Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-06-30

srspdEnlnS Ol POoco ana security. x0t, lOOK-
 !ry upon it. Gwen shivered and exclaimed
 spasmodicalIy
 "Oh, Paulr
 For through this ssFair Auburn" flowed Q
 bright dancing little river. How innocent, in-
 nocent as childhood, it looked; what whis-
 pering song 1t was singing over its pebble
 bed yet might not that song be a requiem?
 NoY they were near the spot, Gwen's courage
 be, ,;an to fall
 "Let me go on, darling, and make cautious
 inquiry" said Captain Paul, seeing she was pale and trembling "Will you ?-thank you" she replied.
 Whatever has happened, I could bear to hear it better from you, and without witnesses. Oh, begin so-so to fear. Think, Paul, of tho poor-poor mother" Her voice broke with sob.
 "Come-come, Gwen, don't let us look on
 the worst side," he said, soothingly. "Ten to one Maggie is safe enough. It wants Q great denl more courage ito take ones life than one-unless they are insane, imagines-" II hope so," said Gwen, ''for it is 8 very wicked thing" Gwen, therefore, alighted, and told Captain Paul shc would await him in t.le field they were near. She stood by the stie while he drove on, then she got over it, and began to walk hither and thither, too anxious to remain quiet. What news would Captain Paul bring? l. It was beautiful sweep of green meadow with tree here and there; but at the far end they grow more thickly, knee-deep in under wood. Gwen advanced to the latter for the shade, but suddenly stopped and recoiled, as though she had beheld some loathsome thing. It was the bright river that she had seen, flashing it's silvery was through the leaves and branches.
 It filled Gwen with terror, the more so since sho was alone. She had turned to hasten from the spot, when her steps were arrested by a sound, sound down there among the underwood beneath the trees. What was it? Itseemed to Gwen like quiv ering human sob.
 She stood bewildered, half-frightehed. The sound was repeated, followed by the piteous words:
 "Oh, Heaven forgive me! Oh, mother, mother!"
 In a second Gwen was rushing forward, re- gardless of brambles, that caught her hair and dress. Through the barrier of under wood she wont, and soon stood on the rivers bank.
 It was a pretty spot, secluded by willows, which dipped their slender boughs into the stream, while many-hued flowers blossomed among the grass.
 But Gwen saw none of these; only the fig- ure of girl kneeling, her pale, pretty face l uplifted to the blue sky, which gazed down
 at her through the arching boughs her hands 1 were clasped in misery and despair. Her head was uncovered; her golden hair loos- ened, dishevelled, rippled over her shoulders l. tears were on her haggard cheeks. Gwen gave one look, then hurried forward, exclaiming:
 Maggie, Maggiel Praise Heaven, both o8 us, that I am not too late!" The girl uttered cry of terror, and sprang l to her feet; but she was too weak, too over- | whelmed with shame to fly. Again she fell on 1 her knees, covering her face as she sobbed: "Oh, Miss Gwen, Miss Gwen! why are you here7 Go away. Please go awayp But Gwen was now by the side of her foster-
 sister, her arms round her, as if fearful she would start off and yet plunge into the river. "I am here, Maggie, to save you," she ejac-
 ulated. "Go away7 No, not until you go with l ma, Maggie! How could you think of any, 1 thing so wicked? Had you no thought of 1 your poor old mother?" "Oh, Miss Gwen! you do not know-you do do notl' sobbed tho girl. ''My heart is break
 ingw l swered Gwen, gravely, Whan have the gates of heaven shut on you hereafter. know I everything, and l am thankful was able to l save my dear old nurse bitter sorrow. Mag 1 gie, she is happy and content, for she believes 1 you are where you must go now, with your l brother at Winstrop.
 Then Gwen told her all about the letter. How she had not dared to read such terrible 1 news to Dame Wyett; how she had made up l Il ter; then came to Harpleton, hopeful to be in time to save her foster-sister from the
 wickedness she contemplated. l Maggie sobbed and wept, and declared she
 could not live. She loved Ned, yet had made l him hate her. She could never be happy l again, knowing how foolish she had been, l and tho love she had lost forever.
 Let me die, Miss Gwen; am not worthy | to live."
 | ..Heaven Is the best judge of that" retorted l Gwen, with pretty gravity. Maggie, be wise I and you may yet live to be happy, and
 ashamed of this ter :ble day. Listen. have l planned it all out, and you must do what Gap. tain Paul and say. You must go at once to ! Winstrop, and let this ba a terrible dream, o1
 which no one but our three selves shall ever
 know anything. You must look happy and try to be so'
 .'Oh. Miss Gwen, how can IF How can |
 when I've lost Ned?" sobbed Maggie. II put moro faith in his leal love than you do," replied Gwen "He is brave and true
 and would not risk his happiness by marry. ing out of spite. Maggie, you must do wha, I say. Then Captain Paul will find Ned, and
 who knows but that you both may be happy still"
 That hope gave brightness to poor Mag. gie, wofully repentant of her coquetry. So
 when Captain Paul returned, bringing nc news-for Maggie had passed the whole ] night by the river-he found the foster-sis
 ters together, the one radiant with triumph II tho other shamefaced, but ready to comply . with all Gwen proposed. Soon sho was placed on the back seat of the
 dogcart, and being driven to the nearest rail ] way station for Winstrop, II After they had seen her off, the cousins , drove back to Abbottshurst, whan they
 parted.
 Did Captain Paul succeed2 Of course he did. One afternoon Gwen appeared at Harple ton, and sent for Maggie to the little in1 parlor. But when Maggie, breathless, hope full for news, entered, Gwen was not there only flne-looking young fellow, with honest gray eyes and sunburnt face. , "Ned p grasped Maggie, and sprang to- wards him then trembling hesitated. "Ol
 Ned can-can you forgive 1ne2 was yer, foolish. I-I never meant itp' | For answer, Ned's strong arms closed abou her.
 'My dear lass !" he said, fondly and Mag | gle wept tears of.joy on his shoulder. "Gwen, dear," said Captain Paul, a littl, slyly, bending to look in her face, as they
 drove home after the reconciliation, don't vol ? think tiff between two people, who reall, ] love each other a foolish thing?"