosamond all, but bfi shrank from this, for 
 
 she would leave his house, he knew, and, 
 though she might never again speak kindly 
 to him, he would rather leel that she was 
 there. 
 
 And so another dreary week went by, and 
 then one morning there came to him tidings 
 which stopped for one instant the pulsa- 
 tions of his heart, and sent through his 
 frame a thrill so benumbing and intense that 
 at first pity and horror were the only emo- 
 tions of which he seemed capable. It came 
 to him in a newspaper paragraph, whicli in 
 substance was as follows ; 
 
 ' A sad catastrophe occurred on Thursday 
 afternoon at Cuyler, a little place upon the 
 lake, which of late has been somewhat fre- 
 (luented during the summer months. Three 
 ladies and one gentleman went out in a 
 small pleasure-boat which is kept for the ac- 
 commodation of the guests. They had not 
 been gone very long when a sudden thun- 
 der-gust came on, accompanied by a violent 
 wind, and the owner of the skiff, feeling 
 some alarm for the safety of the party, went 
 down to the landing just in time to see the 
 boat make a few mad plunges with the 
 waves, and then capsize at the distance of 
 nearly half a mile from the shore. 
 
 ' Every possible effort was made to save 
 the unfortunate pleasure-seekers, but in 
 vain ; they disappeared from view long be- 
 fore a boat could reach them. One of the 
 bodies has not yet I eon recovered. It is 
 that of a Miss Porter, from Florida. She 
 had reached Cuyler only the day previous, 
 and was unaccompanied by a single friend, 
 save a waiting-maid, who seems overwhelmed 
 with grief at the loss of her mistress. * 
 
 This, then, was the announcement which 
 so aff'ected Ralph Browning, blotting out for 
 a moment the wretched past, and taking 
 him back to the long ago when he first knew 
 Marie Porter and fancied that he loved her. 
 She was dead now — dead. Many a time he 
 whispered that word to himself, and with 
 each repetition the wish grew stronger 
 within him — not that she were living, but 
 that while living he had not hated her so 
 bitterly, and with the softened feeling which 
 death will always bring, he blamed himself 
 far more than he did her. There had been 
 wrong on both sides, but he would rather 
 now that she had been reconciled to him ere 
 she found that watery grave. Hand in hand 
 with these reflections came another thought i 
 bewildering, intoxicating thought. He was 
 free at last — free to love — to worship— to 
 marry Rosamond. 
 
 ' And I will go to her at once, ' he said, 
 after the first hour had been given to the 
 dead ; 'I will tell her all the truth.' 
 He rose to leave the room, but something 
 
ROSAMOND. 
 
 and whispered in hit ear, 
 Bomo niiHtuke. Cuyler ia 
 
 ataid him there, 
 
 ' There may bo 
 
 not fur awuy. Oo there Hr^t and inveiti- 
 
 jjate. ' 
 
 Fur him to will waH to do, and telling 
 Mrs. I'ftcrH he nhould bo absent from honio 
 for a time, he started immediately for 
 Cuylor, which he reached near the 
 close of the day. Calm and b«>uu- 
 tiful looked the waters of the lake 
 on that Hummer's afternoon, and if within 
 their caverns the ill-fated Marie slept, they 
 kept over her an unruiilod watch and told no 
 tales ot her last dying wail to the careworn, 
 haggard man who stood upon the sandy 
 beach, where they said that she embarked, 
 and listened attentively while they told him 
 how gay she seemed that day, and how jest- 
 ingly she spoke of the dark thunder-head 
 which even then was mounting the western 
 horizon. They had tried in vain to find her, 
 and it was probable she had sunk into one of 
 the unfathomable holes with which the lake 
 was by some thought to abound. Sarah, the 
 waiting maid, wept passionately, showingthat 
 the deceased must have had Homegoodqualit 
 ii' , )r she could notthus have attaulicd a»orv- 
 aiib to her. 
 
 Looking upon Mr. Browning as a friend of 
 her late mistress, she relied upon hmi for 
 counsel, and when he advised her immediate 
 return to Florida, she readily consented, 
 and started on the same day that he turned 
 his face towards Riverside. They had said 
 to him, ' If we find her, shall we send her to 
 your place ?' and with an involuntary shud- 
 der he had answered, * No — oh, no. You 
 must apprise me of it by letter, as also iter 
 Florida friends — but bury her quietly her ,' 
 
 They promised compliance with his wishes, 
 and feeling that a load was o& his mind, he 
 started at once for home. Certainty now 
 was doubly sure. Marie was dead, and as 
 this conviction became more and more fixed 
 upon his mind, he began to experience a 
 dread of telling Rosamond all. Why need 
 he know of it, when the telling it would 
 chrow much censure on himself. She was 
 not a great newspaper reader — she had not 
 Been the paragraph, and would not see it. 
 He could tell her that the obstacle to his 
 happiness had been removed — that 'twas no 
 no longer a sin for him to think of her or 
 seek to make her his wift;. All this he 
 would say to her, but notliing more. 
 
 And all this lie did say to her in the sum- 
 mer-house at the foot of the garden, where 
 he found her just as the sun was setting. 
 And Rosamond listened eagerly — never 
 question ng him of the past, or caring to 
 hear of it. She was satisfied to know that 
 she might love him now, and with his arm 
 
 around her, ihe Mt there alone with him 
 until the August moon was high up in the 
 heavens. He called her his 'sunshine'— his 
 'liuht'— his 'life,' and pushing the silken 
 cui-Jm from ofl' her childish brow, kissed her 
 a^ain and again, telling her she should be 
 his wife when the twentieth day of No- 
 vember came. That was his twenty-ninth 
 birth-day, and looking into her girlish face, 
 he askeil her if he were not too old. He 
 knew she would tell him no, and she did, 
 lovingly, caressing his grayish hair. 
 
 ' He had grown young since ho sat there,' 
 she said, and so, indeed, he had, and the re- 
 juvenating process continued day after ilay, 
 until the villagers laughingly said that his 
 approaching marriage had put him back ten 
 years. It was known to all the town's folks 
 now, and unlike most other matches, was 
 pronounced a suitable one. Even Mrs. Van 
 Vechten, who had found Ben atLovejoy's 
 Hotel, and still remained with him in New 
 York, wrote to her brother a kind of con- 
 gratulatory letter, mingled with sickly senti- 
 Mieutal regets for the 'heart-broken, desert- 
 
 It 
 up 
 
 and now departed Marie.' 
 was doubtful whether she came 
 to the wedding or not, she said, us 
 Ben had positively refused to come, or 
 to leave tne city either, and kept her 
 constantly on the watch lest he shouhl elope 
 with a second-rate actress at Laura Keene's 
 theatre. 
 
 Rosamond laughed heartily when Mr. 
 Browning told her of this sudden change in 
 Ben, and then with a sigh as she thought 
 how many times his soft, good-natured heart 
 would ])robably be wrung, she went back to 
 the preparations for her bridal, which were 
 on a magnificent scale. They were going to 
 Europe — they would spend the winter in 
 Paris, and as Mr. Browning had several in- 
 fluential acquaintances there, they would 
 of course see some society, and he resolved 
 that his bride should be inferior to none in 
 point of dress, as she was to none in pomt of 
 Deauty. Everything which love could de- 
 vise or money procure was purchased for her 
 and the elegance of her outfit was for a long 
 time the only theme of village gossip. 
 
