Year: 1873

7 OIOh V lLLH,
the rest of the company, and had heard aunt
Patsy's remark. Mary looked in astonish'
ment from one to the other; but Nellie did
not give her much time for conjecture. She
put her arm around her and said


"Welcome to Elmwood, my dear little
sister. I do not know whether John has ever
mentioned to you that he has sister Nellie
but such is the case, and it is that insignificant
parsonage who is now addressing you"


"He has spoken of you so often, Nellie" re,
piled Mary, "that I feel as if we were old &C.
quaintances IfMattie and yourself can only
spare me some of the love you lavish upon
John, shall have nothing left to wish for u


"And what makes you think we love hin,
so very much, Mary?" asked Nellie. 81 can
assure you it is all a mistake. At home, he is
Just as cross and i'll as he can be. Oh child
you don't know what your life is to be, or
you would never have come here as his wife. y


II am glad Mary did not not see you before
she married me, Nellie, or she might have de-
clined the honor, if this is the best reputation
you can give your brother"


"I do not say there is anything dangerous
about you, John only, if Mary knows what
peace and quiet are, and enjoys the same, she
had better keep away from you when it is
raining at 'plowing time"


"Come, children, you have talked enough
nonsense for one evening"" said aunt Patsy
''let Mary lie down and rest"


81 am not tired" Mary replied; "and I
would like so much to hear that prophecy
about the Elmwood house. Will you tell me,
Matte" ?"


II have almost forgotten it; but aunt Patsy
will be delighted to give you all the particu'
lars. John, you need not stand there watch
ing your wife nothing is going to happen to
her, so you can 20 on your tour of inspection
and return 1 will take care of her until you
come back.


"She is in good hands, Matte; but you
know the old story of the 'one pet lamb She
is my all, now" and he bent his face, flushed
with happiness, over his young wife and kissed
her lovingly.


Nellie had given me a glance, while John
was speaking, and saw that she was not yet
reconciled to the idea that John should find
happiness in any other love than ours. Mary
had not spoken, and thought an expression
of sadness rested on her face, as John left the
room. In order to break the awkward pause
that ensued, I said


"Now, aunt Patsy, we are waiting for you
to tell us about the Elmwood prophecy"


"There is not much to tell, child and !
hope you will not think, from my having re-
membered it, that have any faith in it-fol
have not. If it is the Lords will that sin
and sorrow are to nave their dwelling in this
house, they will come, though no stranger ever
darken its doors but God grant that none
of us here may ever live to know that sorrow
1t was in your great grandmother's time, Mat
tie, that it happened. The Elmwood house
was not then as it is now. 1t was filled with
visitors, summer and winter, and this was the
gayest neighborhood in the country.


"My aunt Martha was great belle. She
was beauty and an heiress, and I am afraid
that instead of using her gifts as she should
have done, she turned them to bad account
I have heard she said on one occasion, thai
she hated poverty as she did sim This may
be true, or it may not; but do know that
she would never allow poor person to come
to her house. Only those who were rich, and
could enjoy life as she did, could be her friends


"She was out with riding party, one day
and in passing through the town of Westville
her horse took fright. Before she could con-
troll him, he had knocked over a little child
son of one of the Irish fishermen who lived
there. The mother rushed out, and finding
her child in dying condition, thought only
of vengeance on the murderess. She caught
the horse by the bride, and shaking her fist
at aunt Martha, said-'and is it you, with
your proud and scornful face, that is to be
riding over and numbering the likes of us
May the Lord deal with you as you have dealt
with me. May no children ever lay on your
breast, and may you 60 down to the grave in
sorrow and anguish. You're after thinking
that poverty can't touch you ; but sin and dis
grace can; and sure it is that the stranger in
your doors will bring ruin upon your race
You've sighted them that's at home, to take
up with them that's rich, from beyant; but
there's none will change places with you from
this day. The blood of my child is on you
forever. May you never know happiness, and
be always remembering the ruin you've been
after doing


"The woman had taken my aunt by sur
prise in thus addressing her; and before she
could get away, the mother had said all she
cared to say. Her prophecy was fulfilled as
far as the object of it was concerned. Aunt
Martha died childless, and though surrounded
by wealth and luxury, in misery. The 'stran
ger who is to bring ruin has never come yet
and now, that he has been such long time
finding US out, begin to think he has lost his
way, and will never come. This is all the
story; but I hear Johns step, and, Matte
you had better have tea brought in."


CHAPTER III.