The Morning herald., 1878-12-09
: She had abused hfm--driven him

! She could have fallen at his feet and sued
for pardon. She could have humbled her,
self to any act to bring back his respect.
Gauging him by herself, she saw no way
out of the difficulty. Far away as the pos
! sibility Of marriage had seemed, farther yet
| seemed the possibility of his ever again re-
| specting, much less loving her.
r. Had pride been sufficiently subdued for
the taking of Mrs. Weeks into confidence,
| she might not have suffered as she did.
s,Too latep' she sobbed, kissing the letter
passionately- too late! The evil is donep
That same day, while she sat in the sum-
mer-house, vainly striving, through blind
ing tears to read a chapter Of a new novel,
Mrs. Weeks requested favor
She had been tying up broken bush
growing near by, and had just finished
"Something particular, Mrs. Weeks?" said
| Cecil, striving to wipe away her tears un-
| seen. But her tremulous voice and red eyes
| betrayed her. s5
5 "Why, my dear, what is the natter" ex-
\ claimed the widow. "You have been weep
ing!" , y a.'2 ",3 II Fa
sOver my wickedness, madam! I am
| wicked, am notP "... f-
''No, cannot consider you so, if I accept
| the literal meaning of the word" was the
| soothing answer. ''You have many sinful
habits. Now, if you would make conf
dante of some good friend-Miss Coles, for
| instance, who is older than yourself, and
| has seen considerable Of the wprld--it would
be helpful It Is that wish you would do
| for me-" I
"In what manner helpful" asked Cecil
''You may have secrets which you do no,
care to entrust to the keeping Of any; still
one earthly friend, in whom you can i'm
plcitly trust, is almost Indispensable
"How are we to know trustworthy
| friend, Mrs. Weeks?" ta..
'By not suspecting those who claim to he
true till they have proven unworthy"
s.And you think would be better off had
70 genuine bosom friend2"
II know SO. The friend I had in Mrs.
Gray was source Of great comfort to me.
speak from experience"
All! how often had Cecil's heart craved
like companion.
"Whatif we have no secrets, Mrs. Weeks2"
sThat is scarcely likely. We all have
them-and often sorrowful ones. You have
had one, at least. Your trouble with Mr..
Eversleigh has disclosed 1t. Had you con-
suited Miss Coles But have no right to
speak Of It," ii t.-ga
Cecil laid down her book and rose from
her reeumbent position.
eyes, madam, you have" she said, look.
ing wistfully into the widows face-''you
have the right to advise me on all matters
from this moment. You somehow exert
great power over me, and am not sorry
that you do. Not then in CLARA will con-
fde, but in you. Will You be my guard
ian2' S9
Mrs. Weeks had wen.
She drew the still agitated girl to her, as
she had done that first day.
''Yes, my dear, I will," she said, and
kissed, this time, her lips.
II have SO much to sayg' murmured Cecil,
smiling sadly. art .a#st
A servant came down the rnth and hand
ed Mrs. Weeks q telegraph dispatch
She released the fair hand, tremblingly,
signed the messengers book, and tore open
the envelope. 20 '.4'a
The message was from Tom Black.
ssSpeak out" he wrote. ''Ask her for
the letter given at midnight Use it"
The queer epistle seemed to increase the
widows agitation. Her whole frame trem-
bled with emotion; her face became pale;
she reeled backward, and only saved herself
from falling by grasping stout sapling.
K Had Cecil Clayton but known what that
message meant! 1t was light-it was Joy to
the widows heartl
"You are I'LL" cried the heiress.
CLIP she exclaimed "Far from 1t.
Were in the midst of physical suffering,
the intelligence 1 hold in my hand would
make me supremely happy. Miss Clayton
l-Cecip-her voice fell into lower tones
t"you have placed yourself in my care, thus
giving me authority to question you on all
matters connected with your lltes history.
wish first your attention for a lew MIN
utes."
Cecil, in maze, replied that she had that
already.
II have history, dear, known to but few,
Will you let me tell you it?'
I "Anything to please you, madam"
! Mrs. Weeks drew her down upon the rus
tic bench in the summer-house and sat be-
side her.
"promise that you will listen patiently"
II promise"
"Have you not thought strange, my dear,
that should be so careless of eventsl Is 1t
not wonder to you that I should give up
city life to come to this place with an entire
stranger, who has without hesitation accept
ed my professions Of good will2 In fact
does it not go beyond human experience,
this sudden friendship
81 cannot comprehend your meaning,
Mrs. Weeks. Stranger things have hap
pened than suddenly formed likings between
women, though ! acknowledge I am too
much given to placing reliance on the prom
ises of Others" r,
"And has no thought of my eagerness to
make you happy caused you to marvelP"
"Well, can scarcely answer in the mega
tive, madam"
II have done all to relieve your young
life of sorrow that has filled and almost