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Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmds 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 I'angle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 32 X 1 2 3 4 5 6 f ROBERTSON'S CHEAP SERIES. POPULAR READINQ AT POPULAR PRICES. 7 THEGUfiSEOFEVERLEIIill OB, PURIFIED BY FIRE. A NOVEL. *,i X3Y IIELEIS^ C0I^-WT:N^ I^IERCE. con TL ETC, *!t^ ^ omkDh ^ TORONTO: X ROSS ROBERTSON, 55 EEIG-ST. TvEST, DOE. BAT. iftftn. ' il ^44 r Tj ■1 E h 8l r 01 '>4 B w el S h h ri in ■1 ii d oi d It ■I ■1 <,f&Wi^ •\m','-^ ;v;4 4.- ■w T tl d' e ai «l.'i THE CURSE OF EVERLEIGH. CHAPTER L TUAOBDT. f^' I,- It WM a glorious morning in early Jane. Tji the great, wide doorway at Everleigb, stood two children, little giru. One, Lenore Everlei^h, had a round, roguish face, large, Iwown, laughing eyes, sparkling and bright ; short chestnut curls disported themselves overf ler white dimpled shouldev, and her rovmiU plump arms were fluns carelessly oy^the shnggy coat of a splendid New- ./ioundland dog. Her sister, Vashti Everleigh, leaned ajgainst a colunm of the porch, beautiful as a little queen. Lenore lodted about eighty while Vashti was evidently older, perhaps eleven. She had a pure oval faof, clear and pAle, eves slumbrous, shadowy, mournful: thick, long, black hair, that was put plainly back, and depended in silken braids below her Waist, tied at the ends with ^y bows of ribbon. She was slender and thin, quite too much so for beauty, but there was a certain shapeliness in her proportions, and a grace in her movements, tbat gave a promise of re- demption, at no distant day, uom all tnM^e of awkwaordness. Mora, as the younger of the two was oom- monly called, had b^en ronoping with the dog, and, with her pretty flushed cheeks, was resting. Suddenly she started up again, and with her curl^ and her pink saw streaming behind, went o£f at a run dowa. the road, oallins 'Bate, Bute.' The dog s' o >k his shaggy sides, and 'ook* •1 with his . 1 :.03t human eyes up at Vashti, wistfully, who seemed to understand him. There crossed her lips a faint, sweet smile that gladdened her whole face, and as Kora called, 'Come, Vashti,' she bonnded down the steps, Bute following with long, graceful leaps, shaking his handsome head, and making frantic demonatratioiis of joy. Now in the front of them, now back, down itus Trmtt, u^ cuaL, sue vvrv g:ris scaEBPcrZuS like mad away from him, and laughing till the whole air rang with melody. Too much engased to notice anything but their fun, they did not see a gentleman in sportsman's dress, who was coming at a swift run, np the road, hit gun in hie hand, and an empty game-bag by his side. He had a ^rk, liandsome face like Vashti's— the same wide, high, pale brow, shaded by heavy masses of jetty hair— « small, almost womanish hand and foot ; but his eyes— his great Mack eyes— were lumin- ous with wild, fiery excitement, as he fled at the headlone pace up the road to the house, looking at lUiiKwt every step over his shoul- der. The dt^ crossed his path ; he stumbled and almost fell over him, and regaining his feet, gave the poor animal • kick with his heavy-bootad foot. With a low BTOwl like distant thunder, Bute crouched in the path, as though about to spring od his master, his fierce teeth gleaming savagely, and his eyes like two coals of tire. A moment he croaohed, quiv- ering in every muscle, but as the gentte- man, with a muttered oath, kept on his swift way. Bat* straightened himself again, and with his ^es still fiercely glowing, his ears flung back, he stood looking after hu master, at the same time givine a loud, profound howl, that sounded Gke the warning wail of a Banshee. Pooi Bute 1 he had not looked upon his master's face for naught. Vasl.t! Iftlsaen th»t fa^e too; and gasp* baa for oreath, stood transfixed with indefin- abto terror ; while Nora, all her roguish, kughmg beanty eclipsed by sudden anger, her eyes flashing through tears, looked after her father, sbiAiBg faerdinn>led fist, and crying: /. : 'I'd be ashamed to kick a dog ! Bate, poor Bute, why didnt yo« bite him ?' with her arms about the dog's neck. Bst« &6v«i' uoticotl hn, save with another *# * THE CURSE OF EVERLEIGH. diamal howl, and another flinging Lack of his ailky, drooping ears. Suddenly there was a sound like distant tramp of many feet, which grew on the ear, nearer and nearer, till a small band of men came iu sight, followed at no great distance by another assemblage of men and boys. The first band marched with glittering bay- cneta in Une, stern and silent ; the latter seemed a noisy rabble. Bute shook his head vengef'illy as they approached ; Nora cow- ered close to him, and Vashti, with one look, fleil like a wounded fawn to the house. They came steadily on — tramp, tramp. Bute shook off the child's arm, and, with his gieat savage jaws distended, began to to and fro ib the road, glancing with ! _vid eyes at the armed men, who come to a full step at sight of him, looking irresolutely at their leader. ' Forward !' cried the captain, putting himself a pace back, however. With the word, before the men conild move, Bute, with a fierce bound and a noise between a howl and a bark, sprang directly at the captain's throat. In an instant fifty guns were raised and aimed at the dog, but their fire was withheld, lest they might hit the captain also. The poor man struggled in the dog's veiige- ful hold, and vainly endeavoured to speak. At this juncture little Nora Everleigh flew to the rescue, crying : • Don't hurt him ! don't ! I'll take him off, but don't hurt him. He thinks you have no right here. ' At the sight of her pretty, innocent face, every gun dropped ; and, putting her bit of a hand on Bute, she said sharply : ♦ Down, Bute ! down, sir— down, I say 1* The brave fellow slowly, and with evident reluctance, released his prisoner. ♦Come, Bute !' called Nora. He followed her, lookins back at every step ; and as the captain said, in a very mild voice, 'Forward,' he came to a full stop, and faced toward him with a warning snap of his white teeth. ' Here, Bute 1 here, air I I am ashamed of you !' He turned again at her bidding, and in the same instant there was the sound of a shot, and Nora's brave playfellow fell with a ci-y that was almost human, both his forelegs <• idling. •Oh, Bute ! dear Bute ! have they killed you ?' cried poor Nora, flinging herself down by him. Bute uttered a low whine, which deepened to such a viudiotive howl as the armed nana, after an iniitant's delay, defiled swiftly by him, that the brave captain raised his gun again to shoot. * Leave him alone, sir 1 Don't you sea he can't stir ? Leave him alone. I wish I had let him kill you,' said Nora, angrily, her pretty lip curling .with defiance. The man bit his lip and frowned, but low* ered his gim and walked on. Mesuwlrile Roscoe, as he crossed the threshold of the wide doorway, came face to face with his wife— a lovely, delicate-looking woman, with long, fair curls and soft blue eyes. At sight of his wild face she stood aghast. ' What has happened, Roscoe ? ' 'No matter what! Where's Margery I I'm wounded myself, I biilieve.' Ho leaned heavily againut the wall as he spoke, flingingdown his gun, and loosening his coat with hands that twitched nervously, and fell away from his vest dripping with his own blood. With a piercing scream Mrs. Everleigh fell fainting on the floor. Margery Gresliam was not far away : she appeared almost in- stantly — a tall, majestic-looking woman, not beautifnl, but far from plain, with bauds oi braided hair about her head. She glanced with a pair of keen gray eyes at her sister, and from her to the wounded man, seeing, without further ado, that he was most m need — that something terrible had happen- ed. •H6, Philip ! Elise ! ' she called, in clear, loud tones, supporting Everleigh, who looked ready to falL He smiled wanly at Margery, saying, with short gaps : 'I've — done it— at last — Margery — the very thing— you said— I would ; and the blood-hounds are after me — already. ' She glanced sharply at the doer ; her quick ear caught the sound of the approach* ing commoti(>n, and with Philip's help she lifted him l)odily, and hurried him ott' up- stairs, while Elise attended to her fallen mistress. They were not an instant too soon. Aa they laid Roscoe Everleigh upon his bed in a dead swoon, the hall be.'ow was filled with armed men, the house surrounded, or an at- tempt made to surround it and guard every possible avenue of escape — a vain precaution if Everleigh had attempted to escape — a needless one, certainly, under the circum- stances. The captain of the band marched pom- pously up and down,givin^ orders to his men to turn the house inside out, if necessary, till one of them came to tell him that a wo- man above stairs guarded the door of a voom, and refused them an entrance. V ' -^i nii i Wigk iB r THE CUESE OP EVERLEIOH. ^A'^-i A woman ! He was jait tn»n enough to bully a wuman, and he marched Btraight up the stairs, hia long sword trailing behind him. Margery Gresham wis no woman to endure bullying. She was a perfect grenadier of a woman — large, strons, masculine in her ap- pearance, witii a suan on her lip and a scowl on her brow that made the valiant captain ■hake in his boots. He niaile a show of bra- Tado, however, demanding entrance, bmt never moving from the stairway. Margery Gresham 's tall figure seemed to acquire additional stature at his demand,and ■he smiled grimly. ' Off with you,^ she said, • and send your lieutenant. I won't treat with you. ' The soldiers, a few steps down the stair- way, evidently enjoyed tlie scene amazingly ; and when tlie doughty captain hesitated about obeying the female grenadier, and that personage, seizing hiin by the neck of hia coat, dropped him delicately over the ban- nisters, the laugh that went round was irre- pressible. The captain made a great effort to recover his dignity, strutted and swore, and foamed to and fro, and at lastuecUring that he would not fight with a wunian, dispatched his lieu- tenant above stairs. At his approach Margery flung wide the door, saying, as she pointed to a still inner room : 'There he is, in there ; but he's got his death-wound, I btilieve. Small chance of his being able to be moved at p esent. ' She raised her hand majestically for the officer to pass, and with a respectful incU- nation of his head he did so. RoscoeEverleiyh lay upon a snowy couch, his handsomeface wuiteas the pillow it pressed. Philip was endeavouring tostunch the blood which flowed darkly over the counterpane, from a wound by his side, and two or three other SJiTants were busy about him, doing whatever they could, which was littleeiiough, till the physician arrived. He had already been sent for, and the messenger must have found him near at hand, for he followed close upon the officer's step into the room. He was a small man, with keen, bright, humorous eyes, a large nose, and a shuffling gait ; a man abcuit forty. He proceeded immediately to the bedside, examining the wounded man attentively, without appear- ing to notice anybody else in the room. Everleigh was still unconscious, but as the doctor proceeded with his ministrations, he m^norl Ilia avaa {ooKlv Innk'^H. and clooed them ngain with a deep sigh. Ti.e licutsuaut stood by till the doctor had finished, and then followed him silently from the room. ' Can that man be moved to-night without risk of his life ?' he asked. * No, sir I' was the emphatic reply. 'Will he live, think you V ' I couldn't tell you, air. What do you want of him?' The officer tamed upon the doctor a look of surprise at the question. * I Icnow what folks say ; tliat Roscoe Everleigh is a murderer ; but I don't believe it, sir. What were the circumstances ?' 'Very aggravating ones,' said the lieute- nant, pausing before he reached the door that led into the halL ' He picketl a (piarrel with a young fellow down here, (Neil Roque they call him, I believe,) and shot him aa he would a fox.' 'Nonsense 1 he shot himself.' ' One of our men shot after him aa he was escaping. We were just passing when the fray took place ; and when we saw the young fellow fall, one of our men, a brother of Neil, fired after Everleigh aa he waa running away.' ' And then yon must needs march your whole troop up here, frightening the family almost to death, and rousing the whole neighbourhood. You must be brave men if it take's so many of you to catch one, and ha wounded.' 'This was the captain's doings,' said the lieutenant, with a significant shrug of his shoulder ; ' but, doctor, it strikes me as a little singular that this man, if he is so Ind as you say he is, was able to get home. ' * Nothing singular at all. Excitement kept him up till he got here, and he dropped then from the reaction and loss of blood. I judge you have never been in action, sir. When you have once seen a battle you will se* . •-anger things than this. 1 knew a mau ce to run twenty pacea after he was shot turough the heart.' The officer bowed, but looked incredulona. 'Fact, sir,' said the doctor, taking out his snuff-box, otTsred it to the lieutenant) and coolly t)>hing a pinch himself. The officer bowed ag i<, aii<' p ' ceeded down stairs to report ^^ tlie cai^uun, who chafed a good dead at his account, but con> eluded finally to leave a guard at the house, till the aheiiff himself ehould arrive. Among the men stationed outside the house, was a young, broad-chested fellow, with a boyish, handsome face, and frank, fearless eye. He stood down the road from iU- I 1 i:x..i- ».T__ i4<..~-1.:_i. Inxc nuuac, ntrar- Trrnrit: ii^tic jLTvtct i:/TT7tirigii sat, unconscious of the troubles indoors, with poor fiute's shaggy head npon her lap, cryius 4 lo"v1„g';Sd7 *"" """"«»•<» Pl-ynate with •l>oke to her : ' ^'•^^"'"y "PprowWng, without anysicn oAn.^r^ "' ^*"" ^"^"^r'tc, •he "nilecliSloui ttem ^"^ ***« «*«»• • I don-t know ^^"arhar ?*''■"« '?? ''"" '' -of a doctor. cTn'ym, «|^,i ~° ' ' '" * »>'* Away on hS «rrand Fnf*?"' "^ «''« ««<1 va.»te' hall! tho*e whS^K"°« ^y *^^° «««■- ' Oh, yes, sir, that I can. He'. +1,- i ^ SfS.Tnr;.a?ht*^'?4^-'^ when 4rLeh,„f^«'»«^ Ple»»ed he looks firS." wt§ St *Car? l^'hl^r' •f-'".*''e tlie little hand that olL™]" k"« '* *«'*'n8t ing as though he did^n ♦ "^ .u""' •"*' '»«»f- j^js «Hga aedid m truth uuderutand wondering that she did Jf°^T«f ".* ''^'^ -oMieni h!d come to Ever?eth" r""^^ 1^ ■ho ra sed her l.«.7 f^vv^'gl- Tresently fully; *"^ '''*'^' 'ooJ^'ng «t hini wjst- .^;,Well.'«Ud he, with .smile. • what is She blushed prettily. ki^d to me a,!d BuL ^ ' ^°" ^* ^«» «» lau^hiigf • *°°' ^'^^ ^'^y^^'y' -*yin& canl^^lirB^J^^^ They THE CURaK OP EVERLEIQH. wonis moved him °*® tender 'Haven'tyou any brother?' •n., but his n'oiJIeKlif' '• ^^'' *"»«» I ; And What ihZrnlZ"^^' y"" ''"°''- ' thou'S?."'"- ^'"^ '^^"^' '^^ »« Ifora. No?:idr "" "**'^»' "' -"«°'^«. »««! then inaiJm?«y^":m Kavir"""«"'''«' ''"* •he would icold mT if IT ***" r"'""""' »"•» «ything^sorul™'B„f/i"!rtJ'"^'l you much. ' ■ onzi want to ask you so Jd\7^lf"'''"^y'^i-8yonUl.e, Kora.' IMay.Ir fhank you. What have you •^"•••vu UK noma. <■•;« «'or« au«hed witli tears m he said «d al/the«, soSCn, £^0'/^ P^°" often has the iv>)wio» „ ■ '^r 7 Papa combg?.*'"'^* y«" ^'^''^ he knew we we« cam^inS.J'In^hriL''"''''^''^"" 7''« Bute for Vin/?n « J «'o«\and kicked ^.^Well,h, d.d,N„,.. I.„i, „„j. ^AX'S' hrfF-f ^ -0 .t xntt CURSE OF EVERLEIGH. '• young face V those tender ;tc(] not to ■«• liernelf : wnloe I It ia tliould like to bigger than I ioeEvirleigh. »■ you know. • 1 mo Nora, !e, and then Jng else, but curious, and [ asked you > aak you so like, Nora,' ' have you ^or? Papa o eat fruit; e.' 'f we were ttofore you ind kicked 0, I don't 7 sure ho but not- accorded her. gallant with the » staid by with her 1, and she Jin in the er Bister an down ^y.' she lulously, (iad her m ; and Iff time. ■ mo told a little Vashti, ' gcti lO le right V I ' I don't bt^Iieve it, said Nora, resentfully ; but she looked white aud frightened, and for* getfiii of Bute or Leon, hurried away with- out a word to either. As they entered the hall, which was empty, Vashti pointed silently, with averted face, at a little pool of blwxl by the door, and Nora's terrified eyes followed the ensanguined trace plashed here and there across the hall and up the stairs. Wrenching her hand away from Vashti, she crept cowering and trembling away toward the stairs, her face pitiful to look upon, with sudden horror. Vashti followed her, scarcely less appalled, Mtying in a frightened whisper : * Not there, sister — you musn't go there ; com* to mninma's room ; ' and, with arms flung round each other, the two chiUlren went shuddering down the hall. Mrs. Kverleigh reclined, bolstered with pillows, upon a conch near an open window, and Elise was fanning her. The room, gorgeous with hangings of crimson and gold, the crimson-draped window ond couch framed in her lovely pallid face with a start- ling contrast that made her look something hostly. A strikingly beautiful boy was janging over the bact of her couch, trying bard to keep back the tears that would force themselves through his black-lashed eyes. As the little girls opened the door, Klise raised her hand as it to warn them back ; but Mrs. Everleigh turned hor wan face to- ward theai, saying feebly: ' Come in, dears ; poor tbinna I ooma and ttay with mamma.' CHAPTER n. jrSTlC* BAFFUCDw Meanwhile Roscoe Everleigh, in tTie hands of the doctor and Margery Gresham, vibrated between conscience and dcli- lium. I' ' racie remained with bim through the Afternoon and night. The next day Tie was no better, nor the next. A week he lay in the most precarious state, and all that while a sherifiTa posse was in the house. The soldiers had gone long before. Poor Bute, well cared for, was already beginning to limp about ; bat Roscoe Everleigh seemed likely to fall from the greedy grasp of jostioe into the no less covetous clutches of the mysterious ' monarchs of Plutonian realms. ' Margery Gresham looked ^im and forbidding, and guarded him alike from friend and foe. The children and wife even were relentlessly banished from the siik- loom. Wtiatever Margery needed was taken by Philip at Miae to an ante-room where ■he took hor meals, nover leaving the sick- room for an infttaut, except iit the doctor's care, which was most asaiauous. One week from the day of the alleged murder, the shorilfs men were dismissed with bitter words by Margery Grushant. Roscoe Everleigh was flead, she told them, and with scarce a warning. The sherilf was permitted to see him — cljostly, cold, and stiiF— there was some legal formula gone over with, and then the posse eomilalus took itself off. It was rumoured among people that he had tHken his own life to esc:kpe the ignuminiuus and terrible fate of a murderer. However that was, the preparation for the funeral went on with remarkable ex- pL'dition. The public was strictly excluded from all participation in the grave ceremoni- als therefore, and, like a justly incensed puMic. revenged itself by talking. There were mourning habiliments at Ever- leigh — a new mound in the little burial ground sacred to the Everleighs— a sombre cloud of mystery, seclusion, and gloom shrouding all approach to the unhappy sub- ject, aud the sad episode was filed away among the records of the pnst. Mrs Everleigh from that bitter time be- came a contirmod invalid, and Margery Gresham grow several shades grimmat and . storuei', aud time went on. CHAPTER m. ▲ snocK. Three years ! Three sorrowful years bad left their shadows at Everleigh, and now * October's leaf was brown and sere. ' The read and the pretty wild-wood paths were strewn with golden and russet-hued leaves, and here and there a little scentless, • white- faced blossom smiled wanly on the still autumnal day. Now and then the fingers of the autumn windg fluttered a little coyly, and a sj^ower of gorgeous hues floated softly to the earth. Margenr Gresham stood a little away from the house, her stately head uncovered, her bonnet in one hana, the other idly smoothing the banded hair from her weary- looking face. Her gray eyes dwelt con- templatively upon the woeJded vistas ; her ear gathered up the low refrain of th© fluttering leaves, and, with serene thouchta touching up the sombre hues of her face, she slowly tied her bonnet, and went w ithi folded hands along a secluded walk. Sh» THE CUUSE OF EVKRLEIGH. won returning, after an hour's aWnce, when n iliadow flung acroK) hor path caused her to raise hor eyes. A man in «jlJier's attiro Mtood iu hur way, touching his hat respect- fully, and snying: ' Miss Margery.' She pauotHl, waiting for him to tell his errand, her eyes dwelling almost impatiently un him. He looked confused, touched his cap again, and said : ' If you please, ma'am, I'm Neil Ronne.' The misty gray eyes had wandered away from him, but at those words they flushed Lack np(m him haughtily. * What do you mean ? ' * That I am Neil Roque, the man it was thought Mr. Everleigh shot.' She surveyed him sternly, every vestige of colour going slowly out of her face. She put both her excited hands upon his shoulders, turning him to the light that came brightly through a vista in the trees. ' Oh, it's me, ma'am, and nobody else. Mister Everleigh didn't kill me, but he hurt me pretty bud, and my brother helped me off, and pretended I was killed for fear he ■hould bo arrested himself for shooting Mister ICvcrleigh. You see, he thought they wouhlu't ue apt to touch him if they thought I was dead, so he smuggled me on, and hin)Belf too, and he got a friend to fool the ofHcers with a 'cock-and-bull ' story about me falling off the cliff into the lake when I was shot. Wo laid low till we heard tho mister was dead, and then we joined the army again. My brother was killed at Plattsburg; and, thinking, maybe, the family'd do glad to know there wasn't any murder done at all, I come right away, as soon as I could, to tell 'em. I'd come afore, if I hadn't been afeared they'd string my brother right up. That a all, ma'am. I'm staying at Tim Jarvy's ; he's my sister's husband ; if you should want anything of Bie, you'll find me there.' He touclied hia eap again, and went swiftly away. • Margery (Jresham's nerveless hands drop- ped heavily to her side, and, as she leaned against a tree, her face darkened with a shadow like unto death's. Gradually she slipped away from tliat support, and, unable to stand, sat down upon the groui^d. With shudderiag fingers she untied and took off her bouuet, and dipping her hand into a little spring that bubbled from the root of a iixe, biie moisleued her puilid lips, and {ace, and head mechanically, forcmg the be- tide of life to surge up again from her numbed heart. ' Oh ! ' she moaned, ' I must not di« now. Patlnr of mercy, help mo to live and work out my fate I Oh, Ufu ! fail me not now. ' Hho sat with her head resting upon her hands till the e vening shadows gatherwl close about her, and tiiun, strugglins to her feet, she went slowly and paiiitully to the house. In her own room, slie rang for a servant, bidding her send Philip Bryco to her, with some wine. Pliihp came, and stood aghast at the deadly pallorof erfoce. He [xmred her out a glass of wine without a word. She took sat a few moments with weary, folded hands, looking drearily upon the floor, then rising, said : ' I think I am strong enough now. I must go to Mrs. Everleigh. She must not hear this from awkward Tips.' ' What is it. Miss Margery ? What haa happened ?' asked Philip, with the liberty which his long service warranted. She lifted her heavy eyelids, and looked at him. ' Our bitter oalamTTy, Philip, is all few- naught. Neil Roque is as livingasyou and ' Miss Margery <' exclaimed the man, throwing up his hands, ' it is impossible.' ' I have seen this man, this very afternoon, with my own eyes — I have heard him with my owu irs. There is no mistake about it — we may as well face the fact. But for Heaven's sake, Philip, be careful. When I am calmer, I will tell vou what particulars I know. We ought to ue thankful there was no murder done, but I am so miserable I don't know whether I am thankful or not- It is bitter, bitter to think it was all for naught. My poor Roscoe I' She sank into her chair again, sighing heavily, and wiping beaded drops from her forehead. Philip approached close to her, his eyes dim with tears. ' Don't take on so. Miss Margery — don't' he Siiid, in a low voice, touching the bowed head with his hand. * It seemed for the best then, and it can't be helped now. The same fate always overtakes the Everleighs, I've heard. It a an unhappy house, doomed to this inheritance. It's not your fault, ni •^;~i dow, anil Nora rompincr with ber brother. Mr*. Kvurltiigh fruin her euy-ch«ir amiled upin tl(!in. MiiM (ireslinin perenipt<)r:lv sent tlie chil- dren out of t)i<) fnitn, and drawing a chair Dear to her siHtcr, said : * How are you tliiii evening, Eva *' ' lictter than usual, Margi^ry ; I haven't felt BO light-henrted in a long while.' A IdVfly Rinilu broke over her wan face, as kho lifted her Roft eyes to her uiater'a face. Miiriferv sat with her back to the lamp, ■e Mrf. Evurtluigh could acarcr y'lavef&ilid to ije BtJti'tltiti by tu« expreiMiou o^ lier coun- tenance. * Lay your head on my elioulilor, Eva, aa ■you nttid to do wiien we were girla. I have some nuwu to tell you.' * News 1' said Mn. Evcrleigh, yielding to Margery's endiraoe. 