The Brussels Post, 1888-7-13, Page 7JULY 13, 1888,
JEST TO EARNEST,
JJy E. P. ROE,
..•• AUTnon or
•
BAllRn as 1 UaNLD AWAY," " OPUND10.
A CuLSTNIIT Bunn," LTO.
•
SOriptiali
"Musks by Afton Martell.
"Words by ]'rank llemataad.
"DealeateatoMiss ottiobiarsaon,
We wish yon more than a' m tarry ilia hippy
Cllristmae, rather, of the Cbristlau,"
Her r re. a ifn misiv
e first a ons was u o
t p e ]
kiss to Aliso. But when she looked
around to titanicHomstead, ho had gono.
A little later, as he oamo statuping up
Oa piazza out of the snow, after assist-
ing Harcourt and Miss Martell away,
tho hall door opened, and somo one dart-
ed out, aucl took His handl iu a quick,
thrilling pressure. A. voice that had
grown as clear as familiar said:
"Before wo parted to -night I wanted
to toll you that I think Lottie Marsden,
lido Ninon, has become mono than a l
woman—a Christian."
And she vanished, but loft the night so
luminous abouthhntiathocould not,
a long tiuxo, enter the house.
Ile folt, like the shepherds who kopt
watch centuries ago, that an angel had
brought him "tidings of great joy."
CHAPTER XXXII.
TUN CIIUIST0IAS SUNDAY.
This Christmas Sabbath, though mark -
NI by no unusual event, was destind to
bo a memorablo day in tiro lives of Frank
Homstoad and Charlotte Marsden. A
chain of unforeseen ciroumstancos and
experiences, and a sequence of emotions
still less understood, had lifted them
higher and highor, until, this culminat-
ing day was scarooly one of earthly ex.
istence.
Lottie, in her provious life, had boon
frivolous and selfish; but her evil result-
ed from thoughtlessness rather than tho
deliberate purpose to do wrong. She
was the type of multitudes of her fair
sisters, who, with sparlding oyes, look
out upon life in its morning to see only
what it offers to them, and not the tasks
it furnishes them for others. Only by
expotienco — only by God's logic of
events do they find that their happiness
is in those tasks—in unsolfish giving and
doing.
The world had been at Lottio's feet.
It had offered her all that it oould to a
girl in her station ; but when, withdrawn
from it by a day of suffering, sho had
summed up her treasures, she found that
sho had nothing but remorse. Sho had
been reooiving all her life, and yet had
nothing. Sho would then gladly have
rentemnbered that sho had given evon
ono an impulse toward a truer and
happier life, But sho couldnot. Apart
from natural impulses of affootion to-
ward kindred and friends, hot only
thought in regard to all had been—How
can I make them ministor tomo andmy
pleasure? With tact and skill, enhanced
by °accedling beauty, sliohad exacted an
unstinted rovenuo of flattery, attention,
and even love; and yob, when, in woak-
ness and pain, she wished the solace of
some consoling memory, sho found only
an accusing consci0nc0.
This exporionco couveyod to the
practical girl' a startling lesson. With
all hor fanlbs, she diel not belong to tbo
class that is hopeless, because so weak
and shallow. Though her haudsonio
fano might often express much that was
tmlovoly and unwomanly, it over ex-
pressed mind.
When she, in Trot turn, kilo hosts of
others, camp to realize the (imitations
of hor being, hor weakness and need, she
looked around, instinctively, for help
and support. Human teaching pre.
rented a God from whom she shrank in
fear and dislike. The Bible revealod
Jesus. When feeling most hot nood,
the Bible presented One whose oyes
ovetllowed with sympathy, and whoso
hand was omnipotent. She instinctively
felt, like Mary of old, that, at "His
fent," there was rest and hope.
