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 HKV.I. I'. AVFltY, ST\TK 1MMNII II. 

 
 WOODBURN 
 
 KOSA VERTNER JEFFREY, 
 
 AUTHOR OP '"POEMS BY ROSA." 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 SHELDON & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, 
 
 335 BROADWAY, COR. WORTH STREET. 
 1864.
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864, by 
 
 SHELDON <fc COMPANY, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the 
 Southern District of New York. 
 
 Stereotyped by Printed by 
 
 SMITH <fc MoDotroAL, 8. 0. WESOOTT & Co. 
 
 82 <fe 84 Beekman St 79 John Street.
 
 J 
 
 a 
 
 
 S/e 
 
 "83S70S
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I. OUR FAMILY AT WOODBURN 7 
 
 II. MY SISTER ETHEL ' 19 
 
 III. MR. CLIFFORD 28 
 
 IV. OUR SCHOOL-ROOM. '. 39 
 
 V. THE PEARL OF ELGIN 47 
 
 VI. DOCTOR FOSTER. 56 
 
 VII. RACHEL THORN 71 
 
 VIII. MR. CLIFFORD PERPLEXED 83 
 
 IX. THE PARSONAGE, AND CECIL CLARE 94 
 
 X. OUR RIDE HOME, AND WHAT CAME OF IT 102 
 
 XI. A TIME OF TRIAL 110 
 
 XII. PEARL'S SECRET 1 120 
 
 XIII. THE MANIAC 126 
 
 XIV. SOME LEAVES FROM PEARL'S DIARY 138 
 
 XV. PEARL'S DIARY CONTINUED 152 
 
 XVI. RACHEL THORN'S BANISHMENT 162 
 
 XVII. WHAT ARCHEY SAW IN THE WOODS 173 
 
 XVIII. THE CHRISTMAS-TREE 179 
 
 XIX. MR. CLIFFORD'S STORY 188 
 
 XX. THE RESCUE 195 
 
 XXL WHERE OLIVIA LACY FOUND THE STILETTO 215 
 
 XXII. MR. CLIFFORD'S REWARD 222 
 
 XXIII. RELATING TO SEVERAL THINGS.., . 232
 
 VI CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 XXIV. THE STORM, AND RACHEL'S WARNING LETTER. 243 
 
 XXV. THE ROOM WITH PRISON "WINDOWS 254 
 
 XXVL FOREBODINGS 262 
 
 XXVIL THE WEDDING 271 
 
 XXVIII." DOCTOR FOSTER'S CRAZY BROTHER," ' 280 
 
 XXIX. A DARK CLOUD 290 
 
 XXX. THE LIGHT BREAKS 299 
 
 XXXI. A BLIGHTED MAT-FLOWER 307 
 
 XXXII. How THE PEARL OF ELGIN SHONE IN AN AUTUMN 
 
 SUNSET 313 
 
 XXXIII. THE PEDDLER 320 
 
 XXXIV. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 332 
 
 XXXV. AGAIN AT WOODBURN 344 
 
 XXXVI. CONCLUSION. . .353
 
 CHAPTER I . 
 
 . 
 
 OUR FAMILY AT WOODBURN. 
 
 Shadows are drifting over Memory's sky, 
 Sorrows attend upon the joys gone by ! 
 Yet one fair picture glows in cloudless light, 
 My childhood's home, warm, beautiful and bright. 
 
 " WELL ! the new teacher will be here to-morrow," said 
 my father putting a letter into his pocket with one hand, 
 while with the other he caught hold of my tangled curls 
 "and then, Miss Mad-cap, I fancy you will have some 
 occupation besides fastening night-caps on old Towser, and 
 tying strings and feathers to poor pussy's- tail, to say 
 nothing of crowning your reverend father with labur 
 nums" and he touched gayly, I might say gallantly, the 
 chaplet of golden spring flowers I had just fastened above 
 his brow, over great masses of fine, wavy white hair 
 which, blown about by the mild Spring air, looked like 
 spun glass thinking how grand and royal he looked. My 
 dear, noble father ! And how much more deserving he 
 was the title of king or emperor than the many wicked 
 monarchs in history ; and then his perfections were mar 
 shalled, in bright array, against legions of horrors com-
 
 8 WOODBURN. 
 
 mitted by defunct royalty my hasty list beginning with 
 Caligula and Nero, and ending with Harry the Eighth 
 when, he interrupted my soliloquy as above, and turning to 
 my brother, continued. And you, Master Ralph, must go 
 back to Latin and Greek, instead of riding races with that 
 wild gypsy, Pearl Dunbar; for Zebra had the thumps 
 when you returned from that scamper to the cliffs last 
 night and as to Ethel's beautiful Arabian, Fleet-foot, I 
 only wonder she is alive, after your late hard usage of 
 her. But all that is over now, for -awhile. The saints be 
 praised ! And we viz.: dogs, cats, horses and self, will 
 have some rest." 
 
 " What, father ! said Ralph, laughing, you don't mean 
 to say that all the fun is up, when your old English dominie 
 arrives, are we to have no rides, no races, no walks, no 
 anything like frolic, between school-hours ? Are we all to 
 sit up, and twist our thumbs, and look as demure as Miss 
 Tabitha Tipps, when presiding over one of those solemn 
 conclaves, (styled by out-siders) "a spinsters' tea-fight"? 
 Saying which, the handsome scamp drew down his 
 mouth, twisted his thumbs, and looked as much like an 
 antiquated spinster as such a radiant young face could be 
 made to look. 
 
 " "What do you say to suck solemn proceedings, Miss 
 Amy," he continued, glancing up at me. "Would it be 
 within the range of possible events, for you to become such 
 a pink of maidenly propriety as Miss Tabitha Tipps?"
 
 OUR FAMILY AT WOODBURN. 9 
 
 " Very well," said my father, " laugh away while you 
 can, enjoy your freedom to-day, you saucy rogues for 
 when Mr. Clifford arrives, there will be no time to give us 
 snatches of burlesque acting from the private life of Miss 
 Tipps, a most respectable person by the way, for then 
 books books study hard study will be the programme. 
 A rather more difficult one, too, I imagine, than has lately 
 been submitted for your consideration/' 
 
 "Mr. Clifford!" I exclaimed, "what a pretty name! I 
 was certain it would be Jones, or Jenkins, or Fitz-boodle, 
 or some such horrid thing ; but Mr. Clifford, sounds so 
 soft and genteel, perhaps we shall like him after all, and 
 at all events there's some consolation in having a tutor in 
 place of a governess, ugh ! I can see old Mrs. Blake 
 now, looking (or rather pretending to look) as if petrified 
 with horror, by the shock of an earthquake, or some other 
 convulsion of nature because of a blot on my composi 
 tion ; and then, I'd rather hear a cannon go off suddenly 
 at any time, tljan be electrified by the shrill, sharp voice 
 in which she used to snap out ' for shame, young ladies' 
 because Pearl, and myself stuffed our handkerchiefs in 
 our mouths, to keep from laughing out at Ralph's fiendish 
 faces, when we could see him, and she could'nt. I detest 
 a governess, at least if she is a type of the class and am 
 sure we shall like Mr. Clifford better." 
 
 "Like him, indeed!" shouted Ralph, "hoity-toity, 
 Miss Sentiment, so you fancy the owner of a pretty name
 
 10 WOODBURN. 
 
 must needs be a pretty man too ; a dapper little gentle 
 man, forsooth, with smooth face, sleek hair, pink cheeks, 
 and polite as a French dancing master; don't console your 
 little ladyship in that way, for I am quite sure, in spite 
 of his fine sounding name, that this John Bull dominie 
 is a perfect fright, and as cross as an old bear. Mrs. 
 Blake's reign, will be looked back upon as the golden age 
 of our school-room, in spite of her snapping voice, freezing 
 white eyes, and thundering frown, when Clifford the First, 
 takes his seat upon her vacant throne, and when he de 
 parts this life, should we be duly informed of that melan 
 choly event, I venture to say his ci-devant scholars here 
 abouts, will never worship him as their tutelary saint ; hear 
 me describe this gentleman : Short and thick, bald as a 
 bat, except a circle of grisly hair round the back of his 
 head, which will stand up like porcupine quills especially 
 when he is angry ; little round green eyes, big nose, par 
 ticularly fat towards the end, and the color of a red cab 
 bage, frost-bitten at that, English whiskers, wiry as hog 
 bristles, and the biggest, ugliest mouth you ever saw, full 
 of black tusks, ' to eat you up with the better, my dear,' 
 and he made a spring towards me, so sudden, that I cried 
 out for his description had wrought me up to quite a 
 pitch of nervous excitement, and my sister Ethel, said, 
 
 " For shame, Ralph! why do you try to frighten poor 
 A.my into believing her new teacher is a regular ogre?" 
 
 "He cannot frighten me, sis, with such nonsense," I
 
 OUR FAMILY AT WOODBURN. 11 
 
 answered, rather upon my dignity, being past fifteen and 
 fancying myself a woman " for in the first place I am not 
 quite baby enough to like ' dapper little men,,' and don't 
 imagine Mr. Clifford as either pretty or small ; and in the 
 second, I don't believe such ogres as he has depicted are 
 very common. My idea of our new tutor is a long, dang 
 ling man, who has false teeth and wears a wig and specta 
 cles ! What do you think, sis ?" and I knelt before 
 Ethel, resting my head on her lap. 
 
 And here let me sketch a word picture of the radiant 
 woman, who had been more than sister, and even as the 
 best of mothers to me, from an early period of motherless 
 infancy. I hate regular descriptions of heroines beauties 
 especially yet in spite of this, cannot resist the tempta 
 tion of inflicting upon my readers (perhaps selfishly) the 
 perusal of what might be a task to write, were the subject 
 less dear. 
 
 Ethel Linton was the most superb beauty I ever saw. 
 At that time past the bloom of early youth, being twenty- 
 five, yet her loveliness had ripened, matured, losing not 
 freshness, yet gaining depth and tenderness of expression, 
 in its growth to full perfection. She was tall, and ele 
 gantly formed, a wavy, graceful figure, yet so round, there 
 were no harsh angles there to mar its stately symmetry; 
 fair, very fair, with large, lustrous hazel eyes, into whose 
 clear depths you might gaze long and earnestly, and while 
 gazing, feel as well assured that the soul within was a
 
 12 WOODBURN. 
 
 temple of purity and truth : as in watching the stars, we 
 know those blue steeps which they adorn are boundary 
 lines to a. world of angels. The features were regular, 
 yet not with the severe perfection of a Grecian statue. 
 And it was the ever-changing lights, and shades of ex 
 pression that constituted Ethel's chief attraction ; the glow, 
 the beam of intellect, the bewitching smiles, or laugh of 
 gayety, at times almost childish in its ringing merriment, 
 and then, a shadow of mournfulness flitting over her face, 
 eclipsing its light, like wreaths of purple vapor, that some 
 times start suddenly across the glory of a summer sky, 
 breaking into shimmering gleams the glow of sunshine on 
 some enchanting landscape; yet shading it so softly, so 
 dreamily, that we know not which to deem most lovely ; 
 the living picture bathed in light, or shadowed by its 
 veil of purple cloud. My sister's hair was her crowning 
 beauty. Golden brown, silky and abundant, it rippled in 
 shining waves over her white brow, and braided into a 
 mass at the back of her regal head, shone like a halo, 
 illuminating her whole form. 
 
 There were five of us grouped together, on that balmy 
 May evening, on the gallery of our luxurious southern 
 home. It -was a fine old country-house, built in my 
 grandfather's time, with high ceilings, wide hall and stair 
 case, large conservatories, etc., in fact, all the comforts, 
 and elegancies, that fine taste could suggest, or wealth 
 purchase. The house stood on a high, double terrace, with
 
 OUR FAMILY AT WOODBURN. 13 
 
 sodded steps, leading down to a wide gravel carriage-path, 
 winding gracefully to the front gate through a grove of live 
 oaks. To the right of the house approaching it and 
 running far back, was the garden, hedged with myrtle, 
 and cape-jasmines, terraced also, deep, wide terraces, made 
 long ago, with borders of box so tall and wide, that they 
 imparted to the beds that venerable look which great 
 staunch trees impart to a forest ; how I doted on these 
 closely clipped box borders, so thick, and smooth, and 
 flat on top, that as a child I had often spread them for a 
 fairy banquet, with acorn-cups and the scarlet bell-shaped 
 caps of the pomegranate blossoms. 
 
 Oh, that fragrant, grand old garden ! how I delighted 
 to revel in its cool depths of shade, and ever since those 
 halcyon days of happy innocence, the fresh aromatic odors 
 of box has had a peculiar charm for me no matter where, 
 or in what clime, whether springing up from some humble 
 flower plot, on the murky out-skirts of a city, or stealing 
 to me in the dusty crowded street, upon a sweet cool 
 breath of country air, it comes as a waif of that beloved 
 spot, and by some subtle spell of memory makes the pres 
 ent vanish, and again I seem a child among those fragrant 
 borders, in the garden at Woodburn. There was a mossy 
 rustic temple too, built of gnarled vines and roots, and tapes 
 tried with festoons of white and yellow jasmines ; which I 
 selected as a favorite retreat, and when worried with my 
 lessons, or stupid in writing my composition, to the sum-
 
 14 WOODBURN. 
 
 mer-house would I fly for the balmy, inexpressibly sweet 
 atmosphere of that retired spot, where the fragrance of an 
 infinite variety of flowers, from the royal magnolia to the 
 modest sweet violet each season presenting its own perfect 
 bouquet of odors never failed to soothe, cheer, and encour 
 age me, and the memory pf those hours, when weary and 
 heated I rushed from the school-room and hid myself there 
 to rest or at twilight, when that strange hum of insect 
 life which thrills the southern air as night steals on, mak 
 ing all space around seem haunted with mysterious sounds, 
 would lure me there to dream of nature's mysteries, as 
 children with such temperaments as mine are wont to 
 dream the stars, the calm blue depths of sky, the very 
 home of God, wonders to the wise men of earth, it is 
 scarcely strange they should fascinate the minds of think 
 ing children, with their endless and inexplicable marvels ! 
 And then the dewy, moon-lit nights in that garden, be 
 neath that bower, alone, or with my cousin Victor or a 
 whole merry party trooping through the walks, singing 
 laughing happy, these times, these scenes, stand out as 
 the bright, never changing pictures of memory, the fairest, 
 dearest treasures of her store. 
 
 But in the mazes of the garden I am losing sight of our 
 family circle, and must now return to them. To my sister 
 Ethel you have been introduced at least to her person 
 nel and as the next chapter will be devoted to a sketch
 
 OUR FAMILY AT WOODBURN. 15 
 
 of her early history, I will pass on to some of the other 
 actors in this little life drama. 
 
 My father, whose name was Edward Percy, at the 
 time my story begins might have been sixty, or a little 
 past florid, with the thickest suit of grey hair I ever saw, 
 or rather white, for not a dark strand marred its silvery 
 beauty. Of medium height, his face wore an expression of 
 intelligence and firmness, yet mingled with a look of almost 
 feminine tenderness, so winning, that his children and ser 
 vants never feared, while they so fully respected him, and 
 as father, master, friend, there never was a man more truly 
 and perfectly revered and beloved. 
 
 My brother Ralph was handsome, talented, impetuous, 
 and just eighteen. 
 
 Being a narrator of, rather than a conspicuous actor in 
 the strange events I am about to relate, my appearance is 
 of very little importance, and therefore let me pass on to 
 the fifth party in this group Rachel Thorn. An orphan 
 niece of my father's, poor, and without a home, he had in 
 vited her to Woodburn just after Ethel's marriage, and 
 with his usual noble delicacy of feelings, lest she might 
 shrink from becoming dependent and feel herself a burden 
 upon him, Rachel was requested to come and take charge 
 of his motherless children, filling my sister's place thus 
 making it appear that she was conferring an obligation in 
 stead of receiving one. Her only brother, Basil Thorn, 
 he had educated for a physician, and offered him the plan-
 
 16 WOODBURN. 
 
 Ration practice, with his influence to procure that of our 
 whole neighborhood, but Basil was dissipated and un 
 principled, though a young man of good appearance, and 
 quite clever at his profession. He fell violently in love 
 with my sister upon his return from college, and pretend 
 ing that her scorn had driven him to desperation, ran into 
 all kind of excesses gambled deeply, and ended by forg 
 ing my father's name for several thousand dollars, which 
 was not discovered until after the money had been paid, 
 when with his usual generosity, and kindness of heart not 
 altogether unmixed with family pride he hushed up the 
 matter, and allowed Basil to keep his ill-gotten gold pro 
 vided 'he would leave the country and give a solemn 
 promise never to return. This promise was given, and 
 
 young Thorn went off, no one knew whither, leaving his 
 
 
 sister p'oor, and unprotected, and then it was my kind 
 
 father offered her a home, which she gladly accepted. 
 
 Rachel Thorn was, perhaps, some three years younger 
 than Ethel, and as petite as my sister was stately. She 
 too was fair, but such a different type of fairness, you 
 could not call them alike in complexion, as well compare 
 the dead lustreless white of a detura to the dewy freshness 
 of a pale tea-rose. Rachel's hair was very light, as were 
 her brows and lashes, over-shadowing eyes of a cold, steel 
 grey, almost cruel in their expression when lit by anger, 
 and always having, even in her pleasantest moods, some 
 thing in them, as had also her thin, sneering lips, disagree-
 
 OUR FAMILY AT WOODBURN. 17 
 
 able, one scarcely knew why, and never hidden not even 
 when she uttered honeyed flatteries from those who knew 
 the inner workings of her subtle nature. 
 
 I never liked Rachel Thorn ; nay, I even disliked her 
 from the first moment of our meeting; not because she 
 came to fill the place of an almost idolized sister, for had 
 she been lovable I should in time have learned to love her ; 
 but sometimes children, with the pure instincts springing 
 from their perfect innocence, seem to shun with aversion 
 their opposites, reading the characters of deep and danger 
 ous people oftentimes with far more accuracy than those 
 well versed in the ways of the world. It seems to me a 
 strange divine kind of instinct, such as leads young birds 
 and animals to know and avoid their natural enemies. 
 Rachel's nature was imperious and domineering, and the 
 year she ruled at "Woodburn during Ethel's absence, was a 
 sad trial to Ralph, myself, and the servants, for she proved 
 exacting and tyrannical to all save my father, but invari 
 ably smiling, attentive and affectionate to him, she antici 
 pated every wish, and exerted her really fine conversational 
 powers for his amusement, sang his favorite songs, played 
 his favorite games, and in short used all the arts that a 
 smart, wily woman can use with such advantage to fascinate 
 an old uncle, upon -whose good opinion she depends for 
 home, dress, position, every thing that such women prize 
 with the intense selfishness of their ambitious and design 
 ing natures.
 
 18 WOODBUKN. 
 
 My father liked Rachel, because she interested and 
 amused him, and when either Ralph or myself complained 
 of her being unreasonable and domineering he would fancy 
 that regret at losing my sister's gentle government, pre 
 vented our judging her successor with any degree of im 
 partiality, and therefore soothing us, as children are so apt 
 to be soothed on such occasions, he would end by saying : 
 
 " Well, well, my little ones, you must try and love cousin 
 Rachel, she is a smart, pleasant girl, and wants to do right. 
 You cannot expect every one to be as perfect as Ethel." 
 
 So as time wore on we scarcely ever spoke of Rachel's 
 faults to my father, looking upon her as a fixture in the 
 house, avoiding her as much as possible, and laughing to 
 gether over the sly, artful way, by which she kept herself 
 in good repute with the master of Woodburn, where she 
 ruled with a high hand until my sister's return, when 
 there was a change of dynasty, much to our relief. 
 
 Oh ! how Rachel Thorn hated Ethel, for coming back, 
 yet she feared to show it, and one who did not know the hid 
 den meaning of her deep ways, might have supposed that she 
 doted upon her beautiful cousin but we knew better, and 
 so did my sister, who amused Ralph and myself beyond 
 expression by the quiet, queenly contempt, with which she 
 received her flatteries, and the cool way in which she not 
 unfrequently unmasked the little ' actress was inimitable ! 
 But why did my sister return to her girlhood's home, and 
 where was her husband ?
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 MY SISTER ETHEL. 
 
 "We mourned her going human hearts will yearn 
 For those they love and she had been our pride, 
 
 Yet, mourned we more to see her thus return, 
 Widowed in heart, who was so late a bride ! 
 
 ETHEL PERCY was a belle even before her school days 
 were well over ; alas ! too often is this the case in America, 
 and particularly in the Southern States, where girls mature 
 so early. With rare perfections both of mind and person, 
 and being called upon to take charge of the establishment 
 at Woodburn, where my father entertained a great deal of 
 company while yet almost a child, she was, of course, 
 observed, petted, and admired nay, might have been 
 spoiled, as many have been under similar circumstances 
 but some natures are too pure, too firm, to be tainted by 
 flattery, and resist it, even as adamant resists the corroding 
 acids, or consuming heat that would tarnish or destroy a 
 softer gem. My father was proud of her, glad to see her 
 admired ; how could it be otherwise ? 
 
 Ethel had teachers from the time she knew her alphabet, 
 and was entirely educated at home, as boarding schools
 
 20 WOODBURN. 
 
 were held in detestation by my father, and Mrs. Blake, of 
 whom I expressed such a holy horror in the last chapter, 
 supposed to have white eyes, full of lightning darts, with 
 thunder enthroned upon her brows being Ethel's last 
 governess, remained at Woodburn after her marriage for 
 our benefit, until one day she informed my father, with a 
 solemn, subdued look, that her scholars (particularly Miss 
 Dunbar and Master Ralph) were entirely beyond her con 
 trol, and she would be compelled, very reluctantly, to 
 resign her place to some one who could command their 
 respect. The truth is, I have alway had my suspicions that 
 this same middle-aged dame, being of rather an ambitious 
 temperament had some lurking ghost of a hope forever 
 haunting one corner of her icy heart, that as gentlemen had 
 been known to marry their housekeepers, or perchance 
 their children's governess, such a thing might occur again, 
 at least it was within the range of possibility, but as time 
 wore on, finding she would be quite as successful in melt 
 ing an iceberg with her albino eyes, as in making an 
 impression with the same luminaries upon the armor of 
 freezing politeness in which the master of Woodburn in 
 cased himself (when she was about) and having a most 
 cordial dislike to Rachel Thorn, whose spiteful speeches 
 worried her as a sly, vindictive little cat might be supposed 
 to torment a great, surly mastiff; Mrs. Blake, as other 
 amiable ladies of the same class would doubtless have done 
 under such trying circumstances threw the blame on her
 
 MY SISTER ETHEL. 21 
 
 pupils, and left Woodburn in high disgust, to seek out 
 some more favored abode, inhabited by widowers, with 
 hearts less stony than she believed my father's to be. 
 Poor Mrs. Blake ! I did not love her much, and some 
 times, may be, worried her a little, but have unceasingly 
 endeavored to atone for all this by hoping she is married ! 
 
 When Ethel was in her seventeenth year my father took 
 her with him to New Orleans, where (after some per 
 suasion) he consented she should remain with some friends 
 for several weeks, and returned home without her. He 
 regretted this afterwards, but short-sighted mortals cannot 
 rule their destinies, nor the destinies of their children. 
 During that visit it was that my sister met Arthur Linton. 
 Handsome, graceful, and accomplished, she was dazzled 
 by his brilliant, winning ways, though in intellect he was 
 far her inferior. Being a Northerner and a stranger in 
 the city, little was known of young Linton, save that his 
 family was good, his father a man of wealth, and over in 
 dulgent to his only son, who was decidedly fast a genteel 
 correction of dissipated. 
 
 Ethel knew not of this, at least, she turned a deaf ear 
 to those who warned her ; saw only the perfections of her 
 lover for such he soon became and reputed all reports 
 regarding his dissipated habits, as slanders arising from 
 envy of his fine appearance and fascinating manners, for 
 to my lovely deluded sister he seemed perfection, " an ad 
 mirable Crighton." and so encouraged by her preference
 
 22 WOODBURN. 
 
 from the first, Arthur Linton followed Ethel to Wood- 
 burn. 
 
 My father was captivated by the young stranger, who 
 in playing for such a prize played skillfully and won, 
 leaving for the North in the course of a few weeks as my 
 sister's affianced husband. There was no one there to warn 
 him of Arthur's dissipated habits, for the friends who 
 would have saved Ethel, finding her so incredulous, for 
 bore further interference, and being satisfied as to his 
 family, and position, my father (not on the look-out for 
 faults) was beguiled, as his daughter had been, by ease, 
 grace, amiability and that, je ne sais quoi, so often 
 marking the manners of fast young men, and rendering 
 them attractive. Their marriage was to take place in six 
 months on her seventeenth birth-day, though at first my 
 father objected to this, on account of Ethel's extreme 
 youth, and wanted the wedding postponed until she was 
 eighteen, but Linton was eloquent, and succeeded in carry 
 ing his point. 
 
 It was during their engagement that Basil Thorn return 
 ed from college having completed his medical studies in 
 New York, at the age of twenty-five and fell so violently 
 in love with Ethel. He addressed her during Arthur's 
 absence, though she strove by every means to prevent it, 
 and when at last, she was compelled, in rejecting his hand, 
 to announce her engagement, and approaching marriage 
 with another, his rage knew no bounds, and repeatedly he
 
 MY SISTER ETHEL. 23 
 
 swore to be revenged upon her, and upon her future hus 
 band. He left no effort untried to prevent the marriage, 
 and mixing as Basil Thorn did with dissipated society, he 
 was actually in possession of much information regarding 
 Linton's career, of which my father and sister were ignorant 
 of course, attributing all he said, and wrote to them upon 
 this subject, to jealousy of a successful rival. His motives 
 were selfish and mean; yet, would to God he had succeed 
 ed in breaking off this match, for years of after misery had 
 thus been spared. 
 
 One of Basil's letters to my father upon the subject 
 contained something which evidently troubled him much 
 for a time, but which he burned, and we never knew its 
 contents until the truth of what he wrote, alas ! had been 
 too bitterly proved. 
 
 It was to be such things seem fated -and spite the 
 warnings of true friends, and Basil Thorn's selfish inter 
 ference, the beautiful Ethel Percy became Mrs. Linton, 
 and after remaining a week at Woodburn, left us a happy 
 and blooming bride for her husband's northern home. They 
 were to return and spend the winter at Woodburn, which 
 so far consoled us for Ethel's loss that we bore it patiently, 
 if not cheerfully. 
 
 A few months after this Basil ended his mad career by 
 committing forgery, as before related, and Rachel came to 
 live at Woodburn. 
 
 At first Ethel's letters were full of happiness she was
 
 24 WOODBURN. 
 
 charmed with her new home, and friends, and wrote of 
 Arthur as the best, most indulgent of husbands, his father 
 devoted to her, etc., etc. but six months brought different 
 tidings. 
 
 Old Mr. Linton, whose wealth was the result of enor 
 mous speculations, had been unfortunate in business, and 
 lost his fortune as suddenly as it was made. Arthur's 
 affluence, being derived from his father's generosity, was 
 thus changed to poverty, and as the old gentleman fell ill and 
 died shortly after his failure, there seemed little hope for 
 their future, as his son had no business capacity. My father 
 immediately remitted funds to Ethel, and continued to do 
 so from time to' time, advising them to come South, and 
 promising to assist her husband in his misfortunes. 
 
 From these sums (as we afterwards learned) Ethel de 
 rived but little benefit, for Linton had been gradually 
 sliding back into his old habits of dissipation abandoned 
 for some time before and after his marriage and ere the 
 first anniversary of her wedding-day came round, my sis 
 ter's letters were so full of wretchedness, that young as we 
 were, both Ralph and myself observing our father's haggard 
 look of misery after reading them, asked him if Ethel was 
 sick? 
 
 He put us off by saying she was not well, which answer 
 was far from satisfactory, and with a kind of childish, lov 
 ing instinct, after talking the matter over, we came to the 
 conclusion that something was amiss with our sweet sister,
 
 MY SISTER ETHEL. 25 
 
 and that she was unhappy saying we hated Arthur Lin- 
 ton for taking her away just to make her miserable, and 
 wishing he was dead -which was rather spiteful, to be sure, 
 but quite natural under the circumstances, for we doted on 
 Ethel, and took it for granted, as we were kept in the dark 
 about it, that he must abuse her. 
 
 At last a letter came, but not in her hand-writing, 
 which caused my dear father to turn very pale, and imme 
 diately after reading it. he requested Rachel Thorn to have 
 his trunk packed, as he should leave the next morning for 
 New York. 
 
 This letter, as I afterwards learned, was from an old 
 friend of his, residing in that city, whose painful task it 
 was to communicate that my brother-in-law, after the loss 
 of his fortune, had become excessively dissipated, drink 
 ing to intoxication, and constantly frequenting gambling 
 saloons. 
 
 In one of these, a few nights previous to the date of his 
 letter, Arthur, while under the influence of brandy, had 
 become involved in a quarrel so desperate that it ended in 
 his killing his antagonist ; when to avoid immediate arrest, 
 he was obliged to secrete himself, inducing Ethel by letter 
 to forward his trunk of clothes to a certain place, where he 
 pretended to be called unexpectedly by business. 
 
 Vainly and anxiously she awaited his return, until at 
 last another letter came, in which the whole fearful truth 
 was revealed. Arthur represented himself therein as a
 
 26 WOODBURN. 
 
 beggar and a murderer, obliged to fly the country for his 
 life, and entreating that she would return to her father, 
 her husband having forfeited all claim to her love, and 
 would never return to be a disgrace to those who had once 
 loved him. 
 
 My sister's condition after the receipt of this letter, as 
 may well be imagined, bordered upon madness ; and noth 
 ing further being heard from Arthur, Mr. wrote, 
 
 begging my father to come at once and take her home. 
 After bis arrival at New York both for Ethel's sake and 
 to satisfy himself every possible search and inquiry was 
 made to ascertain the hiding place of her unfortunate hus 
 band but all to no purpose, he had evidently left, the 
 country, and all that remained for my father was to soothe 
 his almost heart-broken child, with that tender affection 
 she prized aye doubly now and to bring her back pale 
 and sad to Woodburn, from whence she had so lately gone 
 a happy bride. Thus at the early age of eighteen was my 
 beautiful sister left a deserted wife. My father, of course, 
 reproached himself bitterly for consenting to their mar 
 riage yet completely deceived, as he was, regarding Lin- 
 ton's real character, who could blame him ? No wonder 
 that one so noble, true, and good, should be unsuspicious 
 of evil in others, especially when that evil wore so fair a 
 mask, besides being linked with some really good qualities, 
 for Arthur Linton was amiable, generous, and affectionate, 
 and had never been rough or unkind to Ethel personally,
 
 MY SISTER ETHEL. 27 
 
 though neglect is unkindness, and he avoided her when 
 under the influence of those evil passions which led him on 
 to ruin. 
 
 As time wore on Ethel became less sad, and sonetimes I 
 fancied she had a hope that her husband would reform, and 
 return yet to make her happy, until at last one day, 
 about a year after she arrived at "Woodburn all such 
 hopes were finally dissipated by the receipt of a California 
 paper directed to my father, in which a notice of Arthur 
 Linton's death, "from brain fever," was carefully marked. 
 The young widow grieved piteously at first, but after an 
 other year, we could see that she regained her cheerfulness 
 more surely, and naturally, than while pining under the 
 double misery of being the deserted wife of a gambler. 
 Six years had passed since then, to the date of my story, 
 and amid the sweet atmosphere, and lovely surroundings 
 of that beloved home, our darling Ethel had matured into 
 the beautiful woman before whom I knelt caressingly on 
 that fair spring evening, when we were discussing Mr. 
 Clifford's expected arrival at Woodburn.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 MR. CLIFFORD. 
 
 " A touch starts the sleeper. He wakes. It is day, 
 
 And the beam that dispels all the phantoms of night 
 Thro' the room sends a kindly and comforting ray ; 
 The streets are new-peopled ; the morning is bright" 
 
 OWEN MEREDITH. 
 
 THE next morning I awoke with that nervous, uneasy 
 feeling, which is apt to possess the minds of young persons, 
 particularly those who are excitable and sensitive in their 
 organization, when something disagreeable is about to 
 happen something we would feign avoid, but cannot, an 
 inevitable necessity, to which the mind must be made up, 
 as to the pulling of a tooth, and from which we shrink 
 with mental dread, as the body does in anticipation of 
 physical pain. For in spite of our new tutor's pleasant 
 sounding, aristocratic name, with which I pretended to 
 console myself the previous evening, my dreams of Mr. 
 Clifford were none of the sweetest. 
 
 The horrid ogreish picture drawji by Ralph, haunted me 
 all night, and once, when with a sudden start and cry, I 
 awoke, to feel my sister's soft hand laid gently on my
 
 &R. CLIFFORD. 29 
 
 brow, and hear her firm, sweet voice whispering, "Lie 
 still. Amy, dear ; what is the matter? " 
 
 I replied, drowsily, " Oh ! Sis, I dreamed our new 
 teacher was just as Ralph described, savage as a Bengal 
 tiger, and my start just now was a dodge to avoid the big 
 dictionary, which he seemed hurling at my head." 
 
 Ethel laughed, and patting me playfully said, "Go to 
 sleep, little one, and dream of the name which seemed too 
 nice for Ealph's ogre." 
 
 Yet still, though I went to sleep again, imagining Mr. 
 Clifford as the patient, dangling, good-natured individual I 
 had pictured in opposition to my brother, from my dreams 
 he still arose, bristling, fierce and inflexible, fastened upon 
 my mind as the " old man of the sea " on Sinbad's body. 
 And when our maid Lucy, with her low voice, whispered, 
 as she drew aside the curtains, " Come, Miss Ethel, Miss 
 Amy, it's eight o'clock, time to get up, mammy says 
 breakfast's most ready," I could scarcely shake off the 
 dreamy conviction that Ralph's Mr. Clifford was storming 
 in the school -room because of my laziness, and waiting 
 there to annihilate me with his green eyes .and carbuncle 
 nose. So while Lucy was combing out Ethel's magnificent 
 hair, I sat tardily pulling on my gaiters, looking quite dis 
 consolate and forlorn. When suddenly catching sight of 
 me, my sister laughed aloud, exclaiming : 
 
 "Do, for pity's sake, Amy, cheer up ; for should you 
 look so dismal when this dreaded Englishman arrives,
 
 30 WOODBURN. ' 
 
 he will be forced to the conclusion that you are the 
 scape-goat of the family, or that worse still you have 
 a step-mother; from which last named calamity the 
 saints preserve us,' she added devoutly. " Your pet, 
 Mrs. Blake, for instance ; just fancy now, Amy, if father 
 had been bewitched with that perfect embodiment of 
 all the cardinal virtues, and, clasping us to his heart 
 some fine morning, whispered into our ears the elec 
 trifying intelligence, that the dearest, sweetest, best mam 
 ma on earth was already picked out and ready for 
 us ! Picture it, think of it, such things have been ; 
 and remember, in comparison to such a trial, how 
 trifling is the advent of even a savage teacher ; and do 
 you know, I've taken it into my head that he 'will prove 
 quite a pleasant person after all, and that learning from 
 him will be to you like a draught of champagne, sweet 
 and exhilarating, after being plied with the bitter tonic 
 of Blake's temper for such a time," and she glanced up 
 at me with a beam of sparkling mirth in her eyes, 
 which melting over that matchless face, lighted even its 
 dimple with an expressive glow, 
 
 "Like any fair lake which the breeze is upon, 
 When it breaks into dimples, and laughs in the sun " 
 
 continuing, "haven't you dismissed that absurd dream 
 yet, little Sis ? Come, let me curl your hair while Lucy 
 is braiding mine, and then look your prettiest, so as to
 
 MR. CLIFFORD. 31 
 
 captivate Mr. Clifford at first sight, for I believe he is to 
 arrive before dinner." 
 
 " La, Miss Ethel," said Lucy, without stopping for a 
 moment in the pleasant task of which she was so fond, 
 the twisting and plaiting those wonderful tresses, "if 
 you mean the strange teacher-man, he's done come. 
 Master told Archey to take Zebra out to de landing, 
 bright and early dis mornin', as de boat might be up by 
 daylight, but Archey went a coon-hunting wid Massa 
 Ralph last night, and so, nigger-like, he went and over- 
 slep hissef ; so who should he meet over dar by de Elgin 
 gate, but a stranger-man, and den Archey say, he took 
 off his hat and, says he, ' Good mornin, massa, is you 
 gwying to Woodburn ?' and de gentleman said ' Yes,' for 
 de boat, you see, got up uncommon early, and he bor 
 rowed a horse. But now, getting down, what did he do 
 but tell Archey to take de critter back to de riber, say 
 ing he would ride Mr. Percy's horse de rest ob de way. 
 Den says Archey, ' I chuckled and laughed to myself,' 
 you know how Archey chuckles when anything comes 
 over him funny like, Miss Ethel ' for thinks I to my 
 self, dem Yankee men from de North don't know nuffin 
 'tall 'bout ridin' sich cantankerous creeters as Zebra, and 
 I'll be bound he ; ll get throwed 'fore he strikes de Wood- 
 burn lane. But my stars ! Lucy, dis nigger was mis 
 taken once, sure ; for no sooner did dat stranger-man put 
 his hand on Zebra's neck but twixt you and me, I don't 

 
 32 WOODBUKN. 
 
 believe he's even kin to a Yankee while he was bowing 
 it up and looking skittish, then he stood as stock-still as 
 old Bill, when he's tired out ploughing, and when the 
 new man got up, 'fore de Lord, I believe he thought it 
 was Massa Ralph a mountin' him.' But good gracious, 
 young ladies, dar's de breakfast bell !" and she stuck in 
 the last hair-pin with such a spasmodic jerk that my sis 
 ter cried, 
 
 " Pray don't murder me, Lucy, there's no hurry. 
 Mammy always keeps hot cakes for us, and we are not 
 expiring with anxiety for an introduction to Mr. Clifford ; 
 are we, Miss Percy ?" and she turned to me with mock 
 dignity. 
 
 "Well, any how, Archey tells me he's monstrous 
 fine lookin', and don't in de least dissemble a school-master 
 man," continued the loquacious Lucy, "with that at 
 tempt at big words so common among our southern house- 
 servants. 
 
 " There now, Amy, with such a description from a per 
 son of such undoubted good taste as Archey, you may 
 dismiss all the terrible phantasmagoria of your dreams 
 last night, and go down to meet this elegant newly-im 
 ported wonder, in the shape of an English dominie, with 
 unruffled assurance ;" and Ethel offered me her arm en 
 couragingly, as Lucy opened the door for us to descend to 
 the breakfast-room. 
 
 How lovely my sister looked that morning, in a pure
 
 MR. CLIFFORD. 33 
 
 white muslin wrapper, fastened neatly at the waist by a 
 delicate lilac belt, trimmed daintily round the throat with 
 soft, fine lace, and caught together with a curiously 
 wrought pin of Etruscan gold. No wonder she generally 
 adopted a rare simplicity of dress, when it became her so 
 well. 
 
 Mammy, with a suspicion that we would be late, and 
 fearing that her unexceptionable muffins might be baked a 
 trifle too long, had the bell sounded before breakfast was 
 quite ready, to hurry us : so when we entered, my father 
 was just showing Mr. Clifford in through the library 
 door. 
 
 "My eldest daughter, Mrs. Linton, Mr. Clifford," he 
 said. " My youngest daughter, Miss Percy. Amy, 
 darling, come and shake hands with your new preceptor ;" 
 and then I looked up to meet the large, sad, wonderfully 
 persuasive eyes of my teacher fixed upon me so encourag- . 
 ingly, that with a blush and smile of positive delight at 
 finding the ugly monster of a dream from which I 
 seemed scarcely awakened as if by magic, transformed 
 into this elegant looking individual; and when with a 
 firm, gentle clasp he pressed my hand between both of 
 his, which were white and finely formed, and indicated 
 gentle birth and breeding, even to the shape and polish of 
 his nails, I felt very happy under the full assurance that 
 Mr. Clifford was my friend as well as my instructor. 
 
 Even Ethel, with all her queenly self-possession of 
 2*
 
 34 WOODBURN. 
 
 manner, seemed for a moment almost embarrassed, so com 
 pletely was she astonished at Mr. Clifford's unusually 
 striking appearance, and the ease and polish of his bearing. 
 Such eyes, and such a mouth, would have redeemed any 
 face (even were it otherwise positively ugly), and lighting 
 up, as they did, finely-cut features, a clear, pale complex 
 ion, to say nothing of those waving sunny-brown locks, 
 and a soft brown beard, the effect was wonderfully agree 
 able. In figure he was tall, well proportioned, and mus 
 cular. His age I never could have guessed then, for 
 though in the full prime of mature manhood, one might be 
 puzzled to say whether he was thirty-five or past, though 
 afterwards I knew that at the time of his arrival at Wood- 
 burn Mr. Clifford was thirty-eight. 
 
 And now let me return to the breakfast table? My 
 father's rule was, that meals should be served punctually 
 at certain hours, never allowing one member of the 
 family to wait for another, and making no exception even 
 in his own favor, so those who came in first always sat 
 down, and those who happened to be a little late, did not 
 come sneaking to the table, in dread of a lecture, as is the 
 case in many "a well regulated household" less happy 
 in their rigid punctuality than were the family at Wood- 
 burn. 
 
 So it chanced the morning of Mr. Clifford's arrival, that 
 Ethel had finished pouring out our coffee when Rachel 
 Thorn glided in through the balcony door her movements
 
 MR. CLIFFORD. 35 
 
 were all gliding and stealthy, as a cat holding in her 
 hand a basket of very large green figs, garnished with 
 roses and white jasmine. They looked very tempting, 
 with the dew yet glistening upon them, and the bearer 
 presented no unattractive picture as she entered, prettily 
 attired in a delicate blue morning dress, round garden hat, 
 and black silk jacket. Rachel's figure was lithe and 
 graceful, her face peculiar, yet rather striking and 
 prepossessing when undisturbed by the worst passions of her 
 nature, and strangers upon seeing her were apt to remark, 
 "What a graceful, pretty girl." 
 
 "Ah! Rachel!" exclaimed my father, "you are the 
 only industrious bee about this hive, and have been gather 
 ing in your store of sweets, betimes, I see." She had 
 placed * the basket before him on the breakfast table. 
 "Many thanks, what a delicious treat, and the first really 
 fine figs we have had this season. Mr. Clifford, let me pre 
 sent you to my niece, Miss Thorn." 
 
 I shall never forget the puzzled look of wonder that 
 overspread Rachel's face as she glanced up at Mr. Clifford, 
 who rose at once and bowed with that perfect ease so 
 peculiar to high-bred men who have traveled and seen 
 much of the world. 
 
 Just as she was seated, " rattle-te-bang " echoed through 
 the hall. There was a rush, a bark, and then Ralph's 
 merry voice crying : 
 
 " Down, Towser, don't you know better, you old rascal,
 
 86 WOODBURN. 
 
 than to jump with your dirty paws on my new hunting 
 suit ? Ho ! halloo there, Archey, come and take Lara to 
 the stable, will you ? " 
 
 Bristol, the waiter, here stepped softly to the hall door, 
 and said, in a rather loud whisper, " Archey isn't here, 
 Massa Ralph, he's dun gone to de river, and please sir 
 they'r eating breakfast." With which, he quietly opened 
 the door wide enough to present a tableau of my gay young 
 brother in his green hunting clothes, with flushed cheeks 
 and tousled hair, just putting down his gun, with a bang, 
 in the corner. His face was partially turned away from 
 the open door, and being unaware of the presence of a 
 stranger, he shouted out : 
 
 "Good morning to you all. Father, have you been 
 riding this morning ? I missed Zebra out of the stable, 
 and couldn't find that lazy scamp Archey two hours ago, 
 to saddle my horse." 
 
 " Come in, come in my son. I have not been out, 
 though Zebra has, (but only a short distance,) owing to 
 your pet Archey's oversleeping himself. He is a lazy dog 
 truly, but we have a surprise for you, Ralph, come in, I 
 want to introduce you to a friend of mine." 
 
 By this time he had gained the door, and caught sight 
 of our stranger guest. 
 
 " My son, Master Ralph Percy, Mr. Clifford," and they 
 were shaking hands before my brother had time to recover 
 from the dumb, overpowering astonishment which seemed
 
 MR. CLIFFORD. 37 
 
 to take possession of him, on hearing the name of our new 
 teacher. 
 
 . * 
 
 I sent him a triumphant telegraphic glance across the 
 table, and the mischievous curl of Ethel's lip was irresist 
 ible, as she said, after a brief pause succeeding this last 
 introduction : 
 
 " Mr. Clifford, I hope you can draw, so that Ralph's 
 talent for this art may be cultivated, as he has remark 
 able taste for sketching, especially ideal portraits of persons 
 he has never seen." 
 
 My brother laughed, of course, as did all those who saw 
 the joke how could he help it ? But the young gentle 
 man looked uncomfortable, and began to play with his fork 
 in visible trepidation. Mr. Clifford, with a quick percep 
 tion and keen sense of the ridiculous for which he was 
 remarkable, smiled, with that beautiful expressive smile, 
 which seemed to illuminate his whole face, and bowing to 
 my sister replied : 
 
 " I do draw, Mrs. Linton, and shall be most happy to 
 assist your brother in his sketches," for he knew there was 
 a joke and shrewdly suspected (as he told us afterwards) 
 the real meaning of Ethel's jesting sarcasm. 
 
 Such was our first breakfast at Woodburn after Mr. 
 Clifford's arrival. Little then we dreamed how strangely 
 he would be identified with us in the progress of coming 
 events. That blessed and perfect wisdom which hides the
 
 38 WOODBURN. 
 
 future from us, is scarcely appreciated, for, alas, how few 
 happy parties, how little of jest, or laughter, would there 
 be, were we suffered to gratify the human curiosity, so 
 presumptuous which might oftentimes tempt us to sweep 
 aside that mysterious veil, and rashly look beyond it.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 OUR SCHOOL ROOM. 
 
 _ " In a chamber, cool and simple, 
 
 Trellised light from roof to basement, 
 And a Summer wind to dimple 
 The white curtain at the casement." 
 
 OWEN MEREDITH. 
 
 BACK of the house, detached from it, and so near thjt 
 hawthorn hedge separating yard and garden, that every 
 breeze, stealing in through the open windows, came loaded 
 with balm, stood a picturesque little cottage, containing, 
 on one side, our school room, light, commodious and cheer 
 ful, and on the other two smaller rooms, a chamber and 
 study for the teacher. Finished and furnished with oak, 
 curtained with delicate blue chintz to match the coverings 
 of the furniture with a dainty little book-case and writing 
 desk in the study, these apartments were a very model of 
 elegant neatness, and I gladly accepted the pleasant task 
 assigned me by my father of introducing Mr. Clifford to 
 his new domain. 
 
 He seemed pleased with all the arrangements, and par 
 ticularly to find his own apartments thus detached from the 
 main building, " for," he remarked, "here I shall be more
 
 40 WOODBURN. 
 
 to myself, and feel less a trouble to the family, than if 
 obliged to come and go constantly through the house, 
 appearing unexpectedly at unseasonable hours, and perhaps 
 causing the various members of your family, Miss Amy, 
 who are, doubtless, most amiable under less aggravating 
 circumstances to wish a certain nameless individual very 
 far off in an opposite direction." 
 
 I looked up, smiling, and with the innocent straight-for 
 wardness so common in very young girls, replied* " Well, 
 perhaps if you were cross and ugly, as I fancied you might 
 be, such a thing is possible but surely, Mr. Clifford, you 
 cjpn't suppose for a' moment that any of us could wish you 
 out of the way?" 
 
 " I hope not," he said, evidently much amused at my 
 earnest manner ; " and perhaps there is a tinge of selfish 
 ness in my liking this little cottage so much, for, besides 
 disliking to be troublesome, I am very fond of being quiet, 
 when inclined to read or write and now, Miss Amy, tell 
 me, will you, who are to be my scholars, only yourself and 
 your brother?" 
 
 "No," I answered, "there is another, Pearl Dunbar, 
 who will ride several miles every morning to join our class. 
 She is the adopted daughter of a relation of my father's, 
 whom we always call ' Uncle,' and though, in reality, Pearl 
 is not related to us, she seems like a dear cousin, indeed 
 almost -a sister, so constantly have we been together from 
 our infancy."
 
 THE SCHOOL ROOM. 41 
 
 "Pearl!" exclaimed Mr. Clifford. "What a very 
 strange, sweet name. Is she remarkably fair a blonde 
 to be thus named?" 
 
 . " Oh, no, quite the reverse," I said ; " she was called 
 Pearl when my uncle adopted her, at which time she was 
 four years old, and I know nothing of her previous history. 
 The Dunbars live at Elgin, the beautiful place you passed 
 just before reaching here, on your way from the river. 
 She looks like a Spanish girl ; is very talented, handsome, 
 as wild as a deer, *a perfect Die Vernon on horseback, and 
 is just a little past sixteen." ^ 
 
 I paused, suddenly, for a moment, wondering why Mr. 
 Clifford should look so sad, or rather, so much sadder than 
 usual, while listening to this hasty description of a perfect 
 stranger; and then fearing he might notice my hesita 
 tion went on : 
 
 " And my cousin, Rachel Thorn, to whom you were 
 introduced this morning, intends, I believe, taking lessons 
 in drawing, and German also if you teach German. So 
 you Avill have four scholars instead of two ; quite enough, 
 I fancy, to try your patience to the utmost. And now, 
 suppose we stroll through the garden, it is so lovely !" 
 
 Saying which, without waiting for a reply. I bounded 
 down from the little vine-covered verandah, and through 
 an arched pass-way cut in the hedge, followed by my 
 teacher, who accepted the proposed ramble with evident 
 pleasure ; and knowing, as all thoroughly well-bred persons
 
 42 WOODBURN. 
 
 
 
 do, that the chief charm of keeping up conversation pleas 
 antly, especially with a stranger, is by lending an interested 
 attention to what is said, and never interrupting the speaker, 
 Mr. Clifford won me completely, by listening, with 
 apparent satisfaction, to all my girlish chatter about every 
 thing connected with Woodburn and its surroundings. 
 Then, to the many questions I asked regarding far-off 
 countries having discovered that he was a great traveler 
 he replied so fully and so kindly, rather encouraging than 
 checking my curiosity, that ere our conversation ended, I 
 came deliberately/to the opinion that Mr. Clifford was the 
 most fascinating of teachers if not of men. I had not 
 known many, to be sure; yet the sincere respect and 
 admiration of a young heart, as yet unspoiled by the (too 
 often) contaminating influences of society is no unworthy 
 meed of praise. 
 
 Our walk through the garden extended all over the 
 premises, and the great plantation bell was ringing for 
 twelve o'clock as we sauntered up through that grand old 
 avenue of live oaks to the front door ; my companion 
 started at the sound, and, turning to me quickly, said, 
 
 " Why, that is like a boat-bell ! yet, surely, you cannot 
 hear them thus distinctly so far from the river." 
 
 I laughed out and explained that it was only the plan 
 tation bell ringing, to call in the hands from the field to 
 their dinner. 
 
 " Ah, yes ; I had forgotten," he replied. " The regula-
 
 OUR SCHOOL-ROOM. 43 
 
 tions here are pretty much the same, I believe, as on the 
 places in Cuba." 
 
 "In Cuba!" I could not help repeating, "Have you 
 been to Cuba, too, Mr. Clifford?" 
 
 " Yes, I lived there once for nearly a year." And then 
 that same unaccountably sad expression which he had worn 
 when I was describing Pearl, again flitted over his face ; 
 so I instantly refrained from pursuing the subject ; and 
 seeing Ethel at the front door, I ran on to ask her if 
 lunch was ready? 
 
 So soon as Mr. Clifford joined us, I left him with my 
 sister, and went into the library, hoping to find my father 
 and Ralph, that they might be consulted about a riding 
 party in the evening, for our new teacher's benefit ; that 
 he might be introduced to Pearl, for whom we were to call 
 at Elgin, and then go on to the Cliffs. It was all quickly 
 arranged and discussed as we sat at lunch. 
 
 "Ethel must lead the party," said my father, "with 
 Mr. Clifford ; as she is a fine rider, and deserves such an 
 escort if Archy's account of our friend's horsemanship 
 be correct," and he winked at me with a quizzical expres 
 sion, "for your ability to control Zebra, Mr. Clifford, has 
 convinced this pet darky of Ralph's that you are the very 
 prince of equestrians, as he is rather a fiery animal, and 
 not always very docile with strangers though I had no 
 hesitation in sending him out for you, as Englishmen gen 
 erally are fine riders. The cause of Archey's surprised ad-
 
 44 WOODBURN. 
 
 miration, however, is, that he thought you were a north 
 erner, and as a general rule they are not brought up in 
 the saddle, as is the case with our southern youth of both 
 sexes." 
 
 " Hiding is a part also of English education," said Mr. 
 Clifford, pleasantly, " and therefore I deserve little credi 
 for making friends so soon with Zebra ; and though grate 
 ful for Archey's admiration, I cannot help feeling a shrewd 
 suspicion that mingled therewith was a shade of disappoint 
 ment at my failing to turn a summerset aver the head of 
 your spirited chestnut, Mr. Percy." 
 
 At which Ethel and myself were not a little amused, 
 remembering the account of that amiable Ethiopian's 
 " chuckle " at the triumph his fancied Zebra would achieve 
 to Mr. Clifford's discomfiture, related to us that morning 
 by Lucy. 
 
 I could see by the expression of Rachel Thorn's face, 
 when my father proposed being her escort, that she would 
 rather have been assigned to Mr. Clifford ; for devoted to 
 the society and attention of gentlemen, she never failed, in 
 her sly, insinuating way, to attract the notice of every male 
 visitor at Woodburn, and jealousy of my sister's superior 
 attractions was the master-passion of her life. Yet too 
 wily to let the uncle she had so thoroughly succeeded in 
 blinding as to her real character, have an insight into those 
 sly manosuvres, only a momentary shade of annoyance
 
 OUR SCHOOL-ROOM. 45 
 
 flitted over her countenance, unobserved by all save me, 
 ere she replied, 
 
 " Oh, yes, certainly, with pleasure. You know I don't 
 care always to ride as fast as the rest, so we can jog along 
 as quietly as you wish." 
 
 A little shaft of amiability, aimed at our handsome 
 teacher, who was peeling a banana for Ethel, and did not 
 even hear what she said, I think, for Rachel bit her lip 
 upon observing his occupation, as she glanced up at him 
 with her most winning smile, while speaking to my father. 
 
 Long afterwards, how well I remembered the lightning 
 glance of concentrated hate and envy she cast on that pre 
 occupied pair, who were -chatting gayly, unconscious of her 
 smiles or frowns. How strangely and vividly such passing 
 scenes, so trifling and uninteresting at the time, seem ste 
 reotyped upon the memory, when, from after circumstances, 
 they become as the first links in a chain of events, startling, 
 unexpected, unaccountable. 
 
 As we left the lunch-table, Ralph gave me a pinch on 
 the arm, and whispered, "So we are to have one more 
 frolic, Amy, at all events, before the game of Tipps begins ; 
 not quite as exciting as a race with Pearl, to be sure ; for 
 we must behave our prettiest, to try and make a good im 
 pression on Mr. Clifford. I say, what a perfect stunner he is 
 a prince in disguise, no doubt. And now just mark my 
 prediction, if our dear cousin Rachel goes to imbibing Ger 
 man from him, she will tumble head over heels in love !
 
 46 WOODBURN. 
 
 not with Goethe and Schiller, but with her teacher, and 
 try, like the sleek, gliding little snake she is, to coil about 
 his heart ; and then, if foiled in this, as is most likely, look 
 out for poisoned stings those who stand in her way ! I 
 wonder what on earth possessed such a trump of a fellow 
 to come down here, Amy, to be tormented and bedeviled 
 with us old Blake's leavings! Jupiter! how the old 
 woman would pitch at him, and roll love-looks instead of 
 thunder-gusts out of her white eyes, should she happen to 
 turn up about this time. It's well she's off, fairly out of 
 the way. You know father offered to let her stay here 
 until another home presented itself: for Kachel Thorn, 
 and our never-to-be-forgotten, or lamented either, Blake, 
 would have fought, and scratched each other's eyes out, 
 over this handsome Englishman, like two tiger-cats fight 
 ing over a young elephant." 
 
 What a wild, merry rattle-cap he was, and how we 
 laughed together over his absurd conceit : he talked at 
 random, little dreaming who would be the victim of Rachel's 
 poisoned .sting.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE PEARL OF ELGIN. 
 
 " The eye's dark charm 'twere vain to tell, 
 But gaze on that of the gazelle, 
 It will assist thy fancy well." BYBOJT. 
 
 THE evening was lovely, the moon full, and our plan 
 was to leave Woodburn at six o'clock, and return by 
 moonlight. We were all assembled at the front door, 
 waiting for the horses, except Ethel who, when she came 
 down stairs, looked so magnificent in her dark blue riding- 
 habit, braided and buttoned with black, a black hat, 
 trimmed with blue velvet, and decorated with a long black 
 plume that even Mr. Clifford, with all his high-bred self- 
 possession, could not conceal a look of wondering admira 
 tion as she joined us. There is no dress so becoming to a 
 handsome, graceful woman, as a riding habit; and even 
 Eachel, although so petite, had looked unusually pretty 
 until my sister appeared, whom she made an effort to em 
 barrass by exclaiming 
 
 "Why, cousin Ethel, how perfectly stunning. you do 
 look, and how completely we email people" glancing at
 
 48 WOODBURN. 
 
 me "are extinguished, 'when awful beauty puts on all 
 her charms.' " 
 
 But Kachel, as usual, was foiled in this attempt to 
 discompose the fair mark at which her flowery shafts 
 were aimed ; for, turning to Mr. Clifford, she coolly re 
 marked, 
 
 "My cousin's great partiality unfits her for rendering 
 an impartial judgment in my case, so you must excuse her 
 enthusiastic expressions, to which, fortunately, I have be 
 come so accustomed, they cease to confuse me come, let 
 us be going !" 
 
 Rachel's attacks upon my sister always reminded me of 
 some foolish child firing off squibs at a stately swan, when, 
 without even ruffling its feathers, the proud bird sails off 
 over the water, as if in disdain of its little enemy; and 
 yet the cutting edge of her repartee was so gracefully 
 covered, that none, save those who knew Ethel's opin 
 ion of Rachel and her flatteries, discovered their hidden 
 sarcasm. 
 
 Fleetfoot was restive, and I observed Mr. Clifford cast 
 more than one anxious look at the little Arabian, whose 
 rider patted her arched neck quietly and caressingly, 
 while, with a steady hand, she drew the reins, firmly 
 checking the spirited animal, who knew her voice and 
 touch perfectly, and was not in the least vicious. 
 
