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 A LIST OF THE ELSIE BOOKS AND 
 OTHER POPULAR BOOKS 
 
 BY 
 
 MARTHA FINLEY 
 
 "ELSIE 'DINSMORE. 
 
 ELSIE'S HOLIDAYS AT ROSELANDS. 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 ELSIE'S WOMANHOOD. 
 ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. 
 
 ELSIE'S CHILDREN. 
 'ELSIE'S WIDOWHOOD. 
 GRANDMOTHER ELSIE. 
 
 ELSIE'S NEW RELATIONS. 
 ELSIE AT NANTUCKET. 
 THE TWO ELSIES. 
 
 ELSIE'S KITH AND KIN. 
 'ELSIE'S FRIENDS AT WOODBURN. 
 CHRISTMAS WITH GRANDMA ELSIE. 
 ELSIE AND THE RAYMONDS. 
 ELSIE YACHTING WITH THE RAYMONDS. 
 ELSIE'S VACATION. 
 
 ELSIE AT VIAMEDE. 
 'ELSIE AT ION. 
 
 ELSIE AT THE WORLD'S FAIR. 
 ELSIE'S JOURNEY ON INLAND WATERS. 
 ELSIE AT HOME. 
 ELSIE ON THE HUDSON. 
 ELSIE IN THE SOUTH. 
 ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS. 
 ELSIE'S WINTER TRIP. 
 ELSIE AND HER LOVED ONES. 
 
 MILDRED KEITH. 
 
 MILDRED AT ROSELANDS. 
 MILDRED'S MARRIED LIFE. 
 MILDRED AND ELSIE. 
 MILDRED AT HOME. 
 
 MILDRED'S BOYS AND GIRLS. 
 MILDRED'S NEW DAUGHTER. 
 
 'CASELLA. 
 
 SIGNING THE CONTRACT AND WHAT IT COST 
 THE TRAGEDY OF WILD RIVER VALLEY. 
 OUR FRED. 
 
 AN OLD-FASHIONED BOY. 
 WANTED, A PEDIGREE. 
 
 THE THORN IN THE NEST.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD 
 
 A SEQUEL TO 
 
 "ELSIE DINSMORE" AND "ELSIE'S HOLI- 
 DAYS AT ROSELANDS" 
 
 BY 
 
 MARTHA FINLEY 
 
 'Oh! time of promise, hope, and innocence, 
 Of trust, and love, and happy ignorance ! 
 Whose every dream is heaven, in whose fair joy 
 Experience yet has thrown no black alloy." 
 
 THOUGHTS OF A RECLUSE 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY 
 
 PUBLISHERS
 
 >>PWaeHT, 1872, BY DODD, MBAJJ is Conuwv.
 
 PEEFACE. 
 
 SOME years have now elapsed since my little 
 heroine " ELSIE DINSMORE " made her debut into 
 the great world. She was sent out with many an 
 anxious thought regarding the reception that 
 might await her there. But she was kindly wel- 
 comed, and such has been the favor shown her 
 ever since that Publishers and Author have felt 
 encouraged to prepare a new volume in which will 
 be found the story of those years that have carried 
 Elsie on from childhood to womanhood the 
 years in which her character was developing, and 
 mind and body were growing and strengthening 
 for the real work and battle of life. 
 
 May my readers who have admired and loved 
 her as a child find her still more charming in her 
 fresh young girlhood; may she prove to all a pleas- 
 ant companion and friend; and to those of them 
 now treading the same portion of life's pathway 
 a useful example also, particularly in her filial 
 love and obedience. 
 
 M. F.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 It is a busy, talking world. 
 
 HOWE. 
 
 "I THINK I shall enjoy the fortnight we are 
 to spend here, papa; it seems such a very pleas- 
 ant place/' Elsie remarked, in a tone of great 
 satisfaction. 
 
 " I am glad you are pleased with it, daughter/' 
 returned Mr. Dinsmore, opening the morning 
 paper, which John had just brought up. 
 
 They Mr. Dinsmore and Elsie, Rose and Ed- 
 ward Allison were occupying very comfortable 
 quarters in a large hotel at one of our fashion- 
 able watering-places. A bedroom for each, and a 
 private parlor for the joint use of the party, had 
 been secured in advance, and late the night be- 
 fore they had arrived and taken possession. 
 
 It was now early in the morning, Elsie and her 
 papa were in his room, which was in the second 
 story and opened upon a veranda, shaded by tall 
 trees, and overlooking a large grassy yard at the 
 side of the building. Beyond were green fields, 
 woods, and hills. 
 
 " Papa," said Elsie, gazing longingly upon
 
 2 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 them, as she stood by the open window, " can'i 
 we take a walk?" 
 
 " When Miss Rose is ready to go with us." 
 
 "May I run to her door and ask if she is? 
 and if she isn't, may I wait for her out here on 
 the veranda?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 She skipped away, but was back again almost 
 immediately. "Papa, what do you think? It's 
 just too bad! " 
 
 " What is too bad, daughter? I think I never 
 before saw so cross a look on my little girl's face," 
 he said, peering at her over the top of his news- 
 paper. " Come here, and tell me what it is all 
 about." 
 
 She obeyed, hanging her head and blushing. 
 "I think I have some reason to be cross, papa," 
 she said; " I thought we were going to have such 
 a delightful time here, and now it is all spoiled. 
 You could never guess who has the rooms just 
 opposite ours; on the other side of the hall." 
 
 "Miss Stevens?" 
 
 " Why, papa; did you know she was here? " 
 
 " I knew she was in the house, because I saw 
 her name in the hotel book last night when I 
 went to register ours." 
 
 " And it just spoils all our pleasure." 
 
 " I hope not, daughter. I think she will hardly 
 annoy you when you are close at my side; and 
 that is pretty much all the time, isn't it? " 
 
 "Yes, papa, and I'll stick closer than ever to 
 you if that will make her let me alone," she cried, 
 with a merry laugh, putting her arm round his 
 neck and kissing him two or three times.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 3 
 
 " Ah, now I have my own little girl again," He 
 said, drawing her to his knee and returning her 
 caresses with interest. " But there, I hear Miss 
 Hose's step in the hall. Eun to mammy and have 
 your hat put on." 
 
 Miss Stevens' presence proved scarcely less 
 annoying to Elsie than the child had anticipated. 
 She tried to keep out of the lady's way, but it was 
 quite impossible. She could scarcely step out on 
 the veranda, go into the parlor, or take a turn in 
 the garden by herself, but in a moment Miss 
 Stevens was at her side fawning upon and flatter- 
 ing her telling her how sweet and pretty and 
 amiable she was, how dearly she loved her, and 
 how much she thought of her papa too: he was so 
 handsome and so good; everybody admired him 
 and thought him such a fine-looking gentleman; 
 so polished in his manners, so agreeable and 
 entertaining in conversation. 
 
 Then she would press all sorts of dainties upon 
 the little girl in such a way that it was next to 
 impossible to decline them, and occasionally even 
 went so far as to suggest improvements, or rather 
 alterations, in her dress, which she said was en- 
 tirely too plain. 
 
 " You ought to have more flounces on your 
 skirts, my dear," she remarked one day. 
 " Skirt flounced to the waist are so very pretty 
 and dressy, and you would look sweetly in them, 
 but I notice you don't wear them at all. Do ask 
 your papa to let you get a new dress and have 
 it made so; I am sure he would consent, for any 
 one can see that he is very fond of you. He 
 doesn't think of it; we can't expect gentlemen to
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 notice such little matters; you ought to Have a 
 mamma to attend to such things for you. Ah! 
 if you were my child, I would dress you sweetly, 
 you dear little thing! " 
 
 " Thank you, ma'am, I daresay you mean to be 
 very kind," replied Elsie, trying not to look an- 
 noyed, "but I don't want a mamma, since my 
 own dear mother has gone to heaven; papa is 
 enough for me, and I like the way he dresses me. 
 He always buys my dresses himself and says how 
 they are to be made. The dressmaker wanted to 
 put more flounces on, but papa didn't want them 
 and neither did I. He says he doesn't like to see 
 little girls loaded with finery, and that my clothes 
 shall be of the best material and nicely made, but 
 neat and simple/' 
 
 " Oh, yes; I know your dress is not cheap; I 
 didn't mean that at all: it is quite expensive 
 enough, and some of your white dresses are beau- 
 tifully worked; but I would like a little more 
 ornament. You wear so little jewelry, and your 
 father could afford to cover you with it if he 
 chose. A pair of gold bracelets, like mine for in- 
 stance, would be very pretty, and look charming 
 on your lovely white arms: those pearl ones you 
 wear sometimes are very handsome any one 
 could tell that they are the real thing but you 
 ought to have gold ones too, with clasps set with 
 diamonds. Couldn't you persuade your papa to 
 buy some for you? " 
 
 "Indeed, Miss Stevens, I don't want them! I 
 don't want anything but what papa chooses to 
 buy for me of his own accojfd. Ah! there is 
 Miss Eose looking for me, I must go," and the
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 5 
 
 little girl, glad of an excuse to get away, ran joy- 
 fully to her friend who had come to the veranda, 
 where she and Miss Stevens had been standing, 
 to tell her that they were going out to walk, and 
 her papa wished to take her along. 
 
 Elsie went in to get her hat, and Miss Stevens 
 came towards Rose, saying, " I think I heard you 
 say you were going to walk; and I believe, if you 
 don't forbid me, I shall do myself the pleasure of 
 accompanying you. I have just been waiting for 
 pleasant company. I will be ready in one mo- 
 ment." And before Eose could recover from her 
 astonishment sufficiently to reply she had disap- 
 peared through the hall door. 
 
 Elsie was out again in a moment, just as the 
 gentlemen had joined Eose, who excited their 
 surprise and disgust by a repetition of Miss 
 Stevens' speech to her. 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore looked excessively annoyed, and 
 Edward " pshawed, and wished her at the bottom 
 of the sea." 
 
 " No, brother," said Eose, smiling, " you don't 
 wish any such thing; on the contrary, you would 
 be the very first to fly to the rescue if you saw her 
 in danger of drowning." 
 
 But before there was time for anything more 
 to be said Miss Stevens had returned, and walk- 
 ing straight up to Mr. Dinsmore, she put her arm 
 through his, saying with a little 1-ugh, and what 
 was meant for a very arch expression, " You see 
 I don't stand upon ceremony with old friends, 
 Mr. Dinsmore. It isn't my way." 
 
 " No, Miss Stevens, I think it never was/' he 
 replied, offering the other arm to Rose.
 
 6 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 She was going to decline it on the plea that the 
 path was too narrow for three, but something in 
 his look made her change her mind and accept; 
 and they moved on, while Elsie, almost ready to 
 cry with vexation, fell behind with Edward Alli- 
 son for an escort. 
 
 Edward tried to entertain his young com- 
 panion, but was too much provoked at the turn 
 things had taken to make himself very agreeable 
 ,to any one; and altogether it was quite an un- 
 comfortable walk: no one seeming to enjoy it 
 but Miss Stevens, who laughed and talked inces- 
 santly; addressing nearly all her conversation to 
 Mr. Dinsmore, he answering her with studied 
 politeness, but nothing more. 
 
 Miss Stevens had, from the first, conceived a 
 great antipathy to Rose, whom she considered a 
 dangerous rival, and generally avoided, excepting 
 when Mr. Dinsmore was with her; but she always 
 interrupted a tete-a-tete between them when it 
 was in her power to do so without being guilty 
 of very great rudeness. This, and the covert 
 sneers with which she often addressed Miss Alli- 
 son had not escaped Mr. Dinsmore's notice, and 
 it frequently cost him quite an effort to treat Miss 
 Stevens with the respectful politeness which he 
 considered due to her sex and to the daughter 
 of his father's old friend. 
 
 "Was it not too provoking, papa?" exclaimed 
 Elsie, as she followed him into his room on their 
 return from their walk. 
 
 "What, my dear?" 
 
 " Why, papa, I thought we were going to have 
 such a nice time, and she just spoiled it all."
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 7 
 
 "She? who, daughter?" 
 
 "Why, papa, surely you know I mean Miss 
 Stevens! " 
 
 " Then why did you not mention her name, in- 
 stead of speaking of her as she? That does not 
 sound respectful in a child of your age, and I 
 wish my little girl always to be respectful to 
 those older than herself. I thought I heard you 
 the other day mention some gentleman's name 
 without the prefix of Mr., and I intended to re- 
 prove you for it at the time. Don't do it again." 
 
 " No, sir, I won't," Elsie answered with a blush. 
 " But, papa," she added the next moment, " Miss 
 Stevens does that constantly." 
 
 " That makes no difference, my daughter," he 
 aaid gravely. " Miss Stevens is the very last per- 
 son I would have you take for your model; the 
 less you resemble her in dress, manners, or any- 
 thing else, the better. If you wish to copy any 
 one let it be Miss Allison, for she is a perfect lady 
 in every respect." 
 
 Elsie looked very much pleased. " Yes, in- 
 deed, papa," she said, " I should be glad if I could 
 be just like Miss Eose, she is always kind and 
 gentle to everybody; even the servants, whom 
 Miss Stevens orders about so crossly." 
 
 "Elsie!" 
 
 "What, papa?" she asked, blushing again, for 
 his tone was reproving. 
 
 " Come here and sit on my knee; I want to talk 
 to you. I am afraid my little daughter is grow- 
 ing censorious," he said, with a very grave look as 
 he drew her to his side. " You forget that we 
 ought not to speak of other people's faults."
 
 8 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 "I will try not to do it any more, papa," sTie 
 replied, the tears springing to her eyes ; " but you 
 don't know how very annoying Miss Stevens is. 
 I have been near telling her several times that I 
 did wish she would let me alone." 
 
 " No, daughter, don't do that. You must be- 
 have in a lady-like manner whether she does or 
 not. We must expect annoyances in this world, 
 my child ; and must try to bear them with pa- 
 tience, remembering that God sends the little 
 trials as well as the great, and that He has com- 
 manded us to 'let patience have her perfect work.' 
 I fear it is a lack of the spirit of forgiveness that 
 makes it so difficult for us to bear these trifling 
 vexations with equanimity. And you must re- 
 member too, dear, that the Bible bids us be cour- 
 teous, and teaches us to treat others as we our- 
 selves would wisli to be treated." 
 
 " I think you always remember the command 
 to be courteous, papa," she said, looking affec- 
 tionately into his face. " I was wondering all 
 the time how you could be so very polite to Miss 
 Stevens ; for I was quite sure you would rather 
 not have had her along. And then, what right 
 had she to take vour arm without being asked ? " 
 and Elsie's face flushed with indignation. 
 
 Her father laughed a little. " And thus de- 
 prive my little girl of her rights," he said, softly 
 kissing the glowing cheek. " Ah ! I doubt if you 
 would have been angry had it been Miss Rose," 
 he added, a little mischievously. 
 
 " Oh, papa, you know Miss Rose would never 
 have done such a thing ! " exclaimed the little 
 girl warmly.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 " Ah! well, dear," he said in a soothing tone; 
 " we won't talk any more about it. I acknowl- 
 edge that I do not find Miss Stevens the most 
 agreeable company in the world, but I must treat 
 her politely, and show her a little attention some- 
 times; both because she is a lady and because her 
 father once saved my father's life; for which I 
 owe a debt of gratitude to him and his chil- 
 dren." 
 
 " Did he, papa? I am sure it was very good of 
 him, and I will try to like Miss Stevens for that. 
 But won't you tell me about it? " 
 
 "It was when they were both quite young 
 men," said Mr. Dinsmore, " before either of them 
 was married: they were skating together and 
 your grandfather broke through the ice, and 
 would have been drowned, but for the courage 
 and presence of mind of Mr. Stevens, who saved 
 him only by very great exertion, and at the risk 
 of his own life." 
 
 A few days after this, Elsie was playing on the 
 veranda, with several other little girls. "Do 
 you think you shall like your new mamma, 
 Elsie? " asked one of them in a careless tone, as 
 she tied on an apron she had just been making 
 for her doll, and turned it around to see how it 
 fitted. 
 
 " My new mamma! " exclaimed Elsie, with un- 
 feigned astonishment, dropping the scissors with 
 which she had been cutting paper dolls for some 
 of the little ones. " What can you mean, Annie? 
 I am not going to have any new mamma." 
 
 "Yes, indeed, but you are though," asserted 
 Annie positively; " for I heard my mother say so
 
 10 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 only yesterday; and it must be so, for she said 
 Miss Stevens told it herself." 
 
 "Miss Stevens! and what does she know about 
 it? what has she to do with my papa's affairs?" 
 asked Elsie indignantly, the color rushing over 
 face, neck, and arms. 
 
 " Well, I should think she might know, when 
 she is going to marry him," returned the other 
 vith a laugh. 
 
 " She isn't! it's false! my "but Elsie checked 
 herself and shut her teeth hard to keep down the 
 emotion that was swelling in her breast. 
 
 "It's true, you may depend upon it," replied 
 Annie; " everybody in the house knows it, and 
 they are all talking about what a splendid match 
 Miss Stevens is going to make; and mamma was 
 wondering if you knew it, and how you would 
 like her; and papa said he thought Mr. Dinsmore 
 wouldn't think much of her if he knew how she 
 flirted and danced until he came, and now pre- 
 tends not to approve of balls, just because he 
 doesn't." 
 
 Elsie made no reply, but dropping scissors, 
 paper, and everything, sprang up and ran swiftly 
 along the veranda, through the hall, upstairs, 
 and without pausing to take breath, rushed into 
 her father's room, where he sat quietly reading. 
 
 "Why, Elsie, daughter, what is the matter?" 
 he asked in a tone of surprise and concern, as he 
 caught sight of her flushed and agitated face. 
 
 " Oh, papa, it's that hateful Miss Stevens; I 
 can't bear her! " she cried, throwing herself upon 
 his breast, and bursting into a fit of passionate 
 weeping. 
 
 !
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 11 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore said nothing for a moment; but 
 thinking tears would prove the best relief to her 
 overwrought feelings, contented himself with 
 simply stroking her hair in a soothing way, and 
 once or twice pressing his lips gently to her fore- 
 head. 
 
 "You feel better now, dearest, do you not?" 
 he asked presently, as she raised her head to wipe 
 away her tears. 
 
 " Yes, papa." 
 
 " Now tell me what it was all about." 
 
 "Miss Stevens does say such hateful things, 
 papa! " 
 
 He laid his finger upon her lips. " Don't use 
 that word again. It does not sound at all 
 like my usually gentle sweet-tempered little 
 girl." 
 
 " I won't, papa," she murmured, blushing and 
 hanging her head. Then hiding her face on his 
 breast, she lay there for several minutes perfectly 
 silent and still. 
 
 "What is my little girl thinking of?" he 
 asked at length. 
 
 "How everybody talks about you, papa; last 
 evening I was out on the veranda, and I heard 
 John and Miss Stevens' maid, Phillis, talking 
 together. It was moonlight, you know, papa," 
 she went on, turning her face toward him again: 
 " and they were out under the trees and John had 
 his arm round her, and he was kissing her, and 
 telling her how pretty she was; and then they be- 
 gan talking about Miss Stevens and you, and 
 John told Phillis that he reckoned you were going 
 to marr} r her "
 
 12 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 " Who? Phillis? " asked Mr. Dinsmore, looking 
 excessively amused. 
 
 " Oh, papa; no; you know I mean Miss Ste- 
 vens," Elsie answered in a tone of annoyance. 
 
 "Well, dear, and what of it all?" he asked, 
 soothingly. " I don't think the silly nonsense of 
 the servants need trouble you. John is a sad 
 fellow, I know; he courts all the pretty colored 
 girls wherever he goes. I shall have to read 
 him a serious lecture on the subject. But it is 
 very kind of you to be so concerned for Phillis." 
 
 " Oh, papa, don't! " she said, turning away her 
 face. " Please don't tease me so. You know I 
 don't care for Phillis or John; but that isn't 
 all." And then she repeated what had passed 
 between Annie and herself. 
 
 He looked a good deal provoked as she went 
 en with her story; then very grave indeed. He 
 was quite silent for a moment after she had done. 
 Then drawing her closer to him, he said tenderly, 
 "My poor little girl, I am sorry you should be 
 so annoyed; but you know it is not true, daugh- 
 ter, and why need you care what other people 
 think and say? " 
 
 " I don't like them to talk so, papa! I can't 
 bear to have them say such things about you! " 
 she exclaimed indignantly. 
 
 He was silent again for a little; then said 
 kindly, " I think I had better take you away 
 from these troublesome talkers. What do you 
 say to going home?" 
 
 "Oh, yes, papa, do take me home," she an- 
 swered eagerly. " I wish we were there now. 
 I think it is the pleasantest place in the world
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 1> 
 
 and it seems such a long, long while since we 
 came away. Let us start to-morrow, papa; can't 
 we?" 
 
 "But you know you will have to leave Miss 
 Kose." 
 
 "Ah! I forgot that," she said a little sadly; 
 but brightening again, she asked: " Couldn't you 
 invite her to go home with us and spend the 
 winter? Ah! papa, do! it would be so pleasant 
 to have her." 
 
 " No, my dear, it wouldn't do," he replied with 
 a grave shake of the head. 
 
 "Why, papa?" she asked with a look of keen 
 disappointment. 
 
 " You are too young to understand why," he 
 said in the same grave tone, and then relapsed 
 into silence; sitting there for some time stroking 
 her hair in an absent way, with his eyes on the 
 carpet. 
 
 At last he said, " Elsie! " in a soft, low tone 
 that quite made the little girl start and look up 
 into his face; for she, too, had been in a deep 
 reverie. 
 
 "What, papa?" she asked, and she wondered 
 to see how the color had spread over his face, 
 and how bright his eyes looked. 
 
 " I have been thinking," he said, in a half 
 hesitating way, " that though it would not do to 
 invite Miss Rose to spend the winter with us, it 
 might do very nicely to ask her to come and live 
 at the Oaks." 
 
 Elsie looked at him for a moment with a be- 
 wildered expression; then suddenly comprehend- 
 ing, her face lighted up.
 
 14 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 "Would you like it, dearest?" he asked; "or 
 would you prefer to go on living just as we have 
 been, you and I together? I would consult your 
 happiness before rny own, for it lies very near 
 my heart, my precious one. I can never forgive 
 myself for all I have made you suffer, and when, 
 you were restored to me almost from the grave, 
 I made a vow to do all in my power to make 
 your future life bright and happy." 
 
 His tones were full of deep feeling, and as he 
 spoke he drew her closer and closer to him and 
 kissed her tenderly again and again. 
 
 " Speak, daughter, and tell me what you wish," 
 he said, as she still remained silent. 
 
 At last she spoke, and he bent down to catch 
 the words. " Dear papa," she whispered, " would 
 it make you happy? and do you think mamma 
 knows, and that she would like it?" 
 
 "Your mamma loves us both too well not to 
 be pleased with anything that would add to our 
 happiness," he replied gently. 
 
 "Dear papa, you won't be angry if I ask an- 
 other question?" 
 
 " No, darling; ask as many as you wish." 
 
 "Then, papa, will I have to call her mamma? 
 and do you think my own mamma would like 
 it?" 
 
 " If Miss Allison consents to take a mother's 
 place to you, I am sure your own mamma, if she 
 could speak to you, would tell you she deserved 
 to have the title; and it would hurt us both 
 very much if you refused to give it. Indeed, my 
 daughter, I cannot ask her to come to us unless
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 15 
 
 you will promise to do so, and to love and obey 
 her just as you do me. Will you? " 
 
 "I will try to obey her, papa; and I shall 
 love her very dearly, for I do already; but I can 
 not love anybody quite so well as I love you, my 
 own dear, dear father! " she said, throwing her 
 arms around his neck. 
 
 He returned her caress, saying tenderly, " That 
 is all I can ask, dearest; I must reserve the first 
 place in your heart for myself ." 
 
 "Do you think she will come, papa?" she 
 asked anxiously. 
 
 " I don't know, daughter; I have not asked 
 her yet. But shall I tell her that it will add to 
 your happiness if she will be your mamma? " 
 
 " Yes, sir; and that I will call her mamma, 
 and obey her and love her dearly. Oh, papa, ask 
 her very soon, won't you?" 
 
 "Perhaps; but don't set your heart too much 
 on it, for she may not be quite so willing to take 
 such a troublesome charge as Miss Stevens seems 
 to be," he said, returning to his playful tone. 
 
 Elsie looked troubled and anxious. 
 
 " I hope she will, papa," she said; " I think 
 she might be very glad to come and live with you; 
 and in such a beautiful home, too." 
 
 "Ah! but everyone does not appreciate my 
 society as highly as you do," he replied, laughing; 
 and pinching her cheek; " and besides, you forget 
 about the troublesome little girl. I have heard 
 ladies say they would not marry a man who had 
 a child." 
 
 "But Miss Hose loves me, papa; I am sure
 
 16 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 she does," she said, flushing, and the tears start 
 ing to her eyes. 
 
 " Yes, darling, I know she does/' he answered 
 soothingly. " I am only afraid she loves you bet- 
 ter than she does me." 
 
 A large party of equestrians were setting out 
 from the hotel that evening soon after tea, and 
 Elsie, in company with several other little girls, 
 went out upon the veranda to watch them mount 
 and ride away. She was absent but a few mo- 
 ments from the parlor, where she had left her 
 father, but when she returned to it he was not 
 there. Miss Eose, too, was gone, she found upon 
 further search, and though she had not much 
 difficulty in conjecturing why she had thus, for 
 the first time, been left behind, she could not 
 help feeling rather lonely and desolate 
 
 She felt no disposition to renew the afternoon's 
 sonversation with Annie Hart, so she went 
 quietly upstairs to their private parlor and sat 
 down to amuse herself with a book until Chloe 
 came in from eating her supper. Then the little 
 girl brought a stool, and seating herself in the 
 old posture with her head in her nurse's lap, she 
 drew her mother's miniature from her bosom, and 
 fixing her eyes lovingly upon it, said, as she had 
 done hundreds of times before: " Now, mammy, 
 please tell me about my dear, dear mamma." 
 
 The soft eyes were full of tears; for with all 
 her joy at the thought of Eose, mingled a strange 
 sad feeling that she was getting farther away 
 irom that dear, precious, unknown mother, whose 
 image had been, since her earliest recollection, 
 enshrined in her very heart of hearts.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 O lady ! there be many things 
 That seem right fair above ; 
 But sure not one among them all 
 
 Is half so sweet as love ; 
 Let us not pay cur vows alone, 
 But join two altars into one. 
 
 O. W. 
 
 Here still is the smile that no cloud can o'ercast, 
 And the heart, and the hand, all thy own to the last. 
 
 MOORE. 
 
 MB. HOEACE DINSMORE was quite remarkable 
 for his conversational powers, and Rose, who had 
 always heretofore found him a most entertain- 
 ing companion, wondered greatly at his silence 
 on this particular evening. She waited in vain 
 for him to start some topic of conversation, but 
 as he did not seem disposed to do so, she at 
 length made the attempt herself, and tried one 
 subject after another. Finding, however, that 
 she was answered only in monosyllables, she toe 
 grew silent and embarrassed, and heartily wished 
 for the relief of Elsie's presence. 
 
 She had proposed summoning the child to ac- 
 company them as iisual, but Mr. Dinsmore re- 
 plied that she had already had sufficient exercise, 
 and he would prefer having her remain at home. 
 
 They had walked some distance, and coming 
 to a rustic seat where they had often rested, they 
 &at down. The moon was shining softly dowa 
 i?
 
 18 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 apon them, and all nature seemed hushed and 
 still. For some moments neither of them spoke, 
 but at length Mr. Dinsmore broke the silence. 
 
 " Miss Allison," he said, in his deep, rich tones, 
 "I would like to tell you a story, if you will do 
 me the favor to listen." 
 
 It would have been quite impossible for Eose 
 to tell why her heart beat so fast at this very 
 commonplace remark, but so it was; and she 
 could scarcely steady her voice to reply, " I 
 always find your stories interesting, Mr. Dins- 
 more." 
 
 He began at once. 
 
 " Somewhere between ten and eleven years ago, 
 ft wild, reckless boy of seventeen, very much 
 spoiled by the indulgence of a fond, doting 
 father, who loved and petted him as the only 
 son of his departed mother, was spending a few 
 months in one of our large Southern cities, where 
 he met, and soon fell desperately in love with, 
 a beautiful orphan heiress, some two years his 
 junior. 
 
 " The boy was of too ardent a temperament, 
 and too madly in love, to brook for a moment 
 the thought of waiting until parents and guard- 
 ians should consider them of suitable age to 
 marry, in addition to which he had good reason 
 to fear that his father, with whom family pri'de 
 was a ruling passion, would entirely refuse his 
 consent upon learning that the father of the 
 young lady had begun life as a poor, uneducated 
 boy, and worked his way up to wealth and posi- 
 tion by dint of hard labor and incessant applica 
 tion to business.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 10 
 
 11 The boy, it is true, was almost as proud him- 
 self, but it was not until the arrows of the boy- 
 god had entered into his heart too deeply to be 
 extracted, that he learned the story of his charm- 
 er's antecedents. Yet I doubt if the result would 
 have been different had he been abundantly fore- 
 warned; for oh, Miss Eose, if ever an angel 
 walked the earth in human form it was she! 
 so gentle, so good, so beautiful! " 
 
 He heaved a deep sigh, paused a moment, and 
 then went on: 
 
 " Well, Miss Eose, as you have probably sur- 
 mised, they were privately married. If that 
 sweet girl had a fault, it was that she was too 
 yielding to those she loved, and sheSlid love her 
 young husband with all the warmth of her 
 young guileless heart; for she had neither par- 
 ents nor kinsfolk, and he was the one object 
 around which her affections might cling. They 
 were all the world to each other, and for a few 
 short months they were very happy. 
 
 " But it could not last; the marriage was dis- 
 covered her guardian and the young man's 
 father were both furious, and they were torn 
 asunder; she carried away to a distant planta- 
 tion, and he sent North to attend college. 
 
 " They were well-nigh distracted, but cher- 
 ished the hope that when they should reach their 
 majority and come into possession of their prop- 
 erty, which was now unfortunately entirely in. 
 the hands of their guardians, they would be 
 reunited. 
 
 " But it is the old story their letters were 
 intercepted, and the first news the young hus
 
 20 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 band received of his wife was that she Had died 
 a few days after giving birth to a little daugh- 
 ter/' 
 
 Again Mr. Dinsmore paused, then continued: 
 
 * It was a terrible stroke! For months, reason 
 seemed almost ready to desert her throne; but 
 time does wonders, and in the course of years it 
 did much to heal his wounds. You would per- 
 haps suppose that he would at once or at least 
 as soon as he was his own master have sought 
 out his child, and lavished upon it the wealth of 
 his affections: but no; he had conceived almost 
 an aversion to it; for he looked upon it as the 
 cause innocent, it is true but still the cause of 
 his wife's death. He did not know till long 
 years afterwards that her heart was broken by 
 the false story of his desertion and subsequent 
 death. Her guardian was a hard, cruel man, 
 though faithful in his care of her property. 
 
 "With him the child remained until she was 
 about four years old when a change was made 
 necessary by his death, and she, with her faithful 
 nurse, was received into her paternal grandfa- 
 ther's family until her father, who had then gone 
 abroad, should return. But my story is grow- 
 ing very long, and you will be weary of listening. 
 I will try to be as brief as possible. 
 
 " The little girl, under the care of her nurse 
 and the faithful instructions of a pious old 
 Scotchwoman who had come over with the 
 child's maternal grandparents, and followed the 
 fortunes of the daughter and granddaughter, 
 always living as housekeeper in the families 
 where they resided had grown to be a sweet,
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 21 
 
 engaging child, inheriting her mother's beauty 
 and gentleness. She had also her mother's crav- 
 ing for affection, and was constantly looking and 
 longing for the return of her unknown father, 
 which was delayed from time to time until she 
 was nearly eight years of age. 
 
 "At last he came; but ah, what a bitter dis- 
 appointment awaited the poor child! His mind 
 had been poisoned against her, and instead of the 
 love and tenderness she had a right to expect, he 
 met her with coldness almost with aversion. 
 Poor little one! she was nearly heartbroken, and 
 for a time scarcely dared venture into her father's 
 presence. She was gentle, submissive, and pa- 
 tient; he cold, haughty, and stern. But she 
 would love him, in spite of his sternness, and at 
 length she succeeded in winning her way to his 
 affections, and he learned to love her with pas- 
 sionate tenderness. 
 
 " Still her troubles were not over. She was 
 sincerely pious, and conscientiously strict in 
 many things which her father deemed of little 
 i importance; especially was this the case in 
 regard to the observance of the Sabbath. He 
 was a man of iron will, and she, though perfectly 
 submissive in other respects, had the firmness of 
 a martyr in resisting any interference with her 
 conscience. 
 
 "Well, their wills came in collision. He 
 required her to do what she considered a viola- 
 tion of God's law, although he could see no harm 
 in it, and therefore considered her stubborn and 
 disobedient. He was firm, but so was she. He 
 tried persuasions, threats, punishments all with-
 
 22 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 out effect. He banished her from his arms, from 
 the family circle, deprived her of amusements, 
 denied her to visitors, broke off her correspond- 
 ence with a valued friend, sent away her nurse; 
 and finding all these acts of severity ineffectual, 
 he at length left her, telling her he would return 
 only when she submitted; and even refusing her 
 a parting caress, which she pleaded for with 
 heart-breaking entreaties." 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore's voice trembled with emotion, 
 but recovering himself, he went on: 
 
 "Don't think, Miss Allison, that all this time 
 the father's heart was not bleeding; it was, at 
 every pore; but he was determined to conquer, 
 and mistook the child's motives and the source 
 of her strength to resist his will. 
 
 " He had bought a beautiful estate; he caused 
 the house to be handsomely fitted up and fur- 
 nished, especially lavishing trouble and expense 
 upon a suite of rooms for his little girl, and when 
 all was completed, he wrote to her, bidding her 
 go and see the lovely home he had prepared for 
 her reception as soon as she would submit, and 
 presenting, as the only alternative, banishment 
 to a boarding-school or convent until her educa- 
 tion was finished. This was the one drop which 
 made the cup overflow. The poor suffering 
 child was prostrated by a brain fever which 
 brought her to the very gates of death. Then 
 the father's eyes were opened; he saw his folly 
 and his sin, and repented in sackcloth and ashes; 
 and God, in His great mercy, was pleased to 
 spare him the terrible crushing blow which 
 seemed to have already fallen; for at one time
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 23 
 
 they told him his child was dead. Oh, never, 
 never can he forget the unutterable anguish of 
 that moment! " 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore paused, unable to proceed. Eose 
 had been weeping for some time. She well knew 
 to whose story she was listening, and her gentle, 
 loving heart was filled with pity for both him 
 and for his child. 
 
 " I have but little more to tell," he resumed; 
 "the child has at length entirely recovered her 
 health; she is dearer to her father's heart than 
 words can express, and is very happy in the 
 knowledge that it is so, and that henceforward 
 he will strive to assist her to walk in the narrow 
 way, instead of endeavoring to lead her from it. 
 
 " Their home has been a very happy one; but 
 it lacks one thing the wife and mother's place 
 is vacant; she who filled it once is gone never 
 to return! but there is a sweet, gentle lady 
 who has won the hearts of both father and 
 daughter, and whom they would fain persuade 
 to fill the void in their affections and their 
 home. 
 
 " Miss Kose, dare I hope that you would ven- 
 ture to trust your happiness in the hands of a 
 man who has proved himself capable of such 
 cruelty? " 
 
 Eose did not speak, and he seemed to read in 
 her silence and her averted face a rejection of 
 his suit. 
 
 "Ah, you cannot love or trust me!" he ex- 
 claimed bitterly. "I was indeed a fool to hope 
 it. Forgive me for troubling you; forgive my 
 presumption in imagining for a moment that I
 
 24 ELSIE'S GIBLHOOD. 
 
 might be able to win you. But oh, Rose, could 
 you but guess how I love you better than aught 
 else upon earth save my precious child! and even 
 as I love her better than life. I said that our 
 home had been a happy one, but to me it can 
 be so no longer if you refuse to share it with me! " 
 
 She turned her blushing face towards him for 
 a single instant, and timidly placed her hand in 
 his. The touch sent a thrill through her whole 
 frame. 
 
 "And you will dare trust me?" he said in a 
 low tone of intense joy. " Oh, Rose! I have not 
 deserved such happiness as this! I am not worthy 
 of one so pure and good. But I will do all that 
 man can do to make your life bright and happy." 
 
 "Ah, Mr. Dinsmore! I am very unfit for the 
 place you have asked me to fill," she murmured. 
 "I am not old enough, or wise enough to be a 
 mother to your little girl." 
 
 "I know you are young, dear Rose, but you 
 are far from foolish," he said tenderly, " and my 
 little girl is quite prepared to yield you a daugh- 
 ter's love and obedience; but I do not think she 
 will be a care or trouble to you; I do not intend 
 that she shall, but expect to take all that upon 
 myself. Indeed, Rose, dearest, you shall never 
 know any care or trouble that I can save yon 
 from. No words can tell how dear you are to 
 me, and were it in my power I would shield you 
 from every annoyance, and give you every joy 
 that the human heart can know. I have loved 
 you from the first day we met! ah, I loved you 
 eveflQ before that, for all your love and kindness 
 to my darling child; but I scarcely dared hope
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 25 
 
 that you could return my affection, or feel willing 
 to trust your happiness to the keeping of one who 
 had shown himself such a monster of cruelty in 
 his treatment of his little gentle daughter. Are 
 you not afraid of me, Eose? " 
 
 His arm was around her waist, and he was 
 bending over her, gazing down into her face, and 
 eagerly awaiting her answer. 
 
 Presently it came, in calm, gentle tones; " N"o, 
 Horace; 'perfect love casteth out fear/ and I 
 cannot judge you hardly for what may have been 
 only a mistaken sense of duty, and has been so 
 bitterly repented." 
 
 " Heaven bless you, dearest, for these words/* 
 he answered with emotion, " they have made me 
 the happiest of men/' 
 
 Horace Dinsmore wore upon his little finger a 
 splendid diamond ring, which had attracted a 
 good deal of attention, especially among the 
 ladies, who admired it extremely, and of which 
 Miss Stevens had hoped to be one day the happy 
 and envied possessor. Taking Rose's small white 
 hand in his again, he placed it upon her slender 
 finger. 
 
 " This seals our compact, and makes you mine 
 forever," he said, pressing the hand to his lips. - 
 
 " With the consent of my parents," murmured 
 Rose, a soft blush mantling her cheek. 
 
 Elsie was still in her papa's private parlor, for 
 though it was long past her usual hour for retir- 
 ing, she had not yet done so; her father having 
 left a message with Chloe to the effect that she 
 might, if she chose, stay up until his return. 
 
 Chloe had dropped asleep in her chair, and the
 
 26 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 little girl was trying to while away the time with 
 a book. But she did not seem much interested 
 in it, for every now and then she laid it down to 
 run to the door and listen. Then sighing to her- 
 self, " They are not coming yet," she would go 
 back and take it up again. But at last she started 
 from her seat with an exclamation of delight that 
 awoke Chloe; for this time there could be no 
 doubt; she had heard his well-known step upon 
 the stairs. 
 
 She moved quickly towards the door stopped 
 hesitated, and stood still in the middle of the 
 room. 
 
 But the door opened, and her father entered 
 with Miss Kose upon his arm. One look at his 
 radiant countenance, and Bose's blushing, happy 
 face told the whole glad story. He held out his 
 hand with a beaming smile, and Elsie sprang 
 towards him. 
 
 " My darling," he said, stooping to give her a 
 kiss, " I have brought you a mother." 
 
 Then taking Eose's hand, and placing one of 
 Elsie's in it, while he held the other in a close, 
 loving grasp, he added: " Eose, she is your daugh- 
 ter also. I give you a share in my choicest 
 treasure." 
 
 Bose threw her arm around the little girl and 
 kissed her tenderly, whispering: "Will you love 
 me, Elsie, dearest? you know how dearly I love 
 you." 
 
 " Indeed I will; I do love you very much, and 
 I am very glad, dear, darling Miss Eose," Elsie 
 replied, returning her caress. 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore was watching them with a heart
 
 ELSIE S GIRLHOOD, 8? 
 
 swelling with joy and gratitude. He led Rose to 
 a sofa, and seating himself by her side, drew Elsie 
 in between his knees, and put an arm round each. 
 "My two treasures," he said, looking affection- 
 ately from one to the other. " Rose, I feel my- 
 self the richest man in the Union." 
 
 Rose smiled, and Elsie laid her head on her 
 father's shoulder with a happy sigh. 
 
 They sat a few moments thus, when Rose made 
 a movement to go, remarking that it must be 
 growing late. She felt a secret desire to be safe 
 within the shelter of her own room before the 
 return of the riding party should expose her to 
 Miss Stevens' prying curiosity. 
 
 " It is not quite ten yet," said Mr. Dinsmore, 
 looking at his watch. 
 
 " Late enough though, is it not? " she answered 
 with a smile. " I think I must go. Good-night, 
 dear little Elsie." She rose, and Mr. Dinsmore, 
 gently drawing her hand within his arm, led her 
 to her room, bidding her good-night at the door, 
 and adding a whispered request that she would 
 wait for him to conduct her down to the break- 
 fast room in the morning. 
 
 " Must I go to bed now, papa ? " asked Elsie, as 
 he returned to the parlor again. 
 
 " Not yet," he said; " I want you." And, sit- 
 ting down, he took her in his arms. " My dar- 
 ling, my dear little daughter!" he said; "were 
 you very lonely this evening? " 
 
 " No, papa; not very, though I missed you atid 
 Miss Rose." 
 
 He was gazing down into her face; something 
 in its expression seemed to strike him, and he
 
 28 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOL. 
 
 suddenly turned h^r towards the light, and look- 
 ing keenly at her, said, " You have been crying; 
 what was the matter? " 
 
 Elsie's face flushed crimson, and the tears 
 started to her eyes again. " Dear papa, don't 
 be angry with me," she pleaded. "I couldn't 
 help it; indeed I could not." 
 
 " I am not angry, darling; only pained that my 
 little girl is not so happy as I expected. I hoped 
 that your joy would be unclouded to-night, as 
 mine has been; but will you not tell your father 
 what troubles you, dearest?" 
 
 "I was looking at this, papa," she said, draw- 
 ing her mother's miniature from her bosom, and 
 putting it into his hand; " and mammy was tell- 
 ing me all about my own mamma again; and, papa, 
 you know I love Miss Rose, and I am very glad 
 
 she is coming to us, but it seems as if as if " 
 
 She burst into a flood of tears, and hiding her 
 face on his breast, sobbed out, " Oh, papa, I can't 
 help feeling as though mamma my own dear 
 mamma is farther away from us now; as if she 
 is going to be forgotten." 
 
 There were tears in his eyes, too; but gently 
 raising her head, he pushed back the curls from 
 her forehead, and kissing her tenderly, said, in 
 low, soothing tones, "No, darling; it is only a 
 feeling, and will soon pass away. Your own dear 
 mother my early love can never be forgotten 
 by either of us. Nor would Eose wish it. There 
 is room in my heart for both of them, and I do 
 not love the memory of Elsie less because I have 
 given a place in it to Rose." 
 
 There was a momentary silence; then she
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 29 
 
 looked up, asking timidly, "You are not vexed 
 with me, papa? " 
 
 " No, dearest; not at all; and I am very glad 
 you have told me your feelings so freely," he said, 
 folding her closer and closer to his heart. "I 
 hope you will always come to me with your sor- 
 rows, and you need never fear that you will not 
 find sympathy, and help too, as far as it is in my 
 power to give it. Elsie, do you know that you 
 are very like your mother? the resemblance 
 grows stronger every day; and it would be quite 
 impossible for me to forget her with this living 
 image always before me." 
 
 '-Am I like her, papa? I am so glad!" ex- 
 claimed the little girl eagerly, her face lighting up 
 with a joyous smile. 
 
 It seemed as though Mr. Dinsmore could hardly 
 bear to part with his child that night; he held 
 her a long time in his arms, but at last, with an- 
 other tender caress, and a fervent blessing, he 
 bade her good-night and sent her away.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 She twin'd and her mother's gaze brought back 
 
 Each hue of her childhood's faded track. 
 
 Oh ! hush the song, and let her tears 
 
 Flow to the dream of her early years 1 
 
 Holy and pure are the drops that fall 
 
 When the young bride goes from her father's hall ; 
 
 She goes unto love yet untried and new 
 
 She parts from love which hath still been true. 
 
 MRS. HEMANS' POEMS. 
 
 " How did it happen that Mr. Dinsmore was 
 not of your party last night, Miss Stevens? " in- 
 quired one of the lady boarders the next morning 
 at the breakfast-table. 
 
 " He had been riding all the morning with his 
 little girl, and I presume was too much fatigued 
 to go again in the evening/' Miss Stevens coolly 
 replied, as she broke an egg into her cup, and 
 proceeded very deliberately to season it. 
 
 " It seems he was not too much fatigued to 
 walk," returned the other, a little maliciously; 
 " or to take a lady upon his arm." 
 
 Miss Stevens started, and looked up hastily. 
 
 " I would advise you to be on your guard, and 
 play your cards well, or that quiet Miss Allison 
 may prove a serious rival," the lady continued. 
 " He certainly pays her a good deal of attention." 
 
 " It is easy to account for that," remarked 
 Miss Stevens, with a scornful toss of the head; 
 " he is very fond of his little girl, and takes her
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 31 
 
 out walking or riding every day, and this Miss 
 Allison who is, I presume, a kind of governess 
 indeed, it is evident that she is, from the care 
 she takes of the child goes along as a matter of 
 course; but if you think Horace Dinsmore would 
 look at a governess, you are greatly mistaken, for 
 he is as proud as Lucifer, as well as the rest of 
 his family, though he does set up to be so very 
 pious! " 
 
 " Excuse me, madam," observed a gentleman 
 sitting near, " but you must be laboring under a 
 misapprehension. I am well acquainted with the 
 Allison family, and can assure you that the father 
 is one of the wealthiest merchants in Phila- 
 delphia." 
 
 At this moment 'Mr. Dinsmore entered^ with 
 Eose upon his arm, and leading Elsie with the 
 other hand. They drew near the table; he 
 handed Miss Allison to a seat and took his place 
 beside her. 
 
 A slight murmur of surprise ran round the 
 table, and all eyes were turned upon Rose, who, 
 feeling uncomfortably conscious of the fact, cast 
 down her own in modest embarrassment, while 
 Elsie, with a face all smiles and dimples, sent a 
 triumphant glance across the table at Annie 
 Hart, who was whispering to her mother, " See, 
 mamma, she has Mr. Dinsmore's ring! " 
 
 That lady immediately called Miss Stevens' at- 
 tention to it, which was quite unnecessary, as she 
 was already burning with rage at the sight. 
 
 " They walked out alone last evening, and that 
 ring explains what they were about," said Mrs. 
 Hart, in an undertone. " I am really sorry for
 
 32 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 you, Miss Stevens; for your prize has certainly 
 slipped through your fingers." 
 
 " I am much obliged to you," she replied, with 
 a toss of her head; " but there are as good fish in 
 the sea as ever were caught." 
 
 The next moment she rose and left the table, 
 Mrs. Hart following her into the public parlor, 
 and continuing the conversation by remarking, 
 " I would sue him for breach of promise if I were 
 you, Miss Stevens. I understood you were en- 
 gaged to him." 
 
 "I never said so; so what right had you to 
 suppose it?" returned Miss Stevens snap- 
 pishly. 
 
 And upon reflecting a moment, Mrs. Hart could 
 not remember that she had ever said so in plain 
 terms, although she had hinted it many times 
 talking a great deal of Mr. Dinsmore's splendid 
 establishment, and frequently speaking of the 
 changes she thought would be desirable in Elsie's 
 dress, just as though she expected some day to 
 have it under her control. Then, too, she had 
 always treated Mr. Dinsmore with so much 
 familiarity that it was perfectly natural strangers 
 should suppose they were engaged, even though 
 he never reciprocated it; for that might be only 
 because he was naturally reserved and undemon- 
 strative; as indeed Miss Stevens frequently 
 averred, seeming to regret it very deeply. 
 
 Presently she burst out, "I don't know why 
 people are always so ready to talk! I don't care 
 for Horace Dinsmore, and never did! There was 
 never anything serious between us, though I must 
 say he has paid me marked attentions, and given
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 33 
 
 me every reason to suppose he meant something 
 by them. I never gave him any encouragement, 
 however; and so he has been taken in by that 
 artful creature. I thought he had more sense, 
 and could see through her maneuvers coaxing 
 and petting up the child to curry favor with the 
 father! I thank my stars that I am above such 
 mean tricks! I presume she thinks, now, she is 
 making a splendid match; but if she doesn't re- 
 pent of her bargain before she has been married 
 a year, I miss my guess! She'll never have her 
 own way not a bit of it I can tell her that. 
 Everybody that knows him will tell you that he is 
 high-tempered and tyrannical, and as obstinate 
 as a mule." 
 
 " The grapes are very sour, I think," whispered 
 Mrs. Hart to her next neighbor, who nodded and 
 laughed. 
 
 " There is Elsie out on the veranda, now," said 
 Annie. "I mean to go and ask her what Miss 
 Allison had her father's ring for; may I, 
 mamma? " 
 
 " Yes; go, child, if you want to; I should like to 
 hear what she will say; though, of course, every- 
 body understands that there must be an engage- 
 ment." 
 
 " Well, Elsie, what made you run away in such 
 a hurry yesterday? " asked Annie, running up to 
 our little friend. " Did you ask your papa about 
 the new mamma? " 
 
 " I told him what you said, Annie, and it wasn't 
 true," Elsie answered, with a glad look of joy. 
 " I am going to have a new mother though, and 
 papa said I might tell you; but it is Miss Allison
 
 34 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 instead of Miss Stevens, and I am very glad, be- 
 cause I love her dearly." 
 
 "Is she your governess?" 
 
 "No, indeed! what made you ask?" 
 
 " Miss Stevens said so," replied Annie, laugh- 
 ing and running away. And just then Elsie's 
 papa called her, and bade her go upstairs and 
 have her hat put on, as they were going out to 
 walk. 
 
 Edward Allison had been talking with his sis- 
 ter in her room, and they came down together to 
 the veranda, where Mr. Dinsmore and Elsie were 
 waiting for them. Edward was looking very 
 proud and happy, but Eose's face was half hidden 
 by her veil. She took Mr. Dinsmore's offered 
 arm, and Elsie asked, " Aren't you going with us, 
 Mr. Edward? " 
 
 " Not this time," he answered, smiling. " I 
 have an engagement to play a game of chess with 
 one of the ladies in the parlor yonder." 
 
 " Then I shall have papa's other hand," she 
 said, taking possession of it. 
 
 She was very merry and talkative, but neither 
 of her companions seemed much disposed to an- 
 swer her remarks. They were following the 
 same path they had taken the night before, and 
 the thoughts of both were very busy with the past 
 and the future. 
 
 At length they reached the rustic seat where 
 they had sat while Mr. Dinsmore told his story, 
 and he inquired of Eose if she would like to stop 
 and rest. 
 
 She assented, recognizing the place with a 
 smile and a blush, and they sat down.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 35 
 
 " Papa," said Elsie, " I am not tired, mayn't I 
 run on to the top of that hill yonder? " 
 
 " Yes, if you will not go out of sight or hear- 
 ing, so that I can see that you are safe, and within 
 call when I want you," he replied, and she 
 bounded away. 
 
 Eose was sitting thoughtfully, with her eyes 
 upon the ground, while those of her companion 
 were following the graceful figure of his little 
 girl, as she tripped lightly along the road. 
 
 " Mr. Dinsmore," Eose began. 
 
 " I beg pardon, but were you speaking to me? " 
 he asked, turning to her with a half smile. 
 
 " Certainly," she replied, smiling in return; 
 " there is no one else here." 
 
 "Weil then, Eose, dear, please to remember 
 hat I don't answer to that name from your lips, 
 at least not when we are alone. I am not Mr. 
 Dinsmore to you, unless you mean to be Miss 
 Allison to me," he added, taking her hand and 
 gazing tenderly into her blushing face. 
 
 " Oh! no, no; I would not have you call me 
 that!" 
 
 " Well then, dear Eose, I want you to call me 
 Horace. I would almost as soon think of being 
 Mr. Dinsmore to Elsie, as to you. And now, 
 what were you going to say to me ? " 
 
 " Only that I wish to set out on my homeward 
 way to-night, with Edward. I think it would be 
 best, more especially as mamma has written com- 
 plaining of our long absence, and urging a speedj 
 return." 
 
 " Of course your mother's wishes are the first 
 to be consulted, until you have given me a prior
 
 36 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 right," he said, in a playful tone; " and so I sup* 
 pose Elsie and I will be obliged to continue our 
 journey by ourselves. But when may I claim you 
 for my own indeed? Let it be as soon as possible, 
 dearest, for I feel that I ought to return to my 
 home ere long, and I am not willing to do so with- 
 out my wife." 
 
 " I must have a few weeks to prepare; you 
 know a lady's wardrobe cannot be got ready in a 
 day. What would you say to six weeks? I am. 
 afraid mamma would think it entirely too short.'* 
 
 " Six weeks, dear Eose? why that would bring 
 us to the middle of November. Surely a month 
 will be long enough to keep me waiting for my 
 happiness, and give the dressmakers sufficient 
 time for their work. Let us say one month from 
 to-day." 
 
 Eose raised one objection after another, but he 
 overruled them all and pleaded his cause so ear- 
 nestly that he gained his point at last, and the 
 wedding was fixed for that day month, provided 
 the consent of her parents, to so sudden a parting 
 with their daughter, could be obtained. 
 
 While Eose was at home making her prepara- 
 tions, Mr. Dinsmore and his daughter were visiting 
 the great lakes, and travelling through Canada. 
 He heard frequently from her, and there were 
 always a few lines to Elsie, which her father 
 allowed her to answer in a little note enclosed in 
 his; and sometimes he read her a little of his own, 
 or of Miss Eose's letter, which she always con- 
 sidered a very great treat. 
 
 New York City was their last halting place on 
 their route, and there they spent nearly two
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 37 
 
 weeks in shopping and sight-seeing. Mr. Pins- 
 more purchased an elegant set of furniture for 
 his wife's boudoir, and sent it on to his home, 
 with his orders to Mrs. Murray concerning its ar- 
 rangement. To this he added a splendid set of 
 diamonds as his wedding gift to his bride, while 
 Elsie selected a pair of very costly bracelets as 
 hers. 
 
 They arrived in Philadelphia on Tuesday after- 
 noon, the next morning being the time appointed 
 for the wedding. Mr. Dinsmore himself went to 
 his hotel, but_sent Elsie and her nurse to Mr. Alli- 
 son's, as he had been urgently requested to do, 
 the family being now in occupation of their town 
 residence. 
 
 Elsie found the whole house in a bustle of 
 preparation. Sophy met her at the door and 
 carried her off at once to her own room, eager to 
 display what she called "her wedding dress." 
 She was quite satisfied with the admiration Elsie 
 expressed. " But I suppose you bought ever so 
 many new dresses, and lots of other pretty things, 
 in New York? " she said inquiringly. 
 
 " Yes; papa and I together. And don't you 
 think, Sophy, he let me help him choose some of 
 his clothes, and he says he thinks I have very 
 good taste in ladies' and gentlemen's dress too." 
 
 " That was right kind of him, but isn't it odd, 
 and real nice too, that he and Rose are going to 
 get married? I was so surprised. Do you like 
 it, Elsie? and shall you call her mamma?" 
 
 " Oh, yes, of course. I should be quite 
 wretched if papa were going to marry any one 
 else; but I love Miss Eose dearly, and I am very
 
 38 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 glad she is coming to us. I think it is very good 
 of her, and papa thinks so too." 
 
 " Yes/' replied Sophy honestly, " and so do I; 
 for I am sure I shouldn't like to leave papa and 
 mamma and go away off there to live, though I 
 do like you very much, Elsie, and your papa too. 
 Only think! he is going to be my brother; and 
 then won't you be some sort of relation too? I 
 guess I'll be your aunt, won't I? " 
 
 '' I don't know; I haven't thought about it," 
 said Elsie; while at the same instant Harold put 
 his head in at the half-open door, saying, " Of 
 course you will; and I'll be her uncle." 
 
 The little girls were quite startled at first, but 
 seeing who it was, Elsie ran towards him, holding 
 out her hand. 
 
 " How do you do, Harold? " she said; " I am 
 glad to see you." 
 
 He had his satchel of books on his arm. 
 " Thank you, how are you? I am rejoiced to see 
 you looking so well, but, as for me, I am quite 
 sick of lessons," he replied in a melancholy 
 tone, and putting on a comically doleful ex- 
 pression. 
 
 Elsie laughed and shook her head. " I thought 
 you were a good boy and quite fond of your 
 books." 
 
 " Commonly, I believe I am, but not in these 
 wedding times. It's quite too bad of your father, 
 Elsie, to be carrying off Rose, when he won't let 
 us have you. But never mind, I'll be even with 
 him some of these days;" and he gave her a mean- 
 ing look. 
 
 " Come in, Harold, and put your books down/'
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 39 
 
 said Sophy; "you can afford to spend a few 
 minutes talking to Elsie, can't you?" 
 
 " I think I will! " he replied, accepting her in- 
 vitation. 
 
 They chatted for some time, and then Adelaide 
 came in. Elsie had heard that she was coming, 
 on to be first bridesmaid. " Elsie, dear, how glad 
 I am to see you! and how well and happy you are 
 looking! " she exclaimed, folding her little niece 
 in her arms, and kissing her fondly. " But 
 come," she added, taking her by the hand and 
 leading her into the next room, " Miss Kose came 
 in from her shopping only a few minutes ago, and 
 she wants to see you." 
 
 Eose was standing by the toilet-table, gazing 
 intently, with a blush and a smile, at something 
 she held in her hand. She laid it down as they 
 came in, and embracing the little girl affection- 
 ately, said how very glad she was to see her. 
 
 Then, turning to the table again, she took up 
 what she had been looking at which proved to 
 be a miniature of Mr. Dinsmore and handed it 
 to Adelaide, saying, "Is it not excellent? and so 
 kind and thoughtful of him to give it to me." 
 
 " It is indeed a most perfect likeness," Ade- 
 laide replied. " Horace is very thoughtful about 
 these little matters. I hope he will make you 
 very happy, dear Kose. I cannot tell you how 
 glad I was when I heard you were to be my 
 sister." 
 
 " You have seemed like a sister to me ever since 
 the winter I spent with you," said Eose. And 
 then she began questioning Elsie about her jour- 
 ney, and asking if she were not fatigued, and
 
 40 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 would not like to lie down and rest a little before 
 tea. 
 
 "No thank you," Elsie said; "you know it is 
 only a short trip from New York, and I am not 
 at all tired." 
 
 Just then the tea-bell rang, and Rose laughed 
 and said it was well Elsie had not accepted her 
 invitation. 
 
 On going down to tea they found Mr. Dinsmore 
 and Mr. Travilla there. Elsie was delighted to 
 meet her old friend, and it was evident that he 
 had already made himself a favorite with all the 
 children, from Harold down to little May. 
 
 The wedding was a really brilliant affair. The 
 bride and her attendants were beautifully dressed 
 and, as every one remarked, looked very charm- 
 ing. At an early hour in the morning carriages' 
 were in waiting to convey the bridal party and 
 the family to the church where the ceremony was 
 to be performed. When it was over they re- 
 turned to the house, where an elegant breakfast 
 was provided for a large number of guests; after 
 which there was a grand reception for several 
 hours. Then, when the last guest had departed, 
 Eose retired to her own room, appearing shortly 
 afterwards at the family dinner-table in her 
 pretty travelling dress, looking very sweet and 
 engaging, but sober and thoughtful, as were also 
 her father and brothers; while Mrs. Allison's eyes 
 were constantly filling with tears at the thought 
 of losing her daughter. 
 
 There was very little eating done, and the con- 
 versation flagged several times in spite of the 
 efforts of the gentlemen to keep it up. At length
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 41 
 
 ail rose from the table, and gathered in the par- 
 lor for a few moments. Then came the parting, 
 and they were gone; and Mrs. Allison, feeling 
 almost as if she had buried her daughter, tried to 
 forget her loss by setting herself vigorously to 
 work overseeing the business of putting her 
 house in order. 
 
 Eose's feelings were mingled. She wept for a 
 time, but the soothing tenderness of her hus- 
 band's manner, and Elsie's winning caresses, soon 
 restored her to herself, and smiles chased away 
 the tears. 
 
 They had a very pleasant journey, without ac- 
 cident or detention, and arrived in due time at 
 their own home, where they were welcomed with 
 every demonstration of delight. 
 
 Eose was charmed with the Oaks, thought it 
 even more lovely than either Eoselands or Elin- 
 grove, and Mr. Dinsmore and Elsie intensely en- 
 joyed her pleasure and admiration. 
 
 Then came a round of parties, which Elsie 
 thought extremely tiresome, as she could have no 
 share in them, and was thus deprived of the com- 
 pany of her papa and mamma almost every even- 
 ing for several weeks. But at last that too was 
 over, and they settled down into a quiet, home 
 life, that suited them all much better, for neither 
 Mr. Dinsmore nor Eose was very fond of gayety. 
 
 And now Elsie resumed her studies regularly, 
 reciting as before to her father; while Eose under- 
 took to instruct her in the more feminine 
 branches of housekeeping and needlework, and a 
 master came from the city several times a week 
 to give her lessons in music and drawing. She
 
 42 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 had been so long without regular employment 
 that she found it very difficult at first to give her 
 mind to her studies, as she had done in former 
 days; but her father, though kind and consider- 
 ate, was very firm with her, and she soon fell into 
 the traces and worked as diligently as ever. 
 
 Elsie did not find that her father's marriage 
 brought any uncomfortable change to her. 
 There was no lessening of his love or care; she 
 saw as much of him as before, had full possession 
 of her seat upon his knee, and was caressed and 
 fondled quite as often and as tenderly as ever. 
 
 And added to all this were Rose's love and 
 sweet companionship, which were ever grateful to 
 the little girl, whether they were alone or with 
 her father. Elsie loved her new mamma dearly 
 and was as respectful and obedient to her as to 
 her father, though Rose never assumed any au- 
 thority; which, however, was entirely unneces- 
 sary, as a wish or request from her was sure to be 
 attended to as if it had been a command. 
 
 And Rose was very happy in her new home. 
 Mr. Dinsmore's family were pleased with the 
 match and treated her most kindly, while he was 
 always affectionate, thoughtful, and attentive; 
 not less devoted as a husband than as a father. 
 They were well suited in taste and disposition; 
 seldom had the slightest disagreement on any 
 subject, and neither had ever cause to regret the 
 step they had taken, for each day they lived to- 
 gether seemed but to increase their love for each 
 other, and for their little daughter, as Mr. Dins- 
 more delighted to call her, always giving Rose a 
 share in the ownership.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Of ali the joys that brighten suffering earth 
 WLat joy is welcomed like a new-born child? 
 
 MRS. NOKTON. 
 
 " MASSA wants you for to come right along to 
 him in de study, darlin', jis as soon as your ole 
 mammy kin get you dressed/' said Chloe, one 
 morning to her nursling. 
 
 "What for, mammy?" Elsie asked curiously, 
 for she noticed an odd expression on her nurse's 
 face. 
 
 " Massa didn't tell me nuffin 'bout what he 
 wanted, an' I spects you'll have to ax hisself," re- 
 plied Chloe evasively. 
 
 Elsie's curiosity was excited, and she hastened 
 to the study as soon as possible. Her father laid 
 down his paper as she entered, and held out his 
 hand with a smile as he bade her good-morning, 
 and it struck her that there was an odd twinkle 
 in his eye also, while she was certain that she 
 could not be mistaken in the unusually joyous 
 expression of his countenance. 
 
 " Good-morning, papa. But where is mam- 
 ma?" she asked, glancing about the room in 
 search of her. 
 
 " She is not up yet, but do you sit down here 
 in your little rocking chair. I have something 
 for you." 
 
 He left the room as he spoke, returning again 
 
 43
 
 44 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 in a moment, carrying what Elsie thought was a 
 strange-looking bundle. 
 
 "There! hold out your arms/' he said; and 
 placing it in them., he gently raised one corner of 
 the blanket, displaying to her astonished view a 
 tiny little face. 
 
 " A baby! Oh, the dear little thing! " she ex- 
 claimed in tones of rapturous delight. Then 
 looking up into his face, " Did you say I might 
 have it, papa? whose baby is it? " 
 
 " Ours; your mamma's and my son, and your 
 brother," he answered, gazing down with intense 
 pleasure at her bright, happy face, sparkling all 
 over with delight. 
 
 " My little brother! my darling little brother," 
 she murmured, looking down at it again, and ven- 
 turing to press her lips gently to its soft velvet 
 cheek. " Oh, papa, I am so glad, so glad! I have 
 eo wanted a little brother or sister. Is not God 
 very good to give him to us, papa? " And happy, 
 grateful tears were trembling in the soft eyes as 
 she raised them to his face again. 
 
 " Yes," he said, bending down and kissing first 
 her cheek, and then the babe's, " I feel that God 
 has indeed been very good to me in bestowing 
 upon me two such treasures as these." 
 
 " What is his name, papa? " she asked. 
 
 " He has none yet, my clear." 
 
 " Then, papa, do let him be named Horace, for 
 you; won't you if mamma is willing? And then 
 I hope he will grow up to be just like you; as 
 handsome and as good." 
 
 " I should like him to be a great deal better, 
 daughter/' he answered with a grave smile; " and
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 45 
 
 about the name I don't know yet; I should pre- 
 fer some other, but your mamma seems to want 
 that, and I suppose she has the best right to name 
 him; but we will see about it." 
 
 " Better give little marster to me now, Miss 
 Elsie," remarked his nurse, stepping up, "I 
 reckon your little arms begin to feel tired." And 
 taking the babe she carried him from the 
 room. 
 
 Nothing could have better pleased Mr. Dins- 
 more than Elsie's joyous welcome to her little 
 brother; though it was scarcely more than he had 
 expected. 
 
 " My own darling child; my dear, dear little 
 daughter," he said, taking her in his arms and 
 kissing her again and again. " Elsie, dearest, 
 you are very precious to your father's heart." 
 
 " Yes, papa, I know it," she replied, twining 
 her arms about his neck, and laying her cheek to 
 his; " I know you love me dearly, and it makes 
 me so very happy." 
 
