THE LIBRARY OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 THE COLLECTION OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINIANA 
 
 ENDOWED BY 
 
 JOHN SPRUNT HILL 
 
 CLASS OF 1889 
 
 C813 
 V26ls 
 
This book must not 
 be token from the 
 Library building. 
 
 Form No. 4J1 
 
THE 
 
 Shadow of Hampton Mead. 
 
 By 
 MKS. ELIZABETH VAN LOOE 
 
 Author of "A Heart Twice Won.'* 
 
 "The Shadorv of Hampton Mead" is the story of three fatnilies, two of which are 
 American, and the vary ittg fortunes of each and all of these are related with a force 
 and freshness which tnay startle, but must please. Hampton Mead, a. plantation in 
 North Carolina, is described with a great deal of personal liking and pride , its prin- 
 cipal features being placed before the reader with a painter's skill and a poet' s feel- 
 ing. The story opens in this country, and when well developed, is transferred to 
 England, where, in full contrast, life-passages and love-passages arc presented — not 
 in London alone, but in an EarV s palatial hotne in Lancashire, and in an ocean- 
 washed castle on the rocky coast of Cornivall. There is infinite variety in the plot 
 as well as in the characters, and the wind-up of this romantic tale, in which the 
 " wrong is made right," dispenses poetical justice to all, with retributive punishment 
 to the wrong-doers. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS; 
 306 CHESTNUT STREET 
 
copyright: 
 
 1878. 
 
070 
 
 GEN, WADE HAMPTOIf, 
 
 OF 
 
 SOUTH CAROLINA, 
 
 RESPECTFULLY DEDICATE THIS BOOK, 
 
 THE 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER PAGB 
 
 I. THE MOUNTAIN HOME 23 
 
 II. LAWRENCE HASTINGS 30 
 
 III. THE WOOD NYMPH 36 
 
 IV. A FATHER'S DARLING 43 
 
 V. WALTER'S LOVE - 49 
 
 VI. BROTHER AND SISTER 67 
 
 VII. A DARK BEAUTY 65 
 
 VIII. THE LOST FOUND 70 
 
 IX. UNDER THE WAVES 75 
 
 X. THE FIRST SHADOW 82 
 
 XI. WHAT IS THIS I HEAR ? 90 
 
 XII. WALTER IS TRACKED 104 
 
 Xin. A DARKER SHADOW 113 
 
 XIV. THE WILL 122 
 
 XV. LADY HESTER 132 
 
 XVI. LOST AGAIN 140 
 
 XVII. THE MEAD IS DESERTED 147 
 
 X VIIL IN LONDON 153 
 
 XIX. THE MASK FALLS 159 
 
 XX. I WILL WAIT 167 
 
 XXI. BAD NEWS 173 
 
 XXTT. CASTLE ROOK 180 
 
 (21) 
 
22 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTKtt PAOE 
 
 XXIII. LIND HUKST '. 189 
 
 XXIV. TRAPPED 197 
 
 XXV. HE MUST BE TAKEN 209 
 
 XXVI. amy's courage 214 
 
 XXVII. LADY HESTER IS FOLLOWED 222 
 
 XXVIII. IS THERE NO HOPE ? 233 
 
 XXIX. WHAT MAMMY SILVIA KNEW 241 
 
 XXX. THE HALF-BREED'S REVENGE 251 
 
 XXXI. FATHER AND DAUGHTER 260 
 
 XXXII. HOMEWARD BOUND 268 
 
 XXXIII. THE SHADOW IS GONE 277 
 
THE 
 
 Shadow of Hampton Mead. 
 
 BY THE AUTHOR OF 
 
 «A HEAKT TWICE WON." 
 
 ^' 
 
 CHAPTEE I. 
 
 THE MOUNTAIN HOME. 
 
 A LOVELY May morning in the mountainous 
 regions of North Carolina. How grand, 
 how beautiful! a picture worthy of an artist's 
 pencil or a poet's dream ! The majestic, towering 
 mountains clothed in all their royal splendor. 
 Ah! how grand was the scene! 
 
 How strange it is that people will leave 
 unexplored the beautiful scenery of our beloved 
 America, and brave the perils of the ocean, to 
 wander through the old world, in quest of the 
 beauties of nature, leaving behind them some of 
 
 (23) 
 
24 THE MOUNTAIN HOME. 
 
 the grandest scenery in the universe, only to 
 return at length weary and dissatisfied. They 
 have visited the old ruins of England, Ireland, 
 and Scotland ; they have beheld the day-god as 
 he vanished from sight, kissing with his rosy lips 
 the far-famed Bay of Naples, flecking its bosom 
 with tints of gold and azure ; they have stood 
 upon the shores of Lake Como, have seen the 
 Alps, Vesuvius belching forth her streams of lava 
 and fire, and the richly cultivated shores of 
 the Rhine, little dreaming of what they have 
 missed in their own land by never having seen 
 the grand and glorious scenery of the south- 
 western portion of North Carolina. 
 
 'Tis true the traveller finds much to interest 
 him in art, in making the tour of the old world, 
 but tell us where he will find, where the Creator 
 has bestowed so much beauty in one small 
 compass, as was visible to the beholder looking 
 upon Hampton Mead, where the scene of our 
 story opens. 
 
 Hampton Mead was built in the year 1790, by 
 
THE MOUNTAIN HOME. 25 
 
 a wealthy young Englishman, bearing the name 
 of Hampton. He was the last of his race, and 
 believed in a free government. In 1789 he landed 
 in Norfolk, Virginia, with vast wealth, and 
 immediately set about seeking for a locality in 
 which to build himself a home. With a faithful 
 servant he set out on horseback to explore the 
 mountainous regions of Virginia, Tennessee, and 
 North Carolina. One afternoon, after a hard 
 morning's ride, Mr. Hampton and his servant 
 halted on the banks of a clear mountain river. 
 On each side, for half a mile, the ground gradually 
 sloped from the base of the mountain to the 
 water's edge, which was as clear as crystal. Mr. 
 Hampton could see fish sporting in and out from 
 between the rocks. After having gazed for some 
 time into its clear, limpid depths and watched 
 their meanderings, he suddenly raised his head 
 and cast his eyes over the beautiful landscape 
 which lay stretched out before him, and they 
 kindled with rapt delight: then turning to his 
 servant, said : 
 
26 THE MOUNTAIN HOME. 
 
 "WilkeSj we will go no further; here I will 
 pitch my tent." 
 
 In the course of a few days, he was the pos- 
 sessor of several thousand acres of land. Ere 
 many weeks had passed, he had several men at 
 work getting out stone with which to build the 
 Mead, as he proposed calling it. This was in 
 1789, and in one year's time the building was 
 completed. Mr. Hampton was twenty-eight years 
 of age at this time, and for the first time in his life 
 thought he would like to have a wife. A year 
 later, in Wilmington, he found one of rare beauty 
 and culture, and transplanted her to his new 
 home. But his wedded bliss was of short duration, 
 for she only lived long enough to give him two 
 children, AY alter and Norva, and then passed 
 away like a beautiful dream. 
 
 Her sweet memory was buried deep in the 
 heart of her devoted husband; 'twas the shrine at 
 which he worshipped, so much so, that he never 
 found another to occupy her place, and he dedi- 
 cated his life to his children and his home. 
 
THE MOUNTAIN HOME. 27 
 
 When Walter and Norva were twelve and ten 
 years of age, he took them to Philadelphia, and 
 placed them at school, where they remained for 
 eight years ; at the expiration of which time Mr. 
 Hampton sailed with them for Europe. They 
 were absent nearly two years, and when they 
 returned to the Mead, Walter Hampton was 
 twenty-one years of age, and Norva nineteen. 
 
 Walter was as noble a specimen of manhood as 
 you could wish to see : tall, broad-shouldered, deep- 
 chested, and well-developed — with keen, sj)arkling 
 blue eyes and a profusion of sunny brown hair. 
 His sister was just his opposite in complexion. 
 She was above the medium height, and as graceful 
 as a fawn ; with masses of blue-black hair crown- 
 ing her classic head, and pure white brow with 
 its delicately penciled eyebrows of inky blackness, 
 beneath which a pair of soft, tender, black eyes 
 shone out, fringed with long, jetty lashes, which 
 swept her dark and beautiful cheeks like pensive 
 shadows. Mr. Hampton almost worshipped his 
 daughter, for whenever he looked upon her beau- 
 
28 THE MOUNTAIN HOME. 
 
 tiful face he saw the image of his lost wife, who 
 had passed away so soon. Never was a daughter 
 more fond of a father than Norva Hampton. 
 Walter was also very much attached to his father. 
 With his son, Mr. Hampton was gently firm in 
 any course he marked out for him; and in the end 
 Walter usually gave in. There was a time coming 
 when Mr. Hampton would find that Walter had 
 inherited all his father's decision of character and 
 strength of purpose. On their way from Europe 
 Walter had asked his father to allow him to 
 remain in New York, or some other city, for a 
 time ; but Mr. Hampton did not wish to return to 
 the Mead leaving his son behind. 
 
 Now we find them at the Mead, anticipating 
 the arrival of a guest, Mr. Lawrence Hastings, 
 from London, who had met Norva the vear 
 before while in that great metropolis; and the 
 soft warm tints of the blush rose come and sro 
 on the dark olive cheeks of the beautiful girl 
 when she thinks of the expected result of this 
 visit. When the Christmas holidays shall come, 
 
THE MOUNTAIN HOME. 29 
 
 she will be Lawrence Hastings' wife ; but she is 
 not to leave her father and her brother. Walter 
 and Norva were very strongly attached to each 
 other (something quite rare in those degenerate 
 days), and when he suffered himself to think of 
 her approaching marriage a shudder passed over 
 him. But she seemed to be so supremely happy, 
 as also her father, that he said but little on the 
 subject after he had once fully expressed himself; 
 and, on this evening, when Mr. Hastings is 
 expected to put in an appearance at the Mead, his 
 fine, noble features are contracted as with pain. 
 He does not like his prospective brother-in-law, 
 and feels that a shadow will rest like a dark pall 
 over Hampton Mead when once Mr. Hastings 
 enters its walls. 
 
30 LAWRENCE HASTINGS. 
 
 CHAPTER 11. 
 
 LAWRENCE HASTINGS. 
 
 PEACEFULLY flowed the waters of the moun- 
 tain river; and the richly-tinted forest 
 leaves glowed in the dying rays of the sun. 
 
 How grand and imposing Hampton Mead looked, 
 with the majestic mountains for a background, 
 and all nature bathed in the brilliant hazy light 
 of the autumn sun, which was fast declining, and 
 as it sank to rest, gilding the mountain tops with 
 the halo of a dying day — a day that was about to 
 step from time into eternity. 
 
 As we have remarked before, the house was 
 built of stone ; the building was two stories in 
 height, with a wide hall running through its 
 length, above and below. The rooms were large, 
 high, and airy. AYe care not so much to describe 
 an old house, as we do the well-kept grounds, 
 although old houses usually have a strange 
 
LAWRENCE HASTINGS. 31 
 
 fascination about them to the lovers of antiquity, 
 that the most elegant modern palace does not 
 possess. 
 
 The Mead stood in the centre of a large park or 
 lawn, dotted with ffia'antic oak, beech and chestnut 
 trees. These kings of the forest had been topped 
 and trimmed until they were nearly of one height; 
 and viewing; them from the side of the mountain 
 had the appearance of a beautiful green plain. 
 
 The under branches were trimmed to a con- 
 siderable distance, giving a chance for small 
 growths, such as evergreens of almost every 
 description and variety, and rare flowering shrubs. 
 The sward was smooth as a floor, and looked like 
 a vast emerald sea clothed in their beautiful 
 verdure. To the left of the house, some two 
 hundred yards, w^as a beautiful artificial lake, 
 from whose silver bosom rose several little islands 
 thickly 'planted with evergreens and flowers. 
 Upon its cool and placid waters pleasure-boats 
 were rocking to and fro, gently swayed by the 
 soft breeze. This lake was fed by means of pipes, 
 
32 LAWRENCE HASTINGS. 
 
 leading from a cold welling spring from out the 
 mountain side; and by the same means the 
 beautiful fountains threw up their silver sprays 
 far into the air, shooting forth their splendor as 
 they fell into the great basins hewn from the 
 veined marble which was found in abundance 
 near by. The grounds were most artistically laid 
 out in wide drives, and spacious walks covered 
 with gravel almost as white as snow, and bordered 
 with different kinds of small shrubs ; interspersed 
 irregularly were many handsome pieces of rare 
 and costly statuary, and also several summer- 
 houses, which added greatly to the effect. All 
 this had cost Mr. Hampton not only a large 
 amount of money, but a great deal of time, 
 patience and labor. 
 
 Just as the last rays of the sun were smiling a 
 farewell to the day, kissing the mountain tops, 
 softly gilding the tree-tops and casting golden 
 shadows on the clear waters as if loth to sink to 
 rest until another day, a large travelling carriage 
 entered the avenue and rolled slowly along the 
 
LAWRENCE HASTINGS. 33 
 
 wide drive, up to tlie front entrance of the man- 
 sion. The bhack coachman alighted and opened 
 the carriage door ; and a young man of five and 
 twenty summers stepped from the carriage. 
 
 He was tall and well-proportioned, with auburn 
 hair, and beard almost red, light blue eyes, and a 
 clear, healthy complexion. The stern, even cruel 
 expression of the mouth was hidden by a heavy 
 moustache. As he raised his eyes to the 
 entrance he beheld Norva Hampton, whose black 
 eyes and crimsoned cheeks spoke a happy and 
 cordial welcome to the traveller. The young 
 man sprang nimbly up the marble steps, and 
 attempted to take Norva in his arms; but she 
 drew back, and said, while she held o^ut her 
 fair, jewelled hand : 
 
 "Mr. Hastings, I am most happy to welcome 
 you to America, and to my mountain home." 
 
 " Many thanks, my lovely queen," said Law- 
 rence Hastings, bending gracefully and kissing the 
 delicate hand of his betrothed wife. 
 
 He had never dared to venture to press her 
 2 
 
34 LAWRENCE HASTINGS. 
 
 lips. She loved him with all the strength and 
 fervor of her pure, sweet soul ; but could allow no 
 man to take the liberty of pressing his lips to 
 hers, save her father and brother. 
 
 At this moment both made their appearance. 
 Mr. Hampton expressed his pleasure at seeing his 
 guest, and bade him a hearty welcome; Avhile 
 Walter bowed coldly, and said : 
 
 " He hoped Mr. Hastings had had a pleasant 
 journey." 
 
 Their eyes met. Those of Hastings emitted 
 gleams of triumph ; and the reddish blonde- 
 moustached lip was wreathed with a defiant 
 smile. Not a muscle of Walter's face gave token 
 of his feelings. It still wore that cold, stern 
 expression, and the dark blue eyes looked almost 
 black. Norva and her father could not help 
 noticing this coldness on the part of Walter, and 
 this was the only shadow in the sky of Norva's 
 happiness. She could not understand why it was 
 that her brother treated her lover with such cold 
 and utter indiiference. He belonged to a good 
 
LAWRENCE HASTINGS. 35 
 
 family, was well educated, was fascinating in his 
 manners, and exceedingly handsome. What more 
 could Walter desire in his sister's husband? 
 Norva consoled herself by thinking it was one of 
 those unaccountable prejudices that often arise in 
 the mind, and would wear away after they had 
 become better acquainted. Could Norva Hampton 
 have read Lawrence Hastings' character as did her 
 brother, her fond and trusting heart would have 
 grown faint with disappointment and died within 
 her. She did not; and when she again looked 
 into the eyes, that such a short time ago had 
 gazed into her brother's with so much defiance, 
 she was fascinated with their strange and beau- 
 tiful, but powerful expression. 
 
36 THETTOODNYMPH. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE TTOOD NYMPH. 
 
 IT is not our intention to give an analysis of 
 Mr. Hastings' character at present, but let 
 the following pages reveal the leading traits of a 
 low, cunning nature. After he had been at the 
 Mead for a few days, he and Walter took their 
 fowling-pieces and went upon the mountains for a 
 hunt. Deer were very plentiful in those days, 
 and both of the young men were fond of the sport. 
 Distant from the Mead some two miles, on the 
 side of the mountain, stood an old log-cabin. 
 It was erected by a trapper when Walter was 
 a child. During Walter's stay in Philadelphia 
 the trapper had died, and the cabin had had no 
 other tenant since, until two weeks before the 
 arrival of Hastings. Walter had heard- the 
 negroes talking of a half-breed Cherokee Indian 
 woman, named Hester Spots wood, and her grand- 
 
THE WOOD NYMPH. 37 
 
 child, having taken possession of the cabin ; but 
 he had never seen them. So on this day he made 
 up his mind to go by the cabin, and get a glimpse, 
 if possible, of their new neighbors. 
 
 As he and his companion drew near the cabin 
 their attention was attracted to a strange, beauti- 
 ful sight. About fifty yards from the cabin was 
 a clear spring, bubbling out from between two 
 large rocks : this water, so cool, pure and refresh- 
 ing, went dancing down the mountain side, and 
 over the rocks in merry, rippling cascades, and 
 met and joined the clear waters of the river a 
 mile below. Seated on a rock, so she could look 
 down into the water at her feet, sat a young girl 
 of fifteen summers. She was bare-headed, and 
 clothed in coarse, but neat, attire ; a wreath, artis- 
 tically arranged, of richly-tinted autumn leaves, 
 rested on her golden hair, which fell in beautiful 
 long curls over her neck and shoulders. . She was 
 gazing in the water at the reflection of her own 
 beautiful face, and after a time broke into a soft, 
 silvery laugh. The notes were so soft, thrillin 
 
 (T 
 
 o 
 
38 THEWOODNYMPII. 
 
 and sweet, it reminded the two young men, who 
 stood looking at her, and listening to her, of sweet- 
 voiced music, which out-rivalled in its purity the 
 grand carillon of bells in the Tower of Les Halles, 
 at Bruges. Soon she raised her eyes from the 
 water, and the young gentlemen had a good view 
 of the delicate contour of her fair, sweet face. 
 Almost the instant she raised her head she en- 
 countered the gaze of the young men, and started 
 violently, and a painful blush suffused her face as 
 she cast a downward glance at her small, bare feet. 
 
 " Egad ! Hampton, is this the kind of game 
 you are in quest of? If so, I admire your taste. 
 Come, let us go and steal a kiss from those scarlet 
 lips," said Hastings. 
 
 " Thank you, but I am not in the habit of in- 
 sulting ladies," said Walter, coldly. " But I wall 
 go forward and speak with this young lady, and 
 introduce myself as her neighbor," and stepping 
 forward, without another word to his companion, 
 he paused a few feet from the young girl, and, lift- 
 ing his hunting-cap with as much easy grace and 
 
THE WOOD NYMPH. 39 
 
 respect as if he had been addressing a princess, 
 said, " I am Mr. Walter Hampton, of Hampton 
 Mead. Pray, tell me, young lady, whom I have 
 the honor of addressins: ? " 
 
 The bare-footed girl lifted her meek but expres- 
 sive eyes to the gentleman's face, and said, '' I am 
 Amy Le Clare, and yonder is my home," and she 
 pointed with her fair, tapering finger to the old 
 log-cabin of the hunter, which Walter remembered 
 so well. 
 
 By this time Lawrence Hastings had come up to 
 the spring, and stood gazing at the radiant face 
 of Amy Le Clare. Walter turned suddenly around 
 and watched his companion's face. It was flushed 
 with anticipated pleasure. He felt he had come 
 unexpectedly on this rare vision of rustic beauty, 
 and he felt himself privileged to take undue liber- 
 ties with her ; and even with Walter's eyes fixed 
 upon him, his nature was so debased that he could 
 not resist the temptation of saying, " Lovely 
 nymph of the forest, where did 3'ou spring from? 
 One kiss from those tempting lips before you go." 
 
40 THE WOOD NYMPH. 
 
 It needed but one glance to tell Amy Le Clare 
 that he could not be trusted, and she sprang to 
 Walter's side for protection, exclaiming, " Oh, Mr. 
 Hampton, please do not let him touch me ! " 
 
 Walter held out his hand, and said, " Have no 
 fear, Miss Le Clare. Mr. Hastings is my father's 
 guest, and the intended husband of my sister. 
 He shall do you no harm," and as he spoke, Wal- 
 ter's eyes flashed scornfully at Hastings. 
 
 This had the desired effect of somewhat coolimz: 
 Mr. Hastings' ardor; then, remembering himself, 
 he lifted his cap politely, and said, " Fair lady, 
 excuse me; I mean no harm to you." 
 
 This simple, untaught maiden of the mountains 
 bowed, and said, in the sweetest accents, " Sir, if 
 you are Mr. Hampton's guest, of course you could 
 mean no harm to a little girl like me," and she 
 looked up into Walter's face as though she wished 
 him to stand between her and his companion, for 
 whom she had conceived a strong dislike. She 
 was wholly inexperienced, this fair lily, but she 
 read, as if by intuition, the strange light that shone 
 
THE WOOD NYMPH. 41 
 
 from Hastings' eyes as he took in all her girlish 
 charms, and she felt that he was a dangerous man 
 to encounter. 
 
 Walter observed that a sudden tremor passed 
 over her frail form, and said, " Miss Le Clare, I 
 will see you safely home if you will permit me to 
 do so, and I hope you will pardon our intrusion, 
 for, I assure vou, I did not dream that I should 
 encounter you so abruptly when I led my com- 
 panion by the path that leads to your home, and 
 I now feel as if I must somehow make amends." 
 
 Amy lifted her eyes to his face, and he felt a 
 strange, sweet thrill of emotion pervade his being ; 
 for, while staiiding there, he had had time to study 
 every gracefi^l motion and feature of this young 
 girl. Never before had his eyes rested on so fair 
 a picture. She was of medium height, with a form 
 in perfect harmony with the sweet expression of 
 her face. The head was well shaped, and crowned 
 with a wealth of solden hair, combed back from 
 her fair, young brow. The eyes were large, soft, 
 and expressive, with long lashes, and delicately- 
 
42 THE WOOD NYMPII. 
 
 penciled brows. The face was oval in shape ; the 
 nose slightly aquiline ; the mouth was perfect, re- 
 minding one of a sweet rose-bud, and as she smiled 
 the scarlet lips parted, half displaying the small, 
 pearly teeth that gleamed between them. Walter, 
 towering above her, looked down into that strange 
 and beautiful face, and his fate was sealed. 
 
 Without so much as addressing a word to Hast- 
 ings, he started in the direction of Amy's abode. As 
 he w\andered out to the old cabin he was astonished 
 at the purity and sweetness of Amy's language ; 
 though her garb was so plain and humble, she con- 
 versed with easy grace and natural eloquence. 
 She had read Shakespeare, Moore, Scott, and all 
 the leading poets. She seemed to be conversant 
 with history, geography and science. Walter was 
 interested. He felt that the trapper's old cabin 
 held a mystery which he would take pleasure in 
 unravelling. 
 
 He saw the fair girl-woman safe to the home 
 that sheltered her, and then turned and walked 
 slowly back to his companion. 
 
A father's darling. 43 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 A father's darling. 
 
 THE early autumn air was chilly in the moun- 
 tainous region as night approached, and 
 Norva Hampton sat in her room with a blazing 
 pile of hickory wood piled upon the hearth. She 
 had left the drawing-room for the night and re- 
 paired to her own rooms, on the opposite side of 
 the hall from her father's. Her apartments were 
 fitted up with every luxury that money could pro- 
 cure. Pictures of great value adorned the walls, 
 while well-chosen subjects of statuary filled niches 
 built for their reception. This j)rivate sitting- 
 room of this worshipped daughter of her father's 
 heart was furnished with perfect harmony and 
 comfort. 
 
 Heavy crimson, silken curtains, fell in graceful 
 folds before the windows, with gold trimmings. 
 All the chairs and sofas were upholstered in the 
 
44 A father's darling. 
 
 same rich coloring. The floors were of black wal 
 nut and cedar^ and were waxed and polished untij 
 almost as smooth as glass. Costly Turkish rugs 
 were laid before the fire-places; couches and 
 reclining-chairs were scattered about the room in 
 l^rofusion. 
 
 The rich wine-colored velvet dinner-dress was 
 laid aside for a soft, clinging, white cashmere 
 robe, which fell in easy, graceful folds around the 
 wearer, as she reclined in her low chair, while her 
 eyes rested dreamingly and strangely upon the 
 hickory pile that glowed in the fire-place. 
 
 She is not alone ; at her side stands an elderly 
 negro woman combing and brushing out her silky 
 locks with a hand of loving servitude. This 
 attendant was a character in her way. She was 
 " Mammy Silvia," the foster-mother to Walter and 
 Norva Hampton. 
 
 Sleep never sealed her eyelids at night without 
 her visiting the rooms of her children, as she was 
 wont to call them. She insisted upon brushing 
 Miss Norva's hair after her own maid had retired, 
 
A father's darling. 45 
 
 and seeins* her safe in bed. After this Labor of 
 love was accompUshed, she must go to Master 
 Walter's room, to see that he was not sleeping in 
 a draft; and make sure that all was well with 
 him. When this was done she could lay her 
 head down for sleep. But to-night there is a 
 strange feeling of unrest in Mammy Silvia's heart, 
 and as she looks on her beloved young mistress, a 
 deep-drawn sigh escapes her. 
 
 Norva heard the sigh, and quickly said : 
 " What troubles you, Mammy Silvia ? " 
 "Oh, chile, my old heart is filled wid many 
 misgivings on your account. I fear you is not 
 agwine to be happy when you is Mrs. Hastings, as 
 you are as Miss Norva Hampton. Now 'scuse me, 
 chile, but I don't tink Mr. Hastings would make 
 you as happy as Massa Clieffe Wilbbern could, 
 and I is very sorry you 'fused him." 
 
 " But, Mammy Silvia, you know ClifFe Wilbbern 
 is the son of my dear mother's brother. You 
 would not wish to see me the wife of my jcousin ? 
 And now. Mammy, remember, Mr. Hastings is tlie 
 
46 A father's darling. 
 
 man I have chosen; and if you wish to see me 
 happy, and I feel that you do, never speak 
 unkindly of him." 
 
 " No, indeed, chile, I never will speak dis'- 
 spec'ful of anybody. You knows, honey, it is not 
 my nater; for I has as much family pride as de 
 Hastings or de Hamptons, an when dis young 
 wiper in sheep's clothing gets a foot-hold on dis 
 plantation, I will do all in my power to shield his 
 sins from de eyes ob you an' de world; for I feel 
 he is sent here to do his master's work. An' 
 when Mr. Hastings is near me, I almost 'magine I 
 can see de cloven foot ob de debil, an' hear de 
 rattlin' ob his chains." 
 
 " Mammy ! " and the voice rang out cold and 
 sharp. "Mammy Silvia, if those words came 
 from any one else but you, I should order her 
 from my presence at once ; and if you still persist 
 in your disrespectful language, I shall feel in duty 
 bound to do so any way." 
 
 " Dar, Miss Norva, chile, may de good Lord 
 forgib me, an' de debil fly away wid Mr. Lawrence 
 
A father's darling. 47 
 
 Hastings. Bat as I had afore told you, honey, I 
 never speaks dis'spec'ful of any one ; an' to you, 
 my angel lamb, least ob all de rest ob mankind. 
 But I is not blind : I can see as far through a 
 grindstone as de man dat bored de hole in it, an' 
 when your blessed m udder died, an' gib you a 
 little tiny baby in my arras, an' said : ' Silvia, be 
 kind to my little Norva when I is gone ; watch 
 ober her and shield her from all harm,' I said in my 
 heart, ' Yes, dear mistress, I will.' An' you knows, 
 honey, I has always been kind to you an' Massa 
 Walter; an' when I see dis angel of darkness a 
 tempting ob you, I feel I is doin' my 'vine Master's 
 work to speak out an' say, ' Miss Norva, honey, 
 for de lub of heaven, turn your back on temptation 
 an' de debil : for he is in dis house, honey ; here 
 at de Mead. An' de bridal dress, an' de orange 
 wreaf, an' de veil is all ready for de debil to claim 
 my young mistress as his bride." 
 
 Norva arose to her feet, and pushed the heavy 
 masses of black hair back from her pale, sweet 
 face, and pointed to the door : " Leave me, 
 
48 A father's darling. 
 
 Mammy Silvia, or I shall ring and inform my 
 father of the disrespect you have shown me this 
 evening. There, not another word," she said, as 
 she saw Silvia opening her mouth to speak. 
 
 A sorrowful expression settled on the face of 
 old Silvia, and she left the room without a word. 
 When she reached the hall and closed her 
 mistress' door gently, she rolled up her eyes, and 
 said : 
 
 " Lord, Master in hebben, what does all dis 
 mean ? I have been ordered from de face of my 
 chile ; an' now I knows de debil am in dis house 
 sartin. I wonder if I was to kill de debil, if I 
 couldn't rebalutionize de world ob some ob its 
 wickedness, and if when I dies, Massa Walter 
 wouldn't change my name, and put Becky at de 
 fountain, ober me, and call me ' Joe an' de ark ? ' 
 I is agwine to his room an' ax him now." And 
 she went and knocked softly at Walter's door : but 
 he was not there to bid her come in. So the devil 
 was not disposed of that night. In fact, dear 
 reader, he still roams at large, " seeking whom he 
 may destroy." 
 
Walter's love. 49 
 
 CHAPTER y. 
 Walter's love. 
 
 WHERE was Walter Hampton, that he was 
 not in his room at ten o'clock in the 
 evening? Come with us to the hunter's cabin 
 upon the mountain side, and there you will find 
 him. It was September, when he first met sweet 
 Amy Le Clare ; now it was November, and many 
 times had his feet wandered over the mountain 
 path which led to his idol's home. Those visits 
 were made without his father's knowledge ; for 
 well he knew that father's pride, and he had 
 asked himself more than once, how those visits 
 would terminate. Of one thing he was certain, 
 and that was, he loved this fair, sweet, brown-eyed 
 girl with all the fervor and passion of his soul ; 
 and on this night as he watched the slender, 
 graceful girl, as she walks back and forth at her 
 spinning-wheel, drawing out the soft even thread, 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
50 Walter's love. 
 
 that is to be dyed and woven into cloth, it is 
 very hard for him to refrain from asking her to be 
 his wife. He looks at Hester Spots wood, the 
 grand-parent of his darling, and is struck with the 
 contour of her face. She is not yet fifty, and 
 remarkably comely and graceful, tall and straight 
 as an arrow, with large, soft, luminous eyes; with 
 heavy masses of hair of midnight blackness, 
 crowning a fine and well-shaped head. Her skin 
 was dark, but very pure, and the mouth was a 
 marvel of chiselled beauty. 
 
 She, too, sat at a spinning-wheel — for Hester 
 earned the bread that fed Amy and herself, by 
 spinning and weaving for the different families in 
 and around the Mead. During the many times 
 Walter had visited Mrs. Spotswood he had learned 
 many things to interest him. He learned that 
 Hester Boone had been v/ell raised. Her mother 
 had been a handsome Cherokee; and her father 
 an Englishman of some means, and a man of 
 letters. Before she was fifteen years of age she 
 \eft her parents' protection, and eloped with a 
 
Walter's LOVE. 51 
 
 y(3ung man by the name of Spotswood. The fruit 
 of this marriage was a fair, sweet daughter; to 
 whom she gave the sweet name of Amy. When 
 this child was ten years old Mr. Spotswood died, 
 and left her very poor. At that time she was 
 living in Norfolk, Virginia. She was too proud to 
 appeal to her father for forgiveness, and undertook 
 to earn a support for herself and daughter by 
 making bead ornaments and peddling them 
 through the streets and on board of ships. By 
 this piece of industry she got along very well, 
 until Amy, her daughter, was fourteen years of 
 age. One day, not feeling able herself to go out 
 with her ornaments, she permitted her daughter 
 to go. Y/hen Hester came to this part of her 
 story a strange light gleamed from her eyes, and 
 her voice was low, deep and full of pent-up 
 passion, her fingers dropped her thread, and her 
 foot ceased to turn the wheel. She continued : 
 ^^ My Amy did not come home to n^.e that night, 
 nor the next day, nor the next, nor the next 
 week, and time flew by until the moon had waxed 
 
52 Walter's love. 
 
 and waned twelve times. Then when my heart 
 was nearly broken, and I had given up all hopes 
 of ever looking into her starry eyes again, she 
 came to me one cold winter's night, when the 
 earth lay deeply wrapt in snow, and the jfleecy 
 white flakes were still falling: but oh, how 
 changed she was! She looked like one from the 
 spirit land, with her mournful eyes-, and her thin, 
 pale face. She laid a little golden-haired girl of 
 six weeks in my lap; the voice was very faint 
 and weary, as she said : ' Mother, this is my child; 
 we will call her Amy Le Clare. I married her 
 father the day you sent me out to peddle. I had 
 met him often before without your knowledge. 
 Mother, / say, / married Mr. Le Clare ; at least 
 a man I took to be a minister read the marriage 
 ceremony and pronounced us man and wife. My 
 husband took me to Richmond, and he remained 
 with me until just before the birth of my child. 
 One morning, getting up later than usual, I found 
 him gone, with a note lying on my pillow. 
 
 '" I took the note and read. It told mv mis- 
 
Walter's LOVE. 53 
 
 guided child to return to me : that Le Clare was 
 not his name, and that she was not his wife. He 
 had accomplished her ruin — that was all he 
 w^anted. He left her, he said, to claim a wealthy 
 bride. She need never try to find him ; for when 
 she read these lines he would be on his way to the 
 ocean, which he would cross to gain his wife. I 
 learned through my child that this man was not 
 young, was pleasing in his manners, and very 
 fascinating. My daughter lived to see the warm 
 spring-time come, with its soft, gentle south winds 
 laden with the perfume of flowers, and with her 
 destroyer's name on her lips, she left me in my 
 great sorrow. By her cold, still form I fell upon 
 my knees, and cried aloud to Almighty God to 
 assist me in finding this man, and avenging my 
 Amy's wrongs. Since her death I have wandered 
 from place to place, spinning and weaving, or 
 doing whatever I could get to do. At length I 
 wandered to this neighborhood. I can hardly tell 
 what brought me here ; but I have conceived the 
 idea that here I will meet my deadly enemy. 
 
54 walter'slove. 
 
 Woe unto him, when he stands flice to face witli 
 Hester Spots wood." 
 
 By this time Amy had finished her evening 
 task; she took her broach from the spindle and 
 Laid it in a large basket in one corner of the 
 room, came back softly, set the wheel back 
 from the fire, and took a low stool at her grand- 
 mother's feet. 
 
 Walter Hampton's face expressed a strange, 
 deep interest in Hester's story; and after she ceased 
 speaking and commenced to rock her body to and 
 fro, he said, "Mrs. Spotswood, give up this strange, 
 mad dream of revenge. Think that your daughter's 
 wrongs will cry out against this man in the last 
 day, when all hearts are judged, and remember 
 that ' Vengeance is mine, and I will repay, saith 
 the Lord.' " 
 
 " Never ! The blood of the noble Cherokee is 
 thick in my veins. I cannot forego my revenge. 
 The thoughts of that, when it shall come, sweeten 
 all other trials and sorrows. I know that when 
 I am done with that man he will be judged by 
 
Walter's love. 55 
 
 Hi III who cares even for the little sparrows, and 
 who feeds the young ravens. If a man trans- 
 gress the laws of the land, he is tried and con- 
 demned according to the heinousness of his crime. 
 I could not bring this man to a court of justice; 
 but when I find him, I will be judge and juror, 
 and the decision I arrive at shall be faithfully 
 carried out to the letter." 
 
 Amy looked softly up into her grandmother's 
 face, and laid her hands on her knee. Hester 
 looked down on Amy's loveh^ face. All at once 
 she rose to her feet, and, looking in Walter's face, 
 said, " ivir. Hampton, what brings you to the 
 hunter's cabin so often ? " 
 
 Walter's face paled with these eyes keenly fixed 
 upon him, and then it flushed, as he said, " Mrs. 
 Spotswood, I think you know why I come here — 
 Miss Le Clare is very beautiful, and I love her. 
 Have I your permission to claim her at some not 
 very distant day as my wife ? " 
 
 A low, mocking^ laudi broke from the half- 
 breed's lips. " There, Mr. Hampton, is the door. 
 
56 ttalter'&loye. 
 
 I had forgotten that Amy was no longer a child. 
 Go, sir, and never enter this house again." 
 
 Walter thought it best to leave when he saw 
 Hester was so terribly excited. He lifted his hat 
 courteously, bowed good-night, and went slowly 
 back to the Mead. It was nearly a week before 
 he ventured to go to the cabin again, and then he 
 found it empty. Hester Spotswood and her golden- 
 haired granddaughter had disappeared, leaving no 
 clue behind them. 
 
BROTHER AND SISTER. 67 
 
 CHAPTER YI. 
 
 BROTHER AND SISTER. 
 
 THE snow was piled high upon the mountains, 
 and ghttered in the valley below them. The 
 December morning air was keen and sharp. 
 Hampton Mead looked very beautiful and grand 
 to Walter and Norva as they left the mansion for 
 a morning stroll down by the river. Scarcely a 
 day ever passed without their taking a long 
 ramble, if the weather permitted; and they usually 
 found something new to admire in the beautiful 
 scenery around them. In this, their last happy 
 morning walk, at least happy to Norva, the 
 brother and sister exchanged confidence in regard 
 to their future. Walter told his sister of sweet 
 Amy Le Clare, and of his love for her, and of 
 his father's threat to disinherit him if he did not 
 dismiss her from his thoughts ; " and that, dear 
 sister, is impossible while the light of reason, with 
 
68 BROTHER AND SISTER. 
 
 -which God has endowed me, is left to me. My 
 father has never seen this lovely girl, aiid cannot 
 understand how I can love a girl watli the dark 
 hlood of the Cherokees flowing in her veins. lie 
 called her a dark savage of the forest, who had 
 bewitched me, when I asked his consent to bring 
 her to the Mead as my wdfe. And now I want 
 you to use your influence with him in ni}^ behalf. 
 Norva, I wish you could see and know Amy Le 
 Clare. She is as fair as a lily, w^ith a superior 
 mind, and a holy innocence shining from a pure 
 and spotless soul." 
 
 Norva raised her black eyes to her brother's, 
 and said, " Darling brother, I am sorry for you, 
 who are so young, but you know our father's firm- 
 ness of character; if he has set his heart against 
 this, you might as soon attempt to transform this 
 clear water at our feet into a sea of blood as to 
 expect to change his mind upon the subject. 
 Nevertheless, I will plead with him in your be- 
 half, and, after next week, I will persuade Mr. 
 Hastings also to use his influence with father in 
 
BROTHER AND SISTER. 59 
 
 your favor. He seems to have a strong influence 
 over father, anl perhaps after I am married, and 
 he sees how very happy I am, he will the more 
 readily give his consent to your union with this 
 ' fair lily,' as you call her." 
 
 ^'Ah ! I fear not," said Walter, sadly, " for father 
 informed me last night he wished me to marry 
 Octavia Stanley, Mr. Lawrence Hastings' step- 
 » sister, a lady whom I have never seen ; but father 
 says she is very lovely. If she were endowed 
 with the grace and beauty of a Hebe, and the 
 purity of an angel, she could never fill the place in 
 my heart that Amy Le Clare holds. She is the 
 guiding star of my future life. She is enshrined 
 in my heart, and possesses every sweet and lovely 
 attribute that belongs to woman. You spoke of 
 * after next week;' that is, after you have become 
 Mr. Hastings' wife. Oh, sweet sister, is there 
 nothing I can do or say to prevent this marriage ? 
 It is for your future happiness I wish to pre- 
 vent it. It is not worldly position, but it is Mr. 
 Hastings' utter lack of soul, and when it is too late, 
 
60 BROTHER AND SISTER. 
 
 my darling sister, you may awake to this fact. I 
 want to see you happy. I would almost lay down 
 my life to make you so. Say/' taking her hands 
 in his own, "say, can nothing prevent this 
 marriage?" 
 
 "Nothing but death," said Norva, coldly. 
 
 Walter's very lips turned pale when he looked 
 upon her face and beheld the determined light in 
 her eyes. 
 
 When Norva saw" her brother's face pale, she 
 said, " Brother, you ask me to plead your cause 
 with our father, and In almost the same breath 
 you ask me to give up Mr. Hastings. Is this gen- 
 erous ? I know, Walter, you wish very much to 
 see me happy ; but now, let me ask you a question : 
 if I will give up Mr. Hastings, will you promise 
 never to seek Amy Le Clare again ? " 
 
 Walter sank down on the trunk of a fallen tree 
 and buried his face in his hands. He remained in 
 this attitude for some time, and when he lifted his 
 head, Norva saw that in those few moments a ter- 
 rible wave of anguish had swept over his soul, and 
 
BROTHER AND SISTER. 61 
 
 the voice was low and hoarse which answered 
 her : 
 
 '' Yes, sweet sister, for j^our sake I will give up 
 the darling dream of my life, and live alone for 
 you, if you will promise not to marry Lawrence 
 Hastings." 
 
 Nora looked on her brother Walter in a pitying 
 kind of manner, and said : 
 
 " Brother, I know you think in doing this, it is 
 for my good ; but I will not tax your generosity 
 to the extent of asking you to give up Miss Le 
 Clare, and sending Mr. Hastings back to London 
 without me. But I will pay you this compliment 
 for your proffered, noble sacrifice of love, and 
 say : I would do it more readily for you than any 
 other being on earth, not even my dear father 
 excepted. I cannot give Mr. Hastings up. He is a 
 part of my being, and my heart is his for weal or 
 woe. And now, dear brother, let us lay aside our 
 hopes and aspirations for the life that lies before 
 us : on this lovely morning try to prepare our 
 minds to appreciate and enjoy this beautiful 
 
C2 B H T II E R AND SISTER. 
 
 panorama painted by the hand of our Divine 
 Creator. Oh, brother, cast your eyes aloft to the 
 jeweled heads of the ^ twins;' are they not grand? 
 are they not sublime ?" 
 
