„
L
BY I:I4AWLEY,I:::'‘)B4,
THILTRIENDS OF OLD.
Ye friends of old, Ye olden friendi,
Where ire yp'aA to-day ?
Wine back again -this eveninoour,
And tell , Me Where yesfay.
.
tired tonight alone I dream,
And, pittingin the twilight shade;
Let , memory bring ye back once,More; '
ErethOughtsiin sleep are „-
_
d frJ
I'd have ye comeiiy, a throng,
and whisper' to me, one by one,
.0t dive agOne„ of scenes once viewed,
,Of things together we have done.
I see ye all ; but scattered far;'
Sonie 'cross the seas,now. roam,
While Many in the Churcliyard sleep,
And others, blessc&at home,
Are musing, as I am to: night,'
O'er days of '"Auld.Ling Syne,"
And dreamingof past happy hours;
Otr youth's btight summer-time,
ALETHE.
TILI ClatiST3 . lA - 8' BRIDE.
CHAPTER 1.
" A LUlLE,my . helovid,,,l had
. \ aftnose .
Cl devairedof your coming staid a
manly, rich -voice, in, tones t well, adapted ;
to reach •a• maiden's 'heart: I"What . : has'
•
delayed von
And . 14 the speaker-':Attered,'th6.'fond'
reptoach,'be advanced from within the .
shadow of -a.wtiod, whose , thick plattoons
of firs and cypress afforded a convenient
shelter, even in the depth of that Decent
ber snow and frOsts'that covered the oaro
boughs of the forest.;, -•-•
'The girl whom' he thus . addrgiscd . was
young and lovely enough to . detapa• the
most impatient lover, 4ii.hin her
. 'Spells,
even though she hers& pa 7.
tience mcre severely than c . : by.. the 'short
delay of ',which ;Cecil Talboyes.coinplain-
Alethe Fordyce was one of those bril
liant perfect , brunettes .who can challenge
the poter - of even wintry winds or wintry
wraps to mar their rich beatity.
And as she stood, glowing with exer
cise and agitation--her dark eyes flash
ing from beneath her vpvet l Tit, and her
face lovely fa nestling, as it ere in soft
rich furs round the slender !throat, \ she
was almost more attractive than the mOist
exqusite evening toilette which could
have been devis,ed for her adornment.
"Oh, Lord Cecil! I- 7 =ought not to,he
here avail,' she faltered' "Indeed thii
must be for the last time! And—Land-1
shall not—be here—long !"
And-her voice fairly: shook in her at
tempt to steady - its . topes.
'Aleilie! what mpans this ?
Cecil,' and you are only here for the: lak,
time ?" 4 's h saitle,; , eagei.ly: I really
been deceived in you ?1---dd' You'not`love
me—my own 7 —my fair darling.?-or is it
but some coquetry to4eets my devotion.?"
' . .l\leithey—neither !" said the girl—
"andyou knoiv it, Cecil"
lier .self-reitraint seemed to vanish
now, and tears gushed from beneath the
It7fig silken-veil of lashes that curtained
her eyes. *
It was irresistible to a lover to see ,that
betraying-emotion ; .tnd Lord' Cecil Tal
boYes drew ,the. weeping girl.to his breast
and for a brief moment supported her ,
drooping head on his bosom.
- Pint it was for kvery'brief iustant that
the girl remained in his 'caressing' arms.
She suddenly„ rais-d herself. from his
, and , :dasht : d , away -the
,tears
which frozeii dinnoiids ou her
"This . is very wrong of me, liord Cecil;
I must telLyou at . once—and-Lthen leave
von for—Erfr ! I. am tobe', -niarried ,
Niri':inas Day to Leonard Riwdoti• and
—and I haie prcMiscid my father to obey
bim—at last; though I hav,e pleaded so
hard, even now, when all is ready-411-4
for the wedding'! But poor papal—l can.
