Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-21


catiVe than usual.
We were still speaking of Elspa when my
uncle came in.
his overcoat. "Ah, my dear, you might thank
your stars ElSpa was on the mOuntain-Side. /
dare say she had followed you. The old
Scotch-woman is shrewd and far-seeing; she
has turned her eighty years experience to ac-
count, has good practical knowledge of COM
mon ailments and curative SimpleS. should
lose my own credit or i might do worse than
take her as an ASSISTANT and he laughed
-"Then she can read character with any physiog-
nomist In the world, and the silly folk think her
prophetic, when she is only clear-eyed."
think uncle was using an invisible probe. l
know cOlored, and he laughed again, but said
nOthinC-nOr cid ].
The excitement had not all been on my ac-
count. Bella had received an invitation to
spend some months with a newly married
friend in London, and gOod-nat,lred Winnie
was In high glee. Even aunt acknowledged IL
was "a chance not to be missed, If poSSiDle;'
and saw her glance furtively in Uncle Rit-
sons face. which fancied was graver than
usual. Still, possibilities were not discussed in
my presence. 1t was not until mad reIired 10
my own pretty room for the night, that over
heard the sisters discussing the problem, un-
mindful of the thin partition between the mead
of my bed and theirs.
found that mOney-Or its Scarcfty-St00d in
the way, and heard the chances OF the matri-
monial market calculated with a balance
greatly in favor OF London.
Money! How ] hated the word! | would
have given every shilling possessed to be as
sured that Edgar Neville was true to me, and
would seek me out when the period of prOba-
ton prescribed by my father was gone by. But
where could he seek for me? Correspondence
had been forbidden. He knew not my address,
and my father had withheld Edgar'S from me.
All, how he repented before he died! How
glad he would have been to have left me in
those strong. protective arms!
soon bridged the monetary difficulty over in
spite OF my uncle's opposition, and ] think |
showed something OF my old SELF In the spirit
with which entered into the needful prepara-
lions for Miss RitsOns launch on the sea OF
London society, little thinking what might be
its import TO myself.
1t was May when she went. i suggested that
she should tighten her mourning, being about
to visit bride-a hint she seemed glad TO take,
for her pretty lavender bonnet set off her face
much better than her heavy Grape.
She kissed Inc very heartily before she got
into the gig beside her father, 10 he driven to
the station. to which her boxes had already
been despatched, and felt more satisfied with
myself than I had done since ! had crossed the
Cumberland border.
Letters filled with the wonders she had seen
and the places she had visited broke up the mo-
notony Of our lives. Then came one from
Hastings, in which she told Of her introduction
TO a Mr.. Neville.
think my pulse stopped as Winnie read out
the name. i know aunt asked Inc If was i'll
il the heat was too much for Inc. But drew
myself together, said nothing" was the mat
ter, and tried to convince myself that the name
was common one.
Again and again we heard OF this same Mr.
Neville, aid my heart began TO be torn with
doubts and suspicious, and very demon OF
jealousy seemed TO take possession of my
breast. felt assured that Bella was in love
with him, and that he was the Edgar Neville OF
my alteration; all that she stated OF his appear
anCe and family were convincing.
At length q letter came addressed in q manly
hand to Uncle RitSOn, with Edgar'S weli-known
crest upon the seal. II was proposal for my
cousins hand.
My head swan round but l summoned cour-
age TO ask Mr.. Neville's Christian name. lie
had merely signed j. Z. Neville.
All, that was 1t, sure enOugh-John Edgar!
had my back towards my uncle. standing in
the doorway, as asked. No one noticed how
| staggered into the hall. or how Snatched my
hat from the stand and darted up the mountain
side to cool my fevered brow and still my thrOb-
bling pulses. How went or where | went |
could never remember; have some recollection
of falling as / bounded across q beck OF old
Elspa's face bending over me, and then no
more, until found myself in my own. snowy
bed, with Winnie watching me and an array OF
phySic bottles on the window seat.
Elspa had found me where had fallen, half
In and half out OF the stream. Unable TO drag me
thence she had summoned help with a peculiar
whistle she kept suspended to her girde, the
shrill note Of which no shepherd dared TO DISC
hey.
it brought couple of shepherds to the spot.
My limbs were lifted out of the stream-Shc had
already bathed my brow and plastered up my
temple-and then was carried slowly down, to
interrupt the answer Uncle RitSOn was sending
10 Bella and Mr.. Neville.
My fall and the immersion were accredited
with the prolonged fever which almost baffied
my good uncle's skill; If any one suspected
''wiser to revert to the subject when she came
to see me ere my cOnvalescence.
Very. slow was my recovery, retarded no
pleasant neus from her sisters letters. 1t was
low Eddie" this, or eddie" that; and as /
shut my eyes and ground my teeth, the better
to endure, l felt indignant that my noble
Nc,
baby. To me he had the majesty of a mon
arch. How could she address him so?
/ was down stairs before the Christmas came,
able and willing to assist my aunt in her multi
tudnous preparations, and tried to smile and
look gratified during the Christmas merrymak-
ing.
that Bella was to be married early in the new
year, and that she and her husband would
come TO spend the honeymoon with u.s. and /
was doing my best to nerve myself for the
meeting.
The old year was closing in. Eispa-who
else?-came up to the house with letter she
had found lying in by road. 1t should have
was supposed that the postman had taken more
drink than was good for him during the Christ
mas ''camdings," and dropped 1t by the way.
Goodness! how that letter stunned me. Bella
was by that time married. She and her huS-
Uand were TO be with us on New Years Day,
and they should bring with them New Years
gift for Cousin Adela, as thank Offering for
were enclosed.
! saw only the one. Yes, it was Edgar's.
There was no mistake.
The house was at once in hustle OF p.eDara-
ton. Again slipped out, TO hide my agony
and prepare myself for the coming trial.
DTealnily | went along. i saw nothing b.
lore me but that meeting on the morrow aud
the revelation II was sure TO bring. Ny mind
seemed chaos, in which thought was lost
All al once / found myself on the reedy mar
GIN OF the lake, as the silver circle OF the moon
was rising above the mOuntain-tOps. And
there stood, looking on the dark waters,
Whilst something seemed TO whisper to ME that
tnere was peace that l need not meet the
proud bride and my incOnStant love unless /
chose; that might hide my SOrroHs and Sc
cretS there, and none be the wiser.
My foot was On the brink. There was step
on the stones behind me. turned; and think
my half-formed purpose was visible in my face
wttch-like in the moonlight, warning finger
held up.
Sharp were her words, sharp as my need.
She babe me go down on my knees, and thank
God that He had sent her TO save me from my
third perIl-the peril Of body and soul What
was pulling over? What right had to fling
away the life that was given for the service OF
others? How dared tempt death, loving the
creature more than the Creator? She had
heard me rav1ng to the winds when thought
Myself alone, and had kept watch upon me-
And she babe me go back home. and pray To be
forgiven, and TO trust the Lord to make His
dark ways plain"
She took me by the hand and led me blcS
like pen1tent child; said to my aunt that she
thought was not well, and, by her leave,