'What can it be 7 la it good, sister ?' ' Yes,' broke from Margery's lips, with an enerpr that startled the invalid. Resuming her former tone, she continued : ' At least it iu too bad— certainly not — it is good, Eva. Koscoe Was not a murderer 1 Noil Roque did not die. I saw him to-day. It woa all • cheat — au imiiiL'ssiou from begining to end.' The last words, spoken, in spite of her, with bitter emphasis, were unlieard by Mrs. Everleigh, who had fainted. Margery lift- ed her slight, emaciated form to a couch, and ap})licd restoratives. Very soon Mrs. Everleigh came to herself, with a gush of happy tears, and a burst of thankful prayer. * Oh, my God, I thank Thee I* Margery rose, and paced the floor impat- iently. ly Nfrs. Everleigh, and dropping a ot kiss on her face. ' Thjre, sister, quiet yourself and sleep ; I will go now. I do not think you had best talk any more to-nigh^. I will send Elise to you. Darling sister, good-night. ' She went away to her room, to pass the night in a restless pace, to and fro, conning with a bleeding heart, the problem of life. Kverleigh was an old place ; built, it was said, by a J o>-d Roscoe Everleigh, who had at some peiio 1 far back come over from England to America, and built this spacious mansion of stone, half castle, half palace, requiring at his death, that for certain cogent reasons, his dedccndanta should make Ever- leigh their homo always. It was said, that through several generations, each possessor of Everleigh had renewed and strengthened f-Kia rs'^uis^niGHt by wil' And th5.t nohijd*' bad ever known an Everleigh live for any leuirth of time awav from the old place. Singulnr also to tell, the mondicrs of the family had always lieen conliui'd to a limited numlwr. N«vcr more than three children had gkihleind the parental lieartH at Kver- leigh ; and this same weird fatality seemed to piirsuf! till there was rarely more than one left to heir the nume. The houNC at Everleigh had its region of forlorn, iliHiii.intlcd rooms; great suites oi apartmi Ills, s^licrc, through tlie ivy-mantled window?*, t)i( lat. ami tlio owl ttittcd drear- ily, and built tiieir ues^^a among the ruins of what had been rii idy curved wainscot; worm- eaten now, and defaced by time and ne gleet. It seemed by common consent, that each BucceediiiK proprit tor had mode no effort to recover this ?)ui tion of the house from decay. There were strange tales told of these rooms; of sights and bouikIb which the wind, the old, faded, sway i UK t '■'Pastry, credulity and marvoUunsnusH might, or might not have been answerable for The Everleiglis always shrugged the't jhouldera, and looked dark- ly reiMillent MJicuuver the subject was ad- verted to. Tlus portion of Everleigh was called when necessary to be spoken of, 'The Hermitage.' It seemed to have been built first, and bore the appearance somewhat of an entirely sep- arate structure. The halls which traversed it were higher, narrower, darker ; the rooms liirhted by small windows, Uke loopholes, ia the d9cp walls. CHAPTER IV. FAMILY JAU3 — EV£RLEiaU TBAITa. A glad morning, serene and fresh. Mrs. Ev< rloigh had crept from her room out to a little vine-wreathed porch, where the breeze t;iat fanned her delicate temples had a br'^nth of early morning fragrance. Presently came Francis, with his dark, brigiit evi-B tokiss his motlier 'Gootl-mom- ing, ' and go gaily away to hunt, with his light fowlinjf-piece. There were tears in Mrs. Everleigh's eyes as she looked after liim. Fnrnpis vaa very Uke what his father was once, people said. Voshti caiue alttu after a little, for her gODd-morning kiss, the receipt of which uronght tears freshly up again in mamma • tender eyes. 'Where is Nora?' she asked of Vashti, ' She is coming ; she stopped to romp with Bute in the great hall. I told her not to^ fn> Aunt M^rsTtr ■ dnsf-Si't like h^T tn r.Jv i- the house with Bute, but she will do it.' ' That is vury naughty of her ; she is • 10 THE CURSE OF EVERLEiaH. f-eat (leal of trouble to her aunt, I am afraid, do wiah she would mind Margery.' 'Why mmnma? Why should we mind her ? I don't like to be governed by her any more than Nora does, but I generally am, to save a fuss. Aunt Margen^ acts as though she owned u» all bodily. I don't like it at all, ' said Vashti, hauglitily. ' I dnn^ think she iloes act bo, dear ; I am afraid all this unpleasautuess is in your own heart.' * IJon't talk so, mamma, for goodness' sake, as if I were a naughty child who did not know iicr own mind. I am fourteen. I am not a child any longer ; and I am tired of be- ing treated as one. ' Mrs. Everleigh sighed, but made no gna- wer. ' Yea, ' continued Vashti, her smooth, dark cheek taking a deeper glow, ' I don't see why she should domineer over us. ' * Don't speak so, child. I don't like to hear it. ' '1 don't see why it should annoy you if I don't like Aunt Margery. ' Mrs. Everleigh did not reply,' but leaned wearily back in her chair, shading her sad eyes with her slender, fragile hand. Vashti was about to speak again, when there broke upon the air a series of interjective sounds, between a laugh and a cry. * Aunt Marj^ery and Nora having a fracas, I'll venture, ' exclaimed Vashti. In another moment Nora burst into the room, a curious mixture of smiles anl tears upon her archly pretty face. Bute followed her, with a barking and bounding that caused quite a commotion on the porch. ' Yon shouldn't bring him here,' said Mrs. Everleigh, nervously. 'Go away, Bute.' ' I wonder if tliere is any place where Bute and I can play, 'pouted Nora, with a roguish sparkle of her tearful eyes, as Bute departed down the steps. ' Aunt Margery says don't go there, and you say don't come here. I wonder where dogs go to when they die V ' For shame, Nora !' said Vashti. ' For shame yourself 1 You'd be ra^ng all day if you had been served as I have just now. Here, mamma, kiss the place to make it well, ' holding up her dimpled arm, dis- coloured with the livid print of fingers, aa though a rough hand had pressed the delicate flesh too harshly. Mrs. Everleigh looked a moment, with a legible heartache on her face, and burst into tears. The arm was around her neck in an instant, and Nora was kissing her, and cry- ing too. ' Oh, miimiiia, I am SO sony. i-on t cry, mamma ; I wouldn't have made you cry for Anything. I meant to be so |;ooa to-day.' ' Did Aunt Margery do that ?' said Vashti, sternly, pointing to the discoloured aim ' Yes, she did it, but I deserved it. 1 was playing with Bute in the hall, when she came out of lier room. You know noiso, espeti illy in the house, annoys her very mucli. I d I not see her till she was close upon us, aui,+. B>n> rtid not fttti'nint tjcr e^'^Tf- VI' £,: ---; t^ ,.0 speak, resting her head on her sister s ,houlder, and smiling feebly, M Margery dropped kisses on her face. Margery sat a little,- and then she lifted the fragile, atten- uated form, carried her in, and laid lier on the bed. She did not raise her head from the pillow f^ll day. All the forenoon Vashti lingered about the porch, or in sight of her mother's door, a wistful look in her strange, shi^dowy eyes- banished from the room, for Mrs. Everleigh was very ill — one of those nervous attacka to which she had been subject since her invalid days, and must be kept very quiet. At last, late in the afternoon, she dis- covered, by peering through the blind, that her mother was alone. Stealing softly round to the door, she lifted the latch and entered noiselessly. Mrs. Everleigh lay with half -closed eyes, scarcely seeming to breathe. Vashti dropped on her knees at the bedside, saying, in a scarcely audible whisper ' Mairima.' The invalid stirred a little ; the next moment Vashti was hurried swiftly and in silence from the room. ' There !' said Margery Gresham, in a decided but still kindly tone, as she loosed her in the hall ; 'don't go in there again. It is the first time your mother has slept to-day, and she must not be dis- turbed. ' ' When can I see her ?' said Vashti, earnestly. ' Can I see her when aha wakes?' ' No ; I hope you will be in bed before that time.' ' Shall you be w.lh her?' ' Certainly— ar night.' ' Aunt Margery !' She stopped, her cheeks flushing, and hei eyes full of tears. 'Well!' ' I was cross to mamma this morning. Won't you tell her, as soon as ever she wakes, that I am very sorry ?' Margery Gresham looked down upon her impassioned face with a softening glance, saying, half to herself : ' After a storm comes a calm. You'll rage as bad as ever the first time she ci-osses you in word or deed. Repentance is not good for much, when it leaves no more last- ing impression than that. IJctter wait till she is well eiicugh for you to tell her your- self. True i-epentanue is of slow growtli with those of your kind, cliihl. I dare say you are sorry you grieved your mother, but she would far rather you were sorry you were uiigiy. ' 'How do you know but that I Pi g 15 pi 12 waa Vashti'» passionate exckm. am?' ation. did not »Si hi„7 n ™J'"°n*J'- .She She wiis caro,^inrS ?i"'u°"'l^*'=^««- •kipped in at S^opifdot *" ^''■"^ " *^« iBg ^^" '*? PP^^ «^^«" «J»e saw Vashti, eay- her song, went to finll l/er au.JS"'"' '"'"^^ he^pti!. td sSr^rit^ff'"^"^ •in*^'^. licked her ha. d «hi '*8elf ; and as Bute softly. SHt ;^ th.i • ^7'^^'' Inmwithit ordered the dog o^ ff tlf« i .i*"^"' '''^'"> tones that „8uV roiled tli^''^" *'"'?« Vashti's rebelh-OMs heart sh«fe 1^'"^"" '» got up to suHer l.er aunt t '" «**' ^"'^ away to her own room aftp J i^'^', ^'''''^ but with herheartTryt&"'' «"«'*">'. Ihe appointments of both it a.,rl v , were remarked by exce^din„ *°« f"""* «; fitness. The carDefaf^r.! ^ nP""*^ ""^ daylight were Tft *^ "*?"»' s^^n V bhi^,iLhTarm1^t* TtS^ Jl*^-' pink cheeks of childhood tZ J *^ *'^^ the room were snowT^'fJ,„ *'"'P«ne8 of three statuttes, two or thSf^- ^"""^ *^««'- walls, as pure andlovVr iS^i^^ ^^ conception as tlie heart of fh-'^^u®" ""'^ •elected them **•* "°*''e»" who that beautifuf roon 'o?1Lh?i' J"?"!?"' °^ «-d. aud W .pir,t grew .ubSuedi; t^Qh THE CtTRSEOF KVKftLElGH. lew moSrbvlJf*^^,'' ''"««'• She«f i"g-io;rundt*trz^^^^ her pillow sighing "^"^ ''**^ <» liti" tnt SmS:r "if "S'^'^"".* ""'• chimed musically th!" K *^»« »ext room. She woke wiK start „?" . ?' ""'l-'ght oppression on he^hea'l^ af'"""''-* "*«"« I have who sWn« «,-*t ^ ** one is apt to SlippinXlTha'^'d ^itSt'd ^'^^'^ p£e. ^a went noiseless^' V^'^:^^, Marge^V Jookil"^S *^'^ ™'."» ^v Aunty robes Zd bare S ** '^""^ '" ^'' *'"*« thougit tLt setldX'it 'f*^^ s'ghed often and deenlv ^ v u.' **"" ^^^ the shadow of the £&. "'***' '**^ >° if her mother WMa^iif'^P^';'^"' wondering leigh'ssoft voTc"iT' *!»- Mrs. Ever^ ' Margery !' sleep then ' spring. I believe I could V«hTflTH"*otn *°hefm*'tr''^'' -'^ eagerly, and chokitgtith^Lr'"' ""^'"^ till I STon .^ "° ^°"y- I ^'O'^Wa't Bleep to 4d, dear ; your aui!^ l"''"~"'*''t ' S« in the morninJwif^ T *"««•, to wake rosy mouth and Wfi ""'"' ''"''^'"K her BmL always did "'^«""°« *^«' f*««. « CHAPTER V. AW OLD AC-« —1 ipg younger-a servant of the family Wore ' comTto vfl, w^^rln k ^"^* '? V"^' ^^y M«gery Greshan. had even heard 'f eI^ iS? SJ^^ oS ^ irt? to his face, leigli She lifted her heavy eyes regarding him sadly. 'Come into my room, PhiUp j we can't talk here. He followed her si! ntly. •Well, 'said she, sinking wearily into a chair, ' what is the conclusion cf the whole matter ?' , 'He is about the same, miss, ard the doc- tor advises to let things rest a;i ti.i-y nre aj long possible. He could not be in better hands, and he saya it is certainly for the liap- piness of all concerned that things should remain just as thev are.' »/ ^^*"'.^*'''' ^ *^''°'* ''"o^ •>"* he is right. Mr. tverleigh is so nervous she won't sutfei that subject to be approached without a ternble agitation. I only touched upon it this morning indirectly, and she has one of those attacks of hysteria in consequence. But It doesn't seem to me I can live on in this way. Philip, another such a day and mght as the last two have been, Mid it seems to me I should— should be as he is ' • Dear JVfiss Margery, you will feel better afterahttle. It is the shock of this news and want of sleep. Do try to think it was no fault of yours. You have kept us all ud so far, don't faint now. ' ^ 'It I only, only knew nothing to do with it. ' • Miss Margery, if anything I could say would convince you, I would say it ; I am perfectly satisfied that it would have been so at any rate It was in his blood. It is tlie Everleigh doom !' 'I don't believe it,' she cried, impatient- I' L*'*?* **"=«?* *W8 talk about doom, riie doctor says it was not the drug and I must try to believe him. But, Philip mark my words. The curse of the Everleiclis IS worldly prosperity and a temper that thev have been suffered to indulge. If I live lona enough, these children shall know what! think of this matter. They shaU not go headlong to a destruction prepared by their own unwarned hands, if I can help it. ' She had leaned toward him from her seat, her gray eyes darkening from excess of feel- ing as she sijoke, and Jier animated hands emphasizing her speech with eager gesture lie shook his head. •Itwon't do any good, Miss Margery. You re not the first one that has tried to save em from their fate ; but italwava ovBrtal,«a tUeiu sooner or later. They're' a winsome •et. ma am. with all their he»d-8tron«ne»s the best and worst blood ever "wa^'-th'is Everleigh blood.' He bowed himself out of the room, and Margery, loosening her braided hair with a heavy sigh, Uy down to try and sleep. that the drug had 'Where aie you going, Vashti ?' said Nora. M her sister passed her, gouig down the road on a run. 'To meet Miss Dale. Tliilip says the w»;Jrgor^*"«*'-*^°-'"'-^- common'tim'es'-* '"'^"«' '' ^"« ""^^ ** t; Jf/'*' •■.'"\"'"^^. ''«'• ran. and Nora con. rLw p*? "'^tl^^t'ng game with her insepa- rableBute. She was still romping withhhn when a carnage drove slowly up tS the hou^ token ^™" *^^ "'** Vashti h^ The driver got down and opened the door for his passengerto alight. Aiiiilitary-capp J head emerged from the depths of the K and rather ponderous vehicle. BeC tZ capa nair of bright, frankly-pleasant eyes scene. A rather slender form in a military coat followed. He liad barely put his fbS ^pon terra Jirm,, wher Buti, Lped uSn him, almost throwing him down, liVkinKa face and his hands, leaping about himCd srtit"^oTj;!^!'^ ""^ '^'"^^^^^^ ^-- Not at all disconcerted by this rough wel. come, the new-comer kughed and sMp^d bis hngers at the huge bhaggy fellow wl^U tlie.dnver stood with his f^ like^^u^;.^ 'That dog must a seed you afore, sir. ' The stranger laughed again witli quiet Xut'hl™ ''T^l,'" ^*P' '"ok-l «ba'i;Ty about iiim. A little way off was NorZ coming slowly toward him with a l<»k^f inqmryon herface. She was dimiSve and graceful as a fairy, as she stood poised on slender foot, her coral lips apart An instont siie stood thus, shadine her fcL'f ' \f' ^f^''''^ ashimmer "f.hem hko the twinkle of stars, and then, like Z arrow from a bow, she flew to hin mg : ' would"coLr "°"''* *"""'' ^^-- *„?fj^*' i'^' ^"''^ ^ his hands as she clun* kis^r»Sfn/r "" '"""^ ^''^^ ^"s'^^"* • And how did you know that t' cry. yoo for aught lVa;;«ee/'' ^"^^^ " ^'^ «" «-«'. -tanilnt^rerS'^l^ T ''^'"-•l feet, look, 8.11(1 : ^ *"" » triumphant '1 told you 80.' * j^*8 *''88 Dale come t ' glad to see liini to6 hJ ^ downnght your Aunt Marg'^f I e^lc'laT? '''*"'^"*" he said. But I never «!!!» i* ' ^'■*"" *""*''"'' I know. ' ^"^^"^ '^^^ ^"» «fore to-day, 'Some relation of A„nf iu« queried Vashti to Wlf -^"f^^^'y " • ' thoughtfuUv to fh« t • *" *''« went want to see him . ^^^ ^"""^ ' '*^^^ I don't ligStLf ll^wSl'^a si"n o^"""« • *« ''^ ^e- the parlours ofi S ^t Jtn^- - o^ was not with them ^f^ T'''^^- Margery door of her aunt's ™^^* ^r*****' ** «>« »'e sleeping ; but hS.l^* "'* '"'«'»* "t^" eiie knocked "^'"S^'novement within. . '>-r^X?d"her haJr SJ,T"^^ *»>« '^-^ loose about her '£^0^^^ '"'^''^' l^^^ 'Oh, butitisn't Th^- **'■^^ck.• parlouV-come to .^^^^^^ 'IT^'^yi^ the youre, aunty ' ^'^^^^ too— a relation of M|liGr:s1a^.°"sha^^r'"' ' '°^^' -'^ • \T' '* '^,. -^'"^ t yon gUd ? ' •Nora's conn*sis,„.. _- ^r^^- —.snance was a muture of per- ' ' three "teps »t V time LT^ • "^"T *''« »*»'« hear h .>r Ungh At f d * M'">'*''y "''ouW fhe enconnS;d Vashti w J "^ *^'" ■*^" know th« .entlema.; -^th'e pl'^ur"'"*** *° ously,''^,f i^'^if'i, Vafhti, "J^.temptn- thoughthim vSv,„,J"^ ^^P'*'"ed. ^.J do wTth'^thlriLV;: ::''''* ^'^^^ -"yihi„g to help himself lie h^T''^'"^? ' *•« «>"ldn^ an.f asZ hi. c^mfng , oVfor f' ""P*^" H sort of cousin of dt^Ki' wDr'';''*'; Margery's cousin—' 'east he ■ Aunt 'Jinough of itself to fi» i,- 'or me ; Aunt Margery^ is „ ^"" °"* ma's adopted sister »7,? \u T'^ '»«»«• no relation of ou„ t^^ ,*''*1^ fortune, Gresham is a host "" hSS'-^'sJ'^'l, *'''7 need any reinforx^ement.'' *''* *'«*'«'* Ijdded, as Vi^htr^f^ '»'• anything. '';he hanghty head, tum'ed away *^'' °' ^« iiere was a situation. A c».«+i the parltmr, and she could misf„*it:"?V° her own little self to eXj^ f fP'^^y ^'"t denly she spied her Wi^ '""»• Sud- turnfng from his huStp/T'^' J"«* re- twelve? but be had« ,«"or.i f*",^ *'« only Upoi him No™ fasSd^ir^. t'^^'^t him" never left him tilJ ItJt !. . Pe'"s'st«rtly,and the parlour V»Swm ^"'''^^' ^""^SJ her friend. """ "'^« ^m acquainted with hoJ^r.MSe^st? ^^h'\T*i/''^-« *»>• was so peculiarly Cisr and «T"f^ ''"'^ *''«* tnne so evidentlV hearty that T ^\ '«™« leoM-ascharmeZ wS h« ^^° Brown- smiiing. ^ '"'^ "« could not help. 'I'm in hunting attire vnn'ii says young Pranf; 'bu?' yS „f r^'^*'' connng m to you so. Nora wn„l5 k ° "^ come, and 1',^ sure I'm Sad "fi ''*''* "»« tunity of welcoming yon to FvL *''? "PP^"- you a stranger in tEis ZrT „AT ^'S^. Are sir? * ""-mspart of the country 'Ahr* i' U r THE CURSE OP EVERLEIGH. ienient. The wn the atain her dimpled ""geiy should ^f ti»e stairs wanted to mr. i'- Nora sat near her brother, regarding him with a very serenely proud and satialied ex- pression. But at this astounding declaration, catching a twinkle in Leon's eye,» her gravity quite lost its equili1)riuni, and she buret into K.ich a laugh that I^eon, unable to resist the contagion, followed suit with a chorus that put Frank's handsome face all in a blaze. Aa 8 )on aa Nora could stoplaughing long enough, she said, with her dimpled arm upon her brotlier'a neuk : ' It was just a slip of the tongue, dear. I heard Philip telling it too. It was just two pounds and thirteen ounces the pear weigh- ed.' ' Have it your own way,' said Frank, an- grily Hinging her arm off ; ' since you've got uie in here to laugh at, I guess I'll go.' And off he marched, his eyes In a flame- and his head haughtily erect. Leon and Nora looked at each other, veiy much confounded, but the whole affair touched their bump of fun so keenly that they laughed again more heartily than be- fore. Frank heard them, and fairly gnashed his white teeth with anger, aa he strotle through the hall. Just at this juncture Miss Gresham made her appearance, looking cloudy and stern. *You can go. Nora,' she said, pointing to the open door, as she extended a very civil but vury cold hand to Leon. Nora looked up with a surprised exprea- aion. Miss Margery did not deign to speak again, but waved her hand imperitatively to the door, and with a half reuellious look, Noruleft the room. Leon Brownlee resumed the seat he had left to greet Miss Gresham with a ludicrous air of resignation. She sat in dignified si- lence several seconds. At last, throwing up his head with a r'roll glance, Leon said : * I say. Cousin Margery, it strikes me you are not particularly glad to see me.* ' Indeed ? Then it strikes you correctly. I intended to send for yoif in a mouth or two. I did not want you now, as I wrote. ' ' And why, pray?' said Leon, with cool serenity. ' Because I did not. My reasons are my own, and good ones, as you may find one day to your cost. Whatever put it into your head to come at all, I can't con- ceive. ' • Can't you give a fellow credit for a little natural aSectioa for his kini- dred?' 'Pabawl Leonidas, don't pretend you came to aee me, when I so plainly gave you to understand that I did not want you. What did you come fur, thougli? What could induce a gay young fellow like you to leave the towu for an old castle of a country house, with no society but two old women, one sick, and the other worv.'j, and a set of youngsters that do nothing but mur- der time ?' ' Very complimentary you are, I mast confess. This old castle of a country house strikes me as a very charming place. I hav« never seen its equal. Besides, I hear yea have a ghost here. It would be juf;t like me to come down on a tour of explor- ation. ' A gray pallor swept over Miss Gresham 'a face at these last words. • Be careful how you explore here, Leon Browidee !' she cried, with a ring in her voice like the clashing of steel. ' Let me come upon your foot outside of the daily beaten track at Everlcigh, and I will have you put out as (juick as I would a blood- hound 1 Neither kith nor kinship shall save you.' She liad risen ; all her form shook like an aspen, and her words rushed forth like an angry torrent. The young man looked at her in astonishment. 'Cousin,' he said, gravely, 'I did not know it was A sore subject ; pardon me, I waa only joking.' ' It's not a sore subject I There ia no ghost at Everleigh. Let what will come, I won't countenance that ridiculous tale,' she said, half to herself, * and once for all, Leonidas, I am no subject for a juke. '^T)eak your plain mother tongue when ..alk with me — yea, yea, and nay, nay <»tever is more than this, is especially i _ ..greeable tome.' He did not answer, and both aat in gravb thought a short time. ' Leonidas,' she exclaimed, fixing her eye upon him, ' I wish you would go rigiit back home again.' • Cousin, 111 be so good if you'll lot me stay. I won't meddle nor make uiiscliief — I'll be propriety itself. 1 wan; tu stivy — >..ut'a the long and the short of it.' •What for?' she said, in her hard tones. 'Because — well, because, if you must know, I was by here three years ago, and I took such a liking for the place and tlie folks, that I determined to come again some day ; and in pursuance of that determination, I am here. I di brave and noble to acknowledge when one IS iu fault, Frank. You're a boy after my own heart Frank Koscoe Everleigh. I like you.' Two or three girlish blushes flitted ovcf the boy's face at Leon's ardent expressions and he sat in silent, but evident pleasure, while Leon dressed for dinner. ^ Leon looked curiously, as th v met Nora m the hall, to see if these two feit amicably to eacli other. Apparently they did, for Nora came tripping toward them, saying, in her pretty arch way ; ' Eh, Frank, you're trying to cut me out now. ^ In the dining-room were Vashti and Miu Gresham. •Leonidas, this is Vashti Everleigh,' waa the ceremonial of introduction which Misa Greshain deigned to take them through; and feeling the bitterness in her aunt's voice, Vashti conceived it to be her duty to be sud- deiilv very affable to the young gentleman. When dinner waa over, Vashti loft the room at the same time with her aunt a legible purpose written on her face. She loiiowed her across the hall, abnosttothe outer door, her courage failing her at every step, for Misa Gresham had taken very little uiiiuer, and looked unusually grim and forbidding. But, courage or no courage, she had resolved toaskAuut Margery a question, and she would do it She put her hand up- on her aunt's arm, but the words died on her lips, and the shadowy eyes she lifted to her aunt's face filled with tears. ' Well, child,' said Miss Gresham, looking (lown upon the dark, handsome face with a little less sttminess than nsual, ' what is it?' Vashti tried to speak, but the words dieil away as before, and withaburst of low sobs, she leaned against tlie door-post. • You wanted to ask me what it waa about your papa, didn't you ?' said Misa Gresham, with a vein of tenderness running through her cold tones. Vashti nodded, and covered her face with her hands. Miss Gresham sliivered a little, as thongh she was cold, though the day was a warm one, and sinking her voice a bttle, said : ' Your father was not a murderer, af tPi all. That man— Neil Eoque— was not kill- ed. I saw h Jm day before j c-sterday, atd he It f •THE CURSE OF EVEHLEIOH. 