not reflisp: Ithflifyi that I am 'Ph is,al I 1"
"Anil wilf yon not . -Please him better
by becoming my, irift ,and securipir_suc,ll„l
a futdre ?%:sreturning
slftly. "I have told you, Alethe, I dare
not ask you ,, :openly .=from; him_inow, be=
cause he would demand more from, me
than ri;iy proud' -father 'Would 13 aneticili
but I will soon get his pardon and favor
when I. show.. him - my beautiftiL bride
my sweet Alethe;.and then--some day—,
there Kbpil be coronekon, thatlliOrpW~
atideft;wele flash in ' that satin - hair! - My
darling, you shall not—you must not be
doomed to drudgery and poverty, as the
of a"."Confitry.% doctor. ,
hu , band_and an uncongenial home would
won sap away my, precious one's
lip. YOU are'-tibt formed •frOrystich
cbmtnon7place.f4te—Jln ;
lioh4ed : Vadi
1, 6 beer
d 2. Z e4i 911:pg-Imb,
and her gaze Was fhoul
emit a,s she lisipped
.tempter,
- Vs. , %vOf
tin neittird'Cktil pur(
a‘fegialitPiiitnietsbrtia,
will nut smite4ce ine ind t "rtit*-
6tici l lifelong wretchedness I"
"Alas! alas! it is tdo late! she . rattr
murvd. "There are, but tit° • days in6,re!
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SER.
,
The day after tomorrow is.. to be my
wedding !.. Ohl .what avretched, wretch 7
ed Christmas , . - Hove unlike the last I
Alethe4Yesi &Mein bet Where.
yott'•Were,-;ankhow,we spent that, memer
able 'day last, yearl*".. pleaded ; the. young
..'.l,Vhat a gay ' . -party . at , the .. Hall
and him, hlessedthe accident.' that' au
duced yours -father - to. permit • your accept-
Miss:. Vernon's inYitation. -- fOr the .
hOlid4s! .• Lan you: forget'all that, so
eoriipletelyaifO perinit:your Standing at
the altar a \ tid Speaking false Vows - on the
very. day
.which. is .the . festival of -Christ
endoin ? iirely , if: you - speak
you Aolove
,the as, you - profess=-you can-:
not dare, such - Sacrilege r ,• • -" , •
•
Cecil` Titlboyes had, at any_ rate, the
wiSdoui of the ',serpent; 'if he ...did'..not
;unite with. it . the. innocence. of_ thejlove.
The young,. inexperienced girt shiVer
(ter • t e low, rich ;tones,. •w hioli were
doubly -inipreSive from the &Wino, ten
derness . the :eyes that looked in
.hers—
the:Melting . softness the caress tha t
ge.htly ithprtsoned- her. slight form. • -
."On, Cecil,.do...not be.. BO unkind
a . m.- sad en:ohgli - already, with Out your
making me more miserable !" murmured
thei pOor gir4 . lialf _ •
"Alethe, I. would -net' cadge - yo . u one
:sigh, •one tear, save When. I desire to save
quit from months - and years 'of weeping
_arid repent Nice he pitrined;'softly.-
only ask you .to pause ere you.. take this
terrible, hopeless. step !"-
."But I havepromised—l have said it,
• and - all. is ready:,!: , -.-: Papa never hear
of my drawing - back now he WoUld
send me from ni.m-cfifit me .off—Crush
me to:death with his ang er !" wailed the
421
poor girt, sadly., •
"Alethe,, he perinaded ! ..Tritst your-.
self . to me, 'who loves , you deeply,!-' Go
'with me to the alter, and then, when. all
isirrevocable, pow.' father and 'thine will
'be' appeased ; with but little difficulty.—
, Be asSured,love, of my heart's worship, .
• my:faith,. my devotionto your every look
'ToHmorrow night all shall be ready, and
I wilLaWait you here, or else;-.1-will Come
to Yon rifather'a house, when it dark
and and - guard . my 'treasure tathe
:Spot where she Shall., give herself fo.me
forever!" .