 Among the members of the household none 
 seemed more interested in the preparations 
 than the girl. Maria, who has before been in- 
 cidentally mentioned. Her dull eyes lighted 
 up with each new article of dress, and she 
 suddenly displayed so much taste in every- 
 thing pertaining to a lady's toilet, that Rosa- 
 mond was delighted and kept her constantly 
 with her, devising this new thing and that, 
 all of which were invariably tried on and 
 submitted to the inspection of Mr. Brown, 
 ing who was sure to apf rove whatever hi 
 
ROSAMOND. 
 
 23 
 
 RoHainon«l wore. And thus gayly «pnd the 
 halcyuii hoiirH, Itiiiiging at Innt the fa(lint{ 
 leaf and thu wuiling October wind ; but to 
 KuHiiUtond, basking in the Hunlight of love, 
 there cnnie no warning note to tell her of 
 the dark NovtMnber day» which were hurry- 
 ing swiftly on. 
 
 CHAPTKH IX. 
 
 THR lUTEST AT RIVKRSIDE. 
 
 The November days had come. The satin 
 drcsB wu8 niaile- -the bridal veil sent home 
 - tlie wreath of orange, too ; and then one 
 niuniing when the suminer, it would soem, 
 had come to revisit the sepones of its brief 
 reiyn, Mr. Browning kissed his bride elect, 
 and wiped away tne two big tears which 
 dropped from her eyelashes when he told 
 iiei that he was going away for that day and 
 the next. 
 
 ' Hut when to-morrow's sun is setting, I 
 shall be with you again,' he said, and he 
 bade her (juiet the fluttering of her little 
 heart, whicn throbbed so painfully at parting 
 witli liim. 
 
 ' I don't know why it is,' she said, 'I'm 
 not one bit superstitious, but Bruno howled 
 so dianuiUy under my window all night, and 
 when he ceased, a horrid owl set up a 
 screech. I told Maria, and she saul, in her 
 country the cry of an owl was a sign that 
 the grave was about to give up its dead, and 
 she looked so mysterious that she frightened 
 me all the more—' 
 
 ' That Maria is too Buperstitious, and I 
 don't like her to be with you so much, ' said 
 Mr. Browning, his own cheek turning slight- 
 ly pale as he thought of the grave giving up 
 its dead. Thrice he turned back to kiss the 
 little maiden, who followed him down the 
 avenue, and then climbed into a box-like 
 seat, which had been built on the top of 
 the gate-post, and was sheltered by a syca- 
 more. *Here,' said she, 'shall I wait for 
 you to-morrow night, when the sun is away 
 over there. Oh, 1 wish it would hurry.' 
 
 He wished so, too. sind with another fond 
 good-bye they parted. The day seemed 
 long to Rosamond, and, though she varied 
 the time V,y trying on each and every one 
 of the new'dresses, she was glad when it 
 WT.S night, so she could go to bed and 'leep 
 the tiine away. The next morning the de- 
 pression of spirits was pone ; he was com- 
 ing—she should wait for him beneath the 
 sycamore — pqfsibly she would hide to make 
 liim believe she was not there, and the 
 bright blushes stole over her dimpled cheeks 
 as she thought what he would do when he 
 tound that she was there. 
 
 'Ten o'clock,' Hhc said to hcrnelf, aa she 
 heard thu|^ whistle of the upward train. 
 •Seven hours more and he will come.' 
 
 Going to her room, she took a book, in 
 which she tried to be interested, Mucceeding 
 BO well that, though her windows command- 
 ed a view of the avenue, she (Ud not see tliu 
 lady who came slowly up the walk, casting 
 about her eager, curious glances, and paus- 
 ing moie than wnce to note the exceeding 
 beauty of the place. Once she stopped for 
 a hmg time, and, leaning against a tree, 
 seemed to be debating whether to turn back 
 or go on. Deciding upon the latter, she 
 arose, and quickening her movements, soon 
 stood upon the threshold. Her ring was 
 answered by Maria, who betrayed no sur- 
 prise, for from the upper hall Mrs. Peters 
 was closely inspecting the visitor. 
 
 ' Is Mr. Browning at home ?' the lady 
 asked. 
 
 •Gone to Buffalo,' was the laconic reply, 
 and a gleam of satisfaction flitted over the 
 face of the questioner, M'ho continued : 
 • And the young lady, Miss Leyton ? Has 
 she gone, too?' 
 
 • She is here,' said Marin, still keeping her 
 eye upon the shadow bending over the bal- 
 ustrade. ' What name shall I give her !' 
 
 ' No name. I wish to surprise her, ' and 
 passing on into the parlour, the stranger 
 laid aside her hat and shawl with the air of 
 one perfectly at home ; then stating herself 
 uDon a sofa, she examined tiie room as 
 curiously as she had examined the grounds 
 of Riverside. 
 
 • It seems a pity to mar all this,' she said, 
 'and were it not that I hate him so much, I 
 would go away forever, though that would 
 be a greater injury to her than my coming 
 to lite will be. Of course he's told her all, 
 and spite of her professed liking for me, she 
 is glad that I am dead. 1 long, yet dread 
 to see her amazement ; but hist— she comes.' 
 
 There was the sound of little, high-heeled 
 slippers on the stairs, the flutt .r of a pink 
 morning gown, and then Rosamond Leyton 
 stood face to face with — Marie Porter ! The 
 grave had given up its dead, and without 
 any visible marks of the world prepared for 
 such as she, save, indeed, the •increased fire 
 which burned in her black eyes, the risen 
 woman sat there much as living people sit — 
 her head bent forward — but her lips apart — 
 and a look of expectation upon her face. But 
 she was doomed to disappointment. Rosa- 
 mond knew nothing of tlie past, and with a 
 cry of pleasurable surprise she started for- 
 ward, exclaiming, 'Oh, Miss Porter, I felt 
 so cross when tohl a visitor was here, but 
 now I know who 'tis, I am so glad, for I am 
 very lonelj' to-day. ' 
 
 i 
 
24 
 
 ROSAMOND. 
 
 The hard woman swept her hand a mo- 
 ment before her eyes, and with tkat move- 
 ment swept away the kindly spirit, which 
 whispered, 'Don't undeceive her. Don't 
 (|uench the light oi that bright face, nor 
 break that girlish heart. ' 
 
 But it was necessary ; Marie Porter knew 
 that, and though she repented of what she 
 had done, it was now too late to retreat, and 
 all she could do was to brea^ the heart of 
 the unsuspecting girl as tenderly as possi- 
 ble. 
 
 * Why are you so lonely ?' she said, ' This 
 is a most beautiful spot. I believe I'd like 
 to live here myself. ' 
 
 * Oh, yes, 'tis a lovely place. ' answered 
 Rosamond, ' but — but — Mr. Browning is not 
 here, 'and she averted her crimson face. 
 
 * Is Mr. Browning so necessary to your 
 happiness ?' Miss Porter asked, and bring- 
 an ottoman, Ros?.:nond sat down at her visi- 
 tor's feet and thus replied : ' We talked so 
 much of him at the Springs that it surely is 
 not foolish in me to tell you what every 
 body knows. Now, you won't laugh at me, 
 will you ? Mr. Browning and I are going to 
 — oh, I can't tell it ; but, any way, your for- 
 time-telling is not true. ' 
 
 ' Mr. Browning and you are going to be 
 married. Is that it?' the woman asked ; 
 and with a quick, upward glance of her soft, 
 brown eyes, Rosamond replied, ' Yes, that's 
 it — that's it ; and oh, you can't begin to guess 
 how happy I am. He is not crazy either. 
 It was something else, though I don't know 
 what, for he never tohl me, and I do not 
 care to know. The obstacle has been re- 
 moved, whatever it was, and it has wrought 
 such a change in him. He's so much younger 
 — handsomer, now, ai)d so kind to me. I'm 
 glad you've come. Miss Porter, and you'll 
 stay till after the wedding. It's the twen- 
 tieth, and he has bought me so many new 
 things. We are going to Europe. Just 
 think of a winter in Paris, with Mr. Brown- 
 ing ! But, what! Are you crying?' and 
 Rosamond started as a burning tear fell 
 upon her forehead. 
 
