B 3 325 07=1 GIFT OF I 1" 1 / THE REIGNING BELLE. BT MRS. AM S. STEPHENS. AUTHOR OF "PALACES AND PRISONS," "FASHION AND FAMINE," "MARRIED IN HASTE," "MABEL'S MISTAKE." "DOUBLY FALSE," "WIVES AND WIDOWS," "MARY DERWENT," "THE HEIRESS," "THE REJECTED WIFE," "THE SOLDIER'S ORPHANS," "THE OLD HOMESTEAD," "RUBY GRAY'S STRATEGY," "THE CURSE OF GOLD," '• THE WIFE'S SECRET," "THE GOLD BRICK," "SILENT STRUGGLES," "A NOBLE WOMAN," ETC., ETC., ETC., ETC. Scatter the seed with a reckless hand; Sow falsehood deep with truth ; Mingle them well in the teeming land,— Is the wild, wild cry of youth. But errors, sown in our early prime, Grow strong in the coming years, Their roots strike deep through all after time In the fount of human tears. PHILADELPHIA: B. PETERSON & BROTHERS; 306 CHESTNUT STREET. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by T. B. PETERSON £ BB0THXB8, In the Office of the Librarian of CoDgress, at Washington, D. C. MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS' WORKS. Each Work is complete in one volume, 12mo. THE REIGNING BELLE. A NOBLE WOMAN. PALACES AXD PRISONS MARRIED IX HASTE. R UB T GRA TS SIR A TEG T. WIVES AXD WIDOWS; OR, TEE BROKEN LIFE. THE REJECTED WIFE TUE GOLD BRICK. TUE CURSE OF GOLD. THE HEIRESS. FASHION AND FAMINE. THE OLD HOMESTEAD. SILEXT STR UG G L E8. MARY DERWEXT. THE W1FES SECRET. THE SOLDIER- S ORPHANS MABEL'S MISTAKE. DOUBLY FALSE. Price of eapEv.Sl.75 in 'Cftltl; qr SI. 50 in Paper Cover. Ai.nve books are for >\al»> by all Booksellers. Copies of any or all of the above books will 1><> Bent to any one, to any place, postage pre-paid, on receipt of their price l>y tbe Publishers, T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS, ' IIKMMT STSBXT, PlIILADKI I'llIA, P.\. TO MRS. ALEXANDER RAMSEY, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, I DEDICATE THIS YOLUME, PROM A RESPECTFUL SEN- TIMENT OF ADMIRATION FOR HER NOBLE QUALITIES AS A LADT, ADDED TO THAT SINCERE FRIENDSHIP THOSE QUALITIES ARE CERTAIN TO INSPIRE WHEREVER SHE IS KNOWN. ANN S. STEPHENS. St. Cloud Hotel, New York, June 26, 1872. 438864 CONTENTS. ■ < »■»»- Chapter Page . 25 I.— THE SHOPPING PARTY ES ; II.— THE GIRL OF THE TIMES 2S HI. — A HUMBLE HOME 38 IV.— LITTLE JIMMY GOES AFTER WORK V.— A FEAST AFTER A FAMINE 42 VI. — IN THE MORNING 51 VII.— SUNSHINE VIIL— TRYING THINGS ON IX.— THE LAMBERT MANSION X.— DAWNING PROSPERITY XI —GOSSIP IN THE BASEMENT w XII.— JAMES MAKES AN ACQUAINTANCE ™ 80 XIII. — THE GENTLE INVALID QA XIV.— THE POLICEMAN'S DEATH 89 XV.— ARTI6T SYMPATHY qo XV I —MRS. CARTER MAKES A VISIT Q7 XVII.— THE FIRST BANK NOTES 101 XVIII. — OLD FRIENDS XIX.— ME. BATTLES IS DISGUSTED ... 108 XX.— OVER THEIR TEA • • * ' (21) 22 CONTENTS. Chapter Page XXI.— A SLIGHT ALTERCATION Ill XXII. — THE FIRST FRUITS OF GENIUS 115 XXIIL— THE HIDDEN PACKAGE 110 XXIV.— WHICH RIVER 123 XXV.— THE PAWNBROKER 1.31 XXVI. — THE PAWNBROKER'S OFFICE 135 XX VII.— MRS. CARTER STANDS BY HER OLD FRIENDS... 137 XXVIIL— YOUNG LAMBERT SPEAKS OUT 142 XXIX.— MISS SPICER 145 XXX.— OLD MEMORIES AND PRESENT STRUGGLES 149 XXXI— BITTER JEALOUSY 152 XXXII. — DRESSING FOR THE PARTY 156 XXXIIL— ABOUT THE ROSES AND VIOLETS 159 XXXIV.— MRS. CARTER BECOMES FASHIONABLE 164 XXXV.— A STRANGE PROPOSAL 168 XXXVL— TnE WAY SHE MANAGED HIM 171 XXXVII. — A GLIMPSE OF FAIRY LAND 175 XXXVIIL— FIGHTING ANGUISH 178 XXXIX.— MR. AND MRS. SMITH 181 XL.— OLD LOVERS 184 XLL— I VON AND EVA 187 XLII. — A WOMAN TRANSFIGURED 190 XLIIL— HERSELF AGAIN 194 XL1V.— CLOSING THE SHUTTERS 198 XLV.— WATCHING FROM THE PAVEMENT 202 m.vi.— a run iiii: r.uirv 206 XI. VII.— UoW M16S SPICER AND ELLEN POST FRATERNIZE 210 XLVIII.— FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS 213 XLIX.— MR. MAHONE 217 CONTENTS. 23 Chapter Pa S° I..— A BARGAIN AT LAST 221 IX— A BOY IN PRISON 224 LII. — THE SECOND ARREST 22S LIII. — THE WOMAN IN THE IAUNDRT 230 LI y. — PREPARING FOR THE WEDDING 234 L,V. — EVA'S TEMPTATION 238 I, VI.— MRS. SMITH BRINGS PAINFUL NEWS 242 LVII. — IN HASTE FOR THE WEDDING 246 LVIII. — MOTHER AND SON 253 LIX. — THE EXAMINATION COMPLETED 259 LS.-AN UNEXPECTED WITNESS 264 LXI. — WAITING FOR NEWS 271 LXII. — THE MORTGAGE 276 LXIII.— THE PRICE OF A BRACELET 280 LXIV. — THE ADOPTION 283 LXV. — IN THE PARK 2S6 LXVI. — THE INDIA SHAWL 292 LXVII. — THE PAWNBROKER GETS HIS PRICE 296 LXVIII. — MISS SPICER RECEIVES HER DISMISSAL 299 LXIX. — THE TRUTH 304 LXX. — OUR CHILD 308 LXXI.— A DOUBLE WEDDING 313 THE REIGNING BELLE. < —»— > CHAPTER I. THE SHOPPING PARTY. Around her were such glowing colors, in masses, or floating airily through the room, that a face less richly tinted would have seemed pale by contrast. Behind her was a pile of India shawls, in which the rays of a gorgeous sunset seemed to have mellowed down in one soft, glowing heap. By her side was a morning-dress of Oriental cash- mere, with vivid palm-leaves running far up the skirt, which trailed down from the wire skeleton that supported it, and swept the floor like the plumage of a peacock. In fact this vast show-room was one panorama of bright, beautiful things; and most beautiful of all was the young girl, with her rich complexion, just verging on the bru- nette, and her large, blue-gray eyes, that looked out from their sweeping lashes like shadowed waters where the rushes grow thickly. Her hair, too, was lustrous and abundant, neither black, auburn, nor brown, but with a gleam of each as the light chanced to fall on it. The face, we have so imperfectly described, was turned toward a flight of stairs that led from the more general warerooms below, and across it flew a shadow of pride or (25) - .i il v : - n i'-.-i : f i'ih • :r :t " : • 7 - " --- _u: • - i"" - : " " * * . '•^7 -i hn iff --:■* :.■* ^ :•:.-:-- r. : T v iirioaata to ttndk sim. Ob 3 : 2 -.: :.•_■ ji:t v : . ; iur -':■» ■■ t.ir.-i v ; ,; :.i- :.:.-.;':: i : ;---t - L : • -.• • • ■ •.; " • : ■ •• .-. t . Iiv §am, vide the 4m«Ml Ua «Rf&karg}bv- THE SHOPPING PART Y. '21 ing cheeks, and her lips began to quiver, as it* a burs: ot tears were struggling upward. "Mother," said the young gentleman, in a low voice, '■ the counter would be a better place." ••"No. do!" broke in the very positive young person, whom the elder lady addressed as "Miss Spicer, who loaned forward and touched the shoulder over which the shawl was draped with her parasol. ""Nothing like a live person to carry off a thing like this. Please move forward and let us see how i: fails upon the train. Superb, isn't it? " Eva Laurence lifted her eyelids with a sudden flash, and stepped back from the insolent touch of that parasol, with a gesture at once haughty and graceful. [Then, remembering what was expected of her. she moved across the floor, display- ing the shawl in every fold as it swept from her shoulders. down the long, black train of her dress. All other eyes were fixed upon the garment, but young Lambert saw that her bosom heaved, and the hands folded over the shawl trembled. He was turning away, touched by this evidence of painful embarrassment, when Miss Spicer darted forward, seized upon Eva's train, and spread it out upon the floor, exclaiming. ••There now, that's something like. Isn't it superb?" "It is. indeed!" answered Mrs. Lambert, surveying the tall, well-formed girl with her glass. B What do you think, of it Ivan ? " ••What do I think, mother? Why, that the young lady will be tired to death before you have made up your mind. Permit me " Here young Lambert lifted the shawl gently from Era's shoulders, and laid it on the counter. Eva drew a deep breath and moved off to a window, resentful and hurt, she could scarcely tell why — for had she not come to that place for the very purpose that wounded her so ? Did she not receive extra compensation because 28 THE REIGNING BELLE. her statel} 7 figure carried off those costly garments to such advantage ? What right had she that this patrician party had invaded? Still the girl's cheek burned, and her shoulders felt heavy, as if a burden more oppressive than twenty shawls bore them down. CHAPTER II. THE GIRL OF THE TIMES. "While Mrs. Lambert was completing the purchase of her shawl, the young man moved quietty about the room, carrying his cane in one well-gloved hand, with which he manifested a little impatience, as most men do when forced into a shopping excursion with members of their own family; but, with all his restlessness, lie kept Eva Laurence well in view, wondering in his heart who she was, and how she came to be in that strange position. Miss Spicer, too, had her curiosity. Troubled with no sensitive hesitation, she watched the girl in a bold, staring way, now and then turning a quizzical look on young Lam- bert, which brought the color to his face. "Stylish, ha!" she whispered, taking the young man's cane from his hand. " Stop here often after this, I dare say — I would if I carried one of these things." The young lad}' gave emphasis to her words by a dashing flourish of the cane, which, being a flexible, gold-mounted affair, she was twisting hack and Forth in her hands. The young gentleman made a gesture as if to reclaim his property. Miss Spicer gave np the cane. lira Laurence saw all this, though her drooping eyes seemed fixed on the. iluur, and the proud heart hurned with- THE GIRL OF THE TIMES. 29 in her ; for now and then Miss Spicer glanced across the piles of merchandise to where she stood, taking no pains to conceal that she was an object of curiosity, if not of con- versation. " There now, don't look so savage, my friend," said the lady, (l and you shall see what a chance I will give you for a second survey." Before young Lambert could answer, the reckless creature had called another clerk to her side. '■This velvet cloak," she said, "I should like to see it tried on. Please call the young person." The clerk stepped over to Eva Laurence, and spoke to her. She looked up quickly, bent her head, and came across the room, almost smiling the contempt she felt for that rucle girl, who onl}' seemed the more plebeian from the fact that her coarseness was smothered in purple and fine linen. "Without a word Eva invested herself in the velvet gar- ment, and with its rich, deep laces settling round her, stood out in the midst of the open space to be examined, looking gravely and quietly on the group that gathered around her. Then the ladies fell to examining the cloak by detail; handling its glossy folds, criticising the pattern of the lace, and exclaiming at the perfect fit; while Spicer turned the shrinking girl round, and jerked the cloak in and out of place, as if that proud, sensitive creature were a mere lay- figure, with a wooden soul, created for her amusement. " There now, Mr. Lambert, tell me if this is not per- fect ? " Miss Spicer turned as she spoke ; but the gentleman, for whom all this display had been gotten up, was at the other end of the room, looking diligently out of the window. " Mr. Lambert ! Mr. Lambert ! Come ; we want your opinion/' cried Miss Spicer, so loudly that every one in the room could hear. SO tBI StltNIl '•I beg yoor pardon," b voting bmm, btashing with .in. ntlemen are no ji such thingt a Iked toward him, grasping her | if it had been a spear, with v\ h ioh b! him through. K v, this is too had. after all the pains 1 hrr . Tome alone;. 1 say.*' Lambert turned from the window and followed his tor- mentor. He did not even glance at Eva Laur. " Mother. 1 have an engagement; pr. me." "An engagement — gone ! The i.l< With this exclamation. Miss S or turned from tl she had tortured, and the cloak she did ha ire oC the hand, meant to indicate that she had done with the whole affair, and became all at once imps leave the establishment. Lambert, who had concluded her purchase, and had been standing an amused spectator of her friend's now ready to go; and Eva saw them .-. ■ ; ■■:: .:■.■.■.: — v ; i : ;■ ■/: : ':..„- >';.■-. v. ::. . ' c_v v. ;. - ; I ': _t- : ;. -.-. ■; A.. '.':-.:-. .,-. :':.-. . : •-.:;• :■:•.:.'■■ :-.:■■: :■: :::--■: tbatag* as titer axe and isii4 be. The law gbres tier a :'.:-.. • .- v, '• . .'■ ■,_■;_■■_ ■_■_ ■-, -.'■>-. :--• •■:•.:■• . •■ : — .: -i \\~. :'--.- •.:' her birth; brat nature withheld front her many things Car >. - >: . ;. • :■: ■.:-": 1 ..V.; ••.:-.: :■.•.:•;- / •: .' V, . _ :_ : r _ ;; ., '_ !.'.'. •: '..: ::.=: >-.•;:: '. : . i :~ . \ : . . v. :._•.-.- \ . •: :._'■-. • ■ I- '.■.:-. :. . ■•:.;■ ;. -,-.'; .'■ ., -,..._• _■ - .,.-. : •-. .-: \h :■-.■=:'.: -■■.: . .: ■:.::: :.; : ■.■-. : v..: .:.:..:• '.' ' ■:-. HZ.'.±.—-.i. "- -. :: :'••-.•; :...: '■-.-.. ■ '.. . .-:■■.. :-.■..■: :-.:-:■■.-.-.:.'. :.':.-. ly: :.:..:.-. 2. :.: nothing when joined with honest labor? w "Yes, child, as Ihej enehanee the value of that labor." "And labor is slaTery/* murmured the girl, looking v. •--.:; v.^ :::■■-.'. v. .:. ; .••,-. :.^v. •. .-. -..'..'. :;.^ ■-:'••., •...- breaking in bright wares of snVer. "That girl is her own :.-. •.:; — : — ..-.-. _-. ■■-■■. -.:-. ■...- v. — :-.- -.-,-.•_: ...-.- - ..... — wound others if she likes, without rebuke or compunction." •"'•'.--;.. .:. *..::'-:••...- :. : " .^•:..:-.::. ; ::^. v.: . . -:-.:.■: ; v.-.:. * -••/,•, : :.-. ^ ." - I -..:;..: . : .' •. : ■ ■ .- : . ■••■ '•;-.- -- ;. .;. poor girl can feel, no amount of prosperity could induce me to wound one as — as that girl has hurt me. If I A, if you were rich? What then ?» ■■ - ".-.; :':..:.'■: .:' ;:':.-.:■•. -.-■-. v.v -.t -.-•_;:'-. v. ::.-^y- ; \: _■■-.-.--. :--"• ; ■• - - ■ !•' - _• :'■ '■'■'' - ■-. -' •'■■-- - ':■-. ■-.': .: . : -. : r--.: room like this, to show off garments for happier woman to V.::;.;. ' : it is only a little time since you were so glad to 29 THE REIGNING BELLE. Eva's face changed and the cloud was swept from it as if by a flash of lightning. She reached forth her hand. "You think me impatient, and so I am ; ungrateful — but that I am not. I was glad to come here — so glad ! The sweetest hour of my life will be that in which I carry home my first week's wages, and see those poor, dear faces bright- en with a sight of the money. How can I be so unreason- able ? Forgive me ! " CHAPTER III. A HUMBLE HOME. Up town, where vacant lots can still be found, stood a small wooden building, scarcely more than a shantie in di- mensions, but perfectly finished, so far as it went, and neat in all its appointments as an} T palace. Two small rooms on the first floor, and a like number of sleeping chambers, with their ceilings in the roof, took up the entire length and breadth of the building. The little space of ground, not occupied by the building, was given up to turf and bright- ened with flowers, which climbed the fences and ran up the little portico, as leaves cluster around a bird's-nest in the spring. Indeed, that little spot of earth was lovely. In the cool of the day, thousands of purple and pink morning glo- ries shook the dew from their delicate bells, and, at all hours - of scarlet beans, cypress-vines, and sweet scented clematis, kept the little enclosure bright and beautiful, week in and week out, so long as the season lasted. The house itself contained little of value. Curtains of clicap muslin, white as snow, through which you could Bee a thousand delicate shadows from tho flowers outside, shaded tlie windows. A HUMBLE HOME. 33 In the front room was a pretty chintz couch, home-made, with dainty cushions, and an easy-chair to match, the work- manship of some strong, deft hand in the first construction, and finished up by the taste, still more perfect, of a woman, to whom the aesthetic influence was second nature. Two or three really fine engravings were on the walls, and in one corner stood a straight-legged, old piano, with an em- broidered stool. Two persons sat in this room, at nightfall, on the day Eva Laurence made her little outburst of pride in that fash- ionable establishment down town. One was a tall, spare woman, about fifty years of age, perhaps, originally from New England, as you might detect from a certain peculiar- ity of speech, and the constant occupation she found for her hands, even while seated in that roomy easy-chair. The other was a young girl, seemingly about fourteen at a first glance; but on a second look, you saw traces of thought and of pain on that noble face, which took your judgment in a few j'ears. The girl was near the age of her sister Eva; in fact, there was not a year between them, and if that had been all, they might have passed for twins. But there the resemblance ended. Nothing could be more un- like the rich coloring and perfect figure of Eva than the pale delicacy and wonderful expression of this girl on the couch. " Mother ! " How sweet and low that voice was ! This one incom- parable word seemed rippling off into music, full of tender- ness and gentle pathos. " Well, Ruth, what is it ? Shall I move the cushions?" "No, mother; but you seem thoughtful. Has anything gone wrong that I do not know of?" " Wrong ? No ! It is only the one old trouble ! " "The house?" 2 34 THE REIGNING BELLE. "Yes. I am afraid, Ruth, that we shall have to give it up. The mortgage will be due this year " " But Eva thought " " Yes, dear, I know. If she had only got her situation a little earlier, there might have been some chance; but the lot is growing more valuable all the time, and Mr. Clapp is a grasping man." Ruth Laurence clasped her hands, and turned her eyes upon the wall. " Oh ! how helpless I am!" she said, with a thrill of pathetic pain in her voice. " If we could both work now." " But that is impossible. Besides, what would the house be without you — a cage without its bird ? " That moment, a brave, young voice came singing up to the front-door of that tiny house, and a bright face leaned through the open window, under which Ruth was lying, and shook some ripe leaves from the vines upon her. "All right — both here," cried as fine a school-boy as you ever sat eyes on, swinging a package of books down from his shoulder, and coming through the little hall. " I've got along famously, mother: not a demerit. But what makes you look so sober?" The lad seemed to lose something of his bright animation as he entered that humble parlor and saw his mother's anxious face, his large gre}- eyes clouded over with anxiety and he stood a moment gazing mutely upon her. "Well, mother," he said at last, "has Eva come home yet? She promised us a famous Bupper when those people paid her, and I'm on hand for it. if ever a little chap was. here yet, yon Bay I Now that's what I call rough! I • '• it, Bistei Ruth?" " She will be home soon," answered sister Ruth, returning the boy's kiss with a gentle Bigh. •• How cold your lips an'!" exclaimed the hoy, and a of tender trouble came into his eyes. " Is it because you A HUMBLE HOME. 35 are hungry, sister Buth ? If it is, I'll — I'll go and sell my school-books, and play hookey after it, to get you something to eat. As for me, I was only in fan. A chap of my age don't want much, you know." "But the books are not yours, dear," answered the sweet, sad voice from the couch ; "they belong to the city." The boy stood still a moment while the slow color mounted to his face. "I know that," he answered, almost crying; " but just then they seemed to be mine, dear old friends, ready to go anywhere for my good. Anyway, if I was a fairy now, every one of them should turn into something good to eat; bread for me, and pound-cake for mother, and — and " " Beef-steak for us all ! " said the mother, joining in the conversation. The boy drew in his breath and smacked his lips, as if the very idea of a warm beef-steak were a delicious morsel to be tasted and lingered over. " Oh, that ! but then one must not be extravagant. Who knows ! Eva may come back with a whole pocket full of rocks!" the boy broke forth, after a moment of dull despondency. " Come, mother, cheer up, something good is going to happen. I feel it in my bones." Mrs. Laurence arose feebly from her chair, took the boy's head between her hands and kissed him, with a sort of slow restrained passion, half a dozen times, as if she thought each kiss could be coined into food for bis hungry lips. "Are you so very " " Not a bit of it," cried the lad, shaking his head free, and making a dive at his books, that the poor mother might not see his hard struggle to keep from crying. "Hungry, oh, no ! Didn't one of the big boys give me half his lunch? That's a roundabout whopper, I know," he muttered to himself; "but them eyes, I couldn't stand 'em, and she been sick so long. Capital lunch it was, too : 36 T TI E REIGNING BELLE. corned beef sandwiches and pickles — famous! So just think of yourself, mother, not me. But here comes Eva. Hurra ! " Sure enongh, that moment Eva Laurence came through the little gate, sad, weary, and despondent, moving through the duskj' flowers like a spirit of night. She entered the little sitting-room, and going directly up to her mother, kiss- ed her in silence. Then she sat down on an edge of the couch, looked tenderly upon her invalid sister, and whispered to her, "Have you had nothing? Has no raven or dove from Heaven come to feed you, my poor darling?" Ruth shook her head, and tried to smile. "It is mother who needs it most," she said. "She is not used to being ill, poor darling, and did without so long her- self before she would own that we were getting short. Have you brought nothing for her?" Eva shook her head, and whispered, "I did ask. Don't think me a coward, Ruth, but the)' will not break their rules, down there, for anyone." '■ What can we do?" cried the sick girl, clasping her hands. "I can wait, but mother and poor Jim? Then yuu will break down." "No," answered Eva, almost bitterly. "Mr. Harald lias insisted on sharing his lunch with me every day — that is the worst of it. I am kept strong and rosy, while you and mother, who need wholesome food much more, are left here to suffer. You don't know, Ruthy, dear, how 1 have longed for an opportunity to hide some of his nice things away, and bring them home; but he always eats with mo, and I havo no courage to speak. So I feast like a princess, and feel guilty as a thief." "But you need Btrength BO much more than we do," answered Ruth, clasping he* pale hands over Kva's oeck, and kissing her beautiful face. " It would break my heart to see you growing pale and thin like the rest of us." A HUMBLE HOME, 61 Eva sprang to her feet, stung with unreasonable con- trition for having tasted the food she could not share with those she loved. "What can I do? Is there nothing left? If we could only bridge over the next two days — but how?" "Just you hold on," said little Jim, pitching his pile of books into the next room, and shutting the door upon them with a bang, as if nothing less than a great effort could free him from temptation. "Just you hold on. This is a free country, and every American has a right to have something to eat ; yes, and be President of the United States, if the whole people want him to — not to speak of women who haven't got their inalienable rights to be men just yet, but are hungry and thirsty just the same. Give me a chance? now." Out of the house James Laurence went, putting on his thread-bare cap as he ran. The women he left looked at each other, and almost smiled, his enthusiasm was so conta- gious. "Where can he have gone, what is the boy thinking of," said Eva, untying her shabby little bonnet, and sitting down in helpless expectation. Ruth looked up, smiling. She had great faith in little Jim, and, spite of all the sweet patience which made her character so lovelj T , thought, with keen physical longing, of the good which might possibly come out of his sudden resolution. "We never know what ideas our blessed Lord may give to a child," she said ; " besides, it does seem impossible that, in a country like this, God's innocent creatures can be left to starve. I think Jim will come back at least with a loaf of bread; the man who refused us may trust him. Let us wait and see." This sweet prophecy fell so tranquilly on the soft, sum- mer air that, spite of themselves, these women began to hope. GO T II K REIGNING BELLE. CHAPTER IV. LITTLE JIMMY GOES AFTER WORK. Little James Laurence gave himself no time for cow- ardly thoughts, hut rau bravely towards a grocery store, where the family provisions had been bought in better times, but where all credit for their present necessities was now curtly refused. The proprietor of this store had fortunately gone out, and his wife stood behind the counter, serving a customer. She was a stout, matronly body, with clear, light -blue eyes, and a pleasant smile, which was turned with more than usual kindness on the boy as he entered almost upon the run. Something in that young face, in the large, eager eyes, and restless mouth, struck her with a vague idea of commiseration. When her customer went out. carrying a brown paper parcel, she folded her plump, round arms on the counter, and leaning over them in a luxuriously cozy position, accosted the boy. '• Well, Jimmy, what shall we put up for you ? One never sees any of your folks lately. Seem to have took their trade somewhere else?" James went close up to the counter, and fixed his great, hungry eyes on hers: the light from a Bwinging lamp over- head fell upon his face, and the kind woman read something there that made her heart ache. '•Why, Jimmj, my dear hoy. what is it? Xo trouble. I hope, beyond the great loss ? " Had the woman been cold or angry, that brave boy would have faced both without a tear ; hut now, sudden moisture sparkled in his eyes, and he winked his long, black lashes over and over again to break it up while he was speaking. LITTLE JIMMY GOES AFTER WORK. 39 " We haven't traded here lately, Mrs. Smith, because we had no money, and your husband got tired of trusting.' 