This fooling was not reached as a
mathematician solves an equation, or a
theologian comes to a conclusion, but
moro aftor tho manner in which somo
women and most children will look at a
person, and say, " I like him ; I'll trust
him.,,
There was nothing incongruous or un-
natural in the contemporary love grow.
ing up iu her hoar!: for Horasbeacl eh the
samo Luno, though it is possiblo that
somo may so think. In some•miucls the
ideas of lovo and passion xoom bleeper-
ablo, and they regard religion ea some.
thing far removed. These are but the
right wing of that sinister class who
jumble h0' • g'
b their pn,ssious and. religion
together, and, in pious jargon and
spiritual d&Oh; entendre, half eou-
ceal and half convey the baso
meaning of their hearts. In others,
lovo, or what with them gods by Ilio
name, is equally insopatable from
managonlent and matoh•making, trous.
scans and sottloments—concerns per-
taining to earth, and very earthy, it
trust bo admitted.
No doubtman
oxcelle
t'
solidpeople
would regard Zot r's spiritual condition
with gra suspicion, and
ask, disap.
provin 'ly " What busiuoss have two
such difforont loves to bo originating
in hot heart at the samo time 2"
But, in tho torm "different," they bog
bho quostion. Whore is the antagonism?
Where is oven the dissimilarity ? Aro
not those two impulses of tho heath noas
;11(10, rathor; and dots not a truer and
doopor,pphilosophy of lifo teach that love
for a human object may bo as cortainly
God's will as love towards himself ?
.'havo those solid, oxeollontpeoplo aught
to any against tho faithful tC ovotioo of is
Wife, or the patient tondornoss of e
mothor, winch aro coruor-stones of the.
,family, as bho family is tbo Corner -shone
of all trllo civilization 2 Bot what is the
t
origin tholo' d tit n1
of w o cv0 toz and
mothorls tenderness 1 s Those pooplo,
suroly, aro aS wise as thoy aro solid,
T1ioy would havo tho day without the
THE BRUSSELS POST
dawn,
At any rate, it would appear that
Mayon was malting the match botwoon
Homstoad. and Lottio—makingit ea the
spring comes on in northern latitudes,
subtloly, imporeeptib]y, and yet aped.
fly, dust how Or when it oamo about,
thoy did not know 1 but whoa they mob
that Christmas morning, the peace and
gladness of an assured and rociprooal
love smiled from oaoh othor's eyes.
Thoy needed no explanations, Frank
Idemsbepcl'o face had ever boon as easily
iuborproted as his honost words; and
he now had taught Lottie's Paco to toll
the truth. A blessed truth it revealed
to him that Christmas -di.
As 110 mitered the pulp b that morning
Lis face was radiant with tho purest
human love, as well as lova to Clod. So
far from being incongruous, the one
Boomed to ]ind]o and intensify tho
other, Though his sermon was siru-
plioity itself, he spoko as ono inspired..
liis message now was a gospol, and
came to hie bearers as the angel's an-
nouncement (which was Ids text) to the
s]tophetds,
13ut his closing words were searching,
and sent many of his hearers home
thoughtful and couscienco•srnitten, as
well as cheered by tho groat hopo which
Ghristmascla
S
should C4Cr bring to the
171;111.
1 would gladly correct," ho said,
" the impression which I fear was made
on some minds last Sunday. Christ is
the embodiment of Christianity, aud
His coming to the world was ' tidings
of great joy;' Ilis coming to every sin-
ful heart should be 'tidings of great
joy.' ]3ut I fear that I led somo to
dread Iris coming, as they would pur-
gatorial fires. How did the All-power-
ful One come? As a little, helpless
child, that He might disarm our fears
and enlist our sympathy. How diel IIe
live? The humblest among the hum-
ble, that no one on earth should be too
lowly to go straiOht to His side with his
griefs. How did He act ? He took
]ittlo children in His arms and blessed
them. Ho laid His hand on the loath•
some leper from whom all shrank. He
looked into tho glare of the demoniac's
oyes—the demons fled. Then, in meek-
ness, He would offer to enter the
poor wretch's heart, and dwell in what
had been the ford abode of the foulest
fiends. Whoa men wept, Ifo, from
sympathy, wept with them, though His
next breath changed their mourning in.
to joy. When man dishonored God, or
wronged his fellow -man, as the the
Pharisees, with their unhallowed traffic
in the Tomplo, thoir robbery of the
widow and fatherless, their blocking up
the way of life with their senseless cern.
monies, puerile traditions, no knight in
all tho heroic past over breathed out a
more fiery indignation. How did He
die ? In a way that even the thiel
mightbo =loomed and ]lvo eternally.