 "You are a confident rider, Mrs. Linton," he remarked, 
 as they rode off in a fast lope.
 
 THE PEARL OF ELGIN. 49 
 
 " Yes," she replied, " confident, but not fearless, for I 
 would not attempt to ride such wild horses as Pearl Dun- 
 bar mounts, yet she has never been thrown, though we all 
 tremble for her safety at times, as her daring almost 
 amounts to recklessness." 
 
 " What a strong will and high spirit Miss Dunbar must 
 have,-" he remarked, " I quite long to see her, and yet al 
 most fear the prospect of having such a wild pupil. la 
 her temper very imperious ?" 
 
 " Oh, you must not dread teaching Pearl," she an 
 swered, "she is impulsive and strong in her prejudices, 
 but warm-hearted, generous, and not the least violent, to 
 us she is very dear, almost like a sister ; but come, we are 
 only a mile from Elgin now, let's leave the rest behind, 
 and you shall have an opportunity of judging how prepos 
 sessing your new pupil is at least, in appearance very 
 soon;" saying which, she gave the reins to Fleetfoot, and 
 they were off at such a swift canter that Ralph and myself 
 only succeeded in catching up with them when turning 
 into the Elgin gate. Pearl was standing with her adopted 
 brother Victor, out before the front door, as we rode up, 
 for they were expecting us, and a little negro-boy stood 
 near by, holding their horses. 
 
 Mr. Clifford and Ralph, quickly dismounting, advanced 
 towards them, and, as my brother presented his companion, 
 Pearl threw up the black lace veil that shaded her face, 
 
 and smiling, with her warm, sunny Southern smile, held 
 
 5
 
 50 WOODBURN. 
 
 out her hand cordially to Mr. Clifford. He took it, and 
 seemed striving to speak in reply to those pleasant, 
 friendly words of greeting ; but again that painfully sad 
 expression overshadowed his face, accompanied this time by 
 such a deadly pallor that Ralph looked at me inquiringly, 
 as he exclaimed, 
 
 " You are ill, Mr. Clifford Victor, order a glass of 
 water, while we go into the parlor, please." 
 
 But he would not go in ; said it was only a sudden 
 faintness which of late had troubled him, and after drinking 
 the water which Victor brought, declared himself quite 
 ready to ride again ; and as Rachel and my father came up 
 just as they were mounting, no further allusion was made 
 to this agitation, for there was an intense sadness in the 
 stranger's pale face, which seemed to forbid remark or 
 inquiry. 
 
 I was surely correct in describing Pearl as Spanish 
 looting, for she was completely so ; from the clear rich 
 brunette of her complexion, the purple blackness of her 
 long thick hair, the starry splendor of her large dark eyes, 
 to the delicate beauty of her hands and feet. Strangers 
 supposed her to be a Spanish Creole ; while we, having 
 grown up with her, thought very little about it, save that 
 she was very attractive, and we loved her dearly. Her 
 beauty was such a strange contrast to Ethel's, that it was 
 like gazing at a lovely tableau to see them together. 
 
 We knew there was some little romance connected with
 
 THE PEARL OF ELGIN. 51 
 
 my uncle's adoption of the girl, whom he loved as a 
 daughter ; but as he was never particularly communicative 
 on the subject, nothing definite regarding the circumstances 
 had reached us, save that when the Dunbars removed from 
 Florida to Elgin, Pearl was with them as an adopted child 
 of my uncle's, who had no daughter of his own, and be 
 stowed upon this lovely little Creole the full wealth of a 
 father's love ; she was then only four years old, and had 
 grown up with us a near and dear relation. 
 
 Victor Dunbar was not regularly handsome, yet pecu 
 liarly striking in his appearance. His temper was haughty, 
 and reserved to coldness with strangers ; when provoked 
 he was sometimes unreasonable and violent. Yet those 
 who knew him well could not fail to appreciate his noble, 
 generous nature, and highly cultivated intellect. The love 
 he had ever manifested for Pearl amounted almost to idol 
 atry ; and since his return from Germany, where his edu 
 cation had been completed, after an absence of three years, 
 it was whispered that his affection, as a man of twenty- 
 three, for the beautiful girl now in her seventeenth year, 
 was rather less brotherly than when he left her, a little 
 play-fellow of thirteen. Ethel frequently said it made her 
 shudder to see the jealous look he wore when Pearl scam 
 pered off on horseback with Ralph ; for she was too full 
 of spirit, too eager for enjoyment, to heed his dark moods, 
 or if she heeded, too proud to humor them- Ralph was 
 her favorite companion for racing and frolics of that kind,
 
 52 WOODBURN. 
 
 though she was devoted to Victor as a brother, only thus, 
 we knew, and trembled at the thought of his waking 
 from the delusion that Pearl might be to him more than a 
 sister. 
 
 To a lover of nature there could scarcely be a greater 
 treat than to ride through our southern forests, just when 
 the delicate beauty and perfume of spring ' are melting 
 into the more mature vegetable life and richer fragrance 
 of summer, as was the case on that lovely evening of May 
 20th, when we rode for five miles through the deep, still 
 woods beyond Elgin, on our way to the cliffs. Amid 
 such scenes the senses of excitable persons become per 
 fectly intoxicated under the exhilirating influences of rapid 
 motion and subtile odors generated by an almost tropical 
 luxuriance of vegetation, which seems draping the earth 
 with a variegated tapestry of vivid green and varied 
 bloom. The magnolia was then in its full glory so over- 
 poweringly sweet that one blossom possesses too much 
 fragrance for a parlor vase it scents the outer air to 
 perfection when blended, as at that season, with the 
 bitter aroma of the wild jasmines. Such times, such 
 scenes, such influences, dwell with us, and in after years, 
 perchance, 'neath colder skies, they charm us still 
 strangely, as memory yields, again at our bidding, by 
 a mysterious spell, the light, odor, beauty of those 
 by-gone hours so palpably, that our delight in dwelling 
 upon them is as real, as that of gazing on the pictured
 
 THE PEARL OF ELGIN. 53 
 
 charms of some beloved face now lost to us forever. More 
 northern woodlands are neat and picturesque, with their 
 tall trees and soft green pastures yet they never yield 
 the same varieties of wild beauty, that living panorama of 
 glowing growth and bloom, to be found amid the 
 tangled vine-draped, moss-veiled depths of our far south 
 ern forests. 
 
 Victor happened that evening to be in one of his most 
 amiable moods, and as Pearl mounted, without waiting for 
 her to scamper off as usual, he courteously proposed being 
 my escort, remarking that it fatigued him to keep up with 
 her head long pace. So that ride is associated with my 
 haughty cousin, of whom I was very fond, and very proud 
 of having him to ride with me, and thus the association is 
 far from disagreeable ; indeed, perhaps, the dewy, dreamy 
 splendor of that moonlit eve would have left less haunting 
 memories had Ralph been my companion. Yet then I 
 was a child, and children are not supposed to dream over 
 whom they may chance to ride or walk with 'mid enchanting 
 scenes, 'neath beaming skies, but children of fifteen will 
 indulge their fancies, and sometimes such memories haunt 
 a life time. 
 
 On our return, in passing an old place called " The 
 Glen," which had been uninhabited for years, we were not 
 a little surprised to see lights shining through the windows 
 in various parts of the house, giving unmistakable evidence 
 of its present occupation, which, of course, put all the
 
 54 WOODBURN. 
 
 females of our party on the qui vive to know who our new 
 neighbor might be. And after passing we appeared by one 
 consent to check our speed until my father came up, 
 making him laugh heartily by calling out almost in the 
 same breath, to inquire if he knew who had bought the 
 Glen? He was, however, unable to gratify our curi 
 osity ; had heard yesterday, in town, that the place was 
 sold to a new-comer, but could not ascertain his name, so 
 we galloped on caring, less than we thought about the Glen 
 or its occupants. 
 
 " Come, Pearl, you and Victor had better go on with 
 us to Woodburn and spend the evening," said Ethel as we 
 neared Elgin. 
 
 "Mercy, cousin Ethel! " she cried, "do you want to 
 be the death of Aunt Kate ? The dear old soul, is, no 
 doubt, even now in a twitter of anxiety, and beginning to 
 torment herself into the belief that at last Frolic has veri 
 fied her oracular predictions and pitched me over his head ! 
 No, no, I must go home ; besides Papa has been absent 
 all day, and would be disappointed not to see me in the 
 evening ; Victor, however, can go on if he feels inclined, 
 for I am not the least afraid to ride up alone." 
 
 But Victor was not inclined, and while opening the 
 gate for her, I heard him mutter, " Ride up alone ! Pearl, 
 how perfectly absurd, just as if I would leave you." 
 
 Why did a sick feeling of disappointment and regret 
 steal over me as they left us, and swept swiftly up, through
 
 THE PEARL OF ELGIN. 55 
 
 the shadows of that dim avenue? Why will children 
 dream ? 
 
 Turning back into the road, as we emerged from a dense 
 shade into the broad open moon-light, a dark heavy look 
 ing man on a powerful horse dashed past us, going in the 
 direction from which we came ; who, though riding very 
 rapidly, jerked up his horse after passing, so suddenly as 
 to bring the animal almost down upon his haunches, and 
 then turning deliberately in his saddle, watched Ethel and 
 Mr. Clifford until an angle in the road hid them from his 
 view, when striking spurs to his horse he rode on at the 
 same head-long gait. 
 
 Ralph and myself were behind, having lingered at the 
 gate a moment, so we had full opportunity of observing 
 this peculiar proceeding. " Who on earth was that," I said, 
 "didjou ever see him before, Ralph?" 
 
 " No, he must be a stranger," replied my brother, 
 "and a very impertinent one too, for staring at sister 
 Ethel as he did." 
 
 So we rode on little dreaming then, though we knew 
 afterwards, that the old house which had excited our 
 curiosity by showing signs of habitation, and the dark 
 horseman who turned to watch my sister, were closely con 
 nected, for that stranger was master of the Glen.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 DOCTOR FOSTER. 
 
 " Too well thou knowest the presence of that man 
 
 la hateful to me !" LONGFELLOW. 
 
 A MONTH had past, and Mr. Clifford was almost as 
 one of the family for even in so short a time we learned 
 to respect him, as the possessor of a high and honorable 
 nature, to admire his learning and many accomplishments, 
 and to prize him as a faithful teacher and friend. 
 
 Who was Mr. Clifford ? we all wondered ; and why was 
 such a man willing to endure the drudgery of teaching ? 
 The refined reserve for which he was so remarkable, for 
 bade questions ; and even Rachel Thorn, with all her 
 sly manoeuvring after making a confident boast to more 
 than one of the family, that she was determined to fathom 
 the mystery of his life had never dared to approach him 
 directly upon the subject, and was obliged to confess herself 
 foiled in every attempt to surprise him into giving some 
 clue which might enlighten her. He seldom joined the 
 family unless invited to do so, and remained, between 
 school hours, so constantly within his own apartments, that
 
 DOCTOR FOSTER. 57 
 
 at last my father (half-provoked) chided him with being 
 unsocial, and begged, as an especial personal favor, that, 
 unless particularly engaged, he would make it a rule to 
 join our family circle, after tea, in the parlor. He looked 
 gratified, promised to do so, and for several evenings pre 
 vious to the date of this chapter, we had the gratification 
 of his society until bed-time. 
 
 My sister was a fine musician ; sang delightfully, accom 
 panying herself with great expression either on the piano 
 or harp. Indeed, I have never heard her singing surpassed 
 by an amateur". Mr. Clifford (who had never heard her 
 until this occasion) stood as one entranced, and when she 
 ceased, his expressions of admiration were so earnest, yet 
 evidently so sincere, that Ethel blushed though more, it 
 occurred to me, under the eloquent influence of those mild, 
 sad eyes, than from anything he said, for she was accus 
 tomed to compliments, and heeded them less than any 
 beautiful woman I ever saw. 
 
 Rachel Thorn had marked that look, and the felush it 
 awakened, for her thin lips curled sneeringly, as she 
 remarked : 
 
 " Why, Ethel ! what a famous Prima Donna you would 
 make, blushing so divinely ; for, if the commendation of 
 one person calls up such a becoming color, what might not 
 be expected from the applause of thousands ?" 
 
 Never before had I seen my sister so justly irritated at 
 Rachel's spiteful remarks. The deep color faded from her
 
 58 WOODBURN. 
 
 \ 
 
 cheek so suddenly, that the change was startling, and I 
 almost dreaded her reply. But stinging, cutting, withering 
 as it was, the words were uttered deliberately, and without 
 any evidence of temper in her voice. 
 
 " If, by any strange chance, I should ever go upon the 
 stage," she said, "my long and constant association with 
 such a perfect actress as yourself, Rachel, could scarcely 
 fail to prove a great advantage, for, though not particularly 
 proficient in the art of blushing, there are other and more 
 important points to be studied, in which you excel." 
 
 There was a look of triumph in Mr. Clifford's eyes, as, 
 while carelessly replacing some sheets of music in the case, 
 he glanced at Ethel, with a meaning smile, which seemed 
 to say: "You have conquered again, and proudly, too." 
 
 Rachel fairly shivered with rage, but she knew how far 
 to go, and not daring to provoke my sister further, bit her 
 lips, and was silent ; while, eager to change the subject, I 
 expressed a positive conviction that Mr. Clifford could sing, 
 and begged him to try a duet with Ethel. He consented, 
 and they sang ''Hear me, Norma" so wonderfully well, his 
 voice being rich and full, and according so finely with her's, 
 that even my father laid down the newspaper, in which he 
 had previously been absorbed, to applaud them. 
 
 "Bravo!" he cried; "why you sing that, absolutely, 
 as if in the habit of practising it together. Fine ! fine ! 
 we must have it over to-morrow evening at Elgin, where, 
 you know, we are all to take tea ; but, by Jove, now I
 
 DOCTOR FOSTER. 59 
 
 come to think the matter over, no one happens to know it 
 yet, save myself, for I forgot, until this moment, the invi 
 tation entrusted to me by good Aunt Kate before dinner. 
 She was on her way here, this morning, when I overtook 
 the carriage, just as that heavy thunder shoi(er came up ; 
 so, as the clouds looked very threatening, she requested me 
 to deliver the message, or rather invitation, and turned 
 back. Just think how near I came forgetting it entirely ! 
 and, bless me ! how righteously indignant the dear old 
 lady would have been, for she was very particular in 
 repeating 'all the family,' 'remember cousin Percy, all, 
 especially Mr. Clifford, for I want him to help entertain 
 our stranger guests,' and who do you think these stranger 
 guests may be ? Now, don't all guess at once, for I know 
 you girls are all devoured with curiosity." 
 
 "No, we 're not a bit; for it's easy enough to guess 
 one, and the other nobody cares about," I replied, exult- 
 ingly,' putting on the spectacles my father had just taken 
 off, and looking at him, saucily, across the table. Then, 
 leaning over, I whispered, "It is none other than our new 
 neighbor at the Glen, is'nt it, now, you dear, precious, for 
 getful old darling?" And again, (more coaxingly,) 
 " Don't tell on me if I've guessed wrong, please." 
 
 " But, you're right, you rattle-cap ; she wants us to 
 meet Dr. Foster, of the Glen, and our new pastor, Mr. 
 Clare, who is now staying at Elgin on trial, that is, if he 
 likes the neighborhood, and the neighborhood like him, he
 
 60 WOODBURN. 
 
 is to remain among us. So, now having relieved my mind 
 from the burden of our most excellent cousin's invitation, 
 taking its acceptance for granted, I shall retire ; so good 
 night to you all," and my father went off to bed, leaving 
 us to discuss the Elgin tea-party, which we did, wonder 
 ing as we had wondered about Mr. Clifford what the 
 new minister was like, etc., etc., coming to the conclusion 
 that Dr. Foster must be rich, or he could not afford to buy 
 such a property as the Glen : and rather inclining to the 
 belief that Mr. Clare was hum-drum, such being the 
 style of parsons almost constantly on hand, from time to 
 time, at Elgin ; for my uncle seemed to pity, and always 
 befriended, individuals of the cloth, or half-starved artists 
 and school teachers, so unfortunately uninteresting, that 
 less charitable people would not be bored with them. So, 
 taking it for granted that the present subject whose merits 
 we would shortly be called upon to judge must be one of 
 this stereotyped class, I asserted it as my firm conviction, 
 that said Clare was a perfect poke, who would mumble out 
 an everlasting grace over his bread-and-butter, so tow that 
 no one could hear it and then talk very loud, and a great 
 deal through his nose. Neither could I resist this tempt 
 ing opportunity of telling Mr. Clifford what Ralph had 
 said about him before his arrival hoping I would be as 
 much mistaken as my brother had been which afforded 
 
 A *-^ ^^^^ V 
 
 the subject of said ogrcish fancy .sketch great amusement, 
 
 ^
 
 DOCTOR FOSTER. 61 
 
 much to the discomfiture of the young artist, who could 
 not be induced to venture an opinion of Mr. Clare. 
 
 The next evening, at eight o'clock, we were all assembled 
 in the drawing-room, at Elgin, waiting for the new comers 
 as Mr. Clare (having been out late to dinner) had not 
 made his appearance. Dr. Foster was, doubtless, too 
 fashionable to come early. So I shall seize the little inter 
 val before their arrival, to describe, briefly, the older mem 
 bers of the Elgin household. 
 
 Pearl's adopted father, Horatio Dunbar, was an eccentric, 
 humorous, generous Scotchman, some two or three years 
 my father's senior ; rather below the medium height, with 
 bright black eyes, whose quizical expressive twinkle at 
 times, when he was telling one of his,funny stories, was 
 enough to make the soberest person laugh. Being per 
 fectly bald, he wore a black wig, and one of his favorite 
 jokes was, when there happened to be some very intimate 
 friend with the family, to jerk it off suddenly while they 
 were looking in another direction, and then laugh over 
 their astonishment at seeing a stranger in his place : for 
 the change transformed him so completely that, for a mo 
 ment, it could not fail to deceive even those on the most 
 familiar terms with him, when they saw it for the first 
 time. He was hospitable almost to a fault ; for unreason 
 able persons frequently abused his generosity ; and, as I 
 have said, there was generally one or more itinerant clergy 
 men, teachers, in short, specimens of every species of un-
 
 62 
 
 WOODBURN. 
 
 fortunate individuals who happened to be in the neighbor 
 hood, and for the time being without a home, at Elgin. 
 He had been a widower since Victor's early boyhood, and 
 Aunt Kate being called on to take charge of the child when 
 his mother died, ever after remained with my uncle, as he 
 had never married again. She was a charming exception 
 to that general rule which, alas, too often most justly stig 
 matizes the sisterhood of old maids (though outwardly 
 such paragons of methodical piety, disinterested workers 
 of charity, and all good works,) as being, inwardly, mov 
 ing receptacles of gossip the very scavengers of society ; 
 feeding upon scandal greedily as vultures upon a dead car 
 cass ; digesting their food, and getting up a keener appe 
 tite for more by the free use of such tonics as envy, hatred 
 and malice ! Aunt Kate was far from being one of those ; 
 and except for a certain primness in dress and manner, 
 (those invariable attendants on spinsterism,) no one would 
 have supposed her to have been an old maid. To a deter 
 mined disposition, governed by a high code of religious and 
 moral principles, an almost stern sense of right and wrong, 
 she added such an unselfish regard for the pleasure and 
 happiness of others, such a tender sympathy for and with 
 young persons, in all their joys and sorrows, that Victor 
 and Pearl loved her as a mother, while all the young people 
 in our neighborhood regarded a party at Elgin as a perfect 
 treat none seeming to view Aunt Kate, (for so she was 
 generally called,) as venerable maidens are apt to be viewed,
 
 DOCTOR FOSTER. 63 
 
 by juveniles, in the light of a severe judge upon all their 
 innocent frolics. They said the reason of her being so 
 good and agreeable was because she was Scotch, and I do 
 verily believe that Scotch old maids are better than other 
 old maids ; and Aunt Kate was the dearest and best spe 
 cimen of a Scotch spinster. 
 
 But here comes Mr. Clare, at whom we must take a look, 
 for Pearl, though amused at my ideas of his appearance, 
 etc., declares he is quite the reverse fine-looking, and 
 agreeable. Light hair, fair, with deep, thoughtful grey eyes, 
 a rather slight figure, though tall, and not ungraceful, to 
 gether with perfect ease of manner and a full, melodious 
 voice in conversation, presented a combination of attrac 
 tions, which we were totally unprepared to find concentrated 
 in the person of one of the divine fraternity entertained at 
 Elgin. He looked twenty-five, and his whole appearance 
 was altogether prepossessing so much so that I could not 
 help remarking to Victor, in a whisper, as he entered 
 
 " Why, what a charming looking person ! I expected to 
 see a regular stoop-shouldered poke, like our friend Mr. 
 Baldwin, for instance, who is too dyspeptic, you know, to 
 eat butter with his mush." 
 
 " Ah, indeed !" he replied, with almost a sneer, as his 
 dark brow lowered, "then you must be astonished at the 
 sight of this lady-killer, for Pearl, and even Aunt Kate, 
 go into ecstacies of admiration over his charms, personal 
 and mental ; so he must be something extra, I suppose ;
 
 64 WOODBURN. 
 
 but then, you women generally have a weakness for gentle 
 men of the cloth. Heigh-ho ! I wish I had studied divinity 
 at home, instead of going off to Germany !" and he tried 
 to smile, as I answered quickly : 
 
 "Fie, Vic! the idea of your being a preacher! why, 
 you're not good enough not patient enough to teach the 
 gospel. But I do really believe good-looking, agreeable 
 men, are just as jealous of each other's attractions as the 
 softer sex. Hark ! there's the door-bell Dr. Foster, no 
 doubt. Have you ever seen him ?" 
 
 "Yes," said Victor; "he is a great, rough bear of a 
 fellow vulgar-looking ugh ! I wish father had never 
 given him the entre at Elgin. But you know that almost 
 universal hospitality which induces him to take in many, 
 (by some of whom he is taken in in return,) and if I mis 
 take not, the case in question is to be a striking illustration 
 of his misplaced confidence, But it seems this new doctor 
 is to be our neighborhood physician, and hence my father's 
 fancy for inviting him here to-night ; but judge for your 
 self;" and as he spoke Dr. Foster entered the parlor. 
 
 I have never seen such a queer mixture of gentility and 
 vulgarity as were presented in the personal appearance of 
 that man. His dress was unexceptionable no flash, no 
 glitter, which so often marks the parvenu. His hands and 
 feet were delicate, particularly so for a man of such heavy 
 appearance, and showed conclusively that his flesh was the 
 result of indulged appetite, or sedentary habits, perhaps
 
 DOCTOR FOSTER. 65 
 
 both, for he looked sensual, especially his mouth, the 
 coarseness of which even a heavy beard failed to conceal. 
 To light-gray eyes, (which, in their cold and furtive ex 
 pression, were not unlike Rachel Thorn's,) a fair skin and 
 light eye-lashes, he added very dark, almost black, hair, 
 beard and brows a curious combination, and the tout en 
 semble was far from attractive. 
 
 So soon as the momentary silence and restraint, which 
 almost invariably 'follow the introduction of one person to a 
 number, had worn off, Dr. Foster seated himself by Ethel, 
 and commenced conversation in a free and easy style, 
 which we at once observed was anything but agreeable to 
 my stately sister, who bit her lip, 'and glanced at me 
 with an almost provoked look, as Mr. Clifford, with whom 
 she had been talking when the doctor came up, walked 
 off, not wishing to interfere with the conversation of a 
 stranger. 
 
 I fancied that both observed his look of annoyance for 
 Mr. Clifford smiled, with a half amused expression while 
 the new comer moved uneasily in his chair, and then com 
 menced speaking, in rather an abrupt manner, about meet 
 ing her out riding with a party shortly after his arrival at 
 the Glen, asked if she was fond of the exercise, etc. ? And 
 at last succeeded in fixing her attention for a while by 
 talking of flowers ; the fine collection he was making for a 
 conservatory ; some rare varieties of cactus, japonicas, etc., 
 he had brought from abroad, for a love of flowers from her
 
 66 WOODBURN. 
 
 earliest childhood had been uppermost in Ethel's apprecia 
 tion of the beautiful. 
 
 Mr. Clifford and Pearl were the best of friends, and his 
 manner towards her ever seemed unaccountably tender 
 for though after their first few meetings, that agitation to 
 which I have referred as so remarkable, had in some 
 measure worn off, yet the sad look he often bent upon 
 her, told of an inward struggle to subdue some painful 
 recollections awakened by her presence, and even Victor 
 who was jealous of his adopted sister's partiality for all 
 mankind, save himself and his father, could not object to 
 the gentle considerate care with which Mr. Clifford from 
 the first watched over his high-spirited pupil nor to the 
 cordial, grateful manner with which she treated him. 
 
 They stood talking together within our hearing, while 
 Dr. Foster was with my sister, and I overheard Pearl say, 
 "Oh! doesn't cousin Ethel look too superbly to-night, 
 that pearl-colored silk is so becoming? " 
 
 He glanced over at the subject of her remark, and then 
 replied, "Yes, she always looks peerless, and even more 
 so just now than usual ; it strikes me, from being in contrast 
 with that new doctor who I must confess does not impress 
 me favorably rather than from any peculiar becoming- 
 ness of dress. What do you think of Dr. Foster, Miss 
 Pearl?" 
 
 " Think of him ! Why, Mr. Clifford, I perfectly detest 
 the man's looks, and hate to see him chatting to my cousin
 
 DOCTOR FOSTER. 67 
 
 in that free and easy style; he looks sly and deceitful 
 about the eyes, like Rachel Thorn ; don't you think so? " 
 
 " Oh ! don't draw comparisons, my dear pupil, and try 
 to think as well as you can of Miss Thorn, for she is an 
 orphan, and entitled to much consideration and kindness on 
 that account. Yet, I do agree, with you regarding the 
 sinister appearance of our new neighbor, though appear 
 ances are sometimes deceiving ; let us hope they may prove 
 so in this case, and that we may be agreeably disappointed 
 in the stranger." 
 
 "My dear master," replied Pearl, playfully, "do you 
 expect me to be as considerate and merciful in my judg 
 ments of people as you are ? Impossible ? My likings 
 and dislikings are too strong, yet humbly do I acknowledge 
 myself most culpable in giving such free expression to 
 opinions which might just as well be locked up here " 
 placing her hand on her heart "yet, don't think me in 
 corrigible, for, indeed, I am greatly improved since you 
 came; don't laugh now, for they all say so; " and moving 
 up to the table where Victor and myself were looking over 
 some engravings, she appealed to us for a confirmation of 
 this assertion obtaining which she commenced again upon 
 the doctor, mimicking his self-assurance so inimitably that 
 even Mr. Clifford was forced to laugh ; and then she said, 
 "It's past endurance! he shall not talk one minute longer 
 to cousin Ethel, for I'm going over to make her sing." 
 And from the ready way in which the proposition was
 
 68 WOODBURN. 
 
 acceded to, we had no reason to imagine that my sister 
 was particularly entranced, even by the doctor's floral 
 rhapsodies, who was officious when Ethel went to the 
 piano, asking for one operatic song after another, in a style 
 that was quite bewildering nor did he subside in the 
 slightest degree, until Mr. Clifford, by request, came 
 up to sing with her when the doctor sat sulking near 
 by, and -looking, as Pearl said, " unutterable things " the 
 while. 
 
 Dr. Foster evidently avoided conversation with Rachel 
 Thorn, and several times during the evening when they 
 happened to be thrown together, he turned away, as if 
 abstracted, and sought another part of the room. I could 
 see she felt cut at his slighting her, and amused myself as 
 we drove home by inquiring her opinion of this odd look 
 ing stranger. 
 
 "Why, he is a perfect vulgarian," she replied, "and I 
 am astonished at Ethel for allowing him to be so much 
 with her." 
 
 "Then, Rachel," said my sister, "I am glad that he 
 did not give you an opportunity of snubbing 'him, for in 
 our uncle's house to a stranger guest, that would have been 
 rude, so, as it seems, I had more forbearance ; it is fortunate 
 for the credit of the family he inflicted hinfself upon me 
 instead of you." 
 
 Rachel tried to laugh, but was evidently annoyed at
 
 DOCTOR FOSTER. 69 
 
 being thus suddenly extinguished by her adversary's ready 
 repartee. 
 
 Thus ended the evening at Elgin, which we lightly dis 
 cussed, little dreaming how important a part those two 
 strangers were destined to play in a rapid succession of 
 coming events. 
 
 That night. I dreamed a vivid, wild dream in which 
 Ethel seemed standing alone, upon a black and tottering 
 bridge, whose broken arches spanned a fearful abyss, from 
 which there came a sound of angry, rushing water. Pale 
 and helpless, she was forced to cross and clung de 
 spairingly (while advancing, step by step,) to the trembling 
 balustrade. Then I saw her shrink back, horror-stricken ; 
 for, up from out that frightful gulf, on to the rotten abut 
 ments, over the balustrades, along the slimy stones and 
 boards, hissing, came an army of vipojrs and while she 
 clung to the bridge for support, lo! a hideous serpent 
 coiled about her arm ; when, suddenly, from the other side 
 of this chasm, bounding recklessly over the slippery bridge, 
 Mr. Clifford appeared. Heedless that it tottered under his 
 weight heedless that countless vipers were hissing at 
 him heedless of the gloom above, below, on he sped, 
 swiftly, to where my sister stood petrified with horror, the 
 slimy reptile clinging to her bare, white arm. To seize 
 and tear it off, and then catching her in his arms to 
 speed swiftly over that broken, crumbling ruin seemed 
 the work of a moment ; and while they gained a rock on
 
 70 WOODBURN. 
 
 the other side, I woke with a cry, as the whole arch, 
 bristling with serpents, whose hissing had made me cold 
 and sick with terror through that dreadful dream tum 
 bled, with an echoing crash, into those yawning deeps of 
 rushing water.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 RACHEL THORN. 
 
 " Ah ! that deceit should steal such gentle shapes, 
 And with a virtuous visor hide deep vice !" SUAKSPEAEB. 
 
 X 
 
 RACHEL was very clever and progressed in her German 
 with a rapidity which appeared to astonish and please Mr. 
 Clifford, whose interest (we afterwards found) she had 
 excited, by informing him (in confidence, for the time,) 
 that it was her intention, by hard study, to fit herself for 
 teaching being determined, when quite competent, to seek 
 a situation as governess, for she was too proud now that 
 my father no longer required her services to remain per 
 manently at Woodburn, and would have left long before, 
 but until now, never had an opportunity of improving 
 herself sufficiently to undertake the task of teaching. All 
 of which Mr. Clifford, of course, believed it was quite 
 natural he should thereby increasing the inducement he 
 had to instruct her as thoroughly and perfectly as possible, 
 both in drawing and German. 
 
 In the course of these instructions, however, he failed to 
 perceive for a long time, at least, what was perfectly
 
 72 WOODBURN. 
 
 evident to all lookers-on, viz. : that Ralph's prediction was 
 verified most completely for Rachel Thorn, while thus 
 acquiring knowledge, had lost her heart. Neither did 
 we fail to observe how entirely innocent he was of all 
 design to enthrall the affections of his wily pupil ; for 
 apart from the necessary courtesy and attention to be 
 expected from a teacher he never gave her the slightest 
 cause to suppose herself, for one moment, the subject of his 
 thoughts and nothing, save vanity, and the blind love 
 which possessed her, could ever have induced that clever 
 girl to believe possible the impossible task she had under 
 taken, of trying to win Mr. Clifford futile and absurd as 
 the delusion which might lure a little child to seek for fairy 
 treasures by traveling to the end of the rainbow ! 
 
 The growing friendship between Mr. Clifford and my 
 sister, excited in her an uneasy jealousy ; and though fully 
 impressed as I feel assured she was then that he would 
 never aspire to Ethel's hand a visible effect of that jeal 
 ousy was to make Rachel hate the subject of it more than 
 ever for her superior attractions, and by artful manoeu- 
 vrings, to undermine the exalted opinion he entertained of my 
 sister's character hoping, that when disenchanted with 
 one whom he must necessarily worship at a distance, she 
 might eventually succeed in winning him by determined 
 devotion. 
 
 Thus it was matters stood, when, by going a step too 
 far, she loosened the mask which was destined, ere very
 
 RACHEL THORN. 73 
 
 long, to fall off, revealing to us the dark duplicity of her 
 nature in all its revolting deformity. 
 
 Upon a certain gloomy, drizzling Saturday, in August, 
 I was sitting near the drawing-room window with Ethel, 
 sewing, and Kachel in another part of the room at a 
 table, translating her German lesson for Monday who 
 kept calling on Mr. Clifford for assistance until we were 
 both provoked at her, and could not help wondering at his 
 endless amount of patience when a negro boy rode up to 
 the door, with a basket in his hand, which, shortly after 
 wards, Bristol brought in, and, handing it to my sister, 
 said : " From the Glen, Miss Ethel, and the boy has gone ; 
 said there was no answer." 
 
 I could not help exclaiming when the cover was re 
 moved, ' ' Oh ! what superb flowers ! did you ever see such 
 cactus ? And here is a card, ' For Mrs. Linton, with Dr. 
 Foster's compliments.' Mr. Clifford, Rachel, do come and 
 look at them. I declare now it is really kind in the doctor, 
 isn't it?" 
 
 My sister could not help admiring the gift, and yet she 
 looked annoyed, as they rose, attracted by my exclamation, 
 and came across the room to look at the flowers and while 
 sewing away more rapidly than usual, she said : 
 
 " They are certainly very beautiful, yet I scarcely think 
 that my limited acquaintance with the donor warrants his 
 sending me a present even of flowers" and then she 
 looked up at Mr. Clifford, to see, what impression it had
 
 74 WOODBURN. 
 
 produced upon him, with such an inquiring glance, that he 
 replied, as if to a question : 
 
 " I believe it is considered entirely admissible every 
 where, and even by the most fastidious people, for a gen 
 tleman when he has visited a lady even once, to send her 
 flowers, and quite as admissible for her to receive them ; 
 and I believe Dr. Foster has been here, not only as a 
 physician, but as a visitor, on several occasions ; indeed, 
 the propriety of such a delicate attention as this, Mrs. 
 Linton, it strikes me, can scarcely be questioned; perhaps," 
 he added, smiling, "if the doctor were a greater favorite, 
 his offering might be more acceptable." 
 
 Ethel's color rose as their eyes met, and then the im 
 pression first dawned upon me, that had Mr. Clifford been 
 the donor she would not thus have hesitated as to the pro 
 priety of accepting this exquisite gift perhaps he thought 
 so too at all events his eyes rested on her for a moment, 
 with an expression of lingering, yearning tenderness I 
 had never seen there before, and which appeared to move 
 her strangely for the color deepened and spread until 
 even neck and brow were suffused with that burning blush. 
 
 Rachel did not see it, at which (while scarcely defining 
 the reason why) I was pleased for, after glancing at the 
 flowers with a queer, provoked expression, she remarked 
 sneeringly, "Dear me! how touchingly lover-like, surely 
 cousin Ethel, the elegant doctor must be smitten with you," 
 and then returned to her German.
 
 EACHEL THORN. 75 
 
 No one noticed the remark, for Mr. Clifford and Ethel 
 were evidently thinking of other things, and I was too 
 much absorbed by the new train of thought arising from 
 that eloquent look, to heed her spiteful words. 
 
 My sister at last, after struggling vainly as I thought 
 to recover her wonted composure, suddenly put aside 
 her work, and saying, pleasantly to Mr. Clifford, that as 
 the flowers were not to blame, and stood there as it were 
 accepted, she would at least put them in water, and left 
 the room to do so. Volunteering to get her some sprigs of 
 geranium and myrtle to mix with those gorgeous cactus 
 and azaleas, I threw on my hat and mantle, and ran into 
 the garden for them. 
 
 As I returned, seeing the side door of the conservatory 
 open, I went in there (instead of going round the house) 
 as it was still drizzling with rain, and the conservatory 
 (which communicated with the parlor,) ran back of it a 
 considerable distance towards the garden, and therefore it 
 was the nearest way into the bouse. Upon entering, I 
 caught sight of a very delicate green vine, (the leaves of 
 which were extremely beautiful,) that hung in festoons 
 over the enormous pyramidical stand on which the plants 
 were arranged, and upon the first few shelves I quickly 
 climbed, to gather some sprigs of it to mix in with Ethel's 
 flowers. While standing up thus, a considerable distance 
 from the floor, just in the act of pulling them, the parlor 
 door leading into the conservatory opened, and I heard
 
 76 WOODBURN. 
 
 Rachel say, " Come in here a moment, Mr. Clifford, I want 
 to show you such a curious air-plant in bloom ; look there, 
 just over your head, to the right." 
 
 "That is singularly beautiful," he replied, " and very 
 rare. I wonder where Mrs. Linton got it?" For the 
 green-house was Ethel's own domain. 
 
 I kept perfectly still, thinking they would walk round, 
 and be so astonished to see me there, but they were stand 
 ing still near the air-plant as Rachel said, with a great 
 over-grown sigh : 
 
 ' ' Poor, dear Basil brought that to Ethel when he came 
 on from New York, many years ago. Oh ! how devoted 
 he was to her, my darling brother, but not more so than 
 she was to him. I suppose you know that they were en 
 gaged, Mr. Clifford, that my uncle objected (on account of 
 Basil's poverty) and at last induced Ethel to break off 
 with him to marry Arthur Linton, who was supposed to 
 be a fortune ! " 
 
 She spoke rapidly, as if afraid of being interrupted be 
 fore the tale was told, and when Mr. Clifford answered : 
 
 "No, Miss Thorn, I was not even aware that you had a 
 brother," she rejoined quickly : 
 
 " It broke his heart, drove him to desperation ; he left 
 us suddenly to go none knew whither, and from that time 
 has he been lost to me as if dead. Ethel never loved any 
 one but Basil ; she never cared for her husband, having 
 married him to please my uncle, and because he was rich.
 
 RACHEL THORN. 77 
 
 The last words were spoken as they walked back into the 
 parlor, and Rachel shut the door after her before I had 
 time to climb down from the shelf where I was standing 
 when they came in. 
 
 Perfectly stunned and bewildered at what I had heard, 
 knowing it to be utterly false, yet scarcely aware how to 
 act under the circumstances, fearing I might be blamed for 
 listening to a conversation I had overheard so suddenly^, 
 and so entirely without design on my part to act the part 
 of a listener. After a moment's reflection I determined to 
 go at once into the parlor and tell Rachel (in Mr. Clifford's 
 presence) that I had overheard her, though most uninten- 
 tionally, and then, face to face, dare her to repeat what she 
 had asserted either in Ethel's or my father's presence. To 
 conceal what I knew would have made me sick and miser 
 able. So getting down from among the plants as fast as 
 possible, I ran round and entered the parlor, but unfortu 
 nately for the furtherance of my plan at that time, neither 
 Mr. Clifford nor Rachel were there ; but just as I entered, 
 Ethel came in through another door, with her flowers 
 beautifully arranged in a large crystal shell, made for 
 holding bouquets. 
 
 I presume my pale cheek and troubled look startled her, 
 for she said, " What is the matter, Amy, have you hurt 
 yourself?" 
 
 " No," I replied, " here are some beautiful green leaves 
 to mix in among your cactus, and in getting those vines
 
 78 WOODBUEN. 
 
 out of the green house I overheard Rachel say something 
 about you to Mr. Clifford, which made me very angry," 
 and then I told her the whole, with an earnest assurance 
 that I had been a most unexpected and unwilling listener. 
 
 " What an unprincipled girl she must be," exclaimed my 
 sister. "Yet as you did not speak at the time, let it pass, 
 she would only sneer at you as an eaves-dropper ; say you 
 misunderstood her, etc., and as to mentioning the subject 
 to Mr. Clifford, for the present, at all events, it must not 
 be thought of. He certainly does not deserve our friend 
 ship, if Rachel Thorn's cunning falsehoods can alter his 
 good opinion of me, and I can scarcely believe it will have 
 the least effect upon him, but if so. some future dark attempt 
 .to injure me, will reveal Rachel's falseness without any 
 effort of ours to unmask her, and therefore, Amy, I must 
 beg you, let this matter remain entirely entre nous un 
 less Mr. Clifford sees fit to speak with either of us upon 
 the subject, and then of course the truth must and shall be 
 told, be it ever so much to Rachel's prejudice." 
 
 " Oh, Sis !" I said, " it is too bad for her to slander you 
 thus, and to such a good, true friend as Mr. Clifford ; I just 
 hate her for it, and don't see how you can allow her to 
 remain at Woodburn after such a daring piece of treachery." 
 
 "Now, Amy, that is all nonsense," replied Ethel ; "we 
 knew all along of Rachel's duplicity, and I am not at this 
 moment more sure of her wish to injure me, than I have 
 always been. Had I been in the green-house and overheard
 
 RACHEL THORN. 79 
 
 what you did, it would certainly have been right for me 
 to speak out then and there to defend myself from her 
 calumnies, but to make her your enemy is a different thing, 
 and she would be sure to deny it, unless Mr. Clifford were 
 present, which is impossible, as nothing would induce me 
 to mention the subject, or have it mentioned to him ; if he 
 believes me slandered, it surely is his place to investigate 
 the affair in some way, and then let Rachel know that he 
 is in possession of the truth. Depend upon it, 'twill be far 
 better thus." 
 
 Just at that moment there was a sudden rush through 
 the hall, and Rachel entered greatly flushed, and looking 
 as if she was overflowing with important news. 
 
 "Oh cousin Ethel, Amy," she cried, " I have got the . 
 funniest thing to tell you that ever was in the world." 
 We both stood looking at her in silent wonder. "Just 
 now, I was in the school-room putting away my German 
 books, when uncle sent for Mr. Clifford, who was over in 
 his room. He went of course at once, a/id I don't think he 
 saw me even, for in going out he left the door of his room 
 wide open, and as I passed through the hall a moment 
 afterwards, seeing what seemed to be a miniature lying 
 open on the writing table, I could not resist the temptation 
 of taking a look at it, and who do you think it was ? 
 Pearl a beautiful miniature of Pearl D unbar, and set 
 round with pearls too." 
 
 " Impossible !" we both exclaimed in a breath.
 
 80 WOODBURN. 
 
 "Ah! I knew you would not believe it," she replied 
 quickly, and therefore I slipped the picture out of its 
 velvet case and brought it with me see and judge for 
 yourselves," saying which she drew out from her pocket a 
 small oval-shaped ivory miniature, mounted in gold, and 
 set with large, beautiful pearls, so strikingly like Pearl 
 indeed, that we could scarcely doubt its having been taken 
 for her. Yet so perfectly amazed were we, and also 
 provoked at Rachel's audacity in daring to go into Mr. 
 Clifford's room, and still more, in bringing off the picture, 
 that my sister, while casting a hurried glance at it, said 
 
 " Oh, Rachel ! how could you do such a thing? The 
 idea of stealing into a gentleman's room without his knowl 
 edge, and then to bring the miniature away. Suppose 
 he returns and misses it, what would you do, and what 
 would he think of you ?" 
 
 "Why, what a fuss you make about nothing," she an 
 swered ; " in the first place, there's no danger of his getting 
 back before I replace it, as uncle's talks with him are 
 everlasting, and suppose he did, why I should just make a 
 clean breast of it, and say the curiosity inherited from our 
 worthy ancestress, Mrs. Eve, tempted me to peep, and I 
 could not resist ; nor a further temptation either, to sur 
 prise you with this unexpected discovery. Just to think 
 of Mr. Clifford and Pearl being lovers. Who would have 
 thought it? How sly they have been, and how perfectly 
 furjpus Victor will be when he finds it out, and I am de-
 
 RACHEL THORN. 81 
 
 termined he shall know it. She ought to be ashamed to 
 flirt with two men and be engaged to a third, for I've been 
 told that Cecil Clare is devoted to her." 
 
 " Kachel," I said, "you shall not continue to talk in 
 this manner of one who is dear to us as a sister ; though so 
 much like her, that cannot be Pearl's likeness, or if so, 
 she has doubtless only lent it to Mr. Clifford to copy, at 
 his request. At all events, she is incapable of doing any 
 thing deceitful or unladylike, and it is certainly neither 
 your business nor ours to meddle in this matter. If right 
 that Victor should know it, she will doubtless tell him her 
 self." 
 
 Here Ethel interrupted me, saying 
 
 " Rachel, let me implore you to go at once, replace the 
 miniature, and then candidly tell Mr. Clifford what you 
 did in the impulse of the moment, and ask his forgivness." 
 
 "Well, that's a fine joke," she cried. "I shall of 
 course put it back, but as to saying anything about the 
 .matter to him, catch me at it." And away she went, 
 leaving Ethel and myself gazing at each other in utter 
 amazement. 
 
 " Did you ever see that miniature before, Amy?" asked 
 my sister, looking very white, and speaking in an agitated 
 voice. 
 
 " No, nor do I think, spite the likeness, it can be hers, 
 as, had she owned such an one, 'tis more than probable we 
 would have seen it long ago, or at least when it was taken, 
 
 4*
 
 82 WOODBURN. 
 
 and we know she has not been lately sitting for her picture. 
 Though so wonderfully like, that face looks older to me 
 than Pearl's. Perhaps Mr. Clifford painted it from mem 
 ory, and blending her image with that of some dear one 
 who resembles Pearl has given the picture this rather 
 more quiet expression. 
 
 "Oh! it must be Pearl, surely," she said, "and the 
 whole thing is very strange, though Mr. Clifford might 
 fascinate even a girl so much younger than himself, it is 
 true, but why has Pearl not confided in us ?" 
 
 "Don't distrust her, sister; depend on it, Mr. Clifford 
 is no lover of hers, and it will be, must be cleared up in 
 time to our perfect satisfaction." 
 
 The emphasis laid on " hers" made Ethel look up at me 
 with a queer, startled expression, as she said hurriedly, 
 " What if he is? They surely have a perfect right to 
 love each other ! A most outrageous piece of daring that 
 was in Rachel. I feel mean, actually, for having even 
 looked at the picture, and now she will certainly make 
 mischief between Victor and Pearl. I feel wretched about 
 the whole thing !" 
 
 Dear Ethel ! I knew (or rather guessed) the cause of 
 that wretchedness, which she would have then been so un 
 willing to confess, and was even startled by my emphasiz 
 ing a little word, whose meaning awakened an echo in her 
 inmost heart.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 MB. CLIFFORD PERPLEXED. 
 
 "And that in seeking to undo 
 One riddle, and to find the true, 
 1 knit a hundred others new." TENNYSON. 
 
 THERE was a queer state of things existing at Wood- 
 burn for some time subsequent to the events related in my 
 last chapter. Rachel Thorn's manoeuvring was for a 
 while successful, and she, as a matter of course, proper - 
 tionably exultant ; while Ethel looked worried ; Mr. Clif 
 ford, though kind and gentlemanly as ever, sorely per 
 plexed ; and, if looks are an indication of feelings, I must 
 have appeared, as I surely felt, excessively provoked 
 so much so, it was scarcely possible for me to treat 
 Rachel with even common politeness ; and I rarely 
 spoke to her, never, in fact, save when she addressed me 
 directly. 
 
 She had taken occasion to inform us Ethel and myself 
 that the picture we made such a fuss about was replaced 
 in its case, long before Mr. Clifford returned to his room ;
 
 84 WOODBURN. 
 
 and, as it could not tell tales and she would not, there ex 
 isted no possible chance of his knowing anything about the 
 funny little trip it had taken in her pocket. We were per 
 fectly disgusted with her conduct, and made no reply, 
 though she laughed triumphantly, and was evidently 
 pleased, as with some very clever performance. 
 
 I am perfectly certain, Rachel never for one moment be 
 lieved Mr. Clifford to be a lover of Pearl's ; and even if 
 she thought the miniature really one of her which is 
 doubtful her idea, no doubt, was, either that he had 
 painted it, or borrowed it from Pearl for the purpose of 
 copying ; for she was too absurdly in love with Mr. Clif 
 ford herself to triumph thus at finding another woman's 
 picture in his possession, unless quite sure she was no ri 
 val, and the secret of her exultation consisted in accident 
 ally discovering another means by which her wily scheme 
 to separate him from my sister might be forwarded ; and 
 as the days wore away I could see a shade of coldness grow 
 ing up between them, just a shade, yet it pained me, 
 knowing he was deceived, and feeling almost sure that she 
 was also, which state of things annoyed me beyond expres 
 sion, and I had arrived at a positive determination to try 
 at least and set matters right, when, by going a step too 
 far in her most inveterate propensity to make mischief, 
 Rachel Thorn upset part of her plan and opened a way for 
 overthrowing it entirely. 
 
 About two weeks after Rachel found the miniature in
 
 . 
 
 MR. CLIFFORD PERPLEXED. 85 
 
 Mr. Clifford's room, I was sitting at the front door, study 
 ing one of my lessons, when Archey, shuffling round the 
 corner of the house, pulled off his hat, and said, 
 
 " Please, Miss Amy, is you gwin to ride, and shall I 
 saddle Lara or Miss Effle's little filly for you, dar comes 
 Miss Pearl froo de gate, and she's comin in a hurry, too. 
 Gosh ! but a'nt Frolic tryin hissef ?" 
 
 "No, I am not going out, Archey, this evening, and 
 suppose Miss Pearl is only coming over for a visit but you 
 can stay and take her horse. It ia queer she is all alone, 
 not even little Dick with her to open the gate." 
 
 " Lor bless you, Miss, yander's Dick clippin' it down 
 de lane, but /he can't keep up wid his young lady when 
 she's flying like dat no time, de poor little nigger looks, 
 arter ridin' long of her, most always like he had jis got 
 out of a dust pile " 
 
 " Je hollikins ! how Frolic is swettin !" 
 
 And as Archey took the bridle of the tired animal, 
 Pearl, looking flushed and excited, jumped down, and, 
 rushing up to me, said hurriedly, 
 
 "Amy, where is Rachel Thorn? She has told a base 
 falsehood to Victor, just for the purpose of trying to make 
 mischief between us, and I must see her at once, in your 
 presence and Cousin Ethel's, for she shall take it back." 
 
 I followed her into the parlor, knowing perfectly what 
 was coming, highly delighted at the prospect of having 
 such a mystery cleared up, and not displeased, I must con-
 
 86 WOODBUKN. 
 
 fess, at the chance of seeing Rachel placed by her vile 
 scheming in a rather uncomfortable corner. 
 
 Soon after Ethel came in, who looked surprised at 
 Pearl's visible agitation, and asked her, "What was the 
 matter ?" 
 
 "Wait until that little viper comes," was her reply, 
 "and then you shall know." 
 
 I saw in a moment, from my sister's expression, that she 
 knew herself mistaken with regard to the miniature, for 
 her face cleared and were a relieved look. 
 
 Just then Rachel entered, looking unusually pale and 
 troubled, as when sent for in such a hurry by Pearl, she 
 no doubt guessed the object of her visit, who, so soon as 
 she appeared, exclaimed, 
 
 " Rachel Thorn, how dared you tell Victor Dunbar 
 that you knew a gentleman to whom I had given my pic 
 ture ? It was false, and you knew it and I demand, as a 
 right, to hear why such a story was forged, or what possi 
 ble foundation you have for it?" 
 
 " The best foundation in the world," replied Rachel, 
 doggedly though her look was anything but confident, 
 and her voice trembled; " I saw your miniature on Mr. 
 Clifford's table, and brought it in here for cousin Ethel and 
 Amy to look at ask them if I am not telling the truth." 
 
 " You certainly had in your possession, and showed to 
 us," said my sister, "a beautiful miniature, which you 
 represented as belonging to Mr. Clifford and which was
 
 MB. CLIFFORD PERPLEXED. 87 
 
 most wonderfully like Pearl ; yet, it does not follow, as a 
 matter of course, that this picture was taken for her, and 
 from her manner of denying the fact, I am quite sure it 
 was not." 
 
 "The idea of my giving such a likeness of myself to 
 Mr. Clifford at all, is perfectly ridiculous, of course," Pearl 
 exclaimed; " but had such an one been in existence, you 
 would all have seen it, and papa would not have suffered 
 me to give it away. Yet, even granting, Rachel, that you 
 believed the miniature to be mine, what could possibly 
 induce the insinuation made to Victor, that Mr. Clifford 
 was my lover? You must have known, you did know, 
 this to be false ; and I cannot forgive such a piece of mis 
 chief-making on your part." 
 
 " I never dreamed," replied Rachel, "of making mis 
 chief, by informing your adopted brother that Mr. Clifford 
 was in possession of your miniature, Pearl ; brothers are 
 not generally in the habit of blazing out at their sisters for 
 having love affairs perhaps, however, as Victor, in reality, 
 does not bear that relationship towards you, I may have 
 mistaken your position to each other." 
 
 The high-spirited girl cast upon her impertinent tor 
 mentor a look of such withering scorn and contempt, (as 
 eyes like hers alone can flash) while replying : 
 
 " As my brother, or my lover, either, Miss Thorn, Vic 
 tor might well have been provoked at me for presenting my 
 miniature to a gentleman without his knowledge or consent ;
 
 88 WOODBURN. 
 
 and your insolent curiosity regarding the relationship in 
 "which we stand to each other, shall never be gratified 
 by me. Amy, will you be kind enough to see if Mr. 
 Clifford is at home as it is my wish to have this 
 amiable young lady informed (in the presence of witnesses) 
 whether he has now, or ever has had, a likeness of me." 
 
 I left the room at once, to comply with Pearl's request, 
 and have no further knowledge of what transpired between 
 them, until after I returned with Mr. Clifford who was 
 not a little astonished at being sent for so particularly and 
 unexpectedly by Pearl. 
 
 Rachel looked as white as a ghost when we entered ; 
 indeed, she could scarcely help feeling both angry and 
 mortified at having her perfidious conduct thus exposed. 
 
 So soon as we entered, Pearl, walking up to Mr. Clif 
 ford, with flushed cheeks and flashing eyes, asked boldly : 
 
 "Have you a likeness of me, Mr. Clifford? Rachel 
 Thorn told Victor that you had, and as my denial of the 
 fact seems insufficient to convince her for she asserts 
 having seen the picture, and had it in her possession I 
 determined to bring her face to face with you, and let 
 others, beside myself, hear the truth." 
 
 " Don't be so agitated, my dear pupil," responded her 
 teacher; "you astonish me beyond measure, by asking 
 such a question, as I cannot imagine how or where Miss 
 Thorn could ever have seen a miniature of mine which 
 does certainly resemble you exceedingly, but which was
 
 ME. CLIFFORD PERPLEXED. 89 
 
 painted, I fancy, before you were born, as it has been in 
 my possession for more than sixteen years. It is the like 
 ness of a very dear friend long lost to me, and to whom 
 your remarkable likeness caused the violent agitation I 
 evinced upon the occasion of our first meeting. I have no 
 likeness of you, Pearl; nor would I ever care to have a 
 better one than this chances to be. And now, Miss Thorn, 
 may I inquire where you happened to obtain this said min 
 iature ?" turning to Rachel with grave politeness. 
 
 " Yes," she replied, (by this time worked up by anger 
 to a high pitch of bold effrontery) " I saw it on your table, 
 while passing through the school-house hall could not 
 resist taking a peep, just to see who it was and then, 
 amazed at beholding, as I thought, a very handsome like 
 ness of Pearl Dunbar, I ventured to bring it off for a mo 
 ment or two, that cousin Ethel and Amy might have 
 the benefit of my discovery. They both looked at it, 
 and believed, with me, it must have been intended for 
 Pearl. And now, as this most solemn and important con 
 clave is, I presume, at an end for the present, with the 
 full satisfaction of all parties. I shall beg leave to retire." 
 
 Saying which, she swept out of the room. 
 
 So soon as we had recovered (in a momentary silence) 
 our astonishment at Rachel's insolent insinuation, that 
 Ethel and myself were mixed up with her examination of, 
 and comments upon, Mr. C.'s miniature if not with its
 
 90 WOODBURN. 
 
 actual removal from his table my sister, in an agitated 
 voice, said : 
 
 " Oh ! Mr. Clifford, you will not, you cannot, for one 
 moment, believe that either Amy or myself encouraged 
 Rachel in the shameless effrontery she evinced, first in 
 daring to enter your room and bringing off the picture, 
 and then, in braving the whole matter out, as if not in the 
 least ashamed of it. She took the miniature out of her 
 pocket, and held it up before us in such a way as to insure 
 our having a full and perfect view of it and so much we 
 could not avoid ; but we both chided her severely for {ouch- 
 ing it, and neither of us even took the picture in our 
 hands to examine, though, of course, it was impossible not 
 to observe the very singular resemblance it bears to Pearl, 
 and I believed it to be a likeness of her, though Amy did 
 not, and said she thought the face looked older than Pearl's, 
 though so exceedingly like her." 
 
 He did not interrupt Ethel while speaking, but stood 
 gazing in her anxious face, on which such an eager wish to 
 prove herself innocent of all blame in this matter, was so 
 clearly written with that same earnest, eloquent look I 
 had marked when she was questioning him regarding the 
 propriety of receiving Dr. Foster's flowers then, when 
 quite done speaking, her eyes fell, while she stood before 
 him as if waiting a reply, Mr. Clifford said 
 
 " Mrs. Linton, I am just as sure that neither Amy nor
 
 ME. CLIFFORD PERPLEXED. 91 
 
 yourself countenanced Miss Thorn in looking at that pic 
 ture, as I am that she wished to serve some purpose (un 
 known to us) by showing it to you ; and since this little 
 affair serves to reveal in some measure the character of your 
 cousin, I feel equally certain that she had a motive, also, 
 in taking me into the conservatory some time since, (under 
 pretence of showing me a curious flower,) simply that said 
 flower might lead to a certain subject; and regarding a 
 friend of mine, from whose history she volunteered to re 
 late some episodes so naturally and feelingly, as for a time 
 to deceive me, I say it with shame, and to alter the high 
 opinion I had formed of her integrity and truth. That 
 friend, Mrs. Linton, was yourself. The subject of Miss 
 Thorn's communication we can discuss, if you wish it, at 
 some future time. So far as I am concerned, they need 
 no further denial ; and my humiliation is deep indeed at 
 the thought of having doubted one I knew so well, from 
 false representation ; though while imploring your forgive 
 ness, I can only say, if it will, even in the slightest degree, 
 excuse my weak credulity, that your cousin's earnest, inno 
 cent manner of speaking might deceive even a more sus 
 picious person than myself." 
 
 He paused, held out his hand to Ethel, which she took ; 
 and, seeing them friends again, I could not repress an ex 
 clamation of delight. 
 