5 " Who told you so ? " " He did.'' n Then he Well, he's one of the best fellows that ever lived. Does it all for the sake of me and the children — you must understand that, youngster. He's generous as the day, is my husband. Xow what is it you waut just at present ? " <• Mrs. Smith, we haven't had anything to eat in our house these three days." The boy's voice broke as he said this, and tears fell from the eyes he lifted to that woman's face, whose kindness he could only see through a mist. "Not had anything to eat in three days, and I here! Oh, Jimmy Laurence! what were you all thiuki:!g about? It's too bad, there ! " Mrs. Smith drew a plump arm across her eyes as she spoke, then seizing the lad by both hands, she fell to kissing him over the counter, then gave him a box on the ear, and pushed him away. '■Why didn't you come to me? Why didn't your mother just step over and tell me about it? Business is business, but this I've no patience with you, Jimmy Laurence, nor none of your tribe." '•' But we did not know. He said " "He said. He can say anything he likes when there's no woman by with a will of her own. Xow come round here this very minute and tell me what you want " " Oh, Mrs. Smith, you are so good ! I didn't mean to beg for things, or run in debt more than we have ; but we must have something to eat, or — or more of us will be down sick ; but I mean to work for it — that is what I came for. There is a load of coal coming to-morrow morning. I want to bring it in for you." 40 THE REIGNING BELLE. "You, Jimmy! You bring in coal, poor, slender, pale- faced darling ! " Little Jim flushed all over at this insinuation against his manliness, and rolling up the sleeve of his jacket, exposed a delicate, white arm, with the little hand clenched, and blue veins thus forced to notice on the wrist. " See, Mrs. Smith," he said, " there's muscle for a boy ; lean, but tough — just feel it." Mrs. Smith did span the delicate wrist with her thumb and finger, feeling the quick pulse stir feebly to the touch, and turned away her face to keep the boy from seeing how close she was to tears — an unusual thing with her. "Yes, I see; not much flesh to spare." "No; some fellows have lots, you know — but that don't make 'em powerful. Mrs. Smith, just look at the boys that ride circus horses, and jump through hoops, how lean they keep 'em. Just let me feed up a little, and I shall be in prime working order." "Well," answered the woman, laughing away the tears that had actually begun to float in her blue eyes, " we will feed you up and try." "That's splendid," cried the boy, pulling down his jacket- sleeve, which was far too short, and woefully threadbare. "Then I was thinking of another thing. Saturday nights you are so busy, and have lots of things to carry home — couldn't I do some of that just as well as the bigger boys? You don't know how spry I am. Now a basket like that is nothing to me." Here the noble little fellow lifted down a basket of groceries that stood on the counter, ready to be carried home, and dragged it, staggering and breathless, across the floor, where he gave way and fell across it, utterly insen- sible. Good Mrs. Smith ran around the counter and lifted the poor little fellow in her arms. Then she sat down on a LITTLE JIMMY GOES AFTER WORK. 41 candle-box, and pressing that pale head to her bosom, began to pat hito on the back, rub his hands, and push the hair off from his forehead with quick, motherly tenderness. This flamed up to generous rage when her husband came in with his fresh, prosperous look, and asked her what she was about, and what boy she was hugging. " Come and look for yourself, John Smith, and if you are not quite a heathen and Sandwich Island hottentot, ask God to forgive your cruelty. Look at that face ; look at these limp, little hands ; just go to the door and look down street towards the house, where all those morning glories only cover up starvation. You brought it on, Smith ; you refused them credit when they hadn't another place to go to, and the poor things are just starved out — starved out ! Do you hear me, John Smith ? And one of 'em, for any- thing I know, dead in your wife's arms — just an awful judgment against you if he is — poor, sweet, innocent dar- ling, as wanted only to work for a morsel of bread. He work? John Smith, I hate you !" "Come, come, old woman. Isn't this going a little rough?" said the grocer, quite bewildered, and taken aback by this assault from the most genial and kind creature in the world. "What has got into your head, and who is that in your arms ? " "Who? don't ask me. It's little Jimmy Laurence, the son of that splendid policeman, who was shot down in the street by a highway burglar; one of the steadiest customers you had when we wanted custom bad enough, mercy knows. He's just starved out, mother, sisters and all, and you've done it by telling them you couldn't trust any longer; but I'll pay you off. They shall have everything they want, if it's half the store. I'll send for carts, and have the whole stock moved into their kitchen. How can you look me in the face, John Smith ? Bring me some water, brandy, pep- permint, hartshorn. Can't you step about? Or do you want to kill him over again? There!" 42 THE REIGNING BKLLE. CHAPTEE V. A FEAST AFTER A FAMINE. Jons* Smith had done his best to obey these confused demands. He brought water, and held it in a stone pitcher, while Mrs. Smith thrust her hand to the bottom and sprinkled little Jimmy's face; but this failed to bring a sign of life back. So he put down the pitcher, and brought a little tin measure half-full of brandy, from some secret corner back in the store, which his better half snatched from him and held to those pale lips. Some drops trickled through the teeth that had fallen slightly apart, and, after a little, the boy began to stir. Then the good woman burst into tears that came in a tor- rent, deluging all the full-blown roses in her cheeks, and shaking her bosom with sobs. '•There," she cried holding the lad out on her lap as he struggled to life again; "take him, heft him, make sure what a shadow he is ; then down upon } r our knees, John Smith, and thank God that j'ou're not quite a murderer! Your meanness will be the death of me yet. Now I warn you. Me and the children, your duty to take care of us ? John Smith, Juhn Smith, now don't get me out of patience." ; - Well, then, what if I say that I am sorry — right down sorry ? " " In that case, John Smith " "That I will let them have anything they want, without charging till better times come round," continued the gro- cer, soaking a cracker in brandy, and feeding it in frag- ments t<> the boy. "John — John Smith, I always did say " "And what we haven't got, I'll go right out and buy with our own money — sausages, beefsteak, mutton-chops. "Will that pacify yOU, Mary Jane'/" A FEAST AFTER A FAMINE. 43 So the two set to work in earnest, while little James looked on, somewhat faint still, and pleasantly bewildered, with a strong taste of brandy in his mouth, and a warmth in his whole system that he had not felt for months. "Don't take too much of that, Jimmy dear," said Mrs. Smith, looking up from the basket she was packing. "Dried-beef, crackers, tea, bread; just stuff in a codfish, Smith, edgeways down this side, and fill up the chinks with apples — them red ones are the best. As I was saying, Jimmy, one cracker can soak up no end of moisture, and your cheeks are getting red. Now, Smith, run out, and hurry back with the other things." Smith went out, and his wife, in her rich benevolence, be- gan to fill innumerable paper bags with dried prunes, raisins, loaf-sugar, and other little dainties, which, in her eager haste to pack up substantials, had escaped her mind till then. These she pressed down into the basket, and stuffed into her own pocket, which were quite full when her husband re- turned with three or four paper parcels in his hand, looking more radiant than any man who had bribed his wife's for- giveness with a diamond bracelet could have done. " Now, wife, you are ready ? " "Stop a minute. John Smith, you are an angel, coat, boots, and all; but I've thought of something. Any fire in your kitchen, Jimmy, dear?" " No, ma'am. We haven't had any use for a fire lately ! " " Exactly. No wood, no coal ? " James shook his head. Mrs. Smith opened a side door, and called to some one in the upper rooms, in which her family dwelt. " Kate ! Kate Gorman ! " " Well, marum, what's to the fore now ? " "Come down stairs, Kate — but no matter. Is there a good fire in the range ?" " Never a better ! " 14 THE REIGNING BELLE. "Then take this, and this; broil the steak, fry the ham, slice up the cold potatoes left after dinner, and fry thein ; then heat some tin pans, and put them in." " Thin I'm not to set the table, niarum ? " "No. Make a strong pot of coffee, and one of tea. bring 'em ln>t; pickles, mustard; and don't forget some of them straw berry preserves, too." •• But what am I to do with the sa/ue, Mistress Smith ? " "Bring them all over to the little white house, with the morning glories. Open the gate softly, and come round to the back-door. Step down here, Kate, and I will tell you. M Kate stepped down, and in the darkness of the staii received very particular instructions, which she obeyed im- plicitly. Then Mrs. Smith returned to the store, took up the heavy basket, and called James. "Run on first, now," she said, "and keep them all busy about something; take half a dozen apples, and give them each one; then step back and let me into the kitchen. It is sure to be ready and neat as wax. I've got matches here; then keep them all busy, and be a little boisterous till I get things Bhip-shape." Little James obeyed; and a few moments after burst in upon the mournful silence into which his mother and sisters had fallen, with eyes as bright as stars, and a heap of red apples in his arms. '• Didn't I tell you?" he cried out. pouring the apples into Eva's lap. " One. two. three, four, five. One a piece, and another to spare. Here, mother, the b \ it foryou, plump ami rosy afi Mrs. Smith's cheek, and smeliing lus- There, Ituthy, darling, I'll get a knife and peel yooi "With this the artful little rogue ran into the kitchen, un- I the door, and seizing on a knife, was back again in an instant A FEAST AFTER A FAMINE. 45 "No, no, James, dear ! We must not waste good things like that," said Ruth, holding out her slender hand for the fruit which she regarded with longing eyes. "Put away your knife — I am in a hurry for my apple/' James sprang to her couch, held the apple to her mouth, and laughed aloud as her teeth sunk into its crimson side. "Eva, why don't you pitch into yours?" he said. "Just watch Ruth, then see how mother is going it." " I do not need it. These two will keep over." " Oh, yes ! Keep over, of course. Well, just as you like. But I say. let to-morrow take care of itself. ' Hi diddle diddle, the cat's in the fiddle, the cow ' No, that's all nonsense; the animal couldn't do it, but I could. There, now, what do people have foot-stools lying about loose for. One step more, and the only gentleman of this family would have been full length at your feet. Mother!" The boy sprung to his mother, and kneeling before her, pulled down the hand she had lifted to her face, and kissed it tenderly. "Oh, mother! I thought nothing could make you cry." " I am growing childish, James ; sickness weakens one so," answered the woman, who was usually firm as iron. " Besides, gratitude brings tears easy." "Yes," said Ruth, thoughtfully; "for rain, there must be some warmth ; the cold, bitter days only bring down hail and sleet." "Tell us," said the mother, wiping her eyes, "where did you get these ?" "From Mrs. Smith, mother. Isn't she splendid? " " But you did not ask her again ? " "Yes, I did; not for them, but to let me work for some- thing to keep us alive; so these apples were handy, you see, and I'm going lots of errands — never you fear!" " How they set one craving for more," said the old lady, who had the great hunger of a past fever on her, which was 46 THE REIGNING BELLE. maddening — and she eyed the two apples in Eva's lap rav- enously. Eva reached forth one of the apples, but James put it back, shaking his head playfully at the mothers greed. "Not healthy to eat too much at once. Wait a little, and then " That instant the door leading into the kitchen was flung open, and the delicious scent of hot beef-steak and steam- ing coffee filled the little parlor. Eva and Mrs. Laurence started up, and cried out in their joyful amazement, for there, lighted by two lamps, was a table, well spread with all their scarcely-used dishes, on which was a repast such as they had not tasted for months. " Take your place, mother — the armed -chair for you. Pour out the coffee, Eva, while I roll Ruthy up to the table. Want help? Well, yes, you may lend a hand this once, for a cracker or so, soaked in bitterness, don't make giants of boys all at once. There, Miss Ruthy, what do you think of that?" Miss Ruthy, the moment her chair was drawn close to the table., folded her hands on the white cloth, and bowed her face upon it, thanked God as he is seldom thanked at any meal. Then the bowed heads were lifted, and this little household, so downcast an hour before, came out into the sunshine of this marvellous plenty; and those sad faces grew bright with smiles of thankfulness, while two faces peeped in through the morning glories at the window, enjoying it all, as if the grocer's wife and her Bervant had been good fairies. IN THE MORNING. 4i CHAPTER VI. IN THE MORNING. ■ A sudden burst of sunshine had come in on the Lau- rence family, brightening the darkness around them. It glinted through the white curtains, where they floated over the window, as the morning dawned upon them. At day- light every one was astir and full of cheerful activity; the cloud, which had so long hung blackly over that family, had turned its silver lining, and the very edge seemed radiant. The boy was up earliest of all, building a fire in the stove, and making ready for his mother to come down. He was singing to himself all the time, while a bright tin tea-kettle kept up a murmuring accompaniment, and soft- ened the air with its vapory steam. Then the good housewife came down, pale, gaunt, but unconsciously almost smiling, and Eva followed, supporting Ruth with both arms, until the invalid dropped into a chair, and drew a breath of exquisite satisfaction, as she looked over the little table her mother's deft hands had spread. There was no prodigal display at this cheerful meal ; but to sit once more at a table, even sparsely spread, was a delight to the whole family. So thankful smiles dawned softly on those wan faces, and pleasant looks were cast through the window, when Mrs. Smith parted the purple morning-glories with her two hands, and called out in a kind, cheery voice, "Well, good folks, how do you find yourselves this morning ? " Little Jim gave a leap from his seat, opened the door, and let in Mrs. Smith, with a gush of fresh air, that seemed to set all the morning-glory bells to trembling with delight as they peeped into the room and tossed drops of dew over the window-sill. 48 THE REIGNING BELLE. "There, now, that's something like!" said the dame, gloating over the scene as if every living soul at the table were her own especial property. "Mercy on us! how we have all chirked up since last night. Well, Jimmy, what about the coal ? " "Oh! I'm '• „f mercy. But, »' ^ „ agalI18 t lb. £• -»i--':-* ; ! miud, and Kate fr0 ,,, u .,„lv »><» «, >ud.gu*<» JP uiBt , bo« «** ^; om . m , haa in ^ t„„ nobl. , urtW tha abjaot 7",, J „nlj a -^3»-=«- : ptoud, mil' . „„1, Jamas aaked >"" u> io tb , daptha ot th. I» a „gna«naaol t. ou , t .„ , h , *«"> S?SS— - ta l ,. *»•»* JKStisa^-— ' advances www ,, ( , ( , s , Bmitb came into the • DAWNING PROSPERITY. 67 had brought in a load of produce, waited at the counter with a whip in his hand. "Thirty-seven dollars," said Smith, opening the money drawer and counting some bank-notes that he found there. ■■ No need of waiting; generally enough on hand for small amounts like this. Ha, Boyce ! who has been paying out money. I'm ten dollars short. Run up and ask the old woman if she's taken any. If she has, tell her to shell it, the man is waiting ! " Boyce turned slowly, and went up stairs. He paused once or twice while ascending, and bit his white lips, as if doubtful what course to pursue. Then he lifted his head with a dash, ran the ringers of one hand through his fire-red hair, and flung open the door where Mrs. Smith was sitting with " Jerusha Maria" on her lap, rubbing her gums with the handle of a dessert-spoon, in the desperate hope that she was aiding a refractory tooth to cut. "Mrs. Smith, the boss wants to know if you've took any money from out of the drawer. He wants to make up a bill." '• What, me ! Goodness gracious ! What do I want of money, with Jerusha Maria crying her eyes out, and I trying my best to set her teeth of an edge. Tell Smith not to make a fool of himself, but search his own pockets. Dear me ! will that man never have no consideration " '•Then you haven't got the money?" said Jared, looking over Mrs. Smith's head, as if he were questioning the wall. " Money ! Not a cent ! Don't bother me ! '' cried the dame flinging down the spoon, and searching the child's mouth with her motherly finger. " What do I know about the store, with this little angel screaming like mad with the ache of her precious gums! There, there! mother knows they buse her darling! Oh, goodness! Kate Gorman, come here. I'm sure there's one coming through just under my finger ; look, now." 6S THE REIGNING BELLE. Kate set down a saucer she was wiping, dried her hands haatil}- on the dish-towel, and came forward beaming with expectation. "Just turn her purty face to the light," she cried, sink- ing on her two knees before the child, and peering into the mouth in which sobs and screams were half smothered. By gorry ! and so it is, true enough! like the pint of a needle agin yer finger. There, now, the swate crathur will have some peace an' quietness. Boyce, go down an' tell the master that it has come, and not stand gauking there." Boj'ce, who had been in no haste to go down, closed the door softly, and stood ruminating on the outside. Directly his face brightened with some new-born thought, and he entered the store with his usual manner. " Mrs. Smith says she hasn't took a cent from the draw, boss." "Hasn't taken a cent from the drawer!" exclaimed Smith, excitedly. " Then where the thunder has that ten- dollar bill gone ! I left three in that identical drawer not more en half an hour ago, and now only two is left. Who has been back of the counter since I went out?" "Not a soul but me and Mrs. Smith's new boy, Jim." Smith's countenance fell. He went to the drawer again, drew it completely out from under the counter, turned it bottom up, with a bang, and once more searched every frag- ment of paper with care. Then he remembered the countryman, who was waiting patiently, and assorting out some small bills, paid him in moody silence. Boyce was very busy all this time re-arranging boxes, and dusting the counter ; but his furtive eyes now anil then turned upon Smith with the look of a hound that fears chastisement, and his work was done in a quick, nervous fashion, quite unusual to him. M iutime, little Jim came in with an empty basket on GOSSIP IN THE BASEMENT. 69 his arm, bright and radiant as a June morning. Smith lifted his eyes from the desk where he stood, and when he saw that cheerful, honest face, his own brightened. He had intended to question the boy, but thought of his wife, and had not the heart to do it. " There is another basket to be taken to Mrs. Lambert's cook, who comes down all this way because of one of the footmen being the cousin of my poor dead mother; so look sharp and get the things there in time," said Boyce, swing- ing a basket up to the counter. " Tell her every article is choice, as choice can be, such as we don't give to common customers, by no manner of means. There, now, heave awav ! " CHAPTER XL GOSSIP IN THE BASEMENT. James received the basket, and carried it off manfully, but began to drag in his walk, and set the heavy load down for a moment's rest after he had carried it a block or two, for his spirit ran far beyond his strength, poor fellow ! When he entered the spacious kitchen in Mrs. Lambert's dwelling, the perspiration was standing in drops on his forehead and he staggered in his walk. Two or three servants were in the kitchen, gathered in a group around a sallow and highly dressed young lady, whose French cap was in a flutter from the active movement of her head, and whose hands were now and then taken from the pockets in her apron to illustrate what she was saying with peculiar emphasis. So occupied and interested was this group that no one ob- served the tired boy, who stood panting over the basket he 70 THE REIGNING BELLE. had placed upon the, floor, waiting for some one to claim its contents. Even the cook, whose duty it was, stood hy her table with the rolling - pin resting motionless on a half- formed pie-crust, her hands white with flour, and her mouth open with eager curiosity, listening to the female in that French cap so intently that she had no eyes nor ears for anything else. " I tell you the man was a total stranger. Old Storms can't remember ever seeing him before — and he remembers every one that ever came here since the deluge. He pro- tested against the man's coming into the garden, and held the gate to with all his might; but the stranger just pushed him aside, and tramping across the garden, made straight for the conservatory without a word, as if eveything be- longed to him." u Did you ever see such impudence," said a jaunty foot- man whose eyes were bent admiringly on the speaker. She nodded an assent, and proceeded with her narrative." "Old Storms followed after just as fast as he could hobble. First he heard a little scream, then a dead silence, and through the glass he could see the tall acacia-tree bending and fluttering as if a storm had struck it. Then came quick words. The man spoke low and steadily, but madam's voice rose high and sharp as no one ever heard it before ; and when old Storms looked in, she was white as a ghost, and shaking like a leaf. She saw his face peeping through the door, and lifting her arms, motioned him away, while her eyes seemed to shine right through him like burning stars." " ]»ut who was the man ? Why didn't the madam order him out?" exclaimed the cook, grasping her rolling-pin with all the force of a large, heavy hand. " I only wish it had a been me." " But it was madam who ordered old Storms out ; she that stands everything from him, even to being snubbed GOSSIP IN THE BASEMENT. 71 about picking her own flowers," answered the maid. "I don't understand it. She must have known the man, yet she was afraid of him, she was white as a sheet." " And quivering all over like a jelly," broke in the cook. " Wasn't that what you said, Ellen ? " "I said nothing of the kind, cook," answered the maid, with infinite disdain. "No one was talking of jellies, that I know of, so please to keep such comparisons for the kitchen." The cook turned her hack on the exasperated maid, and began rolling out her pie-crust with vigor, muttering to her- self, " Sich airs ! Just as if wearing a high-flying cap made some people better than other people." "But you didn't tell, Miss Ellen, what came of it all; which of the madam's people was it who showed that strange person into the street?" inquired the dashing footman, who had listened so eagerly to Ellen's story. "Which of 'em? Not you, Robert, by any manner of means. The truth was, old Storms kept guard over the conservatory a full half hour. Then the man came out, looking stern and white, as if he had been committing murder. He passed right by the old man without so much as looking at him, and tramped off through the garden-gate, wading right through a bed of heliotropes in full blossom, and coming up against that old white rose-bush, with the wren's-nest over it. Then he stopped as if some one had shot him, and leaning his head against the post, shook till the leaves trembled and the branches rustled." "Old Storms could not wait to see anything more, for looking through the glass, he saw madam lying in a heap, with her head against the marble of the fountain, not a mite of color in her face, her hands, or her neck. At first he thought she was dead, and began to wring his old hands over her, and cry out so loud that the under-gardener heard 72 THE REIGNING BELLE. him. Dropping everything he ran into the green-house and lifted her up while old Storms came in after me. " Of course, I went out with a flask of hartshorn in one hand, and aromatic vinegar in the other. That poor old fellow went before, with great round tears rolling down his cheek ; but I was too frightened to cry, you may believe that. Why Mr. Eobert there could have knocked me down with a feather." a As if I could be hired to do anything so exceedingly unmanly," said the footman, bowing low, with one hand on his heart, " the bare idea is wounding to— to " Yes, wounding, Miss Ellen." "But I didn't mean it as such. The feathery idee was a comparison, not an actuality, Mr. Robert. Excuse me, I meant no harm ; there isn't a girl living who appreciates your superfluous qualities better than I do. Pray forgive me!" Eobert allowed himself to be appeased, and took Mi*3 Ellen's hand affectionately in his, while he besought her to go on with her touching narrative. "There isn't much more to tell," said Ellen, leaving her hand rather longer than was necessary in the footman's clasp. " I found her what seemed to me stone-dead, her hands cold as ice, her face white as the marble over which the water dripped, her hair wet with the spray of the foun- tain. Old Storms began to cry, and the under-gardener — "' "Well, Miss Ellen, what of him?" demanded the man, tossing the clinging hand away indignantly. "What of that cretur ? Did he have the cheek to offer to help, and lift the madam up, and, perhaps, touch that hand in doing of it — that hand which mine Speak, Ellen, what did that wretched being presume to do ? " '• Why, Eobert, he only lifted her up from the cold marble of the floor, and laid her on a gardeu-s " He did ? That is enough. I understand the re,:. GOSSIP IN THE BASEMENT. 