 ' Rosamond Ley ton,' said Miss Porter, in 
 a voice husky with emotion, 'I have not 
 wept in eight long years, but the sight of 
 you, so innocent, so happy, wrings the tears 
 from my stony heart, as agony will some- 
 times force out the drops of perspiration 
 when the body is shivering with cold. I was 
 young like you once, and my bridal was 
 fixed — ' She paused, and stealing an arm 
 around her waist, Rosamond said pleading- 
 ly, ' Tell me about it. Miss Portei-, I always 
 knew you had a history. Did the man 
 die?' 
 
 ' No — no. Better for me if he had — aye, 
 and better, too, for you.' 
 
 This last was a whisper, and Rosamond 
 did not hear it. Her thoughts were bent 
 upon the story, and she continued, • Will it 
 pain you too mach to tell it now ?' 
 
 ' Yes, yes, wait, ' Miss Portei said, * Wait 
 until after dinner, and meantime, as I can- 
 not possibly stay until tlie 20th, perhaps 
 you will let me see your dresses. ' 
 
 Nothing could please Rosamond more, and 
 gay as a little child, she led the way to a 
 large upper room, which contained her wed- 
 ding outfit. Proudly she displayed her 
 treasures, flitting like a bird from one pile 
 of finery to another, and reserving the most 
 important until the very last. 
 
 'There's the dinner-bell,' she suddenly 
 exclain.ed, ' I did not tJiink it could be one. 
 Only four hours more — but come, let us go 
 down and after dinner, if you'll never tell 
 Mrs. Peters, nor any body, I'll try 
 on my bridal dress and let you see 
 if it is becoming. I want so much to 
 know how it looks, since Maria put the rose- 
 buds in the berthe. And then your story. 
 I must hear that. ' 
 
 Ais they were going down the stairs Miss 
 Porter took Rosamond's hand and said, 
 ' How is this ? — Where is my ring ?' 
 
 Rosamond could not tell her of an act 
 which now that it no long«.L liad insanity for, 
 an excuse, puzzled her not a little. So she 
 made some trivial excuse, M'^hich, however, 
 did not deceive brr auditor. But the latter 
 deemed it wise tu .-lay no more just then, and 
 silently followed her young friend into the 
 dining-room. Dinner being over they went 
 up to Rosamond's chr.mber, the closet of 
 which contained the bridal robes. 
 
 ' Two o'clock, ' said Rosamond, consulting 
 her watch, then bringing out the rich white 
 satin and exquisite overskirt of lace, she con- 
 tinued, ' I shall have just time to try this 
 on, hear y ur story and get dressed before 
 Mr. Browning comes. How short the day 
 seems, with you here ! I told him I'd be 
 sitting in that litte box which you possibly 
 noticed, built oifcthe gate-post against the 
 tree. — And he'll be so disappointed not to 
 find me there, that maybe you won't mind 
 my leaving you awhile when the sun is right 
 over the woods. ' 
 
 'Certainly not,' answered Miss Porter,and 
 the dressing-up process began, Itrsamond 
 chatting gayly all the while and asking if it 
 were very foolish for ner to try on the dress. 
 ' I should not do it, ' she said, *4f you would 
 stay. Can't you ?' 
 
 The answer was a decided negative, and 
 adjusting her little shpper, Rosariond stood 
 up while her companion put over her head 
 
ROSAMOND. 
 
 25 
 
 J con- 
 
 the satin dress. It fitted admirably, and 
 nothing could have been fairer than the 
 round, clubby arms and plump, well-shaped 
 shoulders which the short comings of the 
 dress showed to good advantage. Now the 
 lace over-skirt — now the berthe — and then 
 the veil, with the orange-wreath twined 
 among the flowing curls, and Rosamond was 
 dressed at last. 
 
 ' How do I look ?' she asked, but Marie 
 Porter made no immediate reply, a id as she 
 gazed upon the young girl, so beautitul, so 
 innocent and unsuspecting, who can tell of 
 the keen anguish at her heart, or how she 
 shrank from the bitter task which she must 
 do, and quickly, too, for the clock pointed to 
 three, and her plan was now to strike the 
 dove and. then nee ere the eagle came. Sho 
 would thus wound him more de^^ply, for the 
 very unceitaint}' would add fresh poison to 
 his cup of agony. 
 
 ' How do I look ?' Rosamond asked again, 
 and after duly complimenting the dress, Miss 
 Porter added, ' I promised you my story, 
 and if I tell it at all to-day, I must begin it 
 now, for it is long, and I would finish it ere 
 Mr. Browning comes. ' 
 
 ' Very well, I'm all attention, ' said Rosa- 
 mond, and like a lamb before its slaughterer 
 she knelt before the woman, bending low 
 her graceful head to have the wreath re- 
 moved. 
 
 This done. Miss Porter said, ' have you 
 any camphor handy, hartshorn ? I am some 
 times faint and may want them. ' 
 
 'Yes, both, here, in the bathing-room,' 
 said Rosamond, and she brought them to the 
 lady, who placed them upon the table — not 
 for herself, but for one who would need them 
 more — for poor, poor Rosamond. The dis- 
 robing proceeded slowly, for the little 
 girl was well pleased with the figure re- 
 flected by the mirror. But Miss Porter could 
 not wait, and when the wreath, the veil, and 
 berthe were removed, she seated herself by 
 the window in a position which commanded 
 a full view of her victim's face ; and forcing 
 down the throbbings of her heart, which it 
 seemed to her were audible in that silent 
 room, she commenced the stoi'y. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE STORY. 
 
 * My home, ' began Miss Porter, ' is, as you 
 know, in Florida. I am an only child, as 
 were both my parents, so that I have now 
 living no nearer relative than a great-uncle 
 —a superannuated clergyman, who superin- 
 tends my affairs, and who, in case I die 
 
 before he does, whinh is very probable, will 
 be heir to my possessions. 
 
 ' It IS now nearly ten years since my father 
 started for Europe, and I went to an adjoin- 
 ing state to visit a widow lady, whom I had 
 met in New Orleans the winter previous. It 
 is not necessary that I should use real names, 
 consequently I will call her Mrs. Le Vert. 
 She was spending the summer on her plan- 
 tation, which she called her country-seat. 
 It was a large, old-fashioned, wooden build- 
 ing, many miles from any neighbors, and 
 here she lived alone — for her only son, a lad 
 twelve years of age, was at some northern 
 school. At first I was very lonely, for the 
 secluded life we led at Holly Grove was 
 hardly in accordance with the taste of a 
 young girl. JStill, I did not mind i+. as much 
 as some, for I cared but little for gentlemen's 
 society, and had frequently declared that I 
 should never marry. 
 
