The Ottawa free trader., 1884-07-19

ciump OF llr-treeS III the garden. Ihey
made shadow dark and grave, and
still: it was more natural than being
on the lawn among the flowers, the sun
shine and the bees. | did not come in
for hours.
At dinner there We're, fortunately,
only ourselves, just family party.
Mr., Sutherland did not join MS until we
reached the dining-rOOm door. | no
ticed that Illah's color changed as he
approached, and that all dnner-tme
she hardly spoke to him; but ne behaved
to her as usual. He was rather thought
ful, for, as he told me privately, lac had
some tritling business anNlctlcs burden
ing him Just then; otherwise he seemed
the same. Nevertheless, whether 1t
was his fault or Illlah's, In a few days
the fact grew apparent 10 me that they
We're not quite such good friends as
heretofore. \ restraint, 4 discomfort,
a shadow scarcely tangible, yet still
real, was felt between them. such a
cloud often riseS-a mist that comes
just before the day-dawn, or, as hap
pens sometimes, before night.
For many dayS-hOw many | do not
recOlect, since about this time all in the
house and in the world without seemed
to 90 on so strangely--fsr many days
afterward nothing happened OF any con-
sequence, except that on Sunday after
noon | made faint struggle of polite
ness in some remark about going
home" and "enCroaChing on their hos
pitality." which was met with such evil
dent pain and alarm by all parties, that
| was silent; 50 we stayed yet longer
One morning-it was high summer
nOW-we were sitting at breakfast, we
three only, as Mrs. Sutherland never
rose early. | was making tea, Zillah
near me, and Mr.. Sutherland at the foot
of the table. He looked anxious and
did not talk much, though | remember
he rose up once to throw a handful OF
crumbs to Il half-tame thrush that had
built in aurel-bush on the lawn-he
was always 50 kind to every living
thing,
There, my fine bird, take some food
home to your wife and wcans" said he,
pleasantly: but at the words, became
grave, even sad, once more. He had
his letters beside him, and opened
them successively until he came 10 one
"a mOmentOus one, knew, for though
he never moved, but read quietly on,
every ray of color faded out of his face.
He dropped hi, head upon his hand, and
sat 50 long in that attitude tudt We
were both frightened.
"Is anything the mattrr?' | said,
gently, for IlIah was dumb.
"Dd You speak," he answered, with
n bewildering stare, Forgive me; /
have had bad newsstand he tried to
resume the duties of the meal; but 1t
was impossible; he was evidently
crushed, as even the strongest ana
bravest men will be for the moment UNI
der some great and unexpected shock.
We said to him-Irepeat we, because,
though Xillah spoke not, her look was
enough, had he seen tive said to him
those few soothing things that women
can, and ought to say i'll such time.
AYE" he answered, quite unnamed
faye, you are very kind. | think 1t
would do me good if ! could speak TO
some one-Cassia, will you Gomez"
He rose slowly, and held out his hand
to me. TO mel That proof OF his con
fidence, his tenderness, his friendship;
| have ever after remembered, ana
thought, with thankful heart, that,
though not made to give him happiness,
/ have sometimes done him alittle 6ood
when he was in trouble.
We walked together from the room.
| heard a low sob behind us, but had no
power to stay; besides a momentary
pang mattered little to the chlld-her
sebs would be hushed ere long.
Standing behind the chair where he
sat, | heard the story of Mr.. Suther-
lands observation-disclosures nelth-
er strange nor rare in the mercantile
world In one brief word, he was
ruined; that is, so far as man IS ru-
ined who has enough left to pay all MS
creditors, and start in the world afreSh
as a penniless honest man. lie told me
this-an everyday story; nay, II nad
been my own father's-told 1t me with
great compOsure, and | listened WIN
the same. ] was acquainted with al
these kind of business matters OF old.
1t was very strange, but felt no grief,
no pity for his losses. | only felt, on
my own account, n burning, avarlclouS
thirst for gold; a, frantic envy--a mad
longing to have for single day, a single
hour, wealth in millions.
"Yes, it must be so,' said he, when,
after talking to me little more, l saw
the hard muscles of his face relax, and
he grew patient, ready to bear his
troubles like man-like Andrew
lDullltlldIlt No' 'f
this house and all my pleasant life here;
but can do it since | shall be alone. u
And then he added in low tone; Il
am glad, Cassia, very glad of two
things: my mothers safe settlement,
and the winding-up last month OF all
my affairs with-Miss lie Poer."
"When, said |, after pause-"when
do you intend to tell Zillah what has
happened?" | felt feverishly anxious
that she should know all, and that l
should learn how she would act.
Tell Zillah? Aye he repeated
tell her at once-tell her at once. "
And then he sunk back into his chair,
muttering something about "its signify
ing little now"
/ left him, and with my heart nerved,
as it were. to anything, went back to
the room where Zillah was. Her eyes
met me with bitter, fierce, jealous
look-iealous of me, the foolish child!
until told her what had happened to
our friend. Then she wept, but only
for a moment, until light broke upon
| her.
"What does it signify?" cried she,
echoing, curiously enough, his own
words. 81 am of age-I can do just
what like | will give my guardian all