Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-02-23

his consent and threatens at any moment
to force the situation.
And poor Ncll's conscience has awok-
oncd under the kind and almost motborly
treatment of Mrs. Winthrop. She feels
all unworthy the confidence rcposed in
her, and each day renders confession the
more difficult, till at last she becomes so
frightened by the situation that she
would fain take refuge in iguominious
flight. Then again her careless nature
asserts itself, and she throws fear to the
winds, charms Robert to a happier mood.
and they sail away from the land like
children at play.
One evening she sits at the piano sing
ing, while mother and son listen from the
little balcony and watch the great white
moon climb upward from the watery
waste of the gray sea.
Inc girl has rarely sweet mezzo So
prano, with certain sympathetic thrill
IN 1t that goes straight to the heart. As
she wanders absently from one song to
another Mrs. Winthrop is much moved
What rare gift of song" she MUIR
INJURED. Robert my son, could this be
your choice it would make my heart glad.
You can search the world over and fail
to find lovelier nature"
Mother" and he caught her hand in
an eager clasp, you really mean it-you
consentY
AT that moment Nell stepped out on
the balcony. Nell" he cried. with a
joyous ring in his voice, mother has
given the consent dared not ask"
"Ah. Robert, you have learned to love
her, then, thanks to the old lady's diplo-
macy"
'Nes, mother. l have loved her long
and deeply"
But as she leaned forward to kiss the
speechless girl Nell recoiled from her en-
brace. mo, no; not yet, dear madam.
First hear my confession and then con.
1emn me if you will"
Your confessionY' in bewilderment.
In vain Robert laid n protesting hand
on her arm, implored her with his glance.
Il will speak, will, if forfeit all by
my confession. Dear madam, hear me.
| am not the modest, lowly companion
whom you have known and loved all
summer. | avn an impostor, an innocent
one, it may h, but an impostor all the
same
"IIush, my child" in a strange, star
! tied tone. TO me you have been a faith.
full friend. | care nothing for the secrets
Of your past"
Listen to me, dear madam" she pant
| ed, feeling b'r courage fast ebbing away
| Il am Nolla Ward. the actress your
son honored with his love-
"No, no. ! will not believe it,"
! Still the pleading voice went on, while
/ the lovers face flushed and paled, and
| Mrs Winthrop hardened to steruness rs
| the truth was borne in upon her.
! Il acted upon impulse when first
! came to you. | said | will know and win
the mother Of che man l love. She will
not come TO me, but l will 20 to her, and
then some day, when she has learned tC
love me for my own sake ! will make
my confession. IL can say no more
Her voice broke, and she sank down by
| her lovers side, hiding her face in hel
| hands
Silence followed this broken speech
and when Mrs. Winthrop spoke again il
was in slow, measured tones that chilled
the hearts of her hearers.
you have laid siege to n mother.
heart. betrayed her most sacred conf
dences, destroyed her faith in human ma
ture. You two have conspired agains
me-" she famed forth, with growing fir,
and resentment, while | have been tn,
willing dupe of your deep designs"
"No. no, dear madam" pleadingly. 81
was all my doing, and the punishment
shall be mine alone"
Never will | believe in truth or limo
cence again." she began, but the girl de
tected the waver in her voice, caught he
hand to her lips and kissed it.
go away" weakly. "Ah, child, how
l have loved you, what hopes | hav
cherished this SUMNER And then
yielding to impulse, she put her arm
about the kneeling figure and burst int
tears.
81 do believe in you, child" she sobbed
"and | forgive the deception that ha
taught me a much needed lesson"
And the lovers claspcd hands in tn
darkness, with hearts too full for speech
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