 ' Towards the last of July, Mrs. Le Vert'a 
 brother came to visit her. He was a hand- 
 some, boyish-look mg youth, six months 
 older than myself— just out of college — full 
 of life and very fond of pretty girls, par- 
 ticularly if they chanced to be wealthy. ' 
 
 ' That's a little like Ben, ' said Rosamond, 
 and Miss Porter continued : 
 
 ' From the first, Mrs. Le Vert seemed de- 
 termined to make a match between us, for 
 her brother was poor, and she fancied it 
 would be a fine idea to have the Porters' es- 
 tate come into the Dunlap family. So she 
 threw us c >nstantly together— talked of me 
 to him and of him to me, until I really began 
 to believe I liked him. He, on the contrary, 
 cared for nothing but my money. Still he 
 deemed it advisable to assume a show of 
 affection, and one night talked to me of love 
 quite eloquently. I had been to a dinner 
 party that day, and had worn all my dia- 
 monds. He had never seen them before, and 
 they must have inflamed his avarice, for I 
 afterwards heard him tell his sister that he 
 never should have proposed if I had not look- 
 ed so beautiful that night. I was irresisti- 
 ble in my diamonds, ' he said. ' 
 
 Miss Porter paused a moment to witness 
 the effect of her last words, but Rosamond 
 was looking over her shoulder at a wrinkle 
 she had just discovered in the waist, and did 
 not heed them. Still she was listening, and 
 she said, ' Yes — go on. You were looking 
 beautifully that night. Did you consent to 
 marry him ?' 
 
 ' Unhappily, I did, ' returned Miss Porter, 
 ' for I had made myself believe that I loved 
 him. I wished that he was older, to be sure, 
 but he said we would wait u itil he was of 
 a^e. This plan, however, did not suit his 
 ambitious sister. She knew I intended 
 
 r 
 
 1.1 
 
96 
 
 ROSAMOND. 
 
 asking my father's approval, and from what 
 she heard of him she feared he would never 
 consent to my marrying a poor student, and she 
 urged an immediate union. But I persisted 
 in writing to my father, who answered im- 
 mediately, forbidding me to think of young 
 Dunlap, ordering me to go home, and saying 
 he always intended me for John Caslwell, a 
 neighbouifnjf ours — a millionaire — a booby — a 
 fool — whom I hated as I did poison. 
 
 ' Not long after the receipt of this letter I 
 was suprir^ed by the sudden appearance of 
 Uncle Bertram, who had come at my father's 
 request to take me home. This roused me 
 at once. My father was a tyrant, I said, and 
 I would let him knowl could do as I pleased, 
 In my excitement, I fancied I could not exist 
 a moment without Richard Dunlap, while h ■ 
 declared that life would be a blank for him 
 if passed away from me. At this moment 
 Mrs. Le Vert suggested that we be married 
 immediately — that very night. Uncle Bert- 
 ram fortunately was a clergyman, and could 
 officiate as well as any other. In justice to 
 Richard, I will say that he hesitated longer 
 than I did — but he was persuaded at last, as 
 was Uncle Bertram, and with no other wit- 
 ness than Mrs. Le Vert and a white woman 
 who lived with her as half waiting-maid and 
 half companion, we were married. ' 
 
 Rosan»ond was interested now,andforget- 
 ing to remove her dress, she threw a crimson 
 shawl around her shoulders, and dtting 
 down upon the bed, exclaimed, ' Married ! 
 You married ! Why, then, are you called 
 Porter ?' 
 
 ' Listen and you shall know, ' returned the 
 lady, a daik look setting: down upon her 
 face. 
 
 ' Scarcely was the ceremony over, when I 
 began to regret it — not because I disliked 
 Richard, but because I dreaded my 
 father's displeasure, for he had a 
 most savage, revengeful temper, and 
 his daughter possesses the same.' 
 This was bitterly spoken, and she continued 
 — ' Hardly an hour after we were married, a 
 negro brought a letter to R chard from an 
 eccefltric old man for whom he had been 
 namr;d. In it the old man said he had made 
 his namesake his heir, provided he did not 
 marry until he was twenty-five. 
 
 ' *' I know just how frollickin' you are, ' he 
 wrote, • and I know, too, how unsuitable 
 and how unhappy most early marriages are 
 — so my boy, if you want Sunnyside, wait 
 till you are twenty -five before you take an 
 extra rib. I hate to be bothered with letters, 
 and if you don't answer this, I shall con- 
 clude that you accept my terms."* 
 
 * Mrs. Le Vert fct once suggested that, as 
 the old gentleman had already had two fits of 
 
 apoplexy, and would undoubtedly soon have 
 the third, our marriage should for a time be 
 k,.pt a secret. ' 
 
 • But he didn't consent ' cried Rosamond. 
 *Yes, he did,' answered Miss Porter, 
 
 ' and though I, too, said it would be best, I 
 began to distrust him from that moment — to 
 think that he preferred money to myself. 
 Uncle Bertram promised secrecy and wont 
 back alone, and then commenced a life of 
 wretchedness, which makes me shudder even 
 to recall it. With the exception of my own 
 servant, who dared not tell if I bade her be 
 silent, the blacks knew nothing of our mar- 
 riage, and though we lived together as man 
 and wife, so skillfully did Mrs. Le Vert and 
 Esther, her white domestic manage the mat- 
 ter, that for a time our secret was safely 
 kept. A few of the negros discovered it ere 
 I left ; but as they always lived in that out- 
 of-the-way place, it never followed me, and 
 to this day no human being in Florid.-*, save 
 Uncle Bertram, knows of the marriage. 
 
 ' I am very impulsive, and the excitement 
 being over, my afiections began to cool. 
 Richard could have kept it alive had he 
 tried, but he did not. On the contrary he 
 was alone, and when with me was always 
 tormenting me with conscientious scruples 
 about deceiving " the olu man." ' 
 
 *0h, I like him for that,' cried Rosamond, 
 ' I like him for that. Why didn't you let 
 him tell?' 
 
 'Because,' returned Miss Porter, 'I had 
 fears that father would disinherit me, and if 
 Richard lost Sunnyside, we should be poor 
 indeed. ' 
 
 A shadow passed over Rosamond's face, 
 and she said involuntarily, 'I could be 
 happy with Mr. Browning if we were poor. ' 
 
 • Marie started and answered quickly, 
 * What has Mr. Browning to do with my 
 story ?' 
 
 ' Nothing, nothing, ' returned Rosamond, 
 •only I was thinking that if you loved 
 Richard as well as I do Mr. Browning, you 
 would not have cared for money. ' 
 
 ' But I didn't,' returned Marie. 'I was 
 mistaken. 'Twas a mere childish fancy. I 
 never loved him. I hate him now. ' 
 
 She spoke vehemently, and w'len Rosa- 
 mond said mournfully. ' Hate your hus- 
 band J' she replied, * Yes, more than hate, 
 or I had never come to tell you this : but 
 listen — from indifi"«-ence we came to cold- 
 ness — from coldness to recrimination — from 
 that to harsh words— from harsh words to 
 quarrels — and from quarrels to blows !' 
 
 She uttered the last word slowly, while 
 Rosamond exclaimed, 'Not blows, Miss 
 Porter ! No man would strike a woman, 
 almost hate him, now.' 
 
ROSAMOND. 
 