 'There, sister! I knew it; Mr. Clifford was deceived
 
 92 WOODBURN. 
 
 by Rachel's artful representations. Now all this might 
 have been avoided, had you allowed me to speak at once 
 about it." 
 
 Mr. Clifford looked surprised, and evidently wondered 
 how I came to know anything about his conversation with 
 Rachel in the conservatory, so, as the 'time had come 
 for a general explanation of mysteries, a full account of 
 the way in which I happened to overhear it, was forth 
 with given, when, quite contrary to my expectation, 
 upon hearing how positively Ethel had objected to my 
 making any denial of Rachel's story regarding Basil and 
 herself to him, Mr. Clifford looked particularly well sat 
 isfied. 
 
 What queer creatures men are, to be sure ! I fancied 
 he must of course feel exceedingly grateful to me, for hav 
 ing entertained a wish to set him right at once, by denying 
 the artful falsehood with which Rachel had beguiled him, 
 and also a wee bit hurt at Ethel for being content to run 
 the risk of losing his friendship, when, lo ! to my amaze 
 ment, from some cause or other, his admiration for my sis 
 ter appeared, if possible, greater than ever, while, if he felt 
 any gratitude for my friendly intentions, it must have been 
 too deep for words. I will try at all events to think so ; 
 but one thing is quite certain, Mr. C. and my sister, after 
 their reconciliation, were so completely absorbed with each 
 other, and so entirely forgetful of Pearl and myself, we
 
 ME. CLIFFORD PERPLEXED. 93 
 
 came speedily and wisely to the conclusion, that our com 
 pany was not then and there particularly desirable, and 
 when our eyes had telegraphed this much to each other, we 
 silently withdrew. I don't believe they even missed us. 
 What ungrateful people !
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE PARSONAGE AND CECIL CLARE. 
 
 " Strong as a man, and pure as a child, is the sum 
 
 of the doctrine, 
 "Which the Divine One taught, and suffered, and 
 
 died on the cross for. LONGFELLOW. 
 
 "Miss Rachel has a headache, sir, and wont be down," 
 said Bristol, when my father inquired why her seat was 
 vacant at dinner. 
 
 "Poor thing!" he said, "I am afraid she studies /too 
 hard. Mr. Clifford, those long German lessons are rather 
 perplexing ; don't you think such close application injuri 
 ous to health?" 
 
 Glancing up at Ethel and myself with an expression half 
 amused and half worried, my teacher replied, "I fancy 
 Miss Thorn's indisposition is not the result of over-fatigue 
 in that way, Mr. Percy, as she commits with great readi 
 ness, and is not obliged to labor over her lessons." 
 
 "Ah, well ! I am glad to hear it. Ethel, you had bet 
 ter see if your cousin is ill, after dinner; perhaps she 
 would like some tea."
 
 THE PARSONAGE AND CECIL CLARE. 95 
 
 My kind, thoughtful father, he knew nothing, as yet, of 
 the darker phases of Rachel's character, and was ever thus 
 mindful of her comfort as of ours. I feared Rachel's per 
 fidy, and wanted him undeceived ; but Ethel, pitying the 
 girl's lonely condition in life, and knowing her entire de 
 pendence upon us, declared she never would unmask her 
 to my father until justice to some one of us should render 
 further concealment impossible. 
 
 Rachel's indisposition lasted several days, as she had 
 tact enough to keep out of sight, for a while after making 
 such a disagreeably impression on the man whom she was 
 striving even by such extreme and desperate efforts to 
 win. 
 
 Foolish Rachel ! she little knew the truth and purity of 
 that noble nature. 
 
 On the following Monday Dr. Foster called, bringing a 
 superb bouquet to my sister, who was more stately than 
 usual, I fancy, as later in the day I heard my father tell 
 her, he had taken the doctor off for a walk, because of her 
 exceeding formality; and that he pitied "the poor fellow, 
 who it seemed kept a conservatory for her especial benefit," 
 and then his look was so comical that even Ethel laughed, 
 though at the same time she said : 
 
 " Please, dear father, don't even joke me about the at 
 tentions of that horrid man, for, without being exactly 
 able to define the reason, he is excessively disagreeable to 
 me. I only tolerate them because he is at present our
 
 yb WOODBURN. 
 
 family physician, and sincerely wish he would move 
 away." 
 
 He was evidently astonished at my sister's earnestness, 
 and kissing her fondly on the forehead, said : 
 
 "Well, well ! I won't jest about him again, my daugh 
 ter, but try and be as civil as you can, for though not 
 prepossessing as a beau, he certainly is a first-rate physi 
 cian, .and therefore unless he is impertinent I trust you 
 will all refrain from treating him with marked impolite 
 ness, as the loss of his medical skill on the plantation 
 would be a severe one to me." 
 
 And seeing my father was in earnest, we all promised to 
 be as civil as possible. 
 
 Mr. Clare liked the neighborhood, and the neighborhood 
 liked Mr. Clare, so he remained, and with his mother had 
 been for some time settled at a lovely parsonage adjoining 
 our little church, and situated midway between Elgin and 
 the Glen. They were universally esteemed, and had been 
 very generally entertained by our hospitable community. 
 Mr. Clare's persuasive eloquence had gained him an influ 
 ence over the congregation, never so fully possessed by any 
 of his ' predecessors, while the genial charm of his social 
 qualities secured a popularity separate and apart from his 
 holy calling, seldom enjoyed by ministers, and never by 
 those who make the religion of Christ incompatible with 
 all pleasures and amusements, be they ever so innocent ; 
 representing the gentle Nazarene as a severe judge, 'instead
 
 THE PARSONAGE AND CECIL GLARE. 97 
 
 of a merciful Savior, thus too freequently closing the door 
 of salvation upon the young and light-hearted, who un 
 willing to renounce all enjoyment, fear to enter in, and 
 are not unfrequently led into a sinful excess of worldly 
 follies, which the cheerful, healthful influence of true re 
 ligion might have prevented. 
 
 For He, who as a wedding guest, converted water into 
 wine, who even " set at meat with publicans and sinners," 
 came not to have his love on earth as a cold, dark 
 shadow, 'neath which the young and happy might dread to 
 dwell, but as a " burning and a shining light " to those, 
 he teaches, "to pray, and not to faint," nor " to wear a 
 sad countenance, as the hypocrites do r but to keep them 
 from the evils by making it easy and pleasant to continue 
 in that right path, "which leadeth unto life eternal." Of 
 this pure and perfect class among those whose mission it 
 is to proclaim the gospel of Christ was Cecil Clare, 
 hence was he beloved not only as a minister, but as a man, 
 and his mother well deserved the blessing of such a son. 
 I need scarcely award her a higher meed of praise. On 
 the Friday following the events just related, we were to take 
 tea at the parsonage, all save Rachel, who (still pleading 
 indisposition) would not join us, which was a relief, 
 especially to Ethel and Mr. Clifford, who both seemed to 
 feel in her presence as if under the influence of an " evil 
 eye." As the weather was fine, we left, as usual, on 
 horseback, calling at Elgin for Pearl and Yictor, the old
 
 98 WOODBURN. 
 
 folks preceding us in a carriage, for dear Aunt Kate 
 would scarcely have considered herself in greater danger 
 poised upon an elevated tight-rope, than on horseback, and 
 was continually in the habit of predicting that some of us 
 (most probably Pearl) would come to an untimely end 
 sooner or later by this mad practice of " racfng through the 
 country." Good, kind aunty ! how we laughed at her 
 fears, and how pleasantly she took it. Alas ! we little 
 dreamed how soon and how very nearly her predictions 
 were to be verified. As we rode up towards Elgin, Pearl 
 and Victor met us in the avenue. He" looked out of 
 humor, and she a shade more thoughtful than usual, iri- 
 deed, we had not failed to remark of late that Pearl was 
 less wild in her mirth than formerly, not quite so fond of 
 riding races with Ralph, and rather fonder of going to 
 church since Mr. Clare's arrival, yet still she was not 
 changed, only softened to which no one objected save 
 Victor, who had been jealous of the minister's influence 
 over Pearl from the first. For a short time, however, this 
 jealousy was diverted into another channel, by Rachel 
 Thorn's malicious gossip with regard to the miniature, at 
 which time believing himself to have been deceived, the 
 storm, pent up so long, burst forth and vented itself in a 
 torrent of reproaches against the being dearer to him than 
 all the world besides, for which, so soon as the matter was 
 explained, he became, of course, very penitent, feeling 
 heartily ashamed of his unreasonable and unjust anger, as
 
 THE PARSONAGE AND CECIL CLARE. 99 
 
 
 
 very high-tempered people are so apt to be when brought 
 to hear reason. 
 
 The pleasant mood succeeding this outbreak, however, 
 was of short duration, and I afterwards learned that his 
 ill-humor on the evening in question resulted from meeting 
 Pearl and Cecil Clare strolling through the Elgin garden 
 together the day previous; and hence the reserve and 
 gloom of his manner when they met us, for he had no wish 
 to go, and only consented because his father and Aunt 
 Kate particularly requested him to do so. 
 
 Victor's dislike for the minister resulted entirely from 
 the fact that Pearl liked to hear him preach, and took 
 pleasure in his society ; and he often spoke in a sarcastic 
 tone of her being " wonderfully devout since this charming 
 lady-killer had made his appearance all of which Pearl 
 ,bore most amiably, replying somewhat to the effect that she 
 only wished he would find a charm either in the minister 
 or his sermons, which might induce him to like church- 
 going a little better. 
 
 Poor Pearl ! she did not define her own feelings then, 
 and we did not know until afterwards that Victor, faulty 
 as he was, had some cause for what we then regarded as 
 absurd and unreasonable jealousy. 
 
 " Come, Pearl," said Ralph, "let's be off and distance 
 the crowd." She hesitated, glanced up shyly at her com 
 panion, and said, " Victor, won't you join us for once in a 
 gallop?"
 
 100 WOODBURN. 
 
 " No, I won't," he replied, in a surly tone, " racing is 
 not much to my taste ; and besides, I am not, perhaps, 
 quite as anxious to reach the parsonage as you are." 
 
 The speech was rude, unkind, uncalled for, and all feel 
 ing for Pearl, we pretended not to hear it ; but I saw her 
 great dark eyes fill up with tears, as bending towards him, 
 she said in a trembling voice, 
 
 " I do not deserve such unkindness from you, Victor," 
 and then she dashed on with my brother. 
 
 I was provoked at my cousin's rudeness to Pearl, and 
 yet, no way displeased as they rode off, leaving Victor 
 with me. I cared more for him than she did at least in 
 such manner my foolish heart argued and why should 
 he not stay with me ? 
 
 He called me "little coz," regarded me as a perfect 
 child, though scarcely a year younger than Pearl and. 
 still I nursed the hope that perhaps one of these days, 
 finding Pearl only cared for him as a brother, when I 
 should cease to be so like a child, he might but no mat 
 ter, it is very foolish and idle in children to dream. 
 
 After our arrival at the parsonage, so bright, so cheer 
 ful, such a beautiful picture of a minister's home, and 
 where so cordial and warm a welcome awaited us, the 
 cloud arising from Victor's ill-temper soon dispersed 
 for he was far too well bred to show the darker phase of 
 his nature before those whose hospitality he had accepted, 
 even though unwillingly ; so the evening wore pleasantly
 
 THE PARSONAGE AND CECIL CLARE. 101 
 
 away, Pearl being her own bright self again after a little 
 whispered chat with Victor, in which I am sure he begged 
 her pardon for his recent harshness. 
 
 Mr. Clare and his mother were so earnest in striving to 
 please, and yet so totally free from all fussiness in 
 their style of entertaining, that it was a real treat to visit 
 them. 
 
 Once during the evening, when fortunately for the pres 
 ervation of Victor's equanimity of temper, he happened 
 to be looking in another direction, I saw Pearl blush 
 and tremble when our host, bending over to present a 
 dainty bunch of sweet violets, touched her hand of course 
 accidentally, such things are always accidental whisper 
 ing, at the same time, something too low for me to hear ; 
 yet I found myself wondering what he could have said. 
 
 To be sure, it was, or ought to have been nothing to 
 me. What right had I to think or care about it ? Per 
 haps Mr. Clare was saying something to her about joining 
 the church however, she would not be apt to blush at 
 that and so, without exactly knowing why, this soliloquy 
 ended in my feeling very happy to see our own pastor so 
 taken up with Pearl, and also that she liked him well 
 enough to change color at the empressement of his manner 
 in presenting a bunch of violets.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 OUR BIDE HOME, AND WHAT CAME OF IT. 
 
 "Through the deep woods with startling cry, 
 Like huntef beast, he's bounded by." ANON. 
 
 THERE was a partial moon when we left at ten o'clock, 
 and feeling particularly amiable and generous under the 
 influence of certain*conclusions arrived at after witnessing 
 the little tableau referred to between Mr. Clare and Pearl, 
 I said to my escort, just as we were mounting, 
 
 " Come now, Cousin Vic, be good-natured, and ride 
 back as fast as Pearl wishes, for that speech of yours 
 wounded her ; besides, I have something to say to Ralph, 
 so he must go with me." 
 
 He acquiesced with evident delight, so much so that it 
 cooled, in a slight degree, the ardor of my generosity as 
 they rode off together, taking the lead of our party, 
 Archey being, as usual, sent on a-head to open the gates. 
 
 Thus we rode along pleasantly enough until when about 
 a half mile beyond the parsonage, where there was a very 
 sudden and abrupt descent in the road, rising as suddenly 
 on the other side, forming a gully which resembled the
 
 OUR RIDE HOME, AND WHAT CAME OF IT. 103 
 
 bed of a stream long gone dry. Just as Victor and Pearl 
 descended, (as Archey rode upon the opposite bank,) the 
 figure of a man, wan and wild looking, with long matted 
 hair and tattered clothes, rushed swiftly through the centre 
 of this gully which on either side of the road was filled 
 with tangled vines and shrubs starting out of the thicket 
 on one side and disappearing on the other, with a cry not 
 unlike the war-whoop of a savage, just in front of their 
 horses' heads. 
 
 It was certainly enough to frighten the gentlest animal, 
 and neither of these was particularly quiet. Frolic gave 
 a sudden plunge, so sudden that even Pearl, helpless to 
 avert the consequences, being entirely off her guard at the 
 time, fell over his head into the road. It was a fearful 
 sight, for Victor's horse reared madly and then dashed on, 
 apparently over the very spot where Pearl had fallen: 
 but a strong hand and stronger bit averted that, for the 
 frightened animal was checked about a yard distant from 
 where she was lying, while Frolic bounded over the pros 
 trate form of his mistress, ran furiously, and was already 
 off far beyond Archey, who had jumped down, and stood 
 with his eyes rolling, crying out, 
 
 W-o-o-h. Oh Lord she's kilt !" 
 
 Victor bounded down from his horse so suddenly, our 
 first impression was he had been thrown also, but in a mo 
 ment he was staggering up the little hill with Pearl in his
 
 104 WOODBURN. 
 
 
 
 x arms, scarcely less pale than the insensible girl he was 
 supporting. 
 
 I never shall forget the frenzied exclamations of agony 
 which appeared wrung from him while gazing down upon 
 his apparently lifeless burden, for the blood was pour 
 ing from a cut in her head, and the deep swoon into 
 which she had fallen was startlingly like the stillness of 
 death. 
 
 " Oh, God ! she is dead ! My darling, my beautiful 
 Pearl," he cried, "she will never, never speak to me 
 again, and I oh I have been so harsh and cruel to her 
 of late." 
 
 And sitting down by the roadside on an old log, holding 
 her to his heart, that strong, stern man burst into a pas 
 sion of tears. 
 
 We had all dismounted and gathered round Victor, as 
 he sat down Mr; Clifford alone having presence of mind 
 enough to dispatch Archey after the carriages, in which 
 Aunt Kate and my uncle had preceded us some fifteen 
 minutes, charging the negro not to alarm them by looking 
 so ashy and rolling his eyes, but simply to say, 
 
 " Miss Pearl was a little hurt, and would be obliged to 
 return in the carriage." 
 
 I felt sure that Aunt Kate's first look at Archey's face 
 would convince her to expect the worst ; but there was no 
 help for it. Indeed, both Ethel and myself were so per 
 fectly unnerved, and overcome %vith grief, believing Pearl
 
 OUR RIDE HOME, AND WHAT CAME OF IT. 105 
 
 to be either dead or in a dying state, that we were entirely 
 unfit to act or suggest, and therefore Mr. Clifford ordered 
 everything. 
 
 " Mr. Dunbar," he said to Victor, "we must take her 
 to the parsonage as soon as possible, without waiting for 
 the carriage, (which may ^overtake us before we reach 
 there.) but not a moment should be lost in removing her 
 to a place where restoratives may be obtained, and also a 
 physician. Ralph, my dear boy, ride over at once for Dr. 
 Foster, and now, Mr. Dunbar, by placing Pearl gently 
 upon this thick saddle blanket, we can carry her up to the 
 parsonage much more easily and with less pain than.in any 
 other way." 
 
 Saying which, he fastened the horses to a tree, and, 
 aided by Victor, (who obeyed him without a word of oppo 
 sition) placed the senseless girl upon the blanket between 
 them, and lifting it up firmly and gently, walked on quickly 
 towards the house, followed by Ethel and myself. 
 
 A sorrowful group ! and oh ! how different from the 
 merry party who had set out from there less tnan half an 
 hour before. Victor was at first bent upon taking Pearl 
 home directly the carriage arrived, and appealed earnestly 
 to Ethel to know if she did not think it best. We all 
 coincided in the opinion that such a step would be madness, 
 and prove almost certainly fatal to her whose life now 
 seemed trembling upon a breath. Then he said, with 
 heart-rending earnestness, to Mr. Clifford :
 
 106 WOODBURN. 
 
 "Tell me, really, do you think she is dying or dead?" 
 
 " No, my dear friend, she is not dead, and I trust in 
 God's mercy, not dying; though her pulse beats very 
 feebly, and I fear she is badly injured ; but prompt and 
 energetic measures may, nay, I trust will, restore her. 
 On, steady now, we will soon be there, and I believe, sin 
 cerely, it is far better to carry her thus, and less apt to 
 increase pain than the jolting of a carriage." 
 
 The light from Mr. Clare's study was now quite visible, 
 and we were inside the gate before even a distant roll of 
 the carriage could be distinguished. 
 
 Pearl was on a soft white bed, with Mrs. Clare's gentle 
 face bending over her, watching the effect of cold water 
 and other restoratives, while she strove to staunch the 
 blood still flowing from the wound in her temple, when 
 poor Aunt Kate and Uncle Dunbar arrived, for, seeing our 
 horses tied, they knew, of course, that we had returned to 
 the house. 
 
 " Poor, dear child," said the good old lady ; " my fore 
 bodings and predictions are verified ; she will die, or be a 
 cripple for life. Oh ! God have mercy upon our darling." 
 
 And she knelt down by the bed-side, weeping and kiss 
 ing the little white hand which lay cold and helpless within 
 her own ; while my uncle, with a grief too deep for utter 
 ance, stood near her pillow, looking years older than when 
 he left home, as the great tears coursed silently down his 
 furrowed cheeks.
 
 OUR BIDE HOME, AND WHAT CAME OF IT. 107 
 
 It is very, very touching to see old men weep. 
 
 So completely engrossed had we all been with Pearl, 
 that no word was spoken in regard to the strange looking 
 being, whose sudden appearance and startling cry had been 
 the cause of so much mischief; and after coming to the 
 conclusion that it must have been some poor drunkard who 
 had wandered out from town, I scarcely gave the matter a 
 thought again (until, going out to give some necessary 
 directions about the carriage, etc., and also see if my 
 brother and the doctor were coming,) Archey, with a kind 
 of solemn importance, beckoning me to the end of the 
 gallery, whispered : 
 
 " Miss Amy, does you know who dat wild lookin' cree- 
 ter was, what give Frolic such a great skeer? Kase I 
 does." 
 
 " No, Archey, but I fancy it must have been some 
 drunkard from town or the neighborhood," I replied. 
 
 " No, Miss, it an't nudder fore de Lord, Miss Amy, 
 sure as I is a livin' nigger, dat was the poor crazy creeter 
 what Dr. Foster keeps fastened up in de room wid iron 
 bars cross de winders; all de niggers round here been 
 keepin' tellin' me 'bout him, steddy, for eber so long ; but 
 dey's all so fond of tellin' skeery lies, I never b' leaved 
 um till dis here blessed night, when I seen him wid my 
 own eyes, and no mistake 'bout it." 
 
 I was astonished, though rather incredulous, at what the 
 negro said, and told him :
 
 108 WOODBURN. . 
 
 "If Dr. Foster kept a crazy man fastened up in a 
 room with prison windows, it could scarcely happen to be 
 out roaming at large through the country." 
 
 11 My stars, Miss Amy," said the boy, " dat's no great 
 wonder; for dat big ugly nigger, Gabe, de Dr. sets to 
 take keer of him, is awful 'feered of de crazy man, so 
 sometimes he knocks Gabe down when he comes wid his 
 vittles, and den runs so fast, he's clean out in de woods 
 fore de nigger git's time to holler and den maybe de Dr. 
 don't lick him. Golly ! but ain't I glad dis is master's 
 darkey, sted of b' longing to sich a savage man as dat new 
 Dr. ; for if Archey was set to take keer of a crazy creeter, 
 he'd run off fore de Lord, he would but, good night, 
 Miss, I must be a gwying, and yonder comes Massa Ralph 
 and Dr. Foster. He's a monstrous wicked man, but dat's 
 none of my business, and I do hope he'll cure Miss Pearl, 
 for she's sich a nice, pretty, kind young lady." 
 
 And pulling off his hat with a bow, Archey shuffled 
 round the corner of the house, just as my brother and Dr. 
 Foster came up the steps. 
 
 So completely puzzled and bewildered was I by what 
 the black boy said, it overcame, for a few moments, the 
 intense fear which had overpowered us all that Pearl 
 would die. It is an unaccountable anomaly, when the 
 heart and mind are thus diverted awhile from an absorbing 
 sorrow (be it ever so intense) by something startling and 
 unexpected and my brain was so full of Archey's queer
 
 OUR RIDE HOME, AND WHAT CAME OF IT. 109 
 
 story, that when they walked hurriedly up to me, I could 
 not speak until startled out of my abstraction by Ralph's 
 frantic manner, as he said : 
 
 " How is she, Amy ? Why don't you speak ? Is there 
 no hope ? Is she dead ?" 
 
 Almost shrieking the last word, he seized my hand so 
 fiercely, that in actual pain I cried out : 
 
 " No, no, she is not dead ; her pulse beats somewhat 
 stronger. Mercy, Ralph ! don't break my fingers. Come 
 in, doctor, we have been most anxiously watching for your 
 arrival." 
 
 Cecil Clare was standing in the hall as we entered, 
 looking very pale, and oh ! so wretched ! There was no 
 outburst of grief or wild anxiety from him as there had 
 been from my brother and Victor ; but sorrow, thus con 
 trolled, is suffering, and leaves far deeper traces upon the 
 countenance than when relieved by tears or exclamations 
 of grief and that pent-up agony left an expression on the 
 minister's countenance which surely told that Christ's spirit 
 had hushed the passionate storm within, even as he did 
 the raging of the winds and waves, with one deep, holy, 
 eloquent whisper : 
 
 " Peace, be still."
 
 CHAPTER XI. - 
 
 A TIME OF TRIAL. 
 
 " Be still, my heart I and cease repining ; 
 Behind the clouds is the sun still shining ; 
 Thy fate is the common fate of all, 
 Into each life some rain mast fall, 
 Some days must be dark and dreary." LONGFELLOW. 
 
 How full of anxious misery to us all were the moments 
 during which we awaited Dr. Foster's decision regarding 
 our darling Pearl ! After staunching the wound in her 
 temple, pronouncing it deep, but not dangerous, he said, 
 
 " There is some severe injury to the back, or one of the 
 hips, and the right arm is broken, hence this long swoon, 
 from which Miss Dunbar is now recovering, was the result 
 of extreme pain ; but unless there is some internal injury, 
 of which I am not yet aware, there is no reason why time 
 and careful nursing should not restore her to health, though 
 if the hip is seriously injured she may be slightly lame for 
 life : indeed, even with the most favorable results she must 
 be lame for a long time." 
 
 It was a great unutterable relief, even with that fearful 
 possibility of lameness, and a fervent ejaculation of grati-
 
 A TIME OF TRIAL. Ill 
 
 tude to God escaped involuntarily from her adopted parents, 
 which found echo in the hearts of all those anxious watchers, 
 and then remembering the utter wretchedness expressed on 
 the white face of that watcher outside her chamber door, I 
 whispered to his mother, that perhaps as Mr. Clare would 
 be anxiously awaiting the doctor's decision, she had better 
 go to him, and my proposition was gratefully accepted, for, 
 while resigning her place to me, she whispered, 
 
 tf Ah, yes ! I must go to him poor Cecil !" 
 
 Slowly the sufferer revived, and at last, after a sudden 
 shudder, evidently convulsing her whole frame, the long 
 black lashes were lifted from her palid cheek, and we saw 
 again those beautiful eyes looking upon us with an expres 
 sion of wonder and alarm, which but a short time before 
 appeared closed forever in the sleep of death. 
 
 The fair, mutilated arm must be set at once, and then 
 followed another deep, long swoon from renewed agony. 
 The hip was injured, though to what extent could not as 
 yet be fully ascertained ; but in moving her it evidently 
 caused great suffering, and, together with the wound in 
 her temple and fractured arm, brought on a fever and de 
 lirium, for which the doctor was in a measure prepared, 
 and which continued in such an aggravated form as to ren 
 der it impossible to remove her from the parsonage for many 
 weeks ; indeed, so extremely ill did she become at one time 
 that we despaired almost entirely of her life. 
 
 Aunt Kate and Ethel were with her constantly ; indeed
 
 112 WOODBURN. 
 
 the former, whose love for that beautiful girl was the ab 
 sorbing passion of her life, never left Pearl, even with my 
 sister, until the fever abated, when, being quite ill from 
 constant watching and anxiety, she was taken almost by 
 force to Elgin for a day or two of rest, by her brother, 
 whose sufferings were scarcely less than her own, and both 
 looked years older from the effects of this bitter time of 
 trial. 
 
 The lessons at Woodburn still went on ; but our school 
 room, so cheerful before, was dreary enough now, for we 
 missed the bright presence of one whose coming had ever 
 brought as it were a flood of beaming joy into our midst; 
 and Ralph, poor boy, grew so pale and listless that we 
 scarcely knew him as the gay, frolicsome lad he had 
 been. 
 
 Rachel was sulky over her lessons, when, as tune wore 
 on, she found Mr. Clifford unalterable in his freezing cold 
 ness towards her. He told me that once, in a hurried and 
 agitated manner, she had attempted to excuse her conduct 
 regarding the miniature, and also that, so far as Ethel's 
 conduct to her brother was concerned, she blamed her 
 uncle more than any one else, as he was the cause of her 
 marrying Arthur Linton. To all which her teacher list 
 ened in silence, and then begged that in future she would 
 not revive the subject, as he had no objection to her seeing 
 the miniature, and to her brother's or Mrs. Linton's secrets 
 he had no right to listen ; yet feeling sure whatever either
 
 A TIME OF TRIAL. 113 
 
 Mr. Percy or his daughter had thought proper to do in such 
 a case, must be right and honorable, and that upon this one 
 point nothing could ever change his opinion, so it was best 
 to drop the subject. And so Rachel grew sullen and silent ; 
 but the fire of her nature, treacherous as that of a volcano, 
 Was not quenched, only smothered. 
 
 Still, Cecil Clare continued to preach Sunday after 
 Sunday rising up with that white, still face, whose very 
 calmness told a tale of fearful inward struggle ; and once, 
 when the prayers of the congregation were requested for 
 Pearl, (when the fever was at its height,) his voice grew 
 so low and tremulous, we knew that it swept over a well 
 of unshed tears, like the sad wailing winds of autumn, 
 when through some lone valley it comes, with a sobbing 
 sound, drearily sweeping over deep, still waters. 
 
 Dr. Foster continued sending flowers to my sister, who 
 received them ever with the same stately indifference. She 
 could not refuse to do so now, while the doctor was in 
 daily attendance upon Pearl, and sometimes they were sent 
 to the invalid, as he was smart enough to know that this 
 would please Ethel more than receiving them herself; and 
 as Pearl grew better, she took great delight in the fragrant 
 bouquets and baskets of exotics which were constantly placed 
 within her reach. 
 
 Victor was gloomy and desponding during these weeks 
 of trial, as he rarely saw Pearl save for a few moments at 
 a time, and never alone. Her being so long at the parson-
 
 114 WOODBURN. 
 
 age, thus increasing each day her debt of gratitude to the 
 Clares, was a great source of trouble to him, and once or 
 twice during the occasions of his brief visits he happened to 
 meet Cecil Clare coming out of Pearl's chamber, which 
 added to his annoyances, though under ordinary circum 
 stances it should not have done so, for the minister is con 
 sidered as privileged to enter upon such occasions as the 
 physician ; but Victor was jealous of Cecil Clare ; and to 
 make matters worse, good Mrs. Clare, as a kind of apology 
 to him for her son's visits, regarding Victor as Pearl's 
 brother, told him that while the delirium of fever was at 
 its height, she had called for Mr. Clare, and would not be 
 satisfied until he stood beside her. 
 
 Poor lady she meant so kindly little knowing the 
 deep wound her words inflicted, for Pearl had never called 
 Victor during her illness but on the contrary, rather 
 dreaded his coming though, of course, we never told 
 him this, and fearing she might during the delirium 
 express something of the kind in his presence, Ethel al 
 ways begged him not to stay long with, or talk much to 
 the suffering girl, as the doctor forbade all excitement as 
 highly injurious. 
 
 She told me afterwards what was held as a sacred secret 
 at the time that once, just as the young minister had left 
 the room, Pearl beckoning to her said : 
 
 " Don't tell Victor that I care for Cecil Clare, or I be 
 lieve he will kill him."
 
 A TIME OF TRIAL. 115 
 
 My sister was frightened at the wild, earnestness of her 
 words, which, though uttered in the aberration of fever, 
 were evidently prompted by some all-powerful feeling which 
 had haunted her when free from hallucination ; and Ethel 
 expressed herself as fervently thankful that Mr. Clare had 
 left the room ere she spoke thus ; and, of course, while 
 Pearl continued wandering, she could not dismiss a nervous 
 dread that either in his presence or Victor's she would 
 utter the same words, or some of a similar bearing. 
 
 Rachel Thorn rode over occasionally to see the invalid, 
 and whenever she chanced to meet Dr. Foster showed an 
 evident desire to attract his attention, and was always sure 
 when they met, to address her conversation mostly to him, 
 though the desire he had evinced to aVbid her upon their 
 first meeting continued, and this very fact while it, no 
 doubt, annoyed and puzzled the wilful girl, I feel sure, 
 rendered her all the more desirous to cultivate his ac 
 quaintance. 
 
 One afternoon it so happened that while I was preparing 
 some lemonade for Pearl, and Ethel combing her hair and 
 bathing her temples with ice water, Rachel sat near the 
 bed with a light fan keeping off flies, when Dr. Foster 
 entered. 
 
 She was sitting where he usually stood when feeling 
 Pearl's pulse, and I observed, with some surprise, that 
 after the usual formal salutation to us all, he walked round 
 to the opposite side of the bed, (as it appeared to me,) in
 
 116 WOODBURN. 
 
 order to avoid coming near Rachel. It was juft when 
 Pearl's fever was at its height ; and after feeling her pulse 
 and watching the flushed cheeks and wild eyes for a few 
 moments, he asked me to send for certain things required 
 towards the preparation of a soothing medicine, when he- 
 fore I could put the lemonade I was stirring out of my 
 hand, Rachel saying : 
 
 " Let me hring them." 
 
 Went quickly out of the room, and after returning 
 with the desired articles, she stood near the doctor, and 
 much to his annoyance, continued watching him while he 
 prepared the medicine, asking questions and making re 
 marks, which we observed were responded to in a most 
 disobliging manner. 
 
 At last having finished, he pushed away his chair from 
 the table as if provoked, and strode off to a little dressing- 
 room adjoining the chamber, where he was in the habit of 
 washing his hands rolling up his sleeves partially as he 
 went. 
 
 " Oh doctor, you have no soap," exclaimed Rachel, and 
 picking up the soap-dish (which by some accident had 
 been left on the bureau) she ran after him just a he dip 
 ped his hands in the water. I did not hear him speak, but 
 from some cause (then unknown), as my cousin put the 
 dish down on the marble washstand, the noise of which I 
 heard, (though as the dressing-room door was only half 
 way 'open, I could not see either of them,) for she appeared
 
 A TIME OF TRIAL. 117 
 
 to drop' it down suddenly out of her hand, and crying 
 out: 
 
 " Oh merciful God ! " in a trembling, excited tone of 
 voice, rushed back as white as a ghost. 
 
 "What on earth is the matter, Rachel," I said, going 
 quickly up to her ; and Ethel asked hurriedly : 
 
 "Are you ill?" 
 
 " No," she said, " only I grew suddenly dizzy, and felt 
 like falling, from a rush of blood to my head ; it will soon 
 pass off." 
 
 And putting her hand to her forehead, she sat quite still 
 for several minutes. In the meantime Dr. Foster came 
 back, looking quite cool, and remarked carelessly : 
 
 " Are you in pain, Miss Thorn ? " 
 
 To which she replied : 
 
 "No, only dizzy." 
 
 He sat down very quietly by the table, and commenced 
 writing out a prescription. He was some time writing, 
 and I saw him after scribbling over half a sheet of note 
 paper (as if dissatisfied with it) throw the paper aside, and 
 commence on another piece, Avhich, completing in much 
 less time, he folded up, and handed to Ethel while as she 
 glanced over it, he caught hold of the discarded scrap, and 
 rather crumpling than folding, stuffed it into his pocket. 
 
 Rachel sat with her head still buried in her hands, while 
 the doctor gave several directions to Ethel regarding Pearl's 
 medicine, etc. ; and just before leaving, with apparent
 
 118 WOODOBURN. 
 
 civility, which we thought queer, because so very unusual, 
 he walked over to where she was sitting, and remarked : 
 
 " I would prescribe a few grains of ammonia for that 
 dizziness, Miss Thorn, and have some here if you will 
 accept it." 
 
 Saying this he took a small lump out of his pocket, 
 and rolling it up in the identical scrap of note paper on 
 which he had written, and then crumpled as if worthless, 
 he handed it to my cousin, who, scarcely glancing up, 
 thanked him, and slipped the parcel into the pocket of her 
 dress. 
 
 I felt puzzled and worried at the whole scene, wonder 
 ing what on earth could have happened to make Rachel 
 scream out so (for her dizziness was evidently all feigned,) 
 and also why Dr. Foster should become so suddenly polite 
 towards one he had particularly avoided on former occasions ? 
 
 After he left, Rachel complained of feeling sick, and 
 urged me to return home with her at once (as we had 
 come over together that afternoon in the carriage) so it 
 left me no opportunity to talk the matter over with Ethel 
 just then, though we exchanged more than one look of 
 wonder. 
 
 My cousin remained profoundly and gloomily silent 
 during the ride and immediately upon our arrival at 
 home, went to her room, telling me she was sick ; did not 
 want anything but quiet ; not to let the servants disturb 
 her; and after shutting the door, I heard her turn the
 
 A TIME OF TRIAL. 119 
 
 key, as if to insure solitude. My last thoughts before 
 going to sleep that night were of Dr. Foster and Rachel 
 wondering what he did, or said, to make her scream ! and 
 feeling as if I would give a great deal to see that paper in 
 which he had wrapped the ammonia.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 PEARL' s SECRET. 
 
 " My mind is troubled like a fountain stirred, 
 And I myself see not the bottom of it SIIAKS. 
 
 WHEN Pearl was convalescent, and quite in her right 
 mind, one morning as Ethel and myself were sitting with 
 her, while we chatted away pleasantly, and among other 
 things were discussing the queer scene between Rachel and 
 Dr. Foster, the invalid fell quietly to sleep, after which we 
 continued our conversation in whispers, for fear of disturb 
 ing her, and an hour or more elapsed before she woke. 
 When fixing "her eyes with a troubled expression on my 
 sister, Pearl said anxiously 
 
 " Cousin Ethel come here ; I feel very sad and want 
 to consult you about something that is haunting me and 
 making me miserable night and day. You can understand 
 and sympathise more fully with me in this matter than 
 aunt Kate, and therefore it is best even before speaking to 
 her, that I should ask your advice." 
 
 My sister immediately took her seat close by Pearl on 
 the bedside, while I rose and was about to leave the room,
 
 PEARL'S SECRET. 121 
 
 thinking she might wish to be entirely alone with Ethel, 
 when she said quickly 
 
 " Don't go away. Amy. I trust you as fully as cousin 
 Ethel, though she perhaps can advise me better, and want 
 both of you to hear what I am about to say." 
 
 I drew near silently, taking her thin, white hand in 
 mine with a gentle pressure, as she proceeded. 
 
 "Just after Mr. Clifford's arrival, most unexpectedly 
 Victor made me a declaration of love, in his wild vehement 
 manner, saying his happiness nay, his very life depended 
 upon my becoming his wife. This pained me exceedingly. 
 I told Victor we were, and always had been, too much like 
 brother and sister to think of any nearer connection, and 
 begged him to give up all thought of such a thing. Fur 
 thermore urging that as his father and aunt Kate had 
 always regarded our relationship as brother and sister with 
 so much pleasure and satisfaction, I did not think either 
 of them would approve of his becoming my lover ; but here 
 he interrupted me with the assurance that he had spoken 
 to both of them on the subject, and far from disapproving, 
 they were higly gratified especially papa, who said noth 
 ing could happen that would afford him such happiness as 
 a marriage between us, for he loved me dearly, even as an 
 own child, and though Victor and myself had been reared 
 togther, yet as we .were no relation to each other, of course 
 there could be no plea of that kind urged against our union, 
 and so far as my parentage was concerned, he did not care 
 
 6
 
 122 WOODBURN. 
 
 whether I was born a princess or a peasant, for he 
 knew me to be worthy of all love, and good fortune, and 
 prayed God that Victor might be so blessed as to win my 
 love." 
 
 " It is scarcely necessary to tell you how perfectly aston 
 ished and overcome I was by all this, as nothing of the 
 kind had ever been hinted before, and Amy would be almost 
 as well prepared to regard Ralph as a lover as I was to 
 look on Victor in that light. Yet I loved him dearly, and 
 if papa wished it, did not every feeling of gratitude and 
 affection within me urge a ready accession to his wishes, 
 who had been such a dear kind father to me ? Then, when 
 I hesitated Victor whispered so pleadingly, so earnestly, 
 
 " ' You will learn to love me darling, you are so young, 
 such a child yet, that you scarcely know the meaning of 
 love; but promise only that you will try, and I am 
 content.' 
 
 " Then he drew me up to him and winding his arms about 
 me, kissed my forehead, lips and eyes so fiercely, that it 
 almost frightened me, and as he continued, 
 
 " ' Tell me shall it not be so; will you not promise to 
 be Victor's own little wife provided he can succeed in 
 making you love him well enough ?' 
 
 "I answered 'yes,' for what else could I say, cousin 
 Ethel, when papa, Aunt Kate and Victor all wished it ?" 
 
 And throwing her arms round my sister's neck, Pearl 
 burst into tears.
 
 PEARL'S SECRET. 123 
 
 " I see and understand it all, my dear child," said Ethel 
 caressingly, " and cannot wonder, under the circumstances, 
 that you should promise to try and love Victor, as he 
 wishes ; but why be so distressed ? Do you find it im 
 possible to love him, except as a brother ? If so, surely 
 he is good and noble enough to release you." 
 
 "Oh! cousin Ethel," replied the weeping girl, "you 
 don't know how passionate he is. I dread to tell him, for 
 when angry Victor is unreasonable, and will be very 
 angry with me. You remember of my telling you of the 
 stormy scene between us, when he so absurdly believed 
 Rachel Thorn's malicious story about Mr. Clifford's having 
 my picture ; and before and since that he has been fierce 
 or sullen by turns, because because. Oh ! my dear 
 cousin, it is hard to speak of this matter, even before you 
 and Amy. But he is jealous of Mr. Clare, and thinks I 
 care more for him than for any one else." 
 
 And here the sick girl began to sob so passionately, that 
 we were afraid of her lapsing again into fever. Poor Pearl ! 
 how innocently, yet how completely, did she betray her 
 secret in this outburst of emotion. My sister at last suc 
 ceeded in calming her, and then said 
 
 " It will not do for you to fret, and give way to such 
 depression in this matter, my darling Pearl ; cheer up, and 
 pray for guidance to that all-*vise and merciful Friend of 
 whose wisdom and goodness Cecil Clare has taught us so 
 many true and beautiful lessons ; trust to- him for strength
 
 124 WOODBURN. 
 
 to act as your own pure and truthful nature dictates. Re 
 member, you only promised Victor to try and love him 
 well enough to be his wife, and finding that impossible, 
 would it not be wicked in you to stand up before God and 
 man and perjure yourself by vowing to love and cherish 
 forever as a husband one who is, and you feel can only be, 
 loved by you as a brother ! Surely Victor will see and 
 acknowledge all this, my child: he cannot covet an un 
 willing bride. So when you are strong enough to speak 
 more calmly upon the subject than at present, tell him 
 how you feel without reserve, and I feel confident that 
 though disappointed and unhappy, he cannot be unrea 
 sonable and angry. 
 
 "But papa and aunt Kate, they know of the under 
 standing between us, and it has made them so happy, what 
 will they think of me, cousin Ethel ?" 
 
 " Only that you are a sincere, conscientious girl. Can 
 you believe for one moment that either of them would wish 
 you to marry a man whom you find it impossible -to love, 
 save as a brother ? 
 
 " No, oh, no ! I am sure they love me, and are not 
 "stern or passionate as Victor. Yet, their hearts being set 
 upon it, may they not be made unhappy by my apparent 
 waywardness, for he is so worthy of my love ay, of one 
 far brighter and more talented than I am for Victor is so 
 smart, so cultivated, so agreeable." 
 
 To all of which my fluttering heart said " amen," as in
 
 PEARL'S SECRET. 125 
 
 mute despair I sat with a sick, dreary feeling, the blood 
 seeding to curdle cold about my heart while listening to 
 Pearl's recital of his great love for her, and the unhappiness 
 caused thereby, and wondering why things in this life are 
 ordered so strangely. 
 
 " They will not think you wayward," responded my 
 sister, "and your best plan is to speak upon the subject, 
 when strong enough, to them, even before speaking with 
 Victor, as their opinion and advice will, I am sure, be 
 calculated to strengthen you in pursuing the right course 
 towards him." 
 
 Pearl grew quite calm after this conversation, and pro 
 mised to act as Ethel advised. Foolish child that I was 
 to feel thus forlorn at hearing this verbal confirmation of a 
 fact which had been evident to me so long, viz. : that Victor 
 loved Pearl, and wanted to make her his wife. Yet as a 
 kind of antidote to this feeling, now arose the certainty 
 that his love for her was hopeless, and I clutched it eagerly 
 as one wounded by a nettle will seize the soothing weed 
 which often grows near by, and is known to cure its sting.
 
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 THE MANIAC. 
 
 " By a divine instinct, men's minds mistrust 
 Ensuing danger ; as by proof, we see 
 The water swell before a boisterous storm ! 
 But leave it all to God." SIIAKKSPEAKE. 
 
 ONE fair Saturday evening in August, a few days after 
 the scene related in my last chapter, I had been spending 
 the day with Pearl, who was far more composed since her 
 conversation with Ethel, and was gaining strength much 
 more rapidly than before, though still entirely helpless. 
 Aunt Kate and Mrs. Clare were sitting with her on the 
 evening referred to, so I proposed, just at sundown, to my 
 sister, that we should take a walk, as she looked pale and 
 drooping for want of fresh air and exercise. Ethel as 
 sented, and early twilight found us wandering leisurely 
 along a road skirted by dense woods, in the direction of 
 the Glen for Dr. Foster having made his daily visit to 
 Pearl, we were not afraid of encountering him. I chatted 
 away, as we walked along, about Archey's improbable story 
 of the wild man who had frightened Frolic of which we
 
 THE MANIAC. 127 
 
 had frequently spoken together before, and which my 
 sister persisted in ridiculing as perfectly absurd, maintain 
 ing always that this crazy-looking individual was no other 
 than a low man in the neighborhood much given to in 
 toxication. 
 
 On the present occasion, I asked her how she accounted 
 for so many of the servants telling the same story to Ar- 
 chey, and why it should be connected with Dr. Foster's 
 cruelty to Gabe, said to be the keeper of this unfortunate 
 lunatic ? She laughed at the idea of my crediting such 
 nonsense, and said, 
 
 " Some drunken guest at the Glen knocking down one 
 of the servants, would be quite sufficient for all of Ar- 
 chey's romances and ten times more." 
 
 As she ceased speaking, startled by a sudden rustling 
 in the undergrowth near us, and feeling rather nervous 
 from our conversation, I cried out 
 
 " Oh, sis, what 's that ? Do let us turn back, for just 
 suppose we were to meet the crazy man 1" 
 
 " I presume it is a cow or sheep," she replied, " or per 
 haps nothing larger than a rabbit. Amy, don't be so 
 silly. I wish Master Archey would hold his foolish tongue, 
 and almost wish some one would give him a good shaking 
 on the strength of his absurd stories." 
 
 At that moment I gave (involuntarily) a piercing 
 scream, and grasped my sister's arm, pulling her towards 
 me so suddenly and violently, it caused us both to totter
 
 128 WOODBURN. 
 
 for there before us, out in the open road, where he had 
 leaped with a cat-like bound from the tangled thicket 
 stood the same wild stranger whose sudden rush through 
 the old bayou had caused Pearl's horse to throw her six 
 weeks before. 
 
 Gaunt and sallow, with long, light locks matted together, 
 hanging about his neck and over his eyes, a great mass of 
 yellow beard covering entirely the lower part of his face 
 with soiled and tattered clothes dangling loosely about his 
 attenuated form his hands scratched and bleeding from 
 rude contact with thorns and briers this frantic-looking 
 being, from whom even my brave sister shrank back 
 amazed and terrified, as he stood before us, burst into a 
 fit of wild and fiendish laughter. 
 
 We both comprehended instantly and fully our fear 
 ful situation in being wholly and helplessly within the 
 power of a maniac. After a moment or two though I 
 strove to drag her away Ethel, partially recovering her 
 presence of mind, and knowing how useless, nay, perhaps, 
 fatal, would be any effort to escape by running from a 
 creature who could leap and bound with the activity and 
 suddenness of a panther, said, in a gentle, soothing voice, 
 though tremulous with fear : 
 
 " What makes you laugh so ? Is there any one trying 
 to catch you, from whom you are glad to get away ?" 
 
 "Yes!" he shouted; "I'm glad to get away from 
 him, and I'll hide forever in the deep, dark woods rather
 
 THE MANIAC. 129 
 
 than go back there " pointing towards the Glen " I'd 
 rather sleep with the snakes and toads, or in the thickets 
 with bears and wild-cats, than go back to that cell. I 
 hate him ! and I'll kill him yet. I would like to bite and 
 tear his flesh, as the ugly beast he hunts me with tears 
 mine. My brother ! who says he is my brother ? how do 
 you dare to say that devil is my brother ?" and he ad 
 vanced as if to seize Ethel, who, retreating very cau 
 tiously a step or two, replied : 
 
 " I did not, say so. It must have been some one else 
 for we don't think he is any relation to you," for she 
 knew that the only way to appease lunatics is by agreeing 
 to whatever they may choose to say; "but if he treats 
 you badly, why don't you go home ?" 
 
 " Home," he said and from a shrill, frantic pitch his 
 voice suddenly subsided into an almost plaintive whisper in 
 the utterance of that single word " home! ah, yes, I had 
 a home once, and a wife too, who was very fair. She must 
 have looked like you, but I don't remember ; it has been so 
 long since he took me away from her, and I have grown 
 so old since then ; but, ah ! I forgot, he told me she was 
 dead when I wanted to go back home, and kept me locked 
 up but he lied, I know he did, because he always does, 
 and I'll kill him yet ha, ha, ha !" and as that fearful 
 laugh rang out again, appearing to hear some sound in the 
 distance, he looked back, and almost shrieked, 
 
 "They are coming with chains to bind me, and the 
 6*
 
 130 WOODBURN. 
 
 hound to tear my flesh, the two devils one is white and 
 the other black, and I can't kill both together hide me. 
 Oh, where shall I go ?" and again the wretched maniac 
 would have seized hold of us this time in terror, as if we 
 could protect him, observing which, strengthened with fresh 
 courage, Ethel, turning quickly, said : 
 
 " Come on, follow me I know where you can hide in 
 safety, but be quick." 
 
 And almost in a run, we set off towards the parsonage, 
 the lunatic following us, until suddenly diverging from the 
 road, Ethel led him by a path through the woods, a short 
 distance, to where stood an immense hollow oak, and point 
 ing to the cavity, said hurriedly, 
 
 " There, go in quick, they won't find you now, if you 
 keep quite still for a long time, 'till they have gone by." 
 
 Stealthily he crept into the tree, coiling up among the 
 dry leaves and moss, as if accustomed to such lodgings ; 
 seeing which, my sister whispered, 
 
 " Now don't move till I come back to tell you they have 
 gone by ;" and then pulling me off, after gaining the road, 
 we ran until inside the parsonage gate, nearly a mile distant 
 from where we left the poor hunted wanderer. 
 
 Then, when the danger was past, Ethel's strength gave 
 way, and falling down on the grass she sobbed out convul 
 sively, 
 
 " Oh, Amy, was it not too frightful? Poor Archey. I 
 fancy his story must be pretty nearly correct, after all.
 
 THE MANIAC. 131 
 
 But who can this miserable being be ? If actually in Dr. 
 Foster's care, his brother or some near relation, I presume ; 
 but if so, the treatment he receives must be harsh, else 
 why this dread and hatred of his keepers ? I cannot un 
 derstand it, yet all of his raving confirmed the story you 
 heard about the negro Gabe, for he said there were 
 "two devils, and one of them was black." Oh! mer 
 cy, how cold and sick I turned at the sight of that 
 wretched, frantic looking stranger, and nothing but 
 my perfect trust in the goodness of God, to whom 1 
 prayed earnestly for help or direction, ever enabled me 
 to act as I did." 
 
 Few women would have acted with such perfect self- 
 possession under similar circumstances," I replied; "but 
 here comes Mr. Clifford, who promised to ride home with 
 me this evening do, dear sis, let us tell him of our start 
 ling adventure, and ask if he has ever heard anything cal 
 culated to throw light upon this mystery." 
 
 As we walked up to the house for Mr. Clifford dis 
 mounted and led his horse I gave a full recital of our ad 
 venture with the lunatic, and also what Archey had said 
 to me the evening Pearl was thrown, and we were as 
 tonished in no slight degree to find that Mr. Clifford had 
 heard all about Dr. Foster's crazy brother, the room with 
 prison windows, etc., pretty much the same, indeed, as had 
 been related to me by the negro; but he was greatly 
 shocked at the fearful danger from which we had just es-
 
 132 WOODBURN. 
 
 caped, and avowed an intention to speak to my father and 
 Uncle Dunbar on the subject at once, and regarding the 
 propriety of insisting that Dr. Foster's vigilance in guard 
 ing his brother must be such, in future, as to prevent his 
 escaping thus, to the discomfort and danger of all in the 
 neighborhood. 
 
 Before reaching the parsonage, we heard the deep bay 
 ing of a blood-hound borne from the direction where Ethel 
 had secreted the stranger, and then loud shouts, accom 
 panied by a frantic yell, such as he uttered when with 
 us in the road, upon fancying he heard the voice of 
 
 
 
 his pursuers. Ethel turned very pale as she said to Mr. 
 Clifford, 
 
 " It makes me perfectly sick to think of the dreadful 
 treatment that wretched being may be subjected to, and I 
 d ( o think the matter should be investigated, and his suffer 
 ings relieved, if possible; for surely Dr. Foster might 
 be compelled to send his brother to an asylum. Might he 
 not ?" 
 
 "I scarcely know," he replied, "yet rather fancy 
 that the doctor has a right, as his brother, to retain the 
 lunatic under his authority ; particularly if there still re 
 mains a hope of restoring him to reason. It is scarcely 
 possible that he would support such a burden, unless 
 influenced by affection; and yet these stories of cruel 
 ty, together with the miserable appearance of this 
 crazy man, would indicate quite the contrary. It is
 
 THE MANIAC. 133 
 
 certainly a very odd affair, calculated to excite wonder and 
 sympathy." 
 
 That night another fearful dream arose from the haunt 
 ing memories of our startling adventure, in which Ethel 
 and myself were together, wandering through a dismal 
 swamp, where a perfect curtain of grey moss swept down 
 from gigantic cypress trees, through which the winds 
 moaned dolefully, causing the moss ,to sway back and forth 
 with a dreary, sighing sound, among the dark, gaunt 
 branches ; for it was winter, and the oozy soil under the 
 cypress trees was covered with dead and mouldy leaves. I 
 thought we were alone lost in the forest amid that spec 
 tral gloom, and frighted at every shadow cast by a faint 
 and shimmering moonlight across our path. At last we 
 came to the borders of a great, black, slimy-looking lake, 
 where the road came to an end, cutting off all possibility of 
 continuing our journey in that direction, while to retrace 
 our steps through the swamp was almost as hopeless, for 
 we knew not whither to turn towards home. So at last, 
 overcome by fear and weariness, we sat down weary and 
 desponding, on a great damp log and wept in each other's 
 arms. Soon there came a splashing sound, like the dip 
 ping of oars in the water, and then we strained our eyes 
 over the dismal lake, hoping for some friend in a boat, 
 who would take us to Woodburn, and yet fearing that it 
 might be the lunatic again. Presently a slight canoe came 
 winding to shore, through the green slime, in which
 
 134 WOODBURN 
 
 with horror we beheld Dr. Foster's crazy brother. Our 
 terror was overpowering and voiceless, for neither spoke, 
 as we cowered down behind that great, dark, wet log, upon 
 a mould of rotten leaves and moss, to hide from him, but 
 all in vain ; for pulling up the canoe, he bounded out and 
 came leaping towards us, with peals of frantic laughter, as 
 he cried, 
 
 " Ah, yes, I have found you at last come on for I 
 will row you over this deep black lake to perdition, for be 
 traying me as you did by sending those devils to the hol 
 low oak, where she pretended to hide me ha ! ha ! come 
 along." 
 
 Saying which, he appeared to seize and drag us fiercely 
 towards the boat, into whicn, shoving us before him rudely, 
 he jumped, and catching up the oars, rowed away so 
 swiftly, that the swamp, with its tall cypress trees, soon 
 faded away in the distance while before, around us, 
 stretched that great waste of slimy water, enveloped in a 
 cloud of murky fog. Suddenly, I thought the maniac 
 jumped up, flung away his oars, and seizing us both as he 
 shrieked, 
 
 " Come down into hell with me" plunged madly into 
 those inky deeps, dragging us after him ; and I struggled, 
 suffocating with the sullen water and the thick, clinging 
 slime. 
 
 Then, quickly as we had gone down, were we snatched 
 from that frightful' grave, and by daylight breaking
 
 THE MANIAC. 135 
 
 through the fog, found ourselves in a great wide boat, 
 rowed towards a pleasant shore by Mr. Clifford ; when I 
 awoke with the morning sunlight streaming into my face 
 through the parted curtain, as Lucy drew back and whis 
 pered, 
 
 "Young ladies, time to get up, it's most eight o'clock."
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 SOME LEAVES FROM PEARL'S DIARY. 
 
 The summer has departed ycster-eve 
 I saw her light drop down, in shining rills, 
 
 Among the sunset clouds as streams that leave 
 Their shimmering track adown the purple hills. 
 
 SEPTEMBER found Pearl still at the parsonage, much 
 better well enough to "be moved to the parlor sofa for a 
 change jet still very feeble, quite unable to walk, or 
 even put her foot to the floor, for the injury to her hip 
 was severe and a slight lameness seemed almost inevita 
 ble though we yet hoped that time and care might over 
 come it, as she was still so very young. And here I can 
 scarcely continue this story so satisfactorily, as by inserting 
 some leaves from Pearl's diary, which came into my pos 
 session years afterwards, and which, of course, I have her 
 full permission to publish. 
 
 September 10/A. I must leave the parsonage ; must go 
 home to-morrow would that I had gone long ago ; for 
 Rachel Thorn was here this morning, and whispered to me 
 at parting " Pearl, if I were you, I would go home, yes, 
 even if it killed me rather than remain longer in the
 
 SOME LEAVES FROM PEARL'S DIARY. 1ST 
 
 house of a man who every one says is in love with you. 
 Indeed, they hint that his love is not unrequited and then 
 Victor is so awfully jealous, you ought not to stay another 
 hour." Oh! how I hated her for that cruel speech, and 
 how fiercely I threw off the hand and arm she slily tried 
 to wind round my neck while speaking. May God forgive 
 me for being so angry but I told her she was a wicked, 
 deceitful wretch that no one had ever thought, much less 
 said, such a thing save herself, and she only did so to tor 
 ment me. It was wrong but I am quick, and her speech 
 was so brim-full of spite, though masked by pretended 
 friendship and kindness. And then the provoking way in 
 which she said : " Don't get in a passion, Pearl, you'll 
 make yourself worse ; I only meant it as a little sisterly 
 advice, to be taken or rejected, as you please so, good 
 evening," and off she glided like an adder, leaving, as 
 usual, a sting behind her ! Yet, why did her words make 
 me so angry ? tWere they entirely untrue ? If so, why 
 not have treated them with cool indifference ? No, they 
 were not untrue far from it. Cecil Clare does care for 
 me he has shown it in a hundred ways and am I indif 
 ferent to him ? Oh, no, my poor weak heart cannot deny 
 that he is the only man whose coldness or indifference 
 would serve to make me utterly wretched. And feeling 
 so, ought I to remain here so long ? Is it kind ; or just 
 to Victor (after promising that I would try to love him 
 well enough to be his wife) for me to remain, from day
 
 138 WOODBURN. 
 
 to day, under the influence of one who is drawing my 
 heart off further every hour from its allegiance ? And 
 innocently, too ; for Mr. Clare regards Victor as my 
 brother, and does not dream of an understanding between 
 us. Victor is "jealous," as Rachel Thorn said, and I 
 have not yet had the strength or resolution to speak can 
 didly, as cousin Ethel advised. I wonder if she suspects 
 the real reason that now renders it impossible for me 
 to love him as he wishes ? Yet, remaining here, has 
 been no fault of mine for papa and Aunt Kate both 
 vetoed my going home last week, though I almost insisted 
 upon it ; but now, after what Rachel said this morning, I 
 cannot, must not remain. Papa will not refuse to take me 
 back to Elgin if I pine to go but do I pine for home ? 
 Alas ! no, and spite my sufferings, the weeks spent here 
 have been the happiest of my life. Yet I will say it is 
 best to go ; the change may help to strengthen me, and if 
 Aunt Kate is obstinate in refusing her consent, I shall not 
 scruple to tell her what Rachel Thorn says. 
 