 "May I go in to see mamma?" she asked 
 presently. 
 
 "No, darling, not yet: she is not able to see 
 you; but she sends her love, and hopes she may 
 be well enough to receive a visit from you to- 
 morrow." 
 
 " Poor mamma! I am sorry she is ill," she said 
 sorrowfully; "but I will try to keep everything 
 Very quiet that she may not be disturbed." 
 
 That evening, after tea, Elsie was told that she 
 would be allowed to speak to her mamma for a 
 moment if she chose, and she gladly availed her- 
 self of the privilege.
 
 46 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 "Dear Elsie," Eose whispered, drawing her 
 down to kiss her cheek, " I am so glad you are 
 pleased with your little brother." 
 
 " Oh, mamma, he is such a dear little fellow 1 " 
 Elsie answered eagerly; " and now, if you will onty 
 get well we will be happier than ever." 
 
 Rose smiled and said she hoped soon to be 
 quite well again, and then Mr. Dinsmore led Elsie 
 from the room. 
 
 Eose was soon about again and in the enjoy- 
 ment of her usual health and strength. Elsie's 
 delight knew no bounds the first time her mamma 
 was able to leave her room, and take her place at 
 the table with her father and herself. She doted 
 on her little brother, and, if allowed, would have 
 had him in her arms more than half the time; 
 but he was a plump little fellow, and soon grew so 
 large and heavy that her father forbade her carry- 
 ing him lest she should injure herself; but she 
 would romp and play with him by the hour while 
 he was in the nurse's arms, or seated on the bed; 
 and when any of her little friends called, she 
 could not be satisfied to let them go away with- 
 out seeing the baby. 
 
 The first time Mr. Travilla called, after little 
 Horace's arrival, she exhibited her treasure to 
 him with a great deal of pride, asking if he did 
 not envy her papa. 
 
 " Yes," he said, looking admiringly at her, and 
 then turning away with a half sigh. 
 
 A few minutes afterwards he caught hold of 
 her, set her on his knee, and giving her a kiss, 
 said, " I wish you were ten years older, Elsie, or I 
 ten years younger."
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 49 
 
 "Why, Mr. Travilla?" she asked rather won- 
 deringly. 
 
 " Oh, because we would then be nearer of an 
 age, and maybe you would like me better." 
 
 " No, I wouldn't, not a bit," she said, putting 
 her arm round his neck, " for I like you now just 
 as well as I could like any gentleman but papa." 
 
 The elder Mr. Dinsmore was very proud of his 
 little grandson and made a great pet of him, com- 
 ing to the Oaks much more frequently after his 
 birth than before. 
 
 Once he spoke of him as his first grandchild. 
 
 " You forget Elsie, father," said Horace, put- 
 ting his arm round his little girl, who happened 
 to be standing by his side, and giving her a ten- 
 der, loving look. 
 
 He greatly feared that the marked difference 
 his father made between the two would wound 
 Elsie's sensitive spirit, and perhaps even arouse a 
 feeling of jealousy towards her little brother; 
 therefore, when his father was present, he was 
 even more than usually affectionate in his manner 
 towards her, if that were possible. 
 
 But Elsie had no feeling of the kind; she had 
 long ceased to expect any manifestation of affec- 
 tion from her grandfather towards herself, but 
 was very glad indeed that he could love her dear 
 little brother. 
 
 " Ah, yes! to be sure, I did forget Elsie," re- 
 plied the old gentleman carelessly; " she is the 
 first grandchild of course; but this fellow is the 
 first grandson, and quite proud of him I am. He 
 is a pretty boy, and is going to be the very image 
 of his father."
 
 48 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 "I hope lie will, father," said Rose, looking 
 proudly at her husband. And then she added, 
 with an affectionate glance at Elsie: " If he is 
 only as good and obedient as his sister, I shall be 
 quite satisfied with him. "We could not ask a 
 better child than our dear little daughter, nor 
 love one more than we do her; she is a great com- 
 fort and blessing to us both/' 
 
 The color mounted to Elsie's cheek, and her 
 eyes beamed with pleasure. Mr. Dinsmore, too, 
 looked very much gratified, and the old gentle- 
 man could not fail to perceive that the difference 
 he made between the children was quite distaste- 
 ful to both parents.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 A lovely being, scarcely formed or moulded, 
 A rose with all its sweetest leaves yet folded. 
 
 BYKON. 
 
 ELSIE was nearly twelve when her little brother 
 was born. During the next three years she led a 
 life of quiet happiness, unmarked by any striking 
 event. There were no changes in the little 
 family at the Oaks but such as time must bring 
 to all. Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore perhaps looked a 
 trifle older than when they married, Elsie was 
 budding into womanhood as fair and sweet a 
 flower as ever was seen, and the baby had grown 
 into a healthy romping boy. 
 
 At Eoselands, on the contrary, there had been 
 many and important changes. Louise and Lora 
 were both married; the former to a resident of 
 another State, who had taken her to his distant 
 home; the latter to Edward Howard, an older 
 brother of Elsie's friend Carrie. They had not 
 left the neighborhood, but were residing with 
 bis parents. 
 
 For the last two or three years Arthur Dins- 
 more had spent his vacations at home; he was 
 doing so now, having just completed his freshman, 
 year at Princeton. On his return Walter was to 
 accompany him and begin his college career. 
 
 Miss Day left soon after Lora's marriage and
 
 50 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 no effort had been made to fill her place, Adelaide 
 having undertaken to act as governess to Enna, 
 now the only remaining occupant of the school- 
 room. 
 
 Taking advantage of an unusually cool hreezy 
 afternoon, Elsie rode over to Tinegrove, Mr. 
 Howard's plantation to make a call. She found 
 the family at home and was urged to stay to tea; 
 but declined, saying she could not without per- 
 mission, and had not asked it. 
 
 "You will at least take off your hat," said 
 Carrie. 
 
 " No, thank you," Elsie answered, " it is not 
 worth while, as I must go so soon. If you will 
 excuse me, I can talk quite as well with it on/ 
 
 They had not met for several weeks and found 
 a good deal to say to each other. At length Elsie 
 drew out her watch. 
 
 "Ah!" she exclaimed, "I have overstayed my 
 time! I had no idea it was so late you have 
 been so entertaining; but I must go now." And 
 she rose hastily to take leave. 
 
 " Nonsense! " said her Aunt Lora in whose 
 boudoir they were sitting, " there is no such great 
 hurry, I am sure. You'll get home long before 
 dark." 
 
 " Yes, and might just as well stay another five 
 or ten minutes. I wish you would; for I have 
 ever so much to say to you," urged Carrie. 
 
 " It would be very pleasant, thank you, but in- 
 deed I must not. See how the shadows are 
 lengthening, and papa does not at all like to have 
 me out after sunset unless he is with me." 
 
 " He always was overcaref ul of you, erring on
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 51 
 
 the right side, I suppose, if that be an allowable 
 expression," laughed Lora, as she and Carrie fol- 
 lowed Elsie to the door to see her mount her 
 horse. 
 
 The adieus were quickly spoken and the young 
 girl, just touching the whip to the sleek side of 
 her pony, set off at a gallop, closely followed by 
 her faithful attendant Jim. 
 
 Several miles of rather a lonely road lay be- 
 tween them and home, and no time was to be 
 lost, if they would reach the Oaks while the sun 
 was still above the horizon. 
 
 They were hardly more than half a mile from 
 the entrance to the grounds, when Elsie caught 
 sight of a well-known form slowly moving down 
 the road a few paces ahead of them. It was 
 Arthur, and she soon perceived that it was his 
 intention to intercept her; he stopped, turning 
 his face toward her, sprang forward as she came 
 up. and seized her bridle. 
 
 " Stay a moment, Elsie," he said, " I want to 
 speak to you." 
 
 " Then come on to the Oaks, and let us talk 
 there; please do, for I am in a hurry." 
 
 " No, I prefer to say my say where I am. I'll 
 not detain you long. You keep out of earshot, 
 Jim. I want to borrow a little money, Elsie; a 
 trifle of fifty dollars or so. Can you accommo- 
 date me?" 
 
 "Not without papa's knowledge, Arthur. So 
 I hope you do not wish to conceal the matter 
 from him." 
 
 " I do. I see no reason why he should know all 
 about my private affairs. Can't you raise that
 
 52 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 much without applying to him? Isn't your al- 
 lowance very large now?" 
 
 " Fifty dollars a month, Arthur, but subject to 
 the same conditions as of old. I must account 
 to papa for every cent.' 5 
 
 " Haven't you more than that in hand now? " 
 
 " Yes, but what do you want it for? " 
 
 " That's neither your business nor his; let me 
 have it for two weeks, I'll pay it back then, 
 and in the meantime he need know nothing 
 about it." 
 
 " I cannot; I never have any concealments from 
 papa, and I must give in my acount in less than a 
 week." 
 
 " Nonsense! You are and always were the most 
 disobliging creature alive!" returned Arthur 
 with an oath. 
 
 " Oh, Arthur, how can you say such wicked 
 words," she said, recoiling from him with a shud- 
 der. " And you quite misjudge me. I would be 
 glad to do anything for you that is right. If you 
 will let me tell papa your wish, and he gives con- 
 sent, you shall have the money at once. Now 
 please let me go. The sun has set and I shall be 
 so late that papa will be anxious and much dis- 
 pleased." 
 
 "Who cares if he is!" he answered roughly, 
 still retaining his hold upon her bridle, and com- 
 pelling her to listen while he continued to urge 
 his request; enforcing it with arguments and 
 threats. 
 
 They were alike vain, she steadfastly refused 
 to grant it except on the conditions she had 
 aamed, and which he determinately rejected
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 53 
 
 and insisted being left free to pursue her home- 
 ward way. 
 
 He grew furious, and at length with a shock- 
 ing oath released her bridle, but at the same in- 
 stant struck her pony a severe blow upon his 
 haunches, with a stout stick he held in his hand. 
 
 The terrified animal, smarting with the pain, 
 started aside, reared and plunged in a way that 
 would have unseated a less skilful rider, and had 
 nearly thrown Elsie from the saddle: then darted 
 off at the top of its speed; but fortunately turned 
 in at the gate held open by Jim, who had ridden 
 on ahead and dismounted for that purpose. 
 
 " Whoa, you Glossy! whoa dere! " he cried, 
 springing to the head of the excited animal, and 
 catching its bridle in his powerful grasp. 
 
 " Just lead her for a little, Jim," said Elsie 
 "There, there! my poor pretty Glossy, be quiet 
 now. It was too cruel to serve you so; but it 
 shan't happen again if your mistress can help it," 
 she added in a voice tremulous with sympathy 
 and indignation, patting and stroking her pony 
 caressingly as she spoke. 
 
 Jim obeyed, walking on at a brisk pace, lead- 
 ing Glossy with his right hand, and keeping the 
 bridle of the other horse over his left arm. 
 
 " I'll walk the rest of the way, Jim," said Elsie 
 presently, " just stop her and let me get down. 
 There," springing lightly to the ground, "you 
 may lead them both to the stable now." 
 
 She hurried forward along the broad, gravelled 
 winding carriage road that led to the house. The 
 next turn brought her face to face with her, 
 father.
 
 54 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 "What, Elsie! alone and on foot at this late 
 hour? " he said in a tone of mingled surprise and 
 reproof. 
 
 " I have been riding, papa, and only a mo- 
 ment since dismounetd and let Jim lead the 
 horses down the other road to the stables." 
 
 " Ah, but how did you come to be so late? " he 
 asked, drawing her hand within his arm and lead- 
 ing her onward. 
 
 " I have been to Tinegrove, sir, and Aunt Lora, 
 Carrie, and I found so much to say to each other, 
 that the time slipped away before I knew it." 
 
 " It must not happen again, Elsie." 
 
 " I do not mean it shall, papa, and I am very 
 sorry." 
 
 " Then I excuse you this once, daughter; it is 
 not often you give me occasion to reprove 
 you." 
 
 "Thank you, papa," she said with a grateful, 
 loving look. "Did you come out in search of 
 me?" 
 
 " Yes, your mamma and I had begun to grow 
 anxious lest some accident had befallen you. 
 Our little daughter is such a precious treasure 
 that we must needs watch over her very care- 
 fully," he added in a tone that was half playful, 
 half tender, while he pressed the little gloved 
 hand in his, and his eyes rested upon the sweet 
 fair face with an expression of proud fatherly 
 affection. 
 
 Her answering look was full of filial reverence 
 and love. " Dear papa, it is so nice to be so loved 
 and cared for; so sweet to hear such words from 
 your lips. I do believe I'm the very happiest girl
 
 ELSIE 8 GIRLHOOD. M 
 
 in the land." She had already almost forgotten' 
 Arthur and his rudeness and brutality. 
 
 "And I the happiest father," he said with a 
 pleased smile. " Ah, here comes mamma to meet 
 us with little Horace." 
 
 The child ran forward with a glad shout to 
 Meet his sister, Eose met her with loving words 
 and a fond caress; one might have thought from 
 their joyous welcome, that she was returning 
 after an absence of weeks or months instead of 
 hours. Letting go her father's arm as they 
 stepped upon the piazza Elsie began a romping 
 play with her little brother, but at a gentle re- 
 minder from her mamma that the tea bell would 
 soon ring, ran away to her own apartments to 
 have her riding habit changed for something 
 more suitable for the drawing room. 
 
 Chloe was in waiting and her skilful hands 
 made rapid work, putting the last touches to her 
 nursling's dress just as the summons to the sup- 
 per table was given. 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore was quite as fastidious as in for- 
 mer days in regard to the neatness and tasteful- 
 Bess of Elsie's attire. 
 
 "Will I do, papa?" she asked, presenting her- 
 self before him, looking very sweet and fair in 
 a simple white dress with blue sash and ribbons. 
 
 "Yes," he said with a satisfied smile, "I see 
 nothing amiss with dress, hair, or face." 
 
 "Nor do I," said Kose, leading the way to the 
 supper room, " Aunt Chloe is an accomplished 
 tirewoman. But come, let us sit down to our 
 meal and have it over." 
 
 On their return to the drawing room they;
 
 56 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 found Mr. Travilla comfortably ensconced in an 
 easy chair, reading the evening paper. He was an 
 almost daily visitor at the Oaks, and seldom came 
 without some little gift for one or both of his 
 friend's children. It was for Elsie to-night. 
 When the usual greetings had been exchanged, he 
 turned to her, saying, " I have brought you j 
 treat. Can you guess what it is? " 
 
 "A book!'"' 
 
 "Ah, there must be something of the Yankee 
 about you," he answered, laughing. " Yes, it is 
 a book in two volumes; just published and a most 
 delightful, charming story," he went on, drawing 
 them from his pockets, and handing them to her 
 as he spoke. 
 
 " Oh, thank you, sir! " she cried with eager 
 gratitude, " I'm so glad, if if only papa will al- 
 low me to read it. May I, papa? " 
 
 " I can tell better when I have examined it, my 
 child," Mr. Dinsmore answered, taking one of the 
 volumes from her hands and looking at the title 
 on the back. < The Wide, Wide World! ' What 
 sort of a book is it, Travilla? " 
 
 " A very good sort, I think. Just glance 
 through it or read a few pages, and Fm pretty 
 cure it will be sufficient to satisfy you of, not only 
 its harmleesness, but that its perusal would be a 
 benefit to almost any one." 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore did so, Elsie standing beside him, 
 her hand upon his arm, and her eyes on his face 
 anxiously watching its changes of expression as 
 he read. They grew more and more satisfactory; 
 the book was evidently approving itself to his 
 taste and judgment, and presently he returned it
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 57 
 
 fo her, saying, \vith a kind fatherly smile, " Yes, 
 my child, you may read it. I have no doubt it de- 
 serves all the praise Mr. Travilla has given it.' 
 
 " Oh, thank you, papa, I'm very glad," she an- 
 swered joyously, " I am just hungry for a nice 
 story." And seating herself near the light, she 
 was soon lost to everything about her in the deep 
 interest with which she was following Ellen 
 Montgomery through her troubles and trials. 
 
 She was loath to lay the book aside when at the 
 usual hour a quarter before nine the bell rang 
 for prayers. She hardly heeded the summons 
 till her papa laid his hand on her shoulder, say- 
 ing, " Come, daughter, you must not be left be- 
 hind," 
 
 She started up then, hastily closing the book, 
 and followed the others to the dining room, 
 where the servants were already assembled to 
 take part in the family devotions. 
 
 Mr. Travilla went away immediately after and 
 now it was Elsie's bed-time. Her father re- 
 minded her of it as, on coming back from seeing 
 his friend to the door, he found her again poring 
 over the book. 
 
 " Oh, papa, it is so interesting! could you let 
 me finish this chapter? " she asked with a very 
 entreating look up into his face as he stood at 
 her side. 
 
 " I suppose I could if I should make a great 
 effort," he answered laughingly. " Yes, you may, 
 for once, but don't expect always to be allowed 
 to do so." 
 
 " No, sir, oh, no. Thank you, sir." 
 
 "Well, have you come to a good stopping-
 
 58 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 place? " he asked, as she presently closed the book 
 and put it aside with a slight sigh. 
 
 "No, sir, it is just as bad a one as the other. 
 Papa, I wish I was grown up enough to read an- 
 other hour before going to bed." 
 
 " I don't," he said, drawing her to a seat upon 
 his knee, and passing his arm about her waist, 
 " I'm not ready to part with my little girl yet." 
 
 "Wouldn't a fine young lady daughter be just 
 as good or better ? " she asked, giving him a hug. 
 
 " No, not now, some of these days I may think 
 
 80." 
 
 " But mayn't I stay up and read till ten to- 
 night?" 
 
 He shook his head. "Till half-past nine, 
 then?" 
 
 " No, not even till quarter past. Ah, it is that 
 now," he added, consulting his watch. 
 
 " You must say good-night and go. Early 
 hours and plenty of sleep for my little girl, that 
 she may grow up to healthful, vigorous woman- 
 hood, capable of enjoying life and being very use- 
 ful in the church and the world." He kissed her 
 with grave tenderness as he spoke. 
 
 " Good-night then, you dear father," she said, 
 returning the caress. " I know you would in- 
 dulge me if you thought it for my good." 
 
 " Indeed I would, pet. Would it help to recon- 
 cile you to the denial of your wish to know that I 
 shall be reading the book, and probably enjoying 
 it as much as you would? " 
 
 " Ah yes, indeed, papa ! it is a real pleasure to 
 resign it to you," she answered with a look of de- 
 light. " It's just the nicest story! at least as far
 
 ELBE'S GIRLHOOD. 5* 
 
 as I've read. Eead it aloud to mamma, won't 
 you?' 
 
 " Yes, if she wishes to hear it. Now away with 
 you to your room and your bed." 
 
 Only waiting to bid her mamma an affection- 
 ate good-night, Elsie obeyed, leaving the room 
 with a light step, and a cheerful, happy face. 
 
 " Dear unselfish child! " her father said, look- 
 ing after her. 
 
 " She is that indeed," said Rose. " How happy 
 shall I be if Horace grows up to be as good and 
 lovable." 
 
 Elsie was a fearless horsewoman, accustomed 
 to the saddle from her very early years. Thus 
 Arthur's wanton attack upon her pony had failed 
 to give her nerves the severe shock it might have 
 caused to those of most young girls of her age. 
 Her feeling was more of excitement, and of in- 
 dignation at the uncalled-for cruelty to a dumb 
 animal, especially her own pet horse, than of 
 fright at the danger to herself. But she well 
 knew that the latter was what her father would 
 think of first, and that he would be very angry 
 with Arthur; therefore she had tried, and suc- 
 cessfully, to control herself and suppress all signs 
 of agitation on meeting him upon her return. 
 
 She felt glad now as the affair recurred to her 
 recollection while preparing for the night's rest, 
 that she had been able to do so. For a moment 
 she questioned with herself whether she was quite 
 right to have this concealment from her father, 
 but quickly decided that she was. Had the wrong- 
 doing been her own that would have made ik 
 altogether another matter.
 
 60 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 She was shocked at Arthur's wickedness, 
 troubled and anxious about his future, but freely 
 forgave his crime against her pony and herself, 
 and mingled with her nightly petitions an ear- 
 nest prayer for his conversion, and his welfare 
 temporal and spiritual.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 O love ! thou sternly dost thy power maintain, 
 And wilt not bear a rival in thy reign. 
 
 DRYDEN. 
 
 IT was the middle of the forenoon, and Elsie in 
 her own pretty little sitting room was busied with 
 her books; so deep in study indeed, that she never 
 noticed a slight girlish figure as it glided in at 
 the glass doors opening upon the lawn, to-day 
 set wide to admit the air coming fresh and cool 
 with a faint odor of the far-off sea, pleasantly 
 mingling with that of the flowers in the garden, 
 on the other side of the house. 
 
 "Buried alive in her books! Dear me! what 
 a perfect paragon of industry you are," cried the 
 intruder in a lively tone. "I wish you would 
 imbue me with some of your love of study." 
 
 " Why, Lucy Carrington! how did you get 
 here?" and Elsie pushed her books away, rose 
 hastily and greeted her friend with an affectionate 
 embrace. 
 
 " How? I came in through yonder door, miss; 
 after riding my pony from Ashlands to the front 
 entrance of this mansion," replied Lucy, courtesy- 
 ing low in mock reverence. " I hope your ladyship 
 will excuse the liberty I have taken in venturing 
 uninvited into your sanctum." 
 
 " Provided your repentance is deep aad sin* 
 cere," returned Elsie in the same jesting tone,
 
 2 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 " Certainly, I solemnly pledge myself never to 
 do it again till the next time." 
 
 " Sit down, won't you? " and Elsie pushed for- 
 ward a low rocking chair. " It's so pleasant to 
 gee you. But if I had thought about it at all I 
 should have supposed you were at home, and as 
 busy over books and lessons as I." 
 
 "No; my respected governess, Miss Warren, 
 not feeling very well, has taken a week's holiday, 
 and left me to do the same. Fancy my afflicted 
 state at the thought of laying aside my beloved 
 books for seven or eight whole days." 
 
 '* You poor creature! how I pity you," said 
 Elsie, laughing; " suppose you stay here and share 
 the instructions of my tutor; I have no doubt 
 I could persuade him to receive you as a 
 pupil." 
 
 " Horrors! I'm much obliged, very much, but 
 I should die of fright the first time I had to re- 
 cite. There, I declare I'm growing poetical, talk- 
 ing in rhyme all the time." 
 
 " Let mammy take your hat and scarf," said 
 Elsie. " You'll stay and spend the day with me, 
 won't you? " 
 
 " Thank you, no; I came to carry you off to 
 Ashlands to spend a week. Will you come ? " 
 
 " I should like to, dearly well, if papa gives per- 
 mission." 
 
 " Well, run and ask him." 
 
 " I can't; unfortunately he is out, and not ex- 
 pected to return till tea-time." 
 
 " Oh, pshaw! how provoking! But can't your 
 mamma give permission just as well? " 
 
 "If it were only for a day she might, but I
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 6S 
 
 know she would say the question of a longer visit 
 must be referred to papa." 
 
 "Dear me! I wouldn't be you for something. 
 Why, I never ask leave of anybody when I want 
 to pay a visit anywhere in the neighborhood. I 
 tell mamma I'm going, and that's all-sufficient. 
 I don't see how you stand being ordered about 
 and controlled so." 
 
 " If you'll believe me," said Elsie, laughing a 
 gay, sweet, silvery laugh, " I really enjoy being 
 controlled by papa. It saves me a deal of trouble 
 and responsibility in the way of deciding for my- 
 self; and then I love him so dearly that I almost 
 always feel it my greatest pleasure to do what- 
 ever pleases him." 
 
 " And he always was so strict with you." 
 
 " Yes, he is strict; but oh, so kind." 
 
 " But that's just because you're so good; he'd 
 have an awful time ruling me. I'd be in a 
 chronic state of disgrace and punishment; and 
 he obliged to be so constantly reproving me and 
 frowning sternly upon my delinquencies that he'd 
 never be able to don a smile of approval or slip 
 in a word of praise edgewise." 
 
 " Indeed you're not half so bad as you pre- 
 etnd," said Elsie, laughing again; "nor I half 
 so good as you seem determined to believe 
 me." 
 
 " No, I've no doubt that you're an arch hypo- 
 crite, and we shall find out one of these days that 
 you are really worse than any of the rest of us. 
 But now I must finish my errand and go, for I 
 know you're longing to be at those books. Do 
 you get a ferruling every time you miss a word?
 
 4 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 and enjoy the pain because it pleases papa to in- 
 flict it?" 
 
 " Oh, Lucy, how can you be so ridiculous? " and 
 a quick, vivid blush mounted to Elsie's very hair. 
 
 " I beg your pardon, Elsie, dear, I had no busi- 
 ness to say such a thing," cried Lucy, springing 
 up to throw her arms round her friend and kiss 
 her warmly; "but of course it was nothing but 
 the merest nonsense. I know well enough your 
 papa never does anything of the kind." 
 
 " No; if my lessons are not well prepared they 
 have to be learned over again, that is all; and if 
 I see that papa is displeased with me, I assure you 
 it is punishment enough." 
 
 " Do you think he'll let you accept my invita- 
 tion?" 
 
 " I don't know, indeed, Lucy. I think he will 
 hardly like to have me give up my studies for that 
 length of time, and in fact I hardly like to do so 
 myself." 
 
 " Oh, you must come. You can practise on 
 my piano every day for an hour or two, if you 
 like. We'll learn some duets. And you can 
 bring your sketch-book and carry it along when 
 we walk or ride, as we shall every day. And we 
 might read some improving books together, 
 you and Herbert, and I. He is worse again, poor 
 fellow! so that some days he hardly leaves his 
 couch even to limp across the room, and it's 
 partly to cheer him up that we want you to come. 
 There's nothing puts him into better spirits than 
 a sight of your face." 
 
 " You don't expect other company? " 
 
 "No, except on our birthday; but then we're
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 65 
 
 going to have a little party, just of our own set, 
 we boys and girls that have grown up or are 
 growing up together, as one may say. Oh, yes, 
 1 want to have Carrie Howard, Mary Leslie, and 
 Enna stay a day or two after the party. Now 
 coax your papa hard, for we must have you," she 
 added, rising to go. 
 
 " That would be a sure way to make him say 
 no," said Elsie, smiling; " he never allows me to 
 coax or tease; at least, not after he has once an- 
 swered my request." 
 
 "Then don't think of it. Good-bye. No, 
 don't waste time in coming to see me off, but go 
 back to your books like a good child. I mean to 
 have a little chat with your mamma before I go." 
 
 Elsie returned to her lessons with redoubled 
 energy. She was longing to become more inti- 
 mately acquainted with Ellen Montgomery, but 
 resolutely denied herself even so much as a peep 
 at the pages of the fascinating story-book until 
 her allotted tasks should be faithfully performed. 
 
 These, with her regular daily exercise in the 
 open air, filled up the morning; there was a half 
 hour before, and another after dinner, which she 
 could call her own; then two hours for needle- 
 work, music, and drawing, and she was free to 
 employ herself as she would till bed-time. 
 
 That was very apt to be in reading, and if the 
 weather was fine she usually carried ner book to 
 an arbor at some distance from the house. It 
 was reached by a long shaded walk that led to it 
 from the lawn, on which the glass doors of her 
 pretty boudoir opened. It was a cool, breezy, 
 guiet spot, on a terraced hillside, commanding a
 
 66 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 lovely view of vale, river, and woodland, and from 
 being so constantly frequented by our heroine, 
 had come to be called by her name, " Elsie's 
 Arbor." Arthur, well acquainted with these 
 tastes and habits, sought and found her here on 
 the afternoon of this day found her so deeply 
 absorbed in Miss Warner's sweet story that she 
 was not aware of his approach so full of sym- 
 pathy for little Ellen that her tears were dropping 
 upon the page as she read. 
 
 " What, crying, eh? " he said with a sneer, as 
 he seated himself by her side, and rudely pulled 
 one of her curls, very much as he had been used 
 to do years ago. " Well, I needn't be surprised, 
 for you always were the greatest baby I ever saw." 
 
 " Please let my hair alone, Arthur; you are not 
 very polite in either speech or action," she an- 
 swered, brushing away her tears and moving a 
 little farther from him. 
 
 " It's not worth while to waste politeness on 
 you. What's that you're reading? " 
 
 " A new book Mr. Travilla gave me." 
 
 " Has no name, eh? " 
 
 Yes, < Wide, Wide World.' " 
 
 *' Some namby-pamby girl's story, I s'pose, 
 since you're allowed to read it; or are you doing 
 it on the sly?" 
 
 " No, I never do such things, and hope I never 
 shall; papa gave me permission." 
 
 " Oh; ah! then I haven't got you in my power: 
 \yish I had." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 *' Because I might turn it to good account. I 
 know you are as afraid as death of Horace."
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 67 
 
 "No, I am not!" cried Elsie indignantly, the 
 rich color rushing all over her fair face and neck; 
 " for I know that he loves me dearly, and if I had 
 been disobeying or deceiving him I would far 
 sooner throw myself on his mercy than on yours." 
 
 "You would, eh? How mad you are; your 
 face is as red as a beet. A pretty sort of Chris- 
 tian you are, aren't you? " 
 
 "I am not perfect, Arthur; but you mustn't 
 judge of religion by me." 
 
 "I shall, though. Don't you wish I'd go 
 away? " he added teasingly, again snatching at 
 her curls. 
 
 But she eluded his grasp, and rising, stood be- 
 fore him with an air of gentle dignity. " Yes," 
 she said, " since you ask me, I'll own that I do. 
 I don't know why it is that, though your manners 
 are polished when you choose to make them so, 
 you are always rude and ungentlemanly to me 
 when you find me alone. So I shall be very glad 
 if you'll just go away and leave me to solitude 
 and the enjoyment of my book." 
 
 " I'll do so when I get ready; not a minute 
 sooner. But you can get rid of me just as soon 
 as you like. I see you take. Yes, I want that 
 money I asked you for yesterday, and I am bound 
 to have it." 
 
 "Arthur, my answer must be just the same 
 that it was then; I can give you no other." 
 
 "You're the meanest girl alive! To my cer- 
 tain knowledge you are worth at least a million 
 and a half, and yet you refuse to lend me the 
 pitiful sum of fifty dollars." 
 
 "Arthur, you know I have no choice in the
 
 68 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 mattei. Papa has forbidden me to lend you 
 money without his knowledge and consent, and I 
 cannot disobey him." 
 
 "When did he forbid you?" 
 
 " A long while ago; and though he has said 
 nothing about it lately, he has told me again and 
 again that his commands are always binding until 
 he revokes them." 
 
 " Fifteen years old, and not allowed to do as 
 you please even with your pocket money! " he 
 said contemptuously. " Do you expect to be in 
 leading-strings all your life? " 
 
 " I shall of course have control of my own 
 money matters on coming of age; but I expect to 
 obey my father as long as we both live," she an- 
 swered, with gentle but firm decision. 
 
 "Do you have to show your balance in hand 
 when you give in your account? " 
 
 "No; do you suppose papa cannot trust my 
 word?" she answered, somewhat indignantly. 
 
 " Then you could manage it just as easily as 
 not. There's no occasion for him to know 
 whether your balance in hand is at that moment 
 in your possession or mine; as I told you before, 
 I only want to borrow it for two weeks. Come, 
 let me have it. If you don't, the day will come 
 when you'll wish you had." 
 
 She repeated her refusal; he grew very angry 
 and abusive, and at length went so far as to strike 
 her. 
 
 A quick step sounded on the gravel walk, a 
 strong grasp was laid on Arthur's arm, he felt 
 himself suddenly jerked aside and flung upon his 
 knees, while a perfect rain of stinging, smarting
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 9 
 
 blows descended rapidly upon his back and shoul- 
 ders. 
 
 " There, you unmitigated scoundrel, you mean, 
 miserable caitiff; lay your hand upon her again 
 if you dare! " cried Mr. Travilla, finishing the 
 castigation by applying the toe of his boot to Ar- 
 thur's nether parts with a force that sent him 
 reeling some distance down the walk, to fall with 
 a heavy thud upon the ground. 
 
 The lad rose, white with rage, and shook his 
 fist at his antagonist. "I'll strike her when I 
 please," he said with an oath, " and not be called 
 to account by you for it either; she's my niece, 
 and nothing to you." 
 
 " I'll defend her nevertheless, and see to it that 
 you come to grief if you attempt to harm her in 
 any way whatever. Did he hurt you much, my 
 child ? " And Mr. Travilla's tone changed to one 
 of tender concern as he turned and addressed 
 Elsie, who had sunk pale and trembling upon the 
 rustic seat where Arthur had found her. 
 
 " No, sir, but I fear you have hurt him a good 
 deal, in your kind zeal for my defence," she an- 
 swered, looking after Arthur, as he limped away 
 down the path. 
 
 " I have broken my cane, that is the worst of 
 it," said her protector coolly, looking regretfully 
 down at the fragment he still held in his hand. 
 
 " You must have struck very hard, and oh, Mr. 
 Travilla, what if he should take it into his head 
 to challenge you?" and Elsie turned pale with 
 terror. 
 
 " Never fear; he is too arrant a, coward for that; 
 !he knows I am a good shot, and that, as the chal-
 
 70 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 lenged party, I would have the right to the choice 
 of weapons." 
 
 " But you wouldn't fight, Mr. Tra villa? you do 
 not approve of duelling? " 
 
 " No, no indeed, Elsie; both the laws of God 
 and of the land are against it, and I could not 
 engage in it either as a good citizen or a Chris- 
 tian." 
 
 " Oh, I am so glad of that, and that you came 
 to my rescue; for I was really growing frightened, 
 Arthur seemed in such a fury with me." 
 
 "What was it about?" 
 
 Elsie explained, then asked how he had hap- 
 pened to come to her aid. 
 
 " I had learned from the servants that your 
 father and mother were both out, so came here 
 in search of you," he said. " As I drew near I 
 saw that Arthur was with you, and not wishing to 
 overhear your talk, I waited at a little distance 
 up there on the bank, watching you through the 
 trees. I perceived at once that he was in a tow- 
 ering passion, and fearing he would ill-treat you 
 in some way, I held myself in readiness to come to 
 your rescue; and when I saw him strike you, such 
 a fury suddenly came over me that I could not 
 possibly refrain from thrashing him for it." 
 
 "Mr. Tra villa, you will not tell papa?" she 
 said entreatingly. 
 
 " My child, I am inclined to think he ought to 
 hear of it." 
 
 " Oh, why need he? It would make him very 
 angry with Arthur." 
 
 " Which Arthur richly deserves. I think your 
 father should know, in order that he may take
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 71 
 
 measures for your protection. Still, if you 
 promise not to ride or walk out alone until Arthur 
 has left the neighborhood, it shall be as you wish. 
 But you must try to recover your composure, or 
 your papa will be sure to ask the cause of your 
 agitation. You are trembling very much, and 
 the color has quite forsaken your cheeks." 
 
 "I'll try," she said, making a great effort to 
 control herself, " and I give you the promise." 
 
 " This is a very pleasant place to sit with book 
 or work." he remarked, " but I would advise you 
 not even to come here alone again tillArthur has 
 gone." 
 
 " Thank you, sir, I think I shall follow your 
 advice. It will be only a few weeks now till he 
 and Walter both go North to college." 
 
 " I see you have your book with you," he said, 
 taking it up from the seat where it lay. " How 
 do you like it?" 
 
 " Oh, so much! How I pity poor Ellen for 
 having such a father, so different from my dear 
 papa; and because she had to be separated from 
 her mamma, whom she loved so dearly. I can't 
 read about her troubles without crying, Mr. 
 Travilla." 
 
 " Shall I tell you a secret," he said, smiling; " I 
 shed some tears over it myself." Then he went 
 on talking with her about the different characters 
 of the story, thus helping her to recover her com- 
 posure by turning her thoughts from herself and 
 Arthur. 
 
 When, half an hour later, a servant came to 
 summon her to the house, with the announcement 
 that her father had returned and was readv to
 
 72 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 hear her recitations, all signs of agitation had 
 disappeared; she had ceased to tremble, and her 
 fair face was as sweet, bright, and rosy as its 
 wont. 
 
 She rose instantly on hearing the summons. 
 " You'll excuse me, I know, Mr. Travilla. But 
 will you not go in with me ? We are always glad 
 to have you with us. I have no need to tell you 
 that, I am sure." 
 
 " Thank you/' he said, " but I must return to 
 Ion now. I shall walk to the house with you 
 though, if you will permit me," he added, think- 
 ing that Arthur might be still lurking somewhere 
 within the grounds. 
 
 She answered gayly that she would be very 
 glad of his company. She had lost none of her 
 old liking for her father's friend, and was wont 
 to treat him with the easy and affectionate famil- 
 iarity she might have used had he been her uncle. 
 
 They continued their talk till they had reached 
 the lawn at the side of the house on which her 
 apartments were; then he turned to bid her good- 
 bye. 
 
 " I'm much obliged! " she said, taking his 
 offered hand, and looking up brightly into his 
 face. 
 
 " Welcome, fair lady; but am I to be dismissed 
 without any reward for my poor services? " 
 
 " I have none to offer, sir knight, but you may 
 help yourself if you choose," she said, laughing 
 and blushing, for she knew very well what he 
 meant. 
 
 He stooped and snatched a kiss from her ruby 
 lips, then walked away sighing softly to him-
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. V3 
 
 self, " Ah, little Elsie, if I were but ten years 
 younger! " 
 
 She tripped across the lawn, and entering the 
 jpen door of her boudoir, found herself in he* 
 father's arms. He had witnessed the little scene 
 just enacted between Mr. Travilla and herself. 
 had noticed something in his friend's look and 
 manner that had never struck him before. He. 
 folded his child close to his heart for an instant, 
 then held her off a little, gazing fondly into her 
 face. 
 
 " You are mine; you belong to me; no other 
 earthly creature has the least shadow of a right 
 or title in you; do you know that? " 
 
 " Yes, papa, and rejoice to know it," she mur- 
 mured, putting her arms about his neck and lay- 
 ing her head against his breast. 
 
 "Ah!" he said, sighing, "you will not always 
 be able to say that, I fear. One of these days 
 
 you will " He broke off abruptly, without 
 
 finishing his sentence. 
 
 She looked up inquiringly into his face. 
 
 He answered her look with a smile and a ten- 
 der caress. " I had better not put the nonsense 
 into your head: it will get there soon enough 
 without my help. Come now, let us have the 
 lessons. I expect to find them well prepared, as 
 usual/' 
 
 " I hope so, papa/' she answered, bringing her 
 books and seating herself on a stool at his feet, 
 he having taken possession of an easy-chair. 
 
 The recitations seemed a source of keen enjoy- 
 ment to both; the one loving to impart, and the 
 other to receive, knowledge.
 
 ?4 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore gave the deserved meed of warm 
 praise for the faithful preparation of each al- 
 lotted task, prescribed those for the coming day, 
 and the books were laid aside. 
 
 " Come here, daughter," he said, as she closed 
 her desk upon them, " I have something to say 
 to you." 
 
 " What is it, papa? " she asked, seating herself 
 upon his knee. " How very grave you look." 
 But there was not a touch of the old fear in her 
 face or voice, as there had been none in his of 
 the old sternness. 
 
 " Yes, for I am about to speak of a serious 
 matter," he answered, gently smoothing back the 
 clustering curls from her fair brow, while he 
 looked earnestly into the soft brown eyes. " You 
 have not been lending money to Arthur, Elsie?" 
 
 The abrupt, unexpected question startled her, 
 and a crimson tide rushed over her face and neck; 
 but she returned her father's gaze steadily: "No, 
 papa; how could you think I would disobey you 
 so?" 
 
 " I did not, darling, and yet I felt that I must 
 ask the question and repeat my warning, my com- 
 mand to you never to do so without my knowl- 
 edge and consent. Your grandfather and I are 
 much troubled about the boy." 
 
 "I am so sorry, papa; I hope he has not been 
 doing anything very bad." 
 
 " He seems to have sufficient cunning to hide 
 many of his evil deeds," Mr. Dinsmore said, with 
 a sigh; "yet enough has come to light to con- 
 vince us that he is very likely to become a shame 
 and disgrace to his family. We know that he is
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 75 
 
 profane, and to some extent, at least, intemperate 
 and a gambler. A sad, sad beginning for a boy 
 of seventeen. And to furnish him with money, 
 Elsie, would be only to assist him in his down- 
 ward course." 
 
 " Yes, papa, I see that. Poor grandpa, I'm so 
 sorry for him! But, papa, God can change Ar- 
 thur's heart, and make him all we could wish." 
 
 " Yes, daughter, and we will agree together to 
 ask Him to do this great work, so impossible to 
 any human power; shall we not? " 
 
 " Yes, papa." They were silent a moment; 
 then she turned to him again, told of Lucy Car- 
 rington's call and its object, and asked if she 
 might accept the invitation. 
 
 He considered a moment. " Yes," he said 
 kindly, " you may if you wish. You quite de- 
 serve a holiday, and I think perhaps would really 
 be the better of a week's rest from study. Go and 
 enjoy yourself as much as you can, my darling." 
 
 " Thank you, you dearest, kindest, and best of 
 papas," she said, giving him a hug and kiss. 
 "But I think you look a little bit sorry. You. 
 would rather I should stay at home, if I could 
 content myself to do so, and it would be a strange 
 thing if I could not." 
 
 " No, my pet, I shall miss you, I know; the 
 house always seems lonely without you; but I can 
 spare you for a week, and would rather have you 
 go, because I think the change will do you good. 
 Besides, I am willing to lend my treasure for a 
 few days to our friends at Ashlands. I would 
 gladly do more than that, if I could, for that poor 
 suffering Herbert"
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 How many pleasant faces shed their light on every side. 
 
 T UPPER. 
 
 " REMEMBEE it is for only one week; you must 
 be back again next "Wednesday by ten o'clock; I 
 can't spare you an hour longer," Mr. Dinsmore 
 said, as the next morning, shortly after breakfast, 
 he assisted his daughter to mount her pony. 
 
 " Ten o'clock at night, papa? " asked Elsie in 
 a gay, jesting tone, as she settled herself in the 
 saddle, and took a little gold-mounted riding whip 
 from his hand. 
 
 " No, ten A. M., precisely." 
 
 " But what if it should be storming, sir? " 
 
 " Then come as soon as the storm is over." 
 
 " Yes, sir; and may I come sooner if I get home- 
 sick?" 
 
 Just as soon as you please. Now, good-bye, 
 my darling. Don't go into any danger. I know 
 I need not remind you to do nothing your father 
 would disapprove." 
 
 " I hope not, papa," she said, with a loving 
 look into the eyes that were gazing so fondly 
 upon her. Then kissing her hand to him and her 
 mamma and little Horace, who stood on the 
 veranda to see her off, she turned her horse's 
 head and cantered merrily away, taking the road 
 to Ashlands on passing out at the gate. 
 
 It was a bright, breezy morning, and her heart 
 
 76
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 77 
 
 felt so light and gay that a snatch of glad song 
 rose to her lips. She warbled a few bird-like 
 notes, then fell to humming softly to herself. 
 
 At a little distance down the road a light wagon 
 was rumbling along, driven by one of the man- 
 servants from the Oaks, and carrying Aunt Chloe 
 and her young mistress' trunks. 
 
 "Come, Jim," said Elsie, glancing over her 
 shoulder at her attendant satellite, " we must 
 pass them. Glossy and I are in haste to-day. 
 Ah, mammy, are you enjoying your ride?" she 
 called to her old nurse as she cantered swiftly by. 
 
 "Yes, dat I is, honey!" returned the old 
 woman. Then sending a loving, admiring look 
 after the retreating form so full of symmetry and 
 grace, "My bressed chile!" she murmured, 
 " you's beautiful as de mornin', your ole mammy 
 tinks, an' sweet as de finest rose in de garden; 
 bright an' happy as de day am long, too." 
 
 " De beautifullest in all de country, an' de 
 finest," chimed in her charioteer. 
 
 The young people at Ashlands were all out on 
 the veranda enjoying the fresh morning air 
 Herbert lying on a lounge with a book in his 
 hand; Harry and Lucy seated on opposite sides of 
 a small round table and deep in a game of chess; 
 two little fellows of six and eight John and 
 Archie by name were spinning a top. 
 
 " There she is! I had almost given her up; for 
 I didn't believe that old father of hers would let 
 her come," cried Lucy, catching sight of Glossy 
 and her rider just entering the avenue; and she 
 sprang up in such haste as to upset half the men 
 upon the board.
 
 78 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 "Hollo! see what you've done!" exclaime3 
 Harry. " Why, it's Elsie, sure enough! " and he 
 hastily followed in the wake of his sister, who had 
 already flown to meet and welcome her friend; 
 while Herbert started up to a sitting posture, and 
 looked enviously after them. 
 
 " Archie, John," he called, " one of you please 
 be good enough to hand me my crutch and cane. 
 Dear me, what a thing it is to be a cripple! " 
 
 " I'll get 'em, Herbie, this minute! Don't you 
 try to step without 'em," said Archie, jumping up 
 to hand them. 
 
 But Elsie had already a-'^hted from her horse 
 with Harry's assistance, and shaken hands with 
 him, returned Lucy's rapturous embrace as 
 warmly as it was given, and stepped upon the 
 veranda with her before Herbert was fairly upon 
 his feet. As she caught sight of him she 
 hurried forward, her sweet face full of tender 
 pity. 
 
 " Oh, don't try to come to meet me, Herbert," 
 she said, holding out her little gloved hand; "I 
 know your poor limb is worse than usual, and you 
 must not exert yourself for an old friend like 
 me." 
 
 " Ah," he said, taking the offered hand, and 
 looking at its owner with a glad light in his eyes, 
 "How like you that is, Elsie! You always were 
 more thoughtful of others than any one else I 
 ever knew. Yes, my limb is pretty bad just now; 
 but the doctor thinks he'll conquer the disease 
 yet; at least so far as to relieve me of the pain I 
 suffer." 
 
 "I hope so. indeed. How patiently you have
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 79 
 
 borne it all these long years," she answered with 
 earnest sympathy of tone and look. 
 
 " So he has ; he deserves the greatest amount of 
 credit for it," said Lucy, as John and Archie in 
 turn claimed Elsie's attention for a moment. 
 " But come now, let me take you to mamma and 
 grandma, and then to your own room. Aunt 
 Chloe and your luggage will be along presently, 
 I suppose." 
 
 " Yes, they are coming up the avenue now." 
 
 Lucy led the way to a large pleasant, airy apart- 
 ment in one of the wings of the building, where 
 they found Mrs. Carrington busily occupied in 
 cutting out garments for her servants, her parents 
 Mr. and Mrs. Norris with her, the one reading a 
 newspaper, the other knitting. All three gave 
 the young guest a very warm welcome. She was 
 evidently a great favorite with the whole family. 
 
 These greetings and the usual mutual inquiries 
 in regard to the health of friends and relatives 
 having been exchanged, Elsie was next carried off 
 by Lucy to the room prepared for her special use 
 during her stay at Ashlands. It also was large, 
 air}-, and cheerful, on the second floor opening 
 upon a veranda on one side, on the other into a 
 similar apartment occupied by Lucy herself. 
 Fine India matting, furniture of some kind of 
 yellow grained wood, snowy counterpanes, cur- 
 tains and toilet covers gave them both an air of 
 coolness and simple elegance, while vases of fresh 
 flowers upon the mantels shed around a slight but 
 delicious perfume. 
 
 Of course the two girls were full of lively, 
 innocent chat. In the midst of it Elsie ex-
 
 80 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 claimed, " Oh, Lucy! I have just the loveliest 
 book you ever read! a present from Mr. Travilla 
 the other day, and I've brought it along. Papa 
 had begun it, but he is so kind he insisted I should 
 bring it with me; and so I did." 
 
 *' Oh, I'm glad! we haven't had anything new 
 in the story-book line for some time. Have you 
 read it yourself?" 
 
 " Partly: but it is worth reading several times; 
 and I thought we would enjoy it all together one 
 reading aloud." 
 
 " Oh, 'tis just the thing! I'm going to help 
 mamma to-day with the sewing, and a nice book 
 read aloud will make it quite enjoyable. We'll 
 have you for reader, Elsie, if you are agreed." 
 
 " Suppose we take turns sewing and reading? 
 I'd like to help your mamma, too." 
 
 " Thank you; well, we'll see. Herbert's a good 
 reader, and I daresay will be glad to take his turn 
 at it too. Ah, here comes your baggage and Aunt 
 Chloe following it. Here, Bob and Jack," to the 
 two stalwart black fellows who were carrying the 
 trunk, " set it in this corner. How d'ye do, Aunt 
 Chloe?" 
 
 " Berry well, tank you, missy," replied the old 
 nurse, dropping a courtesy. "I'se berry glad to 
 see you lookin' so bright dis here mornin'." 
 
 " Thank you. Now make yourself at home and 
 take good care of your young mistress." 
 
 " Dat I will, missy; best I knows how. Trus' 
 dis chile for dat." 
 
 Elsie's riding habit was quickly exchanged for 
 a house dress, her hair made smooth and shining 
 as its wont, and securing her book she returned
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 81 
 
 with Lucy to the lower veranda, where they found 
 Herbert still extended upon his sofa. 
 
 His face brightened at sight of Elsie. He had 
 laid aside his book, and was at work with his 
 knife upon a bit of soft pine wood. He whiled 
 away many a tedious hour by fashioning in this 
 manner little boxes, whistles, sets of baby-house 
 furniture, etc.,, etc., for one and another of his 
 small friends. Books, magazines, and newspapers 
 filled up the larger portion of his time, but could 
 not occupy it all, for, as he said, he must digest 
 his mental food, and he liked to have employ- 
 ment for his fingers while doing so. 
 
 " Please be good enough to sit where I can look 
 at you without too great an effort, won't you? " 
 he said, smiling up into Elsie's face. 
 
 " Yes, if that will afford you any pleasure," she 
 answered lightly, as Lucy beckoned to a colored 
 girl, who stepped forward and placed a low rock- 
 ing chair at the side of the couch. 
 
 " There, that is just right. I can have a full 
 view of your face by merely raising my eyes," 
 Herbert said with satisfaction, as Elsie seated 
 herself in it. " What, you have brought a book? " 
 
 " Yes," and while Elsie went on to repeat the 
 substance of what she had told Lucy, the latter 
 slipped away to her mamma's room to make ar- 
 rangements about the work, and ask if they 
 would not all like to come and listen to the read- 
 ing. 
 
 " Is it the kind of book to interest an old body 
 like me? " asked Mrs. Norris. 
 
 "I don't know, grandma; but Elsie says Mr. 
 Travilla and her papa were both delighted witli
 
 82 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 it. Mr. Dinsmore, though, had not read tfif 
 whole of it." 
 
 " Suppose we go and try it for a while then," 
 said Mr. Norris, laying down his paper. " If our 
 little Elsie is to be the reader, I for one am pretty 
 sure to enjoy listening, her voice is so sweet- 
 toned and her enunciation so clear and dis- 
 tinct." 
 
 " That's you, grandpa! " cried Lucy, clapping 
 her hands in applause. " Yes, you'd better all 
 come, Elsie is to be the reader at the start; she 
 says she does not mind beginning the story over 
 again." 
 
 Mrs. Carrington began gathering up her work, 
 laying the garments already cut out in a large 
 basket, which was then carried by her maid to 
 the veranda. In a few moments Elsie had quite 
 an audience gathered aboiit her, ere long a deeply 
 interested one; scissors or needle had now and 
 again to be dropped to wipe away a falling tear, 
 and the voice of the reader needed steadying more 
 than once or twice. Then Herbert took his turn, 
 at the book, Elsie hers with the needle, Mrs. Car- 
 rington half reluctantly yielding to her urgent 
 request to be allowed to assist them. 
 
 So the morning, and much of the afternoon 
 also, passed most pleasantly, and not unprofitably 
 either. A walk toward sundown, and afterward 
 a delightful moonlight ride with Harry Carring- 
 ton and Winthrop Lansing, the son of a neigh- 
 boring planter, finished the day, and Elsie retired 
 to her own room at her usual early hour. Lucy 
 followed and kept her chatting quite a while, for 
 which Elsie's tender conscience reproached her
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 83 
 
 somewhat; yet she was not long in falling 
 asleep after her head had once touched her 
 pillow. 
 
 The next day was passed in a similar manner, 
 still more time being given to the reading, as they 
 were able to begin it earlier: yet the book was not 
 finished; but on the morning of the next day, 
 which was Friday, Lucy proposed that, if the plan 
 was agreeable to Elsie, they should spend an 
 hour or two in a new amusement; which was no 
 other than going into the dominions of Aunt 
 Viney, the cook, and assisting in beating eggs and 
 making cake. 
 
 Elsie was charmed with the idea, and it was 
 immediately carried out, to the great astonish- 
 ment of Chloe, Aunt Viney, and all her sable 
 tribe. 
 
 " Sho, Miss Lucy! what fo' you go for to fotch 
 de company right yere into dis yere ole dirty 
 kitchen?" cried Aunt Viney, dropping a hasty 
 courtesy to Elsie, then hurrying' hither and 
 thither in the vain effort to set everything to 
 rights in a moment of time. " Clar out o' yere, 
 you, Han an' Scip," she cried, addressing two 
 small urchins of dusky hue and driving them be- 
 fore her as she spoke, " dere aint no room yere 
 fo' you, an' kitchens aint no place for darkies o* 
 your size or sect. I'll fling de dishcloth at yo' 
 brack faces ef yo' comes in agin fo' you sent for. 
 I 'clare Miss Elsie, an' Miss Lucy, dose dirty nig- 
 gahs make sich a muss in yere, dere aint a char 
 fit for you to set down in," she continued, hastily 
 cleaning two, and wiping them with her apron. 
 " I'se glad to see you, ladies, but ef I'd knowed
 
 84 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 you was a-comin' dis kitchen shu'd had a cleanin' 
 up f o' shuah." 
 
 " You see, Aunt Viney, you ought to keep it in 
 order, and then you would be ready for visitors 
 whenever they happened to come," said Lucy 
 laughingly. " Why, you're really quite out of 
 breath with whisking about so fast. We've come 
 to help you." 
 
 The fat old negress, still panting from her un- 
 wonted exertions, straightened herf-elf, pushed 
 back her turban, and gazed in round-eyed wonder 
 upon her young mistress. 
 
 "What! Missy help ole Aunt Viney wid dose 
 lily-white hands? Oh, go 'long! you's jokin' dis 
 time fo' shuah." 
 
 " No indeed; we want the fun of helping to 
 make some of the cake for to-morrow. You know 
 we want ever so many kinds to celebrate our two 
 birthdays." 
 
 " Two birthdays, Miss Lucy? yo's and Massa 
 Herbert's? Yes, dat's it; I don't disremember de 
 day, but I do disremember de age." 
 
 " Sixteen; and now we're going to have a nice 
 party to celebrate the day, and you must see that 
 the refreshments are got up in your very best 
 style." 
 
 " So I will, Miss Lucy, an' no 'easion for you 
 and Miss Elsie to trouble yo' young heads 'bout 
 de makin' ob de cakes an' jellies an' custards an* 
 sich. Ole Aunt Viney can 'tend to it all." 
 
 " But we want the fun of it," persisted Lucy; 
 " we want to try our hands at beating eggs, roll- 
 ing sugar, sifting flour, etc., etc. I've got a grand 
 new receipt book here, and we'll read out the
 
 ELSIE'S aiRLHOOD. 8S 
 
 recipes to you, and measure and weigh the 
 materials, and you can do the mixing and 
 baking." 
 
 " Yes, missy, you' lily hands no' hab strength 
 to stir, an' de fire spoil yo' buful 'plexions for 
 ehuah." 
 
 "I've brought mamma's keys," said Lucy; 
 "come along with us to the store-room, Aunt 
 Viney, and I'll deal out the sugar, spices, and 
 whatever else you want." 
 
 " Yes, Miss Lucy; but 'deed I don't need no 
 help. You's berry kind, but ole Viney kin do it 
 all, an' she'll have eberything fus'-rate fo' de 
 young gemmen an' ladies." 
 
 " But that isn't the thing, auntie; you don't 
 seem to understand. Miss Elsie and I want the 
 fun, and to learn to cook, too. Who knows but 
 we may some day have to do our own work? " 
 
 "Bress de Lord, Miss Lucy, how you talk, 
 honey! " cried the old negress, rolling up her eyes 
 in horror at the thought. 
 
 "Take care; Miss Elsie will think you very 
 wicked if you use such exclamations as that." 
 
 " Dat wrong, you t'ink, missy?" asked Aunt 
 Viney, turning to the young visitor, who had 
 gone with them to the store-room, and was assist- 
 ing Lucy in the work of measuring and weighing 
 the needed articles. 
 
 "I think it is," she answered gently; "we 
 should be very careful not to use the sacred name 
 lightly. To do so is to break the third command- 
 ment." 
 
 " Den, missy, dis ole gal won't neber do it no 
 more."
 
 86 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 Chloe had been an excellent cook in her young 
 days, and had not forgotten or lost her former 
 skill in the preparation of toothsome dainties. 
 She, too, came with offers of assistance, and the 
 four were soon deep in the mysteries of pastry, 
 sweetmeats, and confections. Novelty gave it an 
 especial charm to the young ladies, and they grew 
 very merry and talkative, while their ignorance 
 of the business in hand, the odd mistakes they 
 fell into in consequence, and the comical ques- 
 tions they asked, gave much secret amusement 
 to the two old servants. 
 
 " What's this pound cake to be mixed up in, 
 Aunt Viney?" asked Lucy. 
 
 " In dis yere tin pan, missy." 
 
 " Is it clean? " 
 
 " Yes, missy, it's clean; but maybe 'taint suf- 
 fishently clean, I'll wash it agin." 
 
 "How many kinds of cake shall we make?" 
 asked Elsie. 
 
 " Every kind that Chloe and Aunt Viney can 
 think of and know how to make well. Let me 
 see delicate cake, gold, silver and clove, fruit- 
 cake, sponge, and what else?" 
 
 " Mammy makes delicious jumbles." 
 
 " Will you make us some, Aunt Chloe? " 
 
 Chloe signified her readiness to do whatever 
 was desired, and began at once to collect her im- 
 plements. 
 
 "Got a rollin' pin, Aunt Viney?" she asked. 
 
 " Yes, to be shuah, a revoltin' roller, de very 
 bes' kind. No, Miss Elsie, don' mix de eggs dat 
 way, you spile 'em ef you mix de yaller all up wid 
 de whites. An' Miss Lucy, butter an' sugar mus*
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 87 
 
 tie worked up togedder fus', till de butter resolve 
 de sugah, 'fore we puts de udder gredinents in." 
 
 " Ah, I see we have a good deal to learn before 
 we can hope to rival you as cooks, Aunt Viney," 
 laughed Lucy. 
 
 " I spec' so, missy; you throw all de gredinents 
 in togedder, an' tumble your flouah in all at once, 
 an' you nebber get your cake nice an light." 
 
 They had nearly reached the end of their labors 
 when sounds as of scuffling, mingled with loud 
 boyish laughter, and cries of " That's it, Scip, hit 
 him again! Pitch into him, Han, and pay him 
 off well for it! " drew them all in haste to the 
 window and door. 
 
 The two little darkies who had been ejected 
 from the kitchen, were tussling in the yard, while 
 their young masters, John and Archie, looked on, 
 shaking with laughter, and clapping their hands 
 in noisy glee. 
 
 "What's all this racket about?" asked Grand- 
 pa Norris, coming out upon the veranda, news- 
 paper in hand, Herbert limping along by his side. 
 
 " The old feud between Eoman and Cartha- 
 ginian, sir," replied John. 
 
 "Why, what do you mean, child?" 
 
 " Hannah Ball waging a war on Skipio, you 
 know, sir." 
 
 "History repeating itself, eh?" laughed Her- 
 bert. 
 
 "Ah, that's an old joke, Archie," said his 
 grandfather. " And you're too big a rogue to set 
 them at such work. H*m and Scip, stop that at 
 once."
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 " All your attempts 
 Shall fall on me like brittle shafts on armor." 
 
 LUCY came into Elsie's room early the next 
 morning to show her birthday gifts, of which she 
 had received one or more from every member of 
 her family. They consisted of articles of jewelry, 
 toilet ornaments, and handsomely-bound books. 
 
 They learned on meeting Herbert at breakfast 
 that he had fared quite as well as his sister. 
 Elsie slipped a valuable ring on Lucy's finger and 
 laid a gold pencil-case beside Herbert's plate. 
 
 " Oh, charming! a thousand thanks, mon ami! " 
 cried Lucy, her eyes sparkling with pleasure. 
 
 " Thank you, I shall value it most highly; espe- 
 cially for the giver's sake/' said Herbert, examin- 
 ing his with a pleased look, then turning to her 
 with a blush and jo) r ous smile, " I am so much 
 better this morning that I am going out for a 
 drive. "Won't you and Lucy give me the added 
 pleasure of your company?" 
 
 " Thank you, I^can answer for myself that I'll 
 be very happy to do so." 
 
 " I, too," said Lucy. " It's a lovely morning 
 for a ride. We'll make up a party and go, but 
 we must be home again in good season; for Carrie 
 and Enna promised to come to dinner. So I'm 
 glad we finished the book yesterday, though we 
 were all so sorry to part from little Ellen."
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 89 
 
 They turned out quite a strong party; Herbert 
 and the ladies filling up the family carriage,, while 
 Harry on horseback, and John and Archie each 
 mounted upon a pony, accompanied it, now rid- 
 ing alongside, now speeding on ahead, or per- 
 chance dropping behind for a time as suited their 
 fancy. 
 
 They travelled some miles, and alighting in a 
 beautiful grove, partook of a delicate lunch they 
 had brought with them. Then, while Herbert 
 rested upon the grass the others wandered hither 
 and thither until it was time to return. They 
 reached home just in season to receive their ex- 
 pected guests. 
 
 Carrie Howard was growing up very pretty and 
 graceful; womanly in her ways, yet quite un- 
 assuming in manner, frank and sweet in disposi- 
 tion, she was a general favorite with old and 
 young, and could already boast of several suitors 
 for her hand. 
 
 Enna Dinsmore, now in her fourteenth year, 
 though by some considered even prettier, was far 
 less pleasing pert, forward, and conceited as she 
 had been in her early childhood; she was tall for 
 her age, and with her perfect self-possession and 
 grown-up air and manner, might be easily mis- 
 taken for seventeen. She had already more 
 worldly wisdom than her sweet, fair niece would 
 ever be able to attain, and was, in her own esti- 
 mation at least, a very stylish and fashionable 
 young lady. She assumed very superior airs to- 
 ward Elsie when her brother Horace was not by, 
 reproving, exhorting, or directing her; and was 
 very proud of being usually taken by strangers
 
 &0 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 for the elder of the two. Some day she would not 
 think that a feather in her cap. 
 
 Elsie had lost none of the childlike simplicity 
 of five years ago; it still showed itself in the sweet, 
 gentle countenance, the quiet graceful carriage, 
 equally removed from forwardness on the one 
 hand, and timid self-consciousness on the other. 
 She did not consider herself a personage of impor- 
 tance, yet was not troubled by her supposed in- 
 significance; in fact seldom thought of self at all, 
 so engaged was she in adding to the happiness of 
 others. 
 
 The four girls were gathered in Lucy's room. 
 She had been showing her birthday presents to 
 Carrie and Enna. 
 
 " How do you like this style of arranging the 
 hair, girls?" asked the latter, standing before a 
 mirror, smoothing and patting, and pulling out 
 her puffs and braids. " It's the newest thing out. 
 Isabel Carleton just brought it from New York. 
 I saw her with hers dressed so, and sent Delia 
 over to learn how." 
 
 Delia vas Miss Enna's maid, and had been 
 brought along to Ashlands that she might dress 
 her young lady's hair in this new style for the 
 party. 
 
 " It's pretty/' said Lucy. " I think I'll have 
 Minerva dress mine so for to-night, and see how 
 it becomes me." 
 
 " Delia can show her how," said Enna. " Don't 
 you like it, Carrie? " 
 
 " Pretty well, but if you'll excuse me for say- 
 ing so, it strikes me as rather grown up for a
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 91 
 
 young lady of thirteen/' answered Carrie in a 
 good-naturedly bantering tone. 
 
 Enna colored and looked vexed. " I'm nearly 
 fourteen," she replied with a slight toss of the 
 head; " and I overheard Mrs. Carleton saying to 
 mamma the other day, that with my height and 
 finished manners I might pass anywhere for sev- 
 enteen." 
 
 " Perhaps so; of course, knowing your age, I 
 can't judge so well how it would strike a stran- 
 ger." 
 
 " I see you have gone back to the old childish 
 way of arranging your hair. What's that for? " 
 asked Enna, turning to Elsie" " I should think it 
 was about time you were beginning to be a little 
 womanly in something." 
 
 " Yes, but not in dress or the arrangement of 
 my hair. So papa says, and of course I know he 
 is right." 
 
 " He would not let you have it up in a comb? " 
 
 " N"o," Elsie answered with a quiet smile. 
 
 " Why do you smile? Did he say anything 
 funny when you showed yourself that day? " 
 
 " Oh, Elsie, have you tried putting up your 
 hair? " asked Carrie; while Lucy exclaimed, 
 " Try it again to-night, Elsie, I should like to see 
 how you would look." 
 
 " Yes," said Elsie, answering Carrie's query 
 first. " Enna persuaded me one day to have 
 mammy do it up in young-lady fashion. I liked 
 it right well for a change, and that was just what 
 mamma said when I went into the drawing-room 
 and showed myself to her. But when papa came
 
 92 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 in, he looked at me with a comical sort of surprise 
 in his face, and said. ' Come here; what have you 
 been doing to yourself ?' I went to him and he 
 pulled out my comb, and ordered me off to 
 mammy to have my hair arranged again in the 
 usual way, saying, ' I'm not going to have you 
 aping the woman already; don't alter the style of 
 wearing your hair again, till I give you per- 
 mission.' " 
 
 " And you walked off as meek as Moses, and did 
 his bidding," said Enna sarcastically. " No man 
 shall ever rule me so. If papa should undertake 
 to give me such an order, I'd just inform him 
 that my hair was my own, and I should arrange 
 it as suited my own fancy." 
 
 " I think you are making yourself out worse 
 than you really are, Enna," said Elsie gravety. 
 " I am sure you could never say anything so ex- 
 tremely impertinent as that to grandpa." 
 