 27 
 
 The proud lip curled scornfully— 
 a gleam of satisfaction shot from 
 tie keen black eyes, and Marie went 
 on. ' He would say — nay, does say I 
 was the most to blame — that I aggravated 
 him beyond human endurance — but he pro- 
 voked me to it. Think of his swearing at 
 me, Rocamond — callinc; me a she devil and 
 all that. Think, too, of his telling me to 
 my face that he was driven into the marriage 
 M'hoUy by his sister — that he regretted it 
 more than I, and to crown all, think of his 
 boxing my ears ! — he, a poor, insignificant 
 Northern puppy, boxing me — a Porter, and 
 a Southern heiress !' 
 
 She was terribly excited, and Rosamond, 
 gazing at her face, distorted with malignant 
 passion, began to fancy that the greater 
 wrong might perhaps have lain with her. 
 
 After a moment's pause, Marie began 
 again. ' When we had been three months 
 man and wife, he wro^e to the old man, con- 
 fessing his marriage, and saying sundry 
 things not wholly complimentary to his 
 bride ; but I intercepted it, read it, tore it 
 up, and taunted him with it. I believe I 
 called him a low-lived Yankee, or something 
 like that, and then it was he struck me. 
 The blow sunk deep into my soul. It was 
 an insult, an unpardonable insult, and could 
 not be forgiven. My Southern blood was all 
 on fire, and had I been a man, he should have 
 paid for that blow. I feel it yet ; the 
 smart has never for a moment left me, but 
 burns upon my face just as hatred for him 
 burns upon my heart !' 
 
 'Oh, Miss Porter, ' cried Rosamond, as 
 the former trround her teeth together, ' don't 
 look so terrible. You frighten me. He 
 struck you, but he asked your pardon sure ?' 
 
 ' Yes, he pretended to, but I spat at him 
 and bade him leave me for ever. His sister 
 tried to interfere but she made the matter 
 worse, and as my father was on the eve of 
 embarking for America, I determined to go 
 home, and when he came, tell him the whole 
 truth and ask him to seek satisfaction from one 
 who had dared to strike his daughter. Rich- 
 ard made a show of trying to keep me — said 
 we had better live together and all that, 
 while his sister called us two silly children 
 who needed whipping. But I did not heed 
 it. I went home to Uncle Bertram and 
 waited for my father, who never came. He 
 died upon the sea, and I was heir of all his 
 vast possessions. Then Richard made over- 
 tures for reconciliation, but I spurned them 
 all. You've heard of woman-haters, Rosa- 
 mond — I am a man-hater. I loathe the 
 whole sex. Uncle Bertram excepted. My 
 marriage was of course a secret in Florida. 
 My servant, who knew of it, died soon after 
 
 my father, and as Uncle Bertram kept his 
 own counsel, more than one sought my 
 hand, hue I turned my back upon tliem all. 
 ' Four or five years ago he wrote me a 
 letter. He waa then master of Sunnyside, 
 for the old man left it to him after all. He 
 was lonely there, he said, and he asked a 
 reconciliation. Had he never struck me, I 
 might have gone, for his letter was kindly 
 enough, but the blow was a barrier between 
 us, so 1 refused to listen, and exulted over 
 the thought of his living there alone all hia 
 days, with the secret on his mind. 
 
 * The sweetest morsel of all in the cup of 
 revenge was, however, for a time withlield, 
 but it came at last, Rosamond. It came at 
 last. He loved a beautiful young girl, 
 loved her all the more that he could not 
 marry her. ' 
 
 She drew nearer to Rosamond, who though 
 still unsuspecting, trembled from head to 
 foot with an undefinable emotion of coming 
 evil. 
 
 * I saw her, Rosamond ; saw this young 
 girl with hia^ name upon her lips when wak- 
 ing — saw her, too, with his name upon her 
 lips when sleeping, and all this while she 
 did not dream that I, the so-called Marie 
 Porter, was his wife, the barrier which kept 
 him from saying the words her little heart 
 longed so to hear. ' 
 
 There were livid spots on Rosamond's 
 neck — livid spots upon her face, and still 
 she did not move from her seat, though her 
 clammy hand clutched nervously her bridal 
 dress. A horrid suspicion had flashed upon 
 her, but with a mighty effort she threw it 
 otf as injustice to Mr. Browning, and men- 
 tally crying, 'It cannot be,' she faintly 
 whispered, ' Go on.' 
 
 'The summer I met her,' said Miss Por- 
 ter, ' I was at Cartersville, a little out-of-the- 
 way place on a lake — ' 
 
 'You're telling me true?' interrupted 
 Rosamond, joy thrilling in her tones. 
 
 ' Yes, true,' returned Miss Porter. 
 
 ' Then bless you — bless you for those las'- 
 words,' rejoined Rosamond, buryingher fac*. 
 in her companion's lap. ' A terrible fear for 
 a moment came over me, that it might be I. 
 But it isn't. I met you at the Springs. Oh, 
 it it had been me, I should most surely 
 die.' 
 
 'But she did not — the young girl,' re- 
 sumed Miss Porter. ' She had a brave, 
 strong heart, and she bore up wonderfully. 
 She felt that he had cruelly deceived her, 
 and that helped her to bear the blow. Be- 
 sides, she was ^d she knew of it in time, 
 for, had he married her, she would not have 
 been his wife, you know.' 
 
 Rosamond shuudered and replied, 'I know. 
 
28 
 
 ROSAMOND. 
 
 but my heart would have broken all the 
 same. It aches so now for her. But go on, 
 how did she find it out ? Who could have 
 strength to tell her ?' 
 
 There was a pause, and each could hear 
 the beating of the other's heart. The No- 
 vember wind had risen within the last half 
 hour, and now howled dismally past the 
 window, seeming to Rosamond like the wail 
 that young girl must have uttered when she 
 first learned how her trust had been be- 
 trayed. The clock struck four ! Rosamond 
 counted each stroke, and thought, 'One 
 hour more and he will be here. ' Marie 
 counted each stroke, and thought, 'One 
 hour more, and I must be jfone. ' 
 
 ' Rosamond, ' she began again, * what 1 
 now have to confess is an act of which I 
 have repented bitterly, and never more than 
 since I sat within this room. But it was 
 premeditated, and believe me, Rosamond, it 
 was not done for any malice I bore to that 
 young girl, for I pitied her so much — oh, so 
 much, ' and her hand wandered (jaressingly 
 over the bright hair lying on her lap. . 
 
 ' We went out one afternoon — two ladies, 
 a gentleman, and myself — in a small sail- 
 boat upon the lake. I planned the excur- 
 sionand thought I shoula enjoy it, but we 
 had not been out long when my old affec- 
 tion of the heart began to trouble me. I 
 grew faint, and begged of them to put me 
 on the land. They complied with my re- 
 quest, and set me down upon a point higher 
 ffp than from which we had embarked, and 
 near to a dilapidated cabin where lived a 
 weird old hag, who earned a dcanty lij^eli- 
 hood by fortune-telling. I told her I was 
 sick, and sat down by her door where I 
 could watch the movements of the party. Sud- 
 denly a terrific tlmnder-storm arose, the 
 wind blew a hurricane, and though the 
 boat rode the billows bravely for a time, it 
 capsized at length, and its precious freight 
 disappeared beneath tlie foaming wave. For 
 a moment horror chilled my blood ; then, 
 swift as the lightning which leaped from the 
 cloud overhanging the graves of my late 
 companions, a maddening thought flashed 
 upon my mind. ' 
 
 'But the girl — hasten to the part,' said 
 Rosamond, lifting up her head, while Miss 
 Porter went back to her chair. 
 