 When Norva called her brother's attention to 
 one of the fairest landscapes man's eyes ever 
 rested upon, her beautiful olive cheeks glowed, 
 and a tender, dewy moisture gathered in her eyes. 
 She saw the wisdom, goodness, and greatness of 
 God in all His works. She loved and revered the 
 humblest of His creation, and wdien her soul-lit 
 eyes rested upon the scene, she bowed her head, 
 clasped her hands, and exclaimed, ^^0 Father, 
 I acknowledge Thee, the Creator of this grand and 
 noble universe. The hand and genius of man is 
 as nothing, when compared with Thy power and 
 skill!" 
 
 Walter lifted his head, and a tinge of rapt 
 delight overspread his face, and for a brief space 
 all else was fori>:otten. 
 
 Reader, there are many whose eyes have never 
 rested upon a mountain, and those who have 
 
BROTHER AND SISTER. 63 
 
 never been fortunate to do so, can hardly compre- 
 hend the grandeur and beauty of the scene upon 
 Vv'hich Walter Hampton's eyes rested when he 
 raised his head at his sisters bidding^. Immecli- 
 ately before him, and the first thing that met his 
 appreciative gaze, was a clear mountain river, 
 Vvdiose waters, for purity in color, rivalled the 
 glittering sapphire. At the point Norva had 
 called him to look upon, were what is known as the 
 " twins," a spot wdiere the river forces its way 
 throudi the rocks, which tower above it for some 
 two hundred feet. These rocks are perpendicuhir, 
 with a surface as white as snow. At the top they 
 are crowned with rich, dark evergreens, whose 
 branches sway as though they longed to dip their 
 emerald arms in the limpid waters so hir below 
 them. The dark-green boughs w^ere slightly 
 sprinkled with snow that morning, which, with 
 the briailt ravs of the December sun castino; its 
 pale golden glimmer over all, added new beauty 
 to the fice of the lovely landscape. 
 
 After gazing at this enchanting scene for some 
 
G4 BROTHER AND SISTER. 
 
 time, Norva said : '^ Walter, it is time we were 
 returning to the Mead, and that I was dressing 
 to meet our expected guests, who are expected to 
 arrive to-day from Wilmington." 
 
 At this announcement a painful sigh escaped 
 Walter, for it brought his thoughts back to the 
 stern realities of life ; and at the present time the 
 realities were anything but pleasing to his mind. 
 
A DARK BEAUTY. *. 65 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 A DAR K BEAUTY. 
 
 IT was near the luncheon hour when Walter 
 and Norva returned to the Mead. A com- 
 modious travelling carriage was just driving 
 around to the stables. There had been an arrival. 
 Could it be the guests, expected from Wilmington 
 — the elder Mr. Hastings and his step-daughter? 
 
 Just as they reached the marble steps, they 
 were met by Mr. Lawrence Hastings, whose eyes 
 grew soft and tender, for he was looking into 
 Norva's tender, soulful ones. He held out both 
 hands to her, and said, " My darling, congratulate 
 me : my father and sister have arrived." 
 
 Just then a strain of low, sweet laughter fell 
 upon their ears from the reception-room ; a strange 
 feeling came over Norva, but she put her hands 
 into Mr. Hastings' extended ones, and said : 
 
 " I am very glad your relatives have arrived 
 
66 A DARK BEAUTY. 
 
 I feared this heavy fall of snow would have 
 prevented them from reaching the Mead for some 
 days. Excuse me now, Lawrence, for I must make 
 myself present ahle to appear before your father 
 and sister," and a faint blush dyed her face. 
 
 " First meet my sister, Avho utterly refuses to 
 go to her room until she has seen you," said Mr. 
 Hastings, leading her to the door of the reception- 
 room ; " you need make no changes in your dress 
 to add to vour loveliness." 
 
 There was no alternative, and Norva looked 
 down at her walking-dress, and said, " Miss 
 Stanley will think me devoid of due respect to 
 her, if I appear before her in this garb, but I wish 
 to please you above all things." 
 
 Mr. Hastings lifted her hand to his lips, and 
 said : " Thanks, my darling ; how happy I shall be 
 when the time comes, when you will permit me 
 to treat your lijDs thus." 
 
 This remark called a blush to her face, which 
 burned there until she stood before Miss Stanley, 
 and felt the small snow-flake of a hand in hers, 
 
ADARKBEAUTY. 67 
 
 and heard the low, soft, musical voice ringing in 
 her ears. When Norva raised her eyes, she was 
 startled and dazzled at the apparition before her. 
 A form petite, graceful, and willowy ; dark, rich 
 glowing complexion; soft, silky black hair, 
 clustering in soft waves over a low, broad brow, 
 as smooth as marble ; large, full, sparkling black 
 Spanish eyes; a small rose-bud mouth, with 
 glittering white teeth, which showed to good 
 advantage when those perfectly chiselled lips were 
 wreathed in smiles, such as played over this 
 lovely face now. All Norva Hampton could do 
 was to gaze enchanted, with that soft, fair hand, 
 still in hers. It might truly be compared to a 
 snow-flake, for it was as cold as an icicle; but 
 when those scarlet lips were pressed to hers, 
 Norva, in a measure, regained her self-composure, 
 for a cold feeling came over her ; and this gentle, 
 dignified birdling of the mountain met this Lon- 
 don lady with easy, quiet dignity and grace. The 
 first dazzling effect had passed off", and she could 
 question her of her journey with ease. 
 
68 A DARK BEAUTY. 
 
 Lawrence looked on the two young girls, and a 
 strange light gleamed from his eyes : one he called 
 his sister, and the other was his betrothed wife. 
 In four days he would -stand with her at the altar, 
 and take upon himself vows to love, honor, and 
 cherish her till death should separate them. She 
 would then be all his own. What was to become 
 of this radiant girl he called his sister? He 
 watched her narrowly, but her countenance was 
 as calm and serene as a May morning. 
 
 At this juncture Aunt Louise, the house-keeper, 
 appeared at the door for the third time, to show 
 Miss Stanley to her room. This young lady 
 arose, kissing her hand to Norva, flashed one 
 keen, long look at Mr. Hastings, and departed. 
 
 After she was gone Mr. Hastings seemed to be 
 deeply preoccupied for some time. The voice of 
 his betrothed at length recalled him to himself, 
 as she said, " Mr. Hastings, if you w ill excuse me 
 I will go to my room, and prepare to meet your 
 fiither at luncheon." 
 
 An hour later they all assembled in the dining- 
 room ; not the grand dining-salon, however, nor 
 
A DARK BEAUTY. 69 
 
 the snug, cozy one where Mr. Hampton had dined 
 alone, or with his children since the Mead was 
 huilt, and which was a favorite with his fair, 
 sweet wife, but in the general dining-room where 
 a few gathered together made it very pleasant. 
 The large dining-salon was seldom opened, except 
 on grand occasions, such as birth-day parties or 
 holiday festivities. 
 
 At luncheon Norva met, for the first time, her 
 intended father-in-law. He was a man of fifty- 
 five or thereabouts, but one would hardly have 
 taken him to be so old; in fact he looked but little 
 older than his son. In stature he was tall, and 
 his hair was slightly streaked here and there with 
 threads of silver. An habitual smile played 
 around his finely-shaped mouth. 
 
 At this repast Walter was duly presented to 
 the elder Mr. Hastings and his beautiful step- 
 dauahter. A feelins: of aversion came over him 
 towards the latter, and one of contempt for the 
 former ; for he saw at a glance that the son was but 
 " a chip from ofi' the old block," if you will pardon, 
 dear reader, the blunt but truthful old saying. 
 
70 THE LOST FOUND. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE LOST FOUND. 
 
 EARLY one morning in January, Mr. Hamp- 
 ton requested Walter to go to the town of 
 
 B on important business for him, to have 
 
 some papers registered at the Court-house ; and in 
 a short time Walter was in the saddle and on his 
 way to the lovely little town, nestled between the 
 two ranges of mountains — that is, the Smoky, or 
 a continuation of the Alleghanies, and the Black 
 
 mountains. B was fifteen miles from the 
 
 Mead, and looked like some fairy gem nestled in 
 the rich valley on the banks of a beautiful river, 
 and the great mountains rising on two sides. 
 
 As Walter drew near the town, a strange, sweet, 
 w^ild hope sprang up in his heart. Perhaps he 
 might come across Hester Spots wood, and her 
 golden-haired granddaughter. He longed for one 
 more look into her soft, tender eyes, as the storm- 
 
THE LOST FOUND. 71 
 
 lost mariner longs for one glimmering ra}^ of star- 
 light after hours of storm and darkness. Now that 
 Norva was married and the most of her time 
 taken up with her hushand, he longed more than 
 ever for the presence of his heart's treasure. The 
 dark, brilliant, vivacious face of Octavia Stanley 
 had no charms for him, greatly to the disappoint- 
 ment of his father, who was perfectly charmed 
 with her. He could not see how Walter could 
 be indiiferent to her rare and glorious charms ; 
 and during the month she had been at the Mead, 
 more than one conversation had taken place con- 
 cerning her, with reference to marriage, between 
 father and son. But Walter was true as steel to 
 the first love of his heart. 
 
 Arrivinsr at B , he transacted the business 
 
 he had in hand and started for home, going three 
 
 miles from B on another road, to remain over 
 
 night with a young college friend, who had just 
 returned from Philadelphia. 
 
 The first person he saw as he rode up to the 
 gate was Hester Spotswood, with a large roll of 
 
72 THELOSTFOUND. 
 
 cloth under her arm. She was just entering the 
 httle side gate. There was no mistaking the tall, 
 straight, dark figure. She stepped like some 
 queen of the forest. A strange, wild tumult of 
 feeling came over Walter. His first thought was 
 to call to her; then he reconsidered the matter 
 and let her pass on. Hester did not see him, and 
 it was well for Walter she did not ; for, if she had, 
 he would not have seen Amy. 
 
 Walter found his young friend, Charlie Field, 
 delighted to see him. After supper, the young 
 men repaired to the large and handsome librarj^, 
 to talk over bygone days in the good old Quaker 
 City. Charlie was studying medicine now, and 
 would return to his lectures in a few days. After 
 a time, Walter said : 
 
 "Charlie, who w^as that tall, dark-looking 
 woman that was here this evening, as I came 
 in? Does she live here?" 
 
 "Oh, you mean Hester Spotswood, the half- 
 breed," replied young Field. " She lives a mile 
 from here, just on your road. You will pass her 
 
THE LOST FOUND. 7 
 
 o 
 
 house to-morrow. She is a strange woman ; raised 
 in affluence, though poor now. Her father, they 
 say, is still living and very wealthy; but she 
 preferred this life of toil, to one of comfort by 
 returning to her aged father, whose displeasure 
 she incurred by her marriage. She' has a grand- 
 daughter, who I think is the most beautiful girl 
 I ever saw, and if it was not for a pair of soft, 
 bright eyes away off in the Quaker City, I should 
 almost be tempted to pluck this wild flower and 
 plant it here in the garden of Cedar Vale. Miss 
 Amy Le Clare is very well read, and father is 
 trying to get her up a school here. He thinks it 
 a shame for one so lovely and intelligent to live 
 as she has to live, first one place, and then 
 another, and working on an old spinning-wheel 
 day after day." 
 
 Walter listened to this account of Amy's life of 
 drudgery and his warm, tender heart filled with 
 a fixed purpose. He thought of his father's great 
 wealth ; of the happy life of his sister, wdio never 
 knew a want that was not gratified, if tender love 
 
74 THE LOST FOUND. 
 
 and money could procure it. He thought of 
 Lawrence Hastings, who had now taken up his 
 abode at the Mead, and poor Amy Le Clare, his 
 heart's idol, was toiling with her delicate hands, 
 from day to day, to keep the wolf from the door. 
 This should not be. He would make one more 
 appeal to his father; then, if the sanction he 
 required w^ere still refused, he would take his fate 
 in his own hands. He would marry Amy, and toil 
 for her, if needs be. The world was wide. He 
 was young, blessed with a fine constitution, 
 invigorated by the pure air of his native moun- 
 tains, and his simple, temperate habits. 
 
 The young men talked until late in the night, 
 and then retired. Next morning, with the bright 
 winter's sun shining on the frosty heads of the 
 stately cedars at the Yale, Walter bade his friend 
 good-bye. As the little negro boy opened the big 
 gate for him to pass out, he saw the tall form of 
 Hester going to Cedar Yale again; and a glad, 
 happy light beamed from his eyes, as he touched 
 his steed lightly with his spurs, and dashed down 
 the road in the direction of Amy's home. 
 
UNDER THE WAVES. 75 
 
 CHAPTEE IX. 
 
 UNDER THE WAVES. 
 
 AS Walter flew over the smooth gravel road, 
 his youthful imagination painted the happy 
 surprise Amy would feel w^hen he stood before 
 her. It took his swift steed but a few moments 
 to bring him to the lonely wayside hut. There 
 was no fence around the hut; and he rode to the 
 door and hastily dismounted. The door was 
 open ; he glanced into the room ; a bright wood- 
 fire was burning. He could see no one. He 
 called softly: "Amy." 
 
 There was a rustling noise in the further part 
 of the room that was hidden by the swinging 
 door. With a low, glad cry. Amy sprang for- 
 ward and extended her hands, exclaiming : " Mr. 
 Hampton, I am so glad to see you. Will you 
 walk in?" 
 
 Walter waited for no second bidding, and soon 
 
76 UNDER THE WAVES. 
 
 was seated on a rou2;li stool in the little hut, 
 which w^ould have done credit to a palace for 
 neatness. In one corner of this room, which was 
 about twenty feet square, stood Hester Spots- 
 wood's loom, with a nice piece of checked linsey 
 that she was weaving for Mrs. Fields. In another 
 corner stood bed, with a quilt as white as snow. 
 
 A rough table with a white cover, two or three 
 chairs, and the two spinning-wheels, were all the 
 furniture that room contained, a few shelves 
 excepted, upon which gleamed some quaint delft- 
 ware, white ground and with odd figures ! How 
 destitute the place looked compared to Walter's 
 own luxurious home a few miles away! His heart 
 painfully swelled, as the contrast involuntarily 
 struck him. 
 
 Holding Amy's hand, he said, "Miss Le Clare — 
 Amy, my darling, will you give me the right to 
 take you from this life of toil ? Come with me — 
 
 now — this morning, and we will go to B and 
 
 be married. Then I will take you to a place of 
 safety, until I can prepare my father to receive you 
 as his daughter." 
 
UNDER THE WAVES. 77 
 
 The golden head drooped, and the bright eyes 
 were veiled, while a crimson tide surged over the 
 fair, oval face, and the little hands trembled in 
 Walter's own. " Mr. Hampton, I cannot leave 
 my dear grandmother ; I am the only being she 
 has in the world to love and cling to. She says I 
 can never marry, for she and all her descendants 
 are cursed for her disobedience to her father." 
 
 Tlien a sudden thou2:ht came to her, and she 
 said, while all the color left her beautiful face, 
 " Do you remember what grandmother told you at 
 the hunter's cabin near the Mead, of my poor, 
 unfortunate young mother and of my birth? Even 
 if m}^ grandmother was to give her consent to this 
 marriafre, I am no fittins; mate for vou. Yet, oh, 
 do not blame my darling young mother," and poor 
 Amy's voice trembled with deep emotion. 
 
 " My darling, I do not blame her," said "Walter, 
 soothingly, as he pressed his lips to her pale cheek; 
 " neither do I blame you, and in proof thereof, I 
 ask you to go with me, knowing your grandmother 
 would not consent to your marrying any one." 
 
78 UNDER THE WAVES. 
 
 "But, Mr. Hampton, what would your father 
 say if he knew my history ? I have heard he is 
 very proud. Would he consent to receive as his 
 daughter so unfortunate a being as myself? And 
 your proud, beautiful sister, whom I have so often 
 gazed upon unseen, could she call poor Amy Le 
 Clare, sister ? No, no, it cannot be," and a low, 
 sad cry broke from her pale lips. 
 
 Walter laid one hand on her golden head, and, 
 drawing her trembling form to him, asked, " My 
 darling, my angel, my life, my all, how long will 
 your grandmother be absent this morning ? " 
 
 " She will be gone all day. Mrs. Fields has 
 some work to be done at the house," faltered Amy, 
 as her lover kissed her sunny hair. 
 
 " Then," said Walter, " come ride behind me. 
 
 Whirlwind will take us to B and back again 
 
 by one o'clock, and when we return you will be 
 my wife. I will leave you here with your grand- 
 mother for a few days, and then return and bear you 
 in triumph to Hampton Mead. Your grandmother 
 need know nothing of the marriage until then." 
 
UNDER THE WAVES. 79 
 
 Walter was young and sanguine, and with Amy 
 as his wife, life before him seemed like some 
 beautiful dream. Amy was but a child, not yet 
 sixteen. After much persuasion on his part, she 
 consented, and in a short time they were flying 
 towards B . 
 
 They took a by-road, however, for Walter feared 
 that Hester might see them. This circumstance 
 proved disastrous to the young lovers. The clear, 
 beautiful, winding waters of the Cane river were 
 very deep at this point. No one ever ventured 
 to cross it here except in the dry season, when 
 the water w^as very low. Walter thought to save 
 time in crossing here, instead of going half a mile 
 below to Julius' ford. So when he came to the 
 bank of the stream and looked at the sandy, 
 pebbly bank, he never thought of danger, but 
 struck boldly for the opposite shore. Pie had not 
 gone more than fifteen feet until the noble black 
 steed and his two riders were in water to the depth 
 of forty feet. At once Walter was washed from 
 the saddle, and poor Amy had her hand locked 
 
80 UNDERTHEWAVES. 
 
 tightly about his waist, with a cold, frozen expres- 
 sion of horror on her deathly face. 
 
 Walter was a good swimmer, but was now 
 encumbered with his boots and his overcoat, and, 
 as the current of the river was very rapid, he 
 thought his only salvation was to hold on to Whirl- 
 wind's bridle. When he was first washed from 
 his horse he had his ri^ht arm around the noble 
 animal's neck; he kept it there now, and spoke to 
 his fair companion: "Do not feel frightened; we 
 will soon be out of this." But a shiver was her 
 only reply, for the January winds seemed to cast 
 a chill over her delicate form; but Walter felt the 
 slender arms tiahten around him, and this renewed 
 his coura2:e, and irave him new streni^th to battle 
 with the swift current. Down, dow^n they went, 
 keeping in the middle of the stream. Whirlwind 
 raised his head from the water once or twice and 
 neighed softly, as much as to say, "If I cannot take 
 you safely to the shore, my young master, we will 
 all perish together." The animal's fine, prominent 
 eyes expressed almost human intelligence as he 
 battled heroically with the current. 
 
UNDER THE WAVES. 81 
 
 How many thoughts passed through Walter's 
 mind while in this perilous situation ! A review 
 of his whole life came before hira, and never did 
 the pale, frightened girl, clinging to him^ for life, 
 seem so dear to him as now, with almost certain 
 death staring them in the face. After what had 
 seemed an age to him, Walter felt the pebbly bot- 
 tom with his feet, and at the same time he felt 
 Amy's arms loose their hold about his waist. 
 
 "Courage, my love; we are safe; here is JuHus' 
 ford! Bless mj^ noble horse! he has battled with 
 the current for half a mile, and brought us to the 
 shore we were so anxious to reach." 
 
 Poor Amy! her strength was exhausted. She 
 thought of Walter's loved ones at home. Could 
 he not save himself if she relinquished her hold on 
 him ? It was death anvliow ; and with tender 
 thoughts of her grandmother, and a whispered 
 prayer for him she loved so dearly, she tore her 
 fast-stiffening fingers apart, and sank beneath the 
 waves. 
 
82 THE FIRST SHADOW. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE FIRST SHADOW. 
 
 SOME six weeks r.fter these events, the dark, 
 sweet, gentle face of Mrs. Lawrence Hast- 
 ings wore a tinge of grief and disappointment. 
 
 It was a warm, sunshiny day in February; such 
 as first whispers to us of the near approach of 
 spring, when we first begin to look for the soft, 
 meek-eyed daisies, and the golden butter-cups; and 
 first listen to the soft chirp of the little birds call- 
 ing in sweet, loving notes to their mates ; when the 
 sky begins to look blue and far away, and when 
 the sunsets begin to assume their golden, then their 
 orange and purple, tints. 
 
 It is evening after one of those lovely, sunny 
 days, and Mammy Silvia enters her nurslings 
 room. There is an expression of sadness on 
 Silvia's face, as she says, "Why is de shadde?s 
 resting on my lamb's face to-night?" The kind 
 
THE FIRST SHADOW. 83 
 
 old voice was touchinglj tender as she laid her 
 hand on her mistress' hair and caressed it, as she 
 used to in the fiir back days when Mrs. Hastings 
 w\as a little, helpless child on her knee. 
 
 Norva had been married now two months. Mr. 
 Hastings was very devoted to her. She still loved 
 him with an almost absorbing devotion. She hnd 
 not lost confidence in him, but yet a shadow had 
 crept into her heart, and Silvia sees it, for she has 
 been quick to note every changing expression of 
 that beloved face. 
 
 Again she said, "Tell Silvia what makes you 
 look so sad, honey? Has dat young warmint 
 been scolding Mammy's baby-lub ? Tell me, 
 chile, if he has." 
 
 "Of whom are you speaking?" said Mrs. 
 Hastings, sternly. 
 
 " No one in particular, honey ; dat is, I did not 
 know but old massa had been scolding ob you, 
 and I was gwine to speak to Mr. Hastings about 
 it 'case now you 'longs to him," and Silvia rolled 
 up the whites of her eyes, mentally exclaiming : 
 
84 THEFIRSTSHADOW. 
 
 "Lord, forgib me for dat lie; dat white-libered 
 debil is agwine to be de means ob sending old 
 Silvia's soul to torment sure enough. Now, look 
 here, Silvia, you has got to pray, and fight de 
 debil day and night ; no going behind de stumps 
 dis time. And, oh laws, Silvia, you has got to 
 pray for dat young lamb, Miss Norva. What was 
 dat her mudder say to me ? — let me see," and 
 Silvia turned her head to one side and commenced 
 to touch her fingers like she was counting, and 
 said, '• Yes, 1 'members : ' Watch ober my little 
 Norva ; shield her from all temptation when I am 
 gone.' Poor Miss Norva, poor young lamb ! Since 
 she has chano:ed her name her feelin2:s have 
 changed towards poor old Mammy Silvia. De 
 time ^vas when I could say. Miss Norva, do so and 
 so, or do not do so and so, an' she would listen to 
 me ; but now if Mammy say anything she am 
 ready to jump to de bell-pull, and call ol' marse — 
 at least she 'tends like she am gwine to, but she 
 don't scare me, chillun, I can tell you dat ; an' I is 
 gwine to 'spress my 'pinion to my own satisfaction. 
 
THE FIRST SHADOW. 85 
 
 Dem fellers as tells Miss Norva an' Massa Wal- 
 ter dat de erf turns round on its axle-tree six 
 times in four and two hours, can't keep me from 
 'spressin' my 'pinion. Dat ole Ball mountain off 
 dar has seen many strange tings in its time, since 
 de Lord made it an' placed de ball ob his foot on 
 it, an' dat must be why dey call it de Ball moun- 
 tain. I feels it in my ole bones now^ ; and de time 
 will come when mv ans^el lamb wall prav for dis 
 same mountain to belch forth fire an' brimstone, 
 an' destroy dis lubbly Mead an' her ; an' when de 
 fire an' brimstone is de hottest. Mammy will carry 
 "water an' put it out. Now something has gone 
 wrong wdth my chile, an' Mammy has cut her 
 eye-teeth an' wall watch. I wonder what it is, 
 anyhow? Can it be dat white-libered cat. Miss 
 Octavia, as dey calls her? — De Lord, w^hat a 
 name ! Well, I is'ent more than fifty, an' if I has 
 a dozen chillun, I wall nebber call one Octavia, or 
 Lawrence either, but I wall call 'em all Walter an' 
 Norva." 
 
 After having arrived at this decision. Mammy 
 
86 THE FIRST SHADOTT. 
 
 Silvia turned to her young mistress, and said : 
 ^'It is time, my dear young mistress, you were 
 taking your ebening walk. You must not stay in 
 de house so much, honey, it is not good for your 
 'gestive organders ; let Mammy bring you your 
 hood an' mantle ?" 
 
 '^ Thank you ; I believe I will go for a walk, 
 the air is so soft and balmy. Where is brother 
 Walter, Mammy ? Please go and call him to join 
 me this evening, as Mr. Hastings is sleeping, and 
 Miss Stanley is indisposed." 
 
 Mammy got her mistress' things, and then went 
 to find her young master ; but Walter was not in 
 his room, nor in the library, nor the parlor, and 
 Mammy came back, and said, '^ Miss Norva, I 
 'spects you will find young master out in de 
 grounds somewhere." 
 
 " Perhaps I may," Norva replied, as she went 
 down the steps and into the wide hall. 
 
 Mammy lingered in Norva's room for some time 
 setting things to order, and shook her head, 
 muttering, " T'ings ain't like dey used to was, by 
 
THE FIRST SHADOW. 87 
 
 a jugfull. Miss Norva is down in de mouf ; an* 
 Master Walter, he wanders about from place . to 
 place like some lost spirit from de o'der world. 
 What is de matter wid de boy, anyhow ? It all 
 comes ob ole massa turning de Mead into a tavern. 
 Miss Norva, when she married dat white-libered 
 cussady ob a man, I was gwine to say (but Silvia 
 Turner won't swear, 'deed she won't), just married 
 de whole Hastings family. Dey know which 
 side ob der bread is buttered; dey is poor. Miss 
 Norva is rich, an' dey will hug up to her like 
 a sick kitten to a hot griddle, deed dey will, 
 chillun." 
 
 When everything was arranged to Mammy 
 Silvia's satisfaction, she went out of the room still 
 muttering to herself. 
 
 When Norva stepped out upon the steps, she 
 saw her father-in-law passing slowly to and fro, 
 with his hands behind him, and his head bent in 
 deep thought. He was so absorbed in his medita- 
 tions, whatever they might be, that he failed to 
 observe her, and Norva passed quietly down the 
 
88 THE FIRST SHADOW. 
 
 steps and out into the lovely grounds, and down 
 to the shores of the beautiful crystal lake to see 
 the Last pale, golden ray of the setting sun, 
 mirrored on its deep, calm bosom. She sank 
 down on a low, rustic seat, near a statue of Diana. 
 She was concealed ahnost from view, even in day- 
 light, in this lovely nook, to any one approaching 
 the hike from the house. When she had seated 
 herself she dropped her hands in her lap, and let 
 her eyes wander over the lovely scene by which 
 she was surrounded — the grand and glorious 
 mountains, and river scenery, and the fast thick- 
 ening shadows of night. 
 
 A strange influence held her to this enchanted 
 spot. How calm and beautiful nature was ! The 
 soft south winds gently swayed the boughs of the 
 dark, rich green of the pines and cedars, and softly 
 whispered to the leafless boughs of the giant oaks, 
 beech, and chestnut, telling them that in a few 
 more days they too would be clothed and decked 
 in their emerald garb. The blue waters of the 
 lake came up in little wavelets ahnost to her feet. 
 
THE FIRST SHADOW. 89 
 
 Soon the young crescent moon arose like a half- 
 circle of silver in the clear expanse of blue, which 
 was fast becoming thickly jewelled with stars. 
 How those bright, glimmering stars danced and 
 sparkled in the waters of the lake ! The dew 
 was beginning to fall, but still poor Norva could 
 not go. 
 
90 WHAT IS THIS I HEAR? 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 WHAT IS THIS I HEAR? 
 
 ATORYA could hear the beating of her own 
 -^^ heart between the sound of the gentle 
 little wavelets at her feet, as they leaped and 
 softly kissed the sandy beach. Sitting there in 
 the calm, holy stillness of that lovely evening, a 
 deep-drawn sigh escaped her breast. Almost at 
 the same moment she heard voices and footsteps 
 approaching, and a faint flush died her cheek, as 
 she reco2:nized the voices of her husband and his 
 dark and beautiful step-sister. Owing to the 
 almost perfect stillness of the night, Norva could 
 hear every word distinctly that was uttered by 
 the approaching parties, for they were taking the 
 route of the Lovers' Walk for their promenade. 
 
 Every walk and nook in those magnificent and 
 enchanting grounds had been named by Norva. 
 This beautiful bordered walk she called the 
 
WHAT IS THIS I HEAR? 91 
 
 Lovers' ^yalk, because it was her favorite since 
 the arrival of Mr. Hastings, the September before. 
 Another she called the Breezy Walk, for here, in 
 the warmest season, a soft and refreshing breeze 
 seemed to cool the brow, when nowhere else 
 a breath of air was stirring ; and a third she had 
 named the Evergreen Walk, because of the rich 
 deep shades of the hemlock which met and inter- 
 locked their branches overhead. 
 
 When she first heard those voices, and the soft 
 blushes stole to her cheeks, she thought : '" Dear, 
 dear Lawrence ! how wicked of me to think that 
 vour heart does not beat for me with the same 
 warmth and love it did a few short weeks ago. 
 You and dear, sweet Octavia have missed me, 
 and are lookins: for me now. I should have 
 remained within the walls of the dear old Mead, 
 until you had risen from your siesta, and have 
 been the first object for your eyes to have rested 
 upon ; and now you have come, with love beaming 
 from your soul, to take me back to our home." 
 
 Oh! the pure, sweet love that filled' Norva's 
 
92 WHAT IS THIS I HEAR? 
 
 heart, and lighted up her dark, tender eyes at 
 this thought. But the first words that fell dis- 
 tinctly on her ear sent a chill to her heart. 
 
 " Dear Lawrence," said the sweet, seductive 
 voice of Miss Stanley, " how long is this thing to 
 last? how long are you going to keep me here 
 with another between us ? I do not think I can 
 stand it much longer. You promised me when 
 you married that stately Queen of the Mountains 
 that you would never forget I was the first love 
 of your heart." 
 
 " No, no, darling Octavia, I can never, never 
 forget that you are my first and my only love. 
 To you I render all my heart's homage; you are 
 the guiding star of my existence. I acknowledge 
 to you, my queen, that I feel as though I were in 
 eternal torment, when I think of my situation. 
 Bear with me, dearest Octavia, and all will yet go 
 well. If it will soothe j'our aching heart any, 
 because fate, or rather circumstances have denied 
 us for a time that sweet bliss that shall yet be ours 
 — remember, my own darling, you are the only 
 
^HAT IS THIS I HEAR? 93 
 
 woman I ever loved, or ever shall love ; and 
 though the world calls Norva Hastings my wife, 
 never does a heart-throb go out to her from me;" 
 and as these cruel words fell from Lawrence 
 Hastings' lips, the two passed on, little dreaming 
 that Norva had heard them. 
 
 She sat perfectly still, with a face as pale as 
 death, and her delicate hands clasped in her lap, 
 peering out on the tranquil waters at her feet, 
 while her heart beat painfully and her temples 
 throbbed with intense suffering. " Can it be 
 possible," she thought, " that that was my hus- 
 band, my Lawrence, uttering such cold and cruel 
 words about his wife to another woman, and tltat 
 woman the beautiful Octavia Stanley — she whom 
 I have alwavs loved and treated as a sister? No, 
 no ; God forbid ! It must be a horrible dream — I 
 am ill. Fie on me ; to doubt for a moment his 
 great love for me. When I return to the house I 
 will tell him what I thought I heard him and 
 Octavia say, and he will laugh at me for my fool- 
 ishness, and, kissing my lips as he always does, 
 
94 WHAT IS THIS I HEAR? 
 
 bid me dismiss such foolish thoughts from my 
 mind. Oh, my darhng husband! But," and she 
 pressed her hand upon her heart, " I cannot forget 
 a Uttle incident I witnessed in the library the other 
 day between Octavia and him," she muttered, 
 covering her eyes with her hand, as though she 
 would shut out the sight, if possible. 
 
 The dark phantom would not leave her. She 
 could still see her husband as he sat reading 
 before the wood fire, and Octavia as she came into 
 the library in quest of a book ; and, seeing that 
 Mr. Hastings was alone, went up to him, and fell 
 upon her knees at his feet, and buried her face on 
 the arm of his chair, while a tremor passed over 
 her small, graceful form. She spoke not a word, 
 neither did he, but he turned very pale and 
 hastily arose and left J:he room, leading Octavia 
 by the hand. Norva was in the conservatory, 
 and the door which communicated with the 
 library was open. They did not know she was 
 there. It was this scene that had cast a faint 
 shadow over her heart, but a shadow not so faint 
 
TTIIAT IS THIS I HEAR? 95 
 
 but what old Mammy Silvia's keen eyes saw it. 
 But so great was Norva's love for her husband, 
 that she had tried to make herself believe it was 
 some little sisterly grievance ; yet she could not 
 but feel pained at their conduct. And now, as 
 she had heard a portion of her husband's and 
 Octavia's dishonorable conversation, she began to 
 realize the truth. 
 
 " God help me in my great trouble," Norva 
 exclaimed, while her form quivered with a sudden 
 spasm of pain, and the great tears of anguish and 
 wounded pride rolled down her face. . " Why 
 should such suffering be mine ? Why does he not 
 love me ? He says his heart never gives one 
 throb for me. Oh ! my darling mother, look 
 down to-night from your heavenly home, and 
 breathe a prayer upon your poor, suffering, 
 wronged child; watch over me, and be my 
 guardian angel, for I feel that there is a dark 
 shadow resting over my future destiny," she mur- 
 mured, as she raised her eyes towards heaven ; 
 then, letting her head fall upon her troubled 
 
96 WHAT IS THIS I HEAR? 
 
 breast, sat perfectly motionless until the young 
 crescent moon had vanished from sight. 
 
 At length she heard her name called softlj' : 
 " Mrs. Hastings ; Norva, my darling wife, why do 
 you linger here so far into the night ? Octavia 
 and I have been looking for you everywhere. As 
 the dew was falling fast, she returned to the 
 house, and I continued my search for you ; and 
 here I find you all damp and cold, out of doors at 
 this time of night. Were you dreaming of love 
 and me, my darling ? What a heavenly boon 
 to possess the love of such a rare jewel as 
 you, my pet, and to be allowed the liberty of 
 loving you so devotedly, as I do. Such women as 
 you and my beautiful sister Octavia Stanley are 
 oftener sought than found, and I feel proud to 
 share the love and confidence of two such women. 
 I feel blessed beyond the common order of men." 
 So he said as he kissed his wife's cold lips ; but 
 she did not see the hypocritical smile that passed 
 over his face while speaking. 
 
 She made no reply to him, but threw her 
 
TTHAT IS THIS I HEAR? 97 
 
 loving arms around his neck, and buried her head 
 on his bosom, saying : 
 
 " Dear Lawrence, dear husband, you still love 
 me, do you not ? " and her voice was so sweet and 
 sad that it would have touched the heart of 
 almost any man save him, and a smile wreathed 
 his lips as a low, musical laugh broke from them 
 and rang out on the still darkness of the night. 
 
 "Love you, my angel, my queen? Of course I 
 love you. What ever put a doubt into ^'-our 
 head?" and he drew her to him and looked down 
 into her face. 
 
 She could only answer: "'Nothing, love; it 
 w\as childish of me to ask you that question," 
 she said, even while she felt the gloom gathering 
 around her, and knew that she had not spoken 
 the real sentiments of her troubled soul. 
 
 Why could she not tell him what she had seen 
 
 and heard? Reader, her husband possessed one 
 
 of those strong magnetic temperaments, and ruled 
 
 her every thought when she was near him. 
 
 Arising, he drew Norva's hand through his 
 6 
 
98 WHAT IS THIS I HEAR? 
 
 arm, and led her to the Mead, speaking words of 
 love and comfort to her as they were wending 
 their way home ; and as he was about to utter 
 another strain of endearments as false as they 
 were fair in their outward appearance, a low, 
 mocking laugh fell upon their ears. There was 
 something so strange, wild and mad in this laugh, 
 that Norva shuddered with fear. Even Hastings' 
 blood ran cold in his veins; but as his wife 
 clung more closely to him, he said : 
 
 "•Do not be frightened, love ; it is some of the 
 negroes, perhaps, cutting up some of their antics." 
 
 "No, no, dear; that laugh never came from the 
 lips of a negro," said Norva, trembling. 
 
 "But you are not frightened so badly, my 
 darling, my angel wife, that you do not feel safe 
 with me ?" said Mr. Hastings, pressing his wife's 
 cold fingers. 
 
 " I know, dear husband, you would protect me 
 at the risk of your life if I were exposed to 
 danger, but yet there was something so fearful in 
 that laugh," said Norva. 
 
WHAT IS THIS I HEAR? 99 
 
 " Yes, my darling," he said, while a cruel smile 
 played about his mouth, " you are right. I would 
 willingly sacrifice my life for you, if need be. Do 
 you think, dearest, you could willingly leave your 
 beautiful home and your kindred for a year or 
 two, for my sake ? " 
 
 In a tone of some surprise she said: "What 
 do you mean ? Where do you wish me to go?" 
 
 He knew from her voice she was troubled at 
 his question, and he said : 
 
 " I do not wish you to go anywhere, just now ; 
 but Octavia pines for dear old London again, and 
 you and I will some day have to take her back. 
 But we will not be long absent ; a while in Lon- 
 don, and a flying visit to France, Italy and Spain, 
 and then back to the Mead. You are too rich a 
 gem, my sweet wife, to live forever hidden away 
 among these mountains, grand as they are." 
 
 By this time they had reached the house, just 
 as the elder Hastings was entering it. His face 
 was ghastly pale, and his body shook with great 
 nervous agitation as he walked hastily down the 
 wide hall without speaking. 
 
100 WHAT IS THIS I HEAR? 
 
 It was not yet ten o'clock when Hastings 
 led his wife to their pleasant little sitting-room. 
 Seeing how pale and troubled she looked, he 
 urged her to retire, saying he would go himself 
 and find her maid to attend to her. As he passed 
 out at the door, he met Mammy Silvia, who 
 threw her head back with the air of an insulted 
 queen. Neither Hastings nor Mammy spoke. 
 Silvia entered her mistress' room, and was 
 alarmed when she saw how pale and ill she 
 looked. 
 
 " Let Mammy get you a glass ob wine, honey 
 chile. You looks like you had seen a ghost, or 
 some other libe fing, 'deed you does. Your hands 
 is like ice. I hope you didn't stay in de park till 
 dis time ob de night, wid de dew a falling on you ; 
 case if you did, Massa will have to send and have 
 Dr. Adams fotched afore morning, that he will, 
 my lamb." 
 
 Just then Norva's maid knocked at the door. 
 Mammy Silvia went and opened it. 
 
 " You can go back to de cabin. Sue ; I will stay 
 
WHAT IS THIS I HEAR? Id 
 
 wid Miss Norva till she gets sleepy, an' tend to 
 all her wants. Dis is Saturday night, Sue, an' I 
 know dat trim-looking nigger, Sam Silvers, is in 
 your mammy's cabin, wid eyes and ears open, 
 a waiting for you ; so go 'long, honey gal, you is 
 like all de rest ob de fools in dis world, dey won't 
 listen to dar mammies. Go on. Sue, gal, do not 
 mind an ole fool like me; I was young once 
 myself, honey, and I kinder knows how it goes." 
 
 Then coming back to her beloved young 
 mistress, Silvia said : " Go to bed, honey chile, an' 
 I will make you a warm foot-bath an' bring you 
 
 some wine." 
 
 "No; no wine. Mammy Silvia, but you may 
 have Uncle Sam go and draw me a glass of that 
 delicious cider, and you may mull it for me; I can 
 get wine anywhere, but pure, sweet cider from my 
 dear Mher's cellar I may not enjoy long." 
 
 "An' why not, honey ?— you know ole massa s 
 cellar is never without cider, summer an winter. 
 Honey, what does you mean ? " 
 
 " I mean this, dear Mammy Silvia: Mr. Hastings 
 
102 WHAT IS THIS I HEAR? 
 
 is thinking of going to London, and taking me 
 with him for a year or so, and I shall miss some 
 of my home luxuries very much. So, while I can 
 get it, I will drink cider." 
 
 Silvia started back, and a troubled look over- 
 spread her honest old face, as she exclaimed, 
 " Take you to Lonon ! that cussady dirty hole, I 
 was agwine to say — but I shan't, for Silvia Turner 
 never swars. I say you shan't go dar now ; look 
 what has come to you by going dar once in your 
 life to that nasty little place whar nobody 'spec- 
 table will live ; a place whar all de scum of dis 
 country come from. No sich family as de Hamp- 
 tons live in dat place, an' if Mr. Hastings wants to 
 go to Lonon, let him go an' take that little, soft- 
 purring black cat with him, an' that ole Tom of a 
 daddy of his — but you take my 'vice, honey ; don't 
 you go ; if you does, you'll be sorry for it, an' neber 
 come back again." 
 
 The faithful old soul hid her face in the folds 
 of Mrs. Hastings' dress and wept like a child. 
 Norva's heart was touched, and, laying one cold, 
 
WHAT IS THIS I HEAR? 103 
 
 soft hand on Silvia's head, she said, " Mammy, I 
 will be compelled to go from my dear home just to 
 get rid of hearing you abuse my husband. Go now 
 and prepare the cider for me, for I am very cold 
 and sleepy." 
 
 '^ Yes, honey ; may de Lord forgib me for 'glect- 
 ing my duty ; but ole Satan do get a shot of me 
 sometimes so strong it is hard for me to shake him 
 off; I does pray de Lord to 'serve me from his 
 hoofs an' horns." 
 
