The Morning herald., 1877-10-09
CHAPTER II.
LOVE LETTERS.

W. NJ suts su q ypowerless to move step Paie anu
oueE,1 e,;na and shrinking before the look
Fempl.htt ~ ahet from Augusta's cold and piercing
V; suhv what ails you, Rosalie r her cous-
,,,aa I Ms it my coming hlther Wmcn
"sas "sn' YOU to look SO terrified
'qseS s.Iia now staggered back pace or
Ao0a snd .ank. almost fainting, upon a couch.
"o UWhat vha 91 has scared youP Why was not
-, "aS0 dnor sooner opened to me?-why were
oul ~ ao11s dH to YOU 80 long unanswered T?
py rIa.a Ia..9 questions, with short pause be.
lan iuo'e each Of them, came, jerkingly and
bruptly, from between Augustus p'ncnea'
P.TPi Ipei cannot say" family stammered
posal;a "I-I am not very well, and
Wand "And were DOING on your couch, NO
.uh+ln W said Mistress Camelford, herself
ra0 rming an apology for Rosalie's seeming
+ndpness to her; and she felt convinced IL
ras n.' the right one, for where should her
S roor NJ meek cousin find spirit to offer an at
0 sant which she could but know would DO
well resented. ,,..,:,o
M Mistress Camelford seated herself beside
posal;a and the latter shivered at the mere
contact. Rosalie knew that her cousin had
Already wrought her much mischief ana
f.,rpd the power she must soon possess 10
Snrk her further harm; it was then no
wonder that her cousins near approach
shnuld ever cause, as now it did. a shudder
10 peryade the heart OF Rosalle.
aWhv w YOU are as cold as stone and trem-
I]ug still |" Augusta exclaimed. with quite
a n svnmnathetic tone of voice, as she took and
hsld within her own the hands OF Rosalle.
"Indeed, I have observed" Augusta contln-
ned "4hat for several months past you have
beeu yery pale, and have seemed frightfuliy
nervous, starting at the most triHng word'
il but abruptly spoken"
Ros.lie drew away her hands, and avoid
ed as much as on that couch was possible
further contact with her consin.
at is moping SO much alone IN this
dreary wing Of the old mansion which de-
presses your spirits, and so affects your bod
ilv health |" was Mistress Camelford's opm'
ion. and she wondered at her cousins
strange fancy, so long and constantly te
shun the society that was offered to her
"But then, you know" Augusta went on tf
saw "your whims must be obeyed, for yor
arc Sir Jonas Rathborne's daughter, and so
Of course, sole mistress Of his mansion. ,
Spite Of herself, there was slight dasf
Of irony in the tone with which this wa'
uttered, which did not escape Rosalle' VINO
however, answered not. ,,,r
l have come hither this evening"" Mis-
tpss Camelford presently said, ITO 90 yo'
little act of kindness, and to have a lons
chat with you"
The first, Rosalie could not by any posi-
biity be made to believe, and the SECOND
she would very gladly have avoided-sucI
Were her urlspoken thoughts. ,
"Ycs, kindness" Augusta resumed
"for having discovered whom it is Sir iona
Rathborne has accepted fog your husband
and taking pity on the suspense IN whlc
you have been so long held, have at lengt
resolved to break promise l had glVe1
and to reveal to you on your assurance
stcresy, the name Of your future lord an
master"
d would hear no name-wil hear n
name% Rosalie hastily exclaimed; thel
checking herself, as she remembered no
suspicious Of every one and everything wa
always her cousin, and how little served
arouse her suspicious, Rosahe added, gu
etly, 81 mean, at present =
"Ah I understand!' Mistress Camelfor
observed, smilingly. "You would not lear
the name Of your future husband until Tn
latest moment, that you may have no tim
to reflect and become disobedient to yot
good father, in case the gentleman pr
posed should prove some very detestab
object"
She paused, that Rosalie might contir1
heopinion just expressed, but that youn
'aay showed no sign Of speaking; So
nam l not right" ?" asked Augusta.
Thus pressed
IL cannot say-I-I do not know
less-perhaps!" stammered Rosalie.
' ltwas fortunate to Rosalie her cousin r.
neeted, that she would have no need OF nj
tathers fortune, since her destined husban
was known to be immensely rich.
:, but you are wrong, cousin,' Mlstre
tsamelford presently said, "to entertain an
lear concerning the man with whom you al
'oWed, tor were to tell you-"
Iell Inc nothing relating to him c
"o' care to hear p Rosale hastily inte
flpted.
lou are strange girl, cousin" August
'Vh,arked,- indeed, you always were!
hosalie shrank from hearing the name I
;o1 = nlan' whose hopes it was now impossib
'of her to fulfil, and to whom she was to b
pellaps, the cause Of heavy disappointment
s.. WHAT is your opinion Of our young ar
.", %', Arthur Gresham ?" presently, and vel
9nuuaenly, n Augusta asked her cousin; All
Aosalle II and it was no wonder - starte'
aliu 'lia her face and neck for moment glove
W., Nlth rosy flush, which it was well for III
., ,lat Mistress Cameford was just then t.
70 hlucn n1 absorbed with her pleasant reflection
AGAIN Rosalie stanmered and hesitated
r,o Cousln," she began, really I-tt
tiuestlon tt was 20 sudden-I mean 70 strang