Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-11-26


instant had imagined you cared for Clayton
Had such been my belief could not have been
cruel enough TO have acted as | had done And
then when the memory Of all my msdeeds came
crowding upon my brain, shuddered at the fearful
and hated myself now determin.
ed Immediately to repair the evil had done, by
confcssing everything 10 you the next morning
But when morning came, and ! again met your
loving glance, and felt your kiss Of affection warm
upon my brow, my courage failed, aud could not
bring myself to say that which would doubtless turn
your love for me to hatred. | leG you without
vouchsaing the confession--but with the blush of
shame upon my cheek and the sting Of remorse
deep within my heart. For week following -the
week that has Just passed, Edith, | avoided all in
tercourse with you, and yet scarcely an instant
we're you absent from my thoughts. scarcely
know how that week has passed--but good and
evil resolutions have alternately predominaled. -
Never before has your affection been so valued
before have ! fully estimated the worth of
your friendship as ill within the last few davs-and
Ie that it would be agony to lose you when il
lay in my power lock that fatal secret within my
own bosom. And Clayton oh could not hum.
BILE myself in has sght-could not, oh no. could
not give ulieranee TO that which would make him
despise and scorn inc. but then | remembered how
much anguish must daily be your portion, aud my
heart wayefed. Then too thought for the first
time tina, he, perhaps, suffered as you did, and as
that thought rose up before me my good resolves
trlumphcd, and yesterday ! resolved to avow all
TO you on the morrow. That mOrr0p has come,
aud it has found me low upon the bed Of death,
but my confession has been given, and am ready
to depart in peace. Hate me IL you will, Edith
base have BEEN we'll do | deserve your utter de.
testation; and yet, standing as | now do upon the
threshold Of eternity, soemnly assert that had |
believed you loved Walter Clayton, would never
have wronged you as | have done"
With an almost superhuman effort the dying girl
had made her confession. and now as she ceased,
her head sank heavily upon the pillow, while she
dres the covering tightly over her face as if TO con-
ceal from view the form of her who had been so
gresly injured.
With feelings ofthe deepest anguish Edith Court.
land had listened to that strange avowal. Once or
twice something like groan had escaped her, and
when Ada Lander had concluded she continued for
some moments absorbed in meditation Al length
rising from her seat she drew still nearer to the
bedside, and clasped the hand Of the penitent girl
within her own
81 forgive you, Ada" she murmured in a broken
voce--and then unable to say more she burst into
tears.
Forgive me-oh Edith. will you indeed for
give mel Can il be that you do not regard me
with hatred ?
]
like iace-the face Of her own had so long beer
her best loved friend with other feelings than those
of pity and tenderness, even though Ada Landol
had caused her many months Of bitter sorrow
"And now. Edith, let me ask you single ques
ton" said Ada, when she had been fully assured
OF forgiveness, 81 care not 10 know the history o
the emerald ring, but will you not confide TO m,
the name of its giver 7"
Viola Lander bad hitherto remained listener /,
all that had TRANSFERRED, and now sudden suspicion
crossed her mind, and involnn,ary she pressed
closer to Edith, as If eager to catch the words tina
were about to fall from her lips. The few sen
fences in which Ediths reply was contained caus
ed an exclamation of surprise and deep sorrow Il
burst from the lips OF Ada Landor-but Viol
spoke not for she could offer no consolation 4
Edith without allowing each word to become a nes
source oil reproach to her sister. But the sien
pressure Of the arm that encircled her spoke muc
TO Ednh's heart, and she was grateful for toxic
ofsymPathy so delicaiey and tenderly conveyed
A few moments after, Ada called her sister 1
her and whispered to her few words. Viola
only reply was a low 81 will" and then she turne
fearfoy away.
Not many hours aflerward sorrow-stricke
group was assembled in that chamber. The fac
they looked upon though beautiful still, was col
and pallld, for The angel of death had been bus
there, and the spirit of Ada Lander had taken il
upward fight
CHAPTER ~.
One evening, about fortnight after the deaf
of Ada Lander, Walter Clayton was sitting alon
in his study, engaged in deep reverie. SUDDEN
he was disturbed by low knock at the door, an
in another moment female, habited in dee
. mourning, entered. Hastily she moved towar
him, and drawing aside her veil, revealed a cour
, tenance that he quickly recognized.
"Vioa p he exclaimed in a tone OF extreme SUI
prise, "Vioa Landonl Can it be possible p
"My erraud hilher," said Viola, when the FIR
sauations had passed, Concerns the happiness
very dear friend, and also Of one who once ALLOW
ed me TO give him the title of brother"
Clayton turned slightly pale. Explain yourse
: Viola" he exclaimed eagerly.
II refer to Edith CourIland and-yourself," ia
tered the young girl.
"And why would you speak upon this subjec
D Viola ?" asked Clayton in a tone of emolion-"rea
D that" he added, placing note before her. "an
you will be convinced that her happiness never d.
}. pended upon me-"
q Viola took the note and perused it,
j "And now" he continued, "does not that assul
2 you that Edith CORTLAND never cared for me
she had, think you she would have written til
: noie-would She for the sake of few vain word
d have cast away heart that was devoted to her
i All no,-Edilh was false-she never returned n
!. love"
| Edith CORTLAND false !" exclaimed Viola, i
h dignanty, "Edith-the purehearied, noble.mindt
d Edith oh, Walter Clayton, how can you wror
d her thusl And yet" she continued in a soft
tone, when look upon that billet, can scarce
n wonder that you speak in this manner"
k but for the reception Of that note, repli'
II Clayton, "all would have been well with u.s.
!. was ashamed Of my doubts, and would have reiur
y ed the mex, day to sue for pardon-bui When r
. ceed that, my suspicious returned with more for
s. than before"