The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-06-24
WASHINGTON, D. {.
From Fraser's Magazine.
[ O Me- n 0 u SE D A L t.
CHAPTER THE FoURTH-Continued-

'--S
opening door, and met those six wide,open
aces red unon her. She was 30 bewildered
that she remained perfectly still, in the attitude
in which she had been surprised. Indeed, she
was 40 bewildered that she scarcely knew whai
was taking place at all. She knew that she VA
in a rough, strong grasp, but it seemed to bel
IA much the grasp Of an animal as Of q man
so homogeneous we're the shaggy coat, thick
muscles. and neral brutishness of her adorer
What SIZE did feel, however, keenly and distinct
IL enough, was, that she was degraded aud ri
diculous, and that Captain Morris was witness
to the fart.
al dol" shouted the young squire as the
doo- opened, and while he spoke he made an
other lunge at Rosa's white, lorg, flexible hand
Before all the world / say it out do love
her do and I'll fight for her against the best
man in England, that will l." with furious
look at Captain Morris.
any coed fellow" said that gentleman
laughing affecledly, if you are Miss Arden's
choice, who in Heavens name have you got tc
fight with2 Miss Arden is free, presume, Il
choose her husband where she will, and from
what rank she will. Nc enc would attempt 10
dictate to her or to oppose her, should imag
ine 80 why talk Of fghtipg?"
By this time Rosa had struggled herself free
Perhaps Captain Morris's supposition that she
had chosen that Landed Bear, helped her to
regain her self possession. She flung of Mr.
Rawlinson with that wonderful strength which
comes into an angry womans slender wrist, and
turning to Mrs. Devotion, whose round, black
bead-like eyes were still fixed upon her, she
said, haughtily:
"Mrs Devotion, suppose need not assure
YOU that the scene you have just witnessed has
surprised me as much as it could have sur
prised you. L. is not ten minutes since l FIRST
knew that Mr.. Rawlinson had presumed to
think of me at all, still less had dared to be IN
solent enough to address me as an equal. To
yOu," she added, speaking to poor Marian,
am certain / shall not be required to exculpate
myself. | know that you trnst me too much to
believe it possible that L could have tempered
with your happiness, or practiced on ycul
friends fidelity" This was said with scorniu
emphasis. 81 leave the task of explaining
what you have seen to him-I cannot do so, for
do not comprehend it more than Yourself
Then, with a cold bow to Captain Morris--fol
Rosa, right or wrong, felt insulted and sggriev
ed by them all-she was gliding from the room
when Marian stopped her.
"Oh, Rosa Rosa dear /" she sobbed, 81
don't wonder at any one loving you before Inc
and it you'll only love him, and make him hap
py, I'm sure III give him to you freely It's SC
natural, Rosa d-ar-you are so far before me
al everything; Pm sure man would have been
blind who had preferred me before you So
take him, Rosa dear, and be happy and if you
are b-th happy, then III be so tool"
With which poor Msrian's honest loving
heart failed her, and giving deep grooming
sgh-which. however, was more like the snort
ol "A startled horse than a human sigh-ahe fell
IN I'D - Ca L.
her consciousness, but only her power of mo
tiou. There che lay on the around, crushed up
into an awkward, desolate, quivering heap, cry
ing AID sohbiHg uncouthly into her tartan
shawl, her mother kneelicg passively by her
Captain Morris standing apart, cool and polite
aud the young squire, flushed and confused
muttering oaths IN his blue checked necker
chief. - .. .r
CHAPTER THE FIFTH
Of course, Rosa's stay in Lone house Dale
was over now At least, SO she thought She
could not remain under the same roof with the
poor girl whom she had SO unintentionally in
Jured, nor in the same neighborhood with the
man who had SO iusulted her. Yet where tt
90 or what to DO she had 10 more idea thar
Marian herself would have had. For though
she might have received countless invitations
had her friends known of her position, yet, see
ing that she had not deigned to write to any o.
them since she was melted from the deep -
according to Mr.. Doveton's phraseolcgy-nt
one knew anything about her, and every on,
believed abe had gone down in the Arethusa
What could she do? She had not an indie
pendent farthing in the wide world. The gown
the shoes, the collar, the very gloves she wore
all were Devotion tribute; and if she left Lone
house Dale, it must be by Devotion money t.
pay the Journey. She had never felt the ex
tremlty of her dependence till now. She had
been made so much of-she had been so fiat
tered, and peited, and loved, and placed OF
such high pinnacle-that she had really be
gun TO feel what they said in their exaggerated
admiration 10 be true, and that it was actually
she who conferred the benefit on them by re
naming with them, not they who did her kind
ness by keeping her. Naturally ungrateful
because unloving ard selfish, the false mora
position which her conventional superiority haC
gwen her, and the manner in which she wa
bored and worried by the clumsy profession o
the Devotion love, together with the quiet ton,
OF authority which, unintentionally, and hal
unconsciously, she had assumed among them :
all these facts and circumstances had bidder
the truth of her relative position from her con
science; that it needed some such crisis a
THIS tc open her eyes, and set things fairly ant
honestly before her.
What should she do? She was asking her
self this question for the hundredth time, sit
ting In her own bedroom, with her feet lazil
crossed over each other, and her hands resting
dslntily folded on her lap, when Marian, still
IN her poke bonnet, sadly crushed by her lat
nalf'swooning fall, and with her old-fashione,
shawl pinned tight at her throat and waist, en-
WI ct.n T.
violently than when Rosa had last seen he
supported in her mothers arms on the ground
Rosa DEAR" said Marian, holding out he
hand, Il am very sorry for you-you must b
so uncomfortable. I'm sure it's Just wretche
for you, that it is aud all for mel" And Ma
rian began to cry again. Poor thing she wa
IN that nervous condition when the sound {
ones own voice makes one doubly miserable
If a woman, glomerating tears; if a man, CO,
solidating floating visions of suicide or dram
mo, 1 am not to be pitied,' said Rosa, wit
more kindly warmth of manner than usual, fc
even she was touched by the girls unselfshnes
and thawed into momentary appreciation. sc
course 1t IS very uncomfortable for me, but m
position is nothing, compared to yours. l on
hope that you do me 80 much justice "a to b
heve had nothiug whatever to do with tt
anaur. 1t took me By surprise, quite as muc
as 1t could have taken you"
"Oh, never mind, !" soobed Marian, nervous
twisting the fringe of her shawl. III ought
have known it. / ought to have seen that Z
one could love me when you were by-yo
VINO are so much better than l am in ever
tnng. And though thought he loved me
sae continued, simply" for 1 am sure love
MN well enough-yet we all know that 10,
changes, and that people can't help it. And 8
nosa dear, forgive him and if you'll only |
Ilappy with him, and never mind me, and max
MN happy, too, that's all ask now"
D aud Marian fell to kissing Rosa's face 81
ts'ta had decided antipa.hy to being kisse
one had o,hn "a j