 September 11^7*. Just as I finished writing yesterday, 
 Cecjl Clare came in to bring me a bunch of violets ; we 
 were quite alone so I told him, that feeling very much 
 better, I intended asking papa to take me home the next 
 day. " My stay here has been already too long, and caused 
 dear Mrs. Clare and yourself a vast deal of trouble," I 
 said, trying to smile, as I looked up and our eyes met. 
 
 " Trouble," he exclaimed ; " how can you make use of
 
 SOME LEAVES FROM PEARL'S DIARY. 139 
 
 such an expression, when the joy I have in seeing you is 
 so great, and my mother loves you ; do you want to 
 leave us then, or what has caused this sudden determina 
 tion ? For Dr. Foster said yesterday, you must not be 
 moved for a week." 
 
 I was confused, and remained silent, while toying idly 
 with the dewy violets he had given me ; for how could I 
 tell him what Rachel said, and what other excuse was 
 there to plead for disobeying the Doctor's orders ? 
 
 " Why are you silent," he said at last, " Miss Dunbar ? 
 Has anything happened to offend you ?" 
 
 The name sounded cold and formal, for he had always 
 called me Miss Pearl of late. 
 
 *" No, Mr. Clare," I answered, " nothing but the greatest 
 kindness and attention have I received in this house what 
 could offend me ? Both you and your mother have been 
 all devotion to me, and it would be the basest ingratitude 
 were I to leave even a shade of mystery or uncertainty 
 over the cause of my rather sudden departure. I was told 
 this morning by a friend and the word was uttered with 
 sarcastic bitterness that my prolonged stay here either 
 was, or would be, a subject for disagreeable remarks," 
 and the hot blood tingled up to my cheeks while speaking. 
 
 " Friend !" he repeated ; "yes, you may well utter that 
 word in mockery, for I happen to know who your visitor 
 was this morning, just before I came in and can well 
 imagine her capable of such malice ; but do not heed it, I
 
 140 WOODBURN. 
 
 beg of you, for, even were I living here alone, the constant 
 presence of your aunt and cousin would prevent remark 
 and with my mother >oh ! you cannot, will not be driven 
 away by such an abominable piece of spite." 
 
 He spoke so earnestly, and appeared evidently so wound 
 ed at my determination to leave, that at last I consented to 
 remain until the end of the week. There would be some 
 gratification, too, in showing Rachel Thorn that her opinion 
 was disdained and disregarded. 
 
 September 12M. Aunt Kate gave me a package to-day, 
 brought up from New Orleans by Michael Me Alpine. He 
 is a son of the good old Scotch people who had charge of 
 me before I was adopted by papa. How wonderful it is 
 to think of my being rescued from the waves by a fisher 
 man, upon a lonely shore, almost dead, and tied to the 
 broken spar of a shipwrecked vessel ! I can scarcely 
 realize it. How merciful and good is the God who pre 
 served me from a watery grave, to be blessed with such 
 true, kind friends, and such a lovely, happy home. 
 
 Paine McAlpine is dead, and her last request to her 
 husband was, that Michael might take a package to me 
 containing the handkerchief which was round my neck and 
 the clothes I had on when old McAlpine carried me home 
 drenched and insensible to his humble cottage. 
 
 Thus runs a part of his letter to papa: 
 
 "My dear old dame 'had stowed the things away so 
 carefully she forgot all abodt them until after you had re-
 
 SOME LEAVES FROM PEARL'S DIARY. 141 
 
 moved to Elgin, and then we ventured to keep them as a 
 memento of the bonnie bairn we loved so dearly for two 
 years thinking it could be of no use. having no name 
 upon it, and only some queer worked figures. The clothes 
 she had on were torn, but my poor wife put them all care 
 fully by in a trunk with the handkerchief, and I promised 
 her to send them to ye, good sir, for our bonnie bairn, as 
 perhaps they may by some chance yet one day lead to a 
 discovery of her parents though God bless her winsome 
 face I doubt me not she is an orphan. Michael is a good 
 lad, and if you can find employment for him it will be a 
 blessed day for us as the fishing business is rather falling 
 off of late, I can barely support him, poor laddie, and scantily 
 enough too so he wants to help himself, bless his brave 
 heart ! and I think, perhaps, you may befriend him for 
 which the Lord will bless you and the bonnie bairn, (^ho 
 must be a bonnie lassie now) how my old heart would 
 warm with a sight of her fair face, and I never would have 
 given her up, except that I knew ye would rear her 
 tenderly, and make her a fine lady, as she ought to be, for 
 she's a born lady if ever there was one." 
 
 Poor old man ! how I should like to see him, and the 
 good dame, who was a mother to me for two years. Alas ! 
 I can never thank her now for all that kindness. But 
 papa has often sent them money in my name, and I know 
 he will always continue to befriend the poor lonely old 
 fisherman who rescued me from drowning. Michael is to
 
 142 WOODBURN. 
 
 stay at Elgin, aunty says, to help -work in the garden, and 
 also in taking care of the horses. I am so glad, and I 
 shall take such pleasure in being kind to the motherless 
 lad who used to call me his little sissey. This handker 
 chief is a dainty, pretty thing, a very marvel of fine needle 
 work, and though the good old fisherman and his dame 
 could find nothing but queer figures upon it, I can see very 
 plainly that the design in one corner is a crest while 
 those delicate vines wrought into letters round the other, 
 form themselves into " Olivia." I wonder if that was my 
 mother's name, and if she was lost in trying to save my 
 life ? And these pretty little baby clothes ! how odd to 
 think I could ever have worn such tiny things. There is 
 no name on them. Oh ! how I wish they had been 
 marked and yet why? I am perfectly happy as Pearl 
 Dunbar, and could not be more so were I to find my own 
 parents though, of course, I should love them, oh yes, 
 so dearly. There is a natural instinct, causing the hearts 
 of those who have never known their own parents to yearn 
 for them sometimes as I do, but never sadly, or repining 
 how could I with such friends and such a home ? 
 
 September \%th. Mr. Clifford has just left, after pay 
 ing me quite a long visit. What a noble, true, good man 
 he is ! I do wonder how he ever came to be a teacher ? 
 Not that there is anything beneath the dignity or standing 
 of a gentleman in teaching but then it is so tiresome, and 
 he looks too grand for such weary work. How much
 
 SOME LEAVES FROM PEARL'S DIARY. 143 
 
 cousin Ethel likes him, and they are so suited for 
 each other ! He loves her, I am sure, every look and 
 action tells it and how could it be otherwise when she is 
 so fascinating and they are so much together ? I wonder 
 if cousin Ethel knew all about Mr. Clifford, if she would 
 not marry him ? One thing is certain, she never blushes 
 in any other presence but his. How perfectly absurd it is 
 in Rachel Thorn to show her love for Mr. Clifford in the 
 way she does ! every one sees it, and also that it is scorned 
 by him. Oh ! the cold gleam of hatred in that girl's eye 
 at times when she looks at her rival frightens me, she 
 looks capable of anything and everything desperate, and 
 Dr. Foster too their eyes are wonderfully alike is as 
 jealous of Mr. Clifford as Rachel is of Ethel. He is a 
 good physician, and I thank him for curing me, but papa 
 pays him liberally so that I am at liberty (without being 
 ungrateful) to dislike the man, and I do most cordially 
 for he looks wicked, and I cannot help believing the stories 
 about his harshness to that poor lunatic brother for when 
 papa spoke to Foster about the propriety of keeping a 
 stricter guard over him after that evening cousin Ethel 
 and Amy had such a fright in the woods he represented 
 his brother as such a " furious maniac, that even with the 
 greatest severity and the strictest watching he would man 
 age to escape sometimes." 
 
 "Then," said papa, "you should send him to an 
 asylum."
 
 144 WOODBURN. 
 
 Upon which the Doctor pretended that he had such great 
 control over him (even in his wildest moods) there might 
 yet be some chance through that influence of eventually 
 restoring him to reason, urging this as a plea for keep 
 ing the poor unfortunate being under his immediate care. 
 But I cannot believe his motives good, nor help fancying 
 he has some hidden mean reason for this apparent act of 
 fraternal devotion ; he is a selfish, cold man, and would 
 never assume such a burden unless there were very cogent 
 reasons urging him on. Mr. Clifford thinks pretty much 
 as I do regarding Dr. Foster. Oh ! he must be selfish and 
 vulgar to have made such an unfavorable impression on 
 this just and noble Englishman, who is so careful and un 
 prejudiced in his judgments of people. How tender and 
 kind is the interest he takes in me, because of my likeness 
 to a dear, lost friend partly though I am sure Mr. Clif 
 ford likes me for my own sake too. I wonder if the 
 original of that lovely miniature, which they flatter me by 
 saying I resemble so much, was his lady-love? Perhaps 
 so for I doubt not his history is full of interest and ro 
 mance he looks as if it were, and I am sure his love for 
 Ethel Linton, with Rachel's jealousy and Dr. Foster's, to 
 say nothing of the crazy man, is enough material for a 
 novel, and if I were as clever with my pen as Amy, I'd set 
 about writing one forthwith, founded on all these strik 
 ing events. 
 
 Then there is poor, dear Victor, too, with his mad
 
 SOME LEAVES FROM PEARL'S DIARY. 145 
 
 jealousy of Cecil Clare. Mercy ! I wonder why people 
 can't live without falling in love ? The last time he was 
 here, Victor said, as he pressed my hand almost fiercely at 
 parting, " Pearl, when you return to Elgin, that matter 
 between us must be decided positively ; I cannot live thus ; 
 and your ultimate decision shall influence me, whether to 
 remain here, or go abroad for years perhaps forever." I 
 grew cold and faint, and would, nay, ought to have spoken 
 candidly then, as Cousin Ethel bade me, but lacked the 
 courage, and could only murmur, half inaudibly, as he left 
 me, " Yes, we will talk about it when I come home." 
 
 Ah ! how perfectly silly it was in me, allowing such an 
 opportunity of expressing my real feelings to pass in this 
 way. Yet I am feeble, and the least excitement makes my 
 heart beat so fast. In spite of what Cousin Ethel says, I 
 fear papa and Aunt Kate may be hurt with me for driving 
 Victor from home, as he will be sure to go abroad after 
 hearing my decision ; and yet how can I help it ? They 
 have always been so kind, let me not doubt their forbear 
 ance on this trying occasion. 
 
 Elgin, Sept. 20th. My diary has remained unopened 
 for a week, and no wonder, for I can scarcely command 
 myself even now sufficiently to relate the stirring events 
 which occurred the day after my last notes were written, 
 and the one previous to that on which I left the parsonage. 
 The evening was so lovely, that Mrs. Clare had my sofa 
 rolled up close to the library window, opening on to a 
 
 7
 
 146 WOODBURN. 
 
 little verandah overlooking the garden, and as I had a 
 pleasant book to read, Aunt Kate and my kind hostess left 
 me there for awhile alone, while they went off for a drive. 
 ^Cecil Clare was absent in town, and not expected home 
 until dark. How I enjoyed the sweet sunny breeze that 
 crept in to me through the window, loaded with the bitter 
 aroma of the Madeira vine with which the verandah is 
 covered ! How sweet it was, after such a long confinement 
 and so much suffering, to be so near the outer world of 
 beauty and fragrance once more. I read but little, for my 
 heart was out in the garden, with the merry little birds 
 among the autumn roses, and then off to Elgin with poor 
 Frolic, wondering if I should ever ride him again ? And 
 then I fancied myself mounted once more on my little 
 favorite, galloping through the grand magnolia grove be 
 tween here and Woodburn, as once I did with Cecil Clare, 
 just before that fearful accident which has lamed me per 
 haps for life. The warm air, the song of birds, the hum 
 of bees among the .vines, were soothing, and lulled me so 
 pleasantly, that from waking dreams I passed gradually 
 into a soft and peaceful slumber, which lasted I know not 
 exactly how long, though it was yet quite light, when, 
 startled by a slight noise, and that mesmeric influence pro 
 duced by the light of waking eyes on the mind of a sleeper, 
 I awoke, beneath the gaze of Cecil Clare, who stood there, 
 bending upon me a look I had never seen so fully expressed 
 in his face before. A look of deep, unutterable tenderness,
 
 SOME LEAVES FROM PEARL'S DIARY. 147 
 
 long hidden, and thus suddenly breaking forth, mingled as 
 it was with the full and perfect purity of holiness within, 
 illuminated his countenance as sublimely as the halo of 
 glory emanating from the heads of pictured saints and 
 apostles. 
 
 " How long have you been here, Mr. Clare?" I faltered 
 out, striving to hide my agitation as best I might. " Your 
 mother did not expect you until dark, and this may possi 
 bly account for the unusual circumstance of my being here 
 alone, and asleep in your sanctum sanctorum, where I was 
 tempted to come at Mrs. Clare's suggestion, because this 
 window, opening down to the verandah, affords such a 
 beautiful view of the garden. Aunt Kate has taken your 
 mother off for a drive, and I fancy they will be back before 
 long ; so now that you have my apology for being an in 
 truder here, please push my sofa back into the parlor again, 
 will you?" 
 
 My manner was full of confusion, though I strove in vain 
 to hide it, for still those deep, clear eyes were shining on 
 me, earnestly and full of love. 
 
 " No," he said, "I cannot help you back into the par 
 lor, nor allow you to leave this spot. Pearl, until you hear 
 what I have to say, what must be said before you leave 
 this house, for you are strong enough to answer me now. 
 I love you dearly, devotedly, Pearl, and, child as you 
 are, would have you promise to be my wife. Tell me.
 
 148 WOODBURN. 
 
 could you be content to dwell with me in this quiet little 
 home ?" 
 
 He caught my hand, and, sinking down on his knees 
 beside the sofa, pressed it to his lips, ere I could suffi 
 ciently command myself to falter out, 
 
 " Oh, Mr. Clare, stop, I implore you ! Don't say any 
 thing more on this subject now ; for I have no right to 
 listen nay, must not, being almost pledged to Victor Dun- 
 bar, who has loved me from childhood, and whom I have 
 promised to try and love in return." 
 
 The words were scarcely past my lips, and he still clung 
 to my hand as if bound by a spell not to be broken, 
 when there was a sudden rush from the parlor, for we 
 were just opposite the door, accompanied by a frantic ex 
 clamation of anger, which caused Cecil Clare to start up 
 only for a moment, and then stagger, falling heavily back 
 wards on to the verandah floor, beneath a fierce blow dealt 
 upon his head by Victor, who stood by me, white, and 
 trembling with rage. 
 
 "Lie there, you sneaking, hypocritical parson!" he 
 cried : " I'll teach you to rob me of the treasure I coveted 
 so madly ! And you, Pearl perfidious, ungrateful girl 
 whom I have loved so dearly ever since your childhood, 
 how could you so basely deceive me into believing that you 
 had the wish, the will, and would at least try to return my 
 affection, while thus encouraging this strange preacher, and 
 suffering all my hopes to be crushed so suddenly, without
 
 SOME LEAVES FROM PEARL'S DIARY. 149 
 
 one word of warning, by finding you thus almost in his 
 arms !" 
 
 These words rained out in such a perfect torrent of fury 
 that I scarcely drew my breath while he was uttering 
 them ; and then, ere there was time to reply, he had gone, 
 as suddenly as he came, and I saw him in a moment after 
 wards, through the long parlor window opposite, riding at a 
 frantic pace down the avenue. 
 
 What could I do ? To move from the sofa was impossi 
 ble, for I was unable to stand ; and there lay Cecil Clare, 
 the man I loved though strengthened to check his avowal 
 of affection from a sense of duty prostrate and insensible, 
 on the verandah, against the iron trellis work of which he 
 had fallen, cutting his head, and from this wound the 
 blood was pouring, while I sat gazing upon him, cold, sick, 
 and for a few moments, bereft of voice, as well as the 
 power of moving. At last, by a great effort throwing off 
 this dumb dread, I called loudly to the servants for help, 
 but they were not within hearing, as no answer came. 
 Then, when almost exhausted from calling, a desperate re 
 solution possessed me to slide down from the sofa, and 
 try at least with my handkerchief to staunch the blood 
 trickling down that white still face; but just as I 
 turned, in making an effort to move from the sofa, there 
 was a ring at the front door bell, when mustering all my 
 failing strength, I called for help so loudly that Mr. Clif 
 ford was at my side almost before the bell had ceased ring-
 
 150 WOODBURN. 
 
 ing. At one glance he comprehended the whole, and Cecil 
 Clare was lifted up, carried by that powerful man into the 
 parlor and rested in a great easy chair, before I could ut 
 ter one word of explanation ; indeed, my senses were so 
 completely stunned by what had happened, and terror 
 overcame me so entirely, it was not until after Mr. Clif 
 ford succeeded in restoring Cecil Clare to consciousness 
 that the cold, wretched feeling which had possessed me 
 gave way, and then, falling back on my pillow, I burst 
 into a passion of tears always such a blessed relief to 
 high-strung natures, and but for this I must certainly, after 
 such terrible excitement, have relapsed into fever. 
 
 When sufficiently calm, I informed Mr. Clifford, as 
 briefly as possible, of all that had happened, for the cir 
 cumstances required that he should receive my fullest con 
 fidence. Part, at least, he had surmised from Victor's 
 distracted manner, as they had passed each other on the 
 road, for though he had called out to know "if anything 
 was the matter," Victor made no reply, and dashed on. 
 
 Cecil Clare had been stunned into insensibility, and soon 
 recovered, having received no real injury save the cut on 
 his head, which was not very deep, so that the blood was 
 quickly staunched, and save an excessive paleness, there 
 remained no evidence of Victor's violence in his appear 
 ance when Mrs. Clare and my aunt returned, for the cut 
 was easily concealed by the great waving masses of his fair 
 hair ; so we agreed not to speak of the event which might
 
 SOME LEAVES FROM PEARL'S DIARY. 151 
 
 be kept secret between us, and was calculated to cause 
 great pain to the friends of both parties ; therefore, ere the 
 ladies returned from riding, Mr. Clifford had left for Elgin, 
 where he hoped to see Victor before there had been time 
 for him to speak to his father upon the subject, which he 
 would be sure to do when that fierce fit of passion wore 
 off, leaving him to reflec.t clearly upon the madness and 
 wickedness of his conduct. I wrote a hurried note to him 
 by Mr. C., stating exactly what had passed between Mr. 
 Clare and myself, showing him how hasty and unjust he 
 had been towards me, as I had no thought of encouraging 
 the love of any other man, while bound by a promise to 
 him, from which I had intended to absolve myself immedi 
 ately upon returning to Elgin, having found it impossible 
 to love him otherwise than as a brother, and, had I ever 
 wavered in this intention, his conduct upon the present oc 
 casion certainly confirmed me in it, and that henceforth he 
 must not think of me, save as a sister deeply distressed 
 and mortified at his sinful and unreasonable fury." 
 
 My prayers were more fervent than usual that night. 
 I had much to be thankful for, as Cecil Clare might have 
 been killed by that dreadful blow, and the declaration of 
 his love had taught me hoAV dark a shadow would have 
 fallen upon my existence, had Victor's violence resulted 
 fatally; and then I prayed for him too, my poor dear 
 adopted brother, whose love for me was so overpowering, 
 it caused him to forget God, Heaven, everything but his 
 own wild passion.
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 PEARL'S DIARY CONTINUED. 
 
 Though jealousy be near akin to love, 
 Yet nurse them not together for if so, 
 Be thy love blessed yea, even thrice blessed 
 Tainted by jealousy, it will corrode. 
 If unrequited jealousy doth spoil 
 The purity and perfectness of love ; 
 With its fierce passions, 'til they change 
 To dark deformities. 
 
 September 21s#. The next morning early, an answer 
 came to the hurried note I had sent over by Mr. Clifford 
 to Victor, which ran thus : 
 
 " Pearl, my sister for now, alas ! I know you can never 
 be more to me. My dear sister, will you, can you ever 
 forgive the madness and wickedness of my conduct last 
 evening ? Your note, of course, exonerates you from all 
 blame, and renders my behavior even more culpable than 
 it would have been had I felt assured that Cecil Clare was 
 your accepted lover, (which the circumstances warranted 
 me in believing for a moment), yet even had that been a 
 certainty, there is not the slightest excuse for the sinful 
 fury which might have left the brand of Cain upon my
 
 PEARL'S DIARY CONTINUED. 153 
 
 brow. Forgive the folly inducing me to believe it possible 
 you might in time learn to love me, for it was evident from 
 your manner of granting the promise, that it was given 
 entirely for my sake, and because you thought from what 
 I said that my father and Aunt Kate wished it. Let me 
 then absolve you from that unwilling pledge, and if you 
 love Cecil Clare as I believe you do, Pearl let not a 
 thought of me interfere with your happiness, despite the 
 foolish abuse I heaped upon him last evening. I know he 
 is good and true, and far more worthy of you than I am, 
 or ever can be ; and yet I craved the blessing of your 
 love God only knows how much, and its possession might 
 perhaps have made me a better and a humbler man, though 
 as good Aunt Kate says, his almighty wisdom knows what 
 is best for us. I would have told my father all, but Mr. 
 Clifford, good, noble Mr. Clifford, advised me to spare him 
 the pain of knowing the part I acted in that shameful 
 scene of yesterday, as fortunately, the injury sustained by 
 Mr. Clare is not serious enough to render its exposure 
 necessary, and therefore I only told our Father that you 
 found it impossible to love me, except as a brother, freeing 
 you from all blame in the matter, and assuring him that 
 you had acted most honorably so do not fear on your 
 return to Elgin to speak freely with him on the subject 
 Pearl, for believe me you are as dear to that noble heart 
 as I am, and were he to blame either of us, I am sure it 
 
 would be me, knowing as he does, my passionate nature. 
 
 7*
 
 154 WOODBURN. 
 
 Show this letter if you wish to Cecil Clare, and beg his 
 forgiveness. Pray for me, Pearl, for I am very, very 
 wretched. Being unable to risk my fortitude so far as to 
 see you again, and yet miserable at the thought of leaving 
 home for an indefinite time without bidding you a last 
 farewell, I shall go this afternoon, as my kind father has 
 given his consent, and furnished ample means for me to 
 travel abroad, so long as it may suit me to remain. There 
 is a fearful struggle going on between the love I have 
 cherished for you since childho*od, which has possessed and 
 encouraged the better part of my nature, and the madness 
 of my jealousy, which springing from the worse and 
 stronger part, threatens to conquer, destroy, blot out all 
 that is good and pure within me. When I can pray, it 
 shall be for your happiness, and you shall hear from me 
 again when I can write more calmly as 
 
 " Your devoted brother, 
 
 "VICTOR." 
 
 I wept over this letter, and longed to see the writer 
 once more, yet dreading another outbreak, forbore to urge 
 his coming over to say " good-bye," and determined upon 
 postponing my return home, fixed for that day, until the 
 following, when he would certainly have left. Poor aunty 
 Kate was in great distress when informed that all was over 
 between Victor and myself, and went off to pack his trunk 
 with a sadder heart, I fancy, than she had borne since the 
 night they were summoned to my side after that dreadful
 
 PEARL'S DIARY CONTINUED. 155 
 
 fall. Yet Ethel was right. Neither my dear papa nor aunt 
 Kate blame me for not marrying Victor, though such a 
 union would have made them very happy. They know 
 nothing yet of Cecil's love. I gave him Victor's message, 
 but did not show the letter, as it refers to my love for him 
 as almost a certainty, and I could not allude to that sub 
 ject, save so far as to remark (as I did) that Victor was 
 going abroad, and we were in future to be as brother and 
 sister only. 
 
 Just then our conversation was interrupted, but his face 
 lit up with joy, when I uttered these words, and the for 
 giveness his rival craved was most freely granted. Hopeful 
 lovers can afford to be generous on such occasions but 
 Cecil Clare is good and pure enough to be equally so even 
 to a successful rival. 
 
 September 25th. It is so strange at Elgin without 
 Victor, and yet though we miss him so, I am glad for his 
 sake that he has gone as the quiet monotony of a coun 
 try home life would have been insupportable in his pres 
 ent unhappy and excited state. Poor Amy is altered 
 since he left, and has lost half her sprightliness. Yes 
 terday, when Bang Victor's favorite dog came and 
 rested his head on her lap, as she bent over him I saw the 
 big tears dropping sadly from her pale cheeks upon that 
 faithful creature's shaggy head, who, missing his master, 
 goes whining about the house and yard as if seeking the 
 absent one. Amy is not such a perfect child after all,
 
 156 WOODBURN. 
 
 being in her sixteenth year, and wonderfully matured. 
 Perhaps when Victor returns to find her grown up a bright 
 and beautiful woman, as she promises to be, he may fall in 
 love with her. She is certainly well suited for him, being 
 so clever and appreciating, and I do hope it may be ordered 
 thus. 
 
 Archey was here this morning with a note for me from 
 cousin Ethel. The boy was possessed, as usual, to chatter 
 about Dr. Foster and his crazy brother, and also of a matter 
 which astonished me not a little, viz. : a sudden and unac 
 countable intimacy between Dr. Foster and Rachel Thorn. 
 They are, to be sure, enough alike in disposition to be con 
 genial spirits ; yet, his constant effort to avoid her at first, 
 makes this recent friendship appear most singular. I only 
 wish he would fall in love with Rachel, and persuade her 
 to accept a home at the Glen she is to me like a dark 
 shadow in the midst of so much brightness and beauty at 
 Woodburn. 
 
 The Glen is a fine old place, and I rather fancy she is 
 mercenary enough to be tempted thereby into marrying its 
 master, even in spite of her ridiculous love for Mr. Clifford, 
 knowing as she must, that it is hopeless. But the Doctor's 
 aspirations, unfortunately, aim at rather a higher prize than 
 Rachel Thorn. 
 
 Eugh ! it makes me sick to think of that great, pom 
 pous, vulgar lump of humanity in the shape of a doctor 
 (stuffed into broadcloth) having the assurance to love Ethel
 
 PEARL'S DIARY CONTINUED. 157 
 
 Linton ! But I must not forget Archey's funny communi 
 cation. 
 
 " Miss Pearl," he said, shuffling up to me, hat in hand, 
 " just as sure as we is livin', dar is sumpin or anudder 
 gwying on twixt dat dar strange doctor and de young white 
 'oman massa 'lows to live at Woodlurn sum of de niggers 
 calls her ' Miss Rachel,' but I speaks of her all de time as 
 ' Miss Torn,' for she's nun of my mistress, and I was never 
 no ways sociable wid her. Well, long about a week or two 
 past, I's seed dem two walkin' togedder in de lane back of 
 our house, wid dar heads close enough togedder to be 
 hatchin' mischief, and whenebber dey sees me or anybody 
 cumin' she bows and goes back to de house, as if dey had 
 met on accident, den he walks off to de quarter and gits 
 on his horse to go home ; and dey's been a doin' so ebber 
 since the doctor's been tendin' on uncle Abe. Lord Miss, 
 how dis nigger chuckles when he see dat little sly white 
 'oman bow and walk off as if she jist happened to be dar, 
 and did'nt care 'bout stoppin' to talk wid de doctor ; and 
 well I might chuckle, for I's watched um two or tree times 
 while I was squattin' down behind de corn-shucks piled up 
 in de barn lot, and dey thought deyselves all alone and 
 if you bleve me, I was dar watchin' um de fust day she 
 went out dar and overtook him as he went down from see 
 ing massa at de house. Den she whispered sumpin in his 
 ear which he did'nt seem to like, for he turned as white as 
 your hand, miss, and then when she whispered again, look-
 
 158 WOODBURN. 
 
 ing up right quick at her, he said, ' because you 'oman'a 
 have sich damned long tongues ' begging your pardon, 
 Miss, ' but if your's is too long, I'll cut it out for you.' 
 Gosh ! but dis nigger hugged de corn-shucks close den, for 
 he looked as savage as a meat axe." 
 
 I reproved the boy, filing him he had no right to listen 
 to the conversation of white people ; and that Miss Ethel 
 would be provoked at him for it. 
 
 "I don't be given to it, mam," he replied ; " but blast 
 me if I kin help watchin' dem two, for dey both looks so 
 monstus wicked like. Dat's all I heered um say, and I'll 
 try not to listin no more if you wishes it, Miss," and 
 Archey bowed himself out. 
 
 It was a queer conversation, and I shall certainly talk 
 the matter over with cousin Ethel. The doctor thinks a 
 month more of care will put me on my feet again, with the 
 assistance of a crutch. I hope so, as that will be in time 
 for the Christmas tree. Poor Victor ! 'it is so sad to think 
 he will not be one of our party. Michael McAlpine proves 
 a good lad, and takes such an interest in the flowers, that 
 Aunt Kate has given him almost entire charge of them. 
 He brings a fresh bouquet to my room every morning, and 
 I find great pleasure in asking him questions about the two 
 years I lived in his father's cottage, for he is several years 
 my senior, and often had charge of me when I was to him 
 as a sister. It is hard to realize that I should have lived in 
 a fisherman's cottage, as a daughter to those poor, good
 
 PEARL'S DIARY CONTINUED. 159 
 
 people ! And yet, I must be the child of gentlefolks, else 
 that dainty handkerchief would not have been about my 
 neck, and the clothes I wore would not have been so fine. 
 How I delight in looking at that delicate work, the crest, 
 and the name, too my mother's name it must be so 
 gracefully embroidered wondering if the future will ever 
 reveal my real name ? 
 
 Mr. Clifford comes over every evening after school to 
 hear my French and German lessons. It is a real pleasure 
 to learn from such a master so delicate in his feeling, so 
 considerate, so full of manly kindness ! I do wonder if 
 uncle Percy can see cousin Ethel and Mr. Clifford so much 
 together without thinking that they may happen to fall in 
 love with each other ? Poor, dear, beautiful Ethel ! if 
 they could only have met before her first miserable mar 
 riage ! Yet, when I suggested this to Cecil Clare, the 
 other day, he looked very grave, and said : 
 
 " Don't suppose, because events are contrary to what 
 our feeble judgment may deem best, that it is so, or that 
 we could better the order of things by arranging them to 
 suit ourselves for, by cultivating such thoughts, we put 
 our little mite of earthly wisdom up in opposition to that 
 Almighty one who never has erred and never can err. 
 Had your cousin met Mr. Clifford in her early youth, they 
 might not have been congenial in disposition and temper, 
 at they now appear to be, for she has doubtless been soft 
 ened and strengthened by early trials ; and, though we
 
 160 WOODBURN. 
 
 know nothing of his history, there is a sad, firm, Calm look 
 about Mr. Clifford, which indicates that he has borne some 
 heavy weight of sorrow patiently, and met reverse of for 
 tune bravely as a man ; resignedly as a Christian. Perhaps 
 they both needed this to make them what they now are, 
 and (if destined for each other) it is far better they never 
 met until now ; for God orders all things well. Suppose 
 you, or I, or any other human being, had the government 
 and direction of everything even on this little globe of 
 ours (to say nothing of the boundless universe) for one 
 day, how would it end ? In misery, confusion, and ruin. 
 Let us not then even presume, in the weakness of human 
 folly, to doubt the wisdom of God." 
 
 It is a blessed thing to possess the confiding faith of a 
 true Christian, there are few so pure and good and wise in 
 their Christianity as Cecil Clare. 
 
 October 21st. Victor has been absent a month, and 
 though Cecil Clare has been a constant visitor at Elgin 
 since his departure, not one word in reference to that fear 
 ful scene, which occurred between them at the parsonage, 
 ever escaped his lips until last night, when he asked 
 me if I were quite sure that all understanding between 
 Victor and myself of a tender nature was at an end ? and 
 upon being answered very positively in the aflirmative, he 
 said a great deal, which might look very foolish written, 
 being doubtless but a repetition of love-making though 
 perhaps somewhat different in style from that fair antedi-
 
 . PEARL'S DIARY CONTINUED. 161 
 
 luvian morning, or evening, when Adam whispered soft 
 nothings to his lovely companion amid the bowers of Eden, 
 down to the present time yet the voice of his wooing 
 filled my heart with a joy unknown before, a joy too per 
 fect to pall, and now that I am pledged to Cecil Clare, with 
 the consent and blessing of all who love me, my heart 
 overflows with gratitude to that Almighty Friend, whose 
 protecting care rescued the shipwrecked child, and again 
 saved the girl's life when in almost as fearful danger, to 
 bring her thus to an earthly haven of peace and happiness.
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 * 
 
 RACHEL THORN'S BANISHMENT. 
 
 Autumn has gone whose soft and hazy skies 
 
 Wear a sad look of summer to the last, 
 Even as memory's light within the eyes 
 
 Of some fair matron dreaming o'er the past. 
 
 How hard it is to realize the changes sometimes occur- 
 ing in a few short months ! 
 
 From the last date of Pearl's diary up to January 1st, 
 events so unexpected (and some of them very startling) 
 transpired, crowding each other with a rapidity perfectly 
 bewildering. After Victor's departure, Elgin was never 
 the same place to me ; Pearl's lameness necessarily made a 
 difference too ; the house was far more quiet than formerly. 
 Our rides were less frequent, and never so pleasant either 
 to Ralph or myself, for we missed those two bright absent 
 ones Victor far away, and Pearl so lame that the ques 
 tion of her ever being able to ride again was a doubtful 
 one. My brother grew pale and sentimental after Pearl's 
 engagement, read Byron assiduously, sang forlorn love 
 ditties, and for several months looked the picture of a youth 
 laboring under a weight of disappointed affection. We
 
 KACHEL THORN'S BANISHMENT. 163 
 
 knew his malady to be only temporary in its nature, and 
 therefore both Ethel and myself teased him without mercy, 
 until at last in a fit of desperation he eschewed sentimen 
 tality in toto, and thereafter we missed his copy of Byron 
 from the centre-table, wherein sundry and divers passages' 
 (of great significance in his case) had been fiercely marked, 
 while in places of sentimental airs we heard him whistling 
 the gayest tunes from comic operas. Poor Ralph ! he was 
 for a while very fretful and discontented, and evidently 
 suffered more from this first disappointment than we sup 
 posed his light and joyous disposition capable of suffering 
 from such a cause. 
 
 My temperament is too elastic, too full of vigorous vital 
 ity, to yield readily to depression, and my regret at Victor's 
 absence was from the first brightened by a hope of his 
 returning (perhaps sooner than was anticipated^ when on 
 moon-lit eves to come in riding and walking together, he 
 will think more of me, and less of another, than in the by 
 gone times when I was petted as "little coz." For time 
 was passing, and I would not always be a child. 
 
 Before the end of autumn Dr. Foster was generally 
 looked upon as a discarded lover of Ethel, and the truth is 
 he had addressed her more than once, dwelling upon his 
 great wealth as an inducement for her acceding to his pro 
 posals, and "a home anywhere she pleased." 
 
 " The idea of a home anywhere, even were it an earthly 
 paradise, with such a man," she exclaimed when telling
 
 164 WOODBURN. 
 
 me about it, " and then the ' crazy creeter,' as Archey is 
 pleased to call that poor unfortunate lunatic ! Amy, what 
 a time I would have with the fat vulgar doctor, the black 
 giant Gabe, that ferocious blood-hound Wolf, and the crazy 
 man ! mercy ! what a charming little family circle." And 
 then she laughed so gayly. Oh ! my darling sister, how 
 sadly that merry ringing laugh echoed in my memory 
 at no very distant period. Ethel had answered Dr. Foster's 
 first proposition (which was in writing) promptly and 
 positively, by returning his letter with a simple expression 
 of wonder at its contents, and when he renewed the sub 
 ject shortly afterwards in person, she could not help treating 
 it as a joke, and possessed by a spirit of mischief, at times 
 beyond control, said to him : 
 
 " Why, Dr. Foster, it appears to me the circumstance 
 of your brother's most unfortunate condition, and your 
 great devotion to him, would prevent all possibility of your 
 marrying, as it must necessarily divert your attention 
 somewhat from him, and the presence of a crazy person in 
 your establishment might be rather an objection to most 
 ladies, I fancy;" and then she smiled so wickedly, that 
 any one less vain and conceited than the doctor would have 
 fathomed at once the irony of her mood ; but catching at 
 this expressed objection as if he thought it the only one 
 which could possibly exist, he went on to assure her that 
 such reasons for rejecting his suit were entirely ground 
 less, as he had only been prompted by motives of the great-
 
 RACHEL THORN'S BANISHMENT. 165 
 
 est fraternal affection to keep his brother so long with him, 
 ever hoping by kindness and care to restore the broken 
 constitution and shattered mind of the sufferer, which now 
 being hopeless, it was his determination in any event to 
 place his brother in an asylum. Then, with a fierce im 
 petuosity, both astonishing and amusing to my sister, he 
 began, in the most Bombastes Furioso style imaginable, to 
 pour forth the rhapsodies of love, imploring her to give 
 him a hope at least of future success, until at last, 
 though almost unable to gain a hearing, she begged him 
 to drop the subject forever, as her decision was and would 
 remain unalterable, and she must consider any future at 
 tempt to renew it offensive in the extreme, when, flying 
 from the extreme of love to that of rage, he left the house 
 in a violent passion, and refused to enter it afterwards, even 
 when sent for as a physician. 
 
 Ethel joked my father about the loss of his favorite med- 
 cal adviser, saying, she "believed he would rather accept 
 Foster as a son than lose him as a physician." 
 
 Our dear, unselfish father ! : he could well endure such 
 jokes, whose every thought was for our happiness. 
 
 Rachel looked black as a thunder-cloud at our sallies of 
 fun about the doctor, and one day, when she had swept out 
 of the room as if highly offended at me for mimicking his 
 pompous manner, Ethel exclaimed, 
 
 "Amy, don't you wish he would marry Rachel, she 
 would suit him exactly ?" I gave her credit for the sug-
 
 166 WOODBURN. 
 
 gestion, and avowed a determination to tell our fair cousin 
 since she had come to admire our neighbor so much of late, 
 it would not be a bad idea to set her cap for him. 
 
 " Oh, how angry it will make her !" I said ; " for she's 
 dead in love with Mr. Clifford, though for some mysterious 
 reason unknown to us, Foster evidently possesses a won 
 derful influence over her. What a nice time poor Gabe 
 and the crazy man would have, with such an amiable trio as 
 Rachel, the doctor, and Wolf ! He is just the person to 
 suit Rachel, and about the only one who could keep her in 
 order." 
 
 I carried my threat of bantering her on this subject into 
 execution the very first opportunity. I know she was 
 angry enough to strike me, and in thinking it over since, 
 feel well assured that the pent-up fury of that moment 
 urged her on to commit the crowning act of perfidy which 
 caused my father, after she was unmasked, to banish her 
 from Woodburn. We were alone at the time, and her only 
 reply was, 
 
 "Hold your tongue, you .saucy little jade; I would 
 rather be without beaux forever than glory in breaking 
 hearts as your lovely sister does !" 
 
 I was provoked at her spite, and said as she glided out 
 of the room, 
 
 " There is no danger of your acquiring the right of glo 
 rification over that kind of butchery !" 
 
 When next we met, there was rather a more malignant
 
 RACHEL THORN'S BANISHMENT. 167 
 
 expression than usual lurking in her cold eyes, but other 
 wise I observed no sign of displeasure, and avoided further 
 allusion to our late conversation. 
 
 A few days afterwards, as Mr. Clifford, Ethel, and my 
 self were sitting in the library, arguing about the pronun 
 ciation of certain words, for which he was searching in 
 Webster, Rachel, entering, as I thought, in rather a flur 
 ried manner, said quickly to my sister, 
 
 "Ethel, while you were riding this morning, a note 
 came for you from Pearl, and as you were absent I told 
 the boy he need not wait, and threw it into your portfolio, 
 which was lying open on the table but let me run and 
 get it." 
 
 So, without waiting an instant for Ethel's reply, she 
 sped off, and was down again before we had time to express 
 more than an exclamation of wonder at her sudden fit of 
 obliging amiability. As she entered, my sister, seeing the 
 portfolio instead of the note in Rachel's hand, remarked, 
 
 " You need not have troubled yourself to bring down 
 that great book where's the note?" at the same time 
 holding out her hand to take the portfolio, which however 
 the crafty bearer managed to slam adroitly, as if by acci 
 dent, against the back of a chair, causing it to fall, and 
 scattering the entire contents before us on the carpet. 
 
 "Dear me!" cried the artful creature, "what have I 
 done ? But, mercy on me, Ethel ! where did you get such 
 a perfect likeness of Basil ?"
 
 168 WOODBURN. 
 
 And catching up a miniature of her brother, which had 
 fallen from my sister's portfolio, she began kissing it, as if 
 in an ecstasy of delight. 
 
 Mr. Clifford and myself forthwith proceeded to gather 
 up the scattered papers, both confused, and scarcely know 
 ing what to think, when simultaneously we caught sight 
 of an open letter, apparently long kept, and all on one 
 page, written in a large, bold hand so distinct that neither 
 of us could avoid seeing the beginning and ending 
 
 " My darling Ethel and your devoted Basil." 
 
 For the eyes will take in such words, when clearly writ 
 ten, without any intention of reading a letter thus suddenly 
 spread out to view. I crumpled it quickly, snatching up 
 the portfolio and cramming in the papers en masse with a 
 rapidity I could scarcely account for, being bewildered be 
 yond expression after Ethel's positive denial of anything 
 like an engagement with Basil Thorn, to find his minia 
 ture and a bona fide love letter from him in her pos 
 session. 
 
 Mr. Clifford looked as I had never seen him look before, 
 and turning away from me after the papers were collected, 
 left the room. Tien I cast an inquiring look at Ethel, 
 for all this occurred so quickly, that Rachel was still 
 kissing the picture when Mr. C. went out. My sister's 
 lovely face was so perfectly rigid with intense excitement 
 that it frightened me, and I sprang forward to hold her, as
 
 RACHEL THORN'S BANISHMENT. 169 
 
 she deliberately advanced towards Rachel, when snatching 
 the picture from her hand, she said, 
 
 " How do you dare to ask where I got this likeness of 
 your brother ? Base, deceitful girl, you put it there to 
 forward some vile purpose unknown to me, and which I do 
 not care to fathom ; one thing I know, and that is you 
 have played out your last act of perfidy at Woodburn, for 
 my father shall hear of this. 
 
 As she spoke, the whole truth flashed upon me, Rachel 
 had forged the letter and placed it there with the minia 
 ture to convince Mr. Clifford that her assertion regarding 
 the engagement of my sister and Basil was correct. I 
 hated myself for not seeing through it on the instant, 
 and felt condemned that I had doubted Ethel even for a 
 moment." 
 
 " Stop," I said, as she turned to leave the room, "you 
 did not see this letter which fell out with the miniature," 
 and drawing out the crumpled manuscript, I placed it in 
 my sister's hand. 
 
 " A vile forgery !" she exclaimed, " for I never received 
 a line from Basil in my life, save the letters he wrote 
 warning me not to marry poor Arthur, and they were all 
 destroyed. Rachel Thorn, why have you been guilty of 
 so wicked an act ? I should think one case of forgery in 
 your family a sufficient disgrace, without your following it 
 up in such a shameful manner."
 
 170 WOODBURN. 
 
 Rachel seemed gasping a moment for breath, and then 
 replied with hardened effrontery, 
 
 " Ethel Linton, it is very well for you to strive and 
 hide your perfidy to Basil by hurling accusations at me. 
 I did not write that letter, and I swear Basil wrote it and 
 sent it to you with the likeness ; but you don't want Mr. 
 Clifford to know this, for jmi love him, Ethel, as well as 
 you are capable of loving, and when aware, as he must be 
 now, of your engagement to, and base treatment of Basil, 
 he will scorn you as you deserve to be scorned. Do your 
 worst. You can turn me away from Woodburn, but rest 
 assured you shall suffer for it yet." 
 
 And she ran out, slamming the door in a fury, while 
 we stood gazing at each other, stupified by such monstrous 
 and daring falsehoods. 
 
 Long afterwards, Mr. Clifford told me that Rachel had 
 followed him into the garden, when as they met suddenly 
 at a turn in the walk, she exclaimed, 
 
 " Well ! do you believe me now, or is Ethel Linton still 
 the angel of perfection you thought her, when I told you 
 of her engagement to my brother, and that she broke it off 
 to marry Arthur Linton, because he was rich ? Her 
 heart was more Basil's then than it is yours now, though 
 you think she loves you, Mr. Clifford." 
 
 The last was hissed out spitefully, and as she waited a 
 reply, he said, coldly and calmly, 
 
 ".Miss Thorn, you have no more right to make that lat-
 
 RACHEL THORN'S BANISHMENT. 171 
 
 ter assertion than I have for supposing that Mrs. Linton 
 regards me otherwise than as a friend. I have no claim 
 upon your cousin's confidence, but if any explanation of 
 this matter should in future be called forth from her, be 
 assured, whatever she tells me respecting your brother and 
 herself will be accepted and respected as the truth, in 
 spite of all you have said or may say to the contrary." 
 
 And with these few decisive words he left her. 
 
 My father was both shocked and grieved at 'Ethel's ac 
 count of Rachel's conduct, and thought we should have 
 given him an earlier insight into her character, determin 
 ing forthwith that she should leave Woodburn at once and 
 forever. It is useless to dwell upon the stormy interview 
 which followed the announcement to Rachel of this deter 
 mination, which was made to her by my father in person, 
 for the bland softness of her manner towards him was lost, 
 swept away by a perfect whirlwind of passion. 
 
 She was* almost angry enough to refuse further pecu 
 niary assistance from the uncle, who had for so long a time 
 been as a father to her, but love of self triumphed even 
 over her spite, and she ended by assuring him that the 
 handsome allowance he made her should only be accepted 
 until such time as she could "obtain a situation as gov 
 erness." 
 
 "A most capital idea, Rachel," he exclaimed, " I ad 
 mire your spirit."
 
 172 WOODBURN. 
 
 What an amused, quizzical expression he wore when 
 telling us about it. 
 
 We could scarcely appreciate what a perfect incubus that 
 girl was upon our happiness, until she was fairly gone. 
 Ethel's explanation to Mr. Clifford, I presume, was a per 
 fectly satisfactory one to all parties, for when I happened 
 to go into the parlor, the evening after Rachel's departure, 
 they were sitting very close together, my sister's cheeks 
 wore a deeper tinge than usual, and there was a look in 
 Mr. Clifford's eyes expressing, as plainly as words, that all 
 doubt of her was banished from his heart, as finally as the 
 dark shadow that cast it there had been from our happy 
 home.
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 WHAT ARCHEY SAW IN THE WOODS, 
 
 " O, most infamous! 
 The Count of Lara is a damn'd villain !" LONGFELLOW. 
 
 RACHEL left during the first week in December, and a 
 few evenings afterwards, when Ralph and myself had just 
 . returned from a ride, asArchey was leadiifg off the horses, 
 he paused a moment, then hitched them to the rack, and 
 coming back to where we stood, before the front door, took 
 off his hat with a shuffling bow, as if about to ask for some 
 thing. 
 
 "Why, you unreasonable scamp!" exclaimed my bro 
 ther; "you surely don't want any more tobacco, when 
 father gave you so much day before yesterday." 
 
 "Lord help you, no, Massa Ralph! I don't want no 
 more bacca don't spect to get more now, no how, fore 
 Christmas. I was only gwying to tell you, bein as how 
 dat young white oman 's done gone, and my speakin out 
 can't do no sort of harm to her now, dat I beleves " 
 
 "Who in thunder are you talking about? you black 
 rascal ! Can't you call people by their names ?"
 
 174 WOODBURN. 
 
 " Gosh ! Massa Ralph, you blazes out at dis nigger so, 
 it skeers all de sense out of his head, and all I was jist 
 gwying to tell is got mixed up togedder, like de mess in de 
 big pot down at de black folks' kitchen, when it biles up 
 so hard you can't tell pork from beans ! Do, for de Lord's 
 sake, don't holler so, Massa Ralph," and Archey began to 
 chuckle. " I 's talkin about de young white oman some of 
 de niggers calls Miss Rachel, and I calls Miss Torn for 
 she's none of my miss. What was it I was tellin about her 
 jist now? Let me steddy over it a minit, please, sir." 
 
 " Talk fast, then," replied my brother; "and mind, 
 Archey, don't tell me any of your infernal lies. What have 
 you to say about my cousin Rachel ?" 
 
 "Well, only dis much, sir and I aint no ways given to 
 lyin," said the boy; "I has a very strong notion, from 
 certin tings dat come under my inspection, dat Dr. Foster 
 and Miss Torn, sir, is gwyin to get spliced yah ! yah ! 
 yah ! kase, de odder evenin. when I rode over to Elgin 
 to open de gate for her, he jined her on de way home, 
 and rode most up to de Woodburn lane ; and once, when 
 dey sent me on for to open de gate, long fore we got to 
 it, I spected somting 'r anudder was gwying on dat I 
 might as well know; so, knowin de gate was open, for 
 dar ain't none dar to open, for its broke clean off, and ain't 
 nebber been fixed, at a turn in de road, I dodged into de 
 woods like, drapped down off old Billy, who 's so dratted 
 lazy he wont nebber move, no matter whar you put him,
 
 WHAT ARCHEY SAW IN THE WOODS. 175 
 
 and squatting down behind a log near de road, jist waited 
 for dem two to come along to see what dey was about ; and 
 presently dey come in sight, ridin powerful slow ; and as 
 dey passed, I seed him hand her a little black ting shut up 
 like a box, and a letter fore de Lord I did, Massa Ralph ; 
 and he called her "Rachel," he did; for I heerd him say to 
 her wid my own years, 
 
 "Rachel, if your damned plotting gets me into trouble, I 
 shet you up you know whar." 
 
 " It was a rough way, sir, of speakin to a gal he's got 
 notions on ; but he's a savage kind o' man any way : and 
 I would'nt a had him ketch me behind dat dar log for all 
 master's plantation, darn me if I would; but dis nigger's 
 too sly for dat sure ; and I was astraddle ob old Bill in no 
 time, and cuttin froo de woods, got to de gate fore dey did. 
 So, bein's how de lady's your cousin, I felt like it was a 
 kind ob duty to speak about dis matter ; for dat dar doc 
 tor's an awful man, and den de crazy creeter, you know, 
 Massa Ralph !" 
 
 " Hold your tongue, you tattling fool !" said my brother, 
 "or I'll give you a licking. What business have you to 
 watch white people, and listen to their conversations ? I 
 only wish Dr. Foster had caught you there !" 
 
 " De Lord have mercy ! dont't say dat, my dear young 
 massa, for sure as he had, your poor nigger would'nt have 
 a whole bone in every bit of his black hide dis here minit ; 
 but I never tinks, I don't, of listenin to good white folks ;
 
 176 WOODBUKN. 
 
 but dem two looks so darned wicked, wid dar heads toged- 
 der, I could'nt help keepin my eye on em dis long time, 
 and I'm monstrus glad to find dey's got notion of marryin 
 each odder, instead of finishing somebody else. And now, 
 Massa Ralph, I know you aint gwyin to lick a darkey for 
 nothin 't all; and I aint dun no harm, but, fore de Lord, 
 I meant to do good. W-ho-o, Gypsey dat dar skittish 
 little mar's about to break her bridle, sir. I shall try to 
 deform about listen, as you don't disprove of it, Massa 
 Ralph !" and Archey shuffled off, leaving us in a roar of 
 laughter at his ridiculous attempt to talk "dictionary," as 
 the black people say, when trying to use big words. 
 
 After we went into the house, the whole affair was re 
 lated to Ethel and Mr. Clifford, who were as much puzzled 
 as ourselves to account for Dr. Foster's intimacy with Ra 
 chel ; and then the black box and letter, could they have 
 any connection with the miniature and letter she had placed 
 in Ethel's portfolio ? 
 
 If so, how had Basil's likeness come into the doctor's 
 possession ? It was in vain to speculate upon a subject so 
 perfectly enveloped in mystery, but we were now rather 
 disposed to believe with Archey, that there must be some 
 understanding of a tender nature between them, as he had 
 called her "Rachel." And surely the negro never could 
 have invented this singular story. 
 
 Twice had we heard from Victor since his arrival on the 
 continent through letters to his father and Aunt Kate, but
 
 WHAT ARCHEY SAW IN THE WOODS. 177 
 
 to Pearl he had not yet written, and his mood appeared 
 gloomy enough. 
 
 One morning, just before Christmas, "while we were at 
 breakfast, Archey came in from town with quite a package 
 of letters, and those with foreign post-marks were not, as 
 usual, all for Mr. Clifford there was one from Borne for 
 " Miss Percy," and my heart gave a great leap of joy 
 when (as it was handed to me) I recognized the marked 
 and very peculiar handwriting of my cousin Victor. The 
 style was nibre hopeful than his former letters. He still 
 called me his " dear little coz," evidently striving to shake 
 off depression while giving an account of his travels for 
 my amusement chiding himself for having neglected me 
 so long begging me to write and tell him everything. 
 
 " Don't forget to mention poor Bang how he will whine 
 after me ! and Wizard should be ridden constantly, or he 
 will become unmanageable and lose all his fine gaits, and 
 as father may not think of this, please ask Ralph to see 
 about it, and be sure to pet poor Bang for the sake of your 
 loving cousin Vick." 
 
 It was thus the letter ended only in a P. S. he sent 
 love to Pearl, and said he would write to her soon. At all 
 events this interest about his dog and horse was a healthy 
 sign, and showed that his mind was making an effort 
 against morbid melancholy. 
 
 Ah ! what a comfort that letter was to me. How often 
 I read it ; and before sleeping that night how (even more 
 
 8*
 
 178 WOODBTJRN. 
 
 than usually) earnest were my prayers for the dear wan 
 derer. 
 
 Poor dreaming child ! far better for me had he never 
 written ; but I was now sixteen, and Victor the beau ideal 
 of my fresh young heart. Hope told a pleasant, flattering 
 tale, and I listened, as many a deluded girl has done, and 
 as, alas ! they will continue to do, looking forward through 
 that magical glamour which a first love weaves over the 
 future, trusting fondly in the accomplishment of what we 
 hope for, driving away desponding thoughts, ever pursuing 
 the bright phantoms that lure us on, until, at last, they 
 leave us despairing in a waste of disappointment as a 
 beautiful mirage of the desert, (seeming to offer bright 
 cities, cool fountains and bowers of rest to the weary wan 
 derer who pursues them) disappears at last, and leaves him 
 mourning over a delusion which promised that which reality 
 teaches him can never be obtained.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 THE CHRISTMAS TREE. 
 
 "Where are the bright and smiling eyes, 
 
 That lit those vanished years ? 
 Some have grown brighter in the skies ! 
 
 Some dimmed by earthly tears. 
 
 AT last our great delight, the Pearl of Elgin, was so far 
 recovered as to walk once more, though only as yet by the 
 aid of crutches which it was most probable she would be 
 obliged to use during the winter. She was slighter and 
 paler, so much paler that even the olive tint had partly 
 faded with the rose from her complexion, entitling her 
 more to the beautiful name she bore. 
 
 On Christmas eve there was a large party assembled at 
 Elgin, for our annual celebration of the Christmas-tree, 
 held alternately there and at Woodburn. In the early 
 part of the evening we danced, played games, acted cha 
 rades or tableaux, after which the family and company, 
 followed by the house servants, were ushered by the host 
 or hostess into a room, where stood the tree loaded with 
 presents, a tempting and beautiful sight, when some one 
 was appointed to cut down and distribute the gifts.
 
 180 WOODBURN. 
 
 Long years have gone by since those happy meetings 
 some, whose eyes were brightest and whose voices gayest, 
 giving light and life to the passing hours, were called 
 away from earth, ere yet the beam had vanished, that made 
 lip, and cheek and eye so fair, ere yet their hearts hacl 
 felt the chilling pali of disappointment or regret, perhaps 
 t'was better thus. Some whose heads were then white 
 with the glory of approaching age, have since laid down 
 in peace, crowned with years, loved and venerated, well 
 satisfied to obey their Master's bidding and who when he 
 called found them watching. 
 
 Some are scattered, dwelling far away from their fair, 
 warm, southern homes, and changed in every thing save 
 the changeless love for those cherished scenes and those 
 beloved ones who, though severed from us or lost forever, 
 are still as dear as when we met their smiling eyes, lit up 
 by the great glowing Christmas fires at Woodburn and 
 Elgin, in that far off vanished time. 
 
 Pearl's partial recovery and Victor's more cheerful let 
 ter, made us all feel particularly gay and happy on that 
 especial evening, and the guests were prepared for, and set 
 upon a delightful frolic. 
 
 Pearl wore a soft full dress of India muslin, with 
 ornaments of rose-colored coral on her neck and arms ; her 
 purple black hair, rolled in a massive twist, was coiled up 
 gracefully low down on the back of her finely shaped head,
 
 THE CHRISTMAS-TREE. 181 
 
 and entirely devoid of decoration, save one perfect star- 
 shaped pink japonica fastened at the left side. 
 
 Ethel was radiantly beautiful in a rich robe of black 
 velvet, with pearl ornaments, and a white japonica amid 
 the masses of her shining hair. 
 
 Being still considered as rather a " little girl," my dress 
 was not of the slightest consequence, yet the thought did 
 flash upon me, while glancing in the mirror, that my new 
 blue silk was particularly becoming neither was I un 
 mindful that the figure reflected there, looked much more 
 womanly in its proportions than on the preceding Christ 
 mas, and my head would give a proud little toss at .the 
 thought that when Victor returned he might find a grown 
 young lady, in place of his little coz. The tree was more 
 beautiful than any we had ever dressed before, and one 
 universal exclamation of delight and admiration burst 
 forth when it was first disclosed to that expectant company, 
 the wonder of the evening with its magical crop of 
 presents ! 
 
 All the rooms were beautifully decorated with holly and 
 misletoes, vases of rare exotics were gracefully disposed 
 upon the table and mantels, and the whole scene illumi 
 nated by a soft, rosy glow from many wax candles, together 
 with the more ruddy sparkling cheerful light of a huge 
 fire of hickory logs, which crackled and roared and flashed 
 in the great open fire-place. 
 
