A STRANGE DRAMA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 214, 9 September 1891, Page 6

A STRANGE DRAMA.

By AUGUSTA J. EVANS WILSON, Author of "Macaria," "Beulah," "St, Elmo," Etc.

CHAPTER XIX.

Dismissing the carriage at the corner of the square, near which she expected to find Mrs Mason located in more comfortable lodgings, Regina walked on until she found the building of which she was in quest, and rang the bell. Ib was situated in a row of plain, unpretending but neat tene" tnent houses, kept thoroughly repaired ' and the general appearance of the neighbourhood indicated that the tenants, though doubtless poor, were probably genteel, and had formerly been in more affluent circum- - Btances. The door was opened by a girl apparently half grown, who stated that Mrs Mason had rented the basemenb rooms and that her visitors were admitted through the lower entrance, as a different eet of lodgers had the next floor. She offered to show Regina the way, and knocking ab the basemenb door, the girl suddenly remembered that she had seen Mrs Mason visiting at the house directly opposite. • Wait, miss, and I will run across and call her. . While standing at the lower door, and partly screened by the flight of steps leading to the rooms above, Regina «aw a figure advancing rapidly along the sidewalk, a tall figure whose graceful carriage was unmistakable; and as the person ran up the steps of the next house in the row, and impatiently pulled the bell, Regina stepped forward and looked up. A gust of wind just then blew aside the thick brown veil that concealed the countenance, and showed for an instant only the atrongly marked yeto handsome profile of Olga Neville. The door opened ; her low inaudible question was answered in the affirmative, and Olgra was entering, when the skirt of her dress was held by a projecting nail, and in disengaging ib, she caughb a glimpse of the astonished countenance beneath the steps. She paused, leaned over the balustrade, threw up both hands with a warning gesture, then laid her ringer on her lips, and hurried in, closing the door behind her.

'The lady says Mrs Mason was there, but left her aboub a quarter of an hour ago. What name shall I give when she comes home ?' . ' Tell her Regina Orme called, and was very sorry she missed seeing her. Say I will try bo come again on Sunday afternoon, if the weather is good. Who lives in the next hou9e ?' 'A family named Eggleston. I hear they sculp and paint for a living. Goodday, miss. I won't forget to tell the old lady you called.' Walking leisurely homeward, liegina felt sorely perplexed in trying to reconcile Olga'e plea of indisposition and her lingering iD bed, wifch this sudden appearance in thab distant quarter of the city, and her evident desire to conceal her face, and to secure silence with regard to the casual meeting. Was Mrs Palma acquainted with her daughter's movements, or was the girl's nervous excitement of the morning indirectly acquainted with some mystery, of which the mother did not even dream ? Thab some adroitly hidden sorrow was the secret spring of Olga's bitterness toward Mr Palma, and the unfailing source of- her unjusb and cynical railings against that society into which she plunged with such inconsistent recklessness, Regina had Ions; suspected; and her conjectures were strengthened by the stony imperturbability with wbich her guardian received the sarcasms often aimed at him. Whatever the eolution, delicacy forbade all attempts to llff> the veil of concealment, and resolving to banish unfavourable suspicion concerning a woman to whom she had become sincerely attached, her steps toward one of the numerous small parks thab beautify the (great city, and famish breathing and gambolling space for the helpleae young innocents, who are debarred all other modes of * airing,' save such ac are provided by the noble munificence of New York. The day, thoueh cold, was very bright, the sky a cloudless grey-blue, the slanting beams of the sun filling the atmosphere with gold-dust; and in crossing the square to grain the street beyond Regina was attracted by a group of children romping along the walk, and laughing gleefully. One, a toddling wee thing, with a scarlet cloak thab ewepb the ground, and a hood of the same warm tinb drawn over her curly yellow bair and dimpled round face, had fallen on the walk, unheeded by her boisterous companions, and becoming entangled in the long garment,could not get up again. Pausing to lift the little creature to her feet, and restore the piece of cake that had escaped from the chubby hand, Regina stood smiling sympathetically at the sport of the larger children, and wondering whether all those rosy-cheeked ' olive branches ' clustered around one household altar.

