Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-11-20
MAUD
al TALE or TREACHERY
By s'DAIsY DE AN. "

A TALE OF TREACHERY.
By s'DAIsY DE AN"
seDraw rein for while, Col. Ashton,
and yonr fastidious taste will be gratified
by most charming tableau vivant," ex-
claimed merry Nettie Armitage to her at
tendant cavalier, as $ in party of others,
they dashed past rose-embowered cot
tage in the village of L..
Nettie Armitage and her attendant, Col.
Ashton, with the remainder of the party,
Claude Hamilton and his cousin Maud,
were guests of Judge Darwin, who, with
his family occupied the conventional great
house of the village On the morning in
question as they rode through the village,
Nettie was charmed into the above excla-
nation at sight of most picturesque and
lovely scene.
sGndeed, Miss Nettie, the beautiful
tablesu on which l now gaze is unsur-
passable," calamity replied Cob Ashton,
CHANGING into the sparkling eyes with
look which caused rosy bushes to suffuse
her lovely countenance. "Hereon could
feast my gaze forever"
ga truce to all compliments, sir, in
terrupted Nettie, sand bestow your adj
miration on yon fairy scene.
SIT well merits your enthusiasm, Miss
Nettie, for it is beautiful beyond descrip-
ton. Hamilton" he continued, turning
to the other couple, 'tyou have the taste
/ of a connoisseur, allow me to draw your
attention to a scene from fairy land"
And truly was the scene worthy of the
enthusiastic admiration lavished upon it.
A lovely cottage, with roses climbing DER
door and window, gracing the garden
| walks, and the air redolent of the breath
of "sWeet, June roses" As they sparkled
with myriad dew drops, like diamonds
imbedded in ruby and emerald settings, a
more inviting prospect could scarce be de-
pIcted. But fairest of them all was
young girl gliding through the walks and
| sportiYely shaking down the glistening
drops upon her long, golden locks, herself
beauteous rosebud, sparkling with the
dew of youth. Very lovely was the face
lit up with beaming smiles, true index of
the pure, innocent heart, and the I'M
studied attitude SO full of unconscious
grace. But as gall and bitterness was
this radiant vision to the jealous heart of
Maud Hamilton as she noted the adj
miring glances of Claude, the exclusive
right of which she would claim for her
self.
With an impatient exclamation she
touched her spirited horse, and with
violent plunge he started forward, precip-
itating his unfortunate rider to the
earth. Quickly dismounhng, her COM
panions endeavored to Iesuscitate the in
sensible girl The inmates of the cot
tsge hurried forward with kindly offers
of assistance and she was borne to the
house, where prompt measures were
taken for her restoration.
81 declare, Nettie, it is unbearable that
I must be cooped up in this abominable
village, and in this cottage, too. Here l
have been week, and still the doctor
forbids my removal to Judge Darwin's
I have no faith in these rustic NJ. d. s,
and / viii leave in spite of his prohIbi
ton. o, what an uulucky fall that
was, ;" so spoke Maud, after weeks con-
finement to the cottage after the accident
she characterized as unlucky.
maud, darling, you must exercise more
patience, while Miss Grace and l en-
deavor to lend our poor aid in tightening
the tedium of your hours, " replied Nettie.
'Patience is not one Of my virtues,
Nettie Armitage. You are captivated by
this rustic maiden, and suppose Claude
has followed suit if his tel-tale looks are
an evidence"
''Maud how can you speak SO bitterly
of one who has been so untiring in her
efforts to alleviate your sufferiDgs, and
who in her sweet artlessness would win
the stoBiest heart ~
SLOW easily you are taken in, Nettie.
l see through this sweet artlessness' as
you term it. Already she flushes beneath
Claude's earnest glances; while he, par
ticdlarly susceptible to beauty, seems to
have fallen into the snare of this design
ing village girl. But 1 will save him
from such fate. Aunt Hamilton shall
know of it and recall US.
"Why, Maud Claude Hamilton is too
noble to brook such espionage, and you
will surely ALLEVIATE his affections if you
persist in such a course. y
"Well, here comes Judge Darwin an1
his wife, and / am determined to return
with them, even at the risk of mourning
something worse than sprained ankle"
and the persistent girl, in spite of the
remonstrances of her friends and the pro-
testations of Mrs. Manning and Grace,
who had so kindly nursed her, carried
her point, and returned with Judge Oar
win and his wife in their carriage.
a union between Claude and his cousin
Maud, had been the cherished wish of his
mothers heart. since fate, 10 the death of
her parents, had thrown Maud upon the
kindly care of her aunt. But, though
Claude loved his cousin, it was not with
that love he would bestow upon the most
cherished object Of his existence. Her
GOODNESS repealed him, and the fact of
their being cousins made her sacred in his
eyes. But though seemingly csld, her
love for him was as a consuming fire,
with the added fuel of her aunt's sppro-
baton.
She was no sooner domiciled at Judge
Darwin's, than, with apparent inconsist-
ency, she regretted her return; for Claude's
visit TO Rose Cottage ceased not with the
invalid's return, and, narrowing thought,
she could not be present at those inter
views inaugurated BY her fatal accident.
She inwardly chafed beneath the re-
straint, and hailed with delight letter
from Mrs. Hamilton, in reply to one from
herself, desiring their immediate return.
Preparations were made for their depart
ure, and with a, TO her, joyful heart, the
homeward journey was commenced.
''Can l rely upon your sincerity, Mr..
Blackmau2"
"Indeed, Miss Hamilton, the rack it
self would be powerless to wrench the
| secret from me-"
''You must be aware, Mr.. Blackman,
that | would never have come on such
mission, but Mrs. Hamilton is much dis
tressed by fears of a mesalliance be-
tween her son and an obscure village girl
of no responsibility, and as no entreaties
will prevail with him, it is desirable to
cut off all communication between them.
Therefore, you must seize all letters di-
rected to Mr.. Hamilton, postmarked from
the village of l., and all communica-
tons from this city addressed to Grace
! Manning, and deliver them to me in per
son, for which you will be amply re-
warded. You need have no fears of be-
trayal Here is one thousand dollars, and
| remember if you betr5y me, what will be
the penalty postmaster iLcurs, who be-
trays his trust"
"You may rely upon me, Miss Hamil
ton, replied her sccomplice, as he greed
lily clutched the offered bribe. ''GUld is
a great silencer, Miss"
''What are few paltry letters, any
way" he muttered, after bidding her
adieu. ''She cannot betray me at any
rate without danger to herself So far l
am safe"
Thus was cOnsummatcd a plot that
brought anguish to two loving hearts.