 There was a fearful storm raging without, which caused
 
 182 WOODBURN. 
 
 the warmth, light, mirth, and beauty within those brightly 
 curtained rooms to seem even more attractive, and tended 
 in every way to intensify the enjoyment of our Christmas 
 party. 
 
 Mr. Clifford had been appointed to cut down and dis 
 tribute the presents, which he did most gracefully, having 
 some pleasant and appropriate word for each recipient, and 
 our gayety was at its height, when, in handing to Pearl one 
 of many pretty trifles, she accidentally dropped her hand 
 kerchief, which lifting quickly he playfully spread out on 
 her lap, over the crimson satin mouchoir case he had just 
 given her worked by Ethel on one side of which 
 " Pearl " was beautifully embroidered with white silk floss. 
 The embroidery of the handkerchief being fully and clearly 
 revealed on the dark satin, when Mr. Clifford's eye fell 
 upon it, he exclaimed, in a voice whose intense excitement 
 was painful in the extreme, attracting the attention of all 
 present, 
 
 " Oh ! God of mercy ! Pearl Dunbar, where did you 
 get that handkerchief? " 
 
 His manner so startled the feeble girl, that for a moment 
 she appeared on the point of fainting for it was the hand 
 kerchief Michael McAlpine had brought, and which she 
 believed had belonged to her mother. At last she gasped 
 out 
 
 " It was on my neck when, when but, Mr. Clifford, 
 papa can tell you all about it ; for, indeed, I do feel so sick
 
 THE CHRISTMAS-TREE. 183 
 
 and weak," and leaning back in her chair, poor Pearl 
 looked so very pale it frightened us. 
 
 Meanwhile Mr. Clifford picked up the dainty little thing 
 which had caused so much excitement, and without one 
 word of explanation or apology, rushed out of the room, 
 followed by uncle Dunbar, whose kind black eyes lost their 
 twinkle of mirth, and looked sadly troubled, for he always 
 had a dread that something would "turn up" unexpect 
 edly, calculated to clear away the mystery of Pearl's life, 
 and that he might, perhaps, lose her, after so many years 
 of tender care and love Mr. Clifford's agitation inducing 
 him now, of course, to believe, as we all did, that he must 
 know something with regard to her parents. 
 
 When my uncle found Mr. Clifford, he was standing 
 under the hall lamp, examining minutely the delicate work 
 on this mysterious handkerchief. 
 
 " Mr. Dunbar," he said, " you will excuse my extreme 
 agitation and sudden departure from the company when 
 informed that this is my crest, and the name embroidered 
 here, ' Olivia,' was that of my wife ; and this is either the 
 handkerchief (or an exact copy of it) I presented her after 
 the birth of our little daughter, which she did not long 
 survive and that child was lost at sea some fifteen years 
 ago. And now tell me, in heaven's name, when, where 
 and how did it come into your daughter's possession?" 
 
 "This is strange, passing strange, Mr. Clifford," replied 
 my uncle, " for this handkerchief was round the neck of a
 
 1 84 WOODBURN. 
 
 beautiful child, about two years old, who was rescued from 
 the waves after a furious storm, one morning some 'fifteen 
 years since, off the coast of Florida, by the master of a 
 small fishing smack. The child was tied to a bit of broken 
 mast, and had evidently been dashed about for some time, 
 as she was quite insensible and almost drowned when saved 
 by the fisherman. The wrecked ship went down just as 
 the little fishing vessel was putting out to sea for the rescue 
 of those on board. All the passengers were supposed to 
 be lost, and with the exception of some three or four of the 
 crew, who escaped in a life-boat, that fair child was the 
 only remnant left from all that freight of human life. Dil 
 igent search was made, but no clue to the little girl's 
 parents could ever be obtained, and at last, supposing them 
 to be certainly lost, the old fisherman, McAlpine, adopted 
 that beautiful shipwrecked infant, and for two years it was 
 cherished by him and his wife, in an humble cottage, as 
 their own, when a curious chance brought her under my 
 care, and by me she was regularly adopted as a daughter. 
 The fanciful name given to her by that rough, warm-hearted 
 old sailor, because he had picked her up out of the sea so 
 pure and so fair, was never changed for still we call her 
 Pearl." 
 
 Mr. Clifford, who" had listened with rapt and breathless 
 attention to this narrative when the narrator paused 
 grasped his hand convulsively, and gasped out in a broken 
 whisper:
 
 THE CHRISTMAS-TREE. 185 
 
 "I see. Oh ! yes it is all very clear to me now there 
 remains not the shadow of a doubt upon the fact, that your 
 adopted daughter is oh ! merciful God, how almost im 
 possible it seems my own long lost child ! No wonder she 
 is so like Olivia 1" and he sank down in a chair, breath 
 less overpowered. 
 
 Some half an hour after they had left us, Uncle Dun- 
 bar returned and whispered something to Pearl, who imme 
 diately rose and left the room with him, prepared for 
 something startling, but (as she told me afterwards) totally 
 unaware, until folded in Mr. Clifford's arms, (when the 
 story was quickly told) that in him was found her long lost 
 father. 
 
 She did not return to join the company again, for the 
 meeting of a father and daughter, dead to each other 
 during almost the whole of her young life, was too sacred 
 for other eyes than those whose love had been to her in 
 place of that lost parent and no one save them not even 
 Cecil Clare saw Pearl again that night. Aunt Kate 
 (who was sent for by my uncle soon after he led Pearl 
 away) returned with her cap, if possible, in rather a more 
 remote position on the back of her head than usual, and 
 her dear, good, honest eyes quite red from weeping. She 
 described it as such " a touching scene," yet trying to 
 look cheerful, and to answer in her pleasant, blunt, Scotch 
 fashion, to the best of her ability, the endless questions put 
 in rapid succession by that wonder-stricken assemblage of
 
 186 WOODBURN. 
 
 guests. Cecil Clare was visibly agitated, and left with his 
 mother almost immediately after hearing this most singu 
 larly romantic story, the particulars of which must of 
 course remain unknown until Mr. Clifford should be suffi 
 ciently composed to relate them. Indeed, after Aunt Kate 
 finished distributing the presents our Christmas party 
 broke up, not sadly, but wonderingly and all, very 
 naturally, on the qui vive to hear a story, the late episode 
 of which was so " uncommonly novel like," as Aunt Kate 
 said. Dear old lady ! what a perfect twitter she was in, 
 and how her nervous fingers did twitch and work ; now 
 arranging her spectacles, and now giving that nondescript 
 cap of hers a spasmodic jerk, until at last she ended by 
 bringing it on a line perpendicular with her eyebrows, 
 producing an effect more original and ludicrous than be 
 coming for Aunt Kate was not handsome, and her rather 
 quaint, peculiar style of adornment rather served to 
 heighten the effect of her large features and angular figure ; 
 but then she was so thoroughly good, and sensible, and 
 true, that those who loved her scarcely marked her plain 
 physique, and I could not help thinking what a fine sub 
 ject there would be for some great painter when my beau 
 tiful sister, while restoring that queer specimen of a head 
 dress to its proper place upon the cranium of this living 
 example of spinster perfection, (with an amused expression 
 that would flash out of those expressive eyes as she peeped
 
 THE CHRISTMAS-TREE. 187 
 
 at me over the old lady's head) kissed her so gently, so 
 kindly, saying : 
 
 "Good night; don't fret about losing Pearl, aunty, for 
 I know Mr. Clifford will never take her away from you." 
 
 And so we left, and so ended that Christmas eve which 
 had furnished us such large material to speculate upon 
 until the whole truth should be revealed. 
 
 The storm had abated, and as we drove through the gate 
 a gentleman dashed by us on horseback. It was Mr. Clif 
 ford ; for the startling revelation of that evening had left 
 him too much absorbed and too deeply agitated even to 
 think of handing Ethel into the carriage ; and not until 
 we, who were the last to remain, had left, could he tear 
 himself away from that newly found treasure, the beautiful 
 Pearl, he had so mysteriously discovered under the shadow 
 of our Christmas-tree. 
 
 Pearl's guardian angel might have dropped a tear 'of joy 
 and love if angels are allowed to weep while bearing up 
 to God that night the holy incense of her prayer ; for it 
 was met by another as earnest and as pure. The spirits 
 of father and daughter mingled their thanksgivings ten 
 derly together before the throne of grace.
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 MR. CLIFFORD'S STORY. 
 
 "There's a Divinity that shapes our ends, 
 Rough hew them as wo may." SIIAKSPEABK.- 
 
 THE next day we heard the following remarkable story, 
 which I shall endeavor to render as nearly as possible in 
 the words of the narrator. 
 
 Lenox Clifford was the son of an English clergyman, 
 and remotely connected with a noble family. His uncle 
 having been a man of large fortune, now inherited by an 
 only son, delicate and dissipated, the uncertain life of this 
 profligate cousin only stood between him and an almost 
 princely inheritance. His father, with sound sense and 
 far-seeing judgment, being unable to endow his children 
 with fortune, spent a large portion of their moderate 
 means in securing for them fine educational advantages, 
 for he believed and a wise belief it is that a store of 
 mental wealth must eventually secure, at all events, a 
 more satisfactory position than heaps of treasure can com 
 mand for shallow brains or uncultivated minds. His only 
 sister was married, and with their widowed mother, now
 
 MR. CLIFFORD'S STORY. 189 
 
 resided in shire ; for Lenox Clifford had been called 
 
 home suddenly from college to see his father die. After 
 that, his education was completed in Germany and France, 
 for the purpose of acquiring both languages perfectly ; and 
 it was at Paris he met with the singular adventure which 
 became the opening chapter to his afterwards most roman 
 tic history. How mysterious and beyond control are of 
 tentimes the coming of events, whose denouement gives 
 rise to those real life stories, whose strangeness is so deeply 
 colored with romance ! 
 
 One night in returning to his lodgings, as Mr. Clifford 
 passed by a fashionable opera-house, from which the audi 
 ence had lately dispersed, he was attracted by a sudden 
 gleam of light flashing from something upon the pavement 
 before him, which, on closer inspection, proved to be a 
 bracelet, elegant and costly in design, for it shone a per 
 fect blaze of jewels as he raised it under the street-lamp ; 
 a serpent in form, and of such cunning workmanship that 
 it writhed between his fingers, for the delicate gold scales, 
 set with opals were all separate, causing it to twist about 
 and quiver like a living thing, while on the flat head 
 shone a large diamond, whose pure white light was in fine 
 contrast with those wonderful changeable scales and the 
 fiery flash of its ruby eyes. Underneath the head, and just 
 over the fine spring clasp, now broken which had evi 
 dently caused its loss in a quaint style of green enamel, 
 were the letters 0. L. What should he do with it ? At
 
 190 WOODBUBN. 
 
 present, nothing ; for to seek the owner of a lost trinket at 
 that hour, through the mazes of such a gigantic city as 
 Paris, would be worse than folly ; so depositing the fairy 
 thing safely in the inner breast pocket of his coat, Lenox 
 Clifford went his way, wondering as most young men in 
 similar circumstances would whether the arm was fair to 
 look upon, from which that rich bracelet had fallen or if 
 he should meet its owner, and where and when ? The 
 next day was spent in fruitless endeavors to find her, and 
 sorely perplexed at night, he went to the same opera- 
 house, still hoping, by diligent inquiry among those he 
 knew, to obtain some clue to the fair unknown ; but all in 
 vain. After leaving the opera, he went into an eating- 
 saloon, and while taking his supper, overheard detached 
 portions of a conversation which startled him into close at 
 tention, accompanied by a resolve to thwart a most villan- 
 ous scheme, then, and there, revealed to his astonished ears. 
 The speakers were only divided from him by a cloth parti 
 tion, or screen, and were either ignorant of his proximity 
 or carelessly free from the fear of being overheard. 
 
 "A priest," exclaimed the first speaker, "I hate the 
 very name, Orliff, my sudden fit of sanctity was only put 
 on as a plea to accomplish my plan of getting to Paris ; I 
 have always been "determined to break away from the 
 cursed quiet of a monastic life, and now, when the fire of 
 a fierce uncontrollable passion is consuming me, the temp 
 tation becomes stronger than ever. You have promised to
 
 ME. CLIFFORD'S STORY. 191 
 
 serve me, and now is the time, for my determination is un 
 alterable. Olivia Lacy shall be mine ; fair means have I 
 tried in vain, and now" here the other speaker evidently 
 expostulated with him in an undertone, so that "exposure, " 
 " detection," "penalty," were the only words Lenox Clif 
 ford could hear distinctly, and then the first speaker re 
 plied angrily, 
 
 " Your cursed cowardice shall not snatch this prize from 
 me, there are others to help me through if you back out, 
 and cowardice it is, Orliff, for your conscience,'we know, 
 is not large enough to be troublesome," and he* laughed, a 
 reckless coarse laugh, u my secret is very safe with you, 
 however, whether you help me through this little affair or 
 not, no fear of your betraying me, no, no, we both know 
 too much of each other's private history to try that game, 
 don't we, old fellow ? But you won't back out now, to 
 morrow is Friday, and in the evening she goes alone about 
 twilight from the con well then, to madam" 
 
 "Hush, Henrique," said the other, " you may be over 
 heard." 
 
 "Well, home to her aunt's, then," he resumed, in a 
 lower tone but this way is by far too much frequented 
 for me to attempt forcing her off there by violence no, 
 we must use stratagem, and I have a plan all arranged, 
 which is almost sure to succeed. To-morrow afternoon, 
 before the time she generally leaves, a handsome carriage, 
 which I have hired and which you are to drive, must be
 
 192 WOODBURN. 
 
 sent to the convent in haste, with a message from Dr. Le 
 Branch (the name was almost whispered, yet loud enough 
 for him to catch the sound) to Miss Lacy, begging her to 
 come at once to her aunt, who is extremely ill ;" your- 
 pretty little nephew can act as footman, Orliff, and deliver 
 the message well, as whatever you tell him he believes is 
 right, and on this occasion he must not have a suspicion 
 that he is acting a part. The girl's impulsive nature will 
 induce her to go at once, and then you must drive in the 
 right direc^on until nearly there, when turning suddenly 
 
 into the Rue , stop for a moment I will jump in 
 
 and stifle her cries so quickly and effectually that you can 
 drive on out of the city without fear of detection." 
 
 An involuntary cough from Lenox Clifford just at this 
 moment betraying his close proximity, the rest of their 
 conversation was carried on in whispers, from which he 
 could only glean an occasional word, yet were these suffi 
 ciently significant to reveal all the horrors of that infamous 
 plot. 
 
 " On board the steamer." " Can say she is mad" 
 " pass for my wife" "Florence, 'till I am tired of her." 
 
 It was enough and the young Englishman vowed in 
 wardly, not only to thwart their vile plot and save the 
 innocent girl, of whom he knew nothing, save that her 
 name was " Olivia Lacy," but also to bring Henrique and 
 his more cautious companion, Orliff, to justice, and there 
 fore when they rose to depart, he did so likewise, deter-
 
 MR. CLIFFORD'S STORY. 193 
 
 mined to have a look at these men whom it might become 
 necessary for him to identify hereafter. 
 
 Orliff was tall, sallow, vulgar and hard-looking to a 
 degree of fierceness ; yet there was a look about his eyes 
 indicating cunning caution, while Henrique was coarse, 
 thick set, with that bold, sensual expression, so often 
 acquired by young men of gentle birth, who, defying 
 the authority of parents and the laws of God, give way 
 with daring recklessness to their worst passions. Little did 
 those scheming villians dream as Lenox passed them, that 
 their dark plot was in the keeping of this young stranger 
 who had the strength and will to thwart it. 
 
 Olivia Lacy ! the name had a strange connection in his 
 mind with something what was it ? And Lenox Clifford 
 sat dreaming over this adventure in the solitude of his 
 chamber too much excited to sleep for hours after his 
 return. 
 
 At last the letters enameled on that dainty bracelet 
 found at the door of the opera-house, and for whose owner 
 he had sought so diligently, flashed before him for in the 
 absorbing interest of this late adventure, it was for the 
 moment well nigh forgotten. The initials made no parti 
 cular impression upon him, until thus, as it were recalled 
 by the sweet name so freely spoken, by the sensual lips 
 of Henrique. And then he drew out the glittering trinket 
 to find those delicate letters corresponding with that name. 
 It was a curious coincidence, and yet the same initials
 
 194 WOODBURN. 
 
 might suit a number of names. So he began with that 
 unaccountable perversity by which the human heart and 
 mind delights in perplexing itself, to enumerate all the 
 female names he could imagine, begining with 0. L. 
 Ophelia Lyman, Orphia Laton, Octavia LeRoy together 
 with every other probable and improbable name that could 
 be thought of, and at last settling down to a firm convic 
 tion that the initials on that identical bracelet, belonged to" 
 no other than Olivia Lacy, and therefore he must strive to 
 find her out on the morrow, (even were she immured within 
 the walls of a convent, or guarded by some fierce old uncle 
 or aunt, always more formidable than parents,) return the 
 trinket as a pretext for seeking her, and then should his 
 conviction prove correct, reveal the plot of Henrique and 
 Orliff ; or if this failed, the street must be watched where 
 Henrique was to jump into the carrriage, and the intended 
 victim rescued, even were it at the risk of his life ; and 
 with that determination young Clifford slept, to dream of 
 ruffian priests, glittering serpents and Olivia Lacy.
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 THE RESCUE. 
 
 " What news is this that makes thy cheek turn pale, 
 And thy hand tremble f " LONGFELLOW. 
 
 UNFORTUNATELY Mr. Clifford had failed to hear the 
 name of the convent or school where Miss Lacy was, as 
 the cautious Orliff had interrupted Henrique, so as to 
 render what he said regarding it entirely indefinite, but 
 youth is sanguine and the great difficulty of not knowing, 
 or even having an idea in what direction to turn, while 
 thinking over his plans for her rescue at night, never 
 occurred to Lenox, and indeed, until fairly started upon his 
 adventures in search of this fair unknown, he failed to 
 realize the uncertainty of such an undertaking, for seeking 
 after a person to be found somewhere in Paris, is well 
 nigh as perplexing, though less dangerous, than threading 
 the mazes of the Cretan labyrinth. Whither should he 
 turn ? The Sacre Coeur was in high repute, and if at a 
 convent at all, perhaps she might be there ; at all events 
 he would inquire. So forthwith to the Sacre Cc&ur he 
 went first, and calling for the Mother Superior, was
 
 196 WOODBURN. 
 
 speedily ushered into %the presence, or rather partial 
 presence for an iron grating rose between them of a 
 tall white nun, so cold and stately in voice, manner, and 
 appearance, that she cast a chill upon him, such as one 
 might imagine to come from sailing under the dismal 
 shadow of an iceberg. 
 
 "Miss Lacy," she replied, iti answer to his inquiry as 
 to whether there was such a young lady under her care; 
 " yes, there is a girl of that name among our scholars 
 but are you a relation of hers, for it is only a plea of near 
 relationship which induces us to allow one of your sex to 
 see a young lady under our care." 
 
 "I am a stranger to the lady," he replied; "in fact, 
 have never seen her ; but having found a bracelet, which 
 I am induced to believe belongs to her, I am anxious to 
 see Miss Lucy for the purpose of restoring it ; and then, 
 by an odd chance, I happen to be in possession of certain 
 information of great importance to her." 
 
 .Che tall, white nun hesitated a moment, and then said, 
 
 "lean receive the bracelet though she seldom goes 
 out, never wears trinkets, and therefore it is almost impos 
 sible the bracelet you refer to can be hers, though perhaps 
 I may be mistaken, and will ask her, communicating the 
 information you have at the same time, as our scholars are 
 allowed no secrets from us ; will this not answer Miss 
 Lacy is engaged with her lessons." 
 
 " No, I would rather see her, or, if that is impossible,
 
 THE RESCUE. 
 
 can you not direct me to some friend or relative in the cit; 
 the bracelet I might send, but the communication is of 
 vital importance, and must be explained in person, either 
 to the lady or some one deeply interested in her welfare." 
 
 "T am, of course, interested in her," said the holy mo 
 ther, in a piqued, cold tone of voice, "yet, if you insist 
 upon it, the girl may have an interview with you in my 
 presence," and she swept haughtily away. 
 
 Restless and impatient, young Clifford waited her return, 
 for time -was wearing away, and she might not, after all, 
 be the Miss Lacy referred to by Henrique ; he had a diffi 
 cult, nay, almost impossible task before him, and but a 
 short time in which to accomplish it. What was she like ? 
 And straightway he began drawing ideal pictures of Olivia 
 Lacy, making her a perfect angel of beauty though was 
 it not quite as likely that she possessed only good looks, 
 nay, indeed, might be positively ugly ? 
 
 " No | his reason and heart both responded, this is 
 scarcely possible ; for such desperate risks are not apt to 
 be run by hardened villains like Henrique for homely 
 women ; and indeed even good men are not often apt to 
 resort to extreme measures, be they ever so lawful, in order 
 to gain possession of the plainer specimens of the feminine 
 gender. He walked up and down the room for nearly half 
 an hour, unable, in his present excited and impatient state, 
 to sit still ; and believing that revenge for his unwilling 
 ness to trust her had incited the frigid looking nun to keep
 
 198 WOODBURN. 
 
 him waiting thus, caused his reflections concerning her to 
 be none of the most amiable ; and though we know Mr. 
 Clifford was good, he rather admitted, when recounting 
 this narrative, that, while striding up and down that dis 
 mal room, he did not bless the stately white devotee, and 
 could he by one wish have utterly annihilated her, I am 
 afraid that holy presence would 'have appeared to him no 
 more. 
 
 But at last she came, followed, not by the vision of 
 beauty Lenox had conjured up, but by a little, sallow, 
 white-haired girl about fifteen, with red rings round her 
 eyes, and drawing back shyly, as if alarmed at the prospect 
 of seeing a stranger. This yellow complexion turned almost 
 green in its paleness, as advancing close to the grating the 
 young stranger saluted her politely, though in truth well 
 nigh dumb with astonishment and disappointment. Draw 
 ing out the bracelet, however, he presented it to her, say 
 ing, 
 
 "Miss Lacy, I found this near the door of the opera 
 house, and presuming from the initials it might be yours, 
 came here to inquire." 
 
 A look of wonder and admiration lit up the cold eyes of 
 the tall, impassive nun even, as they fell upon the match 
 less splendor of that jeweled serpent, and the sickly- looking, 
 red-eyed girl, starting back, as if frightened by the writhing 
 snaky motion of those opalescent scales, exclaimed, in a 
 little, squeaking voice,
 
 THE RESCUE. 199 
 
 " Oh, mercy ! that's not mine ! I never owned a jewel in 
 my life never an ornament save this," touching the cross 
 and rosary about her neck, "and a bracelet made of the 
 hair of all my sisters and brothers, and father and mother, 
 and Uncle John, and Aunt Maria, which fell off my arm 
 the last time we went walking with Sister Cecilia ; so I 
 thought maybe that it might be that you had found," and 
 putting her handkerchief up to her face, the sallow young 
 lady began to sniffle, and rub her eyes, giving vent to 
 sundry and divers sentimental little sobs, at the sight of a 
 valuable bracelet in place of the variegated, hairy ornament 
 she had described. 
 
 "It is . rather queer that there should be two Olivia 
 Lacys," said Mr. Clifford, who, though provoked beyond 
 measure, could scarcely help laughing at the absurdity of 
 the scene. 
 
 "Mon Dieu!" squeaked out the little woman; "my 
 name is not Olivia ; who said it was ? my name 's Anna 
 Maria Lacy !" 
 
 " I thought you told me Miss Olivia Lacy was one of 
 your pupils!" exclaimed Lenox, almost in a tone of fury, 
 turning upon the holy mother a look full enough of fire to 
 melt this monastic iceberg, if anything could ; and a spark 
 of his anger was reflected by an answering flash from hers, 
 as she answered, 
 
 " Young man, you asked for Miss Lacy, without giving 
 her first name, hence this foolish mistake v.as your own
 
 200 WOODBURN. 
 
 fault, not mine. Anna Maria, you may return to your 
 lessons. Sir, I presume our interview is at an end, " and 
 she bowed slightly, as if giving him a signal to withdraw. 
 
 True, he remembered now in the excitement and anx 
 iety of the moment, he had failed to give the whole name, 
 for his mind was full of one Miss Lacy, and he never 
 thought, until aggravated by loss of time, that there might 
 be another. 
 
 " I beg ydur pardon," he stammered out, quite ashamed 
 of his late wrath ; "I remember, now, it is all my own 
 fault truly, and I regret having troubled you." Saying 
 which he hastily withdrew, and soon found himself sorely 
 perplexed again, wandering about the streets of Paris. 
 Several other convents were visited, and then some of the 
 first boarding schools, but no Miss Lacy could he find, and 
 at last, weary and dispirited, with the day far spent, he was 
 on the point of abandoning the search, and determined to 
 go alone with the first policeman who would credit his 
 story, and watch the street indicated by Henrique as that 
 where Orliff should stop the carriage, when suddenly re 
 membering the name of Dr. Le Branch, as .the friend and 
 physician who it was 1 to be pretended had sent for Miss 
 Lacy, he determined to try and find that person, learn 
 from him where to find her, or, if too late for a warning, 
 prevail upon this gentleman to go with him, and attempt 
 at least the rescue of the deluded girl : for Lenox Clifford 
 felt a strong conviction that Henrique's plot was artfully
 
 THE RESCUE. 201 
 
 contrived, and would scarcely fail to succeed. After va 
 rious unavailing efforts, he was at last directed to the office 
 of a physician of that name, and where, though almost con 
 stantly engaged he might be found ; but it was then after 
 noon, and he trembled at the thought that, even did he find 
 Dr. Le Branch, it might be, alas ! too late to save Olivia 
 Lacy : yet still he would make this last effort, and, if 
 again defeated, go alone to the Rue . 
 
 This time he was successful, however, in finding the 
 gentleman he sought for no sooner did he say (after in 
 troducing himself) : 
 
 11 You are, I believe, a friend of Miss Olivia Lacy," 
 than the fine benevolent countenance of Doctor Le Branch 
 lit up pleasantly, as he replied : 
 
 " Yes, I have the happiness of being numbered among 
 her friends, having been for many years a particular friend 
 of her grandfather and her aunt, Madam Armond." 
 
 " For God's sake come with me then, at once, and 
 quickly too," said the young Englishman hastily, " if you 
 would save her from a fearful danger, worse than death, and 
 catching hold of the astonished stranger, he hurried him 
 into the street, saying : 
 
 " We must not loiter a moment, and you shall hear my 
 story as we go along." 
 
 So completely was he absorbed in relating Henrique's 
 plot to gain possession of Miss Lacy, that the bracelet he 
 had found and the coincidence of the letters upon it, cor-
 
 202 WOODBURN. 
 
 responding with her initials, was for the time forgotten, 
 and without going into particulars regarding his adventures 
 of the morning, Mr. Clifford simply stating that all his 
 endeavors to find the young lady had proved fruitless, ex 
 pressed an overpowering fear, (as they hurried onward,) 
 that those two villains had already succeeded in accomplish 
 ing their dark scheme, and ere then perhaps Olivia Lacy 
 might be in their power beyond the reach of assist 
 ance. 
 
 The excitement of both became so intense while dwelling 
 upon such a possibility, that after stopping for a moment 
 to secure the company of a policeman, (a necessary and wise 
 precaution,) their rapid walk merged into a run upon 
 
 nearing the locality indicated by Henrique, where Orliff 
 
 > 
 might expect to find him. At last, weary and almost 
 
 breathless with fear and fatigue, they neared the corner of 
 the Rue where they saw a boy (perhaps twelve years of 
 age) looking with eager curiosity at a carriage some con 
 siderable distance up the street, and driving furiously in 
 an opposite direction. Lenox Clifford comprehended the 
 whole in a moment, and felt quite sure this same lad was 
 the " pretty little nephew " Henrique had appointed to act 
 as footman to Orliff. 
 
 "We are too late." exclaimed the doctor, "poor, dear 
 child ! but be quick," he said, turning to the policeman, 
 " we must pursue them ; bring the lightest carriage and 
 the swiftest horses you can find, and he poured some gold
 
 THE RESCUE. 203 
 
 into the man's hand, while Lenox going up to the boy, 
 asked him : 
 
 " Why he was watching that carriage so earnestly, and 
 who was in it ? " 
 
 " Mister Henrique," replied the child, (looking up in 
 innocent wonder,) " he's gone off to be married with, Oh ! 
 such a beautiful young lady. I thought she was going to 
 her aunt's until just now, when Mr. Henrique jumped into 
 the carriage, and then Uncle Orliff, who is driving (for 
 he's a great friend of Mr. Henrique), winked at me, and 
 laughed, and said : 
 
 " ' They are going to run off together, you can jump 
 down now, and don't tell anybody,' and I would' nt only 
 may be you're her brother, and I've heard mamma say it was 
 wicked in young girls to run off from home to be married, 
 but don't tell on me and I will tell you something " put 
 ting his lips up to Mr. Clifford's ear, 
 
 " When Mr. Henrique got in and slammed the carriage 
 door the young lady screamed, (just as I was jumping 
 down,) and I said : 
 
 "Poor thing! uncle, what makes her do that? and he 
 said, ' She's screaming for joy, she's so glad to see him,' 
 and then he cracked his whip, and the horses dashed away 
 so fast, you see they are nearly out of sight. Please don't 
 tell Uncle Orliff I told you anything about it, or he will 
 be very angry ; and he's kind to me, and gives me nice 
 clothes and good things, but I wish he had'nt been mixed
 
 204 WOODBURN. 
 
 up with this matter, for spite of what he said, I don't be 
 lieve the lady wanted to go, or she would'nt have screamed 
 like that." 
 
 "No she did not you are a bright boy, take this," 
 (giving the child a coin,) " and be warned by me to keep 
 out of your uncle's way, and Mr. Henrique's too, for they 
 are both wicked men, and will teach you no good." 
 
 The boy hung his head, and went off looking pale and 
 frightened, just as the light chaise they had sent for came 
 dashing up when the three set off in full pursuit of 
 Henrique's carriage, which was now entirely out of sight, 
 and must be mor$ than two miles in advance of them. On, 
 on they sped for two hours, following the fresh tracks, 
 yet fearing, at every cross road, that the fugitives had 
 turned off, and thus were escaping, though wherever they 
 inquired the same answer met them : 
 
 " A carriage closely shut and driven very fast had gone 
 by about three-quarters of an hour before ; " and so they 
 dashed on out beyond the city limits where the road 
 turned off from the river Seine in a southwesterly direction, 
 when suddenly the policeman (who was driving) drew up 
 vrhere three country roads branched off from the highway, 
 and they paused a moment, perplexed to know which to 
 choose, (for two showed signs of being recently traveled,) 
 deciding at last in favor of the one which appeared most 
 unfrequented, and evidently led towards a lonely broken 
 district. Another hour's hard riding brought them in
 
 THE RESCUE. 205 
 
 . 
 
 sight of a forlorn looking- house, that might once have 
 been a way-side inn, but now sadly dilapidated, weather- 
 stained, and apparently uninhabited ; it presented no very 
 inviting appearance as they drew up to it, determined if 
 possible to find some one on the premises, who might give 
 information regarding the objects of their pursuit and 
 besides the jaded horses must have rest before continuing 
 their journey. 
 
 As they approached near enough to obtain a closer view 
 of the surroundings, though windows and doors were 
 closely shut, the keen eye of the policeman detected, by 
 the uncertain light for dusk had overtaken them a close 
 carriage standing underneath a broken shed near by, 
 while the flicker of what might be a solitary candle shone 
 through the black slats of an upper window shutter. 
 
 " We have caught our game, I fancy," he whispered, 
 jumping down and motioning us to alight, by a broken, 
 zig-zag path that led up to the door, over a slight decliv 
 ity, and then he pointed out the carriage, which evidently 
 could not belong to such a dismal looking establishment ; 
 but there were no horses near it. 
 
 " Be quiet and cautious," he continued, " for such wily 
 birds are swift of wing, and may escape us even yet ; for I 
 am satisfied they are here, feeling secure against pursuit in 
 such a dark nest." 
 
 Catching the reins round an old post, he signified that 
 the doctor and Mr. Clifford should go up stealthily to the
 
 206 WOODBURN. 
 
 front, while he crept round to the back door of the house, 
 from which it was most likely the two men would strive to 
 escape, when advised of our presence. Kntwing the des 
 perate characters they were to deal with, all three of them 
 were of course armed, as Lenox Clifford, having under 
 taken an uncertain adventure in the morning, concealed a 
 small dirk and pistol ahout his person, and the doctor, to 
 whom he left no time for arming himself, in their sudden 
 departure, had heen provided with a pistol by the police 
 man. 
 
 So stealthy was their approach, that no alarm could 
 have been taken by those inside, at all events until they 
 had gained their respective positions at the back and front 
 doors, and even the gentle knock Mr. Clifford gave was 
 not calculated to excite alarm ; it was repeated rather 
 louder before a dark elfish looking face was protruded 
 through a window, which at last was cautiously opened, to 
 the right of the door, and its owner, apparently a girl of 
 some fifteen years of age, said, in a surly, half sleepy tone 
 of voice, 
 
 " Who be ye, and what do ye want here !" 
 
 " Travelers," was the reply, " we are weary, and want 
 some supper." 
 
 " Well, it's not here ye'll get the likes of that," said the 
 girl bluntly, for there's nobody here but me and granny, 
 and she's gone to bed, and we don't keep a tavern no way, 
 so you'd just as well go on," and the dark, blowsy head
 
 THE RESCUE. 207 
 
 was partly withdrawn, when the doctor arrested her atten 
 tion and hand at the same time (for she was about closing 
 the shutter,) by holding out a gold coin, of which her 
 eager eye caught sight in the twilight, as he said, 
 
 "We will pay you well for even a glass of water, and 
 water for our horses, if you will let us come in for awhile, 
 if granny's asleep, she won't mind, and we'll be very 
 quiet, come now, open the door." 
 
 And he held up the tempting bait again, which her cu 
 pidity could not resist ; and making a motion for them to 
 be very quiet, she closed the window cautiously, and in a 
 moment was heard withdrawing the bolt and unlocking the 
 door. 
 
 So soon as they stood face to face with this gypsy-like 
 lassie, the coin was slipped adroitly into her hand, as the 
 doctor and Lenox Clifford edged their way into the pas 
 sage, for she held the door, as she had the window, only 
 half open, and was evidently half frightened at what she 
 had done, after they were fairly inside ; observing which, 
 and seeing they were quite alone with the girl, as the pas 
 sage doors leading into other rooms, and also the back 
 door, were close shut, Mr. Clifford whispered, 
 
 "You have other visitors. Where are they?" 
 
 The large, lazy looking eyes dilated in evident terror, as 
 she replied, hurriedly, 
 
 " No, we a'nt; there's no soul around, except me and 
 granny."
 
 208 WOODBURN. 
 
 "Does your granny keep a fine carriage, then?" he 
 continued, half inclined to laugh at the absurdity of such 
 an idea, " for we saw one under the shed, and hark ye, 
 girl, we know there are three people here now, though you 
 are taught to deny it two men and a young lady, who 
 was taken from home against her will, and whom we are 
 here to protect ; show us where she is, and you shall be 
 liberally rewarded, and protected against your granny's 
 anger and that of the men by us ; refuse, and we will not 
 only find her we seek in spite of you, but afterwards you 
 shall go to prison." 
 
 The last word either startled, or the hope of gain 
 tempted her into obedience, for laying her finger on her 
 lip, she led them into a great, dreary looking room, where 
 there was no light save a few flickering embers on the 
 hearth. 
 
 " Hush," she whispered, " for granny's asleep in there 
 (pointing to another door), and he's there, too (the one 
 that drove), drinking brandy. Oh, I know they'll beat 
 me for letting you in," and the dark girl began to tremble 
 as we approached the door. 
 
 " Go outside, then, and hide in the shed behind the car 
 riage, until we tell you it's safe to come back, only first 
 tell us where the lady is and the other man." 
 
 " Way up in the third story, you'll see a light through 
 the crack of the door, and the stairs lead up from that 
 room there," (pointing in the same direction.) She left them
 
 THE KESCUE. 209 
 
 hastily, and they heard her shut the front door softly on 
 going out. Peeping in through the empty keyhole into 
 the next room, they saw a man before the fire, near a table 
 whereon was a bottle and tumbler, from which he had 
 doubtless been quaffing potent draughts, now having their 
 effect, for he was asleep in his chair; and no sooner did 
 young Clifford's eyes rest on him than he recognized the 
 tall, dangling figure and sallow visage of Orliff. 
 
 " Go, open the back door, and beckon in De Lon," said 
 the doctor, " for this chap must be left in his keeping, and 
 the old woman kept from howling, until we seek Olivia 
 and deal with Henrique. Mon Dieu ! it makes me sick to 
 think we may be too late to save her from infamy." 
 
 In another moment De Lon (the policeman) was with us, 
 and then softly unclosing the door, his strong hand fell on 
 Orliff 's shoulder, and the words, " you are my prisoner," 
 were hissed in his ear before he awoke. Startled and 
 astonished, and jumping up with an oath, demanded by 
 what authority we were there? But his potations had 
 been strong enough to unsettle his equilibrium if not his 
 mind, for, staggering backwards, he was soon forced into 
 the chair" again beneath De Lon's powerful grasp, who said 
 hurriedly : 
 
 "We are three to one; it is useless to resist." For 
 Orliff was evidently striving, in a half-drunken, fumbling 
 style, to feel for some hidden weapon. 
 
 "It's just as I said," he drawled out, (hiccoughing be-
 
 210 WOODBURN. 
 
 tween his words) " damn Henrique's folly ; let me go," 
 and he made a spring forward. But the strong hold was 
 only relaxed long enough to get out hand-cuffs, while, 
 with our assistance, he was secured before the old hag, 
 designated as " granny," and who was snoring on a narrow 
 cot in a far corner of the room, awoke and gave a shrill 
 screech which must "have sounded throughout the house, 
 and fearing that Henrique, alarmed thereby, might make 
 his escape, young Clifford and the doctor bounded up the 
 dark, tottering stairway, leaving De Lon to guard Orliff and 
 silence the old woman. The stairs were narrow, and in 
 some places so dilapidated as to be almost unsafe ; but by 
 .striking a match or two they gained the third story speedily, 
 and when on the last step, heard a voice, as if in agony of 
 despair, cry out : 
 
 "Help! Oh God!" 
 
 Then there followed a struggle, and ere they gained the 
 door (through which a light was visible) a sharp, angry 
 cry, as if wrung from a man by severe pain, rang out, as 
 Henrique, who no doubt by this time heard their footsteps, 
 (yet hoping to escape) burst through the door and .strove 
 to rush past them, but was caught and held between those 
 two strong men as if in a vice, while the light, streaming 
 through that open door, served to reveal a great stream of 
 blood pouring down from a deep cut in his face, just under 
 the right eye. This severe depletion doubtless rendering
 
 THE RESCUE. 211 
 
 his resistance less determined than it would otherwise have 
 been. 
 
 By this time (having secured Orliff in a closet below 
 stairs) De Lon had hurried up to their assistance, and pro 
 ceeded to shackle Henrique, who swore fearfully, heaping 
 curses on them and on "That damned little fury;" by 
 whom he of course meant Olivia, while they in ' turn 
 were wondering how she had managed to wound him so 
 severely ? 
 
 " Secure those two villains in the close carriage at once, 
 De Lon," said the doctor, " and prepare for our departure. 
 You can drive them to prison, while we take the poor child 
 home, dead or alive for perhaps he has killed her." 
 
 And as he hurried on with Lenox into the room, Hen 
 rique was taken down by the policeman. 
 
 As they entered that dismal chamber, where a fearful 
 stillness had reigned since Henrique rushed out, the sight 
 that met them was truly appalling for there, on the floor, 
 in one corner of the room, lay Olivia Lacy bespattered 
 with blood, her very lips white as those of a corpse, while 
 the great length of her black hair (having fallen down 
 during her struggle with Henrique) served to make that 
 rigid, marble-like paleness more striking. For a moment 
 those two men, free from all personal fear, stood so horror- 
 stricken at the sight they could neither move nor speak 
 for the same conviction possessed them both that she was 
 dead, murdered by that fiend in human shape ; as she did
 
 212 WOODBURN. 
 
 not stir, and the blood looked so frightful all over her 
 bosom and light dress, they supposed it must be flowing 
 from some fatal wound he had inflicted, forgetting for a 
 moment the cut in his face which had bled so profusely. 
 
 At last they lifted her senseless form on to a ragged old 
 sofa bed almost the only furniture in that forlorn room 
 and in doing so, her right hand (hidden as she lay on the 
 floor by her thick black hair) being displaced, relaxed its 
 rigid hold and something fell from it, striking the floor 
 with a ringing sound like metal, and when Mr. Clifford 
 picked it up, to their great astonishment it proved a costly 
 Spanish stiletto of fine workmanship, the handle inlaid 
 with gold and gems, while the delicate keen blade was now 
 blood-stained. 
 
 Had she stabbed herself? 
 
 No, there was no wound and as the doctor (now re 
 gaining his usual presence of mind) felt her pulse, he 
 exclaimed, joyfully : 
 
 " She has only fainted." 
 
 And then, while they bathed her lips and face with cold 
 water, she gradually revived, but when at last her dark 
 eyes opened it was to gaze on them with a look of fright 
 ened wonder, for her senses were evidently wandering and 
 unsettled by terror and intense excitement, so much so the 
 doctor feared a violent attack of fever as the result. 
 
 Ere they drove away from that wretched house the 
 elfish face, with its uncombed locks, was upturned to
 
 THE RESCUE. 213 
 
 them, wearing a look of pallid terror, as the dark girl 
 pleaded : 
 
 " For the Blessed Virgin's sake that she and her granny 
 might not be sent to prison. She thought the gentleman 
 and lady was going to be married, and did not know there 
 was any harm in letting them stay awhile." 
 
 The promise was given that they should not suffer for 
 the present offence ; but Mr. Clifford said, after seeing the 
 supposed groom and his friend put in irons and taken off 
 to prison, he fancied the cunning damsel and old crone 
 would be very careful in future how they entertained wed 
 ding guests ! The ride home was long and sad, for Miss 
 Lacy continued wild, or almost insensible by turns, from 
 which and a certain peculiar odor about her clothes, Dr. 
 Le Branch felt convinced that previous to her struggle 
 with Henrique she must have been for some time under 
 the influence of chlorofwm ; perhaps the villain had used it 
 during their flight to stop her screams. Nothing further 
 could be known, however, until her mind was clear again, 
 and we were entirely at a loss regarding the stiletto, (so 
 opportunely in her possession,) and which she had used so 
 bravely. 
 
 On arriving a little before midnight at Madam Armond's, 
 they found her in a state of distracted fear about her niece, 
 who, failing to come at the usual hour on that (Friday) 
 evening, as was her custom, she had gone to the Catholic 
 academy, and there learning that Miss Lacy had left
 
 214 WOODBURN. 
 
 several hours before in a carriage sent by Dr. Le Branch 
 supposing her aunt to be ill (as that was the message) 
 Madam Armond sought the doctor, and not finding him, 
 feeling helpless, yet almost frantic at the thought of un 
 known and frightful dangers to which Olivia must be 
 exposed, she and many sympathizing friends had been for 
 hours engaged in making inquiries through the city, and 
 dispatching messengers in various directions to try and gain 
 some clue to the direction taken by the carriage in which 
 Olivia left but all efforts proved fruitless^ and when at 
 last Mr. Clifford and her old friend the doctor bore the 
 almost insensible girl into her presence, giving hurried 
 details of the danger from which they had rescued her, 
 Madam Armond (a handsome, regal looking woman, to 
 whom Olivia bore a striking resemblance) was perfectly 
 overcome by the horror of that peril, and the happiness 
 of its being partially averted and ^pivia saved by a total 
 stranger, to whom the curious chance of supping at an 
 restaurant after the opera had revealed Henrique's plot. 
 
 And the stiletto, of it she knew nothing, and was not 
 aware that her niece ever carried one in fact, knew she 
 did not generally another singular incident which ap 
 peared providential.
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 WHERE OLIVIA LACY FOUND THE STILETTO. 
 
 ,, 
 
 *<8* 
 
 " You are too bold ' 
 Eetire I retire ! leave me ! LONGFELLOW. 
 
 THE severe, though not very protracted illness of Miss 
 Lacy prevented Mr. Clifford from seeing her for more than 
 a week after that dreadful night, though he went to inquire 
 for her daily, and soon became a favorite with Madam Ar- 
 mond, not only on account of the great gratitude she felt 
 for the inestimable ben^t he had rendered, but also for the 
 sake of an old friendship with his father and uncle, whom 
 she had known years before when they were in Paris. 
 
 Now, all this time Lenox said no word about the brace 
 let, for the more he looked at it the more certain he felt of 
 its belonging to none other than Olivia, and he became 
 gradually possessed with a desire to present it to her when 
 well enough to receive him, without her being informed of 
 its recovery even, and therefore he refrained from mention 
 ing it either to her aunt or the doctor, as they might wish to 
 please her by giving a hint about the costly trinket, over
 
 216 WOODBURN. 
 
 the loss of which she must have grieved no little, and thus 
 mar the innocently selfish pleasure he expected from the 
 surprise and delight she must naturally evince upon seeing 
 it suddenly restored to her. 
 
 At last they met. 
 
 In telling this story, Mr. Clifford entered into no descrip 
 tion of Miss Lacy's appearance, save to remark, 
 
 "Pearl is almost an image of Olivia, though slightly 
 taller, and with less olive in her complexion." 
 
 We needed not to be told that she was beautiful, for 
 even had Pearl resembled her less, the miniature heretofore 
 spoken of, must have put to rest all doubt upon the subject. 
 
 And then, upon that first meeting, Lenox Clifford pre 
 sented Miss Lacy with a superb bouquet of exotics, among 
 the rich flowers of which he had wreathed the opal snake 
 so cunningly that, as she took it from his hand, those 
 jeweled scales^ quivered, and the fa|Jy he had been nursing 
 of how the girl's delight and astonishment were to reward 
 him as the finder of that beautiful bauble, was fully realized, 
 for no sooner did her eyes rest upon it than she ex 
 claimed, 
 
 " Oh, Mr. Clifford! where did you find my dear, lovely 
 bracelet ? What can I ever do to repay you, first of all, 
 for saving me from that vile Henrique Lorraine, and now, 
 for bringing back this !" and she kissed the glittering 
 snake as it shone among those rare flowers. " Grand-papa 
 sent it to me last autumn, on my eighteenth birthday ! Oh,
 
 WHERE OLIVIA LACY FOUND THE STILETTO. 217 
 
 how many a bitter tear have I shed since losing it at the 
 opera." 
 
 And they went on to talk of the very singular events, 
 all leading to their acquaintance, when, in referring to the 
 stiletto with which she had wounded Henrique in the face, 
 Miss Lacy said, 
 
 "The peculiar circumstances leading to my possession 
 of it, you will find almost the queerest part of what is cer 
 tainly altogether a very remarkable affair. This villain, 
 Henrique Lorraine, who I am told belongs to quite a good 
 family in Madrid, and came here under the pretence of 
 studying for the priesthood, forced his acquaintance upon 
 me at the Catholic Academy, where I have been for some 
 time devoting myself to the languages and music, and on 
 several occasions, when here at home with my aunt, he has 
 sent me bouquets, and the most absurd love-letters, which 
 coming during my absence, I could not of course return, 
 being entirely ignorant as to where he might be found, and 
 our servants never even saw the messenger, who, after 
 ringing the bell, left the basket and letter in the vestibule. 
 At last one morning, when my aunt was out, and I had 
 just come in from driving, this impertinent man, present 
 ing himself hi person, told the servant he wished to see me 
 a moment on particular business, when, being quite igno 
 rant who was calling for me, and supposing it might be 
 some of the trades people, I ordered the man to show him 
 in recognizing too late this same Henrique, whose atten- 
 
 10
 
 218 WOODBURN. 
 
 tions had for some time been annoying me almost to perse 
 cution. The moment we were alone he commenced giving 
 utterance to the most frantic protestations of love, swearing 
 he had given up all thought of assuming holy orders for 
 my sake, and was determined to make me love him ; when, 
 finding all my powers of persuasion were vainly wasted in 
 endeavors to rid myself of this troublesome visitor, I rang 
 for the servant, and, after saying very quietly, 
 
 "Mr. Lorraine is going show him to the door," left 
 the room. This conduct I thought would most certainly 
 free me from further annoyance, but it failed to do so, for 
 he continued to seek me in various ways, and one night, a 
 short time before the loss of my bracelet, at a large fancy 
 mask-ball I attended at Madam 's, on which oc 
 casion my costume was that of a lady belonging to the 
 Spanish noblesse, soon after entering the room, I found 
 myself closely followed by a Spanish hidalgo, whose short, 
 thick-set figure reminded me of Henrique, though at first 
 I only fancied it to be a resemblance, the thought of his 
 really being there never occurring to me. 
 
 As the evening wore on, however, seeking the first op 
 portunity of my being alone, he asked me to dance, in a 
 voice so well disguised, that I assented, feeling curious to 
 find out who the mask, by whom I had been so constantly 
 pursued, could be. Knowing me to be acquainted with 
 Spanish, young Lorraine had always spoken to me in that 
 language, and while we were dancing, this mask conversed
 
 WHERE OLIVIA LACY FOUND THE STILETTO. 219 
 
 in French, and in the voice, as I believed, of a stranger. 
 When the dance was over, we walked into a conservatory, 
 where he decoyed me by a promise to relate something 
 very agreeable, and finding his company rather amusing 
 than otherwise, I did not object, feeling that there was 
 something quite interesting and piquant in a little flirtation 
 with this mysterious personage, who, when we were there, 
 did not leave me long in ignorance of his name, and upon 
 finding myself again alone with Henrique, I would have 
 made a precipitate retreat. 
 
 Provoked and annoyed, I upbraided him with deceiving 
 me, at the same time telling- this impertinent neophyte 
 that I believed his presence at the ball an intrusion, feel 
 ing confident he had never been invited. 
 
 Now all this was calculated to make him very angry, 
 but he either did not heed my animadversions, or was de 
 termined to try and gain my ear and overcome my aver 
 sion by pouring forth his protestations of love once more, 
 and imploring me at least to allow him the privilege of 
 visiting me, as it was his determination to quit the country 
 in any event. 
 
 I turned to leave him in the midst of this absurd rhap 
 sody, and more irritated than I had been on previous oc 
 casions even, told him to desist at once and forever, as his 
 love was not only unrequited, but that I despised him ; 
 when, catching hold of my dress in a frantic manner, he
 
 -220 WOODBURN. 
 
 pulled me back, and snatching out a stiletto from his gir 
 dle this causing me to cry out with alarm said, 
 
 " Here, kill me don't be frightened, I am not going 
 to murder you stab me, I cannot, will not live without 
 you." 
 
 " Let me go," I exclaimed, tearing myself from his 
 grasp, "or I shall call for assistance," and as by this time 
 we heard voices approaching, he rushed past me with a 
 muttered curse, dropping the stiletto in his hasty retreat, 
 which I picked up and concealed, passing out through an 
 other door into the dancing room before the persons whose 
 voices we had heard, entered the conservatory; for I 
 dreaded the idea of my interview with Henrique being 
 known, feeling sure he was there without an invitation, for 
 the purpose of seeing me, and therefore, I caught up the 
 stiletto, fearing, if discovered, it might lead to an expose 
 of the whole affair, and determined, with my aunt's advice 
 and assistance, to return it to him at the earliest possible 
 opportunity. Madam Armond was not at the ball, how 
 ever, as I had gone in company with some friends, and the 
 night we went to the opera, when I lost my bracelet, there 
 was no opportunity of speaking to her on the subject of 
 Henrique's interview with me ; but on that Friday after 
 noon we all remember so well, I had the stiletto in my 
 pocket, intending to give it into my aunt's keeping, until 
 it could be returned to the owner. You know the result, 
 and how, when that wicked, unscrupulous man, who kept
 
 WHERE OLIVIA LACY FOUND THE STILETTO. 221 
 
 me stupefied with chloroform during the ride, and after 
 telling me in that dismal room I must and should be his 
 wife, strove to throw his arms around me, in desperate 
 terror, I thought of the stiletto his stiletto, then in my 
 pocket, and drawing it out adroitly and suddenly, as he 
 approached near enough, I stabbed him in the face, thus 
 causing him to retreat in a fury of pain when you came 
 to my rescue. Had you failed to find us had he dared to 
 touch me again if unable to wound Henrique more 
 fatally, the stiletto should have been buried in my own 
 bosom." 
 
 It was, indeed, the most singular part of her story, that 
 the weapon of this wicked man, almost a bauble in beauty 
 and size, dropped in his hasty flight from Olivia's presence 
 at a ball, for fear of detection and exposure, should thus 
 be turned against him by her, in that trying moment when, 
 apparently, she was so entirely in his power, knowing of 
 none near upon whom she could call, save God, for mercy 
 and protection. 
 
 It is often thus. His Almighty wing overshadows us in 
 the dark hours, and oftentimes, events attributed by short 
 sighted, thoughtless mortals to chance, unto trusting and 
 believing hearts wear the halo of an answered prayer ! 
 
 r
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 MB. CLIFFORD'S REWARD. 
 
 " In that stillness 
 
 Which most becomes a woman calm and holy, 
 Thou sittest by the fireside of my heart, 
 Feeding its flame." LONGFELLOW. 
 
 " OH, Mr. Clifford, how can I ever repay you ?" 
 
 Lenox remembered those words, and a few weeks after 
 wards, when they knew each other very well and had been 
 much together, he reminded Olivia of them, and in a 
 whisper told how the debt she estimated so highly might 
 be canceled. 
 
 And it was so, even as he wished. 
 
 For Madam Armond favored his wooing, and her influ 
 ence must insure the consent of Olivia's grandfather, old 
 Mr. Lacy, who resided in Cuba, and was a planter of great 
 wealth, to be divided between his only surviving daughter, 
 Madam Armond, and the orphan child of his only son, 
 who at the age of fifteen he had taken to Paris, that her 
 education might be completed and perfected, while at the 
 same time she could receive a mother's care and love from 
 her aunt at the period of life when a girl stands most in
 
 MR. CLIFFORD'S REWARD. 223 
 
 need of such fostering tenderness. Mr. Clifford had been 
 made quite independent since his father's death by a legacy 
 from the uncle for whom he was named, and hence felt no 
 shrinking pride in asking the hand of an heiress which, 
 had he been really poor, that sensitive nature of his would 
 have chafed under, and which must have done battle fiercely 
 with, ere it yielded to his great love. Indeed, with my 
 knowledge of Mr. Clifford's character, I believe had he 
 not felt independent of Olivia Lacy's expected fortune, she 
 would never have been his wife. 
 
 Upon this part of the story he did not dwell ; perhaps 
 because his heart was now filled with another love, and all 
 refined, sensitive natures shrink from reviving memories 
 calculated to bring into comparison a dead with a living 
 passion ; for even though it may have been as fervent and 
 as perfect, yet, as time steals on, memory flings a misty 
 shade over that starry lamp, which at first a yearning affec 
 tion keeps lit and trimmed in its ceaseless vigil by the 
 grave of our buried hopes, until at last the heart, grown 
 cold mid dreary dreamings o'er the past, weary with linger 
 ing in the shadow of a great gloom, seeks real joy amid 
 the present; and then, flooded with a new delight, rejoicing 
 in a new love, we shrink from turning back to liken it with 
 the old, which must seem pale and dim by such comparison, 
 as the dust of withered flowers blown over the roses of 
 Spring I 
 
 Lenox Clifford and Olivia Lacy were married with the
 
 224 WOODBURN. 
 
 full consent and blessing of all those who loved them, and 
 after a brief visit to his mother in England, they left for 
 Cuba, as one of Mr. Lacy's conditions in consenting to 
 their union was that during his life their home should be 
 with him. The course of their love ran on with unwonted 
 smoothness, and a fairer home than the one to which they 
 were welcomed, surrounded as it was by all the beauties 
 and luxuries of a tropical clime, cannot be imagined ; 
 while old Mr. Lacy (unlike the many wealthy sires or 
 grandsires who take a selfish, fretful pleasure in thwarting 
 and annoying the young 'people whose misfortune it may be 
 to form a part of their household) was a father not only in 
 word, but in spirit and deed, to those who had come for his 
 happiness and gratification as well as their own. 
 
 In somewhat less than a year after their marriage, a 
 beautiful little daughter was born, and for a short time the 
 young parents were supremely blest in the absorbing 
 pleasure of this newly found happiness, which served to 
 fill their cup of joy almost to overflowing. 
 
 "But pleasures are like popples spread, 
 You seize the flower its bloom is shed ; 
 Or, like the snow falls in the river, 
 A moment white then melts forever; 
 Or, like the borealis race, 
 That flit ere yon can point their place ; 
 Or, likft the rainbow's lovely form, 
 Evanishing amid the storm." 
 
 For Olivia Clifford was suddenly seized with that deadly 
 fever which has left so many infants motherless, and in a
 
 MB. CLIFFORD'S REWARD. 225 
 
 few days spite of all that fond affection, tender care and 
 medical skill could accomplish the death angel entered 
 their home of love and beauty, and passing hence, bore 
 away the treasure whose loss left it darkly desolate. 
 
 Mr. Clifford did not dwell, long either on this dreary 
 season of bitter woe. So sacred and so long hidden, no 
 wonder he hurried on with his story. 
 
 Human hearts are tough, and can bear heavy burdens ; 
 they are not so easily broken as poetasters and novelists 
 would have us believe ; and moreover, when plunged from 
 off the rosy, elysian steeps of happiness down into the 
 uttermost gulfs of misery, bravely do they battle with the 
 black and turbid waters of despair ; and though ofttimes 
 sorely wounded, still live on. Lenox Clifford could not 
 remain in Cuba, where everything served to recall a beau 
 tiful past, now hopelessly lamented; so committing his 
 infant daughter whose tender age rendered it both diffi 
 cult and dangerous to remove her to the care of Mr. 
 Lacy and a faithful nurse, he left for New York, deter 
 mined to try and dissipate his gloom amid the cares of 
 business; and then (should he chance to reside there), in 
 a year or two he might return and take the little Olivia to 
 his northern home. 
 
 The child grew in strength and beauty, the delight of 
 her old grandfather's eyes and heart, who wrote frequent 
 accounts of her marvelous loveliness to the absent father. 
 