 " Then, resist him, dear old Mammy, and fight 
 him off," said Norva, gently, " or he may get so 
 strong a hold on you, you may not be able to free 
 yourself from his clutches." 
 
 *^Hio! dat I do try to do, honey; I keep my 
 candles burning, watching my chance to dodge 
 him; that I do, my lub-chile. Now I will go, 
 honey, an' look arter your cider, an' if I don't 
 ketch up wif de debil, my name isn't Silvia Turner 
 — that it aint." 
 
104 WALTER IS TRACKED. 
 
 CHAPTER XIL 
 
 WALTER IS TRACKED. 
 
 LATE as was the hour after leaving his wife's 
 room, Lawrence Hastings went back up- 
 stairs softly, and gave a low, peculiar knock at a 
 door on the right hand of the hall, and a sweet, 
 silvery voice said, "Come in, dear Lawrence." 
 
 " Hist ! my love, not so loud — it is your 
 Lawrence." 
 
 Quickly the bolt Hew back and the door opened, 
 and Lawrence Hastings was in the presence of 
 the only woman he loved. A pair of beautiful, 
 snowy arms were thrown around his neck, and 
 kiss after kiss was given from Octavia's rosy lips. 
 He gathered the small but perfect form in his 
 arms, and pressed passionate kisses upon her dark 
 hair and eyes, while his heart pulsated wildly, and 
 a tender light shone from his cold blue eyes — a 
 light that had never shone from them for his 
 
WALTER IS TRACKED. 105 
 
 beautiful wife, whom he had married not for love, 
 but for scold. 
 
 He and Octavia Stanley are planning how they 
 can get possession of Mr. Hampton's vast wealth. 
 Octavia's mother was a Spaniard of great beauty, 
 and had married a young English officer who died 
 soon after Octavia's birth. In due time, Mrs. 
 Stanley married Mr. Hastings, but by the time 
 Octavia had reached womanhood her step-father 
 had squandered all her mother had left her, with 
 nothing except an old ruined and dilapidated 
 castle on the coast of Cornwall, whose solid walls 
 were washed by the dull, sad waves of the sea, as 
 it beat upon the old gray rocks. This castle had 
 been uninhabited for two generations. Octavia's 
 father had intended to repair and fit it up, but died 
 before this work was accomplished, and after Mrs. 
 Stanley married Mr. Hastings she had not the 
 means to do so, for she saw her fortune melting 
 very rapidly, and had not strength of mind to 
 oppose her second husband's reckless extravagance. 
 
 When Octavia was fifteen, her mother died. Mr. 
 
106 WALTER IS TRACKED. 
 
 Hastings still kept his beautiful step-daughter, 
 thinking that in time she would contract a bril- 
 liant alliance and he might then have a home. 
 He also hoped his son would marry well. About 
 this time his old college friend at Eton visited him 
 in London from America, and a marriage between 
 Lawrence and Norva Hampton was planned. Mr. 
 Hampton had liked Mr. Hastings very much, and 
 was also pleased with his son Lawrence. By much 
 persuasion and scheming the elder Hastings got 
 Octavia to consent to this marriage, though she 
 and Lawrence were engaged and loved each other 
 as much as two such selfish souls were capable of. 
 At first she refused to listen to Lawrence's 
 engagement with another ; but as he spoke in a 
 manner that fully expressed his determination, she 
 knew it would be best to fall into his views, or at 
 least appear to do so. Then Lawrence Hastings 
 had told her that he would in time leave his wife 
 and return to her with all the Hampton wealth 
 as a recompense for their separation; for it was his 
 intention to possess all their wealthy no matter at 
 
WALTER IS TRACKED. 107 
 
 what cost. Mr. Hampton had no idea that Mr. 
 Hastings was without means, but after Lawrence 
 and Norva were betrothed, he insisted that Mr. 
 Hastings' family should take up their abode in 
 America. This w^as readily assented to by Law- 
 rence and his father. 
 
 Even after the marriage had taken place, Oc- 
 tavia retained her power over Lawrence Hastings; 
 they were two strong, magnetic souls ever draw- 
 m^ toward each other. The elder Hastings inti- 
 mated to his old friend that it would be "just the 
 thing if they could only succeed in bringing about 
 a marriage between Walter and Octavia;" he did 
 not add, that he wished to see both Lawrence 
 and Miss Stanley settled at the Mead, that he 
 himself might be well provided for, and have a 
 home within its walls for the remainder of his life. 
 
 The reader knows how Mr. Hampton looked 
 upon Mr. Hastings' suggestion, from what Walter 
 told his sister on that winter morning when he 
 confided to her his love for Amy Le Clare. Since 
 Norva's marriage Mr. Hampton had begged Walter 
 
108 WALTER IS TRACKED. 
 
 to address Octavia, but Walter replied that he did 
 not love her, and never would; at which Mr. 
 Hampton became very angry, and sternly de- 
 manded that he would "never think of marrying 
 that young savage." This was the evening before 
 he started Walter to B , on business. 
 
 Mr. Hastings frequently spoke of a union to 
 Octavia between herself and Walter. She would 
 give a low, musical laugh, and say, " Dear papa, 
 I do not think young Hampton appreciates my 
 charms very much, and, to tell the truth, I would 
 rather try my powers at charming the father than 
 the son. How very nice it would be for me to be 
 Lawrence's mother-in-law ! " Of course. Miss Stan- 
 ley did not wish to let her step-father know how 
 matters stood between her and his son ; not that 
 she feared him, but she desired to let Lawrence 
 work out their plans himself. 
 
 To-night, as she felt his warm breath on her 
 cheeks, she said, " Oh ! Lawrence, why do you not 
 take your father into our plans ? He is older than 
 we are, and perhaps he can suggest a way for you 
 
WALTER IS TRACKED. 109 
 
 to escape from the galling bonds that bind you to 
 that soft simpleton who hangs on your every 
 word, and worships you so. If you do not, you 
 will have to take me away from this, or I will be 
 tempted to do something desperate. Lawrence, 
 this is killing me," she cried. 
 
 He said : " My darling, I know it is hard for 
 you to endure all this, but it must be so a little 
 longer; remember what we have at stake. We 
 are poor ; with the exception of your jewels, all 
 else is gone, but a bare standing wall and a few 
 old tumble-down towers at Castle Rook. This 
 composes the bulk of your wealth, and I have 
 nothing. Look at this magnificent plantation and 
 all the slaves, this beautiful home ; and remember 
 this plantation is in the rich lowlands near Wil- 
 mington, and the gold mine at Charlotte, which is 
 now paying Mr. Hampton a handsome dividend 
 every year. What a happy life we could enjoy 
 with all this wealth ! and it shall be ours. But 
 you must have patience. It will take time to 
 develop our future plans. So you think it would 
 
110 WALTER IS TRACKED. 
 
 be well to take the old gentleman into our confi- 
 dence, and see if he cannot assist us and further 
 our oTeat undertakind;. I thou2:ht at first to take 
 Mrs. Plastings to Wilmington for a time, knowing 
 her presence was so repugnant to you, but she 
 seems reluctant to go, as she has a discarded 
 lover there, in the shape of a young minister, who 
 they say has almost broken his heart over her; 
 but I will have you and father take a trip to New 
 Orleans, to remain there until the weather gets 
 warm, and when you return to Hampton Mead, 
 my plans may begin to assume a definite form." 
 
 " Oh ! but it is so hard for me to tear myself 
 from you, my love," said Octavia, in a mournful 
 voice, choked with unshed tears. 
 
 " I know it is, my angel," said Mr. Hastings, 
 straining her to his bosom ; " but it is growing 
 late, love. Go to your chamber. Trust me, and 
 try to rest. I shall not go to Mrs. Hastings' room 
 to-night. My darling, we must be very cautious. 
 That old black Egyptian mummy that is forever 
 hanging around Mrs. Hastings, dislikes and dis- 
 
TVALTER IS TRACKED. Ill 
 
 trusts me, and I feel that she has got her mind 
 set upon watching me. One of the first things I 
 will do, when I am master here, will be to sell 
 old Silvia." Then, with one more kiss, Lawrence 
 Hastings stole out of Octavia's room. 
 
 So many thoughts forced themselves upon his 
 mind that he felt he could not sleep; consequently 
 he did not seek his pillow, but lit a cigar and 
 went out into the clear, calm starlight to smoke. 
 It was after eleven o'clock before he thouo:ht of 
 returnins: to the house airain, when he saw "Walter 
 emerge from the side entrance, with a package 
 under his arm, and walk rapidly down to the 
 river. Lawrence followed him cautiously. When 
 Walter reached the river, he put his bundle in a 
 canoe, and commenced to row rapidly up the dark 
 stream. 
 
 " Ha, ha ! Walter Hampton, you have a secret, 
 and I am going to find it out," Mr. Hastings 
 muttered. " It may be of value to me in my 
 future plans." A fiendish light gleamed from his 
 eyes as he walked along the river bank, keep- 
 ing the canoe in sight. • , ' 
 
112 . WALTER IS TRACKED. 
 
 It was a long walk of five miles he had of it, 
 before he reached the place where Walter landed 
 his little barque. It was at the foot of an over- 
 hansrins: cliff of rocks. Lawrence saw Walter 
 fasten his canoe to a small tree, lift his bundle, 
 and hurry up the rough side of the cliff and dis- 
 appear. Hastings watched for two hours, but 
 could not get a clue to the secret, nor find where 
 he had disappeared ; so he untied the canoe, 
 jumped in, and muttered : 
 
 ''1 will ride, this time, young man, and you can 
 walk. By the eternal gods! I'll know his secret," 
 and his hard laugh rang out on the dark waters 
 like the laugh of an evil spirit, as he was. 
 
A DARKER SHADOW. 113 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 A DARKER SHADOW. 
 
 ALL day long the rain bad been falling, with 
 no ray of sunshine to relieve the gloom. 
 Shadows hung thick and dark over mountains and 
 river; but a darker, deeper shadow rested on 
 Hampton Mead — a shadow that cast a gloom 
 over everv heart there, save that of Lawrence 
 Hastings. Walter, the proud young heir, was 
 hanislied from the home of his childhood, cast out 
 from his fathers heart and from his beloved 
 sister's presence. 
 
 The morninix after Lawrence had followed 
 "Walter, he . arose early, and was out in the 
 grounds before the eastern horizon had received 
 its first streaks of gold, or the gray dawn had 
 been pierced with the sunlight, laying in wait for 
 
 Walter; and soun the latter made his appearance. 
 If 
 
114 A DARKER S 11 A D TT. 
 
 » 
 &? 
 
 " Ah ! Walter, you are up early this morning 
 said Lawrence, blandly. 
 
 " Somewhat earlier than you, perhaps," said 
 Walter coldly, and he shot a keen glance at him 
 as he spoke. He felt that Lawrence was his 
 deadly enemy, and that he suspected his secret, 
 perhaps knew it, or why did he find his canoe 
 gone, and then find it safely chained to its stake 
 when he reached home? But Walter could 
 see no expression in his brother-in-law's face that 
 revealed the secret, if he knew it, and Walter 
 went on into the house without any further con- 
 versation. 
 
 After breakfast, Lawrence asked Mr. Hampton 
 
 if he would get Walter to go to B for him, 
 
 to procure seats in the Wednesday's stage-coach, 
 for his father and sister. Walter gladly consented 
 to do so, for he felt it would be a relief to have 
 Octavia and Mr. Hastings away from the Mead. 
 So, immediately after finishing his breakfast, he 
 set out for his fifteen-mile ride on Whirlwind, with 
 a comparatively light heart. 
 
A DARKER SHADOW. 115 
 
 Soon after Walter's departure, Lawrence Hastings 
 had a long conversation with his father ; then he 
 sought Mr. Hampton and said: 
 
 '' Sir, it is a painful duty I have to perform, but 
 I know you will thank me for it," and he sat 
 down, while a troubled look appeared to come 
 over his face. 
 
 Mr. Hampton saw this look, and, in a some- 
 what alarmed manner, said : 
 
 "What have you to communicate to me, my 
 dear son, that brings that pained expression into 
 your face? Is it anything concerning my daughter? 
 Let me know at once," and Mr. Hampton's face 
 turned very pale as he spoke. 
 
 " Nothing, my dear sir, concerning your daughter; 
 she is quite well and cheerful ; but it is of your 
 son Walter I would speak. I know you have very 
 brilliant prospects for him, but, my dear sir, Walter 
 has a secret. All his nights are spent away from 
 home. I think he is away gambling, or else he 
 has that half-breed, Hester Spotswood's grand- 
 daughter, Amy Le Clare, hid in the mountains 
 
116 A DARKER SHADOW. 
 
 somewhere. I think it would be well to watch 
 him." 
 
 At this Mr. Hampton arose to his feet and 
 commenced to walk up and down his library in a 
 state of great mental suffering and wild fears for 
 his beloved son's welfare, but he said, after a few 
 moments had been spent in thinking tlie matter 
 over : 
 
 " I thank you, Lawrence, for your information 
 in this case. I will not watch Walter — I have too 
 much self-respect for that — but I will boldly and 
 
 above board, ask him, when he returns from B , 
 
 what has become of this girl, Amy Le Clare." 
 
 Walter was watched by another person besides 
 Lawrence Hastinixs. After the interview with 
 his father-in-law, Lawrence went down to the 
 river and jumped into a canoe, telling Uncle Isom 
 he was going a fishing. Lawrence was absent 
 some time. When he returned he was very pale 
 and excited. He had explored the cave and found 
 the remains of a fair young girl of rare beauty, 
 lying on a rude, but clean bed, in a large cavern 
 
A DARKER SHADOW. 117 
 
 or chamber, whose grand architecture came direct 
 from the hand of the great Builder of builders. 
 She could not have been dead long, for her body 
 was hardly cold. How holy and beautiful she 
 looked, lying there on that humble bed, wrapt in 
 the arms of death, and all alone in her cold, sweet 
 loveliness, with her delicate white hands crossed 
 upon her motionless bosom, and her glorious hair 
 falling in rippling waves of gold about her childish 
 face, so calm and heavenly in its mysterious 
 silence, and the slanting rays of sunshine that 
 found their way through the rocks fell upon the 
 lovely sleeper's face, resting like a holy benediction 
 over the beautiful, unknown dead ! It was a scene 
 so grand, so holy, so sad, so spiritual in its pre- 
 sentation, as to almost make one in love with 
 death. 
 
 Lawrence stood for a time like one in a dream, 
 and gazed down upon the still form at his feet, 
 and a wave of half pity, half regret, passed over 
 his cold, hard heart, though, villain as he was, 
 it only lasted for a moment, and like the great 
 
118 A DARKER SHADOW. 
 
 tidal wave of old ocean was lost. It was the first 
 feeling of pity that ever found a place in his 
 bosom, save for the dark and bewitching Octavia 
 Stanley, whom he loved as much as it was possible 
 for a man of his organization to do. Having 
 taken in the surroundings, he left the cave, casting 
 one hurried glance at the young girl as she lay so 
 peacefully, a victim to the king of terrors, and 
 entering his barque turned his face toward the 
 Mead. 
 
 Walter returned the evening of the same day 
 that Lawrence Hastings had visited the cave, and 
 informed his father that he had secured seats in 
 the stage-coach. That night, as Walter lingered 
 in the library, his father noticed a strange expres- 
 sion in his son's eyes; and, turning to him sud- 
 denly, said : 
 
 " Walter, where is your mother's wedding-ring? 
 I have not seen it for months." 
 
 '^ I will hand it to you to-morrow, father ; I am 
 too tired to-night to get it for you," said he, while 
 deathly pallor tinged his face. 
 
A DARKER SHADOW. 119 
 
 Poor Walter had promised his father something 
 that he would not be able to do. 
 
 After leaving his father's presence, Walter went 
 quietly out of the house, and, entering his canoe, 
 struck boldly up the stream, keeping time with 
 his oars to the sobbing of the waters which seemed 
 to be breathing a requiem for a lost soul, and an 
 awful presentiment lurked in his heart that some- 
 thing was about to happen — that the corner-stone 
 of his past sweet happiness was about to be torn 
 from its foundation, for a dark pall enveloped his 
 everv thou2;ht. and he felt as thou2;h the ano;el 
 of darkness had cast his sombre wings over his 
 future destin}^, obliterating every ray of sunshine 
 and happiness from his j)athway. 
 
 * * * * ♦ * 
 
 When Walter again returned to his once happy 
 childhood's home, his handsome vouno: face looked 
 as though years of suffering had passed over it; 
 his eyes were sunken, and his mouth wore a 
 pained expression. Oh, what a wreck he presented 
 of the once happy and handsome Walter, and he 
 
120 A DARKER SHADOW. 
 
 was afraid to appear before his stern father, so 
 <i re at was the change he had undergone; but he 
 determined to tell the truth if it were demanded 
 of him, no matter at what cost, or how severe the 
 'penalty. 
 
 The morning had far advanced when Walter 
 met his father after his absence, and a fixed, deter- 
 mined look was on his face. The father was the 
 first to speak. 
 
 " Well, Walter, have you brought me the 
 rmgr : 
 
 " No, father, I have not, and now let us come 
 to a full understanding. I know you had great 
 hopes for me, dear father, and wished to see me wed 
 Miss Stanley, but let me tell you once and for all, 
 Miss Stanley can never be anything to me except 
 an acquaintance, for my heart is given to one who 
 is as far above her in point of intellect and virtue 
 as the sun is above the earth. Oh, father ! let me 
 tell you of her I love ; then you will have com- 
 passion on your son!" cried Walter, his voice 
 trembling with deep emotion. 
 
A DARKER SHADOl^. 121 
 
 "No! no!" exclaimed Mr. Hampton, sternly. 
 " Walter, my boy, the pride of my old age, I will 
 listen to no story of your love for that half-breed 
 whom you keep concealed in the mountains. This 
 morning you must choose your course in life : either 
 give up home, father and sister, or else abandon 
 her ; and instead of leading a miserable existence, 
 and being a dishonor to all who know you, be a 
 man and a gentleman." 
 
 *' Be it as you say, my dear fiither, and now 
 good-bye, for I may never look upon your face 
 again, and though you drive me from my child- 
 hood's home and all I hold dear, yet I shall never 
 forget you are my father. Farewell, father. May 
 my sister Norva be a comfort to you in your old 
 age," said Walter, in a voice filled with deep 
 emotion. 
 
 Oh ! the grief and anguish that was depicted 
 upon his young but careworn face, as he went 
 out from the dear old Mead, an exile from home, 
 and though so near, and yet so far, for the noble 
 Walter Hampton was banished from Hampton 
 Mead. 
 
122 THE WILL. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE WILL. 
 
 IT was on Tuesday morning that Walter 
 Hampton bade his father that sad farewell, 
 and still the rain made mournful music as it fell 
 in great drops upon the window-panes. Out of 
 doors it was dark and dreary; within was 
 darker gloom, which had swallowed up all the 
 sunshine within that once happy home, and 
 to-day the hearts of two of its inmates are wrung 
 with sorrow. 
 
 Late in the day Norva came down into the 
 library to see her father. She found him sitting 
 near a window with his face partially bowed upon 
 his hands, and she started back in alarm and sur- 
 prise when she saw how aged he had grown since 
 the previous night when she had bid him good- 
 night. She laid a soft hand upon his shoulder. 
 He had not seen her enter the room, and raised 
 
THE WILL. 123 
 
 his head in a frightened manner and looked at 
 her; for a moment he thou2:ht his beloved wife 
 stood before him. Then, remembering the events 
 of the morning, he gathered his gentle daughter to 
 his heart and wailed forth : 
 
 " Oh, Norva ! my daughter ! have pity on me, 
 or my poor old heart will break." 
 
 Norva twined her arms about his neck, and 
 said softly : 
 
 " Dear father, what is the matter with you this 
 morning? You seem to be in deep distress. Tell 
 me what it is, that I may share your grief, what- 
 ever it is. Where is my brother? I have not 
 seen him this morning, and that is strange, for he 
 has always been the first to greet me as I left my 
 room when he was at home ; " then, subduing a 
 wild throb at her heart, she sat down by her 
 father's side and said : ^' Dear father, tell me all.'* 
 
 Mr. Hampton complied with her request, 
 though it was a painful duty for him to perform. 
 When he finished he lifted his daughter in his 
 arms, and bore her to her chamber; she had 
 
124 THE WILL. 
 
 fainted, and lay like one dead; a horrible night- 
 mare seemed to be upon him, from which he tried 
 to awaken. He thought he was bereft of both his 
 children at once, so long did Norva lie in the 
 death-like swoon that came upon her when her 
 father told her he had banished his only son from 
 his home. 
 
 At length, with the assistance of Mamm}^ Silvia 
 and Aunt Louise, the housekeeper, Norva Hastings 
 recovered, and her eyes rested full upon her father's 
 troubled face, but no words fe}l from her pale lips. 
 Her father was greatly pained at the look she 
 o'ave him, and felt somewhat rebuked for his rash- 
 ness ; but his heart did not relent towards Walter. 
 Thou oh a kind and noble-hearted man, he w^as 
 very proud, and had had bright hopes that AValter 
 would fulfil his cherished dreams. Now he beheld 
 all those bright hopes lying in ruins at his feet — 
 trampled upon by him from whom he had expected 
 so much, and his name which had never borne a 
 blemish, now dishonored, and by his son ; he felt 
 that he could no longer be a son of his ; and going 
 
THE WILL. 12-3 
 
 out of the room he ordered Ipom Turner to go tell 
 Mr. Byrd, his hawjer, that he wanted to see hhn 
 at the Mead, at once. 
 
 Lawrence Hastings heard Mr. Hampton give 
 this order, and his evil eyes lighted up with a 
 strange, triumphant glow ; for he J»:neiv why Byrd 
 was sent for, just ns well as he did a few hours 
 later, when Mr. Hampton called him into the 
 library and said : 
 
 " Hence and forever, Lawrence, you are my 
 only son. Mr. Byrd will soon be here, and I shall 
 make my will. I have a prespntiment that some- 
 thing is going to happen to me, and I do not want 
 Walter to have anj-^ part of my wealth. He is the 
 first Hampton that has ever disgraced the name." 
 Then he bowed his head in his hands, and sat in 
 deep thought for a long time. Lawrence was so 
 overjoyed at this piece of news, he could not find 
 voice to speak for some time ; at last he said : 
 
 '^ Do not be too hasty, my dear sir. Walter may 
 reform his evil wavs, when he has sown his wild 
 oats. He is not jet twenty-two. He has no 
 
126 THE WILL. 
 
 profession, and he will soon tire of this girl, when 
 he fully understands what trouble she has caused 
 him." 
 
 " Oh ! I could perhaps have forgiven him if he 
 had married her; but to keep her hid in the 
 mountains for months, as his mistress, is more 
 than I can bear, even from a son," said Mr. 
 Hampton. 
 
 A sudden thought then entered Lawrence 
 Hastings' mind, and he said, sinking his voice 
 almost to a whisper, 
 
 "I do not think that is Walter's greatest fault. 
 I fear his soul is stained with human blood." 
 
 A low wail broke from the lips of Mr. Hampton, 
 and he fell back in his chair in spasms, frightful 
 to behold, that made Hastings repent his rash 
 words, for he began to fear Mr. Hampton would 
 not be able to attend to business when his lawyer 
 came. He poured out a glass of wine, and put it 
 to the suffering man's lips, and in a short time 
 Mr. Hampton recovered, and bade Lawrence leave 
 him ; " For," said he, " my son, I cannot hear more 
 
THE AVILL. 127 
 
 at this time; we will talk further on this subject, 
 hereafter." 
 
 Thus dismissed, Lawrence went out and ordered 
 a horse to be saddled for his use, as he himself 
 should go for Dr. Adams, to attend his wife, 
 who was quite ill. He did go for the family 
 physician, but first visited the cave where he 
 had seen that beautiful inanimate form with its 
 wealth of golden hair resting like a halo about 
 the cold, sweet face, but there was nothing there 
 to give token that it had ever been the abode of a 
 human being or beings. Lawrence Hastings, cold- 
 hearted as he was, could not banish the sweet, sad 
 vision from his mind. 
 
 When he and the physician reached the Mead 
 they found Mr. Byrd had arrived, and was in the 
 library with Mr. Hampton. It was now late in 
 the afternoon, and the rain had ceased, but it was 
 still dark and gloomy. Mr. Byrd was to remain 
 over night, and his horse had been stabled. Dr. 
 Adams was to go on a few miles to visit another 
 patient, then return and remain over night also, 
 
128 THE WILL. 
 
 as Mr. nampton wished to have him as a witness 
 to his will. Before the doctor left, Norva was 
 asleep. Dr. Adams had given her a powerful 
 narcotic ; her nerves had been greatl}^ shocked, he 
 said ; in a few days he hoped she would be herself 
 again. 
 
 After supper, when Mr. Hampton and his 
 attorney had again repaired to the library, Law- 
 rence Hastings went up to Octavia's room and 
 asked her to take a walk with him. She was only 
 too anxious, as she w^as to leave him for a time on 
 the morrow. When they returned, a happy light 
 beamed from her eyes, and her face was radiant 
 with a look of deep content. After leaving her at 
 the door of her room Lawrence sought his father. 
 
 The elder Hastings was pacing his room with a 
 gloomy, discontented look on his face. 
 
 " Halloo, old chap ! what has come over the 
 spirit of your dreams, now when all is going so 
 well with me ? " said his amiable son, with a low, 
 deep laugh of satisfaction ; but the cloud did not 
 lift from his father s face, even at the mention of 
 
THE WILL. 129 
 
 his own bright prospects, and throwing himself 
 into a chair, Lawrence said : "Come, old man, you 
 have something preying on your mind ; out with 
 it ; make a clean breast of it ; confession is good 
 for the soul, you know." 
 
 " Yes, you are right, Lawrence," said Mr. 
 Hastings, seating himself beside his son. " There 
 is something preying upon my mind, and as you 
 have confided your j^lans to me, I will return the 
 compliment by telling you of a little episode in 
 my life. As you know, Lawrence, this is not my 
 first visit to America : I was here when you were 
 a small hoy. Well, to make a long story short ; I 
 fell in love with a pretty little Indian maiden, and 
 coaxed her from her mother's home. But she 
 was so pure and virtuous, that I was compelled to 
 marrj' her before she would consent to leave 
 Norfolk for Richmond with me. I married her 
 under an assumed name. Shortly after I reached 
 Richmond I heard that Henry Stanley was dead, 
 and his widow was free. I had married your mother 
 for money, and soon after her death I went to Spain, 
 
130 THE WILL. 
 
 and there I met Octavia's mother, and I loved her 
 with all the love and passion of my soul, but she 
 rejected my suit and married Henry Stanlej^ but 
 after I had married this Amy Spots wood, and I 
 knew the first love of my youth was free again, 
 I left Amy on the eve of becoming a mother, and 
 wrote her a note telling her to return to her 
 mother at Norfolk, for she was not my wife. I 
 then hastened back to England, and in due course 
 of time married Mrs. Stanley, as you are aware. 
 I married her at the time, not knowing but what 
 I had a living wife in America, but she only lived 
 four months after I left her, leaving a frail, golden- 
 haired baby-girl behind her, our child, to whom 
 she gave the name of Amy — Amy Le Clare, as 
 that was the name I married her under." 
 
 Lawrence Hastings started back in great sur- 
 prise, and said : 
 
 " This is a strange story, sir. How do you 
 know all this? who informed you of that young 
 girl's death, and of her child ? " 
 
 " Her grandmother, Hester Spotswood. I have 
 
THE WILL. 131 
 
 met her several times prowling around Hampton 
 Mead. She never saw me in Virginia, but she con- 
 fided all this to me, and she sajs she is going to 
 find Amy's father and bring him to judgment, for 
 she has pledged herself to have a terrible revenge 
 on this man, and her indignation fills me with 
 alarm." 
 
 Lawrence remembered the laugh, for he and 
 Norva had heard it. 
 
 " Lawrence," resumed the old gentleman, '^ I am 
 glad to leave this neighborhood on the morrow, 
 for a time at least." 
 
132 LADY HESTER. 
 
 A 
 
 CHAPTER Xy. 
 
 LADY HESTER. 
 
 FEW miles from the great manufacturing 
 
 town of Manchester was situated one of the 
 most beautiful homes in England — Glen Park. 
 For generations and generations it had belonged to 
 the Glenmores. The last of that name had passed 
 away, and the estate had gone into the possession 
 of a woman. She was a tall, dark woman, of 
 middle age, with eyes as dark as night, and hair 
 outrivalling the blackness of the raven's wing. 
 
 It is January, and one year since Walter 
 Hampton persuaded Amy Le Clare to leave her 
 grandmother and become his wife, and on this 
 bleak January day, Amy, fair and pale as a lily, 
 lies in a darkened room at Glen Park. She lies 
 so still you can hardly tell if she breathes. Pier 
 grandmother comes in softly and puts her dark 
 cheek down to the face of the sleeper, then she 
 
LADY HESTER. 133 
 
 goes to a little crib and looks down on Amy's 
 innocent baby-boy, and her face becomes stern 
 and hard as she gazes upon its little head covered 
 with rich, dark, silky brown hair, and Lady 
 Hester Spotswood glided out of the room with a 
 fierce light shining in her eyes. 
 
 Perhaps, dear reader, you are surprised to find 
 Hester Spotswood in England, and the mistress of 
 Glen Park, but the following wdll explain her 
 presence here: Hester's father, just before his 
 death, became the heir of Glen Park, and as she 
 w^as his only child he forgave her, and left her heir 
 to his beautiful English home. Her father w^as the 
 Earl of Glenmore, and now his daughter is Lady 
 Hester Spotswood. When Hester learned of her 
 sudden w^ealth, through the death of her father, 
 she commenced searchino; for Am v. She tracked 
 Walter to the cave where they had lived for 
 months. 
 
 During Walter s absence she had gone into the 
 cave to see Amy, and asked her if she were Wal- 
 ter Hampton's wife. Amy's face had burned 
 
134 LADY HESTER. 
 
 crimson, and her eyes sought the floor of the 
 rocky cavern, as she said : 
 
 " Dear grandmother, I cannot tell you." 
 
 " Cannot tell me, Amy ! My God ! oh ! Amy, 
 Amy ! how heavily the curse has fallen on me, 
 and on your mother, and now you too are 
 doomed!'^ 
 
 Then Hester fell upon her knees in that lonely 
 mountain fastness, and her voice rang out in a 
 wail of anguish. 
 
 When Hester looked in Amy's face again, she 
 saw all the blood had left the girl's face, and she 
 was as white as marble, and her voice was sad, as 
 she said, " Oh, dear grandmother, do not take this 
 so to heart ; trust in my dear Walter to make all 
 right soon ! " 
 
 Hester sprang to her feet, and her eyes flashed 
 fire, as she said, " ' Make all right soon ! ' — right a 
 wrong like yours. I blame you, Amy — blood of 
 my blood, and flesh of my flesh ; but I blame 
 Walter Hampton more! Come with me, my child, 
 and we will leave this country and go to a foreign 
 
LADY HESTER. 135 
 
 land, and live for ourselves and the good we can 
 do for others." 
 
 " But, dear grandmother, I cannot leave Walter ; 
 oh, no ! I cannot leave Walter ! " 
 
 Hester trembled from head to foot, as she said, 
 "Amy, say nothing to Mr. Hampton of my being 
 here, and I will come again in a few days," and 
 she then took her leave. 
 
 But early on the morning that Walter went to 
 
 B , and Lawrence Hastings had explored the 
 
 cave, Hester had been there. Amy was not well, 
 and her grandmother prepared her some food, 
 which she left, saying she should return ere the 
 night-shadow fell again. Half an hour after 
 Hester Spotswood took her departure, Lawrence 
 Hastings found the cold, still form of Amy, as the 
 reader already knows. 
 
 About three o'clock in the afternoon Hester 
 returned. She tied her canoe to a tree, and took 
 out a pair of soft, v/hite blankets which lay in the 
 frail barque, also an extra one to spread over the 
 form she expected to recline beneath it. After 
 
136 LADY HESTER. 
 
 making flist her canoe, she spread the blankets 
 smoothly upon the floor of her canoe, and went 
 into the cave, where she found ber granddaughter, 
 just as Lawrence Hastings had left her, cold, pale 
 and still, with the delicate white hands lying on 
 her breast, and her orolden hair fallins; like a halo 
 about her sweet, childish face. When she looked 
 upon Amy, a smile of triumph wreathed her cold, 
 proud lips, and she said, " It is well ; the drug I' 
 gave her has had the desired effect; she will sleep 
 until I get her miles and miles from Hampton 
 Mead and the ^dear AValter' she talks so much 
 about." 
 
 We will not tarry longer with details as to how 
 Hester Spotswood reached Philadelphia with her 
 granddaughter. 
 
 The day upon which Walter had taken Amy 
 from her grandmother's cabin, Hester Spotswood 
 had gone to Mr. Field's house to do some work, 
 and while there, Mr. Field brought a newspaper 
 from the post-office, containing an advertisement 
 requesting Hester Spotswood to call on her father's 
 
LADY HESTER. 137 
 
 old business managers, " Sparks & Wind." So, 
 after returning to her lonely wayside cabin, and 
 
 finding Amy had disappeared, she went to B , 
 
 and took the staiie for Wihiiini'ton. All this had 
 taken time; but when she became fully aware of 
 her duty to her grandchild, and had considered 
 the matter well, she felt that she could not leave 
 America without at least looking upon Amj-'s face 
 again, and she went to work to find her; and now 
 that she had succeeded, and believing her not to 
 be Walter's wife, she determined to carry Amy -to 
 England, and there induce her to lead a better 
 life; for she fully believed Amy Le Clare had 
 sinned. She kept Amy under the influence of a 
 powerful but harmless drug known to her, until 
 they were far out at sea. Even up to the morn- 
 ing we find them at Glen Park, Amy's system was 
 seldom free from the effects of this drug. 
 
 It was almost an overwhelming shock to Lady 
 Hester, wdien she discovered that Amj' would in 
 time become a mother ; but she was compelled to 
 make the best of her unfortunate situation. She 
 
138 LADY HESTER. 
 
 led a quiet, retired life at Glen Park with her 
 servants, a trusty land-agent looking after her 
 tenants, of whom there were many. 
 
 Lady Hester never thought of entering society. 
 She still buried her bitter sorrow far down in her 
 troubled heart, and waited for the time when she 
 should avenge her beautiful young daugliters 
 wrongs, and her grandchild's. She felt even more 
 bitter this morning, when this little innocent babe 
 w^as placed in her arms, and the physician told her 
 it was doubtful if the young child-mother would 
 live. 
 
 Will Lady Hester have her revenge ? and what 
 shape will it take? Will poor pale Amy ever 
 again see Walter Hampton and the beautiful 
 Mead, far away among the North Carolina moun- 
 tains ? Not if Lady Hester can prevent it. She 
 disliked to be addressed as " my lady," and simply 
 looked upon herself as Hester Spotswood, in whose 
 veins the purest blood of America flowed. But 
 custom is everything. She had taken up her 
 abode for the present, at least, in England. The 
 
LADY HESTER. 139 
 
 three servants she retained had been in the service 
 of Lord Glenmore, and alwaj^s addressed her as 
 Ladv Hester. 
 
 When she thinks of her days in America when 
 she had incurred her father's displeasure and had 
 received his curse, and of all the bitter dajs she 
 had spent, yet, oh, how gladly would she give all 
 this grandeur up, and return again to America 
 and take up her life of toil and hardships, if she 
 could only have her Amy an innocent child again, 
 sitting at her knees as in the days of yore ! This 
 she thinks can never be, and an expression of 
 intense suffering sweeps over her proud, cold face, 
 as she again seeks the room of the young mother 
 and child. 
 
140 LOST AGAIN. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 LOST AGAIN. 
 
 EARLY on the morning after the making of 
 Mr. Hampton's will, Mr. Hastings and 
 Octavia Stanley left Hampton Mead for the 
 
 village of B . Octavia had never passed over 
 
 this road before, and though she was a great 
 admirer of the beautiful, had given no thought to 
 the God who made the mountains in all their 
 grandeur and magnificence ; the proud and 
 majestic blue rivers, threading their way over 
 great rocks and falling in silver cascades, making 
 sweet music as they ripple on their way to the 
 sea. We love to linger over this road from 
 
 Hampton Mead to B , where we cross two 
 
 of the most beautiful mountain rivers in the 
 world, and where the author of this book has 
 spent so many, many happy days in childhood 
 rowing a frail canoe, and, even as an untaught 
 
LOST AGAIN. 141 
 
 child, felt the Q:lorv and o^oodness of God in 
 bestowing so much beauty around our childhood's 
 home. 
 
 We will not follow Mr. Hastings and Octavia 
 
 beyond B , for after that much of the rugged 
 
 beauty of the landscape is lost. We will now 
 follow Walter Hampton for a time. Bidding his 
 father good-bye, Walter had Whirlwind saddled, 
 and when he was brought round, mounted and 
 rode away in a brisk gallop up the river's side. 
 He went to the mountain cave, which Lawrence 
 Hastin2:s had visited, but there w^as no one there 
 to give him a glad welcome, no low, soft, musical 
 voice to express gladness at his coming. All was 
 as quiet as the grave. 
 
 A cold, strange, awed feeling came over him, and 
 his young heart wailed forth : "Oh, Amy ! Amy! 
 my darling, where are you?" And w^ith a pale, 
 ha2:irard face he left the cave, remounted his horse, 
 
 and started off in the direction of B . He was 
 
 going to see Hester Spotswood ; he felt that she 
 had something to do with Amy's disappearance, 
 
142 LOST AGAIN. 
 
 but when he reached her wayside-hut he found 
 it deserted. He then w^ent to Mr. Field's, at 
 Cedar Yale, and made inquiries of them. But 
 they said she had not been there for several 
 weeks ; that of late she had acted very strangely, 
 since her granddaughter had disappeared some 
 months before. He went on to the crossing of the 
 river, at the point where his horse had so nobly 
 carried Amy and himself. When he had crossed 
 the river he sat down on the trunk of a fallen 
 tree, Avhere he had sat before with his dear, 
 unconscious burden, after he had succeeded in 
 getting her out of the water. 
 
 How vividly this scene arose before him now ! 
 the golden hair falling over his arm, with the 
 snowy lids covering the brown eyes, with deep 
 purple rings settled beneath them, and water 
 issuing from the pallid lips, and the small hands 
 clenched and blue. After working with her for 
 some time — oh, the unspeakable joy he felt when 
 he saw the eyelids quiver and a faint sigh escape 
 her cold lips, and a fervent " Thank God ! my 
 
LOST AGAIN. 143 
 
 Amy is spared me ! " came from Walter. All this 
 comes back to him now. 
 
 Where was his loved one now? The soft south 
 winds seemed to whisper to his young troubled 
 heart, " Seek for her until you find her." Then 
 it was not as it is now. The voice of the steam- 
 engine had not echoed over the hills and moun- 
 tains as they do to-day. They could not step into 
 a telegraph office and send a message to all parts of 
 the world. After sitting there for a while, Walter 
 
 resolved to ride on to B , and spend the night 
 
 at the hotel. He found several papers on a table 
 in his room, and when the waiter brought in 
 lights he sat down to look at them. They were 
 dated several weeks back; and on the first of 
 one of the papers this notice caught his eye : 
 
 "If Hester Spotswood will call on Sparks & 
 Wind, she will hear of something to her advan- 
 
 tage. 
 
 » 
 
 Walter looked at the paper for some time ; then 
 his mind was made up : he would start for 
 Wilmington on the morrow, and there he would 
 
144 LOST AGAIN. 
 
 find his Amy, and claim her at once. So accord- 
 ing to his intentions he took the stage-coach early 
 the next morning and began his tiresome journey, 
 leaving his horse to the care of a friend until his 
 return. Thus we find young Walter Hampton 
 drifting from his home ; the home in which he has 
 no place now ; the old haunts that knew him 
 once will know him no more. Does the old stage- 
 coach, as it rolls along over the rough, uneven 
 roads and through pine forests, bring him any 
 nearer to the loved one he seeks? No; for at 
 this same moment Hester Spotswood and Amy 
 are crossino- the mountains into Virginia. 
 
 When Walter reached Wilmington, and called 
 on Sparks k Wind, and they refused to give 
 him any information concerning Mrs. Spotswood's 
 whereabouts, his grief knew no bounds ; and his 
 poor aching heart almost broke within him. 
 
 The lawyers had been requested to keep her 
 residence in England a secret from all the world, 
 and poor Walter left their ofhce with a pale, 
 haggard face; still he would not give up the 
 
LOST AGAIN. 145 
 
 search. He would go to Norfolk, to the place 
 where Mrs. Spots wood used to live ; perhaps she 
 had carried Amy there. Without even stopping 
 long enough to call on his mother's relatives, he 
 embarked on board a vessel the same day. When 
 he reached Norfolk it was only to be disappointed, 
 and his means were nearly exhausted, but he had 
 a fine gold watch and a valuable solitaire diamond 
 ring; these he could dispose of, and they would 
 assist him in continuing his search, but he would 
 not dispose of them in Norfolk ; he could get more 
 for them in Philadelphia, and thither he deter- 
 mined to go. When he reached Philadelphia he 
 called on Charlie Field, who was delighted to see 
 him, but when he took Walter's hand, the young 
 medical student started, and said : 
 
 " My dear fellow, you are feverish ; your hand 
 is burning with fever, and your face is pale and 
 careworn. What is the matter with our healthful 
 Carolina mountains? Yours is the second pale 
 and careworn face I have seen from there this 
 
 week." 
 9 
 
146 LOST AGAIK. 
 
 "Whose was the other?" gasped Walter, 
 holding his breath for the answer. 
 
 "Amy Le Clare," said Charlie. 
 
 "Amy Le Clare ! " cried Walter. " Where did 
 you see her ? " hoarsely. 
 
 " I saw her and her grandmother go on board a 
 vessel bound for Liverpool, as I went aboard to 
 see a friend off for the old world." 
 