"He was an ideal man as well as por-
feet God. Ho was the servant of all, as
well as Ring of kings. Not from His
throne diel Ho stoop to us. He stood
at our sido, and sustained fainting
humanity with Iris encircling arm, as a
brother. Little wonder, then, that the
augel called tho an110uttceme1111 that
God had thus visited His creatures
Good tidings of groat joy.'
" But there is a brief word of pointed
and soarghing significance in this mes-
sage. Tho angel said, ' Unto you is
born a Saviour,' Is that true of each
of us? Is this Ohristmas.day amockery, '
reminding us of a hope that is not 0010
—of a heaven in which wo havo no right
nor part? Does oonsoieneo tell tis to.
day that wo have looked upon the light
that shono at I3othlebomwith apathotic
eyes, and beard the angel's message ;
with unbelieving hearts, so that prat• '
Madly no Saviour has been born unto ,
us
" Why do you keep this day as a his. 1
tival, my hearer ? I can tell you why you
may. If you will receive it, the angel's ,
message is to you personally; unto you
Is born a Savionr who will forg'ivo your
bast sin, and shield you from its eonso. '
quences,—who will ennoble your future i
life, and sustain and comfort under the j
inevitable sorrow and suffering awaiting •
all—and who will receive you into au
eternal and happy Immo at tho end
of your brief sojourn here. lllay
this Christmas nob pass until each one
has received tho abiding Ivaco and joy
of the angel's message into the depths
of his heart 1"
After tho service, Miss Martell, with
glistening ayes, said to Harcourb, "I
a111 glad you hoard that sermon,"
"I admit," ho implied, with bowed
head, "that it is bettor than my old •
philosophy. I think Ilemstead must
havo writton it for mo."
As tbo young clergyman helped Lottie
into tho sleigh, sho whispered
"You wrote that s0rmon for m0,"
Both were might, Homstoad. had
preaohod Oblast, who is God's embodied 1
truth, alike, and alike ad
appal to
every human heart.
CHAPTHB XXXIII.
TIL END 011 milk "0050."
It is a common 1lnprossiou that 1121.
ponding disasters cast their shadows
before; and e
Book
all '
, m tho'-
p y maim of
fiction do we find that much. is mads of
prosontimonts, which aro usually ful-
filled in a very dramatic way.'
But the close observer areal life, to
a largo degroo, loses faith inthesehocl-
ings of ill, Ile looms that sombre
prossions result morn often from a do.
foctivo digestion and disquieted con-
science than any other eauso; and that,
after the gloomiostfor0bodings the clays
pass in unusual so:oneness. Not that
this is always true, but it would almost
x00711 tiro auto. Porhaps more distress is
caused by those troubles which naves
come, but which aro feared and worried
0vor, than by thoso which do 0otlle,
teaching us, often, palienoo and faith. •
]Joos not oxporionca show that lis -
otters and trials mow) often visit us,
111c0 the h' night," t IDP it1 tho m t "
It
, lit
expoetodly 2
A t any tato, it so ,occurred. to Hong.
,tea' and Lottio on Cho dr0ary MOnday
that followed their glorified ,5unday.
And yet, nover diel a day open with a
fairer promise. `There was a cloudless
slcy and a erystal earth. The mystic
peace of Christmas seemed to have boon
breathed
ro thec
li a i oven in • leak December •
Into Id, mho
for the air was mild and still, and the
shadows of slender trees omit across
the snow as steadily as that made by
the sun -dial Of the lawn.
Within doors all appoarod equally
sereno, Tho fire burned cheerily upon
the hearth whoa Ilemstead Dame down
to breakfast. What was of far more
im+porta110e, the light of love glowed as
brightly in Lottio's eyes, as site beamed
upon him across tho tablo • and the
spoil wbiolr kept him t hinkin un -
o tut
1 1 t;,
fearing, iu the boautiful ]7roseut, 110-
inainecl lmbroken.
But Ow darkest 011aclows were creep-
ing toward both.
