New-York tribune., 1881-07-17
COUSIN FELIX.
Ey the Author Of Miss Nol'y,' Dc!icio,' etc.
CHAPTER l.

her elbows on her knees, her two hands rrling the
brown locks, her eyes the while starln. tori RI =
at the blazing fire. now ut an open letter y lng
ill her lap.
Warburton badc atleu to Emslie House and those
VINO had been school friends Tor many year. she
had felt that life full of unknown JOY was open
ing out before her, that now the season of trouble
with school-aud 10 already life was
proving itself not to be entIely a bed Of roses
That morning that 10th OF December, day for
ever to be marked IN the alendar of fate with IA
black mark, the first downfall to her hopes had
been given. and now it was twilight, and in the
deserted schoolroom. for Pollie out she was
considering this trouble that had %vertaken her
She was little bewildere0 still, could even yet
scarcely comprehend the tale that her father had
related to her.
by saying, ai.d there are others who remember it.
even if | lad forgotten, for you are eight years
younger than FcliN. and here comes the letter tell
And after this preamble, Mir. Warburon had pro-
ceeded to tell his story to his wondering, startled
My brother-your uncle Edward, my dcar-lny
ELDER brother, you understand SO the property
should have been his. but it not cntailcd, and
my father made most unjust WILL cutting him of
from everything he should have had, because he
married as was thought beneath him. Thus every
thing came to mo lie, Edward said it was better
SO. We were always great friends, my dear. and
loved each other well that even this did not di-
vide Us.
For of course. as was blind-that was what he
meant-No, do not cry, Charity. Was not that
tear felt could not have worked for my living,
and he could Such great, strong fellow he al
ways was,-not in the least like me,
eight yeats old, and your mother died, then we
agi ecd that when Felix should be twenty y-tve he
should come to England, and if you should both be
Wiling, he should marry yOu' and heal thIS breach
that has lasted for SO long and having son,
glad to thuk that thus the old place would re-
turn 10 Its rishtful owner
But, father, supposing when lie comes I.'-hcsi-
tating-' should not like him
But you must not think that possible And
then, with quick turn OF his head, You care for
one else 2
No. no.
That is all right. Well if he is like his father
as | hear he is he will be good husband for You.
And passing his hand over her brown bead caress-
iugly. when ! 90, | shall like to know have left
my motherless daughter with someone to take care
OF her. lou read your uncles letter putting
envelope with an American pOStmlrk into her
hand. Cousin Sarah read IT 20 ne this morning.
after widowed Mr Warburton's house for him
Charity spread the letter ont on her lap AMI read
every word 1t contained carefully. Not much to
be made out of il.
\ pleasant friendly letter such as any man might
write to his brother Full of family details wInCh
all fell unmcanIngy on Charity's ears, only al tho
end came the one httc sentence which rivetted her
attention. i suppose Charity is grown up now
Felix's twenty-fith birthday will be next week.
Does the old compact still hold gOods III YOU are
willing. and what is more important, for young men
ore not always tTHctablc IN matrimonial matters -
who should know TINS better than I!-hc ignt
go over TO England and pay YOU visit
Aud TINS was the ScntcnCe On which Miss War
burt0n's eyes still liked, she sat that same
evening III the empty schoorOom. But she was not
aed To sit there alone long Enter to her the young
sister whom she was already beginning to envy as
safe at least from one evil, that of having "A hus
Danu forced upon her, ana 1t very long
before that same sister made aware of the dark
shadow that had fallen across Charty's happy life
1t Is too cruel she cried in the fashion of i'm
petuous youth, to whom the removing of mountains
sccns naught. 1t Is impossible you should be so
sacrificed. Why, dear Charity. you, who can do
anything with father, must tell him it is absurd.
Why daring, throwing tender arm about her
you have only to say You vii! not permit it, ana
Ii you had heard him, Poc, you would have
% s%aiu yes Just as did. lie told me he had
planned, ana hopcu 1t ever since mother died, and
would II, terribly tel IL
did not come to pass
Charity was walking up and down the room now
with hands clasped behind her head, in a prctty Q
fashion she had; but there was no thought of
pretty movements at prcaent. Everything was too
hearthrug, where ii had fallen when She rose 10
admit OF any light thoughts.
on, POille, dear, wish were back at school, I
wish | were an old, old woman" with foolish in
consistency, for l had to give in | could not
really oppose the dear Old father. and last color
ing little had with my own hand to SIT dowr,
ami write bcgging him to come
, On, poor Charity " cried awcstruck Pollc. what
Old YOU say
As little as posShc.'
What did YOU call himY
There was not much choice, remarked Charity
Erimly. But l was net going to iump into he
Non Nr Jaws quite as II liked IT, sc said Dear
On, am gladr interrupted PoHe breath
ieSsiy. : was so afraid yod might have said,
No, indeed cried Charity pausing in her pacing
0p and down and drawing her sister toward her:
ana they stood thus together in the window n
pretty picture enough. and for a moment her sore
y0ung heart felt at rest, for these sisters were all in
all to each other ~ "
Wei; 90 on. What did You say nextY
Just what father told me That we sbonld he
tad TO SEC him, Il he would come and spend ;. FORT
hight WITH us, and that lopcd he would arrange
Nothing else ?
Charity reddencd little. Just one little thpg
more. did not think it was wrong, thonph ! Ii5
hot tGI lathcr | said IL was father who hnncd Ia
Moulu come. Nc, as Polhe would have inter
itP,su heT you VIII understand why said II
WHch tch You something else, for there * snmn'
,,ilhg worse to tell you even than that which von
What inquired Polite anxiously. and croo,;,.
fet nearer 10 her sister she spoke and cioyiirs
her aims yet more tightly about lhcr rrme
Sharlty You are crying! felt a tear fall Cbor;tm'
dear, don't cryn ~ A"i'' Nhality,
Only those two tears fell. and then Miss wo,,..,.
ton lifted her hands and brushed them ,S S "fDHr-
4 VIII not cry. she said raising her head SSr 40
nave done nothing to be ashamed Of Rutt piIy'
ne does not want it either. Uncle Fdward sa OiIie'
ms letter: Felix will, hope 90" but ah '9H p9ii IN
~ was evident from the letter that he waS iot ,;
anxious anxious himself 20 come-ony his father has nnr U'
suaNed MN Just as mine has persuaded me- ~ Pei
=, never mind Charity darling: don't ,nina 49,.
!hing he has said, don't think of him aGai, d,iy- py
naps ne won't oome-whateyer the reason if WI III
De great comfort perhaps he will marry sonool
else, or Perhaps-all sorts of things may ham, nc
tween this and then. Why, "a month~inrVtI nc-
may happen in month"; "N1 'lihS
Alter that first despair and struggling agaipot a.,
NH marty dld indeed strive TO put her o,t'
VIII by; Her blind father could not pness ~ H. onh
petted daughter who did his bidding 40 .t. Tue
ahu went about the house ALWAYS with n a,St my
iot one found the doing of his will so ~ oru
we love him too we'll. to cljsapnont bin, '5Id 5
s so S.s,u onJe' really, after ALL he has NOT asioi