 Walter sank down, while a deadly faintness 
 overcame him. He had lived in a state of great 
 excitement for so many weeks, and the shock of 
 losing Amy was too much for his constitution, 
 and he was compelled to succumb to the laws of 
 nature. For many weeks he lay with fever 
 burning and parching his body, and it was a long 
 time before he could walk about, let alone leave 
 his room, but Charlie Field watched over him 
 with all the care and devotion of a tender brother. 
 When Walter got better, Charlie never hinted 
 that, when delirious, he had laid bare part of his 
 heart's trouble ; but only a part, however, for he 
 did not reveal what Amy was to him. 
 
THE MEAD IS DESERTED. 147 
 
 CHAPTER XYIL 
 
 THE MEAD IS DESERTED. 
 
 IT is gloomy at Hampton Mead. The window « 
 are all closed. There is not a single bit of 
 life within its walls. The peaceful, happy home, 
 and contented hearts that once dwelt there are 
 gone. The shadow of Norva's life was deepened 
 by Walter's banishment from his home, insomuch 
 so that she had become quite ill, and Dr. Adams 
 had advised her to a change of scene. But 
 Lawrence Hastings had first suggested this change 
 to the honest old country physician. 
 
 At first Norva's father refused to give her up, 
 but a peculiar light shone from her husband's 
 eyes, as he said : 
 
 *^My dear sir, your daughter is all you have 
 now. Accompany us, and we will try to cheer 
 you in your sorrow," and he lowered his voice to 
 the softest and most persuasive tone. 
 
148 THE MEAD IS DESERTED. 
 
 The suggestion struck Mr. Hampton favorably ; 
 for when the time for his daughter's departure 
 came he had made his arrangements to accompany 
 her. When she would leave the Mead there 
 would be but one golden link to bind him to 
 his once happy home ; it being the sacred spot 
 where slept his wife, the mother of his children. 
 Now we find him about to leave his adopted home 
 and return to old England. If he could only have 
 seen what the future held for him and his, he 
 would never have taken that journey. Perhaps 
 it is well that the veil of the present hides the 
 face of the future, be it for weal or woe. Mr. 
 Hampton had grown very old in the last few 
 weeks; his hair had scarcely a thread of silver 
 in it when Lawrence had taken up his abode at 
 Hampton Mead, now they were thickly sprinkled 
 through it. 
 
 He had given strict orders to his household 
 never to mention the name of his banished son in 
 his presence. This was rather a hard task with 
 the negroes, who had known and loved Walter 
 
THE MEAD IS DESERTED. 149 
 
 from his birth, and especially for Mammy Silvia, 
 wliose wrath, when she learned how matters stood, 
 knew no bounds. A morning or two after the 
 making of Mr. Hampton's will, she went to her 
 master's room and fell on her knees at his feet. 
 
 " What is it. Aunt Silvia ? " said he, huskily ; 
 for he surmised why the old faithful creature was 
 there. 
 
 "Oh, marster! for de lub ob heben, where is 
 my boy? where is dear Massa Walter, my dear 
 mistess first horned ? Oh, marster ! have you 
 cast him off, driven him from his home, an' taken 
 dat ar cussady debil of a Mr. Hastings in his 
 place ? Oh, marster, do send for my dear lubly 
 boy to come home. If you don't, his moder will 
 rise from de grave, an' 'cuse you ob dis great 
 wrong." 
 
 Mr. Hampton grew cold and pale as Silvia 
 spoke, and his voice trembled with agitation, as 
 he said : 
 
 " Silvia, Walter Hampton is dead to me hence- 
 forth, or as one that had never been; and one 
 
150 THE MEAD IS DESERTED. 
 
 that has never been we cannot name. Therefore, 
 in the future, consider my son Lawrence your 
 young master, which he will be some day if you 
 and he live." 
 
 " God forbid ! " said Silvia. " When dat ar day 
 comes, master, I shall be all debil. Dear marster, 
 I has pleaded to you for my chile in vain. Now 
 let me tell 3'ou something, 'case a 'sentment has 
 come ober me. You has cast my chile from your 
 heart, but he an' his will yet rule at Hampton 
 Mead. De debil will not always rule at large ; he 
 will be tied up some ob dese days; den Marster 
 Walter will hab his own. Do you mind what I 
 say, ole massa ? " 
 
 Mr. Hampton came to Silvia's side and whispered 
 in her ear. The old woman fell over on the floor 
 and moaned like one bereft of her reason. She 
 did not mention Walter's name again from that 
 day to the time when Mr. Hampton, her master, 
 started on his journey, and for many days her face 
 wore a gray, ashen hue, occasioned by great mental 
 suffering. The servants attributed it to her losing 
 
THE MEAD IS DESERTED. 151 
 
 their young mistress and master, for they knew how 
 dear they were to her. But Silvia never enUght- 
 ened any one of them as to the cause of her grief, 
 not even Isom Turner, her husband. At times 
 she would almost cry out with horror when that 
 thought of crime came up before her. She lived 
 in fear of betraying, by word or deed, the only 
 great secret of her life, for it involved the wel- 
 fare of another for whom she would willingly 
 have died. 
 
 Lawrence wrote to his father and Octavia to 
 take a vessel from New Orleans to New York, 
 where he and his wife and father-in-law w^ould 
 meet by the first of September. 
 
 The morning on which they started was beauti- 
 ful in the extreme. Never did the mountains 
 look more grand and majestic than upon that 
 morning — with the glorious rays of the rising sun 
 gilding their emerald tops, and the sky so clear in 
 its azure depths. Never did the trees look greener, 
 the flowers bloom sweeter, or the birds sing more 
 sweetly than upon that morning. It seemed as 
 
152 THE MEAD IS DESERTED. 
 
 thongli all nature had united in offering its beauty 
 and sublimity as a tribute to those leaving Hamp- 
 ton Mead. Never did it appear more beautiful to 
 poor, pale Norva, as she lay back in the carriage, 
 with a troubled face, and a sad look in her eyes. 
 When would she see this beautiful scenery again? 
 
 Ah! when? Mr. Hampton was sad also. 
 
 Lawrence took his wife's cold hands in his and 
 said : 
 
 "Do not look so sad, my darling. When we 
 return to Hampton Mead, the roses of health will 
 be blooming on your cheeks, as they were when I 
 first met you," and with his eyes fixed on hers, 
 she smiled up into his face. It was strange — but 
 of late Norva never smiled, only when the eyes of 
 her husband were fixed upon her. 
 
IN LONDON. 153 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 IN LONDON. 
 
 IMMEDIATELY after reaching New York, the 
 party went on board of a vessel bound for 
 Liverpool, at which place they duly arrived. 
 After a few days' rest they went to London, and 
 lived in a hotel there. In a few days after they 
 had become somewhat rested and interested in 
 their new surroundinirs, Mrs. Hastin2:s benan to be 
 more cheerful than she had been for many weeks ; 
 and when Octavia saw the delicate color steal- 
 ing into her face, and the soft tender light into 
 her eyes, her soul was troubled. Octavia had lost 
 none of her rare, bewitching beauty, but was 
 becoming thin and pale. 
 
 There was no congeniality of feeling between 
 Norva and Octavia. Mrs. Hastinijs tried to love 
 Octavia for her husband's sake, but could not; and 
 
154 IN LONDON. 
 
 Octavia hated Norva so deeply that she shunned 
 her as much as possible. One morning, Norva 
 said to her husband : 
 
 '' Dear Lawrence, do you not feel alarmed about 
 Octavia?" 
 
 "Wherefore alarmed, my dear wife?" said he, 
 quickly. 
 
 "Because you love her so much, and I think 
 she is going into a consumption," said Norva, 
 gently. 
 
 As she spoke, every vestige of color left her 
 husband's face, and he hissed forth: "You lie, 
 madam, Octavia cannot die," and he trembled 
 with deep emotion. Norva recoiled back in alarm, 
 as if the man before her was insane. 
 
 Lawrence quickly remembered himself, and 
 going up to his wife he fell upon his knees at her 
 feet, and the voice that spoke was calm and soft, 
 as he said : 
 
 " My dear, dear wafe, forgive me. I know I 
 have acted like a brute: but your words filled me 
 with alarm, and made me very angry. I should 
 
IN LONDON. 155 
 
 rather thank you for speaking to me about 
 Octavia with so much interest. She is the play- 
 mate of my childhood. She is too beautiful to 
 die," and in speaking of the beautj^ of Octavia, a 
 change came over this man's face, a change so 
 great that his wife could not help seeing, and she 
 sunk down into the nearest chair, pale, weak and 
 trembling. Her white lips parted to speak, but 
 her husband came and took her cold hands in his, 
 and smiled down sweetly into her face. His eyes 
 sought hers as he said : " My love, my wife, are 
 you ill?" 
 
 In a moment the color came back into her face 
 as she smiled back on him and said : " No, dear, 
 I am not ill, just a little faint," and he gathered 
 her to his heart and pressed kiss after kiss upon 
 her sweet face; and even then he was exulting 
 in his power over her. A few more days and he 
 felt he would be in a fair way to realize his cher- 
 ished hopes. 
 
 After this scene, harmony was restored again 
 between husband and wife. The next day father 
 
156 IN LONDON. 
 
 and son left London, the latter going to Corn- 
 wall, and Lis father to Manchester. They were 
 absent nearly three weeks, and both reached 
 London on the same day. They did not go to 
 their hotel at once, however, but entered a club- 
 house which both had frequented. Here father 
 and son compared notes. 
 
 " Well, old chap," said Lawrence, familiarly, 
 after he had taken a glass or two of wine, 
 "what success?" 
 
 " Splendid, my dear Lawrence, splendid ; I 
 have found just the place. Lind Hurst is one of 
 the most secure places of the kind in England ; 
 and also one of the most beautiful." 
 
 " I hope you have everything in readiness at 
 Castle Rook ? " resumed Mr. Hastings. 
 
 " Yes ; all is fair and bright in that quarter. I 
 have employed old Delgardo to look after my 
 business at Castle Rook, and you know he is to be 
 depended upon. Li him and Jessine, his wife, we 
 can put the greatest confidence. I have no fears 
 in that direction," said Lawrence, as he replen- 
 ished his glass. 
 
IN LONDON. 157 
 
 '' It's a nice thing, governor, as they say 
 in America, to marry a fortune. The time 
 was when we could not afford to indulge in 
 anything of this kind," and as he spoke he held 
 up a decanter. 
 
 " Now that we have come to an understanding 
 we had better repair to our hotel and see how our 
 plans will work," laughed young Hastings, as the 
 two men left the club-house. 
 
 When the lamps were lighted for the night, 
 Lawrence knocked softly at Octavia's door, 
 and was admitted. There was another such 
 meeting as we have seen before at Hampton 
 Mead, in the far off mountains of North Caro- 
 lina. Lawrence clasped Oct a via in his strong 
 arms, and held her close to his throbbing 
 heart, while he said in the most affectionate 
 tones : 
 
 " My darling, it is done. A few more days, 
 and we will know the joys and realities of 
 earthly bliss. Then, my darling, your every 
 wish shall be gratified. Have I not redeemed 
 
158 IN LONDON. 
 
 the promise I made you one year ago ? " said he, 
 straining her to him. 
 
 " Not quite," said she, as she looked into his 
 
 eyes and smiled. " I will tell you better a 
 week hence, dear Lawrence," and she rested her 
 head upon his bosom. 
 
THE MASK FALLS. 159. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE MASK FALLS. 
 
 IMAGINE the lonely rock-bound coast of Corn- 
 wall, with no appearance of life to redeem 
 the dull monotony of the everlasting waves, as 
 they lash themselves into fury against the dark- 
 gray rocks of an old tumble-down castle, which has 
 not been inhabited for years. A more isolated spot 
 could scarcely be found. A massive wall that 
 surrounded the castle on three sides had lately 
 been repaired. No vessel of any kind ever came 
 near this dreary ocean prison ; not even light 
 fishing-crafts hardly ever hove in sight of it. 
 
 One dismal, dreary winter night, a carriage 
 drew up at this old castle, and Lawrence Hastings 
 alighted and knocked sharply upon the great iron 
 gate with the head of his cane. Going back to 
 the carriage, he said to his wife : 
 
 " My love, it is growing very dark ' and chill ; 
 
160 THE MASK FALLS. 
 
 we will stop here over night, and go on next 
 morning. I know the old couple who stay here, 
 and we shall be treated with great courtesy." 
 
 '' Lawrence, what is that dull, mournful sound I 
 hear? It chills my very soul!" said Norva, with 
 a sickenino: shudder. 
 
 '^ The wind is high, love, and it is the waves 
 lashins; asrainst the rocks and walls of the castle." 
 said Lawrence, lis^htlv. 
 
 "Oh, husband ! I shall die, if I have to listen 
 to that sound long ; I would rather go on to 
 your beautiful home, and be exposed to the 
 rain and storm on the road, than to seek shelter 
 here." 
 
 " Do not be nervous and unreasonable, my dar- 
 ling," said Hastings, in a tone of anxiety. " In 
 the morning the wind and rain will have ceased, 
 and we shall soon reach our destination. Then 
 you will feel ashamed of your cowardice. There 
 is little romance in your composition, I fear ; for 
 my part, I love to listen to the sound that is so 
 disagreeable to you. The more noise the waves 
 
THE MASK FALLS. IGl 
 
 make as thev beat a2:ainst the rocks, the sweeter 
 the music is." 
 
 Just then the gate flew open, and a man 
 appeared carrying a lantern. 
 
 ^' What is wanted?" said a deep, gruff voice, 
 with a strong foreign accent. 
 
 Hastings went forward, and said : 
 
 "Ah ! Delgardo ! is that you ? " 
 
 ^'Who calls my name?" said the man thus 
 addressed. 
 
 "Have you forgotten me, my kind old friend?" 
 said Lawrence, laus^hins:. 
 
 " Oh, now I know you, Mr. Hastings. Come in 
 out of this storm ; it is fearful. I thought you 
 were in America. My old wife will be overjoyed 
 to know that you have returned. I suppose you 
 are on your way to your old home, the Morelands ? 
 But come in. By yourself, as usual?" said Del- 
 gardo, and he turned his swarthy face away from, 
 the light he held in his hand as he spoke. 
 
 Hastings gave a low, soft laugh, as he replied : 
 
 "No, Delgardo, I am not alone; my wife is with 
 10 
 
162 THE MASK FALLS. 
 
 me ; and as the storm is severe, I hope jou and 
 your wife can give us comfortable shelter for the 
 night." 
 
 " Of course, signor. We always have a room 
 for you; and my good wife will be delighted to 
 hear there is a fair signora. But the storm 
 increases. Come in, Signor Hastings." 
 
 Lawrence w^ent up to the carriage door and 
 opened it, saying, "Alight, dear Norva ; you will 
 soon be secure from the storm, within the walls 
 of Castle Rook." 
 
 Norva obeyed her husband; and as her small 
 feet came in contact with the ground, a cold sensa- 
 tion pervaded her whole being, and she clung to 
 her husband's arm. They passed through the 
 gate, and it swung shut with a dull, heavy sound. 
 A moment more and they entered the portals of 
 Castle Rook. 
 
 They were met in the wide corridor by old 
 'Jessine, who started back in well-feigned surprise, 
 saying, "Can this be Signor Hastings? It is 
 months since we have seen your handsome face 
 
THE MASK FALLS. 163 
 
 and sweet Mademoiselle Stanley." She gave Norva 
 a keen, sharp look, and said, " Not Mademoiselle 
 Stanley?" 
 
 " No," Hastings hastened to say ; " this beauti- 
 ful lady is my wife, Jessine, whom I found in 
 the wilds of America since last you saw me, and 
 we claim your hosj^itality for the night. I know, 
 as of old, you will make us welcome." 
 
 " That we will. Monsieur Hastings. Come 
 right in to this room, where we have a good fire ; 
 Madam looks cold and tired." 
 
 As the old woman spoke she opened a door to 
 her right, bade them enter, placed her candle on 
 the table, and drew a large easy-chair for Norva 
 up near the fire ; then telling her guests to make 
 themselves comfortable, w^ent out to prepare their 
 supper. Jessine shot a meaning look in Lawrence 
 Hastings' face as she was leaving the room, and 
 he smiled blandly back in her face. 
 
 When she was gone, Hastings said, " Is this not 
 better than being exposed to the storm and dark- 
 ness?" and he took her cold hands in his and 
 looked down into her frightened eyes. 
 
164 THE MASK FALLS. 
 
 " Yes, better," she replied, wearily ; " but, oh ! 
 how sadly the sea beats against the walls ! We 
 must leave this j)lace early in the morning ; shall 
 we not? That old French woman frightens me 
 with her evil-looking face." 
 
 Lawrence laughed a soft, low laugh, and said, 
 ^^Yes, darling, w^e will leave here early in the 
 morning, and reach Morelands for breakfast. My 
 people will be greatly disappointed because we did 
 not get there to-night; but it cannot be helped." 
 
 In a little while old Jessine returned to the 
 room bearing a large tray of cold meats, fish, rolls, 
 and rich coffee. 
 
 For less than ten minutes after her meal Norva 
 reclined in her chair, and a strange, sweet feeling 
 stole over her, and in a little while was in a deep 
 sleep ; so profound was her slumber she forgot all 
 her troubles and fears of the old castle and the 
 grim face of old Dame Delgardo. 
 
 When Lawrence saw how profoundly she was 
 sleeping, he went to the door and motioned old 
 Jessine to follow him. When they were out of 
 
THE MASK FALLS. 165 
 
 the room, he said, ^* You have been faithful to me, 
 Jessine. Do you and Delgardo prove as faithful 
 in the future as you have in the past, and your 
 reward shall be munificent. Let us find the old 
 man, and I will pay you and him the price agreed 
 upon." 
 
 '' Many thanks, monsieur," said Jessine. " You 
 can trust Delgardo and me ! Did I not nurse you 
 at my breast in your infancy? Shall I desert 
 you now ? " 
 
 When they reached the room in which Delgardo 
 was seated, smoking his pipe by the fire, Hastings 
 drew a roll of bank notes from his pocket and 
 handed them to Delgardo. 
 
 " More w^ill be furnished you bye-and-bye. You 
 have full instructions — follow them. I have no 
 time to lose. Everything is settled," he said, 
 quickly, and left the old man and woman and 
 returned to the room where he left his wife. 
 
 Norva's head had fallen back, and her face w^as 
 pale as death. Lawrence took her hand ; it w^as 
 as cold as ice. He removed all her jewels from 
 
166 THE MASK FALLS. 
 
 her person, took her purse from her pocket, and 
 the costly ruby comb from her head, placing 
 them in the breast-pocket of his coat, and, with a 
 low, mocking bow, said, "Fare thee well, Mrs. 
 Lawrence Hastings ! Where and when shall we 
 next meet ? " and, with a fiendish smile darkening 
 his face, glided from the room. 
 
I WILL WAIT. 167 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 1 WILL WAIT. 
 
 IT was a lovely summer's day. The sun shone 
 down on Glen Park with full brilliancy. 
 The merry birds sang from the branches of the 
 leafy trees, and all nature seemed to rejoice. 
 The scent of new-mown hay, mingled with the 
 delicate odor of blossoms, was wafted by the soft 
 summer breeze into Lady Hester Spotswood's 
 sitting-room. A very pretty room it was — large, 
 light and airy, with a southern aspect, and fur- 
 nished with exquisite taste. The view from the 
 open window was beautiful in the extreme. You 
 could look far off over fields of sweet-scented hay, 
 and also have a gaze on a lovely flower garden 
 where thousands of sv/eet flowers unfolded their 
 fragrance to the breeze. 
 
 Lady Hester, the stately half-breed, is not look- 
 inf^ at the meadows or the flowers. She is gazing 
 
168 I WILL WAIT. 
 
 intently on a graceful figure robed in white muslin, 
 playing with a sunny boy eighteen months old. 
 A shadow gathers over the lady's face, and low, 
 half inaudible words fall from her lips ; then aloud 
 she says : " How very beautiful my darling Amy 
 is ! Is there another in England half so fair ? and 
 her child, my great-grandchild, he, too, is beau- 
 tiful. But he has the face of Walter Hampton! 
 God! where is thy justice! Where is the vile 
 destroyer of my granddaughter? Where is the 
 flither of that boy?" Lady Hester set her teeth 
 together and murmured : "I will wait." 
 
 Soon Amy came slowly on to the house, leading 
 her boy by the hand. She sought Lady Hester, 
 and said : 
 
 "Dear grandma, little Alfred can tell you his 
 name. Is he not bris^ht for a child of eis^hteen 
 months? Here, darling, tell grandma your 
 name." 
 
 The little fellow went up to Lady Hester, tool^ 
 hold of her hand, and said : 
 
 "I named Alfred Hampton." 
 
I WILL WAIT. 169 
 
 "Yes, you are a Hampton, but like your poor 
 foolish mother, you have no right to the name 
 you bear. It is not your fault, little one," said 
 she, stooping and gathering him to her bosom, 
 while tears stole softly down her cheeks and fell 
 upon the young head she was caressing. He 
 looked up into her face with his innocent baby- 
 eyes, and she saw an expression that reminded her 
 of her dear child sleeping in her humble grave far 
 away in Virginia. Amy saw this look of tender- 
 ness that swept over her grandmother's usually 
 cold, proud face, and going to her side, fell upon 
 her knees and buried her golden head on her 
 bosom, and said: 
 
 "Oh, dear grandma, let me go back to America! 
 Why did you tear me from him I love so dearly ! 
 If you knew how my poor heart aches for one 
 more look on his dear face — to hear again his 
 tender voice calling me Amy. Oh, for those few 
 blissful months we spent together in the mountain 
 , cave ! for these I would gladly exchange all this 
 grandeur. Grandmother, have pity on me; for 
 two years you have kept me from him!" 
 
170 I WILL WAIT. 
 
 Lady Hester sprang to her feet and commenced 
 to walk the floor. 
 
 *'Amy Le Clare! how can you have the face to 
 come to me with such a request? Would you go 
 back to that man, and begin again a life of sin 
 and shame? I have already done more than most 
 women would have done. I have taken you to 
 my heart again, and will do all I can for you and 
 your son. In a few years I will have passed 
 away; then all this vast wealth will be yours and 
 his, to do with as you see fit; but I cannot permit 
 you to return to Walter Hampton even if he 
 asked it. Do you not know, simple child, that 
 he has forgotten you long ago, and perhaps taken 
 to himself a lawful wife ? " 
 
 "No, grandmother; he has not forgotten me; he 
 loill have 710 icife hut me ; he is the father of my 
 child,'' cried Amy, almost frantic with grief. 
 
 "It is plainly to be seen by any one who has 
 ever seen his handsome, treacherous face, that he 
 is the father of Alfred," said Lady Hester, coldly, 
 as she went out, leaving her granddaughter and 
 little Alfred alcne. 
 
I WILL WAIT. 171 
 
 Amy was more beautiful now than wlien we 
 first met her at the spring in the Carolina moun- 
 tains. She still retained all the sweet girlish 
 beauty that Walter so admired, now height- 
 ened by the tender and holy love of mother- 
 hood. When left alone with her child, she 
 gathered him to her heart, and said: ^'Oh, little 
 one! has your father forgotten me? It must be 
 as grandma says; if not, why does he not come to 
 me ? I have w^ritten to him so many times, tell- 
 ing him of my whereabouts and of your birth, and 
 yet he does not seek me, does not even write to 
 me. Yes, little one, it must be so — and the stain 
 will never be lifted that rests upon your innocent 
 head, for your poor mother s lips are sealed by an 
 oath. God pity us, my child ! " Then she wailed 
 out : " Walter ! Walter ! would that you had let 
 me die when you took me insensible from the cold 
 waters of the river. Then there w^ould have been 
 no dear little baby to bear the shame and stigma 
 of our unfortunate marriage." Then hope whis- 
 pered, Write again : perhaps he did not receive 
 
172 IWILLWAIT. 
 
 your letters. "Yes," she said; "I will write 
 again, and bribe old Susette." 
 
 She did so; but that letter shared the fate of all 
 the others she had written. Susette gave it to 
 Lady Hester, who consigned it to the flames, 
 unopened. 
 
 Another dreary six months went by, and it had 
 been one year since Lawrence Hastings had taken 
 his departure from Castle Rook in storm and 
 darkness, and left his wife a captive, to pine her 
 life away in that old ocean prison. But where, all 
 this time, was her devoted father, that he did not 
 seek her out and save her from him she called her 
 husband ? 
 
 , /• 
 
BAD NEWS. 173 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 BAD NEWS. 
 
 THE soft, misty shadows of the Indian summer 
 were hanging over the mountains. The 
 forest trees were clothed in all their glorious 
 splendor of gay autumn tints. Lawyer Byrd, as 
 he rode out of the grounds of Hampton Mead, 
 muttered to himself: "It is very strange Mr. 
 Hampton made the will he did, giving all his 
 vast wealth to Mrs. Hastings, and in case of her 
 death without issue, to her husband. I cannot 
 understand it ! I cannot bear the thouc^ht of this 
 place falling into the hands of Lawrence Hast- 
 ings ! " and as his eyes wandered over the lovely 
 park with its rare beauty, he sighed to think how 
 many changes had come to the occupants of 
 Hampton Mead in the last two years. " I dread 
 to make known the mission upon which I have 
 come ! " he said, as he rode slowly along up the 
 
174 BAD NEWS. 
 
 smooth broad drive to the mansion. He met 
 Isom Turner, who had been airing the rooms, 
 with a huge bunch of keys in his hand on his way 
 to the overseer's house. 
 
 When Isom saw Mr. Byrd, he hastened to meet 
 him with a broad, good-natured smile on his black 
 face. There was not a negro on the j^h'^ce that 
 did not rejoice at Mr. Byrd's coming, for when he 
 visited them it was to read letters from the dear 
 ones over the sea. It had been several months 
 since any letters had come to their waiting, 
 anxious hearts. The smile on Isom's face vanished 
 when he saw the look of sloom res tin o; on the 
 lawyer's usually merry face ; and he quickly said : 
 
 " What news, Marster Byrd ? " 
 
 " Bad news, Isom ! bad news ! Your old master 
 is dead ; and your beautiful young mistress is 
 hopelessly insane ! " 
 
 " For de lub ob heben. Mars' Byrd ! what is 
 dis you tells me ? My old marster dead ! an' my 
 dear young Miss Norva gone 'stracted ! an' poor 
 Massa Walter ; I 'spects he is dead, too ! I's 
 
BAD NEWS. 175 
 
 awfully griebed to hear dis very disagreeably 
 news, Mars' Byrd. I just t'ink it will be de 
 winding up blow to my old 'oman Silvia, for she 
 is just wrapt up in dem chillen." 
 
 '^ I expect the news will fall heavily on Aunt 
 Silvia," said Mr. Byrd, kindly ; " but let us go on 
 down to the quarters and call all hands to the 
 house." 
 
 Before they had gone far, old Silvia saw them 
 comine, and hastened to meet them. Her old 
 black face lighted uj) with joy when she recog- 
 nized the lawyer, but when she had drawn nearer, 
 so that she could read the expression of his face, 
 she paused, and a gray, ashen hue settled over 
 her face, as she said : 
 
 "Marster Byrd, you has bad news for us dis 
 tinie ; I can see it in your 'spression ; I has felt 
 it coming; ; shadows casts der 'vents afore 'em. I 
 saw de new moon ober my left shoulder last night, 
 and I dream one ob Mars' Walter's doQ:s rolled on 
 his back last night in front ob me, and Belle, his 
 brudder, gib three prolongated howls dis morning. 
 
176 BAD NEWS. 
 
 The doves an' whipperwills have been telling me 
 ob coming sorrow." 
 
 " You must not be so superstitious, Aunt 
 Silvia ! " said Mr. Byrd, gently. " But you are 
 right in regard to the news I bring you. Isom 
 will tell you. I will go on, as I see the overseer 
 coming to meet me." 
 
 This overseer was none other than Wilks, 
 whom we have once before mentioned in our first 
 chapter. He had come to this country with Mr. 
 Hampton, and was a sharer with him in beautify- 
 ing the lovely home of Hampton Mead, and as he 
 had proved a good and faithful servant over a few 
 things, Mr. Hampton had made him overseer of 
 his large plantation, and business manager in 
 general at Hampton Mead. And indeed Wilks 
 McCard had not only the regard and respect of Mr. 
 Hampton, but of every other person on the place. 
 He was getting on in years now, being many years 
 older than Mr. Hampton. 
 
 McCard was a tall, old white-haired Scotchman, 
 and with his keen, good figure, and measured walk. 
 
BAD NEWS. it i 
 
 polished silver shoe-buckles and military hat, had 
 quite a venerable appearance. Wilks met the 
 lawyer with outstretched hands, and welcomed 
 him in the name of his absent master. Without a 
 w^ord, Mr. Byrd handed him a letter he had that 
 morning received from Lawrence Hastings. It 
 was brief, and ran as follows : 
 
 "London, Eng., JuJi/ 10th, 18 — . 
 
 " Mr. Saml. Byrd. 
 
 " Dear Sir : It is my painful duty to inform 
 you that Mr. Hampton, my much honored and 
 respected father-in-law, is no more. He departed 
 this life on the 25th of June. Cause of death — 
 gastric fever, as you will see by the certificate I 
 send you from his attending physician. I have 
 had so much trouble since his death, that I could 
 not write you before. As you know, my wife was 
 far from well when we left America. She has 
 never fully regained her health, and her father's 
 death proved a fearful blow to her, from which I 
 fear she will never recover. She has been a 
 raving maniac ever since. The physicians say her 
 case is a hopeless one. She is very frail. I fear 
 11 
 
178 BAD NEWS. 
 
 very much that by the time I write again I will 
 have to moarr. her loss. How I wish we had 
 remained in America ! If my beloved wife sur- 
 vives, I will take her to Hampton Mead in Sep- 
 tember, and try what old, familiar scenes can do 
 for her. As you are my wife's lawyer, perhaps 
 you could suggest what would be the wisest thing 
 to do. My dear sir, believe me as ever, 
 
 " Your sorrowing friend. 
 
 i 
 
 ' Lawrence Hastings." 
 
 Wilks McCard, having read the letter through, 
 folded it up and handed it back to Mr. Byrd. 
 His hand trembled and his lips quivered, but 
 he spoke not a word. He went slowly back to 
 his house, and rang the plantation bell for all 
 the hands to come in fi'om their labor. AVhea 
 they were all assembled, he tolled the bell slowly 
 and sadly several times. 
 
 The blacks did not know the meaning of this. 
 Mr. Byrd, however, occupying an elevated position, 
 so that all could hear him, proceeded to read 
 Hastings' letter. When he had finished, it was 
 heartrending to see their grief-stricken faces 
 
BAD NEWS. 179 
 
 and hear their outbursts of sorrow. While Mr. 
 Byrd and McCard were trying to soothe them, a 
 young man, with a face like death, and lips com- 
 pressed, staggered, rather than walked, up to Mr. 
 Byrd and fell at his feet in a swoon. In a 
 moment another outburst came from the lips of 
 the multitude at the sight of their young master, 
 Walter Hampton. In their joy at seeing him 
 again they forgot their sorrow for a time. But 
 their joy was soon turned to wailing, for just 
 then two officers rode up, and one of them said : 
 
 " Where is Walter Hampton ? He is our 
 prisoner." 
 
 "Your prisoner !'' exclaimed Mr. Byrd, coldly. 
 " Mr. Flowers, what do you mean ? Is Walter 
 Hampton charged with any crime? Who is his 
 accuser?'* 
 
 "Yes, sir," said Flowers. "He is charged 
 with the murder of a young girl bearing the 
 name of Amy Le Clare. At present it is not 
 necessary to make known the name of his accuser, 
 or state who it is that has preferred charges 
 
 against him. 
 
 j» 
 
180 CASTLE ROOK. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 CASTLE ROOK. 
 
 FOR a time we will leave Walter in his prison 
 cell at B , until we visit Castle Rook in 
 
 Cornwall, and see how long Norva Hastings slept 
 after old Jessine. had given her the drug in her 
 coflfee on the ni2:ht of her arrival. 
 
 It was late in the afternoon of the next day, 
 when she opened her eyes and found herself alone, 
 lying on a bed in a room, the windows of which 
 looked out on the great dark sea. The storm of 
 the night previous had passed away, but the 
 waves still rose and fell in angry tumult as they 
 dashed against the rocks. At first, Norva could 
 not remember where she was, and as she 
 attempted to leave her bed, fell back on her 
 pillow, weak and faint. The powerful drug had 
 left her as helpless as a little child, and in a low 
 voice she repeatedly called her husband's name, 
 
CASTLE ROOK. 181 
 
 but received no reply, and only the dull sound of 
 the waves, as they washed the walls, reached her 
 anxious ear. 
 
 In the course of an hour the door opened, and 
 old Jessine came in, bearing a tray with some 
 food. Norva looked at her and trembled, her 
 nerves were so excited b}^ the drug she had taken, 
 and the hard face of the old woman struck terror 
 to her heart, as she said : 
 
 "Where is Mr. Hastings? Where is my 
 
 husband?" 
 
 The old woman almost laughed, as she said : 
 
 "Your husband. Mademoiselle Hastings, has 
 concluded to leave you here for a few days with 
 me, as he was suddenly called away on very 
 important business last night." 
 
 " Mr. Hastings gone and left me here, alone in 
 this horrible place ! Oh ! it cannot be ! I shall 
 go mad if he does not come and take me back to 
 London, to my father ! " 
 
 The old dame set her tray down on a table, and 
 turned and faced this sweet, beautiful mountain 
 
182 CASTLE ROOK. 
 
 flower. She folded her fat hands on her breast^ 
 and a dark, threatening look settled over her face 
 as she said : 
 
 " Madam, I will not deceive you longer. Yoit 
 will never leave Castle Rook alive. It is Monsieur's 
 intention to keep you here. Old Delgardo and 
 myself are your jailors. We are paid to detain 
 you, and I may as well tell you, first as last, that 
 Monsieur has no estate in this part of the country. 
 There is no such place as the Morelands. When 
 he left London, it was only to bring you here. 
 This close confinement, coupled with the damp 
 sea-air, will soon cut the delicate thread by which 
 your life hangs, and my foster child w^ill be free 
 to wed Mademoiselle Stanley — the most beautiful 
 woman in England. In addition, he wall have all 
 your great wealth. Now, madam, take my advice 
 and make up your mind to bear your imprison- 
 ment with patience,, for there is no chance of 
 escape for you." 
 
 Norva, at this announcement, summoned all 
 her strength, and in great excitement sprang 
 from her bed and cried : 
 
CASTLE ROOK. 183 
 
 " Old woman, it is false ! My husband is not 
 the wretch you paint him to be ; and, if he were, 
 my father will seek me out and rescue me from 
 this terrible place. Mr. Hastings cannot keep me 
 here long. My father will soon miss me." 
 
 "Can't he, thoucfliV said old Jessine. "Tell me 
 how your father will find you, here in Cornwall, 
 when he himself is a prisoner near Manchester?" 
 
 "My flxther a prisoner! and for what?" said 
 Norva, with wild, starting ej'CS. 
 
 "Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Jessine, "you are so 
 dull, madam. Sit down here and quiet yourself, 
 and I will tell you something. Monsieur Lawrence 
 Hastings is poor. He loves Mademoiselle Stanley 
 better than his own soul. When he met you and 
 found you were a great heiress, they formed a plan 
 to become the possessors of all your wealth, and 
 this could not be accomplished without a marriage 
 between you and Monsieur Lawrence. You 
 have a brother whom Monsieur feared, and his 
 main object in life, at that time, was to get rid of 
 that brother, and he succeeded in having him 
 
]84 CASTLE ROOK. 
 
 disinherited, and in a few months he will fill a 
 cell in some prison. Delgardo and I know all 
 Monsieur's plans. Madam, I tell you again, make 
 the best of your imprisonment. The news of your 
 father's death will be forwarded to America, and 
 also the report of your hopeless insanity; and a 
 few months later, the report of your death will 
 follow. Then Monsieur Hastings will come 
 into full possession of all the Hampton wealth; 
 then Delgardo and old Jessine will never know 
 want again." 
 
 Here the old woman paused for breath, and 
 Norva said : 
 
 "On what ground will my brother occupy a 
 prison cell ? " 
 
 " Murder ! " hissed old Jessine. " He has murdered 
 a fair young girl in America, named Mademoiselle 
 Le Clare ; and Monsieur Hastings will see that he 
 is hung for it!" cried the old hag, with a fiendish 
 laugh. 
 
 This last piece of news was too much for 
 
CASTLE ROOK. 185 
 
 Norva's terribly sliocked nerves, and she threw 
 her hands to her head, and with a piercing scream 
 fell senseless to the floor. 
 
 Jessine retired, using no effort to bring the poor 
 sufferer to ; and the night was far advanced when 
 she canie to herself again. Oh ! the horror of her 
 awakening, when she realized her awful situation! 
 She felt that she had been betrayed by the wiles 
 of a villain, and was completely in his power. He 
 had laid his plans well, by which to secure the 
 Hampton wealth and further his wicked designs. 
 Norva's father, '' a prisoner near Manchester ; " her 
 dear brother Walter, confined in a criminal's cell 
 far away in America, and herself a prisoner in this 
 sea-girt castle far from friends and home. " Home ! " 
 How sweet the word sounded as she murmured 
 it to herself in utter helplessness, thinking how 
 she would like to be within the walls of Hampton 
 Mead again a free and happy girl, with her darling 
 father and noble brother ! 
 
 At last she said to Jessine, " Where are my 
 
186 CASTLE ROOK. 
 
 jewels? "Where have you put them? Return 
 them to me at once !" 
 
 Old Jessine laughed, and said, " You will have 
 to call on Monsieur for your jewels and purse ; he 
 took them with him to London." 
 
 Poor Norva! Now all the scenes came up to 
 her that she had witnessed between Lawrence and 
 Octavia, and she hid her face in her hands and 
 wept the bitterest tears of her young life, while 
 she thought how she had been betrayed by him 
 whom she had loved and trusted. Alas ! he had 
 violated his obligations, and by his own infamy 
 set the seal of a villain upon his own Cain-like 
 brow. 
 
 "Ah ! if the old woman tells the truth," thought 
 she, "I am really doomed to remain here until 
 death frees me ! But no ! the God whom I have 
 loved and obeyed all my life will not suffer me to 
 perish here. By His divine and unseen help I 
 will escape, and live to confront my wretched 
 husband 1 Oh ! Lawrence ! Lawrence ! " at last 
 broke from her pale lips, "why did I ever love 
 
CASTLE ROOK. 187 
 
 and trust you — you wlio have consigned me to 
 such a ]Dlace to die ? But I will not die ! I will 
 live for my father and brother ! " 
 
 Norva turned to the old woman, and said, 
 " Leave me ; I wish to be alone." 
 
 A grim smile hovered over the face of old 
 Jessine Delgardo, as she complied with Mrs. 
 Hastings' request. 
 
 When Norva was alone, she fell upon her Icnees 
 and prayed God to give her strength to endure her 
 great sorrow that had been sent upon her; she 
 prayed that some way would be provided for her 
 escape. 
 
 God surely answers prayer; but eighteen months 
 passed, and still Norva was at Castle Eook, and 
 her strength had begun to fail. In all this time 
 she had seen no one, save Jessine and old Del- 
 gardo. No sound had penetrated her ears, save 
 the harsh voices of her jailors and the continual 
 dash, dash, of the waves, and the cry of the sea- 
 ^ gull, as it flapped its wings against her window. 
 Many times she had been upon the eve of throw- 
 
188 CASTLE ROOK. 
 
 ing herself from her window into the dark waters 
 below her ; but as often she would say, " No, I 
 will wait, and trust in God a while yet." Then 
 thoughts of Lawrence would rise up before her, 
 and she would say, " Was it for this I gave all for 
 thee ? Ohj man, where is thy shame !" 
 
.LIND HURST. ISO 
 
 CHAPTER XXIIL 
 
 LIND HURST. 
 
 0( NOW and ice glittered in the pale, English 
 KJ sunlight as Amy and her little son drove 
 along the road in a pony phaeton, some four miles 
 from Glen Park. The flowers had all faded and 
 died ; the hedges were leafless, and sent forth no 
 delicate perfume; but the landscape was beautiful, 
 and poor Amy enjoyed the view very much. She 
 had never been so far from the Park since her 
 residence there began, two years ago and over. 
 
 A little further on they came upon a lovely 
 place on the left — a large, white stone building, 
 surrounded by a beautiful grove of tall, graceful 
 trees, protected by a high stone wall. Amy 
 turned to the groom wdio was attending her, and 
 said, "James, what place is this to our left?" 
 
 "Oh!" he said, "that is Dr. Hurst's private 
 infirmary for the insane, and it is called Lind 
 
190 LIND nURST. 
 
 Hurst. It is too lovely a place to be devoted to 
 anything so sad," he said, with a shake of the 
 head; "and it is rumored there are many who go 
 there that do not have diseased minds." 
 
 " You do not mean to say any one would go 
 there of their own accord, and when it was not 
 necessary," said Amy, in surprise ; for there w^as 
 somethino; so terrible to her mind in one beino; 
 shut up in such a place during a person's sanity, 
 that she shuddered. 
 
 " Oh, no ! they don't go there of their own 
 accord," said James ; " they are sent there because 
 they are in the way. There was a rich lord as 
 married a fair, sweet girl, and in time he grew 
 tired of her, and had her put in Lind Hurst. 
 After she had been there five years she escaped, 
 and came to Glen Park ; that was during the 
 Earl's time. She told him her story, and he kept 
 her concealed until she could hear from her 
 friends. As soon as they found out where she 
 was, they came and took her away. We never 
 heard what became of her after that ; at least, I 
 did not." 
 
