Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-06-20

dlsappointments of her children, was
disheartening conviction.
Through the long hours of this day
) the two women kept apart from each
other, each bearing her special burden
alone according to her lights Mrs. Bal
yon characteristically confined herself in
striving to mature some plan by which
she could keep the peace, make her chill
dren happy, and still not outrage her
own conscience. Kathleen occupied
herself equally enthusiastically in ar
ranging how she could place her conduct
of the last few days before them all in
such pleasant, pretty light that they
would go on regarding her as the blame
less, bewitching, always-to-be-f forgiven
idol OF the household that she had been
from her little childhood. And the
two young men spent their time in
nervous avoidance of each other, in dis
trust of themselves, their mother, and
above all, of the girl who had introduced
the element of discord into their lives.
1t was not happy party that sat
down to dinner at The Court that even
ing. Even the Squire remarked that
there was something wrong, and in his
grim and uncouth way made matters
worse by discoursing about them. Ru-
pert was grave, but not gloomy, for his
mother had given him Kathleen's mes
sage, and he had resolved to trust her as
before, and to love her more than ever.
AS for Archie, he was neither grave nor
gloomy, but that he was excited and un-
certain his mother saw with pain, and in
tuition taught her that Kathleen had
held some communication with him in
spite of her promise to the contrary.
AS for Kathleen, she only volunteered
one remark. And that was to the effect
that it was fine bright night, and
that the avenues in the north plantation
were always in their loveliest, when the
snow was on the ground, and the moon
was up"
Time didnot fly any faster when dinner
was over, and the family party had adj
journed to the drawing-room. Kathleen
seemed to recover her spirits, but her
spirits led her astray it seemed to Ru-
pert, for he feared to keep her near him
for a single moment. When he went to
her at the piano she broke into louder
songs and went on pouring out uncertain
strains of melody 50 waveringly and in
tremendously that even the sleepy mas
ter of the house reused himself to express
a hope that she would do her |
practicing in the morning for
the future" Archie buried himself .
among the cushions of a sofa and the
pages of novel, but once he rose to put .
another candle on the piano, and as he
did SO he muttered:
F" Keep your promise; this state Of
things can't 90 on"
They kept early hours at The Court
At ten Archie said goodnight to them,
and when his mother asked him if he |
"meant to 90 out into the bitter cold to
smoke his cigar as usual,' he replied
" No, his bedroom fire would be the di-
vinity he should worship tonight, not the
cold starlight" And she kissed his hot
forehead, and blessed him, and babe him
sleep well; and SO he went out.
"Good night, old fellow" said the
brothers to each other simultaneously, |
and Rupert followed Archie half way to
the door with extended hand, but Archie
did not see him. Then Rupert turned
to his love, and whispered:
cts all clear between us, my own.
May [ tell my father, now? we will
never have a secret from our nearest kin
again"
"Tell him when I'm gone to bed, and
| am going to bed now; [ am tired, l
am worn, my little concealment has been
put before me in the light Of crime, to-
day, Rupert; let me 60 and recover my
faith in myself
She rose as she spoke, and stood irreso-
lutely before him, and his mother
watched them with faint smile, and a
fainter heart.
"Tell him to let me go, mamma"
Kate said presently, with a weary pet
tishness. a will be as obedient as
slave to the voice Of my owner after to-
night, but just tonight [ am a slave to
nervousness
A sob broke her voice, and filled with
pity and fear for them both, his mother
said:
"Let her go, my boy" and when
Kate awaited herself of her liberty, with
alacrity she flew out of the room, and
the poor lady added:
"Heaven direct you in what you do,
Rupert, and teach her to reward you"
"And teach her to love me better"
was his mental addition to his mothers
away, half hoping that Archie might
have altered his mind, and gone into
their common smoking room.
But Archie was not there, and the
room was dull and cold without him. A
comfortable old room it was in itself,
too, and endeared to him by thousand
associations connected with his happy
boyish days Of free, loving, unfettered
intercourse with Archie and Kathleen.
Would that intercourse ever be free and
unfettered again, he wandered? Had his
brothers love for Kathleen been nipped
in the bud soon enough, and effectually
enough, for their respective banks to float
serenely over the sea of family life for
the future? All that must depend on
Kathleen, he reminded himself. If she
had the tact and truthfulness, the grace
and generosity which he believed her to
have, it would all be we'll.
He had been standing at the window
as these thoughts passed through his
mind, looking down into the heart of the
north plantation, which looked myster-