LITERATURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4791, 7 September 1883, Page 4

LITERATURE.

["Miss Garston's Case" will be oontinued In our issue of Saturday next.} BBBTHA; OS, LOV- BEGETS LOVH. (O— conrA— ) (Oonoluded.) It was Lady Stanton's birthday, and a small party had been given. There wae dancing in tke urge hall. Mr Daore was watching Bertha as she stood talking to a gentleman, and Mr Philip was jealous— aotually jealous. She wai dressed in brown velvet, the dark dress contrasting well with her fair skin. Her face, generally pale, had a slight colour in it. Ma thought she was looking rather bored, ao *srhen her companion went away he quiokly crossed to her side. Bhe trrned suoha bright Countenance to him that h> j <alousy vanished at ones. " Will you dance this wuu z with mo, Miss Oliver' He always called her by that name whenever he had an opportunity. " I wish you would not oall me, Miss Olive," ahe said wh«n the dance was finished, and they had gone into the picture-gallery, as the hall wae very warm. " Well, 1 will not, if you will answer a s-ueition of mine," he replied, laughing. "WhatiaitP" 41 What made yon take another name ? " Bertha hesitated a moment or two, then Mid slowly, " Beoause I was proud." "Will you tell me all about it P " he asked persuasively. " If you promise not to tell any one." " I will be as silent as the grave." " I was the only niece and near relativo of •very rioh man. He died about 18 months •go, leaving no —> ill, and all the money went to a cousin ef his— a horrid, ugly, old man. I would not have minded him having the money if I could have kept my beautiful old home. I changed my name because I was too proud to have people say that the rioh Hiss Olive's pride had had a fall" " Have you ever seen your coußin P " asked "Seen him ! No ; and I iover wish to." "Then how do you know he is ugly P " "Oh, he is sure to be. Men who take people's homes away from them, mmt be horrid and disagreeable. I expeot he -quints." « Com*?, now, you are hard upon the poor fellow. He may be very good-looking," he ■aid, with an amused smile upon his lips. " It is not his fault, but your unole's." "Undo left no will, I knowj but this cousin was rioh. He might have left me Knutsford. I did love it so, Mr Daore," she aaid ; her beautiful eyes bright and moist. "Poor little woman! Never mind, you •hall have it baok again some day." " Shall I P But how will you manage that P It is not going to be sold, surely ?" " Do not ask too many questions, youog lady. What is your cousin's name r" "I do not know— Olive, I suppose. Mr Stevens was going to tell me, I remember ; bnt I would not hear it, I disliked him so muoh. What are you laughing at, Mr Daeref" . _ L "Nothing particular. £r>me day, I hope, Jon will love thie despised <'ousin yery muoh," S replied, his eyes gleaming with mirth as he gaxed into her lovely face. "Do you know, Bertba," ho added, "I am more than half in love with you already. I wonder if — oui ■ little heart is free." MMr Dtoro, you must not talk to me like that." And before be oould answer she had •Mulshed. Bhe was very distant and oold to him next morning ; but he seemed so penitent and gorry for his misdemeanour of the evening before, that she was obliged to forgive him. There are some people whose natures are gueh that one oannot be angry with thorn for long; however muoh they may offend we take them baok into our hearts, and give them again the love whioh they for a time bave forfeited. Such a person was Philip Daore, whom, to know, was to love ; and Bertha oould noa be angry with him, though she tried. Two months paaaed pleasantly away. The young girl wondered whw:. her life would bo like when Philip had gone. Bhe knew he loved her ; he had told *■■ or so many times, though not aotually in wor t*. But Mr Daore ■was content to wait. H» hud lingered behind when all the other guests had departed, blowing full well that one little heart would be made happier by his protracted visit. Bertha had resumed her teaching onoe more ; it wns hard work after her pleasant holiday, but she settled down steadily, allowing nothing to interrupt the lesson hour. • # • # * It was near the end of February when £ady Stanton oame into the schoolroom one afternoon and asked her young governess to bring a book from the library; she roBO at onoe, suspecting nothing. As she waß searching amongst ,the numerous volumes a hand was laid upori hers causing her to start violently. "Did I frighten you?" asked Mr Daore, laughing. " Yes, a little ; I did not hear you oome io. Do you want anything. "I want you." Bertha's face crimsoned, and her eyes fell beneath his gaze. "I am looking for ahook " she began. "Never mind the book $ Lady Stanton sent yen to me." " No, sho did not. Why should she ? " "Because I have something to say to you," he said, laughing, and taking her hands in hie, "Berths, my darling, I love you very dearly ; will you be my write? You must have seen that I loved you, my little queen." "Bnt, MrDacre." "WelL" "I am only a governess, and you are a very rich man, Lady Stanton says." "Yes, lam rioh. I have a beautiful home some milei from London, and another in Cheshire ; but what good are they if lam not happy P Well, my darling, is it to be * Tea ' or 'No? 'he said, tenderly putting his arms round the slender, young form, and drawing her olose to him. • "Yes," she whispered softly, raising her eyes to his, tender and bright with the light of love shining in their depths. Bending his handsome head, he kissed her fondly several times. " Are you happy, my Bertha P " "Very," she answered s^yly. Bhe was happy at laat. Woman's love is like the vine, requiring something strong to cling to ; love to her is what money is to man. Her lot is a happy one if it be cast with a true, good man, one who will help her, soothe her sorrows, and share her joys. Tcey were married in May, and Philip Daore took his young wife abroad. They did not return until August. It was a warm sultry evening when they reaohed their destination. It was a dark night, tho moon had not risen yet, and Bertha could not perceive anything very dearly. But when they alighted from the train, the first thing that attraotsd her attention was the carnage sent for them. "It is like unole George's, and there is the Olive crest. What can it mean P" she Baid. Her husband did not answer, but hurried her to her seat, and they drove off. " What is the matter, Philip, dear P Your manner seems strange." " Never mind, little one, we shall soon be home now. We are at the lodge gates. Don't look ont yet? Here we are, dear. Welcome home my preoious wife." Bertha looked out of the window, exolaiming, " Why, Philip, it is Knutsford !V " Yob, it is _nutsford." "And you?" she said, wondering vaguely what was coming next. "lam your husband and cousin, Philip Daore Olive. My darling, won't you forgive me the deoeption I have practised? Mr Stevens told me of the dislike you had for Eur horrid, ugly, old relative. I oame to luteford and saw a pioture of you, I - well, I fell in love with your sweet face; so, I determined not to take the name of Olive, which I had to do when I oame into the estate, until I had found you and made you love me, that is if you were unmarried. You would never have oared for me, had you known I was the owner of Knutsford, io I had to resort to stratagem to win you. New, sny pet, you knew all. Am I forgiven, dear P What, no answer Then indeed I have made • mistake " he said, as Bertha still Bat silently by his side. Presently, however, she raised her head, and slipping her hand gently into his, said earnestly, "Philip, my darling, I think I should havo loved you under any ciroam- - Stances— end, dear, I could not live without jour love now." "And lam forgiven P " he replied, fondly Jdssing the sweet lips again and again. Then he lifted her from the carriage. Ihe

villagers, who had asiembled to do them honour, shouted loud hurrahs as they welcomed baok their beloved little mistress amongst them. And there we will leave them, happy in eaoh other's love j trying to shed sunshine around the paths of those who are not so fortunato ub themselves • giving a helping hand to thoso who are in need of a little thought and care; and above all earnestly striving to walk in the stra : ght path whioh leads to everlasting life. Mabt Eta. _-_-_-— .__-_-_---— _-_-__»_-----_ i