LIND HURST. 191 
 
 Amy let her ponies walk slowly along the 
 hedge-road, and kept her eyes strained to catch a 
 glimpse of some of the inmates, but could not. She 
 thought, " There are many poor creatures more 
 wretched than myself. Oh, Walter ! how could 
 you treat me so ! when I love you so dearly ; 
 and shall love you while I live. But my trust is 
 gone." 
 
 At a sudden turn in the road they met a car- 
 riage drawn by two splendid black horses, that 
 pranced in handsome silver-mounted harness. The 
 carriage had one occupant, a man, perhaps forty 
 years of age, with dark eyes, hair and beard. His 
 features were cast in the most delicate mould. 
 Soft, sweet, sunny smiles rippled over the face of 
 this Apollo, as he lifted his hat politely to Amy, 
 and then passed on. " His face has the beauty 
 and softness of a leopard in repose," thought Am}'; 
 then, beckoning for James to come up, she asked : 
 
 " Do you know that gentleman ? " 
 
 " Yes, Miss Amy ! that was the proprietor of 
 Lind Hurst — Dr. Hurst himself!" 
 
192 LIND HURST. 
 
 " I thought so ! " said Amy. " But we have 
 gone far enough; let us turn and go back, or grand- 
 mother will become uneasy at my long absence. 
 She is expecting papers from America to-day, and 
 I am anxious to look them over with her." 
 
 She turned her ponies' heads in the direction of 
 Glen Park again, and as she passed Lind Hurst, 
 kept a keen, sharp watch fixed upon it as before, 
 but saw no one. 
 
 They had nearly passed the high stone wall, 
 when a small white stone fell at the feet of the 
 23onies and caused them to turn to one side of the 
 road. Amy had seen it on its flight before it fell, 
 and was sure it came from the other side of the 
 wall. 
 
 " Here, James, alight and hand me that stone 
 or whatever it may be," she said, in some excite- 
 ment. 
 
 James got off his horse and picked it up, and 
 handed it to her. It was a sheet of writing paper 
 rolled around a small stone. Amy, with trem- 
 bling fingers, opened the paper, smoothed it out, 
 
LIND HURST. 193 
 
 and read that which caused the color to leave her 
 beautiful face, and her blood to run cold in her 
 veins. 
 
 Let us look over her shoulder and read with her: 
 
 " For God's sake ! whoever gets this, try to 
 rescue me from this horrible place ! Enemies 
 have had me placed here, and have sent the 
 report of my death to America, so that they may 
 get full possession of my property. Try to save 
 me, for the love of heaven ! My name is Alfred 
 Hampton, of North Carolina, in the United States. 
 Whoever eets this, trv to o:et inside : carry a 
 white rose in your hand, and I will know I have 
 a friend." 
 
 When Amy finished reading it, she pressed her 
 
 lips together and thought : " Mr. Hampton, / 
 
 will go to your rescue! / will give you your 
 
 liberty! Amy Le Clare, the poor half-breed's 
 
 grandchild, who loved your son so much, will 
 
 save you, for the sake of this little one at my 
 
 side. I will do this to repay Walter for the 
 
 pure and happ}^ days we spent together before 
 12 
 
194 LIND HURST. 
 
 grandmother tore me from him. Where is he 
 now? why does he not write? has he forgotten 
 me? will he ever know he has a son? 
 
 "James, are you a true friend of mine?" said 
 Amy. "Would you keep a secret for me, and 
 aid me in something if it lay in your power to 
 do so?" 
 
 " I would do anything to aid a relative of Lord 
 Glenmore." 
 
 " Then do not tell my grandmother of this 
 letter. There is one in deep distress w^ithin these 
 walls — one whom she has known in America, 
 but she would not try to get him out, I fear, and 
 would try to prevent me from doing so if she 
 suspected his presence there." 
 
 " Some relative," thought James, " that my 
 grand Lady Hester does not like. Miss Amy, 
 do not think me impertinent, but is this from a 
 lady?" 
 
 " No, James, it is a gentleman much older than 
 yourself, and relation of my boy." 
 
 " It's enough. Miss Amy. I will do all I can 
 
LIND HURST. 195 
 
 for you," said James, with deep respect, for the 
 servants at Glen Park all loved this fair, sweet 
 girl very dearly, and idolized her child. 
 
 Lady Hester had told them when she first came 
 to Glen Park, that she had taken Amy from the 
 father of her child because he was unworthy of 
 her, and they all looked upon her as a wedded 
 wife, but knew not the name of her husband. 
 Little Alfred never put Hampton to his name, 
 unless when told to do so by his mother. 
 
 When Amy reached home she found Lady 
 Hester deeply interested in her mail. She had 
 received several American papers, and a letter 
 from her lawyers. Sparks & Wind, and it was 
 highly necessary, they said, that she should be in 
 Wilmington the first of the coming April. In 
 one of the latest Wilmington papers she read the 
 following notice : 
 
 " The trial of young Walter Hampton, for the 
 murder of Miss Le Clare, is put off until the April 
 term, when he expects to produce witnesses to 
 prove his innocence." 
 
196 LIND HURST. 
 
 This paper Lady Hester burned, for fear Amy 
 might also see this notice. Amy, however, took 
 little interest in the papers when she found there 
 was no letter for her. In the following week, 
 Lady Hester was on her way to Wilmington, with 
 a promise made to Amy that she would endeavor 
 to see Walter Hampton. 
 
. ( 
 
 TRAPPED. 1G7 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 TRAPPED. 
 
 A HAPPY smile played over the face of Dr. 
 Hurst, a month later, as he met his friend, 
 the elder Hastings, who had called to see how 
 his victim was getting along, and to pay the 
 doctor for his valuable services. 
 
 " So you say your patient is failing rapidly,'* 
 said Hastings, with a degree of great satisfaction, 
 stroking his beard. 
 
 " Yes," said the doctor, " he seems to be suffer- 
 ing from a low fever, and keeps his bed most of 
 the time." 
 
 '' That is well, doctor. Now, tell me how you 
 are making it with the golden-haired blonde you 
 wrote to me about some weeks ago." 
 
 "Splendidly!" said the doctor. "She is a little 
 widow, and you know a man can get along faster 
 in courtship with one of those angels, than with 
 
198 TRAPPED. 
 
 one who has never been married. Hastings, it is 
 strange that I have lived to be as old as I am, 
 and never loved a woman before. This beautiful 
 creature, besides not being twenty yet, is one of 
 the wealthiest heiresses in England, Lady May 
 Glenmore, of Glen Park. Her grandmother has 
 gone to the United States, and I am admitted to 
 her presence every day, and sometimes she comes 
 here to superintend some improvements I am 
 making at her suggestions. I am looking forward 
 with great joleasure to my early marriage. It will 
 be before Lady Hester comes home, as she is 
 bitterly opposed to Lady May's marrying again. 
 But tell me, where is Lawrence?" 
 
 "He and his bride are in Kome now. They will 
 return to London in the spring, and then leave 
 England and take up their abode in America. 
 Now I must be off, as I have to make a visit down 
 in Cornwall. When I return again, a month later, 
 I hope to meet the beautiful Mrs. Hurst," and 
 Hastings departed, little dreaming that the lovely 
 Lady May was Amy Le Clare, his own daughter, 
 
TRAPPED. 199 
 
 and that she was planning, through Dr. Hurst's 
 weakness for herself, to save the man of all the 
 rest of the world he wished to see dead. 
 
 At this same moment. Amy was trying to form 
 a plan by which to rescue the poor man from the 
 dark, gloomy walls where he had spent over a 
 year. 
 
 Mr. Hampton now fully understood why Walter 
 disliked Lawrence Hastings; it was something that 
 Walter could read in his nature that had been hid 
 from himself and his poor unfortunate daughter. 
 
 After Amy had puzzled her brain for some 
 time, she rang the bell and told the woman that 
 answered it to send James to her; when he had 
 come, she said : 
 
 '^ James, I wish j^ou to ride for your life to Lind 
 Hurst, and tell Dr. Hurst to come to me at once, 
 that I am ill and have a request to make of him. 
 He will not refuse, I know. Then, hasten back, 
 and go to your room and put on the disguise I 
 have there for you. Do not fail to carry a white 
 rose in your hand." 
 
200 TRAPPED. 
 
 When James was gone, Amy said: "How fortu- 
 nate that James is so tall ! and what a blessing 
 that I came across that j^ackage of drugs yester- 
 day! They are harmless, and I can but try, and 
 God be with me in my effort.'* 
 
 It was late at night when James came back. 
 He was accompanied by the soft, sweet-smiling 
 doctor. Amy was reclining on a sofa; her pale, 
 golden hair streamed over the pillow, and her 
 pure, lovely cheeks burned with excitement, 
 and her eyes shone with a light born of a holy 
 purpose. 
 
 The doctor fell upon one knee at her side and 
 said: 
 
 " Lady May, I am your slave ; what can I do 
 
 Tor you?" He felt her pulse, and looked in her 
 
 strangely brilliant eyes. She never flinched. 
 
 "You are terribly nervous, my love," he said. 
 
 ^^Whatisit?" 
 
 "Lady Hester will be at Glen Park soon. I had 
 a letter from her to-day. What will she say when 
 she comes, and finds out that you are visiting me?" 
 
TRAPPED. 201 
 
 "Is that it, my love?" said the doctor, smiling 
 to think how this fair young creature confided in 
 him. 
 
 Lifting her eyes to his face, she said : " Dr. 
 Hurst, how long can you remain away from your 
 patients to-night, and stay with me ? I am so 
 nervous." 
 
 " Until you are better, Lady May, if it is until 
 morning," said the doctor, softly. 
 
 " I am so glad," said Amy. " We will have 
 coffee together for the first time. I will make it 
 myself, if you will let me rise," and she gave him 
 one of those winning smiles that men find so 
 hard to resist. 
 
 When she was gone, the doctor leaned back in 
 his chair and gave himself up to sweet, pleasant 
 thoughts of the time when Lady May would be his 
 wife. ^^And that day is not far distant," he said 
 to himself, as Lady May made her appearance, fol- 
 lowed by a servant bearing a tray, with two steam- 
 ing cups of coffee and some sweetmeats. When 
 they were placed upon the table, the doctor arose 
 
202 TRAPPED. 
 
 and placed a chair for the lovely woman he hoped 
 to call his wife, and seating himself on the opposite 
 sidC; so he could take in all her rare, sweet 
 beauty, said : 
 
 " How nice it will be, Lady May, when you are 
 my wife: we will take our meals at our own 
 private table." 
 
 Amy smiled back on him, but made no reply. 
 All the time her heart beat so fast and loud she 
 feared he would hear it. 
 
 " What delicious coffee. Lady May ! I never 
 remember to have drunk better. I will trouble 
 you for the second cup." 
 
 This was something she had not expected, and 
 she arose and said : 
 
 " This is our own little private supper. I will 
 get the coffee myself" 
 
 She feared to give him more of the drug, and 
 she feared to give him strong coffee without 
 it, for fear it would prove an antidote for the 
 drug she had already given him. When she 
 returned with the two cups filled again, he saw 
 
TRAPPED. 203 
 
 she was deathly pale ; and he arose and came to 
 her side at once. 
 
 " My dear Lady May, you are ill ; lean on me." 
 
 " No ; it is nothing," said she, smiling faintly ; 
 " I am like you, I need another cup of coffee to 
 brace my nerves. I was thinking of Lady 
 Hester." 
 
 "All this will soon be past, Lady May," said 
 the doctor, as he drained his cup for the second 
 time. 
 
 When the little supper was finished, Amy said, 
 with a bright smile, " Dr. Hurst, have I ever 
 played for you?" 
 
 His eyes gleamed with delight, as he said, " No, 
 Lady May ; you never have. Nothing would give 
 me more pleasure than to hear you sing, unless it 
 were to call you my wife," and the doctor sat 
 down, and watched the delicate fingers as they 
 touched the strings of her Spanish guitar. 
 
 Before she had finished singing one verse of a 
 sweet old ballad, he was murmuring, " Oh ! how 
 sweet ! " and fast sinking into a deep sleep. 
 
204 TRAPPED. 
 
 At last his head fell back on the divan on 
 which he had been reclining, and Amy knew the 
 sun would be high in the heavens when he awoke. 
 
 She arose, laid her guitar aside, and looked 
 down on this sleeping leopard, and a look of scorn 
 and loathing stole over her face and flashed from 
 her eyes. 
 
 " Poor idiot ! " she said, as she went and touched 
 the bell-pull. 
 
 In a moment there was a low knock at the door ; 
 she went and opened it softly. She started back, 
 and a half-smothered scream escaped her pale 
 lips. Was she dreaming? or did Dr. Hurst stand 
 before her ? 
 
 She cast a sudden look in the direction of the 
 divan ; there the doctor lay like one dead. 
 
 " Come in, James ; it is now one o'clock. You 
 know the room. Take the keys from Dr. Hurst's 
 pocket ; put on his great coat and be off, and God 
 be with you. This man will not awaken until 
 twelve to-morrow, and there is much to be accom- 
 plished in that time. Take the doctors horse, 
 
TRAPPED. 205 
 
 and leave him at Lind Hurst. You and your com- 
 joanion must walk back to Glen Park, and may 
 God speed you," said she, sinking on her knees 
 and praying God to crown her efforts with success. 
 
 The dull gray dawn of a winter's morning was 
 just streaking the eastern horizon when old James 
 returned to Glen Park, and ushered in a pale, 
 weary, white haired man. His form was bent as 
 if by age, but it was grief and starvation. This 
 man was the once hale, noble-looking Mr. Hamp- 
 ton, of Hampton Mead. 
 
 Amy met them in the hall, and her sweet voice 
 rang out with joy and praise, as she said, " Thank 
 God ! Mr. Hampton, you are free from the w^alls 
 of Lind Hurst. Now you must away to London, 
 and hide yourself from your enemies ; for when 
 the doctor awakens he will suspect something, and 
 it will not be long until he wdll have his blood- 
 hounds on your track. First take a glass of wine 
 and some refreshing food, and then try to get a 
 few hours repose ; then you can breakfast, and 
 reach Manchester as soon as possible." 
 
206 TRAPPED. 
 
 The old man was too weak to express his thanks 
 to this brave girl then. He took her advice ; she 
 led him herself to a warm, pleasant room, where 
 he could lie down on a soft bed and sleep. He 
 soon fell into a deep slumber, with a blessing on 
 his lips for this lovely woman with hair like 
 spun gold. 
 
 The little French clock on the mantel-piece was 
 on the point of striking ten, when Mr. Hampton 
 opened his eyes. He started, a low moan escaped 
 his lips, as a vision, like what his son Walter was 
 at two years of age, stood looking at him. 
 
 "What is your name, little one?" said Mr. 
 Hampton, sadly. 
 
 The child held out its little hand, and said: 
 
 " My name is Alfred Hampton, and so is yours. 
 My mamma say you is my danpapa;" and in a 
 moment more the little fellow flew to his mother 
 and said: "Danpapa is dead ! " 
 
 " Oh, my darling, did you go into his room ? I 
 have been so busy preparing him some nourish- 
 ment I had forgotten you," and she hastened to 
 
TRAPPED. 207 
 
 Mr. Hampton's room, where she found he had 
 fainted. She used every restorative she could 
 think of. At hast she was rewarded by hearing a 
 deep-drawn sigh, and seeing his eyes open. Her 
 heart throbbed, for was not this Walter's father ? 
 
 " Who are you ? " he said, in a deep whisper. 
 
 "I am Amy Le Clare, Hester Spotswood's 
 granddaughter." 
 
 '' You Amy Le Clare ! Oh ! God ! and was it 
 for such a creature as you I banished my only 
 son ! But how came you here ? I thought you 
 dead." 
 
 " It is a long story," said Amy, " and I would 
 rather not tell you, for you have no time to lose." 
 
 " But that child — is he yours and Walter 
 Hampton's ? " 
 
 " He is," said Amy, in a low voice. 
 
 " Where is Walter ? " 
 
 " That I cannot tell you," said Amy, while the 
 tears stole into her eyes ; " I have not seen or 
 heard of him in over two years. My grandmother, 
 now Lady Hester Glenmore, took me away from 
 
208 TRAPPED. 
 
 our cave when Walter was absent. I have writ- 
 ten him many letters, but have never heard from 
 him. I shall tell you nothing more, now, until 
 you have taken some refreshments," said Amy, in 
 a tone of deep feeling. " After that please tell me 
 how you came to be an inmate at Lind Hurst." 
 
 " God bless you," said Mr. Hampton : " you are 
 a brave girl. May God reward you for this deed." 
 
 Even then her reward was on its way over the 
 deep. 
 
HE MUST BE TAKEN. 209 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 HE MUST BE TAKEN. 
 
 N an elegant villa overlooking the beautiful 
 
 Arno, Lawrence Hastings and Octavia lived, 
 
 spending Mr. Hampton's money with lavish hands. 
 
 Lawrence had written to Mr. Bjrd that his 
 
 beloved wife, Norva, had passed away, and that 
 
 he was now alone, but would be at Hampton Mead 
 
 again in the spring. " And then, my darling 
 
 Octavia, you shall be mine in the sight of the 
 
 laws of the land, w^hen that woman will have 
 
 passed away. Siie cannot live at that lonely 
 
 place much longer. Her father is dead by this 
 
 time, I dare say. Walter will be sure to swing 
 
 for the murder of my sister. If he does not, he 
 
 would not think of contesting his father's will, 
 
 and even if he did, I w^ould law him to the end of 
 
 my life. He will die by the law; I shall become 
 
 heir to all the Hampton wealth." 
 13 
 
210 HE MUST BE TAKEN. 
 
 "It is very strange about this sister of yours," 
 said Octavia; "I never remember to have heard 
 anything about her before ; " and a shadow over- 
 cast her face, and a strange .light gleamed in her 
 eyes. 
 
 " This fair-haired girl was my half-sister, never- 
 theless," said Lawrence. " Octavia, you are look- 
 ing pale, and this is the day we have set to visit 
 the art gallery. Let us be off, and perhaps by the' 
 time we get back we will find letters from the old 
 chap, bringing us good tidings," he said, while he 
 pressed his lips to this guilty woman's brow. 
 
 Oh, how sad that one so beautiful should be so 
 unwomanly as to listen to Lawrence Hastings' 
 dishonorable words. His father had accomplished 
 the awful plan of having Mr. Hampton confined 
 at Lind Hurst mad-house, and poor Norva was a 
 prisoner at Castle Rook ! 
 
 They had gone through a form of marriage 
 when they both knew of Norva's whereabouts. 
 But the few that knew them in London supposed 
 Mr. Hampton and his beautiful daughter dead. 
 So Octavia lived with Lawrence as his wife. 
 
HE MUST BE TAKEN. 211 
 
 The only thought that Lawrence Hastings had 
 of Norva was, " When will old Delgardo write and 
 tell me she is dead ? When will my father write 
 and tell me Mr. Hampton also is no more ? Then 
 I will marry Octavia, and enter into possession of 
 one of the first estates in America, and be happy 
 with the only woman I ever cared for." 
 
 It is an old sajang — it is darkest before dawn. 
 It might be added that our brightest prospects are 
 often overcast by disappointment, as will be in 
 Lawrence Hastinsfs' case. 
 
 He and Octavia spent the morning in one of the 
 galleries of Florence, returning to the villa in time 
 for lunch, which was served in a style becoming a 
 palace. Poor Norva's money had bought all those 
 comforts and luxuries, while she was an inmate of 
 the lonely sea-girt castle. 
 
 Shortly after lunch, a man-servant entered with 
 a letter. Lawrence recognized his father's hand- 
 writing at once, and his face lighted up with a 
 great joy. 
 
 "All must be well at last," he muttered. "I 
 
212 HE MUST BE TAKEN. 
 
 must now be master of that vast property across 
 the sea," and he hastily broke the seal and read 
 that which made him gnash his teeth with rage. 
 He threw the letter from him, and a low, muttered 
 curse escaped his compressed lips, and he said in 
 a low voice : 
 
 "Escaped from Lind Hurst! That is some- 
 thing I had not looked for. That idiot of a 
 doctor, to have the weakness to be taken in by 
 the fair face of a woman ! " 
 
 " You forget, Lawrence, that you love a 
 woman," said Octavia, with a playful smile. 
 " But what troubles you ? " and she came to his 
 side and took his hand as she spoke. 
 
 " More than enough troubles me, my darling. 
 Mr. Hampton has escaped from Lind Hurst, and 
 all through Dr. Hurst's foolish love for a woman, 
 who by some means or other found out Plampton 
 was there, and by a well-formed plan, and acting 
 through the doctor's great weakness for herself, 
 succeeded in releasing him from the asylum. 
 Perhaps, even now, he may be on his way to 
 
HE MUST BE TAKEN. 21 
 
 o 
 
 America, after my writing to that old lawyer 
 Byrd, that he was dead, and his daughter, too. 
 We must go to London at once, and if he has not 
 already gone, he must be recaptured and taken 
 back to Lind Hurst. If he reaches America, we 
 are ruined ! Now, love, prepare for this journey 
 at once. We have no time to lose. This man 
 must be secured, and if the worst comes to the 
 worst, he must be silenced forever. I swear by all 
 that I hold sacred on earth, and that is my love 
 for you, Octavia, to possess the Hampton wealth. 
 We will now go to London, and I will leave you 
 in comfortable quarters, and wdien I return to you 
 again, I will be as free as a bird of the air," 
 and he strained this lovely woman to his bosom, 
 and his eyes looked into hers. 
 
 Each could read the other's thoughts, and each 
 could read a deadly purpose. 
 
214 amy's courage. 
 
 CHAPTER XXYL 
 
 L 
 
 AMY S COURAGE. 
 
 ET US mark Dr. Hurst, as he opens his eyes 
 the next morning, when the bright winter 
 sun was high in the heavens. At first he could 
 not tell where he was. He glanced around the 
 room in a strange, bewildered manner, then slowly 
 it dawned upon him where he was. Why was 
 he there ? He put his hand to his head. '^Ah ! 
 I have it ! " he said. " I have been drugged. 
 For what purpose? And by whom? Could it 
 have been by Lady May? What could be her 
 object?" He put his hand in his pocket and felt 
 for his keys. They were there. He arose and 
 his head felt heavy. He went to the bell-pull and 
 pulled it sharply. James soon made his appear- 
 ance. "Look here, my man; can you tell me 
 what has happened to me, and why I am here ? " 
 " I cannot," said James. " Unless you drank 
 
amy's courage. 215 
 
 too much wine and overslept yourself, "whicli 
 probably is the case." 
 
 " Hardly," said the doctor. " Go and send your 
 lady to me at once. Perhaps she can throw some 
 light on the subject." 
 
 James left the room, and in a short time after, 
 Amy made her appearance. She did not tremble 
 with fright as some women would have done. 
 Her face was pale and her lips were firmly com- 
 pressed, her eyes glowed with a glad, triumphant 
 light, and her heart beat fast from excitement, and 
 not from fear of the dark villain that stood before 
 her. 
 
 " Well ! Lady May Glenmore ! I have had 
 quite a nap since three this morning, and now 'tis 
 nearly noon. Can you account for it in any way? 
 Your man — James, I think you call him — says I 
 had taken too much wine. But I never take 
 wine. I know that the coffee I drank in this 
 room last night was drugged, and it must have 
 been by your hands alone, as you insisted on pre- 
 paring it yourself Now, Lady May, tell me if I 
 am not right, and what was your object." 
 
216 amy's courage. 
 
 Suddenly a strange look came over her. A 
 look in which the deepest contempt was depicted, 
 as she said : 
 
 '' Dr. Hurst, you are right. It was drugged last 
 night, and it was my hands that prepared it. I 
 will tell you my object in so doing. It Avas to get 
 possession of your keys and retain you here, until 
 I could rescue a gentleman from Lind Hurst, who 
 has been confined there for over a year, and whose 
 mind is as clear as yours or mine : a gentleman 
 whom you have tried to starve and destroy. Not 
 that he ever harmed you, but simply, because you 
 w^ere paid well to keep him there, with a promise 
 to be paid better if he should die in that terrible 
 asylum. Thank God, he is safe from your persecu- 
 tions at last ! " said Amy, as a sweet and holy 
 smile j)layed over her girlish face. " I know that 
 Mr. Hampton is in your power no more — that his 
 days of persecution are over. I know that he is 
 in Manchester now, where you dare not molest 
 him, and I wish you to know that it was through 
 me that all has been accomplished : through 
 
amy's courage. 217 
 
 me, Lady Hester Glenniore Spotswood's grand- 
 daughter. I never told you my name was Lady 
 May Glenraore, for that is not my name. I have 
 given you no power over me. I have simply 
 worked on your weakness, and have succeeded in 
 effecting Mr. Hampton's rescue from Lind Hurst 
 and your cruel persecution. Now I will bid you 
 good-morning, sir, as I shall be very busy for the 
 next few days in getting the house in order to 
 receive my grandmother, Lady Hester." 
 
 Amy was turning to leave the room, when Dr. 
 Hurst sprang at her and attempted to grasp her 
 hand. 
 
 '^ Stand back, sir, or your life shall pay the 
 forfeit! I came to this room prepared to meet 
 and deal with a villain. Lay but the weight of 
 your finger upon me, and I will shoot you with as 
 little remorse as I would some beast of prey," and 
 the soft, delicate hand drew forth from her bosom 
 a silver-mounted pistol, which she held firmly in 
 her right hand ready for use, should circumstances 
 so demand. 
 
218 amy's courage. 
 
 The doctor saw tins, and recoiled a step or two 
 back, and his generally calm, dark face became 
 dangerous in its aspect, as he said : 
 
 " My beautiful singing bird, you have played 
 your game well, but I will hold the trump card 
 yet. Ere this time to-morrow I will have bagged 
 my escaped game, and when that is done look to 
 yourself," and the smile of a foiled villain played 
 over his face as Amy left the room, and he found 
 himself alone. 
 
 He gathered up his hat and great-coat and 
 hastily left the house. He looked for his horse. 
 He was srone, so the outwitted ruffian was com- 
 pelled to walk to Lind Hurst. When he was 
 gone. Amy knelt and lifted her voice to God in 
 thanks for Mr. Hampton's delivery from the 
 hands of his persecutors. 
 
 When Dr. Hurst reached the asylum, he found 
 his horse there, and no one seemed surprised at his 
 absence. He did not want any of his assistants to 
 know how a woman had foiled him, and he said to 
 one of them : 
 
amy's courage. 219 
 
 "No. 27 escaped from me last night when I had 
 taken compassion on him and took him out for a 
 walk. We must get him back; he is one of the 
 best pajdng patients I have. He is in Manchester. 
 You must look after him at once, Watson ; watch 
 every avenue and see that he does not reach 
 London, We must have him back ; I say loe must,'^ 
 and a strange light came into Dr. Hurst's eyes, 
 and a peculiar exjDression settled over his hand- 
 some face. 
 
 The man addressed as " Watson " understood 
 his meaning. Dr. Hurst w^rote a few hasty lines 
 to Mr. Hastings, and sent them to Manchester. 
 In a few days the elder Hastings appeared at Lind 
 Hurst, and gathered the full particulars of all that 
 had taken place. He was wild with anger and dis- 
 may at what had occurred, and WTote at once the 
 letter to his son which determined Lawrence's and 
 Octavia's departure for London. 
 
 A month later, father and son met at the same 
 
 club-rooms where we have seen them together 
 before, when the following conversation took place. 
 
220 amy's courage. 
 
 "Cheer up, Lawrence; he is safe at Lind Hurst 
 once more. We had a chase, I can tell you; but 
 never fear — all is well ; the way is open now for 
 you to claim the Hampton wealth. I advise you 
 to have Hampton removed from Lind Hurst to 
 Castle Rook, where there is no possible chance for 
 escape; for when his friends, whoever they are, find 
 he is again missing, they will search for him at 
 Lind Hurst; and that will never do. He must be 
 carried to Castle Kook, for if there should be any 
 trouble raised on his account. Dr. Hurst can throw 
 open his doors and defy the law. It cannot be 
 proven that Hampton was recaptured or that he 
 was of sound mind when he escaped." 
 
 "A good idea," said Lawrence. " I am glad the 
 old coon is safe again, and also glad that you have 
 hit upon a plan of security. I will tell you what 
 we must do. We will convey him to the Castle, 
 and leave him and his daughter to work out their 
 own salvation there. We will leave them a small 
 quantity of provisions, and post old Delgardo and 
 Jessine. Of course the provisions will soon give 
 out, and they cannot live long on the sea air at 
 
amy's courage. 221 
 
 Castle Rook. We have no time to lose, and must 
 remove this man at once. Tell me who is this 
 girl that helped Norva's f\ither to escape ? " 
 
 Old Mr. Hastings' face became as pale as death, 
 as he said : "Amy Le Clare, or Amy Hastings, 
 your half-sister." 
 
 Lawrence started back and gasped, as he said : 
 "Amy Le Clare ! impossible ! With my own eyes 
 I saw her dead, and her beautiful pale face has 
 haunted me ever since I saw her lying in that 
 mountain cave with the cold death-damp upon her 
 cold face. There must be some mistake; your 
 daughter Amy is dead; Walter Hampton is 
 accused of being her murderer, and at this time is 
 in a criminal's cell awaiting his trial," said 
 Lawrence, thoughtfully, and a dark, gloomy look 
 settled over his face. " But we must not stop to 
 speculate on this questioi ; we must get this man 
 safe to Castle Rook, and the sooner the better. 
 Do you go to Lind Hurst at once, and I will follow 
 you in ten days, and in a short time we will have 
 all safe a2:ain. This time there shall be no 
 escaping." 
 
222 LADT HESTER IS FOLLOWED. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 LADY HESTER IS FOLLOWED. 
 
 AFTER attending to her business with her 
 lawyers, Lady Hester had fulfilled her 
 promise to Amy, and visited Walter in prison. 
 She resumed her coarse, plain clothes, not w^ishing 
 it known that she now was w^ealthy. When she 
 called at the jail to see Walter, every one supposed 
 she was simply plain Hester Spotswood. To poor 
 Walter, who had been in prison for many months,^ 
 her face was as the face of an angel. All his 
 pleading to tell him where Amy might be found 
 was fruitless. 
 
 When Walter w^as released, old Silvia fell at 
 his feet, and sobbed forth : 
 
 "Thank God, my noble boy is not a murderer! 
 Poor old marse' died thinking you had blood on 
 your soul, honey, and for ober two years I has 
 believed the same. Massa Walter, will you forgib 
 poor old Mammy for tinking dis ebil of you?" 
 
LADY HESTEI? IS FOLLOWED. 223 
 
 " Yes, Mammy Silvia, I forgive you," said 
 Walter. '^ But oh ! that my poor father should have 
 died thinking me guilty, is more than I can bear. 
 What a broken-up family we are — father gone, 
 and my sister too ; I can hardly realize it. Then 
 my father's will. Lawrence Hastings is now 
 master of Hampton Mead. It will be very hard to 
 see the dear old home pass into other hands. The 
 greatest blow will be to see Lawrence PLastings the 
 master of all the blacks who have been so kindly 
 treated, for he is a man without honor or feeling. 
 However, I will try to earn money enough to 
 purchase you and Isom. Would to heaven it was 
 in my power to save you all from this man! I 
 am going away now ; perhaps when I return, I 
 will be able to save them all." 
 
 When Hester Spotswood left for Wilmington, 
 Walter went on the same stage-coach with her, 
 but so well disguised, that she had no suspicion 
 that the old, white-haired man, with his eyes 
 shaded by a pair of green spectacles, was the 
 handsome Walter Hampton. 
 
224 LADY HESTER IS FOLLOWED. 
 
 Colonel Field, of Cedar Vale, had made himself 
 Walter's banker for the time, and consequently he 
 found himself not without money, and ready to 
 follow Lady Hester to ahnost any place she 
 might go. 
 
 When they reached Wilmington, what was 
 Walter's surprise to see Hester at the hotel, 
 dressed in a rich black satin dress, with soft, rich 
 lace at her throat and wrists! This dress was 
 very becoming to this queenly woman. Walter 
 was still more astonished next day, when he 
 followed her on board a vessel bound for Liverpool. 
 He also took passage in the same vessel. 
 
 It was a beautiful spring evening when Lady 
 Hester reached Glen Park, and found Amy and 
 her little son awaitins; her. There was an 
 anxious, yearning look on Amj^'s face, and her 
 eyes burned with excitement, as her grandmother 
 drew her to her heart. 
 
 Amy was dressed in a delicate rose-colored silk, 
 with rich, creamy lace at her delicate white throat, 
 with white roses in her golden hair and upon her 
 
LADY HESTER IS FOLLOWED. 225 
 
 bosom. Never had she appeared so beautiful to 
 Lady Hester as she did on this evening of her 
 arrival from America, and her heart ached for the 
 lovely creature as she gazed upon her tender, 
 suffering face, and thought of Walter Hampton's 
 great anxiety to know where Amy was. 
 
 " No wonder he loves this fair girl," she 
 murmured, and her conscience smote her for not 
 having told Walter. 
 
 She saw the troubled look on Amy's face, and 
 said, "Amy, my darling, I saw Walter Hampton ; 
 he is well, and he asked about you, as to where 
 you were living, and if you were well." 
 
 "Is that all?" said Amy, in a voice agitated 
 with emotion. " Did he not ask about little 
 Alfred?" 
 
 " No, my child, he did not." 
 
 Amy covered her face with her hands, and a 
 low cry escaped her lips as she fell fainting at her 
 grandmother's feet. Lady Hester had seen Wal- 
 ter, and she had hoped so much from this meeting, 
 
 but it was all over now; and with that cry of 
 14 
 
226 LADY HESTER IS FOLLOWED. 
 
 despair that escaped her lips, she surrendered up 
 all hopes. 
 
 Lady Hester stooped to lift her up ; hut a 
 strong arm pushed her back, and a deep musical 
 voice said, " Mrs. Spotswood, this is my wife ; 
 mine shall be the hands to lift her, and my bosom 
 henceforth her resting-place." 
 
 Lady Hester raised her eyes in a frightened 
 manner, and beheld her stage-coach companion, 
 the white-haired old gentleman with the green 
 glasses, bending over the still form of Amy. 
 
 " Your wife, sir ! In the name of heaven, sir, 
 who are you?" and Lady Hester stepped back 
 trembling, and her black eyes glowed with a 
 strange light. Walter tore the glasses from his 
 eyes, the gray wig from his head, and the long 
 beard from his face. Ladj^ Hester looked at him 
 for a moment, then said, sharply, " Walter 
 Hampton, what are you doing at Glen Park?" 
 
 Walter gathered Amy in his arms, and pressed 
 her to his heart, as he said, " Mrs. Spotswood, you 
 would give me no satisfaction concerning my wife^ 
 
LADY HESTER IS FOLLOWED. 227 
 
 SO I determined to follow you and find her, if 
 possible;" and then he pressed his lips to Amy's, 
 and held her to his bosom, while he murmured, 
 *'Amy, Amy, my darling wife ! open your eyes and 
 speak to me. My love, it is Walter, your 
 husband." 
 
 Lady Hester sank into a chair and said, "Are 
 you her husband?" 
 
 "Yes, madam, I am," said Walter. "For 
 heaven's sake, get me something to recover my 
 loved one." 
 
 Lady Hester obeyed him, and in a few moments 
 the brown eyes opened, and rested full upon 
 Walter's face ; then they closed again, and she 
 murmured, " Is it a dream, or is it my darling 
 husband?" 
 
 Walter said, "Amy, my precious wife, it is no 
 dream : I am here, your husband. It is I who 
 hold you in my arms, as in the by-gone days in 
 the cave of the old, dear mountains." 
 
 At this, the eyes looked into Walter's face, the 
 fair, snowy arms were twined about his neck, and 
 
228 LADY HESTER IS FOLLOWED. 
 
 the sweet voice that had power to stir his soul, as 
 no other voice had, said, " Oh, Walter, am I dream- 
 ing, or do you really press me to your heart again 
 as of yore, and call me your wife?" 
 
 " It is reality, my love," said Walter. " In the 
 presence of your grandmother, I press you to my 
 bosom and call you Wife — the sweetest and 
 dearest name ever uttered by man." 
 
 With a low, glad cry. Amy sprang from her 
 husband's arms, and flew to Lady Hester's side, 
 exclaiming, " Thank God, grandmother, at last I 
 am risfhted ! Walter has acknowleds:ed the bond 
 that binds me to him. Forgive me, grandmother, 
 for giving you one heart's pang; I have never 
 sinned against you and my God. I promised 
 Walter on the evening we were married, not to 
 make it known until he first revealed it, or gave 
 me the right to do so." 
 
 The proud half-breed bent her head, and her 
 tall, proud form swayed like some noble tree 
 shaken by a terrible storm, as she said : 
 
 "Ah ! Amy ! Amy, my child, there is much for 
 
LADY HESTER IS FOLLOWED. 229 
 
 me to grieve over. If I had known how matters 
 stood between you and Walter Hampton, I could 
 have saved each of you many a heart's pang; but 
 as it is, I rejoice that he has found you." 
 
 Amy's face suddenly beamed happily, as her 
 little son came into the room. She raised him in 
 her arms and bore him to his father, saying : 
 
 " Dear, dear husband, have you no word of love 
 and welcome for your little Alfred, for our son ? '* 
 and the father's face was very white, and the voice 
 was low, deep and sad, as he said: 
 
 ^^Oh, God! I thank Thee for this great 
 blessing!" Then the little fellow pillowed his 
 brown head on his father's bosom, and his tiny 
 hands caressed Walter's handsome face and brown 
 locks, now prematurely threaded with silver. " Oh ! 
 Amy, my darling wife, this is a blessing I had not 
 expected," and Walter pressed his lips to his little 
 son's, as he said, " My dear father, if you could 
 have lived to see my joy, and know that you had 
 a grandson like my little Alfred !" 
 
 Amy, at this outburst, sat down beside him, 
 
230 LADY HESTER IS FOLLOWED. 
 
 laid her hand on his knee, and told him of liis 
 father, and Lawrence Hastings' treachery. For a 
 time, Walter sat like one bereft of the power of 
 speech or action ; then he said : 
 
 " My noble wife, what do I not owe you for this 
 great service?" 
 
 Lady Hester arose and took Walter's hand, and 
 bent over father and son, as she said : 
 
 "Walter Hampton, forgive me for all I have 
 made you and Amy suffer. If I had known what 
 I do now, I should have acted differently ; but 
 Amy refused to acknowledge that she was your 
 wife, and I thought that I was acting for the 
 best." 
 
 Walter arose, kissed this stately lady, and said: 
 
 " Dear grandmother, you are forgiven freely. 
 But tell me, how is it I find you and my wife 
 in England, living in a style a prince might 
 envy : 
 
 Lady Hester told him what the reader already 
 knows. 
 
 " And now, Walter, it was on Amy's account 
 
\ 
 
 LADY HESTER IS FOLLOWED. 231 
 
 that your father cast you off because you loved 
 and married a simple American maiden. Now, 
 she is one of the wealthiest heiresses in England, 
 or will be when I am dead, and in the natural run 
 of events that will not be long." 
 
 " I hope you will live many, many years," said 
 Walter, for her kindness touched him deeply. He 
 saw that she was truly a noble woman, for her 
 eyes beamed with true nobility of soul as they 
 rested upon his face, and she said : 
 
 " Now that my trust and confidence in my 
 darling Amy are restored, I feel at this moment 
 as if I could almost give up my revenge upon 
 her father." 
 
 '^Ah ! grandmother, you will never find Amy's 
 father," said Walter. " Try to banish him from 
 vour mind." 
 
 " Yes, I shall see him again. I have seen him 
 several times in America, and I met him this 
 evening as I was coming home. I would almost 
 swear this man is Amy's father, and if so, he is 
 preparing the rope with which to hang himself; 
 
232 LADY HESTER IS FOLLOWED. 
 
 but we will let him pass. Now, as to this plot 
 against your father, Lawrence Hastings sent word 
 to Hampton Mead that he was dead, while he 
 had him confined at Lind Hurst. Perhaps your 
 sister shares the same fate," said Lady Hester, 
 thoughtfully. 
 
 Walter sprang to his feet and began to pace the 
 floor, and at length said : 
 
 "You are right, grandmother. I do not believe 
 that Norva is dead. I must first find my father; 
 then I will track this villain, Hastings, and 
 compel him to tell me the truth. If I find harm 
 has come to my sister, his life shall pay for it." 
 
IS THERE NO HOPE? 233 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIIL 
 
 IS THERE NO HOPE? 
 
 THE winds moaned sadly, and the waves beat 
 drearily against the old ruins where poor 
 Norva was confined. Eighteen months had passed 
 since that gloomy night when she entered its walls 
 with such dreary forebodings, and in all that time 
 no friendly face had met her anxious gaze, no 
 word of sympathy had fallen on her ears. She 
 had only a few books to read, and some fancy 
 work with which to kill the hours that hung so 
 heavily upon her hands. She had now exhausted 
 all her resources, and could procure no writing 
 materials, and if she could, felt no inclination 
 to use them ; for what would it avail her in that 
 lonely sea-girt prison ? She could only sit and 
 brood over her helpless situation, and the great 
 wrong that had been done her — and by him she 
 
234 IS THERE NO HOPE? 
 
 had loved so well and trusted so much, but whom 
 she now loathed with the deepest bitterness. 
 