17 c**.f told me how it was, and all about it. That is all, Vasliti.' The child lifted her face, her senaitire iipirit in ariua, and said, with a tone of huuulitiaess : ' No ; it's not all. Aunt Margery. What MiUi it you aaid to mamma that made her so ill ? Tell it to uie. It will not make me ilL' ' I don't know, it might, ' said Miss Gres- faam, drawing herself up ; ' you've a stormy B])irit, Vaaliti.' ' Tell me,' she cried, the tears bursting forth again. • Oh, I'm not angry now ; I am oidy wild to know wliat you meant. ' ' I will tell you, Vashti. Come down the walk with uie ; there are too many ears hereabouts. ' 'I liey walked silently a little distance from the house, and Misa Gresham resumed : ' Your father quarrelled with that man about a triile. He was angry before he met him, and was ia a state similar to yours now. His spirit was in such a turmoil, that a word to him was like a spark of fire in a gunpowder ma£?azine. Neil Roque spoke uiat word ; the magazine blew up, a'ld bent his soul to perdition ! ' Aunt Margei-y, you mustn't talk so about papa ; its not ti'ue, ' said Vashti, her eyes tiaiiliing. ' Diiln't I tell you so ?' said Miss Gres ham, in unmoved tones ; ' you're a powder magazine, too. If you liad a gun now, 1 don't know but you'd shoot me, just as your father did Neil Roque. ' V'iishti made a visible effort to control her fiery spirit, and Miss Gresham said : ' That is something like it. Keep cool ; keep cool. ' ' 1 )pnt speak so to me !' cried the girl, with an impatient stamp of her foot. ' I can't endure the way you talk to me.' ' Your father couldn't endure the way Neil Roque talked, and so he shot him. It's a famous remedy, Vashti. Your father was dear to me as — your father was very de.ar to me. ' She paused, and a spasm of fierce agony contracted her features for an instant. ' And yet, I tell you, that in his heart your father committed murder. Be quiet, child ; you shall hear me. He meant at the mo- ment he shot — not after nor before, but at the moment he shot — he meant to kill that nuin.' Vashti made frantic efforts to escape from her aunt's detaining hand. She loosed her hold as she uttered the last word, and Vashti, covering her ears with aouEC, crying, not true ; it's not ti-uu. Oh ! it's not true ; while Margery, dropping on linr knees among the rose-bushes, seemed to pray. Later, late in the night, Margery Gresham came softly into Vashti 's room, sha.« could, and ihTelhl C.l.«'l*r.\«'"'"'* '"''•''" her head, Miiere gj « d hit it, as she fell, acainst a rt- theTo '" ;"T *^* ,""°^ ^ one B de* ct the door Her hu«l,»„d stood a starin' at / lor mi 0' In. great Mild eyea, and a shakin' bciiind tl e door, and curled all up in a heac Idiot. 1 iiobyhe crept onto' the room ■toopin'hkean old man. Nobody followed »"»,. or Bald a word to him. \Vell Xt waa u. the. n.onm.' ; and afo;e night' the?e wastu, boautifulest pair of twin Ca Sra «..d the ,.,,.tty h..ly mother was de3 ' «ff u ^''"''e'Kh never seen his wife again no ii- '^''te'^f'""; 1"* °' *'^« ««"'*^''"t oorofih^ /• 'r"'' .himlyin- afore the uoor of the ermitege, ju«t alive, and that Ma* all. Hod had asdoke of palsy and «">«;8>de 0- him was as dead as a sto,f; It really looked liko .jud«meut, now didn't aw';,^! .o*^* * ^?^ ^^"^ ^'etter after aw nue, 80 he could mumble a few wor.i, tyerst^nd'^^r, '"* K ^1'"'^ ^'^^ " -^^ mierstnnd. Ihey had a chair made for . n, to run on wheels, and he could go ever?- SeVrtiiri* "P. ""'' ''"-" «taf"s.''']Je med till tiie twins was fovrtepn & .amlsome. harum scnrum pair » ever was e was getting bettor every yo.r, and som^ thought he mi-.ht a got well ^nti^elj K don t know. M he got better, he ^t sourer «nd sourer, and one day fhey f^nd Id^ e 0.0 br the door of the fiermit^agrwith h^" Bione aeacl. ihe doctor said he'd burst a Uood vessel 5 but I'd like to know if people home folks tliought he'd seen a ghost, and tried to run away. Anyway it wis n^fihtv queer. Dou't you think so ?' »« «"«ftty fjj«^«le nodded, and said: What became of the twin brother nf p«= coe Everleighr I've heanU.inTs ^^.^^^ of the servants told me an odd stonr abo^l • Yc?te ^"'' '*'^""* ^h*^*' Mre.lpark r ^ea, that was as queer aa the other ItZlZ^r^iS] J"P1--. thlt there [s two looms in that old Hermitasje. that it'saa much as one's life is worth to g'o nto l^ey s.y nobody ever wo»t into 'em, and S pas. outsidrtithd. nSU /";°" *''; •m tried to make out fL/ k m V*?""©' no such o' scary person as that. ' ^ * ° * Miss dL? f^J^'^ ''"S^''*"- '»™ly.' say. lookinXuShfen^d atTheT^ *^''' '^^ the room. ' Kre donV a ^'^ <=o™«« of Ta^noTht" iSri.^- ,'3; JKa^ef"^'" f came away this time, tfiil^^I tlnL'to^k! Z'h '^"'^^^^'''ng in those groun s b^ck of r -t.fiT'.**^*.' ^h«" ** » t»™ in the walk from the Vote* Ve'" ^ft' -mingl^'^y flumcd, and rhad'hist'elf "suSi'L*' struments with him. He nift/?« ! if °; - , arolo.n,, and was hur^r^tg on ^henl n.i;^KteSb^^Lj^£?-'eda kerlthiJ nr r^.^'«*»"S8he '^o-'ld see homS' '^'- ^'**"'- Sne wanted to go ^.^Didn't you see him this coming? 'I "I thought he but he hasn't , "No, "she answered, might come for me to-dav yet. "' • Probably you were not up when he cam« He was here this morning, f said " ^' Impossible I" she exclaimed' "T w.. up very early.'" *^«*»meu. 1 ^„ T «',n '■"^M-^'" *h'"^ ^ ^^^ Doctor Gracie ' Isa,d8m.hng. "I certainly saw S or his ghost this morning " °' called to^thf/? !, ^^' ^''^ Gresham f ' she caiedto that lady across the hall ; 'Mis, 5?.l?fy^,P''P» ^^ here this* mondnl ' •-■^awT^ii -r THE CURSK OP KVEULKKiH. '*'*4-«^ MA, MiM Grt'sham turned round with one of her jerk* and looked at me with her sharD eyes M though she would look mo tluouKl. • bhedid. She didn't look so but a -ninuto. tljough, and then she said in her aggravating ' " Min Dale ia given to seeing siKhts." ' I wa« angry at this, and I «aid : AJ188 (ir sham, I certainly diny room, and said . " 'Vour father did calI,Ellen,but he was in a hurry, as I thought' Allthe while slie was saying it she kert her sharp eyes on me, not on Sliss (Jrrcia and then she went away, Towi.rd night the •toctor came with & carriage for Miss Ellen and happening to be on the steps, I saw Miss Gi-esi.Hm run out of a doorway, nearer to him than 1 was, and tell him something before he came m, to which he nodded his head. Tv^ow I in not so great a fool, perhaps, as Maigeiy Oresliam thinks. lean, at feast, put two circumstances together ; and I am very well satisfied she knew the doctor had been there ,at the very tune Ellen Grade asked her, and that somehow she and the doctor had a se cret understending. Why "should he be sneaking off the back way, through the grounds of the Hermitage, if i.ot to avoid being seen by prying eyes? I know there is some secret between those two. ' ' ihe doctor is a widower, ' remarked Mrs •Sparks, sententiously. • Pshaw ! it's nothuig of that kind. Those two were dways awful thick, and if thev had wanted to marry, they have had plenty *f chances. No, it is nothing of that kind ' When Leon Hn .wnlee came ,Iown from ii:'y::iiXV''" '''""^'^''^ •^^'^^ ^^^'-^ M Ji-veileigh, It was nmnng. m„,.Lv ,.|,„„i„ were sou-lHingacn., the tky, . 1^. '" rain. A wet, so^-gy, depressinB air ev.rv thing had outside, and il.ni.le L ",m -how ftti.oied It looked diearv too. The ir, e 1 ' 7 d.-r which always stood open when it weather wouhl permit, was closed. hhivemiK witli a vaguely dismal fe-lint; he passed down the hall to ind the sitt n^' room in wh.eh he h.ul spent tl f e7e f; t^Mikr r ""'' *''^ .i-k..:.::';: UK (litleivnt entrance ways tiint ineM^nf.. i themselves, ho could n ,t " decide wSr J tentu"f *aT\'"^|'''"'^-' ''own one ./t'': venture. About iniilwav of thiu m,, fi crossed it at right angles ^ More a,,,! 'm^re confused, he took the one to the lift 3 that he fiad better retrace his steps e e he became completely lo«t, which he X •, to suspect he was. i^ this ,,ueer tangle o? 1 alls But, worse and woiHt* h, atte-nnti w 7 return^ he made anotlier wronft^Twhich piicetir •'^■*^'^'*"'^* ^^^ 'aark™e'rL"h'e thS"t"'^' ''^*""^' ''**'l« "«'«••' h« perceived ii«S*i"°cri""""°''T'r,« '''■"■ »»"" '«« and i>allf.r o.,^ u ""'^' "•"^•'•g w itn flush «uu l)auor. and her deep gray eve lik^ f 1 „ eye of a stag at bay ^ ^ ** *'*" meddling.' " °°' "»^e you Leon lonkorl o* V.«_ :_ -- •. . t'' II laucrh : ght THE CURSE OP EVERLKIGH. tl ''I Ihavent 0ip l«wt Ww wlut y..u aro -mving aJ.o„t. C(n..,ii Marj*.T>-. I think, at y...d liM me yeaterday, you ,„„«t bo ill. You .„, '7?" P«™oninade/inun You are lU taking lier hand, whiol. «h,. snatched angrily from him^'your hand in pard.od now witli . er Come away ; emu away, lou are cerUi ily very ill ' I...'! ^It'V" ^ '""•'«'•« **id, claJing her hoftd with her two han.U , -.y brain teems a«ifonhre. What was it you aaid about- alK>ut a secret'' Convinced now that alio was talking in the delirium 0/ a fever, Leon again attempted to lead her away ; hut sho flung his hand befoiv '*" ''"" '"'"'^ passionately than •I know what you are after,' she cried; 1 know. You want to find out if I have a ■ocrut, and then you'll hunt me down. But I 1 am e.,ua to you ; yes, I am, sick or weU. ■ T}"^^^ yj^ -/''■• ' ^"^^ » secret-yes, •ir; biiAhaimsolT. It's like molten metal- you can t to^oh it without getting burned' Ah woe la nie ; it sears my heart!' She gleaned a^pjinst the wall, seeming to mediUte /«r a little, and then, suddenly wising her.lie«l, she said„with Bomethink of her usual manner : * ' I am very ill ; very. Go, quick, and H.is hoy here -he's a wild, hair-brained youn^- Holdior. but hiu heart is a true «ne_ I there's meUl in him,' Her voic. died awiy to an indistinct nmrmur , her head dr-mpc'l to her breasT they approaohtd to ,h her, but as they' touched her, her spirit flashed up auain step by step, up the sUirs. At the ton overtasked nature gave way, she reeled inLl their outstretched arms, and the two b^,^ her moaning to her bed. Elisecain..,pr. Gracie came, and for weeks Margery (.rcsl.am was utterly unconscious 01 the tilings of this life. The doct.^r uouU sutter no one to approach her but fhiiii,, his wife, am himself. The fever might b. con- tagious, he said. * CHAPTER VIT. SEED SOWN IN GOOD OROQND. When Leoa found himself at last in the sitting-room that eventful morning? bring I'hilip Ih-yco to me". ' Mrnd. no^t'^'o^er soul, only Philip. ' -"vioicr was starting away, when she I can perhaps He cried ' Stay, let me lean on you ; get to my own room. ' Slie leaned heavily on his shoulder, directing him by a gesture of' her hand which way to go, but when they reached the great hall, she sat down, shivering and deathly white, upon the stair step, say- ■ I* '? ° «!!??•• ^ *^*° ««* "^o farther ; go, ffp f°''^^'^P-1"»«l'. I must speak wfth Fortunately, Philip at that instant was crossing the hall from the dining-room He cr.me right to them ; his kindly, but usually r: .ther sad face contracting with pain, as he saw how ill Miss GresSam Iwked. She smiled feebly at him. 'Iwantecltotell you something, PhiUp Let me 8ee-what was't-oh ! if worse conTe to worse, Phihp, trust him,' with a waveriujr gesture at Leon. * The old man bowed, saying • * Yes, yes. Miss Margery, IH attend to e-.orything, and to Leon, 'we shaU have to *' r y her to her room. ' ;.■ sh, i< ii! you,' she said, an»rilv 'I r, ,,oc sc. i_> Imt I know what I am saVing. 1 - '.;if i-uiiip. if \-„rau conies to worse. the cloth was laid there for breakfalT J. ordered breakfast laid here. thi. morn.n|j,'8aid Nora, turning from t"e glow ii.y.grute to grc,t him, as he entered 'The dining-room ,« no gloomy of a rainy day-und such a gl^my\lay « il J rains sfr' " " ^'''' ^'""'''1 ^'^^^'^ ^^^"^t yVulhti and Frank came in 8o J' *" »" • /One couldn't very well help knowina it * Baid Vasht. coldly. ' The whole hZXn a hurly-burly about it. I went up to ««" how bad she was ; but she is as exclusive an invalid as papa was. Not a soul alK aoctor. It s the same old story ' w,Ik /"" ^^^' ^'"^*' •' «Poke up Frank, with his pretty boyish ^aaZt tionof digmty ; 'you forget yourself.' *^ not talking for your ears, Sir Ros- coe. ' ^^Frank.eye flashed, and he said, a little 'If you A,, diking for .0 - ■ own ^jo .g..bi«v-. staid ii.-^our own ' Fie, now,' exclaimed Nora, 'let's hav« ot temper. Aunt Margery saya.' •Aunt Margery,' mimicked Vashti. with h u^'f'l f"'* °^ ^^'' lip. "da bf the Tre^ ^'T.** ^""i' ^l>« «tood silent by the hre. 'Always Aunt Margery. I U^lu^ °^i ^^'?« ^^"^ 1"«*«d, aiTd I am orlaa thia oflnrnTur J„„ ; t i » . * arloomier by her f rowaina presence. ' '^■•*L«.^ ^^ i I a ■1 tl in bi m U r ■0 ■01 Ih an< fin ■M •hi Ir THE CUftSK OF KVKULKKiir. -JwtmJ' >_] 'For Hhame I for «hame | ' exclaiin,„| Noni jn.lFran. n . W... ' What nuke, y™ d«th. Idont mea,. that I'm /?la,l ,he', mok. Ihopel',,, not. that i.. and I ,1,,'' ■•y -he', not much ■ .k ; but I am La I .f 1 cha..oeofaday wunout her "to tlr mS 'Vou certainly do formt yourself.' said Er ^Tltr^^ her,.Tter^„d ,p;ak^ ^ «ow. You are behavmc vorv niddlv t,.t V ash ti coloured alicrhtlv >nrl .t^^^: ly at him with her haughty eyea • I beg your pardon, sir/ will. Md bene ,ng on her a look that o?^er- •d her face w,th burning blushes. scat ^t Z*^ confusedly away, and t.n.k her "wat at the breakfast-table. The meil J.. V 'h • *//''^"* *"»" by common TonseT Vashti did not once lift her inkv laahes dn, ««.t.progre«i. and her cheek stuVjl when It was over. She was the fir-f ♦^!' W the table, and «tan"h;gXXr*:h;;^: • I am sorry now, sir. ' breakfast things were removed ' ^^ Banter JI?.*!"?;!'^"''- " ^'"•* »»'•*. ^'^ Plea- ■aiiter than the dining-room, beinir smaller *m,-circular in structure.' with*' one Uv 23 .nd th« th !9. It represented a young and very hand- -wLeStl/?b\torL-L4^^i ^ethm. of the look Frank hT ' a^d J Eth °* **?** ''' ^"•»«- The Unes •bout the mouth were inexpressiblv sweet I .«dwmmng,but the eves,^ which^ at the JSr»li„1^+K ^ ^^^"^ "P**" yo». following ywi about the room, as pictured eyes do. tS Amejrom depths-depths of sadn«« ' S S^«+7 -nweaty, it may be, but oertainlV « nnutterable sorrow. v«*i«imjr •ndwaaderad from that to Nora'. I HorroHful ami thopicfcnri. wa« >«. perf... t ' Norn ! ' It was Frank who spoke, in accent. » i„k s«.rned to say, as h?2ad' ii^'^to viu "^ > ou forgot yourself * ' Nora coloured deeply, and was 'ent. V „ht, and I have the same look oft. vn .n Nora's oycs once in a while oa Sftii oexpresmoii.' hisYTck^^T"' *" "l" ,'"?''«' -^"^ 'i'>^ JUS I .ck to the mai.tel-piece. Unconsc ly, a the same t mo, his black-lashed fr„n ? ?7 '"^K "^ ""^ picture, so Leon J ked to draw the bf.y out-to wat tSre^w^. [t^rr^Tl »-as!::..rfL lures wli « he talked— and he i^ai I h , '^ II H'l i THE CURSE OF EVERLEIGH. want to be-but I can't belp it when anyone approaches that subject.' "anyone t^n t\^ 1*^1 ^y' ' """^ '^«"' ' I •lit! not in- tend to hurt yon. What I said to you I could have said just as appropriately to any «^n i f ^^IV?^ '* 'f '^ ""'e foolish to be proud of such things, but 1 did not mean to be personal, or grieve you. ' 'It is not that, sir. Indeed, I don't know hf J^"«f '^* "«■?* ''''°."* ^t ^«^'"g foolish to be proud of such a thing as a long descent But ,t was not that I was so sill/aa to feel touched about ; I tiiouglit you meant to warn me for fear- ' He ^stopped, st.n" nieruigand blusliing. 'Papa ami g-andpa were wild young men ,; I thought you mea it something about that.' 'I did not even know that it was so; you are too sensitive, Frank. If I wanted to talk wth you on such a matter, I should not .'.peak in the light strain I did then ; and Ishcuxdiirst exact a promise from you to take whatever I might say kindly. ' . At this moment Nora came in", and, lift- inglns eyes gratefully to Leon, without other reply, Frank left the room as Nora entered it. Nora's usually sparkling face was graver than Its wont. There was an almost fmper- cept.ble drooping of the comers of her mouth and eyes as she came in and stood on tl:e hearth, absently looking in the fire Leon watched her. 'These Everleighs' M-ere a very fapcnating study to him; but parhcularly this one, drooping thereat the hreside, ui an altogether new mood, in- terested him He thought she had a very sweet face ; he liked tlic frank and outspoken fearlessness of her brown eyes ; he liked the pretty sweep of her clustering curls about the roses and snow of her cheeks and brow. Watc ling her now, thoughtful upon the hearth, an irresistible desire seized him to know what she was thinking of. Crossing to where she stood, he suddeiiFy prisoned &th iier hiittenng hands in his. 'Leonore !' he said. She lifted her dreamy eyes to his face. 1 want to make a contract with you. You said to me once that you wished you had a brother Leon Browi.lce. I will be your brother, and yuii shall be my little sister. Is it a bargain ?' ' I should like it very much, sir. 'Sir!' he interrupted her. 'You must say Leon. She smiled and nodded, but the smile was T.Ci ,K-r UBuai mirthful one. He drew heir away to the bay window. thr. i '=°"J'l-'f I might talk to you iust as at mf r r""" '"y ^'•''*''«'- The resUau|h at me, or get angry, except mamma n...H she must not be wSrried ' '"*"""». and 'You may say anything you like to me.' Sha'ntVfeuJy'oS^"'^''""^'^"^"-*-'"- ' You need never fear troublinj? me • hut you must decide in your own CfinS^ before mention outsule of your own family.' bhe thought a little. ' ^■a'^^I^^V' ^"t I have heard people who did not belong to the family s],eak o th™ tlnigs, when they thoughtl was out of W 111^ or asleep. 1 always ran away, or ston pedmy ears, for I would despise^' being fa eavesdropper ; but I heard portions of what they said, for aU that, and— 1 ,10,,'*. i think it would be v.rongtUiZ\otu ^ryriL^fknTw.^'^'^*^^^^^*^---: road, when some ladief pK Thr lad tr;:?* nfiirr 'rr*^" ' butVammi \vas very ill, and Aunt Margery would ,.nf see them, so they had to |o awJy ^thouS tneni. As they passed near me, I heard ni,o say to the other, very spitefully, somethi^'! about riches, and being stuck up S about papa and a curse. iCked inio Siona^ for that word, curse, for I wondered ve^ much about papa dying, and thought may^ that had something to do with it Si found It meant ' a wish of evil. > I Lve re membered it ever since, and thought a .^r^ai deal about it. People don't give ne £fnh on the same subject. Aunt Margery Xi our riches are our curse; but I don't tS that was what those ladies meant /w day, when Miss Dale had a friend" ere and they were looking at that picture 'pdntin« hi f • T '^^^'^ *'^« 'nantel, 'T hearf her fnend say: "He ,r,.,of i "^ara thinking of fho* ^,* "^^'^ been panted^" °%,*iV'* ««"« when that wa» painted. Just then they saw Va«hH knowwhir+k ' ■'"^^'^ f i'^' «he intended to ■»< - i?Ks^Si^i.«S4M«K*«S THE CURSE OF EVERLEIOH. 5J8 V - said ' chut' when I asked her if she Imew and called me a silly child. She would not tell lie. Aunt Margery bids me he thankful that I am more a Stoner than an t:verleigh— mamma was a Stoner— and when I ask her why, she says, "Look at Vashti and Frank. Would I rather be either of them than my- self?" Of course I would not; particularly at certain times. ^They are more fiery than ' Do jroti never get angry, Nora ? ' ' I wish I never did, sir ; but I do— not so often as they, but very unreasonaldy.when I do I don't know anytliing what I am about when I am angry. Miss Dale got frightened about a month ago, at a pretty pet bird of- mme, and killed him. He escaped from his cage in the evening, and got into her room, fehe pretended slie thought it was a bat. She is near-sichted, and a great coward. I found him in her room, she chasing him with a pdlow. I called out to her that it was my bird, but she declared it was a bat.and threw the pillow at it with all her strength. He was quite deadwhen I gottohim. The breath was literally knocked out of him, and I be- lieve she did it on purpose. I was so angry that I have not got over it yet. I don't know what I did. I believe I smashed some chma and gilt mandarins that were Miss Dale's especial delight, for I saw the pieces in the morning. l\now 1 behaved dread- fully. Miss Dale was, or pretended to b-?, very much frightened, and went herself for Aunt Margery. I had cooled down a little w.ien she got back, but I was still so excited tliati could hardly stand for trembling. Aunt Margery bade me go right away to my own room ; and when I did not obey, she took me in her arms, and herself carried me there, struggling. The next day she talked with mc alwut it, and told me the Everleigh temper w 3 the cor^e of ^Eve -leigh, and that I had more than she liked of it. So you see, I get no satisfaction from anybody. All this seems like great nonsense to me, but it annoys me. ' She ceased speaking, and he sat in grave thouglit for a little while. At last she said, .timidly : ^Havo you nothing to say me, Leon ?' She stumbled »ery prettily on the new ap- pellation. He smilef' slightly. * Yes, a great deal ; but I don't know where to begin. What you here Miss Dale and people of her kind say, I should not mind. It is probably nothing but gossip. As for whatyouraunt says,! am afraid, Nora, «?n6 is n^ht sijotit tempCT. A bad temper is a curse, Nora. ' ' But you would not want one to have no fccmper, would you V cried Nora, •No ; but better none than one not under complete control. I am afraid- He paused, looking thoughtfully at her '.'Shall I tell you the truth, just what I think ?' ' Yes, sir, pieaso. ' ' I am afraid that yoii Everleigi'is are a littJe too proud of your temper. NJ, not a little but a great deal. I presume you are not conscious of It, but I am afraid, on self-ex- amiiiation you would find it so.' Nora looked startled; her face burned with a deep, fiery blush, and in „tter con- tusion, she covered it witli lier ham Is Leon got up, and cr, s ng the room to the hre, stood a little while to give J,ct tune to recover herself. He was lookintj at the por- ^rilTf *'r uf'l*"' '? ^'^^Sue thougl,t,when he felt her light touch upon his arm and lifting herfrank, young face, bathed in tears, she said : - """lo, waif* i *™ •','''■• '•''"'^ ''^'■'"'"e a;-,'ainst the IrS'jXZ:^ ''''''' '1"'^^'^' ^"t shedding 'My dear little sister,' said he, puttin-rhia arm round her shoulders, 'have 1 g "oved you so much?' b"^>i-u thlwi,*'%"°*^°" that grieved me, but ?r,J S'fTr'"/''''''"'"^' *« lindthatit IS so— that 1 have been proud of anvthintf 80 wretched and bad. f have thougl.tf thousand times that I would not be so fretful and cross as-as some people I know ' she added, with a delicate reserve tha " Hd ,t? hide from him that it was Vashti and Frank of whom she thought, 'not forall the world • but! see now It was all vain-gloiy. lam' just as bad as they ; and what it worse, sir I don t see how I am to be any better i am angry before I know it ; ami then I don't know anything what I am about ' It VVe read '^^a d ho, Mhat ' i e t! at ruleth his own spint. is greater than he that t"keth t„^„ V yo"f e conscious of the nia-aii- tudeofyour undertaking, it is a in-eitnZ} nature of any obstacle necessary to over- ' But, sir. when I am angry, it seems t^ even then. If your anger seems ever so reasonable, don't vent it at the time Put your hand resolutely on your mouth T^i Sch ^^"'vvvf J ? *• e ri^ri 1 mrach ! Wait two hours, or ev.-n n,.a <;;i re.is( n. There is scan el/ one time in fi hum red when silence, or a soft a™we? not do the business better than a Jmrri ''39 ■4 ti:. 26 ^ ; ii ■ of fierce words ; and, Nora, when Vasliti wonders why Miss Dale doesn't come o t o ,nkf ^V "''■•\ «^'? i-^^inenibered how iiio night l>eforo she had vexed VmI.H Sl^'ifaS"' *"" •^''^""^'?" °' hTLm^Vt t mue.!, tliat weaken the walls, so thatwheii the enemy make a grar.d rush, they give way and before you know it you ai^e goni S' fow, I have read you q^uite a lecture.' he A «*y^^- 'J ^'"■"'' y"" and I n^eda road would hurt us, if it does rain. What do you say? Yes? Well, run and get a c oak and some thick shoes. No un.brella? nnud you ; we can't be cumbered with one ' bhe skipped away, and was back aijain in no time bringing also his overcoat and cap. tame to ^et rested before dinner, which was also set inthe sitting room. Vashti and J rank were already there, looking quite the reverse of cheerfuL Both glanced wkh a Burpnsedair at Leon's and^Noia's flushed cheeks and radiant eyes aa they came in laughing and chatting. Their good spirit^ pi-oved contagious, and before dinner w,w o^-er Frank was teUing with infinite gusto about a hunting expedition of his on just such a day as this, and Vashti had twice ♦rT!f ^^I ''P' J"**' *''« ^'*'°*. «^eet smile thattranshgured her face, as moonlight does the plainest features. * After dinner, Leon paced to and fro across the room, Frank and Nora at either side, and Vashti standing in the bay window. Won by the charmed conver- aation however, she came gradually out of i?l?'