 "Impertinent! Well, if you believe it neces- 
 sary to be so very respectful, consistency should 
 lead you to refrain from reproving your aunt." 
 
 " I did not exactly mean to reprove you, Enna, 
 and you are younger than I." 
 
 "Nobody would think it," remarked Enna 
 superciliously and with a second toss of her head, 
 as she turned from the glass; "you are so ex- 
 tremely childish in every way, while, as mamma 
 says, I grow more womanly in appearance and 
 manner every day." 
 
 '"Elsie's manners are quite perfect, I think," 
 said Carrie; " and her hair is so beautiful, I don't 
 believe any other style of arrangement could im- 
 prove its appearance in the least."
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 93 
 
 " But it's so childish, so absurdly childish! just 
 that great mass of ringlets hanging about her 
 neck and shoulders. Come, Elsie, I want you to 
 have it dressed in this new style for to-night." 
 
 " No, Enna, I am perfectly satisfied to wear it 
 in this childish fashion; and if I were not, still I 
 could not disobey papa." 
 
 Enna turned away with a contemptuous sniff, 
 and Lucy proposed that they should go down to 
 the drawing-room, and try some new music she 
 had just received, until it should be time to drees 
 for the evening. 
 
 Herbert lay on a sofa listening to their playing. 
 " Lucy," he said in one of the pauses, " what 
 amusements are we to have to-night? anything 
 beside the harp, piano, and conversation? " 
 
 " Dancing, of course. Cad's fiddle will pro- 
 vide as good music as any one need care for, and 
 this room is large enough for all who will be here. 
 Our party is not to be very large, you know." 
 
 " And Elsie, for one, is too pious to dance/* 
 sneered Enna. 
 
 Elsie colored, but remained silent. 
 
 "Oh! I did not think of that! " cried Lucy. 
 " Elsie, do you really think it is a sinful amuse- 
 ment?" 
 
 " I think it wrong to go to balls; at least that 
 it would be wrong for me, a professed Christian, 
 Lucy." 
 
 "But this will not be a ball, and we'll have 
 nothing but quiet country dances, or something 
 of that sort, no waltzing or anything at all objec- 
 tionable. What harm can there be in jumping 
 about in that way more than in another? "
 
 94 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 " None that I know of," answered Elsie, smil- 
 ing. " And I certainly shall not object to others 
 doing as they like, provided I am not asked to 
 take part in it." 
 
 " But why not take part, if it is not wrong? " 
 asked Harry, coining in from the veranda. 
 
 " Why, don't you know she never does anything 
 without asking the permission of papa? " queried 
 Enna tauntingly. " But where's the use of con- 
 sulting her wishes in the matter, or urging her to 
 take part in the wicked amusement? she'll have 
 to go to bed at nine o'clock, like any other well- 
 trained child, and we'll have time enough for our 
 dancing after that." 
 
 " Oh, Elsie, must } r ou? must you really leave 
 us at that early hour? Why, that's entirely too 
 bad! " cried the others in excited chorus. 
 
 " I shall stay up till ten," answered Elsie 
 quietly, while a deep flush suffused her cheek. 
 
 " That is better, but we shall not know how to 
 spare you even that soon," said Harry. " Couldn't 
 you make it eleven? that would not be so very 
 late just for once." 
 
 "No, for she can't break her rules, or disobey 
 orders. If she did, papa would be sure to find it 
 out and punish her when she gets home." 
 
 " For shame, Enna! that's quite too bad! " cried 
 Carrie and Lucy in a breath. 
 
 Elsie's color deepened, and there was a flash of 
 anger and scorn in her eyes as she turned for an 
 instant upon Enna. Then she replied firmly, 
 though with a slight tremble of indignation in 
 her tones: "I am not ashamed to own that I do 
 find it both a duty and a pleasure to obey my.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 95 
 
 father, whether he he present or absent. I have 
 confidence, too., in both his wisdom and his love 
 for me. He thinks early hours of great impor- 
 tance, especially to those who are young and 
 growing, and therefore he made it a rule that I 
 shall retire to my room and begin my prepara- 
 tions for bed by nine o'clock. But he gave me 
 leave to stay up an hour later to-night, and I in- 
 tend to do so." 
 
 " I think you are a very good girl, and feel just 
 right about it," said Carrie. 
 
 " I wish he had said eleven, I think he might 
 this once," remarked Lucy. " Why, don't you. re- 
 member he let you stay up till ten Christmas Eve 
 that time we all spent the holidays at Koselands,, 
 which was five years ago ? " 
 
 " Yes," said Elsie, " but this is Saturday night, 
 and as to-morrow is the Sabbath, I should not 
 feel it to be right to stay up later, even if I had 
 permission." 
 
 "Why not? it isn't Sunday till twelve," said 
 Herbert. 
 
 " No, but I should be apt to oversleep myself, 
 and be dull and drowsy in church next morning." 
 
 " Quite a saint! " muttered Enna, shrugging 
 her shoulders and marching off to the other side 
 of the room. 
 
 " Suppose we go and select some flowers for 
 our hair," said Lucy, looking at her watch. 
 " 'Twill be tea-time presently, and we'll want 'to 
 dress directly after." 
 
 " You always were such a dear good girl," 
 whispered Carrie Howard, putting her arm about 
 Elsie's waist as they left the room.
 
 96 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 Enna was quite gorgeous that evening, in a 
 bright-colored silk, trimmed with multitudinous 
 flounces and many yards of ribbon and gimp. 
 The young damsel had a decidedly gay taste, and 
 glanced somewhat contemptuously at Elsie's dress 
 of simple white, albeit 'twas of the finest India 
 muslin and trimmed with costly lace. She wore 
 her pearl necklace and bracelets, a broad sash of 
 rich white ribbon; no other ornaments save a 
 half-blown moss rosebud at her bosom, and an- 
 other amid the glossy ringlets of her hair, their 
 green leaves the only bit of color about her. 
 
 " You look like a bride," said Herbert, gazing 
 admiringly upon her. 
 
 "Do I?" she answered smiling, as she turned 
 and tripped lightly away; for Lucy was calling to 
 her from the next room. 
 
 Herbert's eyes followed her with a wistful, 
 longing look in them, and he sighed sadly to him- 
 self as she disappeared from his view. 
 
 Most of the guests came early; among them, 
 Walter and Arthur Dinsmore; Elsie had not seen 
 the latter since his encounter with Mr. Travilla. 
 He gave her a sullen nod on entering the room, 
 but took no further notice of her. 
 
 Chit-chat, promenading and the music of the 
 piano and harp were the order of the evening for 
 a time; then games were proposed, and " Conse- 
 quences," "How do you like it?" and "Genteel 
 lady, always genteel," afforded much amusement. 
 Herbert could join in these, and did with much 
 spirit. But dancing was a favorite pastime with 
 the young people of the neighborhood, and the 
 clock had hardly struck nine when Cadmus and
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 97 
 
 his fiddle were summoned to their aid, chairs and 
 tables were put out of the way, and sets began to 
 form. 
 
 Elsie was in great request; the young gentle- 
 men nocked about her, with urgent entreaties that 
 she would join in the amusement, each claiming 
 the honor of her hand in one or more sets, but 
 she steadily declined. 
 
 A glad smile lighted up Herbert's counte- 
 nance, as he saw one and another turn and walk 
 away with a look of chagrin and disappointment. 
 
 " Since my misfortune compels me to act the 
 part of a wallflower, I am selfish enough, I own, 
 to rejoice in your decision to be one also," he said 
 gleefully. " Will you take a seat with me on this 
 sofa? I presume your conscience does not for- 
 bid you to watch the dancers? " 
 
 " No, not at all," she answered, accepting his 
 invitation. 
 
 Elsie's eyes followed with eager interest the 
 swiftly moving forms, but Herbert's were often 
 turned admiringly upon her. At length he asked 
 if she did not find the room rather warm and 
 close, and proposed that they should go out upon 
 the veranda. She gave a willing assent and they 
 passed quietly out and sat down side by side on a 
 rustic seat. 
 
 The full moon shone upon them from a beau- 
 tiful blue sky, while a refreshing breeze, fragrant 
 with the odor of flowers and pines, gently fanned 
 their cheeks and played among the rich masses of 
 Elsie's hair. 
 
 They found a good deal to talk about; they 
 always did, for they were kindred spirits. Their
 
 98 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 chat was now grave, now gay generally the lat- 
 ter; for Cad's music was inspiriting; but whatever 
 the theme of their discourse, Herbert's eyes were 
 constantly seeking the face of his companion. 
 
 " How beautiful you are, Elsie! " he exclaimed 
 at length, in a tone of such earnest sincerity that 
 it made her laugh, the words seemed to rush spon- 
 taneously from his lips. " You are always lovely, 
 but to-night especially so." 
 
 " It's the moonlight, Herbert; there's a sort of 
 witchery about it, that lends beauty to many an 
 object which can boast none of itself." 
 
 " Ah, but broad daylight never robs you of 
 yours; you always wear it wherever you are, and 
 however dressed. You look like a bride to-night; 
 I wish you were, and that I were the groom." 
 
 Elsie laughed again, this time more merrily 
 than before. " Ah, what nonsense we are talk- 
 ing we two children," she said. Then starting 
 to her feet as the clock struck ten " There, it is 
 my bed-time, and I must bid you good-night, 
 pleasant dreams, and a happy awaking." 
 
 " Oh, don't go yet! " he cried, but she was al- 
 ready gone, the skirt of her white dress just dis- 
 appearing through the open hall door. 
 
 She encountered Mrs. Carrington at the foot 
 of the stairs. "My dear child, you are not leav- 
 ing us already?" she cried. 
 
 " Yes, madam; the clock has struck ten." 
 
 " Why, you are a second Cinderella." 
 
 " I hope not," replied Elsie, laughing. " See, 
 my dress has not changed in the least, but is 
 quite as fresh and nice as ever." 
 
 "Ah, true enough! there the resemblance fails
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 entirely. But, my dear child, the refreshments 
 are just coming in, and you must have your share. 
 I had ordered them an hour earlier, but the serv- 
 ants were slow and dilatory, and then the danc- 
 ing began. Come, can you not wait long enough 
 to partake with us? Surely, ten o'clock is not 
 late." 
 
 " No, madam; not for another night of the 
 week, but to-morrow's the Sabbath, you know, 
 and if I should stay up late to-night I would be 
 likely to find myself unfitted for its duties. Be- 
 sides, papa bade me retire at this hour; and he 
 does not approve of my eating at night; he thinks 
 it is apt to cause dyspepsia." 
 
 "Ah, that is too bad! Well, I shall see that 
 something is set away for you, and hope you will 
 enjoy it to-morrow. Good-night, dear; I must 
 hurry away now to see the rest of my guests, and 
 will not detain you longer," she added, drawing 
 the fair girl toward her and kissing her affection- 
 ately, then hastening away to the supper-room. 
 
 Elsie tripped up the stairs and entered her 
 room. A lamp burned low on the toilet table, 
 she went to it. turned up the wick, and as she did 
 so a slight noise on the veranda without startled 
 her. The windows reached to the floor and were 
 wide open. 
 
 "Who's there?" she asked. 
 
 " I," was answered, in a rough, surly tone, and 
 Arthur stepped in. 
 
 "Is it you?" she asked in surprise and indig- 
 nation. "Why do you come here? it is not fit 
 you should, especially at this hour." 
 
 " It is not fit you should set yourself up to re-
 
 100 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 prove and instruct your uncle. I've come for 
 that money you are going to lend me." 
 
 " I am not going to lend you any money." 
 
 " Give it then; that will be all the better for 
 my pocket. 
 
 " I have none to give you either, Arthur; papa 
 has positively forbidden me to supply you with 
 money." 
 
 " How much have you here? " 
 
 " That is a question you have no right to 
 ask." 
 
 " Well, I know you are never without a pretty 
 good supply of the needful, and I'm needy. So 
 hand it over without any more ado; otherwise I 
 shall be very apt to help myself." 
 
 " No, you will not," she said, with dignity. 
 "If you attempt to rob me, I shall call for as- 
 sistance." 
 
 " And disgrace the family by giving the tattlers 
 a precious bit of scandal to retail in regard to us/* 
 
 " If you care for the family credit you will go 
 away at once and leave me in peace." 
 
 "I will, eh? I'll go when I get what I came 
 for, and not before." 
 
 Elsie moved toward the bell rope, but antici- 
 pating her intention, he stepped before it, saying 
 with a jeering laugh, " No, you don't! " 
 
 " Arthur," she said, drawing herself up, and 
 speaking with great firmness and dignity, " leave 
 this room; I wish to be alone." 
 
 "Hoity-toity, Miss Dinsmore! do you suppose 
 Fm to be ordered about by you? No, indeed! 
 And I've an old score to pay off. One of these 
 days 111 be revenged on you and old Travilla, too;
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 101 
 
 nobody shall insult and abuse me with impunity. 
 Now hand over that cash! " 
 
 " Leave this room! " she repeated. 
 
 " None of your impudence! " he cried 
 
 fiercely, catching her by the arm with a grasp that 
 wrong from her a low, half-smothered cry of 
 pain. 
 
 But footsteps and voices were heard on the 
 stairs, and he hastily withdrew by the window 
 through which he had entered. 
 
 Elsie pulled up her sleeve and looked at her 
 arm. Each fimger of Arthur's hand had left its 
 mark. " Oh, how angry papa would be! " she 
 murmured to herself, hastily drawing down her 
 skeve again as the door opened and Chloe came 
 in, followed by another servant bearing a small 
 silver waiter loaded with dainties. 
 
 " Missus tole me f otch 'em up with her com- 
 pliments, an' hopes de young lady '11 try to eat 
 some," she said, setting it down on a table. 
 
 " Mrs. Carrington is very kind. Please return 
 her my thanks, Minerva," said Elsie, making a 
 strong effort to steady her voice. 
 
 The girl, taken up with the excitement of what 
 was going on downstairs, failed to notice the 
 slight tremble in its tones. But not so with 
 Chloe. As the other hurried from the room, she 
 took her nursling in her arms, and gazing into 
 the sweet face with earnest, loving scrutiny, 
 asked, "What de matter, darlin'? what hab re- 
 sturbed you so, honey? " 
 
 " You mustn't leave me alone, to-night, 
 mammy," Elsie whispered, clinging to her, and 
 half hiding her face on her breast. "Don't go
 
 102 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 out of the room at all, unless it is to step on the 
 veranda." 
 
 Chloe was much surprised, for Elsie had never 
 been cowardly. 
 
 " 'Deed I won't, darlin'," she answered, caress- 
 ing the shining hair, and softly rounded cheek. 
 " But what my bressed chile 'f raid of ? " 
 
 " Mr. Arthur, mammy," Elsie answered scarcely 
 above her breath. "He was in here a moment 
 since, and if I were alone again he might come 
 back." 
 
 " An' what Marse Arthur doin' yer dis time ob 
 night, I like ter know? what he want fright- 
 enin' my chile like dis? " 
 
 " Money, mammy, and papa has forbidden me 
 to let him have any, because he makes a bad use 
 of it." Elsie knew to whom she spoke. Chloe 
 was no ordinary servant, and could be trusted. 
 
 " Dear, dear, it's drefful that Marse Arthur 
 takes to dem bad ways! But don't go for to fret, 
 honey; we'll 'gree together to ask de Lord to turn 
 him to de right." 
 
 " Yes, mammy, you must help me to pray for 
 him. But now I must get ready for bed; I have 
 stayed up longer than papa said I might." 
 
 " Won't you take some of de 'f reshments fust, 
 honey?" 
 
 Elsie shook her head. " Eat what you want ol 
 them, mammy. I know I am better without."
 
 CHAPTEK IX. 
 
 There's not a look, a word of thine 
 My soul hath e'er forgot ; 
 Thou ne'er hast bid a ringlet shine, 
 Nor given thy locks one graceful twine, 
 "Which I remember not. 
 
 MOORE. 
 
 THE clock on the stairway was just striking 
 nine, as some one tapped lightly on the door of 
 Elsie's room, leading into the hall. Chloe rose 
 and opened it. " Dat you, Scip? " 
 
 "Yes, Aunt Chloe; de missis say breakop's is 
 ready, an' will Miss Dinsmore please for to come 
 if she's ready. We don't ring de bell fear wakin' 
 up de odder young ladies an' gemmen." 
 
 Elsie had been up and dressed for the last 
 hour, which she had spent in reading her Bible; 
 a book not less dear and beautiful in her esteem 
 now than it was in the days of her childhood. 
 She rose and followed Scip to the dining-room, 
 where she found the older members of the family 
 already assembled, and about to sit down to the 
 table. 
 
 " Ah, my dear, good-morning," said Mrs. Car- 
 rington; " I was sure you would be up and 
 dressed: but the others were so late getting to 
 bed that I mean they shall be allowed to sleep as 
 long as they will. Ah! and here comes Herbert, 
 too. We have quite a party after all." 
 
 106
 
 J04 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 " I should think you would need a long nap 
 this morning more than any one else," Elsie said, 
 addressing Herbert. 
 
 " No/' he answered, coloring. " I took ad- 
 vantage of my semi-invalidism, and retired very 
 shortly after you left us." 
 
 " You must not think it is usual for us to be 
 quite so late on Sunday morning, Elsie," observed 
 Mr. Carrington as he sent her her plate, " though 
 I'm afraid we are hardly as early risers, even on 
 ordinary occasions, as you are at the Oaks. I 
 don't think it's a good plan to have Saturday- 
 night parties," he added, looking across the table 
 at his wife. 
 
 " N"o," she said lightly; " but we must blame 
 it all on the birthday, for coming when it did. 
 And though we are late, we shall still be in time 
 to get to church. Elsie, will you go with us?" 
 
 " In the carriage with mother and me? " added 
 Herbert. 
 
 Elsie, had she consulted her own inclination 
 merely, would have greatly preferred to ride her 
 pony, but seeing the eager look in Herbert's eyes, 
 she answered smilingly that she should accept 
 the invitation with pleasure, if there was a seat 
 in the carriage which no one else cared to oc- 
 cupy. 
 
 " There will be plenty of room, my dear," said 
 Mr. Carrington; "father and mother always go 
 by themselves, driving an ancient mare we call 
 old Bess, who is so very quiet and slow that no 
 one else can bear to ride behind her; and the 
 boys and I either walk or ride our horses." 
 
 It was time to set out almost immediately upoD
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 105 
 
 leaving the table. They had a quiet drive 
 through beautiful pine woods, heard an excellent 
 gospel sermon, and returned by another and 
 equally beautiful route. 
 
 Elsie's mind was full of the truth to which 
 she had been listening, and she had very little 
 to say. Mrs. Carrington and Herbert, too, were 
 unusually silent; the latter feeling it enjoyment 
 enough just to sit by Elsie's side. He had known 
 nd loved her from their very early childhood; 
 with a love that had grown and strengthened 
 year by year. 
 
 "You seem much fatigued, Herbert," his 
 mother said to him, as a servant assisted him 
 from the carriage, and up the steps of the ve- 
 randa. " I am almost sorry you went." 
 
 " Oh, no, mother, I'm not at all sorry," he 
 answered cheerfully; " I shall have to spend the 
 rest of the day on my couch, but that sermon 
 was enough to repay me for the exertion it cost 
 me to go to hear it." Then he added in an 
 undertone to Elsie, who stood near, looking at 
 him with pitying eyes, " I shan't mind having 
 to lie still if you will give me your company for 
 even a part of the time." 
 
 " Certainly you shall have it, if it will be any 
 comfort to you/" she answered, with her own 
 sweet smile. 
 
 " You must not be too exacting towards Elsie, 
 my son," said his mother, shaking up his pillows 
 for him, and settling him comfortably on them; 
 " she is always so ready to sacrifice herself for 
 others that she would not, I fear, refuse such 
 a request, however much it might cost her to
 
 106 ELSIE'S GIELEOOD. 
 
 grant it. And no doubt she will want to be with 
 the other girls." 
 
 " Yes, it was just like my selfishness to ask it, 
 Elsie, and never think how distasteful it might 
 be to you. I take it all back," he said, blushing, 
 but with a wisti'ul look in his eyes that she could 
 never have withstood, had she wished to do so. 
 
 " It's too late for that, since I have already 
 accepted," she said with an arch look as she 
 turned away. " But don't worry yourself about 
 me; I shall follow my own inclination in regard 
 to the length of my visit, making it very short 
 if I find your society irksome or disagreeable." 
 
 The other girls were promenading on the up- 
 per veranda in full dinner dress. 
 
 Carrie hailed . Elsie in a lively tone. " So 
 you've been to church, like a good Christian, leav- 
 ing us three lazy sinners taking our ease at home. 
 We took our breakfasts in bed, and have only 
 just finished our toilets." 
 
 "Well, and why shouldn't we?" said Enna; 
 " we don't profess to be saints." 
 
 " No, I just said we were sinners. But don't 
 think too ill of us, Elsie, it was so late or rather 
 early well on into the small hours when we 
 retired, that a long morning nap became a ne- 
 cessity." 
 
 " I don't pretend to judge you, Carrie," Elsie 
 answered gently, " it is not for me to do so; and 
 I acknowledge that though I retired much earlier 
 than you, I slept a full hour past my usual time 
 for rising." 
 
 "You'll surely have to do penance for that/ 1 
 sneered Enna.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 107 
 
 "No, she shan't/' said Lucy, putting her arm 
 around her friend's slender waist. " Come, prom- 
 enade with me till the dinner-bell rings, the ex- 
 ercise will do you good." 
 
 The lively chat of the girls seemed to our hero- 
 ine so unsuited to the sacredness of the day that 
 she rejoiced in the excuse Herbert's invitation 
 gave her for withdrawing herself from their so- 
 ciety for the greater part of the afternoon. She 
 found him alone, lying on his sofa, apparently 
 asleep; but at the sound of her light footstep he 
 opened his eyes and looked up with a joyous 
 smile. " I'm so glad to see you! how good of you 
 to come!" he cried delightedly. "It's abomin- 
 ably selfish of me, though. Don't let me keep 
 you from having a good time with the rest." 
 
 "The Sabbath is hardly the day for what 
 people usually mean by a good time, is it ? " she 
 said, taking possession of a low rocking-chair 
 that stood by the side of his couch. 
 
 " No, but it is the day of days for real good, 
 happy times; everything is so quiet and still that 
 it is easier than on other days to lift one's 
 thoughts to God and Heaven. Oh, Elsie, I owe 
 you a great debt of gratitude, that I can never 
 repay." 
 
 "For what, Herbert?" 
 
 "Ah, don't you know it was you who first 
 taught me the sweetness of carrying all my trials 
 and troubles to Jesus? Years ago, when we 
 were very little children, you told me what com- 
 fort and happiness you found in so doing, and 
 begged me to try it for myself." 
 
 "And you did?"
 
 SOtt ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 "Yes, and have continued to do so ever 
 since." 
 
 " And that is what enables you to be so patient 
 and uncomplaining." 
 
 " If I am. But ah! you don't know the dread- 
 fully rebellious feelings that sometimes will take 
 possession of me, especially when, after the dis- 
 ease has seemed almost eradicated from my sys- 
 tem, it suddenly returns to make me as helpless 
 and full of pain as ever. Nobody knows how 
 bard it is to endure it; how weary I grow of life; 
 how unendurably heavy my burden seems." 
 
 " Yes, He knows," she murmured softly. " In 
 all their afflictions He was afflicted; and the angel 
 of His presence saved them." 
 
 "Yes, He is touched with the feeling of our 
 infirmities. Oh, how sweet and comforting it is! " 
 
 They were silent for a moment; then turning 
 to her, he asked, " Are you ever afraid that your 
 troubles and cares are too trifling for His notice? 
 that you will weary and disgust Him with your 
 continual coming? " 
 
 " I asked papa about that once, and I shall 
 never forget the tender, loving look he gave me 
 as he said: ' Daughter, do I ever seem to feel 
 that anything which affects your comfort or hap- 
 piness one way or the other, is too trifling to 
 interest and concern me?' 'Oh, no, no, papa/ 
 I said; 'you have often told me you would be 
 glad to know that I had not a thought or feeling 
 concealed from you; and you always seem to like 
 to have me come to you with every little thing 
 that makes me either glad or sorry/ ' I am, my 
 darling/ he answered, ' just because you are so
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 109 
 
 very near and dear to me ; and what does the 
 Bible tell us? " Like as a father pitieth his chil- 
 dren, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him! "'" 
 
 " Yes," said Herbert, musingly. " Then that 
 text somewhere in Isaiah about His love being 
 greater than a mother's for her little helpless 
 babe." 
 
 "And what Jesus said : 'Are not two spar- 
 rows sold for a farthing ? and not one of them 
 shall fall to the ground without your Father. 
 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 
 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than 
 many sparrows.' And then the command : * In 
 everything by prayer and supplication, with 
 thanksgiving let your requests be made known 
 unto God.' Papa reminded me, too, of God's in- 
 finite wisdom and power, of the great worlds, 
 countless in number, that He keeps in motion 
 the sun and planets of many solar systems be- 
 sides our own and then the myriads upon myri- 
 ads of tiny insects that crowd earth, air, and 
 water ; God's care and providence ever over them 
 all. Oh, one does not know how to take it in ! 
 one cannot realize the half of it. God does not 
 know the distinctions that we do between great 
 and small, and it costs Him no effort to attend 
 at one and the same time, to all His creatures 
 and all their affairs." 
 
 "No, that is true. Oh, how great and how 
 good He is! and how sweet to know of His good- 
 ness and love ; to feel that he hears and answers 
 prayer ! I would not give that up for perfect 
 health and vigor, and all the wealth of the worl<J 
 beside."
 
 110 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 " I think I would give up everything else first"; 
 and oh, I am so glad for you, Herbert," she said 
 softly. 
 
 Then they opened their Bibles and read sev- 
 eral chapters together, verse about, pausing now 
 and then to compare notes, as to their under- 
 standing of the exact meaning of some particu- 
 lar passage, or to look out a reference, or consult 
 a commentary. 
 
 "I'm excessively tired of the house; do let's 
 take a walk," said Enna, as they stood or sat 
 about the veranda after tea. 
 
 "Do you second the motion, Miss Howard?" 
 asked Harr} r . 
 
 " Yes," she said, rising and taking his offered 
 arm. " Elsie, you'll go too? " 
 
 " Oh, there's no use in asking her! " cried 
 Enna. " She is much too good to do anything 
 pleasant on Sunday." 
 
 "Indeed! I was not aware of that." And 
 Harry shrugged his shoulders, and threw a comi- 
 cal look at Elsie. " What is your objection to 
 pleasant things, Miss Dinsmore? To be quite 
 consistent you should object to yourself." 
 
 Elsie smiled. " Enna must excuse me for say- 
 ing that she makes a slight mistake; for while it 
 is true my conscience would not permit me 
 to go pleasuring on the Sabbath, yet it does not 
 object to many things that I find very pleasant." 
 
 " Such as saying your prayers, reading the 
 Bible, and going to church?" 
 
 "Yes, Enna; those are real pleasures to me." 
 
 " But to come to the point, will you walk with 
 us ? " asked Lucy.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. Ill 
 
 " Thank you, no: not to-night. But please 
 'don't mind me. I have no right, and don't pre- 
 sume to decide such questions for anyone but 
 myself." 
 
 " Then, if you'll excuse us, we'll leave mamma 
 and Herbert to entertain you for a short time." 
 
 The short time proved to be two hours or 
 more, and long before the return of the little 
 party, Mrs. Carrington went into the house, leav- 
 ing the two on the veranda alone. 
 
 They sang hymns together for a while, then 
 fell to silent musing. Herbert was the first to 
 speak. He still lay upon his sofa; Elsie sitting 
 near, her face at that moment upturned to the 
 sky, where the full moon was shining, and look- 
 ing wondrous sweet and fair in the soft silvery 
 light. Her thoughts seemed far away, and she 
 started and turned quickly toward him as he 
 softly breathed her name. 
 
 " Oh, Elsie, this has been such a happy day to 
 me! What joy, what bliss, if we could be always 
 together! " 
 
 " If you were only my brother! I wish you 
 were, Herbert." 
 
 " No, no, I do not; for I would be something 
 much nearer and dearer. Oh, Elsie, if you only 
 would! " he went on, speaking very fast and ex- 
 citedly. " You thought I was joking last night, 
 but I was not, I was in earnest; never more so 
 in my life. Oh, do you think you could like me, 
 Elsie? " 
 
 " Why, yes, Herbert; I do, and always have ever 
 wince we first became acquainted." 
 
 " No, I didn't mean like, I meant love. Elsie,
 
 212 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 could you love me love me well enough to marry 
 me?" 
 
 " Why, Herbert; what an idea! " she stam- 
 mered, her face flushing visibly in the moonlight. 
 " You don't know how you surprise me; surely 
 we are both too young to be thinking of such 
 things. Papa says I am not even to consider my- 
 self a young lady for three or four years yet. I'm 
 nothing but a child. And you, Herbert, are not 
 much older." 
 
 " Six months; but that's quite enough differ- 
 ence. And your father needn't object on the 
 score of our youth. You are as old now as I've 
 been told your mother was when he married her, 
 and another year will make me as old as he was. 
 And your Aunts Louisa and Lora were both en- 
 gaged before they were sixteen. It's not at all 
 uncommon for girls in this part of the country 
 to marry before they are that old. But I know 
 I'm not half good enough for you, Elsie. A king 
 might be proud to win you for his bride, and I'm 
 only a poor, good-for-nothing cripple, not worth 
 anybody's aceptance." And he turned away his 
 face, with something that sounded very like a 
 sob. 
 
 Elsie's kind heart was touched. "No, Her- 
 bert, you must not talk so. You are a dear, good, 
 noble fellow, worthy of any lady in the land/"' 
 she said, half playfully, half tenderly and laying 
 her little soft white hand over his mouth. 
 
 He caught it in his and pressed it passionately 
 to his lips, there holding it fast. " Oh, Elsie, if 
 it were only mine to keep!" he cried, "I'd be 
 the happiest fellow in the world."
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 113 
 
 She looked at his pale, thin face., worn \vitK 
 suffering, into his eyes so full of pasionate en- 
 treaty; thought what a dear lovable fellow he had 
 always been, and forgot herself entirely forgot 
 everything but the desire to relieve and comfort 
 him, and make him happy. 
 
 " Only tell me that you care for me, darling, 
 and that you are willing some day to belong to 
 me! only give me a little hope; I shall die if you 
 don't! " 
 
 " I do care for you, Herbert; I would do any- 
 thing in my power to make you happy." 
 
 " Then I may call you my own! Oh, darling, 
 God bless you for your goodness! " 
 
 But the clock was striking nine, and with the 
 sound, a sudden recollection came to Elsie. " It 
 is my bed-time, and and, Herbert, it will all 
 have to be just as papa says. I belong to him, 
 and cannot give myself away without his permis- 
 sion. Good-night." She hastily withdrew the 
 hand he still held, and was gone ere he had time 
 to reply. 
 
 " What had she done something of which 
 papa would highly disapprove? Would he be 
 very much vexed with her? " Elsie asked herself 
 half-tremblingly, as she sat passively under her 
 old mammy's hands; for her father's displeasure 
 was the one thing she dreaded above all others. 
 
 She was just ready for be^l when a light tap 
 on the door was followed by the entrance of Mrs. 
 Carrington. 
 
 " I wish to see your young mistress alone for 
 a few moments, Aunt Chloe," she said, and the 
 faithful creature went from the room at once.
 
 114 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 Mrs. Carrington threw her arms around Elsie, 
 folded her in close, loving embrace, and kissed 
 her fondly again and again. " My dear child, 
 how happy you have made me! " she whispered 
 at last. '' Herbert has told me all. Dear boy, he 
 could not keep such good news from his mother. 
 I know of nothing that could have brought me 
 deeper joy and thankfulness, for I have always 
 had a mother's love for you." 
 
 Elsie felt bewildered, almost stunned. " I 
 I'm afraid you he has misunderstood me; it 
 it must be as papa says," she stammered; " I can- 
 not decide it for myself, I have no right." 
 
 " Certainly, my dear, that is all very right, very 
 proper; parents should always be consulted in 
 these matters. But your papa loves you too well 
 to raise any objection when he sees that your 
 heart is interested. And Herbert is worthy of 
 you, though his mother says it; he is a noble, 
 true-hearted fellow, well-educated, handsome, 
 talented, polished in manners, indeed all that 
 anybody could ask, if he were but well; and we 
 do not despair of seeing him eventually quite re- 
 stored to health. But I am keeping you up, and 
 I know that your papa is very strict and particu- 
 lar about your observance of his rules; so good- 
 night." And, with another caress, she left her. 
 
 Thought was very busy in Elsie's brain as she 
 laid her head upon her pillow. It was delightful 
 to have given such joy and happiness to Herbert 
 and his mother. Lucy, too, she felt sure would 
 be very glad to learn that they were to be sisters. 
 But her own papa, how would he feel what 
 would he say? Only the other day he had re-
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD, 115 
 
 minded her how entirely she belonged to him 
 that no other had the slightest claim upon her, 
 and as he spoke, the clasp of his arms seemed 
 to say that he would defy the whole world to take 
 her from him. No, he would never give her up; 
 and somehow she was not at all miserable at the 
 thought; but on the contrary it sent a thrill of 
 joy to her heart; it was so sweet to be so loved and 
 cherished by him, " her own dear, dear papa! " 
 
 But then another thing came to her remem- 
 brance; his pity for poor suffering Herbert; his 
 expressed willingness to do anything he could to 
 make him happy and again she doubted whether 
 he would accept or reject the boy's suit for her 
 hand. 
 
 Carrie and Enna were to leave at an early hour 
 on Monday morning. They came into Elsie's 
 room for a parting chat while waiting for the 
 ringing of the breakfast bell; so the three went 
 down together to answer its summons, and thus 
 she was spared the necessity of entering the din- 
 ing room alone an ordeal she had really 
 dreaded; a strange and painful shyness toward 
 the whole family at Ashlands having suddenly 
 come over her. She managed to conceal it pretty 
 well, but carefully avoided meeting Herbert's eye, 
 or those of his parents. 
 
 The girls left directly on the conclusion of 
 the meal, and having seen them off, Elsie slipped 
 away to her own room. But Lucy followed her 
 almost immediately, fairly wild with delight at 
 the news Herbert had just been giving her. 
 
 " Oh, you darling ! " she cried, hugging her 
 friend with all her might. " I never was so glad
 
 116 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 in all my life! To think that I'm to have you 
 for a sister! I could just eat you up! " 
 
 " I hope you won't/' said Elsie, laughing and 
 blushing, as she returned the embrace as heartily 
 as it was given. " But we must not be too sure; 
 I'm not at all certain of papa's consent/' 
 
 " No, I just expect he'll object to Herbie on 
 account of his lameness, and his ill health. I 
 don't think we ought to blame him if he does 
 either." And Lucy suddenly sobered down to 
 more than her ordinary gravity. " Ah, I forgot/' 
 she said, a moment after; " Herbert begs that 
 you will come down and let him talk with you a 
 little if you are not particularly engaged." 
 
 Elsie answering that she had nothing to do, 
 her time was quite at his disposal, the two tripped 
 downstairs, each with an arm about the other's 
 ^raist, as they had done so often in the days of 
 their childhood. 
 
 They found Herbert on the veranda, not lying 
 down, but seated on his sofa. " You are better 
 this morning?" Elsie said with a glad look up 
 into his face, as he rose, leaning on his crutch, and 
 gave her the other hand. 
 
 " Yes, thank you, much better. Joy has proved 
 so great a cordial that I begin to hope it may 
 work a complete cure." He drew her to a seat 
 by his side, and Lucy considerately went away 
 and left them alone. 
 
 "You have not changed your mind, Elsie?" 
 His tone was low and half tremulous in its eager- 
 ness. 
 
 " N"o, Herbert; but it all rests with papa, you 
 know."
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 117 
 
 "I hardly dare ask him for you, it seems like 
 such presumption in a a cripple like me." 
 
 "Don ? t say that, Herbert. Would you love 
 me less if I should become lame or ill?" 
 
 " No, no, never! but I couldn't bear to have any 
 such calamity come upon you. I can hardly 
 bear that you should have a lame husband. The 
 thought of it makes my trial harder to bear than 
 ever." 
 
 " It is God's will, and we must not fight against 
 it," she said softly. 
 
 They conversed for some time longer. He was 
 very anxious to gain Mr. Dinsmore's consent to 
 their engagement, yet shrank from asking it, 
 fearing an indignant refusal; most of all, he 
 dreaded a personal interview; and, but ill able to 
 take the ride to the Oaks, it was finally decided 
 between them that he should make his applica- 
 tion by letter, doing so at once. 
 
 A servant was summoned to bring him his 
 writing materials, and Elsie left him to his trying 
 task, while she and Lucy and Harry mounted 
 their horses and were away for a brisk, delightful 
 ride through the woods and over the hills. 
 
 "It's gone, Elsie," Herbert whispered, when 
 she came down dressed for dinner. " I wrote it 
 twice; it didn't suit me then, but my strength 
 was quite exhausted, so it had to go. I hope the 
 answer will come soon, but oh, I shall be almost 
 afraid to open it." 
 
 " Don't feel so; papa is very good and kind. 
 He pities you so much, too," and she repeated 
 what he had said about being willing to do any* 
 thing he could for him.
 
 118 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 Herbert's face grew bright with hope as he 
 listened. "And do you think he'll answer at 
 once?" he asked. 
 
 " Yes, papa is always very prompt and decided; 
 never keeps one long in suspense." 
 
 Mr. Carrington met our heroine at the dinner* 
 table with such a bright, glad smile, and treated 
 Jier in so kind and fatherly a manner that she 
 felt sure he knew all, and was much pleased with 
 the prospect before them. But she was afraid 
 Harry did not like it did not want her for a 
 sister. lie was usually very gay and talkative, 
 full of fun and frolic. He had been so during 
 their ride, but now his manner seemed strangely 
 altered; he was moody and taciturn, almost cross.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Keen are the pangs 
 Of hapless love and passion unapproved. 
 
 SMOLLETT'S " REGICIDE." 
 
 HARDLY anything could have been more dis- 
 tasteful to Horace Dinsmore than the state of 
 affairs revealed to him by Herbert Carrington's 
 note. He was greatly vexed, not at the lad'q 
 manner of preferring his request, but that it 
 should have been made at all. He was not ready 
 yet to listen to such a proposal coming from any 
 person, however eligible, much less from one so 
 sadly afflicted as poor Herbert. He sought his 
 wife's presence with the missive in his hand. 
 
 " What is the matter, my dear? " she asked; 
 "I have seldom seen you so disturbed." 
 
 "The most absurd nonsense! the most ridicu- 
 lously provoking affair! Herbert Carrington 
 asking me to give him my daughter! I don't 
 wonder at your astonished look, Rose; a couple of 
 silly children. I should have given either of them 
 credit for more sense." 
 
 " It has certainly taken me very much by sur- 
 prise," said Rose, smiling. " I cannot realize that 
 Elsie is grown up enough to be beginning with 
 such things; yet you know she has passed her 
 fifteenth birthday, and that half the girls about 
 here become engaged before they are sixteen/'
 
 120 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 "But Elsie shall not. I'll have no nonsense 
 of the kind for years to come. She shall not 
 marry a day before she is twenty-one, I had 
 nearly said twenty-five; and I don't think I'll al- 
 low it before then." 
 
 Eose laughed. " My dear, do you know what 
 my age was when you married me?" 
 
 " Twenty-one, you told me." 
 
 " Don't you think my father ought then to 
 have kept us waiting four years longer?" 
 
 "No," he answered, stooping to stroke her 
 hair, and snatch a kiss from her rich red lips. 
 
 She looked up smilingly into his face. " Ah, 
 consistency is a jewel! and pray how old were you 
 when you married the first time? and what was 
 then the age of Elsie's mother?" 
 
 " Your arguments are not unanswerable, Mrs. 
 Dinsmore. Your father could spare you, having 
 several other daughters; I have but one, and 
 can't spare her. Elsie's mother was not older 
 when I married her, it is true, than Elsie is now, 
 but was much more mature, and had neither the 
 happy home nor the doting father her daughter 
 has. And as for myself, though much too young 
 to marry, I was a year older than this Herbert 
 Carrington; and I was in sound and vigorous 
 health, while he, poor fellow, is sadly crippled, 
 and likely always to be an invalid, and very un- 
 likely to live to so much as see his majority. Do 
 you think I ought for a moment to contemplate 
 allowing Elsie to sacrifice herself to him? " 
 
 "It would seem a terrible sacrifice; and yet 
 after all it will depend very much upon the state 
 of her own feelings."
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 121 
 
 "If she were five or six years older, I should 
 say yes to that; but girls of her age are not fit 
 to choose a companion for life; taste and judg- 
 ment are not matured, and the man who pleases 
 them now may be utterly repugnant to them in 
 after years. Is not that so ? " 
 
 " Yes; and I think your decision is wise and 
 kind. Still, I am sorry for the poor boy, and 
 hope you will deal very gently and kindly with 
 him." 
 
 " I shall certainly try to do so. I pity him, 
 and cannot blame him for fancying my lovely 
 daughter I really don't see how he or any young 
 fellow can help it, but he can't have her, and of 
 course I must tell him so. I must see Elsie first 
 however, and have already sent her a note order- 
 ing her home immediately." 
 
 " Come into my room for a little, dear," Mrs. 
 Norris whispered to Elsie as they rose from the 
 dinner table. " Herbert must not expect to mo- 
 nopolize all your time." 
 
 It turned out that all the old lady wanted was 
 an opportunity to express her delight in the pros- 
 pect of some day claiming Elsie as her grand- 
 daughter, and to pet and fondle her a little. Mr. 
 Norris did his share of that also, and when at 
 length they let her go she encountered Mr. Car- 
 rington in the hall, and had to submit to some 
 thing more of the same sort from him. 
 
 " We are all heartily rejoiced, little Elsie," he 
 said, " all of us who know the secret; it is to be 
 kept from the children, of course, till your 
 father's consent has made all certain. But there 
 is Lucy looking for you; Herbert has sent her,
 
 122 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 I daresay. No doubt he grudges every moment 
 that you are out of his sight." 
 
 That was true, and his glad look, as she took 
 her accustomed place by the side of his couch, 
 was pleasant to see. But he was not selfish in 
 his happiness, and seemed well satisfied to sharp 
 Elsie's society with his sister. 
 
 The three were making very merry together, 
 when a servant from the Oaks was seen riding 
 leisurely up the avenue. He had some small 
 white object in his hand which he began waving 
 about his head the moment he saw that he had 
 attracted their attention. 
 
 " It's a letter! " exclaimed Lucy. " Han, Scip," 
 to the two little blacks who, as usual, were tum- 
 bling over each other on the grass near by, " run, 
 one of you and get it, quick now! " 
 
 "What who Miss Lucy?" they cried, jump- 
 ing up. 
 
 "Yonder; don't you see Mr. Dinsmore's map 
 with a letter? Run and get it, quick! " 
 
 " Yes'm! " and both scampered off in the di- 
 rection of the horseman, who, suddenly urging 
 on his steed , was now rapidly nearing the house. 
 
 "Hollo! dar now, you ole Jim! " shouted Scip, 
 making a dash at the horse, " who dat lettah fur? 
 You gub urn to me." 
 
 A contemptuous sniff was the only answer, and 
 dashing by them, Jim drew rein close to the 
 veranda. " Massa he send dis for you, Miss El- 
 sie," he said, holding out the letter to her. 
 
 She sprang forward, took it from his hand and 
 hastily tore open the envelope, the rich color com- 
 ing and going in her cheek. A glance was suffi-
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 123 
 
 cient, and turning her flushed face to the 
 anxious, expectant Herbert: " Papa has sent fou 
 me to return home immediately " she said; "I 
 must go." 
 
 " Oh, Elsie, must you indeed? and is there no) 
 word for me none at all?" 
 
 " Yes, he says you shall hear from Kim to-dajij 
 or to-morrow." 
 
 She had gone close to him and was speaking 
 in a low tone that the servants might not hear. 
 Herbert took both her hands in his. " Oh, I am 
 so sorry! You were to have stayed two days 
 longer. I fear this sudden recall does not argue 
 well for me. Is he angry, do you think?" 
 
 " I don't know, I can't tell. The note is sim- 
 ply an order for me to come home at once and! 
 the message to you that I have given; nothing 
 more at all. Jim is to see me safely to the 
 Oaks." Then turning to the mesenger, " Go and! 
 saddle Glossy, and bring her round at once, Jim," 
 she said. 
 
 " Yes, Miss Elsie, hab her roun' in less dan noi 
 time." 
 
 " Go with Jim to the stables, Han," said Her- 
 bert, sighing as he spoke. 
 
 " Elsie, I can't bear to have you leave us so sud- 
 denly," cried Lucy; "it does seem too bad of 
 your father, after giving you permission to stay. 
 a whole week, to go and dock off two days." 
 
 " But papa has a right, and I can't complain. 
 I've nothing to do but obey. I'll go up and have 
 my riding-habit put on, while Glossy is being 
 eadled." 
 
 "Miss Elsie," said Jim, leisurely dismounting,
 
 124 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 " massa say de wagon be here in 'bout an hour 
 for de trunk, an' Aunt Chloe mus' hab 'em ready 
 by dat time; herself too." 
 
 " Very well., she shall do so," and with anothen 
 whispered word to Herbert, Elsie went into the 
 house, Lucy going with her. 
 
 " Why, my dear, this is very sudden, is it not?'* 
 exclaimed Mrs. Carrington, meeting her young 
 guest as she came down dressed for her ride. " I 
 thought you were to stay a week, and hoped you 
 were enjoying your visit as much as we were." 
 
 " Thank you, dear Mrs. Carrington; I have 
 had a delightful time, but papa has sent for me." 
 
 " And like a good child, you obey at once." 
 
 "My father's daughter would never dare to 
 Ho otherwise," replied Elsie, smiling; " though 
 I hope I should not, if I did dare." 
 
 " You'll come again soon often, till I can get 
 strength to go to you?" Herbert said entreat- 
 ingly, as he held her hand in parting. " And 
 we'll correspond, won't we? I should like to write 
 and receive a note every day when we do not 
 meet." 
 
 " I don't know; I can promise nothing till I 
 have asked permission of papa." 
 
 "But if he allows it?" 
 
 ."If he allows it, yes; good-bye." 
 
 Dearly as Elsie loved her father, she more than 
 half dreaded the meeting with him now; so en- 
 tirely uncertain was she how he would feel in re- 
 gard to this matter. 
 
 He was on the veranda, watching for her. 
 Xiifting her from her horse, he led her into his 
 study. Then putting an arm about her waist,
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 125 
 
 his other hand under her chin so that her blush- 
 ing, downcast face was fully exposed to his gaze, 
 *' What does all this mean?" he asked. "Look 
 up into my face and tell me if it is really true- 
 that you want me to give you away? if it is pos- 
 sible that you love that boy better than your 
 father?" 
 
 She lifted her eyes as he bade her, but dropped 
 them again instantly; then as he finished his sen- 
 tence, "Oh, no, no, papa! not half so well; how- 
 could you think it?" she cried, throwing her 
 arms about his neck, and hiding her face on his 
 breast. 
 
 " Ah, is that so? " he said, with a low, gleeful 
 laugh, as he held her close to his heart. "But 
 he says you accepted him on condition that papa 
 would give consent, that you owned you cared 
 for him." 
 
 " And so I do, papa; I've always loved him as 
 if he were my brother; and I'm so sorry for all 
 he suffers, that I would do anything I could to 
 make him happy." 
 
 "Even to sacrificing yourself? It is well in- 
 deed for you that you have a father to take care 
 of you." ' 
 
 "Are you going to say 'No' to him, papa?" 
 she asked, looking up half beseechingly. 
 
 a Indeed I am." 
 
 " Ah, papa, he said it would kill him if yoo 
 did." 
 
 " I don't believe it; people don't die so easily. 
 And I have several reasons for my refusal, each 
 one of which would be quite sufficient of itself. 
 But you just acknowledged to me that you don't
 
 126 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 love him at all as you ought. Why, my child, 
 when you meet the right person you will find that 
 your love for him is far greater than what you 
 feel for me." 
 
 " Papa, I don't think that could be possible," 
 she said, clinging closer to him than before. 
 
 " But you'll be convinced when the time conies, 
 though I hope that will not be for many a long 
 year yet. Then Herbert's ill health and lame- 
 ness are two insuperable objections. Lastly, you 
 are both entirely too young to be thinking of 
 such matters." 
 
 " He didn't mean to ask you to give me to him 
 now, papa; not for a year or two at the very 
 least." 
 
 " But I won't have you engaging yourself while 
 you are such a mere child. I don't approve of 
 long engagements, or intend to let you marry 
 for six or seven years to come. So you may as 
 well dismiss all thoughts on the subject; and if 
 any other boy or man attempts to talk to you as 
 Herbert has, just tell him that your father ut- 
 terly forbids you to listen to anything of the 
 kind. What! crying! I hope these are not re- 
 bellious tears?" 
 
 " No, papa; please don't be angry. It is only 
 that I feel so sorry for poor Herbert; he suffers 
 so, and is so patient and good." 
 
 "I am sorry for him too, but it cannot be 
 helped. I must take care of you first, and not 
 allow anything which I think will interfere \riths 
 your happiness or well being." 
 
 " Papa, he wants to correspond with me." 
 
 "lehall not allow i*-"
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 127 
 
 ** May we see each other often? " 
 
 " No; not at all for some time. He must get 
 fcver this foolish fancy first, it cannot be anything 
 more; and there is great danger that he will not 
 unless you are kept entirely apart." 
 
 Elsie sighed softly, but said not a word. There 
 was no appeal from her father's decisions, no ar- 
 gument or entreaty allowed after they were once 
 announced. 
 
 Little feet were heard running down the hall; 
 then there was the sound of a tiny fist thumping 
 en the door, and the voice of little Horace call- 
 ing, " Elsie, Elsie, turn out! me wants to see you! " 
 
 " There, you may go now," her father said, re- 
 leasing her with a kiss, " and leave me to write 
 that note. Well, what is it?" for she lingered, 
 looking up wistfully into his face. 
 
 " Dear papa, be kind to him for my sake," she 
 murmured softly, putting her arm about his neck 
 again. "He is such a sufferer, so patient and: 
 good, and it quite makes my heart ache to think 
 how grievously your refusal will pain him." 
 
 "My own sweet child! always unselfish, always 
 concerned for the happiness of others," thought 
 the father as he looked down into the pleading 
 face; but he only stroked her hair, and kissed 
 her more tenderly than before, saying, " I shall 
 try to be as kind as circumstances will allow, 
 daughter. You shall read the letter when it is 
 done, and if you think it is not kind enough it 
 shall not be sent." 
 
 She thanked him with a very grateful look, 
 then hurried away, for the tiny fists were re- 
 doubling their blows upon the door, while the
 
 128 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 baby voice called more and more clamorously for 
 ^sister Elsie." 
 
 She stooped to hug and kiss the little fellow, 
 then was led off in triumph to " mamma," whose 
 greeting, though less noisy, was quite as joyous 
 and affectionate. 
 
 u Oh, how nice it is to get home! " cried Elsie, 
 and wondered within herself how she had been 
 contented to stay away so long. She had hardly 
 finished giving Rose an animated account of her 
 visit, including a minute description of the birth- 
 day party, when her father's voice summoned 
 her to the study again. 
 
 " Does it satisfy you? " he asked when she had 
 read the note. 
 
 "Yes, papa; I think it is as kind as a refusal 
 could possibly be made." 
 
 " Then I shall send it at once. And now this 
 settles the matter, and I bid you put the whole 
 affair out of your mind as completely as possible, 
 Elsie." 
 
 " I shall try, papa," she answered in a submis- 
 sive and even cherful tone. 
 
 That note, kindly worded though it was, caused 
 great distress to Herbert Carrington. He passed 
 an almost sleepless night, and the next morn- 
 ing, finding himself quite unable to rise from his 
 couch, he sent an urgent entreaty that Mr. Dins- 
 more would call at Ashlands at his earliest con- 
 venience. 
 
 His request was granted at once, and the lad 
 pleaded with all the eloquence of which he was 
 master for a more favorable reception of his 
 euit.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 129 
 
 Had he been as well acquainted with Horace 
 Dinsmore's character as Elsie was. he would have 
 known the utter uselessness of such a proceeding. 
 He received a patient hearing, then a firm, though 
 kind denial. Elsie was entirely too young to be 
 allowed even to think of love or matrimony, her 
 father said; he was extremely sorry the subject 
 had been broached to her; it must not be again, 
 for years. He would not permit any engagement, 
 correspondence, or, for the present at least, any 
 exchange of visits; because he wished the matter 
 to be dropped entirely, and, if possible, forgotten. 
 Nor would he hold out the slightest hope for the 
 future; answering Herbert's petition for that by 
 a gentle hint that one in his ill health should be 
 content to remain single. 
 
 " Yes, you are right, Mr. Dinsmore, and I don't 
 blame you for refusing to give me your lovely 
 daughter; I'm entirely unworthy of such a treas- 
 ure," said the poor boy in a broken voice. 
 
 "Not in character, my dear boy," said Mr. 
 Dinsmore, almost tenderly; " in that you are all 
 I could ask or desire, and it is all that you are 
 responsible for. And now while she is such a 
 mere child, I should reject any other suitor for 
 her hand, quite as decidedly as I do you." 
 
 "You don't blame me for loving her?" 
 
 "No; oh, no!" 
 
 "I can't help it. I've loved her ever since I 
 first saw her, and that was before I was five years 
 old." 
 
 " Well, I don't object to a brotherly affectioa, 
 and when you can tone it down to that, shall not 
 forbid occasional intercourse. And now, witli
 
 ISO ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 the best wishes for your health and happiness, I 
 must bid you good-bye." 
 
 " Good-bye, sir; and thank you for your kind- 
 ness in coming," the boy answered with a quiver- 
 ing lip. Then, turning to his mother, as Mr. 
 Dinsmore left the room, " I shall never get over 
 it," he said. " I shall not live long, and I don't 
 want to; life without her isn't worth having." 
 
 Her heart ached for him, but she answered 
 cheerily: " Why, my dear child, don't be so de- 
 spondent; I think you may take hope and courage 
 from some things that Mr. Dinsmore said. It is 
 quite in your favor that he will not allow Elsie 
 to receive proposals from any one at present, for 
 who knows but by the time he considers her old 
 enough, you may be well and strong." 
 
 Mrs. Carrington's words had a very different 
 effect from what she intended. The next time 
 Herbert saw his physician, he insisted so strongly 
 on knowing exactly what he might look forward 
 to that there was no evading the demand; and on 
 learning that he was hopelessly crippled for life, 
 he sank into a state of utter despondency, and 
 from that moment grew rapidly worse, failing 
 visibly day by day. 
 
 Elsie, dutifully abstaining from holding any 
 communication with Ashlands, and giving all her 
 thoughts as far as possible to home duties and 
 pleasures knew nothing of it till one day Enna 
 came in, asking, " Have you heard the news? " 
 
 " No," said Elsie, pausing in a game of romps 
 with her little brother; "what is it?" 
 
 "It! You should rather say they. There's 
 more than one item of importance." And Ennai
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 131 
 
 straightened herself and smoothed out her dress 
 with a very consequential air. " In the first place 
 Arthur has been found out in his evil courses; 
 he's been betting and gambling till he's got him- 
 self over head and ears in debt. Papa was so 
 angry, I almost thought he would kill him. But 
 he seemed to cool down after he'd paid off the 
 debts; and Arthur is, or pretends to be, very peni- 
 tent, promises never to do the like again, and so 
 he's got forgiven, and he and Walter are to start 
 for college early next week. They've both gone 
 to the city to-day with papa. Arthur seems to be 
 mad at you; he says that you could have saved 
 him from being found out, but didn't choose to, 
 and some day he'll have his revenge. Now, what 
 was it you did, or didn't do?" 
 
 "He wanted money, and I refused to lend it 
 because papa had forbidden me." 
 
 " You're good at minding, and always were," 
 was Enna's sneering comment. "No, 111 take 
 'that back; I forgot that time when you nearly died 
 rather than mind." 
 
 An indignant flush suffused Elsie's fair face for 
 an instant; but the sneer was borne in utter si- 
 lence. Rose entered the room at that moment, 
 and, having returned her greeting, Enna pro- 
 ceeded to give another important bit of news. 
 
 "Herbert Carrington is very ill; not confined 
 to his bed, but failing very fast. The doctors ad- 
 vised them to take him from home; because they 
 said they thought he had something on his mind, 
 and taking him into new scenes might help him 
 to forget it. They think he's not likely to live 
 long anyhow, but that is the last hope. His
 
 J32 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 mother and Lucy started North with him this 
 morning." 
 
 Elsie suddenly dropped the ball she was tossing 
 for Horace and ran out of the room. 
 
 " Why, what did she do that for? " asked Enna, 
 in a tone of surprise, turning to Rose for an ex- 
 planation. " Is she in iove with him,, do you 
 suppose?" 
 
 " No, I know she is not; but I think she lias a 
 strong sisterly regard for him, and I am sorry the 
 news of his increased illness was told her so 
 abruptly." 
 
 " Such a baby, as she always was," muttered 
 Enna, " crying her eyes out about the least little 
 thing." 
 
 "If she lacks sufficient control over her feel- 
 ings it is almost the only fault she has," replied 
 Rose warmly. "And I think, Enna, you are 
 hardly capable of appreciating her delicately 
 sensitive nature, and warm, loving heart, else 
 you would not wound her as you do. She cer- 
 tainly controls her temper well, and puts up with 
 more from you than I should." 
 
 "Pray, what do you mean, Mrs. Dinsmore? 
 what have I done to your pet? " asked the young 
 lady angrily. 
 
 " She is older than you, yet you treat her as if 
 she were much younger. Your manner toward 
 her is often very contemptuous, and I have fre- 
 quently heard you sneer at her principles and 
 taunt her with her willing subjection to her 
 father's strict rule; for which she deserves noth- 
 ing but the highest praise." 
 
 "Nobody could ever rule me the way Horace
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 133 
 
 does her! " cried Enna, with a toss of her head. 
 " And as to her being older than I am, I'm sure 
 no one would think it; she is so absurdly childish 
 in her way; not half so mature as I, mamma says." 
 
 "I'm glad and thankful that she is not," an- 
 swered Eose, with spirit; " her sweet childish 
 simplicity and perfect naturalness are very charm- 
 ing in these days, when they are so rarely found 
 in a girl who has entered her teens." 
 
 Little Horace, standing by the window, ut- 
 tered a joyous shout, " Oh, papa tumin'! " and 
 rushed from the room to return the next moment 
 clinging to his father's hand, announcing as they 
 came in together, " Here papa is; me found him! " 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore shook hands with his sister, ad- 
 dressed a remark to his wife, then, glancing about 
 the room, asked, " Where is Elsie ? " 
 
 " She left us a moment since, but did not say 
 where she was going," said Eose. 
 
 " I presume you'll find her crying in her bou- 
 doir or dressing room," added Enna. 
 
 " Crying! Why, what is wrong with her? " 
 
 " Nothing that I know of, except that I told 
 her of Herbert Carrington's being so much 
 worse that they've taken him North as a last 
 hope." 
 
 " Is that so? " and Mr. Dinsmore looked much 
 concerned. 
 
 "Yes, there can be no doubt about it, for T 
 heard it from Harry himself this morning." 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore rose, and, putting his little son 
 gently aside, left the room. 
 
 Elsie was not in her own apartments; he passed 
 through the whole suite, looking for her; tnen,
 
 134 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 going on into the grounds, found her at last in 
 her favorite arbor. She was crying bitterly, but 
 at the sound of his step checked her sobs, and 
 hastily wiped away her tears. She thought he 
 would reprove her for indulging her grief, but 
 instead he took her in his arms and soothed her 
 tenderly. 
 
 " Oh, papa," she sobbed, " I feel as if I had 
 done it as if I had killed him." 
 
 " Darling, he is not past hope; he may recover, 
 and in any event not the slightest blame belongs 
 to you. I have taken the whole responsibility 
 upon my shoulders." 
 
 She gave him a somewhat relieved and very 
 grateful look, and he went on: " And even if I 
 had allowed you to decide the matter for yourself, 
 you would have done what was your duty in re- 
 fusing to promise to belong to one whom you 
 love less than you love your father." 
 
 Some months later there came news of Her- 
 bert's death. Elsie's grief was deep and lasting. 
 She sorrowed as she might have done for the loss 
 of a very dear brother; while added to that was a 
 half-remorseful feeling which reason could not 
 control or entirely relieve; and it was long ere she 
 was quite her own bright, gladsome sunny self 
 again.
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 The bloom of opening flowers' unsullied beauty- 
 Softness and sweetest innocence she wears, 
 And looks like nature in the world's first spring. 
 
 ROWE'S "TAMERLANE.* 
 
 "WHAT a very peculiar hand, papa; so stiff 
 and cramped and old-fashioned," Elsie remarked, 
 as her father laid down a letter he had just been 
 reading. 
 
 " Yes. Did you ever hear me speak of Aunt 
 Wealthy Stanhope? " 
 
 His glance seemed to direct the question to 
 Rose, who answered, with a look of surprise and 
 curiosity, " No, sir. Who is she? " 
 
 "A half-sister of my own mother. She was 
 the daughter of my maternal grandfather by Ms 
 first wife, my mother was the child of the second, 
 and there were some five or ten years between 
 them. Aunt Wealthy never married, would 
 never live with any of her relatives, but has al- 
 ways kept up a cosey little establishment of her 
 own." 
 
 "Do you know her, papa?" asked Elsie, who 
 was listening with eager interest. 
 
 " I can hardly say that I do. I saw her once, 
 nearly eighteen years ago, about the time you 
 were born but I was not capable of appreciating 
 her then; indeed, was so unhappy and irritable as 
 to be hardly in a condition to either make or re-
 
 136 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 ceive favorable impressions. I now believe her to 
 be a truly good and noble little woman, though 
 decidedly an oddity in some respects. Then I 
 called her a fidgety, fussy old maid." 
 
 "And your letter is from her?" Eose said in- 
 quiringly. 
 
 " Yes; she wants me to pay her a visit, taking 
 Elsie with me, and leaving her there for the 
 summer." 
 
 "There, papa! where?" 
 
 " Lansdale, Ohio. Should you like to go? ' 
 
 " Yes, I think I should like to go, papa, if you 
 take me; but whether I should like to stay all 
 summer I could hardly tell- till I get there." 
 
 "You may read the letter," he said, handing 
 it to her. 
 
 " It sounds as though it might be very pleasant, 
 papa," she said, as she laid it down after an at- 
 tentive perusal. 
 
 It spoke of Lansdale as a pretty, healthful 
 village, surrounded by beautiful scenery, and 
 boasting of some excellent society: of two lively 
 young girls, living in the next house to her own, 
 who would be charming companions for Elsie, 
 etc. 
 
 " Your remark that your aunt was an oddity in 
 some respects has excited my curiosity," said 
 Eose. 
 
 " Ah! and I am to understand that you would 
 like me to gratify it, eh? " returned her husband, 
 smiling. " Her dress and the arrangement of 
 her hair are in a style peculiarly her own (unless 
 she has become more fashionable since I saw her, 
 which is not likely); and she has an odd way of
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 137 
 
 transposing her sentences and the names of those 
 she addresses or introduces, or calling them by; 
 some other name suggested by some association 
 with the real one. Miss Bell, for instance, she 
 would probably call Miss Ring; Mr. Foot, Mr. 
 Shoe, and so on." 
 
 "Does she do so intentionally, papa?" Elsie 
 asked. 
 
 " No, not at all; her mistakes are quite inno- 
 cently made, and are therefore very amusing." 
 
 Mrs. Horace Dinsmore's parents had been urg- 
 ing her to visit them, and after some further con- 
 sideration it was decided that the whole family 
 should go North for the summer, Mr. Dinsmore 
 see his wife and little son safe at her father's, 
 then take Elsie on to visit his aunt; the length of 
 the visit to be determined after their arrival. 
 
 It was a lovely morning early in May; the air 
 was vocal with the songs of birds and redolent 
 with the breath of flowers all bathed in dew; deli- 
 cate wreaths of snowy vapor rose slowly from the 
 rippling surface of the river that threaded its 
 way through the valley, and folded themselves 
 about the richly-wooded hill-sides, behind which 
 bright streaks of golden light were shooting up- 
 ward, fair heralds of the coming of the king of 
 day. On the outskirts of the pretty village of 
 Lansdale, and in the midst of a well-kept garden 
 and lawn, stood a tasteful dwelling, of Gothic 
 architecture. Roses, honeysuckle, and Virginia 
 creeper clambered over its walls, twined them- 
 selves about the pillars of its porticos and 
 porches, or hung in graceful festoons from its
 
 138 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 many gables; the garden was gay with sweet 
 spring flowers; the trees, the grass on the lawn, 
 and the hedge that separated it from the road, all 
 were liveried in that vivid green so refreshing to 
 the eye. 
 
 "Phillis! Simon!' called a sweet-toned voice 
 from the foot of the back staircase; " are you up? 
 It's high time; nearly five o'clock now, and the 
 train's due at six." 
 
 " Coming, ma'am. I'll have time to do up all 
 my chores and git to the depot 'fore de train; you 
 neber fear," replied a colored lad of fifteen or 
 sixteen, hurrying down as he spoke. 
 
 A matronly woman, belonging to the same race, 
 followed close in his rear. 
 
 "You're smart dis mornin', missis," she said, 
 speaking from the middle of the stairway. " I 
 didn't 'spect you'd git ahead o' me, and de sun 
 hardly showin' his face 'bove de hill-tops yit." 
 
 " I woke early, Phillis, as I always do when 
 something's going to happen that I expect. Si- 
 mon make haste to feed and water your horses 
 and be sure you have old Joan in the carriage 
 and at the gate by a quarter before six/* 
 
 "Am I to drive her to the depot, ma'am?" 
 
 " No, Miss Lottie Prince will do that, and you 
 are to take the one-horse wagon for the trunks. 
 Did you go to Mr. Laugh's and engage it, as I 
 told you yesterday?" 
 
 " I went to Mr. Grinn's and disengaged de one- 
 horse wagon, ma'am; yes'm." 
 