 " I would almost rather remain here for life, 
 than look upon your face again," she thought. 
 " There is more real happiness for me in listening 
 to the wild waves sobbing against the rocks, than 
 there would be in hearing your voice; more 
 beauty to look out upon the boundless waste of 
 waters and watch the white-capped waves as they 
 wash the castle walls, than to behold your hand- 
 some, treacherous face. If it was only me you had 
 harmed, I could endure it with a better will ; but 
 to know that you have my dear father and my 
 poor brother also in your toils, is too much. 
 Thank God, I did not look upon your father's face 
 a few weeks ago ! Ah, Lawrence Hastings ! liberty 
 would not be sweet, if it came at your hands ! " 
 she exclaimed, and she knelt at her window, and 
 her lovely, dreamy eyes sought the moon, pale and 
 solitary as it floated in the azure heavens; and 
 upon w^hich she had gazed so often since her 
 dreary abode at Castle Rook. The moon w^as 
 
IS THERE NO HOPE? 235 
 
 almost full that nio'ht, and takins: a field-frlass 
 from a rough table, she surveyed the heavens for a 
 time, sweephig her eyes across the starlit vaults 
 so far above her. At last she lowered her glass, 
 and looked down on the sea. How black the 
 waters looked below her, in the shadows of the old 
 walls ! As she stood there lost in thought — of 
 what, we shall not say — a long, deep sob fell upon 
 her ears. She started, and a new light shone in 
 her dusky eyes, and her heart throbbed painfully, 
 for a faint ray of hope had entered her weary soul. 
 Was one of her heartless jailers ill, and if so, might 
 she not take advantage of them and perhaps get 
 possession of the key to the iron gate and make 
 her escape ? Oh, for glorious freedom once more ! 
 She opened the door softly, and saw old Jessine 
 was just coming out of the room back of hers, 
 with a tray in her hands. Some one had been 
 served with refreshments. Who could it be? Was 
 it Lawrence or his father? Old Jessine lifted her 
 head, and a grim smile played over her face, as 
 she said; 
 
236 IS THERE NO HOPE? 
 
 " I have another guest, madam. Go in and see 
 him, if you like." 
 
 Norva made the old woman no reply, but grasped 
 the door to prevent her from falling; while a 
 deathy pallor came over her face. " It is either 
 Lawrence Hastings or his fath-er," she thought, 
 " and I cannot look on either of them." 
 
 She was in the act of going back in her room, 
 when that same noise again fell upon her ear. 
 
 " It cannot be either of the Hastings, but if a 
 stranger, why did old Jessine bid me go to him? 
 Would she not think I would appeal to them for 
 help? Perhaps there is another prisoner ! I will 
 go in and see ! " she muttered, as she nerved her- 
 self to knock at the door. 
 
 A low, broken voice bade her come in. She 
 lifted the latch and entered. Near the fire, with 
 his face buried in his thin, pale hands, sat a man 
 with hair almost as white as snow. He did not 
 lift his head as she entered. That strange instinct 
 implanted in our hearts led Norva to this man's 
 side, and an impulse she could not resist caused 
 her to lay her hand on his head, and say : 
 
IS THERE NO HOPE? 237 
 
 C( 
 
 Who are you ? In the name of heaven, 
 speak ! " 
 
 At the tones of her voice the head was lifted, 
 and for a moment Norva stood like one in a 
 dream. She did not cry out; her tongue refused 
 to perform its functions, but the man sprang to his 
 feet, exclaiming : 
 
 " God be praised ! my daughter, that I find you 
 alive ! " 
 
 The stony eyes gave him back no look of 
 recognition, and the lips still were mute. Mr. 
 Hampton gathered his suffering daughter to his 
 breast, and sat down with her in his lap, while he 
 chafed her cold hands and pressed kiss upon kiss 
 on her lips. Then he laid her upon the rude bed 
 and forced some water between her lips. 
 
 Just then Jessine again appeared. Mr. Hampton 
 sprang at her and grasped her by the arm with 
 such force that she cried out with pain. In a few 
 moments old Delgardo came in, followed by a 
 great brawny-fisted man with a brutal face, and 
 in a moment more Mr. Hampton lay senseless on 
 
238 IS THERE NO HOPE? 
 
 the floor ; then they bore him from the room, while 
 Jessine carried Norva to her dreary chamber and 
 Laid her upon her bed, locking her in, while she 
 muttered to herself: " Madam will never look on 
 her father's face again ; he is in the tower chamber 
 now, and will never leave it alive." 
 
 The old woman went to her room and sat down 
 to think. Soon she was joined by her husband. 
 
 " Well, Pedro, have you got the old man safe ? " 
 
 " Yes, Jessine, safe in the tower at last. I hope 
 they will both soon give in, for I am getting tired 
 of this place, and want to go back to London. 
 Now that we have plenty of money to spend, I 
 long to see some of my old chums open their eyes 
 at the way old Pedro Delgardo spends monej^" 
 
 " Yes, Pedro, the provisions will last yet three 
 months ; then, when that is gone, we will go ; per- 
 haps before." Then Pedro laughed a low, cruel 
 lauah. 
 
 Ere the sun arose the next morning old Jessine 
 went to Norva's room, and found her prisoner 
 sitting up in bed staring wildly about her, and the 
 poor, half-crazed creature said : 
 
IS THERE NO HOPE? 239 
 
 "Old woman, where am I? and where is my 
 father ? " 
 
 "You, madam, are still in Castle Rook, and 
 your father is, I reckon, at Lind Hurst; if he is 
 not dead." 
 
 " No ! no ! he is not dead ! He was here last 
 night! I saw him in the next room after you 
 bade me go to him." 
 
 "You have had a strange dream, madam. There 
 is no one in the next room. You must have been 
 walking in your sleep some time during the night. 
 I heard a noise and got up to see what it was ; and 
 I found you lying in the corridor. I took you up 
 and bore jou in here." 
 
 " But, Jessine, I did see my father, and he was 
 so terribly changed. His hair was white as snow, 
 and his tall form was thin and bent. Yes, yes, I 
 saw him or his ghost ; but as I don't believe in 
 ghosts, I must have seen my father. He has 
 traced me to this place, and you have made away 
 with him. Oh ! my poor ! poor father ! " she 
 cried, with a sad wail of anguish, and the eyes 
 
240 IS THERE NO HOPE? 
 
 that used to look so tender, burned with the awful 
 light of insanity brought on by suffering and 
 excitement. 
 
 For days and weeks she lay there, sick and 
 solitary, while her father remained a prisoner in 
 the tower chamber. He did not know she was 
 ill. He only knew he could not get to her. He 
 was chained to the wall like a felon or a maniac, 
 and felt that if aid did not come soon from some 
 quarter his frail frame would succumb, and his 
 enemies would triumph. 
 
WHAT MAMMY SILVIA KNEW. 241 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 WHAT MAMMY SILVIA KNEW. 
 
 WALTER HAMPTON did not remain long 
 at Glen Park, but went to London at once, 
 to see if he could find any trace of his father. 
 After weeks of fruitless search he returned to the 
 Park, where Lady Hester suggested to him the 
 propriety of calling on the proper authorities, and 
 compelling Dr. Hurst to admit them in search 
 of the missing man. ^Yalter acted upon the 
 suGTsiestion, but without success. 
 
 CO y 
 
 He then thought his father mi^ht have sfone 
 home to America ; and with this idea, he and 
 Amy left their little son with Lady Hester, and 
 set out for Hampton Mead. They reached 
 "Wilminjiton in due time, and then took the sta":e 
 for B . 
 
 Yv^ith what different hopes and feelings Walter 
 
 passed over this road now, than when following 
 15 
 
242 WHAT MAMMY SILVIA K N E TT. 
 
 Hester Spotswood in search of liis lost wife, who 
 now sat beside him ! 
 
 When they reached B , they secured a con- 
 veyance to take them to Colonel Field's. As they 
 were driving slowly along, a voice, singing a song 
 Walter had so often heard Mammy Silvia sing in 
 his childhood, made him tarn to the driver, and 
 say, " Drive slowly, David ; I think I know that 
 voice," and a hapj^y light appeared in his face. 
 
 How many of us have listened to the sweet 
 melodies of the negroes on the plantations, the 
 memory of which brings back to us sweet recollec- 
 tions of the past, before the cares of life had 
 darkened our childhood's happy days. The song 
 that so interested Walter was this : 
 
 "I's jist on de borders ob de new Jeruselim, 
 I's jist on de borders ob de new Jeruselim, 
 I's jist on de borders ob de new Jeruselim, 
 And I 'spects to meet my child'en dare." 
 
 " That is Mammy Silvia, and I must see her," 
 said Walter, springing from the carriage and 
 going to a fence, in the direction from which the 
 
WHAT MAMMY SILVIA K N E TT. 243 
 
 voice came. He called softly, " Mammy Silvia," 
 and in a few moments he was answered, by seeing 
 the old woman make her appearance from behind 
 a clump of chestnuts, and with a glad cry on her 
 lips, she sprang to the fence and clasped his hand, 
 while tears of real joy rolled down her dusky 
 cheeks. 
 
 "Oh, Mars'er Walter! I is so glad to see you 
 is come back to save me and Isom ! " 
 
 "To save you and icho?'' said Walter, kindly. 
 
 "We. has been sold, Mars'er Walter, Isom and 
 me, to Mr. Led ford." 
 
 "And who sold you. Mammy ? No one had the 
 right to do so save my father, and it is strange he 
 would part with you. Has my father been at the 
 Mead?" 
 
 Silvia s eyes opened with wonder at this ques- 
 tion, and she said, "No, Mars'er Walter; old 
 mars'er can't come from his grave ober the ocean. 
 It was dat white-libered debil of a Hastings as 
 sold me and Isom, and saunt Mr. Wilkes McCord 
 higher dan eber you saunt your kite. Less dan a 
 
244 WHAT MAMMY SILVIA KNEW. 
 
 month ago, dis borned he-debil and dat beautiful 
 she-debil, Octavia Stanley, arribed at de Mead. 
 Dey say day is man and wife. But, Mars'er 
 Walter, come close to me, an' listen to what I has 
 to tell you. I always said I would get eben wif 
 dat debil, and I has; but I has kept my own 
 counsel. No one knows what I knows, not eben 
 Isom. A few nights arter dis two debils had arribed 
 at de Mead, I ebe-drops, and I heard something 
 dat makes me fink Miss Norva am still libing. I 
 has been biding my time until you come back." 
 
 " What did you hear ? " asked Hampton. 
 
 "You see, mars'er, as I said afore, arter dease 
 two debils had been at de Mead, I was hid in de 
 shrubbery near dem, and I heard Mr. Hastings 
 say, ' This, my lub, pays us for all our years of 
 plotting and planning ; ' and she say to him, ' Yes, 
 Lawrence; but if she was dead, I should feel more 
 secure, now dat her father is out of de way.' Den 
 he say, ' My fair, queenly Octavia, hab no fears ; 
 in dat old tumble-down Castle Eook on de shores 
 ob Carm, Coin, Con someting, I couldn't zactly 
 
WHAT MAMMY SILVIA KNEW. 245 
 
 cotcli de meaning ob de words just what it was; 
 but he say she will soon be out ob de way." 
 
 " Was it Cornwall ? " said Walter, deeply 
 agitated. 
 
 " Dat's it, mars'er! Cornwall! dat's it, honey! 
 Den he made some light remarks about my young 
 mist'ess, dat made me so mad I sprang out before 
 dem an' said, in dat debil's face, he was a liar. I 
 wish you could hab seen his look ob rage as I told 
 him ; if eber I saw a white debil, he was one. 
 He sprang at me an'' fell me to de ground, but 
 as I went down I grabbed his har' wif both hands 
 an took him wif me, but somehow arter dat I 
 diden't know anything for a long time. Some time 
 arter dis setto, Mr. Hastings come to mine an' 
 Isom's cabin, and say good to me like, 'Aunt 
 Silvia, what did you hear last night that made 
 you so mad, an' made you fly at me in such a 
 passion ? ' ' You called my young mist'ess names,' 
 I said, an' then to keep him from thinking I had 
 heard more, I said kinder soft like, ' Mr. Hastings, 
 I can't hear any one say anyfing against my dead 
 
246 WHAT MAMMY SILVIA KNEW. 
 
 mist'ess.' ^Is dat all you heard, old woman?' lie 
 said, an' he looked at me sharp. 'It am all I 
 heard, so help me heben, Mr. Hastings.' For yoa 
 see, Mars'er Walter, I was afraid dat if he knew 
 what I had heard him say, him an' dat beautiful 
 debil would have killed me. De next day a 
 trader comes along, an' me and Isom was sold an' 
 had to leave de dear old Mead ; but afore we 
 reached town we met Mr. Ledford, an' I ax him 
 to buy me an' Isom, an' he was glad ob de chance, 
 an' in no time de bargain was struck. But no 
 one knows what I knows, Mars'er Walter, but 
 yourself." 
 
 "Thank God, Mammy, you were not taken 
 away from the neighborhood. Even if you had 
 been, you would have been traced and returned in 
 time. Even if my sister were dead, that villain 
 had no right to sell you, for my father is living, 
 or was, in April. My fair, sweet wife rescued 
 him from an insane asylum in England." 
 
 "Your wife, Mars'er Walter! Is you mar- 
 ried?" 
 
WHAT MAMilT SILVIA KNEW. 247 
 
 " Yes, Maminy. Come with me to the carriage 
 and see if you ever saw her before. And have no 
 fears, Mammv, for ere the sun sroes down to- 
 morrow I will purchase you and Isom, and leave 
 you at Colonel Field's, until I again cross the 
 water and search for my dear sister and father." 
 
 Walter then spoke of his beautiful boy at Glen 
 Park, with his grandmother, Lady Hester, and 
 Silvia laugjhed and cried at the same time. 
 Silvia thoug:ht for a moment, then said : 
 
 "Did you marry a widow, Mars'er Walter?" 
 
 " No, Mammy. But here we are. Did you 
 ever see that lady before?" said Walter, while a 
 proud light shone from his eyes. 
 
 Silvia paused, and her eyes looked wild, as she 
 cried : 
 
 " Miss Amy Le Clare ! as sure as my name is 
 Silvia Turner! Miss Amy Le Clare, alive sure 
 enough! An' she is your wife?'* 
 
 "Yes, Mammy, my angel wife, and has been 
 for over three years. It was my great love for 
 her that made my father cast me off. He thouglit 
 
248 WHAT MAMMY SILVIA KNEW. 
 
 I had done her a great wrong, and thinks so still. 
 I intended to have told him all on that sad 
 morning he drove me from home, but he was so 
 angry and wounded he would not listen, and I had 
 to leave him with the secret of my marriage still 
 locked in my bosom. Speak to my wife. Mammy, 
 and we will hasten on to Colonel Field's, and in the 
 morning I will ride over to Mr. Ledford's and get 
 you and old Isom." 
 
 Silvia went to Amy, and bowing low held out 
 her hand, saying : 
 
 '' I is most happy to welcome you into our 
 family, Miss Amy, and pray dat dare is brighter 
 days in store for us yet." 
 
 " Thank you, , Aunt Silvia, I hope so," said 
 Mrs. Hampton, kindly, as she took Silvia's hand 
 and pressed it warmly. 
 
 As Walter was about to step into the carriage, 
 he said, in a low tone, to Mammy: 
 
 " Tell no one that we suspect that my father 
 and sister are living, and we will spring a trap 
 for this villain Hastings, and that shameless 
 creature who is with him." 
 
WHAT MAM3IY SILVIA KNEW. 249 
 
 "Hie, Mars'er Walter! you won't cotch dis 
 chile napping, honey; I knows just how we has 
 got to deal wid de debil." 
 
 When Walter reached Colonel Field's he found 
 his friend Charlie and a lovely wife. Walter intro- 
 duced his wife, who was warmly received by all 
 the family, and great was their astonishment 
 when they learned who she was. 
 
 Walter did not mention any of the strange 
 events that had come to his knowledge to any 
 but his friend Charlie, and after he had told all, 
 said : 
 
 "Now, Charlie, I want you and Clift' Wilbern 
 to return with me to England, and help me to 
 prosecute a thorough search for my father and 
 sister. I will not go to the Mead now, but we 
 will set out on the day after to-morrow for 
 Wilmington, and catch the first vessel that leaves 
 that port." 
 
 " Certainly, Walter, I will aid you with all my 
 heart." 
 
 Next day Charlie and Walter rode over to Mr. 
 
250 WHAT MAMMY SILVIA KNEW." 
 
 Ledford's and returned with Silvia and Isom. 
 They blessed the beautiful young mistress whose 
 wealth had purchased them. Old Silvia begged 
 so hard to go with her Miss Amy, that the next 
 day, when Charlie, Walter and Amy started for 
 Wilmington, Silvia accompanied them, while tears 
 and smiles wreathed her old black face, the one at 
 parting with Isom, the other in being permitted to 
 go in search of her other "chile," as she called 
 poor Norva. 
 
THE half-breed's REVENGE. 251 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 THE half-breed's REVENGE. 
 
 SOME two weeks after Walter and Amy had 
 left Glen Park for America, the elder 
 Hastings called on Lady Hester. He felt a desire 
 to look on the face of his daughter without being 
 known. It was a lovely May morning, and the 
 sweet songsters of the trees made the soft morning 
 air musical with their rich notes. As Mr. 
 Hastings walked slowly up to the fine old man- 
 sion, he cast many an admiring glance at the 
 beautiful home of his fair young daughter, and for 
 a moment thought that this might have been his 
 home, if he had acted honestly. /All that was past 
 now, so he wandered on up to the house. 
 
 Little Alfred was playing on the lawn, watched 
 by old Susette. The beautiful child had a string 
 around the neck of a small, Scotch terrier dog, 
 which was trying to get away from him, and 
 
252 THE half-breed's revenge. 
 
 which brought forth a merry peal of laughter from 
 his red lips at its struggles. It did not escape 
 until it saw Mr. Hastings, and then breaking 
 from Alfred, it Hew towards him as he was ascend- 
 ing the broad marble steps, and catching his hand 
 suddenly in its sharp teeth drew the blood, and 
 then ran away. An angry frown passed over Mr. 
 Hastings' face as he lifted the great brass Icnocker. 
 
 In a short time he was admitted by old James, 
 and shown into a pleasant morning-room, where 
 he was soon joined by Lady Hester. A faint 
 smile curled her lips as she came into the room 
 and recognized her visitor. Mr. Hastings thought 
 he had never before looked on such a splendid- 
 looking woman. He rose at her entrance and 
 held out his hand, but Lady Hester did not seem 
 to see it, as she said, " Mr. Hastings, I have been 
 looking for you to call for several days, and since 
 my granddaughter and her husband departed for 
 America, I have been most anxious to see you," 
 and her great black eyes never left his face. 
 
 She sank into the nearest chair, and motioned 
 
THE half-breed's REVENGE. 253 
 
 her visitor to be seated. Just then James came to 
 the door with a scared, pale look on his honest 
 face, bearing little Alfred in his arms. Lady 
 Hester sprang to her feet, and said, ^' In the name 
 of heaven, James, what has happened to Amy's 
 child?" 
 
 " Nothing, I hope. Lady Hester," said James, 
 hurriedly ; " but little Alfred's Scotch terrier has 
 become rabid ; I have him secure now. As he 
 comes out of one fit he goes into another; it is 
 fearful to see him suffer, and the green froth 
 issuing from his mouth." 
 
 ''Kill him at once," said Lady Hester, taking 
 her grandchild in her arms, as all the color left 
 her face. 
 
 She glanced at Mr. Hastings, who sat with a 
 look of horror on his pale face. 
 
 "Are you ill, Mr. Hastings?" she said. 
 
 Her visitor did not answer her, but said, " Can 
 it be possible the dog is mad? He drew the blood 
 from my hand as I came in, but I did not notice 
 anything strange about him." 
 
254 THE half-breed's revenge. 
 
 " I am sorry, sir ; but I fear it is as James says, 
 and if that is the case, you are a doomed man ; 
 and, knowing how badly you must feel, I will not 
 try to torture you further, but will merely say, 
 God is just, and punishes his law-breakers even 
 in this world." 
 
 Mr. Hastings looked at the speaker with white 
 lips, and said, *' What do you mean, Lady 
 Hester?" 
 
 She answered, " Where is Mr. Hampton's 
 beautiful daughter, and where is my fair, sweet 
 child, whom you decoyed from her home in 
 Norfolk twenty years ago?" 
 
 " Why do you ask me for your child, madam ? 
 Did you not tell me she died years ago ? " and Mr. 
 Hastings' knees trembled ; for at every heart-throb 
 of this man, the poison was spreading through his 
 system. Lady Hester looked at him long and 
 earnestly. She thought of her beautiful daughter 
 so cruelly wronged, and of the feeling of revenge 
 that had slumbered in her bosom so long; and 
 looking at this pale, horror-stricken man, she said, 
 
THE half-breed's REVENGE. 255 
 
 " There are some things in this world, Mr. Hast- 
 ings, that once done, can never be undone ; but 
 you can make amends so far as to acknowledge 
 your sin against my daughter, and tell where 
 you and your son Lawrence have hidden Norva 
 Hastings; I am confident she is not dead." 
 
 A sickly smile played over his pallid face, as he 
 said, " Lady Hester, I am too old to be frightened 
 into making any acknowledgments against my 
 will. This is a fine story, got up about a mad 
 dog, to try and frighten me." 
 
 Lady Hester arose, and gave Alfred into the 
 care of Susette, and said, " Come with me, Mr. 
 Hastings : we will see for ourselves." 
 
 Old James was almost in the act of shooting 
 the dog when they went out. 
 
 " Wait a moment, James : I wish to watch the 
 dog for a v/hile, to be sure he is mad." 
 
 " There can be no mistake as to that, my lady, 
 and I shudder to think what a narrow escape our 
 little Alfred had." 
 
 "Yes, Lady Hester, the man is right; the dog 
 
256 THE half-breed's revenge. 
 
 * 
 
 is mad, and I must have medical aid at once," 
 he said. 
 
 " Too late, sir : even if at any time there was a 
 shadow of hope ; for in a case of this kind your 
 doom is sealed, sooner or later. It may be days, 
 it may be weeks or months, but the end is bound 
 to come," said Lady Hester, solemnly. " Not 
 even your friend Dr. Hurst can save you." 
 
 Lady Hester and her visitor went back to 
 the house, and Alfred's grandmother carefully 
 examined him to make sure he had escaped the 
 awful doom that hung over Mr. Hastings. 
 
 " This, sir, is the son of Walter Hampton and 
 Amy Le Clare. They are now on their way to 
 America, in search of Mr. Hampton, who has not 
 been heard from since my granddaughter rescued 
 him from Lind Hurst. It was reported he was 
 dead, but as that is false, I feel convinced that 
 you and your son have Norva confined in some 
 place as bad, if not worse. Tell me where she is: 
 and why you assumed the name of Le Clare to 
 destroy my beautiful daughter." 
 
THE half-breed's REVENGE. 257 
 
 After a little while, he said: "Lady Hester, why 
 do you think it I that took your daughter from 
 Norfolk?" 
 
 " Many things lead me to believe so. The 
 description I had of your person from my 
 daughter before her death, and the strange 
 likeness there is at times between Amy Hamp- 
 ton and yourself, and when I first met you in 
 America, I felt you w^ere the man. When I 
 told you the story of my poor Amy's wrongs, 
 and you trembled, I knew, as well as if my Amy 
 had come and told me, you were the man that 
 called yourself Le Clare, and that you were the 
 father of my beloved granddaughter. At one time 
 I had planned a terrible revenge on you ; but God 
 has seen fit to take things in his own hands. How 
 much wiser and kinder He is than we poor worms 
 of the dust! My revenge in its bitterest form 
 could not equal this horrid torture you must carry 
 in your soul the few remaining days you will have 
 to remain in this world." 
 
 Mr. Hastings trembled as he said : " Lady 
 16 
 
258 THE half-breed's revenge. 
 
 Hester, I will tell you one thing, and that is all. 
 Your daughter was my wife. We were legally 
 married, and I will give you the marriage certifi- 
 cate, if that will be of any satisfaction to you. I 
 did your daughter a great wrong when I told her 
 she was not my wife, and when I deserted her as 
 I did. As to Norva Hastings, she is dead. And 
 now I will hold my daughter's son in my arms ; 
 then bid you good-morning. I came here thinking 
 to see my daughter ; but perhaps I will never see 
 her. It is well, perhaps. She can have but little 
 love for me," he said, gloomily, as he took Walter's 
 and Amy's wondering child in his arms and pressed 
 his lips to the little one's innocent face, and put 
 him down. He looked at him for a time, then 
 turned to leave Glen Park, but Lady Hester 
 pressed him to stay beneath her roof; but he said 
 he would go, and return at the end of a week. 
 
 He did so, and on the morning of the eleventh 
 day, as he was making his toilet for breakfast, 
 he was taken with spasms. Everything was done 
 for him that was possible : but all to no purpose. 
 
THE half-breed's reyenge. 259 
 
 In three days, he who had caused so much suffer- 
 ing to others passed away. From the day the dog 
 bit him until his death, his mind had been in 
 awful dread and horror, and words could not 
 express the fearful physical tortures he endured, 
 knowing, as he did, what must be his wretched 
 fate, the most horrible of deaths. It was not 
 known where he spent the time after he left Glen 
 Park, until his return, but Lady Hester supposed 
 he went to Lind Hurst. After his death she had 
 him buried with care; for he had been the hus- 
 band of her daughter, and Amy Hampton's father. 
 
260 FATHER AND DAUGHTER. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 FATHER AND DAUGHTER. 
 
 FOUR months have passed since Mr. Hampton 
 was consigned to the tower at Castle Rook. 
 Old Delgardo and his wife had taken their 
 departure for London, and father and daughter 
 were left to themselves. Again, it is a night of 
 storm and darkness, and never had the prisoners' 
 prospects looked so gloomy as now; neither had 
 tasted food since the night before, for there was 
 none at hand, and they had been left to perish by 
 starvation. As the storm rages in its fury, Norva 
 slowly and with faltering steps goes to her father's 
 side, laid her head on his knee, and said : 
 
 " Father, dear father, it will soon be over. 
 Soon we will be beyond the reach of our cruel 
 persecutors, soon free from human, but fiendish 
 hands that have so cruelly treated us. No 
 human aid can reach us. We are here alone, 
 
FATHER AND DAUGHTER. 261 
 
 weak and helpless, surrounded by a wall thirty 
 feet high on three sides, and on the fourth one 
 hundred feet to the dark sea that beats and 
 moans so sadly. There is no escape for us from 
 this horrible place, and no food; so, dear father, 
 we must resign ourselves to our fate, and pray 
 God to take us soon unto Himself, if it be His 
 will. Oh, dear father! if you had your health 
 and liberty in the dear old Mead, I could meet 
 my fate almost without a murmur. But when I 
 think it was my own want of proper judgment in 
 making Lawrence Hastings my husband, whom, 
 if I had studied well, I might have known was a 
 viRain, that has brought all this misery to our 
 home, it makes me doubly wretched. My 
 anguish, my punishment is more than I can 
 bear ! " and the thin form of the once beautiful 
 Norva Hampton quivered with grief 
 
 " There, my daughter," said her father, " do not 
 reproach yourself. We were both deceived in 
 Lawrence Hastings, but Walter was not, for he 
 seemed to understand the man perfectly. As you 
 
262 FATHER AND DAUGHTER. 
 
 say, Norva, our fate is sealed, and we will not 
 spend our few remaining hours in reproaching 
 those who have doomed us to such a death. Ah, 
 Norva ! I hope soon we will be with your gentle 
 mother. It seems to me that she is very near me 
 to-night, and when I greet her, how can I tell her 
 of your brother Walter, and of my great injustice 
 to him for loving that beautiful, heroic creature. 
 Amy Le Clare?" 
 
 He was going to say more, but Norva suddenly 
 raised one hand and said : 
 
 " Hark, father ! I heard some one knocking on 
 the entrance gate." 
 
 He raised his head and listened. He, too, 
 heard a knocking, and said : 
 
 " Some poor, belated wanderers who wish to 
 seek shelter from the storm ; but we cannot admit 
 them." 
 
 " But," said Norva, " can we not let them know 
 we are prisoners here, and get them to send us 
 aid?" 
 
 ^*True," said he; "but those chains bind me 
 
FATHER AND DAUGHTER. 263 
 
 here, and I am too weak to raise my voice above 
 the storm." 
 
 " Then I will try to make myself heard," said 
 Norva, as she arose from her father's knee. She 
 took one step towards the door but fell senseless. 
 
 The faint light of the candle shone dimly from 
 the tower chamber, and the knocking became 
 louder, until at last a portion of the high, massive 
 wall gave way, but the inmates of the lonely 
 tower chamber were unconscious of what was 
 going on without in that dark and stormy night. 
 When the early September sun arose over the 
 lonely sea-girt prison, father and daughter lay 
 unconscious that they were in a quiet little inn 
 and surrounded by friends. 
 
 After a time each awoke and at a glance knew 
 they were not at Castle Rook. Mr. Hampton 
 was the first to make the discovery, and in a low 
 voice whispered : 
 
 "Where am I?" and a gentle voice replied: 
 
 "With friends. Here, drink this!" and Charlie 
 Field held a glass of wine to the old man's lips. 
 He swallowed it, and then said : 
 
2G4 FATHER AND DAUGHTER. 
 
 " Where am I ? Whose friendly voice is it I 
 hear ? " and his face lighted up with something of 
 the old grand look that it used to wear as he 
 stood on the banks of the river among his well- 
 remembered mountains. 
 
 " Not now," said Charlie, " but wait until you 
 have partaken of some food. Then I will tell 
 you all." 
 
 Just then there was a low knock at the door. 
 Charlie went and opened it. It was a waiter with 
 some breakfast for Mr. Hampton. 
 
 ^' There, sir, is a cup of coffee fit for his Majesty. 
 Those chops are browned to a turn, and those 
 rolls are delicious. When these are despatched I 
 will answer any questions you may put to me," 
 said Charlie, in a cheerful voice. 
 
 Mr. Hampton followed the directions of his 
 kind nurse, often during the repast looking at 
 Charlie with an inquiring and grateful look on 
 his noble but careworn face. After he had 
 finished his welcome meal he turned to Charlie 
 and said ; 
 
FATHER AND DAUGHTER. 2G5 
 
 "Charlie Field, in the name of heaven, how 
 came jou here? Where am I? and where is my 
 poor daughter?" At the mention of Norva his 
 soul seemed to go out to the joung man who bent 
 so tenderly over him. 
 
 Charlie's face assumed a bright look as he said : 
 
 '* I will answer your questions now. You are 
 in the town of Penzance, surrounded with friends, 
 and it is as well with your daughter as could 
 be expected under the circumstances. Don't 
 become excited when I tell you that your son 
 Walter is with his sister at this moment adminis- 
 tering to her wants. We are in hopes that, in a 
 few days, you and your daughter will be able to go 
 to Manchester, and, shortly after, embark for the 
 United States." 
 
 Charlie Field then told him of the elder Hast- 
 ings' death at Glen Park. Mr. Hampton put his 
 thin, trembling hands over his face, and remained 
 in deep thought for a long time ; then he called 
 Charlie, and said : 
 
 " Please send my son to me ; that is, if he can 
 
266 FATHER AND DAUGHTER. 
 
 SO far forgive me, for banishing liim from home 
 and taking a viper to my bosom in his place, 
 finally to sting me." 
 
 We will pass over the meeting of father and 
 son, and hasten to the time when all were able to 
 leave Penzance, although neither of them were 
 very strong as yet; but the presence of Walter, 
 Cliff Wilbern and Charlie Field helped to cheer 
 them, and in a measure were instrumental in their 
 rapid recovery. Mr. Hampton felt that soon he 
 would tread the shores of his adopted country. 
 Norva thought lovingly of her mountain home far 
 away. 
 
 Walter had written to Amy of his success in 
 finding his father and sister, telling her she might 
 expect them any day. 
 
 Just as the carriage drew up at the gates of 
 Glen Park, Norva turned to her brother, and said : 
 ** I am very anxious to see your wife, that precious 
 boy of yours, and dear old Mammy Silvia," and 
 the glad tears rolled down the speaker's pale, thin 
 cheeks. 
 
FATHER AND DAUGHTER. 2G7 
 
 " There they are, sister." 
 
 Norva looked in the direction her brother 
 pointed, and a burst of admiration escaped her as 
 she beheld the beautiful vision. Amy in her 
 walking-suit, Mammy Silvia's dear old face, with 
 great gold hoop earrings in her ears, and little 
 Alfred in her loving arms, made a very pretty 
 picture. 
 
 "God bless my loved ones," said Walter, 
 tenderly ; "I have them all again." 
 
268 HOMEWARD BOUND. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIL 
 
 HOMEWARD BOUND. 
 
 V NOBLE vessel rides the waves of the broad 
 Atlantic; she is in mid-ocean, bound for 
 New York. There is a little party seated together 
 on her upper deck, watching the Indian summer 
 sun as it seems to sink down into the bosom of the 
 deep. This party consists of ten persons — namely, 
 Mr. Hampton, who is fast regaining his health, 
 and with little Alfred seated on his knee. Lady 
 Hester Glenmore Spotswood, Charlie Field, Cliff 
 Wilbern ; there is also Walter Hampton, with hig 
 wdfe at his right, and his pale sister at his left, 
 and old Mammy Silvia at a little distance. 
 
 " Now, I w^onder," she thought, " if there was 
 eber an' ole nigger as eber had three such chil'en 
 as dem : Miss Norva, wid her pale, dark beauty, 
 an' eyes like stars on a soft summer's night, an* 
 Miss Amy, wid her hair like gold an' her cheeks 
 
HOMEWARD BOUND. 269 
 
 like apple blossoms, an' young Mars'er Walter — 
 why, he beats de King of England all hollow. I 
 saw de ole gemman wid deas eyes of mine, while 
 we was in London, an' he can't begin to hold a 
 candle to de chile dis ole nigger took in her arms 
 an' pat de first clothes on. And now he, too, has 
 got a baby-boy — -just like he was at his age." 
 
 " Look, brother," said Norva, straining her eyes 
 far ahead ; " is that not a sail ?" 
 
 " I think it is," said he, looking in the direction 
 of her gaze. 
 
 The soft breeze fanned Norva's cheeks, and a 
 fliint dash of color stole into her pale face as she 
 took the glass from her brother's hand, and 
 watched what appeared to be a mere speck on the 
 horizon. She watched it with a strange eagerness, 
 until twilight settled over the deep. After a time, 
 a faint light tinged the starry heavens, which 
 grew brighter and brighter each moment. ' 
 
 "What is the meaning of that bright light?" 
 asked Mr. Hampton. 
 
 " I think it is a burning vessel," Cliif Wilborn 
 
270 HOMEWARD BOUND. 
 
 replied, with a pale, troubled look, "and, if so, 
 God help those on board." 
 
 By this time, the two vessels were so near each 
 other that the cries for help could be plainly 
 heard, as many persons leaped into the sea, where 
 some found a watery grave. A large number 
 were saved by the crew of the vessel on which our 
 friends were passengers. 
 
 After breakfast, next morning, the stewardess 
 came to Lady Hester, who was on deck, and asked 
 if she and the other two ladies would not prepare 
 the body of a beautiful girl for burial, as they 
 were the only ladies on board. 
 
 " Certainly," said Lady Hester, sadly : " we will 
 be in the cabin soon." 
 
 Going up to her granddaughter and Norva, who 
 were walking arm-in-arm, she made known what 
 was wanted of them below. Walter saw them to 
 the cabin, where they were met by the stewardess, 
 who conducted them at once to the state-room, 
 where the cold, still form lay. 
 
 "When did the young lady die?" said Lady 
 
HOMEWARD BOUND. 271 
 
 Hester, turning down the white sheet and exposing 
 the beautiful face to view. 
 
 " She was dead when taken from the water," 
 replied the stewardess. 
 
 Norva by this time had entered the room, and 
 had caught a glimpse of the cold, marble face. 
 She threw her hands up, exclaiming, " Oh, 
 heavens! it is Octavia Stanley;" then turning 
 away, she fell fainting to the floor. 
 
 Walter, who w^as still lingering in the cabin, 
 saw his sister fall. He hastened at once to her 
 side, and gently lifted her in his strong arms and 
 bore her to her state-room ; then calling Amy, he 
 said, "Darling, what is the matter with Norva?" 
 
 Amy looked very sad, as she said, " Dear 
 Walter, have you no idea who lies dead in the 
 next room?" 
 
 " No," said he, as he pressed his sister's cold 
 hands between his warm palms. 
 
 "Then," said Amy, "I will tell you: it is 
 Octavia Stanley; and you may know how her 
 presence, either living or dead, would affect dear 
 
272 HOMEWARD BOUND. 
 
 Norva," said Walter's wife, sadly, as she kissed 
 the fainting girl's lips. 
 
 "Yes/' said Walter, turning pale, "I under- 
 stand ; but where is her partner in crime ? — where 
 is Lawrence Hastiniis?" 
 
 In a short time his questions would be answered. 
 Norva soon recovered from her fainting fit. Her 
 large black eyes were strange and wild, as she 
 said, " Dear brother, am I dreaming, or did I 
 really see Octavia lying cold and still in death?" 
 and a shiver ran through her delicate frame. 
 
 "It is reality, my darling sister; the vengeance 
 of God has overtaken her." 
 
 Lady Hester just then tapped at the door, and 
 said all was done that was necessary. 
 
 At ten o'clock, when the sun shone brightly, 
 and a gentle gale was blowing from the east, all 
 the passengers assembled to witness one of the most 
 sad and solemn of all burials — a burial at sea. 
 Our party of friends were standing together near 
 the pale form that soon was to find a last resting- 
 place beneath the waves. The captain had ojoened 
 
HOMEWARD BOUND. 278 
 
 his book to read the solemn burial rites, when a 
 tall, ghastly figure stepped up, and knelt at the 
 side of the dead s^irl. For a moment he remained 
 thus, then arose, and turned his face away. The 
 captain went on with the services, and soon all 
 that was left of the earth earthly of the beautiful 
 and erring Octavia Stanley was consigned to the 
 great sea of waters. 
 
 Again the tall form that had kept his back to 
 our party of friends, turned and faced them. 
 There was a look of demoniac triumph in the face, 
 as he fixed his eyes on Norva, and said : 
 
 ^^And so, Mrs. Hastings, we meet again. It 
 seems that you have outwitted me at last. All of 
 you are on your way to Hampton Mead." 
 
 Norva was as pale as death, and could make no 
 reply, and as all the rest seemed too much aston- 
 ished to speak, old Silvia drew near and said : 
 
 "Yes, Mr. Hastings, through me they has 
 
 outgeneraled you. I always told Miss Norva I 
 
 would get eben wid de debil, an' so I has. It 
 
 was me as led Mars'er Walter where to find my 
 17 
 
274 HOMEWARD BOUND. 
 
 beautiful young mist'ess ; de night on wliicli you 
 made at me an' I dragged you to the earth with 
 me, I learned Miss Norva was at Castle Rook; but 
 ' I was old an' thought I would not let you get tins 
 knowledge from me. So, when Mars'er Walter an' 
 my young Miss Amy came back to 'Merica, I gib 
 my young mars'er the info'mation, an' so, Mr. 
 Hastings, we is all here, on our way back to de 
 Mead." 
 
 At this moment Mr. Hampton stepped forth, as 
 if to speak to the man that had robbed him and 
 his daughter of liberty so long. Walter stood 
 somewhat in the rear, with his wife and child near 
 him. He was pale with excitement and agitation 
 at beholding his old enemy again, but, remember- 
 ing the occasion that had assembled them on 
 deck, he restrained himself, and waited for his 
 father to speak. Hastings cast his eyes over the 
 deck; near him he discovered a huge piece of iron; 
 he stooped and picked it ujd, w^hile a grim smile 
 overspread his face; then looking earnestly in 
 Amy Hampton's face, while a change came over 
 
HOMEWARD BOUND. 275 
 
 his look — a change of feeling, a softened, tender 
 expression that no one had ever seen before, he 
 said : 
 
 " Farewell, sweet, beautiful sister, you will 
 enjoy the great wealth of the Hamptons, while I, 
 your brother, will sleep in mid-ocean with the only 
 woman I ever loved," and as he spoke he leaped 
 into the sea. 
 
 The passengers were horror-stricken at the 
 sight. Norva, who had been so deeply wronged, 
 and who had suffered so much at this man's 
 hands, fainted in her father's arms, while Amy 
 turned to Lady Hester, as if asking an explana- 
 tion of this man's words, " My beautiful sister;" 
 what did it mean ? Lady Hester understood the 
 appealing look, and said : 
 
 "Yes, dearest Amy, that poor demented creature 
 was right : you are his half-sister ; his father 
 married your young mother under the name of 
 Le Clare. Here is the marriage certificate," and 
 the speaker handed Walter the folded paper the 
 elder Hastings had given her at Glen Park. Amy 
 
276 HOMEWARD BOUND. 
 
 sank on her knees, while her face was bowed, as 
 she prayed. 
 
 Mr. Hampton and Charlie Field went below 
 with the still fainting form of Norva. The captain 
 gave orders to have boats lowered to recover the 
 daring young man that had S|)rang overboard, as 
 soon as he should rise to the surface, but they did 
 not find him. He and his only love still sleep 
 beneath the ocean waves, until they shall be 
 called at the great day to answer for the deeds 
 done in the body. 
 
THE SHADOW IS GONE. 277 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 THE SHADOW IS GONE. 
 
 TWO years have passed away since Norva 
 Hastings saw her husband sink beneath the 
 ocean waves to rise no more. Again it is Septem- 
 ber, and at dear old Hampton Mead. Again she 
 is to be a bride : this time all the members of her 
 family are delighted with her choice. No doubts fill 
 her brother's mind as he sees her lean on the arm 
 of the noble Cliff Wilbern. Well might father and 
 son trust Norva's happiness to this excellent and 
 eloquent divine. The soft autumn breezes steal 
 over mountains, rivers and valley, as those two are 
 united in a marriage of hearts as well as hands. 
 No influence save that of pure love implanted in 
 each heart binds them on this happy occasion. 
 And old Mammy Silvia, who is looking on, turns 
 to Isom — her husband — and says : 
 
 " Tings is as dey should be, an' I is glad I has 
 
278 THE SHADOW IS GONE. 
 
 lived to see de day when Miss Norva is wedded 
 wid her equal. I always did say it should have 
 been ; an' so it should, an' so it is." 
 