73 Perfidious woman ! You helped him ! Your hands met — your eyes- " No, Robert, no ! I hardly looked at him. But what could we do ? Old Storms hasn't the strength of a baby, and I was so frightened ! " " But you talked with him ? " "Only to get all the particulars which the crabbed old man wouldn't talk about. In fact, he tried to make me believe that nothing out of the common had happened; that no strange man had been there ; and he was awful huffy with the under-gardener for coming in after me. In fact, if I had depended on old Storms, not a soul in this house would have known anything about it." "We don't know much as it is," muttered the cook, kneading handsful of butter into her piecrust, while Ellen made the most of her story. " Well, you may know this, if you'll take the trouble to understand," answered Ellen, with a toss of her head. " It was full ten minutes before the madam came out of her fainting fit, and when she did, it was to sit up like a ghost and look around with frightened eyes, as if she dreaded something, and there old Storms stood half crying. When she saw me the color came back to her face with a rush, and in her grand way, she asked what I was doing there. When I attempted to answer, she pointed to the door and said, " Go, leave me. There was nothing the matter, that you should be called. The heavy perfume of the flowers made me faint; but Storms was enough." " Then she arose with her haughtiest air and swept by me like a queen." " Rather hard on you, Ellen. I should say it all meant that you wasn't wanted," said the cook, dusting the flour from her hands with a sort of glee, for she had made that a pretence for clapping them. 74 THE REIGNING BELLE. '•'I wasn't addressing my conversation to you," replied Ellen, with lofty disdain, and was about to say to Mr. Robert "that when I wont into the house madam passed me without a word, and shut herself up in her own room where she has been these two hours without ringing her bell oDce. Now I say that looks mysterious." " Sensationing, at least," answered the footman. CHAPTER XII. JAMES MAKES AX ACQUAINTANCE. "Please, will you tell some one to empty the basket I've been away from the store ever so long." It was the voice of little James, who had been modestly waiting to be noticed while this eager conversation went on, and now addressed Ellen as the most important person in the room. " Groceries," cried the girl, with a magnificent lift of the head. " Do I look as if groceries belonged to my depart- ment, boy?" " Give 'em to me," cried the cook, swinging the basket up to a dresser with the nerve of a gianr. "There is a mighty difference between buttoning a lady's boots and cooking her dinner, of course. We are all fine ladies here, only it hasn't got about yet. There, now, run home as quick as you like." "Has that boy been listening all this time?" cried Ellen, casting angry glances at the blushing young face. " I — I tried all I could not to hear," said the boy, mod- estly. "It was not my fault; I wanted to get away from the first." '• Well, mind you hold your tongue about anything Pve JAMES MAKES AN ACQUAINTANCE. 75 been saying, or you'll get into trouble, and lose madam's custom." " That's just as I say," answered the cook, defiantly. You stick to your ribbons and curling stick, Ellen Post ; I and this boy can get along very well without you. There's your empty basket, my little fellow ; now run home, and don't mind what any one says to you but myself; but remem- ber to come earlier to-morrow, for I am bound to go out early anyhow, having a little business at the Savings Bank that must be seen to, not being one of them stuck-up persons that heap everything on their own backs — I look out for a rainy day, I do." Here the cook lifted her head in the air and took a delib- erate survey of Ellen Post, at which stage of the quarrel James left the kitchen, full of wonder that there could be so much discontent in a house like that. On his way home, the lad almost ran against a gentleman who was walking slowly along the side-walk. In attempt- ing to avoid the collision his foot slipped, and he fell for- ward upon the flags with a force that stunned him for the moment. The gentleman lifted him from the stones in considerable agitation, and putting back the hair from his forehead, examined the bruise, which was swelling rapidly upon it. " My poor boj 7 ," he said, in a voice so sweet with com- passion that tears swelled into the lad's eyes at once, though the pain of his fall had brought no moisture there. "Oh, it's nothing, sir! "VVe boys are used to such tum- bles. You are only too kind about it. All my own fault, sir, thank you ! " " No, but you are hurt, and need help. I cannot let you go home alone." James tried to get up a brave laugh ; but the blow had made him dizzy, and he staggered forward rather than walked. 76 THE REIGNING BELLE. "Where do you live? Xot far from here, I suppose," iuquired the stranger, with gentle kindness. " Oh ! I live in one place and tend store in another/' answered the hoy. "You had hetter go home, then, and I will get a doctor to put something on your forehead." "What, a doctor for this? Oh, my! that would be funny ! The boys would all laugh at me !" '•'Still you have had a serious fall, and such things are often dangerous. Tell me where you live?" " Well, sir, if you insist upon it, I am going right by the house. It won't take long to put a piece of wet paper on a fellow's forehead; and as you want to see it done, I haven't any objection, though mother and Euthy will be surprised." So James, unconscious of the tender gratitude which prompted the act, gave one hand to the stranger, and the two walked along together. ""What is your name, my little man?" inquired the stranger, greatly interested in the boy. "James. James Laurence." "Laurence? I met a young lady of that name not long ago — a very beautiful } - oung lady." " Was she in a store ? " " Yes." "Tall, with eyes that look like water in a shady place?" " She had soft, pleasant ej'es." " Did she tell you her other name ? Was it Eva?" " That was her name." " Well, then, you've seen one of the brightest, sweetest, darlingest girls that ever lived, sir; let me tell you that, if she is my sister." "Then the young lady is really and truly your sister?" said the man, and a strange tone of disappointment broke into hifl naturally sad voice. " Etully uud truly she is my own sister ; but no wonder JAMES MAKES AN ACQUAINTANCE. 77 you can't just believe it, she's so much grander and bright- er than any of us. I never see a great, stone house like that I have just come away from, without thinking our Eva was made to live in it, and be a queen, with lots of common people to wait on her." "What house have you just come from, my little friend?" " Mrs. Lambert's ! " " Ha ! " " It is that great house on the corner, with so many flow- ers behind it. Eva is so fond of flowers, too. It is she who trains up the morning glory vines, and plants sweet peas and crimson beans among them. Sometimes I almost like our little garden as well as Mrs. Lambert's. We plant our own flowers, you see, and that makes a difference in the way of enjoying them." " It does, indeed ! Do you go to Mrs. Lambert's often ?" li I never went there till Mrs. Smith took me into the grocery ; but I used to pass by the garden every day. It was a little farther to school through that street, but I loved to walk slow and look through the iron fence, where the great tea-roses and geraniums seemed to set the ground on fire, and that white-headed old man moving about among them was like a picture. At first he was awful cross, and would order me away, but after a while, when he saw that I never so much as reached my hand through, he would sometimes chuck a rose, or a sprig of something sweet through the fence, and go away chuckling to himself. I always carried the flowers to Ruthy, or our Eva, they are both so fond of them, you know, and this made us all just a little acquainted with the great house up yonder. I dare say the proud lady would think our garden no great things, but the girls love it a good deal better than she loves hers, I promise you ; for, go by ever so often, I hardly ever see her in it." " Have you ever spoken to the lady ? " 78 THE REIGNING Ji K L I. K. a What — me ? No, indeed ; but she spoke to me once ! " " How was that?" " One day when I was walking with my sister Eva. she leaned out of her carriage, and looked after us in a strange earnest way, that made Eva pull down her veil. The next day, as I was going along by the garden-fence, the lady was close by me picking flowers on the other side. I Bup] my e\ - es looked greedy for them, for she called to me in a kind, sweet way, and reached some of her flowers through the railing. I was afraid to touch them at first ; but she 6miled, and said, Old Storms had told her how I loved to hang about the railing, and that I had a young lady with me once, who seemed as fond of flowers as I was." "Oh ! I said, a thousand times more so. Eva loves them better than anything in the world. When I said Eva, the lady seemed to grow restless, and dropped some of her flowers without noticing it." " That's a singular name," she said, "that is "' "That is, for poor people, I said, when she stopped, as if afraid of hurting my feelings. Yes, we all know that; but then our Eva never seemed like poor people. Everybody thinks she is a lady — and so she is, every inch of her. " The madam smiled when I said this, and her face grew red as a rose all in a minute, as if I had been praising her instead of Eva, which wasn't likel}', being only a little boy, and she a splendid lady. Then she asked me about my father who was killed, sir, when we needed him most ; and about my mother who was working so hard to keep us together, and said that perhaps she would come some time and see our garden, if it was so pretty; but she never can.' The Btranger listened to that frank, young voice with gentle interest, asking a f>-w questions now and then, al- ways calculating to draw out Borne detail about the lady of the great house, but without directly alluding to her. JAMES MAKES AN ACQUAINTANCE. 79 "But since then you have heen to the house?" " Yes, sir, after I went into business. That was what took me there to-day." James spoke guarded!}-, now he remembered that what he had overheard was not his to tell. The stranger showed no disposition to carry the subject further, but fell into thought, and moved forward as if he had been alone. "There, there! you see Eva's morniug glories running up the window," cried the boy. "la this your home, my boy?" "Yes, sir, while we can keep it, that is; but who knows what good luck will come next! If I were only a man now ! " "So you long to be a man?" said the stranger, looking down at the lad with sorrowful interest. "Yes, I do. Then, sir, I would keep that roof over my mother's head in spite of all the mortgages in the world. Oh ! how I would work ! " " Brave lad, how I envy you." "Envy me! Well, yes, I am a good deal happier than one could expect. Working for women who love you isn't bad fun ; but here is the gate, and there is Ruthy, you can see her through the window. Won't she wonder who it is, and what brings me home this time of day?" "You seem to have forgotten your hurt?" "No, it feels a little heavy, and smarts some; but I'll pull my cap down not to frighten them. Of course, it's nothing ; but then one's mother is so tender of a fellow. There!" James pulled his cap far over his bruised forehead, and opening the gate, invited his strange guest to pass in. 80 THE REIGNING BELLE. -V CHAPTER XIII. THE GENTLE INVALID. Ruth Laurence though an invalid, was pining for something which might occupy the slender hands which seemed all too frail for lahor. She could do many pretty trifles, however, with those deft ringers, and in her soul lay a deep love of art, which they were patiently striving to work out, whenever a bit of wax or a scrap of paper fell in her way. Sometimes, as the wind swept through the open windows of that little room, it carried off tiny morsels of paper, on which a butterfly, a bird, or a flower was sketched, which went whirling off among the old-fashioned flowers like a living thing. Sometimes Ruth would manage to get ravelings from scraps of silk, out of which she wrought rose-buds for pin- cushions, and groups of blossoms for segar-cases which brought in a shilling or two, now and then, for the scanty household-fund, and gave her a world of happiness in the sweet power of creation. She was lying on her couch, close by the window, with a bit of drawing paper in her hand, on which the soft shadows of a white rose were forming themselves, when a click of the gate-latch, and the sound of strange footsteps made her start and look through the window. She saw her brother James by the gate, and with him a tall man, whom she had never seen before. The stranger waited a moment for the boy to complete what ho was saying, and then crossed the little yard, while James ran forward to open the door. " Ruthy ! Ruthy, dear ! just sit up a little, if you can ; I have brought a gentleman, who wants to get acquainted with US. 1 told him all about things, you know, and he seems to think — W.lh 1 don't know what he thinks— but some- thing awful kind, I'm sure.'' THE GENTLE INVALID. 81 "While James stood in the doorway uttering this exciting little speech, Ruth arose feebly from her pillows, dropped her feet to the floor, and turned her eyes upon the stranger in breathless expectation. She saw a tall slender man, some forty or forty-five years of age, with hair that had once been black as the neck of a raven, large dark eyes full of calm sadness, a forehead as white as marble, and but faintly lined. To these were added a fine sensitive mouth, to which laughter seemed to come never, and smiles but seldom; still, in his face and quiet, gentlemanly air, was that indescribable something which awakes sympathy and verges on tenderness. " Forgive me, young lady ; I did not intend to intrude on you in this abrupt way," he said, lifting his hat as he crossed the threshold. "I have met a young lady, your sister, I think, who half gave me permission to call." "My sister is not at home," answered Ruth, blushing; for she was so unaccustomed to the sight of a stranger that the presence of this one set her heart into a wild flutter. "I know; this good lad told me as much. He also told me some other things about his family, that made me think — that made me hope — " The stranger paused, and bent his eyes upon the girl with a long, wistful look, that seemed pleading with her for help. "Perhaps you hoped to find some one that you knew ? " " Yes, yes ; I did hope that — but it was long ago. No friend of mine could be young as you are." " Was it somebody you wanted to find, then ? Perhaps mother may help you." "Perhaps," said the man, abstractedly, still gazing in that delicate young face, as if searching its features, one by one. "She knew all my poor father's friends," said Ruth, embarrassed by the silence. " Ah, yes ! I should like to see your mother." 5 82 THE REIGNING BELLE. Ruth lifted her voice a little, and called out : "Mother! Mother!" "Well, I must be going. It's so long since I went out, and they'll miss me at the store," said little James, who had waited in silence for something strange to happen ; for this advent of a stranger seemed full of importance to him. " Good-bye, Ruthy ; good-bye, sir ! I'm off." As James ran down the front yard, Mrs. Laurence came into the little parlor, untying the apron in which she bad been working as she came in. Mr. Ross started, and turn- ing in his chair, regarded her with a sharp, scrutinizing look, which deepened into an expression of keen disappoint- ment. "This is my mother," said Ruth, bending her head, while Mrs. Laurence paused to fling her apron back into the kitch- en, when she saw a stranger in the room. Ross arose, and stood a moment, waiting for Mrs. Lau- rence to advance; for, though everything was humble, and even poverty-stricken around them, he felt that these women were naturally far above the level of their appear- ance. "I have intruded, Madam, perhaps rudely," he said, at last; "but having met one of your children by accident, her resemblance to one — to an old friend — was so striking, that I ventured to inquire about her here." Mrs. Laurence seemed more than usuallj' disturbed by this speech; she turned a cold glance on her visitor, and said, "I cannot remember of ever seeing you before, sir; there must be some mistake." Ross looked search ingly at the woman, as she spoke; her voice was linn and Bomewhai harsh ; her reception of his polite address a little repellant; but she motioned him to take a scat, ami occupied one herself, putting down hex sleeves, which had been rolled up t<> the elbows. THE GENTLE INVALID. 83 " I once knew a man of your name," said Ross, regard- ing the woman with a look of hesitation. " Was he a policeman ? " questioned Mrs. Laurence. "Not while I knew him. We were boys in the same school." " How long was that ago ? " " More than twenty years — that is, it is almost that since we parted." Mrs. Laurence reflected a moment, then lifting her face, said, "Well?" " He was the dearest friend I ever had. When I left him, he promised to watch over my interests, to " " May I ask your name," said Mrs. Laurence now keenly aroused. " Ross — Herman Ross." Mrs. Laurence turned her eyes from the face she had been studying witb a sort of terror, and her voice grew low and hoarse as she questioned him further. "And the name of your friend — his full name?" " Leonard — Leonard Laurence." "That was father's name," said Ruth, in a half whisper, looking at her mother, who groaned heavily, without saying a word. Low as the words were spoken, Ross heard them, and his face kindled. " Then, 3'oung lady, your father was my close friend, and loved me like a brother. Will you not trust and like me a little for his sake ? " "I love everything that he loved," said Ruth, with tears in her eyes; and she held out her frail little hand, which Ross took, reverently ; then he turned to the other woman with a look of touching appeal. " And you are Leonard Laurence's wife. I remember seeing you once, a fair, young bride." The iron muscles about the woman's mouth began to quiver, and a flush came around her pale-blue eyes. 84 THE REIGNING BELLE. l; There is a long weary stretch between now and then," she said, turning away her face. "There is, indeed!'* responded Ross, with a sigh, which stirred his bosom with the force of a groan. " A long, weary stretch ; full of desolation to more than you and me." " It gave him a violent death, and me widowhood like this,*' said the woman, turning cold and white. •• The boy told me something of this, but I was not sure it was the same man. I hoped to find him alive and p. - perous. This is a hard, hard blow to a man who had so tew friends."' The woman looked at him jealously, as if his evident grief encroached upon her own melancholy right of sorrow. From the first, she seemed to regard him as a person to be kept at arms-length. "Tell me more — tell me how he died?" said Ross, in a tremulous voice. " It will be a pain, I know ; but this sus- pense and conjecture will have no end, without a thorough knowledge of all that relates to him. I must know." Ruth looked wistfully at her mother, and was about to utter some tender protest ; but Mrs. Laurence lifted her hand, as if she understood the kind impulse, and was ready to take up her hard task. CHAPTER XIV. THE POLICEMAN'S DEATH. "It was during the Rebellion," said Mrs. Laurence, "when the laboring-classes of the city went wild with a mad idea that the draft was intended to oppress them and favor the rich. Most of our city troops had been drawn off to cheek the advance of the enemy, and a fearful duty fell upou the THE POLICEMAN S DEATH. CO police — as brave a set of men as ever went to any battle- field. <; The riot came upon us unexpectedly. My husband seemed rather more than usually anxious that morning, but not really apprehensive. He was then a captain in the force, and held to be one of the bravest and most expe- rienced men among them. You have seen him. You know what manner of man he was ; but, no — you knew him in his youth — this was in his perfect prime. In the glow of health, in the might of firm resolution, he left me that day. I watched him going down the street, from that window — that very window, sir. We had just built this house, then, and were making it a home for the children. The young- est was by my side ; he had mounted a chair, and was clap- ping his hands and shouting for his father to look back. "Leonard was anxious, and walked on swiftly; for strange noises were in the air, while groups of men and women gathered in the street, suddenly, as if they sprang out of the earth. Still, my husband heard the shouts of his child, and turning, waved his hand to us. I saw that no smile lighted his face. He stopped, and seemed to listen. A low howl swept up the street, as if a den of wild beasts were clamoring for food. This time, he waved his club, and plunged into a great crowd of people, that choked up the street, menacing him with threats. That great heaving crowd poured itself upon him and tossed him into its midst with shouts that made me quake from head to foot. ' ; That was an awful day. He had left me in charge of our children, and I dared not leave them for a moment. My home was in the very heart of a disaffected district. My husband was obnoxious, from his strict discharge of duty, and suspected of more education, and higher ambition, than the horde that surrounded us. Lonely as our household was, danger menaced us. Twice during the day a crowd came up the street, swarmed into our little garden, and 86 THE REIGNING BELLE. threatened to burn the house. They would have done it, too, but for Eva, who flung the door open, and standing on the threshold, told them that she was there to protect her mother and two children, younger and weaker than herself. "Oh, sir! if you could have seen that child standing there, and braving that crowd of fiends ! How beautiful she looked, with her coal black hair all abroad ; her great eyes burning with courageous firo, hurling words of wild appeal, like bullets, into the crowd. The}' met her, first, with groans of derision, then with fierce shouts of applause, swearing that she was worthy to lead in their own hot work ; worthy of a place by the demoniac women who knew how to cut their way through fire and blood to the heart of an aris- tocrat. " Before I could reach my child, or even cry out, a gaunt, gray-headed old woman, with blazing eyes, and lips blister- ed with oaths, seized her by the arm, shouting, "'Yes, yes! let us set her on to help us! She shall tear the brats from out of their silk nests in the avenue, up yonder, and drown them in the gutters ! This is fancy work; just fit for a daring imp that isn't afraid of us! Them who ain't afeared to fight us are bound to lead us. We want a girl, about her age, to hunt up the small fry, and fling them down for us to trample in the mud.' " As the woman spoke, she lifted Eva from her feet, and would have hurled her into the crowd; but I pushed the children from me, and sprang upon her with the strength of a strong man in my arms. The struggle was short aud fierce. I rescued Eva, and thrusting her behind me, took her place on the threshold of our home. The woman sprang upon me like a fiend ; froth flew like snow-flakes from her writhing lips, and a glow of blood burned in her eyes — but I had three children to save. " How I saved them ; what words were used j if the THE POLICEMAN'S DEATH. 