Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-12-04

are you talking? L am not an assassin,
though you appear to honor me in your
thoughts by supposing So"
The rest of the breakfast was farce
for both, but as Mrs. Melrose left the
dining-room, a pair of halfclosed evil
eyes followed her, while a low voice
Kissed:
''Bat1led this time, my lady. 1t had
best not occur again!"
Society spoke Of the second marriage
of Mrs. Melrose as one of those COM
pletely congenial and happy matches
seldom seen in perfection. The appear
arce of the handsome middle-aged
couple was always delight to their
friends, they were SO admirably at home
In all society demands, SO pleasantly
cordial to every one, SO eXqulsitely
courteous to each other. 1t was whis-
pered that Roger Melrose's fortune was
melting very rapidly in the hands Of his
successor, his wife being too deeply in
love to deny Albert any qualification
her money could purchase tor him, but
no hint of this event passed the lips of
Kate Melrose.
Nine years had almost gone, and in
two wears more Celia Melrose would be
of legal age, and her guardian would
give her property into her own hands.
In all these nine years Kate Melrose
had not once looked into the face of her
idolized child, and her face had grown
wan and pale in the weary heart-sick Of
her hollow life.
But, one morning, standing in her
own room alone, she read letter that
had fallen accidentally into her hands.
Mr.. Merose had dropped it upon the
floor, where lawyers sign and a few
books represented all the business tran
sacted. His boy had brought the letter
III the house, and the servant there had
handed it to Mr. Melrose.
With a start she recognized the hand
writing. White as a o-pse, with star
ing eyes and trembling fingers she open
ed and read it.
Read it, to know that all the sacri-
fee, the Notwithstanding was vain, ifwith-
in few hours she had not met the
second great emergency of her own life
and Celia's.
She was not a woman to stand shiv-
ering and helpless when action was
called for, and in less than an hour her
carriage was once more at James Car
ter's door, and she was with the old
lawyer.
In a grove of trees not far from the
seminary of Mount Hay, just before
dusk, upon an October evening, fair,
beautiful girl stood talking with an
elderly man, of great personal attrac-
ton. and with a sweet, winning voice.
Your mothers GOODNESS and indiffer-
ence must be proved to you, my dear
child, by nine years Of exile from your
home, and by her present plan 10 force
you to enter convent.
ooh, mono, Ihave no vocation for
nuns life. [ should die, shut up for
ever in gloomy convent"
"Your death would please her we'll.
She is not willing to introduce a beauti-
full child to society, but fully aware
that she must do SO if she allows her to
come home. Your mother. Celia, is a
heartless woman Of fashion who lives
upon admiration, and she will never
endure a rival upon her own hearth
stone [ love you dear child, as your
uncle and your step-father. Trust
yourself to me and | will take you to
home where your mothers inhuman
plan can never be carried OUT
At this moment an old gentleman
with silver hair stepped into the small
clear space where the two were stand
ing.
Celia" he said gravely," it is scarce
ly seemly for you to be away from the
seminary at this hour, and with stran-
ger"
The young girl blushed deeply, but
instead OF greeting her guardian loving
~ and cordially as usual, she drew
back a little, saying:
"This is my uncle and stepfather,
Mr.. Carter. He has come to take me
from the seminary to save me from my
mothers heartless plan for me-
Your mothers heartless plan? |
am your guardian, your mothers rep
resentative, but have heard of no plan
for you that was not tender and low
ing"
at is tenderness to shut me up In a
convent?'' cried the girl passionately.
is it loving to deprive me of all that I
love best, sunlight, flowers, the pleasure
of companionship, my liberty?"
"Nine years ago." the old lawyer
said, gravely, 'your mother put you in
my care. She worshipped you. Never
was mothers love stronger and purer
than in her heart. But she tore that
tender, true heart, and put you away
from her, starving her love, wearying
night and day for her child. She grew
old in her heart-hunger, her health
! broke, in her starvation for her child's
kiss and caress. [. who have known
her from an infant, grieved for her res
olution, but never questioned her iudg-
ment. Yet I never knew, till to-day,
the reason of your bannishment and her
misery"
Celia Albert Melrose cried. "why
will you listen to that old dotard? Can
you not see he is Influenced by his desire
to hold your property even after you are
of age? Come with me, dear child, away
from these selfish plotters.''
"But must hear the reason" Celia
p1eaded "Why nv mother thrust M ont