At that moment a heavy hand was placed on her shoulder, aod turning she saw ab her side a powerful man, thick set in stature, and whose clothing was worn and Boiled. Beneath a battered hab drawn suspiciously low she discerned a swarthy, flashed, saturnine countenance, which bad perhaps once been attractive, before the seal of intemperance marred and stained its lineament. Somewhere she certainly had seen that dark face, and a sensation of vague terror seized her. 'Regina, ib is about time you should meet and recognise me. ,

The voice explained all; she knew the man whom Hannah had met in the churchyard on the evening of the storm. She made an effort to shake off his hand, but it closed firmly upon her, and he asked : • Do you know who I am ?' •Your name is Peleg, and you are a wicked man, an enemy of my mother.' * The same, Ido not deny it. But recollect I am also your father.' She stared almost wildly ab him, and her face blanched and quivered as she uttered a cry of horror. *Ib is false ! You are not—you never could have been ! You—Oh ! never—never !' So terrible was the thought that she staggered, and sank down on'srfJ iron scab, covering her face with her hands. ' This comes of separating father.* and child, and arising you above your proper place in the world. Your mother taught you to hate me, I knew she would ; but I have waited aa long as I can bear it, and I intend to asserb my rights. Who do you suppose is your father ? Whose child did she say you were ?' • She never told me, but I know—o God, have mercy upon me ! You cannot be my father ! It would kill me to believe ib !' She shuddered violently, and when he attempted to put his hand on hers, she drew back and cried out, almost fiercely: ' Dpn'b touch me! If you dare, I will scream for a policeman.' 'Very well, as soon as you please, and when he comes I will explain to him that you are my daughter ; and if necessary I will carry you both to the spot where you were born, and prove the fact. Do you know where you were born ? I guess Minnie did not see fib to tell you that, either. Well, it wae in that charity hospital cm —Street, and 1 can tell you j the year, and the day of the month. My! -Hid, you might at least pity, and not >mlt your poor unhappy father.'

Could ifc be possible after all ? Her head swam; her heart seemed bursting; her very soul eickened, as she tried to realise all that his assertion implied. What could he expect to accomplish by such a claim, unless he intended, and felt fully prepared,to establish it by irrefragable facts ? ' My girl, your mother deserted me before you were born, and has never dared to let you know the truth. She is living in disguise in Europe, under an assumed name, and only last week 1 found out her whereabouts. She calls herself Mrs Orme now, and has turned actress. She was born one ; she has played a false part ail her life. Do you think your name is Orme ? My dear child, it U untrue, and I, Peleg Peterson, am your father.' ' No, no! My mother, my beautiful, refined mother,never.never could have loved you '. Oh ! ib is too horrible ! Go away, please go away ! or I shall go mad.' She bound her hands, tightly across feer eyes, shutting out the loathsome face, and in che intensity of her agony and dread she groaned aloud. If it were true, could she bear it,and lire? Whab would Mr Lindsay think, if he could see that coarse brutal man claiming her as his daughter? What would her haughty guardian say, if he who so sedulously watched over her movements, and fastidiously chose her associates, could look upon her now ? Born in a hospital, owning that repukive countenance there beside her as parent ? Heavy cold drops oozed out, and glistened on her brow, and she shivered from head to foot, rocking herself to and fro. Almost desperate as she thought of the mystetious circumstances that seemed to entangle her mother as in some inextricable net, the girl suddenly started up, and exclaimed : •It is a fraud, a wicked fraud, or you would never have left me so long in peace. My father was, must have bean, a gentleman ; I know, I feel it ! You are-—you — Save me, 0 Lord in heaven, from such a curse as that!' He grasped her arm and hissed : ' I am poor and obscure, it is true ; but Peterson is better than no name at all, and if you are not my child, then you have no name. That is all; take your choice.' What a pall settled on earth and sky ! The sun shining so brightly in the west grew black, and a shadow colder and darker than death seized her soul. Was ib the least of alternate horrors to accept this man, acknopledging his paternal claim, and thereby defend her mother's name ? How. the lovely sad face of that young mother rose like a star, gilding all this fearful blackness; and her holy abiding faith in her mother proved a etrengbhening angel in this Gethsemane.