87 strength of desperation, that fairly turned every nerve in my body to iron, was put forth at all, I do not know; but the crowd broke, filling the air with shouts of laughter, and surged away, dragging that fiend-woman with them. " Then I bolted the doors, and fell down, weaker and more helpless than the children who crept around me, too frightened for crying. All day long, the howling of the mob, the shrieks of terrified negroes, and the rush of crowds, sweeping by on some errand of destruction, filled us with shuddering dread. When night came we were still alone, watchful and trembling with unutterable fear. I did not think it strange that my husband was absent. While there was a duty to perform, I knew that we need not hope to see him. But, oh, the suspense was terrible ! "All night we waited and listened to the gathering storm, to the howlings of the mob, the startling crash of fire-bells, following close on each other, and the sharp shrieks of men and women, trampled under foot by the merciless rioters, whose fury it was my husband's duty to quell. Oh, that was an awful night ! At each sound my children would creep closer to me, and while the heart quivered in my bosom, I tried to comfort them. "Toward morning, a messenger came from my husband. He was still at his post, and might not be able to leave it that day. We must keep bravely up, and remain quiet, otherwise his mind would be so distracted that it might be hard to go through what lay before him. " I learned from the messenger that Leonard had tasted no food since morning, and hastily gathered up what there was cooked in the house. I sent it to him with the chil- dren's love. Of course, we would be brave and quiet, I said. He must not care for us. I would mind the children, if God would only take care of him. I said this bravely, but my heart quailed within me as I spoke. " The messenger promised to come back in an hour or two, 83 THE REIGNING BELLE. and we waited for him with growing terror, for the crash of the fire-bells was perpetual now. All around us, red tongues of flame were shooting up through burning roofs, and the streets were full of straggling rioters, with the plunder of sacked homes on their backs; some of them reeling with intoxication, and cursing everything they met, as men and women cursed each other around the guillotines of Paris, and in the slaughter of the communes. These sights kept me at the window. An awful fascination drew me toward the street whenever a fresh mob came crowding along it. How did I know that he might not be there struggling against the stormy passions that filled the city with smoke and thunder. "The sun was going down on the second day, and there we stood, carefully holding back the window-curtain, and straining our eyes to catch the first glimpse of his coming, or of some messenger who could tell us of his safety. All at once, a sound of low, growling thunder rolled down one of the cross-streets, and before we could tell what it meant, a group of policemen came up the street, each man armed and resolute, but white as marble, with a knowledge of the fearful odds against them. The leader of these men, tower- ing above them all, was my husband. He never once looked toward the house. Perhaps he feared that the sight of it would unman him. With a loud, ringing voice, that reached us where we stood, he gave some orders to his men, who ranged themselves across the street, from which danger threatened. In a moment they were swept back by a throng of rioters — swept back and scattered by a rush of over- powering numbers. A shot was fired, and one man fell — the tallest, the grandest. Oh, God, help me ! — the bravest of them all. I saw him go down. I saw the mob trample over him with yells of rage. His groans, his death-agony are unheeded as the stones under those brutal feet. " I never knew how it was done, but in a moment I was ARTIST SYMPATHY. 89 struggling and buffeting my way through that avalanche of human fiends, as drowning men fight with the surging waters of a flood. Perhaps they had some compassion ; or, it may be, that my white face frightened them, for the crowd broke where he was lying, and scattered away, tracking his blood upon the pavement as they went. I fell down on my knees by his side. I laid my hand on his heart, and drew it away wet and red. His eyes were open-, but they could not see his poor wife ; his lips were parted beneath the shadow of his beard, which the wind stirred, and it seemed to me that he was speaking. But, no; his murderers had done their work well. I knelt down upon those hot, dusty stones and covered my face, that they might not look upon the agony of my grief. "Eva had followed me, and the little ones had cluug to her shivering and crying as she pressed through the crowd. We were all together — his little family, wife and children — but he was dead. They would not believe it, but called upon him with feeble cries to look up and say that he was not much hurt, /knew that he was dead; that they were orphans, and I, his wife, a widow." CHAPTER XY. AETIST SYMPATHY. The woman ceased speaking. During her whole narra- tive she had shed no tears, but her voice was low and cold, like the air that comes from a tomb. Her lips never quiv- ered, but they grew white as death. While her mother was talking, Euth had partly risen and drew the window- curtains softly together, hoping thus to shroud something of the grief which this man had so painfully aroused. 90 THE REIGNING BELLE. Then she sunk back upon her couch, and looked at the stranger reproachfully through her tears. Mr. Ross sat gazing upon the floor, with trouble in his eyes. He felt all the pain he had given, and the thought was full of distress. ' K NOTES. 99 " What ! you don't think it enough ? Well, say thirty ; though I have seen pictures twice their size sell for less. Will thirty satisfy you ? : ' "Oh, madam, I know you are too kind for that but it seems as if you were mocking me. The amount you men- tioned first, is so much that I can scarcely believe it." The poor girl really could Dot comprehend her good fortune; she trembled all over. Her great eyes were bent on Mrs. Carter with pleading entreaty, that this cruel, cruel trifling might cease. Mrs. Carter could not understand all this, but had a vague idea that the price she offered was satisfactory. " Well," she said, drawing a reticule-purse from her pocket by its gold chains, and taking from that a roll of money, " if you are content with twenty-five, I don't mind throwing in a trifle, so we will make it thirty. There it is — six twenties ; and I must say, it does me good to pay it over. Just roll it up, and buy yourself something nice with it. There ! there ! '' Mrs. Carter came close to Ruth, and bent over her with the money fluttering from her gloved fingers. Instead of receiving it with smiles, as the good woman expected, the young creature, half rose from her cushions, wound both arms around that short neck, and kissed the smiling face with a passionate outburst of gratitude, which awoke all the warm genial womanhood of Mrs Carter's nature into active life. •• Why, why, dear child ! what have I done, that you should smother me with kisses, and hold on to me as if — as if you were my own child, as I wish from the bottom of my heart you were?" "Oh, madam, you are so good. You have made me the happiest creature that ever lived," cried Ruth. " There, there, don't set me off again," said Mrs. Carter, patting both those trembling little hands with her own. 100 THE REIGNING BELLE. " Does a little money make you so happy? Well, just at first, I remember, it does. But then one gets used to it. By-and-by 3-011 won't care. Come, now, put up your money, and the next picture will be worth more. Ross is- going to show }-ou how to touch 'em up; and he can do it. if any one can, for he belongs to some great pictur academy aci the seas, and is A. number one at painting." In a soft, motherly fashion, Mrs. Carter laid the young girl back upon her couch, and began smoothing her beau- tiful hair. In the fulness of her content, she answered back with broad sympathy the smiles that came around those parted lips, and the look of ineffable happiness that filled those dove-like eyes, with something more beautiful than sunshine. '• It is true ! it is real ! and I am good for something ! " murmured Ruth, holding the money up that she might feast her eyes upon it. " Oh, madam ! God sent you here ! I was weak and helpless : while others worked, I could only pray. See how the blessed Lord has answered me ! I know it is not my poor little pictures, but your goodness that has done this — my prayers and your goodness ! " •• Sou are just a lovely little darling, anyhow; but here is some one coming. There, now, we are ready." Mrs. Carter gathered up the floating notes, crushed them into a ball, and hid them under the pillow of the couch. Then she wiped Ruth's eyes with her cobweb handkerchief, d it over her own wet lashes, and called out, "Come in ! '* as a vigorous knuck sounded from the front door. OLD F R I EN DS? 101 CHAPTER XVIII. OLD FRIENDS. The door of the little parlor opened, and Mrs. Smith stood in the passage. From her place behind the counter she had seen the splendor of that carriage before Mrs. Lau- rence's gate, and could stand the cravings of her curiosity no longer. She had held herself as a sort of proprietor of the Laurence family after that famous supper, and felt that any visitor who stopped at that little gate was a guest for herself. At first she rattier hesitated to put in her claim ; but when a half hour, then an hour went by, and that glit- tering mass of black and gold still kept its place, the posi- tion became tantalizing. Leaving Boyce behind the counter, the good woman tied on her best bonnet, flung a shawl over her broad shoulders, and made her way down the street, burning with curiosity, and just a little jealous that so much distinction had come to her friend, in which she had no part. Standing there in the entry -way, she hesitated, overpowered by a first glance of the richly-dressed lad)' who seemed to fill up the little parlor with the splendor of her presence. Mrs. Carter had hastily put on her company manners, and sat in state, fanning herself with her still moist handker- chief. All at once, Mrs. Smith started forward, her eyes glisten- ing, and her shawl floating away from the grasp of her hand. - Mrs. Carter ! Well, I never did " "Mrs. Smith ! Is this you?" For the moment, both women were natural. Mrs. Car- ter forgot herself and her finery in the honest delight of meeting an old friend. Mrs. Smith, a little dazzled and 103 i "cH E , II E,I C,N I -V G BELLE. bewildered, came forward with both arms held out. and would have embraced her former crony, but for a sudden conscious- ness of the silks, and laces, and heavy gold bracelets with which the latter was metamorphosed. This brought the amis slowly down to her side, and left her lips, from which the broad smile was vanishing, half apart. Mrs. Carter broke into a mellow laugh, and held out both hands. "So«you didn't more'n half know me, Mrs. Smith? No wonder! Sometimes I don't know myself. But how do you do? How are the children and Smith? Is he stout and jolly as ever ? " Mrs. Smith remembered that she had been cutting cheese jnst before she left the grocery, and wiped one hand on the corner of her shawl before she gave it into the clasp of those straw-colored gloves, smiling gingerly, as if she were afraid of hurting them. But Mrs. Carter was herself that day ; a breath of secret human sympathy had swept the chaff from her realty good heart, and, for the time, her mag- nificence was forgotten. •■ Wellj now," said Mrs. Smith, recovering herself under this hearty treatment. "It's good for weak e3'es to see you again, Mrs. Carter; I went around to the old house, nigh on to a year ago, and inquired about you, but they said you had moved away no one knew where ; so I gave you up for a bad job. "A bad job, ha! Well, I wonder what Carter would say? i/e don't think it a bad job, you bet ! Just look out there, Smith, and tell me what you think of that ? " Mrs. Smith leaned toward the window, and took in a view of tin- carriage, with the two men sitting impatiently in the coaeh man's sent. "Do you really mean that, Mrs. Carter?" "That, and an open carriage, besides a couper for Carter, and two saddle-horses, in case Carter and I might want to take lessons and ride in the Park together.'' OLD FRIENDS. 103 "But how, Mrs. Carter, bow?" inquired Mrs. Smith, open-mouthed with wonder. "You know Carter got into the feed-business; that led him to hosses and mules, and sich. Well, the army wanted bosses; Carter went in under contract. Then the bosses wanted feed, be went in under contract again. Then he got into produce, which kept a running up and down, for ever-so-long ; there he made and made, keeping his eye- teeth sharp, you know." " Mercy on me ! You take away my breath, Mrs. Carter ! " "No wonder; it took mine away more than once. After this, he hooked in with a clothing-house, and that was the best of all. Eveiwthing substantial but the clothes. Well, these things rolled up, and this is just what it has come to." Here Mrs. Carter spread her two hands, and rustled her garments with a jovial laugh, while her old friend stepped back and surveyed her from head to foot, with glowing admiration. " And you don't seem a bit different," she broke forth at length. Mrs. Carter flushed red, and drew the lace shawl about her with emphatic protest. " You think so, Mrs. Smith ; but others are of a different opinion." Mrs. Smith, for the. first time, felt rebuffed, and answered, meekly, "You were asking about Smith. He's been a-doing very well — very well, indeed ; in the grocery-line, though. You can see our store from the front-yard here." Mrs. Carter leaned out of the window, and took a survey of her friend's place of business, which had a respectable show of prosperity. " That looks like living," she said; "and I'm right-down glad of it." 104 THE REIGNING BELLB. " We live over the store, snug and comfortable," answered Mrs. Smith, highly pleased. " Children all alive ? " inquired Mrs. Carter, with hesita- tion. " Alive and hearty, thank goodness!" Mrs. Carter heaved a deep sigh. " Smith," she said, " I should like to take a look at your young ones. I'm not used to seeing children, in these days, crowding the doors by dozens, as they did in our old neighborhood, where Smith and Carter were such friends, and you and I Well, never mind about that. I haven't forgotten it. Wait a minute, I'm going home with you. Good-bye, little girl. Don't she look like a lily, lying there?" " She's got a lovely color," answered Mrs. Smith. " I never saw the like of it on her cheek before. But where is Mrs. Laurence ? Always at work? Mrs. Laurence, I say ! My friend, Mrs. Carter, is going." Mrs. Laurence came into the room, stiff and cold as mar- ble. The softening effects of her illness had worn off, and so had the little gleam of sunshine, brought to her door by the kind woman who was calling her from the kitchen, to which she had retreated the moment Mrs. Carter became interested in Ruth ; thus she was entirely ignorant of the event which had so suddenly lifted the invalid into Paradise. "I had something to do," she said, by way of grim apol- ogy, as Mrs. Carter held out her hand. "Never mind that! I know what it is to do my own work— don't I, Smith?" " I should rather think so," answered Mrs. Smith, glow- ing with Intense satisfaction. '■ With regard to the young lady, of course, we shall expect her. i will stud the carriage round, and Ross shall come with it. J5e sure that she is ready. He has set his heart upon it, and so have I." Mrs, Lanrenoe muttered something about being hard- MR. BATTLES IS DISGUSTED. 105 working people, and quite out of such things ; but Ruth interposed, and made confident by the money under her pillow lifted her radiant lace, and said, with a thrill of triumph in her voice, " Oh, yes, mother, dear ! Eva will go. She will like it. Please do not refuse till we have talked it over." " That's right! I leave it all with you, my pretty dar- ling; so^ good-day ; I mean to call again, very soon. Come, Mrs. Smith, we'll drive round the block, and see how you like it," said Mrs. Carter. CHAPTER XIX. MR. BATTLES IS DISGUSTED. Mrs. Smith settled her shawl with great anxiety, and going up to the little mirror, smoothed out the bows of her bonnet-strings, which certainly appeared all the better for it. Then the two old friends went out together, and the tall footman came down from his seat with a thunder-cloud on his august brow, and opened the carriage-door with a pro- test in every gesture. At this Mrs. Carter chuckled in- wardly, and gave Mrs. Smith the seat of honor. She, good soul, drew a deep, deep breath, as her calico-dress came into contact with the bright silken cushions, and sat bolt up- right, as if afraid that their yielding springs would swallow her up, and leave Jerusha Maria an orphan. "Dear me, how it gives!" she said, casting a half fright- ened look at her old friend, who laughed with glee, and leaned back in her own luxurious corner triumphing greatly while the carriage moved on. The ride was brief but glorious. Seldom did a turn-out of that description come within blocks and blocks of the 106 THE REIGNING BELLE. corner-grocery. Mrs. Smith had the satisfaction of knowing that every window, which hore upon that point, was occu- pied when she came through the carriage door and swept into her husband's place of business, side by side with that gorgeously-dressed lady. Boyce, who was behind the counter, posed himself at once for an unlimited order; but Mrs. Smith passed him by with a wave of the hand, and led the way up stairs to her own apartment, where Kate Gorman was busy frying ham for dinner, and James Laurence was carrying Jerusha Maria in his arms, trying to hush her into silence, by bending his head and giving her tiny hands unlimited control of his hair, which was always a resource on such occasions. " Our last," said Mrs. Smith, taking the child into her motherly arms, and jerking down its long frock with one hand, as she presented the young lady. Jerusha Maria took a firm grip on her mother's shawl, and being thus fortified began staring at the stranger with all her might; finally, she broke into a smile, as a watch, set thick with diamonds, went swinging to and fro before her face. " Give me a kiss now, and you shall hear it tick," said Mrs. Carter, gathering the child to her own bosom, and throwing the watch-chain over its neck, where it fell in glittering links adown the long frock. "Give me another; there now, take it in your teanty, tointy little hands. Smith, this is splendid ! Such a weight ! Oh, you little rogue, bit- ing at the diamonds, ha? If you were only mine, I'd feed you with 'em !" Here Mrs. Carter dropped into a Boston rocking-chair, and laying the child's face close to her bosom, began to Bing, and chirp, and kiss her into sleepiness. After this she still cradled her lovingly in both arms and indulging in a word of gossip, now aud then, with the mother while her chair kept in motion. " That brother of yours — whatever became of him, Mrs. M R. BATTLES IS DISGUSTED. 107 Carter? I remember how anxious you and Carter were. How did he turn out ? " inquired the mother, when Jerusha Maria had dropped off. " Did you ever hear from him ? " "That brother? Our Ross? Why, Smith, he's back again, the most perfect gentleman that you ever set eyes on. You know I told you often how he was given to books, studying night and day; how he painted picters, and went into the country, every year, making sketches, as he called it. Never was worth a cent for business ; but so hand- some, and so wonderfully good ! Well, he went off as you know, and, somehow or another, got beyond seas, where they think more of picters than we do, and made a wonder- fully great man of him; though not under the old name. He took out a nom-de-something, as such people do, now and then, and left off the last end of his name. So, instead of Herman Ross Baker, we call him Herman Ross, which cuts him loose from the old poverty-stricken life, for that makes him shudder when you mention it." " Proud, I suppose ? " "No; that isn't it. He's the last mau on earth to be ashamed of honest poverty. We are none of us mean enough for that, high as we hold our heads among rich peo- ple. But there is something that 1 don't quite understand about Ross." "A love-secret, I should not wonder!" said Mrs. Smith. Before Mrs. Carter could answer that, Kate Gorman put her head into the room. "Dinner's ready, and Mr. Smith not home yet." Mrs. Smith arose blushing and embarrassed. "Only ham and eggs," she said; "but would you, just for the sake of old times " "Would I?" cried Mrs. Carter, huddling the baby into it's cradle, and taking off her gloves. " Won't I ? " 108 THE REIGNING BELLE. CHAPTER XX. OVER THEIR TEA. Kate Gorman had received a hint from her mistress and drawn the table out from against the wall, a trouble she sel- dom undertook merely for the household. She also spread a clean damask table-cloth over it, and gave her knives an extra scour before she put them on the table. Then she took particular pains with the ham, and left a fried egg upon the top of each slice, with the unbroken yolk gleam- ing like a ball of gold in the centre of the white, which was beautifully browned on the edges. To these dainties she added a glass dish full of quince preserves, and some nice green pickles, that contrasted gor- geously with the gold of the egg and the red of the ham, when thej' got on the same plate together. ''Now this is something like,'"' said Mrs. Carter, pulling off her canarj'-colored gloves with a succession of little jerks, and seating herself at the table. "I haven't set down to such a dinner in years. The very sight of it is enough to warm one's heart." "Oh," answered Mrs. Smith, "if I had only known you were coming? but it is only a tea dinner. I feel quite ashamed, and turkeys hanging in rows down stairs, with cranberries by the bushel." "Oh, mercy on me! don't think of it, — turkeys indeed! I can get them every day of my life ; but a bit of ham like this, 1 shouldn't dare to ask my cook for it. She'd sing out Bhoddy, ami quit the kitchen in less than no time."' "Then you really like it?" "Really like it? I should think so," answered Mrs. Carter, feeling like a truant school girl as she balanced a fragment of egg on the point of her knife, and gloried iu OVER THEIR TEA. 109 the vulgarity from the depths of her soul. " If you only knew, Smith, what a comfort it is to eat just as you please, and just what you please." "But don't you?'*' questioned the hostess, holding her own loaded knife half way to her mouth, and opening her eyes wide. "Dear no! Why, Mrs. Smith, I should just as soon thiuk of jumping out of the window, as to ask for a plate of corned beef and cabbage in m) r owu house ! " " Dear me, you don't say so ? " "The truth is, you're expected to eat things that you don't know the name of, and turn against when you do. There is path' de for grow, now." "Patty what?" questioned Mrs. Smith. " De for grow!''" answered Mrs. Carter, with emphasis. Mrs. Smith shook her head. "Never heard the name before. One of your upper crust friends, I suppose," she said, in a bewildered way. "No, no, its only the livers of over-crammed geese; but if you were to ask for gooseliver, the waiters would just laugh in your face. They've done it, Mrs. Smith, done it to me and Carter, too ! " " Dear me," said Mrs. Smith, in deep sympathy, " I wouldn't have believed it." " Oh ! my dear, I sometimes think that Carter and I enjoyed ourselves more when we first started life, then we ever shall again — but, dear me, is that some one coming?" " Only Smith. Of course you won't mind him ?" "Not at all. Just another slice of the ham, its perfectly delicious." It was Mr. Smith who had come up stairs and stopped in the kitchen to wash his hands, which he did twice when Kate Gorman told him of the guest inside. In fact, he stepped into a closet and put on a clean collar and a pair of cuffs, which Kate buttoned for him — first wiping her hands 110 THE REIGNING BELLE. on the dish towel and afterward on her own apron, in a sud- den paroxysm of neatness. "There," said the handmaiden, "yer fit to ^tand afore the Queen; so just go in and take yer bit of dinner like a gentleman, as }'e are intirely." Smith took courage from this encomium, and entered the next room fresh as cold water could make him, and shed- ding around a wholesome flavor of yellow soap. Mrs. Carter sprang to her feet, and met her old neighbor half way. "Why, Smith, is this you? Didn't expect to see me?" "Well, whether or know, I'm glad to see you. How's Carter ? " Mrs. Carter winced a little when her husband's name was thus mentioned shorn of its appendages; but she answered cheerfully, and, seating herself at the table with a flutter of lace and rustle of silks, commenced on her fresh relay of ham with renewed appetite. "Now, Smith, this is what I call sociable," she said, looking around for a napkin; but not finding one, she used her lace handkerchief instead. "Your wife and I have been a-talking over old times; now its your turn. - ' Smith looked at the glittering silk of her dress, and heard the tinkle of her gold chains and bracelets with something like dismay. He was beginning to think the clean mil's and collar insufficient, and wished from the depths of his heart that he had put on his besl coat. "Lovely weather, isn't it?" said Mrs. Carter, feeling a little innocent triumph in her old friend's confusion, but compassionating it all the time. "I — I don't know — that is, it seemed to me this morning that there was a slight indication of a storm,"' answered Smith, bringing out his very best language, in lieu of the coat. Airs. Carter accepted the long word as a compliment to A SLIGHT ALTERCATION. Ill her improved condition, and gently plumed herself upon it She would gladly have matched his elegance with corres- ponding erudition, but failed to catch the inspiration, and only said, "Indeed! well, I rather thought so myself." CHAPTER XXI. A SLIGHT ALTERCATION. "My dear," said Smith, looking around the table as if he missed something, "have you nothing better than water to offer Mrs. Carter, and this the first time she has hon- ored us? " Mrs. Smith looked around in some bewilderment, then answered with a deprecatory glance at her friend. "The kettle was just boiling, and its likely that Kate Gorman is drawing the tea now — Oolong of the very best. Smith, you do not suppose I should offer Mrs. Carter any- thing less?" "Champagne," answered Smith, throwing out his chest with a swell of hospitable importance, "on ice and plenty of it. I'm astonished at you, Mrs. Smith ; that you did not think of it." "But I — I didn't think; I didn't know as you'd like us to break iuto a basket," cried Mrs. Smith, so eager to ex- culpate herself, that she grew red in the face. "As if we didn't break into baskets every day of our lives," answered the grocer, looking severely at his wife. Then turning toward his guest, he observed that Mrs. Smith, he was sorry to say, didn't meet prosperity with the air and grace that must make his friend Carter proud of the wife he had married, who seemed capable of filling any position. 