To any situated as they wore, and in
their condition of mind and Heart, a
more awakening would havo boon a rude
sliocld. Some olio had only to show
iliein, with tho remorsaloss login of
this world, what all their heavenly
' emotions involved, in ardor to
cause perplexity and almost conster-
nation. They could not long dwell,
liko the immortal • 1 c b
t alta els on the Mount
gods,
o t
. 177
C t us of their exalted feeling, u
al e sub.
slating on tiro nectar and ambrosia of
tones and glances.
Lottio was the fashionablo daughter
of au ultra -fashionable mother and
worldly father, in whose eyes Bina
against the beau monde worn the most
irrational and unpardonable.
Lt msteacl was a predestined home
missionary, upon whom tho Christian
Church proposed to inflict the slow
martyrdom of five or six hundreclayear.
Mrs. Marchmont bub refloated the ]udg.
moot of 'tho world whon she thought
that for two young people, thus situ-
ated, to fall in love with each other,
would bo the greatest possible misfor-
tune. Therefore, with tho sincerest
sense of duty, and the very best in-
tentions, she sob about preventing it,
after all the mischief had been done.
Like a prudent lady, as sho was, she
first sought to get sufficient information
to justify her in speaking plainly to both
her nephew and niece. For this pur-
pose she drew Addio out on Sunday
afternoon, asking her if she had noticed
anything peculiar in the manner of
Hemstoad and Lottie toward each
other. Then, for the first time, and
with just indignation, to her credit be it
said, she Iearned of the practical joke of
which her nephew was to be the victim.
She skilfully drew from her slaughter
all tho details of its inception, and the
mode ]n which it had been carried out,
for, to Addio's superficial observation,
Lottie was only indulging in one of her
old flirtations. She neither saw nor
was sho able to unclorstand the change
bt Lotbio's feolings and character. She
also wronged Lottie by giving the im-
pression that she had nothing to do with
the plot, with tho exception that sho
had promised not to interfere,
Mrs. Marchnlont email scarcely be.
liovo what slio heard, butAddieroforred
her to Bolla, who confirmed her words,
and admitted from the first sho had
" known it was very wrong, but bad
not belicvod that anything would come
of it, until it seemed too late."
" Besides," sho said, " Lottie told ruo
that if I said a word, or Intorforocl in
any way, sho would from that tiino treat
mo as a stranger, and sho said it in a
way that proved sho meant it. Thera -
fore, whatever you do, please let it ap-
pear that I had no part m it."
You surprise and shock mo greatly,"
said Mrs. Marclnnonb; "with all of
Lottia's wild nonsense, and fondness for
flirting, I would not havo thought she
could bo guilty of such doliborate and
persistent offorts to trifle with ono so
srucox0 and good as Frank. The most
heartless coquette would hardly call
him fair game. She puzzles mo too, for
sho does not seem like ono who is act-
ing, but more; like one in earnest. 13o -
sides, look at the interest sho is begin-
ning to take in religion. Sho surely
would not employ such sacred means
for tho purposos of morn flirtation."
But Bello soon conv*ed Mrs.Maroh-
m0ut to her way of thinking. Lottio
had fomind Hemstoad different and morn
interesting than she had oxpected, and
had foolishly. and recklessly pormltbod
a mere Benth101111 for him to clovolop,1o,
which, in her ease woult1 end with the
visit, and soon bo forgottou in tho mad
wlliri,of Now York gaiety. "But with
Mr. Homstoad," concluded Boldo, "it
would. bo a •eery dlifforent affair. He is
ono of tho kind that,will brood ovor such
a disappointment and wrong to tho and
of 11£10.'
So it was settled that Mrs. March -
moat should "speak plainly" to her
nophow, and warn him against "Lottio's
wiles," as soon as possible.
But no opportunity occurred boforo
g
Moeda morning, and thon not till after
Heinstooucl had cocaived some of tho
most blissful oxporionoos that ho had
yob enjoyod. For, immediately after
broaldast, all flocked to the back parlor,
whore tho laden Christmas true reveal-
od tho secrets that filled the air with
vtystcry airing the prececlius aays.