 "Very well. Now come into the sitting room 
 and I'll show you the likenesses of the lady and 
 gentleman, and the old colored woman they're
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 139 
 
 going to bring with them," replied the mistress, 
 leading the way into an apartment that, spite of 
 its plain, old-fashioned furniture, wore a very at- 
 tractive appearance, it was so exquisitely neat; 
 and the windows, reaching to the floor, opened 
 upon one side into conservatory and garden, on 
 the other upon a porch that ran the whole length 
 of the front of the house. Taking a photograph 
 album from a side-table, she showed the three 
 pictures to Simon, who pronounced the gentle- 
 man very handsome, the lady the prettiest he 
 ever saw, and was sure he should recognize both 
 them and their servant. 
 
 " Now, Phillis, we'll have to bestir ourselves," 
 said Miss Stanhope, returning to the kitchen. 
 " Do you think you can get breakfast in less than 
 an hour? such a breakfast as we should have this 
 morning one fit for a king." 
 
 "Yes, Miss Wealthy; but you don't want it 
 that soon, do you? Folks is apt to like to wash 
 and dress 'fore breakfast." 
 
 " Ah, yes! sure enough. Well, we'll give them 
 half an hour." 
 
 A few moments later, as Miss Stanhope was 
 busy with broom and duster in the front part of 
 the house, a young girl opened the gate, tripped 
 gayly up the gravel walk that led from it across 
 the lawn, and stepped upon the porch. She was 
 a brunette with a very rich color in her dark 
 cheek, raven hair, and sparkling, roguish black 
 eyes. She wore a suit of plain brown linen, with 
 snowy cuffs and collar, and a little straw hat. 
 " Good-morning, Aunt Yfealthy! " she cried, in a 
 lively tone. " You see I'm in good time. v
 
 140 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 " Yes, Lottie, and looking as neat as a pin, too. 
 It's very kind in you, because of course I want to 
 be here to receive them as they come, to offer to 
 introduce yourself and drive down to the depot 
 for them." 
 
 " Of course I'm wonderfully clever, consider- 
 ing that I don't at all enjoy a drive in this sweet 
 morning air, and aint in a bit of a hurry to see 
 your beautiful young heiress and her papa. Net 
 wonders at my audacity in venturing to face them 
 alone; but I tell her I'm too staunch a republican 
 to quail before any amount of wealth or conse- 
 quence, and if Mr. and Miss Dinsmore see fit to 
 turn up their aristocratic noses at me, why I'll 
 just return the compliment." 
 
 " I hope they're not of that sort, Lottie; but if 
 they are, you will serve them right." 
 
 " She does not look like it," observed the young 
 girl, taking the album from the table and gaz- 
 ing earnestly upon Elsie's lovely countenance. 
 " What a sweet, gentle, lovable face it is ! I'm 
 sure I shall dote on her; and if I can only per- 
 suade her to return my penchant, won't we have 
 grand good times while she's here? But there's 
 Simon with old Joan and the carriage. He'll 
 hunt them up for me at the depot; won't he, 
 Aunt Wealthy? " 
 
 " Yes, I told him to." 
 
 The shrill whistle of the locomotive echoed and 
 re-echoed among the hills. 
 
 " Lansdale! " shouted the conductor, throw- 
 ing open the car door. 
 
 "So we are at our destination at last, and I
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 141 
 
 am very glad for your sake, daughter, for you are 
 looking weary/' said Mr. Dinsmore, drawing 
 Elsie's shawl more closely about her shoulders. 
 
 "Oh, I'm not so very tired, papa," she an- 
 swered, with a loving look and smile, " not more 
 so than you are, I presume. Oh, see! papa, what 
 a pretty girl in that carriage there! " 
 
 " Yes, yes ! Come to meet some friend, 
 doubtless. Come, the train has stopped; keep 
 close to me," he said. " Aunt Chloe, see that you 
 have all the parcels." 
 
 "Dis de gentleman and lady from de South, 
 what Miss Stanhope's 'spectin' ? " asked a colored 
 lad, stepping up to our little party as they 
 alighted. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Dis way den, sail, if you please, sah. Here's 
 de carriage. De lady will drive you up to de 
 house, and I'll take your luggage in de little 
 wagon." 
 
 " Very well; here are the checks. You will 
 bring it up at once? " 
 
 " Yes, sah, have it dar soon as yourself, sail. 
 Dis cullad person better ride wid me and de 
 trunks." 
 
 They were nearing the carriage and the pretty 
 girl Elsie had noticed from the car window. 
 " Good-morning! Mr. and Miss Dinsmore, I pre- 
 sume?" she said with a bow and smile. "Will 
 you get in? Let me give you a hand, Miss Dins- 
 more. I am Lottie King, a distant relative and 
 near neighbor of your aunt, Miss Stanhope." 
 
 "And have kindly driven down for us. We 
 are much obliged, Miss King," Mr. Dinsmore an-
 
 142 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 swered, as he followed his daughter into the 
 vehicle. " Shall I not relieve you of the reins ? " 
 
 " Oh, no, thank you; I'm used to driving, and 
 fond of it. And, besides, you don't know the 
 way." 
 
 " True. How is my aunt? " 
 
 "Quite well. She has been looking forward 
 with great delight to this visit, as have my sister 
 Nettie and I also," Lottie answered, with a back- 
 ward glance of admiring curiosity at Elsie. " I 
 hope you will be pleased with Lansdale, Miss 
 Dinsmore; sufficiently so to decide to stay all 
 summer." 
 
 " Thank you; I think it is looking lovely this 
 morning. Does my aunt live far from the 
 depot?" 
 
 "Not very; about a quarter of a mile." 
 
 " Oh, what a pretty place, and what a quaint- 
 looking little old lady on its porch! " Elsie pres- 
 ently cried out. " See, papa! " 
 
 "Yes, that's Aunt Wealthy, and doesn't she 
 make a picture standing there under the vines in 
 her odd dress?" said Miss King, driving up to 
 the gate. " She's the very oddest, and the very 
 dearest and sweetest little old lady in the world." 
 
 Elsie listened and looked again; this time with 
 eager interest and curiosity. 
 
 Certainly, Aunt Wealthy was no slave to 
 fashion. The tyrannical dame at that time pre- 
 scribed gaiter boots, a plain pointed waist and 
 straight skirt, worn very long and full. Miss 
 Stanhope wore a full waist made with a yoke and 
 belt, a gored skirt, extremely scant, and so short 
 as to afford a very distinct view of a well-turned
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 143 
 
 ankle and small, shapely foot encased in snowy 
 stocking and low-heeled black kid slipper. The 
 material of her dress was chintz white ground 
 with a tiny hrown figure finished at the neck 
 with a wide white ruffle; she had black silk mittf 
 on her hands, and her hair, which was very gray 
 was worn in a little knot almost on the top or 
 her head, and one thick, short curl, held in place 
 by a puff-comb, on each side of her face. 
 
 At sight of the carriage and its occupants, she 
 came hurrying down the gravel walk, meeting 
 them as they entered the gate. She took Mr. 
 Dinsmore's hand, saying, " I am glad to see you, 
 nephew Horace," and held up her face for a kiss. 
 Then turning to Elsie, gave her a very warm em- 
 brace. " So, dear, you've come to see your old 
 auntie? That's right. Come into the house." 
 
 Elsie was charmed with her and with all she 
 saw; all without was so fresh and bright, every- 
 thing within so exquisitely neat and clean. The 
 furniture of the whole house was very plain and 
 old-fashioned, but Miss Stanhope never thought 
 of apologizing for what to her wore the double 
 charm of ownership, and of association with the 
 happy days of childhood and youth, and loved 
 ones gone. Nor did her guests deem anything of 
 the kind called for in the very least; house and 
 mistress seemed well suited the one to the other; 
 and Elsie thought it not unpleasant to exchange, 
 for a time, the luxurious furnishing of her home 
 apartments for the simple adornments of the one 
 assigned her here. The snowy drapery of its bed 
 and toilet-table, its wide-open casements giving 
 glimpses of garden, lawn, and shrubbery, and the
 
 144 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 beautiful hills beyond, looked very inviting. 
 There were vases of fresh flowers too, on mantel 
 and bureau, and green vines peeping in at the 
 windows. It seemed a haven of rest after the 
 long, fatiguing journey. 
 
 " The child is sweet and fair to look upon, 
 Horace, but I see nothing of you or my sister in 
 her face," observed Miss Stanhope, as her nephew 
 entered the breakfast-room, preceding his daugh- 
 ter by a moment or two. " Whom does she re- 
 semble? " 
 
 " Elsie is almost the exact counterpart of her 
 own mother, Aunt Wealthy, and looks like no one 
 else," he answered, with a glance of proud 
 fatherly affection at the young creature as she 
 entered and took her place at the table. 
 
 " Now my daughter," he said, at the conclusion 
 of the meal, " you must go and lie down until 
 near dinner-time, if possible." 
 
 " Yes, that is excellent advice," said Miss Stan- 
 hope. " I see, and I'm glad, she's worth taking 
 care of, as you are sensible, Horace. You shall 
 be called in season, dear. So take a good nap." 
 
 Elsie obeyed, retired to her room, slept several 
 horus, and woke feeling greatly refreshed. Chloe 
 was in waiting to dress her for dinner. 
 
 "Had you a nap too, my poor old mammy?" 
 asked her young mistress. 
 
 "Yes, darlin', I've been lying on that couch, 
 and feel good as ever now. Hark! what dat?" 
 
 " It sounds like a dog in distress," said Elsie, as 
 they both ran to the window and looked out. 
 
 A fat poodle had nearly forced his plump 
 body between the palings of the front gate in the
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD 145 
 
 effort to get into the street, and sticking fast, was 
 yelping in distress. As they looked Miss Stan- 
 hope ran quickly down the path, seized him by 
 the tail, and jerked him back, he uttering a louder 
 yelp than before. 
 
 " There, Albert/' she said, stroking and patting 
 him, " I don't like to hurt you, but how was I to 
 get you out, or in? You must be taught that 
 you're to stay at home, sir. Thomas! Thomas! 
 come home, Thomas! " she called; and a large cat 
 came running from the opposite side of the street. 
 
 " So those are Aunt Wealthy's pets. What an 
 odd name for a cat," said Elsie, laughing. 
 
 " Yes, Miss Elsie, dey's pets, sure nuff : Phillis 
 says Miss Wealthy's mighty good t'em." 
 
 " There, she is coming in with them, and, 
 mammy, we must make haste. I'm afraid it's 
 near dinner-time," said Elsie, turning away from 
 the window. 
 
 Her toilet was just completed when there was 
 a slight tap on the door, and her father's voice 
 asked if she was ready to go down. 
 
 " Yes, papa," she answered, hurrying to him as 
 Chloe opened the door. 
 
 " Ah, you are looking something like yourself 
 again," he said, with a pleasant smile, as he drew 
 her hand within his arm, and led her down the 
 stairs. " You have had a good sleep? " 
 
 " A delicious rest. I must have slept at least 
 four hours. And you, papa?" 
 
 "I took a nap of about the same length, and 
 feel ready for almost anything in the shape of 
 dinner, etc. And there is the bell." 
 
 Miss Stanhope cast many an admiring glance
 
 146 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 at nephew and niece during the progress of the 
 meal. 
 
 "I'm thinking, Horace," she said at length, 
 " that it's a great shame I've been left so many 
 years a stranger to you both." 
 
 " I'm afraid it is, Aunt Wealthy; but the great 
 distance that lies between our homes must be 
 taken as some excuse. We would have been glad 
 to see you at the Oaks, but you never came to 
 visit us." 
 
 " Ah, it was much easier for you to come here," 
 she replied, shaking her head. " I've been an old 
 woman these many years. Come," she added, 
 rising from the table, " come into the parlor, chil- 
 dren, and let me show you the olden relics of time 
 I have there things that I value very highly, 
 because they've been in the family for genera- 
 tions." 
 
 They followed her Elsie unable to forbear a 
 smile at hearing her father and herself coupled 
 together as " children " and looked with keen 
 interest upon some half dozen old family por- 
 traits, an ancient cabinet of curiosities, a few 
 musty, time-worn volumes, a carpet that had been 
 very expensive in its day, but was now somewhat 
 faded and worn, and tables, sofas, and chairs of 
 solid mahogany; each of the last-named covered 
 with a heavily-embroidered silken cushion. 
 
 " That sampler," said Aunt Wealthy, pointing 
 to a large one with a wonderful landscape worked 
 upon it, that, framed and glazed, hung between 
 two of the windows, " is a specimen of my pater- 
 Dai grandmother's handiwork; these chair- 
 cushions, too, she embroidered and filled with her
 
 ELSIE'S GIKLHOOD. 147 
 
 own feathers, so that I value them more than 
 their weight in gold/' 
 
 " My great-grandmother kept a few geese, I 
 presume/' Mr. Dinsmore remarked aside to Elsie 
 with a quiet smile. 
 
 Having finished their inspection of the parlor 
 and its curiosities, they seated themselves upon 
 the front porch, where trees and vines gave a 
 pleasant shade. Miss Stanhope had her knitting, 
 Mr. Dinsmore the morning paper, while Elsie sat 
 with her pretty white hands lying idly in her lap, 
 doing nothing hut enjoy the beautiful prospect 
 and a quiet chat with the sweet-voiced old lady. 
 
 The talk between them was quite brisk for a 
 time, but gradually it slackened, till at length 
 they had been silent for several minutes, and 
 Elsie, glancing at her aunt, saw her nodding over 
 her work. 
 
 " Ah, you must excuse me, dear," the old lady 
 said apologetically, waking with a start; " I'm not 
 very well, and, deary, I woke unusually early this 
 morning, and have been stirring about ever 
 since." 
 
 "Can't you afford yourself a little nap, 
 auntie?" Elsie asked in return. "You mustn't 
 make company of me; and, besides, I have a book 
 that I can amuse myself with." 
 
 "You would be quite alone, child, for I see 
 your father has gone in." 
 
 " I shall not mind that at all, auntie. Do go 
 and lie down for at least a little while." 
 
 " Well, then, dear, I will just lie down on the 
 sofa in the sitting room, and you must call me if 
 any one comes."
 
 148 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOL,. 
 
 "Aunt Wealthy couldn't have meant for a 
 child like that, unless she comes on some impor- 
 tant errand," thought Elsie, as, a few moments 
 later, a little girl came slowly across the lawn 
 and stepped upon the porch. 
 
 The child looked clean and decent, in a neat 
 calico dress and gingham sun-bonnet. At sight 
 of Elsie she stood still, and, gazing with open- 
 mouthed curiosity, asked, " Be you the rich young 
 lady that was coming to see Miss Wealthy from 
 'way down south? " 
 
 " I have come from the South to see Miss 
 Stanhope. What do you wish? " 
 
 " Nothin', I just come over 'cause I wanted to." 
 
 "Will you take a seat?" 
 
 " Yes," taking possession of the low rocking 
 chair Miss Stanhope had vacated. 
 
 "What's your name?" inquired Elsie. 
 
 "Lenwilla Ellawea Schilling," returned the 
 child, straightening herself up with an air of im- 
 portance; " mother made it herself." 
 
 "I should think so," replied Elsie, with a 
 sparkle of fun in her eye. " And your mother is 
 Mrs. Schilling, is she?" 
 
 "Yes, and pap, he's dead, and my brother's 
 named Corbinus." 
 
 " What do they call you for short? " 
 
 " Willy, and him Binus." 
 
 " Where do you live? " 
 
 " Over yonder," nodding her head towards the 
 opposite side of the street. ".Mother's comin* 
 over to see you some time. I guess I'll be going 
 now." And away she went. 
 
 " What did that child want? " asked Miss Stan-
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 1*9 
 
 hope, coming out just in time to see the little 
 maiden pass through the gate. 
 
 " Nothing but to look at and question me, I be- 
 lieve." Elsie answered, with an amused smile. 
 
 " Ah! she generally comes to borrow some little 
 thing or other. They're the sort of folks that 
 always have something they're out of. Mrs. Six- 
 pence is a very odd sixpence indeed." 
 
 " I think the little girl said her last name was 
 Schilling." 
 
 "Ah, yes, so it is: but I'm always forgetting 
 their exact commercial value," and Aunt Wealthy, 
 laughed softly. " In fact, I've a very good for- 
 getting of my own, and am more apt to get names 
 wrong than right." 
 
 " Mrs. Schilling must have an odd taste for 
 names," said Elsie. 
 
 " Yes, she's a manufacturer of them; and very 
 proud of her success in that line." 
 
 Miss Stanhope was a great lover of flowers, 
 very proud of hers, cultivated principally by her 
 own hands. After tea she invited her nephew 
 and niece to a stroll through her garden, while 
 she exhibited her pets with a very excusable pride 
 in their variety, beauty, and fragrance. 
 
 As they passed into the house again, Phillis 
 was feeding the chickens in the back yard. 
 
 " You have quite a flock of poultry, aunt," re- 
 marked Mr. Dinsmore. 
 
 "Yes, I like to see them running about, and 
 the eggs you lay yourself are so much better than 
 any you can buy, and the chickens, too, have quite 
 another taste. Phillis, what's the matter with 
 that speckled hen?"
 
 150 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 "Dunno, mistis; she's been crippled dat way 
 all dis week." 
 
 "Well, well, I dare say it's the boys; one of 
 them must have thrown a stone and hit her be- 
 tween her hind legs; they're great plagues. Poor 
 thing! There, Albert, don't you dare to meddle 
 with the fowls! Come away, Thomas. That cat 
 and dog are nearly as bad and troublesome to the 
 boys as the poultry." 
 
 Puss and the poodle followed their mistress 
 into the house, where Albert lay down at her feet, 
 while Thomas sprang into her lap, where he stood 
 purring and rubbing his head against her arm. 
 
 " You seem to have a good many pets, auntie," 
 Elsie remarked. 
 
 " Yes, I am fond of them. A childless old 
 woman must have something to love. I've an- 
 other that I'm fonder of than any of these though 
 my grand-nephew, Harry Duncan. He's away 
 at school now; but I hope to show him to you one 
 of these days." 
 
 " I should like to see him. Is he a relative of 
 ors?" Elsie asked, turning to her father. 
 
 "No, he belongs to the other side of the 
 house." 
 
 " How soft and fine this cat's fur is, aunt; he's 
 quite handsome," remarked Elsie, venturing to 
 stroke Thomas very gently. 
 
 " Yes, I raised him, and his mother before him. 
 My sister Beulah was first husband's child of 
 Harry's grandmother twice married, and my 
 mother. Yes, I think a great deal of him, but 
 was near losing him last winter. A fellow in our 
 town he's two years old now wanted a buffalo
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 181 
 
 robe for his sleigh, and undertook to make it out 
 of cat-skins. He advertised that he'd give ten 
 cents for every cat-skin the hoys would hring him. 
 You know the old saying that you can't have 
 more of a cat than its skin, and hardly anybody's 
 was safe after that; they went about catching all 
 they could lay hands on, even borrowing people's 
 pets and killing them." 
 
 Elsie turned to her father with a very perplexed 
 look, puzzled to understand who it was that had 
 married twice, and whether her aunt had stated 
 Harry's age or that of the cat. 
 
 But at that instant steps and voices were heard 
 upon the porch, and the door-bell rang. 
 
 " It's Lottie and her father/' said Miss Stan- 
 hope, pushing Thomas from her lap. " Come in, 
 friends, and don't stand for ceremony." For 
 both doors stood wide open. 
 
 " Good-evening," said the young lady, coming 
 forward, leaning upon the arm of a middle-aged 
 gentleman. " Mr. Dinsmore, I have brought my 
 father, Dr. King, to see you." 
 
 The gentlemen shook hands, the doctor ob- 
 serving, " I am happy to make your acquaintance, 
 Mr. Dinsmore. I brought my daughter along to 
 introduce me, lest our good Aunt Wealthy here, 
 in her want of appreciation of nobility and birth, 
 should, as she sometimes does, give me a rank 
 lower than my true one, making me to appear 
 only a Prince, while I am really a King." 
 
 A general laugh followed this sally, Miss Stan- 
 hope insisting that that was a mistake she did 
 not often make now. Then Elsie was introduced, 
 and, all being seated again, Dr. King turned to
 
 153 ELSIE "8 GIRLHOOD. 
 
 his hostess with the laughing remark, "Well, 
 Aunt Wealthy, hy way of amends, I'll own up that 
 my wife says that you're the better doctor of the 
 two. That bran has done her a world of good." 
 
 "Bran?" said Mr. Dinsmore inquiringly. 
 
 " Yes, sir; Mrs. King was suffering from indi- 
 gestion; Miss Stanhope advised her to try eating 
 a tablespoonful or so of dry bran after her meals, 
 and it has had an excellent effect/' 
 
 " My father learnt it from an old sea-captain," 
 said Miss Stanhope; " and it has helped a great 
 many I've recommended it to. Some prefer to 
 mi* it with a little cream, or take a little water 
 with it but the best plan's to take it dry if you 
 can."
 
 CHAPTEE XII. 
 
 When to mischief mortals bend their will, 
 How soon they find fit instruments of ill. 
 
 POPE'S " RAPE OF THE LOCK." 
 
 u WHAT, Art, are you going out? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Do you know it's after ten? " 
 
 " Yes, you just mind your own business, Wai; 
 learn your lessons, and go off to bed like a good 
 boy when you get through. I'm old enough to 
 take care of myself." 
 
 " Dear me! I'm awfully afraid he's gone back 
 to his evil courses, as father says," muttered Wal- 
 ter Dinsmore to himself, as the door closed upon 
 his reckless elder brother. " I wonder what I 
 ought to do about it," he continued, leaning his 
 head upon his hand, with a worried, irresolute 
 look; " ought I to report to the governor? No, 
 I shan't, there then; I don't know anything, and 
 I never will be a sneak or a tell-tale." And he 
 drew the light nearer, returned to his book with 
 redoubled diligence for some ten or fifteen 
 minutes more; then, pushing it hastily aside, with 
 a sigh of relief, started up, threw off his clothes, 
 blew out the light, and tumbled into bed. 
 
 Meanwhile Arthur had stolen noiselessly from 
 the college, and pursued his way into the heart of 
 the town. On turning a corner he came sud- 
 denly upon another young man, who seemed to 
 
 153
 
 154 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 have been waiting for him; simply remarking, 
 " You're late to-night, Dinsmore," he faced about 
 in the same direction, and the two walked on to- 
 gether. 
 
 " Of course; but how can a fellow help it when 
 he's obliged to watch his opportunit} 7 till the Ar- 
 gus eyes are closed in sleep, or supposed to be 
 BO? " grumbled Arthur. 
 
 " True enough, old boy; but cheer up, your day 
 of emancipation must come some time or other," 
 remarked his companion, clapping him familiarly 
 on the shoulder. " Of age soon, aren't you? " 
 
 " In about a year. But what good does that 
 do me? I'm not so fortunate as my older brother 
 shall have nothing of my own till one or other 
 of my respected parents sees fit to kick the bucket, 
 and leave me a pile; a thing which at present 
 neither of them seems to have any notion of 
 doing/' 
 
 " You forget your chances at the faro-table." 
 
 " My chances! You win everything from me, 
 Jackson. I'm a lame duck now, and if my luck 
 doesn't soon begin to turn, I'll do something 
 desperate, I believe." 
 
 The lad's tone was bitter, his look reckless and 
 half despairing. 
 
 " Pooh, don't be a spooney! We all have our 
 aps and downs, and you must take your turn at 
 both, like the rest." 
 
 They had ascended a flight of steps, and Jack- 
 son rang the bell as he spoke. It was answered 
 instantly by a colored waiter, who with a silent 
 bow stepped back and held the door open for their 
 entrance. They passed in and presently found
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 155 
 
 themselves in a large, well-lighted, and hand- 
 somely-furnished room, where tables were set out 
 with the choicest viands, rich wine, and trays of 
 fine cigars. 
 
 They seated themselves, ate and drank their fill, 
 then, each lighting a cigar, proceeded to a saloon, 
 on the story above, where a number of men were 
 engaged in playing cards gambling, as was evi- 
 dent from the piles of gold, silver, and bank-notes 
 lying here and there upon the tables about which 
 they sat. 
 
 Here also costly furniture, bright light, and 
 rich wines lent their attractions to the scene. 
 
 Arthur took possession of a velvet-cushioned 
 chair on one side of an elegant marble-topped 
 table, his companion placing himself in another 
 directly opposite. Here, seated in the full blaze 
 of the gas-light, each face was brought out into 
 strong relief. Both were young, both handsome; 
 Jackson, who was Arthur's senior by five or six 
 years, remarkably so; yet his smile was sardonic, 
 and there was often a sinister expression in his 
 keen black eye as its glance fell upon his victim, 
 for such Arthur Dinsmore was no match for his 
 cunning and unscrupulous antagonist, who was a 
 gambler by profession. 
 
 Arthur's pretended reformation had lasted 
 scarcely longer than until he was again exposed 
 to temptation, and his face, as seen in that bril- 
 liant light, wore unmistakable signs of indulgence 
 in debauchery and vice. He played in a wild, 
 reckless way, dealing out his cards with a trem- 
 bling hand, while his cheek burned and his eye 
 flashed.
 
 156 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 At first Jackson allowed him to win, and filled 
 with a mad delight at the idea that " his luck had 
 turned," the boy doubled and trebled his stakes. 
 
 Jackson chuckled inwardly, the game went 
 on, and at length Arthur found all his gains sud- 
 denly swept away and himself many thousands of 
 dollars in debt. 
 
 A ghastly pallor overspread his face, he threw 
 himself back in his chair with a groan, then start- 
 ing up with a bitter laugh, " Well, I see only one 
 way out of this," he said. " A word in your ear, 
 Tom; come along with me. I've lost and you 
 won enough for one night; haven't we, eh? " 
 
 " Well, yes; I'm satisfied if you are." And the 
 two hurried into the now dark and silent street, 
 for it was long past midnight, and sober and re- 
 spectable people generally had retired to their 
 beds. 
 
 " Where are you going? " asked Jackson. 
 
 " Anywhere you like that we can talk without 
 danger of being overheard." 
 
 " This way thon, down this street. You see 
 'tis absolutely silent and deserted." 
 
 They walked on, talking in an undertone. 
 
 "You'd like your money as soon as you can 
 get it? " said Arthur. 
 
 " Of course; in fact I must have it before very 
 long, for I'm hard pushed now." 
 
 " Suppose I could put you in the way of marry- 
 ing a fortune, would you hold me quit of all your 
 claims against me? " 
 
 " H'm, that would depend upon the success of 
 the scheme." 
 
 "And that upon your own coolness and skill.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD, 157 
 
 I 
 
 I think I've heard you spoken of as a woman- 
 killer? " 
 
 "Ha, ha! Yes, I flatter myself that I have 
 won some reputation in that line, and that not a 
 few of the dear creatures have been very fond of 
 me. It's really most too bad to break their soft 
 little hearts; but then a man can't marry 'em all; 
 unless he turns Mormon." 
 
 Arthur's lips curled with scorn and contempt, 
 and he half turned away in disgust and aversion; 
 but remembering that he was in the power of this 
 man, whom, too late, alas! he was discovering to 
 be an unscrupulous villain, he checked himself, 
 and answered in his usual tone, " No, certainly 
 not; and so you have never yet run your neck into 
 the matrimonial noose? " 
 
 "No, not I, and don't fancy doing so either, 
 yet I own that a fortune would be a strong temp- 
 tation. But, I say, lad, if it's a great chance, why 
 do you hand it over to me? Why not try for it 
 yourself? It's not your sister, surely? " 
 
 " No, indeed; you're not precisely the sort of 
 brother-in-law I should choose," returned the 
 boy, with a bitter, mocking laugh. " But stay, 
 don't be insulted " for his companion had drawn 
 himself up with an air of offended pride " the 
 lady in question is but a step farther from me; 
 she is my brother's daughter." 
 
 "Eh! you don't say? A mere child, then, I 
 presume." 
 
 " Eighteen, handsome as a picture, as the say- 
 ing is, and only too sweet-tempered for my taste." 
 
 "And rich you say? that is her father's 
 wealthy, eh? "
 
 158 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 " Yes, he's one of the richest men in out 
 county, but she has a fortune in her own right, 
 over a million at the very lowest computation." 
 
 "Whew! You expect me to swallow that?" 
 
 "It's true, true as preaching. You wonder 
 that I should be so willing to help you to get her. 
 Well, I owe her a grudge, I see no other way to 
 get out of your clutches, and I shall put you in 
 the way of making her acquaintance only on con- 
 dition that if you succeed we share the spoils." 
 
 " Agreed. Now for the modus operandi. You 
 tell me her whereabouts and provide me with a 
 letter of introduction, eh? " 
 
 " No; on the contrary, you are carefully to con- 
 ceal the fact that you have the slightest knowl- 
 edge of me. The introduction must come from 
 quite-another quarter. Listen, and I'll communi- 
 cate the facts and unfold my plan. It has been 
 running in my head for weeks, ever since I heard 
 that the girl was to spend the summer in the 
 North with nobody but an old maiden aunt, half- 
 cracked at that, to keep guard over her; but I 
 couldn't quite make up my mind to it till to-night, 
 for you must see, Tom," he added with a forced 
 laugh, " that it can't be exactly delightful to my 
 family pride to think of bringing such a dissi- 
 pated fellow as you into the connection." 
 
 " Better look at home, lad. But you are right; 
 one such scamp is, or ought to be, all-sufficient 
 for one family." 
 
 Arthur said, " Certainly," but winced at the 
 insinuation nevertheless. It was not a pleasant 
 reflection that his vices had brought him down to 
 a level with this man who lived by his wits or 

 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 159 
 
 perhaps more correctly speaking, his rascalities - 
 of whose antecedents he knew nothing and whom, 
 with his haughty Southern pride, he thoroughly 
 despised. 
 
 But scorn and loathe him as he might in his 
 secret soul, it was necessary that he should be 
 conciliated, because it was now in his power to 
 bring open disgrace and ruin upon his victim. 
 So Arthur went on to explain matters and, with 
 Jackson's assistance, to concoct a plan of getting 
 Elsie and her fortune into their hands. 
 
 As he had said, the idea had been in his mind 
 for weeks, yet it was not until that day that he 
 could see clearly how to carry it out. Also, his 
 family pride had stood in the way until the ex- 
 citement of semi-intoxication and his heavy 
 losses had enabled him to put it aside for the 
 time. To-morrow he would more than half re- 
 gret the step he was taking, but now he plunged 
 recklessly into the thing with small regard for 
 consequences to himself or others. 
 
 " Can you imitate the chirography of others? " 
 he asked. 
 
 " Perfectly, if I do say it that shouldn't." 
 
 " Then we can manage it. My brother Walter 
 has kept up a correspondence with this niece ever 
 since he left home. In a letter received yester- 
 day she mentions that her father was about leav- 
 ing her for the rest of the summer. Also that 
 Miss Stanhope, the old aunt she's staying with, 
 was formerly very intimate with Mrs. Waters of 
 this city. 
 
 " It just flashed on me at once that a letter of 
 introduction from her would be the very thing to
 
 160 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 put you at once on a footing of intimacy in Misg 
 Stanhope's house; and that if you were good at 
 imitating handwriting we might manage it by 
 means of a note of invitation which I received 
 from Mrs. Waters some time ago, and which, as 
 good luck would have it, I threw into my table 
 drawer instead of destroying/' 
 
 "But who knows that it was written by the 
 lady herself?" 
 
 " I do, for I heard Bob Waters say so." 
 
 " Good! have you the note about you? n 
 
 " Yes, here it is." And Arthur drew it from 
 his pocket. " Let's cross over to that lamp-post." 
 
 They did so, and Jackson held the note up to 
 the light for a moment, scanning it attentively. 
 " Ah, ha! the very thing! no trouble at all about 
 that," he said, pocketing it with a chuckle of de- 
 light, " But," and a slight frown contracted his 
 brows, " what if the old lady should take it into 
 her head to open a correspondence on the subject 
 with her old friend?" 
 
 " I've thought of that too, but fortunately for 
 our scheme Mrs. Waters sails for Europe to-mor- 
 row; and by the way that should be mentioned in 
 the letter of introduction." 
 
 " Yes, so it should. Come to my room at the 
 Merchants' House to-morrow night, and you shall 
 find it ready for your inspection. I suppose the 
 sooner the ball's set in motion the better? " he 
 added as they moved slowly on down the street. 
 
 " Yes, for there's no knowing how long it may 
 take you to storm the citadel of her ladyship's 
 heart, or how soon her father may come to the 
 conclusion that he can't do without her, and go
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 161 
 
 and carry her off home. And I tell you, Tom, 
 you'd stand no chance with him, or with her if 
 he were there. He'd see through you in five 
 minutes." 
 
 " H'm! What sort is she? " 
 
 "The very pious!" sneered Arthur, "and 
 you're bound to take your cue from that or you'll 
 make no headway with her at all." 
 
 " A hard role for me, Dinsmore. I know noth- 
 ing of cant." 
 
 " You'll have to learn it then; let her once sus- 
 pect your true character a drinking, gambling, 
 fortune-hunting roue and she'll turn from you 
 with the same fear and loathing that she would 
 feel for a venomous reptile." 
 
 "Ha, ha! you're in a complimentary mood to- 
 night, Dinsmore. Well, well, such a fortune as 
 you speak of is worth some sacrifice and effort, 
 and I think I may venture the character of a per- 
 fectly moral and upright man with a high respect 
 for religion. The rest I can learn by degrees 
 from her; and come to think of it, it mightn't be 
 a bad idea to let her imagine she'd converted 
 me." 
 
 " Capital! The very thing, Tom! But good- 
 night. I must be off now to the college. I'll 
 come to your room to-morrow night and we'll 
 finish the arrangement of all preliminaries." 
 
 More than a fortnight had passed since the ar- 
 rival of Miss Stanhope's guests. It had been a 
 season of relaxation and keen enjoyment to them,, 
 to her, and to Dr. King's family, who had joined 
 them in many a pleasant little excursion to points 
 of interest in the vicinity, and several sociable
 
 162 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 family picnics among the surrounding hills and 
 woods. A warm friendship had already sprung 
 up between the three young girls,, and had done 
 much toward reconciling Elsie to the idea of 
 spending the summer there away from her father. 
 
 She had finally consented to do so, yet as the 
 time drew near her heart almost failed her. In 
 all these years since they went to live together at 
 the Oaks, they had never been far apart except 
 once or twice for a few days when he had gone to 
 New Orleans to attend to business connected with 
 the care of her property; and only on a very few 
 occasions, when she paid a little visit in their 
 own neighborhood, had they been separated for 
 more than a day. 
 
 She could not keep back her tears as she hung 
 about his neck on parting. " Ah, papa, how can 
 I do without you for weeks and months?" she 
 sighed. 
 
 " Or I without you, my darling? " he re- 
 sponded, straining her to his breast. " I don't 
 know how I shall be able to stand it. You need 
 not be surprised to see me again at any time, re- 
 turning to claim my treasure; and in the mean- 
 while we will write to each other every day. I 
 shall want to know all you are doing, thinking, 
 and feeling. You must tell me of all your pur- 
 suits and pleasures; your new acquaintances, 
 too, if you form any. In that you must be guided 
 by the advice of Aunt Wealthy, together with 
 your father's known wishes. I am sure I can 
 trust my daughter to obey those in my absence 
 as carefully as in my presence." 
 
 " I think you may, papa. I shall try to do
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD, 163 
 
 nothing that you would disapprove, and to at- 
 tend faithfully to all your wishes." 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore left by the morning train, di- 
 rectly after breakfast. It was a bright, clear 
 day, and Miss Stanhope, anxious to help Elsie 
 to recover her spirits, proposed a little shopping 
 expedition into the village. 
 
 " You have not seen our stores yet/' she said, 
 " and I think we'd better go now before the 
 sun gets anv hotter. Should you like it, my 
 dear?" 
 
 "Thank you, yes, auntie. I will go and get 
 ready at once." 
 
 Elsie could hardly forbear smiling at the quaint 
 little figure that met her in the porch a few mo- 
 ments later, and trotted with quick, short steps 
 by her side across the lawn and up and down, the 
 village streets. The white muslin dress with its 
 short and scanty skirt, an embroidered scarf of 
 the same material, the close, old-fashioned leg- 
 horn bonnet, trimmed with one broad strip of 
 white mantua ribbon, put straight down over the 
 top and tied under the chin, and the black mitts 
 and morocco slippers of the same hue, formed 
 a tout ensemble which, though odd, wat* not un- 
 pleasant to look upon. In one hand the little 
 lady carried a very large parasol, in the other a 
 gayly-colored silk reticule of corresponding size, 
 this last not by a ribbon or string, but with its 
 hem gathered up in her hand. All in singular 
 contrast to Elsie with her slight, graceful form, 
 fully a head taller, and her simple yet elegant 
 costume. But the niece no more thought of feel- 
 ing ashamed of her aunt, than her aunt of her.
 
 164 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD, 
 
 They entered a store, and the smiling mer 
 chant asked, "What can I do for you to-day, 
 ladies?" 
 
 " I will look at shirting muslin, if 3 r ou please, 
 Mr. Under," replied Miss Stanhope, laying para- 
 sol and reticule upon the counter. 
 
 " Over, if you please, Miss Stanhope," he an- 
 swered with an amused look. " Just step this 
 way, and I'll show you a piece that I think will 
 suit." 
 
 " I beg your pardon, I'm always making mis- 
 takes in names," she said, doing as requested. 
 
 " Anything else to-day, ladies ? " he asked when 
 the muslin had been selected. " I have quite a lot 
 of remnants of dress goods, Miss Stanhope. 
 Would you like to look at them? " 
 
 " Yes," she answered almost eagerly, and he 
 quickly spread them on the counter before her. 
 She selected quite a number, Elsie wondering 
 what she wanted with them. 
 
 " I'll send the package at once," said Mr. Over, 
 as they left the store. 
 
 They entered another where Miss Stanhope's 
 first inquiry was for remnants, and the same thing 
 was repeated till, as she assured Elsie, they had 
 visited every dry-goods store in the place. 
 
 " Pretty nice ones, too, some of them are; don't 
 you think so, dear?" 
 
 " Yes, auntie; but do you know you have 
 etrongly excited my curiosity? " 
 
 "Ah! how so?" 
 
 " Why, I cannot imagine what you can want 
 with all those remnants. I'm sure hardly one of 
 them could be made into a dress for yourself or
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 165 
 
 for PhilliSj and you have no little folks to pro- 
 vide for." 
 
 " But other folks have, child, and I shall use 
 some of the smallest for patchwork." 
 
 "Dere's a lady in de parlor, Miss Stanhope," 
 said Chloe, meeting them at the gate;. "kind of 
 lady/' she added with a very broad smile, " come 
 to call on you, ma'am, and Miss Elsie too." 
 
 " We'll just go in without keeping her wait- 
 ing to take off our bonnets," said Aunt Wealthy, 
 leading the way. 
 
 They found a rather gaudily-dressed, and not 
 very refined-looking woman, who rose and came 
 forward to meet them with a boisterous manner, 
 evidently assumed to cover a slight feeling of em- 
 barrassment. " Oh, I'm quite ashamed, Aunt 
 Wealthy, to have been so long in calling to see 
 your friends; you really must excuse me; it's not 
 been for want of a strong disinclination, I do 
 assure you: but you see I've been away a-nursing 
 of a sick sister." 
 
 " Certainly, Mrs. Sixpence." 
 
 " Excuse me. Schilling." 
 
 " Oh no, not at all, it's my mistake. Elsie, 
 Mrs. Schilling. My niece, Miss Dinsmore. Sit 
 down, do. I'm sorry you got here before we were 
 through our shopping." 
 
 "I'm afraid it's rather an early call," began 
 Mrs. Schilling, her rubicund countenance grow- 
 ing redder than ever, " but " 
 
 " Oh, aunt did not mean that," interposed El- 
 sie, with gentle kindliness. " She was only re- 
 gretting that you had been kept waiting." 
 
 "Certainly," said Miss Stanhope. "You
 
 166 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 know I'm a sad hand at talking, always getting 
 the horse before the cart, as they say. But tell 
 me about your sister. I hope she has recovered. 
 What ailed her? " 
 
 " She had inflammation of the tonsils; she's 
 better now though; the tonsils is all gone, and 
 I think she'll get along. She's weak yet; but 
 that's all. There's been a good bit of sickness 
 out there in that neighborhood, through the win- 
 ter and spring; there were several cases of scarlet 
 fever, and one of small-pox. That one died, and 
 what do you think, Aunt Wealthy; they had a 
 reg'lar big funeral, took the corpse into the 
 church, and asked everybody around to come 
 to it." 
 
 " I think it was really wicked, and that if I'd 
 been the congregation, every one of me would 
 have staid away." 
 
 " So would I. There now, I'm bound to tell 
 you something that happened while I was at 
 father's. My sister had a little girl going on two 
 years old, and one day the little thing took up a 
 flat iron, and let it fall on her toe, and mashed 
 it so we were really afraid 'twould have to be 
 took off. We wrapped it up in some kind o' salve 
 mother keeps for hurts, and she kept crying and 
 screamin' with pain, and we couldn't peacify her 
 nohow at all, till a lady that was visiting next 
 door come in and said we'd better give her a few 
 drops of laud'num. So we did, and would you 
 believe it? it went right straight down into her 
 toe, and she stopped cryin', and pretty soon 
 dropped asleep. I thought it was the curiosest 
 thing I ever heard of."
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 167 
 
 "It was a wise prescription, no doubt," re- 
 turned Miss Stanhope, with a quiet sinile. 
 
 " Oh, Aunt Wealthy, won't you tell me how 
 you make that Farmer's fruit-cake?" asked the 
 visitor, suddenly changing the subject. " Miss 
 Dinsmore, it's the nicest thing you ever eat. 
 You'd be sure it had raisins or currants in it." 
 
 " Certainly, Mrs. Schilling. You must soak 
 three cups of dried apples in warm water over 
 night, drain off the water through a sieve, chop 
 the apples slightly, them simmer them for two 
 hours in three cups of molasses. After that add 
 two eggs, one cup of sugar, one cup of sweet milk 
 or water, three-fourths of a cup of butter or lard, 
 one-half teaspoonful of soda, flour to make a 
 pretty stiff batter, cinnamon, cloves, and other 
 spices to suit your taste." 
 
 " Oh, yes! but I'm afraid I'll hardly be able to 
 remember all that." 
 
 " I'll write the receipt and send it over to you," 
 said Elsie. 
 
 Mrs. Schilling returned her thanks, sat a little 
 longer, conversing in the same lucid style, then 
 rose and took leave, urging the ladies to call soon, 
 and run in sociably as often as they could. 
 
 She was hardly out of the door before Aunt 
 Wealthy was beating up her crushed chair-cush- 
 ions to that state of perfect roundness and 
 smoothness in which her heart delighted. It 
 amused Elsie, who had noticed that such was her 
 invariable custom after receiving a call in her 
 parlor. 
 
 Lottie King and Mrs. Schilling passed each 
 other on the porch, the one coming in as the
 
 168 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 other went out. Kind Aunt Wealthy, intent on 
 preventing Elsie from grieving over the empti- 
 ness of her father's accustomed seat at the table, 
 had invited her young friend to dinner. The 
 hour of the meal had, however, not yet arrived, 
 and the two girls repaired to Elsie's room to 
 spend the intervening time. 
 
 Lottie, in her benevolent desire to be so enter- 
 taining to Elsie that her absent father should 
 not be too sorely missed, seized upon the first 
 topic of conversation which presented itself and 
 rattled on in a very lively manner. 
 
 " So you have begun to make acquaintance 
 with our peculiar currency, mon ami! An odd 
 sixpence as Aunt Wealthy calls her. Two of 
 them I should say, since it takes two sixpences 
 to make a shilling." 
 
 "I don't know; I'm inclined to think Aunt 
 Wealthy's arithmetic has the right of it, since 
 she was never more than a shilling, and has lost 
 her better half," returned Elsie, laughing. 
 
 "Better half, indeed! fie on you, Miss Dins- 
 more! have you so little regard for the honor of 
 your sex as to own that the man is ever that? 
 But I must tell you of the time when she sus- 
 tained the aforesaid loss; and let me observe, sus- 
 tained is really the proper very properest of 
 words to express my meaning, for it was very far 
 from crushing her. While her husband was ly- 
 ing a corpse, mother went over with a pie, think- 
 ing it might be acceptable, as people are not apt 
 to feel like cooking at such a time. She did 
 not want to disturb the new-made widow in the 
 jnidst of her grief, and did not ask for her; but
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 169 
 
 Mrs. Schilling came to the door. 'Oh, I'm so 
 much obliged to you for bringing that pie! ' she 
 said. 'It was so good of you. I hadn't any ap- 
 petite to eat while he was sick, but now that he's 
 dead, I feel as if I could eat something. You 
 and your girls must come over and spend a day 
 with me some time soon. He's left me full and 
 plenty, and you needn't be afraid to take a meal's 
 victuals off me' ! " 
 
 "How odd! I don't think she could be quite 
 broken-hearted." 
 
 " No, and she has apparently forgotten him, 
 and bestowed her affections upon another; a wid- 
 ower named Wert. Mr. Was, Aunt Wealthy usu- 
 ally calls him. They both attend our church, 
 and everybody notices how impossible it seems 
 to be for her to keep her eyes off him; and you can 
 never be five minutes in her company without 
 hearing his name. Didn't she talk of him to- 
 day?" 
 
 " Oh, yes, she spoke of Mr. Wert visiting some 
 sick man, to talk and pray with him, and re- 
 joiced that the man did not die till he gave evi- 
 dence that he was repaired." 
 
 " Yes, that sounds like her," laughed Lottie. 
 " She's always getting the wrong word. I told 
 you she never could keep her eyes off Mr. Wert. 
 Well, the other day three or four weeks ago 
 coming from church he was behind her; she kept 
 looking back at him, and presently came bump 
 up against a post. She made an outcry, of course 
 everybody laughed, and she hurried off with a 
 very red face. That put an idea into my head, 
 and " Lottie paused, laughing and blushing-
 
 170 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 " I'm half ashamed to tell you, but I believe I 
 will Nettie and I wrote a letter in a sort of 
 manly hand, signed his initials, and put it into an 
 iron pot that she keeps standing near her back 
 door. The letter requested that she would put 
 her answer in the same place, and she did. Oh, 
 it was rich! such a rapture of delight; and such 
 spelling and such grammar as were used to ex- 
 press it! It was such fun that we went on, and 
 there have been half a dozen letters on each side. 
 I daresay she is wondering why the proposal 
 doesn't come. Ah, Elsie, I see you don't approve; 
 you are as grave as a judge." 
 
 " I would prefer not to express an opinion; so 
 please don't ask me." 
 
 " But you don't think it was quite right, now 
 do you?" 
 
 " Since you have asked a direct question, Lottie, 
 dear," Elsie answered, with some hesitation, " I'll 
 own that it does not seem to me quite according 
 to the golden rule." 
 
 " No," Lottie said, after a moment's pause, in 
 which she sat with downcast eyes, and cheeks 
 crimsoning with mortification. " I'm ashamed of 
 myself, and I hope I shall never again allow my 
 love of fun to carry me so far from what is true 
 and kind. 
 
 " And so Aunt Wealthy took you out shopping/ 
 and secured the benefit of your taste and judg- 
 ment in the choice of her remnants?" she ex- 
 claimed, with a sudden change to a lively, mirth- 
 ful tone. 
 
 " How do you know that she bought rem- 
 nants ? " asked Elsie, in surprise.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 171 
 
 '* Oh, she always does; that's a particular hobby 
 of the dear old body's; two or three times in a sea- 
 son she goes around to all the stores, and buys 
 up the most of their stock; they save the best of 
 them for her, and always know what she's after 
 the moment she shows her pleasant face. She 
 gives them away, generally, to the minister's wife, 
 telling her the largest are to be made into dresses 
 for her little girls; and the poor lady is often in 
 great tribulation, not knowing how to get the 
 dresses out of such small patterns, and afraid to 
 put them to any other use, lest Miss Stanhope 
 should feel hurt or offended. By the way, what 
 do you think of Aunt Wealthy's own dress?" 
 
 " That it is very quaint and odd, but suits her 
 as no other would." 
 
 " I'm so glad! It's just what we all think, 
 but before you came we were much afraid you 
 would use your influence to induce her to adopt 
 a more fashionable attire."
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Bear fair presence, though your heart be tainted ; 
 Teach sin the carriage of a holy saint. 
 
 SHAKESPEARE'S " COMEDY OF EBRORS. 
 
 " IT'S a very handsome present, child, very; 
 and your old auntie will be reminded of you every 
 time she uses it, or looks at it." 
 
 " Both beautiful and useful, like the giver," re- 
 marked Lottie. 
 
 " It " was a sewing-machine, Elsie's gift to 
 Aunt Wealthy, forwarded from Cincinnati, by 
 Mr. Dinsmore; the handsomest and the best to 
 be found in the city; so Elsie had requested that 
 it should be, and so he had written that it was. 
 
 " I am glad you like it, auntie, and you too, 
 Lottie," was all she said in response to their 
 praises, but her eyes sparkled with pleasure at 
 the old lady's evident delight. 
 
 " It " had arrived half an hour before, on this 
 the second morning after Mr. Dinsmore's depart- 
 ure, and now stood in front of one of the win- 
 dows of Aunt Wealthy's bedroom a delightfully 
 shady, airy apartment on the ground floor, back 
 of the parlor, and with window and door opening 
 out upon a part of the lawn where the trees were 
 thickest and a tiny fountain sent up its showers 
 of spray. 
 
 172
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 178 
 
 Miss Stanhope stood at a table, cutting out 
 shirts. Lottie was experimenting on the machine 
 with a bit of muslin., and Elsie sat near by with 
 her father's letter in her hand, her soft dark eyes 
 now glancing over it for perhaps the twentieth 
 time, now at the face of one or the other of her 
 companions, as Lottie rattled on in her usual gay, 
 flighty style, and Aunt Wealthy answered her 
 sometimes with a straightforward sentence, and 
 again with one so topsy-turvy that her listeners 
 could not forbear a smile. 
 
 "For whom are you making shirts, aunt?" 
 asked Elsie. 
 
 " For my boy Harry. He writes that his last 
 set are going wonderfully fast; so I must send up 
 another to make." 
 
 " You must let us help you, Lottie and I; we 
 have agreed that it will be good fun for us." 
 
 " Thank you, dearie, but I didn't suppose plain 
 sewing was among your accomplishments." 
 
 "Mamma says I am quite a good needle-wo- 
 man," Elsie replied with a smile and a blush, 
 " and if I am not it is no fault of hers. She took 
 great pains to teach me. I cut out a shirt for 
 papa once, and made every stitch of it myself." 
 
 " And she can run the machine too," said Lot- 
 tie, " though her papa won't let her do so for 
 more than half an hour at a time, lest she should 
 hurt herself." 
 
 " He's very careful of her, and no wonder," 
 Aunt Wealthy responded, with a loving look at 
 the sweet, fair face. " You may help me a little, 
 now and then, children, when it just suits your 
 humor, but I want you to have all the rides and
 
 174 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 walks, the reading and recreation of every sort 
 that you can enjoy." 
 
 " Here comes Lenwilla Ellawea Schilling," said 
 Lottie, glancing from the window. 
 
 " What do you want, Willy? " asked Miss Stan- 
 hope, as the child appeared in the doorway with 
 a teacup in her hand. 
 
 " Mother wants a little light'ning to raise her 
 bread." 
 
 " Yeast? Oh, yes, just go round to Phillis, and 
 she'll give you some." 
 
 The door-bell rang. 
 
 " It's a gentleman," said the child, " I seen him 
 a-coming in at the gate." 
 
 Chloe answered the bell and entered the room 
 the next moment with a letter, which she handed 
 to Miss Stanhope. 
 
 The old lady adjusted her spectacles and broke 
 the seal. " Ah, a letter of introduction, and from 
 my old friend and schoolmate Anna Waters; 
 wishes me to treat the young man with all the 
 courtesy and kindness I would show to her own 
 son, for she esteems him most highly, etc., etc. 
 Aunt Chloe, what have you done with him?" 
 
 " Showed him into de parlor, mistis, and leff 
 him a-sittin' dar." 
 
 "What's his name, auntie?" asked Lottie, as 
 the old lady refolded the letter and took off her 
 glasses. 
 
 "Bromly Egerton; quite romantic, isn't it? 
 Excuse me for a few minutes, dears; I must go 
 and see what he wants." 
 
 Aunt Wealthy found a well-dressed, handsome 
 joung man sea f< ?d on one of her softly-cushioned
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 175 
 
 chairs. He rose and came forward to meet her 
 with courtly ease and grace. " Miss Stanhope, I 
 presume? " 
 
 "You are right, Mr. Ledgerfield. Pray be 
 seated, sir." 
 
 " Thank you, madam, but let me first help you 
 to a seat. Excuse the correction, but Egerton is 
 my name." 
 
 "Ah, yes! For the sake of my friend, Mrs. 
 Waters, I welcome you to Lansdale. Do you ex- 
 pect to make some stay in our town? " 
 
 " Well, madam, I hardly had such expectation 
 before arriving here, but I find it so pretty a place 
 that I begin to think I can scarcely do better. 
 My health has been somewhat impaired by very 
 strict and close attention to business; and my 
 physician has ordered entire relaxation for a time, 
 and fresh country air. Can you recommend a 
 boarding-place in town? Some quiet, private 
 hotel where drinking and things of that kind 
 would not be going on. I'm not used to it, and 
 should find it very disgusting." 
 
 " I'm glad to hear such sentiments, young man; 
 they do you honor. I daresay Mrs. Sixpence, 
 no, Mrs. Schilling, just opposite here, would take 
 you in. She told me some weeks ago that she 
 would be glad to have one or two gentlemen 
 boarders." 
 
 " Thank you, the location would suit me well; 
 and you think she could give me comfortable ac- 
 commodations? " 
 
 "I do; she has pleasant rooms and is a good 
 cook." 
 
 A widow?"
 
 176 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 " Yes, not very young, and has two children. 
 But they are old enough not to be annoying to 
 a boarder." 
 
 " What sort of woman is she? " 
 
 " A good manager, neat, industrious, honest^ 
 and obliging. Very suitable for a landlady, if 
 you are not looking in the person of your hostess 
 for an intellectual companion." 
 
 " Oh, not at all, Miss Stanhope, unless unless 
 you could find it in your benevolent heart to take 
 me in yourself; " and his smile was very insinu- 
 ating. " In that case I should have the luxury of 
 intellectual companionship superadded to the 
 other advantages of which you have spoken." 
 
 The old lady smiled, but shook her head quite 
 decidedly. " I have lived so long in the perfect 
 house that I should not know how to give it up. 
 I have come to think men a care and a trouble 
 that I cannot take upon me in my old age." 
 
 " Excuse me, my dear madam, for the unwar- 
 rantable liberty I took in asking it," he said in 
 an apologetic tone, and with a slightly embar- 
 rassed air. " I beg ten thousand pardons." 
 
 " That is a great many," she answered with a 
 smile, "but you may consider them all granted. 
 I hope you left my friend Mrs. Waters well? I 
 must answer her letter directly." 
 
 " Ah, then you are not aware that she is al- 
 ready on her way to Europe? " 
 
 "No, is she indeed?" 
 
 "Yes, she sailed the day after that letter was 
 written; which accounts for the date not being 
 a very recent one. You see I did not leave imme- 
 diately on receiving it from her."
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. Ill 
 
 She was beginning to wish that he would go, 
 but he lingered for some time, vainly hoping for 
 a glimpse of Elsie. On finally taking his leave, 
 he asked her to point out Mrs. Schilling's house, 
 and she noticed that he went directly there. 
 
 " Keally, auntie, we hegan to think that your 
 visitor must intend to spend the day," cried Lot- 
 tie, as Miss Stanhope returned to her room and 
 her interrupted employment. 
 
 "Ah? Well it was not my urging that kept 
 him; I was very near telling him that he was 
 making me waste a good deal of time " replied 
 the old lady; then seeing that Lottie was curious 
 on the subject, she kindly went on to tell all that 
 she had learned in regard to the stranger and his 
 intentions. 
 
 Elsie was amusing herself with Thomas, trying 
 to cajole him to return to the frolicsomeness of 
 his long-forgotten kittenhood, and did not seem 
 to hear or heed. What interest for her had this 
 stranger, or his doings? 
 
 " Young and handsome, you say, Aunt 
 Wealthy? and going to stay in Lansdale all sum- 
 mer? Would you advise me to set my cap for 
 him? " 
 
 " No, Lottie; not I." 
 
 "You were not smitten with the gentleman, 
 eh?" 
 
 " Not enough to spare him to you anyhow, but 
 he may improve upon acquaintance." 
 
 " I don't approve of marrying, though, do you, 
 auntie? Your practice certainly seems to speak 
 disapproval." 
 
 " Perhaps every one does not have the oppor-
 
 178 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 tunity, my dear," answered the old lady, with a 
 quiet smile. 
 
 " Oh, but you must have had plenty of them. 
 Isn't that so? and why did you never accept? " 
 
 Elsie dropped the string she had been waving 
 before the eyes of the cat, and looked up with 
 eager interest. 
 
 "Yes, I had offers, and one of them I ac- 
 cepted," replied Aunt Wealthy, with a slight sigh, 
 while a shade of sadness stole over her usually 
 happy face, " but my friends interfered and the 
 match was broken off. Don't follow my example, 
 children, but marry if the right one comes 
 along." 
 
 " Surely you don't mean if our parents refuse 
 their consent, auntie?" Elsie's tone spoke both 
 surprise and disapproval. 
 
 "No, no, child! It is to those who keep the 
 fifth commandment God promises long life and 
 prosperity." 
 
 " And love makes it so easy and pleasant to 
 keep it." murmured Elsie, softly, and with a 
 sweet, glad smile on her lips and in her eyes, 
 thinking of her absent father, and almost uncon- 
 sciously thinking aloud. 
 
 "Ah, child, it can sometimes make it very 
 hard," said Miss Stanhope, with another little 
 sigh, and shaking her head rather sadly. 
 
 "Elsie, you must have had lots of lovers be- 
 fore this, I am sure! " exclaimed Lottie, stopping 
 her machine, and facing suddenly round upon 
 her friend. " No girl as rich and beautiful as 
 you are could have lived eighteen years without 
 such an experience."
 
 FLSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 179 
 
 Elsie only smiled and blushed. 
 
 " Come now, am I not right? " persisted Lottie. 
 
 "I do assure you that I have actually lived 
 to this mature age quite heart-whole/' laughed 
 Elsie. " If I have an idol, it is papa, and I don't 
 believe anybody can ever succeed in displacing 
 him." 
 
 "You have quite misunderstood me, wilfully 
 or innocently I asked of your worshippers, not 
 of your idols. Haven't you had offers?" 
 
 " Several; money has strong attractions for 
 most men, papa tells me." 
 
 " May the Lord preserve you from the sad fate 
 of a woman married for her money, dear child! " 
 ejaculated Aunt Wealthy, with a glance of anx- 
 ious affection at her lovely niece. " I'm some- 
 times tempted to think a large amount of it alto- 
 gether a curse and an affliction." 
 
 "It is a great responsibility, auntie," replied 
 Elsie, with a look of gravity beyond her years. 
 Then after a moment's pause, her expression 
 changing to one of gayety and joy, " Now, if yon 
 and Lottie will excuse me for a little, I'll run up 
 to my room, and answer papa's letter," she said, 
 rising to her feet. " After which I shall be ready 
 to make myself useful in the capacity of seam- 
 stress. Au revoir." And she tripped away with 
 a light, free step, every movement as graceful as 
 those of a young gazelle. 
 
 Mr. Bromly Egerton, alias Tom Jackson, was 
 fortunate enough to find Mrs. Schilling at home. 
 It was she who answered his knock, 
 
 " Good-day, sir," she said. " Will you walk in? 
 Just step into the parlor here, and take a seat."
 
 180 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 He accepted the invitation and stated his busi- 
 ness without preface, or waiting to be questioned 
 at all. 
 
 She seemed to be considering for a moment. 
 " Well, yes, I can't say as I'd object to taking a 
 few gentlemen boarders, but I'd want to know 
 who you be, and all about you." 
 
 " Certainly, ma'am, that's all right. I'm from 
 the East; rather broken down with Lard work 
 a business man, you see and want to spend the 
 summer here to recruit. Pitched upon your town 
 because it strikes me as an uncommonly pretty 
 place. I brought a letter of introduction to your 
 neighbor, Miss Stanhope, and she recommended 
 me to come here in search of board, saying you'd 
 make a capital landlady." 
 
 ' " Well, if she recommends you, it's all right. 
 Would you like to look at the rooms ? " 
 
 She had two to dispose of one at the back and 
 the other in the front of the house, both cheer- 
 ful, airy, of reasonable size, and neatly furnished. 
 He preferred the latter, because it overlooked 
 Miss Stanhope's house and grounds. 
 
 As he stood at the window, taking note of this, 
 a young girl appeared at the one opposite. For 
 one minute he had a distinct view of her face as 
 she stood there and put out her hand to gather 
 a blossom from the vine that had festooned itself 
 so gracefully over the window. 
 
 He uttered an exclamation of delighted sur- 
 prise, and turning to his companion asked, " Who 
 ig she?" 
 
 " Miss Dinsmore, Miss Stanhope's niece. She's 
 here on a visit to her aunt. She's from the South,
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 181 
 
 and worth a mint of money, they say. Aint she 
 handsome though? handsome as a picture?" 
 
 "Posh! handsome doesn't begin to express it! 
 Why, she's angelic! But there! she's gone! " And 
 he drew a long breath as he turned away. 
 
 " You'd better conclude to take this room if 
 you like to look at her," artfully suggested Mrs. 
 Schilling. "That's her bedroom window, and 
 she's often at it. Besides, you can see the whole 
 front of Miss Stanhope's place from here, and 
 watch all the comings and goings o' the girls 
 Miss Dinsmore, and Miss Nettie and Lottie 
 King." 
 
 "Who are they?" 
 
 " Kind o' fur-off cousins to Miss Stanhope. 
 They live in that next house to hern, and are 
 amazin' thick with her, runnin' in and out all 
 times o' day. Nice, spry, likely girls they be too, 
 not bad-lookin' neither, but hardly fit to hold a 
 candle to Miss Dinsmore, as fur as beauty's con- 
 cerned. Well, what do you say to the room, 
 Mr. Egerton? " 
 
 " That I will take it, and would like to have 
 immediate possession." 
 
 "All right, sir; fetch your traps whenever 
 you've a mind; right away, if you like." 
 
 There was no lack of good society in Lansdale. 
 It had even more than the usual proportion of 
 well-to-do, intelligent, educated, and refined 
 people to be found in American villages of its 
 size. They were hospitable folks, too, disposed to 
 be kind to strangers tarrying in their midst, and, 
 Miss Stanhope being an old resident, well known 
 and highly esteemed, spite of her eccentricities,
 
 182 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 her friends had received a good deal of attention. 
 Elsie had already become slightly acquainted with 
 a number of pleasant families; a good many 
 young girls, and also several young gentlemen 
 had called upon her, and Lottie assured her there 
 were many more to come. 
 
 " Some of the very nicest are apt to be slow 
 about calling we're such busy folks here," she 
 said, laughing. " I've a notion, too, that several 
 of the beaux stood rather in awe of your papa." 
 
 They were talking together over their sewing, 
 after Elsie had come down from finishing her let- 
 ter, and sent Chloe to the post-office with it. 
 
 "I don't wonder," she answered, looking up 
 with a smile; " there was a time, a long while ago, 
 when I was very much afraid of .him myself; and 
 even now I have such a wholesome dread of his 
 displeasure as would keep me from any act of 
 disobedience, if love was not sufficient to do that 
 without help from any other motive." 
 
 " You are very fond of him, and he of 
 you? " 
 
 "Yes, indeed! how could it be otherwise when 
 for so many years each was all the other had? 
 But I'm sure, quite sure that neither of u-s loves 
 the other less because now we have mamma and 
 darling little Horace." 
 
 " I should like to know them both," said Miss 
 Stanhope. " I hope your father will bring them 
 with him when he comes back for you." 
 
 " Oh, I hope he will! I want so much to have 
 you know them. Mamma is so dear and sweet, 
 almost as dear as papa himself. And Horace 
 well, I can't believe there ever was quite such an-
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 183 
 
 other darling to be found," Elsie continued, with 
 a light, joyous laugh. 
 
 " Ah! " said Aunt Wealthy with a sigh and a 
 smile, " it is a good and pleasant thing to be 
 young and full of life and gayety, and to have 
 kind, wise parents to look to for help and guid- 
 ance. You will realize that when you grow old 
 and have to be a prop for others to lean upon 
 instead." 
 
 " Yes, dear auntie," Elsie answered, giving her 
 a look of loving reverence, " but surely the pass- 
 ing years must have brought you so much wisdom 
 and self-reliance that that can be no such very 
 hard task to you." 
 
 " Ah, child! " replied the old lady, shaking her 
 head, " I often feel that my stock of those is very 
 small. But then how sweet it is to remember 
 that I have a Father to whom I never shall grow 
 old; never cease to be His little child, in constant 
 need of His tender, watchful care to guard and 
 guide. Though the gray hairs are on my head, 
 the wrinkles of time, sorrow, and care upon my 
 brow, He does not think me old enough to be left 
 to take care of myself. No; He takes my hand in 
 His and leads me tenderly and lovingly along, 
 choosing each step for me, protecting me from 
 harm, and providing for all my needs. What 
 does He say? 'Even to your old age I am He; 
 and even to hoar hairs will I carry you' ! " 
 
 " Such sweet words! They almost reconcile 
 one to growing old," murmured Lottie, and Aunt 
 Wealthy answered, with a subdued gladness in 
 her tones, " You need not dread it, child, for does 
 not every year bring us nearer home? "
 
 184 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 The needles flew briskly until the dinner-bell 
 sounded its welcome summons. 
 
 " We shall finish two at least this afternoon, 
 I think," said Lottie, folding up her work. 
 
 " No, we've had sewing enough for to-day," re- 
 plied Miss Stanhope. " I have ordered the car- 
 riage at two. We will have a drive this afternoon, 
 and music this evening; if you and Elsie do not 
 consider it too much of a task to play and sing 
 for your old auntie." 
 
 " A task, Aunt Wealthy! It would be a double 
 delight giving you pleasure and ourselves en- 
 joying the delicious tones of that splendid piano. 
 Its fame has already spread over the whole town," 
 she added, turning to Elsie, "and between its 
 attractions and those of its owner, I know there'll 
 be a great influx of visitors here." 
 