112 THE REIGNING BELLE. " 01), Smith ! " pleaded the hostess, with tears in her eyes, "sometimes I think you don't care how much you hurt my feeiings I" "But he don't mean it," interposed Mrs. Carter, "it's all because he wants to he hospitable." Here the good woman drew a deep breath and flushed happily, feeling that she had at last matched her host in elaborate English. "But there is no need of it. I'm just sick and tired of champagne. A good cup of tea is worth a dozen bottles, and here it comes steaming hot." "In that Britannia tea-pot, too," muttered Smith, "as if we had no silver in the house!" " I'm sure the spoons are all here, they were counted only this morning." Smith, for secret reasons of his own, did not press the question of silver, and a cry from the next room saved him from the necessity. "That child shrieking like mad again — upon my word, Mrs. Smith, we must discharge the nurse. She is really incompus — that is, incomp " Fortunately for the grocer, who never could have fought his way through the word he was toiling at, Jerusha Maria renewed her shrieks with appalling vigor, and Mrs. Smith rushed into the next room. James had been doing his best to appease the infant's wrath, which had been kindled by his persistent refusal to let her run her hand into the round holes which Kate Gor- man had left open in the stove, when she took the tea ket- tle off. A dive into the red hot coals underneath had been ruth- lessly frustrated; hence the shrieks of rage which had brought the mother into the midst of the fray. Goaded out of her usual good-temper before, she flamed up furiously now, snatching the young lady from the hold James was striving desperately to keep upon her. Mrs. Smith turned upon him. A SLIGHT ALTERCATION. 113 "Do you want to kill the child before my eyes?" she demanded, pulling down Jerusha Maria's frock with a jerk, "as if I hadn't trouble enough without you setting in!" Before the lad could answer, or attempt to defend him- self, Mrs. Smith sailed out of the room, smothering the child's wrath by a fiercer embrace than she was conscious of. "What is the matter?" cried Mrs. Carter, dropping her knife and fork, "poor little dai'ling ! who has been 'busing it?" Mr. Smith was rather disturbed by the cloud on his wife's face, and held out his arms in an abject, deprecating way; but the indignant woman turned her back upon him, and took her own chair, with majestic wrath. "No, Mr. Smith, I'm not that helpless that I can't take care of my own child." "But the tea. I thought you might " Here Mrs. Smith broke off the speech over which her husband faltered. "No I mightn't; it won't be the first time I've poured out tea with a baby in my arms ! " " And a nice picter she makes," said Mrs. Carter, " my brother never sees a woman holding a baby like that but he calls her a madonner at once. I only wish he could see her." " I wish he could — only when she's a trifle more like herself," muttered Smith. Mrs. Smith did not hear this cautious aside, but holding Jerusha Maria on her left arm, poured out the tea with her right hand, holding the Brittannia pot high up, and doing the honors with a dash. Smith took this as defiance, and withered under it. "Dear me, what is that?" exclaimed Mrs. Carter, listen- ing to a sound of suppressed sobs that came from the next room. "Somebody crying, I do believe." Mrs. Smith suspended the amber stream that was dash- 7 114 THE REIGNING BELLE. ing into one of her best china cups, and listened. Sure enough, suppressed sobs broke from the other room, that smote her to the heart. She sat down the tea-pot, gathered up Jerusha Maria, and went into the kitchen. There she found James Laurence sitting on a chair, with both arms flung out on the table, trying his very best to smother the sound of his own uncontrollable mortification and grief. "Why ! James, my boy ; what are you crying about ?" The lad lifted up his head, and hurriedly wiped the tears from his eyes. "I — I wasn't crying much !" he answered, choking back his tears bravely. " Only — only I try so hard to do every- thing!" " I know you do. There never was a better boy. Jeru- sha Maria, the little darling, is aggravating sometimes. What did she want then?" " Only to put her two hands into the fire." "You little tyke!" exclaimed the mother, giving a slight shake and then an appeasing kiss to the child in her arms, " and I was cross as fury because he wouldn't let her do it. There, there, James; never mind what I said. Of course I didn't mean it. You haven't a better friend in the world than I am." "I know that, how can I forget it? nothing else could have brought me down to crying like a baby. The first cross word brought all your goodness to me, and our people right before me, and I felt like — like a wretch." "A wretch ! you are nothing of the kind, Jimmy. Don't think that of yourself — and I haven't been good to } T ou a bit more than you deserve. Here, now, take Jerusha Maria. She wants to kiss you dreadfully. If she wants to put her hands in the fire, you may — 3 T es, just on this occasion, I think you may shake her a little — not enough to make her teeth chatter, though, because you see they are new and tender yet." THE FIRST FRUITS OF GENIUS. 115 "I thought you would never trust her with me again," said James, holding out his arms and smiling, though his thick eyelashes were still wet. " Trust her with you ! there, what does that seem like ?" cried Mrs. Smith, putting the child into those outstretched arms, and patting both boy and child into harmony, while her own angry passions gave place to a tender sort of penitence, which extended even to Smith. " Now, James, take good care of her while I go in and pour out the tea, for I'm afraid its getting cold." She did go in, beaming between tears and smiles, like an April morning; and performed the honors of her table beau- tifully, putting two lumps of sugar in her husband's cup with a shy look of concession, which did more to brighten his face than the best bar soap had done. CHAPTER XXII. THE FIRST FRUITS OF GENIUS. Ruth Laurence kept her secret. An idea had entered her head which she was resolved to carry out, unaided and alone. At first she longed to tell her good fortune to her mother ; but Mrs. Laurence was never sympathetic or im- pulsive enough to win that loving confidence which Ruth longed to give. She had thought her own thoughts, and suppressed her natural impulses so long, that this precious secret became as gold to a miser, after she had dwelt upon it, unspoken for a few hours. One thing was certain : Eva should go to this party dressed like the lady she was. Enough of the money under her pillow should be used for that. Her own frail fingers had earned this great happiness for her sister. 11G THE REIGNING BELLE. Tears came into those soft eyes as Ruth thought of it : tender, sweet tears, such as the good and unselfish alone can slu-d. She murmured to herself: " Yes, it shall be snow- white, and fleecy as foam. I have the idea ill my mind, with a contrast — something brilliant and rich. Still, she does not need that to make her the most beautiful of them all. Dear Eva ! what a surprise it will be ! Here she comes, looking 50 tired ! " Eva came into the little parlor weary and sad ; for the duties of her position were frequently galling to the pride of a high-spirited girl ; and every hour some painful con- trast was forced upon her which disturbed her sense of justice. While the family had been in absolute want, this feeling was held in abeyance by all those active sympathies that trample down minor causes of grief under great afflic- tions, but now the proud nature of the girl asserted itself, and strongly cynical and bitter feelings were rooting them- selves in her young heart. Eva took off her bonnet, and, kneeling down by her sister's couch, kissed her tenderly. " Why, Ruthy, how warm your cheek is ! How your arms cling to me! Wha. is the matter? It seems like joy — but how can that come here ? " "A pleasant thing has happened, Eva, dear. You are invited to a splendid party in the Fifth Avenue. Look here ! " Eva caught her breath. An invitation to her ! She took the s-quare fold of paper, and, dazzled by the monogram, began to examine it with that nervous curiosity which makes so many people hesitate to learn the truth at once. "It is from Mrs. Carter, the sister of that gentleman who looked over my drawings. Such a cheerful, kind woman ! She brought it herself, that there might be no mistake, and ■will send her OWIl carriage for you. Isn't it delightful "Oh, how I wish it possible!" exclaimed Eva, dropping THE FIRST FRUITS OF GENIUS. 117 the invitation from her hand with a pang of absolute despair. ' ; That is what so many people were talking about : all the customers were full of it. I think Mr. Harold has an invitation. But it is of no use; I wish she had not brought it." " Ob, Eva ! " "It is just cruel," answered the girl, throwing herself into a chair, and clasping both hands over her eyes to hide her tears. " But you are going, Eva. I promised it." " You promised ! poor darling ! " " I did, indeed. So just wipe your eyes, and let me tell you something. Look here ! Hush, now ! do not cry out ! " Here Ruth took a twenty-dollar note from under her pillow, and held it up before Eva's eyes. " Ruth, Ruth, where did you get that ? " cried the girl, in utter amazement. "Oh, i" have been doing bits of work for it on the sly. Eva! Eva! I won't keep anything from you. Look here ! and here ! I have earned it all with my pictures, that you thought so pretty. This is for you. Stoop down, and let me whisper what I mean to do with the rest." Eva stooped down, and lifted her head again, all in a glow of delight. " Oh, Ruthy ! it seems like fairy-work ! You have taken away my breath ! " " They will take more ; and that gentleman will teach me how to give them greater perfection. You see it is no dream, sister ! " "And it was your genius that got me this invitation, Ruth," said Eva, with grateful enthusiasm. " I could not understand it before. It seems almost possible that I may go!" " Almost ! It is quite possible ! I have been lying here, 118 THE REIGNING BELLE. with my eyes on the ceiling, thinking over the dress. It must be lovely, you know, but not cost more than this one bill. White tailetan, I should say, with a long train, a flounce or two, and rows on rows of broad, puffy, ruches. Crimson roses in your hair, and a little cluster on your bosom. No ! it shall be one, fragrant and half blown, on the left shoulder. ~No other ornaments." " Of course not, you foolish darling ! How am I to get them ? " " JSot a thing! — just the white and red. To think of it is like painting a picture. I can see you now, with your black hair falling in broad, heavy braids nearly to the shoulders ; two or three long ringlets sweeping almost to the waist; just a little coronal of red roses over the forehead; and the dress sweeping away, fold after fold, like dancing white poppies over drifting snow. I tell you, Eva, it will be superb." " But how is all this to be done, Ruth ? " " I shall be bolstered up, and sew on it in the daytime. You will help me at night. 1 tell you, dear, it will be charming." " And you, poor dear, will be left at home, and see noth- ing." " What, I ! Indeed, you know nothing about it. I shall just lie here, with my hands folded, so, and my eyes shut, thinking over everything as it happens. The way people will look at you, and whisper, 'Who is that? Isn't she — ' But I won't tell you all that I shall see. Be sure you will not enjoy it more than I shall. Then there is James ! — won't it delight him ? " u But mother! what if she forbids it?" said Eva, with sudden dismay. " She might, you know." " We must get Mrs. Smith on our side," said Ruth, falter- ing a little. " Mrs. Smith, and our James. She cannot stand out against them. But hush ! she is at the door." THE HIDDEN PACKAGE. 119 CHAPTER XXIII. THE HIDDEN PACKAGE. Herman Ross became a constant visitor at the Laurence cottage after his sister had called there. Sometimes he spent hours together in the little parlor, instructing Ruth in her art, and fairly opening a new world to the genius that burned within her. With all her practice she had gone astray in many things, and struggled for hours to produce an effect which he taught her to accomplish with a few dex- terous touches of the pencil. His patience seemed inex- haustible ; his kindness brought tears into her e} T es when- ever she thought of it. In a few days she had learned more than blind, unaided practice had done for her in years. Sometimes Ross saw Eva, but not often, for she came home from her duties late in the afternoon, and his visits seldom lasted till then ; but he spoke of her frequently, and sometimes questioned Ruth about her, in a cautious way, as if the mention of her name brought some mental disturb- ance with it. "What, Eva older than I am ? Dear, no! — far from it! I am nearly four years the elder," she said, one day, in answer to his question. " It is because she is so tall and well-formed that you think so ; but she is only nineteen, this month, while I am twenty-two." " Only nineteen ! Just nineteen ? " " Just nineteen, this month !" " Tell me. Can you remember when she was born ? " inquired Ross, more quickly than he usually spoke. " I can remember when she was a baby ; the very first time I saw her was in father's arms, coming through that door." " And you remember nothing before that ? " 120 THE REIGNING BELLE. " No ! How should I ? " "Nothing whatever — no disturbance in the house; no — " u Oh, yes ! I remember very well how surprised mother seemed, and how she scolded about something. I suppose it was because father took the baby out." ri Strange ! " muttered Ross. That moment Mrs. Laurence came into the room. " You here, Mr. Ross ? " she said, in her cold, half- indifferent fashion. " Yes, madam. As an old friend of your husband's, I have taken the liberty of coming often, hoping to benefit his child a little." Mrs. Laurence looked at him, keenly. She was naturally a suspicious woman, and intimate association with a person connected with the police had not improved her faith in human nature. She had seen this man regarding Eva with looks that troubled her, and naturally supposed that his ex- treme kindness to Ruth had some reference to the more beautiful daughter. u Mr. Ross/'" she said, with curt honesty, "I don't remem- ber my husband having a friend in the world that I didn't know something about ; but so far as I can remember, he never mentioned the name of Ross to me in his life." " The name of Ross ! " cried the man, half starting from his chair. u No wonder! what an idiot I was to forget ! But it is so long since I have known my other name. My dear madam, have you never heard your husband speak of Herman Ross Baker?" This name seemed to strike Mrs. Laurence dumb. She stood for half a minute, gazing at the man, as if a ghost had started up before her. The little color natural to her face died out. Even her lips grew white. ''Herman Ross Baker," she repeated. "And are you that man?" " That is my name, Mrs. Laurence ; and the only one THE HIDDEN PACKAGE. 121 your husband ever knew me by. I am an artist, and in other countries chose to call myself Ross, leaving the rest of the name so long out of use that I almost forget it myself. Now, I hope that we are not altogether strangers, by name at least." Mrs. Laurence dropped into a chair, and clasped both hands in her lap. " So, you are that man ! " There was a look of absolute terror in the woman's face. She sat staring at Eoss, with weird curiosity, as if he had been a ghost. "I never thought you would come — never wanted you to come," she said, at last, wringing her hands with a show of passion of which her countenance, in its set expression gave little sign ; " but when the dead order, the living have only to obey. That which he left must be given, though it breaks us all up and turns the house into a tomb." The woman, rose from her seat, and began to walk the floor, while Ross and her daughter sat regarding these movements with intense surprise. " What do you mean, mother — of what are you speaking ? Mr. Ross cannot understand," said Ruth, arising with pain from her cushions. Mrs. Laurence paused in her walk, and stood for a mo- ment gazing dumbly on the sweet, pale face turned so anx- iously upon her. Then she resumed action again, and paced back and forth, as before, muttering to herself. At last, she came up to the couch, and laying her hand on Ruth's shoul- der, bade her sit up a little, while she searched for some- thing that must be found. Ruth left the couch, and sank into a Boston rocking-chair, which Mr. Ross drew forward for her use. Then Mrs. Laurence flung the cushions to the floor, and bringing a pair of scissors from a work-basket, began to rip 122 THE REIGNING BELLE. the mattress, at one end, and thrusting her hand into the opening, she drew forth a sealed envelope. " That is the name," she said, reading the address over. u Herman Ross Baker. My husband did know you. When he wrote this I was told to give it into your hands, and no other, should you come back to this country, after he was dead, which I am sure he did not expect. Take it, sir ; and remember he was kind to you and yours." Ross took the package, and looked wistfully at the writ- ing. He was evidently taken by surprise, and his hand shook with the intense desire that possessed him to tear the envelope and seize upon its secret at once. " Not here ! Read it at home ! " said Mrs. Laurence, who saw his hands tremble with eagerness. " It may be a thing to read alone, with fasting and prayer. Who knows? Take it away, and remember how true he was — how good. Ruth, you are growing pale ; let me lift you back to the couch. No, sir ; it is not needed — one is enough. There, now ; don't be troubled, child. No need of that ! You see how weak she is, Mr. Ross; so have some compassion on us all. You will understand me, by-and-by." "If compassion could make you happy, there would be no sorrow under this roof," answered Ross, with a ringing sweetness in his voice, that brought tears to the eyes of Ruth Laurence. " God knows, I will never bring trouble here." Ruth reached out her hand. " You have brought no- thing but good to us," she said, gently. "We all know that." Ross took the pale, little hand in his, dropped it softly to the couch again, and took his leave, with the feeling of a man who carries destiny in his hand. A -hort walk brought Ross to his sister's dwelling. He entered the front door, strode across the tesselated hall, and mounting the stairs, carpeted so thickly that his footsteps WHICH RIVER. 123 seemed smothered in wood-moss, entered a chamber in the topmost story, which had been fitted up as a studio. With a hand that still quivered with emotion, he bolted the door, and sat down, with the envelope in his hand, over- come with that strange dread which an unbroken seal often brings upon the possessor. Eager as his curiosity had been, he was literally afraid to break the seal. What did it lock in ? Why should the man, so long dead, write to him ? Was the vague, wild idea, which had haunted him for weeks, a reality? With these questions in his brain, he tore the envelope, took from it some closely-written pages, and began to read. CHAPTER XXIV. WHICH RIVER. "My Eriexd — One night, while on my beat m the upper part of the city, a young woman, carrying something in her arms, which a large and very rich shawl completely covered, passed me, more than once, in a wild, distracted way, as if looking for something, or some place, which she could not find. I watched her, carefully, as she went back and forth in this strange fashion and at last saw her sink down on a doorstep, when the faint wail of a child came from beneath her shawl. I was about to speak to her, when she lifted her head, saw my uniform, and starting up, came toward me. " 'Will you tell me, sir, where I can find the river?' " The voice in which these words were spoken was low and timid. The female who uttered them seemed very young, in the light of that street lamp, which was near enough to reveal her features, as faces are seen in a dream. 124 THE REIGNING BELLE. She was utterly unlike any woman who might have been expected out of doors that time of night, and I looked at her keenly before I made answer to her question ; but her head drooped forward ou her breast, and I could only dis- cern that the face was both young and fair. '••Which river do you ask for?' I questioned, wondering that a young creature with the address and language of a highly-bred person, could be there to make an inquiry so vague and strange. •"Any — no matter which. To find one, shall I turn to the right or left? ' '• I was standing above Fiftieth Street on the west, where many vacant lota lay between us and the Hudson, which was not very far off; but shrunk from saying this, and only answered, '"If you turn either way there is a river — but this is so strange ' "The girl did not hear my closing words, but turned to the left, where the houses were scattered and a grove of trees loomed up in the distance, flinging their shadows against the sk} r . I could not leave my beat, but followed her anxiously with my eyes, and saw that she walked with a slow step, which bespoke great fatigue, if not absolute despair. '"This is strange,' I thought, 'that voice had a despe- rate meaning in it. I wonder if she really thinks of that ; poor soul ! — poor soul, she will surely come to grief. If she wen- not drifting out of my beat, I would follow her!' "The moon was up, but clouded, and but few stars ap- peared; so it was mostly by the street-lamps that I kept her in sight, until she passed out of my beat. When I lost sight of her, she was making straight for the river, and hurried on as if urged forward by the fright my face had given her. " The clock from a far-off steeple struck the hour. WHICH RIVER. 125 " It was not many minutes before I was relieved, and free to follow the woman, which I did, though she had lost her- self among the shadows. I then turned toward the river, and followed the young creature at a cautious distance, until she left the paved street and went into the enclosure of a private mansion, where shrubbery was thick and the grass so elastic that I could approach close to her unnoticed. "She had heard the heavy rush of flowing waters coming up through the solemn night, and quickened her steps as if the voice of a friend had called to her from a great distance. " ' Oh, it is there ! it is there ! ' she moaned, ' my last — last friend — the only one that will take me in and hide me.' "Now her footsteps beat swiftly on the turf as she sped onward, guided bj' the deep whispering of the waves. She was skirting the walls of a garden, over which roses and clustering masses of honeysuckles trailed out of bounds, filling the night air with fragrance, that for one moment evidently checked the girl in her progress ; or she was stricken faint with a sudden recoil of conscience, perhaps. " ' They are blossoming now — now around my window, as they did then, just a year — only a year!' I heard her say. " The girl wrung her hands, looking wildly around, as if she sought for some human being to pity her; but nothing was near save the faint odor of flowers, that seemed to wither her like poison ; and the far off drifts of the river, blended with the flow of a soft wind through innumerable leaves, and the stir of roses under their dew. " The very fragrance and beauty of the night, while it seemed to lift her soul out of its dull apathy, stung it to desperation. She turned and fled from the garden wall, and I lost her among the great primeval trees, that made the place solitary as a hermitage. Without giving it a thought, I plunged into the shadows of the grove, beyond which the great river was flowing. 