The Morning herald., 1877-10-09

confidence"
In her own thoughts, Augusta added ,-'1
know sine dare not
T-I have no desire to learn" began
4osalie.
"Oh! but you must r. exclaimed Mistress
Cameford, not suffering her cousin to pro-
ceed in her objection. "The secret have
SO long been compelled to keep within my
own breast, has now became so oppressive q
buAthen, that you, Rosalie, must share it
with me-
Kosahe was growing more and more
amazed.
"To refuse to listen to me would be cruel,
Rosalie, since you are the only one to whom
l may speak OF this secret" Augusta said,
and then a silence ensued, which, however,
was soon again broken by Mistress Camel
ford.
"You have formed no opinion Of Arthur
Gresham p well, Rosaie, 1 will tell you
mine,-he is charming, and" Augusta
lowered her voice, and bending toward Ro-
sale till her thin lips almost touched the
young wife's ear, whispered, "and love
him"
Rosalie started from the couch, and gained
on her cousin with terrified expression.
"You are surprised, I see, at my confess
sion," Augusta said,-"have, perhaps, be-
lieved my heart incapable of that soft pas
sion ? Well, you will now learn that you
have been mistaken"
"You-you love Arthur Gresham Z" fall
tered Resale.
"Witl my whole soul! exclaimed Mis-
tress Camelford, enthusiastically, and rising
also from the couch and again approaching
Rosalie,-"with fervor Of devotion which
1 had believed it was impossible my heart
could ever know"
Pity for Augusta and terror for herself,
was in the gaze which Rosalie now fixed
upon her cousins face.
Boldly the widow returned that look,
which rightly she understood not.
"You are wondering, perl aps," she said,
"that no bushes paint my cheek, while l
confess this to you? That is because l have
no need to feel ashamed Of my devotion for
Arthur Gresham, for well does he return
my love-"
"Impossible !" was the ejaculation now
wrung from Rosalie, which moments re-
fiection would have caused her to suppress,
} and of which, as soon as uttered, she re-
pented. =,
"What say you ?" the widow loudly ex'
claimed, and with an indignant frown.
81 mean" apologized Rosalie, and again
with faltering accents, 81 did not think that
} Arthur-Mr. Gresham, should say-hao
ever spoken to you of-of-
"Of his love for me" added Augusta
concluding the sentence for her cousin
"Nor has he"
The young wife was well convinced thai
her husband had never been guilty OF sucl
treachery towards her, and yet, somehow
she felt relieved when Augcsta had so con
tirmed her in that conviction.
But she was about to hear seeming evi
= dence of her husbands falsehood, well cal
y culated to trouble the most devoted faith.
"No," resumed Augusta, "Arthur Gresh
. am has never spoken to mo OF his love, bu
| almost hundred times has he written t
. me, to declare how very, very dear was t
him p
Rosalie gazed affrightedly on her cousin
was she mad? for it was out Of all posslbl
;, ity that Arthur could be guilty OF such at
o rocious infamy; or was it-another agonl2
ing thought-was it that suspecting some
thing of the secret marriage, Augusta wa
! thus probing her cousins heart in the hop
h to extort from her confession OF the da1
gerous truthP
"It is seme months since Arthurs trs
- letter to me" and by circumstance whlc
Augusta mentioned, Rosalie recognized thd
h it must have been scarcely a month atte
h her owa marriage.
n. Oh! it was impossible impossible ! an
= this was A. well-contrived scheme Of hi
n Cousins to drive her to confession - ye
Rosalie was certain Of that, and even
~ was better than to know Arthur so false an
d coward!y to one, who tor his sake mad sacl
w feed so much.
a But Rosalie's faith in her husband was
10 be vet more terribly shaken.
i. Laura Hutchinson, my waiting maid
YOU know her ?" continued the widow, nj
I'd been the confidential messenger OF Arth'
m and my self. All, cousin " and Angus
1e spoke with perfect rapture, "Arthurs III
le letter was so timid, so respectful, that
ur was not possible that could feel otfend'
o. by it; then, by degrees. emboldened ey m
le indulgence, his letters became more arder
and at length his love grewinto dellrlul
m and then forgot all my pride, and' In n
,g turn, l wrote to him." :.
"You wrote to him ?" exclaimed Rosall
her heart swelling almost to bursting WI
a terrible agony. :,
"! "You would not wonder at that, Rosall
were you Of less icy nature" replied M!
e. tress Cameaford, 'for long had loved III
er almost from the first moment he had e
I'd tered this dwelling"
The young wife wrung her hands, o. a7
IS choked back the groan which was struggll
~ to break forth from her o'ercharged heart
re eyes, loved him more and more !! t