 ' T shall come to her soon enough,' return- 
 ed Miss Porter, continuing her story. ' No 
 living being, save the old woman at my side 
 knew of my escape, and I could bribe her 
 easily. Fortunately I carried the most of 
 my money about my person, and I said to 
 her. " There are reasons why, for a time at 
 least, I wish to be considered dead. Here 
 are twenty dollars now, and the same shall 
 
 be paid you every month that you are silent. 
 No human creature must know that I am 
 living. " I saw by the kindling of her eye at 
 the sight of the gold that I was sate, and 
 when the night shadows were falling I stole 
 from her cabin, and taking a circuitous 
 route to avoid observation, I reached the 
 midway station in time for the evening 
 train. 
 
 ' Tree days later in a distant city I read 
 of the sad catastrophe— read that all had 
 been found but one, a Miss Porter, from 
 Florida, and as I read I thought "he will 
 see that, too !' He did not see it. Before 
 going to Cartersville I sent to Sunnyside a 
 girl who was under peculiar obligations to 
 me, and one whom I could trust. She 
 was employed at last about the person of 
 that young girl, who had lived at Sunny- 
 side since she was a child, a friendless 
 orphan. ' 
 
 There was a quick, gasping moan as if the 
 soul were parting from the body and Rosa- 
 mand fell upon face which the pillows con- 
 cealed from view, while Miss Porter hurried, 
 ly proceeded : 
 
 ' That is but little more to tell. I wrote 
 to the girl who took her own letters from 
 the office. I told her all, and from her heard 
 that the bridal day was tixed. The obstacle 
 was removed — not insanity, but a living 
 wife. Need I say more ?' 
 
 She paused, but from tlie bed where the 
 crushed, motionless figure lay, there came 
 no sound, and she said again. ' Speak 
 Rosamond. Curse me, if you will, for saving 
 you from an unlawful marriage. ' 
 
 Still there was no sound, save the low 
 sighing of the wind, which seemed to have 
 taken a fresh note of sadness as if bewailing 
 the unutterable desolation of the young 
 girl, who lay so still and lifeless that Marie 
 Porter's heart quickened with fear, and 
 drawing near, she touched the little hand 
 resting on the pillow. It was cold — rigid — 
 as was also the face which she turned to the 
 liglit. 
 
 * It is death !' she cried, and a wild shriek 
 rang through the house, bringing at once the 
 servants, headed by Mrs. Peters. 
 
 ' What is it ?' cried the latter, as she 
 saw the helpless figure and beautiful upturned 
 face. 
 
 ' It's death, madam — death, and it's com- 
 ing on me, too,' answered Miss Porter, 
 clasping her hands over her heart, which 
 throbbed as it never had done before, and 
 which at last prostrated her upon the 
 lounge. 
 
 But no one heeded her, save the g'"l Maria. 
 The rest gave their attention to Rosamond, 
 who lay so long in ih^ death-like stupor 
 
ROSAMOND. 
 
 29 
 
 that others than Miss Porter believed her 
 dead. 
 
 The clock struck five ! and echoing from 
 the Gianby hills the engine whistle came. 
 Then a slight tremor ran through her frame, 
 and Mrs. Peters whispered joyfully ' There's 
 life — there's hope.' 
 
 Along the highway the returning traveller 
 came with rapid tread, but 'neath the syca- 
 more no Rosamond was waiting. 
 
 ' She is hiding from me,' he said, but his 
 search for her was in vain, and he rapidly 
 hastened on. 
 
 All about the house was still. There was 
 no Rosamond at the door — nor in the hall — 
 nor in the parlor — nor on the stairs ; but 
 from her chamber came the buzz of voices, 
 and he entered unannounced, recoiling back- 
 wards when "he saw the face upon the pillow, 
 and knew that it was Rosamond's. ■ Every 
 particle of colour had left it ; there were 
 dark circles beneath the eyes, and a look 
 about the mouth as if the concentrated agony 
 of years had fallen suddenly- upon heri 
 
 ' What is it ?' he asked, and at the sound 
 of his voice, the brown eyes he had been 
 wont to call so beautiful unnlosed, but their 
 sunny brightness was all gone, and he shud- 
 dered at their dim, meaningless expression. 
 
 She seemed to know him, and stretching 
 her arm toward him as a child does towards 
 its mother when danger threatens, she laid her 
 head upon his bosom with a piteous wail — 
 the only really audible sound she had yet ut- 
 tered. 
 
 ' Rosamond, darling — what has come upon 
 you?' he said, 'and why are you in your 
 bridal dress?' 
 
 At that word she started, and moving 
 away from him, moaned sadly, ' It was cruel 
 — oh, so cruel to deceive me, when I loved 
 and trus :ed him so much. ' 
 
 ' Won't somebody tell me what this 
 means?' he demanded, and Mrs. Peters repli- 
 ed, ' We do not know. There's been a 
 strange woman here, and she was with Rosa- 
 mond when it happened. ' 
 
 * Woman ? What woman ? And where 
 is she now ?' he asked, and Mrs. Peters 
 replied, ' She was faint— dying, she said, 
 and Maria took her into another chamber. ' 
 
 Mechanically he started for the chamber — 
 hearing nothing— seeing nothing— thinking 
 oftheuamclessterrorthat had fallen upon him. 
 He did not suspect the real truth. He mere- 
 ly had a vague presentiment that some one 
 who knew nothing of the drowning had come 
 there to save his Rosamond from what tiiey 
 supposed to be an unlawful marriage, and 
 when at last he stood face to face with his 
 living wife, when he knew the grave had 
 given »p its dead, he dropped to tlie floor as 
 
 drops the giant oak when felled by the licht- 
 ning's power ! 
 
 Marie Porter, even had she been cruelly 
 wronged, was avenged— fully, amply aveng- 
 ed, and covering her face with her haiuls. 
 she moaned, ' I iiaye killed them both, and 
 there's nothing left for me now but to die 1' 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 Over the horrid awakening which came to 
 the wretched man, we need not linger ; 
 neither is it necessary to dwell upon the first 
 few days of mystery and dread, when death 
 seemed brooding over Riverside, and rumour 
 was busy with surmises and suspi'-ion con- 
 cerning the stranger, and the relation, if 
 any, which she bore to Rosamond Leyton. 
 We will rather hasten on to the morning 
 when to Mr. Browning the joyful tidings 
 came that Rosamond was better — so much 
 better, indeed, that he could see -nd talk 
 with her if he ckose. 
 
 Only once siij^e the fearful night when he 
 found her moaning in her bridal ' '-.'ss, had 
 he stood by her bedside— for, ..nough he 
 longed to be there, he could not endiu'e to 
 see her turn away from him, whispering as 
 she did so, * It was cruel — oh, so cruel to 
 deceive me so. ' Neitlier had he been near 
 Marie Porter, consequently he knew nothing 
 of the means by which she had imposed 
 upon him the story of her deatli. But 
 Rosamond knew — Rosamond could tell him, 
 and from no other lips would he hear it. So, 
 when he learned that she was better, he 
 asked to see her alone, and Mrs. Peters, to 
 whom he had necessarily confided the story 
 of his marriage, carried his message to Rosa- 
 mond. 
 
 For a moment Rosamond did not seem to 
 hear, but when the message was repeated, 
 the great tears forced themselves from be- 
 neath her long eyelashes, and rolling down 
 her cheeks, dropped upon the pillow. 
 
 *He might have spared me this,* she 
 said, ' but if it is his wish, I can see him.' 
 
 With a mighty effort she stilled the vio- 
 lent throbbings of her heart, forced an un- 
 natural calm upon her face and whispered — 
 ' Let him come now ; I am ready.' 
 