126 THE REIGNING BELLE. "I heard sounds of her progress through the under- growth, and followed with cautious swiftness ; for her dress, her air, and the child that she carried under that shawl, suggested a tragedy, which it was my duty to pre- vent. The street she had been threading, that immense flower-garden, and the grand old mansion, which seemed as if buried in the heart of a wilderness, the shrubbery was so old and thick around it, were now left behind. I could hardly see my way iu the dense thickness of those trees which grew close to the river, flinging their shadows over it, in places, and making the spot so lonely that I felt a thrill of dread, as the contrast between its isolation and the street I had left, broke upon me. " Everything was quiet. My own footsteps were smoth- ered in the forest-turf, and a gentle shiver of the leaves was all the sound I heard. What had become of that poor girl? Had she already found time to make the plunge I felt sure she meditated. My heart shrunk from the thougth, so I watched and waited, feeling the presence of another human soul, as one sometimes knows a thing independent of the senses. "As I stood in the shadow, something seemed to move on a large sloping-rock, which formed a picturesque feature in one corner of the grounds, on which the trees grew less thickly. That moment, a cloud swept back from the moon, and I saw the woman whom I had frightened so, standing on the rocks, which shot some distance into the stream, where the waters eddied and curled around it with a sweet, monotonous music, that seemed to lure and hire the woman on, till she stood on the very edge. Her shawl was thrown back now, and I saw the child. She did not look at it, but turned her face away, and lifted the infant high in hex arms. - I started forward, bul checked myself, for she had falleo down upon the rock, and hugging the child to her bosom, was kissing it with passionate vehemence, calling out. WHICH RIVER. 127 " < I cannot — I cannot ! Oh, my God ! how could I think of it? My child! My child! You are not hurt! There! there ! there ! Oh, what can I do ? what shall I do ?' "Again and again she fell to kissing the little creature, moaning over it like a dumb animal ; breaking forth into bitter sobs, now and then, until some fear seized her, and she looked around, evidently terrified by her own voice. Full ten minutes she sat caressing the child, in her passion- ate despair. Then she arose to her feet once more, uplifted it in her arms, and staggering back, fell prone upon the rock, clasping the infant to her heart. "The struggle was terrible; but I had faith in the power of a motherhood which could battle so fiercely against an evil resolve, and waited, knowing, that at the worst, I could save her and the child. " She arose to a sitting posture, very pale and still now, for I could see her face, plainly, in the moonlight ; and it was white as snow — white and beautiful. An exclamation almost broke from me. I knew the face! More than once had I marveled at its beauty ; more than once had I seen it beaming with love, uplifted to another face, which will never leave my memory — that of a man I love better than a brother. "Do you understand? Can you guess who this young mother was? I did not know her name ; but there was no mistaking that proud, white face. "The young woman sat a long time, gazing at her child, in the moonlight, as if seized by some apathy of the soul which made that rock its last anchorage. " At last she took off her shawl, and, kneeling over the little creature, wrapped the garment around it. She did not look at it after this, but arose from her knees, and went staggering away from the river, through a patch of moon- light, and into the shadows, looking toward the rock, con- tinuously, as if she had left her heart behind, and longed to pluck it back to her bosom again. 128 THE REIGNING BELLE, "After she was gone, I went down to the rock which was now bathed in the beautiful moonlight, and seemed as peace- ful as a cradle, for the waters as they swept around it mur- mured a soft lullaby, and a poisonous vine, which had turned scarlet in the hot sunshine, seemed in its duskiness and dew like an imperial drapery cast around the little creature where it lay. "A bramble studded with green acrid fruit, which bent it down like the plume from a helmet, drooped its shadow over the infant where it lay muffled in the shawl. " I put the bramble away and was startled when two great, wide-open eyes looked up at me, through the moon- light, as if wondering at the rough features that met them, instead of the beautiful woman's face which had drifted away from it through the shadows. " I took the child in my arms, and laid its little cheek to mine. The touch filled my soul with tenderness ; having seen that woman's face I could not give that child to the almshouse. No, I resolved that she should be my own — the sister of my little Ruth. " I carried the pretty waif home, and gave her to my wife. She was taken by surprise, and resented the adop- tion, at first; but it was impossible to resist those pretty, infantile ways, and at last this child became dear to her as our little Ruth. Yes; dear as the boy that was afterwards born to us. '• We kept the fact, that this child was not our own, a secret from every one. Even our children are ignorant that she is not in fact their sister. I never sought to iden- tify the young mother. Remembering how near she had been to murdering her own child, I dared not place it again in her power. Besides, we loved the foundling, and that love grew strong as nature in our hearts. " You know that I was educated for a better position than has fallen to my lot ; and I resolved to give even superior WHICH RIVER. 129 advantages to my children. My wife is a prudent house- keeper, and out of our small resources we have managed to save money enough for this purpose, and to secure a humble home, iu which we are now living. If God spares me, some prosperity may yet be won out of our hard lives. But just now, I am desponding, without reason, for my health is good and my purpose strong. If I should be cut down, what will be the fate of my family? I ask this question with a pang. Have I done right to educate these two girls for a position so much higher than they can ever hope to attain? Have I done right in keeping all that I have told you a secret from Eva herself? Was it not my duty to search out the mother, who had cut her off; thus, perhaps, securing to her a future more promising than anything I had to offer? " 1 am asking myself these questions now, and the answer is a selfish one. TVe could not give her up to another. "My friend, let me tell you all. The woman who aban- doned her child, with such throes of anguish, was no common person. Everything about her bespoke refinement and wealth. The shawl, in which she wrapped her infant, was a rare and costly one. The garments were enriched with the finest lace ; the sleeves were looped back with pink coral — such as can only be found in perfection at Naples — fastened with a clasp of gold. "We kept these things, sacredly, thinking that the time might come when Eva would be driven to seek out her mother. But not while I live. She loves us, and is happy. •• My friend, I have been thinking how suddenly death sometimes comes upon us, and how helpless she will be, with all her fine talents and rare beauty, when I am gone. Thinking of this, how could I help remembering you, my friend of friends. With a tenacity I cannot resist, the thought fastens on me, that I should be doing you a wrong 8 ICO THE REIGNING BELLE. if I withheld our secret from you. Be this as it may, I know that you will be her friend when I am gone. In her time of need, should it over come, you may search out that portion of her history, which I have, up to this time, shrunk from investigating. " If love for this child has made me secretive and selfish, you will have the energy to redeem the wrong and place her in the higher position which I solemnly believe to be hers by right. One thing I charge you. If it should come out that the girl lias no legal right to claim her parents, keep this Becret from her, forever. She is proud, and so keenly sensitive, that disgrace would kill her; in that case, my humbler name would be far better than a dishonored one, however exalted. " You are abroad now ; but I have kept trace of you through all these years. Once or twice your letters have reached me. I know that you have won a high place among men of genius; that your guardianship will be an honor to this proud girl; that even for my own delicate Kuth you will have some fatherly kindness. Am I wrong in asking this ? I think nut. You are the only friend of tl Id time that I have left. In our school days, we \o\ ,d each other; in our manhood the feeling grew and strength- ened. After my death, if that should come, you will he mindful of the old love, and kind to those 1 leave behind me. " One thing you will remember. My wife has the clothes, the coral, and the India shawl, in which little Eva was wrapped that night. She will give them to you. reluc- tantly, I daresay; no misfortune will ever make her will- ing to part with the girl; hut she will remember my charge, and give them up. at your request Perhaps they will lead to something in your hands. "Why do I write this now, after so many years of THE PAWNBROKER. 131 silence ? I cannot answer. But this evening, a strange, dark presentiment came over me, and I was impelled to place Eva's story on paper. It can do no harm. My wife will keep it safe till you come, if I am doomed. Doomed ! How absurd all this seems in a man of perfect health and more than ordinary strength. It is strange and wild, but troubled times are coming upon the land, times when these death shadows will not be confined to one man. Yet, some- how, I feel with mournful solemnity, that, after I am dead, you will get this paper, and act upon it in behalf of your old friend, " Leonard Laurence." CHAPTER XXV. THE PAWNBROKER. Ross never took his gaze from the paper until he had read it through : then he folded the pages back and re- perused every word, with a burning, eager question in the eyes, that seemed to devour each syllable as it arose to view. The perusal had left him pale to the lips. He held the pages with a firm, hard grip, as if he feared they would escape him, long after he had mastered their contents. Then he arose, and began to pace the floor, with a slow, heavy tread, pondering over many things in his mind, with a restless burning of the eyes that bespoke a storm at the heart. How was he to appease this craving curiosity ? In what way was he to arrive at the truth regarding this girl, whose future had been placed in his hands, by the document still clutched, tightly, there ? Laurence was right. Herman Ross was not a man to 132 THE REIGNING BELLE. falter in a case like this. If the girl had claim?, he was resolved to search them out, and maintain them after they were found. But something more exciting than mere de- termination — an almost frenzied wish to learn the whole truth possessed the man. All the proofs that existed he would have at once. Suspense was more than he could bear. Ross took his hat, and went out again, walking rapidly toward the Laurence cottage. This time he sought the back entrance, and found Mrs. Laurence alone in her kitchen. Her keen, grey eyes were as hard as steel, when she turned them upon him, with a look that seemed half fear half defi- ance. "Well," she said, sharply, "you know it all now. Is it in you to take her away from us, now that we need her more than ever? " "I have come to ask some questions. This paper speaks of articles that are in your possession. May I look at them ? " Mrs. Laurence sunk into a chair; the little color natural to her face died out, leaving only a flush around the eyes. "I — I cannot give them to you just now,'' she stammered. " Did the paper speak of them ? " " Yes ; and they are important — very important." " But how was I to know that you would ever come, or that anyone — a man particularly — would want a lot of baby-clothes?" " But I do want them, and at any cost must have them,"' said Boss, almost fiercely. "Surely they are not destroy- ed?" " Destroyed ? No ; I haven't done that."' Boss drew a deep breath, and the hot color, which mount- ed to his face, died out as the woman completed her sen- tence. THE PAWNBROKER. 133 "But the}' are not all on hand." "Not on hand?" " What right have you to question me so? Most of the things are here ; hut we were starving, sir — starving ! Do you know what that means? I pawned one or two things. There, j-ou have the truth. Go in and look at the pale girl lying there ; then wonder, if you can, that I gave up every- thing to keep her from dying before my eyes." "But they can be found? Surely they are not out of reach T" said Ross, anxiously. " I don't know. We haven't been rich enough to redeem anything ; but you shall have the tickets. Wait." Mrs. Laurence went up the back stairs, and left Ross walking restlesslj' up and down the kitchen. She was gone some time, but came down at last, carrying a bundle in her hand. " Here are the things," she said curtly. " Yellow as saf- fron, with lying; but here they are." She opened the bundle, and shook out a long infant's frock, trimmed half a yard deep with Valenciennes lace and emhroidery, all yellow witli age, but of exquisite richness. Ross laid it aside with an impatient movement of the hand. "It tells nothing," he said. "Nothing at all." " The moths have got into the flannel," said Mrs. Lau- rence, passing her hand under the rich, silken embroidery of a flannel skirt ; " but you can see the pattern, for they never touch silk. Some lady did that, let me tell you. with her own fingers. This is no hired work." Ross glanced at the pretty grape-vine, which had grown golden on the riddled flannel, and was himself struck by its beautiful finish. All at once he snatched it from the woman's hold, and examined it more closely, as if he saw something curious in every leaf and tendril. " I should know the pattern. Somewhere I have seen it 134 THE REIGNING BELLE. before," he muttered, in a voice that was almost inaudible; "but where? how?" " There is nothing else but this mite of a shirt, with lace around it like a cobweb, and the linen so fine you could almost pack it in a thimble," said Mrs. Laurence, wanned into soft, womanlj - feeling by the sight of these little gar- ments. •• Nothing more? But the shawl, the coral — where are they?" " Pawned ! " was the curt answer. " I told you so." " Where ? Let me look at the tickets," was the impa- tient rejoinder. Mrs. Laurence drew an old, worn porte monnaie from her pocket, and took from it two pawn-tickets, which she handed to her visitor, almost smiling at the disappointment that lay before him. Ross glanced at the tickets, and dropped them to the table in bitter distress. They had been forfeited a whole year. "I did not suppose they would amount to much now," said Mrs. Laurence, picking up the papers. "Sold long ago, I dare say." Ross took the tickets from her baud again, and read the address with a forlorn hope that the articles, so important to his search, might be found unsold. He left the house at once, and proceeded to the pawnbroker's, scarcely heeding or caring that the whole world saw him enter a place that is the last foothold of poverty before it drops into abject want. THE PAWNBROKERS OFFICE. 1 OD CHAPTER XXVI. THE PAWNBROKER'S OFFICE. A dull, dreary place was this pawn-office: its narrow counter all grim with use; its walls studded from floor to ceiling with miserable looking bundles; its boxes partitioned oft* like cells in a prison, where the sensitive and inexperi- enced sheltered themselves while taking their last degrad- ing steps on a downward career. All these things struck Ross with a chill, for there is something fearfully pathetic in poverty when it takes a form like that. With a sense of strange humiliation, this refined gentle- man glided into one of those secret boxes, into which want shrinks from the human gaze with a keener sense of shame than guilt often knows. His breath came short, and he asked, hoarsely, if there was yet a possibility of redeeming the articles which the two crumpled tickets represented. The pawnbroker, a heavy, dark man, whose hands were as unclean as his practices, took the tickets, saw the date, and handed it back with a gruff shake of the head. "Forfeited long as:o. You ought to have seen that, if you know how to read." " I beg your pardon," said Ross, too anxious for resent- ment. " Of course, I was aware of the date ; but is it pos- sible to obtain these articles?" " Obtain them ? No ; they are sold." Ross still held the rejected tickets in his hand, which shook a little. "Sold; but there must be some record. Is it not possi- ble to find them ? " " I don't suppose it could be done. Whoever got those two things had a bargain that they won't be likely to give up. The shawl was real Injy; worth a thousand dollars, if 180 THE REIGNING BELLE. it was worth a cent; and the coral was a lovely tint, like a tea-rose, and carved beautifully — not to be matched in this country. Bargains! Both great bargains ! " "I am willing to pay their full price — double that " " Ha ! What is that ? Double ? " "Yes; that is not more than I am willing to give." " Double-double ! That would be two — say three thou- sand. Is that the correct sum — three thousand ? A good thing! A good thing, if you get them!" The craving wretch spoke gleefulty, rubbed his palms together, and eyed Boss as if he longed to devour him. Through all his anxiety, Boss felt the disgust such greed was sure to inspire, and answered him sharply. "I will give two thousand for the shawl, and two hundred for the coral — not a cent more; but that can be settled with the possessor of the articles, who will probably be content with their full value. If you will inform me who the pur- chasers are, it is all I desire at present." "Who they are? Oh, yes ! Such greenness belongs to us. Young in the business, you know. Haven't cut our eye-teeth. You're likely to get at them articles without me, very ; but how are you going to do it, that's the figure ? How are you going to do it?" " Then you will not help me ? " " Why that is just what you and I are bargaining about. Say three thousand, and I'm on hand." " Three thousand for articles not worth more, by your own showing, than a third of the amount, and for which you only advanced fifty dollars. Surely, you cannot be in earnest." " In earnest? Well, you will find that I shall not abate one dollar. A thing is worth what one can get fur it. You want this shawl and coral for something more than their worth, and so make fancy stock of them. You under- stand they are my fancy stock, and for any good they will be to you, I am the holder." MRS. CARTER'S OLD FRIENDS. 137 " But they are sold, you admitted that." " Yes ; but my books are not sold — and without them, how can these things be traced ? Oh, never mind ! you will come to my terms, people generally do!" Ross took his hat from the counter, and turned to leave the box, in which he had stood while conversing with this man The pawnbroker eyed him furtively, with a crafty smile on his lips. He was not disheartened, for the anxiety in tho^e deep-set eyes was too apparent for doubt. The man would make any sacrifice rather than lose the articles he sought. " You will think better of it, sir," he said, leaning over the counter, and following the retreating man with an oily smile. " Remember, I am always to be found here." Ross lifted his hat and disappeared, making no other reply. For a moment, disgust of the man overpowered even the strong wish that had brought him to that miser- able place. CHAPTER XXVII. MRS. CARTER STANDS BY HER OLD FRIENDS. Mrs. Carter had that profound respect for her own taste which springs out of utter ignorance; and her great party would have been something wonderful in the way of shoddy- ism, but for the gentle and kindly interference of her brother Ross. But she looked upon him with something like adoration, for his opinions were so modestly given, that they seemed to originate in herself. Thus he had sent the gorge- ous pictures from her boudoir to Battles' room in the stable, and after them went many an object of inestimable value to the lady, but which were received by the aesthetic coachman with a sniff of critical contempt. 138 THE R E I G N I N G B E I. L V.. Up to this time the contractor's lady had reveled in the adornment of her house. She had often heard it said that certain persons of her new circle, who had shot up like mushrooms in the unhealthy atmosphere of our civil war, owed all that was elegant in their establishments to the artists and upholsterers they employed. This was a charge Mrs. Carter resolved should never be brought against her. So, after six months of hard worry and interminable shop- ping, an effect was produced of promiscuous gorgeousness, that was wonderful to behold. The really refined persons who began to patronize her, were so completely surprised by this display, that she mistook their amused astonishment for admiration. This inspired her with new ambition, and she plunged into attempts at harmony and contrast, that fairly set the beholder's teeth on edge as words of hollow flattery passed through them. Thus it was that Mr. Hoss found his sister and her habi- tation. Carpets, gorgeously independent of draperies ; florid frescoes, statues in deep shallow; flaming vases in the light; mirrors in every available space; ami pictures, such pictures! in magnificent frames, surrounded him on every side. But genius is great, and money all potent. Out of this confu- sion, the man of real taste soon produced effects harmonious as a poem; and no person could enter that mansion with an idea that its arrangement had been left either to an uphol- sterer or to an ignorant woman. Soon Mrs. Carter saw how much more beautiful everything had. become, and gloried in it. Having surrended so much to her brother, she was ready to yield to him in all things connected with her social life. When he suggested the purchase of Ruth Laurence's sketches, and asked for an invitation to the party, for which cards were about to be issued, she consented at once, and thus fell in with her old crony and friend. Mis. Smith. One afternoon, Mrs. Carter came home in a state of MRS. CARTER'S OLD FRIENDS. 139 unusual excitement. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkled, and her style was like that of a warrior prepar- ing for battle. Without stopping to take off her things, she mounted to her brother's studio, which was in the very top of the building. " Herman," she said, sitting down by her brother's easel, "I've gut myself into a scrape, and I want you to help me out. Not that I need help, if Carter wasn't so uppish about such things: but he was determined that I should give up the old set for good and all, when I came in here — and so I did. The day I went to see that Miss Laurence, who should come in but my old neighbor, Mrs. Smith, just as good, whole-hearted a woman as ever lived. Of course, I was glad to see her — my heart uot being a nether millstone, nor yet a junk of ice. Then she was natural as life, thinking, no doubt, that I should keep her at arms-length, because of all this silk and lace, and bracelets, and she only in a calico-dress. I hadn't the heart to do it, Herman ; old neighbors are old neighbors; and, between you and me, brother, I'm not certain that them old times were so much worse than these. At an rate, my heart warmed to Mrs. Smith, and that child of hers, so that I hated to come home." Here Mrs. Carter walked to the window, passed a hand over her eyes once or twice and came back again. " Mrs. Smith has got a splendid baby, you know ; and holding it in my arms was such a heart-aching treat, after all that we have lost, Carter and I. It's a thing we never mention between us; but the sight of a fine, wholesome baby is sure to make rny breath come quick. After losing three of them, and none left, and this house built with a nursery, it's heart-rending to think of; and I couldn't help thinking that Mrs. Smith was richer than I was, after all. '• Well, we took dinner together — ham and eggs — real old times ; and cooked so nice. So, while the old home-feeling 140 THE REIGNING BELLE. took full hold of rae, I up and gave my old friend a card for my party, having one in my pocket at the time. This was the reason of my doing it, unthinkingly, as one may say, and long in advance of other people. She was so pleased — tickled almost to death ; and is going to buy a new mory- antique, and — what will please you, I know — says that she will bring Miss Eva Laurance with her — carriage-hire being all the same for three as for two." Here Boss made an impatient movement, which his sis- ter saw. and half resented. " Now don't you turn against me, Herman. It's had enough to have Carter curling np his nose at old friends, that were always ready to help him, when lie needed help; but my own brother "' "You misunderstand," said Ross. "I find no fault with feelings that do you honor. Far from it. But as for Miss Laurence, we had arranged about her coming, and there need be no alteration in that, I should think." "But Carter objects even to her. And as for Battle, his sneers about going into that neighborhood are beyond bear- ing." "Perhaps in some respects, Carter is right. You will find it very difficult to make classes mingle harmoniously, even in this republican countr}\ Stronger atid more expe- rienced woman than you have tried it, and failed signally. A land that owns no aristocracy but that of wealth, will always draw sharp lines between the poor and the rich." " But you do not object — you will help me out. I wish now it hadn't been done; but one can't bake hack an invita- tion ; and Carter is very cruel to ask it ; isn't lie ? " "Of course you cannot take back an invitation. And I dare say your old friend will manage to appear well enough for the occasion. Society, since the war. lias put up with a great many strange innovations. So, I have no doubt that your friend will pass." MRS. CARTER'S OLD FRIENDS. 