 Elsie was a very fine musician, and for her ben- 
 efit during her stay in Lansdale, Mr. Dinsmore 
 had had a grand piano sent on from the East, or- 
 dering it in season to have it arrive almost as 
 soon as they themselves. 
 
 " Yes, Lottie is quite right about it, Aunt 
 Wealthy, and you shall call for all the tunes you 
 want," Elsie said, noticing her friend's prediction 
 merely by a quiet smile. 
 
 " You don't know how I enjoy that piano," 
 Lottie rattled on as they began their meal. " It 
 must be vastly pleasant to have plenty of money 
 and such an indulgent father as yours, Elsie. Not 
 that I would depreciate my own at all I 
 wouldn't exchange him even for yours but he, 
 you see, has more children and less money." 
 
 "Yes, I think we are both blessed in our
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 185 
 
 fathers/' answered Elsie. " I admire yours very 
 much; and mine is, indeed, very indulgent, though 
 at the same time very strict; he never spares ex- 
 pense or trouble to give me pleasure. But the 
 most delightful thing of all is to know that he 
 loves me so very, very dearly; " and the soft eyes 
 shone with the light of love and joy. 
 
 It was nearly tea time when the)'' returned 
 from their drive, some lady callers having pre- 
 vented them from setting out at the early hour 
 intended. 
 
 " Now I must run right home/' said Lottie, as 
 they alighted. " Mother complains that she gets 
 no good of me at all of late." 
 
 "Well, she has Nettie," returned Miss Stan- 
 hope, " and she told me Elsie and I might have 
 all we wanted of you till the poor child gets a 
 little used to her father's absence." 
 
 " Did she, Aunt Wealthy? There, I'll remind 
 her of that, and also of the fact that Nettie is 
 worth two of me any day." 
 
 " And you'll come back to spend the evening? 
 Indeed you must, or how is Elsie to learn her 
 visitors' names? You know I could never get 
 them straight. But there's the tea-bell, so come 
 in with us. No need to go home till bed-time, 
 or till to-morrow, that I can see." 
 
 " Thank you, but of course, auntie, I want to 
 primp a bit, just as you did in your young days, 
 when the beaux were coming. So good-bye for 
 the present," she cried, skipping away with a 
 merry laugh, Miss Stanhope calling after her to 
 bring Nettie along when she returned. 
 
 " We have so many odd names in this town,
 
 186 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 and I such an odd sort of memory, that I make a 
 great many mistakes," said the old lady, leading 
 the way to the house. 
 
 Elsie thought that was all very true, when in 
 the course of the evening she was introduced to 
 Mr. Comings, Mr. Tizard, Mr. Stop, Miss Lock, 
 and Miss Over, and afterward heard her aunt ad- 
 dress them variously as " Mr. In-and-out," " Mr. 
 Wizard," "Mr. Lizard," "Mr. Quit," "Miss Un- 
 der," and " Miss Key." 
 
 But the old lady's peculiarity was so well 
 known that no one thought of taking offence; and 
 her mistakes caused only mirth and amusement. 
 
 Lottie's prediction was so fully verified that 
 Elsie seemed to be holding a sort of levee. 
 
 " What faultless features, exquisitely beautiful 
 complexion, and sweet expresion she has." 
 " What a graceful form, what pleasant, affable 
 manners, so entirely free from affectation or hau- 
 teur; no patronizing airs about her either, 'but 
 perfect simplicity and kindliness." " And such 
 a sweet, happy, intelligent face." " Such beauti- 
 ful hair too; did you notice that? so abundant, 
 soft and glossy, and such a lovely color." " Yes, 
 and what simple elegance of dress." " She's an 
 accomplished musician, too, and has a voice as 
 sweet, rich, and full as a nightingale's," remarked 
 one and another as they went away. The unani- 
 mous verdict seemed to be, that the young- 
 stranger was altogether charming. 
 
 Across the street, Mrs. Schilling's boarder 
 paced to and fro, watching the coming and going, 
 listening to the merry salutations, and gay adieux, 
 the light laughter, and the sweet strains of music
 
 ELSIE'S GIELHOOD. 187 
 
 and song, till the desire to make one of the happy 
 throng grew so strong upon him that it was no 
 longer to be resisted. 
 
 " I will go in with those," he muttered, cross- 
 ing over just in time to enter directly in the rear 
 of a lady and gentleman, whom he saw coming 
 up the street. " Miss Stanhope invited me to call 
 again, without particularizing how soon, and I 
 can turn my speedy acceptance into a compliment 
 to their music, without even a white lie, for it 
 does sound extremely attractive to a lonely, idle 
 fellow like me." 
 
 Miss Stanhope met him at the door, would 
 scarce listen to his apology insisting that " none 
 was needed; one who had come to her with such 
 an introduction from so valued a friend as Mrs. 
 Waters, must always be a welcome guest in her 
 house " and ushering him into the parlor, in- 
 troduced him to her niece, and all others 
 present. 
 
 A nearer and more critical view of Elsie only 
 increased his admiration; he thought her the love- 
 liest creature he had ever seen. But it did not 
 suit his tactics to show immediately any strong 
 attraction toward her, or desire to win her regard. 
 For this evening he devoted himself almost ex- 
 clusively to Miss Stanhope, exerting all his powers 
 to make a favorable impression upon her. 
 
 In this he was entirely successful. He had, 
 when he chose, most agreeable and polished man- 
 ners. Also he had seen much of the world, pos- 
 sessed a large fund of general information, and 
 knew exactly how to use it to the best advantage. 
 With these gifts, very fine, expressive eyes, regu-
 
 188 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 lar features, and handsome person, no wonder 
 he could boast himself " a woman-killer." 
 
 Aunt Wealthy, though old enough to be invul- 
 nerable to Cupid's arrows, showed by her warm 
 praises, after he had left that evening, that she 
 was not proof against his fascinations.
 
 CHAPTER XIY. 
 
 Your noblest natures are most credulous. 
 
 CHAPMAN. 
 
 BKOMLY EGERTOX (we give him the name by 
 which he had become known to our friends in 
 Lansdale) considered it "a very lucky chance" 
 that had provided him a boarding-place so near 
 the temporary home of his intended victim. He 
 felicitated himself greatly upon it, and lost no 
 time in improving to the utmost all the advan- 
 tages it conferred. It soon came to be a custom- 
 ary thing for him to drop in at Miss Stanhope's 
 every day, or two or three times a day, and to 
 join the young girls in their walks and drives, 
 for, though at first paying court to no one but 
 the mistress of the mansion, he gradually turned 
 his attention more and more to her niece and 
 Miss King. 
 
 As their ages were so much nearer his this 
 seemed perfectly natural, and excited no suspi- 
 cion or remark. Aunt "Wealthy was quite willing 
 to resign him to them; for a very child in inno- 
 cent trustfulness she had no thought of any 
 evil design on the part of the handsome, attract- 
 ive young stranger so warmly recommended to 
 her kindness and hospitality by an old and val- 
 ued friend, and only rejoiced to see the young 
 folks enjoying themselves so much together. 
 
 Before leaving Lansdale Mr. Dinsmore had
 
 190 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 provided his daughter with a gentle, but spirited 
 and beautiful little pony, and bade her ride out 
 every day when the weather was favorable, as was 
 her custom at home. At the same time he cau- 
 tioned her never to go alone: but always to have 
 Simon riding in her rear, and, if possible, a lady 
 friend at her side. 
 
 Dr. King was not wealthy, and having a large 
 family to provide for, kept no horse except the 
 one he used in his practice; but Elsie, with her 
 well-filled purse, was more than content to fur- 
 nish ponies for her friends Lottie and Nettie 
 whenever they could accompany her; and mat- 
 ters were so arranged by their indulgent mother 
 that one or both could do so every day. 
 
 It was not long before Mr. Egerton joined them 
 in these excursions also, having made an arrange- 
 ment with a livery-stable keeper for the daily use 
 of a horse. And gradually his attention, in the 
 beginning about equally divided between the two, 
 or the three, were paid more and more exclusively 
 to Elsie. 
 
 She was not pleased with him in their earlier 
 interviews, she could scarcely have told why; but 
 there was an intuitive feeling that he was not 
 one to be trusted. That, however, gradually gave 
 way under the fascinations of his fine person, 
 agreeable manners, and intellectual conversation. 
 He was very plausible and captivating, ehe full 
 of charity and ready to believe the best of every- 
 body, and so, little by little, he won her confi- 
 dence and esteem so completely that at length 
 she had almost forgotten that her first impres- 
 sion had not been favorable.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 191 
 
 He went regularly to the church she, her aunt, 
 and the Kings attended, appearing an interested 
 listener, and devout worshipper; and that not on. 
 the Sabbath only, but also at the regular week- 
 day evening service; he seemed also to choose his 
 associates among good, Christian people. The 
 natural inference from all this was that he too 
 was a Christian, or at least a professor of re- 
 ligion; and thus all our friends soon came to look 
 upon him as such, and to feel the greater friend- 
 ship for, and confidence in him. 
 
 He found that Elsie's beauty would bear the 
 closest scrutiny, that her graces of person and 
 mind were the more apparent the more thor- 
 oughly she was known; that she was highly edu- 
 cated and accomplished, possessed of a keen in- 
 tellect, and talents of no common order, and a 
 wonderful sweetness of disposition. He ac- 
 knowledged to himself that, even leaving money 
 out of the question, she was a prize any man. 
 might covet; yet that if she were poor, he would 
 never try to win her. A more voluptuous woman 
 would have suited him better. Elsie's very purity 
 made her distasteful to him, his own character 
 seeming so much blackened by contrast that at 
 times he could but loathe and despise himself. 
 
 But her fortune was an irresistible attraction, 
 and he resolved more firmly than ever to leave 
 no stone unturned to make himself master of it. 
 
 He soon perceived that he had many rivals, 
 but he possessed one advantage over them all in 
 his entire leisure from business, leaving him at 
 liberty to devote himself to her entertainment 
 during the day as well as the evening.
 
 192 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 For a while he greatly feared that he had at 
 more dangerous rival at a distance; for, watch- 
 ing from his windows, he saw that every morning 
 Simon brought one or more letters from the post, 
 and that Elsie was usually on the front porch 
 awaiting his coming; that she would often come 
 flying across the lawn, meet her messenger at the 
 gate, and snatching her letter with eager, joyful 
 baste, rush back to the house with it, and disap- 
 pear within the doorway. Then frequently he 
 would see her half an hour later looking so rosy 
 and happy, that he could hardly hope her corres- 
 pondent was other than an accepted lover. 
 
 For weeks he tormented himself with this idea; 
 the more convinced that he was right in his con- 
 jecture, because she almost always posted her re- 
 ply with her own hands, when going out for her 
 daily walk, or sent it by her faithful Chloe; but 
 oae day, venturing a jest upon the subject, she 
 answered him, with a merry laugh, " Ah, you are 
 no Yankee, Mr. Egerton, to make such a guess 
 as that! I have a number of correspondents, it 
 is true; but the daily letter I am so eager for 
 comes from my father." 
 
 "Is it possible, Miss Dinsmore! do you really 
 receive and answer a letter from your father 
 every day? " 
 
 " We write every day, and each receives a let- 
 ter from the other every day but Sunday; on that 
 day we never go or send to the post-office; and 
 we write only on such subjects as are suited to 
 the sacredness of its Sabbath rest. I give papa 
 the text and a synopsis of the sermon I have 
 heard, and he does the same by me."
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 193 
 
 " You must be extremely strict Sabbath- 
 keepers." 
 
 " We are, but not more so than the Bible 
 teaches that we should be." 
 
 " But isn't it very irksome? don't you find the 
 day very long and tedious?" 
 
 " Not at all; I think no other day in the week 
 is quite so short to me, none, I am sure, so de- 
 lightful." 
 
 " Then it isn't only because your aunt is strict 
 too, that you go on keeping your father's rules, 
 while you are at a safe distance from him? " he 
 queried in a half jesting tone. 
 
 Elsie turned her soft eyes full upon him, as she 
 answered with gentle gravity: " I feel that the 
 commands of both my earthly and my heavenly 
 Father are binding upon me at all times, and ia 
 all places, and I hope I may ever be kept from 
 becoming an eye-servant. Love makes it easy to 
 obey, and God's commands are not grievous to 
 those who love him." 
 
 " I beg your pardon," he said; " but to go back 
 to the letters, how can you fill one every day to 
 your father? I can imagine that lovers might, in 
 writing to each other, but fathers and daughters 
 would not be apt to indulge in that sort of non- 
 sense." 
 
 '' But Mr. Dinsmore and Elsie are no common 
 father and daughter," remarked Lottie, who had 
 not spoken for the last ten minutes. 
 
 " And can find plenty to say to each other," 
 added Elsie, with a bright look and smile. 
 " Papa likes to hear just how I am spending my 
 time, what I see in my walks, what new plants
 
 194 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 and flowers I find, etc., etc.; what new acquaint- 
 ances I make, what books I am reading, and what 
 I think of them." 
 
 " The latter or the former? " he asked, resum- 
 ing his jesting tone. 
 
 "Both. And I tell him almost everything. 
 Papa is my confidant; more so than any other 
 person in the world." 
 
 They were returning from a walk over the 
 hills, and had just reached Miss Stanhope's gate. 
 Mr. Egerton opened it for the ladies, closed it 
 after them, bowed a good-morning and retired, 
 wondering if he was mentioned in those letters 
 to Mr. Dinsrnore, and cautioning himself to be 
 exceeding careful not to say or do a single thing 
 which, if reported there, might be taken as a 
 warning of danger to the heiress. 
 
 The girls ran into Miss Wealthy's room, and 
 found her lamenting over a white muslin apron. 
 
 "What is it, auntie?" Elsie asked. 
 
 " Why, just look here, child, what a hole I have 
 made in this! It had got an ink-stain on it, and 
 Phillis had put one of Harry's new shirts into a 
 tin basin, and iron-rusted it; so I thought I would 
 try some citric acid on them both; and I did; but 
 probably made it too strong, and this is how it 
 served the apron." 
 
 "And the shirt? "'asked Lottie, interested for 
 the garment she had helped to make. 
 
 " Well, it's a comfort I handled it very gingerly, 
 and it seems to be sound yet, after I saw what 
 this has come to." 
 
 "It is quite a pity about the apron; for it
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 195 
 
 really is a very pretty one," said Elsie, " the acid 
 must have been very strong." 
 
 " Yes, and I am sorry to have the apron ruined, 
 but after all, I shall not care so very much, if it 
 only doesn't eat Harry's tail off, and it will make 
 a little one for some child." 
 
 Both girls laughed. It was impossible to re- 
 sist the inclination to do so. 
 
 " The shirt's tail I mean, of course, and a little 
 apron/' said Miss Wealthy, joining in the mirth; 
 " that's where the spots all happen to be, which 
 is a comfort in case a piece should have to be 
 set in." 
 
 " There comes Lenwilla Ellawea; for some more 
 light'ning, I suppose, as I see she carries a teacup 
 in her hand," whispered Lottie, glancing from 
 the window, as a step sounded upon the gravel 
 walk. " Good-morning, little sixpence; what are 
 you after now? " she added aloud, as the child ap- 
 peared in the open doorway. 
 
 "Mother's out o' vinegar, and dinner's just 
 ready, and the gentleman '11 want some for his 
 salad, and there aint no time to send to the 
 grocery. And mother says, will you lend her a 
 teacupful, Aunt Wealthy? And she's goin' to 
 have some folks there to-night, and she says 
 you're all to come over." 
 
 " Tell her we're obliged, and she's welcome to 
 the vinegar," said Miss Stanhope, taking the cup 
 and giving it to Chloe to fill. " But what sort of 
 company is it to be? " 
 
 "I dunno; ladies and gentlemen, but no 
 married folks, I heard her say. She's goin' to
 
 29S ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 have nuts, and candies, and things to hand round, 
 and you'd better come. I hope that pretty lady 
 will," in a stage whisper, bending toward Miss 
 Stanhope, as she spoke, and nodding at Elsie. 
 
 All three laughed. 
 
 " Well, I'll try to coax her," said Aunt Wealthy, 
 as Chloe re-entered the room. " And here's your 
 vinegar. You'd better hurry home with it." 
 
 "Aunt Wealthy, you can't want me to go 
 there! " cried Elsie, as the child passed out of 
 hearing. " Why, the woman is not a lady, and I 
 am sure papa would be very unwilling to have me 
 make an associate of her. He is very particular 
 about such matters." 
 
 " She is not educated or very refined, it is true, 
 my child; and I must acknowledge is a little silly, 
 too; but she is a clever, kind-hearted woman, a 
 member of the same church with myself, and a 
 near neighbor whom I should feel sorry to hurt; 
 and I am sure she would be much hurt if you 
 should stay away, and deeply gratified by your 
 attendance at her little party." 
 
 " I wouldn't miss it for anything! " cried 
 Lottie, pirouetting about the room, laughing and 
 clapping her hands; " she has such comical ways 
 of talking and acting. I know it will be real fun. 
 You won't think of staying away, Elsie?" 
 
 " I really do not believe your father would 
 object, if he were here, my child," added Miss 
 Stanhope, laying her hand on her niece's shoul- 
 der and looking at her with a kindly persuasive 
 smile. 
 
 " Perhaps not, auntie; and he bade me obey 
 you in his absence; so if you bid me, I will go,"
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 197 
 
 Elsie answered, returning the smile, and touch- 
 ing her ruby lips to the faded cheek. 
 
 " That's a dear/' cried Lottie. " Hold her to 
 her word, Aunt Wealthy. And now I must run 
 home, and see if Nettie's had an invite, and what 
 she's going to wear." 
 
 The ladies were just leaving the dinner-table, 
 when Mrs. Schilling came rushing in. " Oh, ex- 
 cuse my informality in not waiting to ring, Miss 
 Stanhope; but I'm in the biggest kind of a hurry. 
 I've just put up my mind to make some sponge- 
 cake for to-night, and I thought I'd best run 
 over and get your prescription; you always have so 
 much better luck than me. I don't know whether 
 it's all in the luck though, or whether it's partly 
 the difference in prescriptions I know some fol- 
 lows one, and some another and so, if you'll 
 let me have yours, I'll be a thousand times 
 obliged." 
 
 " Certainly, Mrs. Sixpence, you'll be as many 
 times welcome," returned Aunt Wealthy, going 
 for her receipt-book. " It's not to be a large 
 party, is it? " she asked, coming back. 
 
 " No, ma'am, just a dozen or so of the young 
 folks; such ladies and gentlemen which I thought 
 would be agreeable to meet Miss Dinsmore. I 
 hope you'll both be over and bright and early too; 
 for I've heard say you don't never keep very late 
 hours, Mise Dinsmore." 
 
 " No, papa does not approve of them; not for 
 me at least. He is so careful of me, so anxious 
 that I should keep my health." 
 
 " Well, I'm sure that's all right and kind. But 
 yoirll come, both of you, won't you? " And re-
 
 198 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 ceiving an assurance that such was their inten- 
 tion, she hurried away as fast as she had come. 
 
 " I wonder she cares to make a party when she 
 must do all the work of preparing for it herself," 
 said Elsie, looking after her as she sped across 
 the lawn. 
 
 " She is strong and healthy, and used to work; 
 and doubtless feels that it will be some honor and 
 glory to be able to boast of having entertained the 
 Southern heiress who is visiting Lansdale," Miss 
 Stanhope answered in a half-jesting tone. 
 
 Elsie looked amused, then grave, as she replied: 
 " It is rather humbling to one's pride to be valued 
 merely or principally on account of one's wealth.'"' 
 
 " Yes; but, dearie, those who know you don't 
 value you for that, but for your own dear, lovable 
 self. My darling, your old aunt is growing very 
 fond of you, and can hardly bear to think how 
 soon your father will be coming to carry you 
 away again," she added, twinkling away a tear, 
 as she took the soft, white hand, and pressed it 
 affectionately in both her own. 
 
 " And I shall be so sorry to leave you, auntie. 
 I wish we could carry you away with us. I have 
 so often thought how happy my friend Lucy Car- 
 rington ought to be in having such a nice grand- 
 ma. I have never had one, you know; for papa's 
 stepmother would never own me for her grand- 
 child; but you seem to be the very one I have 
 always longed for." 
 
 " Thank you, dear," and Miss Stanhope sighed 
 slightly. " Had your own grandmother, my 
 sweet and dear sister Eva, been spared to this 
 time, you would have had one to love and be
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 199 
 
 proud of. Now, do you want to take a siesta? 
 you must feel tired after this morning's long 
 tramp, I should think, and I want you to be very 
 bright and fresh to-night, that it may not harm 
 you if you should happen to be kept up a little 
 later than usual. You see I want to take such 
 care of you, that when your father comes he can 
 see only improvement in you, and feel willing to 
 let me have you again some day." 
 
 " Thank you, you dear old auntie! " Elsie an- 
 swered, giving her a hug. '* I'm sure even he 
 could hardly be more kindly careful of me than 
 you are. But I am not very tired, and sitting in 
 an easy-chair will give me all the rest I need. 
 Haven't you some work for me? I've done noth- 
 ing but enjoy myself in the most idle fashion all 
 day." 
 
 " No, my sewing's all done now that the shirts 
 are finished. But I must lie down whether you 
 will or not. I can't do without my afternoon 
 nap." 
 
 " Yes, do, auntie; and I shall begin to-morrow's 
 letter to papa; finishing it in the morning with 
 an account of the party." 
 
 She was busy with her writing when Lottie 
 burst in upon her. 
 
 " I ran in," she said, " to propose that we all 
 go over there together, and to ask you to come 
 into our house when you're dressed. Nettie and 
 I are going to try a new style of doing up our hair, 
 and we want your opinion about its becoming- 
 ness." 
 
 " 111 be happy to give it for what it is worth." 
 
 " By the way, I admire your style extremely;
 
 200 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 but of course no one conld imitate it who was not 
 blessed with a heavy suit of natural curls. You 
 always wear it one way, don't you? " 
 
 " Yes, papa likes it so, but until within the 
 last year, he would not let me have it in a comb 
 at all." 
 
 She wore it now gathered into a loose knot be- 
 hind, and falling over a comb, in a rich mass of 
 shining curls, while in front it waved and rippled 
 above her white forehead, or fell over it, in soft, 
 tiny, golden brown rings. 
 
 " It is so beautiful! " continued Lottie, passing 
 her hand caressingly over it; "and so is its 
 wearer. Oh, if I were only a gentleman! " 
 
 " You don't wish it," said Elsie, laughing. " I 
 don't believe a real, womanly woman ever does.'* 
 
 "You don't, hey? Well, I must go; for I've a 
 lot to do to Lot King's wearing apparel. Adieu, 
 mon cher. Nay, don't disturb yourself to come 
 to the door." 
 
 Elsie came down to tea ready dressed for the 
 evening, in simple white, with a white rose in her 
 hair. 
 
 " I like your taste in dress, child," said Aumt 
 Wealthy, regarding her with affectionate admira- 
 tion. " The rose in your hair is lovely, and you 
 seem to me like a fresh, fair, sweet flower, your- 
 self." 
 
 " Ah, how pleasant it is to be loved, auntie, for 
 love always sees through rose-colored spectacles," 
 answered the young girl gayly. 
 
 "I promised Lottie to run in there for a mo- 
 ment to give my opinion about their appearance," 
 she said, as they rose from the table. " I'll not
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD 201 
 
 be gone long; and they're to come in and go with 
 us." 
 
 She found her friends in the midst of their 
 hair-dressing. 
 
 "Isn't it a bore?" cried Lottie. "How for- 
 tunate you are in never having to do this for 
 yourself." 
 
 " Why," said Elsie, " I was just admiring your 
 independence, and feeling ashamed of my own 
 helplessness." 
 
 " Did you ever try it," asked Nettie; " doing 
 your own hair, I mean?" 
 
 " No, never." 
 
 " Did yon ever dress yourself? " 
 
 " No, I own that I have never so much as put 
 on my own shoes and stockings," Elsie answered 
 with a blush, really mortified at the thought. 
 
 " Well, it is rather nice to .be able to help your- 
 self," remarked Lottie complacently. " There! 
 mine's done; what do you think of it, Miss Dins- 
 more?" 
 
 " That it is very pretty and extremely becom- 
 ing. Girls, mammy will dress your hair for you 
 at any time, if you wish." 
 
 " Oh, a thousand thanks! " exclaimed Nettie. 
 " Do you think she would be willing to come over 
 and do mine now? I really can't get it to suit 
 me, and I know Lot wants to put on her dress." 
 
 " Yee, I'll go back and send her." 
 
 " Oh, no; don't go }^et; can't we send for her? " 
 
 " That would do; but I told Aunt Wealthy I 
 wouldn't stay long; so I think I'd better go. Per- 
 haps 1 can be of use to her." 
 
 * I don't believe she'll need any help with hei
 
 202 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD 
 
 toilet," said Lottie, " she does it all her own way; 
 but I daresay she grudges every minute of your 
 company. I know I should. Isn't she sweet and 
 lovely, and good as she can be? " she added to her 
 sister as Elsie left the room. 
 
 " Yes, and how tastefully she dresses; every- 
 thing is rich and beautiful, yet so simply elegant; 
 what magnificent lace she wears, and what jew- 
 elry; yet not a bit too much of either." 
 
 "And she knows all about harmony of colors, 
 and what suits her style; though I believe she 
 would look well in anything." 
 
 There was a communicating gate between Dr. 
 King's grounds and Miss Stanhope's, and Elsie 
 gained her aunt's house by crossing the two gar- 
 dens. As she stepped upon the porch, she saw 
 Mr. Egerton standing before the door. 
 
 " Good-evening, Miss Dinsmore," he said, bow- 
 ing and smiling. " I was just about to ring; but 
 I presume that is not necessary now." 
 
 "No, not at all. Walk into the parlor, and 
 help yourself to a seat. And if you will please 
 excuse me I shall be there in a moment." 
 
 " I came to ask if I might have the pleasure of 
 escorting you to the party," he said laughingly, 
 as she returned from giving Chloe her directions, 
 and asking if her aunt needed any assistance. 
 
 " Thank you; but you are taking unnecessary 
 trouble," she answered gayly, " since it is only 
 across the street, and there are four of us to keep 
 each other company." 
 
 "The Misses King are going with you?" 
 
 " Yes; they are not quite ready yet; but it is 
 surely too early to think of going? "
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 203 
 
 " A little; but Mrs. Schilling is anxious to see 
 you as soon as possible; particularly as she under- 
 stands there is no hope of keeping you after ten 
 o'clock. Do you really always observe such early 
 hours ? " 
 
 " As a rule, yes. I believe the medical authori- 
 ties agree that it is the way to retain one's youth 
 and health." 
 
 "And beauty," he added, with an admiring 
 glance at her blooming face. 
 
 " I do believe we shall be almost the first; very 
 unfashionably early," remarked Nettie King, as 
 their little party crossed the street. 
 
 "We are not the first, I have seen several go 
 in," rejoined Aunt Wealthy, as Mr. Egerton held 
 open the gate for them to pass in. 
 
 Mrs. Schilling in gay attire, streamers flying, 
 cheeks glowing, and eyes beaming with delight, 
 met them at the door, and invited them to 
 enter. 
 
 " Oh, ladies, good-evening. How do you all 
 do? I'm powerful glad you came so early. Walk 
 right into the parlor." 
 
 She ushered them in as she spoke, Four or 
 five young misses were standing about the centre- 
 table, looking at prints, magazines, and photo- 
 graphs, while Lenwilla Ellawea, arrayed in her 
 Sunday best, had ensconced herself in a large 
 cushioned rocking-chair; she was leaning lazily 
 back in it, and stretching out her feet in a way to 
 show her shoes and stockings to full advantage. 
 Mrs. Schilling had singular taste in dress. The 
 child wore a Swiss muslin over a red flannel skirt,
 
 204 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 and her lower limbs were encased in black stock- 
 ings and blue shoes. 
 
 "Daughter Lenwilla Ellawea, subside that 
 chair! ' exclaimed the mother, with a wave of her 
 hand. " You should know better than to take 
 the best seat, when ladies are standing. Miss 
 Stanhope, do me the honor to take that chair. I 
 assure you, you will find it most commodious. 
 Take a seat on the sofy, Miss Dinsmore, and ah, 
 that is right, Mr. Egerton, you know how to at- 
 tend to the ladies." 
 
 Greetings and introductions were exchanged; 
 an uncomfortable pause followed, then a young 
 lady, with a magazine open on the table before 
 her, broke the silence by remarking: " What sweet 
 verses these are! " 
 
 "Yes," said Mrs. Schilling, looking over her 
 shoulder, " I quite agree in that sentiment. In- 
 deed, she's mv favorite author." 
 
 "Who?" asked Mr. Egerton. 
 
 " Anon." 
 
 "Ah! does she write much for that period- 
 ical?" he asked, with assumed gravity. 
 
 " Oh, yes, she has a piece in nearly every num- 
 ber; sometimes two of 'em" 
 
 " That's my pap, that is," said Lenwilla Ellawea, 
 addressing a second young lady, who was slowly 
 turning the leaves of a photograph album. 
 
 "Is it?" 
 
 " Yes, and we've got two or three other picters 
 of him." 
 
 "Photographs, Lenwilla Ellawea/' corrected 
 her mother. " Yes, we've got several. Miss 
 Stanhope, do you know there's a sculpture in
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 205 
 
 town? and what do you think? He wants to 
 make a basque relief out o' one o' them photo- 
 graphs of my 'Lijah. But I don't know as I'll 
 let him. Would you? " 
 
 A smile trembled about the corners of Elsie's 
 lips, and she carefully avoided the glance of Lot- 
 tie's eyes, which she knew were dancing with fun, 
 while there was a half -suppressed titter from the 
 girls at the table. 
 
 " I really can't say I understand exactly what 
 it is," sai<J Aunt Wealthy dubiously. 
 
 " What sort of looking creature is a sculpture, 
 Mrs. Schilling? " asked Mr. Egerton. 
 
 "Excuse me; there's some more company 
 coming," she answered, hurrying from the 
 room. 
 
 " My good landlady is really quite an amusing 
 person," he observed in an aside to Elsie, near to 
 whom he had seated himself. 
 
 She made no response. The newly-arrived 
 guests were being ushered in, and there were 
 fresh greetings and introductions to be gone 
 through with. Then conversation became quite 
 brisk, and after a little, it seeming to be under- 
 stood that all invited, or expected, were present 
 some one proposed playing games. They tried 
 several of the quieter kind, then Lottie King pro- 
 posed " Stage-coach." 
 
 " Lot likes that because she's a regular romp,'* 
 said her sister. 
 
 " And because she tells the story so well; she's 
 just splendid at it! " cried two or three voices. 
 " Will you take that part if we agree to play it? ** 
 
 " Yes, if no one else wants it."
 
 206 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 "No danger of that. We'll play it. Miss 
 Dinsmore, will you take part?" 
 
 " Thank you; I never heard of the game before, 
 and should not know what to do." 
 
 " Oh, it's easy to understand. Each player 
 except the story-teller takes the name of some 
 part of the stage-coach, or something connected 
 with it; one is the wheels, another the window, 
 another the whip, another the horses, driver, and 
 so on, and so on. After all are named and seated 
 leaving one of their number out, and no va- 
 cancy in the circle the one left out stands in the 
 centre, and begins a story, in which he or she 
 introduces the names chosen by the others as 
 often as possible. Each must be on the qui vive, 
 and the instant his name is pronounced, jump up, 
 turn round once and sit down again. If he neg- 
 lects to do so, he has to pay a forfeit. If the 
 word stage-coach is pronounced, all spring up and 
 change seats; the story-teller securing one, if he 
 can and leaving some one else to try his hand at 
 that." 
 
 Lottie acquitted herself well; Mr. Egerton fol- 
 lowed, doing even better; then Aunt Wealthy was 
 the one left out, and with her crooked sentences 
 and backward or opposite rendering of names 
 caused shouts of merriment. The selling of the 
 forfeits which followed was no less mirth-provok- 
 ing. Then the refreshments Avere brought in; 
 first, several kinds of cake the sponge and the 
 farmers' fruit-cake, made after Miss Stanhope's 
 prescription, as Mrs. Schilling informed her 
 guests, and one or two other sorts. Elsie de-
 
 ELSIE "8 GIRLHOOD. 207 
 
 dined them all, saying that she never ate any- 
 thing in the evening. 
 
 " Oh, now that's too bad, Miss Dinsmore! do 
 take a little bit of something," urged her hostess; 
 " I shall feel real hurt if you don't; it looks just af 
 if you didn't think my victuals good enough foi 
 you to eat." 
 
 "Indeed you must not think that," repliec 
 Elsie, blushing deeply. " Your cake looks ver} 
 nice, but I always decline evening refreshments; 
 and that solely because of the injury it would be 
 to my health to indulge in them." 
 
 " Why, you aint delicate, are you? You don't 
 look so; you've as healthy a color as ever I see; 
 not a bit like as though you had the dyspepsy." 
 
 " No, I have never had a touch of dyspepsia, 
 and I think my freedom from it is largely owing 
 to papa's care of me in regard to what I eat and 
 when. He has never allowed me to eat cake in 
 the evening." 
 
 "Well, I do say! you're the best girl to mind 
 your pa that ever I see! But you're growed up 
 now 'most of age, I should judge and I reckon 
 you've a sort o' right to decide such little matters 
 for yourself. I don't believe a bit o' either of 
 these would hurt you a mite; and if it should 
 make you a little out o' sorts just you take a dose 
 of spirits of pneumonia. That's my remedy for 
 sick stomic, and it cures me right up, it does." 
 
 Elsie smiled, but again gently but firmly de- 
 clined. " Please don't tempt me any more, Mrs. 
 Schilling," she said; " for it is a temptation, I 
 assure you."
 
 208 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 "Well, p'raps you'll like the next course bet- 
 ter," rejoined her hostess, moving on. 
 
 " She's a splendid cook and the cake is really 
 nice," remarked Lottie King in a low tone, close 
 at her friend's side. 
 
 " Yes, Miss Dinsmore, you'd better try a little 
 of it; I don't believe it would hurt you, even so 
 much as to call for the spirits of pneumonia," said 
 Egerton, laughing. 
 
 " Oh, look! " whispered Lottie, her eyes twin- 
 kling with merriment, " here comes the second 
 course served up in the most original style." 
 
 Mrs. Schilling had disappeared for a moment, 
 to return bearing a wooden bucket filled with a 
 mixture of candies, raisins and almonds, and was 
 passing it around among her guests, inviting each 
 to take a handful. 
 
 " Now, Miss Dinsmore, you won't refuse to try 
 a few of these?" she said persuasively, as she 
 neared their corner, " I shall be real disappointed 
 if you do." 
 
 "I am very sorry to decline your kind offer, 
 even more for my own sake than yours," re- 
 turned Elsie, laughing and blushing; " for I am 
 extremely fond of confectionery; but I must say 
 no, thank you." 
 
 " Mr. Egerton, do you think 'twas because my 
 cakes and things wasn't good enough for her 
 that she wouldn't taste 'em? " asked his landlady, 
 in an aggrieved tone, as the last of the guests 
 departed. 
 
 Elsie had gone an hour before, he having had 
 the pleasure of escorting her and Miss Stanhope 
 across the street, leaving them at their own door;
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 but he did not need to ask whom Mrs. Schil- 
 ling meant. 
 
 " Oh, no, not at all, my good woman! " he an- 
 swered. " It was nothing but filial obedience 
 joined to the fear of losing ker exuberant health. 
 Very wise, too, though your refreshments were 
 remarkably nice." 
 
 ''Poor Mrs. Sixpence/' Lottie King was say- 
 ing to her sister at that moment, " she whis- 
 pered to me that though her party had gone off 
 so splendidly, she had had two great disappoint- 
 ments, in Mr. Wert's absenting himself, and the 
 refusal of the Southern heiress to so much as 
 taste her carefully prepared dainties."
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 A goodly apple rotten at the heart ; 
 O what a goodly outside falsehood hath I 
 SHAKESPEARE'S "MERCHANT OF VENICE." 
 
 IN mental power, education, good looks* 
 courtly manners, and general information Mr. 
 Egerton was decidedly superior to any of the 
 young men resident in Lansdale; and of this fact 
 no one was better aware than himself. He did 
 not confine his attentions to Elsie, and soon found 
 himself a prime favorite among the ladies of the 
 town. No female coquette ever coveted the ad- 
 miration of the other sex more than he, or sought 
 more assiduously to gain it. He carried on nu- 
 merous small flirtations among the belles of the 
 place, yet paid court to Elsie much oftener than 
 to any one else, using every art of which he was 
 master in the determined effort to win her affec- 
 tion and to make himself necessary to her happi- 
 ness. 
 
 He had read many books and seen much of 
 life, having travelled all over our own country, 
 and visited both Europe and South America; and 
 possessing a retentive memory, fine descriptive 
 powers, a fund of humor, and a decided talent 
 for mimicry, was able, when he chose, to make 
 his conversation exceedingly amusing and inter- 
 esting, and very instructive. Also, he seemed all 
 that was good and noble, and she soon gave him 
 210
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 211 
 
 ft very warm place in her regard; much warmer 
 than she herself at first suspected. 
 
 According to his own account and probably 
 it was the truth Bromly Egerton had had many 
 hair-breadth escapes from sudden and violent 
 death. He was telling of one of these in which 
 he had risked and nearly lost his life from mere 
 love of adventure. Elsie shuddered, and drew a 
 long breath of relief, as the story reached its 
 close, 
 
 " Does it frighten you to hear of such things? " 
 he asked, with a smile. 
 
 " Yes, it seems to me a dreadful thing to risk 
 the loss of one's life, when there is no good to 
 ourselves or others to be gained by it." 
 
 " Ah, if you were a man or boy you would un- 
 derstand that more than half the charm of such 
 adventures lies in the risk." 
 
 " But is it right, or wise? " 
 
 " A mere matter of taste, or choice, I should 
 say a long dull life, or a short and lively one/' 
 
 Elsie's face had grown very grave. " Are those 
 really your sentiments, Mr. Egerton? "she asked, 
 in a pained, disappointed tone. " I had thought 
 better of you." 
 
 " I do not understand; have I said anything 
 very dreadful?" 
 
 " Is it not a sin to throw away the life which 
 God has giveh us to be used in His service? " 
 
 " Ah, perhaps that may be so; but I had not 
 looked at it in precisely that way. I had only 
 thought of the fact that life in this world is not 
 BO very delightful that one need be anxious to 
 continue it for a hundred years. We grow tired
 
 812 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 of it at times, and are almost ready to throw it 
 away; to use your expression." 
 
 <c Ah, before doing that we should be very sure 
 of going to a better place." 
 
 " But how can we be sure of that, or, indeed, 
 of anything? What is there that we know ab- 
 solutely, and beyond question? how can I be sure 
 of even my own existence? how do I know that 
 I am what I believe myself to be? There are 
 crazy men who firmly believe themselves kings 
 and princes, or something else quite as far from 
 the truth; and how do I know that I am not as 
 much mistaken as they? " 
 
 She gave him a look of grieved surprise, and he 
 laughingly asked, " Well, now, Miss Dinsmore, 
 is there anything of which you really are abso- 
 lutely certain? or you, Miss King? " as Lottie 
 drew near the log on which the two were seated. 
 
 They had taken a long ramble through the 
 woods that morning, and Egerton and Elsie had 
 some ten minutes before sat down here to rest 
 and wait for their companions, who had wan- 
 dered a little from the path they were pursu- 
 ing. 
 
 " Cogito, ergo sum," she answered gayly. 
 "Also I am sure we have had a very pleasant 
 walk. But isn't it time we were moving toward 
 home? " 
 
 " Yes," Elsie answered, consulting her watch. 
 
 " That's a pretty little thing," observed Eger- 
 ton. " May I look at it? " And he held out his 
 hand. 
 
 " One of papa's birthday gifts to his petted 
 only daughter," she said, with a smile, as she al-
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 213 
 
 lowed him to take it. "I value it very highly 
 on that account even more than for its intrinsic 
 worth; though it is an excellent time-keeper." 
 
 " It must have cost a pretty penny; the pearls 
 and diamonds alone must be worth quite a sum," 
 he said, turning it about and examining it with 
 eager interest. " I would be careful, Miss Dins- 
 more, how I let it be known that I carried any- 
 thing so valuable about me, or wore it into lonely 
 places, such as these woods/' he added, as he re- 
 turned it to her. 
 
 " I never come out alone," she said, looking 
 slightly anxious and troubled; "papa laid his 
 commands upon me never to do so; but I shall 
 leave it at home in future." 
 
 "Riches bring cares; that's the way I comfort 
 myself in my poverty," remarked Lottie, lightly. 
 "But, Elsie, my dear, don't allow anxious fears 
 to disturb you; we are a very moral people at Lans- 
 dale; I never heard of a robbery there yet." 
 
 " I believe I am naturally rather timid," said 
 Elsie, " yet I seldom suffer from fear. I always 
 feel very safe when papa is near to protect me, 
 and our Heavenly Father's care is always about 
 ,us." 
 
 " That reminds me that you have not an- 
 swered my question," remarked Egerton, switch- 
 ing off the head of a clover-blossom with his cane. 
 "Is the care you speak of one thing of which 
 you feel certain? " 
 
 " Yes, and there are others." 
 
 "May I ask what?" 
 
 She turned her sweet, soft eyes full upon him 
 as she answered in low, clear tones, " ' I know that
 
 214 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good 
 thing.' ' I know that my Kedeemer liveth.' ' I 
 know that it shall be well with them that fear 
 God/ " 
 
 "You are quoting?" 
 
 " Yes, from a book that I know is true. Do 
 you doubt it, Mr. Egerton? " 
 
 " Why, Miss Dinsmore, you do not take me for 
 an infidel, surely?" 
 
 " No, until to-day I had hoped you were a 
 Christian." 
 
 Her eyes were downcast now, and there were 
 tears in her voice as she spoke. He saw he had 
 made a false step and lowered himself in her 
 esteem, yet, remembering his talk with Arthur, 
 he felt certain he could more than retrieve that 
 error. And he grew exultant in the thought of 
 the evident pain the discovery of his unbelief had 
 caused her. " She does care for me; I believe the 
 prize is even now almost within my reach," he 
 said to himself, as they silently pursued their 
 way into the town, no one speaking again until 
 they parted at Miss Stanhope's gate. 
 
 Elsie, usually full of innocent mirth and glad- 
 ness, was very quiet at dinner that day, and Aunt 
 Wealthy, watching her furtively, thought she 
 noticed an unwonted shade of sadness on the fair 
 face. 
 
 "What is it, dear?" she asked at length; 
 " something seems to have gone wrong with you." 
 
 The young girl replied by repeating the sub- 
 stance of the morning's talk with Mr. Egerton, 
 and expressing her disappointment at the dis
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 21i 
 
 covery that he was not the Christian man she had 
 taken him to be. 
 
 " Perhaps what you have taken in earnest, was 
 but spoken in jest, my child," said Miss Stan- 
 hope. 
 
 " Ah, auntie, but a Christian surely could no 
 say such things even ^n jest," she answered, with 
 a little sigh, and a look of sorrowful concern on 
 her face. 
 
 Half an hour later, Elsie sat reading in the 
 abode of the vine-covered porch, while her aunt 
 enjoyed her customary after-dinner nap. She 
 presently heard the gate swing to, and the next 
 moment Mr. Egerton was helping himself to a 
 seat by her side. 
 
 "I hope I don't intrude, Miss Dinsmore," he 
 began, assuming a slightly embarrassed air. 
 
 " Oh, no, not at all," she answered, closing her 
 book; " but aunt is lying down, and " 
 
 " Ah, no matter; I wouldn't have her disturbed 
 for the world; and in fact I am rather glad of the 
 opportunity of seeing you alone. I I have been 
 thinking a good deal of that talk we had this 
 morning, and I am really quite shocked at the 
 sentiments I then expressed, though they were 
 spoken more than half in jest. Miss Dinsmore, 
 I am not a Christian, but but I want to be, and 
 would, if I only knew how; and I've come to you 
 to learn the way; for somehow I seem to feel that 
 you could make the thing plainer to me than any 
 one else. What must I do first? " 
 
 Glad tears shone in the soft eyes she lifted to 
 his face as she answered, " ' Believe on the Lord
 
 216 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved/ Believe^ 
 ' only believe.' " 
 
 " But I must do something? " 
 
 " ' Let the wicked forsake his way and the un- 
 righteous man his thoughts, and let him return 
 unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him, 
 and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.' " 
 
 The man was an arrant knave and hypocrite, 
 simulating anxiety about his soul's salvation only 
 for the purpose of ingratiating himself with El- 
 sie; but " the sword of the spirit, which is the 
 word of God," pricked him for the moment, as 
 she wielded it in faith and prayer. What ways, 
 what thoughts were his! Truly they had need to 
 be forsaken if he would hope ever to see that holy 
 city of which we are told " There shall in no wise 
 enter it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever 
 worketh abomination, or maketh a lie." 
 
 For a moment he sat silent and abashed before 
 the gentle, earnest young Christian, feeling her 
 very purity a reproach, and fearing that she must 
 read his hypocrisy and the baseness of his motives 
 in his countenance. 
 
 But hers was a most innocent and unsuspicious 
 nature, apt to believe others as true and honest 
 as herself. She went on presently. " It is so 
 beautifully simple and easy, God's way of sav- 
 ing us poor sinners: it is its very simplicity that 
 so stumbles wise men and women, while little 
 children, in their sweet trustfulness, just taking 
 God at His word, understand it without any diffi- 
 culty." She spoke in a musing tone, not looking 
 at Egerton at all, but with her eyes fixed medi- 
 tatingly upon the floor.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 217 
 
 He perceived that she had no doubts of his sin- 
 cerity^ and rallying from the thrust she had so 
 unconsciously given him, went on with the role 
 he had laid down for himself. 
 
 "I fear I am one of the wise ones you speak 
 of, for I confess I do not see the way yet. Can 
 you not explain it more fully? " 
 
 " I will try/' she said. " You believe that you 
 are a sinner deserving of God's wrath? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " You have broken His law, and His justice 
 demands your punishment; but Jesus has kept 
 its requirements and borne its penalty in your 
 stead, and now offers you his righteousness and 
 salvation as a free gift, ' without money and 
 without price.' " 
 
 "But what ami to do?" 
 
 " Simply take the offered gift." 
 
 "But how? I fear I must seem very obtuse, 
 but I really do not comprehend." 
 
 " Then ask for the teachings of the Spirit; ask 
 Jesus to give you repentance and faith. ' Ask, 
 and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; 
 knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for every 
 one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh, 
 findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be 
 opened." 
 
 Elsie's voice was low and pleading, her tones 
 were tremulous with earnest entreaty, the eyes 
 she lifted to his face were half filled with tears; 
 for she felt that the eternal interests of her 
 hearer were trembling in the balance. 
 
 He looked at her admiringly, and, lost in the 
 contemplation of her beauty, had almost betrayed
 
 218 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 himself by his want of interest in what she was 
 saying. But just then Miss Stanhope joined 
 them, and shortly after he took his leave. 
 
 From this time Egerton played his part with 
 consummate skill, deceiving Elsie so completely 
 that she had not the slightest doubt of his being 
 an humble, penitent, rejoicing believer; and great 
 were her joy and thankfulness when he told her 
 that she had been the means of leading him to 
 Christ; that her words had made the way plain 
 to him, as he had never been able to see it before. 
 It seemed to her a very tender, strong tte between 
 them, and he appeared to feel it to be so also. 
 
 She was not conscious of looking upon him in 
 the light of a lover, but he saw with secret ex- 
 ultation that he was fast winning her heart; he 
 read it in the flushing of her cheek and the bright- 
 ening of her eye at his approach, and in many 
 other unmistakable signs. He wrote to Arthur 
 that the prize was nearly won; so nearly that he 
 had no doubt of his ultimate success. 
 
 "And I'll not be long now about finishing up 
 the job," he continued; " it's such precious hard 
 work to be so good and pious all the time, that 
 I can hardly wait till matters are fully ripe for 
 action. I'm in constant danger of letting the 
 mask slip aside in some unguarded moment, and 
 so undoing the whole thing after the world of 
 trouble it has cost me. It'b no joke, I can assure 
 you, for a man of my tastes and habits to lead 
 the sort of life I've led for the last three months. 
 I believe I'd give her up this minute, fortune and 
 all, if the winning of them would lay me under 
 the necessity of continuing it for the rest of my
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 219 
 
 days, or even for any length of time. But once 
 the knot is tied, and the property secured, there'll 
 be an end of this farce. I'll let her know I'm 
 done with cant, will neither talk it nor listen to 
 it." 
 
 Arthur Dinsmore's face darkened as he read, 
 and in a sudden burst of fury he tore the letter 
 into fragments, then threw them into the empty 
 grate. He was not yet so hardened as to feel 
 willing to see Elsie in the power of such a heart- 
 less wretch, such a villain as he knew Tom Jack- 
 son to be. Many times already had he bitterly 
 repented of having told him of her wealth, and 
 helped him to an acquaintance with her. His 
 family pride revolted against the connection, and 
 some latent affection for his niece prompted him 
 to save her from the life of misery that must be 
 hers as the wife of one so utterly devoid of honor 
 or integrity. 
 
 Yet Arthur lacked the moral courage to face 
 the disagreeable consequences of a withdrawal 
 from his compact with Jackson, and a confession 
 to his father or Horace of the wretch's designs 
 upon Elsie and his own disgraceful entanglement 
 with him. He concluded to take a middle course. 
 He wrote immediately to Jackson, somewhat 
 haughtily, advising him at once to give up the 
 whole thing. 
 
 " You will inevitably fail to accomplish your 
 end," he said. " Elsie will never marry without 
 her father's consent, and that you will find it 
 utterly impossible to gain. Horace is too sharp 
 to be hoodwinked or deceived, even by you. He 
 will ferret out your whole past, lay bare the whole
 
 220 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 black record of your rascalities and hypocrisies, 
 and forbid his daughter ever again to hold the 
 slightest communication with you. And she will 
 obey if it kills her on the spot." 
 
 " There's some comfort in that last reflection," 
 muttered Arthur to himself, as he folded and 
 sealed his epistle; "no danger of the rascal get- 
 ting into the family." 
 
 Two days later, Egerton took this letter from 
 the post-office in Lansdale. He read it with a 
 scowl on his brow. " Ah! I see your game, young 
 man," he muttered with an oath, " but you'll find 
 that you've got hold of the wrong customer. My 
 reply shall be short and sweet, and quite to the 
 point." 
 
 It ran thus: "Your warning and advice come 
 too late, my young friend; the mischief is al- 
 ready wrought, and however unworthy your 
 humble servant may be deemed by yourself or 
 others of its members to become connected with 
 
 the illustrious D family, they will find they 
 
 cannot help themselves; the girl loves me, and 
 believes in me, and I defy all the fathers and re- 
 lations in creation to keep us apart." Then fol- 
 lowed some guarded allusions to various sums of 
 borrowed money, and so-called " debts of honor," 
 nnd to some compact by which they were to be 
 annulled, accompanied by a threat of exposure if 
 that agreement were not kept to the very letter.
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Thou shalt not see me blush, 
 Nor change my countenance for this arrest. 
 SHAKESPEARE'S " HENRY VI.," PART II. 
 
 IT was a sultry summer night. In the grounds 
 of one of the largest and most beautiful of the 
 many elegant country seats to be found in the 
 suburbs of Cincinnati two gentlemen were pacing 
 leisurely to and fro. 
 
 They were friends who had met that day for 
 the first time in several years; strongly attached 
 friends, spite of a very considerable difference in 
 their ages. They had had much to say to each 
 other for the first few hours, but it was now sev- 
 eral minutes since either had spoken. 
 
 The silence was broken by the younger of the 
 two exclaiming in a tone of hearty congratula- 
 tion, " This is a magnificent place, Beresford! It 
 does my heart good to see you so prosperous! " 
 
 " It is a fine place, Travilla, but/' and he 
 heaved a deep sigh, " I sometimes fear my wealth 
 is to prove anything but a blessing to my chil- 
 dren; that in fact my success in acquiring it is 
 to be the ruin of my first-born." 
 
 " Ah, I hope not! Is Rudolph not doing well? " 
 
 " Well? " groaned the father, dropping his head 
 upon his breast, " he seems to be rushing head- 
 long to destruction. Have you not noticed his 
 poor mother's sad and careworn look? or mine? 
 
 221
 
 222 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 That boy is breaking our hearts. I could not 
 speak of it to every one, but to you, my long- 
 tried friend, I feel that I may unburden myself, 
 
 sure of genuine sympathy " And he went on 
 
 to tell how his son, becoming early imbued with 
 the idea that his father's wealth precluded all 
 necessity of exertion on his part, had grown up 
 in habits of idleness that led to dissipation, and 
 going on from bad to worse, was now a drunkard, 
 a gambler, and frequenter of low haunts of vice. 
 
 "Day and night he is a heavy burden upon 
 our hearts," continued the unhappy father; 
 "when he i? with us we find it most distressing 
 to behold the utter wreck his excesses are making 
 of him, and when he is out of our sight it is still 
 worse; for we don't know what sin or danger he 
 may be running into. Indeed at times we are 
 almost distracted. Ah, Travilla, much as I love 
 my wife and children, I am half tempted to envy 
 your bachelor exemption from such care and sor- 
 row! " 
 
 Mr. Travilla's kind heart was deeply moved. 
 He felt painfully conscious of his own inability to 
 comfort in such sorrow; but spoke of God's power 
 >,o change the heart of the most hardened sinner, 
 ais willingness to save, and his promises to those 
 who seek his aid in the time of trouble. 
 
 " Thank you. I knew you would feel for us; 
 your sympathy does me good," returned Mr. 
 Beresford, grasping his friend's hand and press- 
 ing it between his own; "your words too; for 
 however well we know these truths we are apt to 
 forget them, even when they are most needed. 
 
 " But it is growing late, and you must be
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 223 
 
 weary after your journey. Let me show you to 
 your room." 
 
 Three days passed in which Eudolph was not 
 once seen in his home., and his parents were left 
 in ignorance of his whereabouts. They exerted 
 themselves for the pleasure and entertainment of 
 their guest, but he could see plainly that they 
 were enduring torture of anxiety and suspense. 
 
 Late in the evening of the third day, Mr. Beres- 
 f ord said to him, " My carriage is at the door. 
 I must go into town and search for my boy. I 
 have done so vainly several times since he last 
 left his home, but I must try again to-night. "Will 
 you go with me?" 
 
 Travilla consented with alacrity, and they set 
 out at once. 
 
 While on their way to the city Mr. Beresford 
 explained that, for some time past, he had had 
 reason to fear that his son was frequenting one 
 of its gambling-hells; that thus far he had failed 
 in his efforts to gain admittance, in order to 
 search for him; but to-day, a professed gambler, 
 well known in the house, had come to him and 
 offered his assistance. 
 
 " As his convoy, I think we shall get in," added 
 Mr. Beresford. " I cannot fathom the man's mo- 
 tives, but suspect he owes a grudge to a new- 
 comer, who, he says, is winning large sums from 
 Eudolph. I shall drive to Smith's livery stable, 
 leave my horse and carriage there, then walk on 
 to the place, which is only a few squares distant. 
 Our guide is to meet us at the first corner from 
 Smith's." 
 
 This programme was carried out, their guide
 
 224 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 was in waiting at the appointed place, and at 
 once conducted them to the gambling-house Mr. 
 Beresford had spoken of. They were admitted 
 without question or demur, and in another mo- 
 ment found themselves standing beside a table 
 where a number of men were at play, nearly all 
 so absorbed in their game as to seem entirely un- 
 conscious of the presence of spectators. 
 
 Two of them, pitted against each other, and 
 both young, though there must have been several 
 years' difference in their ages, particularly at- 
 tracted Travilla's attention; and glancing at his 
 friend, he saw that it was the same with him, 
 that his eyes were fixed upon the face of the 
 younger of the two, with an expression of keen 
 distress, while he trembled with emotion, and 
 almost gasped for breath, as he leaned toward 
 him, and whispered, " It is he my son." 
 
 At the same instant the young man's face grew 
 deadly pale, he started up with a wild, ringing 
 cry, " I am ruined! " drew a pistol from his breast, 
 and placed the muzzle to his mouth. 
 
 But Mr. Travilla, springing forward, struck it 
 from his hand ere he could pull the trigger. 
 
 A scene of much excitement and confusion fol- 
 lowed, in the midst of which young Beresford was 
 led away by his father and Travilla. 
 
 A week later the latter gentleman reached 
 Lansdale, arriving there in the early morning 
 train. He put up at its principal hotel, and hav- 
 ing refreshed himself by a few hours' sleep, a 
 bath, and breakfast, inquired the way to Miss 
 Stanhope's. 
 
 Elsie was just coming down the front stairway,
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 225 
 
 is he appeared before the open door, and was 
 about to ring for admittance. 
 
 " Oh, Mr. Tra villa, my dear old friend! who 
 would have expected to see you here? " she cried, 
 in delighted surprise, as she bounded forward to 
 meet him, with both hands extended in joyous 
 greeting. 
 
 He took them in his, and kissed her first on one 
 cheek, then on the other. "Still fresh and 
 blooming as a rose, and with the same happy light 
 in the sweet brown eyes," he said, gazing fondly 
 into their tender depths. 
 
 ' And you are the same old flatterer," she an- 
 swered gayly, a rich color mantling her cheek. 
 " Come in and sit down. But oh, tell me when 
 did you see papa last? and mamma, and little 
 Horace? Ah! the sight of you makes me home- 
 sick for them." 
 
 " I left them at Cape May, about a fortnight 
 since, all well and happy, but missing you very 
 much. I think papa will hardly be able to do 
 without his darling much longer." 
 
 " Nor his darling without him. Oh, dear! 
 sometimes I get to wanting him so badly that I 
 feel as if I should have to write to him to come 
 for me at once. Buu excuse me while I go and 
 call Aunt Wealthy." 
 
 "Not yet; let us have a little chat together 
 first." 
 
 Of course, after so long a separation, such old 
 and tried friends would find a great deal to say 
 to each other. The time slipped away very fast, 
 and half an hour afterward Mr. Egerton, coming 
 in without ringing a liberty he sometimes took
 
 226 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 of late found them seated close together on the 
 sofa, talking earnestly, Elsie with her hand in 
 that of her friend, and a face even brighter and 
 happier than its wont. 
 
 Mr. Travilla had one of those faces that often 
 seem to come to a stand-still as regards age, and 
 to scarcely know any change for many years. 
 He was at this time thirty-four, but would have 
 passed readily for twenty-five. Egerton thought 
 him no more than that, and at once took him for 
 a successful rival. 
 
 "Excuse me, Miss Dinsmore," he said, bowing 
 stiffly, "I should have waited to ring, but " 
 
 " Oh, never mind, Mr. Egerton," she said; " let 
 me introduce you to my old friend, Mr. Tra- 
 villa " 
 
 But she stopped in astonishment and dismay. 
 Mr. Travilla had risen, and the two stood con- 
 fronting each other like mortal foes. 
 
 Mr. Travilla was the first to speak. " I have 
 met you before, sir! " he said with stern indigna- 
 tion. 
 
 " Indeed! that must be a mistake, sir, for upon 
 my word and honor I never set eyes on you 
 before." 
 
 " Your honor! the honor of a sharper, a black- 
 leg, a ' 
 
 " Sir, do you mean to insult me? by what right 
 do you apply such epithets to me? Pray where 
 did you ever meet me? " 
 
 " In a gambling-hell in Cincinnati; the time, 
 one week ago to-night; the occasion, the playing 
 of a game of cards between young Beresford and 
 yourself in which you were the winner b} r what
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 227 
 
 knavery you best know the stakes so heavy that, 
 on perceiving that he had lost, the young man 
 cried out that he was ruined, and in his mad de- 
 spair attempted self-destruction. It is quite 
 possible that you may not have observed me in 
 the crowd that gathered about your wretched 
 victim; but I can never forget the face of the man 
 who had wrought his ruin." 
 
 Egerton's countenance expressed the utmost 
 astonishment and incredulity. " I have not been 
 in Cincinnati for two months." he averred, " and 
 all I know of that affair I have learned from the 
 daily papers. But I shall not stay here to be in- 
 sulted by you, sir. Good-afternoon, Miss Dins- 
 more. I hope to be allowed an early oportunity 
 to explain this, and to be able to do so to your 
 entire satisfaction." 
 
 He bowed and withdrew, hastening from the 
 house with the rapid step of one who is filled with 
 a just indignation. 
 
 Mr. Travilla turned to Elsie. She was sitting 
 there on the sofa, with her hands clasped in her 
 lap, and a look of terror and anguish on her face, 
 from which every trace of color had fled. 
 
 His own grew almost as pale, and his voice 
 shook, as again sitting down beside her, and lay- 
 ing his hand on hers, he said, "My poor child! 
 can it be possible that you care for that wretch? " 
 
 " Oh, don't ! " she whispered hoarsely and turn- 
 ing away her face; " I cannot believe it; there 
 must be some dreadful mistake." 
 
 Then, recovering her composure by a mighty 
 effort, she rose and introduced her aunt, who 
 entered the room at that moment.
 
 228 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 Mr. Travilla sat for some time conversing witK 
 her, Elsie joining in occasionally, but with a tone 
 and manner from which all the brightness and 
 vivacity had fled; then he went away, declining 
 a pressing invitation to stay to dinner, but prom- 
 ising to be there to tea. 
 
 The moment he was gone Miss Stanhope was 
 busied in beating up her cushions, and Elsie flew 
 to her room, where she walked back and forth in 
 a state of great agitation. But the dinner-bell 
 rang, and composing herself as well as she could, 
 she went down. Her cheeks were burning, and 
 she seemed unnaturally gay, but ate very little as 
 her aunt noticed with concern. 
 
 The meal was scarcely over, when a ring at the 
 door-bell was followed by the sound of Mr. Eger- 
 ton's voice asking for Miss Dinsmore. 
 
 " Ah ! " said Miss Stanhope with an arch smile, 
 " he does not ask this hour for me; knowing it's 
 the time of my siesta." 
 
 Elsie found Egerton pacing the parlor floor to 
 and fro. He took her hand, led her to the sofa, 
 and sitting down by her side, began at once to de- 
 fend himself against Mr. Travilla's charge. He 
 told her he had never been guilty of gambling; 
 he had " sowed some wild oats," years ago get- 
 ting slightly intoxicated on two or three occa- 
 sions, and things of that sort but it was all over 
 and repented of; and surely she could not think it 
 just and right that it should be brought up 
 against him now. 
 
 As to Mr. Travilla's story the only way he 
 could account for the singular mistake was in 
 the fact that he had a cousin who bore the same
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD, 229 
 
 name as himself,, and resembled him so closely 
 that they had been frequently mistaken for each 
 other. And that cousin, most unfortunately, 
 especially on account of the likeness,, did both 
 drink and gamble. He was delighted by the look 
 of relief that came over Elsie's face, as he told 
 her this. She cared for him, then; yet her confi- 
 dence had been shaken. 
 
 " Ah, you doubted me, then? " he said in a 
 tone of sorrowful reproach. 
 
 "Oh! I could not bear to think it possible. I 
 was sure there must be a mistake somewhere/' she 
 said with a beautiful smile. 
 
 " But you are quite satisfied now?" 
 
 " Quite." 
 
 Then he told her he loved her very dearly, bet- 
 ter than his own soul; that he found he could not 
 live without her; life would not be worth having, 
 unless she would consent to share it with him. 
 " Would she, oh! would she promise some day to 
 be his own precious little wife? " 
 
 Elsie listened with downcast, blushing face, 
 and soft eyes beaming with joy; for the events of 
 that day had revealed to her the fact that this 
 man had made hims-elf master of her heart. 
 
 "Will you not give to me a word of hope?" 
 pleaded Egerton. 
 
 "I I cannot, must not, without my father's 
 permission," she faltered, "and oh! he forbade 
 me to listen to anything of the kind. I am too 
 young he says." 
 
 " When was that? " 
 
 " Three years ago." 
 
 "' Ah! but you are older now; and you will let
 
 230 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 me write and ask his consent? I may say that 
 you are not quite indifferent to me? " 
 
 " Yes/' she murmured, turning her sweet, 
 blushing face away from his ardent gaze. 
 
 " Thank you, dearest, a thousand thanks! " he 
 cried, pressing her hand in his. " And now may 
 I ask who and what that Mr. Travilla is? " 
 
 She explained, winding up by saying that he 
 was much like a second father to her. 
 
 "Father!" he exclaimed, " he doesn't look a 
 day over twenty-five." 
 
 " He is about two years younger than papa and 
 doesn't look any younger, I think," she answered 
 with a smile. " But strangers are very apt to 
 take papa for my brother." 
 
 Egerton left an hour before Mr. Travilla came, 
 and that hour Elsie spent in her own room in a 
 state of great excitement, now full of the sweet 
 joy of loving and being loved, now trembling with 
 apprehension at the thought of the probable 
 effect of Mr. Travilla's story upon her father. 
 She was fully convinced of Egerton's truth and 
 innocence; yet quite aware that his explanation 
 might not prove so satisfactory to Mr. Dinsmore. 
 
 " Oh, papa, papa! " she murmured, as she paced 
 restlessly to and fro, " how can I obey if you bid 
 me give him up? And yet I must. I know it will 
 be my duty, and that I must." 
 
 " What a color you hab in your cheeks, darlin'! 
 an' how your eyes do shine. I'se 'fraid you's 
 gettin' a fever," said Chloe, with an anxious, 
 troubled gaze into her young lady's face, as she 
 came in to dress her for the evening. 
 
 " Oh, no, mammy, I am perfectly well," Elsie
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 231 
 
 answered with a slight laugh. Then seating her- 
 self before the glass, " Now do your best," she 
 said gayly, " for we are to have company to tea. 
 I doubt if you can guess whom? " 
 
 " Den 'spose my pet saves her ole mammy de 
 trouble. 'Taint massa, for sure?" 
 
 "No, not quite so welcome a guest; but one 
 you'll be delighted to see. Mr. Travilla." 
 
 " Ki, darlin'! he not here?" 
 
 "Yes, he came this morning. Ah! I knew 
 you'd be delighted." 
 
 Elsie knew that it would require the very 
 strongest proof to convince her father of the 
 truth of Mr. Egerton's story, but hoped to find 
 Mr. Travilla much more ready to give it credence. 
 She was proportionably disappointed when, on 
 hearing it from her, he scouted it as utterly un- 
 worthy of belief, or even examination. 
 
