The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-08-02

OH nave tOllc 10 HtOli Hlt1 HhV
cried impetuously, jumping up and
putting her arms around Mrs. Balyon's s
ueck. "Don't do it yet; Tm so sorry.
I'm so frightened"
"What about? Make clean breast
of it., Kathleen" said Mrs. Balyon,
softly. 81 may have to scold yon after
wards, but III hear what your trouble
Is first"
"YOu'll forgive me, whatever it is. Z"
"Stop a moment, dear; instead of
scOlding you or hearing you confession,
I'll make everything easy for you by
telling you that Rupert has taken me
into his confidence, and that i con-
gratulate my adopted daughter on the
engagement of my eldest SON."
Mrs. BalyOn tried to speak cheer
fully, but her heart was beating thickly
with apprehension of what she might
me called upon TO bear.
The girl fidgeted and blushed, and
finally asked:
"You say it as if you wouldn't have
congratulated me if you had heard of
my engagement to your youngest son."
"Ah, Kathleen, remember they are
brothers, and love each other so well"
"You do knOw-you do suspect some
thing more than Rupert has told you,"
the girl said eagerly. "Oh, love me
still, help me, am so unhappy; kept
the secret as joke at first, and then
Archie came home, and-nOw | dare
not tell him."
"'Then it is true he loves you too,"
the mother painted. "Kathleen, child
that | have loved so, what have you
done? Heaven help them; both of my
sons deceived by you! Why have you
stabbed me through them in this way?
Their happiness has been the only thing
good that I've had in my life; couldn't
you leave it to me?"
She had put away the girls cling
ing, clasping arms as she spoke, but
Kathleen would not be repulsed. She
had worked mischief and misery for
want of thought, not want of heart,
and it CALLED her to the qnick to be re-
proved and treated cOldly.
Don't push me away from you," she
pleaded. ''Rupert would be kinder than
that, and it's for Rupert's sake you
hate me now; you don't care for
Archie's pain; he loves me too, and he
will have to lose me, and l will have to
teach him to despise me-and oh, no
one will pity me-"
81 will pity you, | will try to help
you, if-if you'll only be truthful, if
you'll only try to mend the mischief;
you must not see Archie again. knew
he couldn't have wronged his brother
knowingly. l knew he was ignorant.
My boys are gentlemen, and they have
always loved each other and given each
other their due. Archie must be spared
as much as possible, Kathleen, but not
at the expense of his brother; you are
pledged to Rupert, and Archie must
bear his disappointment"
"You'll teach him to hate me-" the |
girl interrupted; 'let me see him once. |
only once, and tell him of my fault |
myself; that will be punishment enough |
for me; let me see Archie once again"
"My sons are gentlemen" ," the mother
repeated proudly; "there will be no
danger in what you ask; they will
both renounce you if you go with your
heart to one, while you leave the prom
Use of your hand with the other; what
has made you do it, child? Why have
you played at love with natures so
mnch finer than your own, when it
was only vanity actuating you?"
"No, no, moi" Kathleen cried, fall
ing down on her knees, "not vanity
when Archie is concerned; love him,
l love him, and he will never know it
isn't that hard enough? You only feel
for Rupert"
"And you only for yourself" Mrs.
Balyon said sternly. "rhere shall be
no dissension made between my
boys; if Rupert can trust you after
this, III not interfere, but Archie shall
not see ouand be worked upon by you;
my son is but human, and though |
think it impossible, you might teach
him to be untrue to his brother and
himself Leave him his honor, if you
have robbed him Of his happiness"
"You have no care for me-" the girl
walled; II have loved you all so much,
and you all come to hate me, and though
/ may deserve it shall feel it hard all
the same. | never meant to do any
harm. never knew it was real harm
until to-day, when Archie said word
or two that showed me that the end
was come. Kiss me and forgive me
mother. | may lose you all, and the
worst that may happen to you all is
that you may lose me, and as Pm such
doubtful blessing, that may be the
best thing that could be-"
What could Mrs. Balyon do but "liiss
her and forgive her. evil can't come
through her." the too partial friend
thought as she caressed the girls bent
head; "but there must be no more Sc
crets, no more folly, dear" she added
aloud, aud Kathleen, relieved from her
fear of being further reprehended just
at present, sprang to her feet joyfully,
and gave every promise that was asked
of her.
"Rupert need never be troubled about
Archie" she finished up, $50 back
and tell Rupert that the engagement
shall be made public Immediately, and
then he'll understand there's no diff