Rallying, she forced herself to look steadily ab her companion. ' STou say that your name is Peleg Peterson ; why did you never come openly to the parsonage and claim me ? I know that my mother was married in that house, by Mr Hargrove. , 'Because I never could find out where you were hid away, until my aunb, Hannah Hinton, told me the week before the great storm. Then she promised me the marriage license, which she had found in a desk at the pareonage, on condition that 1 would not disturb you fas she thought you were happy and wsll-cared for, and would be highly educated, and I was too miserably poor to give you any advantages. You know the license was burned by lightning, else I would show it to you.' • Proving that you are my mother's legal husband ?' • Certainly» else what use do you suppose I had for it. , 'Oh no! You intended to sell it. Hannah told me so.' •No 3uch thing. Minnie does not want to own me now, and I intended to show the license to the father of the man for whom -she deserted both you and me. She has followed him to Europe, though ehe knows he is a married man.' •It is falee ! ,How dare you ! You shall 1 nob slander her dear name. My mother could never have done that ! There is some foul canspiracy to injure her ; nob another word againsb her! Nomatter what may have happened, no matter how dark and strange things look, ehe was not to blame. She is right, always right; I know —I feel it ! I tell you, if the sun and the stars, and the (very archangels in heaven accused her, I would nob liston, I would nob believe—no— never ! She is my mother, do you hear me ? She is my mother, and God's own angels would go astray as soon as she !' She looked as white and rigid as a corpse twelve hours dead, and her large defiant eyes burned with a supernatural lustre.

He comprehended the nature with which he had to deal, and after a pause, said sullenly: • Minnie does nob deserve such a child, and it is hard that you, my own flesh and blood, refuse to recognise me. Regina, I am desperately poor, or I would take you now, forcibly if necessary ; and if Minnie dared deny my claim, I would publish tho facts in a court of justice. Even your guardian is deceived, and many things would come to light, utterly disgraceful to you, and to your father and mother. Bute at present I cannot take care of you, and I am in need, actual need. Will my child see her own father want bread and clothing, and refuse to assist him? Can you not contribute something toward my supporb, until I can collect some money due me ? If you can help me a little now, I will try to be patient, and leave you where you are, in luxury and peace; at least till I can hear from Minnie, to whom I have written. .

' Why do you not go ab once to my guardian, and demand me ?' 'If you wish it I will, before sunseb. Come, lam ready. But when I do, the facts will be blazoned to the world, and you and Minnie and I shall all go down together in disgrace and ruin. If you are willing to drag all the shameful history into the papers, I am ready now.' He rose, bub she shrank away, and putting her hand in her pocket, became aware of the loss of her puree. Had she been robbed, or had she dropped her porte-monnaie in the carriage ? ' I have nob a cenb with me. I have lost my purse since I left home*' She saw the gloomy scowl bhab lowered on his brow.

• When can you give me some money ? Mind ib must nob be known that I am literally begging. I am as proud, my daughter, as you are, and if people find out that I am getting alms from you, I shall explain that it is from my own child I receive aid.' A feeble gleam of hope stole across her soul, and rapidly she reflected on the best method of escape. • I have yery little money, but to-morrow I will send you through the post office every cent I possess. How shall I address it?' He shook his head. • That will not satisfy me. I want to see you again, to look at your sweet face. Do you think I do not love my child ? Meet here, this time to-morrow.' Each word smote like pelting hailstones, and he saw all her loathing printed on her face. ' I have an engagement that may detain me beyond this hour ; but if I live, I will be as punctual as circumstances permit.' ' If you tell Palma you have seen me, he must know everything, for Minnie has hired him to help her deceive you and the world, and all the while she has kept the truth from him. Shrewd as he is, she has completely duped him. If he learns you have been with me, I shall unmask everything ; and when he washes his hands of you and your mother, I will take you where you shall never lay your eyes again on the two who have taught you to hate me—Minnie and Palma. My child, do you understand me?' : ■' She shuddered as he leaned toward her, and stepping back, she answered resolutely: ' That threat will prove very effectual. I will meet yon here, bringing the little