A11 had boon remembered., but IlIr.
lYiartoll's inuuifreonco towards tho gal-
lant 0oacbrnan quite took away his
math.
b
But Hemstoad teas ovorw1lehned and
troublod at first, when he oponod an
envelope, and found a chock for a
thousand dollars with the words ;
" Wo Bond you thio, nob in any sense
Us a 0onlp0nsatiou—for wo know enough
of your oharaotor to roeogvizo that you
would havo taken ognal risks in behalf
of tho ponniloss—but because wo wish
to 1)o remembered by you, whom Wo
can novor forgot. And wo only request
that you invest this sum toward your
1hrary, so that in coming years the bost
thoughts of yens favorito authors may
mound, you of t110sa whoso best wishos,
shi0oro gllatitudo, aria highost cstoom
lit eve. lie yours,
'(Signed) 'r lil•.nsmar alairrrsza;.
' Amon Mannar."
"Now Frank, what is tho use of
putting • on such aro," said Adcllo,
,,,a,. nvtorfncl a Ilaudsenl0
aasweareasaleallatattersaramacceseatvitstse
1311Osunt fraui•9Ir, Martell."
"I assure you I °speetoil nothing of
tho kind," 3 u replied a trifle indignant-
ly. "Why sbm,uta I ? As it is, I am
doubtfui whether 1 ought ba accept of
"Why should 1 ?" Lottie echoed with
a inerrylaugh. "That's like you. But
unless you wish to hurt and u•roup,
5100010 friends vary much, I advise you
to keop it and do as they say. You aro
so exceedingly proud or humble—wltiolt
shall I call it—that I fear you will
neithor expect or take anything from
m0,"
"here is a qu000-loot dug parcel for.
Frank I•Iomstoad," said Mr. l.)intmerly,
with his chuckling r]
laugh,
With intense blight ht Lottio saw the
student hesitate, and his hand tremble
as he slowly began to open it.
"It's not a torpodo, or iufornal ilia•
chino, that you need bo in such trcpida.
tion," she whisperod, "It wont go
off,"
" Is it from you ?"
' " Look ani! son,"
It was a sermon-holcler of richt, plain
morocco without, but within most elab-
orately embroidered. Most promiueut
among the rare and dainty devices was
a single oar.
Tho exprossion of .tie face repaid her,
as he examined it with a comical blend-
ing of reverence and affection, as some
devout Catholic might a relic. In the
blade of the oar was worked with tho
most oxquisito fineness, the words, " A
true Knight." Within an lnnor pocket,
whore they could not readily bo soon,
were the words,
"with the thanks of Lottio 11Iarialou." ,
13ut his quick scrutiiy soon discover-
ed them, and he turned and said with
an emphasis that did her good :
"I valuo this more than • the cheek."
"What folly 1" she said, blusbin with
pleasure ; " it isn't worth five lours."
" I can prove to you it is worth more
than the cheek," ho said in a low
tone,
"How2"
" We value that gift most which we
receive from the friend we value most.
There ; it is proved in a sentence ; but
I can prove it over again."
" Whoa delightful lessons in logic!
But you surely cannot prove it again."
" Yes. If the gift from the friend wo
value most contains evidence that
thought and time have boon expended
upon it—that gift, however slight its
market value, has a worth to us beyond
price, because showing that the friend
we love snpr0m01y thinks of us in our
absence."
" I did put a great deal of time and
thought on that littlo gift, but you have
ropaid me," Lottie answered in a low
torso.
Tlroir brief but significant tete-catete
was now iuterruptcd by Do Forrest,who
came forward to thank Lottie for her
costly gift to Trim—a gift bought on
Broadway. Ho had uneasily marked
the fact that she had given something to
Ilemstead, but when he saw that it was
only a sermon -cover he felt quite re-
lieved.
" Como here, Frank, and show mo
your: present," said Mr. Ditnmerly a
little later.
Homstoad good-naturedly complied,
and the old gentleman looked at tbo
single embroidered oar with a 0omical
twinkle inhis eye, and called again :
" Lottie, come bore."
Sho approached rather shyly and
reluctantly, not knowing what to ex-
pect.