^' "^ ^^T} '^'^'y «" Vashti could, on subjects beyond the range of most children of her age. A graceful and even brilliant chat It was with Leon exercising his peculiar faculty for drawuiig out, till Vashti scarcefy knew herself. The aftlhioon passed moi^ i X"!^ *^n ,*''" morning hai, and toward uielit Miss Dale came, greatly to Vashti deTight, pretending that sEe wL justXs day from home, and had travelled through tlie inclement weather, so anxious was she to fhflS Everleigh and the dailing She covered Vashti with kisses, and would .iavedone the same to Nora if she could Jave got beyond the c«)ol tips of that young -^^. _ —.o-.-.. ..n...,.n. tjttii::- v,-uh ana kissed 9liuk, decIainiK that he had grown a fuU i THE CURSE OF EVERLEIGH. inch while she had been gone ; was eh,ir™ ngly deferential to Mr Leon Wni^' introduced by Vashti -and 1?. "''°'^°^'^' a» ...e of the it ifmforuble*XWn"S From the instant of li^r ..,..•.. ^ \. Plotely engrossed vlti."anrtht teZ^i little party seemed quite broken „« ? To J^eon, Miss Dale's vivacious ^t^u r "ever has to look at her*^ but ™ and ?f ** 1-.' Miss Gresham was no betf*r n^T- .deration of this. Mrs." Everfe ',S ZZ' otaVnillror^-oT* *«-te^-wt^t w^o^Jx^Sg^^-'iL^ ^^K to the othex^ab?ffi^i£« ortr^r"'^ looking at rooms rarely "sed nnt ?"'"• quaintly furnished md anJ^»rr a^'^"^^' with stores of old-tim^ ^^ ^J.^.^ decorated •and mobably d'd. ^m.'l^e^^tHtVr'^ Everleigh do had built tK^ '^' ^'^ heJ^di^^SSi^T SrcL:- "-e of the with it?^ce to tiie wJu "^^^ » P'°t"e, pa;ntL^ret':v;wriji,'"iijTas'h;-^ ^^r H^a^te'h^a^^t^^'''^^^^^^^ lud it uf W Shi Uks^ '^' ™»«tl'ave papa ; Son't ^ou thiKov''L-^"t"''« turning it toward theTght*^ ■"•* ^""'' It was a beautiful picture but th^ the same unfathomable skd look ?n T dusky eyes that characteriz«H rI ^ **** leighjs picture down steira^^^*^ ^^^'^ *"^-*mBtJ* ■^6 -f—k THE CURSE OF EVERLEIOH. 1 > '^^^■•mofi^ M the wall. After pap» died, Aunt Margery hadthe picture fiung in the dining-room tirst, and then she removed it to our sitting- room because, she said, wherever we were niost there It ought to be, and she bade us 1 u^ Ai } '•*''"'*^ P*P* *^«*'"'y. l>ut when I look at that picture, it makes my heart ache Idont see why we should study it, do Leon made some evasive answer. He did understand Miss Gresham's object, he thought, but he could not find it in liia lieart to tell Nora. Roscoe Everleighhad brought his fate upon himself by the indulgence of his rash t sniper ; and Leon fancied that Mi s (.resliam intended that his children should gradually grow into a feeling as if it were re- tribution that overtook him, that darkened Ins splendid eyes with that fathomless gloom. As they left the attic, absorbed in thought neither observed that they had not replaced Vashti 8 picture. When they came again a few days after, it was gone-had vanished utterly, 2r CHAPTER IX. A QBAFFLE WITH DEATH. It was the third week of Margery GrcB- ham s illness, and still the doctor shook his head, saying tliat the dUease had not even reached Its height. Stem in constitution aa disposition, Margery Gresham bAttled fiercely with her disease. ' Those were days when the higher the fever the hotter they kept the sick-room, when a draught of pure cold water was con- sidered radical poison, but notwithstandinij the closed doors and windows of the fevered precinct, often there came thrilling to the ears of the Everleigh household shrieks and cnes that appalled the stoutest heart of them all. There were days at a time when evidently they were having terrible times in the sick-room, when Philip and the doctor came from it, wearj- and panting like men overcome with excessive fatigue. In the paroxysms of the fever, it was only by Jhe mam strength of two men and a woman that Margery vv.w kept in her room. '• She w'iU never be better till she yields,' said Dr. Gracie. ' She keeps the fever up by fighting it. ' ^ One day he came to Leon Brownlee, sav- ing ; "^ ' Young man, we must have help in tak- ing care of that sick woman, and there is no- botly in the house fit to go near her but vou Bryce and I are completely worn out. She IS a perfect giantess, and at times as bad as a mad woman. We keep a strait-jacket on her some of the time. Will you try it ?' 'Certainly, if you say so ; I sliall be glad tob«of any service. But, doctor, why dont vou have some women to relieve Elise V ' Because there isn't another sensible one '? n.* °"*®- ■^"' ""' 1^'ise •« * jewel ; shell stand it, I'm convinced. We favour her all we can. But, Mr.— Mr. Brownlee I believe your name is— you're related to Miss Gresham, I hear ?' ' Yes, sir, she was my mother's cou- sin. ' Well, sir, as kindred of hers, I suppose you might be trusted with her life, eh ?' ' Sir 1' exclaimed Leon, astonished at such an address. • Or something that she holds dearer than life, continued the doctor ; 'the occurrence, for instance, that is the immediate cause of this present illness ?' 'You speak blindly, sir, I am incapable of betraying any trust reposed in me.' ' Exactly ; right, sir, riglit. Miss Gresham is delirious most of the time, aad might sav something in her ravings that she would not like to have come to common ears. The fact is, sir,' said the doctor, dropping 'his voice to a whisper, that we must have some one to help us. Miss Gresham, crazy as she is, begs for you- continually. But in admitting you to her room, we are trusting you with a secret that intimately concerns not only her welfare, but, that of the poor lady yonder— Mrs. P:ver- leigh. One whisper of the nature of this secret, which Miss Gresham has constantly on her tongue, would drop that lady in her grave more surely than a bullet sped to her heart. ' Leon looked at the doctor in astonishing 4oubt, wondering if he had not contracted the fever from his prtient. Without seeming to notice his bewilder- ment. Dr. Gracie continued : ' One word more, Mr. Brownlee. What- ever doubt or wonderment, whatever terrible- suspicion may rise in your heart from hear- ing Margery Gresham's ravings, let me waru you to withhold your judgment for tlie present. Though the shrouds in her heart a secret that has blasted her life— thougli she raves of an appalling event within lier knowledge, let me remind you that a greater than you or me has said, " Judge not " Ask me no questions; I cannot answer them, and you would be sorry if I did. No, you are a sensible fellow, 1 believe. I like the look of you, anyhow. Keep your own council, and 1M THE CURSE OP EVERLEICJII. possible to Miss f I pay as little attention as iJresham's ravings.' He took him up to a room that opened out of Margery's, ami left him, saying ■ ' She 18 dozinj,' for a little now. Elise will speak to you when you are Wanted. When you are not, you will remain here, and should any one come, which is not likely, for a rest. "Philip will relieve you'' or helo you, whenever it is necessary ' The door closed upon the physician softly, an.l Leon found himself alone and in a some- wliat nov-el situation. AH was quiet -so «|uiet that he could hear the crackle of the f.uTn^^ "?'=* '■''*'"'• '^n'^ the faint ri.stle of the falling leaves outside. jThe silence anil tlie close room oppressed him. He rose, to vary the tedium ot the time with a slov^ seemed to him tainted, and approaching the l-asli he threw it open and sat down beside 1 c. J^'^,^^ f ""T ^^y ^°'' *^« ««ason, even warm ; the tap, tap, tap, of *.he woodpecker echoed among the almost leafless aisles! and the oaks tossed their giant branches in fear- less strength against the autumn sky. Ihe door of the sick-room opened; Elise put her head through, ^nd sedng the open window, looked aghast with conlternatL It must be shut instantlv,' she said under her breath, as she came into the r^om! shutting the door after her carefully, and herself closing the window in the face of Leon s reinonstrance. '. She is awake, 'she continued, 'tossing, but middling calm, con! suknng; she IS asking for youf and'looks sort of natural. Will you come in, sir ?' * He fol owed her silently, almost gasped for breath, as the close, stifling atmosplTere struck him, laden with the adiurs of dn gs fiery, her hps parched, her face scarlet hue her h«vvy. unbound hair trailing over he pillow. These was a fire on the ua-tli, but It was the only cheer ful thing there. The windows v^^re draped with funeral precision, and the room looked like the darkened cell of a recluse ivlargery did r^*- recognize him but '«>,» suffered the touch of hi? cool, ig hand upon her fevered head, and then sLnIng his brave young face, seemed to rest he? Avandenngeyes. With her purple, swollen hps she said, m grieved tones : ^They won't give me my soldier-boy, and i n-.-ini; him so.' "^ Soothing her gently with his hand, his low tones, his soft .Jeep eye, lie gathered up h er tangled hair, and tenderly as a wcman might, bound It away from her face. She looked reheved, and putting up her hoi hand drew his ear down to her lips. 'Give me some water, for the love ol ileaven 1 she whispered. Elise, standing at the foot of the bed, shook her head as Leon looked at her. 'Not a drop, ' she said, ' it is the doctor's orders ' •Why not?' said Leon. ' It would kill her, certain.' 'Nonsense I'm doctor enough to know better myself. Will fresh air kill her, too ? ' Elise nodded. During this conversation Miss Gresham had resunied her tossing, fli„gi„g her ar.M mSng *' '"""'^"°« to lilrself, and 'She is going to have one of her spells I ' exclaimed El.se, anxiously. ' We must get the strait-jackot on her if we can ' Nonsense ! ' said Leon again. 'Is there any water m the room ? ' 'Yes, sir, but she musn't have it.' vni^o+wiu'*-' '^'^^'^ intonation of his voice that there was no opposino' Elise pointed to a corner of" the room. He helped himself to a cup of it-a brim- min^ goblet of it-dashed outside with crys- tal drops as he bore it to tlie panting lips in i^^k .w ''■'''" ^^''^^^' ^«i^'"« thf goblet with both frantic hands, and draining it with tery eagerness; then thrusting it back to hun, she cried : * ' More— more ! ' fnS-^' ''^^u^ P*^® ^'*^ fr'ght, stepped be- fore him as he was returning for more ..S- } '"".he'--it will kill her ! • she exclaimed, wnngmg her hands, and with tears m her eyes. Commisserating her distress, he said : Elise, my father is a physician, as weU 1, * T ^'■f*^'*'- ^ ^'^o*^ perfectly weU what I am about. I wiU answer foiiher hfe as for my own. He gently but firmly put her from his path, and she watched him convey the sec- ond goblet to Miss Gresham, with dismayed and staring eyes. This also Margery drained wthadeep ,nspn:ation of relitf . ^ She ^ quiet for a while, but soon commenced moaning again, putting both her hands to her head, and murmuring • ' On fire ! on fire ! ' i«,JTi*^ his eyes on her, Leon had been open- Tl5*'t.Tu"^r|*''*^?«* fr«™ the Biek-ted. aZUT' jf °i*.Piace, created sufficient draft to rapidly purify the air of the room and returning to his patient he broughri basin of water and to^jTls. which Wruxil iV -i.J II "P" THE CURSE OF EVERLEIGH. 'aha with well well ' --^s^^rvs. I alternately and placed upon her head, at the Willie time dispatching l-:iise for fresh water, bhe refused at first to go, but upon Leon 8 intimating that unlese she did so he should go, the fear of being left aloue with her niistress, who she expected nio- T Hientarily would be seized with a spell overcame her reluctance. ' Gradually Margery's moaning ceased, her numcles relaxed fiomewhat, and she fell away into comparatively easy slumber. She con- tmued thus during the remainder of the day Bleeping, and delirous by turns, but on the wiiole much less violent and uncontrollable than on any preceding day. Fortunately there was no one to interfere. Fhihp was sleeping very soundly, the sleep ot exhaustion. Elise had indeed dispatched a messenger for Dr. (iracie, but the man did not hnd lum ; and with a iieart full of un- comfortable trepidation, she was compelled to submit herself to the order of Doctor Ijconidas for the present. As night set in, the sick woman's fever rose again, and her mind wandered painfullv As he stood faithfully cooling her fexered head and face, bathing her hands and toss- ing arms, and at last forcing EUse into the V service also, Leon felt often constrained to f repeat Dr. Grade's words, to preserve him- self from passing judgment, and pronounc- ing this woman a poor, guilty, coiiscience- slncken creature. It was a sight such as one does not often see. Margaret Gresham, with her strong, determined temperament, her gleaming eyes and purple, swoUen fea- tures, grappbng with disease. Words itrce and hot as a lava torrent, wailed bro- kenly from her lips. Toward midnight the contest within her grew almost intolerable to look upon. J hoiich not physically uncontrollable, men- tr.ily her excitement was intense. The veins stood out upon her hands, her arms, her throat, and her brow, like whipchord. Her eyes seemed sUiting from their sockets ; her longhair becoming unbound again, trailed down over her neck and bosom. I Get me a pair of shears.' said Leon. Jt 8 of no use ' said Elise ; ' She will not suffer you tocut her hair. Dr. Gracie tried often but she begged so hard that he would not, beatiiiff him off all the time, then he gave it up.' ' . 'It must bedonr ' said Leon, compress- iiig his hps J and taking the shears from E ises haiul, he watched l,ia opportunity, ;T«.« i"",^'r.r-^^*^" ^^^^y '°^ks from the head which their glossv abund.ann^ «„K, oppressed. ~ " ■^ riL?"''^"n r^J ,"^^'* ^^^^' whispered iihse, appalled at the sight of that mighty 25r ^^^■"ggle between the forces of life and 'No,' said Leon, in the same low tone hiie IS coming to the point whrr.- -i.c ^,111 need all her blood; she has none O spi e As inidnight approached, tn. ouuggle deepened inh> one of awful solemnity Tlmt hour in which we are told the tides of life rise till they .wash thegi-eat shores of eternity Wd Margery Gresham clinging one instani with stern determination toiler constitutional vitality, the next .lashed from it, as a vessel torn from its moorings by the fiercest storm that ever swept tlie seas, and drifting hope- lessly out toward the wide waste of etornitv Leon stood, watch in hand, scarcely turn- ing his eyes from that ghastly fac^. She slept, but itwaaasleep that it chilled the heart to look upon-so strange, white, and Daylight dawned, 5 Elise went noiselessly romthe room to warn the household S the utmost silence, and came back as noise- lessly, to stand watching that pallid f^ The sun crept up the helves, Lid sent curious flashes of light int^ The sombre sick-room; the fire 1>u the hearth burned slow and pale, and the face of £ sleeper.faded momentarily. Suddenly there was a passing almosf im pei-ceptible, ruffling of the ^iet LtuTe^ h^ feeble eyelids lifted themselves slowly, it ting to her lips a few drops of rare conbal tne result. She swallowed it with scarce an effort, her eyes clostd again, almost Soro they were open and again she slept. At nightfall she waked, feeble aa an infant. 'Cousin Margenr, you have said nothing to betray your secret. I only know yof have one, and that knowledge is I, s^ife with me as 111 your own breast. ^ The (foctor being obbged to leave.placed you inmy S„ You must not speak one wordf not o"eLSe He gave her more cordial.and by herquief :&'r"°^' ^^ --i--ivi, t[.:i;'£ And thus it happened that Magrerv (Jre-- ham ived ; and when Dr. Graci^ called o^ the following morning, in some trepidat on because he had been unavoidably hinder,^ ?r.,^„'^'!?,«^^^^°'-«' Ws patient, /ropSecuJ .. .„.,.,^^,„i puiows, Wita Ukiug her break- fast of broth from Leon's own hlud, Lo weak and feeble to lift her own or turn h^S submissive aa a child. - ■^ titi THE CURSE OF EVEIILEIGH. i : ■ 1 ! '! i CIIAITER X, WAUNED. As Mies Gresham grew better, those who chose were suffered to come and see her. It was a slow and tedious coming back to health, find Margery Gresham ill was a very different being from Margery Gresham well Nora and Frank kissed their aunt heartily. Vasliti cume once to see her, shy and very distant, but somehow enjoyed the call so much that siie came again very soon, and brought Miss Dale with her. Miss Dale, as was her cus- tom, quite monopolized this call, and Miss iiresham, from some feeling of courtesy, probably, did not for once exercise her i)ecu- liar faculty of taking her down from her height, much to Nora's disgust, who was also present. It was noticeable that Vashti came no more, save under Miss Dale's wing, and finally ceased coming altogether. Mrs. Everleigh had by tliis time re- covered to walk slowly about, and came often, looking white and fragile as a spirit, to see her sister. The tears lay near the sur- face in those days, and the two rarely met without a suspicious moisture in the eyes of each. Leon stayed much with Itis cousin, sometimes reading to her, talking when she was able, and wondering at the serene hap- piness she displayed, when he had every reason to think she was a miserable woman at heart One evening he came into her room. She was sitting up— indeed, had sat up all day. She looked thoughtful,aiid seemed indisposed to talk ; so, after venturing a re- mark or two, Leon began a sparkling lit- tle chat M'ith Nora upon the fire-lit hearth, Miss Gresham watching the two. They were talking in a light strain at first, but soon the conveis.ttion took a deeper tone. Nora, with her hand on Leon's knee, her arch face uplifted, and her wide- open, brown eyes darkening in and reflecting every expression of her friends. He was telling her how he came to be a soldier. During the war, under the impulse of a hasty zeal, he had run away from home and enlisted, though only seventeen at the time. Sorry enough he had been after the first the moreso when he found that both his parents were seriously displeased at his tak- ing such a course. ' It was a very foolish proceeding, ' he said to Nora ; ' foolish for a great many reasons ; but it helped me in conquering a fault I have— that of judging and acting too barshly. Mother would" have had me -claimed from service, being under age, but father objected, though at the same time he left It at my option.. He preferred that, having acted so hastily, I should suffer the penalty of so doing ; and secretly I could see that he woufd be rather ashamed ?VV"u >/ J*"™ed back from the soldier's life I had chosen. ' •Was it such a hard life?' said Nora. • Yes, it was a hard life. A boy of seven- teen has not the maturity necessary for a campaign, either morally or physically I have seen and heard a great many thiAcs I had far rather never have seen or heard I am a man before my time, Nora ; three years, m which I might have gladdened my nether 8 heart, and cultivated the holiest affection of my own, have gone to eternity, and I, a saduer, a wiser man, perhaps, but not, no, not a happier one.' He sat in grave thought, and Nora made him no reply. ' I gained in some things, ' he , contiimed. musingly. -I got experience, but experienc^ IS a bitter teacher. I learned sometiiinir of men, of human nature. I found you, Nora ' He looked upon her blushing face, smilingly with his hand upon her NotI" , ' ^ "" «^ **»** I found you, ' Are you, sir ! Why ♦• 'You're not a vain little girl, so I may teU you. Don't you know— if you don't now, you will as you grow older— that now and then we meet with people who impress us very pleasantly from the first- people, m short, that without reaUv knowing why, we dislike very much ?' ' She gave him a look of intelli- gence. i* And, again, we meet with Bomebodv whom spite of a thousand little nau.rhti- nesses, suits us exquisitely; whose eve answers our eye ; who smiles in sympathy with our smile ; who, in short, we like very much. That is why I am glad I found She looked at him, her bright eyes brim- ming with tears, and pretty colour iu her cheek, s smiling her pleasure. • Do I suit you, sir ?' He looked at her with beaming ' Wonderfully. I should like to have vou my mothers girl, to have you with "me always. Herai;mwas flung across his knee as she sat on a low stool hsfnr.o the fire ; she laid her cheek upon it, and was silent ; but Miss Gresham, from where she sat. could THE CURSE OP EVERLEIGH. creeping slowly down her rosy •ee the tears ■cheeks. Leon turned soon to a conversation with .h.8 cousin, but, contrary to her wont of kte «hegaveh.m only short replies, and her ^es^ dwelt often on the'^ fa^e of the ^^^y' 't w time you were in Nora got up, and was leav- ing the room without a word Piitednin^:,^ht7acX^^^^^ TuSu£; rt.-'^gl^V and Rerl^- i uining lightly to hu cousin, he said • i suppose that is* hint for me to BO too» I am keepmg you up late for an invfud V^f as time you were asfeep, Marge,?r. ° *^"* ' '* ^^he made an impatient movement, say- 81 t«n you. Loonidas, I 'Margery, I will.' 'You shall not. I will not have it.' He smiled again, donbtingly. 1 have seen it all along,^ she continued 'I suspected that thought was in your S' andif.t was anybody else but you tw j ear h, i'"^ \\^^ °°* '''' lea^t cause 'to fear ; but yon, I know you- in;?. 'I shaU not sleep for hours. What I havn seen this evening disturbs me tS much Leonidas. what notions have you been w' tmg into that child's head ?> ^ P"*' He looked surprised; yet amused, 1 hope she may keep them 'Notions 1 there.' she^l" " *°° ""''^ "*"°° f^"- fearing that '?^""*^ ;., I ^° .°°* understand you. ' •A woman ; yes, thank Heaven— mv h+t\^ ^arl.^^^e apple of my .ye. Nor:..^^^ ALeoniilas 1' she ezclaima l ^ neaui you coiinni; to -.uM t*n.v W*h°' •"•. Y°" «id you going wi,;;:^ t "^' "^"i here you V. again.' *'**" "ever see you Notnow.rm4n ^0** '^•"r" ^^' ^^at? what Alargori Johu' *'' '"l^'l* «°°"«^ ^or it will not be forev ™ K '^^''" ^ '^^ «". eume often to see yo' ^V7,'r^'^^- -f «''"! l^oes tlut cSS'you'arJ''^ I'^^r"" crying again » \Vli.i+ „ * i V ' ^^'"^t •' ^ Hi8%4 eyes weie fufrj'"; ''"'''■' '* '''•' fine lips trenfbled ^ ^'""'^' *"'' »"» ha:it''rkir'"a ;-y poor child, I your Aunt Marjery said « V ^''"'''^ ^^''at heard it. show meS you af I*" T!* '''*^« part in this inherSe bv ^^^ f T*' ^"^^ °» self now-let me ^e if ^. *'"''""¥ yo"'- want to talk wUh you lit " "*" ^^° ^ I can control youeself/ * ™^ *^« '^ you He waited for her cliing, stole tj 1-eon aside, she joined them instantly, inter- posing her presence between them, and nre- ventmg any privacy. " 4 I-eon dia not seem in the least annoyed bxi'V''^^l^'** ^^ '"' cheerful presence I^ora basked and lound rest and relief. Leon now and then gave Miss Gresham one -of his Keen, quiet glances, as much aj^ to sav • iou see, my dear cousin, you da not thwart us in the least. We have all we wk l^;,.J ?ri'f !!"*'i «."^y «'^«« ^^^ <^df pi. .Miss Gresham, since that unfortunate day wnen she had expressed her mind to no pur- |>o8e, had quite «iven Leon thq cold shoulJ«r lliero were several i-easons for this. 'I am going in the morning, Leonore ' It was evening ; she wm iTf i. • i favourite place. mJm « . .■'""8 '« her have heard whai he SS^e le T T^'^ he spoke, Loonore. ^''* ^ ^^»'" ;eap^o?thethrdi:^^;'LU£^^^ toileXon^i^l^iry-eyS^^'^ 'T Tt1tt^h:l^;;et?•l"^^"**^^^^^^^ and she kept back^a S A '^^^Y'uUively, seemed bursting ^^' *^'*"«^ ^«'' »>«art of'the""chi1?r.VeS/ i^' \ ^-» strange either JCo „?„ I ,*"*^ °^* '» the kfy note^f be^LX 1^^^"'"'^ ly was, with her rail .j'rt*" '^'^ "'^*"'-''l- power. f„ the p„,,„d;™,. ''""'VS tokVific^tSSw^A.1 ' Xl >vh" he had twne. She wof„i, i u" ^ ^. ' ^^"®° door tilll?^ra in thl rif k"P /*■"'" *he sight, and con™ uded she7a2 w^eU .^"f l'"™ Meanwhile he lia,J ««. " "° "^him. i pie.;. hi„,.i,-e heii ;;;rteh ilZ'l T"^* I THE CURSE OP EVERLEIGH. M J ''°"'* """o^ ; P«rhap. not for a year Marg«r^Gre.h«n doe.*^ot lik. to K ^, 'But you Mid she woald not interfere, 'Neither thall she j but you know I ahonld ' It ii not her hou8«.' * She nilog it at present; to a certain ex- tent It ,. hers ; anr CHAPTER Xn. MISS DALX. 'ff ;" «verythiiig to your aunt' ' ^0' "?y d«ar ; .'iterally I may have but oth?r°ti? ^ "-««"««>"» toW!