Alethe shivered, literally, shivered with
the struggle within her frame. '
She 'heard the seducing voice.; she felt
rather. than saw the passionate glance ;
d'. ter. feeliiiiga, wavered 'and struggled
till her verfprilie biirned arid throbbed
evett..iii the ohiltl mirth wind and driving
snow that blinded . herwith delicategakes
of white.
"Speak, Alethe r Will, you - bid; me
farewell forever ?• ~Can you so easily give
me:up ? • .Can you send me from you
like. a slave, a dog, u - camt off jewell, and
.perhaps hear, in your bridal . happiness,..
that Cecil. Talboyes. had nought death in .
destiair life ? " But Leonard' Rawdon
will be happy; and yOu will -smile and be
content ! : Alethe, farewell ! 1_ .have
misjudged you " . Alas r alas !!!..he added,
turning:from the spot. I :
She flew •to him, she sie - zed_ his arm,
she threw herarms round his neck.ivilli
yearning passion.
"Cecil, Cecil, I will. go witllvcin !
/'"Canr.ot pagt thus; only he
ain saoficing for you
the cried; as if it were the voice of - tin
lEolian harp.
..‘Myr beloved, : my angel, my ow,i,!"- he
..exclainied,,c`ratiturously: "Yesforty-eight
1 hours more, and you will be: .all mine !
To-Morrow night I will be wider-Your
windOW a midnight,or, perhaps, sonic.:
what later, as circumstances may make
prudent. I- will have all ready, and my
Mettle shall be 'a Chri - stmas gift to her
Oecil. She shall be a bride on that high,
irlyful, day ; and ill: no heart shall be
such happiness and s " _ gayety- as in mine--
no,not in the joilvist gatherinis through-`
out the
It was a doubtful string to touch, for
it - ,liViince suggested to Alethe the image
of he: father alone land ' +61011614e on this
great, festival, 'and 'also of We' deserted
tind`rejected suitor of her f'ather's choice -
It ad .
,judgement--=-OVLeonard!,Rioydop
and' his iiibrtiliciaticiA andg7. - rt 4.1 3 ===
But ~ h or word hid "been ..given,—,tlie'
0011,wea - ttilFupon,her;_antl_with half
fearful= hope . and tearful , , soy, sle is •n - =
toshis remainingdirections, and hurried
n,iiitiy.. .• - . 1 . -,.„ \
She soon,reaehed ler father's :pretty;
thlifigh, modest hoMe. wheth be, Dr. For
dyce, lad:retired. on giving up- his pir
tiee ,tii his, fili f oOi . former pupil, Leon rd
i i
Riti‘;)dOn ;,anc.'.. (Inter - 4 the house, with ut
being perceiied, save' by' an 'old • sery nt,
who.actfA OnilS-- at housekeeper: to. t e
young- mistress she had nursed iii ber
childhood. .
Alethe quickly changed her
. dress 80r,
the Pietty, demi-toilette that !Mile& the'
quiet4intee.s....evening, apd was , tki .the
drawing-room before her father enter='
ed. ~.;• .` -, 'Li ,`i . ~ ... -.-,
--"Ah, my sweet Christmas rose I' said
he tetiddily.,„: gThete.iyou. e;.as bkomi,
ing,attif;sptobitte.oad- floyiere'*ere , mak;
iiig o .i the earth 41,fid;iiiiitead 'of. this gloothy
sniki f arid:frost. - y - But it matters little . :ll
the heart be. warm , 'arid this year, at
least, there will be joy and gladness in
one of . the 'proudest houses' of merry
MONTROSE, PA., SEPT.
England. Yes, darling, shall gain a
son, :not lose a daughter - , on the blessed
Christmas morn, lov'Leonard will not
take you from me ; he will tak4 up his
abode in our house, and I can repay trim
by aiding him is his labors, and give him
more -time with his little wife.".
, Alethe tried to sniffle in return to her
father's glad grepting, but. in 'hon.
•
She was 'constrained and, gloomy at
heart ;, but the goad i doctor believed. it
was a maiden's tirnidity, -and spared the
motherless girl all painful moments on
her sadpe,Ss and silence..