"Now, Lottio," said her uncle ro•
proaol1fu,lly, pointing to tho oar, " I did
not expect that from so sensible a girl
as you are. What is a man going to do
with ono oar, unless lie is to take a
lonoly scull through life as I havo?
Did you moan to suggest that to Mr.
Hemstoad 2"
" Mr. Ilemstead found out another
meaning than that," sho said laughing,
"and I'm not going to stay hero to bo
teased by yon,' and sho ran out of the
room, the picture of blushing happi-
ness.
When Ilemstead again sate her it was
with a groat dread in his heart, and his
tonos 10000 grave and almost stern.
" O—h—h you found out another
moaning, diel you 2" said Mr. Dimmerly,
looking both kindly and quizzically over
his spectacles at his nephew.
" Well, uncle, to toll you the truth, I
hardly understand myself; my visit
horn is a groat contrast to my quint
seminary life, and I havo been getbmg
deeper and deepos into a mazo of happy
bowilclormont every day. So muck lugs
happoned, and I am so changed, that
like many, iu tales of onohantinent, I
BOar001y know whother I am myself."
"I have soon the spell working," said
Mr. Dirmuorly dryly, "and am thankful
that the transformation has not been of
tho nature that Shakespoaro portrayed
in his Midsummer Night Fantasy. Your .
head might have becom0 turned over
the wrong girl, and you have reached
the poriodd when it is bound t0 be turned I.
over somo 0110."
"Uncle," he said forvontly, "she is
the noblest and most beautiful being iu
existence."
"]frank, I wish to son you," said his
aunt quietly; and ho followed her to
her own privato sitting -room.
Mr. D imiorkY indulged in his low,
chuckling laugh as holooked atm: them
"Now sho's going to 'stop' it, ho ho
In tho meantime I'll go out and stop 1
ilio brook from running down hill,"
" Tho time has como," said Mrs.
Marehmont to hor porploxod nephew,
with Ilio complacent superiority with
which tho wiso of this world enlighten
those"whose hoods aro often in the
clouds," " The time has comp whoa I
must spook plainly to you of a n1atter
as important as itis delicate. You arc
my owv sistor's child, and I cannot sea
you wronged 00 going blindly into
troublo without warning you. Are you
not pormitbiiig yourself to boeorno in-
torosstocl in Miss Marsden to degree
1311at is nob wiso?"
r r Why iso iso 2"ho answered with
Y
Mb ws
burning cheeks.
" Haim you not realized that she is
Duo of Sho most tat:blonabloyoung Iadlics
in Now York, and belongs to ono 01 tui'
wealthiest and moat fashionablo fami-
lies? If you could but (moo sco her
iuot1000 you would understand, me,"
"13at oho herself has changed," ho
urged. eagerly,
But Mrs Alarclimo 'l
lit smiled Moreau.,
d1u
lously and pityingly. "How little ,you
know the world," she said, " Ili what
do you moot all your sentiment to end?
Only sentiment? You say you purpose
Loin a home missionary, Can you
imagine for a n1Om011t that one, situated
as she is, would eonternplat) sueli a
life? Her parents would as soon bury
hor,"
r•
110mpw
stoad aucd ruder his aunt's
reraorseloss words, but said in a sort of
blind desperation; "lIer parents 1 Is
this Ilindostatt, that
parents
ea11 treat
theirdaughters as merchandise
Airk
of 14'liss:Marsden's force aha nobility of
character--"
" 0 Frank, hush 1 It absolutolymakos
m0 sick to see ono so easily deceived. t1
`Nobility of character,' indeed! Well,
1 didn't wish to speak of it. I could .
nob believe it even of Lottio, but nothing
less than the whole truth will convince
son," and she told him of the plot in
which Lottio purposod to make him the
ridiculous subject of a practical joke, r
and d inti at d that all her si cc
Was but the carrying out of blurb plot.
At first llcrostoad grow deathly pale, 5,
and his aunt, thinking he was going to
faint, began fumbling for her salts. But
a moment later the blood suffused 00011
Pis neck and brow, and he said passion-
ately •
"I don't believe a word of all this;
Miss Marsden is not capable of such a
falsehood."
" Whether in your unreasoning passion
you will believe it or not, makes no 2112.