^ iHi^y other than an extreme case. ' ^ — ,' Well, it is outmueous — I think i* •> «« ^fere,' ^d Vashti, ?ising aid tLking "p o^ of those ancry walks to iid frT which^N?^ hay. Jlnel I' "'' """"'■• "^ «*ad-what ha. tn r/i".'* " '^}^}^S new. I am out of sort. J^ ^t^A' '^^jythmg vexes me, but I do think Aunt Margery behave. driadfnUy I ""f ^u^^t * """• ^<* "how her/ ^" ' leigh'TdlSy"'*'""*'' "'«» Mr. Ever- 'She treat. Miu Dale shockinclv I don't see why Miss Dale can't hear S'les- sons as we 1 a^ Aunt Margery. It is wh^i 8he was hired for, and I should not b7ame her for quitting any day, if she"s so uLT Whol°V?lr^"8^^ "^^^ h«' af^ol: Who 18 Aunt Margery that she should call the true fnend of the family Mi^Rnlu ut proved herself, bv a na^T ifke tilt^ " an^reST'*^'^""""'*^''* -«»-*. A„Slr^!;.X'ht^"" ^"^•- ^"-^ *^- ''WhL'J, ^°r oP'P'on. not mine.' doesl'**„s^.^'^**«* " •* *« '^^ ^ »»1 -he sh^td1tn^o7X^TerrI^:V"^' ^''- . pif r":'shatT.r.**±!'__*«?--«-« "- i she checked herselfln ti^;;" ^^ ^{£^'£,^ *i/r*n)l f ui4S5 ^.^.4 THE CURSE OF EVKHLKUiH. i ■burue.1 e to say ii.,hu.g about It; but I hLu" Mamma, J.ll you reprove Aunt Margery, or shall vni.^PJ'*"'* .^largery, n>y chil.l ! what are JouUlkiijgabout?' exclanned Mrs. Ever- Ifigh, with an accent of pain. ' It is plain enough what- 1 am talking about; will you give Margery Gresham a lesson in politeness, • sliall I ♦' 'I shall not, certa \y I shall not,' Mrs. Averleigh said, with some spirit. 'Then I shall!' She WBS turning to leave the room, when Airs. Everleigh cried ; 'Vashti'you will drive me crazy— what :flre you j«)ing to do? Come back here ■< lirectly. 1 here is truth enough in what they fay of thia Everleigh blood. Vashti, coine back !' 'Do comeback, sister, do. ' pleaded Nora, you wiU make mamma ill ; how can vou vex her BO?' ' Vashti Btopped irresolutely, and Nora ipassing her, fled swiftly 'to Miu Dale's apartment. ' Miss Dale, ' she cried, bursting in upon ithatlady, 'did Aunt Margery call you a ^ool ?' 'Wliy, no— not exactly,' answered she, ■with a guilty blush, thinking she might have got herself into trouble. ' Well, you had better see to Vashti, then, or there's trouble ahead, She says you said so, and she is bound for a fuss with Aunt Margery about it ; be quick, if you would hinder her V .Muttering something about Vashti having misunderstood her, Miss Dale hurried away, intercepted and captured Vashti, and bring- ing het to her room, turned tbe key in the door, while Nora, delighted with her success, returned to Mrs. Everleigh, laughing, and announcing, much to mamma's satisfaction, that Vashti was safe. There is some mystery about it, mamma. Miss Dale has not told all the truth, I am satisfied. She was frightened, I can tell you, when I told her what Vishti was going . to do. She muttered something about 'S^shti having luiaunderstood her. and went after ber as ouick as Hhe oould. ' Mrs. Kverleigh was grateful at having the •torm averted ; but MTs. Dale was a mTrt of favounte w,th her, and she ve up this chivalrous notion? Mi-g Dale had to shed several crocodile tears and a few genuine onea, representing in moviug. terms that it would be the means of getting tiiat, before Vashti would consent that her dearest friend should continue to suffer from theunrebuked rudeness of Miss Gresham. The truth of the matter was, that Miss Dale nad tola an imtnifmeforl /~1<^a! -1 cii — — o- — • Tt'oSHvuii. one was a sort of sneaking firebrand at Everleigh creating family jars whenever there was the least opportunity for doing so. She it was ■i i THE CURSK OF KVRRLEIGH. .t into Vaflliti'H hfia.l n notion that . WttH niainnm r fiivonrite, that Marirorv .oHhainwft. a shameful tyrant, that no Sri ""*' **"* ""'' *-. *°.^"»- ho^th^tt'" '*"*' """ ""'"Pl^tely under CHAPTER xm. DISCUSHION ON BOARDINO SCHOOLS. MiM Oreaham waa too much occunicl watching ,.ther oiks, to ohaervo Nfiw f), I„ very i^rticularly. She dislikea her iu- at.nct.vely, and realizing that her edXca- fLaM.."^"*^™ u'^ ''^'y defective, ahe took that braiich in her own hands, -hht with all her fore8.ghte.li,e8s, the govemesR had quite out.ge..eralled her. Ou.u.ing. «elfi,h, ,Lp. and tn-achoroua. she h.id Hucceeded in im' preaHiuif M.sa Grcsliam with the idea that she was shallow, ignorant, and transparent - acreature tobe cou..tenanced but not fear- r, ; t "k!^"!.?*'^^^ °^*™'"^«' «» "he wna .M)tt»»>e. MiM Gresham levelled a atony glance at her that Miaa Dale writhed under secretly but aubmitted to in silence. M.88 Dale was very anxious to bring about a different state of things. It waa Km- b.tion to obtain over Mrs. Everleigh the control ahe held over Vaahti. Herinluence over the latter had as yeb brought forth very insufhc.ent fruita, and she wa^ really weai? of her, her fondness, and the school-room where ahe was compelled to l>e entirely aub- missive to Miss Margcry'a dictatorial sway. Immediately upon this idea entering her head, she s»t about maturing a plan for the furtherance of her object. She carefully in- stilled into the mmd of Vasl.ti, and of Nora filao as far as she could, a desire to leave Everleigh for the purpose of attending !i u'^i-^Hi'"*"^ ^'■°'" ^arioM remarks siie had heard from time to time, that such a plan would meet with the most violent oppoaition from Miss Gresham, but she trusted to keep herseU out of sight, and to succeed for alf that, and thus march accom- plished, to see herself duly installed as maid or more properly as .companion to Mrs' Everleifeu. Vashti swallowed the bait easily enough, but Nora was slower to be affected, by rea- ??", *** ^al °^° dissatisfaction toward Miss Dale. She succeeded, however, at last in excitjng m the hearts of both girls an eager desire to attend a boarding school. This done, she very carefully withdrew from the discussion. Vashti onnnprl iho nom>tn;»~ i.— i. i • the subject to Mrs. Everleigh, who, greatly to the delight of both girls. HigniHed her approval aubjeet to Aunt Margery a. and «Kree.ng to broach the matter to l/er iiS at the earhest opportunity Miss Margery, as might have been ex- pccted. put Her veto on the whole proceed* • It waa unsuitable every way.' ahe said O.rls loanie,! nothing but miacViof at bo" 3: mg-schoola. They were much better off at homo, eapecually theae girls ' ' A"'l why the^epirh ./^ Vashti con.lcscended to ask. in high dudgeon. "«-«iiieu ' Hcc;iuse you are not Ht to mingle with tie outside worl.l You are of an entiW different metal. You are a race of yW^ •elves, and are safer kept by yourselves. ' Poor Nora had no need to ask whv ■ ah* 'Aunt M.iigery. how strangely you talk ! Do you suppose that, for i.o^'bettor reason tliau that, we are going to consent to bo' mewed up here fo.over ? Do you auppoS ZfthfU "r*""*^ '>^r>elves, we Everie^JhT w.th the plain education we are getting at C!!!*l '"*•""*■ '°^ «ne; and I should like to know, since you are to talk and act for yourself and mamma, too-I should like to know why wo cannot have accon.plish- monts as well as other folks ?' Vn!?^'^'**i,'^° y?u '"^*" ^y accomplishment. ?• You can have the necessary teachera here- no need to go from home for that.' 'Why not go from home? Are we neyer I r For a reason that I gave you once. Vashti- you are too much like** gun^wder-to^ „.' plosive to be handled by strange handa ' A fire blazed up in Vashti 's eyes at this allusion. Her hps parted to speak, but turn- ing to her mother angrily, she wid : What IS the use of all this /- Are we tn stay at Everleigh forever?' -^e ^e to •Vashti, Vaahti 1' said poor, timid irrfl. solutoMrs. EvexWh; 'ill ^^Ze ^Tr auntwill do what is right-certainly ^sl.e 'That is not th6 point. Are we Miss Margery Gresham's children, or are we yours?' " vr'^";,^ ^ish you wouldn't talk so,' said Mrs. Everleigh. 'I wish yon would wait tiU to-morrow, dear; don't talk any more about It now, please.' »wu«. 'Mamma, tliis matter must be settled to- ^IT^'^Z-J^^^^^'^'^ ^'"^^^y to-morrows, W6 should be no bettor off. Mamma, are w^ to go or stay?' ' '"'"*«' „J/i^^ "}"''' \ ^^^ y°^ ^ ^'^ willing if your aunt was. * ''-ww^,^ 1 t 11 f. 8. d .a' ti ■O) te«#i»»- THE CURSE OP EVERLEKJH. ^'***Ti'*fc4!> * What i« u to her?' >I..H (.r«Hhan. taJ|in« a .tep t,.war,l her ««- •uj'ing: ""' haiid lieav.ly o.. her .houlder, ^«.Il'va!lfH''"'}=' "'"I- ''^"'Kt»'e other to- t .c ntv. but you cai,„..t leave home without M ith authority over you. an.l she has a per- itct nght tj> ,fo BO. i .hall l,e true to that ju.thonty. hut I shall not refuse my c«„ St to youronrry.ngout the sohe.ne you have taken into your willful head. If you w 11 VourTav^'j ^ ."''•" ""* P"* "> olitaile t^u?! wiM i!,r'"' ""y ,?">"» .lisapproval ; It I will tell you, child, every hoir of the .lay after you feave Everleigh, you will wisli i :7 '"" "t^y^'J *t home. fknL your nTr 1ml. unhappy tempc-ramont. I know what SsSrZn"' ^T*'' »°K«V""««1 temper, ^erl th« . .?"« «*^'"'K««, and those stmnl «^n . iv '"T"*''". ft Bchoolgirls are. They .'n !« M ^""i '-■*";y y«"'-''«J^ there. People lish to be vexed viiKbrL ^^"'•J'O" wouldn'jf^L > asliti, a httle sore about her conacien..,. «..ght of h„ m«lb.r'. p.1, ^ri^wSi Give It up, now ! aftiT muh n l.uttl,. f„r the privilege of uoiiM'V w, ;,., 1 ■ "^ ''"^ ; I think I won't go to Laurel Hill.' I «"t go to Umd Hill I 'cried Vr„.k*- again .\vhy, what do you tea J * thouglit you were as anxious I go ^T ' " I should hke to go but I th;. i a x Margery knows best ',.n i ^ t""^ -Amit give it up ' ^"^ ' ""'• "° J *"' t'oi"*! to 'Oh, that is it, is it, Fsndpnt^r . i . sister, anarilv 'ImiJhT) , 'aid her well, you can do as vounleiiBB. t going.' j'oupiease; 1 ani r;er he.1 on M^Ev^eli^.i^rVuirr^ .vanirgoTilS'.'r.^'^^ '"^ I 'l'<' and Aunt Ma^™il i tl. '^wf" ^^^ •hJ^Me^Sfil'/rl ^''l "*"« ''^ on her the.£;if:^-fy.^-St-S^ f^Hfc.„^.*!*.''»^ *» '"terval of s^le,;"* t^^YT^onavJSl'-^S/"^ ■l-T / 88 THE CURSE OP EVERLEIQH. will to make me aome ghqrt answer, that make me sorry I went near her." 'I don't thmk she would, now ; she would be too well pleased to know you were not going. She always had a great prejudice against boarding schooU ; and I don't know but she IS right. I wish you would go and tell your aunt. I hate to have her so dis- pleased ; and ahe bbmes me, I know, for not making you both stay at home. But how can I ? I should have such a fuss with ^ ashti as would make me ill again. Do eo and tell her, Nora.' ■ ^o go 'I don't like to at all, mamma, but I Miss Gresham v.as superintending the maids, who were cleaning the hall. As Nora went slowly toward her, she called out to her to go back and keep out of the slop, liie cliild retreated, but stood near the door- way, waiting for an opportunity to speak to her aunt. Presently slie came across to wheie she was and stood without seeing her watcliiiig the maids. ' 'Aunt Margery," said a little timid voice. Miss Gresham started. 'Oh, it is you, is it ?' she said. ' Where did you drop from ? What do you want ?' •I have concluded I won't go to Laurel Hill, Aunt Margery, seeing you and inanuna think I had better not. ' Miss Gresham bent her stately form to look at the child. Nora's brown eyes filled with tears at this keen scrutiny. ' Your sister has not given up going ?' said Miss Gresham, without removing her eyes from Nora's face. ' No, ma'am.' Miss Gresham stood erect again, coolly directing the movements of the maids ; but as Nora turned to go away, she put her hand on her head, saying, gravely, and with an unwonted look in her gray eyes : • I tliink there may be hopes of you vet LeonoreEverleigh.' *^ J- " J'"'. ' wilful niece, but which she submitted to be- cause she could not help herself. CHAPTER XIV. IiACREL HILL TBOUBLK. It was now the last November. The fall 1«m was near its cloje, but A«ihtiwould not hear of waiting till the winter term up«ned— which would be on the second day of January. Miss Gresham suflfered her to have her own way, and ;;on the firtt day of L)ecember, the family carriage, an old fash- ioned, ponderous vehicle, was brought tb the door under the auspices of Pete. Miss Gres. ham lici'self accouipanied Vashti — auari-ange. ment not at all to tiie aatisfaotion of her Laurel Hill Seminary was a well-knowa and popular boarding-school for misses, in those days when good schools were not so- common as now. It stood on a l)road, hiuh enuiience back a little from the Hudson Kiver, m the midst of line, ornamental grounds, and altogether making quite an imposmg appearance. The buildings. were large and commodious, fronting on and inclosing three sides of a square court. The Everleigh coach wound slowly up a handsome carnage road to th«r seminary. Ihey had been two days and a night on the way, and the travellers, weary and iiungry, were glad to arrive at their destin- ation. They were ushered immediately into a sitting-room, common as it seemed to the pupils, for groups of girls were standing or sitting about chatting in a subdued manner, for scnoolgirls, owing probablv to tlie pre- IT^J "" ^^^^''' ^''° »«^^ andtlieu. touch«Ki a small bell at her elbow when the- buzz of voices rose above a certain limit. She herself seemed to be reading, and did not notice the advent of the travellers. The %ari us chatty groups subsided into a lower hum as Miss Gresham, after a rapid glance about the room with her usuat straightforward manner, proceeded to the nre, unasked, smce no one invited her an* ^ Vashti felt her ears tingle undei her hood! at an allusion to Mother Bunch and Noah's Ark, which evidently was in tended to apply either to herself or her aunt. Miss Gresham heard the remarks also, and gave Vashti a keen, sarcastically tnumphant g ance the said, in a low tone * You will doubtless in manners by your soionm mind to stop myself. ' Vashti made no renly apj} n^^.^^,*.!.. iu- teacher already alluded ' t"o "came"" forwaTd with an apology for not "having seen them be greatly improved >jonm here. I've a. ■■'-«4*.j?i :4> / mmmmm IWM;i>*«*f.*Y^.,t T' 'n ««^.aj» ^-.--> before, and a rebuke to the chattering girls W^tVr. *^T ^ * ^PectfuJ distance. Without relieving them ftW their travelling wrappings, she led tliem away out of the room and across the hall to a smaller s.tting-room, well ighted ai.d warmed, m which, having assisted to remove cloaks and hoods, she left them, while she went to summon Mrs. Gordon, the mistress of the establishment. Mrs. Gordon soon made her uppearance— a woman of the ' fat, fair, and forty' stJnn -rather graceful and affable in general de- portment, with a touch of statel^ese about She received her new pupil with a grave Qourtes.' that somewhat soothed Va^.ti's ruffled spirits, had a most refreshing repast Sn?^{-^°'*^""'*"*™«' «ntertainfdC till bed-txme very agreeably, and finally put them in » comfortable sleeping- THE CURSE OF EVERLEIGII. Miss Greaham was off the next mominc fa"f ^^^' ^^ ^^'^^^ *"" left to he? She had riwn at four on » cold, wintry r.H K ^ *?«■*! ^^l *''"* °ff- At seVen they had bieakfast-the pupils-and Vash« joined then> She had^^not p^ken of Wkfast with her ^unt, and br^t to the table a hne appetite, which, however abnost wholly vanrshed as she stood attoi long table, feehng herself the cynosure of many^e^e-atrange. uncomfortable, school- , , She had by this time become disagreeablv conscious that she waa uot dressed moK were Living the secluded life they dS I? Everleigh, but little attention had 5r\hr^ u^ '^^'^''^ adommente wrld ; and Vashti was still wearing the half-short dresses and large, broWflMd aprons peculiar to little g&ls. Her waS was always kept weU supplied with clothw Buch as they were, and, in her eagernwal?; get off to «,hool, she did not wait^w^Trl P^enishmgoftliesame. This oveSLKS -«» that Nora and Vashti were properlv ing to her busmesh with the least powrible trouble. Mrs. Everleigh, wei^. ,^„ „a iS'an'hLS"'*''""^"'*»*^--«eof I^n^r •*. 'J^P??".':* *^** "^"hti stood at the la,^ breakfast-table that morning, tallalmc-t ••a^ woman, dressed unbecominaW i„ *!?' gi.uieuu. of a child, with her hair putpiainly •nd awkward, because frightened and em- f in the busiSorertinr tho**'l^ "^''"^''^ then one „,an?e? expSve W tSe" ''"' scholar's brown holland • ^ ^^ °*^ mostly children of weafehT^. " .^ "^^^ them considering th^mtte'""^^ JJre ^.tt''""' , 'dressy.' Amid all H,i» u ? rather Vashti wJfir 1, f , ' "lossoming array U^kJa'^lu I ^T'^^y' »n»>ecominigarb I y^^^^ •« though she might have iti^^^ from^omeorphai, aaylum%r charity-Sol that uniformed its protfges atterl^M^l' say the least, intensely peculiar <^h»!' ^ room thinking Aunt MargSry ^^ ^^^ '^!'5 Most of her new school-mates smiled when the 'new scholar' came in a littl« «fL,*k res^moi. awkward and"*em£JLl? ht' •ver ; and when, m her fright at her nov^ ^nf to'^^a^h '*'""'" *^« first seatli ThoL^' ?K • ^^PP^'^ng to be Professor p^rd'titt*w;nt%s '"'"«'^'«""^ -p- had been raised to cool the too CZ h^^ Wh ««*"""•'•* *t the sound ^Xafw My oluld, are yon the new pupil » • _ He had^a very pleasant voice. Lid Va«»,« ' I came last night, iir.' ^ 'Your name is Everleigh. Ibeli«T«r' / 40 THE CURSE OP EVERLEIGH. i • YeB, sir, Vashti Everleigh, ' she answered in an almost indistinct voice. ' Vashti ? ah !' with a curious, somewhat surprised glance at her. ' Queen Vashti, let me show you a pleasanter seat ; you are shivering, I see.' He took her hand and led her down the long aisle bordered with curious, still smiling girls, as she passed one, a coarse- featured, sallow-coinplexioned girl, she put out her foot with apparent in- advertence. Vashti stumbled over it, and would have fallen, but for her conductor's hand, at full length upon the floor. Another titter, even louder than before, went round, and the sallow-complexioned girl laughed louder than any. As Vashti staggered to her feet again, a flush of indignant feeling swept over her face She lifted her jetty eye-lashes, sparks kmdling in her great dusky eyes, as she looked the girl who had laughed tiie loudest full m the face. She drew herself a little more erect, swept a scornful glance down *he giggling Lne, and said, in distinct tones : ' You are as ignorant and uncivil as Hot- tentots 1' It needed not the severe reprimand of Professor Thorpe to dye the cheeks of the whole abashed ^rowd with shamed crimson ; and Vashti followed her conductor now with so spirited and graceful a carriage of her slender person, that he repeated to himself, as he returned o is own seat : ' Queen Vashwi !' Pr^ently Mrs. Gordon herself came in, and a whole bevy of teachers. A chapter from the Bible followed, a short lecture, a fervent prayer, all the pupils rising during the last. Ab thep upils passed from the room, Mrs. Oordon stopped an instant by Professor Thorpe's chair, spoke a few words with him, and then putting her hand on Vashti's arm, as she passed her, said : ' Professor Thorpe would like to talk with you a little. ' Vashti started and changed colour, think- ing that she was about to be reproved for that indignant expression of hers a little be- fore ; but as she stood near him, wishing the earth would SM-allow her, his pleasant voice again reassured her. ' I want to bilk with you about what branches of study you will pursue.' Her face lighted up. and as he proceeded to make ;. gentle but thorough examination into the nature and extent of her require- ments, Vashti fprgot aU alwut the brown Iluilauti apron.'' Here she had no cause for embarrassment Thanks to MissGresham, what she knew she knew well. Miss Gres- ham never did her work by halves, and Pro- lessor Thorpe found her wonderfully well versed for a girl of fourteen, in all the branches that constitute a good English edu- cation. ° He apportioned to Vashti her lessons, pro- vided her with the necessary books, and dis- missed her with the sunshine of her own are, beautiful smile gladdening her face. That first day passed, the lest of it more pleasantly. Mrs. Gordon, informed of the annoyance to which she had been subjected had provided against any immediate recur- rence of the same. She was elated by her interview with Professor Thorpe-pl^ed with her books ; more elated stil^ when at recitations, she found that she was placed in classes with eirls much older than herself— and then did herself such credit as to attract marked notice. Only once again that day was she wounded. She was returning to her room after evening prayers, when among the crowd of girls some one said in a loud whis- per : •Long-sleeved, high-necked. It looks a« though It was made for a Hottentot. ' Some tof the girls Unghed, a fewcried 'for shame, and Miss Curtis one of the teachers, said : ^ • That was you, Elizabeth Brent ; I shall re- port you to Mrs. Gordon,- and Vashti hurry- ingon to her room, burst in, shut the door and bolted it, and tearing off the obnoxious high-necked, long-sleeved apron, she took u» a passionate march about her room, her ears tmgling.and her eyes flashing angrily through •What shall I do? what shai. I do?' she said to herself. 'I can't wear these thinm and be laughed at, every hour of the day. What right have these ignorant ^rls to lauidi at me? It is none of their business. I will dress as I please, yes, I will, and I'U wear that ridiculous, despicable, horrid, ugly apron tiU I choose to leave it off— there I I'm a bet- ter schohu- than they at any rate. Mr. Thorpe was pleased with me, too. I could see that. Professor Thorpe, Mrs. Gordon says I must call hina. I must be careful and - not forget. I wouldn't displease him for anything ; he is so kind to me. ' And thus, in her innocent and eonsolatorv seU-felicitatious, she forgot her anger. CHAPTER XV. A KEW WABDItOBI. ^^BSI****' 9.^ ■^-X asa szia. vaehti, in her homely garb, went to and fro, coW, haughty, and sileut,save when addres*. THE CURSE OF EVERLEIGH. 41 '^**'^S39*»'"*^», -^-4^ SZIU ■ ed— among, but not one of them. No one meddled with her, at least not openly ; and though with her sensitive spirit, she fancied every laugh or whisper concerned her, she never seemed to notice or resent either, ex- cept in what she considered extreme cases. Then her rebuke was so keenly and bitterly administered, that the offender got out of the way as fast as possible, and was more careful in future. One hour of each evening the ladies were suflfered to spend in the sittmg-room, in con- versational recreation, or even a quiet game or two, and every two weeks Mrs. Gordon had what she called a ' reception. ' when the :fr.end8 of the pupils from the neighb< adiig county town were suffered to spend tlie eve- ning at Laurel Hill. These were considered as a kind of gala nights by the young ladies, and were looked forward to with much eager- nefs and anticipation. Vashti, however, never joined them, either at reception or re- creation. As the weeks went on, she drew more and more within herself— grew more taciturn and haughty, and, it must be confessed, more unhappy. One evening— it was reception evening- she was sitting alone in the dark in one of the music rooms, singing softly to herself and playing an almost indistinct accompaniment. Tlie room was warm ; a slumbering fire was on the hearth. Suddenly a quick step crossed the room, a booted foot struck a shower of sparks and a burst of flame from the smouldering hearth. Vashti W98 silent, and slippingfroin the music- stool, was leavmg the room, when Professor Thorpe said : ' Vashti r She stopped, saying ; ' What are you numing away for? Come 'back.' She obeyed him with ,evident reluctance, standing before him, and waiting for him to speak, with her hands folded before her, and her eyes downwwt like a iittle nun, her whole expression a forlorn «ne. 'Child, what is the, matter?' •Nothing,' without lifting her eyes or xhanffing her position. 'If yon were anybody else, I should say .Tou were sulky, 'he said, bluntly. 'What jnakes you so different from other girls ? Why are you like nobody else V She flashed a sad yet resentful glance at 3um from under her long lashes. ' Am I so very ditferent ?' ' Yes. you are very singular. Don't you know you are, Vashti »' • I should not want to be like these giils here, sir,' she answered, with ;» back waid toss of her graceful head. • Why not ?' •I don't like them.' ' To be sure ; that is plainly to be seen • but why don't you like them ?' They are silly and vain ; they care more for a new dress than I do for a whole ward- robe and their hearts are as hard as the nether millstone. ' ' )^'ell, well, ' he said, in a tone of raillery, 1 tliiuk you must have given this subject some consideration. Vain and sillv— welL well. ' "^ " Some inward thought amused him; he laughed, and Vashti said : ' Did you want anything more, sir "' •No. What then?' ' Good-eveniug, sir ;' and with the words she vanished noiselessly from the room. The professor laughed again quietly, sav- ing to himself, emphatically : ' A very singular child, indeed.' A letter for Vashti. There it lay on her stand ; some one had put it there duriiii; lier absence from the room. A letter-aud f rom Aunt Margenr Gresham ! It was sliort, but like Margery s verbal communications, to the point. It ran thus : ' Vashti :— It seems that you are the butt ot ndicule where you are, owing to the style of your dress. You may lay the fault of that to your adorable Miss Dale. She min- gles with tlie world, and knows what people wear in it I shall send you money, and you can furnish yourself with a suitable wai drolw trom the country town— Martineau I be- heve they call it. All well. .rnui.