 A man loves his young child, as a part of the mother, 
 10*
 
 226 WOODBURN. 
 
 when lie sees it pure and innocent upon her bosom ; but 
 should the mother die, the charm of that babe's existance 
 for the time to him is broken as he cannot fail (in a meas 
 ure at least) to regard it as the cause of his mighty grief, 
 the loss of his heart's idol ! But when time has softened 
 this sorrow, when (if absent as Mr. Clifford was) he hears 
 of his infant's beauty, that its baby lips have learned to 
 lisp "papa," how the great, strong man yearns towards his 
 little one, yearns to hold it to his heart, and feel the soft, 
 fresh cheek pressed close against his own. And thus it 
 was, after two years, Lenox Clifford longed for his little 
 Olivia, and was on the point of going to Cuba for the pur- 
 post of bringing her back with him, when detained by 
 pressing and unexpected business. 
 
 Finding it might be impossible to leave New York for 
 several months, having some friends in the island, who 
 would shortly return, and to whose care he felt quite sure 
 the little girl, with her devoted nurse, might be trusted, 
 he wrote Mr. Lacy, stating the cause of his detention, and 
 begging he would send the chikLwith those friends, promis 
 ing at the same time, so soon as his business affairs were 
 satisfactorily arranged, to take her back to Cuba for the 
 winter. The letter was received, and the child was sent. 
 But alas ! for the eager expectation of that young father ! 
 While his heart was still smarting under the keen blow, 
 which had left it so lonely when that new longing to see 
 Olivia's child had so lately sprung up within his heart,
 
 MB. CLIFFORD'S REWARD. 227 
 
 like the first sweet violet of hope from the grave of a 
 buried love, the half healed heart was made to bleed 
 afresh, the frail bloom of reviving hope was withered, for 
 Vhomme propose et Dieu dispose, and that ill-fated ship 
 in which little Olivia and her nurse had sailed with Mr. 
 Clifford's friends, was wrecked in a frightful storm, just 
 before day, on a reef of rocks, near the Everglades of 
 Florida. Vainly did the anxious father watch for its com 
 ing, and unwilling to believe the terrible tidings (brought 
 by the next vessel) that the "Southern Wave" was 
 wrecked and all her passengers lost, Lenox Clifford still 
 clung to the hope that some might possibly be saved, and 
 among them his child, until at last, part of the crew from 
 that doomed ship reached New York, having escaped in a 
 life-boat, and from them he heard the fearful, final tidings 
 that every one of the passengers, old and young, had 
 perished ; indeed, one of those rough old tars, wiped away 
 a tear, as he quenched the last ray of hope in Lenox Clif 
 ford's bosom, by relating how he had vainly endeavored to 
 
 
 
 save the French nurse and her beautiful little charge, 
 when the woman's frantic cries for help, as the ship was 
 going down, attracted his attention, and he saw her with 
 the child lashed to part of a broken mast, striving to keep 
 it above water. 
 
 Shouting for her to " hold on," he quickly seized the 
 wreck again, and was about springing forward to her as 
 sistance when there came another crash, as of breaking
 
 228 WOODBURN. 
 
 timbers, and he saw both nurse and child swept off together 
 by a great wave, after which they had scarcely time to 
 clear their boat away from the wreck before the water 
 closed over it. 
 
 "What use was there in hoping on, or making further in 
 quiries after hearing so clear and conclusive an account of 
 his child's fate? 
 
 Mr. Lacy, overwhelmed with grief by this new loss, 
 could not remain among scenes closely associated with 
 Olivia and the infant he had loved so fondly for her sake ; 
 and shortly afterwards (selling out his rich possessions 
 near Havana) he went to reside with his daughter Madam 
 Armond, in Paris. 
 
 After the supposed loss of his child, Mr. Clifford, leav 
 ing this country, traveled for several years over Europe, 
 and then in the East, until, weary with wandering, he went 
 to rest with his mother and sister in England. 
 
 While there, news reached him of the failure of certain 
 parties in New York, by whom he lost largely, and upon 
 returning thither to try and save the balance he found 
 scarcely enough left to live upon comfortably. After 
 struggling on for a few more years, finding himself almost 
 poor, and longing for change, he had suddenly determined 
 to remove to the southern states, when my father's adver 
 tisement for a teacher caught his eye : and so it was that 
 Lenox Clifford came to Woodburn. 
 
 The sequel to this thrilling narrative was my Uncle
 
 MB. CLIFFORD'S REWARD. 229 
 
 Dunbar's account of how he chanced to adopt Pearl, for 
 such was still to be her name, her father insisting that hav 
 ing received it under such very remarkable circumstances, 
 it should not be changed, not even for that of her mother. 
 
 The fisherman, McAlpine, married a Scotch woman, who 
 had served in the Dunbar family for a long time, and hence 
 retained always a claim upon their kindness, for they were 
 attached to the dame. My uncle resided on a plantation 
 in Florida, when McAlpine rescued Pearl, who was in 
 their humble cottage on the coast two years before the Dun- 
 bars ever saw her ; but about that time the old Scotchman 
 and his wife formed a sudden fancy for removing to New 
 Orleans, and then it was they took " their wee winsome 
 leddy," as they called her, out to the Dunbar plantation, 
 with a request that Miss Katy would have a care for the 
 bairn until such time as they were settled, when the old 
 fisherman would come for her. 
 
 Right gladly did they receive the lovely little stranger, 
 to whom ere long they became so fondly attached, that my 
 uncle, who, soon after the McAlpines left, sold his Florida 
 property, and determined to remove to Elgin, on their 
 way thither, sought out the fisherman in New Orleans, and 
 begged permission to adopt the child, giving her his name, 
 and treating her in every respect as a daughter, even to 
 making her fortune equal with Victor's. 
 
 This was a sore trial, for these humble people loved her 
 well ; but the honest, kind-hearted Scotchman hearkened
 
 230 WOODBURN. 
 
 not to the selfish love standing as it were between Pearl 
 and a good fortune, and saying, 
 
 " May the Lord Almighty bless you, sir, for this : it's 
 far better that a gentle child be raised by gentle folks, and 
 she's a born leddy if ever there was one. May angels 
 keep her." 
 
 McAlpine gave up the Pearl a capricious fate had drifted 
 unto him, to those who could afford a richer casket for so 
 fair a treasure , and thus it was she came at last to be the 
 Pearl of Elgin, and now a double heiress, for, by old Mr. 
 Lacy's will, who, when Mr. Clifford came to Woodburn, 
 had been dead several years, she must inherit half his large 
 estate in right of her mother the will having never been 
 altered as Madam Armond's wish was that Mr. Clifford 
 should inherit from his daughter ; and directly after Mr. 
 Lacy's death she wrote him to that effect, insisting he 
 should claim the fortune of his child, as his by every law 
 of right and nature ; but Mr. Clifford very promptly and 
 positively, yet most gratefully, declined to do so, for he 
 was very proud, and feeling that all such ties, at least be 
 tween himself and the Lacy's, were broken by the loss of 
 his wife and the little Olivia, he was unwilling to accept, 
 what, to his sensitive nature, would have appeared a gift 
 of wealth from them. 
 
 Now, however, it was his duty to inform Madam Ar- 
 mond of his lost daughter's restoration, of course claiming 
 for her Olivia's share of the estate ; and this was done at
 
 ME. CLIFFORD'S REWARD. 231 
 
 once, in a letter giving full details of Pearl's romantic 
 history. 
 
 Mr. Clifford assured the Dunbars he had no wish to re 
 move their darling ; and even if obliged to leave the neigh 
 borhood for a time, his daughter's engagement to Cecil 
 Clare would prevent his taking her from the home and 
 adopted parents, so dear to her. Pearl had ever felt a pe 
 culiar reverence and love for Mr. Clifford, which now be 
 came so absorbing that she was restless when separated 
 from him, and, after the Christmas tree, spent much of her 
 time at Woodburn. 
 
 What wonder that such a father should be prized ! 
 
 What wonder that the finding of such a Pearl should 
 make that father almost bovetous for a while of his newly 
 found treasure.
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 RELATING TO SEVERAL THINGS. 
 
 " May yon be happy In your wish, my Lord ! 
 For I profess you have it." SHAKSPEAKE. 
 
 TIME wore on and a year from the time of Mr. Clif 
 ford's arrival at Woodburn, found him still there, our be 
 loved teacher and friend prized more and more highly as 
 we knew him better. 
 
 It was beautiful to see the clinging, tender devotion be 
 tween Pearl and her father, yet not one iota of the old, 
 childish love for the adopted parents of her infancy had 
 been lost, but rather mingling with this new affection, 
 while no taint of suspicion or jealousy was ever stirred in 
 any one of those trusting hearts, their feelings, and sym 
 pathies, blended harmoniously as the prismatic colors in a 
 rare gem, all alike warm and beautiful, and each appearing 
 by contrast to enhance the brightness of the other. Madam 
 Armond had written most earnestly affectionate letters to 
 Pearl, urging her to come and spend at least a year in 
 Paris, but the true-hearted girl could not be tempted away 
 (even by such an alluring invitation") from the man to
 
 RELATING TO SEVERAL THINGS. 233 
 
 whom she had pledged herself, and would only promise 
 that perhaps, after her marriage, which would not take 
 place for at least a year yet, that Mr. Clare might take her 
 abroad, and then they would be most happy to visit her 
 aunt. 
 
 Pearl was still slightly lame, but recovering rapidly. 
 
 Victor's late letters had made us all rejoice over the 
 happy change in his mood, for they were quite cheerful, 
 and particularly since his arrival at Florence. From this 
 latter place I had received two, which, though still ad 
 dressed to "dear little coz," were so affectionate, I stole 
 off by myself to read, re-read, and linger over those beau 
 tiful missives. 
 
 ' Foolish, dreaming child ! I little knew then the charm 
 which was stealing over his existence, brightening and 
 softening that haughty, troubled heart. Would it had 
 been told me then for I was beginning to dream more 
 like a woman and less like a child ! 
 
 Wizard had become so docile, under Mr. Clifford's gen 
 tle training which neither man nor beast could resist 
 that I was able to ride him with safety, and had obtained 
 Victor's consent to keep possession of the beautiful favorite 
 until his master's return. Bang, too, was now my con 
 stant companion, Aunt Kate having needed very little 
 coaxing before resigning him to my care ; for with all her 
 kindness of heart and warm impulses, the dear old maid 
 felt no particular emotion of delight at beholding a great
 
 234 WOODBURN. 
 
 shaggy dog scampering over her handsome parlor carpets ; 
 and therefore, I fancy, she was not particularly distressed 
 when Victor's spaniel, at my earnest request, became one 
 of our family at Woodburn. 
 
 This constant association with the pets of "my absent 
 cousin was not calculated to wean my thoughts from dwell 
 ing on the wanderer for little things do serve to kindle 
 and feed a fire which, great and glorious in its burning 
 beauty, subsides over heaps of black and bitter ashes; while 
 the trembling vibration from a shepherd's rustic pipe may 
 unfix an avalanche whose headlong course is marked by 
 cold and dreary desolation ! 
 
 Rachel Thorn was on a visit, just about this time, to a 
 friend of hers and a very nice lady, by-the-by, who 
 knew only the sunny side of Rachel's nature residing 
 near the Glen, and we heard, through that most incorrigi 
 ble tattler, Archey, of her being frequently at Dr. Fos 
 ter's, the negro insisting upon it that they were to be mar 
 ried. 
 
 " Dars no kind of a doubt 'bout it, Miss Amy," he said 
 to me, "for de crazy creeter's been kept powerful close 
 since dat little white Oman's been about, and Gabe don't 
 get as many lickins (least-ways in day light, anyhow), for 
 ye see dat savage doctor's afeerd of skeering his sweet 
 heart," and Archey chuckled. 
 
 There had never been the slightest intercourse between 
 Dr. Foster and ourselves, since his refusal to come as a
 
 RELATING TO SEVERAL THINGS. 235 
 
 physician to Woodburn, neither had we seen or heard di 
 rectly from Rachel Thorn since she left us. Dr. Foster 
 still practised at Elgin and other places in the neighbor 
 hood, but the fact of his hunting his crazy brother with a 
 blood-hound made him so unpopular as a man, that per 
 sons generally had ceased inviting him to their entertain 
 ments, the house where Rachel Thorn was at present, being 
 among the very few where he was received on a friendly 
 footing. 
 
 Thus it was that matters stood, when one morning 
 early in June, Mr. Clifford received a letter which agi 
 tated him unusually, for his cheek paled and his brow con 
 tracted while reading it ; yet, after a moment's reflection 
 over its contents, after folding it up slowly and handing it 
 silently to my father, as he, Mr. Clifford, rose and left the 
 room, I fancied there was less of sadness in his eyes than 
 usual, though tears had dimmed them as he read the let 
 ter, and could not help wondering what news might be 
 therein contained, which, while it touched his heart, had 
 left a serene, nay, almost happy expression on his coun 
 tenance. 
 
 That evening, when returning from the far end of the 
 garden, where I had been gathering roses and jasmines for 
 the parlor vases, a startling, yet certainly not unlovely 
 tableau met my astonished eyes as I emerged suddenly 
 from a dark walk fronting the summer-house for there, 
 amid the drooping vines, sat Mr. Clifford, with his arm
 
 236 , WOODBURN. 
 
 but hold, I must not tell tales on my sister suffice it to 
 say, Ethel was there, too, near him, her beautiful head ra 
 ther less stately in its pose than usual, and (though my 
 eyes were withdrawn as quickly as possible, while I com 
 menced singing to warn them of my proximity), it evinced 
 rather an inclination to droop towards the neighborhood of 
 her companion's shoulder but maybe it was a mistake, an 
 optical delusion at all events when, as I turned off into 
 another walk, Ethel called me to her, upon joining them 
 I found her queenly, and in a state of superb repose, as 
 usual, though the delicate paleness of her complexion was 
 flushed with pink, causing even her brow and bosom to 
 glow like snow-fields beneath the reflection of boreal splen 
 dors, while in her eyes shone the light of a newly-found 
 happiness, making its starry deeps more lustrous than 
 ever. 
 
 And then I heard why Mr. Clifford had been so much 
 agitated by the perusal of the late English letter, for it 
 brought tidings of the death of his unfortunate cousin, 
 Robert Clifford, which could not fail to cost that feeling, 
 generous heart a pang of regret; for, though his course 
 had been dissipated, his life utterly unprofitable, yet they 
 were companions, playmates in boyhood, and Lenox retained 
 too much of the old kindly feeling to hear of his cousin's 
 death unmoved ; yet, with regret for the cause, there came 
 a great rush of joyful emotions. He was now not only 
 independent but wealthy enough to woo my sister without
 
 RELATING TO SEVERAL THINGS. 237 
 
 doing violence to the great pride of his nature, which ere 
 this had prevented his seeking her hand in marriage, 
 though it was powerless to prevent the outpouring of a 
 love too strong to be chained in dumb obedience to a proud 
 will ; for Ethel had known, since the day of Rachel's ban 
 ishment, that Mr. Clifford loved her. Fires cannot be 
 smouldered when constantly fed, and lovers who meet daily 
 are not apt to consume 'neath the tortures of unspoken 
 passion. 
 
 The chain his pride had forged was riven now, for he 
 could offer the lady of his love a home as well as a heart 
 worthy of her ; and so they were to be married soon, 
 " very soon," Mr. Clifford said, as he must go over to 
 England ere long, and wanted of course to take my sister 
 as his bride. 
 
 I felt bewildered it was so sudden ! so unexpected ! 
 Then the idea of Ethel's going far away from us, of losing 
 her as it were, overpowered me for the moment, and cling 
 ing to her I sobbed aloud, though partly for joy at her 
 happiness. 
 
 " Perhaps father will let you go with us, little sis," she 
 said ; " nay, maybe go himself, and take Ralph to finish 
 his education with you abroad. And then we might travel 
 through Europe, meet Victor, too, and who knows but he 
 would return home with you." 
 
 And she gave me a sly pinch on the arm. 
 
 Suggestions of so much pleasure proved a complete anti-
 
 238 WOODBUKN. 
 
 dote to my tears, now quickly dried and I felt very 
 anxious to begin at once preparations for departure. 
 
 Such is the exuberant temperament of youth, which, 
 alas ! we outlive too soon later in life tears spring not so 
 readily, and when dried, oftentimes leave traces upon the 
 heart bitter and burning, for the drops are like lava then, 
 which in life's morning were mingled with the sunshine of 
 hope, and spanned our future with an iris of expected joy ! 
 
 A happy circle was assembled in the Woodburn parlor 
 that evening for my father had heard all, and moreover, 
 when Mr. Clifford spoke of his newly acquired fortune, he 
 was assured the wealth thus unfettering his pride did not 
 gain the prize he sought, which, if sued for before, would have 
 been as gladly granted to him as now yet for the sake of 
 one whose qualities of mind and heart ha prized far beyond 
 worldly wealth, my father rejoiced with Mr. Clifford in 
 the fortune which had removed the only barrier between 
 him and the realization of his dearest hopes. 
 
 Ethel's suggestion that we should accompany them to 
 Europe evidently pleased my father, who said, laughingly : 
 
 " He was getting almost too old to travel so far, yet, 
 nevertheless, would take the matter into consideration." 
 
 And then we felt just as confident of going as if he had 
 said "yes" at once ; for whenever that dear, kind, gener 
 ous heart began to deliberate over matters appertaining to 
 his children (were their preferences known to him) he was 
 always sure to decide as they wished.
 
 RELATING TO SEVERAL THINGS. 289 
 
 Therefore when my sister's wedding-day was fixed for 
 the 10th of July six weeks from that time Ralph and 
 myself felt quite certain of leaving with the bridal party 
 for England, this conviction throwing us into a great state 
 of excitement and perfect flutter of anticipated pleasure, 
 as my brother had for some time been convinced of the 
 fact that his existence was altogether too valuable to be 
 expended in ceaseless pining over the disappointment of a 
 boy's first love. It is far better to philosophize than to 
 despond in such cases, and young hearts, in spite of what 
 sentimental writers would have us believe, are not so easily 
 broken as Sevre china. But a change and such a change ! 
 under existing circumstances, filled the poor boy's heart 
 with delight, and no wonder. 
 
 As to me, I cannot express the boundless joy filling me 
 up to overflowing, while this beautiful future dawned upon 
 me. To be Ethel's bridesmaid to go away with her to 
 their grand new home in England and then, oh ! crowning 
 joy ! to travel through the continent where Victor was, 
 and would surely join us ! it was too much, and the effer 
 vescence of my delight was as impossible to keep down as 
 it is to stop the frothing and sparkling of champagne after 
 the wires confining the cork are fairly cut. 
 
 Mr. Clifford had been over to see Pearl directly after 
 receiving that important letter, for she had such a near and 
 dear claim upon him now, he would not take even the first 
 step on the pathway to a new life without informing her ;
 
 240 WOODBUKN. 
 
 and, though, of course, it was a bitter trial for the sweet 
 girl so soon to lose her newly found father, yet as she had 
 decided her own destiny by choosing to remain at Elgin 
 the affianced wife of Cecil Clare what was there left but 
 for her to rejoice with that father in his great happiness ? 
 and this she did most truly. It was a pretty sight to see 
 them grouped together on that memorable evening, father 
 and daughter, with the radiant woman, who was soon to be 
 near as she was already dear to both, yes, to both, for Pearl 
 loved my sister too sincerely to be frightened by the pros 
 pect generally so full of terror (to young girls especially) 
 of having a stepmother. So we were all very, very 
 happy ; and as Pearl was to be brides-maid also, there fol 
 lowed, of course, a grand discussion about dress, etc. 
 
 A wedding is always attended with pleasant excitement, 
 especially to women-kind, and this one was so peculiarly 
 interesting the beauty of the bride elect, the unaccount 
 able fate which brought Mr. Clifford to Woodburn, the 
 singular romance of his finding in " Pearl Dunbar " a long 
 lost daughter, together with this recent inheritance of 
 wealth, converted him into a regular hero ; and the old 
 
 maids and gossips of N and its vicinity have never 
 
 entirely recovered from the unusual number of tea-fights 
 happening about that time, and where were discussed and 
 re-discussed " the wonders of Woodburn." 
 
 Ralph had a young friend, whose aunt, being a member 
 of this " venom club," he chanced to be present on one or
 
 RELATING TO SEVERAL THINGS. 241 
 
 two of these memorable occasions for a time, having gone 
 to escort the old lady home, and through him we heard 
 some amiable criticisms emanating from the Tipps school. 
 
 First Speaker. " Mrs. Linton's considered a great 
 beauty to be sure, but I never could see it, and she is 
 certainly passe now, but then Mr. Clifford's not particu 
 larly young either." 
 
 Second Speaker. " Well ! dear me, I only hope she'll 
 love him better than she did poor Arthur ; he was a bright, 
 handsome fellow." 
 
 Third Speaker. "And I have heard that all his dissi 
 pation was brought on (or at all events greatly increased) 
 by her absurd vanity and fondness for admiration." 
 
 First Speaker again. " It's a good thing for poor Miss 
 Clifford that she's going to be married, for the association 
 of such a vain, imperious step-mother would not do her 
 much good." 
 
 Second Speaker (chiming in). " Heigh-ho! and old 
 Percy, with that mad-cap son and smart young daughter 
 of his, are going abroad -with the Cliffords, I am told." 
 
 First Speaker (cutting in suddenly). "Yes, and 
 what a conceited little thing that Amy is ! I would'nt be 
 a bit astonished if she were to attempt to be literary, for 
 they say she wears slip-shod shoes now and wipes pens on 
 her hair." 
 
 Third Speaker (snappishly). "Well! if she isn't 
 
 obliged to write or teach before long for a support I shall 
 
 11
 
 242 ^_ WOODBURN. 
 
 be astonished, for they live as if they were worth a mint ! 
 and now going to Europe ! it would just serve them right 
 to find themselves poor one of these fine mornings ; people 
 deserve no better that spend money as if their cellars were 
 gold mines. I do declare it's outrageous ! " 
 
 The rank old venomites ! they might have bottled up 
 their spite for future use, had they known what was to 
 come, for the " wonders of Woodburn" were not ended. 
 
 Yet I fancy that stock of tea-party gossip was inexhaust 
 ible, and when occasion would chance to call out such 
 talents, they were doubtless ever ready to concoct a dish of 
 scandal, like the wierd sisters boiling their cauldron of 
 " hell broth." Poor old ladies ! if their tea was as strong 
 as their strictures their nights must have been somewhat 
 wakeful their sleep nervous and disturbed.
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 THE STORM AND RACHEL'S WARNING LETTER. 
 
 " Villain, thou know'st no law of God or man ; 
 No heart so fierce but knows some touch of pity. SHAKSPEAEE. 
 
 IT was a sultry, summer storm, the sun had gone down 
 in a great sea of lurid thunder clouds, which seemed seeth 
 ing with heat, as the lightning broke through them, now 
 in broad luminous flashes, and now writhing round those 
 great dusky storm billows like monstrous serpents of fire. 
 
 Ethel, Mr. Clifford, Ralph and myself were spending 
 the day at the parsonage ; Pearl, too, was there ; and now 
 the approaching rain must delay our return until after 
 dark. The lovers were engrossed with each other ; Ralph 
 was playing chess with Mrs. Clare, and being thus left to 
 amuse myself, I stood idly watching the glory of that ap 
 proaching tempest, with my forehead pressed against the 
 window-pane. 
 
 On came the rain, dashing, driving, pelting, pouring in 
 torrents upon the roof, and driven in by the wind, splash 
 ing great streams across the gallery floor. What a pleasant 
 feeling of security and comfort it gives one to be snugly
 
 244 WOODBURN. 
 
 housed, and look out from a cheerful room upon such 
 weather, and yet a tinge of sadness mingles with this feel 
 ing, inclining us to linger over past joys with a dread that 
 such may not return, rather than dwell upon present 
 happiness ; and while gazing out absently at the vagaries 
 of that summer storm, my mind reverted regretfully to the 
 pleasant days gone by, when the presence of one (now far 
 away) made Elgin and even home brighter to me instead 
 of exulting, as it had been of late, over the present antici 
 pated delight of meeting him in Europe for the one was a 
 lost pleasure, perhaps, to be no more, the other an uncer 
 tainty of the future, which might never be who can read 
 the mysteries of time to come, save God ? 
 
 And then, as the thought came over me that something 
 might yet occur to prevent our going abroad, and that Vic 
 tor might remain for years, perhaps marry there, I felt a 
 choking sensation in my throat, and a great hot tear dropped 
 down on my hand. It was brushed off hastily, and I strove 
 to think of pleasant things; for Mrs. Clare had ordered 
 lights, and I was ashamed, where all were happy, to be 
 seen with traces of tears upon my face. Sometimes unac 
 countable fits of depression, vented in a deep sigh, or one 
 overflowing tear, are the harbingers of grief to come, pre 
 saging a stormy time, of which these appear foreshadowing 
 clouds. 
 
 There were deep fountains of tears in my nature it was 
 well I should need them all.
 
 THE STOKM AND RACHEL'S WARNING LETTER. 245 
 
 More young cheeks would be furrowed, more young 
 heads gray, if the great relief of weeping were denied to 
 some natures ! 
 
 Oh, what a flash of lightning ! so vivid the whole yard 
 and lawn were illuminated, every object being thereby 
 made visible as at noonday ; and then such a stunning 
 crash of thunder, that, spite my curiosity to try and catch 
 another glimpse of the cowering figure I had seen by the 
 lightning hurrying up the lawn for it was a woman turn 
 ing hastily from the window, I buried my face in my hands. 
 
 After the frightful din of that storm-cannon had sub 
 sided, there was a death-like stillness for a moment through 
 out the room. I have frequently observed such silence 
 - following heavy bursts of thunder, even in the gayest as 
 semblies, caused by a sudden manifestation of the mightiness 
 of God's power, and leaving the reflection so full of awe 
 that one or more might have been laid low by the fury of 
 that fiery bolt. 
 
 " It must have struck, and near the house, too do go 
 out and see if it is not one of the large trees, Cecil," said 
 Mrs. Clare, as we all looked up into each other's faces after 
 that moment of intense and solemn stillness. 
 
 I followed him quickly out to the gallery, remembering 
 the woman I had seen running up towards the house, and 
 wondering who it could be. 
 
 The lightning had struck an immense hickory tree, mid 
 way between the gate and front door, some of the shivered
 
 246 WOODBURN. 
 
 splinters of which were still burning, when, attracted by 
 our exclamations, all the party ran out to look at it. 
 
 Then, catching sight of a dark object under the shattered 
 tree, I dashed down the steps and out of the yard, in spite 
 of the pouring rain ; for a horrid fear possessed me that 
 the person I had seen, whoever it might be, had been 
 struck, perhaps killed by the lightning. Ethel and Mrs. 
 Clare, being unaware of my fears, called out to know if I 
 were crazy ! and bade me come out of the rain ; but on I 
 ran, heedless of their call, followed by Mr. Clifford and Cecil 
 Clare, who had also observed that some one was lying un 
 der the tree. Our fears were not groundless, for there on 
 the wet grass, beside that shivered trunk, the top of the 
 tree having split off and fallen on the other side, lay the 
 prostrate form of a woman. * 
 
 I immediately recognized the bonnet and cloak, and ere 
 they had raised her motionless figure, I knew it was Rachel 
 Thorn. 
 
 " Merciful heaven ! is she dead?" I exclaimed, as my 
 eyes fell upon the white, rigid face of my cousin. 
 
 " Yes," replied Mr. Clifford, " quite dead no human 
 being could withstand the shaft that shivered this mighty 
 tree." 
 
 " Poor Rachel !" and I wept over the stricken girl as if 
 I had loved her, her faults for a time forgotten. I saw 
 only my cousin one with whom I had lived so many 
 years and then what heart can withhold a tribute of grief
 
 THE STORM AND RACHEL'S WARNING LETTER. 247 
 
 when thus brought face to face, unexpectedly, with the 
 grim presence of death sudden, instantaneous death. 
 They bore her to the house, where every remedy used on 
 similar occasions was resorted to, but all in vain the vital 
 spark was quenched forever. 
 
 Ethel, shocked and overwhelmed beyond expression, 
 reproached herself for having felt unkindly towards 
 Rachel, though surely no blame could be attached to her 
 after the manner in which our unfortunate cousin had 
 acted, and my sister was less vindictive in her feelings 
 even when she knew herself wronged than almost any one 
 I ever saw. We wondered why Rachel should have been 
 out in such a storm, and still more as to what could have 
 been the import of her mission to the parsonage ? 
 
 For after quitting Woodburn she had never visited any 
 of our friends, and though the lady she was with lived only 
 about half a mile from the Clares, Rachel had not been 
 there before. Her right hand was in the pocket of her 
 dress, and upon removing it we found the fingers closely 
 clasped around a letter, as if she had thrust it in there 
 cautiously when overtaken by the rain, to prevent its be 
 coming wet. 
 
 I seized the crumpled paper hastily, and glancing at the 
 direction, hoping it might throw some light upon the object 
 of that unaccountable visit to the parsonage when to my 
 astonished eyes it presented the following address : 
 
 "Mrs. Linton, Woodburn."
 
 248 WOODBURN. 
 
 But the contents startled us still more, for it ran thus : 
 
 b; 
 
 COUSIN ETHEL l[J ''. 
 
 I know you do not like^me, and no wonder, for I would 
 have wronged you, urged on by stronger feelings than per 
 haps you can imagine me as possessing. Thank God ! my 
 evil designs failed for so utterly am I appalled by the 
 aspect of wickedness ten-fold darker than any of my 
 imagining, that even the memory of my own deceit toward 
 you causes me to turn, shuddering, away from evil, and 
 long for strength to walk in the right path. 
 
 Ethel, Dr. Foster is your bitterest, most unrelenting 
 foe. He is meditating nay has been, for longer than you 
 dream of a plot to destroy your happiness. I have known 
 him long yet only lately, and quite by accident, has this 
 secret, which I would fain divulge, come into my posses 
 sion. 
 
 But when, in the horror of discovering it, I threatened 
 to reveal all to you, that black-hearted man bound me by 
 the most sacred and awful oaths not to betray him for if 
 so, he would kill me were it the last act of his life, and I 
 know Dr. Foster well enough to feel assured this was no 
 idle threat. 
 
 One thing I beg, which may save you great wretched 
 ness defer your marriage for awhile. Let Mr. Clifford 
 go to England now alone, and by the time he returns, per-
 
 THE STORM AND RACHEL'S WARNING LETTER. 249 
 
 haps before, some chance may reveal the secret I dare not 
 hint at more clearly. 
 
 You may think this another scheme to separate you from 
 Mr. Clifford ; but so help me God, I am sincere now, and 
 have earnestly prayed for strength to save you from a great 
 evil without perjuring myself. The letter and picture I 
 did place in your portfolio, thinking Mr. Clifford's first 
 impulse would be to leave you forever, after such over 
 whelming proof that certain statements I had made to him 
 were correct. Yet the letter was no forgery, and the 
 falsehood I appeared to tell was no falsehood, as you may 
 know, alas ! too soon. Do not let uncle go to Dr. Foster 
 about this letter, I implore you, cousin Ethel, and do not 
 by a personal interview try to wring this secret from me 
 for were you to succeed, no time or distance could ever 
 serve to hide me from his vengeance. 
 
 I am going North next week with Mrs. Davis, as gover 
 ness for her children, and being miserable both in memory 
 of the wrong I might have committed and from the bitter 
 burden of this fearful secret, I could not go without asking 
 your forgiveness, and that of all at Woodburn, hinting thus 
 dimly at the truth I dare not tell. 
 
 May God bless my efforts to atone thus meagrely for 
 evil, and save you from the vengeance of an unrelenting 
 foe, prays your 
 
 COUSIN RACHEL. 
 
 P. S. I shall run over this evening and ask Mrs. Clare 
 
 11*
 
 250 WOODBURN. 
 
 to deliver my letter to you, dreading to send, lest Dr. 
 Foster might in some way manage to foil me and get pos 
 session of it, for he watches me continually, and is crafty 
 beyond belief. Pray for me, Ethel, for you are pure and 
 good. Farewell ! be warned, and follow my advice. 
 
 K. T. 
 
 Poor Rachel ! what could she mean ? Had she gone 
 suddenly crazy ? How vainly both my sister and myself 
 tried to solve the mystery as we read, and re-read, that 
 enigmatical letter, while the strange being who had traced 
 those lines a few short hours ago, lay cold and dead before 
 us. 
 
 What should we do ? Ethel felt bound, of course, to 
 show it to Mr. Clifford, for surely they were equally in 
 terested in fathoming its deep meaning. But defer their 
 marriage ! Suffer him to go away without her ! How 
 could she do this, even should Mr. Clifford consent ? which 
 was most improbable. And how could Dr. Foster do 
 them any possible harm ? Surely Rachel's evident dread 
 of that fierce man must have caused her to overrate his 
 power. Thus it was we reasoned together, having taken 
 advantage of Mrs. Clare's temporary absence from the 
 room to peruse this warning letter, at last concluding to 
 say nothing about it, even to Mr. Clifford, until the fol 
 lowing day, save that it was a few lines of penitent farewell 
 from Rachel which she had intended asking Mrs. Clare to
 
 THE STORM AND RACHEL'S WARNING LETTER. 251 
 
 deliver to my sister. Mrs. Davis, who was really attached 
 to Rachel as my father had been having seen only the 
 brighter side of her character, was truly grieved at this 
 most awful event, and from her that very night we heard 
 some few interesting particulars regarding our poor cousin, 
 who it appears had been very low spirited for a fortnight 
 past, at the same time taking a curious aversion to Dr. 
 Foster, which was unaccountable ; as for the first week or 
 two after Rachel's arrival in the neighborhood they were 
 frequently together so much so, indeed, that Mrs. Davis 
 fancied they must be lovers ; but from Rachel's recent 
 dislike to him, was led to believe the Doctor had made 
 himself disagreeable and been discarded. 
 
 The afternoon of that fatal day she had been writing, 
 and coming down from her chamber after sundown, told 
 Mrs. D. that she would run over to the parsonage with a 
 note, which she wished Mrs. Clare to deliver, and though 
 warned by her friend of the coming storm as almost sure 
 to overtake her, the unhappy girl persisted in going, and 
 said she felt certain it would not rain before her return. 
 
 Such is fate ! 
 
 And Rachel met hers in trying to atone for past enmity 
 and bitterness by doing the woman she had envied, hated, 
 and sought to wrong, a kindness. 
 
 Two days afterwards, the very sad funeral of Rachel 
 Thorn took place, and we saw her laid in the family bury- 
 ing-ground at Woodburn ; wishing she had lived to endear
 
 252 WOODBURN. 
 
 herself to those who would fain have loved her long ago, 
 and regretting, as we always do so vainly over the dead, 
 no matter what may have been their faults that we had 
 not judged her less harshly, and that she had not lived to 
 shine forth in the new light breaking upon her, just before 
 it was quenched forever. 
 
 Perhaps 'twas better thus. She had prayed in peni 
 tence to be forgiven, and " there is joy in heaven over one 
 sinner that repenteth." So God called her away, ere yet 
 greater temptation might arise, and lead her footsteps 
 again wandering from the narrow pathway "leading to 
 eternal life." 
 
 Mr. Clifford was bewildered and troubled by that myste 
 rious letter ; yet could not imagine a probability of Dr. Fos 
 ter's enmity to Ethel, emanating from the spite of a discarded 
 lover, being replete with danger, as Rachel represented. 
 
 He said the poor girl's fancy was evidently distempered 
 by dread of this man, from some cause unknown to us, 
 she must have overrated his ability to injure them ; and 
 feeling sure his watchful love could guard Ethel from Fos 
 ter's wrath 3 he almost ridiculed the idea of postponing their 
 marriage. 
 
 Go to England without her ! Oh, it must not, could not 
 be and he earnestly implored my sister to dismiss that 
 part of the letter, at least, from her thoughts and she 
 strove to obey him, though from a dejected, worried look 
 she wore at times, we knew this mysterious communication,
 
 THE STORM AND RACHEL'S WARNING LETTER. 253 
 
 coming, as it were, from the dead, weighed upon her as a 
 presentiment of coming evil. 
 
 Yet still the wedding preparations went on, for the 16th 
 of July was now only three weeks distant. 
 
 Rachel Thorn's letter had never been mentioned to my 
 father, save as one of regrets for the past and farewell, be 
 cause we feared the dark hints of Dr. Foster's vengeance 
 might alarm him unnecessarily, or if based on reality, he 
 would be powerless to avert a danger to which there was no 
 tangible clue. 
 
 So sudden, fearful, and unexpected a death was, of 
 course, felt as a shock in our little community it is al 
 ways thus that such events affect a small and intimate 
 neighborhood ; and the thunder- clouds of after storms 
 looked darker and more full of danger to those who came, 
 as it were, under the immediate influence of Rachel's 
 mournful fate. 
 
 Days glided by, wedding dresses were made, wedding 
 presents ordered ; for thus it is, and thus must ever be, 
 that joys and sorrows follow each other over the same 
 thresholds, and when happiness appears almost within 
 our grasp, we turn not aside from pursuing it, though 
 the path be chequered with darkness, and ofttimes seek to 
 win and wear a panoply of earthly bliss, where even yet 
 the shadow of death is lingering.
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 THE KOOM WITH PRISON WINDOWS. 
 
 Upon that wild and boggard face 
 
 The warm light left no cheerful trace 
 Of gladness God's own sunshine there, 
 
 Seemed lost in darkness and despair ! 
 
 SHORTLY after Rachel's death, Ethel and myself hau 
 occasion one evening after spending the day at Elgin to 
 ride over to the cottage of a poor widow a protege of my 
 sisters formerly the wife of a gardener employed at 
 Woodburn, where she had lived with her husband for 
 several years. Her humble home now was on a remote 
 portion of the Elgin plantation, and just back of the Glen, 
 being only divided from Dr. Foster's garden fence by a 
 lane so narrow, that one standing in the cottage porch or 
 door might recognize persons in or about the Glen mansion. 
 We had never been to see Mrs. Slone until now, since Dr. 
 Foster's arrival in the neighborhood, and though the poor 
 dame was quite sick and had sent for us to come and 
 minister to her wants she dwelt so little upon her suffer 
 ing which always is a particularly pleasant subject for
 
 THE EOOM WITH PRISON WINDOWS. 255 
 
 ailing females of the lower class to expend their eloquence 
 upon, and was so inclined to gossip about the doings and 
 sayings over the way, that I was half tempted to believe 
 she wanted to see us simply because she coveted the pleas 
 ure of initiating us into the mysteries of the Glen ! 
 
 " I hope the neuralgia in your head is better, Mrs. Slone," 
 said Ethel as we seated ourselves near the invalid, who was 
 propped up with pillows in a great wicker chair, near the 
 front window, where her vigilant eyes were ever eagerly 
 on the watch, no doubt, for new wonders on her neighbor's 
 premises. 
 
 " Why, yes, I haven't been quite so poorly of late," she 
 replied, " but I'm made most awful narvous of nights by 
 the baying of that awful fierce brute across the way. It 
 makes a body feel in the night as if there must be a corpse 
 about to hear such a dreadful howling, and sometimes I 
 think that wicked doctor keeps dead people in his office 
 to cut up, and I can't sleep for fearing that maybe he'll go 
 and dig up my poor old man, who you know is buried in 
 the for corner of the Elgin bury ing-ground." 
 
 I saw a beam of mirth and mischief in Ethel's eye as 
 glancing at me she answered : 
 
 " Oh, I don't think that's the least likely, Mrs. Slone, 
 for you know doctors only want for subjects those who 
 have died recently, and your husband (if I mistake not) 
 has been dead three years." 
 
 "Well, sure enough now, I never thought of that,"
 
 256 WOODBURN. 
 
 chimed in the sick woman, "but you know, mam, ailing 
 folks will be narvous like, and then there's such wicked 
 doings forever going on over there that I've felt scared 
 like, and 'specially of nights, ever since that awful man 
 moved to the Glen." 
 
 " Why what harm do you think Dr. Foster can possibly 
 do to you, Mrs. Slone," I said, with a sly look at my 
 sister. 
 
 " Nobody can tell what a wicked man. who has dealings 
 with the Evil One, may do at any moment, miss," she re 
 plied quickly, " a man that keeps his crazy brother shut up 
 on bread and water, and then when he gets out sometimes 
 for the madman's dreadful strong hunts him with that 
 horrid bloodhound ' Wolf; ' they say the beast tears his 
 flesh too, when he catches the poor suffering creature ; and 
 oh ! then, miss, Dr. Foster beats Gabe almost to death 
 every time he lets the crazy man out ; this I know, for I 
 can hear the licks, and the poor nigger/s cries for mercy, 
 both plain enough ; gracious ! how glad I should be if 
 Gabe would turn on his savage master some day and kill 
 him ! " 
 
 " Don't wish that," said Ethel, " for then the unfortu 
 nate negro would be hung, and some other roughly treated 
 in his place ! try and not think so much about these things, 
 it does no good and if your neighbor is so very wicked, 
 he will doubtless be punished in God's own time. I hope 
 this medicine will be of service to you, Mrs. Slone, and the
 
 THE ROOM WITH PEISON WINDOWS. 257 
 
 jelly and fruit may be a pleasant variety to your every day 
 diet. Come, Amy, we must be going." 
 
 I arose at Ethel's bidding ; but the poor wOman, laying 
 her hand gently on my sister's arm, said, in a pleading 
 voice : 
 
 " Do, please, stop a few minutes, mam, for I must tell 
 you something I accidentally overheard, which makes me 
 think (from some cause or other) that Foster is a bitter 
 enemy of yours, and means to do you evil if he can ; this 
 is why I sent for you to come, and have been trying to get 
 a chance to speak out about it ever since you got here, but , 
 I'm slow and stupid." 
 
 Ethel turned so white at these words, I feared she would 
 faint, and said (almost angrily) to Mrs. Slone : 
 
 " We don't care what Dr. Foster says and he can't 
 harm us so please don't repeat his spiteful sayings. 
 Come away,, sis." But Ethel reseated herself, and rebuked 
 my quick manner by saying : 
 
 "Amy, she means kindly, and if what Dr. Foster said 
 in her hearing concerns me, it is surely right I should 
 know it." 
 
 " Yes, miss," rejoined the widow, " for you know how 
 much I think of you all, and especially Miss Ethel, who 
 has been like an angel to me ; and when I heard that awful 
 man say what he did, it made me sick with fear ; and the 
 reason of my wishing to tell it, was thinking she might 
 balk his wickedness. You remember the evening that poor
 
 258 WOODBURN. 
 
 young lady, your cousin, Miss Thorn, was struck by 
 lightning well, two or three days before, she came down 
 to the Glen the fact is she was there often, and seemed 
 so thick with Dr. Foster, that people said they was en 
 gaged to be married, and I could'nt help thinking so 'till 
 that day, when he spoke so dreadful savage to her I knew 
 it must be a mistake. I was sitting here knitting, when I 
 saw Miss 1 Thorn and the doctor walking down through the 
 garden to the back gate just opposite, so as I didn't want 
 them to see me, I pulled down the white curtain, still 
 keeping my seat by the window ; and soon I heard their 
 voices at the gate, where through a break in the curtain I 
 could see them standing talking together, she on this side 
 in the lane, and he leaning with his arms on the gate glar 
 ing at her like a wild-cat as he said, in reply to some 
 remark of her's, which I could not hear : ' Go, and tell 
 Ethel Linton if you dare, Rachel, it shall not foil my 
 vengeance ; and as for you I will only let you live long 
 enough to regret having made an effort to thwart me.' 
 Then the poor girl buried her face in her hands, weeping 
 bitterly, as she exclaimed, ' Oh ! God forgive me, but I 
 never dreamed of such wickedness ; what shall I do ? ' 
 { A curse on your hypocritical penitence,' said Foster 
 fiercely, ' you would have sold your soul to gain the love 
 of that insolent English tutor ; but since the scheme you 
 laid to draw him off from Ethel failed, that most pious soul 
 of yours must needs shudder, because I don't drop on my
 
 THE BOOM WITH PRISON WINDOWS. 259 
 
 knees and pray for blessings to rain down on the woman I 
 hate for blasting my happiness ; but she shall suffer despite 
 your threat to warn her. Be gone now. Never set your foot 
 here again, and remember you are watched by me, no 
 matter where you are, or what you do.' Saying which he 
 turned back to the house, and the young lady, still weep 
 ing, drew down her veil, and walked slowly along the lane 
 towards Mrs. Davis's, where, if you remember, she was then 
 staying. I don't know, dear lady, whether this bad man 
 has it in his power to harm you, yet still could not rest 
 until I told you of his vile threats, which were overheard 
 so unexpectedly and quite accidentally I assure you/' 
 
 Poor woman ! she might have left the window at once, 
 and thus avoided this accidental eaves-dropping ; but peo 
 ple who overhear generally find an excuse for so doing, and 
 perhaps others less ignorant of the proprieties of life than 
 Mrs. Slone, might, under similar circumstances, have re 
 mained behind the curtain and heard all, as she had done ; 
 therefore, we could not blame her for listening, and though 
 agitated by the conversation she repeated, especially my 
 sister, who looked miserable, we thanked her for her kind in 
 tentions while, at the same time, with a kind of desperate 
 defiance, I tried to ridicule the idea of Dr. Foster's having 
 power to injure Ethel. " And Miss Thorn's not the only 
 woman that's been driven from the Glen," continued the 
 loquacious invalid, " for I've seen another, whose black 
 eyes blazed with fury, making her white haggard face look
 
 260 WOODBURN. 
 
 awfully fierce, when with curses more bitter than those 
 heaped on your cousin, Foster bade her 'begone, and 
 trouble him no more.' They say he was the ruin of that 
 woman in his early youth, and I doubt it not, for the des 
 perate hardness of her look now tells a tale of love, wrong, 
 and hatred !" 
 
 As we were about to get into the carriage, Archey, who 
 held the door, said, "Miss Effle, Miss Amy, dus you see 
 dat dar window up in de east end ob de Glen House, with 
 iron bars 'crost it?" And while speaking, his eyes rolled 
 up towards the attic window indicated. " Well, dat's de 
 prison wha Dr. Foster keeps his crazy brudder, and dar 
 him now, a clinchin and beatin de bars. Gosh ! but I 
 pities Gabe !" 
 
 Involuntarily our eyes had turned with his ; and there, 
 sure enough, wild and ragged, with lean fingers twisted 
 through the pitiless bars, gazing vacantly upon the bright 
 prospect without, while the glorious sunshine lit up his 
 haggard face with mocking splendor, stood the poor ma 
 niac. But for a moment we saw him thus, and then, 
 hurrying into the carriage, drove quickly home. Heaven 
 knows, we both pitied that wretched prisoner, for being in 
 the power of so cruel and hard-hearted a tyrant and 
 prayed God to have mercy upon him. Pale and silent we 
 were during the ride, for though I strove to dismiss the 
 dread which had settled on Ethel's mind since the receipt 
 of Rachel's letter, and must now grow darker, my own
 
 THE HOUSE WITH PRISON WINDOWS. 261 
 
 heart was scarcely less heavy than hers ; for the mystery 
 of that man's hate and threats of vengeance, made my be 
 loved sister's future, like the path of one lost amid quick 
 sands, in whose treacherous depths he may sink suddenly, 
 and when feeling past all danger, helpless and over 
 whelmed !
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 FOREBODINGS. 
 
 Bich pearls and flashing jewels rare, 
 And bridal flowew, fresh, pure and fair, 
 A bridal veil, soft, fine and white I 
 But fairer far the lady bright, 
 With starry eyes and golden hair, 
 I saw beneath the moonlight there. 
 
 IT was a strange picture, but so wondrously beautiful 
 that I held my breath, and paused involuntarily midway 
 of my sister's apartment, to gaze upon it. The wedding 
 dress, veil, jewels, etc., had arrived that day, and just be 
 fore dark, Ethel, having tried them on, was waiting for me 
 to come in and see her. The lamps, though ordered, had 
 not yet been brought up, and hence it happened, upon 
 entering, I beheld the lovely tableau referred to above. 
 
 Through the open shutters a full flood of summer moon 
 light was streaming, and there, close by the window, per 
 fectly refulgent beneath the warm splendor of that July 
 moon, stood my sister, toying with a superb emerald brace 
 let, in form of a serpent, with opal eyes and diamond crest 
 in workmanship almost the counterpart to the one (be-
 
 FOKEBODINGS. 263 
 
 longing now to Pearl,) picked up by Mr. Clifford at the 
 opera-house in Paris, and which he had matched, as nearly 
 as possible, in New York, as a wedding gift for Ethel. 
 
 The moonlight gave a queer, mystical gleam to the 
 green, glittering scales of that jeweled snake, as it quiv 
 ered between her delicate white fingers, and my fantastic 
 dream of the broken bridge, where Mr. Clifford crossed 
 and tore the wreathing viper from her bare white arm, 
 came up in singular contrast to the fairy scene before me. 
 Perhaps the very sad expression of Ethel's face, just as I 
 entered, may have recalled the memory of that frightful 
 dream for she did look almost despondent, as if the 
 shadow of a coming sorrow were hovering over her then, 
 and there veiled, yet not hid by the beauty of that summer 
 night. 
 
 A moment thus I paused to gaze upon her, for ladies in 
 bridal array are generally seen beneath the glare of artifi 
 cial light ; and hence this silvery halo invested Ethel with 
 an almost superhuman loveliness. Then stealing up to her 
 I whispered : 
 
 " Oh ! my own dear sister, why do you look so mourn 
 ful ? I know full well you are perfectly happy in your 
 love, and all things seem combining to render your pros 
 pects fair, very fair ; besides, you will not even know the 
 pain of leaving those you love at home, for we are going 
 with you. Then why this sadness ? Is Rachel Thorn's 
 letter still weighing upon you ?"
 
 264 WOODBURN. 
 
 "Yes, it is," she replied. "I know not why, but it 
 haunts me more and more as the time for our marriage 
 approaches ; and since putting on my bridal dress a fore 
 boding of evil to come, from which I shrink, shuddering, 
 appears settling upon me like an unseen vampire ; and 
 this phantom of fear has been as it were hovering over my 
 existence ever since the reading of that fatal letter (the 
 truth of which Mrs. Slone's story so fully confirmed) ; and 
 now though God knows how reluctant I should be to have 
 it so I almost wish our wedding had been postponed, and 
 that Lenox were going to England alone ! Yet, this would 
 have been a great trial to us both, and if nothing happens 
 to prevent and what can prevent our marriage now save 
 death ? I shall laugh at these fears as groundless ; so let's 
 dismiss the subject. And now tell me how you like my 
 bridal dress ?" 
 
 "Perfect," I answered; "you look peerless, my own 
 sis ; so do try and cheer up for Mr. Clifford's sake. Poor 
 Rachel ! I have not a doubt that Dr. Foster made her 
 believe he was going to blow up the whole bridal party, by 
 aid of some villanous gunpowder plot, d la Guy Fawkes, 
 or an infernal machine, d la diable, of home manufacture." 
 
 Ethel smiled, nay almost laughed, at my ridiculous con 
 ceit regarding Dr. Foster's vengeance, and then, after 
 reflecting a moment, she rejoined : 
 
 " What could Rachel have meant by declaring the letter 
 she put into my portfolio to be no forgery ? If so, (and
 
 FOREBODINGS. 265 
 
 we cannot doubt this earnest assurance) Basil must have 
 given it to her for me, and perhaps the picture too, years 
 ago, when he was (or pretended to be) so crazily in love 
 with me ; and she, knowing his suit to be hopeless, may 
 have thought best not to deliver them for Rachel was 
 very bright and discerning until, when striving to sepa 
 rate Mr. Clifford and myself, remembering they were in 
 her possession, the poor girl determined to make use of 
 both to serve a purpose ; and yet one might suppose, 
 according to Archey's story, that she received the letter 
 and miniature from Dr. Foster. Can he be a friend of 
 Basil Thorn's ? And Amy, what could have caused Rachel 
 to scream and act in such a queer way that morning at the 
 parsonage, when she went in with the soap-dish to Dr. 
 Foster while he was washing his hands ? The whole affair 
 bewilders me beyond expression, and one might think our 
 unfortunate cousin was at times demented, yet the more I 
 reflect upon her letter the more convinced am I that the 
 poor repentant girl must have had strong motives for 
 writing as she did, and some substantial foundation for the 
 warning she gave me." 
 
 Here I interrupted her, saying : 
 
 " I thought we were to dismiss the subject, sis ? Please 
 do, for it is worse than useless to speculate regarding mat 
 ters so perfectly vague. Come, let me take off your things 
 so we may be ready for tea." 
 
 She turned away from the window, and while assisting 
 12
 
 266 WOODBURN. 
 
 in changing her dress I chatted gaily on other topics, until 
 Ethel's mood, if not cheerful, was at least less desponding 
 when we joined the family circle at tea time. 
 
 Kalph and myself, in talking over Archey's stories 
 about Rachel Thorn and Dr. Foster, had come to the con 
 clusion, long ago, that a negro's distempered fancies regard 
 ing the woman he hated, and the man he feared so exces 
 sively, were scarcely worth speculating upon. Ralph said 
 he believed, firmly, that Archey thought Dr. Foster had 
 sold his soul to the evil one, and having entered with Rachel 
 into some diabolical league, this renowned tattler would not 
 have been astonished at any moment to see one, or both of 
 them, disappear in a cloud of brimstone and fire ! We 
 laughed heartily over this exaggerated idea, but after 
 events proved that the negro did not overestimate the Doc 
 tor's capacity for wickedness* 
 
 On the sixth of July four days previous to the wed 
 ding as Bang and myself were taking a walk towards the 
 negro quarters, where I was going with some nice things 
 for Mammy who had been sick in passing down the 
 lane, I heard Archey's voice in loud discussion with some 
 one in the barn lot, which, from his own account, having 
 been the scene of his espionage over Dr. Foster and Rachel 
 Thorn, was evidently a favorite resort of that notable 
 young African, and where it appears on the present occa 
 sion he chose to entertain his company for (upon peeping 
 through the hedge) I saw seated near him, on an old horse-
 
 FOREBODINGS. 26T 
 
 trough, a gigantic negro, who, from Archey's description 
 of " Gabe," I at once supposed to be that identical person 
 age, and part of their conversation (which I overheard in 
 passing very slowly, for my curiosity was on the qui vive 
 to know why a servant from the Glen should visit Wood- 
 burn,) confirmed this supposition into a certainty. 
 
 " What business is it of your ugly cantankerous mas 
 ter's when Miss Effle's gwying to get married? He's not 
 a gwying to be axed, I ken tell him dat, to none of de 
 weddins or jollyfyins in our family, and you can jis go and 
 tell him so if you like ; but I know you an't gwying to do 
 no sitch a ting, for big as you is, you're a darned sight 
 more afeerd of him den me," and Archey chuckled. 
 
 " I know it ain't nun of his business," replied Gabe; 
 " but he told me if I did'nt find out when dat weddin is to 
 be, and when you'r folks is gwying away, dat he'd lock me 
 up in de prison room wid dat crazy brudder of his ; and 
 Archey, I'd rader die den be fastened up dar so, for de 
 Lord's sake, tell me if you know." 
 
 " Well," responded Archey, "I wouldn't like to see no 
 respectable nigger treated like dat, and, as he's not to be 
 axed no how, why I don't mind telling you ; de weddin is 
 to be next Tuesday, and de next week follerin dat, dey is 
 all gwying oh, ebber so far ! away ober de great sea, de 
 Lord knows whar ! may be to de mountins ob de moon, I 
 believes dat's de name of de place." 
 
 At which piece of information I could not help laugh-
 
 268 WOODBURN. 
 
 ing, in spite of the uncomfortable feeling created by Dr. 
 Foster's anxiety to know my sister's plans, yet as we had 
 heard that the Glen was to be sold, and its present master 
 intended removing, perhaps his idea after all was simply to 
 know when we left, in order to go at the same time and in 
 the same direction, thus annoying us by his presence as 
 much as possible ; at all events I would try to think so, 
 and on no account mention the subject to Ethel. 
 
 Upon my return from mammy's house, Archey was sit 
 ting on the barn fence, who, so soon as he saw me coming, 
 dropped down quickly into the lane, and with one of his 
 shuffling bows, said, 
 
 " Bless you, Miss Amy, who you tink been here, axin 
 all kinds ob questions bout our family-fares, but dat big 
 nigger Gabe, what takes keer of de crazy creeter, but he 
 didn't get much off ob me, kase, I believes, miss, as how 
 his master's got dealins wid de debble axing your pardon, 
 miss and if he chooses to, kin blow us up all to bits, in 
 no time but when de poor darkey said dat child of Beel 
 zebub would put him in wid de wild man, if he didn't find 
 out when de weddin is to be, I made no bones ob telling 
 him dat much, kase de doctor's not to be axed no how, 
 so I thought it wouldn't matter, and hope I aint dun no 
 harm." 
 
 " Oh, no, Archey, we certainly cannot object to the day 
 of my sister's wedding being known, especially now, when 
 it is so near : yet it is surely no concern of Dr. Foster's,
 
 . FOREBODINGS. 269 
 
 who I believe Tvith you to be a very bad man, and if Gabe 
 comes here on any more such errands, don't fail to let me 
 know it, that's all." 
 
 "Fore de Lord, I will, Miss Amy. He knows I'd 
 radder hab dat wicked doctor, and his crazy brudder, and 
 dat big bully nigger doe I feels sorry for Gabe, I does 
 roasted alive on de debbil's own red-hot spit, den have one 
 hair of yours, or 'your sister's blessed heads hurt, or any 
 ob de rest of our family I would, in fac, Miss Amy," and 
 Archey bowed low as he shuffled off. 
 
 I walked away, laughing with a kind of unquiet, Bis- 
 turbed amusement, for Gabe's mission troubled me, in spite 
 of all the efforts I made by silent reasoning to convince 
 myself that it was not worthy of a thought. 
 
 Sitting down on the front steps, after my return to the 
 house, with Bang's great shaggy head upon my lap, I be 
 gan to sum up the evidence thus far collected regarding 
 Foster's proposed vengeance, wondering if there existed 
 any real foundation for his schemes, and if anything could 
 possibly happen now to prevent our going abroad ; and if 
 so, when Victor was likely to return, for in waiting he 
 never alluded to coming home. The dog was looking wist 
 fully in my face with his large soft eyes as I whispered, 
 "Where's Vic, Bang?" He wagged his tail, seeming al 
 most to understand me. I took a mournful pleasure in 
 talking to this intelligent, faithful creature about his ab 
 sent master, and particularly so as I shrank from mention- 
 
 13
 
 270 WOODBURN. 
 
 ing Victor's name thus tenderly to any one, even to Ethel, 
 who, in everything else, possessed my unbounded confi 
 dence. 
 