 He was standing without the door, so ^war 
 that he heard the words, and in a moment 
 he was at her side. Falling upon his knees 
 before her, he clasped her hands in his, im- 
 ploring her forgiveness for the great wrong 
 he had done her in not telling her the truth 
 at first. ' But I am innocent of the last,' he 
 said ; ' believe me, Rosamond, I thought her 
 dead, or I had never asked you to be my 
 
30 
 
 ROSAMOND. 
 
 wife. I know not how she deceived me so 
 terribly, but you know, and I have sought 
 this interview to hear the story from 
 your own lips. Will you tell it to me, dar- 
 ling — Miss Leyton, 1 mean,' he added hasti- 
 ly, as he saw a shadow of pain flit over her 
 face. 
 
 ' I will if I can, ' she faintly answered, 
 and summoning all her strength, she re- 
 peated to him what Miss Porter had told 
 her, except, indeed, the parts with which 
 she knew he was familiar. 
 
 ' The plot was worthy of her who planned 
 it, ' he said bitterly ; then, as Kosamond 
 made no reply, he continued — ' she told you, 
 I suppose, of our married life, and painted 
 me the blackest villain that ever trod the 
 earth. This may in part be true, but, 
 Rosamond, though I may never know the 
 bliss of calling you my wife, I cannot be 
 thus degraded in your sight and offer no 
 apology. I was a boy — a self-willed, high- 
 tempered boy, nineteen years of age, and 
 she aggravated me beyond all human 
 endurance, seeeking ways and means by 
 which she could provoke me. I loved her 
 at first — nay, do not turn away incredulous- 
 ly. Heaven is my witness that I loved her, 
 or thought I did, but 'twas a boyish love, 
 and not such as I feel for you. ' 
 
 * You swore at her, ' said Rosamond, un- 
 able to reconcile love with an oath. 
 
 ' Once, only once,' he replied. I blush to 
 own it, for it was not a manly act. ' 
 
 ' You struck her, ' and for the first time 
 since he had been in that room the brown 
 eyes rested full upon his face. 
 
 'Yes, Rosamond,' he answered; 'I own 
 that, too, but she goaded me to madness, 
 and even raised her voice against my sainted 
 mother, who had borne so dastardly a son 
 as I?' 
 
 ' And Riverside ?' said Rosamond. ' Did 
 your uncle die deceived ?' 
 
 ' Never — never, ' Mr. Browning exclaimed, 
 starting to his feet. 'I told the whole 
 truth, or I would not have lived here a day. 
 Rosamond, I have greatly sinned, but she 
 has not been blameless. She insulted me in 
 every possible way, even to giving you her 
 wedding ring, and then, lest I should not 
 see it, wrote to me "to look upon your 
 finger. *No wonder you thought me n)ad !' 
 "' * Her we ding ring ! Could she do that ?' 
 said Rosamond. 
 
 ' Yes, hei weddinc[ ring. It first belonged 
 to Susan, who gave it to me for thepccasion, 
 and two weeks after I had it marked with 
 Marie's name and the date of our nmrriage. 
 It is broken now, and I wt)uld to Heaven I 
 oould thus easily break the tie which binds 
 me to her, and keeps me from you ! Oh, 
 
 Rosamond, Rosamond, must it be ? Must I 
 j live my life without you, when I need you so 
 much — when my heart longs so to claim you 
 for its own ?' 
 
 He covered his face with his hands, and 
 Rosamond could seethe tears dropping slowly 
 through his fingers. Terribly was he ex- 
 patiating the sin of his boyhood, and what 
 wonder is it, if, in his agony, he cried, ' my 
 punishment is greater than I can bear !' 
 
 Rosamond alone was calm. She seemed to 
 have wept her tears away, and the blow 
 which had fallen so crushingly upon hei* had 
 benumbed her heart, so that she now did not 
 feel as acutely as the weeping man before 
 her. Very soothingly she spoke to him, but 
 she offered no word of cheer — no hope that 
 all would yet be well. ' Tliey would Dear it 
 with brave hearts, ' she said, * and he must be 
 reconciled to his wife. ' 
 
 * Never — never, ' he exclaimed. ' The 
 same roof cannot shelter us both, and if she 
 choofflBS to stay when she is better, she is 
 welcome to Riverside, but I cannot share it 
 with her. ' 
 
 Neither said to the other, * it may be she 
 will die,' for such a thought had never in- 
 truded itself upon their minds,and yet Marie 
 Porter's life was numbered now by days. 
 The heart disease, from which she had long 
 been suffering, was greatly aggravated by 
 the strong nervousexcitement through which 
 she had recently been passing. Stimulants 
 of a moat powerful kind had created a kind ot 
 artificial strength, which haa enabled her to 
 come to Riverside, but this was fast subsid- 
 ing ; and when bent over the motionles i 
 form of Rosamond, and feared that 
 she was dead, she telt, mdcied, that 
 death would ere long claim her as 
 his own. The sight of her husband, 
 too, had well-nigh been mo e than she could 
 bear. For nearly uine long years she had 
 not looked upon liis face. His hair she re- 
 membered, too— his soft, dark, wavy hair, 
 through which her fingers had sometimes 
 strayed, in the far back days at Holly 
 Wood, before she was his bride. He would 
 not be greatly changed, she thought; and 
 when, on that fatal night, she heard his 
 coming footsteps, she pictured him in her 
 mind much as he was that winter-day, when, 
 standing in his sister's door, he bade her a 
 long good-bye. Nearer and nearer he had 
 come — faster and louder had beaten her 
 heart, while a cold, faint sickness crept 
 over her. 
 
 ' Open the window — I cannot breathe,' she 
 gasped ; but ere her request was obeyed, 
 Ralph Browning had fainted on the thres- 
 hold, and she had asked that she might 
 die. 
 
ROSAMOND. 
 
 91 
 
 by 
 
 re- 
 
 She had seen him only for an instant, but 
 thai sutiiced to tell her he was changed from 
 the dark-haired, handsome boy, into the 
 gray-haired. suflFering man. His eyes had 
 met hers, but the fierce hatred she expected 
 was not there ; and the look of utter hope- 
 less despair which she saw in its place, 
 touched her as reproach and resentment 
 could not have done. 
 
 ' Oh, I hope I shall die,' she said, as she 
 hid her face in the pillow. ' I hope I shall 
 die.' 
 
 This wish she uttered every hour ; and 
 wlieii, at last, the physician said to her, 
 'Madam, you will die,' she answered, ' It is 
 well !' 
 
 She did not ask for Mr. Browning, for she 
 knew he would not come, but she inquired 
 anxiously each day for Rosamond ; and 
 when, at last, she heard they were together, 
 she laid her hand upon her heart, and watch- 
 ing its rse and fall, smiled to think how 
 fast her life was going out. 
 
 ' Listen, Maria,' she said, ' Listen tn what 
 they say, and hear if they talk of me. ' 
 
 Noiselessly Maria glided to the door of 
 Rosamond's chamber — 8to«d there for a mo- 
 ment and then as noiselessly came back re- 
 peating to her mistress the substance of what 
 she had heard, together with sundry little 
 embellishments of her own. 
 
 ' He will give you Riverside and go away 
 himself,' she said, and Miss Porter quickly 
 rejoined, ' Go where? Go with whom !' 
 
 ' With Miss Ley ton of course,' returned 
 Maria. ' He said he would not live without 
 her.' 
 