•Alethe:was 'thankful when the evening
passed
. awab . and she: sought
.her fevered
pillow.. rather for, the comfort of Unre
t. than of repo4 !
She
fitful'starts, so that 1
her '.pale and sufferin
Tlie hours pasied
too swittly.for the trot
that it was her last;d
dom.of filial love .ant
anon the. tireseuts-ai
the morn's ceremony
heart, and She. ferv,)
torn that preventei
from visiting: his.uffi
eve.
The bells that ran
honor of :tile.apprOa,
ed like knells, and. Sit
room ere yet the her
the chimes, - .
:..Once safe - from in
the few preparations
wrOte.a brief letter
collected some few
journey. She put t
and had giveu herih
ed into he-r-whilom
Then, when all
placed "herself on
that her lather had',
one of her girlish ai,
ease. and comfort in
in walling till the'si. ,l ;
that had been arrant,
and Lord Cecil, She
be delayed,..owine. t•
ment that the seas();
quiet town of TairA:l
on. her wrapk and , la;
and furs beside her;
,'
nees t for - the fatal: de;
'Her- cheeks flush;
!petit Of the hour,
exhaustion c6usequ
hours'of watchful a!4
listened:ea - prly for .
stillness on the part
neighborhood.
It could nut be .15!
The.sigikal would
more quarters had
little tinio piece.
Now and. then
niwicians
the silence, and th.,:
it were into herSeli
chair in - ver:y rvars.a
But then crcil's
bid me fareweli - ?---i
tiesparind - end?" .
one.; Eho men
her . head rest'
chair to still its.thH
was - an lute ,
sil-tice: .Now she.
she - lie:ievo, the eW
She if!"volantarily
cape: She clapped
bagsthat.cpn tamed
fli.;.).ht ;and then sh:
heart as the Elltnnen
Suely; he was
Yet perhaps,.he ha ,
eler to baflL.iu the
But , atHast it
eighal--the preco
ben her flight.
CHAP
She stood before
the fair fugitive ..fr
and social bridal.
father's blessing, pi
of bride-maidens a
she spoke her .vows.
:Sh e knew. not the
a -•_ t • • mony, - ev
her-. fluttering - agita
het le'ssne'ss.an.d...norlty74s:
- she di,d no t even inquire who he waa, nor
dreamof taking . any part in the,various
little legal adjuncts to the religious rite.
She'. neW that, she signed. her name to
some paper ;".but her eyed 'were 'blinded
with the telarz that ;were fast overpower
mg let . pelf_ restraint and she scarcely
even.looyed at its.purpOrt. , _ ; -
Sh ..was thinking of her father at the.
mom nt-4of. his : - :distress, , grief,.l mid'
sham ~
.She thought- even of ,T.r?onard
Bawd n, whom She khew to be good and
title; hoUgh he.had not won,*' her .way
ward heart. , , . -
An ' the joy belk; of ChanstMoke
out o the air as if
.in mockery. of. her
sad andlonely bridal, and did but serve
to ,operi the strikes, of her 'tears, And: to
breaki down .the restraints. that - she—
Lmid 0 eititive.A Somewhat int pitient
s ta rt . .,e,,i l A.seAff 14J9 yell
4iAtiitkdOri
t e 1
to t un
he ae. .. . ~. ;-;. ',..
"A ethe, dear, do you; then, repent al ,
readiy" 'he said almost sternly ; or at :
least, 1 1 it seemed so to her tender and
,
and..tba' .that .. little in
morning found
.if not,.rejlentant.
wearily, and yet ail
übled girl. She felt
ay of ianooent free-
peace,. Ever and_
d.prkparations. for
Caine to 'torture her
ply hiessed.the ens
.
-her bade-groom
%need on the Oridai
out at intervals its
fe.stiyal - sound,.
redrect early to her
4. of, 9 tang out on
rusion she hastened
for: her flight.
_She .