money J have, and will keep this awful day a secret from all but God, who never fails to protect the right.' * You promise that?' ' What else is left me ? My guardian shall know nothing from roe until I can hear from my mother, to whom I shall write this night. Do not detain me. My absence will excite suspicion.' 'Good-bye, my daughter.' He held out his hand. . She looked at him, and her lips writhed as she tried to contemplate for an instant the bare possibility that after all he might be her parent. She forced hereelf feo hold out her left hand,which was gloved, but he had scarcely grasped her fingers, when she snatched them back, turned and darted away, while he called after her : ' This time to-morrow. Don't fail.' The glory of the world and the light of her young life had suddenly been extinguished, and fearful spectres vague and menacing thronged the future. Death appeared a mere trifle in comparison with the lifelong humiliation, perhaps di3grace, that was in store for her ; and bitterly she demanded of fate, why she had been-reared so tenderly, so delicately, in an atmosphere of honour and refinement, if destined to fall ab last into the bands of that coarse vicious man. The audacity of his claim almost overwhelmed her faint hope that some infamous imposture was being practised at her expense ; and the severity of the shock, tho intensity of her mental sufferings, rendered her utterly oblivious of everything else. At another time she would doubtless have heard and recognised a familiar step that followed her from the moment she quitted the square ; but to-day, almost stupefied, she hurried along the pavement, mechanically turning the corners, looking neither to right nor left: Fifth Avenue wae a long way off, and it was late in the afternoon when she reached homo, and ran up to her own room, anxious I to escape observation. Hattie was arranging some towela on the washstand, and turning around, exclaimed : 'Good gracious, miss ! You are as white as the coverlid on the bed ! 1 guess something has happened V 'I am not well. I am tired, so tired. Have they all come homo ?' ' Yes, and there will be company to dinner. Two gentlemen, Terry said. Are you going to wear that dress ?' ' I don't want any dinner. If they ask for me, tell Mrs Jt'alma I feel very badly, and that I beg she will excuse me. Where is Olga? , ' Busy trimming her overskirb with flowers. You know Mrs Tarrant gives her ball to-night, and Miss Olga saya she has saved herself, rested all day, to be fresh for it. Lou-Lou has jast come to dress her hair. What a pity you can't go too, you look quite old enough. Miss Olga has such a gay, splendid time.' ' I do not want to go. I only wish I could lis down and sloop for ever. Shut the door and ask them all please to let me alone this evening.'

How the richness of the furniture and the elegance chafe prevailed throughout this house mocked the threadbare raiment and poverty-stricken aspect of the man who threatened to drag her down to hia own lower plane of life and association!. Her innate pride, and her cultivated fondness for all beautiful objects, rebelled at the picture which her imagination painted in euch sombre huos, and with a bitter cry of shame and dread she bowed her head against the marble mantelpiece. For many years she had known tliat some unfortunate cloud hung over her own and her mother's history, but faith in the latter, and a perfect trust in the wisdom and goodness of Mr Hargrove, had encouraged her in every previous hour of disquiet and apprehension. Until to-day the positive and hideous ghoul of disgrace bad never actually confronted her, and with the intuitive hopefulness of youth, she had waved aside all forebodings, believing that at the proper time her mother would satisfactorily explain the necessity for the mystery of her conduct. Was Mr Lindsay acquainted with some terrible trouble that threatened her future when in bidding her farewell he had said he would gladly shield her, wero it possible, from trials that he foresaw would be her portion ? ■ Did he know all, and. would he love her less, if that bold bad man should prove his paternal claim to her,? Her father ! Aβ she tried to face the possibility, it was with difficulty that she smothered a passionate cry, and throwing herself across the foot of the bed, buried her face ia her hands.

If ehe could only run away and go to India, where Mr Lindsay would shield, pity, and love her! How gratefully she thought of him at this juncture — how noble, tender, and generous he had always been! what a haven of safety and rest his presence would be now ! As a very dear brother she had ever regarded him,\for her affection, though intense and profound, was as entirely free from all tainb of sentimentality, as that which she entertained for his mother ; and her pure young heart had never indulged a feeling that could have coloured her cheek with confusion had the world searched its recesses. Were Douglass accessible, she would unhesitatingly have sprung into his protecting arms, as any suffering young sister might have done, and, fully unburdening her soul, would have sought brotherly counsel; but in his absence, to whom was it possible for her to turn 1 To her guardian ? As she thoughb of Ms fastidious over-weening pride, his haughtrjr scorn of every thing plebeian, his detestation of all that appertained to the ranks of the ill-bred, a keen pang of almost intolerable shame darted through her heart, and a burning tide surged over her cheeks, painting them fiery scarlet. Would he accord her the shelter of his roof, were ho aware of all that had occurred that day ? She started up, prompted by a sudden impulse to seek him and divulge everything to ask how much was true, to demand that he would send her at once to her mother. Perhaps he could authoritatively deny that man's statements, and certainly he •was far too prudenb to assume guardianship of a girl whose real parentage was unknown to him. Implicib confidence in his wisdom and friendship, and earnesb gratitude for the grave kindness of his conduct toward her since she became an inmate of his house, had gradually displaced the fear and aversion that formerly influenced her against him ; and just now the only comfort she could extract from any quarter arose from the reflection that in every emergency Mr Palma would protect her from harm and insult, until he could place her under her mother's care. ■ ' Two years of daily association had taught her to appreciate the sternness and tenacity of his purpose, and his stubborn iron will, so often dreaded before, now became a source of consolation, a tower of refuge to which in extremity she could retreat. But if she were indeed the low-born girl that man had dared to assert, and Mr Palma should learn that he had been deceived, bow could she ever meet his coldly contemptuous eyea? Some one tapped at the door, but she made no response, hoping she mighb be considered asleep. Mrs JPalma came in, groping her way. • Why have you nob a light?' 'I did not need one. I only wanted to be quiet. , 'Where are the matches V • On the mantelpiece. , Mrs Palma lighted the gas, then came to the bed. • Regina, are you in,i that you obstinately absent yourself when you know there is company to dinner V ' ' I feel very badly 'Indeed, and I hoped you would, excuse me.'