10110000," said Mrs. Matehmont, quietly.
" It is true, as I can prove by Addie and
Miss Parton."
ate took a few hasty strides up and
down the room and muttered:
" I will take her word against all the
world. Silo shall answer for herself,"
, and he rang the boll.
• When the aoxvant appearea he said:
"Please ask Miss Marsden to tomo
here at once."
Mrs. Marcltmont regretted Iiemstoad's
notion very much, but it was too firm
and decided to be prevented. She had
planned, that after his " eyes had been
opened to his folly" and Lottio's friv-
olity, to say -the least, her nephew
would, with quiet dignity, cease his
attentions, and perhaps might shorten
his visit. Sho had a horror of scones,
but feared that ono was coming now.
Homsteac, admitted Lottie with a
silent bow and gave her a chair.
When she saw his grave, pale face,
her heart misgave her strangely, and
she trembled so that even he noticed it,
and also another foot—she slid not meet
his oyes. IIo fastened his upon her, as
if 110 would read her soul, for ho now
felt that more than life was at stake.
"Miss Marsden," he said, in a low,
deep tone, " my auuthas macho a strange
charge against you, but I said to bar,
and now I say to you, that I will take
your word against all tho world. She
assorts, and sho gives the names of hex
witnesses, that your action—your lcind-
nosa toward 1110 from the first, has been
but the carrying out of a deliberate and
hoartless jest. Is it true?"
Lottic's wonted quickness failed her.
She had been so happy, the had seemed
to have got so far beyond hor old, (also
self, and so established in his affection,
that such a revers0 did not seem pos-
sible. But the evil that at ono time she
had feared had now come in a form so
unexpected and serioult, that, for a mo-
ment, sho was stunned and bewildered.,
and fell into helpless confusion. Tho
nature of the case aggravated her dis-
tress. How could sho explain ? What
could sho say ? In response to his
question sho only trombied more vio-
lently and buried hor burning face in
her hands.
He saw in this action confirmation of
fears that 110 at first would scarcely enter-
tain, and regarded her a moment with a
strange expression upon his face—anger
and pity blended, and thou silently loft
tho room.
The sleigh stood at the door, and the
coachman was just starting on an errand
to Newburgh
hir. Dimmer. looked with surprise at
Y L
his nophow's pale from ; o surprise that
was greatly increased as the young man
seized his hat aid coat, and sail in a
husky tone :
"I am going to Now York for some
days," and ho sprang into tho sloighand
was driven away,
" Woll," said tho old man, testily, "if
sho ' stoppa'' him as easily as that he
dosorves to loso hor."
And Mrs. Marchmont, seeing Hem.
stead depart so silently, cougratulatod
horsolf that sho haul cacaped a scene
after all, and complacently thought,
" Those thins oanbo' stopped ' if taken
in time, notwithstanding brother's sorb.
mental nonsense,'
As poor Zottio's mind emerged from
its oliaos into connected thought, sho
speedily calve to tilos conclusion to tell
IImnstoad the whole truth, to condemn
herself more s0verolg than even ho could
in his anger, and ask his forgiveness.
But when sho raised ]ler tearful face
to speak, he was gond.
She heard the sound of bells. A sud-
den fear chilled her, and sho sprang to
the window and a vanishing form
saw a s
thatoro dedmig h o h . Without
s a tbo his. gg
a word to Mrs. Marolisnout, sho rushed
down to the lower hall, where sho found
IVIr.•. Ditnmoriy finning about. !,
Wilms) is Mr. Homstoad 2"
she askod
eager.,].
" ii'l at alto donee is tho motto) ?
What have yon and sister boon saying '2
that Frauk should coma down ]told
white as a shoot 2"
" But where is he 2" sho asked again,
in a team that her uncle novor heard her
use before.
"Sotto to NowYork for sevoraldays," , 4t<
ho said.
Lottio tottered a momontas if sho had.
roeoived a blow. With ono hand sho ;
steadied herself on thobalustrado of the •
:hairs while sho passed to 0111105 a0ross
, 1
l
1 inu.
. t
i then 'moo andwoAll
v
'10 an OosrlNunn:l
k