, 1864-03-05
CHAPTER w. AND tAsf.

CHAPTER w. AND tAsf:
Days glided into weeks, weeks ihtU
months, aud Grace Babington's lonely ex-
istence. still wore its unchanged aspect.
The former gay visitants Of Belgrave House
now drove past tho doors With supercilious
indifference and averted heads. The gloomy
repose which had Interrupted the long stic-
cession of balls and banquets had no at
traction for those gilded butterflies; the
pail Of death had obscured the once garish
fame; so, like tho swallows, they winged
their flight to SUMMER skies. When man Is
hospitality is extended from mere selfish
love Of display, he must not be surprised
if his sparkling wine-cup is deadened with
the lees Of ingratitude. t......r .-.....
Gradually, however, and almost imper-
eeptibly, Hugh SherwoOd's sterling con-
stancy stamped its impression on Graces
volatile Nature. She showed it not 50 much
in spoken words as by reader acquiescence
in his generous devices to amuse or guide
her, until at length she awoke from her
nightmare Of wiltal pride and locked on
him with truer eyes, a.l lrr. wG' ...I
The June sunshine was again playing
among the flowers and touching with its
pleasant light the statues and fountains in
the garden. Hugh and Grace were seated
under the shady lines, her hand resting In
his; her blushing face was veiled beneath
her golden curls as she listened to the ear
nest pathos of his trembling voice. lie
was once more entreating her to cast away
her cold reserve aud bless him with the
guerdon Of her love. 'o. Hi#.as
"Grace," he said, with deep feeling.
"pardon me that l again plead my love,
even before you had laid aside your robes
VI mourning for him whose loss you mourn.
Let its depth and truth plead for me; for
in my heart your image is enshrined amidst
It's holicst thoughts and noblest aspirations.
That heart may have its frailties and errors,
but even these, guided by its love for you,
will serve but to cement our happiness.
Pronounce my fate, dear Grace, for good
or evil, for light or darkness evermore."
81 have no fear for your devotion in the
future, Hugh" said Grace, "though | con-
fess to tilnidity for my own. You know
l am vain, frivolous and very headstrong."
"0h, Grace! why will yon seek to hide
your genuine self behind guise so unreal ~
said Hugh. "Speak to me as a woman
should speak to the man who has barred his
heart to her, frankly and in truth. Do not
shrink from me, do not turn your eyes away,
This hand-say, shall il be mine I"
Her head drooped upon his shoulder,
while the fragrant breeze waited TO his ear
her whispered answer. @ 7J lnl- !'
If John Ruddcrforth's marriage had
been beautiful in its simplicity, that Of
Hugh ShcrwOod's wassupreme in its magni-
ficefice. One brief month after that June
evening in the garden, when heart spoke
to heart, the gloom Of mourning that had
clouded Belgrave House for more than
year was dispelled, and its walls again
echoed the sounds Of joy. Fashions
dreamy spell was once more thrown around
the new wife. The heartless yotaries Of
pleasure, who had flown from the orphan
in her hour of sorrow, returned with soft
words aud honeyed phrases Of adulation to
the young bride, who received their super
fetal homage with all her wealth Of smiles.
The proud fond husband, too, yielded to
the glittcring fascination Of the gilded
throng. He saw his wife the acknowledged
centre Of beauty's circle, he bcheld the
triumph Of her peerless charms amidst
dream Of delrious happiness, and he sur
rendered to the enchantment.
As time wore on the sober voice Of reason
found now and then lull in the dazzling
whirl, and tried to make itself heard. The
serpent, however, was SO silky in its touch,
SO varied in its brilliant hues, that Hugh
could not believe that any venom lurked
beneath lis pleasant familiarity. And then
Grace was so charmed by its splendor, what
ever its delusion it was at least harmless.
And so the giddy crowd continued to
surround the plant husband and his fash
ionable idol. Balls, routs and banquets
that would have graced lords station con-
tinued to feed Mrs. Sherwood's ever-crav-
ing vanity, until ut length the beacon light
Of her fathers fate threw its glimmer across
her husbands daEslcd senses, and he saw
his impending danger. He limited in deli
cate terms 10 Grace that his income was
unequal to the strain which their costly
mode Of living eutailed upon it, and was
answered by her in tone Of indifferent
coldness. He nevertheless returned to the
charge, and urged the necessity Of retrench-
ment; then tears, those poignant weapons
of woman, came to her rescue, and poor
Hugh retrcated FROM the field in dismay.
Thus passed four years, during which
time Grace's unchecked extravaganza had