 " No, my child," he said, " the man's face is in- 
 delibly impressed upon my memory, and I can 
 not be mistaken in his identity." 
 
 Elsie's face flushed crimson, and indignant 
 tears sprang to her eyes and trembled in her voice 
 as she answered, " I never knew you so uncharit- 
 able before, sir. I could not have believed it of 
 my kind-hearted, generous old friend." 
 
 He gave her a very troubled, anxious look, as 
 he replied, " Why should you take it so to heart, 
 Elsie? Surely this man is nothing to you." 
 
 " He is- to be some day, if papa will permit," 
 she murmured, turning away her blushing face 
 from his gaze. 
 
 Mr. Travilla uttered a groan, made two or 
 three rapid turns across the room, and coming
 
 232 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 back to her side, laid his hand in an affectionate, 
 fatherly manner upon her shoulder. 
 
 "My dear," he said with emotion, "I don't 
 know when I have heard anything that distressed 
 me so much; or that could give such pain and dis- 
 tress to your doting father." 
 
 " Mr. Travilla, you will not, you cannot be so 
 unkind, so cruel, as to try to persuade papa to 
 think as you do of of Mr. Egerton? " 
 
 Her tone was half indignant, half imploring, 
 and her eyes were lifted pleadingly to his face. 
 
 " My poor child," he said, " I could not be so 
 cruel to you as to leave him in ignorance of any 
 of the facts; but I shall not attempt to bias his 
 judgment; nor would it avail if I did. Your 
 father is an independent thinker, and will make 
 up his mind for himself." 
 
 " And against poor Bromly," thought Elsie, 
 with an emotion of anguish, and something akin 
 to rebellion rising in her heart. 
 
 Mr. Travilla read it all in her speaking coun- 
 tenance. " Do not fear your father's decision, my 
 little friend," he said, sitting down beside her 
 again, " he is very just, and you are as the apple 
 of his eye. He will sift the matter thoroughly, 
 and decide as he shall deem best for your happi- 
 ness. Can you not trust his wisdom and his 
 love? " 
 
 " I know he loves me very dearly, Mr. Travilla, 
 but he is only human, and may make a mis- 
 take." 
 
 " Then try to leave it all in the hands of your 
 heavenly Father, who cannot err, who is infinitt 
 in wisdom, power, and in His love for you."
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 233 
 
 " I will try," she said with a quivering lip. 
 " Now please talk to me of something else. Tell 
 me of that young man. Did you say he shot 
 himself ?" 
 
 "Young Beresford, my friend's son? No, he 
 was prevented." And he went on to tell of Ru- 
 dolph's horror and remorse on account of that 
 rash act, and of the excesses that led to it; also 
 of the tremhling hope his parents and friends 
 were beginning to indulge that he was now truly 
 penitent, and, clothed in his right mind, was 
 sitting at the Saviour's feet. 
 
 Elsie listened with interest. They had had 
 the parlor to themselves for an hour or more, 
 Miss Stanhope having received an unexpected 
 summons to the bedside of a sick neighbor. 
 
 She was with them at tea, and during most of 
 the evening, but left them alone together for a 
 moment just before Mr. Travilla took his leave, 
 and he seized the opportunity to say to Elsie that 
 he thought she ought to refrain from further 
 intercourse with Egerton till she should learn her 
 father's will in regard to the matter. 
 
 " I cannot promise I will think of it," she 
 said with a look of distress. 
 
 " You write frequently to your papa? " 
 
 " Every day." 
 
 " I know you would not wish to deceive him in 
 the least. Will you tell him what I conceive to 
 be the facts in regard to Mr. Egerton? or 
 shall I?" 
 
 " I cannot, oh, I cannot! " she murmured, turn- 
 ing away her face. 
 
 " Then I shall spare you the painful task, by
 
 234 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 doing it myself, iny poor child. I shall write 
 to-night." 
 
 She was silent, but he could see the tumultuous 
 heaving of her breast, and the tears glistening on 
 the heavy drooping lashes that swept her pale 
 cheek. His heart bled for her, while his indig- 
 nation waxed hot against the hypocritical scoun- 
 drel who, he feared, had succeeded only too well 
 in wrecking her happiness. 
 
 She had described to him Egerton's character 
 as he had made it appear to her, telling of their 
 conversations on religious subjects, his supposed 
 conversion, etc., etc.; thus unintentionally en- 
 abling Travilla to see clearly through the man's 
 base designs. He silently resolved to stay in 
 Lansdale and watch over her until her father's 
 arrival. 
 
 " You ride out daily? " he inquired. 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 " May I be your escort to-morrow? " 
 
 She cast down her eyes, which she had lifted to 
 his face for an instant, blushing painfully. It 
 seemed an effort for her to reply, and the words 
 came slowly, and with hesitation. " I should 
 be glad to have you, sir; you know I have always 
 valued your society, but Mr. Egerton always 
 goes with us Lottie King and me of late; and 
 and I can hardly supose either of you would 
 now find the company of the other agreeable." 
 
 " No, Elsie; but what do you think your father 
 would wish? " 
 
 " I know he would be glad to have me under 
 your care, and if you don't mind the unpleasant- 
 ness."
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 235 
 
 " My dear, I would cheerfully endure far more 
 than that, to watch over your father's child. 
 You will not let this unhappy circumstance turn 
 you against your old friend? I could hardly 
 bear that, little Elsie." And he drew her toward 
 him caressingly. 
 
 " Oh, no, no! I don't think anything could do 
 that; you've always been so good to me almost a 
 second father." 
 
 He released her hand with a slight involuntary 
 sigh, as at that instant Miss Stanhope re-entered 
 the room. The two were standing by the piano, 
 Mr. Travilla having risen from one of the cush- 
 ioned chairs to draw near to Elsie while talking to 
 her. Miss Stanhope flew to the chair, caught up 
 the cushion, shook it, laid it down again, and with 
 two or three little loving pats restored it to its 
 normal condition of perfect roundness. Mr. Tra- 
 villa watched her with a surprised, puzzled look. 
 
 "Have I done any mischief, Elsie?" he asked 
 in an undertone. 
 
 " Oh, no! " she answered with a faint smile, 
 "it's only auntie's way." 
 
 Their visitor had gone, and Elsie turned to her 
 aunt to say good-night. 
 
 " Something is wrong with you, child; can't 
 you tell the trouble to your old auntie, and let 
 her try to comfort you? " Miss Stanhope asked, 
 putting an arm about the slender waist, and scan- 
 ning the sweet face, usually so bright and rosy, 
 now so pale and agitated, with a look of keen but 
 loving scrutiny. 
 
 Then, in broken words, and with many a litle 
 half-sobbing sigh and one or two scalding tears,
 
 S36 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 hastily brushed away, Elsie told the whole pain- 
 ful story, secure of warm sympathy from the kind 
 heart to which she was so tenderly folded. 
 
 Miss Stanhope believed in Bromly Egerton al- 
 most as firmly as Elsie herself; what comfort 
 there was in that! She believed too in the in- 
 spired assurances that " all things work together 
 for good to them that love God," and that He is 
 the hearer and answerer of prayer. She re- 
 minded her niece of them; bade her cast her bur- 
 den on the Lord and leave it there, and cheered 
 her with the hope that Bromly would be able to 
 prove to her father that Mr. Travilla was entirely 
 mistaken.
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 My heart has been like summer skies, 
 When they are fair to view ; 
 But there never yet were hearts or skies 
 Clouds might not wander through. 
 
 MRS. L. P. SMITH. 
 
 WALTEB DINSMOEE was doing well at college, 
 studying hard, and keeping himself out of bad 
 company. In this last he might not have been so 
 successful but for his brother's assistance; for, 
 though choosing his own associates from among 
 the dissolute and vile, Arthur resolutely exerted 
 himself to preserve this young brother from such 
 contamination. " I've enough sins of my own to 
 answer for, Wai," he would say, sometimes almost 
 fiercely, " and I won't have any of yours added to 
 '"em; nobody shall say I led you into bad company, 
 or initiated you into my own evil courses." 
 
 For months Arthur's spirits had been very 
 variable, his frequent fits of gloom, alternating 
 with unnatural gayety, exciting Walter's wonder 
 and sympathy. 
 
 *' I cannot imagine what ails him," he said to 
 himself again and again; for Arthur utterly re- 
 fused to tell him the secret of his despondency. 
 
 It had been almost constant since the receipt 
 of Egerton's last epistle, and Walter was debat- 
 ing in his own mind whether he ought not to 
 speak of it in his next letter to their mother, when
 
 238 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 One night he was wakened by a sudden blow front 
 Arthur's hand, and started up to find him rolling 
 and tbssing, throwing his arms about, and mut- 
 tering incoherently in the delirium of fever. 
 
 It was the beginning of a very serious illness. 
 It was pronounced such by the physician called in 
 by Walter at an early hour the next morning, and 
 the boy sat down with a heavy heart to write the 
 sad tidings to his parents. 
 
 While doing so he was startled by hearing 
 Arthur pronounce Elsie's name in connection 
 with words that seemed to imply that some dan- 
 ger threatened her. He rose and went to the 
 bedside, asking, "What's wrong with Elsie, 
 Art?" 
 
 " I say, Tom Jackson, she'll never take you. 
 Horace won't consent." 
 
 " I should think not, indeed! " muttered Wal- 
 ter. Then leaning over his brother, " Art, I say, 
 Art! what is it all about? Has Tom Jackson 
 gone to Lansdale? " 
 
 No answer, save an inarticulate murmur that 
 might be either assent or dissent. 
 
 The doctor had promised to send a nurse and, 
 as Walter now glanced about the room, the 
 thought occurred to him that it would seem very 
 disorderly to the woman. Arthur's clothes lay 
 in a heap over the back of a chair, just as he had 
 thrown them down on retiring. 
 
 "I can at least hang these in the closet/' 
 thought Walter, picking up the jacket. 
 
 A letter fell from the pocket upon the floor, 
 
 "Jackson's handwriting, I declare!" he ex- 
 claimed, with a start of surprise, as he stooped to
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 233 
 
 pick it up. It was without an envelope, written 
 in a bold, legible hand, and unintentionally he 
 read the date, "Lansdale, Ohio, Aug. 185--," 
 and farther down the page some parts of sen- 
 tences connected with the " D family " 
 
 . . . "can't help themselves" . . . "the girl 
 loves me and believes in me." 
 
 He glanced at the bed. Arthur's eyes were 
 closed. He looked down at the letter again; there 
 was the signature " T. J., alias B. E." 
 
 " It's a conspiracy; there's mischief brewing, 
 and I believe I ought to read it," he muttered; 
 then, turning his back toward the bed, perused 
 every word of it with close attention. 
 
 It was sufficient to give him a clear insight into 
 the whole affair. Elsie's letters had of late 
 spoken quite frequently of Mr. Bromly Egerton, 
 and so he was the " T. J., alias B. E." of this 
 epistle, the Tom Jackson who had been the ruin 
 of Arthur. 
 
 " The wretch! the sneaking, hypocritical scoun- 
 drel! " muttered Walter between his teeth, and 
 glancing again at the bed, though the epithet was 
 meant to apply to Jackson and not to Arthur. 
 " What can I do to circumvent him? Write to 
 Horace, of course, and warn him of Elsie's dan- 
 ger." And though usually vacillating and infirm 
 of purpose, on this occasion Walter showed him- 
 self both prompt and decided. The next mail 
 carried the news of his discovery to Elsie's natural 
 protector, her father, who with Rose, the Alli- 
 son family, and little Horace, was still at Cape 
 May. 
 
 This letter and the three from Lansdale ward
 
 240 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 handed Mr. Dinsmore together. He opened 
 Elsie's first. The contents puzzled, surprised, and 
 alarmed him. They were merely a few hastily 
 written lines of touching entreaty that he would 
 not be angry, but would please forgive her for giv- 
 ing her heart to one of whom he knew nothing, 
 and daring to let him speak to her of love; and 
 that he would not believe anything against him 
 until he had heard his defence. 
 
 With a murmured " My poor darling! you have 
 been too long away from your father," Mr. Dins- 
 more laid it down and opened the one directed in 
 a strange hand; rightly supposing it to come from 
 the person to whom she alluded. 
 
 Egerton spoke in glowing terms of his admira- 
 tion for Elsie's character and personal charms, 
 and the ardent love with which they had inspired 
 him, and modestly of his own merits. Ignoring 
 all knowledge of her fortune, he said that he had 
 none, but was engaged in a flourishing business 
 which would enable him to support her in com- 
 fort and to surround her with most of the elegan- 
 cies and luxuries of life to which she had been 
 accustomed. Lastly he alluded in a very pious 
 strain to the deep debt of gratitude he owed her 
 as the one who had been the means of his hopeful 
 conversion; said she had acknowledged that she 
 returned his affection, and earnestly begged for 
 the gift of her hand. 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore gave this missive an atten- 
 tive perusal, laid it aside, and opened Mr. Tra- 
 villa's. 
 
 Eose was in the room, putting little Horace to 
 bed. She had heard his little prayer, given him
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 241 
 
 his good-night kiss, and now the child ran to his 
 father to claim the same from him. 
 
 It was given mechanically, and Mr. Dinsmore 
 returned to his letter. The child lingered a mo- 
 ment, gazing earnestly into his father's face, 
 troubled by its paleness and the frown on his 
 brow. 
 
 " Papa," he said softly, leaning with confiding 
 affection upon his knee, " dear papa, are you 
 angry with me? have I been a naughty boy, to- 
 day?" 
 
 " No, son; but I am reading; don't disturb me 
 now." 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore's hand rested caressingly on the 
 curly head for an instant and the boy turned away 
 satisfied. But Rose was not. Coming to her 
 husband's side the next moment, and laying her 
 hand affectionately on his shoulder, " "What is it, 
 dear?" she asked, "has anything gone wrong 
 with our darling, or at home? " 
 
 " Trouble for her, I fear, Rose. Read these," 
 he answered with emotion, putting Elsie's, Eger- 
 ton's, and Tra villa's letters into her hands, then 
 opening Walter's. 
 
 " Travilla is right! the man is an unmitigated 
 scoundrel! " he cried, starting up with great ex- 
 citement. "Rose, I must be off by the next 
 train; it leaves in half an hour. I shall go alone 
 and take only a portmanteau with me. Can it be 
 got ready in season? " 
 
 " Yes, dear, I will pack it at once myself. But 
 what is wrong? "Where are you going? and how 
 long will you be away?" 
 
 " To my brother's first Arthur is seriously ill.
 
 242 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. f 
 
 and I must get hold of evidence that Walter can 1 
 supply then on to Lansdale with all speed to 
 rescue Elsie from the wiles of a gambling, swin- 
 dling, hypocritical, fortune-hunting rascal! " 
 
 At a very early hour of the next morning, Wal- 
 ter Dinsmore was roused from his slumbers by 
 a knock at his door. 
 
 "Who's there?" he asked, starting up in 
 bed. 
 
 " I, Walter," answered a well-known voice, and 
 with a joyful exclamation he sprang to the door, 
 and opened it. 
 
 " Horace! how glad I am to see you! I hardly 
 dared hope you could get here so soon." 
 
 " Your news was of the sort to hasten a man's 
 movements," returned Mr. Dinsmore, holding the 
 lad's hand in a warm brotherly grasp. " How are 
 you? and how's Arthur now? * ; 
 
 "About the same. Hark! you may hear him 
 moaning and muttering. This is our study. I 
 have had that cot-bed brought in here, and given 
 up the bedroom to him and the nurse; though I'm 
 with him a good deal too." 
 
 " You have a good nurse, and the best medical 
 advice?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " You must see that he has every comfort, Wal- 
 ter; let no expense be spared, nothing left un- 
 done that may alleviate his sufferings or assist his 
 recovery. What is the phvsician's opinion of the 
 case? " 
 
 " He is not very communicative to me; may be 
 more so to you. You'll stay and see him when 
 he calls, won't you? "
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 243 
 
 " What time? I must be off again by the first 
 train. I want to reach Lansdale to-morrow." 
 
 " It will give you time to do that. He calls 
 early." 
 
 " Now take me to Arthur; and then I must see 
 that letter, and hear all you have to tell me in re- 
 gard to that matter." 
 
 "What does Elsie say?" asked Walter, with 
 intense interest; " do you think she cares for 
 him?" 
 
 "I'm afraid she does," and Mr. Dinsmore 
 shook his head sadly. 
 
 " Oh, dear! but you won't allow " 
 
 " Certainly not; 'twould be to entail upon her a 
 life of misery." 
 
 " It's her fortune he's after, that's evident, and 
 indeed I would hurry to Lansdale, if I were you, 
 lest they might take it into their heads to elope. 
 Such a shame as it would be for him to get her 
 the dear, sweet darling! " 
 
 " I have no fear that Elsie could ever be so lost 
 to her sense of filial duty; nor, I am sure, have 
 you, Walter," answered Mr. Dinsmore gravely. 
 
 "No, Horace; and it's the greatest relief and 
 comfort to me just now to know how truly obe- 
 dient and affectionate she is to you." 
 
 Horace Dinsmore omitted nothing that he 
 could do to add to the comfort of his brothers, 
 saw the physician and learned from him that he 
 had good hopes of a naturally vigorous constitu- 
 tion bringing Arthur safely through the attack 
 from which he was suffering, examined the evi- 
 dence Walter was able to furnish that Bromly 
 Egerton and Tom Jackson were one and the same
 
 244 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 a man in whom every vice abounded found 
 time to show an interest in Walter's studies and 
 pastimes, and was ready to leave by the train of 
 which he had spoken. 
 
 Jackson had not been wary enough to disguise 
 his hand in either the letter that had fallen from 
 Arthur's pocket,, or the one written to Mr. Dins- 
 more, and a careful comparison of the two had 
 proved conclusively that they were the work of 
 the same person. The broken sentences that oc- 
 casionally fell from Arthur's lips in his delirious 
 ravings furnished another proof not less strong. 
 Also Walter had managed to secure an excellent 
 photograph of Jackson, which Mr. Dinsmore 
 carried with him, safely bestowed in the breast- 
 pocket of his coat. He had studied it attentively 
 and felt sure he should be able instantly to rec- 
 ognize the original. 
 
 Bromly Egerton lay awake most of the night 
 following his passage at arms with Mr. Travilla, 
 considering the situation, and how he would be 
 most likely to secure the coveted prize. He re- 
 membered perfectly well all that Arthur Dins- 
 more had said about the difficulty of deceiving or 
 outwitting his brother, and the impossibility of 
 persuading Elsie to disobedience. Of the latter, 
 he had had convincing proof that day, in her firm 
 refusal to engage herself to him without first ob- 
 taining her father's consent. The conclusion he 
 came to was, that should he remain inactive until 
 Mr. Dinsmore's arrival, his chances of success 
 were exceedingly small; in fact that his only hope 
 lay in running away with Elsie, and afterwards 
 persuading her into a clandestine marriage.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 245 
 
 Their ride was to be taken shortly after an 
 early breakfast, there being a sort of tacit under- 
 standing that he was to accompany the young 
 ladies; but before Elsie had left her room, Chloe 
 came up with a message. " Marse Egerton in de 
 parlor, darlin', axin could he see my young missis 
 for five minutes, just now/' 
 
 Elsie went down at once. Her visitor stood 
 with his back toward the door, apparently intently 
 studying the pattern of her great-great-grand- 
 mother's sampler, but turning instantly at the 
 sound of the light, quick footstep, came eagerly 
 toward her with outstretched hand. 
 
 " Excuse this early call, dearest, but ah, how 
 lovely you are looking this morning! " and bend- 
 ing his head he drew her toward him. 
 
 But she stepped back, avoiding the intended 
 caress, while a crimson tide rushed over the 
 fair face and neck, and her eyes sought the 
 carpet. 
 
 " We are not engaged, Mr. Egerton; cannot be 
 till papa has given consent." 
 
 " I beg ten thousand pardons," he said, color- 
 ing violently in his turn, and feeling his hopes 
 grow fainter. 
 
 " Will you not take a seat? " she asked, gently 
 withdrawing her hand from his. 
 
 " Thank you, no; I have but a moment to stay. 
 My errand was to ask if we could not so arrange 
 it as, for once at least, to have our ride alone to- 
 gether? Miss Lottie is a very nice girl, but I 
 would give much to have my darling all to myself 
 to-day." 
 
 " I would like it much too, very much, but pap*
 
 246 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 bade me always have a lady friend with me; and 
 and besides," she added with hesitation, and 
 blushing more deeply than before, " papa's friend, 
 Mr. Travilla, is to go with us. I I have prom- 
 ised that he shall be my escort to-day/' 
 
 Egerton was furious, and had much ado to con- 
 ceal the fact; indeed, came very near uttering a 
 horrible oath, and thus forever ruining his hopes. 
 He bit his lips and kept silent, but Elsie saw that 
 he was angry. 
 
 " Do not be offended or hurt," she said; " do 
 not suppose that I followed my own inclination in 
 consenting to such an arrangement. No, I only 
 acted from a sense of dutj r ; knowing that it was 
 what papa would wish." 
 
 "And you would put his wishes before mine? 
 Love him best, I presume?" 
 
 " He is my father, and entitled to my obedi- 
 ence, whether present or absent." 
 
 " But what very strict ideas you must have on 
 that subject! do you really think it your duty to 
 obey his wishes as well as his command? " 
 
 " I do; that is the kind of obedience he has 
 taught me, that the Bible teaches, and that my 
 love for him would dictate. I love my father 
 very dearly, Mr. Egerton." 
 
 " I should think so, indeed; but you must par- 
 don me if at present I am far more concerned 
 about your love for me," he said, with a forced 
 laugh. "As for this Travilla, I can hardly be 
 expected to feel any great cordiality toward him 
 after his attack upon me yesterday; and I am 
 free to confess that it would not cause me great 
 grief to learn that some sudden illness or acei-
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 247 
 
 Sent had occurred to prevent his spoiling our ride 
 to-day." 
 
 " Your feelings are perfectly natural; but, be- 
 lieve me, Mr. Travilla has the kindest of hearts, 
 and when he learns his mistake will be most anx- 
 ious to do all in his power to make amends for it. 
 Will you stay and take breakfast with us? " For 
 at that instant the bell rang. 
 
 " No, thank you/' he said, moving toward the 
 door. "But promise me, Elsie, that I shall be 
 your escort after this until your father comes. 
 Surely love may claim so small a concession from 
 duty." 
 
 She could not resist his persuasive look and 
 tone, but with a smile and a blush gave the 
 promise for which he pleaded. 
 
 Procuring as fine a horse as his landlord could 
 furnish, Mr. Travilla rode to Miss Stanhope's, 
 and alighting at the gate, walked up to the 
 house. 
 
 He found its mistress on the front porch, pick- 
 ing dead leaves from her vines. She had 
 mounted a step ladder to reach some that other- 
 wise were too high up for her small stature. 
 Turning at the sound of his approach, " Good- 
 morning, sir," she said. " You see I'm like the 
 sycamore tree that climbed into Zaccheus. 
 Shortness is inconvenient at times. My, what a 
 jar! " as she came down rather hard, missing the 
 last step " I feel it from the crown of my foot to 
 the sole of my head. Here, Simon, take away this 
 ladder-step; the next time I want it I think I'll 
 do without; I'm growing so old in my clumsy age. 
 Walk in and take a seat, Mr. Torville. Or shall
 
 248 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 we sit here? It's pleasanter than indoors I 
 think/' 
 
 " I agree with you," he said, accepting her invi- 
 tation with a smile at the oddity of her address. 
 " You have a fine view here." 
 
 They sat there conversing for some time be- 
 fore Elsie made her appearance, Mr. Travilla both 
 charmed and amused with his companion, and she 
 liking him better every moment. When Elsie 
 did come down at last, looking wondrous sweet 
 and fair in a pretty, coquettish riding hat and 
 habit, her aunt informed her that she had been 
 urging " Mr. Vanilla " to come and make his 
 home with them while in town, and that he had 
 consented to let her send Simon at once for his 
 trunk. 
 
 "If it will be agreeable to my little friend to 
 have me here?" Mr. Travilla said, taking her 
 hand in his with the affectionate, fatherly man- 
 ner she had always liked so much in him. 
 
 Her face flushed slightly, but she answered 
 without an instant's hesitation that she hoped ha 
 would come. 
 
 The horses were already at the gate, Egerton 
 was seen crossing the street, and Lottie came trip- 
 ping in at a side entrance. She had heard a good 
 deal of Mr. Travilla from Elsie, and seemed 
 pleased to make his acquaintance. 
 
 Egerton came in, he and Mr. Travilla ex- 
 changed the coldest and most distant of saluta- 
 tions, and the party set off; Mr. Travilla riding by 
 Elsie's side, Egerton and Lottie following a little 
 in their rear. 
 
 Finding it almost a necessity to devote him-
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 249 
 
 self to Mies King for the time being, Egerton 
 took a sudden resolution to make a partial con- 
 fidante of her, hoping thus to secure a powerful 
 ally. He told her of the state of affairs between 
 Elsie and himself, of Mr. Travilla's " attack upon 
 him;" how " utterly mistaken " it was, and how- 
 he presumed " the mistake " had occurred; giv- 
 ing the story he had told Elsie of the cousin who 
 bore so strong a likeness to him, and so bad a 
 character. He professed the most ardent, de- 
 voted affection for Elsie, and the most torturing 
 fears lest her father, crediting him with his 
 cousin's vices, should forbid the match and crush 
 all his hopes. 
 
 The warm-hearted, innocent girl believed every 
 word, and rushing into her friend's room on their 
 return, threw her arms about her, and hugging 
 her close, told her she knew all, was so, so sorry 
 for her, and for poor Egerton; and begged her not 
 to allow anything to make her give him up and 
 break his heart. 
 
 Elsie returned the embrace, shed a few tears, 
 but answered not a word. 
 
 "You do believe in him? and won't give him 
 up; will you? " persisted Lottie. 
 
 " I do believe in him, and will not give him up 
 unless unless papa commands it," Elsie an- 
 swered in a choking voice. 
 
 " I wouldn't for that! " cried Lottie. 
 
 " ' Children, obey your parents,' " repeated her 
 friend, tears filling the soft brown eyes, and 
 glistening on the drooping lashes. " It is God's 
 command." 
 
 " But you are not a child any longer."
 
 250 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 " I am papa's child; I always shall be. Oh, it 
 would break my heart if ever he should disowii 
 me and say, ' You are no longer my child! ' ' 
 
 " How you do love him! " 
 
 "Better than my life!" 
 
 Mr. Travilla was already established at Miss 
 Stanhope's, and very glad to be there, that he 
 might keep the more careful and constant watch 
 and ward over his "little friend." Thoroughly 
 convinced of the vileness of the wretch who had 
 won her unsuspicious heart, he could scarce brook 
 the thought of leaving her alone with him, or of 
 seeing him draw close to her side, touch her hand. 
 or look into the soft, sweet eyes so full of purity 
 and innocence. Yet these things no one but her 
 father might forbid, and Mr. Travilla would not 
 force his companionship upon Elsie when he saw 
 cr felt that it was distasteful to her. The lovers 
 were frequently left to themselves in the parlor 
 or upon the porch, though the friendly guardian, 
 dreading he hardly knew what, took care always 
 to be within call. 
 
 Elsie longed for, yet dreaded her father's com- 
 ing. She knew he would not delay one moment 
 longer than necessary after receiving their letters, 
 yet he reached Lansdale almost a day sooner 
 than she expected him. 
 
 Sitting alone in her room, she heard his voice 
 and step in the hall below. She flew down to 
 meet him. 
 
 " Oh, papa, dear, dear papa! " 
 
 " My darling, precious child! " And her arms 
 were about his neck, his straining her to his heart. 
 The next moment she lifted her face, and her
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 25t 
 
 eyes sought his with a wistful, pleading, question 
 ing look. He drew her into the sitting-room, ank 
 Miss Stanhope closed the door, leaving them 
 alone. 
 
 " My darling," he said, " you must give him 
 up; he is utterly unworthy of you." 
 
 " Oh, papa! would you break my heart?" 
 
 " My precious one, I would save you from a life 
 of misery." 
 
 "Ah, papa! you would never say that if you 
 knew how how I love him," she murmured, a 
 deep blush suffusing her face. 
 
 "" Hush ! it horrifies me to hear you speak so of 
 so vile a wretch, a drinking, swearing gambler, 
 swindler, and rake; for I have learned that he is 
 all these." 
 
 " Papa, it is not true! I will not hear such! 
 things said of him, even by you! " she cried, the 
 hot blood dyeing her face and neck, and the soft 
 eyes filling with indignant tears. 
 
 He put his finger upon her lips. " My daugh- 
 ter forgets to whom she is speaking," he said with 
 something of the old sternness, though there was 
 tender pity also in his tones. 
 
 "Oh, papa, I am so wretched!" she sobbed, 
 hiding her face on his breast. " Oh, don't believe 
 what they say; it isn't, it can't be true." 
 
 He caressed her silently, then taking the pho- 
 tograph from his pocket, asked, " Do you know 
 that face?" 
 
 "Yes, it is his." 
 
 <e I knew it, and it is also the face of the man 
 whose character I have just described." 
 
 " Oh, no, papa! " and with breathless eagerness
 
 332 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 she repeated the story with which Egerton had 
 swept away all her doubts. She read incredulity 
 in her father's face. " You do not believe it, 
 papa?" 
 
 "No, my child., no more than I do black is 
 white. See here! " and he produced Egerton's 
 letter to him., and the one to Arthur, made her 
 read and compare them, and gave her the further 
 proofs Walter had furnished. 
 
 She grew deathly pale, but was no more ready 
 to be convinced than he. " Oh, papa, there must 
 be some dreadful mistake! I cannot believe he 
 could be guilty of such things. The cousin has 
 been personating him, has forged that letter, per- 
 haps; and the photograph may be his also." 
 
 " You are not using your good common-sense, 
 Elsie; the proof is very full and clear to my mind. 
 The man is a fortune-hunter, seeking your wealth, 
 not you; a scoundrel whose vices should shut him 
 out of all decent society. I can hardly endure 
 the thought that he has ever known you, or dared 
 to address a word to you, and it must never be 
 again." 
 
 "Must I give him up?" she asked with pale, 
 quivering lips. 
 
 " You must, my daughter; at once and for 
 ever." 
 
 A look of anguish swept over her face, then she 
 started, flushed, and trembled, as a voice and step 
 were heard on the porch without. 
 
 "It is he?" her father said inquiringly, and 
 her look answered. " Yes." 
 
 He rose to his feet, for they had been sitting 
 side by side on the sofa while they talked. She
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 25? 
 
 sprang up also, and clinging to his arm, looked 
 beseechingly into his face, pleading in a hoarse 
 whisper, " Papa, you will let me see him, speak to 
 him once more? just a few words in your 
 presence oh, papa! " 
 
 " No, my darling, no; his touch, his breath, are 
 contamination; his very look is pollution, and 
 shall never rest upon you again if I can prevent it. 
 Eemember you are never to hold any comunica- 
 tion with him again by word, letter, or in any 
 other way; I positively forbid it; you must never 
 look at him, or intentionally allow him a sight of 
 your face. I must go now, and send him away." 
 He held her to his heart as he spoke; his tone was 
 affectionate, but very firm, and decided; he kissed 
 her tenderly, two or three times, placed her in an 
 easy-chair, saying, " Stay here till I come to you,'* 
 and left the room. 
 
 For a moment she lay back against the cushions 
 like one stunned by a heavy blow; then, roused 
 by the sound of the voices of the two she loved 
 best on earth, started and leaned forward in a 
 listening attitude, straining her ear to catch their 
 words. Few of them reached her, but her 
 father's tones were cold and haughty, Egerton's 
 at first persuasive, then loud, angry, and 
 defiant. 
 
 He was gone, she had heard the last echo of his 
 departing footsteps, and again her father bent 
 over her, his face full of tender pity. She lifted 
 her sad face to his, with the very look that had 
 haunted him for years, that he could never recall 
 without a pang of regret and remorse that 
 yleading, mournful gaze with which she had
 
 254 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD 
 
 parted from him in the time of their estrange- 
 ment. 
 
 It almost unmanned him now, almost broke his 
 heart. " Don't, my darling, don't look at me so/* 
 he said in low, moved tones, taking her cold 
 hands in his. "You don't know, precious one, 
 how willingly your father would bear all this pain 
 for you if he could." 
 
 She threw herself upon his breast, and folding 
 her close to his heart, he caressed her with ex- 
 ceeding tenderness, calling her by every fond, 
 endearing name. 
 
 For many minutes she received it all passively, 
 then suddenly raising her head, she returned one 
 passionate embrace, withdrew herself from his 
 arms, and hurried from the room. 
 
 He let her go unquestioned; he knew she went 
 to seek comfort and support from One nearer and 
 dearer, and better able to give it than himself. 
 He rose and walked the room with a sad and 
 troubled countenance, and a heart filled with 
 grief for his child, with anger and indignation 
 toward the wretch who had wrecked her happi- 
 ness. 
 
 (Miss Stanhope opened the door and looked in. 
 
 " You have had no dinner, Horace. It will be 
 ready in a few moments." 
 
 " Thank you, aunt. I will go up to my room 
 first and try to get rid of some of the dust and 
 dirt I have brought with me." 
 
 " Stay a moment, nephew. I am sorely 
 troubled for the child. You don't approve of her 
 choice?"
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 255 
 
 " Very far from it. I have forbidden tKe man 1 
 ever to come near her again." 
 
 " But you won't be hard with her, poor dear? " 
 
 " Hard with her, Aunt Wealthy? hard and cruel 
 to my darling whom I love better than my life? 
 I trust not; but it would be the height of cruelty 
 to allow this thing to go on. The man is a vile 
 wretch guilty of almost every vice, and seeking my 
 child for her wealth, not for herself. I have for- 
 bidden her to see or ever to hold the slightest 
 communication with him again." 
 
 " Well, it is quite right if your opinion of him 
 is correct; and I hardly think she is likely to re- 
 fuse submission." 
 
 " I have brought up my daughter to habits of 
 strict, unquestioning obedience, Aunt Wealthy/' 
 he said, " and I think they will stand her in good 
 stead now. I have no fear that she will rebel." 
 
 A half hour with her best Friend had done 
 much to soothe and calm our sweet Elsie; she had 
 cast her burden on the Lord and He sustained 
 her. She knew that no trial could come to her 
 without His will, that He had permitted this foi 
 her good, that in His own good time and way He 
 would remove it, and she was willing to leave it all 
 with Him; for was He not all-wise, all-powerful, 
 and full of tenderest, pitying love for her? 
 
 She had great faith in the wisdom and love of 
 her earthly father also, and doubted not that he 
 was doing what he sincerely believed to be for 
 her happiness, giving her present pain only in 
 order to save her from keener and more lasting 
 distress and anguish in the future.
 
 256 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 It was well for her that she had such trust in 
 him and that their mutual love was so deep and 
 strong; well too that she was troubled with no 
 doubts of the duty of implicit obedience to pa- 
 rental authority when not opposed to the higher 
 commands of God. Her heart still clung to 
 Egerton, refusing to credit his utter unworthi- 
 ness, and she felt it a bitter trial to be thus com- 
 pletely separated from him, yet hoped that at 
 some future, and perhaps not distant day, he 
 might be able to convince her father of his mis- 
 take. 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore felt it impossible to remain long 
 away from his suffering child; after leaving the 
 table, a few moments only were spent in conver- 
 sation with his aunt and Mr. Travilla, and then 
 he sought his darling in her room. 
 
 " My poor little pet, you have been too long 
 away from your father," he said, taking her in 
 his arms again. " I shall never forgive myself for 
 allowing it. But, daughter, why was this thing 
 suffered to go on? Your letters never spoke of 
 this man in a way to lead me to suppose that he 
 was paying you serious attention; and indeed I 
 did not intend to permit that from any one yet." 
 
 " Papa, I did not deceive you intentionally, I 
 did not mean to be disobedient," she said implor- 
 ingly. " Lottie and I were almost always to- 
 gether, and I did not think of him as a lover till 
 he spoke." 
 
 "Well, dearest, I am not chiding you; your 
 father could never find it in his heart to add one 
 needless pang to what you are already suffering." 
 His tone was full of pitying tenderness.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 257 
 
 She made no answer; only hid her face on his 
 breast and wept silently. " Papa," she mur- 
 mured at length. " I I do so want to break one 
 of your rules; oh, if you would only let me, just 
 this once! " \ 
 
 " A strange request, my darling," he said, " but 
 which of them is it?" 
 
 " That when you have once decided a matter I 
 must never ask you to reconsider. Oh, papa, do, 
 do let me entreat you just this once! " 
 
 " I think it will be useless, daughter, only giv- 
 ing me the pain of refusing, and you of being re- 
 fused; but you may say on." 
 
 " Papa, it is that I may write a little note to 
 to Mr. Egerton," she said, speaking eagerly and 
 rapidJy, yet half trembling at her own temerity 
 the while, " just to tell him that I cannot do any- 
 thing against your will, and that he must not 
 come near me or try to hold any sort of inter- 
 course with me till you give consent; but that I 
 have not lost my faith in him, and if he is innocent 
 and unjustly suspected, we need not be wretched 
 and despairing; for God will surely some dayl 
 cause it to be made apparent. Oh, papa, may I 
 not? Please, please let me! I will bring it to 
 you when written, and there shall not be one word 
 in it that you do not approve." She had lifted 
 her face, and the soft, beseeching eyes were look- 
 ing pleadingly into his. 
 
 " My dearest child," he said, " it is hard to re- 
 fuse you, but I cannot allow it. There, there! do 
 not cry so bitterly; every tear I see you shed sends 
 a pang to my heart. Listen to me, daughter. 
 Believing what I do of that man, I would not for
 
 258 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD, 
 
 Ok great deal have him in possession of a single 
 line of your writing. Have you ever given him 
 one?" 
 
 " No, papa, never," she sobbed. 
 
 "Or received one from him?" 
 
 "No, sir." 
 
 " It is well." Then as if a sudden thought had 
 struck him, " Elsie, have you ever allowed him to 
 touch your lips?" he asked almost sternly. 
 
 "No, papa, not even my cheek. I would not 
 while we were not engaged; and that could not be 
 without your consent." 
 
 " I am truly thankful for that! " he exclaimed 
 in a tone of relief; "to know that he had that 
 these sweet lips had been polluted by contact 
 with his would be worse to me than the loss of 
 half my fortune." And lifting her face as he 
 spoke, he pressed his own to them again and 
 again. 
 
 But for the first time in her life she turned 
 from him as if almost loathing his caresses, and 
 struggled to release herself from the clasp of his 
 *rm. 
 
 He let her go, and hurrying to the farther side 
 ")f the room, she stood leaning against the win- 
 dow-frame, with her back toward him, shedding 
 yery bitter tears of mingled grief and anger. 
 
 But in the pauses of her sobbing a deep sigh 
 struck upon her ear. Her heart smote her at the 
 sound; still more as she glanced back at her 
 father and noted the pained expression of bis eye 
 as it met hers. In a moment she was at his side 
 again, down upon the carpet, with her head laid 
 lovingly on his knee.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 259 
 
 * Papa, I am sorry." The low, sweet voice was 
 tremulous with grief and penitence. 
 
 " My poor darling, my poor little pet! " he said, 
 passing his hand with soft, caressing movement 
 over her hair and cheek, " try to keep your love 
 for your father and your faith in his for you, how- 
 ever hard this rule may seem." 
 
 "Ah, papa, my heart would break if I lost 
 either," she sobbed. Then lifting her tear- 
 dimmed eyes with tender concern to his face, 
 which was very pale and sad, " Dear papa," she 
 said, "how tired you look! you were up all night, 
 were you not?" 
 
 " Last night and the one before it." 
 
 " That you might hasten here to take care of 
 me," she murmured in a tone of mingled regret 
 and gratitude. " Do lie down now and take a 
 nap. This couch is soft and pleasant, and I will 
 close the blinds and sit by your side to keep off 
 the flies." 
 
 He yielded to her persuasions, saying as he 
 closed his eyes, "Don't leave the room without 
 waking me." 
 
 She was still there when he woke, close at his 
 Bide and ready to greet him with an affectionate 
 look and smile, though the latter was touchingly 
 sad and there were traces of tears on her cheeks. 
 
 " How long have I slept? " he asked. 
 
 " Two hours," she answered, holding up her 
 watch, " and there is the tea-bell."
 
 CHAPTEK XVIII. 
 
 What thou bidst, 
 Unargued I obey ; so God ordained. 
 
 MILTON. 
 
 " I HOPE you don't intend to hurry this child 
 away from me, Horace? " remarked Miss Stan- 
 hope inquiringly, glancing from him to Elsie, as 
 she poured out the tea. 
 
 "I'm afraid I must, Aunt Wealthy," he an- 
 swered, taking his cup from her hand, " I can't 
 do without her any longer, and mamma and little 
 brother want her almost as badly." 
 
 " And what am I to do? " cried Miss Stanhope, 
 setting down the teapot, and dropping her hands 
 into her lap. " It just makes a baby of me to 
 think how lonely the old house will seem when 
 she's gone. You'd get her back soon, for 'tisn't 
 likely I've got long to live, if you'd only give her 
 to me, Horace." 
 
 "No, indeed, Aunt Wealthy; she's a treasure 
 I can't spare to any one. She belongs to me, and 
 I intend to keep her," turning upon his daughter 
 a proud, fond look and smile, which was answered 
 by one of sweet, confiding affection. 
 
 " Good-evening! " cried a gay, girlish voice. 
 " Mr. Dinsmore, I'd be delighted to see you, if I 
 didn't know you'd come to rob us of Elsie." 
 
 "What, you too ready to abuse me on that 
 score, Miss Lottie? " he said laughingly, as he rose
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 261 
 
 to shake hands with her. "I think I rather 
 deserve thanks for leaving her with you so long." 
 
 " Well, I suppose you do. Aunt Wealthy, papa 
 found some remarkably fine peaches in the or- 
 chard of one of his patients, and begs you will 
 accept this little basketful." 
 
 " Why, they're beautiful, Lottie! " said the old 
 lady, rising and taking the basket from her hand. 
 " You must return my best thanks to your father. 
 I'll set them on the table just so. Take off your 
 hat, child, and sit down with us. There's your 
 chair all ready to your plate, and Phillis's farmer's 
 fresh fruit-cake, to tempt you, and the cream- 
 biscuits that you are so fond of, both." 
 
 " Thank you," said Lottie, partly in acknowl- 
 edgment of the invitation, partly of Mr. Travilla's 
 attention, as he rose and gallantly handed her to 
 her seat, " I can't find it in my heart to resist so 
 many temptations." 
 
 " Shall I bring a dish for de peaches, mistis? " 
 asked Chloe, who was waiting on the table. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Oh, let us have them in that old-fashioned 
 china fruit-basket I've always admired so much, 
 Aunt Wealthy! " cried Lottie eagerly. "I don't 
 believe Elsie has seen it at all." 
 
 " No, so she hasn't; but she shall now," said 
 the old lady, hastening toward her china-closet. 
 " There, Aunt Chloe, just stand on the dish, and 
 hand down that chair from this top shelf. Or, 
 if you would, Horace, you're taller, and can reach 
 better. I'm always like the sycamore tree that 
 was little of stature, and couldn't see Zaccheua 
 till he climbed into it."
 
 262 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 "Rather a new and improved version of the 
 Bible narrative, aunt, isn't it? " asked Mr. Dins- 
 more, with an amused look, as he came toward 
 her. " And I fear I'm rather heavy to stand on 
 a dish; but will use the chair instead, if you 
 like." 
 
 "Ah! I've put the horse before the cart as 
 usual, I see;" she said, joining good-humoredly 
 in the laugh the others found it impossible to 
 suppress. " It's an old trick of my age, that in- 
 creases with my advancing youth, till I some- 
 times wonder what I'm coming to; the words will 
 tangle themselves up in the most troublesome 
 fashion; but if you know what I mean, I suppose 
 it's all the same." 
 
 " Why, Aunt "Wealthy, this is really beauti- 
 ful," said Mr. Dinsmore, stepping from the chair 
 with the basket in his hand. 
 
 " Yes, it belonged to your great-grandmother, 
 Horace, and I prize it highly on that accdunt. 
 !N"o, Aunt Chloe, I shall wipe it out and put the 
 peaches into it myself; it will take but a mo- 
 ment, and it's too precious a relic to trust to any 
 other hands than my own." 
 
 Lottie was apparently in the gayest spirits, en- 
 livening the little party with many a merry jest 
 and light, silvery laugh, enjoying the good things 
 before her, and gratifying her hostess with 
 praises of their excellence. Yet through it all 
 she was furtively watching her friend, and 
 grieved to notice the unwonted paleness of her 
 cheek, the traces of tears about her eyes, that 
 her cheerfulness was assumed, and that if she ate 
 anything it was only from a desire to please her
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 263 
 
 father, who seemed never to forget her for a mo- 
 ment, and to be a good deal troubled at her want 
 of appetite. In all these signs Lottie read disap- 
 pointment of Egerton's hopes, and of Elsie's, so 
 far as he was concerned. 
 
 " So I suppose her father has commanded her 
 to give him up," she said to herself. " Poor 
 thing! I wonder if she means to be as submissive 
 as she thought she would." 
 
 The two presently slipped away together into 
 the garden, leaving the gentlemen conversing in 
 the sitting-room, and Miss Stanhope busied with 
 some household care. 
 
 " You poor dear, I am so sorry for you! " whis- 
 pered Lottie, putting her arm about her friend. 
 " Must you really quite give him up ? " 
 
 " Papa says so," murmured Elsie, vainly strug- 
 gling to restrain her tears. 
 
 " Is it that he believes Mr. Travi-la was not 
 mistaken? " 
 
 "Yes, and and he has heard some other 
 things against him, and thinks his explanation of 
 Mr. Travilla's mistake quite absurd. Oh, Lottie, 
 he will not even allow us one parting interview 
 and says I am never to see Mr. Egerton again, or 
 hold any comunicatioa with him in any way. If 
 I should meet him in the street I am not to recog- 
 nize him; must pass him by as a perfect stranger, 
 not looking at him or permitting him to see my 
 face, if I can avoid doing so." 
 
 "And will you really submit to all that? I 
 don't believe I could be so good." 
 
 "I must; papa will always be obeyed." 
 
 " But don't you feel that it's very hard? doesn't
 
 264 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 it make you feel angry with your father and love 
 him a little less?" 
 
 " I was angry for a little while this afternoon," 
 Elsie acknowledged with a blush, " but I am sure 
 I have no right to be; I know papa is acting for 
 my good, doing just what he believes will be 
 most likely to secure my happiness. He says it 
 is to save me from a life of misery, and certainly 
 it would be that to be united to such a man as he 
 believes Mr. Egerton is." 
 
 " But you don't believe it, Elsie? " 
 
 " No, no, indeed! I have not lost my faith in 
 him yet, and I hope he may some day be able to 
 prove to papa's entire satisfaction that he is 
 really all that is good, noble, and honorable." 
 
 " That is right; hope on, hope ever." 
 
 "Ah, I don't know how we could live without 
 hope," Elsie said, smiling faintly through her 
 tears. "But I ought not to be wretched oh, 
 very far from it, with so many blessings, so many 
 to love me! Papa's love alone would brighten 
 life very much to me. And then," she added in a 
 lower tone, "'that dearer Friend that sticketh 
 closer than a brother/ and who has promised, ' I 
 ,will never leave thee nor forsake thee.' " 
 
 "And He will keep His promise, child," said 
 Aunt Wealthy, joining them in the arbor where 
 they had seated themselves. " I have proved His 
 faithfulness many times, and I know that it never 
 fails. Elsie, dear, your old auntie would save you 
 from every trial, but He is a far wiser and truer 
 friend, and will cause all things to work together 
 for your good, and never allow you to suffer one 
 unneeded pang." She softly stroke-d her niece's
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 265 
 
 gunny hair, as she spoke, and the kind old face 
 was full of pitying tenderness. 
 
 " Come back to the house now, dears," she 
 added, " I think the dew is beginning to fall, and 
 I heard my nephew asking for his daughter." 
 
 " How much longer may we hope to keep you, 
 Elsie?" Lottie asked as they wended their way 
 toward the house. 
 
 " Papa has set Monday evening for the time 
 of leaving." 
 
 " And this is Friday; so we shall have but two 
 more rides together. Oh, dear! how I shall miss 
 you when you're gone." 
 
 " And I you. I shall never forget what pleasant 
 times we have had together; Aunt Wealthy and 
 you and I. You musn't let her miss me too much, 
 Lottie." And Elsie turned an affectionate look 
 upon her aged relative. 
 
 " As if I could prevent it! But I'll do my best; 
 you may rest assured of that." 
 
 "You are dear girls, both of you," said Miss 
 Stanhope with a very perceptible tremble in her 
 voice, " and you have brightened my home won- 
 derfully; if I could only keep you! " 
 
 "Well, auntie, you're not likely to lose me al- 
 together for some time yet," returned Lottie 
 gayly, though the tears shone in her eyes. 
 
 Bromly Egerton went out from Mr. Dinsmore's 
 presence with his temper at a white teat, for he 
 had just been treated to some plain truths that 
 were far from palatable; besides which it seemed 
 evident that he had missed the prize he so coveted 
 and had made such strenuous efforts to win. 
 He had learned nothing new in regard to his own
 
 268 ELSIE'S GIELHOOD. 
 
 character, yet somehow it had never looked so 
 black as now, when seen through the spectacles 
 of an upright, honest, vice-detesting Christian 
 gentleman. He writhed at the very recollection 
 of the disgust, loathing, and contempt expressed 
 in Mr. Dinsmore's voice and countenance as well 
 as in his words. 
 
 He scarcely gave a thought to the loss of Elsie 
 herself; he had no feeling for her at all worthy 
 of the name of love; his base, selfish nature was, 
 indeed, hardly capable of such a sentiment; espe- 
 cially toward one so refined, so guileless in her 
 childlike innocence and purity that to be with 
 her gave him an uncomfortable sense of his own 
 moral inferiority. 
 
 No, the wounds under which he smarted were 
 all stabs given to his self-love and cupidity. He 
 had learned how honest men looked upon him; 
 and he had failed in the cherished expectation of 
 laying his hands upon a great fortune, which he 
 had fondly hoped to have the opportunity of 
 spending. 
 
 Eushing into the street, boiling with rage and 
 shame, he hurried onward, scarcely knowing 
 or caring whither ke went; out into the open 
 country, and on through woods and over hills he 
 tramped, nor thought of turning back till the sun 
 had set, and darkness began to creep about his 
 path. 
 
 There was light in Miss Stanhope's parlor and 
 strains of rich melody greeted his ear as he passed. 
 He turned away with a muttered imprecation, 
 crossed the street, and entered Mrs. Schilling's 
 gate. She was sitting no her doorstep, resting
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 267 
 
 after her day's work, and enjoying the cool even- 
 ing air. 
 
 " Why, la me, Mr. Egerton! is that you? " she 
 cried, starting up, and stepping aside for him to 
 pass in. " I'd really begun to think you was lost. 
 The fire's been out and everything cleared away 
 this two hours. I kep' the table a-waitin' for you 
 a right smart spell, but finally come to the con- 
 clusion that you must 'a' stayed to Miss Stan- 
 hope's or someone else, to tea." 
 
 " No, I've not had supper," he answered gruffly. 
 
 "You haint, eh? and I 'spose you're hungry, 
 too. Well, sit down, and I'll hunt up something 
 or 'nother. But I'm afraid you'll get the dyspepsy 
 eatin' so late; why, it's nigh on to ten o'clock, and 
 I was just a-thinkin' about shuttin' up and going 
 off to bed." 
 
 " Well, you'll not be troubled with me long. I 
 shall leave the place in a few days." 
 
 " Leave Lansdale, do you mean? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 "Why, what's up?" 
 
 " The time I had appropriated to rest and rec- 
 reation. Business men can't play forever." 
 
 "Well, I shouldn't wonder. And Mr. Dins- 
 more's come after his daughter, too." 
 
 " What's that got to do with it? " he muttered. 
 But she had left the room and was out of hear- 
 ing. 
 
 Before closing his eyes in sleep that night, 
 Egerton resolved to make a moving appeal to El- 
 sie herself. He would write and find some means 
 by which to get the letter into her hands. Di- 
 rectly after breakfast he sat down to his task,
 
 268 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 placing himself in a position to constantly over- 
 look Miss Stanhope's house and grounds. He 
 was hoping to get sight of Elsie, and anxious to 
 watch Mr. Dinsmore's movements. Mrs. Schil- 
 ling had informed him that " Miss Stanhope's 
 friends didn't expect to leave till sometime a 
 Monday; so she had learned from Phillis, through 
 Lenwilla Ellawea., who had been sent over for a 
 little of Phillis's light'ning, to raise some biscuits 
 for breakfast/' yet he had some fear that the in- 
 formation might prove unreliable, and Mr. Dins- 
 more slip away with his daughter that day. 
 
 That fear was presently relieved by seeing Si- 
 mon bringing out the horses for the young ladies, 
 and shortly after a livery-stable man leading up 
 two fine steeds, evidently intended for the use of 
 the gentlemen. He now laid down his pen, and 
 kept close watch for a few moments, when he was 
 rewarded by seeing the whole party come out, 
 mount, and ride away; Mr. Dinsmore beside his 
 daughter, Mr. Travilla with Lottie. Elsie, how- 
 ever, was so closely veiled that he could not so 
 much as catch a glimpse of her face. 
 
 With a muttered oath, he took up his pen again, 
 feeing more desirous than ever to outwit " that 
 haughty Southerner," jand secure the prize in 
 spite of him. 
 
 Half an hour afterward Simon, who was at 
 work gathering corn and tomatoes for dinner in 
 the garden behind the house, heard some one 
 calling softly to him from the other side of the 
 fence. Turning his head, he saw Mr. Egerton 
 standing there, motioning to him to draw near. 
 
 " Good-mornin', sah. What you want, sah ? "
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 269 
 
 inquired the lad, setting down his basket, and 
 approaching the fence that separated them. 
 
 " Do you know what this is ? " asked Egerton, 
 holding up a small glittering object. 
 
 " Yes, sah; five-dollar gold piece, sah," replied 
 the negro, bowing and chuckling. "What de 
 gentleman want dis niggah do for to am 'em? " 
 
 " To put this into Miss Dinsmore's hands," an- 
 swered Egerton, showing a letter; " into her own 
 hands, now, mind. If you do that, the five dollars 
 are yours; and if you bring me an answer, I'll 
 make it ten. But you are to manage it so that 
 no one else shall see what you do. Do you under- 
 stand?" 
 
 " Yes, sah, and I bet I do it up about right, 
 sah." 
 
 Very anxious to win the coveted reward, Si- 
 mon was careful to be on hand when the riding 
 party returned. He stationed himself near El- 
 fiie's horse. Her father assisted her to alight, and 
 as he turned to make a remark to Lottie, Simon, 
 being on the alert, managed to slip the note into 
 Elsie's hand, unperceived by Mr. Dinsmore, or 
 the others. 
 
 She gave a start of surprise, turning her eyes 
 inquiringly upon him, the rich color rushing all 
 over her fair face and neck; as he could see, even 
 through the folds of her th,ick veil. 
 
 Simon grinned broadly, as, by a nod and wink 
 toward the opposite side of the street, he indi- 
 cated whence the missive had come. 
 
 She turned and walked quickly toward the 
 house, her heart beating very fast and loud, and 
 her fingers tightly clasping the note underneath
 
 270 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 the folds of her long riding-skirt, as she held it 
 up. She hurried to her room, shut and locked the 
 door, and, throwing off her hat and veil, dropped 
 into a seat, trembling in every limb with the agi- 
 tation and excitement of her feelings. She 
 longed intently to know what he had said to her; 
 but she had never deceived or wilfully disobeyed 
 her father, and should she begin now? The temp- 
 tation was very great, and perhaps she would have 
 yielded; but Mr. Dinsmore's step came quickly 
 up the stairs, and the next moment he rapped 
 lightly on the door. 
 
 She rose and opened it, at the same time slip- 
 ping the note into her pocket. 
 
 "Why, my darling, what is the matter?" he 
 asked, looking much concerned at the sight of 
 her pale, agitated countenance. 
 
 " Oh, papa, if you would let me! if you only 
 would! " she cried, bursting into tears, and put- 
 ting her arms coaxingly about his neck. 
 
 " Let you do what, my child? " he asked, strok- 
 ing her hair. 
 
 " Eead this," she said, in a choking voice, tak- 
 ing the note from her pocket. " Oh, if you knew 
 how much I want to! Mayn't I, papa?^do, dear 
 papa, say yes." 
 
 " No, Elsie; it grieves me to deny you, but it 
 must go back unopened. Give it to me." 
 
 She put it into his hand and turned away with 
 a sob. 
 
 "How did it come into your hands?" he in- 
 quired, going to her writing-desk for an envel- 
 ope, pen and ink. 
 
 " Must I tell you, papa? " she asked, in a tone
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 271 
 
 that spoke reluctance to give the information Eei 
 required. 
 
 " Certainly." 
 
 " Simon gave it to me a few moments since." 
 
 He touched the bell, and, Chloe appearing in 
 answer, bade her take that note to the house on 
 the opposite side of the street. 
 
 " Thre is no message," he added; " it is di- 
 rected to Mr. Egerton, and you have nothing to 
 do but to hand it in at the door." 
 
 " Yes, sah." And with a sorrowful, pitying 
 glance at the wet eyes of her young mistress, the 
 faithful old creature left the room. 
 
 " My poor little daughter, you feel now that 
 your father is very cruel," Mr. Dinsmore said 
 tenderly, taking Elsie in his arms again, " but 
 some day you will thank me for all this." 
 
 She only laid her face down on his breast and 
 cried bitterly, while he soothed her with caresses 
 and words of fatherly endearment. 
 
 " Oh, papa, don't be vexed with me," she mur- 
 mured at length. " I'm trying not to be rebel- 
 lious, but it seems so like condemning him un- 
 heard." 
 
 " No, my child, it is not. I gave him the op- 
 portunity to refute the charges against him, but 
 he has no proof to bring." 
 
 " Papa, he said it would break his heart to lose 
 me," she cried with a fresh burst of grief. 
 
 " My dear child, he has no heart to break. If 
 he could get possession of your property, he would 
 care very little indeed what became of you." 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore spoke very decidedly, but, though 
 silenced, Elsie was not convinced.
 
 S72 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 Egerton, watching through the half-closed 
 blinds of his bed-room, had seen, with a chuckle 
 of delight, the success of Simon's manoeuvre, and 
 Elsie hurrying into the house; for the purpose 
 he had scarcely a doubt of secretly reading and 
 answering his note. He saw Chloe crossing the 
 street, and thought that her young mistress had 
 sent him a hasty line, perhaps to appoint the time 
 and place of a clandestine meeting; for such con- 
 fidence had he in his own powers of fascination 
 for all the fair sex, that he could not think 
 it possible she could give him up without a 
 struggle. 
 
 Lenwilla went to the door, and in his eagerness 
 to receive the message he ran out and met her 
 on the landing. What was his "disappointment 
 and chagrin at sight of the bold, masculine char- 
 acters on the outside, and only his own handwrit- 
 ing within! 
 
 " Sent back unopened! The girl must be a 
 fool!" he cried, fairly gnashing his teeth with 
 rage. " She could have managed it easily enough; 
 she had the best chance in the world, for he didn't 
 see her take it, I know." 
 
 He considered a moment, put on his hat, and, 
 walking over to Dr. King's, inquired for Miss 
 Lottie. 
 
 " Jist walk intil the parlor, sir," said Bridget, 
 " an' I'll call the young lady." 
 
 Lottie came to him presently, with her kind 
 face full of regret and sympathy. 
 
 He told his tale, produced his note, and begged 
 her to be his messenger, saying he supposed Mr. 
 Dinsmore had come upon Elsie before she had
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 273 
 
 time to read it, and he thought it hard for both 
 her and himself that she should not have the 
 chance. 
 
 " Yes/' said Lottie, " but I am very sure she 
 would not read it without her father's permission, 
 and you may depend upon it, she showed it to 
 him of her own accord." 
 
 He shook his head with an incredulous smile. 
 " Do you really think she has so little sense? Or 
 is it that you believe she too has turned against 
 me?" 
 
 " No, she has not turned against you, she be- 
 lieves in you still; nor is she wanting in sense; 
 but she is extremely conscientious about obeying 
 her father, and told me she meant to be entirely 
 submissive, whatever it cost her." 
 
 " I can hardly think you are right," he said, 
 with another of his incredulous smiles, " but even 
 supposing she was silly enough to hand my note 
 over to her father, I should like to give her an 
 opportunity to retrieve her error, so won't you 
 undertake " 
 
 " Don't ask me to carry it to her," interrupted 
 Lottie. " It would go against my conscience to 
 tempt Elsie to do violence to hers, I do assure 
 you, though I have no idea I should be success- 
 ful. So you really must excuse me." 
 
 He tried argument and persuasion by turns, 
 but Lottie stood firm in her refusal, and at length 
 he went away, evidently very angry. 
 
 Lottie spent the evening with her friend, and 
 when a fitting opportunity offered gave her an 
 account of this interview with Egerton, Elsie 
 telling her in return something of what had
 
 974 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 passed between her father and herself in regard 
 to the note. 
 
 That Egerton had desired to tempt her to dis- 
 obedience and deception did not tend to increase 
 Elsie's esteem and admiration for him, but quite 
 the reverse. 
 
 " I think he'll not prevent me from getting 
 sight of her to-day," muttered Egerton, station- 
 ing himself at the front window the next morn- 
 ing, as the hour for church drew near. 
 
 He had not been there long, when he saw Miss 
 Stanhope and Mr. Travilla, then Mr. Dinsmore 
 and Elsie, come out of the house and cross the 
 lawn. He made a hasty exit and was in the act 
 of opening Mrs. Schilling's front gate as the lat- 
 ter couple reached the one opposite. 
 
 " Put down your veil, Elsie; take my arm; and 
 don't look toward that man at all," commanded 
 her father, and she obeyed. 
 
 Egerton kept opposite to them all the way to 
 the church, but without accomplishing his object. 
 He followed them in and placed himself in a pew 
 on the other side of the aisle, and a little nearer 
 the front than Miss Stanhope's, so that, by turn- 
 ing half way round, he could look into the faces 
 of its occupants. But Elsie kept hers partly con- 
 cealed by her veil, and never once turned her eyes 
 in his direction. 
 
 She was seated next her father, who seemed to 
 watch her almost constantly not with the air 
 of a jailer, but with a sort of tender, protecting 
 care, as one keeping guard over something be- 
 longing to him, and which he esteemed very sweet
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 275 
 
 and precious, while now and then her soft eyes 
 were lifted to his for an instant with a look of 
 loving reverence. 
 
 " Poor Elsie was well watched to-day," re- 
 marked Nettie King to her sister as they walked 
 home together; " her father scarcely took his eyes 
 off her for five consecutive minutes, I should 
 think; and Mr. Egerton stared at her from the 
 time he came in till the benediction was pro- 
 nounced." 
 
 "Yes, I thought he was decidedly rude." 
 
 " Isn't Mr. Dinsmore excessively strict and ex- 
 acting? " 
 
 " Yes, I think so; yet he dotes on her, and she 
 on him. I never saw a father and daughter so 
 completely wrapped up in each other." 
 
 They were now within sight of their own home," 
 and Miss Stanhope's. 
 
 " Just look! " cried Nettie, " I do "believe Eger- 
 ton means to force himself upon their notice and 
 compel Elsie to speak to him." 
 
 He was crossing the street so as to meet them 
 face to face, just at the gate, giving them no 
 chance to avoid the rencontre. 
 
 " Good-morning, Miss Dinsmore," he said in 
 a loud, cordial tone of greeting, as they neared 
 each other. 
 
 Elsie started and tightened her grasp of her 
 father's arm, but neither looked up nor spoke. 
 
 " My daughter acknowledges no acquaintance 
 with you, sir," answered Mr. Dinsmore, haughtily, 
 and Egerton turned and strode angrily away.
 
 2?6 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 " There, Elsie, you see what he is; his behavior 
 is anything but gentlemanly," remarked her 
 father, opening the gate for her to pass in. " But 
 you need not tremble so, child; there is nothing 
 to fear."
 
 CHAPTEE XIX. 
 
 Oh, what a feeble fort's a woman's heart, 
 Betrayed by nature, and besieged by art. 
 
 FAKE'S "LovE IN THE DARK." 
 
 " DEAH child, what shall I do without you? " 
 sighed Miss Stanhope, clasping Elsie in her arms, 
 and holding her in a long, tender embrace; for 
 the time of parting had come. " Horace, will you 
 bring her to see me again? " 
 
 " Yes, aunt, if she wants to come. But don't 
 ask me to leave her again." 
 
 " Well, if you can't stay with me, or trust her 
 yourself, let Mr. Vanilla come and stand guard 
 over us both. I'd be happy, sir, at any time when 
 you can make it convenient for me to see you 
 here, with Horace and the child, or without 
 them." 
 
 " Thank you, Miss Stanhope; and mother and 
 I would be delighted to see you at Ion." 
 
 " Come, Elsie, we must go; the carriage is wait- 
 ing and the train nearly due," said Mr. Dinsmore. 
 " Good-bye, Aunt Wealthy. Daughter, put down 
 your veil." 
 
 Egerton was at the depot, but could get neither 
 a word with Elsie, nor so much as a sight of her 
 face. Her veil was not once lifted, and her father 
 never left her side for a moment. Mr. Travilla 
 bought the tickets, and Simon attended to the 
 
 877
 
 278 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 checking of the baggage. Then the train came 
 thundering up, and the fair girl was hurried into 
 it, Mr. Travilla, on one side, and her father on 
 the other, effectually preventing any near ap- 
 proach to her person on the part of the baffled 
 and disappointed fortune-hunter. 
 
 He walked back to his boarding-house, cursing 
 his ill luck and Messrs. Dinsmore and Travilla, 
 and gave notice to his landlady that his room 
 would become vacant the next morning. 
 
 As the train sped onward, again Elsie laid her 
 head down upon her father's shoulder and wept 
 silently behind her veil. Her feelings had been 
 wrought up to a high pitch of excitement in the 
 struggle to be pefectly submissive and obedient, 
 and now the overstrained nerves claimed this re- 
 lief. And love's young dream, the first, and 
 sweetest, was over and gone. She could never 
 hope to see again the man she still fondly imag- 
 ined to be good and noble, and with a heart full 
 of deep, passionate love for her. 
 