9 her father. She
necessaries, for her
e trifles that Leon'-- .
packet,And'direot
over. • •
was complete, she
• little rocking chair
Procured ter her in
ings, tb secure her
4er own 'apartment,
nal should be given
ed betweeik ' herself
landed that it might
I the unusual excite.
;• occasioned' in the
lid; but still she. put
Id . the ht 4, and 'veil
n momentary readi
d with . the , e:xtit.e.
nd the _fatigue and
nt on ' the last few
4itation ; but still ele
every indication of
if the household and
now.
given ore-rtiany
een natirlikd on the
distant sound of
joy -bells disturbed
Akthe. shrank, as
and cowered in her
4 shame.
. .
words, 'To* you,
ould you hear of . my
lug In • her ears, and
ed her listening at
ng on the cushioned
bbing
vat of silence-- long
old ,distinguish,
.as
i 3. of her
lanew on her-furs and
1 . 11 her hand the little,
ir necessaries for the
sat, - with beating
s fled on.
ingering strangely ?
Some passing tray.'
ight stillness,
me. There was the
perted signal—and,
ER IL .
temporary alter, did
m a more splendid
ITaeupported by ,a
he kindly sympathy.
ofilovitig • friends,
prieBt who officiated
n by',name. And in
thp-,-entire
1876 i
clriging'heart.
F' she - murmured.. "Only it is
so strange, and: you .would not. think I
loved you, Cecil, if I could forget tiopr
papa so soon l: If you _were not all, all
to me, I could not have left him - thutil"
. "You shall return, to him' ere loag—
You shall , not biA verf long tried," replied
he, gently, and olasping her to his bosom
with all a lover , husband's tenderness.—
"My own Alethe—my oride—you 'Must
smile on me, . or 1 Shall - doubt your love,
and thaN,ould break my heari', my dar
ling 1"
She 'could not resist the- appeal.-
She .did Smile; but-a wintry anti tonch . ,
lug lank, was in the sweet face that Cecil
itad only seen, in its brightness and love.
will soon be over, dear Cecil. You
are so gOOd and kind; 'and besides, it Will
novbe foi long, will it . ? You will take'
me back 'soon ?"
".Of course--of
.course.r . said . the
bride-groom, with • too
.evident Jaws,
tienee in. his manner,' that well nigh
brought back again the tell-tale moistute
Ale:he's eyes. - /
.• .• „ .
But there was that her .heart that
told her it was the wisest to restrain and
to endure.
They left the 'finial] edifice s , and
few moniefit§were driving as rapidly,as
the*ill falling
,8110.1 y would permit . froni
the, neighborhood of the young Bride's
home.
There we're cheerful . faces' and merry
latighing in the groups they passed ; and
.the.soutitY of the Christmas ..carols, and
'the . deeper ,melpdy*. of the i chanting
psalms, came frOin time to time on.
•Alethe's ear, • from 'church,' cottage, and
hall, and - homestead. . • .
But she was desecrating the hizli fes
tival, the joyous Christmas tide, by the
disobediance and deception of her mid
night flight.
- London was their destination. It was
the most. effectual hiding place for the
fugitives ; so Cecil had told her in the
fatal interview in the wood.
• Thus it was . late ere they arrived at, the
distant - metropolis
,and again • the detio
late:Christmas bride felt bitterly the con
trast ,of her. Unlawful and clandestine
p' , sition to the joyoUs festivity that dis
pleyed itself in their transitto the lodg
ings Lord Cecil had taken. . The lighted
houses,. whose fliusic. and dance and . peals
Of YouthfUl laughter. could - be4iscerned
even through the 'thick winter" curtains
that i sheltered - the windoWs ; The groups.
hrirrying along the 'streets ; the occasion
al,chtine of the joy -bells, Sand the indes
cribable air of social, loveable, feelings
that peryaded the whole eity,waslktitter
gloom and sorrow to the fugitive daugh
ter from a loving father's hume.. .
4% q , *
"Teeilihave , you been--haye you heatd
anything? Is my father very angry ?"
.The, question was gasped.rather than -
utterrd ; and
: the bridegrOom off a week
looked half impatiently at the fair young
creature Wholiad:been awaiting his com
ing-so atuctousig.