 ' The wretch !' ejaculated the angry wo- 
 man, all her softer emotions giving way to 
 this fancied insult. ' He might at least wait 
 now until I'm dead. I'll go to him myself, 
 and see if in my presence he dare talk thus 
 to her. ' 
 
 She was greatly excited, and spite of the 
 painful throbbings of her heart, and the 
 dizzy sensation she felt stealing over her, 
 she stepped upon the floor, and hurriedly 
 crossed the room. The eflFort was too much 
 for her feeble strength, and she sank faint- 
 ing upon a chair. The girl Maria had seen 
 her faint before, but never before had she 
 seen so fearful a look upon her face, and she 
 ran in terror to Mr. Browning, beseeching 
 him to come ' for her mistress was dying 
 sure, and would trouble nobody much 
 more.' 
 
 For a moment he 
 when Rosamond said 
 Taking the fainting 
 tirnis he laid her upon 
 ly, though not as tenderly as he would have 
 Iain his Rosamond there. 
 
 hesitated, 
 'Go,' he 
 
 woman in 
 the bed as 
 
 but 
 
 went. 
 
 his 
 
 gent- 
 
 • Call Mrs. Peters, ' he said, and when 
 that matron came, he bade her give to the 
 invalid every posi^ible care. 
 
 Slowly Miss Porter came back to life, 
 but it was only to faint again, and each faint- 
 ing fit it became more and more apparent 
 that life was ebbing fast. They did not say 
 to Rosamond tliat she would die, but they 
 told it to Mr. Browning, who heard as one 
 who hears not. Every other sensation seent- 
 ed to have given place to a feeling of horror, 
 and when at the close of the second day 
 word came to him that she was dying, and 
 had asked to see him, he arose mechanically 
 and walked to her sick room as calmly as he 
 had visited it the previous night, when he 
 knew she was asleep. One glance, however, 
 at her white face and wild bright eyes roused 
 him to the reality, and bending over her 
 pillow, he forced himself to take her hand in 
 his, saying kindly, 'Mane, do you know 
 
 me 
 
 9> 
 
 'Know you?' 'Yes,* she answered. 
 ' You are my husband — my husband. ' She 
 lingered upon that name as if its sound re- 
 called to life some olden feelinc — somt 
 memory of Holly Wood, where they first had 
 met. 
 
 'Marie, you are dying,' he continued. 
 • Shall we part in anger, or in peace ?' 
 
 ' In peace, if you will, ' she answered. ' 1 
 have had my revenge — but it is not as sweet at 
 some say it is. I would rather, Ralph, that 
 I had never known you, for them I should 
 not have been the wicked wretch I am. ' 
 
 Mr. Browning did not ' ^nly to this, and 
 for a few moments there was silence, during 
 which she seemed to sleep. Rousing up eie 
 long, she gasped for breath, and grasping 
 nervously her husband's hand, she whisper- 
 ed, ' I am going now — there's no sham tliis 
 time — five minutes more, and you are free tc 
 marry Rosamond. Be kind to her, Ralph. 
 Deal with her not as you dealt with me, and 
 — and — come closer to nie, Ralph. Let me 
 whisper this last so as no one can hear. ' 
 
 He bent him down to listen, and summon- 
 ing all her strength, she said, not in a whis- 
 per, but in tones which echoed through the 
 silent room — * Never, never strike Rosa- 
 mond, will you?' 
 
 * ***** * 
 
 Rapidly the story circulated that the 
 strange woman who lay dead at Riverside 
 had been Ralph Browning's wife, and hun- 
 dreds flocke<i to the funeral, hoping to gain a 
 view of the deceased. But in this they wei-e 
 disappointed, for there was nothing visible, 
 save the handsome coffin, on whose silver 
 plate was inscribed the word ' Marie. ' 
 
 Some said that 'Browning' might have 
 been added to the name, and while (t.hpis 
 
32 
 
 ROSAMOND. 
 
 marvelled that the husband wore no badge of 
 mourning, a few said wisely that the mourn- 
 ing was visible in other than the usual signs 
 — m the hair gray before its time, and in the 
 deep-cut lines which a living sorrow alone 
 had made. And so, amid surmises of the 
 past and foretuUings of the future, the ill- 
 tated Marie was laid in the village vault, 
 until word could be received from her old 
 uncle, who might wish to have her rest 
 among the balmy groves and fragrant flowers 
 of lier beautiful Florida home. 
 
 And now our story winds to its 
 close. Ralph Browning was free indeed, 
 but deatli had been at Riverside, and 
 the shadow it had left must disappear ere he 
 took to himself a second bride. Rosamond, 
 too, must recover from the blow which had 
 fallen so crushingly on her — must learn to 
 confide again in the man she loved — to think 
 of the cfreat wrong he had done her as the 
 result of an' early, boyish error which he 
 regretted even more bitterly than herself. 
 
 And so the warm spring rains had fallen 
 and the April blossoms were bursting from 
 the dark, moist earth ere the wedding morn- 
 ing came. At the bridal there was no satin 
 dress — no orange wreath — no flowing veil — 
 bub there wah perfect love shining in the 
 beautiful brown eyes of the girliyh bride, 
 while the fine face of the bridegroom wore a 
 look of perfect happiness, as if the past were 
 
 •?*j 
 
 all forgotten, and th'' 'i was bright and 
 
 new. Europe was th 'lostination.nnd 
 
 among those who . mp >! them to New 
 York, going with tliv .1 to the vessel's 
 
 deck, none bade them ii more atTectionate 
 adieu than Mrs. Van Vechten herself. She 
 had spent part of the winter at Riverside, 
 and had learned to appreciate the gentle girl 
 whom she knew was to be her brotlier'H wife. 
 Ben. too, was of the party. He had listen- 
 ed in amazement to the story of his uncle's 
 first marriage, wondering how it could have 
 been kept from him, and renienilierinsf 
 several little incidents, the meaning of which 
 now he understood. He had given up the 
 Crimean war, as well as the dancing girl,and 
 now he had given up Rosamond, too, but he 
 bore it quite heroically, and ever after took 
 esppcial pains to speak of her as ' My Aunt 
 Rosamond.' For more than a year tiie 
 bridal pair remained abroad, and then re- 
 turned again to Riverside, where now the 
 patter of tiny feet, and the voice of child- 
 hood is heard, for children have gathered 
 around the hearthstone, and in all the world 
 there is not a prouder, happier wife and 
 mother than the little Rosamond who once 
 on a dreary November day listened, with a 
 breaking heart, to the story of Ralph Brown- 
 ing's Youthful Error. 
 
 THE UiD, 
 
 
 » ■ 
 
 ,*'■• 
 
 
 ft .rt 
 
 * ■ 
 
 i < 
 
 ! .'», ■ «.' ('. 
 
 .[., I. ,f >,..,:- 
 
 * ;• 
 
was bright and 
 'lostination.nnd 
 • I tliem to New 
 to the vessel's 
 •re affectionate 
 I herself. She 
 at Riverside, 
 the gentle girl 
 ' brother's wife. 
 He had listen- 
 of his uncle's 
 it could have 
 renieniliering 
 aning of which 
 1 given up the 
 .ncina: girl, and 
 tl, too, but he 
 er after took 
 as 'My Aunt 
 1 a year the 
 and then re- 
 here now the 
 oice of child- 
 lave gathered 
 all the world 
 ier wife and 
 id who once 
 ^ned, with a 
 ^alph Brown-