At the Eleventh Hour.

Otago Witness, Issue 1324, 14 April 1877, Page 20

At the Eleventh Hour.

They were ' sitting in • the twilight; ' Winifred Howard wa3 in the easy chair' before the open window, and Lillie > Vaughan was beside her, with her head ■" resting on Winifred's shoulder. There were no signs remaining in the evening sky of the gorgeous sunset. The sweet summer breeze came through the; window, and stirred the thick waves* of flaxen hair on Winnie's head.' .■ . • There had been a long deep pause between the friends. • ; ■ ■•> vi, Presently, Lillie broke it -by saying— - v ' "Winnie, tell me candidly; what "you think of me." -' i. .: .•♦ -• i "I think you are like the summer wind," Winifred answered, in her grand, even tones ; " sweet and refreshing. But I believe you put me most in mind of peach blossoms. I can hardly explain why, unless it is because your cheeks ' so delicately pink. You are very pretty, my pet." ,- ; . . "Winnie, tell me," whispered Lillie, " what you think of Hubert Lisle. Will he be the right husband for me ? la he the right man 1 Come, tell me what you think of him. You have been nowtwo months with me, and surely you have formed an opinion." ■ ' Winnie did not reply immediately, and when she did it was in a measured way unusual to her. t r '"'--^ ri -/ " He is good and true," she said} "and

I admire him very much. He is hand* some, and I think whole-souled. I would rather see you the wife of a grave man, for you are light and gay yourself. Hubert is of the same temperament. I do not in general approve of like mating like. But tell me, little friend, how you chanced to meet him. lam never tired of listening to the sweet story." "I met him in Devonshire," began Lillie, nestling closer to her friend. "I went there to live a quiet life with aunt Fenton on the peaoeful farm. I did not expect to see any one there except aunt and uncle and the farm people; but I found Hubert at home there. He was a pet and great favourite of aunt and uncle. They .had sent for him to come and live with them, as they .had no children of their own. Wicked relatives, they always contrived to leave us together. Of course, I ended in loving him. I felt at that time more than at any other the wretched loneliness of my orphan life and the troubles of an heiress, and when he offered me so much pure love and joy, I listened to him very willingly. I knew he was poor from the beginning of our friendship ; but I did not at all care for that. lam rich enough to make our life one; of ease and enjoyment. And so, Winnie, I said ' Yes' when he proposed." **jaT<ra do not," said Winifred, laughing Bow, "tell the story so well now as yon did when I first came to you. Your voice does not thrill in the telling. Oh, Lillie, you love him still, do you not ?" '/Certainly! I do not think I shall ever change towards him. I love him too much for that." Suddenly the door opened and the subject of their conversation came in. Lillie \ knew it was he by the sound of his footfalls. , "Hubert," said she, without looking' around, " come here and sit on the floor at my feet. Winnie and I are dreaming here in the shadows. . If you are quiet, sir, we will not object to your presence." He came, forward and flung himself on the floor at their feet. He rested his head against Lillie's lap. Lillie's hands strayed over his hair. Winnie could not endure the sight of him leaning against her friend, so looked away from the picture at the glittering stars, with a peculiar expression in her eyes. , . "I have taken a great liberty with yon, Lillie," said Hubert, presently, breaking the pause. "I have invited my brother Charles up to see you tonight. You are not offended, are you, dearest?" " Why, no r answered she. "1 am glad you did it.' I did not know you had a brother. You never told me anything about him. What is he like — like you ?" "•He is handsomer than L You will, However, soon see him for yourself, so there is no need for me to describe him. He lives in Parin. He is an artist. His publisher has sent him over here to make sketches of English scenery for a French book. 'He arrived yesterday. I have kept silent about him, because I wished to surprise you. How you will like him ! He is not so talkative as I am. He is grave and grand, and noble as a king. In France, among our friends, he is called King Charles." '/ You have made me very curious," remarked Lillie, "and I shall feel anxious and impatient till I see him. I have an idea your brother will be my ideal man. Ah, you don't know that I have thoughts about heroes and grand men. Of course, you imagine I find all I ever dreamed of in yon. Blessed conceit ! When is your brother coming?" |* It is now- beyond the time I appointed," Hubert answered. " But, hark ! there he is now at the door." Just as the bell rang, the moon in all her glory came out from behind .the clouds, and flooded the room with mellow light. The door was flung open, and the servant announced — "Mr Charles Lisle !" Lillie looked at him, and their eyes met. ' ■ She felt spell-bound by his glance. To her the world suddenly underwent a wonderful change. From that moment when her eyes rested on his her life was what it had never been before. It appeared as if she had abruptly said farewell to her former self. Hubert introduced his brother, who was as handsome as he had described — handsome, with sleepy blue eyes, yellow hair and beard, broad shoulders, and superbly developed figure. He did not speak much, but what he did say was elegantly and gracefully expressed. He had not taken any notice of Winifred when his brother presented Mm to her; but she had suddenly become animated, and laughed and talked as she was never wont to do. Lillie, after a few words of welcome, remained mute and dreamy. She could not join Winnie and Hubert in their bright small talk — why she could not comprehend. She could only sit and dream, steal secret looks at the handsome stranger, and wonder what had changed her so, making the very starlit heaven , different to her since he came. * * * * It was a glorious Sunday in August. Lillie and Winifred were out on the verandah walking up and down, and drinking in the beauty of the deep summer. The brothers were in the library, smoking their after-dinner cigars. It was the week before Lillie's marriage with Hubert Suddenly Lillie stopped Winifred, and, tightening her grasp on her friend's arm, said, in a thrilling whisper — " Winnie, is it too late to retract from jay wedding with Hubert 1 Be kind to