 Her father understood and sympathized with 
 it all. He passed his arm about her waist, drew 
 her closer to him, and taking her hand in his, 
 held it in a warm, loving clasp. 
 
 How it soothed and comforted her. She could 
 never be very wretched while thus tenderly loved 
 and cherished. 
 
 And, arrived at her journey's end, there were 
 mamma and little brother to rejoice over her re- 
 turn, as at the recovery of a long-lost, precious 
 treasure. 
 
 " You shall never go away again," said the little 
 fellow, hugging her tight. " When a boy has onl^
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 279 
 
 one sister, he can't spare her to other folks, can 
 he, papa?" 
 
 " No, son," answered Mr. Dinsmore, patting 
 his rosy cheek, and softly stroking Elsie's hair, 
 " and it is just the same with a man who has but 
 one daughter." 
 
 " You don't look bright and merry, as you did 
 when you went away," said the child, bending a 
 gaze of keen, loving scrutiny upon the sweet face, 
 paler, sadder, and more heavy-eyed than he had 
 ever seen it before. 
 
 " Sister is tired with her journey," said mamma 
 tenderly; " we won't tease her to-night." 
 
 " Yes," said her father, " she must go early 
 to bed, and have a long night's rest." 
 
 "Yes, papa, and then she'll be all right to- 
 morrow, won't she? But, mamma, I wasn't teas- 
 ing her, not a bit; was I, Elsie? And if anybody's 
 been making her sorry, I'll kill him. 'Cause she's 
 my sister, and I've got to take care of her." 
 
 " But suppose papa was the one who had made 
 her sorry; what then?" asked Mr. Dinsmore. 
 
 " But you wouldn't, papa," said the boy, shak- 
 ing his head with an incredulous smile. " You 
 love her too much a great deal; you'd never make 
 her sorry unless she'd be naughty; and she's never 
 one bit naughty, always minds you and mamma 
 the minute you speak." 
 
 "That's true, my son; I do love her far too 
 well ever to grieve her if it can be helped. She 
 shall never know a pang a father's love and care 
 can save her from." And again his hand rested 
 caressingly on Elsie's head. 
 | She caught it in both of hers, and laying her
 
 280 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 cheek lovingly against it, looked up at him witii 
 tears trembling in her eyes. " I know it, papa," 
 she murmured. " I know you love your foolish 
 little daughter very dearly; almost as dearly as 
 she loves you." 
 
 " Almost, darling? If there were any gauge 
 by which to measure love, I know not whose would 
 be found the greatest." 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore and his father-in-law had taken 
 adjoining cottages for the summer, and though 
 "the season" was so nearly over that the hotels 
 and boarding-houses were but thinly populated 
 and would soon close, the two families intended 
 remaining another month. So this was in some 
 sort a home-coming to Elsie. 
 
 After tea the Allisons flocked in to bid her 
 welcome. All seemed glad of her coming, Kieh- 
 ard, Harold, and Sophy especially so. They were 
 full of plans for giving her pleasure, and crowd- 
 ing the greatest possible amount of enjoyment 
 into the four or five weeks of their expected so- 
 journ on the island. 
 
 " It will be moonlight next week," said Sophy; 
 " and we'll have some delightful drives and walks 
 along the beach. The sea does look so lovely by 
 moonlight." 
 
 "And we'll have such fun bathing in the 
 mornings," remarked Harold. " You'll go in with 
 us to-morrow, won't you, Elsie? " 
 
 "No," said Mr. Dinsmore, speaking for his 
 daughter; " she must be here two or three days 
 before she goes into the water. It will be alto- 
 gether better for her health." 
 
 Elise looked at him inquiringly.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 281 
 
 "You get in the air enough of the salt water 
 for the first few days/' he said. " Your system 
 should become used to that before you take 
 more." 
 
 " Yes, that is what some of the doctors here, 
 and the oldest inhabitants, tell us," remarked Mr. 
 Allison, " and I believe it is the better plan." 
 
 " And in the meantime we can take some rides 
 and drives, down to Diamond Beach, over to the 
 light-house, and elsewhere," said Edward Alli- 
 son, his brother Eichard adding, " and do a little 
 fishing and boating." 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore was watching his daughter. She 
 was making an effort to be interested in the con- 
 versation, but looking worn, weary, and sad. 
 
 " You are greatly fatigued, my child," he said. 
 " We will excuse you and let you retire at once." 
 
 She was very glad to avail herself of the per- 
 mission. 
 
 Kose followed her to her room, a pleasant, 
 breezy apartment, opening on a veranda, and look- 
 ing out upon the sea, whose dark waves, here and 
 there tipped with foam, could be dimly seen roll- 
 ing and tossing beneath the light of the stars 
 and of a young moon that hung like a golden 
 crescent just above the horizon. 
 
 Elsie walked to the window and looked out. 
 "How I love the sea," she said, sighing, "but, 
 mamma, to-night it makes me think of a text 
 'All Thy waves and Thy billows have gone over 
 me.' " 
 
 " It is not so bad as that, I hope, dear," said 
 Rose, folding her tenderly in her arms; "think 
 how we all love you, especially your father. I
 
 282 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 don't know how we could any of us do without 
 you, darling. I can't tell you how sadly we have 
 missed you this summer." 
 
 " Mamma., I do feel it to be very, very sweet 
 to be so loved and cared for. I could not tell you 
 how dear you and my little brother are to me, 
 and as for papa sometimes I am more than half 
 afraid I make an idol of him; and yet oh, mam- 
 ma," she murmured, hiding her face in Eose's 
 bosom, " why is it that I can no longer be in love 
 with the loves that so fully satisfied me?" 
 
 " ' Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he 
 shall rule over thee/ It is part of woman's curse 
 that she must ever crave that sort of love, often 
 yielding to her craving, to her own terrible undo- 
 ing. Be patient, darling, and try to trust both 
 your heavenly and your earthly father. You 
 know that no trial can come to you without your 
 heavenly Father's will, and that He means this 
 for your good. Look to Him and he will help you 
 to bear it, and send relief in His own good time 
 and way. You know He tells us it is through 
 much tribulation we enter the kingdom of God; 
 and that whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, 
 and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. ' If 
 ye be without chastisements, whereof all are par- 
 takers, then are ye bastards and no sons! " 
 
 "Ah, yes, mamma; better the hardest of 
 earthly trials, than to be left out of the number 
 of his adopted children. And this seems to be 
 really my only one, while my cup of blessings is 
 full to overflowing. I fear I am very wicked to 
 feel so sad." 
 
 " Let us sit down on this couch while we talk;
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 283 
 
 you are too tired to stand," said Rose, drawing 
 her away from the window to a softly-cushioned 
 loungt. " I do not think you can help grieving, 
 darling, though I agree with you that it is your 
 duty to try to be cheerful, as well as patient and 
 submissive; and I trust you will find it easier as 
 the days and weeks move on. You are very 
 young, and have plenty of time to wait; indeed, 
 if all had gone right, you know your papa would 
 not have allowed you to marry for several years 
 yet." 
 
 "You know all, mamma?" 
 
 " Yes, dear; papa told me; for you know you 
 are my darling daughter too, and I have a very 
 deep interest in all that concerns you." 
 
 A tender caress accompanied the words, and 
 was returned with equal ardor. 
 
 " Thank you, best and kindest of mothers; I 
 should never want anything kept from you." 
 
 " Your father tells me you have behaved beau- 
 tifully, though you evidently felt it very hard to 
 be separated so entirely and at once fr " 
 
 " Yes, mamma," and Elsie's lip quivered, and 
 her eyes filled, " and oh, I can't believe he is the 
 wicked man papa thinks him. From the first he 
 seemed to be a perfect gentleman, educated, pol- 
 ished, and refined; and afterward he became at 
 least so I thought from the conversations we had 
 together truly converted, and a very earnest, 
 devoted Christian. He told me he had been, at 
 one time, a little wild, but surely he ought not 
 to be condemned for that, after he had repented 
 and reformed." 
 
 " No, dear; and your father would agree with 1
 
 284 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 you in that. But he believes you have been de- 
 ceived in the man's character; and don't you 
 think, daughter, that he is wiser than yourself, 
 and more capable of finding out the truth about 
 the matter?" 
 
 " I know papa is far wiser than I, but, oh, my 
 heart will not believe what they say of of him! " 
 she cried with sudden, almost passionate vehe- 
 mence. 
 
 "Well, dear, that is perfectly natural, but try 
 to be entirely submissive to your father, and wait 
 patiently; and hopefully too," she added with a 
 smile; " for if Mr. Egerton is really good, no doubt 
 it will be proved in time, and then your father 
 will at once remove his interdict. And if you are 
 mistaken, you will one day discover it, and feel 
 thankful, indeed, to your papa for taking just 
 the course he has." 
 
 "There he is now!" Elsie said with a start, 
 as Mr. Dinsmore's step was heard without, 
 and Chloe opened the door in answer to his 
 rap. 
 
 "What, Elsie disobeying orders, and mamma 
 conniving at it! " he exclaimed in a tone that 
 might mean either jest or serious reproof. " Did 
 I not bid you go to bed at once, my daughter? " 
 
 "I thought it was only permission, papa, not 
 command," she answered, lifting her eyes to his 
 face, and moving to make room for him by her 
 side. "And mam^o-has been saying such sweet, 
 comforting things to me." 
 
 "Has she, darling? Bless her for it! I know 
 you need comfort, my poor little pet," he said, 
 taking the offered seat, and passing his arm round
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 285 
 
 her waist. "But you need rest too, and ought 
 not to stay up any longer." 
 
 " But surely papa knows I cannot go to bed 
 without my good-night kiss when he is in the 
 same house with me," she said, winding her arms 
 about his neck. 
 
 " And didn't like to take it before folks? Well, 
 that was right, but take it now. There, good- 
 night. Now mamma and I will run away, and 
 you must get into bed with all speed. No mis- 
 take about the command this time, and disobedi- 
 ence, if ventured on, will have to be punished," 
 he said with playful tenderness, as he returned 
 her embrace, and rose to leave the room. 
 
 " The dear child; my heart aches for her," he 
 remarked to his wife, as they went out together, 
 " and I find it almost impossible yet to forgive 
 either that scoundrel Jackson or my brother Ar- 
 thur." 
 
 " You have no lingering doubts as to the iden- 
 tity and utter un worthiness of the man?" 
 
 " Not one; and if I could only convince Elsie of 
 his true character she would detest him as thor- 
 oughly as I do. If he had his deserts, he would 
 be in the State's Prison; and to think of his dar- 
 ing to approach my child, and even aspire to her 
 hand! " 
 
 Elsie lay all night in a profound slumber, and 
 awoke at an early hour the next morning, feeling 
 greatly refreshed and invigorated. The gentle 
 murmur of old ocean came pleasantly to her ear, 
 and sweetly in her mind arose the thought of 
 Him whom even the winds and the sea obey; of 
 His never failing love to her, and of the many
 
 286 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 great and precious promises of His word. She 
 remembered how He had said, "Your Father 
 knoweth that ye have need of all these things/' 
 and, content to bear the cross He had sent her, 
 and leave her future in His hands, she rose to 
 begin the new day more cheerful and hopeful than 
 she had been since learning her father's decision 
 in regard to Egerton. 
 
 Throwing on a dressing-gown over her night 
 dress, she sat down before the open window with 
 her Bible in her hand. She still loved, as of old, 
 to spend the first hour of the day in the study of 
 its pages, and in communion with Him whose 
 word it is. 
 
 Chloe was just putting the finishing touches 
 to her young lady's toilet when little Horace came 
 running down the hall, and rapping on Elsie's 
 door, called out, " Sister, papa says put on a 
 short dress, and your walking shoes, and come 
 take a stroll on the beach with us before break- 
 fast." 
 
 "Yes, tell papa I will. Ill be down in five 
 minutes." 
 
 She came down looking sweet and fresh as the 
 morning; a smile on the full red lips, and a faint 
 tinge of rose color on the cheeks that had been so 
 pale the night before. 
 
 " Ah, you are something like yourself again," 
 said Kose, greeting her with a motherly caress, 
 as they met in the lower hall. " How nice it is 
 to have you at home once more." 
 
 " Thank you, mamma, I am very glad to be 
 here; and I had such a good restful sleep. How 
 well you look."
 
 ELSIES GIRLHOOD. 287 
 
 "And feel too, I am thankful to be able to 
 say. But there, your father is calling to you from 
 the sitting-room." 
 
 Elsie hastened to obey the summons, and found 
 him seated at his writing desk. 
 
 " Come here, daughter," he said, " and tell me 
 if you obeyed orders last night." 
 
 " Yes, papa, I did." 
 
 " I am writing a few lines to Aunt Wealthy, to 
 tell her of our safe arrival. Have you any mes- 
 sage to send?" and laying down his pen he drew 
 her to his knee. 
 
 " Only my love, papa, and and that she must 
 not be anxious about me, as she said that she 
 should. That I am very safe and happy in the 
 hands of my heavenly Father and those of the 
 kind earthly one He has given me," she added 
 in a whisper, putting her arms about his neck, and 
 looking in his face with eyes brimful of filial ten- 
 derness and love. 
 
 "That is right, my darling," he said, "and 
 you shall never want for love while your father 
 lives. How it rejoices my heart to see you look- 
 ing so bright and well this morning." 
 
 " I fear I have not been yielding you the cheer- 
 ful obedience I ought, papa," she murmured with ; 
 tears in her eyes, " but I am resolved to try to do \ 
 so in future; and have been asking help where I 
 know it is to be obtained." 
 
 " I have no fault to find with you on that score, 
 my dear child," he said tenderly, " but if you 
 can be cheerful, it will be for your own happiness, 
 as well as ours." 
 
 She kept her promise faithfully, and had her
 
 288 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 reward in much real enjoyment of the many pleas* 
 ures provided for her. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore were still youthful in' 
 their feelings, and joined with great zest in the 
 sports of the young people, going with them in 
 all their excursions, taking an active part in all 
 their pastimes, and contriving so many fresh 
 entertainments, that during those few weeks life 
 seemed like one long gala day. 
 
 Mr. Travilla was with them most of the time. 
 He had tarried behind in Philadelphia, as Mr. 
 Dinsmore and his daughter passed through, but 
 followed them to Cape Island a few day,* later. 
 
 The whole party left the shore about the last of 
 September, the Allisons returning to their city 
 residence, Mr. Travilla to his Southern home, 
 and the Dinsmores travelling through Pennsyl- 
 vania and New York, from one romantic and pic- 
 turesque spot to another; finishing up with two 
 or three weeks in Philadelphia, during which Rose 
 and Elsie were much occupied with their fall and 
 winter shopping. 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore took this opportunity to pay 
 another flying visit to his two young brothers. 
 He found Arthur nearly recovered, and at once 
 asked a full explanation of the affair of Tom 
 Jackson, alias Bromly Egerton; his designs upon 
 Elsie, and Arthur's participation in them. 
 
 "I know nothing about it," was the sullen re- 
 joinder. 
 
 "You certainly were acquainted with Tom 
 Jackson, and how, but through you, could he 
 have gained any knowledge of Elsie and her 
 whereabouts?"
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 " I don't deny that I've had some dealings with 
 Jackson, but your Egerton I know nothing of 
 whatever." 
 
 "You may as well speak the truth, sir; it will 
 be much better for you in the end," said Mr. Dins- 
 more, sternly, his eyes flashing with indignant 
 anger. 
 
 " And you may as well remember that it isn't 
 Elsie you are dealing with. I'm not afraid of 
 you." 
 
 " Perhaps not, but you may well fear Him 
 who has said, ' a lying tongue is but for a mo- 
 ment.' How do you reconcile such an assertion 
 as you have just made with the fact of your hav- 
 ing that letter in your possession? " 
 
 " I say it's a cowardly piece of business for you 
 to give the lie to a fellow that hasn't the strength' 
 to knock you down for it." 
 
 " You would hardly attempt that if you were 
 in perfect health, Arthur." 
 
 "I would." 
 
 "You have not answered my question about 
 the letter. 
 
 " I wrote it myself." 
 
 "A likely story; it is in a very different hand 
 from yours." 
 
 " I can adopt that hand on occasion, as I'll 
 prove to your satisfaction. 
 
 He opened his desk, wrote a sentence on a scr^p 
 of paper, and handed it to Mr. Dinsmore. The 
 chirography was precisely that of the letter. 
 While slowly convalescing, Arthur had prepared 
 for this expected interview with Horace, by spend- 
 ing many a solitary hour in laboriously teaching
 
 290 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 himself to imitate Jackson's ordinary hand, in 
 which most of the letters he had received from 
 him were written. The sentence he had first 
 penned was, " I did it merely for my own amuse- 
 ment, and to hoax Wai." 
 
 " I don't believe a word of it," said Mr. Dins- 
 more, looking sternly at him. " Arthur, you had 
 better be frank and open with me. You will gain 
 nothing by denying the hand you have had in 
 this disgraceful business. You can hardly sup- 
 pose me credulous enough to believe an asser- 
 tion so perfectty absurd as this. I have no doubt 
 that you sent that villain to Lansdale to try his 
 arts upon Elsie; and for that' you are richly de- 
 serving of my anger, and of any punishment it 
 might be in my power to deal out to you. 
 
 " It has been no easy matter for me to forgive 
 the suffering you have caused my child, Arthur; 
 but I came here to-day with kind feelings and in- 
 tentions. I hoped to find you penitent and ready 
 to forsake your evil courses; and in that case, in- 
 tended to help you to pay off your debts and begin 
 anew, without paining father with the knowledge 
 that his confidence in you has been again so 
 shamefully abused. But I must say that your 
 persistent denial of your complicity with that 
 scoundrel Jackson uoes not look much like contri- 
 tion, or intended amendment." 
 
 Arthur listened in sullen silence, though his 
 rapidly changing color showed that he felt the 
 cutting rebuke keenly. At one time he had re- 
 solved to confess everything, throw himself upon 
 the mercy of his father and brother, and begin 
 to lead an honest, upright life; but a threaten-
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 291 
 
 ing letter received that morning from Jackson 
 had led him to change his purpose, and determine 
 to close his lips for a time. 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore paused for a reply, but none 
 came. 
 
 Walter looked at Arthur in surprise. " Come, 
 Art, speak, why don't you?" he said. "Horace, 
 don't Jook so stern and angry, I know he means 
 to turn over a new leaf; for he told me so. And 
 you will help him, won't you? " 
 
 " I ask no favors from a man who throws the 
 lie in my teeth," muttered Arthur angrily. 
 
 " And I can give none to one who persists in 
 denying his guilt," replied Mr. Dinsmore. " But, 
 Arthur, I give you one more chance, and for our 
 father's sake I hope you will avail yourself of it. 
 If you go on as you have for the last three or four 
 years, you will bring down his gray hairs with 
 sorrow to the grave. I presume you have put 
 yourself in Jackson's power; but if you will now 
 make a full and free confession to me, and prom- 
 ise amendment, I will help you to get rid of the 
 rascal's claims upon you, and start afresh. Will 
 you do it?" 
 
 " No, you've called me a liar, and what's the 
 use of my telling you anything? you wouldn't be- 
 lieve it if I did."
 
 CHAPTEE XX. 
 
 She is not sad, yet in her gaze appears 
 Something that makes the gazer think of tears. 
 
 MRS. EMBURY. 
 
 THE family at Eoselands were gathered about 
 the breakfast-table. A much smaller party than 
 of yore, since Horace had taken Elsie and set up 
 an establishment of his own, and the other sons 
 were away at college and two daughters married; 
 leaving only Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore, Adelaide 
 and Enna to occupy the old home. 
 
 " I presume you have the lion's share as usual, 
 papa," observed the last named, as her father 
 opened the letter-bag which Pomp had just 
 brought in. 
 
 " And who has a better right, Miss Malapert ? " 
 retorted the old gentleman. " Yes, here are sev- 
 er&l letters for me; but as there is one apiece for 
 the rest of you, nobody need complain. Here, 
 Pomp, hand this to your mistress. From Walter, 
 I see." 
 
 " Yes," she answered, opening it, " and a few 
 lines from Arthur too. I'm glad he's able to 
 write again, poor fellow! " 
 
 "Yes," said Adelaide. "Kose says Horace 
 has been up there and found him nearly recov- 
 ered. She writes that they are coming home." 
 
 "When? "asked Enna. 
 
 "Why, to-day! the letter has been delayed,"
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 293 
 
 said her sister, looking at the date. " I shall ride 
 over directly, to see that all is in order for them 
 at the Oaks." 
 
 " There is no need," remarked her mother. 
 " Eose will have written to Mrs. Murray." 
 
 " I presume so, still I shall go; it will be pleas- 
 ant to be there to welcome them when they 
 arrive." 
 
 " How fond you are of Rose," said Mrs. Dins- 
 more in a piqued tone; " you wouldn't do more 
 for one of your own sisters, I believe, than for 
 her." 
 
 " I wouldn't do less, mamma, and I am very 
 fond of her; we are so perfectly congenial." 
 
 " And Elsie's a great pet of yours, too," said 
 Enna sneeringly. " Well, I shall put off my call 
 till to-morrow, when the trunks will have been 
 unpacked, and I shall have a chance to see the 
 fashions. Elsie will have loads of new things; 
 it's perfectly absurd the way Horace heaps 
 presents upon her, and pocket-money too. Such 
 loads of jewelry as she has, two or three gold 
 watches, and everything else in proportion." 
 
 " He may as well; she can never spend the half 
 of her income," remarked Mr. Dinsmore. " Un- 
 less she takes to gambling," he added, in a tone 
 that seemed to say that his purse had suffered 
 severely from some one's indulgence in that vice. 
 
 Mrs. Dinsmore winced, Enna looked vexed and 
 annoyed, and Adelaide sad and troubled; but 
 when she spoke it was in answer to Enna. 
 
 " Yes, Elsie will have a great many beautiful 
 things to show us, of course; but, though she 
 wears nothing outre, she has never been, and I
 
 294 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 think never will be a mirror of fashion. It would 
 suit neither her own taste nor Horace's; and you 
 know, fond of her as he is, he will never allow her 
 to have a will of her own in dress or anything 
 else. So it is well their tastes harmonize." 
 
 "I wouldn't be his child for all her money," 
 said Enna. 
 
 " There would be some fighting if you were," 
 said her father, laughing. 
 
 " I never could tell whether he tyrannized orer 
 Rose in the same style or not," observed MBS. 
 Dinsmore interrogatively. 
 
 "All I know about it is that they seem per- 
 fectly happy in each other," answered Adelaide; 
 "but I don't suppose Horace considers a hus- 
 band's authority by any means equal to a 
 father's." 
 
 Something delayed Adelaide, and it was nearly 
 two hours after they rose from the table ere she 
 was fairly on her way to the Oaks. 
 
 " Why, they are here before me! " she exclaimed 
 half aloud as she came in sight of the house. 
 
 There were piles of luggage upon the veranda, 
 and the whole family, including all the house 
 servants, were gathered round a large open trunk 
 from which Mrs. Dinsmore and Elsie were deal- 
 ing out gifts dresses, aprons, bonnets, hats, gay 
 handkerchiefs, etc., etc.; the darkies receiving 
 them with a delight that was pleasant to see. 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore too was taking his part in the 
 distribution, and as Adelaide rode up little Hor- 
 ace was in the act of throwing a gay shawl about 
 the shoulders of his nurse, who caught him in her 
 arms and hugged and kissed him over and over,
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 295 
 
 calling him "honey," and "pet," and "you ole 
 mammy's darlin' ole chiF ! " 
 
 So much engaged were they all that no one per- 
 ceived Adelaide's approach till she had reined in 
 her horse close to the veranda, and throwing her 
 bridle to her attendant, sprung lightly to the 
 ground. 
 
 But then there was a shout of welcome from 
 little Horace, followed instantly hy joyous excla- 
 mations and embraces from the others. 
 
 " Dear me, what a long stay you made of it! " 
 said Adelaide. " You can have no idea how I 
 missed you all; even down to this little man/' 
 patting Horace's rosy cheek. "You look re- 
 markably well, Eose; and the two Horaces also; 
 but Elsie, I think, has grown a little pale, thin, 
 and heavy-eyed. What ails you, child? Pining 
 for your native air no, home air I presume. 
 Is that it?" 
 
 " Hardly pining for it, auntie, but very glad to 
 get back, nevertheless," Elsie answered, with a 
 blush and a smile. 
 
 "And you are not pale now. But don't let 
 me interrupt your pleasant employment. I wish 
 I had been in time to see the whole of it." 
 
 " You are in season for your own gifts. Will 
 you accept a trifle from me?" said her brother, 
 putting a jewel-case into her hand. 
 
 "Coral! and what a beautiful shade!" she 
 cried. "Thank you; they are just what I 
 wanted." 
 
 "I thought they would contrast prettily with 
 this, auntie," said Elsie, laying a dress-pattern of 
 heavy black silk upon her lap.
 
 29G ELSIE'S GlttLHOOD. 
 
 "And these are to be worn at the same time, 
 if it so pleases you/' added Rose, presenting her 
 with collar and undersleeves of point lace. 
 
 " Oh, Rose, how lovely! and even little Horace 
 bringing auntie a gift! " as the child slipped 
 something into her hand. 
 
 " It's only a card-case; but mamma said you'd 
 like it, Aunt Adie." 
 
 " And I do; it's very pretty. And here's a hug 
 and a kiss for the pet boy that remembered his 
 old-maid auntie." 
 
 " Old maid, indeed! Adelaide, I'll not have you 
 talking so," said Rose. " There's nothing old- 
 maidish about you; not even age yet; a girl of 
 twenty-six to be calling herself that! it's perfectly 
 absurd. Isn't it, my dear? " 
 
 " I think so, indeed," replied Mr. Dinsmore. 
 " Here, Jim, Cato, and the rest of you carry in 
 these trunks and boxes, and let us have them un- 
 packed and put out of sight." 
 
 "Oh, yes!" said Adelaide, "I want to see all 
 the fine things you have brought, Rose. Mamma, 
 Enna, and I are depending upon you and Elsie for 
 the fashions." 
 
 " Yes, we had all our fall and winter dresses 
 made up in Philadelphia; we prefer their styles to 
 the New York; they don't go to such extremes, 
 you know; and besides hailing from the Quaker 
 city as I do, it's natural I should be partial to her 
 plainer ways but we brought quantities of pat- 
 terns from both places; knowing that nothing was 
 likely to be too gay for Enna. We will let Elsie 
 display hers first. I feel in a special hurry, dear, 
 to show your aunt those elegant silks your papa
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 297 
 
 and I helped you to select. I hope you will see 
 them all on her, one of these days, Adelaide. 
 
 "That child's complexion is so perfect, that 
 she can wear anything," she added in an aside, 
 as they followed Elsie to her apartments; " there's 
 a pale blue that she looks perfectly lovely in; a 
 pearl-color too, and a delicate pink, and I don't 
 know how many more. One might think we ex- 
 pected her to do nothing but attend parties the 
 coming season." 
 
 Elsie seemed to take a lively interest in dis- 
 playing her pretty things to her aunt, and in look- 
 ing on for a little, while Eose did the same with 
 hers; but at length, though the two older ladies 
 were still turning over and discussing silks, satins, 
 velvets, laces, ribbons, feathers, and flowers, her 
 father noticed her sitting in the corner of a sofa, 
 in an attitude of weariness and dejection, with a 
 pale cheek, and a dreary, far-off look in her eyes 
 that it pained him to see. 
 
 " You are very tired, daughter," he said, going 
 to her side, and smoothing her glossy brown hair 
 with tender caressing motion, as he spoke; "go 
 and lie down for an hour or two. A nap would 
 do you a great deal of good." 
 
 " I don't like to do so while Aunt Adie is here, 
 papa," she said, looking up at him with a smile, 
 and trying to seem fresh and bright. 
 
 "Never mind that; you can see her any day 
 now. Come, you must take a rest." And draw- 
 ing her hand within his arm, he led her to her 
 boudoir and left her there, comfortably estab- 
 lished upon a sofa. 
 
 "A hat trimmed in that style would be very
 
 298 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 becoming to Elsie," remarked Adelaide, continu- 
 ing the conversation with Rose, and turning to 
 look at her niece as she spoke. " Why, she's not 
 here." 
 
 " Papa took her away to make her lie down/' 
 said little Horace. 
 
 " Rose, does anything ail the child? " asked 
 Adelaide, in an undertone. 
 
 " She does not seem to be out of health; but 
 you know we are very careful of her; she is so 
 dear and sweet, and has never looked very 
 strong." 
 
 " But there is something wrong with her, is 
 there not? she does not seem to me quite the gay, 
 careless child she was when you went away. Hor- 
 ace," and she turned to him, as he re-entered the 
 room, "may I not know about Elsie? You can 
 hardly love her very much better than I do, I 
 think" 
 
 " If that is so, you must love her very much 
 indeed," he answered with a faint smile. " Yes, 
 I will tell you." And he explained the matter; 
 briefly at first, then more in detail, as she drew 
 him on by questions and remarks. 
 
 Her sympathy for Elsie was deep and sincere; 
 yet she thought her brother's course the only 
 wise and kind one, and her indignation waxed hot 
 against Arthur and Egerton. 
 
 "And Elsie still believes in the scoundrel?" 
 she said inquiringly. 
 
 " Yes, her loving, trustful nature refuses to 
 credit the proofs of his guilt, and only her sweet, 
 conscientious submission to parental authority 
 has saved her from becoming his victim."
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD, 299 
 
 " She is a 7ery good, submissive, obedient child 
 to you, Horace/' 
 
 "I could not ask a better, Adelaide. I only 
 wish it were in my power to make obedience al- 
 ways easy and pleasant to her, poor darling." 
 
 " I hope you have something for me there, my 
 dear," Eose remarked to her husband at the break- 
 fast-table the next morning, as he looked over 
 the mail just brought in by his man John. 
 
 " Yes, there is one for you; from your mother, 
 I think; and, Elsie, do you know the handwriting 
 of this?" 
 
 " No, papa, it is quite strange to me," she an- 
 swered, taking the letter he held out to her, and 
 which bore her name and address on the back, 
 and examining it critically. 
 
 " And the post-mark tells you nothing either? " 
 
 " No, sir; I cannot quite make it out, but it 
 doesn't seem to be any place where I have a cor-v 
 respondent." 
 
 " Well, open it and see from whom it comes. 
 But finish your breakfast first." 
 
 Elsie laid the letter down by her plate, and put- 
 ting aside, for the present, her curiosity in re- 
 gard to it, went on with her meal. " From whom 
 can it have come? " she asked herself, while list- 
 ening half absently to extracts from Mr. Allisons 
 epistle; " not from him surely, the hand is so very 
 unlike that of the one.he sent me in Lansdale." 
 
 " You have not looked at that yet," her father 
 said, seeing her take it up as they rose from the 
 table. " You may do so now. I wish to know 
 who the writer is. Don't read it till you have 
 found that out," he added, leading her to a sofa!
 
 800 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 in the next room, and making her sit down there^ 
 while he stood by her side. 
 
 She felt that his eye was upon her as she broke 
 open the envelope and, taking the letter from it, 
 glanced down the page, then in a little flutter of 
 surprise and perplexity turned to the signature. 
 Instantly her face flushed crimson, she trembled 
 visibly, and her eyes were lifted pleadingly 
 to his. 
 
 He frowned and held out his hand. 
 
 " Oh, papa, let me read it! " she murmured 
 low and tremulously, her eyes still pleading more 
 eloquently than her tongue. 
 
 " No/' he said, and his look and gesture were 
 imperative. 
 
 She silently put the letter into his hand, and 
 turned away with a low sob. 
 
 " It is not worth one tear, or even an emotion 
 of regret, my child," he said, sitting down beside 
 her. " I shall send it back at once; unread, un- 
 less you prefer to have me read it first." 
 
 " No, papa." 
 
 " Very well, then I shall not. But, Elsie, do 
 you not see now that he is quite capable of imi- 
 tating the handwriting of another?" 
 
 "Yes, papa; but that does not prove that he 
 did in the case you refer to." 
 
 " And he has acted quite fairly and honestly 
 in using that talent to elude my vigilance and 
 tempt you to deception and disobedience, eh?" 
 
 "He is not perfect, papa, but I can't believe 
 him as bad as you think." 
 
 " There are none so blind as those that won ? t 
 see, Elsie; but, remember " and his tone changed
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 301 
 
 from one of great vexation to another sternly 
 authoritative " I will be obeyed in this thing." 
 
 " Yes, papa," she said, and rising, hastily left 
 the room. 
 
 " Try to be very patient with her, dear," said 
 Rose, who had been a silent, but deeply interested 
 spectator of the little scene; " she suffers enough, 
 poor child! " 
 
 " Yes, I know it, and my heart bleeds for her; 
 yet she seems so wilfully blind to the strongest 
 proofs of the fellow's abominable rascality that 
 at times I feel as if I could hardly put up with it 
 at all. The very pain of seeing her suffer so 
 makes me out of all patience with her folly." 
 
 "Yes, I understand it, but do not be stern 
 with her; she surely does not deserve it while she 
 is so perfectly submissive to your will." 
 
 " No, she does not, poor darling," he said with' 
 a sigh. " But I must make haste to write some 
 letters that ought to go by the next mail." 
 
 He left the room, and Mrs. Dinsmore, longing 
 to comfort Elsie in her trouble, was about to go 
 in search of her, when Mrs. Murray, who was still 
 housekeeper at the Oaks, came to ask advice or 
 direction about some household matters. 
 
 Their consultation lasted for half an hour or 
 more, and in the meanwhile Mr. Dinsmore fin- 
 ished his correspondence and went himself to loek 
 for his daughter. She was in the act of opening 
 her writing-desk as he entered the room. 
 
 " What are you doing, daughter? " he asked. 
 
 " I was about to write a letter to Sophy, papa." 
 
 " It would be too late for to-day's mail; so let 
 it wait, and come with me for a little stroll into
 
 302 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 the grounds. Aunt Chloe, bring a garden Hat 
 and sunshade. You would like to go, daughter? " 
 
 "Yes, sir. Papa, you are not vexed with me? 
 You don't think I want to be disobedient or wil*- 
 ful? " There were tears in her voice and traces 
 of them on her cheeks. 
 
 " No, darling! " he said, drawing her to him, 
 " and you did not in the least deserve to be spoken 
 to in the stern tone that I used. But can you 
 understand it? my very love for you makes me 
 angry and impatient at your persistent love for 
 that scoundrel." 
 
 " Papa, please don't! " she said in a low, pained 
 tone, and turning away her face. 
 
 " Ah, you do not like to hear a word against 
 him! " he sighed; " I can't bear to think it, and 
 yet I fear you care more for him than for me, your 
 own father, who almost idolizes you. Is it so ? " 
 
 " Papa/' she murmured, winding her arms 
 about his neck, and laying her head on his breast, 
 " if I may have but one of you, I could never hesi- 
 tate for a moment to choose to cling here where 
 I have been so long and tenderly cherished. I 
 know what your love is, I might be mistaken 
 and deceived in another. And besides, God com- 
 mands me to honor and obey you/' 
 
 He held her close to his heart for a moment, as 
 something too dear and precious ever to be given 
 up to another, then drawing her hand within his 
 arm, while Chloe placed the hat on her head, and 
 gave her the parasol, he led her out into the 
 grounds. 
 
 It pained him to notice the sadness of her 
 countenance, sadder than he had seen it for
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 303 
 
 days, and he exerted himself to entertain her and 
 divert her thoughts, calling her attention to some 
 new plants and flowers, consulting her taste in 
 regard to improvements he designed making, and 
 conversing with her about a book they had been 
 reading. 
 
 She understood his thoughtful kindness, was 
 grateful for it, and did her best to be interested 
 and cheerful. 
 
 "It is so nice to have you treat me as your, 
 companion, and friend as well as your daughter, 
 papa/' she said, looking up at him with a smile. 
 
 " Your companionship is very dear and sweet 
 to me, daughter," he answered. " But I think 
 we had better go in now; the sun is growing 
 hot." 
 
 " Oh, here you are !" cried a girlish voice as 
 they turned into a shaded walk leading to the 
 house. " Fve been looking everywhere and am 
 glad to have found you at last. Really, if a body 
 didn't know your relationship, he or she might 
 almost imagine you a pair of lovers." 
 
 " Don't be silly, Enna. How do you do? " said 
 Mr. Dinsmore, shaking hands with her and giv- 
 ing her a brotherly kiss. 
 
 " As usual, thank you," she answered, turning 
 from him to Elsie, whom she embraced with toler- 
 able warmth, saying, " I'm really glad to have 
 you here again. I missed you more than I would 
 have believed. Now come in and show me all 
 your pretty things. I'm dying to see them. 
 Adelaide says you've brought home such quanti- 
 ties of lovely laces, silks, velvets, ribbons, flowers, 
 feathers and what not, that one might imagine
 
 804 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 you'd nearly bought out the Philadelphia mer- 
 chants." 
 
 " No, they had quite a stock still left," replied 
 Elsie, smiling; " but, as mamma says, papa was 
 very indulgent and liberal to us both; and I shall 
 take pleasure in showing you his gifts." 
 
 "How do you like my present to Adelaide? 
 asked Mr. Dinsmore. 
 
 " Oh, very much; but when my turn comes 
 please remember I want amethysts." 
 
 " Ah, then I have been fortunate in my selec- 
 tion," he said, quite unsuspicious of the fact that 
 Enna had instructed Elsie beforehand in regard 
 to her wishes, should Horace intend making her 
 a present. Elsie had quietly given the desired 
 hint, but merely as though the idea had originated 
 with herself. * 
 
 The jewelry was highly approved, as also a rich 
 violet silk from Eose, and a lace set from Elsie. 
 
 Adelaide had been intrusted with quite as rich 
 gifts for her father and mother; nor had Lora 
 been forgotten; Elsie had a handsome shawl for 
 her, Mr. Dinsmore a beautiful pair of bracelets, 
 and Eose a costly volume of engravings. 
 
 "Do you think Aunt Lora will be pleased?" 
 asked Elsie. 
 
 " They're splendid! It must be mighty nice to 
 have so much money to spend. But come now, 
 show me what you got for yourselves." 
 
 She spent a long while, first in Eose's apart- 
 ment, then in Elsie's, turning over and admiring 
 the pretty things, discussing patterns, and styles 
 of trimming, and what colors and modes would 
 be becoming to her, trying on some of the dresses,
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 305 
 
 laces, sacques, shawls, bonnets, and hats without 
 so much as saying by your leave, when the article 
 in question belonged to her niece that she might 
 judge of the effect; several times repeating her 
 remark that it must be delightful to have so much 
 money, and that Elsie was exceedingly fortunate 
 in being so enormously wealthy. 
 
 " Yes; it is something to be thankful for," 
 Elsie said at length, " but, Enna, it is also a great 
 responsibility. We are only stewards, you know, 
 and sometimes I fear it is hardly right for me to 
 spend so much in personal adornment." 
 
 "That wouldn't trouble me in the least; but 
 why do you do it, if you are afraid it's wrong? " 
 
 " Papa does not think so; he says the manu- 
 facturers of these rich goods must live as well as 
 others, and that for one with my income, it is no 
 more extravagant to wear them than for one with 
 half the means to wear goods only half as ex- 
 pensive." 
 
 " And I'm sure he's perfectly right; and of 
 course you have no choice but to obey. Well, I 
 presume I've seen everything now, and I'm actu- 
 ally weary with my labors," she added, throwing 
 herself into an easy-chair. " You've grown a 
 little pale, I think, and your eyes look as if you'd 
 been crying. What ails you? " 
 
 " I am not at all ill," returned Elsie, flushing. 
 
 " I didn't say you were, but something's wrong 
 with you, and you can't deny it; you don't seem as 
 gay as you used to before you went away." 
 
 She paused, but receiving no reply, went on. 
 " Come now, it isn't worth while to be so close- 
 mouthed with me, Miss Dinsmore; for I happen
 
 306 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 to know pretty much all about it already. You've 
 fallen in love with a man that your father thinks 
 is a scamp and though you don't believe it, you've 
 given him up, in obedience to orders, like the 
 cowardly piece that you are. Dear me, before I'd 
 be so afraid of my father! " 
 
 " No, you neither fear nor love your father as 
 I do mine; but fear of papa has very little to do 
 with it. I love him far too well to refuse to sub- 
 mit to him in this, and I fear God, who bids me 
 obey and honor him. But, Enna, how did you 
 learn all this?" 
 
 " Ah, that is my secret." 
 
 Elsie looked disturbed. " V r on't you tell me? " 
 
 "Not I." 
 
 " Is it generally known in the family? " 
 
 " So far as I am aware, no one knows it but 
 myself." 
 
 " Ah! " thought Elsie, " I did not believe Aunt 
 Adelaide or Walter would tell her; but I wonder 
 how she did find it out." 
 
 " I wouldn't give up the man I loved for any- 
 body," Enna vent on in a sneering tone. " I 
 say parents have no business to interfere in such 
 matters; and so I told papa quite plainly when he 
 took it upon him to lecture me about receiving 
 attentions from Dick Percival, and threatened 
 to forbid him the house." 
 
 " Oh, Enna! " 
 
 " You consider it wickedly disrespectful and 
 rebellious no doubt, but I say I'm no longer a 
 child, and so the text, 'Children obey your 
 parents ' which I know is just on the end of 
 your tongue doesn't apply to me."
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 30? 
 
 " The Bible doesn't say obey till you are of age, 
 then do as you please. You are not seventeen 
 yet, and Isaac was twenty when he submitted to 
 be bound and laid upon the altar.' 7 
 
 " Well, when I go to the altar, it shall be lean- 
 ing on Dick's arm," said Enna, laughing. "I 
 don't care if he is wild; I like him, and intend to 
 marry him too." 
 
 " But are you not afraid? " 
 
 "Afraid of what?" 
 
 "That he will run through his property in ft 
 few years, and perhaps become an habitual drunk- 
 ard and abusive to his wife." 
 
 "I mean to risk it anyhow," returned Enna 
 sharply, " so it is not worth while for my friends 
 to waste their breath in lecturing me on the sub- 
 ject." 
 
 " Oh, Enna! you can't expect a blessing, if you 
 persist in being so undutiful; I think it would be 
 well for you if your father were more like mine/' 
 
 "Indeed! I wouldn't be your father's daughter 
 for anything." 
 
 <e And I am glad and thankful that I am."
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 The human heart! 'tis a thing that lives 
 
 In the light of many a shrine ; 
 
 And the gem of its own pure feelings gives 
 
 Too oft on brows that are false to shine ; 
 
 It has many a cloud of care and woe 
 
 To shadow o'er its springs, 
 
 And the One above alone may know 
 
 The changing tune of its thousand strings, 
 
 MRS. L. P. SMITH. 
 
 MR. AND MRS. HORACE DIXSUORE were moet 
 anxious to promote Elsie's happiness, and in order 
 to that to win her to forgetfulness of her un- 
 worthy suitor. Being Christians they did not 
 take her to the ball-room, the Opera, or the 
 theater (nor would she have consented to go had 
 they proposed it), but they provided for her every 
 sort of suitable amusement within their reach. 
 She was allowed to entertain as much company 
 and to pay as many visits to neighbors and friends 
 as she pleased. 
 
 But a constant round of gayety was not to her 
 taste; she loved quiet home pleasures and intel- 
 lectual pursuits far better. And of these also 
 she might take her fill, nor lack for sympathiz- 
 ing companionship; both parents, but especially 
 her father, being of like mind with herself. 
 They enjoyed many a book together, and she 
 chose to pursue several studies with him. ) 
 
 And thus the weeks and months glided away 
 
 308
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 309 
 
 not unhappily, though at times she would be pos- 
 sessed with a restless longing for news from Eger- 
 ton, and for the love that was denied her; then 
 her eyes would occasionally meet her father's 
 with the old wistful, pleading look that he found 
 BO hard to resist. 
 
 He well understood their mute petition; yet it 
 was one he could not grant. But he would take 
 her in his arms, and giving her the fondest, 
 tenderest caresses, would say, in a moved tone, 
 -' My darling, don't look at me in that way; it al- 
 most breaks my heart. Ah, if you could only be 
 satisfied with your father's love! " 
 
 " I will try, papa," was her usual answer, " and 
 ph, your love is very sweet and precious! " 
 
 Such a little scene, occurring one morning in 
 Elsie's boudoir, was interrupted by Chloe coming 
 in to say that Miss Carrington had called to see 
 her young mistress and was waiting in the draw- 
 ing-room. 
 
 " Show her in here, mammy," Elsie said, dis- 
 engaging herself from her father's arms, and 
 smoothing out her dress. " She used to come 
 here in the old times without waiting for an invi- 
 tation." 
 
 The Carringtons had not been able quite to 
 forgive the rejection of Herbert's suit, and since 
 his death there had been a slight coolness be- 
 tween the two families, and the girls had seen 
 much less of each other than in earlier days; their 
 intercourse being confined to an occasional ex- 
 change of formal calls, except when they met at 
 the house of some common acquaintance or 
 friend. Still they were mutually attached, and
 
 310 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 of late had resumed much of their old warmth of 
 manner toward each other. 
 
 " Ah, this seems like going back to the dear old 
 times again," Lucy said when their greetings 
 were over, and sending an admiring glance about 
 the luxuriously furnished apartment as she spoke. 
 " I always thought this the most charming of 
 rooms, Elsie, but how many lovely things, per- 
 fect gems of art, you have added to it since I 
 saw it last." 
 
 " Papa's gifts to his spoiled darling, most of 
 them," answered Elsie, with a loving look and 
 smile directed to him. 
 
 "Petted, but not spoiled," he said, returning 
 the smile. 
 
 "No, indeed, I should think not," said Lucy. 
 " Mamma says she is the most perfectly obedient, 
 affectionate daughter she ever saw, and I can't 
 tell you how often I have heard her wish I was 
 more like her." 
 
 "Ah," said Elsie, "I think Mrs. Carrington 
 has always looked at me through rose-colored 
 spectacles." 
 
 After a little more chat Lucy told her errand. 
 Her parents and herself, indeed the whole family, 
 she said, had greatly regretted the falling off of 
 their former intimacy and strongly desired to 
 renew it; and she had come to beg Elsie to go 
 home with her and spend a week at Ashlands in 
 the old familiar way. 
 
 Elsie's eye brightened, and her cheek flushed. 
 "Dear Lucy, how kind!" she exclaimed; then 
 turned inquiringly to her father. 
 
 "Yes, it is very kind," he said. "Use your
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 311 
 
 own pleasure, daughter. I think perhaps the 
 change might do you good." 
 
 " Thanks, papa, then I shall go. Lucy, I ac- 
 cept your invitation with pleasure." 
 
 They were soon on their way, cantering briskly 
 along side by side, Lucy in gay, almost wild 
 spirits, and Elsie's depression rapidly vanishing 
 beneath the combined influence of the bracing air 
 and exercise, the brilliant sunshine, and her 
 friend's lively sallies. 
 
 Arrived at Ashlands, she found herself received 
 and welcomed with all the old warmth of affec- 
 tion. Mrs. Carrington folded her to her heart 
 and wept over her. " My poor boy! " she whis- 
 pered; " it seems almost to bring him back again 
 to have you with us once more. But I will not 
 mourn," she added, wiping her eyes; "for our 
 loss has been his great gain." 
 
 Tender memories of Herbert, associated with 
 nearly every room in the house, saddened and 
 eubdued Elsie's spirit for a time, yet helped to 
 banish thoughts of Egerton from her mind. 
 
 But Lucy had a great deal to tell her, and in 
 listening to these girlish confidences, Herbert was 
 again half forgotten. Lucy too had spent the 
 past summer in the North, and had there "met 
 her fate." She was engaged, the course of true 
 love seemed to be running smoothly, and they ex- 
 pected to marry in a year. 
 
 Elsie listened with interest, sympathizing 
 warmly in her friend's happiness; but Lucy, who 
 was watching her keenly, noticed a shade of deep 
 sadness steal over her face. 
 
 " Now I have told you all my secrets," she said s
 
 312 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 "won't you treat me as generously, by trusting 
 ine with yours ? " 
 
 " If I had as happy a tale to tell," replied Elsie, 
 the tears filling her eyes. 
 
 " You poor dear, what is wrong? Is it that 
 papa refuses his consent." 
 
 Elsie nodded; her heart was too full for speech. 
 
 "What a shame!" cried Lucy. "Does he 
 really mean to keep you single all your life? is he 
 quite determined to make an old maid of you? " 
 
 " No, oh, no! but he does not believe my friend 
 to be a good man. There seems to be some sad 
 mistake, and I cannot blame papa; because if Mr. 
 Egerton really was what he thinks him, it would 
 be folly and sin for me to have anything to do 
 with him; and indeed I could not give either hand 
 or heart to one so vile, a profane swearer, gam- 
 bler, drunkard, and rake." 
 
 " Oh, my, no! " and Lucy looked quite horri- 
 fied; " but you don't believe him such a villain? " 
 
 " No; on the contrary I think him a truly con- 
 verted man. I believe he was a little wild at one 
 time; for he told me he had been; but I believe, 
 too, that he has truly repented, and therefore 
 ought to be forgiven." 
 
 " Then I wouldn't give him up if I were you, 
 father or no father," remarked Lucy, with spirit. 
 
 " But, Lucy, there is the command, ' Children, 
 obey your parents.' " 
 
 " But you are not a child." 
 
 <e Hardly more, not of age for more than two 
 years." 
 
 "Well, when you are of age, surely you wilt 
 consider a lover's claims before those of a father."
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD, 313 
 
 " No," Elsie answered low and sadly. " I shall 
 never marry without papa's consent. I love him 
 far too dearly to grieve him so; and it would be 
 running too fearful a risk." 
 
 " Then you have resigned your lover entirely? " 
 
 " Unless he can some day succeed in convincing 
 papa that he is not so unworthy." 
 
 " Well, you are a model of filial piety! and de- 
 serve to be happy, and I am ever so sorry for 
 you," cried Lucy, clasping her in her arms, and 
 kissing her affectionately. 
 
 " Thank you, dear," Elsie said, " but oh, I can- 
 not bear to have my father blamed. Believing as 
 he does, how could he do otherwise than forbid 
 all intercourse between us? And he is so very, 
 very kind, so tenderly affectionate to me. Ah, I 
 could never do without his dear love! " 
 
 After this, the two had frequent talks together 
 on the same subject, and though Lucy did not 
 find any fault with Mr. Dinsmore, she yet pleaded 
 Egerton's cause, urging that it seemed very unfair 
 in Elsie to condemn him unheard, very hard not 
 to allow him even so much as a parting word. 
 
 " I had no choice," Elsie said again and again, 
 in a voice full of tears; " it was papa's command, 
 and I could do nothing but obey. Oh, Lucy, it 
 was very, very hard for me, too! and yet my father 
 was doing only his duty, if his judgment of Mr. 
 Egerton's character was correct." 
 
 One afternoon, when Elsie had been at Ash- 
 lands four or five days, Lucy came flying into her 
 room; " Oh, I'm so glad to find you dressed! You 
 see I'm in the midst of my toilet, and Scip has 
 just brought up word that a gentleman is in the
 
 314 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 parlor asking for the young ladies Miss Dins* 
 more and Miss Carrington. Would you mind 
 going down alone and entertaining him till I 
 come? do, there's a dear." 
 
 "Who is he?" 
 
 " Scip didn't seem to have quite understood the 
 name; but it must be some one we both know, 
 and if you don't mind going, it would be a relief 
 to my nerves to know that he's not sitting there 
 with nothing to do but count the minutes, and 
 think, ' What an immense time it takes Miss Car- 
 rington to dress. She must be very anxious to 
 make a good impression upon me.' For you see 
 men are so conceited, they are always imagining 
 we're la}dng ourselves out to secure their admira- 
 tion." 
 
 " I will go down then," Elsie answered, smil- 
 ing, " and do what I can to keep him from think- 
 ing any such unworthy thoughts of you. But 
 please follow me as soon as you can." 
 
 The caller had the drawing-room to himself, 
 and as Elsie entered was standing at the centre- 
 table with his back toward her. As she drew 
 near, he turned abruptly, caught her hand in his, 
 threw his arm about her waist, and kissed her 
 passionately, crying in a low tone of rapturous 
 delight, "My darling, I have you at last! 
 Oh, how I have suffered from this cruel separa- 
 tion." 
 
 It was Egerton, and for a few moments she 
 forgot everything else, in her glad surprise at the 
 unexpected meeting. 
 
 He drew her to a sofa, and still keeping his arm 
 about her, poured out a torrent of fond loverlike
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 315 
 
 words, mingled with tender reproaches that she 
 had given him up so easily, and protestations of 
 his innocence of the vices and crimes laid to his 
 charge. 
 
 At first Elsie flushed rosy red, and a sweet light 
 of love and joy shone in the soft eyes, half veiled 
 by their heavy, drooping lashes; hut as he went 
 on her cheek grew deathly pale, and she struggled 
 to free herself from his embrace. 
 
 " Let me go! " she cried, in an agitated tone of 
 earnest entreaty, " I must, indeed I must! I can't 
 stay I ought not; I should not have come in, or 
 allowed you to speak to, or touch me. Papa has 
 forbidden all intercourse between us, and he will 
 be so angry." And she burst into tears. 
 
 " Then don't go back to him; stay with me, 
 and give me a right to protect you from his anger. 
 I can't bear to see you weep, and if you will be 
 mine my own little wife, you shall never have 
 cause to shed another tear," he said, drawing her 
 closer to him and kissing them away. 
 
 " No, no, I cannot, I cannot! You must let me 
 go; indeed you must! " she cried, shrinking from 
 the touch of his lip upon her cheek, and averting 
 her face, " I am doing wrong, very wrong to stay 
 here! " 
 
 "No, I shall hold you fast for a few blissful 
 moments at least;" he answered, tightening his 
 grasp and repeating his caresses, as she struggled 
 the harder to be free. " You cannot be so cruel 
 as to refuse to hear my defence." 
 
 " Oh, I cannot stay another moment I must 
 not hear another word, for every instant that I 
 linger I am guilty of a fresh act of disobedience
 
 316 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 to papa. I shall be compelled to call for help if 
 you do not loose your hold." 
 
 He took his arm from her waist, but still held 
 fast to her hand. " No, don't do that," he said; 
 " think what a talk it would make. I shall de- 
 tain you but a moment, and surely you may as 
 well stay that much longer; ( in for a penny, in for 
 a pound/ you know. Oh, Elsie, can't you give me 
 a little hope." 
 
 "If you can gain papa's approval, not other- 
 wise." 
 
 " But when you come of age." 
 
 " I shall never marry without my father's con- 
 sent." 
 
 " Surely you carry your ideas of obedience too 
 far. You owe a duty to yourself and to me, as 
 well as to your father. Excuse my plainness, but 
 in the course of nature we shall both outlive him, 
 and is it right to sacrifice the happiness of our 
 two lives because he has unfortunately imbibed a 
 prejudice against me?" 
 
 " I could expect no blessing upon a union en- 
 tered into in direct opposition to my father's 
 wishes and commands," she answered with sad 
 and gentle firmness. 
 
 " That's a hard kind of obedience; and I don't 
 think it would answer to put in practice in all 
 eases," he said bitterly. 
 
 " Perhaps not; I do not attempt to decide for 
 others; bat I am convinced of my s-Tra duty; and 
 know too that I should be wretched indeed, if I 
 had tc live under papa's frown. And oh, how I 
 am disobeying him now! I imist go this instant!
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 317 
 
 Release m3 r hand, Mr. Egerton." And she tried 
 with all her strength to wrench it free. 
 
 " No, no, not yet," he said entreatingly. " I 
 have not given you half the proofs of my inno- 
 cence that I can bring forward; do me the simple 
 justice to stay and hear them." 
 
 She made no reply but half yielded, ceasing her 
 struggles for a moment. She had no strength 
 to free her hand from his grasp, and could not 
 bear to call others upon the scene. Trembling 
 with agitation and eagerness, she waited for his 
 promised proofs; but instead he only poured forth 
 a continuous stream of protestations, expostula- 
 tions and entreaties. 
 
 " Mr. Egerton, I must, I must go," she re- 
 peated; " this is nothing to the purpose, and I 
 cannot stay to hear it." 
 
 A step was heard approaching; he hastily drew 
 her toward him, touched his lips again to her 
 cheek, released her, and she darted from the room 
 by one door, as Lucy entered by another. 
 
 "Where is she? gone? what's the matter? 
 wasn't she pleased to see you? wouldn't she 
 stay?" 
 
 Lucy looked into the disappointed, angry, cha- 
 grined face of Egerton, and in her surprise and 
 yexation piled question upon question without 
 giving him time to answer. 
 
 " No, the girl's a fool! " he muttered angrily, 
 and turning hastily from her, paced rapidly to 
 and fro for a moment; then suddenly recollecting 
 himself, " I beg pardon, Miss Carrington," he 
 eaid, coming back to the sofa on which she sat re-
 
 318 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 garding him with a perturbed, displeased counte- 
 nance., " I I forgot mj'self ; but you will perhaps, 
 know how to excuse an almost distracted lover." 
 
 " Keally, sir," returned Lucy coolly, " your 
 words just now did not sound very lover-like; and 
 would rather lead one to suspect that possibly Mr. 
 Dinsniore may be in the right." 
 
 He flushed hotly. " What can you mean, Miss 
 Carrington?" 
 
 " That your love is for her fortune rather- than 
 for herself." 
 
 "Indeed you wrong me. I adore Miss Pins- 
 more, and would consider myself the happiest of 
 mortals could I but secure her hand, even though 
 phe came to me penniless. But she has imbibed 
 the most absurd, ridiculous ideas of filial duty 
 and refuses to give me the smallest encourage- 
 ment unless I can gain her father's consent and 
 approval; which, seeing he has conceived a violent 
 dislike to me, is a hopeless thing. Now can you 
 not realize that the more ardent my love for her, 
 the more frantically impatient I would feel under 
 . such treatment?" 
 
 " Perhaps so; men are so different from women; 
 but nothing could ever make me apply such an 
 epithet to the man I loved." 
 
 "Distracted with disappointed hopes, I was 
 hardly a sane man at the moment, Miss Carring- 
 ton," he said deprecatingly. 
 
 " The coveted interview has proved entirely un- 
 satisfactory then? " she said in a tone of inquiry. 
 
 " Yes; and yet I am most thankful to have had 
 Bight and speech of her once more; truly grateful 
 to you for bringing it about so cleverly. But
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 319 
 
 fi, Miss Carrington, could you be persuaded To 
 assist me still further, you would lay me under 
 lasting obligations! " 
 
 " Please explain yourself, sir," she answered 
 coldly, moving farther from him, as he attempted 
 to take her hand. 
 
 " Excuse me," he said. " I am not one in- 
 clined to take liberties with ladies; but I am 
 hardly myself to-day; my overpowering emotion. 
 my half distracted state of mind " 
 
 Breaking off his sentence abruptly, and put- 
 ting his hand to his head, " I believe I shall go 
 mad if I have to resign all hope of winning the 
 sweet, lovely Elsie," he exclaimed excitedly, " and 
 I see only one way of doing it. If I could carry 
 her off, and get her quite out of her father's 
 reach, so that no fear of him need deter her from 
 following the promptings of her own heart, I am 
 sure I could induce her to consent to marry me at 
 once. Miss Carrington, will you help me? " 
 
 " Never! If Elsie chooses to run away with 
 you, and wants any assistance from me, she shall 
 have it; but I will have nothing to do with kid- 
 napping." 
 
 He urged, entreated, used every argument he 
 could think of, but with no other effect than rous- 
 ing Lucy's anger and indignation; " underhand 
 dealings were not in her line," she told him, and 
 finally upon his intimating that what she had 
 already done might be thought to come under 
 that head almost ordered him out of the house. 
 
 He went, and hurrying to her friend's room, 
 she found her walking about it in a state of great 
 agitation, and weeping bitterly.
 
 *20 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 "Oh, Lucy, how could you? how could you?" 
 ehe cried, wringing her hands and sobbing in 
 pitiable distress. " I had no thought of him 
 when I went down; I did not know you knew him, 
 or that he was in this part of the country at all. 
 I was completely taken by surprise, and have dis- 
 obeyed papa's most express commands, and he 
 will never forgive me, never! No, not that 
 either, but he will be very, very angry. Oh, what 
 ehall I do! " 
 
 " Oh, Elsie, dear, don't be so troubled! I am as 
 sorry as I can be," said Lucy, with tears in her 
 eyes. " I meant to do you a kindness; indeed I 
 did; I thought it would be a joyful surprise to 
 you. 
 
 " I met him last summer at Saratoga. He 
 came there immediately from Lansdale, and some- 
 how we found out directly that we both knew 
 you, and that I was a near neighbor and very old 
 friend of yours; and he told me the whole story 
 of your love-affair, and quite enlisted me in his 
 cause; he seemed so depressed and melancholy at 
 your loss, and grieved so over the hasty way in 
 which your father had separated you, not even 
 allowing a word of farewell. 
 
 " He told me he hoped and believed you were 
 still faithful to him in your heart, but he could 
 not get to see or speak to you, or hold any corre- 
 spondence with you. And so I arranged this way 
 of bringing you together." 
 
 " It was kindly meant, I have no doubt, Lucy, 
 but oh, you don't know what you have done! I 
 tremble at the very thought of papa's anger when 
 he hears it; for I have done and permitted thingp
 
 ELSIE'S OFRLHOOD. 321 
 
 te said he would not allow for thousands of 
 dollars." 
 
 "Well, dear, I don't think you could help it; 
 and I'm so sorry for my share in it," said Lucy, 
 putting her arms round her, and kissing her wet 
 cheek. " But perhaps your father will not be so 
 very angry with you after all; and at any rate you 
 are too old to be whipped, so a scolding will be 
 the worst you will be likely to get." 
 
 "He never did whip me, never struck me a 
 blow in his life; but I would prefer the pain of a 
 dozen whippings to what I expect," said Elsie, 
 with a fresh burst of tears. 
 
 "What is that, you poor dear?" asked Lucy. 
 "I can't imagine what he could do worse than 
 beat you." 
 
 " He may put me away from his arms for weeks 
 or months, and be cold, and stern, and distant to 
 me, never giving me a caress or even so much as a 
 kind word or look. Oh, if he should do that, how 
 can I bear it!" 
 
 " Well, don't tell him anything about it. I 
 wouldn't, and I don't see any reason why you 
 should." 
 
 Elsie shook her head sorrowf ulty. " I must; 
 I never conceal anything any secret of my own 
 from him; and I should feel like a guilty thing, 
 acting a lie, and could not look him in the face; 
 and he would know from my very look and man- 
 ner that something was wrong, and would ques- 
 tion me, and make me tell him all. Lucy, I must 
 go home at once." 
 
 " No, indeed, you must not. Why, you were to 
 stay a week two days longer than this; and if
 
 822 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 you were ready to start this minute, it would "Ke 
 quite dark before you could possibly reach the 
 Oaks." 
 
 Elsie looked at her watch, and perceiving that 
 her friend was right, gave up the idea of going 
 that day, but said she must leave the next morn- 
 ing. To that Lucy again objected. " I can't 
 bear to lose those two days of your promised 
 visit," she said, " for if you are determined to tell 
 your papa all about this, there's no knowing when 
 lie will allow you to come here again." 
 
 " Never, I fear," sighed Elsie. 
 
 "I haven't been able to help feeling a little 
 iiard to him on poor Herbert's account," Lucy 
 went on, " and I believe that had something to 
 do with my readiness to help Egerton to outwit 
 him in obtaining an interview with you. But I'll 
 never do anything of the kind again; so he needn't 
 be afraid to let you come to see us." 
 
 She then told Elsie what had passed in the 
 drawing-room between Egerton and herself his 
 request and her indignant refusal. 
 
 It helped to shake Elsie's confidence in the 
 man, and made her still more remorseful in view 
 of that day's disobedience; for she could not de- 
 ceive herself into the belief that she had been 
 altogether blameless. " As I said before, I can't 
 bear the idea of losing you so soon," continued 
 Lucy, "but there is still another reason why I 
 must beg of you to stay till the set time of your 
 leaving. Mamma knows nothing about this 
 affair, and would be exceedingly displeased with 
 me, if she should find it out; as of course she must, 
 if you go to-morrow; as that would naturally call
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 323 
 
 fcut an explanation. So, dear, do promise me* 
 that you will give up the idea." 
 
 Elsie hesitated, but not liking to bring Lucy 
 into trouble, finally yielded to her urgent entrea- 
 ties, and consented to stay. 
 
 All the enjoyment of her visit, however, was 
 over; she felt it impossible to rest till her father 
 knew all, shed many tears in secret, and had 
 much ado to conceal the traces of them, and ap- 
 pear cheerful in the presence of the family. 
 
 But the two wretched days were over at last, 
 and declining the urgent invitations of her 
 friends to linger with them a little longer, she 
 bade them an affectionate farewell, and set out 
 for home. 
 
 Jim had been sent to escort her, another serv- 
 ant with the wagon for Chloe and the luggage. 
 Struck with a sudden fear that she might meet 
 or be overtaken by Egerton, Elsie ordered Jim to 
 keep up close in the rear, then touching the whip 
 to her horse, started off at a brisk canter. Her 
 thoughts were full of the coming interview with 
 ^her father, which she dreaded exceedingly, while 
 at the same time she longed to have it over. She 
 drew rein at the great gates leading into the 
 grounds, and the servant dismounted and opened 
 them. 
 
 " Jim," she asked, " is your master at home? " 
 
 " Dunno, Miss Elsie, but the missus am gone 
 ober to Ion to spend the day, an lef little Marse 
 Horace at Boselands." , 
 
 " Why, what's tho matter, Jim? " 
 
 " De missus at Ion little bit sick, I b'lieve, Miss 
 Elsie."
 
 324 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 "And papa didn't go with them?" 
 
 " Yes, miss; but he corned right back again, and 
 I 'spect he's in de house now." 
 
 " Dear papa! he came back to receive me," mur- 
 mured Elsie to herself, as she rode on, and a 
 scalding tear fell at the thought of how the lov- 
 ing look and fond caress with which he was sure 
 to greet her, would be quickly exchanged for dark 
 frowns, and stern, cold reproofs. 
 
 " Oh, if I were a child again, I believe I should 
 hope he would just whip me at once, and then for- 
 give me, and it would be all over; but now oh, 
 dear! how long will his displeasure last? " 
 
 It was just as she had expected; he was on the 
 veranda, watching for her coming hastened for- 
 ward, assisted her to alight, embraced her ten- 
 derly, then pushing aside her veil, looked search- 
 ingly into her face. 
 
