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

4hAN ~ al 'liu NAAAf anu bi Z
warning to you, Kathleen" Mrs. Bal
yOn said weepingly. 81 am trying t.
think hopefully about it. I'm trying Il
believe that all my children will come
unscathed out of the trial" But, though
she said this and so tried to cheer the
girl, who was crushed by the conscious.
ness Of her error, or perhaps by the
consideration of its consequences, Mrs
BalyOn's heart misgaye her sOrrOwfully
and for the first time in their lives she
shrank from meeting her sons. Ii
seemed to her that if Rupert could be
thoroughly satisfied with Kathleen for
his wife after all this, that she (his
mOther) could never be thoroughly
satisfied with him; and this, to wO-
man who completely identified herself
with the interests and hopes and disap-
pointments of her children, was dis
heartening 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 special lights.
Mrs. BalyOn Characteristically confined
herself in striving to mature some plan
by which she could keep the peace,
her children happy, and still more out
rage her own conscience. Kathleen
occupied herself equally characteristic
cally in arranging 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 blameless, bewitching,
always-tO-b be-forgiven idol of the house
hold that she had been from her little
childhood. And the two young men
spent their time in avoidance of each
other, in distrust 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 eve
ming. 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 eX-
cited and uncertain his mother saw with
pam, and intuition taught her that
Kathleen had held some communica-
ton 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 planta-
ton were always at their loveliest when
the snow was on the ground, and the
moon was up
Time did not fly any faster when din
ner was over, and the family party had
adjourned to the drawing room. Kath-
leen seemed to recover her spirits, but
her spirits led her astray, it seemed to
Rupert, for he feared to keep her near
him single moment. When he went
to her at the piano she broke out into
louder song. and went on pouring out
strains of music so waver-
ngly and inharmoniOusly that even
.he sleepy master Of the house reused
himself to express hope that she
would do her practising in the morn
ng in the future Archie buried him
self among the customs of a sofa and
he pages of a novel, but once he rose
% put another candle on the piano, and
Is he did so muttered:
"Keep your promise; this state of
5hings can't 90 on"
They kept early hours at the Court.
At ten Archie said goodnight to them,
md when his mother asked him if he
meant to go out in the bitter cold to
smoke his cigar as usual, he replied,
No, his bedroom fire would be the di-
Unity he should worship tonight, not
he cold Starlight And she kissed
MS hot forehead, and blessed him, and
,ade him sleep well; and so he went
)ut.
Goodnight, old fellow, ,'the brothers
said to each other, simultaneously, and
Rupert followed Archie halfway to the
loor with extended hand, but Archie
lidnot see him. Then Rupert turned
% his love, and whispered;
"It's all clear between us, my own,
nay | tell my father now? We will
never have secret from our nearest
again, Kathleen"
"Tell him when Pm gone to bed, and
am going to bed now; Pm tired, Pm
worn out, i" she said, impetuously; "my
title concealment has been put before
ne in the light of crime to-day. Ru-
pert; let me so and recover my faith in
myself"
She rose as she spoke, and stood ire
,olutely before him, and his mother
them with faint smile, and a
still fainter heart,
"rell him to let me go, mamma"
Kathleen said presently. with weary
pettishness. 81 will be as obedient as
4 slave to the voice of my owner, after
-o-night, but just tonight am slave
10 nervousness. Tell him to let me 60"
A sob broke her voice, and filed with
pity and fear for them both, his mother
said:
"Let her go, my boy," and when
Kathleen availed herself of the liberty
with alacrity, and flew out of the
room thp moor lady added