141 "It's kind of you to say so," answered Mrs. Carter, with tears in her eyes. "As for Carter, his heart is like a mill- stone, sinee he became so rich. Oh, Herman ! sometimes I wish we had been content as it was." " Well, well, throw all these little troubles off your mind. I have something to tell you — something to propose. Per- haps a great favor to ask of you and Carter." " It's granted, Herman. I'd lay down my life for you ; and so would Carter. He's awful proud of having a real gentleman in the family. So am I — and that gentleman my own brother." Ross reached out his hand, and drawing the kind-hearted woman toward him, kissed her on the cheek. " Now tell me what it is," she questioned, cheerfully. " If it's money " Ross shook his head. "Not that! Not that!" " Dear ! Dear ! What can it be then ? Just tell me." " Not now. In a day or two." "Another invitation for some one? Well, you shall have a whole handful of blanks, and fill them out yourself. Will that do?" " For the present, less than that will do, sister." '•' Well, as many as you like, and anything else you like. Now I begin to feel better, and will go down to Carter, like the mistress of her own house." With this heroic resolve, Mrs. Carter left the studio. 142 THE REIGNING BEL L E. CHAPTER XXVIII. YOUNG LAMBERT SPEAKS OUT. "Yes, mother, it is the truth ; I have seen the young lady more than once." "I know it, Ivon. You were seen walking by her side in the street." Mrs. Lambert spoke calmly, but with a cold intonation of the voice that her step-son understood as something far more expressive than an outburst of anger; but his answer was as quiet as her question had been. " Once or twice I found myself on the same side-walk with the young lady to whom 1 have been properly intro- duced." " Properly introduced ! How can that be ? There is no proper introduction between a shop-girl and a young gentle- man of position and fortune," replied the lady, with an angry flush on her cheeks. "Position, if you please; but as for the fortune, that depends I claim nothing on expectations. It would be arrogance if I did.' "This is a sudden iit of humility. Ivon." "No, madam, it is not sudden; the thought has been in my mind a lung time. No man has a right to discount on the future, or waste his energies because there is no immediate need that they should be put forth. Say that I am young, well educated, and have just property enough, from my father, tor individual independence, and you will have defined my position exactly. Is it so very moch better than that of the young lady we are speaking of? " -The young lady, as you call her. is a shop-girl," answered Mrs. Lambert, with unsuppressed scorn. " And in that my superior. She earns her own indepen- YOUNG LAMBERT SPEAKS OUT. 143 dence, and aids those more helpless than herself, while I Well, it is useless to say what my life has been. The greatest energies I have as yet been called upon to put forth, is exerted in collecting your rents, and depositing your money." " But you are my son — not one person in ten remembers that you are not actually so. Some day, if you do nothing to prevent it, the bulk of my property will be yours. All my real estate must descend to a Lambert. It is a proud old name, and needs wealth to sustain it. To your father I gave that wealth. It was a part of his greatness, and lifted him above all the petty economies which have so often degraded our American ministers abroad. It was my pride that through me his position at the Imperial Court had no such humiliating difficulties." "And it was his pride, for he told me so a hundred times, that no high-born lady of that proud land ever filled a lofty position with more dignity and grace. Young, beautiful, and richer in acquirements than in wealth, how could it be otherwise ? Ah, madam, he thought less of your property than of those other things. Where love is, gold sinks to the bottom." Mrs. Lambert did not reply at once ; a cold shadow crept over the animation of her face, but she answered at last. ''Love is a delirium, which comes in force and power but once in a lifetime — a dangerous insanity that never dies. Do not permit it to overpower your reason, Ivon. Of all the passions it is most to be dreaded." "But how is one to guard against it, madam?" ''I cannot advise," auswered the lady, "for no human being ever took counsel patiently from another, when this passion was upon him. I can only warn you, my son. that no greater trouble comes on earth than springs out of a Lw-born union. It is the one mistake which can never be wholly retrieved — class should match with class. When love descends, it 13 terrible." 144 THE REIGNING BELLE. " But what constitutes class in a republic, mother, where society is ever changing? One must merge into the other. Look at the social upheaving which the war has brought about, where the very lowest strata of society has been forced to the surface, and claims rank with the best." "I know, I know!" cried the lady, impatiently. " Pov- erty itself is better than that ! " "It seems to me that honorable birth, talent, and pure morals, should form the aristocracy of a great nation — these are personal attributes which cannot be attained by accident or dishonesty, as money is often acquired." Mrs. Lambert made an impatient movement with her hand. "It is useless arguing, Ivon. Class must be distinguished as we find it. The Lamberts have no need to doubt their position in any country. Be careful not to imperil it by too open attentions to the girl I have been speaking of." "But, mother, she is refined and beautiful." " So much the more dangerous." "Thoroughly educated, accomplished, even." " Perhaps ! How am I to know ? " " You have seen her, heard her speak." "Yes, I have seen that she is dangerously beautiful; heard her speak with shrinking, that seemed almost repul- sion. Ivon ! Ivon! let me never hear of her again I" "How can you be so prejudiced, mother, knowing so little of the poor girl ? " " How much can you know, Ivon?" "Everything. I have taken pains to inquire." " Knowing that she was a shop-girl, what more did you wish to learn ? " "All that could be told." "Well, what did you learn?" The lady Bpoke breathlessly, as if the subject pained her, and she was impatient to end it. MISS SPICE R. 145 "I learned who her parents were." "Well?" " Her father was a policeman." "A policeman ! "Well, what more?" " Who is dead. This girl is helping to support his widow and two other children, one a confirmed invalid. They are very poor." " Then leave them in their poverty, I charge you." Mrs. Lambert spoke with unusual warmth. The subject had disturbed her greatly. Something more deep and subtle 'than her indomitable pride had been touched, of which she "was even herself unconscious. CHAPTER XXIX. MISS SPICER. A card was brought into the dainty boudoir in which Mrs. Lambert was conversing with her son. This was fol- lowed so quickly by Miss Lucy Spicer, that there was no possibility of refusing her admission, even if the occupants of the room had desired it. But her presence was welcome to the lady, for she arose promptly to receive her guest, glad to escape a subject which was hateful to her. "Looking younger and more lovely than ever!" ex- claimed Miss Spicer, after kissing the lady with enthusi- asm. " I wonder if it will be possible for me to grow handsomer as I grow older ? Of course not. It's only one or two women in a generation that can do that." Here Miss Spicer seemed to become suddenly aware of Ivon's presence, and addressed him. "Now this is a treat, Mr. Lambert; one never expects to find you at home; but here, with mamma, in this bijou of 9 146 THE REIGNING BELLE. a room, is a surprise. Come, now, let us make up before the maternal ancestor. It wasn't my fault. I couldn't, for the life of me, help seeing you, and that abominably hand- some shop-girl. Why didn't you take a back street?" " Then it was Miss Spicer. I could not imagine who had done me the honor of reporting my movements," said the young man, bowing low. "Angry, ha! Don't like people to make a note of his little escapades. Well, it isn't quite fair. But when one overleaps all the barriers of society so bravely, of course, he must expect it to be known." "And, of course, young ladies who have nothing else to do, must be expected to magnify and multiply the news." Miss Spicer threw up her hands. " Nothing else to do ! Now 1 like that ; as if there ever was seen a creature so hardworking as a young lady in soci- ety. Only think of the notes one has to write ; putting off disagreeable people, and enticing the other set on ; the shop- ping; the walks down town just as business breaks up, when crowds of us turn southward as steadily as sunflowers keep with the sun; hunting down dress-makers, tormenting mil- liners, reading all the French novels, little flirtations with one's music-master, learning love phrases with one's Italian teacher. I tell you, Mr. Lambert, one has to crowd life even to get in gossip and scandal enough to spice it respectably. Don't talk to me about having nothing else to do." " I never will again. The occupations you enumerate are too grand and noble for dispute. Hereafter I shall set down a fashionable young lad}' as the busiest and most use- ful creature on earth." " Of course we are. Eternally on the go, scarcely time to breathe from morning till night." " Perhaps that is why so many of them are called 'fast,'" said Lambert, demurely. " Oh, you abominable creature!" cried the young lady, MISS SPICE R. 147 shaking her cane-parasol at Lambert. "That's intended for me ; but I don't accept it. You are to consider me as among the prudes and conservatives, remember. Did I not come liere to rebuke your own fast conduct? Don't expect to get rid of the shop-girl by attacking me." "I have no wish to get rid of her in any way, Miss Spi- cer," said Lambert, gravely. <; Xor do I care to make her the subject of this conversation. Mother, have you any commands ? " Mrs. Lambert, who had been quietly listening to this war of words, shook her head. " Oh ! if you are going down the Avenue, I don't mind walking a block or two," said the irrepressible Miss Spicer, pulling down her lace mask, and grasping the coral-mounted handle of her parasol, as if it had, in fact, been a cane. " It will require something of that kind to set you right, after your promenade with the lady we don't care to mention. But, wait one moment, I had forgotten what brought me here. Mrs. Lambert, do give me your advice. I have a card for that Mrs. Carter's party. What shall I do about it?" Mrs. Lambert looked up quickly, and a flush of unusual color came into her face. " I — I beg pardon ; what did you say, Miss Spicer ? " " Only if I can venture on accepting. She is so awful shoddy, it will be great fun." "I have received cards," answered Mrs. Lambert, quietly, " and it is probable that I may accept." Miss Spicer let her parasol drop to the floor, and clapped both hands. " That is splendid ! Then we can all accept. They tell me her house was like a curiosity-shop, when her brother, a great artist, came from abroad, and pitched all the trash she had been collecting, into the stable. He's splendid, every one says ! Awfully handsome, and so aristocratic. I 148 THE REIGNING BELLE. know half a dozen girls that are dying-to go on his account. The wall-flowers are all in a flutter, I can tell you, for he isn't young." Mrs. Laiuhert arose hastily, walked across the room, and re-arranged the folds of an amber-satin curtain, that fell over a broad window of the boudoir. In her nervous baste, she loosened the heavy cords that held it, flooding the win- dow with silken drapery, and the room with mellow, golden light. Miss Spicer laughed, lifted her parasol from the floor, and began gathering up the folds of silk with it, thus throwing Mrs. Lambert's face into full light. " Why. how strangely you look ! " she said, in her reckless way. "Pale as a ghost! "Wanted air, and going to open the widow. I'll do it for you.'*' A gush of fresh air swept through the open sash, and brought some color to Mrs. Lambert's face. "Are you better, dear madam?" said Ivon, approaching the window with tender anxiety. "Better! No, indeed! I've not been ill. It was only the shadows thrown from this yellow drapery. Help me draw the cords. No, no ! leave the lace down, a softened light is pleasanter. Now, Ivon, I will not detain you or Miss Spieer from your walk." "That is giving us both a polite dismissal," cried the young lady, laughing. "Well, come along, Mr. Lambert, your maternal ancestor gives permission. I won't take your arm unless you insist. Xo one will have a right to think us engaged, if I walk along demurely by myself, not even the pretty What, frowning! Well, I never will say she's pretty again — never ! never ! never ! " oi: : 14! t :aptee :::::: old nsmaaa a^x - - It was some moments be: . ni Mrs. Lan : • ■ j fa aud fro ; ■ : - us if she ght forever. 1 - - - _ - i her hai< _ ----:_-- - —J broke mit sound. - " will make a lion of him Even 1 found out how more than handsomt i : . ■ - above the shallow men t: -- •-- fa admire. .--- I heavens ! has it come to this ? 1 -ears of a^e, and jealous of him now. as I was then w I did love him — how I do love him ! Can such Can the grave bury them ? Can a human sonl cast them off? And I. I met him with scorn. The ma.. fatal hour seized upon me when he stood befort i one from the tomb. How could I look him in tbe face ? Why was it that my pride refused to bow - ,] e half my being yearned toward him ? What does he think of me? Scorn and loathing! Scorn and loathing! What else can I expect? What else would a sane woman wish ? But is this sanity ? Will this passion haunt me forever ? Even thus, is it not better than the barren life I have led all these year.- The woman, too restless for continued motion, threw herself on a couch, and buried her hot cheek in its amber cushions, as she had done years before, when love for this one man threw her heart into tumults of tenderness or 150 THE REIGNING BELLE. doubt. Had years done nothing for her then? Had time dug no gulf between them deep enough to terrify her heart from its hungry longing ? Had silence, like that of the grave, failed to chill it into indifference? He had asked none of these questions. Would he ever care to have them answered ? Was the heart he had given her, dead ? Yes, yes ! he had left her to bitter retri- bution. The passionate reproaches with which she had driven him from her in his first youth, when a keen sense of his poverty and her riches gave a double sting to her cruel words, had been fatal. Her sin against him had been too great. This woman was not given to weeping, but she cried like a child now. For weeks and weeks she had expected Ross to seek her again. In spite of everything, she had a linger- ing faith in the love which had seemed immortal, and still trusted in the great nobility which had seemed capable of infinite forgiveness. But he did not come; and now she heard his name uttered by that flighty girl, suddenly, and with flippant ease, as if it were not a thousand times removed from her, or the females she coupled with it. While the lady lay prostrate thus wounding her soul with bitter memories, her maid came in, saw that she was resting, and left a note upon the table near her couch. She started up, as the door closed, holding her breath. It was from him ; she knew that before the address met her eye — knew it by the wild tumult in her bosom, by the joy and pain that thrilled her from head to foot. How strangely her name looked written in that hand. The seal — ah, yes! she remembered it. Letters upon a tombstone could not have made her heart sink so heavily. Her fingers were cold as she broke the wax, and, oh ! how they trembled as she unfolded the paper underneath. Tho note began coldly. It addressed her as Mrs. Lam- bert — the hateful name that clung around her like a serpent OLD MEMORIES. 151 now. In that name the writer embodied ten thousand reproaches — a world of withering contempt. It was need- less, she thought, to utter it in any other form. Still, he made, or implied, a request — that was something; a request, where he might have commanded, and she would not have dared to disobey. It was a little matter. He had just learned that an invitation had been sent to Mrs. Lambert for his sister's party — a thing he had not thought to provide against — and which might seem like an ungenerous effort to place her in a false position. It was, perhaps, best that they two should learn to meet in the world to which she belonged, and thus spare themselves the pain of such accidental encounters as circumstances might force upon them ; but of that, she must judge, and hold herself free to accept, or refuse, this invitation to his sister's house, as her own wishes might dictate. The note was cold and formal enough. Ross said nothing of his own wishes, but left her free — a thing which no woman ever yet desired, where the man she loved was con- cerned. But, chilling as it was, this woman pressed it to her lips and her heart, with a wild and passionate fervor never known to her girlhood, or that of any other woman. Over and over again she devoured the words with her eyes, and would, if possible, have plucked them from the paper with her lips. Would she go? Would she meet him again ? Yes ; if an army had stood between her and him, she would have forced a passage through. So completely had her heart taken up its old passion for the man whom she had cruelly wronged. 152 THE REIGNING BELLE. CHAPTER XXXI. BITTER JEALOUSY. Miss Spicer was not given to much ceremony at the Lambert mansion. In an hour after she went down those broad steps with Ivon Lambert, her high-heeled boots pattered up them again; for the young man had lifted his hat politely to her, when they came opposite a fashionable club-house, and sought refuge there. The young lady had stood on the sidewalk long enough to get up a laugh, and clench her parasol, which she shook at him, to the edification and amusement of half a dozen young men gathered in the club-house windows. Then she retraced her steps, and, much to her disgust, walked up the Avenue alone, making keen observations as she went. All at once the young lady started off into a quick walk, and, having obtained admittance at the front door, ran up stairs. Without waiting for an answer to her knock, she darted into the boudoir, and found Mrs. Lambert lying on the couch. "Do get up, this minute, Mrs. Lambert; they are going by — that girl and the gentleman we were talking of. What an awful flirt she must be — first one man and then another. It's just abominable ! Oh, how I wish Ivon could see her now !" Mrs. Lambert started from her couch, and hurried to the window, urged forward by an impulse that swept away her usual slow grace of movement. Miss Spicer was astonished at the impetuosity with which that delicate hand dashed the lace curtains from before the glass. Quick as lightning, those jealous eyes took in the two figures moving along the opposite sidewalk. Both were tall and uf commanding presence. The man's head was slightly BITTER JEALOUSY. 153 bent; the girl's face was uplifted, and she was listening to him, with a smile on her lip. Truly, she was beautiful. The face, too, seemed familiar ; something she remembered afar off, came back to her, as she looked upon it ; something lost and vaguely regretted ; but what, or when known, she could not tell — the attempt was like groping through a dream. " Is that the man Ross you were speaking of ? " Mrs. Lambert's voice was low and forced. The lace which she grasped shook in her hand so violently, that Lucy Spicer must have seen it, if she had not been crouching on the floor, and watching the two people through the lower sash. As it was, she only answered, " Yes, that's the man ! Splendid, isn't he ? but old enough to be her father, though. Oh, I hope she'll catch him, if it's only to spite I von ! for he treats me shamefully; indeed he does. If I could only give myself time, I'm sure it would break my heart, the way he goes on." Mrs. Lambert heard nothing of this. She was only con- scious of a quick, darting pain, which settled down into leaden heaviness, through which she could hardly breathe. Those two people went slowly out of sight, the lace dropped from her hand and fluttered down, softly, as snow-flakes fall, under the warm amber of the curtains. In this rich twi- light the woman hid her pallor, and the red flush about her eyes, from the curious girl, who still sat watching on the carpet, and went back to her couch, hearing the clatter of that ceaseless tongue as men listen to a far-off wind. " Mrs. Lambert, now remember, you saw this girl flirting like wild-fire with a man she never saw before half a dozen times in her life; that's certain, for I've taken pains to find out all about him. There never was so great an artist born as he has been. Gets thousands and thousands for a picture ; so that he don't trouble himself to paint for com- mon people. Besides all that, he's the only brother that 154 THE REIGNING BELLE. rich Mrs. Carter has got; and her husband says he don't want a better heir to his property ; so he'll be an awful catch, everyway ; quite too good for that creature. If it wasn't for getting into a scrape with Iron, I'd cut in there. I have a mind to do it now. It would serve Ivon right for daring to walk with her and own it to my face. Couldn't even take the trouble to cheat me with a fib. I hope you'll give it to him, Mrs. Lambert ; he don't care a cent for what I say. "Won't you, now?" Here the young heiress gathered her plump little person from the carpet, and knelt down by the prostrate woman, who lay with her face turned to the cushions, which her hands grasped nervously. " You will talk with him, Mrs. Lambert, alone, and ear- nestly." "Talk with him! No, that can never be again!" cried the woman, in her passionate grief, lifting herself from the couch. "Why should we two be alone? 1 am nothing to him. That day has gone with my youth and beauty; these it was that he loved. How much of them is left?" The unhappy lady threw out her arms, as if appealing to her own image. In a great mirror opposite her couch, the pale, anxious, disturbed shadow of a woman flung out her arms also, as if repelling her appeal. Miss Spicer was astonished ; she had been speaking of young Lambert, and found this burst of feeling incompre- hensible. " Now I'm sure you are mistaken," she said. u Men don't care a bit about their mother's beauty, and can't, in reason, expect them to be young. I'm sure Ivon loves you a great deal better than most sons love their own parents. So do think of it, and give him a good talking to; for one thing is certain, I'm not going to take up with a shop-girl's leavings." In a confused, weary way, Mrs. Lambert comprehended BITTER JEALOUSY. 