 " What is the matter? " he asked, as her eyes 
 met his for an instant with a beseeching, implor- 
 ing glance, then fell beneath his gaze while her 
 face flushed crimson. 
 
 She tried to answer him, but her tongue re- 
 fused to do its office, there was a choking sensa- 
 tion in her throat and her lips quivered. 
 
 He led her into his private study, took off her 
 hat and threw it aside, and seating her on a sofa, 
 still keeping his arm about her for she was 
 trembling very much asked again, " What is the 
 matter? what has gone wrong with you, my 
 daughter? " 
 
 His tone, his look, his manner were very gentle 
 and tender; but that only increased her remorse 
 and self-reproach.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 325 
 
 " Papa, don't be so kind," she faltered; " I I 
 don't deserve it, for I have disobeyed you." 
 
 "Is it possible! when? where? and how? Can 
 it be that you have seen and spoken with that 
 scoundrel, Elsie ? " 
 
 "Yes, papa." Her voice was very low and 
 tremulous, her heart throbbed almost to suffoca- 
 tion, her bosom heaved tumultuously, and her 
 color came and went with every breath. 
 
 He rose and paced hurriedly across the room 
 two or three times, then coming back to her side, 
 " Tell me all about it," he said sternly" every 
 action, every word spoken by either, as far as you 
 can recall it." 
 
 She obeyed in the same low, tremulous tones 
 in which she had answered him before, her voice 
 now and then broken by a half-smothered sob, 
 and her eyes never once meeting his, which she 
 felt were fixed so severely upon her tearful, down- 
 cast face. 
 
 He cross-questioned her till he knew all that 
 had passed nearly as well as if he had been present 
 through the whole interview, his tones growing 
 more and more stern and angry. 
 
 "And you dared to permit all that, Elsie?" 
 he exclaimed when she had finished; " to allow 
 that vile wretch to put his arm around you, hold 
 your hand in his, for half an hour probably, and 
 even to press his lips again and again to yours or 
 to your cheek; and that after I had told you I 
 would not have him take such a liberty with you 
 for half I am worth; and " 
 
 " Not to my lips, papa." 
 
 " Then it is not quite so ba'l as I thought, but
 
 326 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 "bad enough certainly; and all this after I had 
 positively forbidden you to even so much as ex- 
 change the slightest salutation with him. What 
 am I to think of such high-handed rebellion? " 
 
 " Papa," she said beseechingly, " is not that too 
 hard a word? I did not disobey deliberately I 
 don't think anything could have induced me to 
 go into that room knowing that he was there. 
 I was taken by surprise, and when he had got 
 hold of my hand I tried in vain to get it free." 
 
 " Don't attempt to excuse yourself, Elsie. You 
 could have escaped from him at once, by simply 
 raising your voice and calling for assistance. I 
 do not believe it would have been impossible to 
 avoid even that first embrace; and it fairly makes 
 my blood boil to think he succeeded in giving it 
 to you. How dared you so disobey me as to sub- 
 mit to it ? " 
 
 " Papa, at the moment I forgot everything but 
 but just that he was there." 
 
 The last words were spoken in a voice scarcely 
 raised above a whisper, while her head drooped 
 lower and lower and her cheek grew hot with 
 shame. 
 
 "Did I ever take forgetfulness of my orders 
 as any excuse of disobedience?" he asked in as 
 stern a tone as he had ever used to her. 
 
 " No, papa; but oh, don't be very angry with 
 me!" 
 
 " I am exceedingly displeased with you, Elsie! 
 so much so that nothing but your sex saves you 
 from a severe chastisement. And I cannot allow 
 you to escape punishment. You must be taught 
 that though no longer a mere child, you are not
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 327 
 
 yet old enough to disobey me with impunity. 
 Hush!" as she seemed about to speak, "I will 
 not have a word of reply. Go to your own apart- 
 ments and consider yourself confined to them 
 till you hear further from me. Stay! " he added 
 as she rose to obey, "when did all this occur?" 
 
 She told him in her low, tearful tones, her ut- 
 terance half choked with sobs. 
 
 " Two days ago, and yet your confession has 
 been delayed till now. Does that look like peni- 
 tence for your fault?" 
 
 She explained why she had not returned home 
 at once; but he refused to accept the excuse, and 
 ordered her away as sternly as before. 
 
 She obeyed in silence, controlling her feelings 
 by a great effort, until she had gained the privacy 
 of her own apartments, then giving way to a fit 
 of almost hysterical weeping. It was years since 
 'her father had been seriously displeased with her, 
 and loving him with such intense affection, his 
 anger and sternness nearly broke her heart. 
 
 Her tender conscience pricked her sorely too, 
 adding greatly to her distress by its reproaches 
 on account of her disobedience and her delay in 
 confessing it. 
 
 It came to her mind at length that her heav- 
 enly Father might be more tender and forbear- 
 ing with her, more ready to forgive and restore 
 to favor, than her earthly one. She remembered 
 the sweet words, " There is forgiveness with thee, 
 that thou mayest be feared." " If any man sin, 
 we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ 
 the righteous." She went to Him with her sin 
 and sorrow, asking pardon for the past and help
 
 328 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 for the future. She asked, too, that the anger of 
 her earthly parent might be turned away; that 
 the Lord would dispose him to forgive and love 
 her as before. 
 
 She rose from her knees with a heart, though 
 still sad and sorrowful, yet lightened of more than 
 half its load. 
 
 But the day was a very long one; with a mind 
 so disturbed she could not settle to any employ- 
 ment, or find amusement in anything. She 
 passed the time in wandering restlessly from 
 room to room, starting and trembling as now and 
 then she thought she heard her father's step or 
 voice, then weeping afresh as she found that he 
 did not come near her. 
 
 When the dinner-bell rang she hoped he would 
 send, or come to her; but instead he sent her meal 
 to her; such an one as was usual upon their table 
 both luxurious and abundant, which com- 
 forted her with the hope that he was less dis- 
 pleased with her than at other times when he had 
 allowed her little more than prison fare. But ex- 
 citement and mental distress had brought on a 
 severe headache; she had no appetite, and sent 
 the food away almost untasted. 
 
 It was mild, beautiful weather in the early 
 spring; such weather as makes one feel it a trial 
 to be compelled to stay within doors, and Elsie 
 longed for her favorite retreat in the grounds. 
 
 In the afternoon some ladies called; Mr. Dins- 
 more was out, and she dared not go to the draw- 
 ing room without permission; but her headache 
 furnished sufficient excuse for declining to see 
 them, and they went away.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 329 
 
 Shortly after, she heard her father's return. 
 He had not been off the estate, or out of sight of 
 the house; he was keeping guard over her, but 
 still did not come near her. 
 
 Just at tea-time she again heard the sound 
 of wheels; then her father's, mother's, and little 
 brother's voices. 
 
 " Mamma and Horace have come home," she 
 thought with a longing desire to run out and em- 
 brace them. 
 
 " Oh, papa, has sister come home?" she heard 
 the child's voice ask in eager tones. 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Oh, then I must run into her room and kiss 
 her! " 
 
 " No, you must not; stay here." 
 
 " But why mustn't I go to sister, papa? " - 
 
 " Because I forbid it." 
 
 Every word of the short colloquy reached El- 
 sie's ear, adding to her grief and dismay. Was 
 she, then, to be separated from all the rest of the 
 family? did her father fear that she would exert 
 a bad influence over Horace, teaching him to be 
 disobedient and wilful? How deeply humbled 
 and ashamed she felt at the thought. 
 
 Eose gave her husband a look of surprised, anx- 
 ious inquiry. "Is Elsie sick, dear?" she asked. 
 
 " No, Eose, but she is in disgrace with me," 
 he answered in an undertone, as he led the way 
 into the house. 
 
 "Horace, you astonish me! what can she have 
 done to displease you? " 
 
 " Come in here; and I will tell you," he said, 
 throwing open the door of his study.
 
 330 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 Eose listened in silence, while he repeated to 
 her the substance of Elsie's confession, mingled 
 with expressions of his own anger and indigna- 
 tion. 
 
 " Poor child! " murmured Eose, as he con- 
 cluded; " Horace, don't be hard with her; she 
 must have suffered a great deal in these last three 
 days." 
 
 " Yes," he answered in a moved tone; " when 
 I think of that, I can scarcely refrain from going 
 to her, taking her in my arms, and lavishing 
 caresses and endearments upon her; but then 
 comes the thought of her allowing that scoun- 
 drel to do the same, and I am ready almost to 
 whip her for it." His face flushed hotly, and his 
 dark eyes flashed as he spoke. 
 
 " Oh, my dear! " exclaimed Eose, half fright- 
 ened at his vehemence, "you cannot mean 
 it?" 
 
 " Eose," he said, pacing to and fro in increas- 
 ing excitement, " the fellow is a vile wretch, 
 whose very touch I esteem pollution to a sweet, 
 fair, innocent young creature like my daughter. 
 I told her so, and positively forbade her to so 
 much as look at him, or permit him to see her 
 face, if it could be avoided, or to recognize, or 
 hold the slightest communication with him in 
 any way. Yet in defiance of all this, she allows 
 him to take her hand and hold it for, I don't 
 know how long, put his arm around her waist 
 and kiss her a number of times. Now what does 
 such disobedience deserve?" 
 
 "Had she no excuse to offer?" 
 
 "Excuse? Yes, she did not disobey deliber-
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 331 
 
 ately was taken by surprise forgot everything 
 but that he was there." 
 
 "Well,, my dear," and Eose's hand was laid 
 affectionately on his arm, while a tender smile 
 played about her mouth, and her sweet blue eyes 
 looked fondly into his. "You know how it is 
 with lovers, if you will only look back a very few 
 years. I think there were times when you and I 
 forgot that there was anybody in the wide world 
 but just our two selves." 
 
 A smile, a tender caress, a few very lover-like 
 words, and resuming his gravity and seriousness, 
 Mr. Dinsmore went on: " But you forget the 
 odious character of the man. If I had objected 
 to him from mere prejudice or whim, it would 
 have been a very different thing." 
 
 " But you know Elsie does not believe " 
 
 "She ought to believe what her father tells 
 her," he interrupted hotly; " but believe or not, 
 she must and shall obey me; and if she does not 
 I shall punish her." 
 
 " And to do that, you need only look coldly on 
 her, and refrain from giving her caresses and 
 endearing words. Such treatment from her 
 dearly loved father would of itself be sufficient, 
 very soon, to crush her tender, sensitive spirit." 
 
 His face softened, the frown left his brow, and: 
 the angry fire his eye. " My poor darling! " he 
 murmured, with a sigh, his thoughts going back 
 to a time of estrangement between them long 
 years ago. "Yes, Eose, you are right; she is a 
 very tender, delicate, sensitive plant, and it be- 
 hooves her father to be exceeding gentle and 
 forbearing with her."
 
 332 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 " Then you will forgive her, and take her to 
 your heart again?" 
 
 " Yes if she is penitent; and tell her that 
 she owes it to her mother's intercession; for I 
 had intended to make her feel herself in disgrace 
 for days or weeks/' 
 
 Chloe was at that moment carrying a large sil- 
 ver waiter, filled with delicacies, into the apart- 
 ments of her young mistress. " Xow, darlin', do 
 try to eat to please your ole mammy," she said 
 coaxingly, as she set it down before her. " I'se 
 taken lots ob pains to fix up dese tings dat my 
 pet chile so fond ob." 
 
 Elsie's only answer was a sad sort of smile; 
 but for the sake of the loving heart that had 
 prompted the careful preparation of the tempt- 
 ing meal the loving eyes that watched her as 
 she ate, she tried to do her best. 
 
 Only half satisfied with the result, Chloe bore 
 the waiter away again, while Elsie seated herself 
 in a large easy-chair that was drawn up close to 
 the glass doors opening upon the lawn and laying 
 her head back upo!i its cushions, turned her eyes 
 toward the outer world, looking longingly upon 
 the shaded alleys and g^y parterres, the lawn with 
 its velvet carpet of emerald green, where a foun- 
 tain cast up its cool showers of spray, and long 
 shadows slept, alternating with brilliant patches 
 of ruddy light from the slowly sinking sun. 
 
 She sighed deeply, and her eyes filled with tears. 
 " How long should she be forbidden to wander 
 there at her own sweet will? " 
 
 A soft, cool hand was gently laid upon her 
 aching brow, and looking up she saw her father
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 333 
 
 standing by her side. She had not heard his ap- 
 proach, for his slippered feet made no noise in 
 passing over the rich velvet carpet. 
 
 His face was grave, but no longer stern or an- 
 gry. " Does your head ache, daughter? " he asked 
 almost tenderly. 
 
 " Yes, papa; but not half so badly as my heart 
 does," she answered, a tear rolling quickly down 
 her cheek. " I am so sorry for my disobedience. 
 Oh, papa, will you forgive me?" And her eyes 
 sought his with the imploring look he ever found 
 it well-nigh impossible to resist. 
 
 " Yes, I will I do," he said, stooping to press 
 a kiss upon the quivering lips. " I had thought 
 I ougEt to keep you in disgrace some time longer, 
 but your mamma has pleaded for you, and for her 
 sake and for the sake of a time, long ago, when 
 I caused my little girl much undeserved suffer- 
 ing," he added, his tones growing tremulous with 
 emotion, " I forgive and receive you back into 
 favor at once." 
 
 She threw her arm about his neck, and as hfc 
 drew her to his breast, laid her head down there, 
 weeping tears of joy and thankfulness. " Dear, 
 kind mamma! and you too, best and dearest of 
 fathers! I don't deserve it," she sobbed. "I am 
 afraid I ought to be punished for such disobedi- 
 ence." 
 
 "I think you have been," he said pityingly, 
 "the last three days can hardly have been very 
 happy ones to you." 
 
 " No, papa; very, very wretched." 
 
 " My poor child! Ah, I must take better care 
 of my precious one in future. I shall allow you
 
 334 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 to go nowhere without either your motEer or my- 
 eelf to guard and protect you. Also, I shall break 
 off your intimacy with Lucy Carrington; she is 
 henceforth to be to you a mere speaking acquaint- 
 ance; come, now we will take a little stroll 
 through the grounds. The cool air will, I hope, 
 do your head good."
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Twas the doubt that thou wert 
 That wrung my heart with pain ; 
 But now I know thy perfidy, 
 I shall be well again. 
 
 BRYANT. 
 
 ELSIE submitted without a murmur to her 
 father's requirements and restrictions; but 
 though there was nothing else to remind her that 
 she had been for one sad day in disgrace with 
 -him his manner toward her having again all the 
 old tender fondness she did not fully recover 
 her spirits, but, spite of her struggles to be cheer- 
 ful and hopeful, seemed often depressed, and 
 grew pale and thin day by day. 
 
 Her father noticed it with deep concern and 
 anxiety. " Something must be done," he said 
 one day to his wife; "the child is drooping 
 strangely, and I fear will lose her health. I must 
 try what change will do for her. What do you say 
 to a year in Europe? " 
 
 "For all of us?" 
 
 " Yes, for you and me and our two children." 
 
 " It might be very pleasant, and Elsie has never 
 been." 
 
 "N"o; I have always meant to take her, but 
 found home so enjoyable that I have put it off 
 from year to year." 
 
 Elsie entered the room as he spoke.
 
 336 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 " Come here, daughter," he said, making room 
 for her on the sofa by his side. "I was just 
 saying to mamma that I think of taking you all 
 to Europe for a year. How should you like 
 that?" 
 
 " Oh, very much, papa! " she answered, look- 
 ing up brightly; " I should so enjoy seeing all the 
 places you have told me of, all the scenes of 
 your adventures when you travelled there before." 
 
 " Then I think we will go. Shall we not, 
 mamma ? " 
 
 " Yes; but I must pay a visit home first, and 
 do some preparatory shopping in Philadelphia. 
 Can we go on in time to spend some weeks there 
 before sailing?" 
 
 " You might, my dear; but I shall have to stay 
 behind to arrange matters here; which will take 
 some time, in contemplation of so lengthened an 
 absence from the estate." 
 
 " Then I suppose we must have a temporary 
 separation," said Rose, in a jesting tone; " I had 
 better take the children and go home at once, so 
 that Elsie and I can be getting through our shop- 
 ping, etc., while you are busy here." 
 
 " No, Eose; you may go, and take Horace with 
 you, if you like; but Elsie must stay with me. I 
 cannot trust her even with you! " 
 ' " Oh, papa! " And the sweet face flushed crim- 
 son, the soft eyes filled with tears. 
 
 "I think you misunderstand me, daughter/' 
 he said kindly; " I do not mean that I fear you 
 would fail in obedience to my commands or my 
 wishes: but that I must keep you under my pro- 
 tection. Besides, I cannot possibly spare all my
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 337 
 
 treasures wife, son, and daughter at once. 
 Would you wish to go and leave me quite alone? " 
 
 " Oh no, no, indeed, you dear, dearest father! " 
 she cried, putting her arm round his neck, and 
 gazing in his face with eyes beaming with joy and 
 love. 
 
 " Yours is the better plan, I believe, my dear," 
 said Eose. " I would rather not have you left 
 alone, and I think I could do what is necessary 
 for Elsie, in the way of shopping and ordering 
 dresses made, if she likes to trust me." 
 
 So it was arranged; three days after this con- 
 versation Mrs. Dinsmore left for Philadelphia, 
 taking little Horace with her, and a fortnight 
 later Mr. Dinsmore followed with Elsie. 
 
 Dearly as the young girl loved Eose and her 
 little brother, it had yet been an intense pleasure 
 to her to have her father all to herself, and be 
 everything to him for those two weeks; and 
 she was almost sorry to have them come to an 
 end. 
 
 It was late at night when they reached the 
 City of Brotherly Love. Mr. Allison's residence 
 was several miles distant from the depot, but his 
 carriage was there in waiting for them. 
 
 " Are the family all well, Davis? " inquired Mr. 
 Dinsmore, addressing the coachman, as he placed 
 Elsie in the vehicle. 
 
 "All well, sir; Mrs. Dinsmore and the little 
 boy too." 
 
 " Ah, I am thankful for that. You may drive 
 on at once. My man John will call a hack and 
 follow us with Aunt Chloe and the bf ggage." 
 
 " Did you give John the checks, papa-? " asked
 
 838 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 Elsie, as he took his seat by her side, and Davis 
 shut the carriage door. 
 
 " Yes. How weary you look, my poor child! 
 There, lean on me," and he put his arm about 
 her and made her lay her head on his shoulder. 
 
 They drove on rapidly, passing through several 
 comparatively silent and deserted streets, then 
 suddenly the horses slackened their pace, a bright 
 light shone in at the carriage window and the 
 hum of many voices and sound of many feet at- 
 tracted the attention of the travellers. 
 
 Elsie started and raised her head, asking, 
 "What is it, papa?" 
 
 " We are passing a theatre, and it seems the 
 play is just over, judging by the crowds that are 
 pouring from its doors." 
 
 Davis reined in his horses to avoid running 
 over those who were crossing the street, and 
 Elsie, glancing from the window, caught sight 
 of a face she knew only too well. Its owner was 
 in the act of stepping from the door of the thea- 
 tre, and staggered as he did so would have 
 fallen to the ground had he not been held up by 
 his companion, a gaudily dressed, brazen-faced 
 woman, whose character there was no mistak- 
 ing. 
 
 " Ha, ha, Tom! " she cried, with a loud and 
 boisterous laugh, " I saved you from a downfall 
 that time; which I'll be bound is more than that 
 Southern heiress of yours would have done." 
 
 " Now don't be throwing her up to me again, 
 Bet," he answered thickly, reeling along so close 
 to our travellers that they caught the scent of 
 his breath; "I tell you again she can't hold a
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. So. 
 
 candle to you, and I never cared for her; it was 
 the money I was after." 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore saw a deadly pallor suddenly 
 overspread his daughter's face; for a single in- 
 stant her eyes sought his with an expression of 
 mute despairing agony that wrung his heart; 
 then all was darkness as again the carriage rolled 
 rapidly onward. 
 
 " My poor, poor darling! " he murmured, draw- 
 ing her close to him and folding his arms about 
 her as if he would shield her from every danger 
 and evil, while hers crept around his neck and 
 her head dropped upon his breast. 
 
 The carriage rattled on over the rough stones. 
 Elsie clung with death-like grasp to her father, 
 shudder after shudder shaking her whole frame, 
 in utter silence at first, but at length, as they 
 came upon a smoother road and moved with less 
 noise and jolting, " Papa," she whispered, " oh, 
 what a fearful, fearful fate you have saved me 
 from! Thank God for a father's protecting love 
 and care! " 
 
 " Thank Him that I have my darling safe." 
 he responded in a deeply moved tone, and caress- 
 ing her with exceeding tenderness. 
 
 In another moment they had stopped before 
 Mr. Allison's door, which was thrown wide open 
 almost on the instant; for Rose and Edward were 
 up, waiting and listening for their coming. 
 
 " Come at last! glad to see you! " cried the lat- 
 ter, springing down the steps to greet his brother- 
 in-law as he alighted. Then, as Mr. Dinsmore 
 turned, lifted his daughter from the carriage, 
 and half carried her into the house, " But what's
 
 uAO ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 the matter? Elsie ill? hurt? have you had an ac- 
 cident?" 
 
 Eose stood waiting in the hall. "My dear 
 husband! " she exclaimed in a tone of mingled 
 affection, surprise, and alarm. "What is it? 
 what is wrong with our darling? Come this 
 way, into the sitting-room, and lay her on the 
 sofa." 
 
 "She has received a heavy blow, Eose, but I 
 think I hope it will turn out for her good in 
 the end," he said low and tremulously, as he laid 
 her down. 
 
 She seemed in a half-fainting condition, and 
 Edward rushed away in search of restoratives. 
 
 Eose asked no more questions at the time, nor 
 did her husband give any further information, 
 but in silence, broken only now and then by a 
 subdued whisper, they both devoted their energies 
 to Elsie's restoration. 
 
 " Shall I go for a doctor? " asked Edward. 
 
 " No, thank you. I think she will be better 
 presently," answered Mr. Dinsmore. 
 
 " I am better now," murmured Elsie feebly. 
 " Papa, if you will help me up to bed, I shall do 
 very well." 
 
 " Can't you eat something first? " asked Eose, 
 " I have a nice little supper set out in the next 
 room for papa and you." 
 
 Elsie shook her head, and sighed, 'I don't 
 think I could, mamma; I am not at all hungry." 
 
 "I want you to try, though," said her father; 
 " it is some hours now since you tasted food, and 
 I think you need it," and lifting her tenderly in 
 his arms lie carried her into the supper-room,
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 341 
 
 where he seated her at the table in an easy-chair 
 which Edward hastily wheeled up for her use. 
 
 To please her father she made a determined 
 effort, and succeeded in swallowing a few mouth- 
 fuls. After that he helped her to her room and 
 left her in the care of Kose and Chloe. 
 
 Having seen with her own eyes, and heard 
 with her own ears, Elsie could no longer doubt 
 the utter unworthiness of Egerton, or his identity 
 with Tom Jackson; of whose vices and crimes 
 she had heard from both her father and Walter, 
 with whom she still kept up a correspondence. 
 She loved him no longer; nay, she had never loved 
 him; her affection had been bestowed upon the 
 man she believed him to be, not the man that he 
 was. But now the scales had fallen from her 
 eyes, she saw him in all his hideous moral de- 
 formity, and shrank with horror and loathing 
 from the recollection that his arm had once en- 
 circled her waist, his lip touched her cheek. She 
 could now appreciate her father's feelings of an- 
 ger and indignation on learning that she had per- 
 mitted such liberties, and felt more deeply hum- 
 bled and penitent on account of it than ever be- 
 fore. 
 
 She slept little that night, and did not leave 
 her room for several days. The sudden shock had 
 quite unnerved her; but the cause of her illness 
 remained a secret between herself and her par- 
 ents, who watched over her with the tenderest 
 solicitude, and spared no effort to cheer and com- 
 fort her. She seemed at this time to shrink from 
 all companionship but theirs, although she and 
 her mamma's younger brothers and sisters had
 
 342 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 always entertained a warm friendship for each' 
 other. 
 
 On the fourth day after their arrival her father 
 took her out for a drive, and returning left her 
 resting on the sofa in her dressing-room, while he 
 and Rose went for a short walk. 
 
 The door-bell rang, and presently Chloe came 
 up with a very smiling face to ask if " Marse Wal- 
 ter " might come in. 
 
 " Walter ? " cried Elsie, starting up. " Yes, in- 
 deed! " 
 
 She had scarcely spoken the words before he 
 was there beside her, shaking hands, and kissing 
 her, saying with a gay boyish laugh, " I suppose 
 your uncle has a right? " 
 
 " Yes, certainly; though I don't know when 
 he ever claimed it before. But oh, how glad I 
 am to see you! and how you've grown and im- 
 proved. Sit down, do. There's an easy-chair. 
 
 " Excuse my not getting up; papa bade me lie 
 and rest for an hour." 
 
 " Thanks, yes; and I know you always obey or- 
 ders. And so you're on the sick list? what's the 
 matter?" 
 
 An expression of pain crossed her features and 
 the color faded from her cheek. " I have been 
 ailing a little," she said, "but am better now. 
 How is Arthur? " 
 
 " H'm! well enough physically, but in hor- 
 rible disgrace with papa. You've no idea, Elsie, 
 to what an extent that Tom Jackson has fleeced 
 him. He's over head and ears in debt, and my 
 father's furious. He has put the whole matter
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 343 
 
 into Horace's hands for settlement. Did he tell 
 you about it? " 
 
 " No, he only said he expected to go to Prince- 
 ton to-morrow to attend to some business. He 
 would have gone sooner, but didn't like to leave 
 me." 
 
 " Careful of you as ever! that's right. I say, 
 Elsie, I think Horace has very sensible ideas about 
 matters and things.'' 
 
 " Do you? I own I think so myself," she an- 
 swered with a quiet smile. 
 
 "Yes; you see Arthur is in debt some thou- 
 sands, a good share of it what they call debts of 
 honor. Papa had some doubt as to whether they 
 ought to be paid, and asked Horace what was 
 his opinion. Adelaide wrote me the whole story, 
 you see. Here, I'll give it to you in his exact 
 words, as she reports them," he added, taking a 
 letter from his pocket and reading aloud, 
 "' Father, don't think of such a thing! Why, 
 surely it would be encouraging gambling, which 
 is a ruinous vice; and paying a man for robbing 
 and cheating. I would, if necessary, part with 
 the last cent to pay an honest debt; but a so-called 
 debt of honor (of dishonor would be more cor- 
 rect) I would not pay if I had more money than 
 I could find other uses for.' And I think he was 
 right. Don't you? " concluded Walter. 
 
 " I think papa is always right." 
 
 " Yes? Well, I was afraid you didn't think he 
 was in regard to that fellow you met out in 
 Lansdale; I've been wanting to see you to tell 
 you what I know f the scoundrelism of Tom
 
 344 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD 
 
 Jackson, and the proof that they are one and the 
 same." 
 
 "Yes, I know, I I believe it now, Walter, and 
 But don't let us speak of it again," she faltered, 
 turning deathly pale and almost gasping for 
 breath. 
 
 " I won't; I didn't know you'd mind; I I'm 
 very sorry," he stammered, looking anxious, and 
 vexed with himself. 
 
 " Never mind; I shall soon learn not to care. 
 Now tell me about Arthur. Will he stay and 
 finish his course?" 
 
 "No; papa says his patience is worn out, and 
 his purse can stand no more such drains as Ar- 
 thur has put upon it two or three times already. 
 So he is to leave and go home ,as soon as Horace 
 has settled up his affairs." 
 
 "And you?" 
 
 "I hope to go on and to graduate in another 
 year." 
 
 " Oh, Wai, I'm so glad! so thankful you have'nt 
 followed in poor Arthur's footsteps." 
 
 " He wouldn't let me, Elsie; he actually 
 wouldn't. I know I'm lacking in self-reliance 
 and firmness, and if Art had chosen to lead me 
 wrong, I'm afraid he'd have succeeded. But he 
 says, poor fellow! that it's enough for one to be 
 a disgrace to the family, and has tried to keep me 
 out of temptation. And you can't think how 
 much my correspondence with you has helped to 
 keep me straight. Your letters always did me so 
 much good." 
 
 <f Oh, thank you for telling me that! " she cried, 
 with bright, glad tears glistening in her eyes.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 345 
 
 "No, 'tis I that owe thanks to you," he said, 
 looking down meditatively at the carpet and 
 twirling his watch-key between his finger and 
 thumb. 
 
 " Poor Art ! this ought to have been his last 
 year, and doubtless would if he had only kept out 
 of bad company." 
 
 " Ah, Wai, I hope that you will never forget 
 that ' evil communications corrupt good man- 
 ners.' " 
 
 " I hope not, Elsie. I wish you could stay and 
 attend our commencement. What do you say? 
 Can't you? It comes off in about a fortnight." 
 
 " No, Wai. I'm longing to get away, and papa 
 has engaged our passage in the next steamer. 
 But perhaps we may return in time to see you 
 graduate next year." 
 
 " What, in such haste to leave America! I'm 
 afraid you're losing your patriotism," he said 
 playfully. 
 
 " Ah, it is no want of love for my dear native 
 land that makes me impatient to be gone! " she 
 answered half sadly. 
 
 " And are you really to be gone a year? " 
 
 " So papa intends, but of course everything in 
 this world is uncertain." 
 
 " I shall look anxiously for my European let- 
 ters, and expect them to be very interesting." 
 
 " I'll do my best, Wai," she said languidly, " but 
 I don't feel, just now, as if I could ever write any- 
 thing worth reading." 
 
 " I think I never saw you so blue," he said in 
 a lively, jesting tone. " I must tell you of the 
 fun we fellows have, and if it doesn't make you
 
 346 ELSIE '8 GIRLHOOD. 
 
 wish yourself one of us Well," and he launched 
 out into an animated description of various prac- 
 tical jokes played off by the students upon their 
 professors or on each other. 
 
 He succeeded at length in coaxing some of the 
 old brightness into the sweet face, and Mr. and 
 Mrs. Dinsmore, mounting the stairs on their re- 
 turn from their walk, exchanged glances of de- 
 lighted surprise at the sound of a silvery laugh 
 which had not greeted their ears for days. 
 
 Walter received a hearty welcome from both. 
 His visit, though necessarily short, was of real 
 service to Elsie, doing much to rouse her out of 
 herself and her grief; thus beginning the cure 
 which time and change of scene dulling the keen 
 edge of sorrow and disappointment, and giving 
 pleasant occupation to her thoughts would at 
 length carry on to completion.
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 ** The shaken tree grows firmer at the roots ; 
 So love grows firmer for some blasts of doubt." 
 
 IT was two years or more since the Oaks had 
 Suffered the temporary loss of its master and mis- 
 tress, yet they had not returned; they still lin- 
 gered on foreign shores, and Mrs. Murray, who 
 had been left at the head of household affairs, 
 looked in vain for news of their home-coming. 
 
 She now and then received a short business let- 
 ter from Mr. Dinsmore or of directions from 
 Rose; or a longer one from the latter or Elsie, giv- 
 ing entertaining bits of travel, etc.; and occa- 
 sionally Adelaide would ride over from Rose- 
 lands and delight the old housekeeper's heart by 
 reading aloud a lively gossipy epistle one or the 
 other had addressed to her. 
 
 How charmed and interested were both reader 
 and listener; especially when they came upon one 
 of Rose's graphic accounts of their presentation 
 at court in London, Paris, Vienna, or St. Peters- 
 burg wherein she gave a minute description of 
 Elsie's dress and appearance, and dwelt with 
 motherly pride and delight upon the admiration 
 everywhere accorded to the beauty and sweetness 
 of the lovely American heiress. 
 
 It was a great gratification to Adelaide's pride 
 in her niece to learn that more than one coronet 
 had been laid at her feet; yet she was not sorry to
 
 348 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 hear that they had been rejected with the gentle 
 firmness which she knew Elsie was capable of 
 exercising. 
 
 " But what more could the bairn or her father 
 desire? would he keep the sweet lassie single a' 
 her days, Miss Dinsmore?" asked Mrs. Murray 
 when Adelaide told her this. 
 
 " No," was the smiling rejoinder; " I know he 
 would be very loath to resign her; but this is 
 Elsie's own doing. She says the man for whom 
 she would be willing to give up her native land 
 must be very dear indeed, that her hand shall 
 never be given without her heart, and that it still 
 belongs more to her father than to any one else." 
 
 " Ah, that is well, Miss Adelaide. I hae been 
 sorely troubled aboot my sweet bairn. I never 
 breathed the thoct to ither mortal ear, but when 
 they cam hame frae that summer in the North, 
 she was na the blythe young thing she had been; 
 and there was that in the wistfu' and hungered 
 look o' her sweet een when she turned them 
 whiles upon her father that made me think 
 some ane he didna approve had won the innocent 
 young heart." 
 
 "Ah, well, Mrs. Murray, whatever may have 
 been amiss then, is all over now. My sister writes 
 me that Elsie seems very happy, and as devotedly 
 attached to her father as ever, insisting that no 
 one ever can be so dear to her as he." 
 
 Mrs. Dinsmore's last letter was dated Naples, 
 and there they still lingered. 
 
 One bright spring day they were out sight- 
 seeing, and had wandered into a picture-gallery 
 which they had visited once or twice before.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 349 
 
 Rose had her husband's arm. Elsie held her lit- 
 tle brother's hand in hers. 
 
 " Sister," said the child, " look at those ladies 
 and gentlemen. They are English, aren't 
 they?" 
 
 " Yes; I think so," Elsie answered, f ollowiag 
 the direction of his glance; " a party of English 
 tourists. No, one of the gentlemen looks like 
 an American." 
 
 " That one nearest this way? I can only see his 
 side face, but I think he is the handsomest. 
 Don't you?" 
 
 "Yes; and he has a fine form too, an easy, 
 graceful carriage, and polished manners," she 
 added, as at that moment he stooped to pick up 
 a handkerchief, dropped by one of the ladies of 
 his party, and presented it to its owner. 
 
 Elsie was partial to her own countrymen, and 
 unaccountably to herself, felt an unusual interest 
 in this one. She watched him furtively, wonder- 
 ing who he was, and thinking that in appearance 
 and manners he compared very favorably with 
 the counts, lords, and dukes who in the past two 
 years had so frequently hovered about her, and 
 hung upon her smiles. 
 
 But her father called her attention to some- 
 thing in the painting he and Rose were examin- 
 ing, and when she turned to look again for the 
 stranger and his companions, she perceived that 
 they were gone. 
 
 " Papa," she asked, " did you notice that party 
 of tourists?" 
 
 "Not particularly. What about them?" 
 
 " I am quite certain one of the gentlemen was
 
 350 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD.^ 
 
 an American; and I half fancied there was some- 
 thing familiar in his air and manner." 
 
 " Ah! I wish you had spoken of it while he was 
 here, that I might have made sure whether he 
 were an old acquaintance. But come," he added, 
 taking out his watch, " it is time for us to return 
 home." 
 
 The Dinsmores were occupying an old palace, 
 the property of a noble family whose decayed for- 
 tunes compelled the renting of their ancestral 
 home. In the afternoon of the day of their visit 
 to the picture-gallery Mr. Dinsmore and b. 
 daughter were seated in its spacious saloon, she 
 beside a window overlooking the street, he at a 
 little distance from her, and near to a table cov- 
 ered with books, magazines, and newspapers. 
 That day had brought him a heavy mail from 
 America, and he was examining the New York 
 and Philadelphia dailies with keen interest. 
 
 Elsie was evidently paying no heed to what 
 might be passing in the street. A bit of fancy 
 work gave employment to her fingers, while her 
 thoughts were busy with the contents of a letter 
 received from her Aunt Adelaide that morning. 
 
 It brought ill news. Arthur had been seri- 
 ously injured by a railroad accident and, it was 
 feared, was crippled for life. But that was not 
 all. Dick Percival whom Enna had married 
 nearly two years before had now become utterly 
 bankrupt, having wasted his patrimony in rioting 
 and drunkenness, losing large sums at the gam- 
 ing-table; and his young wife, left homeless and 
 destitute, had been compelled to return to her 
 father's house with her infant son.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 351 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore uttered a slight exclamation. 
 
 "What is it, papa?" asked Elsie, lifting her 
 eyes to meet his fixed upon her with an expres- 
 sion of mingled gratitude and tenderness. 
 
 " Come here," he said, and as she obeyed he 
 drew her to his knee, passing his arm ahout her 
 waist, and, holding the paper before her, pointed 
 to a short paragraph which had just caught his 
 eye. 
 
 She read it at a glance; her face flushed, then 
 paled; she put her arm about his neck, and laid 
 her cheek to his, while tears trembled in the 
 sweet eyes, as soft and beautiful as ever. 
 
 For a moment neither spoke; then she mur- 
 mured in low, quivering tones the same words 
 that had fallen from her lips two years ago, 
 " Thank God for a father's protecting love and 
 care! " 
 
 " Thank Him that I have my daughter safe in 
 my arms," he said, tightening his clasp about her 
 slender waist. " Ah, my own precious child, how 
 could I ever have borne to see you sacrificed to- 
 that wretch! " 
 
 They had just learned that Tom Jackson had 
 been tried for manslaughter and for forgery, 
 found guilty on both charges, and sentenced to 
 the State's Prison for a long term of years. 
 
 They were quiet again for a little; then Elsie 
 said, " Papa, I want to ask you something." 
 
 " Well, daughter, say on." 
 
 " I have been thinking how sad it must be for 
 poor Enna to find herself so destitute, and that I 
 should like to settle something upon her say tea 
 or twenty thousand dollars, if I may "
 
 352 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 " My dear child," he said with a smile, " I have 
 no control over you now as regards the disposal 
 of your property. Do you forget that you passed 
 your majority three weeks ago? " 
 
 "No, papa, I have not forgotten; but I don't 
 mean ever to do anything of importance without 
 your approval. So please make up your mind 
 that I'm always to he your own little girl; never 
 more than eighteen or twenty to you. Now 
 won't you answer my question about Enna? " 
 
 " I think it would be quite as well, or better, to 
 defer any such action for the present. It won't 
 hurt Enna to be made to feel poor and dependent 
 for a time; she needs the lesson; and her parents 
 will not allow her to suffer privation of any sort. 
 Ah, here comes mamma in walking attire. We 
 are going out for perhaps an hour; leaving house, 
 servants, and the little ones in your charge. Hor- 
 ace, be careful to do just as your sister tells you." 
 
 " Yes, papa, I will," answered the child, who 
 had come in with his mother, and had a book in 
 his hand. "Will you help me with my lesson, 
 Elsie, and hear me say it when it is learned? " 
 
 " Yes, that I will. Here's a stool for you close 
 by my side," she said, going back to her seat by 
 the window. 
 
 " Good-bye, dears, we won't be gone long." said 
 Rose, taking her husband's arm. 
 
 Elsie and Horace watched them till they had 
 passed out of sight far down the street, then 
 returned to their employments; her thoughts now 
 going back, not to Eoselands, but to Lansdale, 
 Ashlands, and Philadelphia; memory and imagi- 
 nation bringing vividly before her each scene of
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 353 
 
 her past life in which Egerton had borne a part. 
 Did any of the old love come back? No, for he 
 was not the man who had won her esteem and 
 affection; and even while sending up a silent peti- 
 tion for his final conversion, she shuddered at the 
 thought of her past danger, and was filled with 
 gratitude to God and her father at the remem- 
 brance of her narrow escape. 
 
 Her brother's voice recalled her from her mus- 
 ings. " Look, sister/' he exclaimed, glancing 
 from the window, " there is the very same gentle- 
 man we saw this morning! and see, he's crossing 
 the street! I do believe he's coming here." 
 
 Elsie looked, recognized the stranger, and 
 perceived, with a slight emotion of surprise and 
 pleasure, that he was approaching their door. 
 That he was her countryman, and perhaps direct 
 from her dear native land, was sufficient to make 
 him a welcome visitor. 
 
 The next moment John threw open the door of 
 the saloon and announced, "A gentleman from 
 America! " 
 
 " One who brings no letter of introduction; yet 
 hopes for an audience of you, fair lady," he said, 
 coming forward with smiling countenance and 
 outstretched hand. 
 
 "Mr. Travilla! can it be possible!" she cried, 
 starting up in joyful astonishment, and hastening 
 to bid him welcome. 
 
 " You are not sorry to see me then, my little 
 friend?" he said, taking her offered hand and 
 pressing it in both of his. 
 
 " Sorry, my dear sir! what a question! Were 
 you not always a most welcome guest in mj
 
 354 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD 
 
 father's house? and if welcome at home, ho^f 
 much more so here in a foreign land." 
 
 Mr. Travilla looked into the sweet face, more 
 beautiful than ever, and longed to treat her with 
 the affectionate freedom of former days, yet re- 
 frained; the gentle dignity of her manner seem- 
 ing to forhid it, pleased and cordial as was her 
 greeting. 
 
 He turned to Horace and shook hands with 
 him, remarking that he had grown very much. 
 
 " I am very glad to see you, sir," said the boy. 
 
 " You have not forgotten me then? " 
 
 " Ah, no, indeed; and I can't think how it was 
 that sister and I did not know you yesterday in 
 the picture-gallery; though we knew you were an 
 American! " 
 
 " Ah, were you there? How blind I must have 
 been! " and he turned to Elsie again. 
 
 " "We were there for but a few minutes before 
 your party left; and quite at the other end of that 
 long gallery," she said. " But I am surprised 
 that I failed to recognize you, even at that 
 distance. But I had no thought of your being in 
 the country. How delighted papa will be to see 
 you. He has often spoken of the old times when 
 you and he travelled over Europe together, and 
 wished that you were with him on this trip. He 
 and mamma have gone out, but will be in pres- 
 ently." 
 
 Elsie had many inquiries to make in regard to 
 the health and welfare of relatives and friends, 
 and the old family servants at the Oaks; Mr. Tra- 
 villa numerous questions to ask concerning all 
 that she had seen and done since leaving America.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 355 
 
 But in the midst of it all she exclaimed, " Ah, 
 you must see our little Frenchwoman! such a dar- 
 ling as she is! " 
 
 " I'll ring the bell, sister," said Horace, seeing 
 her glance toward it. 
 
 John appeared in answer, was ordered to tell 
 the nurse to bring the baby, and a neatly dressed 
 middle-aged woman presently entered the room, 
 carrying a lovely infant a little more than a year 
 old. 
 
 " See, is she not a darling? " said Elsie, taking 
 it in her arms. " She has mamma's own sweet 
 pretty blue eyes, and is named for her. Our 
 Rosebud we call her. Papa gave her the name, 
 and he says she is as much like her mother as I 
 am like mine. You don't know, Mr. Travilla, 
 how glad I was when she came to us; it was some- 
 thing so new and delightful to have a sister of 
 my own. Ah, I love her dearly, and she returns 
 my affection. There, see her lay her little head 
 down on my shoulder." 
 
 Mr. Travilla admired and caressed the little 
 creature, coaxed her to come to him for a mo- 
 ment, and the nurse carried her away. 
 
 " When do you return home, Elsie ? " he 
 asked. 
 
 "In the fall. Mr. and Mrs. Ferris, mamma's 
 grandparents, have their golden wedding in Octo- 
 ber. Sophy expects to be married at the same 
 time, and of course we wish to be present on the 
 occasion. We have yet to visit Turin, Venice, 
 and Munich. After seeing these places we in- 
 tend to spend the rest of the summer in Switzer- 
 land, sailing for America some time in September.
 
 356 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 Ah, here are papa and mamma ! " she added as 
 the two entered the room together. 
 
 "Tra villa! what favorable wind blew you 
 here?" cried Mr. Dinsmore, shaking his friend's 
 hand in almost boyish delight. 
 
 " A westerly one, I believe," answered Travilla, 
 laughing and shaking hands with Eose, who 
 looked scarcely less pleased than her husband. 
 " They think at Eoselands and the Oaks that your 
 year is a very long one, or that you have lost your 
 reckoning, and were anxious to send a messenger 
 to assist you in recovering it; so I volunteered my 
 services." 
 
 " Ah, that was kind! but to be able to do so to 
 advantage you will need to take up your abode 
 with us for the present, and to make one of our 
 party when we start again upon our travels." 
 
 " Of course you will," added Eose; " we always 
 consider you one of the family; a sort of brother 
 to us and uncle to the children." 
 
 " Thank you, you are most kind," he said, a 
 slight flush suffusing his cheek for an instant, 
 while his eyes involuntarily sought Elsie's face 
 with a wistful, longing look. 
 
 Her father turned laughingly to her. " Is this 
 your stranger of the picture-gallery? ah, are you 
 not ashamed of failing to recognize so old a 
 friend? " 
 
 "Yes, papa, but I did not catch sight of his 
 full face, and he was at quite a distance, and I 
 never thinking of the possibility that he could be 
 anywhere out of America." 
 
 "And time makes changes in us all is fast 
 turning me into a quiet middle-aged man."
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 357 
 
 " You are very kind to furnish another excuse 
 for my stupidity/' said Elsie, smiling, " but I 
 really cannot see that you have changed in the 
 least since I saw you last." 
 
 "And no stranger would ever think of pro- 
 nouncing you over thirty," added Kose. 
 
 " Ah, you flatter me, fair ladies," returned Mr. 
 Travilla, smiling and shaking his head. 
 
 "No, I can vouch for the truthfulness and 
 honesty of both," said Mr. Dinsmore. 
 
 Mr. Travilla did not hesitate to accept his 
 friend's invitation, knowing that it was honestly 
 given, and feeling that he could not decline it 
 without doing violence to his own inclination. 
 He made one of their party during the rest of 
 their stay in Europe and on the voyage to 
 America. 
 
 His presence was most welcome to all; he saw 
 no reason to doubt that, and yet Elsie's manner 
 sometimes saddened and depressed him. Not 
 that there was ever in it anything approaching to 
 coolness, but it lacked the old delightful famil- 
 iarity, instead of which there was now a quiet re- 
 serve, a gentle dignity, that kept him at a dis- 
 tance, and while increasing his admiration for the 
 fair girl, made him sigh for the old childish days 
 when she was scarcely under more constraint with 
 him than with her father. 
 
 Our little party reached Philadelphia a fort- 
 night before the golden wedding. They found 
 the handsome city residence of the Allisons occu- 
 pied by the family, and full of the pleasant stir 
 and bustle of preparation for the eventful day 
 which was to witness the celebration of the
 
 358 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 fiftieth anniversary of the wedding of Mr. ana 
 Mrs. Ferris, and the marriage of their grand- 
 daughter. 
 
 Sophy, while paying a visit to Rose in her 
 Southern home, had won the heart of Harry Car- 
 rington, and they had been engaged a year or 
 more. Harry had once indulged in a secret pen- 
 chant for Elsie; but now he would not have ex- 
 changed his merry, blue-eyed Sophy for her, or 
 for any other lady in the land. 
 
 The young couple were married at church, very 
 early in the evening, Elsie acting as first brides- 
 maid. Eeturning to the house the bridal party 
 were ushered into the drawing-room, which they 
 found richly ornamented with evergreens and 
 flowers. In the centre rose a pyramid of rare and 
 beautiful blossoms, filling the air with their deli- 
 cious perfume. Above that was a wide arch of 
 evergreens bearing the monograms of Mr. and 
 Mrs. Ferris, placed between the dates of their 
 marriage and of this anniversary. 
 
 The old bride and groom sat together beneath 
 the arch on one side of the pyramid, while the 
 newly-married pair took up a similar position 
 upon the other. 
 
 Only the family and near connections were 
 present for the first half hour. The eldest son of 
 Mr. and Mrs. Ferris made a short address, thank- 
 ing his aged parents for their unselfish love and 
 devotion to their offspring, and exhorting the 
 youthful bride and groom to follow in their foot- 
 steps. Upon the conclusion of this little speech, 
 gifts were presented by children and grandcktl-
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 359 
 
 3ren, and letters of congratulation, in both poetry 
 and prose, from absent friends were read. 
 
 After this the doors were thrown open to the 
 invited guests, and for the remainder of the even- 
 ing the house was thronged with the elite of the 
 city, and with friends and acquaintances from 
 other parts of the country. 
 
 Among the latter were Adelaide and "Walter 
 Dinsmore, and Mr. Travilla and his mother. The 
 last named was seated in the corner of a sofa, her 
 eon standing by her side. 
 
 He heard a low-breathed sigh, noted the quiv- 
 ering of her lip and the gathering tears in the 
 gentle eyes, as she turned them upon the gray- 
 haired bride and groom, and he knew that her 
 thoughts were with the early dead, the husband 
 and father whose image he could scarcely recall. 
 His heart swelled with tender pitying, protecting 
 love, as he thought of her long, lonely widowhood, 
 and of all that she had been and still was to him. 
 
 But her gaze wandered to the pair standing 
 just upon the threshold of married life; and smil- 
 ing up at him, " They are a handsome couple," she 
 said; "how proud and happy Harry looks! Ah, 
 Edward, when will your turn come? " 
 
 He shook his head with a rather melancholy 
 smile. 
 
 " It is your own fault, I am sure," she continued 
 in a playful tone; " there are plenty of pretty 
 girls and charming young widows who would like 
 well to be mistress of Ion, and I am growing old, 
 and sometimes feel that I would be glad to resign 
 the sceptre to younger hands."
 
 360 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 He gave her a glance of affectionate concern. 
 " I shall look for a housekeeper immediately. I 
 ought to have thought of it before." 
 
 " No, no, it is a daughter I want," she returned 
 still playfully. "I have often wondered how it 
 has come to pass that my warm-hearted boy 
 seems so perfectly invulnerable to Cupid's 
 darts." 
 
 "All seeming, mother," he answered lightly, 
 but with a wistful yearning look in his eyes which 
 were fixed upon a little group on the farther side 
 of the room; " to tell you a secret," and he bent 
 down, that the low-breathed words might catch 
 her ear alone, " I have been hopelessly in love for 
 many years." 
 
 She started with surprise, for there was the 
 ring of deep, earnest feeling beneath the jesting 
 tone then following the direction of his glance, 
 and perceiving that the group upon which it 
 rested was composed of Adelaide and Elsie Dins- 
 more, with some half dozen gentlemen who had 
 gathered about them, she looked greatly pleased. 
 
 " And why hopeless? " she asked. 
 
 "Ah, the evidences of indifference are so 
 patent that I cannot hope she will ever learn to 
 care for me." 
 
 "And pray what may they be? " 
 
 " Constraint and reserve, where formerly there 
 was much warmth and cordiality of manner." 
 
 " You foolish boy! if that be all, you may take 
 heart. I would not ask for better symptoms. 
 And remember the old proverb Taint heart 
 itever won fair lady.' You do not fear that she 
 still clings to the old love? "
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 361 
 
 No, ah no!" 
 
 " I never saw Adelaide look better than she 
 does to-night/' was Mrs. Travilla's next remark; 
 " what a queenly presence, and noble face she has, 
 and how very lovely our little Elsie is! She seems 
 to have gained every womanly grace without 
 losing a particle of her sweet childish simplicity 
 and freshness." 
 
 Her son assented with a slight sigh, and 
 wandered off in their direction. But before he 
 reached the little group, Elsie had taken Harold 
 Allison's arm and was being led away toward the 
 conservatory. Harold had a rare plant to show 
 her, and was glad of the excuse to get her to him- 
 self for a few moments. 
 
 For the rest of the evening Mr. Travilla de- 
 voted himself to Adelaide, his mother looking on 
 with beaming countenance, and thinking how 
 gladly she would welcome the dear girl to her 
 heart and home. 
 
 It was past twelve when the company dispersed. 
 Harry and his bride having started an hour before 
 upon their wedding tour. 
 
 " Get to bed as soon as you can, my dear child; 
 you are looking sadly fatigued," Mr. Dinsmore 
 said, putting his arm about his daughter as she 
 came to him for her good-night kiss. 
 
 " I will, papa/' she answered, clinging to him 
 with more than her usual warmth of affection. 
 " Dear papa, what could I ever do without you 
 to love me?" 
 
 " My darling, if it please the Lord, may we 
 be long spared to each other," he whispered, 
 clasping her close. " Now, good-night, and may
 
 362 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 He bless yon, and keep you, and ever cause His 
 face to shine upon you." 
 
 Elsie turned away with eyes full of tears, 
 and her pillow was bedewed with them ere 
 she slept that night. But the morning found 
 her apparently her own bright, sunny self 
 again. 
 
 She was in her mamma's dressing-room soon 
 after breakfast, chatting with her and Adelaide, 
 Mr. Dinsmore sitting by with Eosebud on his 
 knee. Of course they were discussing the wed- 
 ding, how lovely the bride and her attendants 
 looked, how handsome the groom, how tasteful 
 and becoming was the dress of this lady and that, 
 how attentive was Mr. Such-an-one to Miss So- 
 and-so, etc., etc. Rose making a little jesting 
 allusion to " the devotion of a certain gentleman 
 to Adelaide;" and saying how delighted she was; 
 nothing could please her better than for them 
 to fancy each other; when in the midst of it all, 
 a servant came up with a message. " Mr. Tra- 
 villa was in the drawing-room asking for Miss 
 Dinsmore, Miss Adelaide." 
 
 She went down at once, and as the door closed 
 upon her, Eose turned to her husband with the 
 laughing remark, " It would be a splendid match! 
 they seem just made for each other. I wonder 
 they didn't find it out long ago, and I begin to 
 quite set my heart upon it." 
 
 " Better not, my dear, lest they disappoint you, 
 and allow me to advise you to let match-making 
 alone; 'tis a dangerous business. Elsie, my child, 
 you are looking pale this morning; late hours do 
 not agree with you. I think I shall have to take
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 363 
 
 to sending you to bed at nine o'clock again, when 
 once I get you home." 
 
 "Won't ten be early enough, papa?" she an- 
 swered with a faint smile, a vivid color suddenly 
 suffusing her cheek. 
 
 " Well, we will see about it. But I can't have 
 you looking so. Go and put on your hat and 
 shawl, and I will take you and mamma out for an 
 airing?" 
 
 " Looking so? " said Kose, with an arch glance 
 at the glowing cheeks, as she stooped to take 
 Rosebud in her arms, " she is not pale now." 
 
 "No, certainly not," he said. "Come back, 
 daughter," for Elsie had risen to obey his order, 
 and was moving toward the door, "come here 
 and tell me what ails you? " 
 
 " I am quite well, papa, only a little tired from 
 last night, I believe," she answered, as he took 
 her hands in his and looked searchingly into her 
 face. 
 
 " I hope that is all," he said a little anxiously. 
 "You must lie down and try to get a nap when 
 we return from our drive; and remember you 
 must be in bed by ten o'clock to-night." 
 
 " I shall do just as my father bids me," she 
 said, smiling up at him, " my dear father who is 
 so kindly careful of me." Then as he let go her 
 hands, she tripped lightly from the room. 
 
 Mr. Travilla had come on an errand from his 
 mother; she begged Adelaide's advice and assist- 
 ance in a little shopping. 
 
 Adelaide was at leisure, and at once donned 
 bonnet and shawl and went with him to the 
 Girard House, where the old lady awaited tiieir
 
 364 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 coming, and the three spent the remainder of the 
 morning in attending to Mrs. Travilla's pur- 
 chases and visiting the Academy of Fine Arts. 
 In driving down Chestnut street, the Dinsmores 
 passed them on their way to the Academy. 
 
 Adelaide did not return to Mr. Allison's to 
 dinner, but Mr. Travilla called presently after, 
 to say that she had dined with his mother and 
 himself at the hotel, and would not return until 
 bed-time, as they were all going to hear Gough 
 lecture that evening. 
 
 He was speaking to Mrs. Allison. Several of 
 the family were in the room, Elsie among them. 
 She was slipping quietly away, when he turned 
 toward her, saying: " Would you not like to go 
 with us, my little friend? I think you would 
 find it entertaining, and we would be glad to 
 have you." 
 
 "Thank you, sir, you are very kind, but a 
 prior engagement compels me to decline," she 
 answered, glancing smilingly at her father. 
 
 " She has not been looking well to-day, and I 
 have ordered her to go early to bed to-night," 
 Mr. Dinsmore said. 
 
 " Ah, that is right! " murmured Mr. Travilla, 
 rising to take leave. 
 
 The Travillas staid a week longer in the city. 
 During that time Adelaide went out with them 
 quite frequently, but Elsie saw scarcely anything 
 of her old friend; which was, however, all her 
 own fault, as she studiously avoided him; muck 
 to his grief and disturbance. He coul'd not im- 
 agine what he had done to so completely estrange 
 ber from him.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 365 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore felt in some haste to be at homa 
 again, but Mrs. Allison pleaded so hard for an- 
 other week that he consented to delay. Adelaide 
 and Walter went with the Travillas, and wanted 
 to take Elsie with them, but he would not hear 
 of such an arrangement; while she said very de- 
 cidedly that she could not think of being sepa- 
 rated from her father. 
 
 She seemed gay and happy when with the 
 family, or alone with him or Rose; but coming 
 upon her unexpectedly in her dressing-room, the 
 day after the others had left, he found her in 
 tears. 
 
 " Why, my darling, what can be the matter? " 
 he asked, taking her in his arms. 
 
 " Nothing, papa," she said, hastily wiping away 
 her tears and hiding her blushing face on hia 
 breast " I I believe I'm a little homesick/' 
 
 " Ah, then, why did you not ask to go with the 
 others?" 
 
 "And leave you? Ah, do you not know that 
 my father is more a great deal more than half 
 of home to me? "she answered, hugging him close. 
 " And you wouldn't have let me go? " 
 
 "No, indeed, not I; but Fm afraid I really 
 ought to read you a lecture. I daresay you miss 
 Sophy very much, but still there are young peo- 
 ple enough left in the house to keep you from 
 feeling very dull and lonely, I should think; and 
 as you have all your dear ones about you, and ex- 
 pect to go home in a few days " 
 
 "I ought to be cheerful and happy. I know 
 it, papa/' she said, as he paused, leaving his sen- 
 tence unfinished, " and I'm afraid I'm very wicked
 
 366 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 and ungrateful. But please don't be vexed witE 
 me, and I will try to banish this feeling of de- 
 pression." 
 
 " I fear you are not well," he said, turning her 
 face to the light and examining it with keen scru- 
 tiny; " tell me, are you ill? " 
 
 " No, papa, I think not. Don't be troubled 
 about me." 
 
 " I shall send for a doctor if this depression 
 lasts," he said decidedly, " for I shall have to con- 
 elude that it must arise from some physical cause, 
 since I know of no other; and it is so foreign to 
 the nature of my sunny-tempered little girl." 
 
 He saw no more of it, though he watched her 
 carefully. 
 
 Great was the rejoicing at the Oaks when at 
 last the family returned. Adelaide was there to 
 welcome them, and Elsie thought she had never 
 seen her look so youthful, pretty, and happy, 
 Chloe remarked upon it while preparing her 
 young mistress for bed, adding that the report in 
 the kitchen was that Miss Adelaide and Mr. Tra- 
 .villa were engaged, and would probably marry 
 very soon. 
 
 Elsie made no remark, but her heart seemed 
 to sink like lead in her bosom. " Why am I 
 grieving so? what is there in this news to make 
 me sorry?" she asked herself as she wetted her 
 pillow with her tears. " I'm sure I'm very glad 
 that dear Aunt Adie is so happy, and and I used 
 often to wish he was my uncle." Yet the tears 
 would not cease their flow till she had wept her- 
 self to sleep. 
 
 But she seemed bright and gay as usual in the
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 367 
 
 morning, and meeting her parents at the break- 
 fast-table, thought they looked as though some- 
 thing had pleased them greatly. 
 
 It was Rose who told her the news, as an hour 
 later they sauntered around the garden together, 
 noting the changes which had taken place there 
 in their absence. 
 
 " I have something to tell you, dear," Rose said, 
 and Elsie shivered slightly, knowing what was 
 coming; " something that pleases your father and 
 me very much, and I think will make you glad 
 too. Can you guess what it is? " 
 
 "About Aunt Adelaide, mamma?" Elsie 
 stooped over a plant, thus concealing her face 
 from view, and so controlled her voice that it be- 
 trayed no emotion. "Yet; I know; she is en- 
 gaged." 
 
 "And you are pleased with the match, of 
 course; I knew you would be. You used so often 
 to wish that he was your uncle, and now he soon 
 will be. Your papa and I are delighted; we think 
 there could not have been a more suitable match 
 for either." 
 
 " I am very glad for her dear Aunt Adie 
 and for for him too," Elsie said, her voice grow- 
 ing a little husky at the last. 
 
 But Rose was speaking to the gardener, and 
 did not notice it, and Elsie wandered on, pres- 
 ently turned into the path leading to her arbor 
 and seeking its welcome privacy, there relieved 
 her full heart by a flood of tears. 
 
 Mr. Travilla called that day, but saw nothing 
 of his " little friend," and in consequence went 
 away very sorrowful, and pondering deeply the
 
 368 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 question what he could have done to alienate her 
 affections so entirely from him. 
 
 The next day he came again, quite resolved 
 to learn in what he had offended, and was over- 
 joyed at hearing that she was alone in her favour- 
 ite arbor. 
 
 He sought her there and found her in tears. 
 She hastily wiped them away on perceiving his 
 approach, hut could not remove their traces. 
 
 " Good-morning," she said, rising and giving 
 him her hand; but with the reserved manner 
 that had now become habitual, instead of the 
 pleasant ease and familiarity of earlier days; 
 " were you looking for papa? I think he is some- 
 where on the plantation." 
 
 " No, my dear child, it was you I wished to 
 see." 
 
 "Me, Mr. Tra villa?" and she cast down her 
 eyes, while her cheek crimsoned; for he was look- 
 ing straight into them with his, so wistful and 
 tender, so full of earnest, questioning, sorrowful 
 entreaty, that she knew not how to meet their 
 gaze. 
 
 " Yes, you, my little friend, for I can no longer 
 endure this torturing anxiety. Will you not tell 
 me, dear child, what I have done to hurt or 
 grieve you so? " 
 
 " I I'm not hurt or gri you have always been 
 most kind," she stammered, " most But why 
 should you think I I was " 
 
 The rest of the sentence was lost in a burst 
 of tears, and covering her burning cheeks with 
 her hands, she sank down upon the seat from 
 which she had risen to greet him.
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 369 
 
 " My dear child, I did not mean to pain yon 
 so; do not weep, it breaks my heart to see it. I 
 was far from intending to blame you, or complain 
 of your treatment," he said in an agitated tone, 
 and bending over her in tender concern, " I only 
 wanted to understand my error in order that 
 I might retrieve it, and be no longer deprived of 
 your dear society. Oh, little Elsie, if you only 
 knew how I love you; how I have loved you, and 
 only you, all these years as child and as woman 
 how I have waited and longed, hoping even 
 against hope, that some day I might be able to 
 win the priceless treasure of your young heart." 
 
 Intense, glad surprise made her drop her hands 
 and look up at him. "But are you not I I 
 thought I understood Aunt Adelaide " 
 
 "Your Aunt Adelaide! " he cried, scarcely less 
 astonished than herself, " can it be that you do 
 not know that you have not heard of her en- 
 gagement to Edward Allison? " 
 
 A light broke upon Elsie at that question, and 
 her face grew radiant with happiness; there was 
 one flash of exceeding joy in the soft eyes that 
 met his, and then they sought the ground. 
 
 " Oh, my darling, could you? is it can it 
 
 He took her in his arms, folded her close to 
 his heart, calling her by every tender and en- 
 dearing name, and she made no effort to escape, 
 or to avoid his caresses; did nothing but hide her 
 blushing face on his breast, and weep tears of 
 deep joy and thankfulness. 
 
 It might have been half an hour or an hour 
 afterward (they reckoned nothing of the flight of
 
 370 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 
 
 time) that Mr. Dinsmore, coining in search of his 
 daughter, found them seated side by side, Mr. 
 Travilla with his arm about Elsie's waist, and 
 her hand in his. So absorbed were they in each 
 other that they had not heard the approaching 
 footsteps. 
 
 It was a state of affairs Mr. Dinsmore was far 
 from expecting, and pausing upon the threshold, 
 he stood spell-bound with astonishment. " El- 
 sie! " he said a,t length. 
 
 Both started and looked up at the sound of 
 his voice, and Mr. Travilla, still holding fast to 
 his new-found treasure, said in tones tremulous 
 with joy, "Will you give her to me, Dinsmore? 
 she is willing now." 
 
 "Ah, is it so, Elsie, my darling?" faltered 
 the father, opening his arms to receive her as she 
 flew to him. " Is it so? have I lost the first place 
 in my daughter's heart?" he repeated, straining 
 her to his breast, and pressing his lips again and 
 again to her fair brow. 
 
 " Dear papa, I never loved you better," she 
 murmured, clinging more closely to him. " I 
 shall never cease to be your own dear daughter; 
 can never have any father but you my own dear, 
 dear papa. And you will not be left without a 
 little girl to pet and fondle; darling Kosebud will 
 fill my place." 
 
 " She has her own; but neither she nor any 
 one else can ever fill yours, my darling," he an- 
 swered with a quivering lip. " How can I how 
 can I give you up ? my first-born, my Elsie's child 
 and mine." 
 
 "You will give her to me, my friend?" re-
 
 ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. 371 
 
 peated Travilla. " I will cherish her as the apple 
 of my eye; I shall never take her away from you, 
 you may see her every day. You love her ten- 
 derly, but she is dearer to me than my own soul." 
 
 "If you have won her heart, I cannot refuse 
 you her hand. Say, Elsie, my daughter, is it so? " 
 
 " Yes, papa," she whispered, turning her blush- 
 ing face away from his keen, searching gaze. 
 
 " I can hardly bear to do it. My precious one, 
 I don't know how to resign you to another," he 
 said in a voice low and tremulous with emotion, 
 and holding her close to his heart; " but since it 
 is your wish, I must. Take her, my friend, she 
 is yours. But God do so to you, and more also, 
 if ever you show her aught brut love and tender- 
 ness." 
 
 He put her hand into Travilla's, and turned to 
 go. But she clung to him with the other. 
 " Yours too, papa," she said, looking up into his 
 sad face with eyes that were full of tears, "al- 
 ways your own daughter who loves you better 
 than life." 
 
 "Yes, darling, and who is as dearly loved in 
 return," he said, stooping to press another kiss on 
 the ruby lips. " Let us be happy, for we are 
 not to part." Then walking quickly away, he 
 left them alone together.
 
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