- • . ... MaRGKRY GbKHHAM.' That IS just hke Aunt Margery,' hoU- loquized Vashti; 'never a word about mamma or Nora. I don't suppose she ever tolu them she was writing to come. * A low knock at Vashti's door was follow- 1 x'^ V entrance of Mrs. Gordon. She saluted her pupil with a graceful kiss. saying : o «=, 1 1' Are you glad, my child ?' 'For what— this letter? come?' 'Inclosed in one to me ; ..„>, j„„, „„„„ sent me money enough to dress you up beanti- —did you tell her I was the butt of ridicule Here J cned Vashti, in a grieved toue. xou must not raise your voic«-, • i speak How did it and your aunt 41 THE CURSE OP EVERLfilGH. to me iu that manner, dear,' said Mrs. Gordon, with a quiet smile. ' I believe I said something of the kind; not exactly in those words, however. I said you were not dressed suitably, and were subject to great mortifi- cation on that account. ' ' Oh ! what made you ? What made yon tell Aunt Margery Gresham that ? It is too bad. I don't care if these girls do laugh at me ; let them laugh ; I don't care, I say.' ' Hush ! child ; De more respectful. You try not to care, no doubt, but yon cannot help caring. But we will have all this different now. To-morrow, you and I wfll go to Martineau. You shall have such a wardrobe, Vashti, as will place you en- tirely on an equality with any girl here.' ' I am on an equality with them now, as much as I should be then. All these fine feathers you tell about will still leave me Vashti Everleigh, Mrs. Gordon, I think you may send that money back to Aunt Margery, my clothes are good enough. Those who ao not like them, must look the other way. ' Vashti's tone was respectful, but decided. Mrs. Gordon looked eonfounded. She had not calculated on her pupil proving refractory in such a manner as this. She looked a little diai'leased, and very much puzzled. She rose to leave the room, saying : • I hope you will change your mind by morning, dear.' 'T shall not.' ', 1 ou speak too abruptly, child ; I do not li.-ie it. I do not usually attempt to control my pupils in matters of dress. I ihirik I shall suffer you to do as you please ; but I, for one, shall not like you so well, if you persist in what I must consider mere will- nilress.' The next morning, as Vashti was lebving the breakfast table, Mrs. Grordon put her hand on her arm, saying : ' Shall we go to Martineau to-day ? ' 'I do not care to go,' said Vashti, ip a low voice, and with her jetty lashes down- cast. ' You are % very foolish girl ; I am much displeased K'ith you, ' said Mrs. Gordon, as her hand dropped from Vashti's arm. An hour or two after, Vashti knocked at the door of Mrs. Grordon's private sitting- room. The pleasant voice of the lady her- self said : 'Come in.' But as Vashti obeyed, she looked np, frownincr, and then, "milin"- thinkins she had oome to tell her she had repented her de- cision not to go to Martineau with her. it on the table by tlie lady, but. ' Are you going to Martineau torday ? ' inquired VashtL * Yes, I am going. ' ' Will you be kind enough to get me one of those quilted cloaks, with a hood — a blue silk hood ? ' •Cei-tainly,' said Mrs. Gordon, smiling ; ' but why not go mth me, and get something else also 7 ' ' I do not want it for myself, ma'am. liiis for Violet Granger.' Violet Granger was a little orphan girl, who vr-w being educated at Mrs. Gordon's establishment. A sickly, puny child, whom her friends seemed to concern themselves, very little about, for she was often shabbily dressed, and spent all her holidays at Mrs. Gordon's. She was one of the few who had never laughed at Yashti. ' Why should yon get a cloak for Violet Grander ? ' said Mrs. Gordon in surprise. * She wants one very much, and I have nothing better to do with the money. Here, it is.^ She laid she said : ' Tush ! that is your pocket money. I will get the cloak out of what your aunt sent. Won't I return that money to- her, you want to ask? No. 1 intend to keep it till you come to your senses. Don't you think you had better go with me to-day. after all?' ' Vashti shook her head, and retreated to> the door. •Well, if yon won't, yon won't ; but dont expect me to feel pleasantly to you, till you give up to do as I wish you to.' Vashti bowed, colouring and left the room. From this time, Mrs. Gordon's manner to her wilful pupil was quite cool. She had been very kind to her, and Vashti felt her displeasure more than sha cared to own. The Christmas holidays came, and most of the pupils passed them at home, (though Vashti did not,) and came bock loaded witk presents and finery. |§One day, as Vashti was returning from recitation, through the square couit which the Laurel Hill buildings inclosed, at an angle of the boarding-house, she came upon a group cf girls in fierce dispute. Little Violet Granger, (she wae the youngest of them all,) was sobbing bitterly upon the ground, and the remainder of th© group seemsd divided into two parties, one of which was gathered round the little girl, and the other and smaller one, round Elizabeth — ;-j • — ™>'-j-«t7raotitt:u, oaiiuvi'-coin- plexioned girl, who had so annoyed Vaahtiv They were all talkina loud and eajrerlv. L> ammtiiMiamimias THk curse of EVERLEIfiH. 4:i It is the '"*S^.^ T- '-> Hearing her own name, Vashti stopped involuntarily. Violet caught sight of her, and darting througH the crowd, threw her- self into her outstretched arms. 'What is the matter, Violet?' she whis- pered, folding her close. 'Nobody shall hurt you, or grieve you, if I can help it.' 'It is not me. it is you they are abusing. I had a great deal rather they would talk about me ; and when I told them so, Eliza- l)eth Brent called me a little pauper, and threatened to strike me. * • A vivid colour flashed into Vashti's pale face as, with Violet still clinging to her, she took two or three steps toward the now si- lent group. Fixing her haughty glance on Elizabeth Brent first, and suSering it to travel thence over the others, she said : ' I do not interfere witu you. I never meddle with your pastimes, or your gossips. I have never harmed one of you. It is sense- less and idiotic to abuse me, who have given you no cause, but when you, Elizabeth Brent, or any one else, is c^el enough to taunt a child like Violet Granger, because she de- fends her friend, I sav there is no word strong enough to express the scorn and contempt you deserve. ' Vashti's tone and bearing gave a force to her Linguage, before which the group sur- rounding Elizabeth Brent cowered, looking helplessly to her for a reply to a reVuke they felt was deserved, while the other party of girls, crowding round Violet's champion,'be- came vociferous in their eagerness to dis- claim all part or lot in so reprehensible an a&ir. Violet was a great favourite with them ; they liked Vashti s eloquence, and many of them only wanted a good and sufficient op- portunity to avow themselves friends. There is a dash and fascination about inde- pendence, real, or even assumed indepen- dence, that always captivates our American girls. There was, moreover, a suspicion among them that Vashti could be wonderful genial if she chose, and there wasn't a girl among them all, unless it was Elizabeth Brent, but had felt like throwing up their bonnets and giving three cheers for Vashti when Uttle golden-haired Violet made ner appearance with Vashti's present, a cloak and he ^ that was the atbniration of everybody. All this enthusiasm had been pent up long enough. The popular feeling had been gnulually work- ing round in Vashti's favour, without her bemg conscious of it, and no^?^ aa she looked around upon her excited troop of adherents, alie was half inclined to think it all a hoax. The Brent partv was voted dovm. and | finding itself so much in the minority, quitted the field ingloriously. As Vashti, surrounded by this strange new homage, passed to the house, she met Pro- fessor Thorpe. He was laughing his quiet, excessively-amused laugh ; he liivd witnessed the whole scene evidently, and, :ia he ste])ped aside for the brown Holland apron to pass, he lifter' his cap with an expressive and hu- morous glance, saying: 'Queen Vashti!'^ Vashti blushed, but could not help laugh- ing. As she ran up the steps the laugh was. echoed, as well as IVofessor Thorpe's excla- mation, and before she knew it she was chat- tine and parrying jokes in the sitting-room — that sitting-room which slie had never but once before entered willingly. How she enjoyed yet shrank from Mrs. Gordon's astonishment, as she came into the- room, to see what all the bustle and clatter was about. In her surprise, that lady forgot to deliver the reprimand that was on her Tips, and, instead, stood watching the new expressions that were flitting over Vashti's. happy face, like sunshine over a sombre land- scape. That evening, as Vashti was retiring, Mrs. Gordon came to the door. ' Will you let Violet Granger sleep with you ?' she said. ' There is a young lady come, and I have no room in readiness for her, unless you take her into yours, and Vio- let begged hard that she migh't come to you instead. ' ' I shall be very glad, Mrs. Gordon.' Mrs. Gordon went away, and in a few minutes, Violet came herself, wild with de- light. She was a very lovely, afiectionate child, am) Vashti felt, as she took her in her arms, that she had found one joy more. She began, however, to wish that Mrs. Gordon would renew the subject of a new wardrobe. She began to long eagerly to put; off brown HoUand, and dress as the others- did. But Mrs. Gordon treated her with such, marked coolness of late that she had no cou- rage to approach her about it. As if to doubly aggravate her, the very next day, Mrs. Gordon went to Martineau. . This evening was a reception evening, and n;:>re than ordinary preparations were going on for it, owing to the expected presence of some rather distingnisheci visitors. Some of the girls were to play and sing, there was to be a little bit of theatrical performance, some charades, and calisthenic exercises. Every- body's head was full of it Lessons went off" _ — J, „.., ,,,,„sjj 111 tQc aticriiuun ivcrcaoan-- dcmed altogether. Vashti's newly-decUrcd friends were unceasing in their entreatiea. that she would consent to attend. m 44 ii ', THK CURSE OP EVERLEIGH. 1 o tell the truth, she was anxious to do 80, but she had before this refused to join in any of the arrangements l^eing made, and liad not now the courage to go in her usual dross, or make any effort to ol)tain materials for a different toilet. So she shrank away to her own room as evening approached, trying m vain to keep from loving little Violet the knowledge of how foolishly anxious she was to join in the meny crowd in the parlour. • If I had not been so wilful,' slie said to herself, as she sat alone, trying hard to keep back the tears. ' Confess now, dear, you would like very much to go into the parlour to-night. ' It was Mrs. Gordon, who ha«l stolen un- noticed into the room, and coming up behind Vashti, put her two fair, plump hands on her shoulders. Vashti blushed and hung her head. • You would like it, I know, but you don't like to own it. Vashti, you have very pretty hair— I should IJke to see how it would look •A.mB nnrl r>a11orI ^n Ttr— n^-A-.- .to look and admire. As for Vashti, she wondered secretly if she Miss Brand proceeded to fit an embroidered stocking and a dainty satin slipper to her leet, she concluded she must be Cinderella over again. •There, I think yon will do.' said Mrs. ^tr^jJtThungTack'.^"^- '^'""•^' '^-•' he;?;teXnd."'' "'"'• ^^'"'^^ ^^^^^^ There was a rush of tears and a flush of scMlet, and with quivering lips, Vashti, 'I'msorrylwas so wilful, Mrs. Gordon. 1 don tat all deserve what you have done tor me. n^J°^ 1'?"'*' *?"* y°" ^° "0^.' "aid Mrs. GoMon, kissing her. 'There, put by those tears for the present; and if you wislito make amends for displeasing me, as yon really di^came her exceedingly. She passed by the pro- fessor, and spoke an instant with him m a low tone He nodded, sent a sharp glance toward Vashti's hiding-place, and whill Mrs. (cordon ^yaited, chattering with one and an- other took the l^ewildered girl out of the crowd, and brought her to the lady Mrs. Gordon waved her hand for him to had her on, and gracefully excusing herself loiiowed them. ,'%*?^ yp^ going to do with me?' asked Vashti, timidly, of the professor. He had qmetly taken possession of her, witliout any explanation. ' Going to cage you as they do birds, and then have you sing. ' • ' ' w^ L ^ "J?« ',' "^^ °"^^' remember- ing what Mrs. Gordon had said, and in so dolorous a tone, that he looked curiously at her, saying : "^ suZhrn^.*'''"«^*y"°y*''^8'*^^ ^^ ' Wliat things, Mr. Thorpe-Professor ?' she hastily corrected herself. 'You don't mean that I am to sing before this crowd"' Yes, I do; so Madame Gordon just told me. You are to open this, what do you call it-grand gallopade of the Muses— with a song and instrumental ac companiment. ' , ~ — ''••r' '•''" if-^Kiiig aown ne saw trri/.rP*^- He drew her aside into the hall through a do»r opening from the recess in which the stage w«s erected. Mrs. Gordon was following, init he raised his hand with a warning gesture, and a signiticant look at Vashti. Mrs. Gordon, however, pressed on. ' She will never be able to Ho it, ' she said,. in a disappointed tone. ' Yes, she will,' said the professor, deoid- i'r '-,7?'*^ commencing ten minutes,. and I will bring her to yon. She will do it., 1 ensure. 'My dear child, if you knew how it would gratify me.' Vashti did not reply, and the professor, with her hand upon his arm, took two or three turns tlirougli the hall. 'I am sorry you promised that, sir,' she said at kst. 'lam afraid I shall disap- point you. It 18 quite too-much to ask of me, who never attended anything of this kind iHjfore in my life. ' - 1 ' f*l,yo^,have found your voice,' he said,, gleefully, ' and only ihree minutes gone. In seven more you'U have a heart as bold as » lion 8. 'I don't know about that, sir. My hear* IS beating now like that httle caged bird's you were telhng me of a while ago.' 'I dare say, but, you see, this has tone done ; so the sooner you quiet that flutter- lug thing the better. ' They took a few turns more, he raiUng at fh„V"i ,^*"»L'*''^'ng her with tlie subject that had frightened Tier, as we familiarize ?r.^« r V *^o^ ^'^^ **»« «'^*dow that has temhed it. Pausing by a lamp, he said, perusing her face an instant : ' There, I should like to see you fail t Don^tyou dare do it. Aro you ready to go «in'a^^''nK""T '^^ '"H.^* ■' b»t ^hat am I to fs it • »> ^^""'^^ thought of that. What 'There, there ; keep cool. It is only that httksong about bir/s, and blossoms, and waterfalls A moonish serenatle, I believe theycaUit. You'll find the m^sic on Ti ' piano.. I've heard you sing it often (J J with you, and if you fail, vSshti Ev^leigh^ 111 cross you out of my book. ' * fhf ^;*^°'*^'^ i'^"" "P, *he steps, led her to the piano, and seated her, keeping up a fii-e of low bantenng words aU the time to dive t her attention from embarrassing thought He placed the music before her. ^ It was tS wrong sheet, and she pointed out the n s! hSrSsid™: ^^-«*he right one before ' See how nervous I am lea* rrQ„ .!,-,.,« *»'|„." wo"ld vex me terriWy.' ' "^ 'Would It, indeed?.' 'Yes.' He stepped to one side a Uttle, and as her {¥ 46 THE CURSE OF EVERLEIGH. J»nd fell on the keys iu a mu«ical flutter of •notes the room was hushed in aninstont to perfect .juietness, and up through the tende? tnunnunng of the prelude stole a voice at famiajnt audtremulous, but very sweet a,Kl gathenn^ strength 'and compLTu Wh*'i' ■'?^'^ finished, and the last breath of melodv had floated away over the «><»« d.d she lift her eyes fromThe music Then looking upon the throng from her X «*lightly in her seat. Professor xliorw sterT pea quietly to her Bide, lifted the S tS lay M if paralyzed on the piano keys and ph«nng it on his arm, led her away ^' .Jni? ™''*'^«'"«il. »'«r presence of mind in- Bfauitly, as his hand touched her and as soon as they reached the haU,' 'Did I do well, sir?' •IbeUeveyoudidjI'm not much of a musician myself, but I believe you did ■^, well. Here is Mrs. Gordon. «k Mrs. Gordon came hurrying out all smilea •«nd congratulations. Twio* again during the evening, Vashti tang And played, to the satisfaction of every- Tl»e theatricals, charades, and calisthenic «ercu,e8 passed off well. The coCS/h^ mostly dispei-sed. Vashti was sittC in an ^e and stood at one side of the hearth nearly m front of her, his hands in hk pogjete. as he surveyed her qui^! 'Now, then, it is coming,' thought Vashti ' Why not?' 'Lt\T*^!rT°* *° ^laughodat.' imtit? Well, I'm sorry, but I can't Aelplaughmg, when I think that it isTot .*> very long since you were railing in un- th« ^.' f^ "P"^ y*'" «««"» to enjoy the peacock's plumes as much as ai/ Pii^IltT ^'^*"*' '"^d looked annoyed. Presently she rose, stood a moment hesite^l ' May I bid you good evening, sir.' Good-raoming, you mean ; is nearer ttat than the other. Yes, off with J^u • tte old professor is nobody now' You are too fine for old friends. ' ♦h«!.» **°°,'*^*^H'"^^^*y from him, but at these words, spoken in a most dolefil tone she turned ai?ain town-,? j.,-^ Vi ^°®' Uteuding now, shading his face witi. k- hand, so that she coulS notU fuexTi^iS'' douurur* ""^ ''^"^ him,'^Krg bulltS^^m"i n '*"«'''''« •* "»•. "r 5 in fun.*^ m. to hear you talk wTeveu ; Why ? It is the truth, isn'tit " frien^%'VvV /orexceirn'^^*''"'-* Nora.' *^ except mamma and -f«% upon me frTm* BweeJ ""Vrr be'^^dT*'"*''"'''^''"'^ I don't like to ' l>0"'t you ? You would rather I fl***^. , you, wouldn't you ? nattered ' J^o, that I wouid not. I won W .0*1, have stripes than flatter^ ' shl^n. ^^%' ourvingher red lips. ^' "^* "«weied, HeUughed his inward, quithiuah. He did not start at i.«. te!^ known she 4 there'^'^auX' What»coKersatTonto'^?I^/'?«"'lf P*'''- a^gHoffoui^-tdi;ie^t;„^rp- ^'8u«^ enougH she is 3,,^. ways called me odd aJ ^''« «1- Gordon, that she hL ;J" y^". a.^aae. Mrs. dozen ^rlsheret. '°«'^« ™»'»t her with . „«, t *J,« -1^ leBoiitly ihe again approached the door, opeue.l it, and went out Sl^en groping her way to Eliza.\wtU n^^Z*> r'a"' i!S *"^,'''^^ «^" r^'-' - -cV Within i; There were half a dozen girls l! f h w Y^"' <^«V''o« was there, and Eliza- 1.0th Brent was talking eagerly. Mrs. Gordon turned towai^ the door as Vashti opened it, and approachinc h^ imekly. w.th a countenance of much eis" THEJCURSE OF EVERLRIOH. cannot endure it. .Make her «»y ,he hiu. ; Fbohsh girl, ■;jrou must not come here. ' J.he flek home then, to think of it till rrioriMiig ' tcor \ i.,lct honr.l onough of tlio cnnvnr.a Jo., to „,„,,, t.,,,1 ,1,^, .i«.„".™', ™:™; •Sonie1)o,|y w„«I,| have toM me Violet You are not tl>o Iea,t in fault. Cino, Sr It I- t.„,e you were in l,e.l. On the whole i •uffZ 1"° "^f^. "•"■'•y- You know I five suffered much that is hai-.l to Imar sinTj have been here Certainly ElizalH^th BrTnt and I could not pos«il,ly "'continue to meet ' V,oletK„fr,.red her to get her ready for ^W^Ljy nUt ^ •* ^"•'-^•^ V-''*' *o attend f».y^''/- f"«"g'?* her f>ook and the lamp to the bcdsi.le. and holding Violet's hand nre tended to be studying, till the child after, long tune, cra.l herself to sleep. lYcentlv she rose so tly. placed the lamp where its l.ght would not ^ill on the sk^r. and prj! ceeTled with gnalded movements to packC tT -1 ^*'T»"/'1«''« lay down, but though t was late, she found it fmpossible to sE She was rouHed by the first breakfast-lnjll an., waking with a start and a sign, proem ' e.l to dr.ss he,-self with a wearyN .frt and despondent spirits, ^'iolet was a! ea'a. Z tears. They burst forth resistKsily wlien • You can't go to-day,' she cried. Sibil • '''^- ^ "*•''" «° •" «0"« ^ Pos- ^^ She sat down, with her arms around Vio- 'I shall miss you, darting, ' she said, 'ouite as much as you will miss me ; and ren.em I'er. ,f you sliould ever want a friend Id, a .naasmy.,elf, for instance, cometol ver^h IZr ';^f»-i»*|»"'\tl'e.-e, and a brother S sister, all of whom I will divide with you and, oh Vm et, you can come and spend vol.; vacations with me, instead of staym ° e?^T jrou^generally do. Such fine tfmc^'L^ t'lu veSt;;;?£S?:.S:..'^':^"^^p'3^--J ^rward Vasht. wiJsummored To'l^,^^- oti* donssittiug-room, where she only rSeat^i _TIIR CVR^E OF KVEPJ.KrOTT. what she had ^ai.l the night b, fore annou..,. !;;;i.Si;l:5r"-'^'-'''''^-^«ta^trhoL Tiisgraceful, Mrs. Gordon f Disgraceful, Vashti.' I was uncourteous to you Mrs Pn-J notC/diScefui?bou?T''.'' ''"' ^ "''« tinngcLth.tti'rhdii:^:;,.'"' """ ^'y- home. as^y.,r;rrt about tt:'""'"' *" •- "*"*' sta>^n^:!r:!^,,YitVv^^- ^ -'<• "you accepted the conditions, you I choose to go home- could * Which I do not I am not sent. ' r 'i* ""no""*" *o *he same thing • said Mr, Gordon, look nif at thn mVi *" • , ^"• trying in vain t^be aSgrf '' *^""""«'y' «""« rathersubdue'dSi^.nTenl'^''^"*™'-^' -:4gGLc:-iT?;if^i-rr^w rather X.-^ ""' •"»-» ^ Would much ' Why ,0, stay?' Mrs f w!}"^. '""■y ' ^^'""^'^ FbVaboth Bre..* Mrs. Gordon, nor ever shall be n.. .^rei> 8 .ea id I both stayed I an L- i ""' ' have another "^^^^telu?:'^"" ^^^^ before long ' , "'*'^*<-«'"i a'lair tn hanu mS' VoSn, ltkTnrthr°^^,*'r' -•' involuntarilyVheHips* s'i ''""^ "''** '"- rather youT^JuldXTasirtf " ^i^™"- ^^"Noa*tV^"--^™«'-'^^n^^^^^^^^^^ ; Why not? Mav I try " not con4:::trl^,*;e' "?• ^°" ''•'"'•^ bo convinced.' "^^ """^ ^^'"'t t^ •A frank avowal at least • ;+ »*« what for your pc^vSes^X" Ta"^ B3 •pint f„r ,„e '^- ,},Z,r, V°r '^'^''"^^ TnB_CW^SE_OF_EV£RLEW vni 1 I V. ^ control ; I «xon,.,.6 it • Cut ■/HJ'"""'«^^ ««a cho«8o to tionti. Vou can nev. r J *" y""*" I""'f'c- y""^'»vocurS?t Ytu?""^ '"'JW ""'•' soon,.,. or latiT it will ^ '" "" """. ''ut cl"M 1. 1 us ..art f e„d""*T ^'if ''^«- A^y for «< n.o ono who mav L • '^""■'-' ^'"^^Y too. toyourauS- VoutnTir';';*/^"-' npon y^u,. flu^t "..5 i^'S^^'f • l"oki„ ' 'eel 1 was iU,in„ „,,, T ! "• ^ ^""'i' "<>t known «o glaS an e^h?)" ^ "'i''"«^ ' '"•■''^« frieiuls.' ** * ° exhibition of it to your (ace crowded w tj " conii ctin?""'*"«' ''«'' J 'OM, uny ono eke «he would !,"« emotions. »^^" a pointed .\Zl,T.. ^''^® losentc.l fault/ 1.1 tthLhdvw"'* "P°" I'er 'great aflecii ,n so genuine A""^ "' Soutl^lJ Va«ht, as no*otl"o antfai t'i ''''"^'. '""^"'^ woul,l again suon P ! **^ ^'''^'' ''o''«. ««• «upornit„n,Ience of so^ ,., ""'''-''" *^« 80 h(.ne.st an advi«;.i. ? "f® » Wend, ed the furnace blS; "itTtl ''*^« «««"?: her prou.l spWt in Iff "'"*'*'" *'"»* t^''^ wLLeIlioKelrtto:;ry!"' "'" "'"'^^ CHAPTER XVn. no ! FOR EVEKLEIon. Vashti had said « Good-by' to all tl,» • i -and was go i cr off nf i„c«. ■'^ " *"^ ^""18, ted. Thf Kids croJ u ; ""^"^ ?'"^'' ^ret! •eager to tesWy her aT'l'?"^ ^'•- ^'^^ ^ti; "iSsti^h'w^rrtfi^f ^- *° ^^- bo&2xi^t:;'ii^ri - *^t ^.n^Ei^l^'T^eibte report of her conTluot. hp n '1"^ receive,! a disploaaure ly^aSiSg "11]; f^'^^ '",? ?ItH*A'^."'.^«''-^t«her ' ""^ !S!'-oth_ch:ui,' tke said to herself, "'".kinder taan "i IT Zy? ^'"'^ *^ Nile stood in thn I,, 1 1 «'« r. which wa,a;,/'*';.'7'-t!.opHrIour vo.ces. on. th.n. that of 'tl^l '^ -i'u he^rd bi'c heard him say • ^roUs^or 'Jhorp«. jV'.-wtrodhtTtoS "^^^^^^^ r<"' "'""•'• 'ke giving her three cC, "''IV^"' ^ ^'"'* ••»y. «he IS given to m,J\\ .,' '" 'f' a« you -»« this youili me^f"^ \""tl.ur«ts -( P-^.ion "P"n lier singular t.er'fecti/. *f *'•■'■''''« ''^ot utiraction. If she we e J " "^ '"^^"^"' "d "<"i J a marrying uZlYJ^'^j '?''>' ""'*'. nfiaid of her. X vix,',. V '*' '*"' '^^^''iodiy what r would not hk"' t.;^'\ ^^'''"n. >« wife.' "* ""« ^ «-'»k getting iu a and VaKSd'S^^^ *'"' ^"or. deed she had heard n„;l '*" ^'*^'"ity. In! first eniotion oSfl?" ""?«''- »"«Hn the "oker w.tli A curiom smile, glaiico)) ()v«r Ills hIkhiI.I.t, ami Hiiiil ; 'Ydu ftro mi t I'ton, .unl ymt know yon arc ; viMi <1 ni't iMj.itn-c ■. ytlnii',' of the kiiul. You kn .w l'r«fosi.