• Have you fever ? You seemed .. very well when I parted from you at Mrs S>c. Clare's door. , , . . 'Np fever, I think, bub I felt unable to go downstairs. I shall be better tomorrow.' • i *„ ' Erie desired me to say that he wishes to see you this evening, and you must Mine down to the library about nine o clock. He has gone to his office, and you know he will,"be displeased if you iail to obey '""please. Mrs Palma, tell him I am not able. Abk him to excuao me this evening. Intercede for me, will you nob?' ' Oh! I never interfere when Erie gives an order. Besides, I shall not see him again before midnight. lam going with Olga to Mrs Tarrant's, and must leave home quite early, because I promised to call for Melissa Gardner, and chaperoue her. Jt course she will not be ready, young: mdies never are, and we shall have to wait, it is only eight o'clock now, and an hour s sleep will refresh you. I will direct- Hattie to call you, when your guardian comes in. Do you require any medicine? You do look very badly.' 4 Ouly rest, I think. Can't you persuade Mr Palma to go to the party, or ball, or whatever it may be ?' 'He has promised to drop in toward the close of the evening and escort us homo. Quite a compliment to Mrs Tarrant, for Erie rarely deign 3to honour such entertainments, bub her husband is a prominent lawyer, and a college friend of Erie's. Good-nighb.' She went out, cloeing the door softly, and Regina felt more desolate than ever. Was Mr Palma displeased because she had gone visiting without waiting for his consent ? If she had been more patient, might not this fearful discovery have been averted ? Was her sorrow part of the wages of her disobedient haste ? I What had become of her purse ? How could she, without exciting suspicion, obtain the money she had so positively promised ? She rang the bell, and sent Hattio to requast Farley to examine the carriage, and see if she had nob dropped her portmonnaie into some of its crevices. It was a long time before the servant returned, alleging in excuse that she had been detainod to assist in dressing Miss Olga. Farley had searched everywhere, and could not find the purse. Hattie hurried away to Mrs Palma, and Regina unlocked a small drawer of her bureau, and took out what remained of her semi-annual allowance of pocket mossey. She counted it carefully, bub found only thirteen dollars. If she could have recovered her portmonnaie she would have had twenty dollars to offer, and that seemed mockingly insufficient, as the price of silence, of temporary escape from humiliation. What could she do? She had never asked a cent from her guardian, and the necessity of appealing to him was inexpressibly mortifying, but to whom could she apply? ' •' But Solomon in all his glory was nob arrayed like one of theee"—society tiger lilies.'

The door swung wide open, and as she spoke Olga seemed to swim into the room, so quick yeb noiseless was her entrance. At the sound of her voice, Regina dropped the money back into the drawer, and turned to inspect the elegant toilette, which consisted of gold-coloured silk and Mechlin lace, rich yellow roses with sulphurous hearts, and a very complete set of topaz, which flashed amber rays over the neck, ears, and arms of the wearer. With her brilliant complexion, sparkling eyes, and hair elaborately powdered with gold dusfe, she seemed a vision of light, ab whom Regina gazed with unfeigned admiration. . . . ' Beautiful, Olga ; beautiful.' ' The textile fabrics, the ailk and lace ? Or the human framework, the flesh and blood machine that serves as lay figure to chow off' fche statuesque folds, the creamy waves of costly Mechlin, the Persian roses, and expensive pebbles ?' 'Both. The dress and the wearer. I never saw you look so well.'