 " Yes, Silvia, things is as they should be," said 
 Wilkes McCord, as he was passing by and over- 
 heard old Silvia's remark to her husband; "they 
 make a splendid-looking couple." 
 
 In a few days the bride and groom left the 
 Mead for Wilmington, where Mr. Wilbern had 
 charge of a church. Mr. Hampton had been loth 
 to give his daughter up. But she who had first 
 won Walter's heart as Amy Le Clare, threw her 
 soft, snowy arms around his neck, and said : 
 
 "Dear father, I know your loss is great, but let 
 me be a daughter to you during Norva's absence." 
 
 The proud, noble face of Mr. Hampton looked 
 down on the beautiful \voman, and taking her 
 delicate hands in his, he said : 
 
 " God bless you. Amy, my daughter, mother of 
 Walter's beautiful boy, in whose veins flows the 
 blood of the Cherokees. I love and bless you," 
 and the white head bent and his lips pressed the 
 fair brow of Walter's little savage wife. 
 
THE SHADOW IS GONE. 279 
 
 A few years later Ladj Hester went to rest 
 with her ancestors, and Amy became the lady of 
 Glen Park and its magnificent surroundings, but 
 still she could not leave Hampton Mead. 
 
 Almost before she or Walter was aware of it, 
 little Alfred was of age, and went over to Glen 
 Park, where he was born, to look after the 
 property. At that time he was betrothed to his 
 fair cousin Caroline Wilbern. Soon he returned 
 to claim his bride. On his father s death Walter 
 became owner of Hampton Mead. 
 
 A few years ago, we spent several weeks with 
 him and Amv, and fished in the lake where 
 Norva had sat under the shadow of the statue of 
 Diana, when the irreat shadow of her first marriasre 
 began to fall so thickly around her. We drank 
 from the clear crystal spring where Walter first 
 met his love. Although nearly fifty years ha^^e 
 passed since then, she is still the idol of his heart. 
 Mrs. Walter Hampton presented us with a piece 
 of handiwork done by her grandmother, Lady 
 Hester, the half-breed. A shadow no longer hangs 
 
280 THE SHADOW IS GONE. 
 
 over Hampton Mead. It continues to be one of the 
 loveliest spots on earth. 
 
 When we were at the Mead we had many a 
 long talk with old Silvia. She said she was over 
 one hundred years old, and still loves to tell how 
 she got " eben wid de debil/' years ago. 
 
 "Dat, honey, was before my old man Isom died; 
 when I was a young an' handsome woman, afore 
 my har got white as a sheep, an' my ole eyes 
 got so dim. But we will all get ole, honey chile, 
 if we \ive long enough," said she, sadly. 
 
 Now we will say good-bye to Hampton Mead, as 
 it looked to us as we drove away from its hos- 
 pitable doors : with the early summer sun kissing 
 the blue waters of the lake, and gilding the grand 
 and lofty mountain peaks with its brilliant rays ; 
 Walter, tall and commanding, with hair white as 
 snow, standing on the door-steps with Amy by his 
 side, each waving us a fond adieu. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Wilbern are there also, and no 
 shadow rests on Norva's face. A tall, lovely 
 brunette stands near her; this is her grand- 
 
THE SHADOW IS GONE. 281 
 
 daughter, also Walter's and Amy's. She is 
 Alfred's daughter, and they call her Lady Hester. 
 Alfred and his wife had gone to Glen Park, and 
 we had not the pleasure of seeing them ; but we 
 hope when we go to Hampton Mead again to find 
 them all gathered beneath its old and ample roof. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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 MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS' WORKS. 
 
 Complete in twenty-three large duodecimo volumes, bound in morocco cloth, gilt back, 
 price Sl.75 each ; or $10.25 a set, each set is put up in a neat box. 
 
 The Soldiers' Orphans, $1 75 
 
 A Xoble Woman 1 75 
 
 Norston's Rest, $1 75 
 
 Bertha's Engagement, 1 75 
 
 Bellehood and Bondage 1 75 
 
 The Old Countess, 1 75 
 
 Lord Hope's Choice, 1 75 
 
 Silent Struggles 1 75 
 
 The Rejected Wife, 1 75 
 
 The AVife's Secret, 1 75 
 
 The Reigning Belle, 1 75 ^lary Derwent, 1 75 
 
 Palaces and Prisons, 1 75 Fashion and Famine, 1 75 
 
 IMarried in Haste. 1 75 The Curse of Gold, 1 75 
 
 Wives and Widows, 1 75 Mabel's Mistake 1 75 
 
 Rubv Grav's Strategy 1 75 The Old Homestead, 1 75 
 
 Doubly False,.... 1 75 | The Heiress,.... 1 75 ] The Gold Brick,... 1 75 
 Above are each in cloth, or each one is in paper cover, at $1.50 each. 
 
 MRS. C. A. WARFIELD'S WORKS. 
 
 Complete inning, large duodecimo volumes, hound, in morocco cloth, gilt back, pricg 
 Sl.75 each ; or Slo.75 a set, each set is put up in a neat box. 
 
 The Household of Bouverie,....$l 75 
 
 The Cardinal's Daughter, 1 75 
 
 Feme Fleming. 1 75 
 
 A Double Wedding 1 75 
 
 Miriam's Memoirs, $1 75 
 
 Monfort Hall, 1 75 
 
 Sea and Shore 1 75 
 
 Hester Howard's Temptation,.. 1 75 
 
 Lady Ernestine; or, The Absent Lord of Rocheforte, 1 7i 
 
 Ij^ Above Books will be ssnt, postago paid, on receipt of Retail Price 
 by T. B. Peterson & Brothers, Philadelphia, Pa. (1) 
 
t T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS' PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 MRS. CAROLINE LEE HENTZ'S WORKS. 
 
 Green and Gold EdUi'ui. Comjilete in (weire volumes, in green viorocco alot\ 
 price $1.76 each; or $21.U0 a liel, fuc/i set is put up in a neat box. 
 
 Ernest Linwuod, §1 75 
 
 The Planter's Nortlieni Bride,.. 1 75 
 
 Courtship and Marriat^e, 1 75 
 
 Rena; or, the Snow Bird, 1 75 
 
 Marcus Warhmd, I 75 
 
 Love after Marriage $\ 75 
 
 Eoline; or Magnolia Vale, 1 75 
 
 The Lost Daughter 1 75 
 
 The Banished Son, 1 75 
 
 Helen and Arthur, 1 75 
 
 
 75 
 
 
 75 
 
 
 75 
 
 
 75 
 
 
 75 
 
 
 75 
 
 
 75 
 
 
 75 
 
 
 75 
 
 Linda; or, the Young Pilot of the Belle Creole, 1 75 
 
 Robert Graham; the Sequel to " Iiinda ; or Pilot of Belle Creole,"... 1 74 
 Ahove are each in cloth, or each one is in paper cover, at $1.50 each. 
 
 BEST COOK BOOKS PUBLISHED. 
 
 Hvery housekeeper should jmxsess at leas/ rme of the J'olhm-uig Cook Books, as they 
 would save Hie price of it in a week's cooking. 
 
 The Queen of the Kitchen. Containing 1007 Old Maryland 
 
 F.imilj Receipts for Cookiiig, '.Cloth, $1 75 
 
 Miss Leslie's New Cookery Book Cloth, 1 75 
 
 Mrs. Hale's New Cook Book, '. Cloth, 
 
 Petersons' New Cook Book, Lh-th, 
 
 Widdifield's New Cook Book, Cloth, 
 
 Mrs. Goodfellow's Cockery as it Should Be, Ciolh, 
 
 The National Cook Book. By a Practical Housewife, Cloth, 
 
 The Young AVife's Cook Book Cloth, 
 
 Miss Leslie's New Receipts for Cooking, , Cloth, 
 
 Mrs. Hale's Receipts for the Million, Cloth, 
 
 The Family Save-All. By author of *' National Cook Book," Cloth, 
 f rancatelii's Modern Cook. With the most approved methods of 
 French, English, German, and Italian Cookery. With Sixty-two 
 Illustrations. One volume of 600 pages, bound in morocco cloth, 5 00 
 
 JAMES A. MAITLAND'S WORKS. 
 
 Complete in seven large dnndecimo volumes, bound in cloth, gilt hack, price $1.75 
 each ; or $12.25 a set, ench set is jmt np in a neat box. 
 
 The Watchman, SI 75 Diary of an Old Doctor, $1 75 
 
 The Wanderer, 1 75 Sartaroe, 1 75 
 
 The Lawyer's Story, 1 75 The Three Cousins 1 75 
 
 The Old Patroon ; or the Great Van Broek Property, 1 75 
 
 Above are each in cloth, or each one is in paper cover, at $1.50 each. 
 
 T. ADOLPHUS TROLLOPE'S WORKS. 
 
 Complete in sevn large duodecimo volumes, bound in cloth, gilt back, price $1.75 
 each: or $12.25 a set, each set is put up in a neat box. 
 
 iThe Sealed Packet, $1 7o Dream Numbers, $1 75 
 
 Garstang Grange, 1 75 Beppo, the Conscript, 1 75 
 
 Leonora Casaloni,... 1 75 ] Gemma 1 75 | Marietta, 1 7* 
 
 Above are each in cloth, or each one is in jjaper cover, at $1.50 each. 
 
 EREDRIKA BREUER'3 WORKS. 
 
 Cfrmplete in six large duodecimo volum-s, bound in cloth, gilt bark, price $1.75 each; 
 or $10.50 a szt, each set is put up in a neat box. 
 
 Father and Daughter, $1 75 The Neighbors, SI 75 
 
 The Four Sisters, 1 75 
 
 TheHome, 1 75 
 
 Above are e;ich in cloth, or each one is in pnper cover, at $1.50 each. 
 Life in the Old World. In two volumes, cloth, price, 3 50 
 
 Above Books will be sent, postage paid, on receipt of Retail Prioe, 
 \y T. B. Peterson & Brothers, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS' PUBLICATIONS. 3 
 
 MISS ELIZA A. DUPUY'S WORKS. 
 
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 Why Did He Marry Her? $1 75 
 
 A New Way to Win a Fortune $1 75 
 
 The Discarded Wife, I 75 
 
 The Clandestine Marriage, 1 75 
 
 The Hidlen Sin, 1 75 
 
 The Dethroned Heiress, 1 75 
 
 The Gipsy's Warning, 1 75 
 
 Ai' For Love, 1 75 
 
 Who Shall be Victor? 1 75 
 
 The Mysterious Guest, 1 75 
 
 Was He Guilty? 1 75 
 
 The Cancelled Will 1 75 
 
 The Planter's Daughter, 1 75 
 
 Michael Rudolj)h, 1 U 
 
 Above are each in cloth, or each one is in paper cover, at $1.50 each. 
 
 EMERSON BENNETT'S WORKS. 
 
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 The Border Rover, $1 75 I Bride of the Wilderness, $1 75 
 
 Clara Moreland 1 75 | Ellen Nor'nury I 75 
 
 The Orphan's Trials, I 75 i Kate Clarerid(,n, ., 1 75 
 
 Viola; or Adventures in the Far South-West, 1 75 
 
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 Complete in four Inrge duodecimo volumes, bound in clofh, gill back, price $1.7S 
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 Do»sticks' Letters Z\ 75 
 
 Plu-Ri-Bus-Tah. 1. 75 
 
 The Elephant Club, $1 75 
 
 Witches of Xew York, 1 75 
 
 Above are each in cloth, or ench one is in paper cover, at $1.50 each. 
 
 GREEN'S WORKS ON GAMBLING. 
 
 Complete in four large duodecimo volumes, bound in 'lotli. gil' back, price $1.75 
 each; or 37.00 a set, each set is put up in a neal box. 
 
 fiatnbling Exposed $1 75 i Reformed Gambler $1 75 
 
 The Gambler's Life, 1 75 | Secret Band of Brother.* 1 75 
 
 Above arc each in cloth, or each one is in ]>aper cover, at $1.50 each. 
 
 DOW'S PATENT SERMONS. 
 
 Compute in four large duodecimo volumes, bound in cloth, gilt back, price $1.50 
 
 each ; or .?6.00 a set, each set is put up iu a neat box. 
 Dow's Patent Sermons, 1st Dow's Patent Sermons, 3d 
 
 Series, cloth, $1 50 
 
 Dow's Patent Sermons, 2d 
 
 Series, cloth, SI 50 
 
 Dow's Patent Sermons, 4th 
 
 Series, cloth 1 50 i Series, cloth 1 50 
 
 Above are each in cloth, or each one i.^ in paper cover, at $1.00 each. 
 
 WILKIE COLLINS' BEST WORKS. 
 
 Basil; or. The Crossed Path..$l 50 | The Dead Secret. 12mo $1 50 
 
 Ab<jve are each in one large duodecimo volume, bound in eloth. 
 
 The Dead Secret, 8vo 7.^ | The Queen's Revenge,..-. 15 
 
 Basil; or, the Crossed Path, 75 i Miss or Mrs ? 60 
 
 Hide and Seek, 75 | Ma.] Monkton, 68 
 
 After Dark 75 ' Sights a-Foot 60 
 
 The Stolen Mask 25 j The Yellow Mnsk.... 25 | Sister Rose,„.. 24 
 
 The above books are each issued in paper cover, in octavo form. 
 
 FRANK FORRESTER'S SPORTING BOOK. 
 
 Frank Forrester's Sportin2 Scenes and Characters. By Henry Wil- 
 liam Herbert. With Illustrations by Darley. Two vols., cloth,.. .$4 01 
 
 < • > » » 
 
 ^^ Above Books will be sent, postage paiil. on receipt cf Retail Price, 
 by T. B. Peterson & Br&tLers, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
4 T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS' PUBLICATIONS. 
 WORKS BY THE VERY BEST AUTHORS. 
 
 The f()(li)irAnfj books are ta':h issued in one larye duodecimo volitmtf 
 
 hound in cloth, at $1.76 each, or each one is in paper cover, at $1.50 each. 
 
 The Initials. A Love Story. By Biironess Tautphoeus, $ 
 
 Married Beneath Hiui. By author of " Lost Sir Massingberd," 
 
 Lost Sir Massingberd. By author of " Married Beneath Him," 
 
 The ClyfTards of Clyffe, by author of '^ Lost Sir Massingberd," 
 
 Margaret Maitland. By Mrs. Oliphant, author of '' Zaidee," 
 
 yainily Pride. By author of " Pique," '' Family Secrets." etc 
 
 Self-Sacrifice. By author of "Margaret Maitland," etc 
 
 The Woman in Black. A Companion to the "Woman in White," ... 
 
 A Woman's Thoughts about Wouien. By Miss Muloch, 
 
 Flirtations in Fashionable Life. By Catharine Sinchiir, 
 
 False Pride; or, Two Ways to Matrimony. A Charming Book, 
 
 Rose Douglas. A Companion to '' Family Pride," and " Self Sacrifice," 
 
 Family Secrets. A Companion to "Family Pride," and "Pique,"... 
 
 The lieiress in the Family. 'By Mrs. Mackenzie Daniel, 
 
 Popery Exposed. An Exposition of Popery as it was and is, 
 
 The Heiress of Sweetwater. A Charming Novel, 
 
 Woman's Wrong. By Mrs. Eiloart, author of "St. Bede's," 
 
 The Autobiography of Edward Wortley Montagu, ... 
 
 A Lonely Life. By the author of " Wise as a Serpent," etc 
 
 The Macdermots of Ballycloran. By Anthony Trollope, 
 
 The Forsaken Daughter. A Companion to "Linda," 
 
 Love and Liberty. A Revolutionary Story. By Alexander Dumas, 
 
 The Morrisons. By Mrs. Margaret Hosmer, 
 
 My Son's Wife. By author of " Caste," " Mr. Arle," etc 
 
 The Rich Husband. By author of " George Geith," 
 
 Harem Life in Egypt and Constantinople. By Emmeline Lott, 
 
 The Rector's Wife; or, the Valley of a Hundred Fires, 
 
 Woodburn Grange. A Novel. By William Howitt, 
 
 Country Quarters. By the Countess of Blessingtnn, 
 
 '^utof the Depths. The Story of a "Woman's Life," 
 
 /he Devoted Bride. A Story of the Heart. By St. George Tucker, 
 
 Tlie Coquette: or, the Life and Letters of Eliza AVharton, 
 
 The Pride of Life. A Story of the Heart. By Lady Jane Scott,.... 
 
 The Lost Beauty. By a Noted Lady of the Spanish Court 
 
 My Hero. By Mrs. Forrester. A Charming Love Story, 
 
 The Quaker Soldier. A Revolutionary Romance. By Judge Jones,.... 
 
 The Man of the W(uld. An Autobiography. By William North,... 
 
 The Queen's Favorite ; or. The Price of a Crown. A Love Story,... 
 
 Self Love; or. The Afternoon of Single and Married Life, 
 
 Memoirs of Vidocq, the French Detective. His Life and Adventures, 
 
 Camors. "The Man of the Second Empire." Bv Octave Feuillet,.. 
 
 The Belle of Washington. With her Portrait. By .Mrs. N. P. Lasselle, 
 
 Cora Belmont; or. The Sincere Lover. A True Story of the Hi'art,. 
 
 The Lover's Trials; or Days befo'-e 1776. By Mrs. Mary A. Denison, 
 
 High Life in Washington. A Life Picture. By Mrs. N. P. Lasselle, 
 
 The Beautiful Widow; or, Lodore. By Mrs. Percy B. Shelley, 
 
 Love and Money. By J. B. Jones, author of the " Rival Belles,"... 
 
 Tlie Matchmaker. A Story of High Life. By Beatrice Reynolds,.. 
 
 The Brother's Secret ; or, the Count De Mara. By Willinm (jodwin, 
 
 liife, Speeches and Martyrdom of Abraham Lincoln. Illustrated,... 
 
 Rome and the Papacy. A History of the Men, Manners and Tempo- 
 ral Government of Rome in the Nineteenth Century, 1 75 
 
 Above books are each in cloth, or each one is in paper cover, at $1.50 each« 
 
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 l^° Above Books will be sent, postage paid, on Receipt of Retail Price, 
 by T. B. Peterson & Brothers, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
T. E. PETERSON & BROTHERS' PUBLICATIONS. 5 
 
 WORKS BY THE VERY BEST AUTHORS. 
 
 77te followiny books are each i^naed in one larye duodecimo vohimef 
 bound in cloth, at $1.75 each, or each one is in paper cover at $1.50 each. 
 
 The Count of Monte-Cristo. By Alexander Duma.*. Illustrated, ...$1 75 
 The Countess of Monte-Cristo. Paper cover, price $1.00 ; or cloth,.. 1 75 
 
 Camille; or, the Fate of a Coquette. By Alexiuider Duniiis, 1 75 
 
 The Lust Love. By Mrs. Oliphant. author of *' Margaret Maitland," 1 75 
 The Roman Traitor. By Henry William He^rbert. A Roman Story, 1 75 
 
 The Bohemians of London. By Edward M. AVhitty, 1 75 
 
 The Rival Belles; or, Life in Washington. By J. B. Jones, 1 75 
 
 Love and Duty. By Mrs. Hubback, author of " May and December," 1 7S 
 Wild Sports and Adventures in Africa. By Major W. C. Harris, 1 75 
 Courtship and Matrimony. By Robert Morris. With a Portrait,... 1 75 
 
 The Jealous Husband. By Annette Marie Maillard, 1 75 
 
 The Refugee. By Herman Melville, author of " Omoo," '' Typee," 1 75 
 
 The Life, Writings, and Lectures of the late " Fanny Fern," 1 75 
 
 The Life and Lectures of Lola Montez, with her portrait, 1 75 
 
 Wild Southern Scenes. By author of "Wild Western .Scenes," 1 75 
 
 Currer Lyle; or, the Autobiography of an Actress. By Louise Reeder. 1 75 
 
 The Cabin and Parlor. By J. Thornton Randolph. Illustrated, 1 75 
 
 The Little Beauty. A Love Story. By Mrs. Grey 1 75 
 
 Lizzie Glenn ; or, the Trials of a Seamstress. By T. S. Arthur, 1 75 
 
 Lady Maud ; or, the Wonder of King-^wood Chase. By Pierce Egan, 1 75 
 
 Wilfred Montressor ; or, High Life in Kew York. Illustrated, 1 75 
 
 The Old Stone Mansion. By C. J. Peterson, author *' Kate Aylesford," 1 75 
 Kate Aylesford. By Chas. J. Peterson, author " Old Stone Mansion,". 1 75 
 
 Lorrimer Littlegood, by author " Harry Coverdale's Courtship," 1 75 
 
 The Earl's Secret. A Love Story. By Miss Pardoe, 1 75 
 
 Tiie Adopted Heir. By Miss Pardoe, author of "The Earl's Secret," 1 75 
 Coal, Coal Oil, and all other Minerals in the Earth. By Eli Bowen, 1 75 
 
 Secession, Coercion, and Civil War. By J. B. Jones, 1 75 
 
 Above books are each in cloth, or each one is in papercover, at $1.50 each. 
 
 The Dead Secret. By Wilkie Collins, author " The Crossed Path,"... 1 50 
 
 The Crossed Path; or Basil. By Wilkie Collins, 1 50 
 
 Indiana. A Love Story. By George Sand, author of " Consuelo," 1 50 
 
 Jealousy ; or, Teverino. By George Sand, author of " Consuelo," etc. 1 50 
 
 Six Nights with the Washingtonians, Illustrated. By T. S. Arthur, 3 50 
 
 BOOKS FOR PRIVATE STUDY AND SCHOOLS. 
 
 The Lawrence Speaker. A Selection of Literary Gems in Poetry and 
 Prose, designed for the use of Colleges, Schools. Seminaries, Literary 
 Societies. By Philip Lawrence, Professor of Elocution. 6(10 pages..$2 CO 
 
 Comstock's Elocution aod Model Speaker. Intended for the use of 
 School?., Colleges, and for private Study, for the Promotion of 
 Health, Cure of Stammering, and Defective Articulation. By An- 
 drew Comstock and Philip Lawrence. With 236 Illustration.- 2 00 
 
 Ihe French, German, Spanish. Latin and Italian Languages Without 
 
 I a Master. Whereby any one of these Languages can be learned 
 without a Teacher. By A. H. Monteith. One volume, cloth 2 00 
 
 Com.'^topk's Colored Chart. Being a perfect Alphabet of the Eng- 
 lish Language, Graphic and Typic, with exercises in Pitch, Force 
 and Gesture, and Sixty-Eight colored figures, representing the va- 
 rious postures and different attitudes to be used in declamation. 
 On a large Roller. Every School should have a copy of it 5 00 
 
 Llebig's Complete W'orks on Chemistry. By Baron Justus Liebig... 2 00 
 
 J^ Above Btwks will be sent, postage paid, on Receipt of Retail Frico 
 by T. B. Peterson & Broth£rs, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
6 T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS' PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 WORKS BY THE VERY BEST AUTHORS. 
 
 TTie folloicing books are each issued in one large duodecimo volume, 
 hound in cloth, at $1.75 each, or each one is in paper cover, at $1.50 each. 
 
 Rose Foster. By George W. M. Reynolds, Esq., $1 75 
 
 The Conscript J or, the Days of Napoleon 1st. By Alex. Dumas,.... 1 75 
 Cousin Harry. By Mrs. Grey, author of " The Gambler's Wife," etc. 1 75 
 •Saratoga. An Indian Tale of Frontier Life. A true Story of 1787,.. 1 75 
 
 Married at Last. A Love Story. By Annie Thomas, 1 75 
 
 Shoulder Straps. By Henry Morford, author of ** Days of Shoddy," 1 75 
 Days of Shoddy. By Henry Morford, author of " Shoulder Straps," 1 75 
 
 The Coward. By Henry ^lorford, author of ** Shoulder Straps," 1 75 
 
 The Cavalier. By G. P. R.James, author of "Lord Montagu's Page," 1 75 
 Lord Montagu's Page. By G. P. R. James, authorof " Cavalier,'\.. 1 75 
 Mrs. Emma D. E. N. Southworth's Popular Novels. 42 vols, in all, 73 50 
 
 Mrs. Ann S. Stephens' Celebrated Novels. 22 volumes in all, 38 50 
 
 Mrs. C. A. Warfield's Works. Nine volumes in all, 15 75 
 
 Miss Eliza A. Dupuy's Works. Fourteen volumes in all, 24 50 
 
 Mrs. Caroline Lee Hentz's Novels. Twelve volumes in all, 21 00 
 
 Frederika Bremer's Novels. Six volumes in all, 10 50 
 
 T. A. TroUope's Works. Seven volumes in all, 12 25 
 
 James A. Maitland's Novels. Seven volumes in all, 12 25 
 
 Q. K. Philander Doestick's Novels. Four volumes in all, 7 03 
 
 Cook Books. The best in the world. Eleven volumes in all, 19 25 
 
 Mrs. Henry Wood's Novels. Seventeen volumes in all, 29 75 
 
 Emerson Bennett's Novels. Seven volumes in all, 12 25 
 
 Green's Works on Gambling. Four volumes in all, 7 0(1 
 
 Above books are each in cloth, or each one is in paper cover, at $1.50 each. 
 
 The following hooha are each issued in one large octavo volume, hound in 
 cloth, at $2.00 each, or each one is done tqi in paper cover, at $1.50 each. 
 
 The Wandering Jew. By Eugene Sue. Full of Illustrations, $2 00 
 
 Mysteries of Paris; and its Sequel, Gerolstein. By Eugene Sue,.... 2 00 
 
 Martin, the Foundling. By Eugene Sue. Full of Illustrations, 2 00 
 
 Ten Thousand a Year. By Samuel Warren. With Illustrations,.... 2 00 
 
 Washington and His Generals. By George Lippard.... 2 00 
 
 The Quaker City; or, the Monks of Monk Hall. By George Lippard, 2 00 
 
 Blanche of Brandywino. By George Lippard, 2 00 
 
 Paul Ardenheim ; the Monk of Wissahickon. By George .Lippard,. 2 00 
 
 The Pictorial Tower of London. By W. Harrison Ainsworth, 2 50 
 
 Above books are each in cloth, or each one is in paper cover, at $1.50 each. 
 
 T/ie following are each issued in one large octavo volume, ho^md in cloth, price $2.00 
 each, or a cheap edition is issued in paper cooer, at 75 cents each. 
 
 Charles O'Malley, the Irish Dragoon. By Charles Lever, Cloth, $2 00 
 
 Harry Lorrequer. With his Confessions. By Charles Lever,, ..Cloth, 2 00 
 
 Jack Hinton, the Guardsman. By Charles Lever, Cloth, 2 00 
 
 Daven])ort Dunn. A Man of Our Day. By Charles Lever,. ..Cloth, 2 00 
 
 Tom Burke of Ours. By Charles Lever Cloth, 2 00 
 
 The Knight of Gwynne. By Charles Lever, Cloth, 2 00 
 
 Arthur O'Learv. By Charles Lever, Cloth, 2 00 
 
 Con Cregan. By Charles Lever, Cloth, 2 01} 
 
 Horace Templeton. By Charles Lever, Cloth, 2 00 
 
 Kate O'Donoghue. By Charles Lever, Cloth, 2 00 
 
 Valentine Vox, the Ventriloquist. By Harry Cockton Cloth, 2 00 
 
 Above are each in cloth, or each one is in paper cover, at 75 cents each. 
 
 ^^ Above Books will be sent, postage paid, on receipt of Retail PrioOi 
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T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS' PUBLICATIONS. 1 
 
 tt« " — — ■ ' " — — - -»• — ■ 
 
 NEW AND GOOD BOOKS BY BEST AUTHORS. 
 
 Beautiful Snow, and Other Poems. Ntio lllnntnited Edition. By J. 
 W. Watson. With Illustrations by E. L. lleury. One volume, green 
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 morocco cloth, full gilt edges, full gilt back, full gilt sides, etc., $;i Ot 
 
 The Outcast, and Other Poems. By J. W. Watsun. One volume, 
 green morocco cloth, gilt top, side and back, price S2.00 ; or in ma- 
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 The Young Magdalen; and Other Poems. By Francis S. Smith, 
 editor of <' The Xew York Weekly." With a portrait of the author. 
 Complete in one large volume o:' 300 pages, bound in green mo- 
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 Hans Breitmann's Ballads. By Charles G. Leland. Volume One. Con- 
 taining the " first," ''Second," and " Third Series" of the '' Breit- 
 
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 Hans Breitmann's Ballads. By Ch-irles (t. Leland. Volume Two. 
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 Hans Breitmann's Ballads. By Charles Gr. Leland. Being the above 
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 Moister Karl's Sketch Book. By Charles G. Leland. (Hans Breit- 
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 gilt top, gilt back, with beveled boards, price S2.5U, or in maroon 
 
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 Historical Sketches of Plymouth, Luzerne Co., Penna. By Ilendrick 
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 John Jasper's Secret. A Sequel to Charles Dickens' '"Mystery of 
 
 Edwin Drood." With IS Illustrations. Bound in cloth, 2 00 
 
 Ihe Last Athenian. From the Swedish of Victor Rydberg. Highly 
 recommended by Fredrika Bremer. Paper .$1.50, cr in cloth, 2 00 
 
 Across the Atlantic. Letters from France, Switzerland. Gerraanj', 
 
 Italy, and England. By C. H. Haeseler, M.D. Bound in cloth,... 2 00 
 
 The Ladies' Guide to True Politeness and Perfect Manners. By 
 Miss Leslie. Every lady should have it. Cloth, full gilt back..., 1 75 
 
 The Ladies' Complete Guide to Needlework and Erabrnirlery. With 
 113 illustrations. Bv Miss Lambert. Cloth, full gilt bnck, 1 75 
 
 The Ladles' Work Table Book. With 27 illustration's. Cloth, gilt,. 1 50 
 
 The Story of Elizabeth. By Miss Thackeray, paper $1.00, or cloth,... 1 50 
 
 Bow's Short Patent Sermons. By Dow, Jr. In 4 vols., cloth, each,... 1 5* 
 
 Wildcats Sown Abroad. A Spicv Book. By T. B. AVitmer, cloth,... 1 50 
 
 Aunt Patty's Scrap Bag. By Mrs. Caroline Lee Hentz, author of 
 " Linda," etc. Full of Illustrations, and bound in cloth 1 50 
 
 Hollick's Anatomy and Physiology of the Human Figure. Illustr.ited 
 by a perfect dissected plate of the Human Organization, and by 
 other separate plates of the Human Skeleton, such as Arteries, 
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 Life and Adventure* of Don Quixote and his Squire Sancho Panza, 
 
 complete in one large volume, (laper cover, for 81.00, or in cloth,.. 1 75 
 
 The Laws and Practice of the Game of Euchre, as adopted by the 
 
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 Riddell's Model Architect. With 22 large full paee colored illus- 
 trations, and 44 plates of ground plans, with plans, sy)ecificati©ns, 
 costs of building, etc. One large quarto v<dume, bound, $15 08 
 
 -o ♦ ' 
 
 ^g° Above Books will be sent, posta^-e paid, on receipt of Retail PrlMi 
 by T. B. Petersoa & Brothers, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
8 T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS' PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 NEW AND GOOD BOOKS BY BEST AUTHORS. 
 
 Treason at Home. A Novel. By Mrs. (ireenough, cloth $1 7S 
 
 Letters from Europe. By Colonel John W. Forney. Bound in cloth, 1 7l 
 
 Frank Fairleigh. By author of " Lewis Arundel," cloth, 1 75 
 
 Lewis Arundel. By author of " Frank Fairleigh," cloth, 1 75 
 
 Moore's Life of Hon. Schuyler Colfax, with a Portrait on steel, cloth, 1 bO 
 
 ^Vhitefriars; or, The Days of Charles the Second. Illustrated, 1 00 
 
 Tan-go-ru-a. An Historical Drama, in Prose. By Mr. Moorhead, — 1 00 
 
 The Impeachment Trial of President Andrew Johnson. Cloth, 1 50 
 
 Trial of the Assassins for the Murder of Abraham Lincoln. Cloth,... 1 50 
 
 Lives of Jack Sheppard and Guy Fawkes. Illustrated. One vol., cloth, 1 76 
 
 Consuelo, and Countess of Fvudolstadt. One volume, cloth 2 00 
 
 Monsieur Antoine. By George Sand. Illustrated. One vol., cloih, 1 00 
 
 Aurora Floyd. By Miss Braddon. One vol., paper 75 cents, cloth,... 1 00 
 
 Christy aud"^ White's Complete Ethiopifui Melodies, bound in cloth,... 1 00 
 
 The Life of Charles Dickens. By R. Shelton Mackenzie, cloth, 2 00 
 
 The Life of Edwin Forrest; with Reminiscences and Personal Recol- 
 lections. By Colley Cibber. With a Portrait and Autograph, 2 00 
 
 Poetical Works of Sir Walter Scott. One 8vo. volume, fine binding, 5 00 
 
 Life of Sir Walter Scott. By John G. Lockhart. With Portrait, 2 50 
 
 The Shakspeare Novels. Complete in one large octavo volume, cloth, 4 00 
 
 Miss Pardoe's Choice Novels. In one large octav^o volume, cloth,... 4 00 
 
 The Waverley Novels. National Edition. Five large 8vo. vols., cloth, 15 00 
 
 Charles Dickens' Works. Peoi^les l2mo. Edition. 22 vols., oloth, 34 00 
 
 Charles Dickens' Works. Green Cloth l2mo. Edition. 22 vols., cloth, 44 00 
 
 Charles Dickens' Works. IlluHtrated V2mo. Edition. 36 vols., cloth, 55 00 
 
 Chiirles Dickens' Works. Illmtrated Svo. Edition. 18 vols., cloth, 31 50 
 
 Charles Dickens' Works. New National Edition. 7 volumes, cloth, 20 00 
 
 HUMOROUS ILLUSTRATED WORKS. 
 
 Each one is full of llluytrations, bj Felix 0. C. Darley, and bound in Cloth. 
 
 Major Jones' Courtship and Travels. With 21 Illustrations, ...SI 7.^ 
 
 Major Jones' Scenes in Georgia. With Ifi Illustrations, 1 '16 
 
 Simon Suggs' Adventures and Travels. With 17 Illustrations, 1 75 
 
 Swamp Doctor's Adventures in the South- West. 14 Illustrations,... 1 75 
 
 Col. Thorpe's Scenes in Arkansaw. With 16 Illustrations, 1 75 
 
 The Big Bear's Adventures and Travels. With 18 Illustrations, I 7a 
 
 High Life in New York, by Jonathan Slick. With Illustrations,.... 1 75 
 
 Judge Haliburton's Yankee Stories. Illustrated, 1 75 
 
 H.irry Coverdale's Courtship and Marriage. Illustrated, 1 75 
 
 Piney Wood's Tavern; or, Sam Slick in Texas. Illustrated, 1 75 
 
 Bam Slick, the Clockmaker. By Judge Haliburtnn. Illustrated,... 1 75 
 
 Huu^'^rs of Falconbridge. By J. F. Kelley. With Illustrations, ... 1 75 
 
 .Modern Chivalry. By Judge Breckenridge. Two vols., each 1 75 
 
 Neal's Charcoal Sketches. By Joseph C. Neal. 21 Illustrations,... 2 5(1 
 
 MADAME GEORGE SAND'S WORKS. 
 
 Consuelo, 12mo., cloth, SI 50 Jealousy, 12mo. cloth, SI 50 
 
 Countess of Rudolstadt, 1 50 Indiana, 12mo., cloth 1 58 
 
 Above are only published in 12mo., cloth, gilt side and back. 
 
 Fanchon, the Cricket, price $1.00 in paper, or in cloth, 1 50 
 
 First and True Love, 75 iThe Corsair 50 
 
 Simon. A Love Story 50 IThe Last Aldini, 50 
 
 Monsieur Antoine. With 11 Illustrations. Paper, 75 een4;s ; cloth, 1 00 
 Consuelo and Countess of Rudolstadt, octavo, cloth, 2 00 
 
 Above Books will be sent, postage paid, on receipt of Rerail Price, 
 by T. B. Peterson & Brothers, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS' PUBLICATIONS. ^ 
 
 DUMAS', REYNOLDS', AND OTHER BOOKS IN CLOTH. 
 
 The following arc cloth editions of the folloicing good ho(>kn, and ihcy art 
 each iHsued in one large volume, hound in cloth, price $1.75 each. 
 
 Tho Three Guardsmen ; or. The Three Mousquetaires. By A. Dunias,S 
 Twenty Years After; or the ^'Second Series of 2'hree Gnardmnen,".., 
 Bragelonne; Son of Athos ; or " Third Series of Three Gnardsinen," 
 
 The Iron Mask ; or the " Fourth Series of The Three Gnttrdsme))." 
 
 Louise La Valliere; or the ^^ Fifth Series a)id Fnd of the Three 
 
 Guardsmen Series," 
 
 The Memoirs of a Physician. By Alexander Dumas. Illustrated,... 
 Queen's Xccklace ; or ^' Second Series of Memoirs of a Physician," 
 Six Years Later j or the '* Third Series of Memoirs if a Physician," 
 Countess of Charny j or " Fourth Series of Memoirs of a Physician," 
 An dree De Tavern ey; or " Fifth Series of Memoirs of a Physician," 
 ■The Chevalier; or the "Sixth Series and Fnd <f the Memoirs <f a 
 
 Physician Series," 
 
 The Adventures of a Marquis. By Alexander Lumas 
 
 Edmond Dantes. A Sequel to the " Count of Monte-Cristo," 
 
 The Forty-Five Guardsmen. By Alexander Dumas. Illustrated,... 
 Diana of Meridor, or Lady of Monsoreau. By Alexander Dumas,... 
 The Iron Hand. By Alex. Dumas, author "Count of Monte-Cristo," 
 The Mysteries of the Court of London. By George W. M. Reynolds, 
 Rose Foster ; or the '' Second Series of Mysteries ff Court of London," 
 Caroline of Brunswick ; or the " Third Series of the Court of London," 
 Venetia Trelawney; or "End of the Mysteries of the Court of London," 
 
 Lord Saxondale; or the Court of Queen Victoria. By Reynolds, 
 
 Count Christoval. Sequel to "Lord Saxondale." By Reynolds, 
 
 Rosa Lambert; or Memoirs of an Unfortunate Woman. By Reynolds, 
 Mary Price; or the Adventures of a Servant Maid. By Reynolds,... 
 Eustace Quentin. Sequel to " Mary Price." By G. W. M. Reynolds, 
 Joseph Wilmot; or the Memoirs of a Man Servant. By Re3'nolds,... 
 
 Banker's Daughter. Sequel to "Joseph "Wilmot," By Reynolds, 
 
 Kenneth. A Romance of the Highlands. By G. W. M. Reynolds, 
 
 Rye-House Plot; or the Conspirator's Daughter. B.y Rej-nolds 
 
 Kecromancer; or the Times of Henry the Eighth. By Reynolds, 
 
 Within the Maze. By Mrs. Henry Wood, author of "East Lynne,". 
 Dene Hollow. By Mrs. Henry Wood, author of" Within the Maze," 
 Bessy Rane. By Mrs, Henry Wood, author of " The Channings,",... 
 George Canterbury's Will. By Mrs. Wood, author "Oswald Cray," 
 The Channings. By Mrs. Henry Wood, author of " Dene Hollow,"... 
 
 Roland Yorke. A Sequel to "' The Channings." By Mrs. Wood, 
 
 Shadow of Ashlydyatt. Bj' Mrs. Wood, author of " Bessy Rane," 
 
 Lord Oakburn's Daughters; or The Earl's Heirs. By Mrs, Wood,... 
 Yerner's Pride. By Mrs. Henry Wood, author of " The Channings," 
 The Castle's Heir; or Lady Adelaide's Oath. By Mrs. Henry Wood, 
 Oswald Cray. By Mrs. Henry Wood, author of "Roland Yorke,".... 
 
 Squire Trevlyn's Heir; or Trevlyn Hold. By Mrs. Henry Wood, 
 
 The Red Court Farm, By Mrs. Wood, author of " Yerner's Pride,"... 
 Elster's F0II3'. By Mrs. Henry Wood, author of" Castle's Heir,"... 
 g*. Martin's Eve. By Mrs, Henry Wood, author of "Dene Hollow," 
 Mildred Arkell. By Mrs, Henry Wood, author of "Ea.-t Lynne,",... 
 Cyrilla; or the Mysterious Engagement. By author of "Initials," 
 
 The Miser's Daughter. By William Harrison Ainsworth, 
 
 The Mysteries of Florence. By Geo. Lippard, author " Quaker City," 
 
 75 
 75 
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 ^^ Above Books will be sent, postage paid, on receipt of Retail Pric^ 
 by T. B. Peterson & Brothers, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
CHARLES DICKENS' WORKS. 
 
 *^ GREAT REDUCTION IN THEIR PRICES. -=5^81 
 
 PEOPLE'S DUODECIMO EDITION. ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 liediiccU in price /runt $2.50 to SI. 50 « volume. 
 Thi9 edition is printed on fine paper, from larye, clear type, leaded, that 
 all can 7'ead, containiuy Two Hundred Illustrations on tinted pa2Jer. 
 