"My dear Alethe, you, must have
pati , nce., Your father is very unreason
able, and mine is not much better. Only
he has more cause for anger than 'Mr.
Fordyce," he went on, with:a touch of
haughtiness that was not unnoticed by
the young wife—the doctor's daughter—
the runaway' bride of. the noble son of
the Lord Talboyes.. •
"The. Earl will not be more displeased
Until my father, Cecil," sh - said, with a
touch of pride in her v0i0... , "I was his
all. and he wished. for nothing.more than
to-wed me to, the man he loved as'a son.
Did he refuse to see--4o listeito read
my letter,Cecil -
"Oh, don't b 3 so silly and . iveak:abouf
it all Alethe !" he exclaimed,- "cif course
the old boys, will, make a. fans at first;
but promise you one thing, and that
is, that yorir father 'will soon come round
if mine doei. It will be a' proud thipg
enotigh for you, to be Lady CeciLTalboyes
and a Countesa•some day. I, think I
really may claim some
,consideration and
patience, when I have sacrificed so much
for you,, and may:'have a' great: deal of
annoyance besides.", -. ,
Aleth_e shrank ,back • oir her husband's
entrance. - It -- ; , - - was-the -first-absolute re
proach she had heard—though m?re_than
once a look or a hint had gut her sensi
tive heart :-during . the brief -octave of
married life. • , • •
"Cecil," ehe said, suddenly r aa t if to.di
vert the source of her o.wn _thoughts, and
avoid any dangerous recriininatione,:"da
you know this is New Year' a MY, and
my birthday? I ant 18.to:;da9r.
"SIR it,.love?" he 'Raid, more:. tenderly.
"And I' , have - no offering ,to give save
this !" _ _
And he kiiised her tenderly aP he. slip-'
lid a"chain - rotind , her nick, with a little
cross suspended from ita dcficate links.
thought I had not yet: given.you a
bridal :preen; ;,a 13 4 .now itcan be.„-*bi l: th.,
day, one, : gso,";lie
. 1i
;Yyie tried to - smile, and thank Win;
,pialeturti caress:k t:
'But,' iitialehoW the "zchilitii mitt:crag
seemed to pricy and:..ohaftiAnrAeliesk
skin.
Was it . the remembrance of Leonard
Bowdon's parting present, - when they
vc?,...-ip,37 . 9 - .: :-39
.Were boy' And girl lovers in her , school
daye, and he had left' his father'S houo
for a tithe • - •
Tha.i croii - and chitin ; hitt they -
Were once.tnore in :his , possession - now.
She had returned them among his other
gic4s-when she had discarded: him for
ev`gr,s and, it might be,', broke two hearts
in !the rash deed.
• • * .• * * • 4, 1 •
're waa eig niOnths. 'Tile - green verdure
and the gloling 'sunshine, of June had'
replaced the snow. paths and the gleam
ing brightness of the December Season.
Yet there-was ; a: bleak barreAlless lathe.
fair Christmas :brute's leart, that only
seort-d more hopeless - .and dreary from
the contrast with, uature'si glowing beau
ty; and the animation all around. Star
Alethe and ber'h usliatid' were in Lindon
—still divided from her kindred and his
—still she remained' in the same-, uncer
tainty as to the conditionoi inatte,rs,.or
the real steps taken by 'Lord CeCil iii the
business of . reconciliation. • • , •
"Are you going
,out again, Cecil
.fahe•
pleadingly; . o'he summer's day, as he
.pr i edia red. • himself T for...his usual afternoon
rarOle: "You never take me With you
now ; as,cl it.is so, dull:" • • : •
. . ...,, , .. . . .
. take .
~‘,jt,'"would be impissible ,to you
Wiiere I am going ; and it would be
.very
selfish of you tb .want . to, keep me at your"
side, when. I have already
,given up my
visual pleasure' and • comforts for you,
'and; perhaps, hail. ruined. Myself• for life.