(,r T , ,rj>e likt-s you, aftey Uon and drop out of her mind all that it nearly broke h r heart to think of. It seemed to ber every time her aunt's heavy eyes fell upon her, that she, U,o, was con- stantly thinking of the Everleigh doom. As she went in and out through tho strange shadowy corridors she oould fancy she heard Margery Gresham's cold, yet tiernulous tones repeating the words that aUll haunte.l Hbr, and, covering her tars in a frenzy of terror she fled away, anywhere— to her mother's room sometimes, often to her own, for Miss Dale frequented Mrs. Exerleigh's room very much, and between her and Nora rivers of antinathy flow^-d fathoms wide. Nora could not have given, if she had tried, any very distinctive reason why she so disliked this woman, but she ne r approachcti her save when compelled by necessity. School- hours were spent mostly beneath her «lictation and were weary hour? for tliis xery reason, bhe hoard from Leon oeciisionally— as often, deed, as she could expect. Brave tender, true-hearted letters lie wrote, briirlit and genial as himself ; but strange to t«y in her then depressed state of mind, as she turned froin the glowing page, the shadows about her steps seemed to become thicker and darker from very contrast. She tried hard, m answering these letters, to write cheerfully ; butshe was of too frank a nature to easily conceal her pain from so keen and kindly an eye as Leon's. He felt with a throb of sympathy every thread of suffering that hlled the woof of her young, so early stricken life, and he wrote on this subject brief, emphatic sentences that thrilled her to tenderly joyous tears while she read. 'There will come a time," he wrote— 'there wi come a time, my little Nora, when you will become so utterly miserable and un- happy, when you feel yourself falling away into such dcpthsof affliction, when the waters of a despair peculiarly your own will hem you round so closely that you. poor, wcarv chlUl. U-ill Iio r.«n^.^..ll„.1 »„ /_ll-' . .1 . •'. by day and Iht pUlar qf/n by uhjlu, as those r 62 THE CURSE OF EVERLEIGH. old Iserahtes did. It will be your only re- demption My child, y(,a c/n do nothing of yourself. When you realize this, and cease to strugcle against God's ways, then will come the beginning of theend you ought u ^'": . J*,"* ""* ^*"" y°» *o trouble your- self about the future. It is for you to do as near right as you know how. " Our Father, Who art m Heaven," will take care of th4 rest. Meanwhile, work, work, work. There 18 nothing better for the mind than to keep the hands busy. ' *^ And Nora pondered and mourned, and mourned and pondered, and tried to follow the dictation but not hopefully. Alas ! physically a id mentally she had reached a state of prostration that would not suffer her to hope, but still trying to do her work faith- fully, and leave the rest in Batter Hands CHAPTER XIX. AT HOME. It was the last of February, and Vashti had been from home a litle over three months- One evening Nora was sitting in Mrs- Everleigh s room, reading to her. They sa* before tTie fire, Nora's little 'dimpled hand m her mother's thin and slender clasp. Now and then she paused for little running com- ments on what she was reading, to which Mm. Kverleigh gave low, smiling replies. Presently in came Miss Dale. Nora iust glanced at her and read on, a Uttle cloud restiiig on her face. Mrs. Everleigh mo- tioned Miss Dale to a seat near her. Affect- ing not to see it, Miss Dale moved round to JNora, saying, in her smooth tones : • My darling Nora, how tired you must be of reading ; your voice sounds hoarse, posi- !L^- .u^'.""® "J® ,*•»" ^^^- Your dear mother thinks nobody can read quite as weU AS x, 'I'm not tired in the least,' began Nora, in displeasure. * ^ Mrs. Everleigh interrupted her with : Give Miss Dale the book, dear. I dare wy you are not tired, but it will be a fine tiling for you to hear her, and improve your- self by doing so. ' ' Aunt Margery says one always gains more bv Ijractice than by listening to other peo- ple, said Nora, stoutly, yielding the book however to Miss I)jvle. -M 1-8 Everleigh looked a little annoyed and undecided, but soon forgot it, iistcniiiL' to Miss Dale s vibrating tones. Nora sat a few miiiiitcs witli her curls drooping over her «ha(l()wc.l face, and then stole softly froni th.e fooin, with a caution quite unnecessary, since Mrs. Everleich wm too engro88e4 to have seen her, had shtmade considerable noise. The sitting-room wm alight and aglow with warmth. Thither she went, and taking her favourite low se^t before the fire with her hands falling idly on *Ii.^P'jr*H'>«<^ tlie red glow in the grate iittle child, not yet numbering a dozen years Gresham had so unwittingly flung in her "i -x. , **'** "°* SfasP the anpallini? this, her terror, with a vague, but quite -m Jt wSI^'Tk' ''^ ■™-g«'y^"'i«urrou\Tng^ It frightened her sometimes till it seemed to her she must die. Rising with asTdden impulse of her inward thought, she took the lamp from a side-teble, ani holding it alof* 80 as to throw its light as much as po^iUe IS.kS'r f '*"'^ r " '^' mantel-pirje sh: looked long and earnestly at that dark handsome face with its heavy-lashed eyes! She often studied this picture thus, and she was beginning to understand what wi^ the «hi1-f'iJfV«''*«* it woke-and every time she hfted her gaze, her heart thrilled w th deeper sympathy to the nameless, but un- utterable pam that darkened there iu u ?*?»•' she murmured t^ herself he knew ot course he knew, how sad it must be toUveso long as he did, kn^ing what It must come to at last I wonder if God won't let me die young » Itseem«fai me it would be a great deaf better so 1 wonder If papa was glad to die. If he had lived much longer, perhaps ' There waf. a noise in the great hall softn after, subdued tones of greeting, the sound ofappHMchmg footsteps, nonl of wWch pierced to her numbed ears with any read- ing sense, and then the door of the sitting room fell upon, and Vashti Everleigh camf in, saying as she crossed the thiesfiold. to the servant who accompanied her •' 'Don't tell anybody I've come, Elise.' he? """^ ^^^'^ *^* '^°°' *^ter v:!^* ^}^^ .^^^ ,^^^^ °^ her sister's voice Aora had started from the floor, wonderina if she were not dreaming. * . Vashti came slowly toward her, loosen- ing and throwing back her hood holdina out hand, Mith a feel.le smile that 80 touched some sympjithetic chord in Nora'a hean tliat sjie burst mto tears, crying • Ui»4""" * y THE CURSE OF EVERLEIGH. ■J , Vashti ! oli, Vaahti I have you come back tome?' ' I have come back, Nora, because I had to come,' she answered, with a tone of haughtiest, but with crowding tears flash- ing upon her cheeks, as she kissed her sister and submitted to liave her loosen and reniove her wrappings. When she had laid then by, Nora took her low seat again, her baud in Vaahti's, asking eager questions. •I have learned, 'said Vashti, with slow emphasis, ' the lesson Aunt Margery has all our lives been trying to drum into our heads, namely, that we Everleighs are like nobody else. Don't yon know we have heard some- times that the Everleighs never prospered when they left the old place T I thought I could go away shaking its dust froi!« my feet, and have nobody find out but what I waa "just like other folks; but couldn't— this Everleigh stamp is as indelible as it is misty, to my mind. I didn't want to come back ; I hate the very sight of Everleigh. I hate the place I went to quite as much, though, and I am glad you didn't go. Such mdignities as I endured till it seemed as though I should go crazy. I came away be- cause I could submit to them no longer ; and there, Nora, let us drop the subject. Don't ever ask a question ; 1 can't bear to talk of it— I don't want to hear of it. Where's Frank— with mamma?' ' No ; he has gone to preparatory school at New Haven. ' 'Frank has?' • Yes ; Aunt Margery opposed it with all her might, but he would go, and at last ahe gave It up; but she is cross about it yet' 'Well, well, 'answered Vashti, thought- fully ; and after an interval of silence, she «r ,/ ' ^^ mamma up yet ? How is she ? Well, I suppose, as usual, for I got a letter to that eflfect just before I started. Is she strong enough to see me without any warn- ing?" 'I don't know. I had better go in first and tell her. You can wait outside the door. ' Without looking at Miss Dale, Nora pntered her mother'sroom, and, according to her wont, with her arms thrown lightly round her neck, said in her ear : 'Mamma, I have heard from Vashti.' ' Heard from Vashti T How— have you eot I letter?' '' * •No; but I have heard, home, mamma?' r>3 Vashti is coming Miss Dale dropped her book in her sur- pnse, and Mrs. Everleigh brightened up from her languid, half recUning posiaie. to say : . 'Are you sure, Nora? How do you know?' "^ ' From her own lips. Vashti is already here, mamma. Yes, she is, in the hall there. ' Vashti, unable to restrain herself longer came in, half indignity, half impulsive joy, at seeing her mother, who had a very tender hold of her wayward heart. Miss Dale she affected not to see at first, and greeted her at last with wonderful cool- ness. Vashti was very indignant at Miss Dale, for two reasons— one was her suffering her to go from home with her outre ward- robe, and another that she' had never written her opce while away. Miss Dale, however, did not seem at all put out by Vashti 's cool airs. On the con- trary, she was marvellously smiling, and rode over all this reserve and distance in a manner peculiar to her when it did not suit her to notice anything of the kind. ' Have you see your aunt?' asked Mrs. Everleigh. Vashti made the old, impatient movement at mention of her aunt, and said : ' * i'Am*"^®*^' ^ ''*^® ^"* i""* come ; and I told Elise, who led me in, not to tell any- body I have come.' •Nora, go right np to your aunts room, and teU her Vashti is here.' Vashti shrugffed her shoulders, but said nothing ; and Nora, avoiding her aunt as she always did of late, asked : 'Hadu't I better send a servant, mam- ma ? 'No, certainly not; Margery would not like to hear such news from a servant.' ' Very well, I will go,' Nora said, leaving the room. ° Margery Gresham, sitting alone in her room, was roused from her austere mena- tions by the enterance of breathless, a scared look in eyes. •What ails yon, child?' she exclaimed, with her usaal abniptness. 'I— I thought I heard something.' stammered Nora, clinging involuntarily to her aunt. ' 'I^t go my dress; positively you are hk^tokfow?^'"'* hasWppened, /should 'I heard Bomethijig; I did, Aunt Mar^ gery. •Yon heard somethina? Well what the her child, brown r 54 You are THE CURSE OP EVERLEIGH. growing ner- I was it? vous, Nora., ' Oh 1 Aunt Margery, go out and Bee what It was, if you don't believe me. 1 was on the back stauway, close by the door of the Hermitage. Margery's face turned ghastly white with- in tlie instant. ' Whatever possessed you to come by the ■K stairway r' she cried, as she seized the Uinp and hurried from the room. Led by some irresistible fascination. J^ra foUowed her a few steps from the Phtr''"'° <*'8tanoe off Miss Margery met ' What madness is this T* she cried, with an appalled voice. He answered- her in a low tono ; she. clutching his arm, and both hurrying alone the corridor. In anotlier instant a sound cleft the darkness, whether of earth or air Nora stopped not to think, but darted into her aunts room, waiting there vith almost intolerable terror till her return. She came ui soon, looking flurried, but laughiu>j soorn- fullv, as she said : ** jj^H** a sJnipleton you are, Nora! I didn t know but some terrible creature had got into the house ; but there's nothing there. Don t come the back stairway again • It IS old and rickety, and youmiirht cet hurt ' o 6 •What was that cry 1 heard, Aunt Marrery, after you went out? It wasn't jou?' ' What ! Oh yes ; I heard it to; perhaps it was the wind. Don't be so ridiculously nervous, Lenore. Everleigh is not haunted; there is no such thing. Miss Dale has been teUing you ghost stoiies, hasn't The child shook her head. ' Some of the servuits, then ¥ *No, ma'am.' ^ 'Well, I am glad of it ; don't listen when they go to tell such things. You'll get so fancitul you'll see all sorts of sights if you do. What did you think you heard on the back stairway?' _ • I— I thought I heard something breathe Perhaps it was Bute, Aunt Margery ; per- haps he has come back. I think I did hear something. ' • Nonsense I' Miss Margery said, with another derisive laugh, l>ut with some- thing like a shudder. « It is likely yon vou (lid hpjir iin»Tie*!»!"'» *«j* •.f-fu;.. - — -^ tliau tlie wind and the rickety old staircase nn>;ht be accountable for. ' , Nora looked somewhat relieved, and sud- aeiUv remembering her errand said : Aunt Margery, Vashtihas come home s I was coming to tell you. ' ' Mrs. Gresham started. ' When did she come t' * A little while ago. ' ' Where is she ?' 'In nwmma's room. Won't you oome down and see her ?' ' ' Not to-night. I fancy she is not particu. Ee'SJ'?*'"' ^ "^^ "** ^^*' ^'^ *^* *»"« Nora coloured and was silent. She did not like to repeat what her sister had said . .4"> ^«". >t if no matter ; I shall find out . T ■■ u f °"'** 8^'®^* P''^"^ "ea^'y now. ' the light for me as far as the great hall I did not bring a hunp, I was in such a -hiirry to tell you. ' ^'WhatlstiUafraid?! will go with vou At the door of Mrs. Everleigh 's room Miss Margenr repented of her detem.ination not to see Vashti that night, and went in. Vashti shook hands with her aunt, but did not offer to kiss her-an omission that vexed Mrs. Everleigh not a little. By way of cov ering her annoyance, she said smiling feeb- ' Isn't it a pleasant surprise, MarijerT ♦' u^A ?' .^t'^l ^lai-gar^t, dryly; ami, ^i;shti understood by hertone that she meant itTw e° eotei ^ ** *^~°° """ ''""" '^* ^^ ' We shaU have Frank coming back before telei^h """""^ '''°"^' ^'^ ^ GorKli.*{?JShttf ^•^y-l--Mr.. . 'I did. I have a letter for you from her W^.lriS*'- ^V'."y"" have ft to-night.^ w«t till the momuig ? I have not un Jick^ Hmf" *'t* ">°"»ing will do as well as any time. I presume It is newsy, and might keep me awake if I had it to-niVht * ^^i^ti Amwend, 'Very well, '" with as- good-mght very soon, and went away. She put herTiead m at the door again after she fiad shut It. saying, with one of heT «Sn smiles ; * "° •Take good care of that letter, Vashti Don't be tempted to bum it. ' 'I am. tempted to bum it,' said Vashti with a stamp of her passionate foot • Sh^ unowa. « i«4t la m it well enough. I wish to -- .Iress I had never told herany thingabout Wi.sar^ ; J 4 THE CUESE OF EVERLEIGH. C3 Siiimh^i ■; -] -4 On the morrow, however, Mrs. Gresham got her letter, and, contrary to Vasliti's ex- pectation, did not onca allude to its contents to her. She had expected some sarcastic exalting ou her aunt's part at the fulfilment of her prophecy, but it was quite the reverse. Miss Gresham even seemed a little tender toward her, and proposed the same day to procure a competent teacher to come into the house and attend to both hers and Nora's education. Vashti gave only a haughty and cool assent to the proposal. She had not yet forgiven that disagreeable jprophecy. But nothing daunted, Miss Gresham wrote immediately to New Haven, where she had acquaintances, to en- quire for a suitable person— a gentleman, if possible. At the same time she ordered a very elegant piano, for those days. Cr.'^PTER XX. A TUTOa AT EVEBLKIon. In process of time came a letter to Miss Margery, saying that the very person she wanted stood ready to obey her summons — a Mr. Dascomb, a tine musician, he was said to be, as well as an accomplished scholar. Miss Gresham wrote immediately to offer him the situation, appointing an early day for him to enter upon his duties, and announced tne progress of affairs in due time to the family. Miss Dale was in high feather. She had fawned over the poor infatuated Vashti, till she had brought matters to their old footing between them. And now she succeeded in installing herself in that long coveted place, as Mrs. Evc.-leigh's companion— this last Kreatly to Elise's dissatisfaction, who loved uer mistress, and considered herself peculiar- ly her attendant. Finally came Mr. Dascomb, a young man to Miss Margery's dismay. She had pictur- ed to herself a man after the style of a tutor she had once had-^pkin, awkward, and rather old. However, she recollected in time that all tutors could not be made from the same model, and forgave the" man for being good-looking and young. Mr. Dascomd had a rather striking appear- ance g;enerally. He wasgrac f 1 *nd insinu- ating in his manners, a little pretentious, and a little foppish. He had raven- black hair and whiskers, a rather low, square forehead, heavy black eyebrows and lashes^ and blue eyes. Miss Gresham met him with considerable etnpresiiTnent. and heraelf made him acquaint- ed with the various members of the family — with Mrs. Everleigh first, and then Nora and Vashti were sent for. Vashti chose to be on her dignity with Mr. Dascomb, whom she was determined to consider only as a pat of Auut Margery, and her reception of him was si> very distant that a frowa ros» to Miss Gres- hftm's face. The gentleman himself suffered his blun eyes to rest an instant longer on her countenance than was necessary. It was all the sign he gave of having noticed what 'imounted almost to rudeueis ou Vashti '» oart. Nora was more affable, endeavouring by her cordiality to atone in some degree for her sister's marked coolness. Miss Dale came ia presently, and she started as her eyes fell on tFio tutor, smothering somo exclama- tion, as his cool, unmoved glance met hers. 'Miss Dale, Mr. Dascomb,' said Mrs. Everleigh 's gentle voice. He bowed, saying, with rather marked emphasis : ' I am happy to make your acqnaintauco, Miss — Miss Hale, I believe you said, madam ? ' ' Dale, sir, ' corrected Mrs. Everleigh. ' Ah, yes. Miss Dale. ' He bowed again, never suffering his eyes to stray from that lady, who still stood in the open door, changing from red to white, and white to red, in a most unaccountable manner. ' Come in and shut the door, if you please, Miss Dale, ' said Margery Gresham, dryly, •it is not like you to be so bashful. What ails you ? ' Miss Dale came into the room, pale and discomposed. •Sutler me, madam,' said Mr. Dascomb, with obsequious politeness, offering his hand and leading Miss Dale to a seat. He gave her a fiery glance as he loosed her hand, whispering, as he bowed very low to her, ' Don't be a fool, Hetty Dale.' * Miss Dale must be ill,' he added in an audible voice, turning from her to Misa Gresham. Miss Dale sat a moment, looking like one stunned, and then rising, went hastily from the room without a word, while Mr, Das- comb, pulling fiercely at his whiskers, 1 "ked round the room at its amazed i..- m e^ *. ery singular, indeed,'* said Miss Mar- gery Gresham, with her shary eyes on Mr. Dascomb. 'I never suspected Miss Dale of any tendency to hysterics. ]Perha')s you and Miss Dale have met before, sir ?' ' Never to my knowledge,* he answered. He looked about him for a seat, took one nAai* A^MM |r.T.v«l»; ,«U «.44-U ....1 U- -U^ll - — -« ....— r.-... «..^,fj rrifis TTUUlu lie 3S1H- fully opened and kept up a conversat.o i. He had, evidently, from Uie tone of his re. so w I 1. 1 il! II! honeymoon wh3- ^ "*** '''■'*«d ""ce he- >ope. He knew W r»« ^ 1 '°*^*'"'P *» ^u- leighWoo'^^'^aXV^ktiT "I"- ^T- -tumbled righ* upon £«D^: X^«' ^e standing there alone in fh« J^" "^^ ^** ^5^^™e op everleioh. -^wMi.,j( tnere alone in the H in, ^ , ■'^u* wouo you ta M^-t.ng for Idm; and Seizing hold oFCm*^ M*uUenly. ". j a™ hi '.-ame near, she cried • *^ of iu«n as You will find you whafaTthTsteS •'"'"' *''«"' -«» *«" - ^«yV rpur.-j.^r - /ou wits. Then,. soLteo-J' goll* ,>""''• self EtTwTtCS. b 'V«^ »^'- •»e could noHhuTiir ^ *"*''^'"« '* *«> *J^«^t . S"*''*;' Will j-nu go f ^ ed, Sea'ly '" Tam '^ T *" ""'•>'"' """^•r- vl. "*!?/y-- / am not your dog, Percy •1 you can't control ST^ WeU, then, wiU this do ?' kiued •Come into the sitting-room then-' .«. '-^^''' Buffered him to nut h.n .Lt:!^!*^ 18 MrtMijIy no harm in that • ' *'*®° *» room : ' ** ''* 8^»»«=««1 round the «er. ' What i» all It • *^'*" ™**e"" »n- L I. and that L^TirV.t ' ^V''** for. such a in,g^r^,S^^^ri^^. you you pretend vo„ «,..„ .i!L^ *''": handsome gelf in tL „T. J 5 baskmg his placently ithingta rSM^'^T' r"' and possibly maturin'g hfa pTans ' "^•"' daf ' C^Siij. t '^-^^ «f the next rirofrnVr Xy'^rthfnTyr^ *^«*1 **>««* ^:^-"'"« '-ne.nce. and would notgii^ I'll be b^una : you wouK* *** ^'^^ "" *>«" What do yon m^°"l>tc riw^^r'^'*'^- me, will you?' ' "^ l>a8cainb-tell • Softly Het, don't talk bo lanA t* It 18 my pleasure that you and I conduct n,^' p£s^"trtl^-lv-«^^^^^^^^ fcrmance of your, a S, ^JjiX-" mce b^*dr?7*'^J\^' anything j;; l^ke, but don t dar» to bring my name in lou erne near losing nw nfy pl^ w "i your confounded nonsense.' • Ah^ Percy I How could I help it ♦ The wonder» is that I did not do worse-to «i! ^ou standingthei^aliye. when ThlT^^Z xor so iong, t'mfc you were dead.' ° , tonesranT;:rth"heT*uJu^'*i*I:*^ » went directly into the 4^™ ""P^'s'^eness, Bide of the piano ThrT *"'' V? *« t^e eyebrows arcE"heily:^7.%:i,te this demonstration and aa ».« i 7*'^ ** ing lightly from one tCie £ "^"•l^P"'" rapid succession, he watoB h^^ ?!!^*V" ^ She wasfairly'conqu ?d of her il'u'^^^y- ';^s^&;^-"o:gh«te at first that she co"Ll!nTt?ay aTan*""Sr* succeeded, however, in reffi;"h,^, CHAPTER XXI. v.j»*: Contrary to Mia, Greaham's avowed ex. >«m;»mmm*'m^».<''mmmi»m^: ^L mmm THE CURSE OV EVERLEIGH. me, kissed V'-JIIS''*"**; egarding Fellow/ pectationa, Francis Rosooe EverleiKh con- tinueil at New Haven, writing once in » while, but never offering to come ho.ne, even for a visit, till the midauniiner vacation. She heard of him and his 'goings on' throuah a friend, who was kind enough to under- take to keep her pc«ted re, the boy. 'A fine smart this yriend called him, 'rather too fond of a tussle, and caring rather more for a nicp bit of mischief than for his tasks. ' He came home at midsummer, taller by some mches, slender as a forest sapling, a ^y, dashing, beautiful boy, but impatient of the least restraint, nncurbed as a wild colt, inclined to consider himself the repreeenta- tive of his family, and to put on airs accord- ingly He tormented Vashti, tyrannized over Nora, played tricks on Mr. Percy Daa- comb, «nd manaeed to give Aunt Margery a piece of his mind on several occasions. The whole house was riot and confusion while he staid ; and yet, strange to tell, everybody was sorry when he had gone. In the fall Leon Brownlee came again for a few days, getting but a cool welcome from Margery (iresham, but bringing cheer to Nora, setting her straight on a good many knottv points, and getting the heartache ftimself as he saw how thin, and chan<^ed and oul-worn the child had gi-own. ' The evening before he 'ef ; he followed Miss trreshain to her own loo i, and forced her to hold converse with hini by the sheer dersistency of his determination. In l»rief and pointed knguage he told her that she was all wrong in her system of 57 -. .. ...uuf^ .u uxji Bvnem oi repression and « serve ; that she was killine fnmhJ^^ by taking ill sunshine away ' She wants companionship and k' dness Margery. You are stunting hpr, morally and physically. Do you think a child like that has no sympathies, and iio feeling ♦ Uive her agreeable occupation— not study merely, but sometliing that will occupy her heart and liands as well as her mind.' ' What ails the chiid, Leon ?' said Mar- fiery touched, in spite of her resentment to- ward him, bv this unexpected appeal -She used to go about singing all day tjid romp- ing with tliat great dog. Bute, jou know has been, gone sevsral months from home. Can It be she misses him so much ?' Miss Margery had some twinges of con- science in this quarter. The last time the dog had been seen she had driven him fierce- ly out of the great hall-had even beaten nim and fought him awav. know what has so changed that poor little Leonore ? What could it be but om thing?' She got a f right here one night when she was commg up to my room, ' ^d Marlerv turning a sTiaody noticed her. Often Margery Grosham passed her, linger- ing as she went by, feverishly anxious to ap proach her tenderly, but doubtful how to uo it. Later ii. the day Nora was standing in the door of tlie great hall, looking weary and listless, when, what should she see but that dear, long-lost Buio, trotting up the road to •the house. He looked niiseranle and for- lorn enough, his silken ears (''cping, his ebony hide muddy and travcl-sfciin->d, his red toDffue hanging from his fiery jaws and drip- ping froth. With an exclamation of joy, Nora almost threw herself upon him, crying : ' Ah, Bute, dear Bute !' The dog shook her off as though she had been a feather, and Hinging upward his foam- ing jaws, snapped his teeth upon her bare, round arm, and trotted on, just a" ?iiilip, following close behind with his gun, called out too late : ^ ' Don't touch him. Miss Nora — he's mad !' ' Great Heaven !' said a voice from the doorway, and in another instant Margery Gresham had the horrified child on her lap, as she sat down on the step, one arm holding her tightly to her, and with the other hand held the wounded arm pressed frantically to her lips. Philip dropped his gun and stopped, but four or five other men rushed by in pursuit of the dog. The sound of shots was heard presently, Rnd very soon t\o of the men came back. Philip spoke w ith them, and one started im- mediately for thj Blables, which he seemed scarcely to have entered, before he was out again, and rn horseback, riding as if for life down the avenue. ' I have sent for Dr. Gracie, Miss Mar- gery. Is there anything else I can do ?' 