 Our Mutual Friend, Cloth, SI. 50 
 
 Pickwick Papers, Cloth, 1.50 
 
 Nicholas Nickleby, Cloth, 1.50 
 
 Great Expectations, Cloth, 1.50 
 
 David Copperfield, Cloth, 1.50 
 
 Oliver Twist, Cloth, 1.50 
 
 Bleak House, Cloth, 1.50 
 
 A Tale of Two Cities,. ..Cloth, 1.50 
 
 Little Dorrit, Cloth, lfl.59 
 
 Douibey and Son, Cloth, 1.50 
 
 Christnms Stories, Cloth, 1.50 
 
 Sketches by " Boz," Cloth, 1.50 
 
 Barnaby Rudge, Cloth, 1 .50 
 
 Martin Chuzzlewit, Cloth, 1.50 
 
 Old Curiosity Shop, Cloth, 1.50 
 
 Dickens' New Stories,. .Cloth, 1.50 
 
 Mystery of Edwin Drood; and Master Humphrey's Clock,. .....Cloth, 1.50 
 
 American Notes; and the Uncommercial Traveller, Cloth, 1.50 
 
 Hunted Down; andother Reprinted Pieces, Cloth, 1.50 
 
 The Holly-Tree Inn; and other Stories, Cloth, 1 50 
 
 The Life and Writings of Charles Dickens, Cloth, 2.00 
 
 John Jasper's Secret. Sequel to Mystery of Edwin Drood,. ..Cloth, 2.00 
 
 Price of a set, in Black cloth, in twenty-two volumes, $.34.00 
 
 " " Full sheep. Library style, 45.00 
 
 " « Half calf, sprinkled edges, 56.00 
 
 " " Half calf, marbled edges, 61.50 
 
 " " Half calf, antique, or half calf, full gilt backs, etc. 66.00 
 
 GREEN MOROCCO CLOTH, DUODECIMO EDITION. 
 
 Thia 18 the "People's Duodecimo Edition" Vu a neio style of Binding, in 
 Green Morocco Cloth, Bevelled Boards, Full Gilt descriptive back, and 
 Medallion Portrait on sides in gilt, in Twenti/-tno handy volumes, 12hio., 
 fine paper, large clear type, and Two Hundred Illustrations on tinted paper. 
 Price $44 a set, and each set put up in a neat and strong box. This i» 
 the handsomest and best edition ever p)i^^^*^hed for the 2)rice. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED DUODECIMO EDITION. 
 
 Reduced in price from $2.00 to $1.50 a volume. 
 This edition is printed on the finest p)a per, from large, clear type, leaded, 
 that all can read, containing Six Hundred full page IllustratiouH, on 
 tinted paper, from, designs by Cruikshank, Phiz, Browne, Maclise, 
 McLenan, and other artists. This is the only edition published that con- 
 tains all the original illustrations, as selected by Mr. Charles Dickens. 
 
 The following are each contained in two volumes. 
 
 Our Mutual Friend, Cloth, $.3.00 
 
 Pickwick Papers, Cloth, 3.00 
 
 Tale of Two Cities, Cloth, 3.00 
 
 Nicholas Nickleby, Cloth, 3.00 
 
 David Copperfield, Cloth, 3.00 
 
 Oliver Twist, Cloth, 3.00 
 
 Christmas Stories, Cloth, 3.00 
 
 Bleak House, Cloth, $.3 00 
 
 Sketches by "Boz," Cloth, 3.00 
 
 Barnaby Rudge, Cloth, 3.00 
 
 Martin Chuzzlewit, Cloth, 3.00 
 
 Old Curiosity Shop, Cloth, 3.00 
 
 Little Dorrit, Cloth, 3.00 
 
 Dombey and Son, Cloth, 3.00 
 
 The folloioing are each comj^lete in one volume. 
 
 Great Expectations, $1.50 | Dickens' New Stories,. ..Cloth, $1.50 
 
 Mystery of Edwin Drond; and Master Humphrey's Clock,....Cloth, 1.50 
 
 American Notes; and the Uncommercial Traveller, Cloth, 1.50 
 
 Hunted Down : and other Reprinted Pieces, Cloth, 1.50 
 
 The Holly-Tree Inn; and other Stories Cloth, 1.50 
 
 The Life and Writings of Charles Dickens, Cloth, 2.00 
 
 John Jasper's Secret. Sequel to Mystery of Edwin Drood,. ..Cloth, 2.00 
 
 Price of a se*" \n thirty-six volumes, bound in cloth, $55.00 
 
 " ' Full sheep, Library style, 74.00 
 
 " *' Half calf, antique, or half calf, full gilt backs, etc. 108.0« 
 
 (- 
 
CHARLES DICKENS' WORKS. 
 
 .Kg- GREAT JREDaUTION IN THEIR PRICES. 'S* 
 
 ILLUSTRATED OCTAVO EDITION. 
 
 Rsdnced in price from $2.50 to $].75 a voluvie. 
 
 Thi$ edition is printed from larye type, double column, octavo pagn, each 
 book being complete in one volume, the whole containing near Six Hundred 
 Illustrations, by Crnikahunk, Phiz, Browne, Maclise, and other artibts. 
 
 Our Mutual Friend, Cloth, $1.75 , David Coppertield, Cloth, $1.76 
 
 Pickwick Papers, Cloth, 1.75 j Barnaby Rudge, Cloth, 1.75 
 
 Martin Chuzzlewit, Cloth, 
 
 Old Curiosity Shop, Cloth, 
 
 Christmas Stories Cloth, 
 
 Dickens' New Stories,. ..Cloth, 
 A Tale of Two Cities,. ..Cloth, 
 American Nwtes and 
 
 Pic-Nic Papers, Cloth, 
 
 1.75 
 1.75 
 1.75 
 1.75 
 1.75 
 
 1.75 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 tt 
 
 (I 
 
 <t 
 
 it 
 
 « 
 
 (I 
 u 
 
 Nicholas Nickleby, Cloth, 1.75 
 
 Great Expectations, Cloth, 1.75 
 
 Lamplighter's Story,....Cloth, 1.75 
 
 Oliver Twist, Cloth, 1.75 
 
 Bleak House, Cloth, 1.75 
 
 Little Dorrit, Cloth, 1.75 
 
 Dombey and Son, .Cloth, 1.75 
 
 Sketches by " Boz." Cloth, 1.75 
 
 Price of a set, in Black cloth, in eig iteen volumes, $.31.50 
 
 " " Full sheep, Library style, 40.00 
 
 Half calf, sprinkled edges, 48.00 
 
 Half calf, marbled edges 54.00 
 
 Half calf, antique, or Half calf, full gilt backs,... 60.00 
 
 "NEW NATIONAL EDITION" OF DICKENS' WORKS. 
 
 This is the cheapest bound edition of the works of Charles Dickens, pub- 
 lished, all his writings being contained in seven large octavo volumes, 
 with a portrait of Charles Dickens, and other illustrations. 
 
 Price of a set, in Black cloth, in seven volumes, $20.00 
 
 Full sheep, Library style, 25.00 
 
 Half calf, antique, or Half calf, full gilt backs,... 30.0(1 
 
 CHEAP PAPER COVER EDITION OF DICKENS' WORKS. 
 
 Each book being complete in one large octavo volume. 
 
 Pickwick Papers, 50 
 
 Nicholas Nickleby, 50 
 
 Dombey and Son, 50 
 
 Our Mutual Friend, 50 
 
 D^-vid Copperfield, 50 
 
 Martin Chuzzlewit, 50 
 
 Old Curiosity Shop, 50 
 
 Oliver Twist, 50 
 
 American Notes, 25 
 
 Hard Times, 25 
 
 A Tale of Two Cities, 25 
 
 Somebody's Luggage, 25 
 
 Mrs. Lirriper's Lodgings, 25 
 
 Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy, 25 
 
 Mugby .Junction, 25 
 
 Pr. MarigoM's Prescriptions,... 25 
 
 Mystery of Eilwin Drood, 25 
 
 Message from the Spa, 25 
 
 Bleak House, 51 
 
 Little Dorrit, 60 
 
 Christmas Stories, 50 
 
 Barnaby Rudge, 50 
 
 Sketches by " Boz," 50 
 
 Great Expectations, 50 
 
 Joseph Griiiialdi, 50 
 
 The Pic-Nic Papers, 50 
 
 The Haunted House, 25 
 
 Uncommercial Traveller, 25 
 
 A House to Let, 25 
 
 Perils of English Prisoners, 25 
 
 Wreck of the Golden Mary, 25 
 
 Tom Tiddler's (Ground, 25 
 
 Dickens' New Stories, 25 
 
 Laz}' Tour Idle Apprentices, 25 
 
 The Holly-Tree Inn, 25 
 
 No Thoroughfare, 25 
 
 Hunted Down ; and Other Reprinted Pieces, 50 
 
 THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF CHARLES DICKENS. 
 THE LIFE OF CHARLES DICKENS. By Dr. R. S'^elton Mackenzie, 
 containing a full history of his Life, his Uncollected Pieo^>s, in Prose 
 and Verse ; Personal Recollections and Anecdotes; His Last Will in 
 full; and Letters from Mr. Dickens never before published. Wi jr 
 a Portrait and Autogiaph of Charles Dickens. Price $2.00. (Hj 
 
13 T. B. TETEESON & BROTHERS' PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 ALEXANDER DUMAS' WORKS. 
 
 Count of Montc-Cristo, $1 
 
 EJuiond Dantes, 
 
 The Three Guardsmen, 
 
 Twenty Years After, 
 
 Bragelonne, 
 
 The Iron .M.isk 1 
 
 Louise La \'alliere, 1 
 
 Diiina of Meridor 1 
 
 Adventures of a Marquis, 1 
 
 Love and Liberty, (1792-'93).. 1 
 
 Cainille; or, The Fate of a Coque 
 
 The above are each in paper 
 
 The Mohicans of Paris, 
 
 The Horrors of Paris, 
 
 The Fallen Angel, 
 
 Felina de Chambure, 
 
 Sketches in France, 
 
 Lsabel of Bavaria, 
 
 Twin Lieutenants, 
 
 Man with Five Wives, 
 
 50 
 75 
 75 
 75 
 75 
 00 
 00 
 00 
 00 
 50 
 
 Memoirs of a Physician, $1 OQ 
 
 Queen's IS'ccklace, 1 00 
 
 Six Years Later, 1 00 
 
 Countess of Charny, 1 00 
 
 Andree de Taverney, 1 00 
 
 The Chevalier, 1 00 
 
 Forty-five Gunrdsmen, 1 00 
 
 The Iron Hand, 1 00 
 
 The Conscript, 1 60 
 
 Countess of Monte-Cristo, 1 00 
 
 tte, (La Dauie Aux Cameiias,) 1 50 
 
 cover, or in cloth, price $L75 each. 
 
 Annette ; or, Lady of Pearls,... 75 
 
 George ; or. Isle of France, 50 
 
 Madame De Chamblay 50 
 
 The Black Tulip, 50 
 
 The Corsican Brothers, 50 
 
 The Count of Moret,... 50 
 
 The Marriage Verdict, 50 
 
 Buried Alive, 25 
 
 75 
 75 
 75 
 75 
 75 
 75 
 75 
 75 
 
 GEORGE W. M. REYNOLDS' WORKS. 
 
 Mysteries Court -af London,. ...$1 00 
 
 Kose Foster, 1 50 
 
 Caroline of Brunswick, 1 00 
 
 Venetia Trelawney, 1 00 
 
 Lord Saxondale, 1 00 
 
 Count Christoral, 1 00 
 
 Rosa Lambert, 1 00 
 
 Mary Price, $1 
 
 Eustace Quentin, 1 
 
 Joseph Wilmot 1 
 
 Banker's Daughter, 1 
 
 Kenneth, 1 
 
 The Rye-House Plot, 1 
 
 The Necromancer, 1 
 
 The Gipsy Chief, 1 
 
 Wallace, the Hero of Scotland,. 1 00 
 
 The Mysteries of the Court of Naples, full of Illustrations 1 
 
 Robert Bruce, the Hpro-King of Scotland, full of Illustrations, ] 
 
 The above are each in paper cover, or in cloth, price $1.75 each. 
 
 Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots,.. 75 
 
 The Opera Dancer, 75 
 
 Child of Waterloo, 75 
 
 Isabella Vincent, 
 
 Vivian Bertram, 
 
 Countess of Lascelles,, 
 Duke of Marchmort,., 
 Massacre of Glencoe,. 
 Loves of the Harem,., 
 The Soldier's Wife,. 
 
 75 
 75 
 75 
 75 
 75 
 75 
 •75 
 
 Ellen Percy, 
 
 Agnes Evelyn, 
 
 Pickwick Abroad, 
 
 Parricide, 
 
 Discarded Queen, 
 
 Life in Paris, 
 
 The Countess and the Paige,. 
 
 Edgar Montrose, 
 
 The Ruined Gamester, 
 
 Clifford and the Actress, 
 
 May Middleton, 75 
 
 Ciprina; or, the Mysteries and Secrets of a Picture Gallery, 
 
 MISS PARDOE'S POPULAR WORKS. 
 
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 The Jealous Wife, 50 
 
 The five above books are also bound in one volume, cloth, for $4.00 
 
 The Adopted Heir. One volume, paper, $1.50; or in cloth, $1 
 
 The Earl's Secret. One volume, paper, $1.50 ,• or in cloth, 1 
 
 00 
 00 
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 00 
 (10 
 00 
 00 
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 ou 
 
 75 
 75 
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 5l> 
 50 
 50 
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 50 
 
 iO 
 
 75 
 75 
 
 75 
 
 Above books will be sent, postage paid, on receipt of Retail Price, 
 by T. B. Peterson & Brothers, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
T. B. PETEESOIT & BROTHERS' PUBLICATIONS. 13 
 
 CHARLES LEVER'S BEST WORKS. 
 
 Charles O'Malley, 75 
 
 Harry Lorrcquer, 75 
 
 Jack Ilinton 75 
 
 Tom Burke of Ours, 75 
 
 Ivnic^ht of Gwynne, 75 
 
 Arthur O'Leary, 75 
 
 Con Cregan, 75 
 
 DaA^cnport Dunn, 75 
 
 Horace Templeton, 75 
 
 Kate O'Donoghue, 75 
 
 Above are in paper cover, or a fine edition is in cloth at $2.UU each. 
 
 A Bent in a Cloud, 60 1 St, Patrick's Eve, 50 
 
 Ten Thousand a Year, in one volume, paper cover, $1.50; or in cloth, 2 Otf 
 
 The Diary of a Medical Student, by author " Ten Thousand a Year," 76 
 
 MRS. HEITRY WOOD'S BEST BOOKS. 
 
 The Shadow of Ashlydyat, $1 50 
 
 Squire Trevlyn's Heir, 1 60 
 
 Oswald Cniy 1 60 
 
 Mildred Arkell, 1 50 
 
 The Red Court Farm, 1 60 
 
 Elster's Folly, 1 50 
 
 Saint Martin's Eve, 1 60 
 
 Roland Yorke. A Sequel to "The Channinj^s," 1 50 
 
 l,ord Oakburn's Daughters ; or. The Earl's Heirs, 1 60 
 
 The Castle's Heir ; or. Lady Adelaide's Oath, 1 60 
 
 The above are each in paper cover, or in cloth, price $1.75 each. 
 
 The Master of Greylands, $1 50 
 
 Within the Maze, 1 60 
 
 Dene Hollow, 1 50 
 
 Bessy Rane 1 60 
 
 George Canterbury's Will, 1 50 
 
 Vomer's Pride, 1 50 
 
 The Channings, 1 50 
 
 The Mystery 75 
 
 The Lo'st Bank Note, 50 
 
 The Lost Will, 50 
 
 Orville College, 50 
 
 Five Thousand a Y^ear, 25 
 
 The Diamond Bracelet, 25 
 
 Clara Lake's Dream, 25 
 
 The Nobleman's Wife, 25 
 
 Frances Hildyarl, 2o 
 
 A Life's Secret, 50 
 
 The Haunted Tower, bif 
 
 The Runaway Matcli, 2» 
 
 Martyn Ware's Temptations, .. 2i 
 
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 Foggy Night at Offord, 23 
 
 AVilliam Allair 2/ 
 
 A Light and a Dark Christmas, 2a 
 
 The Smuggler's Ghost, 25 
 
 EUGJENE SUE'S GREAT WORKS. 
 
 First Love, 
 
 Woman's Love, 
 
 Fern lie Bluebeard,.., 
 Man -of- War's- Man,. 
 
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 25 
 
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 Martin, the Foundling 1 50 
 
 Above are in cloth at $2.U() each. 
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 CHARLES J. PETERSON'S WORKS. 
 
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 WILLIAM H. MAXWELL'S WORKS. 
 
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 Stories of Waterloo, 75 
 
 Brian O'Lynn, T5 
 
 Life of Grace O'Malley, 50 
 
 MISS BRADDON'S WORKS. 
 
 Aurora Floyd 75 
 
 Aurora Floyd, cloth 1 00 
 
 The Lawyer's Secret 25 
 
 For Better, For Worse, 75 
 
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 JSf^ N°w books are issued by us every week, comprising the best and most enter- 
 taining «r-orks published, .suitable for the Parlor, Library, Sittiiig-Room, Railroad or 
 Steamli'ict reading, and are written bj- the most popular and best writers in the world. 
 
 Jl^^ Enclose a draft for five, ten, twenty, fifty, or one hundred dollars, or more, to 
 us in a letter, and write for what books you wish, and on receipt of the nuiuey, or a 
 satisfictory reference, the books will be parked and j-ent to you at once, in any \\L\y 
 you may ilirect, with circulars and show-bills of the books to post up. 
 
 ^3=" ^Ve want every Bookseller, and every News Agent, everywhere, to sell our 
 books, and to keep an assortment of them on hand, and to send to us at once for a 
 copy of our New Illustrated Descrii)tive Catalogue, which look over carefully, maik- 
 i!ig -vhat books you may WMut, as it contains a list of all books jniblished by us, all 
 or aiy of which will be sold l)y us to everybody in the Book Trade, to Booksellers, 
 or to News Agents, at very low rates. There are no books published you t-aii soil aa 
 many nf, or make as much money on, as Petersons'. Send us on a ti'al order. 
 All orders, large or small, will be sent the day the order is received, and smull 
 •rders will receive the same promptness and care as large orders. 
 
 J^T All Books named in Petersons' Catalogue will be found for sale by all Bock- 
 sellers, or coj)«es of any one book, or more, or all of them, will be sent to any one at 
 once, to anv i;lace, per mail, post-jiaid, or free of freii;ht. on remitting the retail price 
 of the books A-anted to T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS, Philadelphia. 
 
 4®" WANTED. — A Bookseller, News Agent, or ('anvasser, in t-veiy city, town or 
 village on t»us Continent, to engage in the sale of Petersons' New and I'opular 
 Fcist SoUinj^ 3ooks, on which large sales, and large promts can be made. 
 
 JSfS^ Booksellers, Librarians, News Agents, ("anvassers, Pedlers?, and all other per, 
 3ons, who may want any of Petersons' Popular and Fa.st Selling Books, will pleas.* 
 address their orders and letters, at once, to meet with immediate attention, to 
 
 T. B. PETERSON & BKOTHERS, Publishers, 
 
 306 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa, 
 
km S. Stephens' Complete Works. 
 
 23 VOLUMES, AT $1.75 EACH; OR $40.25 A SET. 
 
 T. B. PETERSON <fc BROTHERS, No. 30G Chestnnt Street, 
 PhUiidelphla, Pa., have just published rm entire new, complete, and 
 xmiform edition of all the ivorks written by 3Irs. Ann S. Stephens, 
 the popular American Authoress. This edition is in duodecimo form, 
 is 2}rinted. on the finest of white pajyer, and is complete in twenty- 
 three volumes, and each volume is bound in the very best manner, in 
 morocco cloth, with a full (jilt back, and is sold at the loio price of $1.7^ 
 e<(cli, or $40.25 for a full and complete set. Every family and every 
 Library in this country, sltould have tn it a complete set of this new 
 and beautiful edition of the viorks of Jl/rs. Ann, S. Stephens. The fol- 
 lowing are the names of the volumes: 
 
 NORSTON'S REST. 
 BERTHA'S ENGAGEMENT. 
 BELLEHOOD AND BONDAGE > or, Bought with a Price. 
 LORD HOPE'S CHOICE; ov, More Secrets Than One. 
 THE OLD COUNTESS. Sequel to " Lord Hope's Choice." 
 THE REIGNING BELLE. 
 PALACES AND PRISONS; or, The Prisoner of the Bastile. 
 A NOBLE WOMAN ; or, A Gulf Between Them. 
 THE CURSE OF GOLD ; or, The Bound Girl and Wife's Trials. 
 MABEL'S MISTAKE; or, The Lost Jewels. 
 WIVES AND WIDOWS; or, The Broken Life. 
 THE OLD HOMESTEAD; or, Pet From the Poor House, 
 THE REJECTED WIFE; or, The Ruling Passion. 
 THE WIFE'S SECRET; or, Gillian. 
 THE HEIRESS; or, The Gipsy's Legacy. 
 THE SOLDIER'S ORPHANS. 
 SILENT STRUGGLES; or, Barbara Stafford. 
 RUBY GRAY'S STRATEGY; or, Married by Mistake. 
 FASHION AND FAMINE. 
 MARRIED IN HASTE. 
 DOUBLY FALSE; or, Alike and Not Alike. 
 THE GOLD BRICK. 
 MARY DERWENT. 
 
 ^SiT' Above books are for sole by all Booksellers ot $1.75 each, ot 
 $40.25 /f»' a complete set of t lie twenty-three volumes. Copies of either 
 one or more of the above books, or a comjdcte set of them., will be sent at 
 once to any one, to any place, jyostage 2>repaid, or free of freiyht^ on 
 remitting their 'p^' ice in a letter to the Publishers, 
 
 T. B. PETERSON & IJROTIIERS, 
 
 30G Chestnut Stkeet, PniLADELrmA, Pa. 
 
. Carolm Lee Hem's Works 
 
 12 VOLUMES, AT $1.75 EACH; OR $21.00 A SET- 
 
 r. B. PETERSON & BEO TITERS, No. 306 Chestnut Street, 
 Philadelphia, have just j^ublished an entire new, complete, and uniform 
 edition of all the celebrated Novels written by the popular American 
 Novelist, Mrs. Caroline Lee Ilentz, in twelve large duodecimo volumes. 
 They are printed on the finest paper, and bound in the most beautiful 
 Btyle, in Green 3Iorocco cloth, with a new, full gilt back, and sold at 
 the lo>iv price of $1.75 each, or $21.00 for a full and complete set. 
 Every Family and every Library in this country, should have in it a 
 complete set of this new and beautiful edition of the tvorks of 3Irs, 
 Caroline Lee Henfz. The following is a complete list of 
 
 MRS. CAROLINE LEE HENTZ'S WORKS. 
 
 LINDA ; OR, THE YOUNG PILOT OF THE BELLE CREOLE, With 
 a complete Biography of Mrs. Caroline Lee Hentz. 
 
 ROBERT GRAHAM. A Sequel to "Linda; or, The Young Pilot 
 
 of the Belle Creole." 
 
 RENA; or, THE SNOW BIRD. A Tale of Real Life. 
 
 MARCUS WARLAND ; or, The Long Moss Spring. 
 
 ERNEST LINWOOD ; or. The Inner Life of the Author, 
 
 EOLINE; or, MAGNOLIA VALE; or. The Heiress of Glenraore. 
 
 THE PLANTER'S NORTHERN BRIDE; or, Scenes in Mrs. Hentz'» 
 Childhood. 
 
 HELEN AND ARTHUR; or, Miss Thusa's Spinning WTieeL 
 
 COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE; or, The Joys and Sorrows of 
 American Life. 
 
 LOVE AFTER MARRIAGE ; and other Stories of the Heart. 
 
 THE LOST DAUGHTER; and other Stories of the Heart. 
 
 THE BANISHED SON ; and other Stories of the Heart. 
 
 J^t' Above Books are for sale by all Booksellers at $1.75 each, 9$ 
 $21.00 /or a complete set of the twelve volumes. Copies of either on4 
 of the above books, or a complete set of them, will be sent at once ta 
 %ny one, to any place, postage jire-paid, or free of freight, on remit- 
 Hng their price in a letter to the Publishers, 
 
 T. B. PETERSO:^^ & BEOTHERS, 
 
 .^06 Chestnut Stbeet, Philadelphia, Tx. 
 
PETERSONS' "DOLLAR SERIES" 
 
 OF GOOD NOVELS, ARE THE BEST, LAEGEST, 
 AND CHEAPEST BOOKS IN THE WOULD. 
 
 Price One Dollar JEach, in Cloth, Black and GoUU 
 
 A WOMAN'S THOUGHTS ABOUT WOMEN. By Miss Mulock. 
 
 THE LOVER'S TRIALS. By Mrs. Mary A. Denison. 
 
 THE PRIDE OF LIFE. A Love Story. By Lady Jane Scott. 
 
 THE BEAUTIFUL WIDOW. By Mrs. Percy B. Shelley. 
 
 CORA BELMONT ; or, The Sincere Lover. 
 
 TWO WAYS TO MATRIMONY ; or, Is It Love, or, False Pride ? 
 
 LOST SIR MASSINGBERD. James Payn's Best Book. 
 
 THE OLYFFARDS OF OLYFFE. By James Payn. 
 
 MY SON'S WIFE. By the Author of "Caste." 
 
 THE RIVAL BELLES; or, Life in Washington. By J. B. Jones, 
 
 THE REFUGEE. By the author of " Omoo," " Typee," etc. 
 
 OUT OF THE DEPTHS. The Story of a Woman's Life. 
 
 THE MATCHMAKER. A Society Novel. By Beatrice Reynolds, 
 
 AUNT PATTY'S SCRAP BAG. By Mrs. Caroline Lee Hentz. 
 
 THE STORY OF "ELIZABETH." By Miss Thackeray. 
 
 FLIRTATIONS IN FASHIONABLE LIFE. By Catharine Sinclair, 
 
 THE HEIRESS IN THE FAMILY. By Mrs. Mackenzie Daniels. 
 
 LOVE AND DUTY. A Love Story. By Mrs. Hubback. 
 
 THE COQUETTE; or. The Life and Letters of Eliza Wharton. 
 
 SELF-LOVE. A Book for Yonng Ladies and for Women. 
 
 THE DEVOTED BRIDE. By St. George Tncker, of Virginia. 
 
 THE MAN OF THE WORLD. By William North. 
 
 THE RECTOR'S WIFE; or. The Valley of a Hundred Fires. 
 
 THE QUEEN'S FAVORITE; or. The Price of a Crown. 
 
 COUNTRY QUARTERS. By the Countess of Blessington. 
 
 THE CAVALIER. A Novel. By G. P. R. James. 
 
 SARATOGA! AND THE FAMOUS SPRINGS. A Love Story. 
 
 COLLEY GIBBER'S LIFE OF EDWIN FORREST, with Portrait. 
 
 WOMAN'S WRONG. A Book for Women. By Mrs. Eiloart. 
 
 HAREM LIFE IN EGYPT AND CONSTANTINOPLE. 
 
 THE OLD PATROON ; or, The Great Van Broek Property. 
 
 THE MACDERMOTS OF BALLYCLORAN. By Anthony Trollope. 
 
 A LONELY LIFE. TREASON AT HOME. PANOLA! 
 
 ^^ "Petersons^ Dollnr Series " irill he fori nd for sale hy all Booksellers, 
 or copies of any one or all of fhcni, null he sent, post-paid Jo any one, to any 
 place, 011 remiltinri One Dollar for each one wanted, to the Pnhlishers, 
 
 T. B. PETF.RSOX & BROTHERS, 
 
 300 Chestnut St., Pliiladelpliia, Pa, 
 
PET E RSONS' 
 
 'STERLING SERIES' OF NEW & GOOD 
 
 THEY ARE THE CHEAPEST NOVELS IN THE WORLD. 
 Price $1.00 each in morocco cloth; or 75 cents each in paper cover. 
 
 ''PETERSOAS" STERLING SERIES" OF NEW AND GOOD BOOKS, 
 are each issued in one large octavo volume, all of one size, and in uniform style^ and 
 are meeting with great stcccess, as the series contain some of the best and most popular 
 nr>vds ever issued. Tlie volumes are handy to hold, and are hound in handsome 
 Morocco cloth, with ni'io designs, in gold and bla^k, on side and back, and each book 
 is sold at the uniform and remnrkably Imo price of One Dollar a copy in this style, 
 or in paper covers, iviih the edges cut open all round, at Seventy-five cents a cop\. 
 Here is cheapness and a great deal of good reading matter combined, which is what all 
 persons want these times, for each volume issued in " Petersons' Sterling Series ' 
 contains as much reading matter as is usually issued in a $1.50, §1.75, or ^2.(Xj volume^ 
 
 Yim&m 'STERLING SERIES' OF GOOB NOVELS JUST EEADL 
 
 T/iey are the Cheapest JVorels in the yVorld, 
 
 Price $1.00 ea«h in morocco cloth; or 75 cents each in paper cover. 
 
 The folloiuing loorks have already been issiied in this series, and a neiu one willfol' 
 low every two weeks in Vie same style, same size, and at the $ame\lmo pi-ice, making 
 i/iis series of novels the clieapest ever published. The following are their'names: 
 
 CHARLES O'M ALLEY, The Irish Dragoon. By Charles Lever. 
 
 CYRILL A. A Luve Story. By author of " The luitials." 
 
 THE FLIRT. By Mrs. Grey, author of " The Gambler's Wife." 
 
 EDIJN" A. A Love Stoi-y, By Mrs. Henry Wood. 
 
 HARRY LORREQUER. With His Confessions. By Cliarles Lever. 
 
 AURORA FLOYE. A Love Story. By Miss M. E. Braddon, 
 
 CORINNE ; or, ITALY. By Madame De SUel. 
 
 POPPING THE QUESTION.- By author of " The Jilt." 
 
 FIRST AND TRUE LOVE. By George Sand. , 
 
 THE COQUETTE. A Chai-ming Love Storj'. By author of " Misserimu«.»» 
 
 THE MYSTERY. A Love Storj-. By Mrs. Henry Wood. 
 
 THE MAN WITH FIVE WIVES. By Alexander Dumas. 
 
 THE JEALOUS WIFE. By Miss Julia Pardee. 
 
 THACKERAY'S IRISH SKETCH BOOK. Illustrated. 
 
 THE WIPE'S TRIALS. A Love Story. By Miss Julia Pardoe. 
 
 PICKWICK ABROAD. Illustrated. By George W. M. Reynolds. 
 
 THE DEAD SECRET. By Wilkie Collins. 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF A PRETTY WOMAN. By Miss Pardos. 
 
 SYLVESTER SOUND. By author of " Valentine Vox." 
 
 BASIL ; or. The Crossed Path. By Wilkie Collins 
 
 THE RIVAL BEAUTIES. By Miss Julia Pardoe. 
 
 THE STEWARD. By author of " Valentine Vox." 
 
 MARRYING FOR MONEY. By Mrs. Mackenzie Daniels. 
 
 THE LOVE MATCH. A Love Story. By Henry Cockton 
 
 FLIRTATIONS IN AMERICA; or, High Life in New Yor». 
 
 WHITEFRIARS ; or. The Days of Charles the Second. 
 
 HIDE AND SEEK. A Novel. By Wilkie Collins. 
 
 ^S^ The above books are 75 cents each in paper cover, or Sl.OO each in cloth. 
 
 J^B' Above books are for sale by all Booksellers, or copies of any one, or more, •>/ 
 qU of them, ivill be sent, post-paid, to any on", to any place, on remit ing their price A 
 
 T. B. PETERSON k BROTHERS, Publishers, 
 
 306 Chestntit Street, Fhiladelphia, Pck 
 
MS. EfflA D. E. I SOnTHWORTH'S WORKS. 
 
 -^-^ 
 
 r. B. PETERSON & BROTIIEnS, Philadelphia, have just pub- 
 lished an entire new, complete and unij'onn edition of all of the cele- 
 hrtit.ed works written hy Mrs. Emma D. E. .N. Southworth. This edition 
 is in daodccimo form, is ])rinted on the finest ichite paper, is complete 
 in fort (/-three volumes, and each volume is bound in morocco cloth , with 
 a full (jilt back, and is sold at the low price o/Sl.75 a volume, or .$75.25 
 for a fall and complete set. Every Eamily, and every Library in this 
 Country s'wuld have in it a complete set of this neiv edition of the 
 vorhs of 31rs. Soatliworth. The following are the names of the volumes : 
 
 THE PHANTOM WEDDING; or, the Fall of the House of Flint. 
 SELF-RAISED; or. From the Depths. Sequel to "Ishmael." 
 ISHMAEL; or, IN THE DEPTHS. (Being " Selt-Made.") 
 THE "MOTHER-IN-LAW;" or, MARRIED IN HASTE. 
 THE MISSING BRIDE; or, MIRIAM, THE AVENGER. 
 VICTOR'S TRIUMPH. Sequel to "A Beautiful Fiend." 
 A BEAUTIFUL FIEND; or, THROUGH THE FIRE. 
 LADY OF THE ISLE; or, THE ISLAND PRINCESS. 
 FAIR PLAY; or, BRITOMARTE, THE MAN-HATER. 
 HOW HE WON HER. A Sequel to " Fair Play." 
 THE CHANGED BRIDES; or, Winning Her Way. 
 THE BRIDE S FATE. Sequel to "The Changed Brides." 
 CRUEL AS THE GRAVE; or, Hallow Eve Mystery. 
 TRIED FOR HER LIFE. A Sequel to "Cruel as the Grave." 
 THE CHRISTMAS GUEST; or, The Crime and the Curse. 
 THE BRIDE OF LLEWELLYN. 
 THE LOST HEIR OF LINLITHGOW; or, The Brothers. 
 A NOBLE LORD. Sequel to " Lost Heir of Linlithgow." 
 THE FAMILY DOOM; or, THE SIN OF A COUNTESS. 
 THE MAIDEN WIDOW. Sequel to " Family Doom." 
 THE GIPSY'S PROPHECY; or, The Bride of an Evening, 
 THE FORTUNE SEEKER; or, Astrea. The Bridal Day. 
 THE THREE BEAUTIES ; or, SHANNONDALE. 
 ALLWORTH ABBEY; or, EUDORA. 
 FALLEN PRIDE; or, THE MOUNTAIN GIRL'S LOVE. 
 INDIA; or, THE PEARL OF PEARL RIVER. 
 VIVIA; or, THE SECRET OF POWER. 
 THE BRIDAL EVE ; or, ROSE ELMER. 
 THE DISCARDED DAUGHTER; or. The Children of the Isle. 
 THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS; or, HICKORY HALL. 
 THE TWO SISTERS; or, Virginia and Magdalene. 
 THE FATAL MARRIAGE; or, ORVILLE DEVILLE. 
 THE WIDOW'S SON: or, LEFT ALONE. 
 THE MYSTERY OF DARK HOLLOW. 
 THE DESERTED WIFE. THE WIFE'S VICTORY. 
 
 THE LOST HEIRESS. THE ARTIST'S LOVE. 
 
 THE HAUNTED HOMESTEAD. LOVE'S LABOR WON. 
 THE SPECTRE LOVER. CURSE OF CLIFTON. 
 
 THE FATAL SECRET. RETRIBUTION. 
 
 ^S^ Above books are for sale by all Booksellers, or copies will be sent 
 to any one, at once, post-paid, on remitting price of ones wanted to 
 
 T. JB. PETERSON & BROTHERS, Publishers, 
 
 306 CuESTxuT Stkeet, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
THE SHADOW OP HAMPTON MEAD. 
 
 A OHAEMIK"G STOET. 
 BY MRS. ELIZABETH VAN LOON. 
 
 Autlior of <*A Heart Twice Won." 
 
 " The Shadow of Hamptox Mead," essentially an American story, 
 though a part of the action takes place in England, is a production 
 which, in some degree, belongs to the class of romantic fiction, blending 
 incidents and character, which Mrs. Radclilfe had made very popular 
 before " the Great Unknown " came into the field as a novelist. Hampton 
 Mead, a plantation in North Carolina, is described with a great deal of 
 personal liking and pride, its principal features being placed before the 
 reader with a painter's skill and a poet's feeling. Such, indeed, was to be 
 expected from the pen of Mrs. Elizabeth Van Loon, who had shown in 
 a previous and very popular work, how well she could place the scenery 
 which she loved, because she was familiar with it from her youth, before 
 admiring readers. "A Heart Twice Won," her former work, was very 
 successful, though her first plunge into authorship, because of its unhack- 
 neyed freshness. In " The Shadow of Hampton Mead " she takes a 
 bolder and a higher flight. It is the story of three families, two of which 
 are American, and tlie varying fortunes of each and all of these are 
 related with a force and freshness which may startle, but must please. 
 The story opens in this country, (its author writes at her best when her 
 foot is on her native soil, with shadows from its beloved mountains making 
 the valleys shady but not gloomy), and when well developed, is trans- 
 ferred to England, where, in full contrast, life-passages and love-passages 
 are presented — not in London alone, but in an Earl's palatial home in 
 Lancashire, and in an ocean-washed castle on the rocky coast of Corn- 
 wall. There is infinite variety in the plot as well as in the characters, 
 and the wind-up of this romantic tale, in which " the wrong is made 
 right," dispenses poetical justice to all, with retributive punishment to 
 the wrong-doers. Bound in morocco cloth, black and gold. Price $1,50. 
 
 A HEART TWICE WON; or, SECOND LOVE. By Elizabeth Van Loon, 
 author of " The Shadow of Hampton Mead." Complete in one lai-ge 
 duodecimo volume, morocco cloth, black and gold. Price $1.50. 
 
 ^^ Above Books are for sale by all Booksellers and News Agents, or 
 copies of either, or both, will be sent to any one, to any place, at once, per 
 mail, post-paid, on remitting price to the publishers, 
 
 T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS, 
 
 306 Cliestnut Street, Philadelpliia, Pa. 
 
UNDER THE WILLOWS 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE THEEE COMTESSES. 
 
 BY MRS. ELIZABETH VAN LOON. 
 
 Author of "A Heart Twice Wou," and of 
 "The Shadow of Hampton Mead." 
 
 "Under the Willows," by Mrs. Elizabeth Van Loon, author of 
 "A Heart Twice Won," and " The Shadow of Hampton Mead," undoubt- 
 edly shows that to compose an original and striking work of prose fiction 
 is not among ''the lost arts," about which a great orator used eloquently 
 to discourse some years ago. Most of the characters are American, but 
 the action shifts from the New World to the Old — from this country to 
 Europe, France, and Italy. This is a strange mixture of reality and 
 romance. Characters the most contrasted are brought together in the 
 strangest and the most uuexpected combinations. Incidents the most 
 startling are adroitly narrated with so much vraisemblance that the reader 
 will be puzzled how to take them; yet the improbable eventually turns 
 out to be the truth, and what might be anticipated from their results does 
 not occur. In these da_vs, when society novels, historical novels, profes- 
 sional novels, literary novels, tourist novels, and sensational novels are 
 very numerous, it is well, if only by way of relief, to have a story in which 
 the writer, following the aboriginal example, so carefully "covers up her 
 tracks," almost from the very first chapter, that the ingenuity of even 
 practised readers is kept on the qui vive until the wholly uuexpected wind- 
 ing up. "Under the Willows" is a romance of unbroken interest, in 
 which the wild and wonderful are more largely develoj)ed than in most 
 compositions of its class. In this respect it eclijjses "A Heart Twice 
 Won," and " The Shadow of Hampton Mead," preceding and popular 
 works from the same pen. 
 
 OTHER NEW BOOKS BY SAME AUTHOR. 
 
 A HEART TWICE WON; or, SECOND LOVE. By the author of 
 " Under the Willows," and " The Shadow of Hampton Mead." One 
 large duodecimo volume, morocco cloth, black and gold. Price $1.50. 
 
 THE SHADOW OF HAMPTON MEAD. A Story of Three Families. By 
 the author of "A Heart Twice Won," and " Under the Willows." One 
 large duodecimo volume, morocco cloth, black and gold. Price $1.50. 
 
 Above Boohs are for sale by all Booksellers and Neics Agents, or 
 copies of either, or all of them, will be sent to any one, to any place, at 
 oncBy per mail, post-paid, on remitting price to the pnblishei's, 
 
 T, B. PETERSON & BROTHERS, 
 
 30G Cliestnut Street, Pliiladelpliia, Pa. 
 
A HEART TWICE WON; 
 
 OR, 
 
 SECOND JLhOIlTE;- 
 
 A CHARMING STORY. 
 BY MRS, ELIZABETH VAN LOON. 
 
 "A HEAET TWICE WON; or, SECOND LOVE." By Mrs. 
 Elizabeth Van Loon. The present might be correctly described as 
 the period of romantic fiction. It seems as if a new novel were published 
 almost every day. The merit of these varies, of course, but their general 
 execution is good. Now and then a new writer appears to take the read- 
 ing world by storm. In this category may be placed the author of 
 "A Heart Twice Won" (a capital title), in which the mystery of the 
 plot is at once veiled and half revealed. A most experienced critic, who 
 has probably read two-thirds of the novels of the last forty years, says, 
 "'A Heart Twice Won' viust be a brilliant success. That it is by a 
 new writer, is very evident; it is equally obvious, from the delicacy and 
 force with which the plot has been framed and worked out to a legitimate 
 conclusion, as well as from the development of the respective characters, 
 that a young lady is the author. It is pure as well as passionate. More- 
 over, the incidents, sometimes startling, are all within the legitimate 
 limit of probability. The scene, alternately in Virginia and in Europe, is 
 always accurately realistic — whether the action takes place on a Southern 
 estate, or amid fashionable society in London, or (still more difficult to 
 depict) in an Earl's ancestral castle in rural England. Nothing can 
 exceed the easy grace, and truth of the last. The dialogue is at once nat- 
 ural and expressive; and, above all, this is, most intensely, a thorough 
 love tale." This opinion, though not written for publication, accurately 
 characterizes "A Heart Twice W^on." 
 
 Bound in Morocco Cloth, Gilt and Black, Price $1.50. 
 
 ^^^ Above Book is for sale by all Booksellers, or copies will be sent to any 
 one, to any place, at once, post-paid, on remitting price to the publishers, 
 
 T. B. PETERSON & BKOTHEKS, 
 
 300 Chestnut St., Fliiladelpliia, Pa. 
 
I 
 
 I 
 
 
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 \M»mitt**tuiit. 
 
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