 " We miss him, don't we, Bang ?" and again there was 
 a low whine, as of assent, while the great bushy tail 
 wagged approvingly. A sudden sensation of sadness then 
 overcame me, as on that evening when I watched the thun 
 der-storm, whose voice had come as a trumpet of doom to 
 poor Rachel Thorn bringing tears this time, so thick and 
 fast, that Bang snuffed and shook his head, as the great 
 drops rained down upon his nose. 
 
 Again the shadow of a coming sorrow was upon me, as 
 it had been then, the same that hovered over Ethel, when 
 she stood with the summer moonlight glorifying, spiritual 
 izing her beauty, idealizing the very dress and gems she 
 wore, until they shone with a mystical splendor 'neath its 
 mellow beams. 
 
 This peculiar presentiment was to me like the deep, sul 
 try calm which, in hot climates, presages a tempest, but 
 when or how it was to burst, we knew not and still hoped 
 the cloud might pass away ; it was well, for what would 
 we be without hope, in a world where shadows checker 
 life's pathway with so much darkness ? And where does 
 hope point us for comfort, but to Heaven ?
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 THE WEDDING. 
 
 'Twas a brilliant assembly 1 
 j* And in the midst there, 
 Where so many were lovely 
 
 Surpassingly fair, 
 I beheld the bride, beaming, 
 
 For love glorifies 
 Yet a shadow hung, veiling 
 
 The joy in her eyes ! 
 
 THEY were married. I had watched Ethel's cheek 
 flush and pale alternately, as the solemn words were so im 
 pressively uttered by Cecil Clare, which bound her forever 
 to the man of her choice, the one so truly and perfectly 
 beloved. 
 
 The shadow left upon her by Rachel Thorn's letter and 
 Dame Slone's story had never passed away, and once or 
 twice during the ceremony the color died out so entirely 
 from my sister's lovely face, that I thought she must 
 faint, but when Mr. Clare raised his hands solemnly 
 and the newly-married pair bent their heads low for the 
 benediction, that cold, suppressed dread appeared to pass, 
 and the tear trembling in her eyes, as I whispered, "God
 
 272 WOODBURN. 
 
 bless you. my own darling sister," fell, when Pearl looked 
 up with her beaming smile into Ethel's face, and uttered 
 softly but distinctly, the sweet word " mother." 
 
 It was the very perfection of a wedding ; no event for 
 years had created such a sensation, and not only were the 
 elite of our town and neighborhood assembled at Woodburn 
 that night, but many friends from a distance ; for the ro 
 mantic circumstances of Mr. Clifford's history, particularly 
 his residence in our family as a tutor, and the discovery 
 thereby of a long lost daughter, excited? a wonderful curi 
 osity in all those who heard it, to witness the denouement 
 of so remarkable and interesting a story. 
 
 Pearl stood up with my brother, as first bridesmaid, and 
 my attendant groomsman was a friend of Mr. Clifford's 
 from New York, who had come on for the occasion, and 
 whose name was Clarence Morton. 
 
 Having neither taste nor inclination for long descriptions 
 of dresses, and how different people looked, suffice it to say 
 that even Miss Tabitha Tipps in her bitterest, most un 
 relenting mood, could scarcely have found a vulnerable 
 point of attack, either in the dress, appearance, or deport 
 ment of the peerless bride and handsome groom ; for 
 though that worthy spinster and her. notorious clique were 
 in the habit, to be sure, of seeing and hearing things be 
 yond the ken of less gifted individuals, we think their 
 inventive malice would have been sorely tried then and 
 there to find ground for ill-natured remarks, but as none of
 
 THE WEDDING. 273 
 
 the "venom club" were among those wedding guests, 
 scarcely a doubt can be entertained that they made spicy 
 hash of the bridal party at one of their cozy tea-fights ! 
 
 Lenox Clifford wore the expressively happy and con 
 tented look of one who has gained a great prize, yet not 
 unmingled with a certain proud serenity of demeanor in 
 dicating that he fully appreciated, and therefore was not 
 undeserving of such happiness. I have already drawn a 
 picture of Ethel in her bridal dress beneath the summer 
 moonlight, and while looking perhaps less spirituelle, she un 
 doubtedly appeared more radiant in that same array under 
 the warm and rosy glow of wax candles ; and yet, I fancied 
 that a shadow of the shade, saddening and subduing her 
 beauty then, still lingered, even after the agitation of the 
 ceremony was past ; however, brides are wont to be pensive, 
 and my sister's happiness was a fact too well established 
 for any one, save myself, or perhaps Mr. Clifford, to ob 
 serve this tint of gloom cast by a dread of coming evil 
 one single dash of darkness upon a picture redolent with 
 light. It was on me too in my heart and brain a haunt 
 ing presence and spite of the brightness, mirth, and 
 beauty of the scene I felt a nervous undefinable dread, con 
 nected with Rachel's warning letter, Dr. Foster, Wolf, 
 Gabe, and the madman, which would not be banished, 
 filling me up " from top to toe " with direst apprehension 
 that the doctor, or one of his grim attendants, or perhaps 
 poor Rachel's ghost, would appear suddenly in the midst of
 
 274 WOODBURN. 
 
 that " goodly companie " and once or twice, when stand 
 ing near the window, I felt a sharp shudder of fear as 
 a glancing shadow across the lawn, or balcony made 
 me gaze out anxiously with a kind of morbid fascination 
 and expectancy, for the actual appearance of one or the 
 other, and perhaps all of that dreaded living trio, or my 
 dead cousin's shadowy figure, with spectral finger held out 
 in warning towards the Glen. When the human mind is 
 thus possessed with horrors, it is wonderful how keenly 
 susceptible the imagination becomes, and how like an in 
 quisitor it summons us continually to be tortured on a 
 rack of endless fears ! 
 
 Once, as J started quickly from the open window, upon 
 hearing some trivial noise, Mr. Morton (my attendant 
 groomsman) laughingly asked me, 
 
 " If I believed in ghosts ? " To which I made the jest 
 ing rejoinder : 
 
 " That southern girls, with African nurses, were not 
 unfrequently a little imbued with superstition, but never 
 having as yet been favored by a ghostly visitor, I could 
 not exactly profess myself a believer in spiritual manifesta 
 tions ! 
 
 Saying which, I led the way into an -illuminated con 
 servatory, and began speaking of our anticipated visit 
 abroad, asking if he had ever been to Europe ? 
 
 " No," but he spoke of going, and might possibly join 
 our party, as his father and sister were now travel-
 
 THE WEDDING. 275 
 
 ing in Italy, and very anxious for him to meet them 
 there. 
 
 "By the by," said Mr. Morton carelessly, "I wonder 
 if the Mr. Dunbar, of whom my sister Eva writes so en 
 thusiastically, is any relation to your Dunbars I mean 
 the family by whom Mr. Clifford's daughter was adopted? " 
 
 It is wonderful what control women (nay girls even, 
 with that intuitive tact, which is a part of female nature, 
 dawning in them,) can put upon their feelings when, ever 
 so unexpectedly, an accidental remark chances to touch 
 or even jar rudely a hidden chord of tenderness ! 
 
 I felt my heart give a great bound, followed by that 
 choking pain in the throat and chest so often caused by 
 strong emotion, and yet idly tapping my fan against the 
 slender trunk of a date palm, and glancing up at its 
 feathery top, I replied : 
 
 " Quite likely ; I have a cousin traveling abroad. Did 
 your sister happen to mention his first name ? " 
 
 " Yes, I think she did, and that it commenced with, 
 hum let me see well, really, I have forgotten," said Mr. 
 Morton hesitatingly. 
 
 "was it Victor?" I asked quickly, "and has your 
 sister known him long ? " 
 
 "Ah! that is it, Victor Dunbar, (it is queer I did not 
 remember at once,) for they met at Florence, and she has 
 mentioned him frequently in writing for three months. In 
 replying to her last, I could not help hinting at the possi-
 
 276 WOODBURN. 
 
 bility that a certain young lady's heart of my acquaintance 
 might be in rather a precarious situation, and," he laugh- 
 
 
 
 ingly continued, '"it is not impossible either that Mr. 
 Dunbar may become enchanted with my bewitching little 
 sister, for though brothers are not generally regarded as 
 impartial judges of their sister's attractions, yet, as Eva is 
 so far away, I may say without flattery that she is both 
 beautiful'and fascinating. She is very clever too, and has 
 most winning and coquettish ways, though not a coquette 
 I am happy to say, for a woman who plays with human 
 hearts for pastime could never command from a brother the 
 love and respect I feel for Eva. k 
 
 " There now ! Miss Percy, you have broken that beauti 
 ful fan. I could not help trembling for it, and rather 
 anticipated its fate some time ago. You struck it too 
 roughly for such a delicate little thing," and stooping 
 down, he picked up the shattered fragments of pearl, which 
 had fallen at the foot of the palm tree. 
 
 For, scarcely aware of my agitation, while Mr. Morton 
 ran on gayly describing the fascinations of his sister, 
 I had struck the dainty carving of my fan so fiercely 
 against the tree as to shiver it. I felt my color rise, and 
 my rebellious lip which had a most perverse inclination 
 to curl up when I was either piqued or annoyed at any 
 thing assumed a slightly scornful expression, when, as he 
 handed me the broken toy, after replying quickly : 
 
 " Ah, thank you, it is of no consequence," I went on to
 
 THE WEDDING. 277 
 
 remark, in a much more excited manner than the occasion 
 warranted : 
 
 "My cousin's affaires de cceur must indeed be of slight 
 consequence, and are not apt to be the cause of much suf 
 fering, if even your fascinating sister can charm him now, 
 for he was supposed to be in love with another lady when 
 he left America." 
 
 "Ah, indeed," replied my companion, raising his eyes 
 to mine with an astonished look of inquiry. 
 
 And in a moment it flashed across my mind that what I 
 had said, taken in connection with my very excited man 
 ner, was just enough to convey the impression to Mr. 
 Morton that I might have fancied myself the object of 
 Victor's attachment. So with an eager desire to undo this 
 impression, even at the risk of betraying confidence, I said 
 smilingly, or rather trying to smile (for my mood was no 
 happy one) : 
 
 " Yes, but I ought not to be severe upon cousin Vic for 
 recovering, as it was only a boyish fancy for Miss Clifford. 
 You kno\s her romantic history, Mr. Morton, and this 
 must be quite entre nous, for she is now engaged to our 
 young pastor, Cecil Clare," and I mentioned the sub 
 ject rather inadvertently. "It is truly no great wonder 
 that Victor should have loved, even from his boyhood, the 
 Pearl of Elgin ; yet time and distance are often known to 
 change the love of young hearts, though it is not always 
 
 so." ' 
 
 13*
 
 278 WOODBUKN. 
 
 And feeling my lip begin to quiver now, ^instead of 
 curl) I changed the subject, after expressing the hope that 
 we might have the pleasure of meeting his sister in Europe, 
 and turned again into the drawing-room. 
 
 The guests had all gone. My sister's brilliant wedding, 
 which for weeks past had been the theme of wondering 
 conversation throughout the neighborhood, was over. Dr. 
 Foster had not yet appeared to carry out his scheme of 
 vengeance, whatever it might be, and the shadow lessened 
 on Ethel's brow as the evening wore away joyously to its 
 close. 
 
 At two o'clock, beneath the waning moon, before the 
 open window of my chamber, I sat gazing out upon the 
 lawn, absently, drearily not with the fear of seeing Dr. 
 Foster, or Gabe with his bloodhound, or the lunatic they 
 were now far enough from my thoughts and the bewilder 
 ing picture of beauty, conjured up by my imagination in 
 the person of Eva Morton, shone out a haunting and tor 
 menting presence, smiling at me through the warm moon 
 light, gliding amid the trees on the lawn, floating dreamily 
 through the very atmosphere of my room, like a bright, 
 persecuting phantom, mocking me continually. 
 
 Clarence Morton had spoken jestingly then why was I 
 so troubled ? 
 
 Because Victor had never mentioned Miss Morton either 
 in his letters to me or others, so far as I knew, and my
 
 THE WEDDING. 279 
 
 jealous heart was goaded by this silence regarding one 
 whom it now appeared he had known for months. 
 
 The attractive feature of European travel, which had 
 been so pleasantly beguiling my fancy of late with an 
 imaginative panorama of beauty and delight, appeared now 
 receding, paling, dissolving, into a dim and cloudy obscu 
 rity of distance and gloom ; for the scenes through which 
 I had pictured myself as wandering with Victor, gaining 
 new and pleasant ideas from his instructive and interesting 
 remarks, dreaming ever that the glowing skies of Italy 
 would look warmer and brighter, and the glaciers of Swit 
 zerland grander, more magnificent, if we gazed at them 
 together, all wore a different aspect since the absorbing 
 idea haunted me that Eva Morton had thrown a spell of 
 enchantment over my wayward cousin, more potent even 
 than his early love for Pearl ; and that in foreign lands 
 (though I was in years almost, and feeling quite, a woman) 
 he would still pet and care for me only as " little coz." 
 
 Alas ! for the silly child who had dreamed too long. 
 Alas ! for that painful waking !
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 DE. POSTER'S "CRAZY BROTHER!" 
 
 A sense of calm security attends 
 
 On happiness 
 
 Fear flies before the beaming face of joy; 
 And then, when sudden shafts of sorrow fall, 
 We sink beneath them, hopeless and oppressed, 
 As those who in the balmy realms of sleep, 
 The grim gannt king of terrors sometimes meet, 
 Who, unrelenting, wakes them but to see 
 The lamp of life, beneath his icy breath, 
 Flicker and then go out I 
 
 THE time of our departure had been fixed for a fortnight 
 after the wedding ; but as my father proposed remaining 
 abroad a year, and perhaps longer, we found the packing 
 and arrangements consequent upon so protracted an ab 
 sence could not be accomplished comfortably in that time ; 
 and hence the first week in August found us still at Wood- 
 burn, so far ready, however, that the 8th was fixed for our 
 departure. 
 
 Lulled into a perfect sense of security as the days glided 
 by in undisturbed happiness, the shadow of Rachel's warn 
 ing had passed gradually from Ethel's brow, leaving it as 
 sunny as ever, and as perfectly the throne of happiness as 
 earthly brows appear.
 
 DR. FOSTER'S " CRAZY BROTHER." 281 
 
 Mr. Morton had been a frequent visitor at Woodburn 
 since the wedding, until his departure, and before leaving, 
 his mind appeared made up to go abroad with us. I liked 
 him in spite of the disagreeable intelligence he had so inno 
 cently and carelessly imparted regarding my cousin ; for, 
 \vithout being positively handsome, he was attractive, with 
 a rather peculiar disposition, a noble, manly nature, and 
 not altogether unlike Victor, especially in a certain degree 
 of eccentricity. I was too blue and out of sorts just then, 
 to care much about strangers, even as agreeable as Mr. 
 Morton ; and perhaps it may have been my perfect indif 
 ference to said individual which made him perversely 
 determine to interest me, and if he succeeded, so far at 
 least that I did not dislike him when we parted, nay, might 
 even have tolerated his society longer had it been necessary, 
 he at all events gained a victory under the circum 
 stances. Yet when he left, there was a degree of relief 
 in not being obliged to entertain him every day, and 
 consequently caring very little whether Mr. Morton went 
 with us to Europe or not, I went on listlessly about my 
 packing and assisting Ethel, but so pale, dispirited and 
 unlike myself, that even Mr. Clifford noticed it, my father 
 felt sure I was sick, and my sister at last one day said 
 abruptly : 
 
 " What is the matter with you, Amy?" Which ques 
 tion 1 evaded answering, sincerely, by saying,
 
 282 WOODBURN. 
 
 " I was not well, and felt a wee bit blue at leaving 
 home and many friends for such a length of time." 
 
 How utterly insignificant the half imaginative sorrows, 
 which young people almost nurse into being with sighs and 
 tears, appear, when brought into contrast with a stunning, 
 overwhelming grief, startling and gigantic in its propor 
 tions, whose unlocked for appearance causes the puling, 
 sickly, morbid diseases of our fancy to vanish before a grim 
 reality, as different as those terrible tragedies which wring 
 our hearts in the great drama of human life, from the 
 mimic horrors in theatres, over which, carried away by 
 imagination, we often weep. 
 
 I was out in the front hall, packing a trunk of books for 
 Ethel, we were to leave the next morning, and piles of 
 baggage cumbered the gallery. Down on my knees, ab 
 sorbed in the work before me, I was just in the act of 
 wrapping a superb copy of Shakspeare in soft paper, 
 when there was a rush through the front door, and 
 Archey appeared to my astonished eyes, looking ashy, as 
 negroes frequently do when greatly alarmed his eyes 
 staring and lips apart, as if attempting to speak, while 
 trembling, evidently in speechless terror. I shall never 
 forget the boy's appearance, and dropping the volume in 
 my hand, I started quickly up, exclaiming, 
 
 " Archey, what is the matter ? Tell me, has anything 
 happened to my father ? Why don't you speak?" And 
 I shook him, in my alarm, roughly by the shoulder.
 
 DR. FOSTER'S " CRAZY BROTHER." 283 
 
 "Lord God of massy, Miss Amy, I's been trying to 
 speak and couldn't for who you tink is cummin up de 
 road to Woodburn 3 in a carriage, but Dr. Foster's big nig 
 ger Gabe and de crazy creeter it's as true as gospel, for 
 I see'd um myself, and run in (like de debble was arter 
 me) to tell you fact is, I'd rather see him den de wild 
 man. Oh, Lord, what is dey cummin here for ? Bar 
 don't you see de carriage jis drivin frough the front gate, 
 miss ?" 
 
 And Archey's ashy face grew a shade paler as I ran to 
 wards the front door, filled, as he had been at first, with 
 voiceless horror, for no word escaped me in reply to the 
 terrified negro's communication. 
 
 My father was out on the plantation, Mr. Cl fford and 
 Kalph in town, Ethel lying down up stairs ; and hence I 
 stood alone, waiting breathlessly for a verification of Ar 
 chey's incredible report regarding the occupants of that ap 
 proaching carriage, with a cold dread on my heart, while 
 yet I strove to ridicule my own timidity, by asking men 
 tally the question, " What can Gabe and the maniac have 
 to do with us ?" 
 
 The nearer roll of wheels caused Archey (emboldened 
 by my presence) to steal past me out on to the front gal 
 lery, just as the carriage drew up, and there, sure enough, 
 through the open window, I beheld the huge head of Gabe, 
 while opposite to him, and gazing out, not with the wild 
 expression we had seen upon his haggard face, in the
 
 284 WOODBURN. 
 
 woods, when hunted and full of terror he had suffered my 
 sister to hide him in the hollow tree but with the vacant, 
 subdued look of an idiot, sat the maniac. With the des 
 peration of excessive, though vague and undefined fear, I 
 called out in an excited tone to the driver, 
 
 " Who sent you here, and what do you want?" 
 The man lifted his hat respectfully, saying, 
 "I am only a hack driver from town, miss, hired by 
 Dr. Foster to bring the crazy gentleman and his attendant 
 over here from the Gflen, which the doctor has sold. This 
 is all I know, miss, he only said, 
 
 ' "The crazy gentleman will stay at Mr. Percy's until 
 my return," and paid me for the job, so I did as he or 
 dered, but Gabe has a letter for Mr. Percy. 
 
 Saying which, he jumped down and opened the door 
 quickly, as a sign for the negro to get out, who immedi 
 ately did so, and walking up to me with visible trepidation 
 in his manner, and glancing anxiously at Archey, held out 
 a letter addressed to my father, whose absence obliged me, 
 of course, at once, under the circumstances, to open it, 
 without a moment's hesitation. 
 
 So, snatching it hastily from the negro (scarcely con 
 scious of what I did), walking back a few steps into the 
 passage, I tore this mysterious missive open, unaware at 
 the time, that a note fell from it on the floor ; and then, 
 turning with nervous restlessness to the front door cold
 
 DE. FOSTER'S "CKAZY BROTHER." 285 
 
 and shuddering with dread in that warm, southern summer 
 air my eyes ran rapidly over the following : 
 
 " UNCLE PERCY 
 
 " I take the liberty of transferring to your care as 
 it is well such charitable offices should be divided a con 
 nection of yours, who for years you have supposed to be 
 dead. I thought so, too, when the paper containing a no 
 tice of his death was forwarded to you ; but he who was 
 left for dead revived after that heavy trance, a hopeless 
 maniac, of whom I took charge, determining to use him as 
 an instrument of vengeance against you, for driving me 
 into exile, and your haughty daughter, for spurning me 
 from her as she did to marry this same Arthur Linton ; 
 and it is hardly necessary to add, that her late scorn to 
 wards me, under the assumed name of " Dr. Foster," was 
 not calculated to soften my heart particularly. 
 
 My vengeance is complete ! for the existence of Arthur 
 Linton renders Ethel's late marriage with Mr. Clifford un 
 lawful, and I wish her much joy with her two husbands ! 
 
 "If you doubt the identity of this maniac with your 
 son-in-law, his wife will recognize him, if not by the let 
 ters, picture of herself, etc., in his trunk, at least by a 
 peculiar mark tattooed on his right arm, which was there 
 when they were married. Should such proof be unsatis 
 factory, write to 'Bland & Co., San Francisco Cal.' for a 
 confirmation of my statement regarding Arthur Linton's
 
 286 WOODBURN. 
 
 almost fatal illness, if he was not afterwards placed in an 
 asylum by a relation, and if that same relation did not 
 subsequently remove said Arthur from the asylum, and 
 take him to the Southern states? 
 
 " You refused to heed that last letter, warning you and 
 Ethel that there was madness in the Linton family, in 
 fact, that his (Arthur's) mother died insane. 
 
 " No wonder you failed to recognize me, as flesh, hair- 
 dye, beard, and riches, go far towards disguising one who 
 left you slight, fair-haired, closely shaven, and poor ! I 
 am revenged, and now again as completely though differ 
 ently disguised, beyond your reach. 
 
 " BASIL THORN." 
 
 With eye-balls burning as if scalded by the dreadful 
 words I read terrified and overpowered by the inhuman 
 wickedness of this fiendish plot, I stood like one paralyzed, 
 staring vacantly at the carriage, with the letter still 
 clutched in my trembling hand, when Archey, touching 
 me respectfully on the arm, whispered : 
 
 " Miss Amy, look dar," and rolled his eyes up as if to 
 some one standing behind me. 
 
 When at the same moment, a shriek rang out so start- 
 lingly full of heart-rending concentrated agony, I com 
 prehended instantly ;that the whole truth was known- to 
 Ethel, though being unaware of the note which had slipped 
 from my father's letter, I was totally at a loss as to how
 
 DR. FOSTER'S " CRAZY BROTHER." 287 
 
 it had been revealed to her ; and writhing under the tor 
 ture inflicted upon that dear one, almost as if the blow so 
 withering to her happiness had fallen on my own heart, 
 though shocked, bewildered, and feeling for a moment as 
 if my feet were rooted to the spot, I turned round elec 
 trified by my sister's piercing cry but too late to save 
 her from falling heavily to the floor. 
 
 There are moments when though mind and senses are 
 overpowered by some fearful and unexpected blow yet 
 where a stringent necessity compels us to act, we appear 
 possessed with supernatural strength to do so, and thus it 
 was tearless and with automaton-like precision, I went 
 through the duties devolving upon me after the never to 
 be forgotten horrors of this frightful scene. 
 
 After having Ethel carried, in that deadly swoon by 
 Mammy and Lucy to her own chamber, and leaving her in 
 their care for a few moments. I dispatched a messenger for 
 my father, and then telling Archey and Gabe to remove 
 the crazy gentleman to the library, where they must re 
 main to guard him for the present, I dismissed the hack- 
 man without a word of explanation, for the' awful truth 
 must soon be known to all, and hence any effort at decep 
 tion, or even glossing the matter over to this stranger, 
 would have proved unavailing. After he had left, I re 
 turned to my sister, who (spite of unceasing efforts to 
 arouse her) still remained cold and rigid in that death-like 
 swoon.
 
 288 WOODBURN. 
 
 As I passed through the hall on my way up stairs, the 
 note, dropped from Basil Thorn's letter to my father 
 which Ethel, coming quietly down stairs, had picked up, 
 and (seeing it addressed to herself) read, unobserved by me, 
 as I stood oppressed with wretchedness in the front door 
 was again lying on the floor, having fallen from her hand 
 when that wild shriek smote my ear thus then it was the 
 truth so appalling had been revealed to the victim of an 
 unrelenting hate, which knew no mercy. 
 
 Intensely cruel in their sarcastic malignity, those few 
 withering words were worthy of the fierce black heart from 
 which they sprung. The note ran thus : 
 
 "ETHEL LINTON: 
 
 "I leave you a memento in the person of your first 
 love a charming addition, the madman, Arthur Linton, 
 will make to your cortege through Europe serving to re 
 mind you of the vengeance of BASIL THORN." 
 
 My beautiful, beloved sister ! how wretched must be her 
 waking from that state of insensibility ! My father, too, 
 how would he bear this overwhelming sorrow hurled down 
 upon us so unexpectedly a crushing avalanche of grief? 
 
 And Mr. Clifford ! who had strength and courage enough 
 to meet him as the bearer of such frightful news. 
 
 My heart appeared to stand still with wretchedness and 
 dismay, as one after another those torturing Questions
 
 DR. FOSTER'S "CRAZY BROTHER." 289 
 
 rushed through my mind, and looking back since to that 
 tune of helpless suspense when alone, with the servants, 
 I watched Ethel's tardj restoration to life her conscious 
 ness of the reality, thank God ! for that fearful present 
 was gone overpowered by a sense of misery and terror 
 beyond description, I wonder and must ever wonder why 
 it was I did not either swoon too, or go mad. 
 
 13
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 A DARK CLOUD. 
 * 
 
 Oft the dizzy heights of pleasure 
 
 Overlook some gulf of woe, 
 Dark and wild ; yet who can measure 
 
 Deeps thus hidden far below ? 
 
 I CANNOT bear to live again, even in memory, the 
 wretchedness of that dreary, hopeless time, (for hopeless 
 it did appear) and the impress of suffering then left upon 
 our hearts even those that were young and buoyant has 
 never been entirely effaced by after years of happiness. 
 
 Though adorned by wreathing vines and flowers, and 
 brightened by the sunlight, yet do scars left there by burn 
 ing lava remain upon the mountain side and so often 
 times does scathing and unexpected sorrow leave scars upon 
 the human heart ! My father, whose fine constitution and 
 cheerful temperament had kept him so free from that* 
 despondency and want of interest in life which not unfre- 
 quently contributes towards making people old before their 
 time, was so crushed by this one fell blow, that a few hours 
 effected the work years had failed to accomplish. Grief 
 could not affect his hair, for it had been white almost from
 
 A DARK CLOUD. 291 
 
 his youth, or perhaps if those thick locks had chanced to 
 be yet unbleached, it would not have planted so many, and 
 such deep furrows upon that beloved face. 
 
 And Mr. Clifford it devolved upon me to break the 
 frightful truth to him, for so completely was my father 
 stricken down that for many hours he sat speechless with 
 his head bowed down upon his hands, silently motioning 
 off any one who approached for the purpose of trying to 
 rouse him. 
 
 Oh ! what a fearful plunge it was for Lenox Clifford 
 from the sunny heights of perfect human happiness into the 
 very blackest, deepest gulf of despair ! Language fails 
 even to convey a faint idea of such misery, therefore will 
 I let the dark cloud which then settled upon Woodburn, 
 cover as a veil the wretchedness too sacred and too deep for 
 description. 
 
 Every effort was made by my Uncle Dunbar and other 
 kind friends to disprove that Arthur Linton and the maniac 
 (heretofore supposed to be Dr. Foster's brother) were one 
 and the same person, for they still cherished a lingering 
 hope that Basil Thorn invented this story and used the 
 poor lunatic as an instrument for his vengeance, when in 
 reality Arthur was dead as we had supposed years ago. 
 But alas ! every effort, far from disproving, went on to 
 prove the certainty that this fiendish scheme was based on 
 a reality, and not risked as a venture of reckless malice. 
 Ethel's picture and letters were in the trunk true it is,
 
 292 WOODBURN. 
 
 \" 
 
 they might have been placed there ; the peculiar figures 
 were found tattooed upon his arm this might have been 
 done to be sure in imitation of those alluded to by Basil 
 Thorn ; but when the poor maniac was shorn of his long, 
 uncombed hair, his matted beard shaved off, and genteel 
 clothes substituted for the unsightly rags he wore, the 
 striking likeness he bore to a miniature of Arthur taken 
 just after my sister's marriage, could not be disputed, for 
 though gaunt, haggard and changed in many respects, the 
 features were there, though so altered in expression and 
 then every answered letter from California (and there were 
 many written to various parties there) went further and 
 further to confirm the dreadful truth whose certainty we 
 had felt, yet tried to discredit, from the first. 
 
 Every effort to discover the hiding place of *Basil Thorn 
 proved utterly ineffectual ; he had vanished like an evil 
 spirit, leaving no trace, and I was half inclined to believe 
 with Archey who proved the only one (save his unfortu 
 nate sister Rachel) fully appreciating that dark man's 
 capacity for wickedness that he had vanished in a sul 
 phurous cloud after accomplishing his diabolical purpose. 
 
 Arrangements were made immediately for sending poor 
 Arthur to a most excellent asylum in the State, where we 
 were quite sure everything would be done possible to alle- 
 . viate the weary monotony of his negative existence. 
 
 His departure from Woodburn was a great relief to us 
 all, removing as it were from our midst the immediate
 
 A DARK CLOUD. 293 
 
 presence of a reality terrible enough when contemplated at 
 a distance. 
 
 Ethel's deep swoon was succeeded by a brain fever so 
 severe that for a month her life trembled on such uncertain 
 tenure, we feared even each delicate change from sleeping 
 to waking, or waking to sleeping, might put out the vital 
 spark. While fearing for her life, however, we could 
 scarcely help feeling grateful that delirium rendered her 
 oblivious, for a time at least, of the blighting misery which 
 had fallen so heavily upon her heart. Twice we thought 
 she was passing away, and then I felt it would be better to 
 think of my precious sister as dwelling among the angels 
 than watch her waking to the realization of a torturing 
 weight of agony, to be borne on perhaps through a long and 
 dreary term of years. 
 
 God orders all things in wisdom, however, and he willed 
 that in this terrible struggle between life and death Ethel's 
 fine constitution should gain the victory, and on waking 
 from a long deep sleep (which was pronounced by her 
 physician as the crisis of the disease) we knew at once from 
 the expression of her eyes, that reason had resumed its 
 sway and so perfectly did she remember the shock re 
 ceived from that fearful note as Mr. Clifford bent over her, 
 waiting in breathless anxiety for her first words, she whis 
 pered : 
 
 " It is the will of God. dearest ; we must submit. We 
 did not mean to do wrong, and perhaps may yet be blessed.
 
 294 WOODBURN. 
 
 You will go to England without me, Lenox. Oh ! why 
 did I not heed the warning of Rachel's letter ?" 
 
 And then we saw with thankful hearts a tear roll down 
 her wan, emaciated cheek, for it came as a harbinger of 
 relief to that tense and long pent-up sorrow. My father 
 had, without the least difficulty, procured a divorce for 
 Ethel from Arthur Linton ; but when she was told of it, 
 and urged to go through with another marriage ceremony, 
 that their union, in the eyes of the law at least, might be 
 valid, my sister gently, but firmly, refused, saying she 
 could never live with Mr. Clifford as a wife during the 
 life of Arthur Linton, and therefore to go through the 
 marriage form again would only be useless and unnecessary 
 torture. So at her earnest request, Mr. Clifford went to 
 England, leaving his mourning wife for we could not help 
 feeling she was as much so indeed as if Arthur had been 
 dead to our care. 
 
 Ralph went with him to remain abroad for the comple 
 tion of his education, and it has ever been a source of 
 pleasure to me that his bright young spirit was saved the 
 misery of dwelling longer under the shadow of that dark 
 cloud. 
 
 Mr. Clifford's last words to my father were 
 
 " You will write constantly of the precious treasure I 
 leave with you, trusting (even in the midst of so much 
 wretchedness) to the mercy and goodness of God, and if
 
 A DARK CLOUD. 295 
 
 there should come a time when you can summon me to 
 return, do not delay." 
 
 "I -will not, Clifford," almost sobbed my father ; "and 
 the Almighty, in whom we trust, grant the summons may 
 come to you at no very distant period." 
 
 Oh ! the tedious misery of that long, weary, wretched 
 time. Years, even of ordinary common-place comfort and 
 happiness, would have appeared shorter than the six months 
 of that dreary fall and winter, when our darling Ethel lay 
 stricken and pining, the very shadow of her former self. 
 For after Lenox Clifford's departure, she became so ill 
 again we thought she must die, and when I watched her, 
 so pure, so good, so beautiful, lingering so long (as it 
 were) on the very threshold of the portals of death yet 
 patient and uncomplaining beneath that heavy burden of 
 suffering and unhappiness my rebellious heart dared to 
 murmur at the will of heaven, arguing against the wisdom 
 of that decree, which, in calling Rachel Thorn away sum 
 marily and without suffering, had left the innocent victim 
 of her perfidy to linger on in torture. 
 
 For, though Rachel did repent, yet was it too late to 
 save Ethel. Being then so much under the influence of 
 her wicked brother she feared to betray his inhuman malice 
 at first encouraged for the furtherance of her own schemes. 
 Had she at once (upon discovering in the pretended Dr. 
 Foster her long absent brother) revealed the fact to us 
 instead of leaguing with him, or even when Arthur Lin-
 
 296 WOODBURN. 
 
 ton's existence was revealed, had she possessed courage 
 enough to come at once and tell the whole either to Ethel 
 or my father, she could, nay would, have been protected 
 from Basil's fury and then, oh ! what wretchedness had 
 been saved us all. 
 
 Thus it is ever we see "through a glass, darkly;" but 
 when that cloudy time had past, long afterwards, when I 
 knew retribution had overtaken the guilty, and joy was 
 dawning once more upon those who had bowed in humble 
 submission to kiss the rod of affliction, then I too felt 
 humbled, and, shuddering af those rebellious thoughts of 
 long ago, sought forgiveness for my presumptuous repining. 
 Justice and mercy from above go hand in hand. for " whom 
 the Lord loveth He chasteneth " to prove their trust in 
 Him, while those who have sinned, and sincerely repent 
 them of the evil yet are not strong enough to endure 
 either great suffering or temptation He calls away in 
 mercy, ere the glorious light of repentance, full and perfect 
 enough now to save that trembling soul, be dimmed or 
 quenched perhaps by grief and pain as it might have been 
 with poor Rachel Thorn. God doeth all things well and 
 in wisdom. 
 
 Pearl was so devoted to Ethel that almost every day 
 found her at Woodburn, tending, with unceasing devotion, 
 the pale, fragile, angelic looking being whom she ever per 
 sisted, with refined tenderness, in calling " mother." 
 
 All that human love could suggest was done to win my
 
 A DARK CLOUD. 297 
 
 sister back to live as one of us again and all that tender 
 hearts can devise we resorted to, as gentle means of inter 
 esting her in the every day events of life ; but alas ! in 
 vain. She listened when we read or sang, took the flowers 
 listlessly we brought, and was very grateful ; for we read 
 the affection and gratitude of Ethel's heart in her large, 
 expressive eyes, whose light was deeper and more heavenly 
 since she had suffered so severely ; but never once, from the 
 reading of Basil's wicked note, and during all that dreary 
 autumn and winter, did even the shadow of a smile flit 
 over those pallid lips, and neither by word or action did 
 she indicate the slightest interest in any earthly thing save 
 by expressions of love for us, and eager watching for Mr. 
 Clifford's letters. 
 
 Aunt Kate was ever faithful, and I often saw the tears 
 roll down her furrowed cheeks when gazing upon our 
 patient sufferer, whose eyes which erst had looked up to 
 the old lady so full of affection and mirth, were now so 
 veiled by sadness that not a ray of their old light shone 
 forth. 
 
 One day when I was straightening the perverse cap, 
 which through storm or shine, joy or sorrow, still retained 
 the same obstinate inclination for crawling to the back of 
 our dear Aunty's head, she actually sobbed out 
 
 " Oh, Amy, how that reminds me of the dear, winsome 
 darling who now lies there pale and quiet. She was so
 
 298 WOODBURN. 
 
 fond of fixing my crooked cap, and joking me about it. I 
 wonder if we shall ever see her smile again?" 
 
 Uncle Dunbar had ceased almost to quiz or joke, and 
 even the presence of itinerant ailing deacons, and bilious 
 schoolmasters, with their mush, gruel and black tea, at 
 Elgin, failed to arouse his hospitable interest as formerly; 
 and I don't believe he pulled off his wig in frolic for 
 months. 
 
 Aunt Kate had written Victor a full account of Ethel's 
 terrible trial, and his letters to me afterwards were full of 
 affectionate sympathy for us all but never once did he 
 mention the name of Eva Morton. 
 
 And so the months wore drearily away at Elgin and at 
 Woodburn. I saw the crisp leaves of autumn drift through 
 the open window over Ethel's couch, where she rested, 
 gazing listlessly out on the warm, hazy splendor of an 
 Indian summer sunset that very same window where she 
 had stood a vision of beauty crowned with the July moon 
 light and there again I stood watching the cold, dismal 
 rain and sleet of January pelting against the glass, and 
 wondering if there was as little of joy in the darkly veiled 
 future as my gloomy fancy pictured of sunshine hidden 
 beneath those dense and leaden clouds ?
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 THE LIGHT BREAKS. 
 
 He who orders storm and tempest, 
 
 Also sweeps the clouds away, 
 And has willed the deepest darkness, 
 
 Just before the dawn of day ! 
 
 Six months had gone by since Mr. Clifford left Wood- 
 burn, when one morning early in March, while sorting out 
 the letters Archey had just brought from town, I felt my 
 heart beat faster as my eye fell upon one bearing the post 
 mark of the town in whose asylum poor Arthur had been 
 placed, and where (though known to be in a hopeless state 
 of idiotic imbecility) everything that humanity could sug 
 gest was done for his comfort and relief. 
 
 For, not trusting to those who kept the asylum, a 
 physician was employed by my father to see him at 
 intervals; and once a month, faithful Michael McAl- 
 pine went over to see that he was properly attended 
 and not allowed to suffer for bodily comforts. There 
 fore, as Michael had but recently returned, this letter 
 startled me, and placing it at once in my father's hand. I 
 stood watching eagerly while he opened it. No sooner had
 
 300 WOODBTTRN. 
 
 his eye glanced rapidly over the contents, than ejaculating 
 fervently 
 
 " Thank God," he handed me the letter, and saying 
 
 " Poor Lin ton is gone, our suffering Ethel may yet live 
 to be happy," sat down at his desk, and began -writing 
 hurriedly. 
 
 Then, with an overpowering sense of gratitude and peni 
 tence for my rebellious moods, I dropped down on my 
 knees beside the old arm-chair from which my father had 
 just risen, and poured out a heart-fej prayer of thanks 
 giving to Him who looked with pity upon beings so inno 
 cent in their erring doing all that was possible to atone 
 for the wrong, by childlike submission to his heavenly de 
 cree and now, with the ocean between them, were wait 
 ing patiently until such time as God should see fit to re 
 move the burden of this mighty sorrow. 
 
 And now that time had come ! 
 
 My father's letter to Mr. Clifford the glad missive 
 summoning him to return was written, and on its way to 
 the mail, when we went up stairs, eager to break the glad 
 tidings to Ethel, and yet fearing the effect, even of such 
 pleasurable excitement, upon her delicate frame. 
 
 When we entered. Pearl was standing at the head of my 
 sister's lounge, passing the comb gently through her long 
 bright hair, which, swept entirely back from her white 
 forehead, rolled over the pillow in great shining masses, 
 and fell with its heavy length upon the carpet. Pearl
 
 THE LIGHT BREAKS. 301 
 
 motioned us to be silent for Ethel's eyes were closed, and 
 she appeared sleeping so we sat down quietly to await 
 her waking." 
 
 It was a most lovely picture ! the contrast of their 
 beauty, at all times striking, was now particularly so, for 
 the glow of health upon the Creole girl's cheek caused the 
 marble pallor of her companion's to look still more un 
 earthly in its fairness while the purple blackness of 
 Pearl's tresses seemed intensified by the rippling mass of 
 glistening hair she was combing. Presently, the first 
 shadow of a smile we had seen there for months, hovered 
 over the sleeper's lips, and then, as those long lashes were 
 slowly lifted (unaware of our presence), she murmured 
 
 " Oh, Pearl, I have had such a sweet dream ! I 
 thought your father was here, and that we were all so 
 happy what a pity I awoke just now, it is very sad to 
 arouse from blessed dreams to a wretched reality :" 
 
 Then, turning her head wearily on the pillow, she saw 
 us, and observing my father's altered expression, said 
 quickly 
 
 " What has happened, father, to make you look almost 
 happy?" 
 
 "I am happy, my darling child, because your dream, 
 let us trust, will be ere long realized, for the letter bidding 
 Clifford return is on its way to England." 
 
 - She knew all now, and as tears unbound a tense grief, 
 she buried her face in the pillow. Oh, what a relief that
 
 302 WOODBUEN. 
 
 fit of weeping was to one whose sensitive nature felt, as 
 it were, the burden of a great sin lifted from her soul ! 
 At last, becoming calm, she said, 
 
 "Father, how long will it be before Lenox can arrive ? 
 I shall so pine now to have our marriage made lawful in 
 the sight of God." 
 
 And a mysterious, sacred chord then thrilled within her 
 heart, for the first tinge of color we had seen upon my sis 
 ter's face, since that fatal evening, when the shaft of Basil 
 Thorn's horrible vengeance struck her low, now suffused 
 it, mounting even to her brow, creating a glow beneath its 
 perfect pallor, like a faint blush of pink, a dim glow after 
 sunset shining through the transparent whiteness of pearly 
 clouds. We all observed this flush, and our hearts thrilled 
 responsive to hers, for we knew the tender secret of her 
 bosom, and my father replied, 
 
 " He can be here in six weeks, by returning in the ves 
 sel which will probably take over my letter at all events, 
 we know he will not lose a moment so my stricken bird 
 must cheer up, and try to look more like her own bright 
 self by the time our exile returns," and kissing her ten 
 derly, he left the room. 
 
 "What do you think is #ur last news from Victor?" 
 said my uncle Dunbar, while shaking hands with me that 
 afternoon, as he came up the front door steps where I hap 
 pened to be standing, "you can't guess.' 1
 
 THE LIGHT BREAKS. 303 
 
 "Nothing bad, I trust, uncle is lie going to be mar 
 ried ?" 
 
 And the calmness with which these words were uttered, 
 astonished the foolish dreamer, who was at last forced to 
 realize the certainty of a final waking from these cherished 
 delusions, which, though not entirely unexpected, was hard 
 to bear. 
 
 " Ha! you have guessed well, or were you in his confi 
 dence ? He never even mentioned Miss Morton's name in 
 writing to me, until now the scamp when he goes on 
 abruptly to say, they have been traveling together for 
 months, that she is the most fascinating creature in the 
 world, and, in short, begs my consent to their immediate 
 marriage 
 
 "But bless me, Amy, how pale you look is Ethel 
 worse, or have you had any bad tidings from Clifford ? I 
 was so busy thinking and talking about Victor, as to for 
 get for a moment how much you all have to trouble you 
 here shame on me for it," and he patted me kindly on 
 the cheek. 
 
 With an effort to be calm, I told him of Arthur's death, 
 at the same time opening the library door where I knew 
 he would find my father, and I longed to be alone, for my 
 heart was full of contending emotions. Rejoicing most 
 fervently with my beloved sister, that the dark cloud was 
 sweeping away from her existence, while the certainty of 
 an event, whose anticipation even, had caused the rosy
 
 304 WOODBURN. 
 
 flush of hope to fade from my romantic future, fell upon 
 my heart sadly, coldly, like snow upon violets, covering 
 them up with a dreary white shroud and yet the violets 
 do not die, for when warm winds blow again, melting that 
 chilly veil, lo ! those sweet spring flowers uplift once 
 more their modest blue eyes, joyously to meet the return 
 ing sunlight. 
 
 A delicate structure had it been, that enchanted palace 
 of my girlish dreams such juvenile efforts at aerial archi 
 tecture are apt to topple over for want of a firm founda 
 tion, and those who indulge a taste for building them, re 
 semble children who blow out shining bubbles in the sun 
 shine, adding breath after breath to make them larger and 
 brighter, 'till suddenly the glittering wonders burst and 
 leave them pining over the loss of things so fair and so 
 unreal. 
 
 After leaving my uncle in the library, I seized my hat 
 and mantle, and followed by Bang, ran off to the garden. 
 
 How dreary the summer-house looked to me now ! with 
 dead leaves still drifting in through the gnarled vines by a 
 stormy March wind no jasmine flowers were there, no 
 vestiges of summer glory for the trees were just begin 
 ning to bud, and the green of the clinging, sombre ivy had 
 a mournful look in that chilly air, beneath that leaden sky 
 where grey clouds looked stationary, as if gathered there 
 to imprison the blue beyond, and as if they never intended 
 to pass away.
 
 THE LIGHT BREAKS. 305 
 
 I was silly enough to wish the dog could understand 
 and appreciate my sorrow, and as he looked up wistfully 
 into my face whose expression just about that time I feel 
 convinced, must have been exceedingly forlorn I could 
 not help whispering to him 
 
 "Oh, Bang, if you only knew ! " 
 
 But dogs are not romantic, and my shaggy companion, 
 with a most unfeeling, reckless indifference of the fatal 
 consequences- which might occur to me from Miss Eva 
 Morton's becoming Mrs. Victor Dunbar, began to jump up 
 and bark violently at a dignified grey grimalkin who came 
 gliding stealthily down the side of the summer-house on 
 her return from an unsuccessful expedition in search of 
 certain little brown wrens, which were in the habit of 
 haunting that same rustic bower, summer and winter, as 
 constantly as myself, evidently heeding my presence as 
 little as if I, too, were a wren. 
 
 These wee things were very wide awake, however, and 
 though pussy often laid in wait, meditating the destruction 
 of the feathered innocents, I never saw any feathers flying 
 about as marks of her destructive abilities, and moreover, 
 in her descent, she always looked lank and hungry, partic 
 ularly so, I thought, that dismal March afternoon, and I 
 was glad of it, for the amiability of her mood was not im 
 proved thereby, and as Mr. Bang jumped up at her 
 when fairly within his reach, she gave his sleek nose such 
 a succession of sharp scratches, that turning from her
 
 306 WOODBURN. 
 
 ingloriously vanquished and howling most woefully, he 
 rushed to me for comfort. 
 
 But I was in no humor for comforting even a dog, and 
 pushing him off roughly, with a kind of bitter satisfaction, 
 that a fine large male dog should be thus signally defeated 
 by a common sized female cat, and feeling rather a con 
 tempt for said specimen of the canine- race under the cir 
 cumstances, I exclaimed, 
 
 " Begone, ungrateful beast, you barked at the cat when 
 told of my sorrows, and she scratched your unsympathiz- 
 ing nose I am glad of it Bang, you are a coward !" and 
 struck with the absurdity of the scene, I startled the brown 
 wrens by bursting into a queer fit of hysterical laughter, 
 for the old spirit of defiant merriment was strong in me 
 yet, and though of late so overwhelmed by gloom, it would 
 occasionally struggle to the surface, mocking my sad 
 thoughts like some gay frolicking child 3 shouting for joy 
 among a company of mourners.
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 A BLIGHTED MAT-FLOWER. 
 
 As a spring snow-flake, frail and fair, 
 Melting away upon the air, 
 A waif of heaven unstained by earth, 
 Lost in the moment of its birth 1 
 
 ON the 1st of May an infant's feeble wail was heard at 
 Woodburn plaintive and trembling it died away; and 
 then, by that very same window where Ethel had stood 
 before me in her bridal attire, while a shade of coming 
 sorrow hovered over her in the moonlight, where the 
 crisped leaves of autumn had whirled in over the couch on 
 which she lay mourning and suffering, and where I had 
 watched the heavy, dismal clouds of January like a black 
 mask upon the smiling face of heaven even as the shadow 
 of that great sorrow then obscuring the light of joy within 
 our home there on the same spot I stood again, weeping 
 over the little white-robed form of Ethel's dead baby. 
 
 Pale, dewy rosebuds and lilies of the valley were clasped 
 in its tiny hands and grouped gracefully upon the breast 
 and around the cold, delicately beautiful face of that silent
 
 308 WOODBUKN. 
 
 little one whose sinless spirit had passed away without a 
 taint of earth. I could scarcely help feeling grateful, 
 even while mourning, that God had claimed my sister's 
 lovely boy as one of his own bright angels, for though Mr. 
 Clifford had returned a week before its birth, when their 
 marriage was made lawful the very next day in presence 
 of all at - Woodburn and Elgin, yet by a censorious 
 world, in after years, a slur perhaps might have been 
 cast upon the birth of that fair child, and hence 'twas bet 
 ter thus. 
 
 Touching and beautiful was the tender love with which 
 both Ethel and Lenox Clifford clung to and yearned over 
 that little waif of heaven. Grateful that the cloud 
 of late lowering over their path, darkening both past 
 and future, had been swept away, leaving them united and 
 blest, yet humbly, hopefully sorrowing over the grave of 
 their child, whose eternity of delight in a far off celestial 
 home could never be dimmed by the shadow which might 
 have darkened its earthly existence. 
 
 Down in the Woodburn cemetery, overshadowed by a 
 clump of myrtles, there is a little grave ever guarded by a 
 snow-white dove of finest marble, and covered in spring 
 time with sweet violets and daisies meet emblem of an 
 ephemeral May-day existence ! 
 
 Months of sorrow and anxiety had changed Mr. Clifford, 
 for there were lines on his brow and a few white hairs 
 shining amid those waving brown locks when he returned
 
 A BLIGHTED MAY-FLOWER. 309 
 
 from England ; but as my sister began to recover, when 
 her tears had ceased to flow in their first bitterness over 
 that sunny little mound among the myrtles, those care 
 worn lines lessened and the gray hairs did not increase. 
 
 Utterly vain still proved every attempt to trace out the 
 hiding place of Basil Thorn, though no possible means were 
 left untried by which he might be arrested and brought to 
 justice for even apart from my father's power to convict 
 him for forgery, the feeling excited universally by his base 
 and malignant vengeance against Ethel was so strong, that 
 many persons thought if discovered he would be hung up 
 by a mob. 
 
 I felt perfectly satisfied that if not found and punished 
 then, he would never escape a just retribution even in this 
 world, for " vengeance is mine," saith the Lord. What a 
 triumphant leer shone in Archey's eye when (upon meet 
 ing me one day after the terrible denouement which so 
 speedily followed his panic of terror when I was packing 
 books in the hall) he said 
 
 " Golly, Miss Amy, but did'nt I tell you dat Dr. Foster 
 was a real son ob de debble ? Fore de Lord, but I'd like 
 mightily to have a chance of hashin his ugly carcass up in 
 master's cotton-gin," and the negro grinned with almost 
 savage ferocity. 
 
 Gabe had been sent back to the Glen where he belonged, 
 and which, instead of being sold as we had heard, was sim 
 ply claimed by the person from whom the pretended Dr
 
 310 WOODBURN. 
 
 Foster had bought it, for he had made but one very small 
 payment on the property, after enjoying the benefit of an 
 unusually large crop, when suddenly declaring himself 
 unable to pay for the place, he gave it up, having accom 
 plished the dark purpose which brought him there, and 
 flitted away amid the ghastly gloom of his own wickedness, 
 even as "Hans of Iceland, the demon of the North," is 
 described by Victor Hugo, as vanishing instantaneously, 
 mysteriously, his beastly claws still reeking with the blood 
 of human victims, down a perpendicular height, or within 
 the unexplored windings of a mountain cave. 
 
 Ralph was charmed with his college life in England, 
 and now his cheerful letters were full of anticipated delight 
 at the prospect of seeing us ere very long at Clifton, the 
 beautiful place to which Mr. Clifford was so anxious Ethel 
 should accompany him, and over which Ralph was in rap 
 tures, having visited it before going to college. 
 
 My sister's health, however, continued so delicate during 
 several months as to unfit her for undergoing the fatigues 
 of a long journey, which, therefore, had to be postponed 
 until after Pearl's marriage, now fixed for September and 
 the anticipation of our presence upon that occasion was a 
 great source of happiness to all at Elgin, especially the 
 lovely bride elect. 
 
 I must not forget to mention here that Clarence Morton 
 concluded not to go abroad, in spite of the very great desire 
 he had expressed to meet his father and sister there, and
 
 A BLIGHTED MAY-FLOWER. 311 
 
 the delight he would have in going with Mr. Clifford. 
 Yet was Mr. Clifford suffered to depart without his friend 
 Clarence, who, oddly enough, when the time was again 
 mentioned for our departure, wrote to my brother-in-law 
 that he would join us in New York. 
 
 Mr. Morton's letters frequently alluded to his sister's 
 happy engagement to Victor Dunbar, as I knew from 
 hearing Mr. Clifford read them aloud to Ethel, but she 
 never mentioned the subject to me, for with a woman's 
 clever acuteness, having read long ago the secret of my 
 girlish heart, she respected it too much to chafe, either by 
 serious reference or careless joke, the sensitive wound, 
 which, though generally healed by time in juvenile hearts, 
 is yet very apt to leave a scar, as gashes in the bark of a 
 tender sapling, though failing to destroy its life, or even 
 strength, for full of vigorous sap, it grows up to be a tree 
 of the forest yet in after years, upon the matured trunk, 
 may be found corrugated scars left by early wounds 
 upon the delicate rind. 
 
 And so the days and weeks glided by, and so the summer 
 wore away at Woodburn. 
 
 The starry myrtle blossoms had fallen on the grave of 
 little Percy Clifford, where the sod was greener and the 
 tufts of violets and daisies more luxuriant than elsewhere, 
 because it was so carefully and constantly tended, and 
 within that clump of myrtles from day to day, all summer 
 long, there sang a mocking bird, whose notes were so
 
 312 WOODBURN. 
 
 thrillingly sweet, especially when the moon was full and 
 bright, that my sister loved to linger there drinking in the 
 musical tones of its wondrous melody for she said they 
 were like messages of peace and love from the spirit of her 
 angel child.
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 HOW THE PEAKL OF ELGIN SHONE IN AN AUTUMN SUNSET. 
 
 At the altar they were kneeling, 
 
 "Where through chancel windows stealing 
 
 Soft shone the autumn sunset light, 
 
 It was a fair and holy sight. 
 
 PEARL CLIFFORD and Cecil Clare were married in the 
 elegant little Gothic neighborhood church, near Elgin, the 
 ceremony being performed by the Bishop just at sunset on 
 the 10th of September. Aunt Kate insisted on having 
 a grand entertainment, and Pearl was determined to be 
 married at the altar so, as night church weddings are not 
 convenient in the country, they compromised the hour of 
 sunset being chosen for their nuptials, at which only rela 
 tions and intimate friends were present, and a large party 
 invited to Elgin later, when the yard was illuminated and 
 all festive preparations carried out on a grand scale. 
 
 The golden glow of declining day stealing in through 
 violet and crimson glass with that mellow richness so pecu 
 liar to autumn sunsets in southern climes the venerable 
 appearance of the Bishop, together with the youth of the 
 
 lovers and extreme loveliness of the bride all contributed 
 
 14
 
 314 WOODBUBN. 
 
 towards rendering that wedding the most touchingly beau 
 tiful and at the same time holy sight I ever witnessed. 
 
 Madam Armond had sent Pearl's dress, veil, etc., as 
 bridal gifts from Paris, and they assuredly did no little 
 credit to her taste, being composed of the most delicate 
 lace imaginable, and over the veil, in place of flowers, was 
 clasped a bandeau of rare and costly pearls, so suitable to 
 her name, and forming such a charming contrast to the 
 glowing charms of her Creole beauty. 
 
 So thrilling was the effect of that scene on the spectators 
 that when they knelt for the benediction there was scarcely 
 a dry eye amid the company there assembled. It was 
 rather remarkable that the gayest, nay, I might almost say 
 the wildest, girl in our neighborhood for she undoubtedly 
 was so until after -the fall from her horse two years before 
 should marry Cecil Clare, and this very fact, together 
 with the gentle, restraining influence his love and blessed, 
 cheerful teaching of religion had exerted over her, added 
 to the singularly striking and picturesque splendor of that 
 solemn ceremony. 
 
 Mr. Clifford was visibly affected when called upon to give 
 away the lovely daughter he had so lately found, and yet 
 it was not a dismal wedding where people drew down their 
 faces as if called upon to look as much as possible like chief 
 mourners at a funeral. Nothing of the kind. So much 
 beauty and holiness combined to thrill a tender chord in 
 feeling natures, causing almost a pleasant emotion of sad-
 
 THE PEARL OF ELGIN. 315 
 
 ness, one which we enjoy, and love to remember in after 
 times. 
 
 I must not forget to mention here a most touching scene 
 occurring just after the ceremony. Michael McAlpine had 
 been sent down to New Orleans for his father, as Pearl 
 was most anxious to see the old man and have him present 
 at her wedding, which suggestion was warmly entered into 
 
 oo / 
 
 by all at Elgin and Woodburn. He came, and being 
 present with his son in church, was the first (after her im 
 mediate family) whom Mr. Clifford led up to congratulate 
 the lovely bride. 
 
 With humble gallantry, and true feeling, the honest old 
 Scotchman dropped down on one knee, and raising the 
 little white hand, whereon now shone Pearl's wedding-ring, 
 to his lips, said earnestly 
 
 " God bless my bonnie bairn," and then to Mr. Clifford, 
 as he McAlpine rose and turned away : "I always 
 knew she was a born leddy, sir aye, just as well when 
 I picked her up out of the tumbling brine and called 
 her ' my pearl,' as at this moment, when my old eyes are 
 blessed with a sight of the lassie then so wee, and now 
 grown up to look as grand and bonnie as a queen. Nae 
 wonder ye look sa happy and proud, sir, wi' sic a winsome 
 wife and daughter." 
 
 My father being anxious to leave Woodburn in charge 
 of a trustworthy person after old McAlpine came 
 Mr. Clifford suggested him as most suitable, and with
 
 316 WOODBURN. 
 
 the consent of the Dunbars it was arranged that Michael 
 should remain there with his father until our return from 
 Europe. 
 
 The wedding party at Elgin was a decided success, and 
 Aunt Kate proportionally exultant. My sister looked 
 almost like herself again while there for they left before 
 the late guests arrived the memory of that fair little 
 sleeper beneath the myrtles, being too fresh for those 
 grieved though grateful hearts to participate yet in scenes 
 of mirth. 
 
