, 1874-09-12


Once more Gerard nopo entered hts uuclo'h
house, not aB MI irtcrlopar, stealing into 1t iii
secret, but as an honoycd guest, to whom repara-
loaned baols l.. her invalid cllnir. joyous huah
Oil hor wastot check, = Joyous hupplnosA in hor
oye. stlll tho Shadow OF coming death waa
thnro, mil hlr. IIop0 waa shocked to SEQ lior,-
moro Shocked mud startled than ho had expected
or chnao to oxpross.
Oh, Alicol what haH fiono thts?"
~ hat, " eho nsHworeft pointing to tho braco-
lot, which. rottirncd TO itA true owner, lny on the
lnble. " should not lavo lived many years;
a1jlo to l1vo little longer than I now B,al1. II
ns boon tho cnuao Of miBosy to many. Lady
Barah sava ehe shall mover regard It but as
an il-starrcd tril'kes, or VICAR it with any pleas
uro."
t. but, Alice, why Should you havo suffered 1t
thus to affect you?" ho romonBtrated. "You
know your own innocence, and you aay you bo-
lioyod and tr,latod in mino; What did you foar7"
doorer heclic rising to ],er checks. II could
not laya confessed my fear. ,eyon in dying; It
WAS too distressing. too tesrihlc; but now that
1t III all clear, will toll IT, 1elioued my sister
had taken he bracelet.
uo uttered MI exclamation of ntnnzomcnt.
II hayo believed 1t all along.. Sho Ind calic1
to sec mo that night, and Nas for minute or
two. In lilo room a1uno With tho bracelets; i
know she, at that time, was short OF money. aud
foarod Bho Ind been tempted to talto it-jl,st
uY this unfortunate servant man was tcmpted.
Oh, Gornrd tho dread Of it has boon npon mo
night and day, proving nron in5 fcars. Weighing
down my bpirits, wearing away my health ana
my lifo. And had to bear IL alf tn silence. It
is tint enforced dreadful ailence that haa killed
me."
"A'ice, this must hayo boon morbid fear"
"Not no-lf you know nil. But tt Ia ut htl
onl, and am very thanIfni. have. only one
hopo nov," sAe added, looking up at him with 8
sunny smile. "All, Gorard! can Jon not gueHs
lts"
"No," ho answered, ID n stiaed voice. II can
only gloBB thai you arc lost to mo.
"Lust to al here. Have You forgotten our
brief conversation the night you went into
worthy OF yon TIM, could have ever been."
! =" Nono viii ever bo half 80 worthy; or-1
Will ssy It, Alice, in spite Of your warning hand
- Gprart" sinking l,or voice, " she has vatad
] for you"
| Nonsonsc," lo rojoinctl.
"slo las. Whan sho shall he your vito. you
may tel her IT., TINT aH,y it aud said it,"
NY during, - ,.
!" thoso words Of cndenrnlent nre not for me
Gun you deny that you soye hor p"
".por)'msps l do--in degree. Next to your
"put mo ont Of your thoughts whilo we spoal,
! II werc~-whera / SO soon shall be, woutt
Hile not he aoarer to you than any ono on Garth
Would YOU not be we'll pleased to mako be-
! your wife7"
| "aes might bs."
hlther."
II thought you were talking Secrets" Bait
| Lady Frances,
s'As VIC woro," answered A1ive. "Francoa
what can wo, DO to Iieop him among ns? e; "n'
yoa know N 1S''t whst g COL Hope has told mes"
That though he shall be 1clnstatctt in fayo
| ~ to monoY-niatters. ho sl,nl not t,o IN lig nf
focEion or lis homo. t,uless ho provo sorry 70
tint first rebellion OF hla. I thiuk Gerard j
"Fanny,a said Gerard, wniio damask nus
mantlod III llor checks. dsupor than Alicoa hoc
tic, ",oiu YOU holp mo ?"
'As ii I could mako ont head or tail Of wha
| you two arc dscussing!" cried Hho, aa BIie at
tempted to turn away; but Gerard caught her t.
| lis sitlo.
Fanny-will you driro mo again from tn
| house p
Bho lifted hsr eyes, twinkling with 1ittl
| spico Of miHcliaf. ~ did uot drive you before.
"ln n manner yes. do you kno" what di
sho lad known It at tho time; and aerar
| read it in hor faee.
I II 500 it all" he mur1nered; "you havo hco
far kinder to mo than | deserved. Fanny, le
| mo try to repay you for it.
Alice caught their banda together aud hot
them between her OWN. with mental aspiratio
for their lifss fut,,rs happiness. Some tim
back'she could not have braass,ed 1t iu SO fel
vent spirit; bnt-as aho had said-tho prosct
world and its hopos woro closing to her.
"Dut you know, Gerard, " cried Lady Frame!
In saroy tono, 9'if you ever do help yonrse
to somebody's olse's braco1es in reality, you mut
!. not expect me to 60 to prison with you,'
"feB ! shall, he answered promptly. p"
wifo must share tho fortunes Of her husband."-
The Argosy.