'Thanks. Behold the result of the morning's self-denial, of a day passed quietly in bed, with only the companionship of pillows and dreams. I was forced to choose between Mrs St. Clare's " lunch " and Mrs Tarrant's "crush," "nob that I love Caesar less, bub that I love Rome more," and the success of my strategy is brilliant. Am I not the complete impersonation of sunshine ? How deadly white and chill you look. Come closer, and warm yourself in my glorious rays. Do you acoufc oneriomancy as a heathenish fable ? To-day I unexpectedly became a convert to its sublime secrets. After you and mamma deserted me for cantata and luncheon, I fell into a heavy sleep, and dreamed that I was Danse, with a mist of gold drizzling over me ; and lo! when I began to dress this evening, my dazzled eyes beheld these superb topaz gems. "Compliments of Mr Erie Palma, who thought they would harmonise with the gold-coloured silk, and ordered them for the occasion." So -said the card lying on the velvet case ! .Do you wonder if the world is comiug to its long-predicted end ? Not at all ; merely the close of Olga Neville's career ; the sun of my maidenhood setting in unexpected splendour. Do you understand that Scriptural paradox : •* To him that hath shall be given, bub from him that hath not shall be taken," etc., etc. ? Once when I was better than lam now, and studiod my Bible, it puzzled me ; now I know it means that stiff-neckod Olga Neville finds no favour in Mr Palma's eyes ; but the obedient, and amiable, prospective Mrs Silas Congreve shall be furnished with gewgaws, which very soon she will possess in abundance, and to spare. Just* now mamma gave me the delightful intelligence that, having been informed of my intention to trade myself off for stocks and brownstone fronts, her very distinguished and magnanimous stepson signified his approbation by announcing his determination to settle ten thousand dollars on this Lucretia Borgia head, upon the day when ib wears a bridal veil.'

All this was uttered volubly, as if she feared interruption ; and ehe stood surveying her beautiful image in the mirror, shaking out the silk skirt, looping the lace, arranging the rose leaves and turning, so as to catch her profile reflection.

Regina readily perceived that she adopted this method of ignoring the casual meeting in East Street, and resolved to tacitly accept the cue ; but before she could frame a reply, Olga hurried on : 'Were you really sick and unable to dine, or are you practising the firat step, the initial measure of that policy system, so cordially commended to yonr favourable regard? You missed an unusually good dinner. When your chair remained vacant: your guardian darkened like a thundercloud in an Auguet sky, and Roscoe, poor Elliott Roscoe, looked precisely as I imagine a hungry wolf, feels, when crouching to catch a tender ewe lamb he finds the watchful shepherd has safely locked it in the fold. Evidently he believes that you and Erie Palma have conspired to starve him out, and really ha is ludicrously irate. Don't trifle with his expanding affections ; they are nob quite fledged yet, and are easily bruised. Deal with him kindly ; he is better than his cousin, better than any of us. What have you done to render him so unmanageable V ' I have nob seen Mr Roscoe for a week.' _ • Certainly he has seen you in much less time—he imagines as recently as this afternoon;_- bub appearances are desperately deceitful, and our fancy often manufactures likenesses... In this world of fleeting shadows we are often called upon to reject the evidence ot all five of the senses, and what madness, what culpable folly, to

credit that of mere treacherous sight! Shall I tell Elliott that be was dreaming, and did nob see you V . 'I have no onessage for him- Than he may have seen me sometime to-day, walking upon the street, is quite possible, bub certainly of no con&equonce. Your bracelet has become unfastened.' She bent down to clasp the topaz crescent, and Oiga laid her band on the girl's shoulder. , ' Something pains you very much, ana your face has nob yet learned the gre;ic feminine art of masking misery in smiles, and burying it in dimples. Mind, dear, 1 do not ask, I do not, wish to know what your hidden wolf is,-preying so ravenou3ly upon your vitals. Sooner or later the punishment of the Spartan chief overtakesus all, and after a while you will learn to bear the gnawing as gaily as I do. Go to sleep, snowdrop, and dream that you are like me, a topaz-bedizened odalisque swimming in sunshine.' She stooped, kissed the giii softly on both cheeks, and looked tenderly, pityingly ab her ; then suddenly gathered her close to her hearb, holding her there an instant, as if to shelter her from some impending

storm. ' If you love your mother, and she loves you, run away now and join her, before the cbainß are tightened. Your guardian is setting snares; little white rabbit, flee for your life, while escape is possible.' She floated away like some dazzling gilded cloud, and a momenb later her peculiarly light merry laugh rang through the hall below, as she ran down to join her mother. To be continued next Wednesday.)