me ! Help me, for I do not know how to help myself. Be merciful — save me !"

Winifred became pale as she listened. " Winnie," gasped Lillie, "I have made a mistake. Must I suffer because I have done so ? I must turn back if I can ! ' I do not love Hubert now — at least, not a3 I ought to love him if he is to be my husband. Winifred, you are cool and wise ; lam weak and wavering. Advise me what to do. Do you believe Hubert loves me so much, after all ?" Winifred still gazed at the sweet, peaceful landscape, "Do you love Charles?" asked she, without looking round. "Hush! no one knows it. Yes; Hove him more than I can ever tell." " Well," said Winifred, drawing Lillie to her side, "go to Hubert and confess it. It won't be wrong to do so. He will release you from your engagement, I am sure ; and then you will be free." "Come, let us go into the sittingroom." proposed Lillie, "and talk it over. I must talk with some one about Charles, for my heart is overflowing with love of him." They went out together through the French window, and found the brothers standing in the middle of the room. Their faces plainly told them they had heard all. Lillie trembled, and clung to Winifred. She towered above her shrinking friend, cool and calm. . if Evidently you have both overheard us," she slowly said, looking at them. " Yes," answered Hubert, in his usual light way, "we did. We came in with the intention of joining you, and heard all you two said. It was mean and wrong to listen ; but I am very glad I heard what I did. Everything between Lillie and me shall end now, if she wishes it." " I do wish it," said Lillie, looking up and stepping forward ; "for I do not love you well enough for marriage. lam very sorry for what has taken place.'? She reeled somewhat when she finished, and seemed about to swoon. Charles caught her in his arms. "You love me — I heard you declare it !" he cried, passionately. " And you have made me — oh, so happy. Look up — gaze in my eyes — see in them the story [ I cannot find eloquence to tell." She did not do so, but clung to his strong frame in complete happiness, saved at the eleventh hour from what must have been a life-long mistake. Meanwhile, Winifred and Hubert had wandered out in the verandah ; and when Charles and Lillie caught them, they found Hubert wild with delight, and dear Winifred with glad, wet eyes. He had told, and she had listened to the old story, which will always remain sweet to the end of time. Lillie and Charles were married, and she looked forward with perfect content to the life she was to lead with him in his glorious country. Winifred and Hubert, were to remain behind in England, to accumulate enough income with which to join the dear, happy brother and sister abroad.