 A sort of proud resolution had taken possession of me 
 since the fall of my air-castles which did more towards 
 transforming the child into the woman than years of happy 
 experience could have effected, and when the subject of 
 Victor's engagement to the fascinating Miss Morton was 
 freely discussed at Pearl's wedding, I listened and smiled, 
 and even joined in these conversations ; yet my heart was 
 heavy. For while these sweet young dreams faded away, 
 I clung to them as they receded, striving sometimes to 
 forget the reality, and revel once more in the ideal ; but 
 fancies of impossible happiness are rather tantalizing than 
 consoling, and as time wore on, ceasing to encourage them, 
 I tried to feel old, and look on my ruined hopes as the result 
 of childish folly. 
 
 Aunt Kate was in her element amid wedding festivities 
 on that 10th of September, and just as excited, or perhaps 
 a wee bit fussy as the dearest, best Scotch spinster might
 
 THE PEAKL OF ELGIN. 317 
 
 naturally be upon such an occasion. I. never saw her look 
 so well, for in arranging her cap, which was a present from 
 my sister, especially contrived for that occasion, of soft lace 
 and lilac ribbon Ethel protesting against the queer pro 
 pensity aunty's caps had generally evinced for crawling to 
 the remote part of her head laughingly told the old lady she 
 would make it impossible for this one to follow the exam 
 ple of its predecessors, by pinning it on, and then begged 
 as a favor that she would not pull at it, for if so, instead 
 of coming gradually from the back of her head to the 
 proper position for dignified caps, as usually followed 
 after sundry vigorous jerks, that this one would probably 
 land on the end of her nose, before the end of the evening. 
 Aunty Kate promised well, but towards supper time, I 
 saw the new head-gear receive several alarming tugs, and 
 but for Ethel's cute plan of securing it with hair pins, the 
 soft gray curls she had taken such pains to arrange to the 
 best advantage, would inevitably have disappeared entirely 
 under their overtopping of lace and ribbon. 
 
 Uncle Dunbar was well pleased also as the dispenser of 
 hospitality to such a " goodly companie," though Pearl said 
 jokingly that papa was miserable, not at the prospect of 
 losing her, but because there were not half a dozen sickly 
 parsons in the house, with their gruel, broth, and black 
 tea, instead of a healthy set, capable of digesting salads 
 and ice-cream ; he laughed, but not unmindful of the one 
 bilious stoop-shouldered individual who happened to be so-
 
 318 WOODBURN. 
 
 journing there at present just before supper, in passing 
 me, as he hurried out of the drawing-room kind, unself 
 ish Uncle D unbar ! with that quizzical wink so peculiar to 
 him, said 
 
 " I'm going into the kitchen to order some mush and a 
 cup of tea for poor Ogden a fine wedding feast ! suppose 
 we join him, Amy he's gone up 'stairs can't stand late 
 suppers a good fellow, but unfortunately with a bad di 
 gestion, and everybody, you see, to-night, forgets he is 
 dieting, except myself and away went that most hospita 
 ble of hosts, who could never resist a joke, even at the ex 
 pense of his own hobbies. The next day Cecil Clare and 
 his bride were to go home, the parsonage having been 
 beautifully fitted up for the reception of its new mistress 
 and being now as dainty a cottage as could well be imagined. 
 
 I think Aunt Kate would have grieved more at the 
 prospect of Pearl's bright presence passing away from the 
 home of her childhood even though it was to linger yet 
 so near but for the twitter of excitement she was thrown 
 into by Victor's determination to return with his charming 
 Eva to Elgin. They were to be married at Paris towards 
 the end of September, return to Elgin for the winter, and 
 probably revisit Europe the following spring so, as we 
 would hardly arrive in England before their departure 
 from France for America, there appeared but little chance 
 of our meeting at present which was a great relief to 
 me ! What a change ! to feel relieved at the pros-
 
 THE PEARL OF ELGIN. 319 
 
 pect of not meeting one who had been so much in my 
 thoughts, and from whom the idea of a prolonged absence 
 had, but a short time before, made all things appear so 
 dreary ! Far better thus, than feel the stinging mortifica 
 tion of hearing Yic tor call me " little coz" in the presence 
 of his beautiful wife, anything but that now and, more 
 over, it was scarcely possible for me to love Eva yet, as I 
 should wish to love his wife. Women's hearts are not 
 generally as pliable as wax or potter's clay, to be 
 moulded into shapes to suit occasions whatever hypo 
 chondriac, morose old bachelors may say to the contrary, 
 and mine was less yielding than most hearts to circum 
 stances if pulled one way against its inclinations, being 
 most perversely inclined to go in an opposite direction. 
 Perhaps the time might come, when some potent influence 
 was destined, with subtile power, superior to its own, 
 to conquer the perversity of my wilful nature but that 
 time was not yet. For though delighting in the happiness 
 of my sister and Pearl spite of all my efforts to banish 
 it there rested, like a deadly shadow of the Upas tree 
 within my heart, the bitter, regretful thought, that such 
 bliss was not, and never could be mine ! How paltry and 
 absurd such fancies appear as we look back upon them 
 through a long vista of years, whose experience has taught 
 us that the passion, par excellence, of one's life, is not 
 generally the first.
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 THE PEDDLEK. 
 
 On his white cheek and livid lips, 
 Some startling fear had left its trace, 
 A ghastly terror we beheld 
 Enthroned upon his face ! 
 
 A FEW days after the wedding, as I sat in my room, 
 making preparations for departure, Lucy came rushing in, 
 greatly excited and evidently pleased, for with a broad grin, 
 she exclaimed 
 
 " Oh, Miss Amy, dar's a peddler down stairs in de hack 
 porch, wid a great pack of such pretty things, do, please 
 mam, come down and look at dem, won't you ? Dar's 
 sich a monstus splendid calico, wid red spots all over it, 
 I'd like if you'll be so kind as to get it for me do, please, 
 Miss, for I'll take sich good care of your birds, and Bang, 
 too, till you comes back." 
 
 She was a faithful creature, and this appealing touch, 
 about my pets was irresistible, so I went down, and there, 
 sure enough, was the peddler, with his pack of wonders 
 displayed to the admiring gaze of a whole host of darkeys,
 
 THE PEDDLEK. 321 
 
 big and little, who stood with staring eyes and open 
 mouths, as wonder-stricken as Aladdin when he beheld the 
 glories of the magician's cavern, or as children might be 
 dazzled and amazed by the glittering splendors of an east 
 ern bazaar, for this simple-hearted people, delighting in 
 bright colors, never tire of beholding the varied stores of 
 these itinerant merchants. 
 
 The peddler was a fat man, with stooping shoulders, 
 green goggles, and gray hair, which, in its bushy, unnatu 
 ral appearance, rather resembled a wig. I purchased the 
 dress so coveted by Lucy, and while selecting a few ar 
 ticles for the other house-servants, found myself singularly 
 and disagreeably impressed by the man's manner and ap 
 pearance, and once, as he looked up quickly at Ethel, 
 who came running out to buy a skein of sewing silk, a 
 queer fancy came over me, that, spite of the gray bush 
 on his head and those disguising goggles, there was a 
 resemblance between this strolling vagrant and the pre 
 tended Dr. Foster, though, of course, I did not venture a 
 hint even regarding this idea of mine to my sister, 
 who could never hear the name of that black-hearted man. 
 without great emotion, and expressed herself, as yet, in 
 dread of some further demonstration of his unsated ven 
 geance, should he chance to hear of Arthur's death. 
 Ethel went off, however, without bestowing more than a 
 glance on the stranger, at which I felt relieved, and while 
 
 watching the peddler as he waddled off, bent down beneath 
 
 14*
 
 322 WOODBURN. 
 
 the load of his pack, I ridiculed myself mentally for the 
 absurdity of such thoughts ; yet at the same time feeling 
 oppressed and disturbed, as after the receipt of Rachel's 
 letter, and without any definite cause, save the shadowy 
 likeness I had conjured up between this gray-haired vender 
 of dry goods and Dr. Foster, I found the queer figure re 
 ceding down the front avenue, connected in my mind with 
 Basil Thorn, the wild man, Gabe, and the blood-hound, and 
 full of dreary thoughts, turned into the house, nervous and 
 anxious, I scarcely knew why, wishing Mr. Clifford were 
 at home, and wondering if the peddler would meet him on 
 his way from the parsonage. Just as I crossed the thresh 
 old of the door, Archey shuffled round the corner of the 
 house, saying 
 
 " Wait a minit, please, miss, I'se got some ting to tell 
 you." 
 
 " Say on quickly, then, for I am weary and want to go 
 in," I replied, remembering that Archey was not among 
 the dusky group gathered around the peddler, and won 
 dering what he could have been about to miss such an 
 interesting exhibition. 
 
 "You see dat creeter wid a pack, miss, what's jis gone 
 out ob de gate well ! Gabe told me dis mornin dat he 
 was down to de Glen yesterday, and who you tink Gabe 
 says he is ?" 
 
 And Archey, rolling his eyes around furtively from 
 right to left, and as if in dread of being overheard, putting
 
 THE PEDDLER. 323 
 
 his hands up cautiously to his mouth, as he stepped up on 
 the gallery, whispered 
 
 "Dr. Foster." 
 
 I started, and felt myself paling at the mention of that 
 detested name, yet instantly chiding myself for credulity, 
 said quickly, 
 
 " What could put such a thing into Gabe's head ?" 
 
 "Why, miss, kase he's always been so skeered for de 
 doctor, "he says he'd know him in Jericho, spite of his white 
 wig and green spectacles. Gabe tells me he's sartin dat 
 son of Satin is come back here, jis to see how much mis 
 chief he hab done, and (if he gets a far chance) to do more, 
 but maybe he won't go waddling round here long, for 
 Gabe hates him powerful, and Gosh ! but I pities de ped 
 dler if dat nigger gets alone wid him in de woods, for you 
 see, Gabe looked savage as a wild-cat when he says, ' I 
 never lets on as how I knows him, but maybe it will be so 
 dat I can remind him of our 'quantance 'fore he goes.' 
 Je-ru-sa-lem ! but wouldn't I like to be squattin down in 
 a old holler stump, and see what dat great black giant 
 would do to de stranger-man, if dey happens to meet in a 
 lonesome place for wedder he is de doctor or not, its all 
 one, for Gabe tink so, he do and folks dat peddles tings 
 round can't spec, miss, you know, to keep niggers in such 
 a skeer as fine doctors dat owns plantations !" 
 
 "You and Gabe are crazy, and if you don't stop talking 
 so absurdly, should anything happen to the poor old ped-
 
 324 WOODBURN. 
 
 dler, you'll both be hung, so take my advice and hold your 
 foolish tongues ; and Archey, this evening, at six o'clock, 
 saddle Wizard, and prepare to attend me over to Elgin, 
 for I have a head-ache, and want to ride it off." 
 
 The boy bowed and disappeared, while I went in the 
 house to torment myself with imaginary horrors until 
 evening. Miserable for fear Gabe's suspicions might 
 prove correct, yet not daring to hint such a thing to 
 Ethel, or even my father, from dread of alarming v or an 
 noying them unnecessarily, I determined to relieve my 
 mind in a measure, at all events, by telling my sus 
 picions, and also what I had just heard, to uncle Dunbar. 
 
 My heart leaped with delight when Lenox Clifford came 
 home safe and sound from the parsonage, for I had 
 wrought myself up into a perfect frenzy of dread, by 
 imagining him strangled or stabbed, and then flung into a 
 dark way-side pool by the peddler, and forthwith, as stimu 
 lants to my morbid fancy, every hideous murder of which 
 I had ever either heard or read, stood marshaled before 
 me in ghastly array. Before sundown on that same even 
 ing, having succeeded partially in banishing these torment 
 ing fears by a rapid ride, I found myself discussing the 
 matter with Aunt Kate and Uncle Dunbar, on the balcony 
 at Elgin. 
 
 "If it is Basil Thorn," I said, "there is no knowing 
 what fiendish motive brings him here again disguised, and 
 indeed believing that no crime is too enormous, either for
 
 THE PEDDLEK. 325 
 
 him to conceive or .execute, I cannot help feeling a dread 
 of something awful, and am particularly anxious about 
 Mr. Clifford's personal safety what shall we do ?" 
 
 Who could answer ? 
 
 They were puzzled, and apprehensive too and yet upon 
 the mere say-so of a negro, what earthly ground was there 
 for arresting the peddler ? 
 
 The dusk of autumn twilight crept on slowly as I yet 
 lingered talking at Elgin, and when at last I called for 
 Archey and my horse, they said it was too late for me to 
 ride home alone with a servant, and insisted upon sending 
 for Michael McAlpine to accompany me, to which I most 
 readily consented ; for, though not very timid, the idea of 
 riding home through the dark woods at that hour, with no 
 more chivalrous attendant than Archey to protect me 
 perhaps from the murderous hands of the grizzly vagrant 
 was not cheering. 
 
 " Mr. Michael ain't here, sir ; he went out to hunt up 
 Miss Pearl's filly soon arter dinner, and he's not got back," 
 said Archey, who was sent by my uncle to summon young 
 McAlpine. 
 
 "Well, well, sit down, he will be here directly, and if 
 not soon enough to go home with you, why then, (if you 
 won't let me accompany you, Miss Amy, though I could 
 do so without the least trouble) why just write a note by 
 the negro and stay all night." 
 
 So we began again discussing the then all absorbing
 
 326 WOODBURN. 
 
 theme of whether there was any real possibility of Basil 
 Thorn (alias Dr. Foster) circulating again through the 
 neighborhood under a hoary wig and green goggles ? 
 
 Presently there was a slam of the front gate, and some 
 one on horseback rode furiously up the avenue. 
 
 " Why there's Michael now ! What on earth brings him 
 this way in such a hurry ? Hal-loo ! Michael, what's the 
 matter ?. Has Frolic broken her neck ?" 
 
 But the laugh accompanying this question was checked 
 at the sight of McAlpine's pallid face, who had come up 
 to the balcony evidently the bearer of startling news, and 
 in extreme terror I cried out : 
 
 " Has anything happened at Woodburn ? Where is my 
 father Mr. Clifford have you seen them, Michael?" 
 
 " Oh, don't be frightened, Miss, it's all right there, no 
 doubt ; but something dreadful has happened, though to no 
 one we care about. A man, sir," turning to my uncle, 
 "has been murdered between the Glen and town, which I 
 was the first to discover while hunting for Mrs. Clare's 
 little filly out in a lonesome piece of woods, and it was such 
 an awful sight, sir, I did not tarry a moment, but rode 
 over in breathless haste to tell you and see what is best to 
 be done." 
 
 "Murdered!" we all exclaimed almost in a breath. 
 "Oh! how dreadful !" 
 
 " Tell us all about it, Michael, my boy ; who is it, and
 
 THE PEDDLER. 327 
 
 where and how did you happen to find the body ?" said my 
 uncle. 
 
 " Well," he replied, " the shadows were growing deeper 
 in the woods, for evening was creeping on, as I circled the 
 little thicket of holly, thorn and beech about a mile beyond 
 the Glen towards town, hoping to find Miss Pearl's pony, 
 when my horse reared back so suddenly as almost to throw 
 me from the saddle, at the same time snorting violently as 
 if in great terror. I threw myself down instantly from 
 the frightened beast, and was advancing towards a dark 
 object in the thicket, when the ringing bay of a blood 
 hound caused me to start back with horror for at the 
 same moment my foot sank in an oozy puddle, from which 
 this fierce creature, crouched so low that I could scarcely 
 see him for the tangled vines and brush-wood, was lap 
 ping not water, as I at first supposed but blood ! 
 
 " I felt faint with terror and disgust, for my feet were 
 saturated with it ; and there, half-hidden in that dense 
 copse, with his ghastly face upturned to the sky, while red 
 streams were flowing from his throat and a wound over his 
 heart, lay the body of a thick set, heavy man, whose bare 
 head though it looked as if shaved, not bald was dabbled 
 with blood, and a gray wig, probably torn off in that deadly 
 struggle, I found lying at a little distance from the body, 
 and near a heavy pack of goods which induced me to 
 believe that the murdered man is no other than a peddler 
 who for several days past has been wandering through the
 
 328 WOODBUEN. 
 
 neighborhood. Queerly enough, too, the goods were un 
 touched, thus proving that this awful deed was not com 
 mitted for the purpose of robbing the unfortunate stramger. 
 I am no coward, Mr. Dunbar ; but the awful sight of that 
 gory corpse, and the fierce brute drinking blood, made me 
 so sick with horror I had scarcely strength enough to 
 mount my horse and ride home, but when fairly off I gave 
 him the rein and left that dismal wood behind as soon as 
 possible." 
 
 We all listened with breathless attention to Michael's 
 dreadful story, and when he ceased speaking I remarked 
 aside to my uncle 
 
 " If Archey's gossip about the peddler had any foundation 
 of truth, there could be little doubt as to who had commit 
 ted this crime." But he instantly checked me, saying : 
 
 "Let the law find out, and prosecute the murderer, my 
 child. It is a grave and awful charge for one human being 
 to bring against another ; and particularly when all you or 
 I know is founded upon the idle tattle of a negro just 
 enough, perhaps, to bring an innocent person to unjust 
 punishment, a far greater evil than permitting the guilty 
 one even to go unpunished." 
 
 I felt the truth and justice of this rebuke, and never 
 afterwards hinted at what Archey had said, save to those 
 who were as careful in guarding the secret as myself. 
 
 This murder made a great sensation throughout our 
 quiet neighborhood, and indeed the whole country not
 
 THE PEDDLER. 329 
 
 only on account of the deep mystery by which it was 
 enveloped, but because ere long a report became whispered 
 about that the murdered man was none other than Dr. 
 Foster, alias Basil Thorn, in a new disguise, which came 
 not only from the servants but from the overseer at the 
 Glen who had been there while the pretended Foster 
 owned it, and said he recognized his former employer not 
 in the living, but the dead peddler, when bereft of his 
 disguise, in spite of that shaven head and the disfiguring 
 wounds upon his face and throat. My father, who also 
 saw the body, felt no doubt upon the subject, and we were 
 all humbled and overpowered by such unmistakable evi 
 dences of the just retribution of an offended God. Had 
 that dreadful man been permitted to live (even a few days 
 longer) who can tell what fatal turn his vengeance might 
 have taken ? Perhaps then, too, there might have been a 
 murder, and a far fairer corpse, with soft brown hair and 
 marble brow, found lying cold and dreary in some dismal, 
 lonely spot, and a broken-hearted mourner left pining 
 hopelessly within our home ! God be praised for averting 
 the possibility of such unspeakable wretchedness the very 
 imagining of which caused our darling Ethel, when inform 
 ed of Basil Thorn's fate, to cling, weeping, around her 
 husband's neck, as she whispered 
 
 " He never came here again save for a dark purpose, 
 and I shudder at the thought of what it might have been." 
 
 The fact that " Wolf," the blood-hound, of whom Gabe
 
 330 WOODBURN. 
 
 had charge, was found reveling in a gory meal beside the 
 body, gave rise to a suspicion that he might be the guilty 
 party ; but as he was proved to have been in the field at 
 work during the whole of that day, even up to the very 
 hour when Michael discovered the body, and as the dog's 
 chain was broken, there existed no testimony to back this 
 suspicion, and therefore after being for awhile kept in close 
 custody, examined and cross-examined, the great black 
 giant was released. He was sullen when questioned, say 
 ing he did not kill the man, but (suspecting him to be 
 Foster) had an opportunity offered would have done so, 
 for he was the worst man that ever lived, and deserved to 
 be killed. 
 
 Nothing was ever known of what Archey had said to 
 me, and after the deed, that most discreet Ethiopian, either 
 from fear of getting into trouble himself or through friend 
 ship for Gabe, considered silence his best policy, and re 
 mained forever mute upon the subject ; but the roll of his 
 eye, accompanied by a low chuckle, as he said 
 
 " What I tell you, Miss ?" pointing towards the Glen 
 when first I saw him after the murder, convinced me what 
 he thought ; but placing my finger upon my lips I passed 
 on, and Archey was smart enough to take that silent hint. 
 
 All efforts to detect the guilty person were unavailing 
 at that time ; but here let me mention, before dismissing 
 the subject finally, years afterwards the ravings of a dying 
 woman, at N , revealed, in herself, the murderer of
 
 THE PEDDLER. 331 
 
 Basil Thorn. She was known to us as a young and pretty 
 girl, though poor, and a seamstress having worked for 
 Ethel before her first marriage and afterwards we heard 
 she had become worthless and abandoned to habits of intem 
 perance. Among this poor creature's clothes were found 
 letters from young Thorn, addressing her as his wife, and 
 others (bearing a later date) in which he denied, with 
 curses, that she had any claim upon him, and swearing 
 their marriage to have been a mockery. She was, doubt 
 less, the haggard woman described by Mrs. Slone to Ethel 
 and myself as having been repeatedly driven away by Fos 
 ter from the Glen, and at last, stung to desperation by his 
 neglect and curses no doubt penetrating the disguise 
 under which he came, like a " thing of evil," that second 
 time among us this fierce avenger, inflamed to madness 
 by strong drink, laid in wait for and murdered her de 
 stroyer ! 
 
 Oh ! the hardened and frightful wickedness of that 
 man's course ! How can such escape punishment here, 
 and greater condemnation hereafter ? 
 
 -
 
 CHAPTER XXXiV. 
 
 
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. 
 
 "Tis sad to leave our childhood's sunny home, 
 For the sweet spells of love which bind us there 
 
 Rude contact with the world will sometimes break, 
 And when we come again, a shade of care, 
 
 Or new found joy, perchance, may make it seem less fair. 
 
 SHORTLY after the events related in the preceding chap 
 ter we left Woodburn, and I never realized how dear to my 
 heart was this beautiful home of my childhood until through 
 a mist of blinding tears it faded from my view. The an 
 ticipated novelty of traveling through foreign lands even 
 could not overcome my regret at parting with so many 
 dear asscciations, and -also our beloved friends at Elgin and 
 the parsonage, especially Pearl, who was as a sister to both 
 Ethel and myself, and scarcely less dear to us than we 
 were to each other ; yet it was a sr>rce of great consolation 
 that we left her so happy and so fully absorbed with her 
 new duties of wife and housekeeper, and I am rather 
 inclined to believe Cecil Clare had it entirely within his 
 power to console the Pearl of Elgin for our departure. 
 
 I shall not dwell upon our journey. Suffice it to say
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. 333 
 
 that Mr. Morton made it convenient to join us in New 
 York. Before we reached Liverpool I knew the reason of his 
 anxiety to make one of our party, and also why his accept 
 ance of Mr. Clifford's invitation to accompany us to " Clif 
 ton " my brother-in-law's beautiful place in shire 
 
 was conditional, being to the effect "that he would be most 
 happy to do so, but it must depend on circumstances." 
 This contingency, whatever it was, resulted unfavorably for 
 Mr. Clifford's wishes, as he left us at London and went to 
 travel on the continent. 
 
 We did not meet Victor and Eva Dunbar, as, after their 
 marriage, they sailed from Havre for America, and a few 
 weeks subsequent to our arrival at Clifton we received let 
 ters from Aunt Kate and Pearl expatiating upon the charms 
 of Victor's bride. Then, for the first time, the regretful sad 
 ness heretofore haunting my heart with Woodburn memories, 
 and at times possessing me with a perverse desire to return, 
 faded away for the great fear which had oppressed me of 
 meeting those two happy beings abroad was lifted, and 
 since they were now so near my sunny southern home the 
 thought of remaining away from it for an indefinite period 
 became less distasteful to me. Indeed there was a positive 
 satisfaction in calculating the wide distance separating me 
 
 
 
 from Woodburn, and in dwelling upon the certainty that 
 no possible chance, for a very long time, could bring us in 
 contact with Victor and his wife. 
 
 Clifton, my sister's new English home, was a grand old
 
 334 WOODBTTRN. 
 
 place, and if present happiness can atone for past misery, 
 they were compensated for even the bitter wretchedness 
 resulting from Basil Thorn's malignant vengeance for 
 though it had left a shadow on Ethel's life too heavily 
 fraught with gloom to pass entirely away, yet was that 
 shadow brightened now by a perfect sunshine of earthly 
 bliss. The three months we passed with them at Clifton, 
 during part of the time Ralph was also there has left a 
 memory of that sweet and peaceful happiness whose reality 
 calmed my feverish and tormenting regrets over the van 
 ished dreams of early girlhood. 
 
 In January we all went to Paris, Mr. Clifford and Ethel 
 at last acceding to our earnest request that they would 
 travel with us over the continent. What young person can 
 resist the fascinations of Paris ? I was amazed, bewildered 
 at the endless variety of wonders presented to me there, 
 and proposed that our "tour through Europe" should 
 begin .and end in this emporium of magnificence. Mr- 
 Clifford introduced us to Madam Armond, who was a most 
 charming old lady with soft gray curls and courtly man 
 ners. She appreciated Ethel fully, quite to my satisfaction 
 even, which is saying a great deal, for the intense admira 
 tion and affection I awarded my peerless sister made me 
 exceedingly exacting as to the esteem she was held in by 
 others. We found it almost impossible to satisfy Madam 
 Armond' s curiosity regarding Pearl, who was so dear to 
 her aunt for her mother's sake, though as yet personally
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. 335 
 
 unknown. The old lady said her most earnest prayer was 
 that she might live long enough to bless Olivia's child 
 for Olivia had been unto her as a beloved daughter. 
 
 In reverting to Mr. Clifford's early history she told us 
 that Henrique and Orliff having worked for years among 
 the chain-gang and then been released, were afterwards 
 convicted of other monstrous crimes and sentenced to 
 transportation, when, on the very night before the sentence 
 was to be carried into execution, Henrique dashed himself 
 to pieces in trying to escape through his prison window by 
 means of a rope made of the bed-clothes torn into strips, 
 which, proving too weak for his weight, broke, precipitating 
 him down from a great height on to the stone pavement, 
 where he was picked up shortly afterwards by the night- 
 watch, a lifeless mass. Orliff was transported for life, and 
 Madam A. knew nothing further regarding his fate. 
 
 I must now pass rapidly over the time until our arrival 
 at Florence, where I took it into my silly little head to 
 plunge recklessly not into the Arno but into that dismal 
 swamp of despondency elegantly entitled "the blues." 
 Why so ? Because it happened to be the spot where two 
 people (now far away, and entirely unconscious of causing 
 me the slightest unhappiness,) had chanced to meet and 
 fall in love with each other, greatly to my discomfiture 
 and, in spite of my respect for the decalogue, be it here 
 confessed that I was occasionally in the habit of coveting 
 the happiness found by those same envied lovers at Florence ;
 
 336 WOODBURN. 
 
 and hence it came to pass that I, Amy Percy, on a certain 
 evening towards the middle of February, 1845, stood on 
 the banks of the Arno watching the sunset clouds pale and 
 the yellow moon come up, feeling very forlorn and most 
 egotistically sorry for myself. Weary with climbing about 
 a ruined villa near by, (where the rest of my party still 
 lingered) having no fancy for being dusted by mouldy 
 curtains, or festooned with cobwebs from toiling through 
 deserted halls and dim old picture galleries, despoiled per 
 haps of the chief artistic gems which constituted their by 
 gone glory, I had stolen off to brood drearily over a past 
 in whose lost joys rather selfishly to be sure I felt far 
 more interested. 
 
 I really do enjoy looking at beautiful or curious things 
 in frequented places, but this mania possessing most peo 
 ple, to go rummaging through deserted old mansions, be 
 they ever so grand, is rather beyond my comprehensive love 
 for, or appreciation of the mystic and marvelous. The dusty 
 arras, with its dismal rustling, in chambers said by tradi 
 tion to have been years ago inhabited, perhaps for one 
 night, by a celebrity (which may or may not be true), 
 never presented any particular charm for me neither am 
 I fond of cultivating the ghostly fascinations of a gloomy 
 apartment, wherein story says a diabolical murder has 
 been committed long ago, and where dark looking stains on 
 the floor are pointed out as blood, which all the floods of 
 all the oceans could not remove -though perhaps there
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. 337 
 
 was never either mop, scrubbing brush or soap introduced 
 within those haunted, or rather supposed to be haunted 
 walls. 
 
 Now it is far more likely that such mysterious spots re 
 sulted from the upsetting of a subtile hair-dye by some 
 shaky old bachelor, in by-gone centuries, or the breaking 
 of a bottle of vinegar rouge by an antiquated beauty, while 
 vainly endeavoring, through the sorceries of art, to replace 
 the vanished freshness and glory of her youth, than that 
 they were produced by the murderous knife of a jealous 
 husband or lover ! At all events I am very sceptical 
 regarding such marvelous tales, unless authenticated by 
 history ; and it was my habit, when deserted castles or 
 villas were being explored, after submitting myself to be 
 dragged about for a time greatly against my inclination, 
 to steal off and enjoy the out-door world of beauty, as on 
 the present occasion when lingering at twilight on the 
 banks of the Arno. Suddenly I was startled by the splash 
 ing sound of oars, and almost at the same moment, a very 
 small skiff ran in to shore just below where I stood. My 
 first impulse was to turn and retrace my steps towards the 
 villa, but before I could possibly eflect my retreat, a gen 
 tleman bounded up the bank, who was apparently astonished 
 no little at the sight of a solitary damsel in that unfre 
 quented place for the bank prevented his seeing me until, 
 to the surprise of both parties. Amy Percy and Clarence 
 
 Morton stood again, and most unexpectedly, face to face. 
 
 15
 
 338 WOODBURN. 
 
 "This is not altogether accidental," he said, as I greeted 
 him cordially and expressed ray astonishment at seeing him 
 there, " I was in the city when your party came, but only 
 heard of their arrival this evening, and being informed of 
 your intention to explore the ruins in this direction, could 
 not resist the temptation of following, yet have found you 
 somewhat sooner than I expected why are you here alone, 
 and where are the Cliffords and your father ?" 
 
 These questions were soon answered, and feeling quite 
 cheered i)y his presence, I had little difficulty in freeing 
 myself from the blues ; for notwithstanding the fact of my 
 perverse refusal to encourage Mr. Morton's accompanying 
 us to Clifton be it known to thee, oh gentle reader, that 
 Mr. Clifford's friend was very far from being a disagree 
 able person, on the contrary, exceedingly cultivated, with 
 fine natural powers of mind and great originality, he was 
 a most charming companion, and as the old subject upon 
 which we had failed to agree when crossing the ocean was 
 for the present left at rest, I found myself delighted with 
 Clarence Morton's piquant conversation, and the moonlit 
 river, and the dreamy light of that Italian sky appeared 
 absolutely more attractive in their beauty now, than when 
 gazed on by me a short time before through a sombre vista 
 of morbid melancholy. 
 
 The exploring party were all surprised and happy at 
 meeting my companion, and so we returned to the city, all 
 well pleased, and one, namely myself, feeling, from causes
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. 339 
 
 tmknown or at least undefined at that time, far less forlorn 
 than when I left it. The next morning Ethel asked me 
 very timidly if I had any objection to Mr. Morton's join 
 ing our party until his departure for the East. He had 
 begged of Mr. Clifford to find out if I objected, and hinted 
 very humbly that the forbidden subject should not be re 
 vived. I turned red, felt half provoked and replied, 
 
 "Mr. Morton has a right to travel when and where he 
 pleases, without asking my permission. How absurd to 
 ask me." 
 
 At this little outbreak my sister laughed and went off, 
 I presume to inform the gentleman that no embargo was 
 laid by a certain young lady upon his traveling with Mr. 
 Clifford, as nothing further was said about the matter, and 
 Mr. Morton remained one of our party for the next seven 
 or eight months. We visited all the most interesting por 
 tions of Europe, and though almost constantly with the 
 gentleman during this period, let me remark, en passant, 
 I was not tired of him, no, not in the least, and rather 
 glad than otherwise when he agreed to return with us and 
 spend a few weeks at Clifton, entirely en ami unselfish 
 Morton ! to Lenox Clifford, who was not obliged to ex 
 haust his eloquence in persuading this same pattern of dis 
 interested friendship to sojourn with him most willingly ! 
 
 And lo ! he lingered amid the beguiling beauties of 
 that fine old English home for Clarence Morton was a 
 lover of nature and hence, how could he fail to appreciate
 
 340 WOODBURN. 
 
 lawns, parks, gardens, of such rare perfection ? Until 
 at last the gentleman who was to be his compagnon du 
 voyage through the East, wrote to know what had become 
 of this loiterer. Now I do verily believe he was not just 
 then so zealous in his desire to reach the holy city as God 
 frey de Bouillon or the intrepid Rinaldo, who dared and 
 won so much in those glorious days of crusading chivalry ! 
 There was a charming little lake at Clifton, and beside its 
 limpid deeps Mr. Morton was very fond of wandering, in 
 company with an American lassie whose disposition he 
 chose to admire, having seen her upon the occasion of their 
 first acquaintance shatter a little pearl fan rather spitefully 
 against the trunk of a palm tree ; and there is not the 
 slightest doubt this deluded individual, with a most egre 
 gious, unpardonable want of taste, would have preferred 
 lingering in the society of said damsel by the fairy lake, to 
 plunging headlong into the Jordan or refreshing him 
 self with a morning bath in the pitchy waves of the Dead 
 Sea! 
 
 However he had promised to. go, and promises with such 
 men are sacred ; so one cool, gray, misty day towards the 
 close of October, he left us, looking desperate and forlorn, 
 a handsome likeness of the "knight of the rueful counten 
 ance." 
 
 I wonder if the " spiteful " young lady was sorry to see 
 him go ? Nobody asked her ; but there were two or three 
 bright drops on the beautiful white tea rosebud he had given
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. 341 
 
 her at parting, and when she put it in one of his favorite 
 books to press, they trickled out and moistened the dainty- 
 pages. I wonder if they were dew-drops ? Certain it is 
 she could not help thinking it odd how agreeably Clarence 
 Morton had effected the change from a discarded lover to a 
 most charming friend, and furthermore these reflections 
 ended in that perverse little heart of her's wishing, most 
 perversely, to know if he loved her yet ? Alas I he was 
 gone now, and I think there would have been more drops 
 on the rosebud had she dreamed how many years would 
 pass and how many sad changes take place before they 
 met again. Such is life with its endless chances and un 
 certainties. 
 
 In November my father took Ralph and myself to Paris 
 for the winter and spring, that we might be perfected in 
 the French language before returning to America. This 
 six months was a bright, pleasant epoch in my life, and yet 
 during the time I fell back somewhat into a habit of build 
 ing air-castles again, though with far more maturity of 
 architectural taste and experience, and with even a surer 
 foundation I thought than the little withered rosebud 
 which so often distracted my thoughts from the fascinating 
 pages of Victor Hugo and Racine. 
 
 In June we returned to Clifton, where Mr. Clifford and 
 Ethel were supremely happy in the possession of a lovely 
 boy, the glowing, healthy image of their little lost Percy, 
 and bearing also his name. On our arrival from the con-
 
 342 WOODBUUN. 
 
 tinent he was three months old, and as fair a child as ever 
 blessed the love of two such doting parents. And so when 
 the autumn leaves were once more falling at Clifton, we 
 left them absorbed in this newly-found joy to go back 
 once more to our far-off home at Woodburn, where they 
 promised to visit us in the course of a year. 
 
 Before we reached America, Victor and Eva Dunbar 
 had left Elgin for her father's home in Maryland, and so 
 again it chanced we did not meet, which was a source of 
 regret, for then I felt a wish to know and love my cousin 
 Victor's wife. How strange it seemed to be at home again, 
 and how pleasant yet I felt so old, being almost twenty ; 
 and then missing Ethel and Mr. Clifford made a sad 
 void in our family circle long was it ere we be 
 came accustomed, and never entirely reconciled, to their 
 absence. 
 
 The Clares were very happy Pearl as lovely as ever, 
 and quite matronly with a sweet little Ethel in her arms. 
 Aunt Kate's cap was as far back on her head as when it 
 gave her fingers the slip in their spasmodic efforts to pull 
 it forward when we parted two years before. In joy or 
 grief it was ever given to backsliding, while its wearer re 
 mained the same dear, kind, faithful Aunty. 
 
 Uncle Dunbar still rejoiced in the dispensation of an 
 insatiable hospitality, and mush, gruel, broth and black tea 
 were, as usual, in high repute at the Elgin board, which 
 Mr. Ogden and others of the same dyspeptic fraternity
 
 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. 343 
 
 were wont to illuminate, as formerly, with their bilious 
 presence. 
 
 And here let me drop the curtain over several years, to 
 lift it again after many changes had altered the aspect of 
 things both at Elgin and Woodburn.
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 AGAIN AT WOODBURN. 
 
 Changed ! for with those so fondly cherished, 
 
 Good, brave and beautiful, and gay, 
 The light of other days had perished, 
 
 .Where were they ? Lost, or far away ! 
 
 % 
 
 AGAIN upon the gallery at Woodburn there was a group 
 assembled on a day as fair as that with which this story 
 opened, when we were so merrily discussing Mr. Clifford's 
 expected arrival. 
 
 ^Che sun was warm and bright, the air again redolent 
 with fragrance of myrtle, rose and jasmine the birds sing 
 ing as joyously as if the shadow of a mighty sorrow had 
 not of late fallen upon the threshold of that beloved home. 
 The group was changed. My sister Ethel again appeared, 
 scarcely less beautiful than when she sat almost on the 
 same spot nearly ten years before, laughing at Ralph's ideal 
 picture of our dreaded English tutor but a deep shade of 
 sadness rested on her lovely brow, while the close mourn 
 ing of her dress as did mine also betokened that our loss 
 had been recent and heavy. There were golden spring 
 flowers there again, for a beautiful little girl was twining
 
 AGAIN AT WOODBURN. 345 
 
 garlands of laburnums from the same old tree, with which 
 she proceeded to decorate a venerable dog resting half 
 asleep and wholly patient by her side on the front steps. 
 Poor Bang ! he was too old and lazy now to torment the 
 cat, and must submit in his, turn to be thus delicately tor 
 mented. 
 
 Alas ! the wreaths of my childhood were withered long 
 ago, and that beloved head of silvery tresses which it had 
 been then my delight to crown, was now lying low beneath 
 the willows. No wonder Woodburn looked gloomy to us 
 in spite of its many attractions even arrayed thus in the 
 full glory of spring-time freshness ! Ah ! none can realize 
 our loss save those who have looked their last on such a 
 father ! Ralph, too, was gone not dead, but married, and 
 living far away in Virginia. 
 
 Mr. Clifford was with us, looking the very picture of a 
 fond proud parent, as he stood out on the lawn, watching 
 his son Percy, now five years old, who shouted aloud with 
 joy from the back of a beautiful little Texas pony, which 
 he had ventured to mount for the first time, and was hold 
 ing on, not only to the bridle, but to the animal's long 
 thick mane, delighted and yet half afraid, as Archey the 
 second being a worthy descendant of that most notable 
 African led the docile thing up and down the carriage 
 walk. It was a pretty sight ! the handsome child, with 
 his bright, expressive face and long brown curls, laughing 
 
 and shouting to the young Ethiopian, whose sleek black 
 
 15*
 
 346 WOODBURN. 
 
 skin and woolly head appeared in fine contrast to his little 
 master's aristocratic beauty, as he, the darkey, grinned and 
 chuckled which last accompaniment he undoubtedly came 
 by most honestly evidently enjoying and participating in 
 Percy's delight. And here it may not be out of place to 
 remark regarding our tattling acquaintance, Archey the 
 elder, that he continued still high in favor at Woodburn 
 being rather more dignified and somewhat less inclined to 
 gossip, since becoming the respectable father of a family, 
 whereof the dusky little urchin leading Percy Clifford's 
 pony, was the eldest hope ; let us trust my faithful Lucy, 
 who had the honor of being Archey's better half, while 
 teaching her offspring the virtues of their sire, will also 
 warn them against the evils of eaves-dropping. 
 
 Aunt Kate was now with us, and also in close mourning 
 for dear good Uncle Dunbar had been called away a 
 year before my father, and Elgin was shut up, as aunty 
 could not remain there alone, and the Clares were abroad. 
 She sat in the place occupied by Rachel Thorn at the 
 opening of this story, looking placid, yet older and sadder 
 than when first introduced to the reader even her cap 
 had settled down now, for it was of white crape, and too 
 close in its pattern to fly backwards as formerly. The old 
 lady's chief happiness was in Pearl and her children, for 
 whom she was at present knitting soft white stockings, in 
 anticipation of their return the following autumn. She 
 was still devoted to Victor and Eva, but almost despaired
 
 AGAIN AT WOODBURN. 347 
 
 of seeing them sometimes, or the lovely little daughter 
 regarding whom they wrote such glowing accounts ; for 
 though their nominal home was in New York, yet, pre 
 ferring Europe, they had been abroad now for two years. 
 Though generally regular in writing to Aunt Kate, many 
 months had elapsed lately without her receiving a letter, 
 which caused her kind anxious heart much pain, and she 
 often expressed herself as very uneasy about the wan 
 derers. Ethel and Mr. Clifford had been summoned to 
 come over when our beloved father's health commenced 
 failing, and fortunately arrived two months before his 
 death. 
 
 "Tarrage tummin, mamma," lisped little Amy, as she 
 toddled up to the door, having left old Bang enveloped in 
 garlands to run out where her father sto*od for more 
 flowers, "tummin now, most fru de front date." 
 
 And she pointed with her chubby little finger in the di 
 rection indicated, where, sure enough, we saw a close car 
 riage rolling up towards the house, and my mind involun 
 tarily flew back to that wretched, never-to-be-forgotten 
 time, when Archey rushed in to announce the coming of 
 Basil Thorn's freight of vengeance to Woodburn. There 
 was but a moment, however, to indulge this gloomy re 
 trospect, for the carriage soon drew up before the door, 
 and our astonishment may be better imagined than de 
 scribed, when Clarence Morton sprang out, holding in his 
 arms a frail, fair, golden-haired girl, about four years of
 
 348 WOODBURN. 
 
 age, who clung to him nervously, and hid her face con 
 fidingly upon his shoulder. 
 
 After his return from that journey to the East, under 
 taken so reluctantly, Clarence unaware, doubtless, of the 
 tender manner in which a certain spiteful young lady had 
 preserved that parting rose-bud went off to India, and 
 engaged in business there. We corresponded occasionally, 
 as friends for he proudly refrained from alluding to a 
 subject, once forbidden, and from which the interdict had 
 had never been removed, neither had he been in the slight 
 est degree encouraged to plead for its removal. We were 
 equally proud, and I liked him all the better for meeting 
 my haughty spirit as it deserved to be met, while I some 
 times found myself wondering how the male species, under 
 such circumstances, could be so determined in their obsti 
 nacy. Unreasonable girl ! 
 
 His letters were eagerly watched for, and as a long time 
 had elapsed since my heart was gladdened by one of these 
 foreign missives, I feared, perchance, some evil had be 
 fallen my far-off friend, and never realized the fullness of 
 this anxiety until it was suddenly relieved, and I found 
 myself again in his presence after a separation of years. 
 
 His story was soon told, and sad enough we found it. 
 Victor and Eva, being apprized of his intention to leave 
 India at a certain time, made their arrangements to quit 
 Germany, where they had been for several months, and 
 meet him in England, from whence they would all return to
 
 AGAIN AT WOODBUKN, 349 
 
 America forthwith. But alas for human foresight ! They 
 met with unavoidable detention at a small town in Ger 
 many, where unknown to them a deadly fever had been 
 raging, by which, soon after their arrival, Victor was 
 stricken down, and became so alarmingly ill that Eva 
 wrote a frantic letter to her brother in England, imploring 
 him to hurry on at once and join them. 
 
 Two weeks elapsed ere the letter was received, and 
 though Clarence lost no time in seeking his beloved sister, 
 full of fear, yet hoping for the best, he found her a widow 
 raving in delirium. For awhile he trusted it might be the 
 result of grief and unceasing watching : but ah ! too soon 
 were there unmistakable signs of the same fearful malady, 
 whose malignity had stricken down her idolized husband, 
 and in mercy smote her also. That fond brother could not 
 stay the destroyer's hand ; and suddenly, in the freshness 
 and vigor of youth, were these two loving ones cut off to 
 gether, leaving their little Eva doubly an orphan. I say 
 the blow was dealt in mercy to that mourning widow, Eva 
 .Dunbar's love for her husband being of that absorbing 
 kind which cannot brook the loss of its idol, and earth 
 without Victor to her would have been a desert life a 
 blank. 
 
 She loved her child for it was his ; but maternal affection 
 was secondary to that one overmastering passion, and the 
 little Eva could not have consoled such crushing grief, or 
 revived, by her dependent, clinging love, one germ of hope
 
 350 WOODBURN. 
 
 * 
 
 in her mother's wretched heart, had she lived on despairing 
 after that withering blow. 
 
 
 
 Clarence Morton's mother was dead, and having no near 
 female relation to whose care he was willing to confide the 
 child, knowing at the same time Aunt Kate's devotion to 
 Victor, he at once determined that she should take charge, 
 for him, of little Eva, while his by adoption she was and 
 must ever be. 
 
 Victor Dunbar's child ! I could not realize it ! For 
 we had never met since he left Elgin after his mad attack 
 on Cecil Clare. And he was dead ! I should never see 
 him again the idol of my early girlhood yet only 
 remembered now with the fond, affectionate regret of a 
 sister. 
 
 The fair wee stranger was soon at home with Percy and 
 Amy as playmates, and such a winning being did she prove, 
 we all put up petitions to be the keeper of so lovely a 
 charge ; but Aunt Kate contended in a very determined 
 manner that she would never resign the care of her darling 
 Victor's baby to any one save Clarence Morton's wife. 
 
 Thus it was that matters stood when an answer came 
 from Ralph to a letter in which I had strongly urged him 
 to purchase Woodburn. It belonged to me. I could not 
 live there alone, and such was my attachment for the dear 
 old place that spite Mr. Clifford's and Ethel's earnest desire 
 to have me go back with them and live at Clifton, I could 
 not make up my mind to let the home of my childhood
 
 AGAIN AT WOODBURN. 351 
 
 pass into stranger hands, which must have been the case 
 had I left it permanently and hence my desire that Ralph 
 should be the purchaser, for then I might remain there at 
 least part of the time. 
 
 My brother's letter was full of affection, wishing he 
 could buy Woodburn, but it was impossible, as. his wife 
 would be miserable away from her family and friends, and 
 urging me, if determined to be an old maid, for I was 
 twenty-five by all means to invite some still more anti 
 quated spinster Aunt Kate for instance, or Miss Tabitha 
 Tipps, if anxious to cultivate gossip in my old age to 
 come and dwell there with me in peaceful, dignified retire 
 ment. He thought the sweet, balmy atmosphere of Wood- 
 burn would improve Miss Tabitha's temper. But -joking 
 aside he hoped I would not sell the old place ; better 
 rent for awhile (if anxious to go abroad) or leave it in 
 charge of Michael McAlpine, for there was a possibility 
 yet of my marrying more wonderful things than that had 
 happened. Spinsters more venerable than myself had 
 been known to commit similar indiscretions, etc., etc. 
 
 It was like Ralph so completely in his merry, rattle-te- 
 bang style, that spite our sadness, it brought such pleasant 
 memories of our dear light-hearted brother that we were 
 cheered and amused by this missive so full of the dash and 
 fun with which he used to keep the house alive in by-gone 
 days the morning hours of our fair, unclouded youth. 
 Then half in laughter, half in tears, I told Aunt Kate she
 
 352 WOODBURN. 
 
 must stay with me, for Pearl had husband and children 
 while I felt all alone. And so at last it was arranged that 
 we should keep old maids' hall together at Woodburn. 
 
 Poor, confiding old lady ! The next chapter will disclose 
 how faithless I proved to this compact with what ruthless 
 ingratitude I repaid her unselfish devotion !
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 In vain we battle with our fate, 
 
 To alter its decree 
 That might have changed it, comes too late, 
 
 "What G-od ordains will be. 
 
 WEEKS elapsed, and still Clarence Morton lingered at 
 Woodburn. Nor was this to be wondered at so long as my 
 brother-in-law remained, of whom he was very fond. Oh ! 
 Lenox Clifford, I wonder if you entertain a full'apprecia- 
 tion of this disinterested friendship ? Little Eva was much 
 attached to me, for children are easily won by kindness, 
 and I petted her even more than Ethel's babies. A poor 
 little orphan child ! she needed all the affection and tender 
 ness we had to spare. 
 
 One sweet evening in June the very anniversary of 
 that fragrant ride through a certain magnolia grove ten 
 years before I was standing with Eva in the conservatory, 
 beneath the same date-palm against which my fan had been 
 shivered on Ethel's wedding night, when the amiability of
 
 354 WOODBUEN. 
 
 my mood was not increased by the intelligence conveyed 
 to me most unsuspectingly by Clarence Morton. 
 
 There were scarlet geraniums blooming on a shelf far 
 above our heads which Eva wanted how human it is, 
 even from infancy, to covet things beyond our reach and 
 begged me to get them for her. So, catching up the child, 
 I stepped on to the lowest shelf and held her towards the 
 flowers, saying : 
 
 " There, now cousin Amy's baby can get them' herself." 
 
 " Me ove tussey Amy, but me is Uncy Tarance's baby ; 
 he tey me shan't be anybody's baby but his," and the 
 little witch laughed as I snatched her back and said : 
 
 11 But won't you be Amy's baby if she gives you such 
 pretty flowers and loves you so? Then suppose I won't 
 let you have them ?" 
 
 " Uncy Tarance oves me too, and he divs me every cing 
 I want, and me tan't help it if oo won't div me de red 
 fowers, for me promised to be his ittie Eva always ; but, 
 peasey, tussey Amy, let me dit de pitty red sings," and 
 she kissed me coaxingly. 
 
 " You shall have them, my dainty bird. Amy loves 
 you dearly, if you won't be her baby," I replied, tossing 
 the child up again towards those scarlet clusters, when a 
 full low voice whispered in my ear 
 
 " She shall be yours too, Amy, if you will it so. Say, 
 tell me, shall I have two treasures instead of one ? For 
 nine years have I loved you, and something less cold in
 
 CONCLUSION. 355 
 
 your manner of late rekindles a ray of the hope quenched 
 out so long ago. Say, shall Eva be our baby ?" 
 
 I almost dropped the child when first he spoke; for, 
 believing myself alone with her, his voice startled me. In 
 a moment or two she had plucked the geraniums, and put 
 ting her down with cheeks almost as deeply flushed as 
 those scarlet blossoms I said : 
 
 " There, deary, run and show them to Aunty Kate." 
 She toddled off laughing, and looking back at us said : 
 
 " Uncy Tarance, tussey Amy tied to make me her 
 baby, but I toud'nt do dat," and the wee fairy disappeared. 
 Then, while I stood bewildered, overpowered by a new, 
 delicious sense of happiness, my head was drawn down 
 gently to its own true resting place, as he whispered again 
 in that rich, deep voice 
 
 " Nine years ! yet it was worth waiting so long, dar 
 ling, for such a wife !" 
 
 And so it came to pass that Woodburn was not sold ; 
 neither did it become an abiding place for old maids 
 though Aunt Kate, more faithful to her agreement than I 
 had been to mine, spent half her time only at Elgin with 
 the Clares, giving us the other half, always maintaining a 
 jealous and special care over the child she never did en 
 tirely resign even to Clarence Morton's wife. 
 
 Years have gone by since then. There are bright young 
 faces lighting up our home gay, glad young voices echoing 
 through the groves and garden of Woodburn. Loving and
 
 356 WOODBURN. 
 
 united, strangers would not think that the eldest and fairest 
 of that fair band is our adopted daughter, our own Eva 
 Dunbar. 
 
 I hear her sweet voice now singing to my other children 
 out in the jasmine bower, for it is summer and even as I 
 write, the spicy breath of those old box borders comes 
 drifting through the casement, the same I loved so as a 
 joyous child, a dreaming girl, giving forth ever, beneath 
 sunshine or rime, the same aromatic, evergreen odor a 
 fragrance fresh, pure and unchanging meet emblem of 
 that immortal hope which alone has power to render the 
 fruition of our earthly joy complete. 
 
 THE END.
 
 Books Published by Sheldon <& Co. 
 Beady April 15th. 
 
 DANGBRPIELD'S REST. 
 
 OB 
 
 BEFORE THE STORM. 
 
 A Novel of American Life and Manners. One volume, 
 large 12mo. Price, $1.50. 
 
 This is the production of a polished and experienced pen, qualified by much 
 travel experience and literary practice in other walks of literature, to attempt 
 an elaborate description of American Life, Politics, Letters and Factions, 
 whose clashing led us to the Great Rebellion. 
 
 It will be especially attractive to those who believe in the indestructibility 
 of the Union, and to those who desire 'to see the American people rise 
 through their present ordeal to a higher standard in morals and manners. 
 
 Beady April 20th. 
 
 A Novel by ROSA VERTNBB JKPFKEY, author of "Poems by 
 Rosa." One volume, 12mo. Price, $1.50. 
 
 From the Louisville Journal. f 
 
 A NEW ATTRACTION IN THE LITERARY WORLD. A NOVEL FROM THE PEN 
 OF MRS ROSA VERTNER JEFFREY.- A novel entitled WOODBURN,' by Mrs. 
 Rosa Vertner Jeffrey, who under the nom de plume of ' ROSA" has achieved 
 BO bright a reputation as a poetess, is forthcoming from the press of Sheldon 
 & Company, New Tork City. Where its scene is laid, or what its plot is, 01 
 who is its hero or heroine, are points upon which the public as yet have 
 received no inkling; but those who are acquainted with the genius and taste 
 of the fair authoress ifcist feel assured, that, in respect to the scene and plo 
 as well as in all other respects, the production will be brimful of charm. . 
 legion of admirers feel a world of curiosity respecting the work but no solua- 
 tude. They confide implicitly, as they well may, in her rare and beautiful 
 
 We predict fcr " WOODBTTHK" a very rapid and extended Bale.
 
 GEN. McCLELLAN'S 
 
 REPORT AND CAMPAIGNS. 
 
 THE OILY COMPLETE AND ACCURATE EDITION. 
 
 By Special Arrangement with Gen. MCC/LELLAN, 
 S H E H, JO O IV &, Oo., 
 
 ^Publishers, 
 
 335 Broadway, N. Y., 
 Have published a 
 
 FULL AND COMPLETE EDITION OP HIS EEPOET. 
 While going through the press, this edition was corrected 
 oy Gen'l MCCLELLAN. It has none of the remarkable errors 
 which have crept into the Government edition and all the 
 other editions that have followed the Government edition. 
 It also has the 
 
 "CAMPAIGN IN WESTERN VIRGINIA," 
 prepared by Gen. MCCLELLAN expressly for this edition. 
 Illustrated with Maps, &c. One volume, 8vo. Price, $2.50. 
 
 12mo edition of the same, bound in cloth, with all the Maps, 
 Price, $1.50. Bound in boards, $1.25. 
 
 From the Journal of Commerce. 
 
 " We regret that the Congressional edition, the Rebellion Record edition, 
 and other cheap editions of the report are incomplete and inaccurate, omit 
 ting entirely some portions which present the most interesting and important 
 view of the relations of General McClellan to the Cabinet, the army and the 
 country. The edition published by Sheldon & Company, under General 
 McClellau'a authority, is accurate." 
 
 From the Post, Chicago. 
 
 "Sheldon & Co. have issued their edition of General McClellan's report on 
 the Organization and Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, to which is 
 added an account of the Campaign in "West Virginia, from the General's own 
 pen. This edition is the only one which gives the main report in full ; im 
 portant parts of it, relating to very critical periods in the history of the Army 
 of the Potomac, being omitted from the Congressional edition, and, by con 
 sequence, from all other editions, without exception, yrtiich are mere reprints 
 of that The edition published by Sheldon & Co., is complete and authentic, 
 and is the only complete and authentic edition." 
 
 From the Boston Post. 
 
 " No man can feel that he has a copy of McClellan's Report, without a 
 copy of this edition."
 
 Books Published by Sheldon eO Co. 
 
 MARION IIARLAND'S WORKS. 
 
 Uniform editions of tho works of this favorite authoress are now ready. 
 
 ALONE. 1 volume. 12mo. Price $1.50. 
 HIDDEN PA^C II. 1 volume. 12mo. Price $1.50. 
 MOSS SIDJE. 1 volume. 12mo. Price $1.50. 
 NEMESIS. 1 volume. 12mo. Price $1.50. 
 MI HI AM. 1 volume. 12mo. Price $1.50. 
 H USKS. 1 volume. 12mo. Price $1 50. 
 
 NOTICES OF "NEMESIS." 
 
 " Itis a story of surpassing excellence its scene laid in the sunny South, about half a 
 century ago ; its characters limned with a master's hand ; its sketches graphic and thril 
 ling, and its conclusion very effective. Such a work is heyond criticism, and needs no 
 praise." Troy American. 
 
 " In all the characteristics of a powerful novel it will compare favorably with the best 
 productions of a season that has produced some of the most successful books that have 
 appeared for a long time." Courier and Enquirer. 
 
 " ' Nemesis ' is, by far, the best American novel published for very many years. Phil. 
 adelphia Press. 
 
 " It is worthy of note that the former works of this authoress have been republished 
 in England, France, and Germany indeed, no other American female writer has, the 
 honor of a republication in the Leipzig issues of Alphonse Durr, which embraces Bryant, 
 Longfellow, Hawthorne, and Prescott." X. Y. Home Journal. 
 
 " Marion Ilarland, by intrinsic power of character, drawing and descriptive facility 1 , 
 holds the public with increasing fascination." Washington Statesman,
 
 NEW BOOKS THIS FALL, 
 
 PETER CARRADINE, 
 
 OR 
 THE MART1NDALE PASTORAL. 
 
 BY CAROLINE CHESEBRO'. 
 One vol. 12mo. $1.50. 
 
 BROKEN COLUMNS. 
 
 A Novel of great power and interest 
 One voL 12mo. $1.50. 
 
 (From PETER BAYNE, Author of ' Christian Life," " Essays," etc. etc.) 
 
 " I have complied with your request, and read " Broken Columns" carefully 
 I do not hesitate to pronounce it, in my judgment, superior to " Adam Bede ' 
 The plot is admirable, and the execution is a singular nearness to perfection. 
 You must not hesitate to publish it. I am confident when it is read and 
 known it will have an extensive sale." 
 
 HUSKS. 
 
 BY MARION HARLAND. 
 
 Author of "Alone," "Hidden Path," " Moss Side," " Nemeaia," and 
 
 " Miriam," 
 
 One vol 12mo. $1.50. 
 
 CHRISTMAS STORIES. 
 
 BY CHARLES DICKENS. 
 
 An elegant edition on tinted paper, Bmall quarto size, illustrated from 
 designs by F. 0. C. Barley. 
 
 One vol. 4to. 
 
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