I am only going.to the Park, '.he.added,
somewhat relentingly; "but still it would
be quite out Of the 'question for nielto . be
. seeui there with you. Of course I 'am
known to almost' every one In the Row,
and it would be simple :homicide to risk
ex.po ure.", ; ,• . --• .. , : •
the bowed her head -in assent, but
someth'ng..within told her that „he was
not true and sincere in the excuse thu's
given,
• , .
. 1 •
• Alethe had .never been atonein Lon •
don • • streets,. but, still she was: neither
. helpless nor a fool, ..and
. she . knew there
were ; many. ways of. going • out in safety.
Sh 6 *rapped hergeit iii .ber: most dis
guising - cloak and veil;.ancl left the home
unnoticed. . • .•
There werecabs : plying. in the roads
—which the girl welLrernernbered in her
schooldays—and ; she soon hailed., one,
And
.ordered the driver to - drive to the
Park: - ' . . • •
"Yon will wait for Me," she saidwhen.
she got out ; I shall
.not be tong, and -I
will pay you for any time I shall,rernain."
She harried along the right aide of
the Row, her thick veil dowi, and her
light burnous wrapped closely around
i,er; till her c.)urse was suddenly arrested
by a well known voile in the tones that
had been so dangerously seducing to her
own heart.
. .
."I shall meet you to-night, dear Lady
Blanche ! You will reserve the first
waltz for me I care little fOr any for
nial, cold quadrille 1" was half whispered.
ai3 Alethe stole-
It .was to a het *l . Eirl - on a splendid
horse- which 'she Im - triaged with . perfect
ease and grace, and Which she 'Was affect
ing 10 . .si . roke even-while really stooping
to hear - :the low - spoken words.
Alethe dared scarcely wait to - hear the
reply. She knew . . fUll well it would be
• what tvould,senc! the arrow deep into her
heart,' BO 'She 'gave -. one More stealthy
.glance as the 'hands were clasped in . a
- farewell greeting,and then glided' .sway
like :a. spell 7 drivek ghost so swift, : so
noiseless,, and' : BO unconscious was herpath.
° • •
, .
She' re entered' .hei cab ; she returned
to lir now, wretched :horde, in - the's,ame
dreamlike aon6ciousness- thak her happi
ness..wae wrOked; and her self-respect
gone forever.
~
deserve it all !'was in' - her heart,
though her lips were silent ; and, in, the
same despairing 'floods, she took off her
wraps,,and once more satdown-in her ati
customed chair."
• r,
She knew nothow. long ahe_remained
thus, but she. was at length,ronsed hy..the
cheery voice of Lord' Cecil,- eviOntly, in.
his happiest mod.' •• -
"Well, my: q'neen I" he said, 'lovingly
bending over her. "Is not your hubby
good and quick in his return to his dar
ling wife P Youi3ee I cannot keeP:away
from.y.OU;iny little - Magnet r' he added
playfully. -
She, lOoked'i up. at
mocking amile.
r.,
+Then' you .will remain ' With' me to
uight,. Ot.ool , I shall be so dult if yott,'l
- .Or shall , We go to the Opera, as
youlagnised me?" ,
ywby AQ;; think It quite
out of the goestiOn . laie" hei , eplied, •:
''‘You See i ' iptre tui , luekily'prom-•
iced niy father togo , ,to him in`-seeret'to-
Utght while my -mother ,is away ; ,andik
would.t.e, , a pity to. irritate him just,notti,.: ;
you know !"
. 4 0 if - 110108'e account ? 'On' mine, Won,-
the ;Lady Shitfehe's -?” she . - aikeid nocititi.;‘:;
NI) y.w "1,1 I.l' 4061.4.1 xi
1164artedlor , a moment; kin.lovidtpo4
aur,prjsegand, pi:lnfusi
darli on.; ~..Thett,.4l
utle - cloud. . 4.
ng lik'e
I "What dike Aletilifr
you been eavesdropping—spying on my '
[Clontinue4. on Eighth Pap.]
mom
him Vith'a.coid