8he shook her nead, removing her lips only long enough to rinse her mouth with some water he brought her. She was pale as death, and Nora lay quite mo- tionless in her arms, her broM'n eyes going •lowly from one to another of the group that had by this time gathered, an.nssed it a tiiousand times. ' Margery Gresham was not given to tears overmuch, but as Nora, with au iinpulsiva movement, put both arms about her neck, and laid her cheek to hers, she siMLn^d her head to droop upon the chilJa shoulder with a sound ■ ory like a sob. They got up and went in presently, Nora supported by her aunt. She was taken to Miss Margery's room, whither the doctor followed to bleed her, which he considered only a harmless precaution against any in- jurious eflect. He left also a ' wash' for the wound, and one for Miss Greshani's mouth, assuring them, however, that tlieie was noc the least danger to l>e apprehended, in the face of such immediate and energetic treat- ment. Nora remained with her aunt through that day and night, nursed as carefully as though she had been really very ill, and the expres- sion of her sweet, thoughtful face-, was re- flected like sunshine from Miss Miagery's. Henceforth, these two had no real misunder- standing. All that Margery Gresham asked was confidence and trust, and that Nora gave now freely. Unlike as the two wjie, there was a bond of sympathy between t.ium — a common love.' CHAPTER XXn. CUANOXS. Vashti apparently was progressing won- derfuUy, and herei rational facilities seemed of the best. Music, especially, she devoted a great portion of her time to, seeming pas- sionately engrossed by it. Nora made a less showy, but really more thorough advancement, both of heart and head. An expression giew daily into her thoughtful face — so peaceful that it rested one's eyes to look at her. She was learning how to cease from strugglir ^ —to give all her pain, her doubt, and despair into the AU Father's better hands, and ' walk bv faith.' ' ; . Frank came home t the Christmas holi- days with his peculiar traits intensified, and went away leaving the same impression aa V«iK**''? s ' ^ THE CDRSE OF EVERLETGH. 89 V«f^-«^ before. Midsummer brought him again, wild aud untameable as ever. This autumn, though Leon had purpoand to visit Everleigh, he did not come. His father, while in England on business, was taken suddenly alarmingly ill, and his son was sent for in all possible haste. The father, though living when the sou reahed him, was quite unable to attend to business, and Leon took his place in the aiatter that had brought him there. Eventually Mr. Brownlee returned home — so shattered in health, however, that the son took upon himself the whole business charge — a charge which involved the ne- cessity q^ his remaining in England for an iiidefiuitd length of time. At first it was thought he would be home in six months,, possibly ; but six years went bi before he touched the American shore again. . Eour years at Everleigh had brought about considerable changes. It was a com October evening again. In the sitting-room, Vashti Everleigh matured to the proud and queenly developments her childijooil had promisetf, stood at one side of the ample fire-lit hearth, listening, with impatient look, word, and gesture, to Miss Margery Gresham. Mies Margery had grown sterner and more state- ly- Vashti looked wilful and spoiled — a spoil- ed beauty. Her face was purest oval, with her ';'iir folJev' in shining bands against it, her form slender, but well rouiidetl, and her movements graceful. She wore a deep shade of crimson, with garnet ornaments upon her neck and ai-nis, that caught flashes of fire- light as she turned impatiently from Miss Gresham, and walked too or three times across the room. 'lam eiguteen to-day,' she said, as she walked. • 1 would never have waited till now to announce this my determination, for I 83orn anytliing like concealment; bat Percy insisted that I should wait, and I obeyed him, as I expect to obey my hus- band. ' ' A' ery conjugal you'll be, no doubt,' said Margery, in her sarcastic way ; but you will never marry Percy Dascomb— never.' • Who will hinder me ? ' daid Vashti, with « flash of her superb eyes. 'I will." • You are powerless to do it.* • You will see ; ' and, after a pa:»e : ' But I don't want to use my power, Vashti ; I want to see you yield to reason, snd not in- sist upon marrying a man every way your inferior.' •Don't t;.ll me that, Miss Gresham ; your acquaintance with Mr. Dascomb dates from the same day with mine.' 'What of that? Is it not possible that I may have observed contemptible shades in hia character wliich havi been carefully con- cealed from you ? ' ' There are no such sltades ; I will not be set up against him.' ' Vashti Everleigh, this fellow is not act- ing honestly with you, or else ho is acting dishonestly by some one else. ' ' Insinuations are beneath ray notice, ' an> swered Vashti, haughtily. ' You can have something broader, if you choose. Send for Miss Dale, aud ask her what relation he bears to her.' Vashti 's face was redder than her dress, as she answered, passionately : ' Percy is nothing to Miss Dale. I know bettor. She has known of our engagement all along. She has been a true friend to us, to me — ever since she has been in the house. You were always trying to lower her in my estimation. But this is beyond endur- durance. ' Miss Gresham looked at the girl in as- tonishment. ' If Miss Dale has known of this affair long, ' she said, ' she must be a mjst consummate hypocrite. When my suspicious were first aroused on the subject, she assured me that there was nothing of the kind.' ' Of course she had no right to tell what had been confided to her in strict secrecy.' ' She had no right to lie to me, Vashti Everleigh. ' ' I am no hypocrite, . Aunt Margery, ' said Vashti, with a flubh of shame. ' I know nothing of what Miss Dale said to you. If I had known of your questioning her, I should have suffered her to tell the truth. I would rather she had told the truth ; but she only deceived you, through excess of fri .ndship for me.' ' Deceived ! Call things by their names. Miss Dale lied to me ; and if I am not greatly mistaken, she has lied to you. ' 'I don't believe it, and I think you nee very hard language.' * Well, send for Miss Dale. I should like to ask her a question or two in your preeence— stay, I will go for her niyjelf. Aa Miss Gresham left the room by one door, Mr. Dascomb came in by tlie other, sauntering in indolent nonchalance up to the fire, not much changed lom what he was when we last saw him, with his black hair Anri Ufa Kln.ilr nrKia1fn..a nl^xxxl. »^A „U:»I*.~ _».. .i«- L....^.« ............. ^ «,,-,. ^ mt't oliiiiiiii;, and his white teeth showing between his cnmplaccnt lips. He sat down, glancing over the elegant appointments of the rooui, J. Jvi /f\ GO THE CURSE OP EVERLEIOH. with an ' I am monarch of all I survey ' air, and then lifting Vashti's hand as he sat near her, began to toy witli the rings on her ■lender fingers. She drew it away from him almost immediately : something in his fami- har bearing jarred with her present mood. Ho was too indolent and careless, too assured to notice it, and sat with his effemi- nate hands clasped before him, gazing idly m the lire, ruminating, it is likely, upon his prospect of marrying an heiress. _ Presently Vasliti said witn something of impatience, perhajis, at his silence and jn- diii'erence : 'Percy, Aunt Margery says yon are not acting honestly by me. She says there is something between you and Miss Dale.' She had meant to Bpeik lightly, but, un- consciously, Hhe Bpoke with angiy emphasis. All the red went out of the gentleman's handsome cheeks, as suddenly as though an extinguisher had been abruptly slid upon his hopes, and he grew white to the very roots of his whiskers. After an instant's vain effort to recover himself, he rose, kicked his chair out of the way savagely, wisliing, no doubt, that the chair was Miss Gresham, and turned his back upon Vashti and the fire. ' Gentlemanly, upon my word, ' said Vashti, in angry astonishment. He bit his lip, pulling fiercely at his whiskers. He really did not know what to Bay ; how much did Margery Gresham know, and how came she to know it ? However, he blundered out at last, without looking at Vashti : ' You don't expect me to hoar that my be- trothed wife listens to such insinuations re- garding me, and sit under it like a statue T * His tone and his words were unfortunate —the very ones to strike fire ou Vashti 's in- flammable Spirit. ' I expect gentlemanly behaviour from yon always ! ' she answered haughtily. She was not used to have him speak to her with that tone and manner. His bear- ing was usually obsequious and courtly in tie extreme. He saw his mistake, through the fog of his dismay and jjerplexity and turning suddenly, seized -both her handa, covering them with kisses, and saying : 'Forgive me; I cannot live under your displeasure ; I cannot bear to be doubted. ' *I have not doubted you, Percy, 'she answered, more kindly. • I shall, if you talk and behave as you did just now.' ' I was wron; but I was so excited at the mere thought oi your suspectine me. that I did not at all know what I was about,' he answered, lifting his blue, heavy -lashed eyes to the face of tlie imperioue beauty, with a wonderfully contrite expression. She smiled her rare smile at him, in token of forgiveness, and he said : ' What did yonr aunt mean by saying \ was not acting honestly by you V 'Heje she comes to answer for herself,' Vashti replied, as Miss Gresham entered the r his fears, and giving up the ground. If Miss Gresham knew all there was to know, there was nothing to be gained by confession, she reasoned. 'The relation I bear to Mr. Dascomb?' she said, looking at Miss Gresham with an Mr of innocent perplexity. "He is no rela- tion of mine. Miss Margery. * Miss Margery frowned. 'Don't equivocate. Miss Dale, ' she said. I happen to have eyes, and know how tc use them. I was accidentally a witness of n portion of your interview with Mr. DascomV the very day of his arrival, four years ago, I was in the ante-room there when you came t'lrough from this room I heard nothing, bat I saw what convinced me that the gen- t' man here told me a falsehood when he de- nied ever seeing you before. However, I let that pass, concluding that it was some love a£^rthat was none of my bu8ine8^ and whenever I was likely to come upon a tender passage between you two I looked the other way. Latterly becoming suspicious of his peculiar bearing toward Vashti, I kept my eye on you again. I might have hearda great deal, but I only chose to see enough to convince me that he could have no designs UDon Mini) Kvprloid)! fn-An-,. 1 — ™ r T am iniorraed that an engagement of marriage has been entered into between them, and Ml ■MHHHI IMi MM THE CURSE OF EVERLEIGH. 61 -^ T th*t you have been the confidante of this pre- posterous proceeding. Now then, Miss Dale, will you be kind tnuugh to tell Miaa Ever- leigh how it happens that the man she has piomised to marry makes such very affec- tionate demouBtrutions toother people, your- self for instance ?' Uasconib had by this time considerably re- covered his assurance. If tliat was all Miss Margery knew there Wi»8 nothing to fear. He was well aware of the pecubar feeling which exiBted between Alias Oresham and Vashti— a feeling winch he, as well as Miss Dale, has fostered to tlie best of his ability. Approachinj? Miss Margery with a most gracetul and deliberate manner, ho said : ' With all due respect to you. Mis Gres- ham, as an adopted relative of my future wife, 1 must beg leave to tell >ou that somehow you are labouring under a mistake. Miss Dale is a lady 1 liave a very high esteem for— very ; but as to demonstrations of affection — pardon me — you are certainly misinformed. ' Miss Margery's face, under this elaborate peroration, wore an expression of most ludi- crous amazement. 'I'lie impudence of the man seemed at tiist utterly beyond her com- prehension. 'Misinformed !' she managed to blurt out. . •How misinformed, sir t Do you mean that I cannot trust tije evidence of my own eyes ?' ' I mean nothing oiienslve, indeed, madam, but you know one coubin't remain silent under such insinuations as tliat, even from a lady. 'Insinuations !' she cried, finding vehe- ment voice at last. ' There are no insinua- tions about it. It is a plain matter of fact. I have seen you myself caress that wemau there — Miss Dale — with your arm around her and your lips upon her cheek. Insinuations indeed, vr ! 1 know very well what I am saving, and vou to talk of taking an Ever- leigh to wife ! Vashti, Vashti, send this man off t He taints tiie air with his verv breath.' ' Vashti started aa though some one struck her. She had gradually, as if fascinated, drawn near the gi-oup. She put her hand on Dascomb's arm. Pressing the hand in both his, he led her to a sea^ whispering : ' Trust me, my love . yo' will never fall into so base a plot against our happiness. ' To Miss Gresham he said, with an air of injured candour : 'I forgive you, madam, your unjust im- putations. ^Vithoufc^ giving a lady the lie, which I am incapable of domg, I leave it to ai-e not entirely opposed to your state- meat. Is it likely that a lady of Miss Dale's qualities of person, mind, and heart would submit to such trilling as you speak of, or, having done so, could sit unmoved and hear mo expt-ess my pasbionato devotion to an- other ?' ' She is not unmoved. See there !' Indeed Miss Dale had risen from her soat with a terribly agitated face. Dascomb's cold blue eyes were on her in an instant. -She faltered aa he looked at her, or seemed to falter in some determination. * My dear madam, ' he said, bowing before her with the profoundest respect, ' do not suffer this mobt ridiculous and unfuunded charge to afflict you so. Would that Percy Dascomb had never cro8seale from lier IriendH in Nowhury, whither lie hiwllKicn, m ho ■uruplud not to tell, niiiking inquiriea re- prdmg the lady. He leiin.ed Bome facta btaring immediately upon the ({uestion under consuicriition— namely, tliat yeaiH before, when MiBs Hetty Dale was a blooming maid of sixteen, she hud possessed a lover ansner- ing to the description of I'ercyDaicomb, save tliat he was only a stripling then, and bear- ini^ the mmie name. Thi.s lover had disap- poared very suddenly, and he was at last kiven up as dead. Ijitoly, however, it had been reported that one and another had occa- sionally Hcen a man resemblmg this Percy wonderfully. People were inclined to be- lieve that he was livin^^. All this Ijejng laid liefore VashM, di.l not •com to daunt her in the least. Whe had put l.er trust in Percy Uascomb, and she was willfully, passionately determined to trust Lim to the end. It was impossible for him to remain at Kvcrleiuh after that scene with Miss Mar- gery, Kven he had not the audacity to do thut, wl.e.i Miss Margery laid the alternative bef« re her sister, Mrs. Lverleigh, to banish him, or she would go. Vashti rejected inilignantly hia proposal for a secret maiTtnge. tShe had a right to marry when and whom she chose, and no nce.«r iuvective. ' Vou are fooling me, Percy ; you are makmg a mere tool of me ; and, when yon have got that scoriitui Imaiity lor your wife, you ^ will kick mo .,ut of your way ; but 1 won't be disposed of in that maimer. I tell yon I won't. I can make you or break you now ;and if you don t give over mocking me in this way, and jeering at the heart that never knew anything else but to throb for you, I'll burst the whole abomuiable scheme into aq many fragjiaoiits as there are leaves between this and the hm gj. ' * But, Hetty ' he bo-an, nervously. ' But me no buts. You think 1 can en- dure anytlunc— everything ; but 1 can't, and I won't. Make your peace with me, Percy Dascomb, or take the consequence.' 'I will make no peace with you, Hetty Dale. Do your worst. It can't be much worse than these cursed months o waiting will be, and 1 am tired of your humours. ' ' There is a limit to forlwaran -e, Percy. Do you really ,lare me to the extent your words indicate ?' ' You expect to share in the profits, don't you? What is all this nonsense about, then i' he said, fiercely. ' The nonsense is this— that I won't sub- mit to' have you treat me in this matter any longer ; 1 have endured enough. ' * Zounds, Hetty, how cold it is I I'm oflf — wishmg you will be in l^etter temper be- fore we meet again,' he said, with a sudden change from his former tierce tone to one of oool inditi'erence. He took two or three steps away, she speechless with consternation, and, then turning back, put his gloved hands lightly on her shoulders, and left a kiss on her lips. He was gone again in an instant, and, chilled tothe heart, she went slowly upto the house, almost wishing that the eartti wtmld gape wide and sAvallow herself, Everleigh, and him. He went tearing away through the grounds, dasliiny his hand with tierce loathing across the lips that kissed her, and cursing the neccMity that compelled him to buy her silence with caresses. • She tells the truth,' he muttered to him- self, as he kicked the avenue gate open. ' When I get that glorious Vashti and her portion counted out iu the pure stuU, I shall cut her decidedly, and tins confounded country besides.' CHAPTER XXHL W0B8E ANDWOBftB. Miss Gresham made a great effort, and onquered her indignation sufficiently to tiy THE CURSE OF EVERLEICn. C3 V and treat Vaahti e .actly m formerly. It WM quite iiii^MMWible for tlieni to meet, how- ever, H itltuut admething of bittfirnvM on on« tide, and uf liefiaaoe oit the other. Mrs. Everleigh waa uotaocuMtomed to take a very • ducidcd position in anytliiiig. Hlie waa usually led and governed by the will ♦ of othcra. Her atrong poiut, however, if she had any, waa her pride. She waa her- aelf of a proud old English atook, and to her mind, the idea of an Everleigh marrying a tutor waa connected with everlaating dia- grace. With more ipirit than had ever en- tered into any previoua interoourae with her childn.ii, ahe announced her emphatic dia- appruvul ol' the proposed mntch. Alone with her mother, Vaaiiti might have received this uecree of annouuoemont with Bome degree of moderation in her diaplea- •ure ; but Misa Margery happening to be present, she allowed heiaolf to be carried away by anger, as apparently to quite forget to whom she waa talking, and to use lan- guage that she never thouj,'lit of in after years without agonized paaga of self-re- proach. Aa for Mrs. Everleigh, she lifted her face with a pitiful and shocked expi-esaion to Misa Gresham, saying : .jijgr 'Tell her to leave tlie room, Margery. Vaahti waiteil no telling, but woai, oat in Bullen aileiice. p]veu then she would have craved forgiveness for her fault, ii Miss Mar- gery had not been presoiit. She burst in upon Nora, reading in the aittiag-room, her features convulsed with passion, and her lipu overflowing with tor- rents of bitterness. Nora gatliered aomething of the state of the case, enough to know that her sister had ■ iid something dreadful to their mother. She looked only less shocke J than Mrs. Everleigh had done. ' * Vashti ; Oh, aiater I how could you— how could you ? Poor, sick mamma!' 'Haven't I said 1 waa sorry ?' Vashti an- ■wered liercely. ' I couldn t have spoken BO, if tliat evil-eyed Margery Gresham had not been present. Nora Was silent, only looking sadly at her with her clear brown eyes. K ' That woman is my evil genius, ' Vashti T continued. ' She has cursed my whole life ; • she has never brought any good to our house. From the hour she entered Everleigh she has only done us evil, and that contiuu- ally.' She was pacing the room excitedly, her dusky eyes Biiining luridly, and her ckeeks on nro. * I wish I know what it was about papa- just wliat it was. I would tax her wit'i it, aa true an tny iiainc in N'nsl.ti.' ' AlK)ut papa ?' Nora said, a littl* atartied. ' About papa,' Vasliti answcrod emphati- cally. '1 suppose you know that tlioto wm some myatery attending pipa'a .leath. If you didn't before, you know it now. ' Nora made no reply, it was Nashti'a cua- torn to apeak harshly to her often nowadayg, and her custom to rer^eive such harshness frequently, with a burning face, but always with silence. She Uad not yot aullicient con- trol of her ow I passionate tongue to trust it with words at such times. ' Papa did not die in the face of day, as other people do. ' Vasliti continued. '1 re- member, aiid you must, how carutnlly we were kept from the room where he lay ill, how we never knew he was dying till Mar- gery Oresham told us he was dead, how we were cr.iy auitered to see him once before they hurried him oflf to the grave. There waa no funeral, no minister, only Doctor Gracie read the burial service over him, and hustled him under the ground as though he had been a pauper. ' With a face like death, Nora stood look- ing with appalled eyes from V'aslitl *•> the picture ever the mautel-pieoo, and fi m iiat back to Vashti. 'I had "thought,' the elder sistoc said again, ' that I would never tell you tl.ii. Ifcere are people who say that .Mar^«ry Gresham knows more of papa's death than she chooses to tell. I believe it. She always looks as tliouuh somebody had struck her wliencver the subject comes up. She must have a guilty conscience, or she wouldn't believe t hatridi- culous story about tiie Hermita'/e being believe it, but actions spead louder tha« lliu. te 1. She left the room as she spike, slammi- the door after her, and leaving one m^ root of bitterness in Nora's Jieart. At Christmas, when Frank I.ve leigh capie home, looking singularly minly and h»n 1- some, and with quite as 1 r Uy an a-r as ever, he shocked everybody by givi jg uite.-- ance to some very round oaths, on the sub- ject of Vashti's ' entatiglemenf,' a3 he chose to call and consider it, with ' that fellow.' It had ne er l>een his way toviddher'a wkit of deference aa his elder, which she was by two years. As children they had ((uar- rolled furiouslv overtheexactions of Vashti's imperious dispodtion. He chose to con- sider hi 1 83lf— beiny the only male ronrc- •"'•• '^-""i!; — as lis iiciiu ; ar.r, he swore that his Sister should never so a • disgrace hersea aud her blood sm to uurv^ «4 THE CURSE OF EVERLEIOn. '!i this low. tutoring adventurer, with a lanjru. aue and inanner •(. vclietnently like h» father, that Margery Clreilvam wa« for an inntont almost treiizielaiu>« inHpir«;- ' Go tothositting 'oom.Nora, for Heaven s sake 1' . , i. » And finding Philip just outside the great hall-door, she sti/.ed hold of him ami fairly diacged him thither nNo, crying : 'Oil, I'l.ilip, this n.award Philip, who itooil with hit face Inried in hin handH ; over her featiiroH came tnat inexprcNgible change that always fol- luwed any allusion to Riwcoe Rverleigh. ' Well— my father, !' said the young man. f ' Ue gathered the same deadly fruit as the rest — it blasted your mother's once Ithniming existence ; it has wrecked Philip, ciee there —an old man, with a breaking heart ; see me, an old woman, befon; my time. The Wlow that struck him struck us all who loved him. Ah, woe is me I' The agony concentrated in her last words was beyond description : ' Tell me, how did he die T' ' How ? Francis, do you ask me that ? ^\ liat can I tell you that you do not know ? Do you mock me, sir V ' I have h' , ' '/.Hc k.ivy. Did my father take Ills own ' ic ■'' •No.' * Is it .ho ' mth, 1 ' Before < .nven, lifted hia h» ; ./ .iy. The ycun>, , ,an'8 head drooped to his hand resting on his chair back. Tb. y went out ^^ presently, and Margery sent him Xora, 'for,' she said, ' you are fighting the goo