155 that the girl was speaking of her own affairs, and had no idea of the anguish which had made her so reckless of ex- posure. She seldom lost her proud self-possession so thor- oughly, and made a strong effort to recover herself before that sharp girl could observe how disproportioned her agi- tation was to the ostensible subject in question. "Excuse me, Lucy, my head is aching fearfully." "Poor dear! 1 know how to pity you; only mine is the heart, which your eruel son is just breaking," answered Miss Spicer, pressing both hands to her right side, just where the organ she spoke of was not, and shaking her head woefully. This attempt at the sentimental did more toward restor- ing Mrs. Lambert's composure than any amount of reason- ing could have done. A keen sense of ridicule broke up the tumult of feeling that had almost prostrated her, and ; spite of it all, she smiled. "How am I expected to help you, Lucy?" she said, with something of her usual sweet manner. "Why, Mrs. Lambert, I have just been telling you." "But that was while my head ached so badly." " Well, if people won't listen, it's of no use to ask advice ; but, if I must say it all over again, I want you, in short, to give that son of j^ours a good, hard scolding." " I never scold," answered Mrs. Lambert, with a grave smile, for there was trouble at her heart yet, not the less keen because pride held it in abeyance. " Well, then, stop giving him money." " Oh ! but I rather think he would like that, Lucy." " Like it ! Like it ! No he wouldn't ! " "I don't know; he's getting restless, of late." "Ever since he saw this girl — I wish that shawl had been in the bottom of the Red Sea ! Oh ! if I had her with- in reach of my cane-parasol for ten minutes ! Did you ever see such a great, tall thing as she is ? Sweeps along like 156 THE REIGNING BELLE. a peacock. Oh, mercy ! There he is coming! Don't tell him that I've been here. I'll run down the back stairs, and out through the garden ! " CHAPTER XXXII. DRESSING FOR THE PARTY. Eva Laurence was dressing for her first party, and the very anticipation of its delights gave resplendence to the wonderful beauty of her face. She was young, ambitious, and rich in that vivid talent which doubles enjoyment and gives a keener edge to pain than ordinary natures ever endure. Ruth was sitting up, among the cushions of her couch, looking bright and happy as an angel. Her soft eyes were full of serene love-light ; a faint color came and wfent in her cheeks; and little quiver3 of delight stirred her fingers, as she smoothed the drifts of snow-white tarlatan that draped her sister's slender person. " Oh, bow beautiful it is ! How soft and white ! You look like a bride, Eva ! " " Or a ghost ! " muttered Mrs. Laurence, in a troubled undertone. " The ghost of a child we have sheltered and loved, but who will belong to others when we want her most." "What are you saying, mother?" cried Eva, who was stooping forward to look at herself in a little mirror between the windows, which just took in the outlines of her splendid neck and shoulders. " Something about my dress that you don't like, I suppose. It was extravagant spending so much mone} r ; but you must scold Ruth. She would do it, wouldn't you, Ruthy, dear ? " DRESSING FOR THE PARTY. 157 " Oh, yes ! mother must scold me ! but she won't do it, in earnest. I'm not afraid, Didn't she work like a regular seamstress, to help finish the dress; and isn't it beautiful? All it wants is a little warm color." "It wants nothing in the world," said Eva, passing both hands over the dark braids of hair that fell in rich loops down her neck, making its whiteness like the leaves of a magnolia flower. " I never was dressed so well in my life, and, perhaps, never shall be again, who knows?" "I know," answered Ruth. " These fashionable people adore good looks ; and, oh ! sister Eva, how beautiful you are ! Come down here, and let me kiss you. How warm and red your cheeks are ; it is like feeling a peach at one's lips. How I would love to paint you just this way, only a little color in the dress. I insist on that for the picture ; it costs nothing, you know." " Come in," Mrs. Laurence called, a little sharply, for she was ill at ease that evening, and even a knock at the door annoyed her. It was only little Jimmy, who peeped through the door, after knocking, to make sure that even his presence might not create some confusion while that momentous toilet was in progress. He carried a mass of loose roses in his arms, white, golden-tinted, and red, some half open, some in full bloom, and others folded buds, clasped in with moss. No wonder Ruth uttered a glad crj-, and clapped her deli- cate hands, gleeful as a child who suddenly finds its wishes gratified. No wonder Eva sprang forward, and put a hand on either side the boy's face, and kissed him, rapturously, over and over again. "You darling! You boy of boys! Where did you got them ? " she cried. " Oh ! how could I be so careless ? " In her eagerness, she had swept half the flowers from Jimmy's arms, and they lay at her feet, sending up odors that filled the little room. She stooped to gather them up, still questioning him. 158 THE REIGNING BELLE. "Where did they come from, so fresh, and such long stems? There is one on your train ; it seems to be buried in snow — such a lovely color/' cried Ruth, fairly trembling with delight. '"Now I will make the dress perfect." "Where did I get them?" answered James, emptying his fragrant burden on Ruthy's couch, and kneeling "down to gather up the portion scattered around Eva. " It's a pretty way to find out, smothering a fellow with kisses, and asking him to talk. Well, if you want to know, a friend of mine gave them to me." "A friend? Oh, James!" "Yes, I say it again — a friend. You have seen him, Eva, through an iron fence ; gray hair ; legs like broom- sticks. Does it strike you ? " " What, that old man ? No ! " " I tell you, yes ! He was watching for me by the gate. I'd been leaving some groceries in the basement, you know, and took a peep through the railing. Always do. The gate opened softly, and his queer old face looked through. 1 Come in ! ' says he. ' Have you got a basket ? ' "'No/ says I. ' The cook hadn't time to empty it.' " • Well, come along ; I want to send something to that pretty sister of yours/ says he. " I went in, so astonished, that I was steering through the middle of a flower-bed, when he called out, ' This way !' and went on among a whole heap of bushes, just as full of roses as they could hold. Here he took out a great jack-knife, and cut away like fun, giving the flowers to me till my arms were full, and their breath made me long to dance. " < Take them to the young lady/ says he, ' and say it wasn't just old Storms that sent 'em, but some one else that ' " " Oh, James ! did he say that ? " ABOUT THE ROSES AND VIOLETS. 159 "Of course he did, and more yet; but I'll tell you that when we are all alone. It's sort of private." Here the boy made signs, and whispered mysteriously, glancing at his mother, who was retreating to the kitchen with a cloud of unusual darkness on her face. She saw in all these excitements only signs of disaster and separation. i »« ■ i CHAPTER XXXIII. ABOUT THE ROSES AXD VIOLETS. Now we are by ourselves, girls," said James, "I'll tell you all about it. There was some one else in the garden." " Some one else ! " exclaimed Ruth. Eva, blushing vividly over face and bosom, began to ar- range the folds of her dress with great earnestness, but said nothing. " You know who it was, Eva," said James, with a sly glance. " I've seen you walking with him." " No, no, James ! only as he was coming the same way. Don't believe it, Ruth. I never did more than that," cried Eva, eager to defend herself, yet trembling with a sense of shame. " Who said you did ? Oh, Eva ! Eva ! I've found out something. It wasn't old Storms that gave you this, any- how ! " Here James held up a little cluster of sweet-scented violets and sprigs of heliotrope, gathered around a moss rose-bud. "He picked this, Eva, with his own hands. I wish you could have seen what a fuss he made in putting them to- gether. Old Storms offered to help him, but he said, no ! he would do that himself. Then he said, ' Give this to 1G0 THE REIGNING BELLE. your sister ; I know that she is going out to-night, and shall be honored — that's the word, Eva — honored if she will wear it.' " Eva took the tiny bouquet and held it, irresolute, casting a shy glance at her sister, who looked gravely, almost re- proachfully at her. James, who was watching them both, broke forth in his boyish impatience. " There, now, Kuth, don't be an old maid, and spoil all her fun. She hasn't done anything, I tell you. Not one quar- ter as much as all them Fifth Avenue girls are doing every hour of their lives. Now what are you pouting for?" Kuth smiled again. A sudden doubt had haunted her for a moment, but it passed from her innocent mind like dew from a h\y, and all was bright again. "Who is he, Eva?" she said, reaching out her hand. "A gentleman, Ruth, if ever one lived. He has been at the store several times, and Mr. Harold introduced him. They went to school together, and — and that is all. Only his name is Lambert — Ivon Lambert." " His mother is as proud as if she were governor of North America; but he isn't — not a bit of it," broke in James. "The way he talks to me is quite friendly. That fellow, Boyce, now, would never condescend to it, knowing that I 'tend that baby sometimes; just as if he and his red hair was anything particular. If Mr. Lambert had not been a thorough gentleman, I wouldn't have brought his flowers, anyway. You ought to have known that, Kuth." " As if I did not know it," answered the sweet invalid, penitent and ashamed of the momentary cloud that had come over her. " Eva, dear, let us begin again." Kuth gathered up the flowers in her lap, and began to arrange them in glowing clusters, with which she looped back the over-dress. "Now just a dash of this warm crimson for your hair, ABOUT THE ROSES AND VIOLETS. 161 and nothing can be more lovely," she exclaimed, pulling Eva down to her knees, and fastening a red rose and some of the mossiest buds among her braids. When Eva arose from her knees she held the little clus- ter of violets in her hand. Looking wistfully down upon the blossoms, she unconsciously took a position, which filled Ruth with the enthusiasm of an artist. " Oh, if I could paint her now ! " she thought. "Would there be any harm?" questioned Eva, in a low voice, turning her eyes wistfully from the flowers to Ruth's glowing face. " I — I suppose be would rather expect it. Don't you ? " Kuth smiled, and held out her hand for the flowers, but Eva pretended not to see her. Even to that gentle hand she would not, for one moment, consign the precious blossoms. So, with a gentle wile of abstraction, she placed the flowers on her bosom, which rose and swelled to their almost imperceptible touch, as waters bear lotus-flowers on their waves. "Now, isn't she stunning?" exclaimed James, moving in a circle, and on tiptoe, around the room, afraid of touch- ing the snow-white train with his foot. "That Miss Spicer, who goes down the avenue to meet him, every day at three o'clock, will be nowhere. In fact, I don't believe there'll be a handsomer girl at the party to-night. She's A No. 1, and a picked article at that. Hallo! Who's coming?" James heard the outer door open, without a knock, and a heavy rustle of silk in the passage. Eva gathered up her dress, and sat down on Ruth's couch, ashamed of her own beauty, and wondering who the intruder could be. Ruth smiled, and said, " I dare say it is. Mrs. Smith." So it was, that good woman in all her glory. She pushed the door wide open; for, with a huge panier added to her own generous proportions, the skirt of her dress turned 10 162 THE REIGNING BELLE. upward, and thrown over her shoulders, that open space seemed scarcely sufficient to admit her. " Just run down to give you a look at my dress hefore the carriage comes," she exclaimed, flinging an avalanche of red moire antique down from her shoulders, and spreading it along the humble carpet with the pride of a peacock. " What do you think of that, now ? Seven dollars a yard, and twenty-five yards, besides trimming. Going it, rather, for a corner groceryman's wife, isn't it ? But when an old friend asks you, a'most with tears in her eyes, to be at her first party, one can't refuse to do the thing up brown, which I think Smith and I have done it. Low in the neck, you see, and Marier Antoinet sleeves to say nothing of white kid-boots, with heels like that ! " Here Mrs. Smith lifted her dress and brought to view a high-heeled boot, strained till the buttons threatened to fly off, over a large, dumpty foot, looked exceedingly like an apple-dumpling prepared for cooking. " There, now, girls, just take a survey of me all round, and give us your opinion; but first, Eva, let me have an observation. All in white, and looking like one of them great swans in the Park; not bad ! Though I should like something a little more stylish. You are going as my friend, and I'm anxious about your looking first-rate. Still, it's my candid opinion that you'll do. Step out here, and let us see how your dress falls. Gracious me, what a train ! Longer than mine, I do believe; streaming out like a white banner. Yes, I say it again; j'ou'll do, Eva! Now just manage a thing or two for me. I couldn't trust Kate Gorman to put on my head-dress, and brought it along. Stylish, isn't it?" Mrs. Smith drew a paper from her pocket, and unfolded a yellow feather, long enough to take in her head at one sweep, which she held up triumphantly. " See how it curls and quivers ; something like a feather, ABOUT THE ROSES AND VIOLETS. 163 that ! Now, I want you to put it on, like a queen wears her crown, over the forehead, round one side, and streaming out behind ! " Eva and Ruth changed glances of dismay. Both hesitated to wound the kind woman's vanity, but felt that silence would be cruel. ' " I would not wear anything on' mj head, Mrs. Smith ; you have such fine hair, it seems a pity to conceal it," said Ruth. " Let me do some braids, and change it a little. Then you can have nothing more becoming." "But I bought the feather a purpose," answered Mrs. Smith, eyeing her purchase with rueful regret; "and it is such a splendid one, with a contrast to it. That was what the milliner observed when I told her the color of my dress." " Still I would not wear it this evening. Eva sees a great many stylish people, you know, and can tell you that feathers like that are not in the fashion for evening-dress, just now." " Oh, if she says it, I'll give in ! " " Then let me change your hair at once. Sit down by me. What quantities of hair, and how long!" Deftly, and with fingers that seemed to fly through the long tresses of hair, Ruth soon crowned the head of her friend with a matronly coronal of braids, and made some other alterations in her dress, which were submitted to with inward protest. Just as the last touches were given, a carriage drove up, and some one rang the door-bell. Mrs. Smith sprang to her feet, drew up the skirt of her dress, and ran into the kitchen, protesting that she would not see a stranger for the world. As her dress swept with a rushing and voluminous rustle through one door, Mr. Ross came through the other. 164 THE REIGNING BELLE. CHAPTER XXXIV. MRS. CARTER BECOMES FASHIONABLE. Mrs. Carter's party had been the grand sensation of a week. Fashionable circles were profoundly agitated by the great social question it evolved. The word ''shoddy" became inelegantly common in ladies' conversation. Fas- tidiously exclusive^, people, whose fathers had raised cab- bages, sold milk, and fattened pigs on land that time, rather than ability, had paved inches deep with gold, smiled signifi- cantly, or answered with delicate reserve, when asked if they would be at the Carters'. In fact, superfine jests and aristocratic sneers were the order of the day, until Miss Spicer made a round of calls through all the windings and ramifications of uppertendom, when a marvellous change was produced. "Of course," the young lady said, "Mrs. Lambert was going, and openly expressed herself as highly pleased with the invitation. Why not ? Mrs. Carter was enormously wealthy. Shoddy, indeed ! What of that? After a great civil war, society, like States, must be reconstructed." Mrs. Lambert and herself had settled on that, and nothing could move them ; the thing must be done in the most liberal manner. The aristocracy of wealth had no right to exclude a lady like Mrs. Carter; as for the smaller and more exalted circle of genius, the lady's brother, Mr. Ross, stood high among the highest there — so the family had a double claim to consideration. At any rate, Miss Spicer went on to say Mrs. Lambert had accepted, and ordered one of the love- liest dresses for the occasion. In fact — though it was not a thing to talk about — some of her diamonds were being re- set at Ball & Black's. For years Miss Spicer had not seen Mrs. Lambert enter into the spirit of a grand toilet with MRS. CARTER FASHIONABLE. 165 such zest. She was anxious as a girl of sixteen about it. When a royal prince was here she had not cared half so much; but then Mrs. Lambert always did adore genius; and Mrs. Carter's brother was something really distinguish- ed in that line — painted like an angel, and in conversation was perfectly splendid. It was wonderful how much effect these repeated conver- sations of Miss Spicer had upon the great social mind of the metropolis. The diverging current turned at once in favor of the Carters. Those who had openly called the lady vulgar, now found her remarkably stylish — not hand- some, but queenly and imposing; so generous, too. If she was a little showy and all that, it was because a rich, natu- ral taste was likely to develop itself gorgeously when plenty of money was at hand. Her party would be something perfectly magnificent. Her orders for flowers had exhausted every greenhouse for miles around, and the supper would be marvelous. It was said that an artiste had come out from Paris to preside over its preparation. All this came from Miss Spicer, who entered into the subject with spirit and imagination enough to have given sensation for a first-class novel. So Mrs. Lambert, sitting still in her shaded boudoir, regulated society as she had done for years, without apparent effort; in fact, caring very little about it, except on this especial occasion, when she felt a nervous satisfaction in being the unknown fairy who turned the whole fashionable world into Mrs. Carter's saloons. The night came at last, and Mrs. Laurence's humble parlor was not the only one in which anxious and beautiful women were adorning themselves before their mirrors, though it was doubtful if one so small as that hanging be- tween those parlor windows was consulted during the even- ing; or if the loftiest and broadest gave back a figure of more perfect loveliness. 166 THE REIGNING BELLE. Mrs. Lambert stood in her dressing-room, radiaut with jewels, pallid with nervous excitement. She was still a beautiful woman ; her mirror reflected that and more, it revealed the faint shiver of her hands, the anxious fire in her eyes, the swell and contraction of her white throat, under its diamond necklace. Ellen, her maid, had never seen her so strangely restless before; she turned her eyes imploringly on the girl, and besought her to say honestly if she looked so old as nine-and-thirty. The maid clasped her hands. "Indeed, indeed, Mrs. Lambert, you do not look it by ten years." The proud woman smiled, and touched the girl's shoulder caressingly, for the first time in her life. "Look again, Ellen; can you see no lines on my fore- head, no contraction here at my throat?" "Nothing of the kind; if they were there, I should, the diamonds light them up so." " And my hair. Ah ! Ellen, I see threads of white." "That is because you are looking for them; besides, your hair is so glossy and black, the least thing shows. A dust of powder, now ? " " No, no, no ! He detests You ought to remember that I detest powder. Take the jewels out of my hair, they kindle up every defect. My dress, too, looks presump- tuously youthful." " Youthful, why not ? There will be no young lady at the party half so beautiful. Besides, this shade of mauve is neither old nor young, so delicate and rich ; just a glimpse of blue, with a faint blush of roses breaking out, as the dress-maker said, when it came home, 'something for point lace flounces to tell upon,' says she, 'satin thick as a board, sweeping so majestic, with the lace floating over like — like mist.' That is what she said, but then, of course, you know best, ma'am — nobody ever had so much taste." MR 3. CARTER FASHIONABLE. 167 Mrs. Lambert was not listening, but unclasped her brace- lets, and took off her necklace with an air of disgust. '• One would think I intended to dazzle the crowd," she muttered, "as if such things could do it." •• Oh, madam ! you are spoiling everything." Mrs. Lambert looked at herself drearily in the glass, her dress had lost it brilliancy — she seemed growing older. •• Put them on, again," she said, holding out her white arms, as if the glittering jewelry held by her maid were manacles of iron. " Xothing seems to become me, to-night." '•Indeed, madam, I never saw you look so lovely ; no girl ever had an air like tha:." This professional flattery was received by the lady with a quick feeling of interest. She longed to believe the girl ; longed to think that much of the freshness and dew of her youth remained. '•'Ellen," she said, with an appeal for trath in her words, and a piteous shrinking from it in her eyes, '•' no one will look on me with your partial eyes ; suppose you had not seen me since I was — well, since I was married to Mr. Lam- bert, you remember that, just a chasm of so many years to leap over, would you find me so little changed then ? " '• Indeed, ma'am, and I would ! " The girl spoke honestly; flattery had become second nature to her. and she believed every word of it. Mrs. Lambert drew a soft, deep breath ; she had lost faith in her own judgment, and it was pleasant to have her doubts swept away, even by the opinion of a menial. She drew on her gloves, and took up her fan, with a bouquet of tea-roses that old Storms had sent up. "Madam, are you ready .' " u Yes, I von." The young man stepped into the room with an exclama- tion of surprise at his step-mother's beauty. The admira- tion was genuine ; Mrs. Lambert's eyes kindled under it, and a warm blush swept across her face. 168 THE REIGNING BELLE. "It is because you love me, Ivon." "No, it is because I cannot help thinking you the loveli- est woman in society. I never saw but one " The young man broke off, blushing more vividly than his mother had done. "Well, that one, Ivon?" said the lady, with shadows gathering upon her face. " Surely, you cannot mean — " "But I do, mother; to me there is only one other — but we will not speak of her. The carriage is waiting." Mrs. Lambert allowed Ellen to wrap her in a soft, white opera cloak, and bent her head for a cloud of zephyr worsted, that fell as light as snow upon it. At another time, she might have felt angry with Ivon for his mention of a girl she repudiated. But now she was self-occupied, and scarcely heeded it; so, wrapping the snow-white mantle around her, she descended to the carriage, with a feeling of anxiety which had not possessed her for years. CHAPTER XXXV. A STRANGE PROPOSAL. An hour before Mrs. Lambert commenced her toilet, Mrs. Carter entered her own private sitting-room in full dress, ready for her duties as a hostess. Her brother had sent up word that he wished to speak with her before the guests began to arrive, and she was waiting for him with some impatience, for the grand epoch was drawing nigh, and she was rather anxious about the state of affairs below. She was fanning herself with vigor, wondering in her heart what Ross could have to say, when the artist came in. Then all the good woman's impatience vanished, and she came forward to meet him with her usual genial warmth. A. STRANGE PROPOSAL. 169 "Now, what is it you want to say, Ross ? Of course, whatever it is, I am ready to do it ; but we must talk fast, or there's no knowing what will go on down stairs." " Let your people take care of that, sister, they will know what is proper," said Ross, smiling kindly upon the good woman, who laughed in return. " You see I did not wear them after all ; just a little cluster here, to gather in the black lace — that don't amount to anything, you know." Here Mrs. Carter glanced down at her silver-grey satin and soft black lace with something like a sigh. It was not at all the toilet she had decided on, but Ross, with suggestive insinuations, had toned down the superb conglomeration of lace, satin and jewels, into this rich, matronly dress, which really made Mrs. Carter look almost aristocratic. "Nothing could be more becoming," said Ross, in reply to her half-reproachful glance, " I am so pleased that you preferred to wear the lace I brought you. As for the brooch, it is just enough." " Well, dear, if you think so ; Carter rather wanted me to flare out a little more, but, of course, you know best. Now, what is it you want to talk about ? Sit down here, and let us take it comfortable." Ross seated himself upon the couch from which Mrs. Car- ter swept back her garments to make room for him. " Sister," he said, with a faint quiver in his voice, " I have been thinking that you and I would be much happier in this great house, if we had some young person to enliven it." Mrs. Carter drew back in her seat, and lifted both hands. " Herman Ross, does this mean that you want to marry a young wife ? " Ross smiled and shook his head. " No, sister, I have no thought of marrying any one ; but I do think of adopting a girl, and want you to help me." 170 THE REIGNING BELLE. " Adopting a girl ? Why, Ross, that is just what I have been thinking of myself — a pretty, little, curly-headed child, like one that's in her grave. Of course, I'll help you ; more than that, I'll do it for you — she shall be mine and Carter's heiress." "I was thinking of one who shall be my heiress," said Ross, gently. " I cannot give her millions, but there will be enough for us both." " Thinking of one — why, who can it be, Ross ? I had no idea of your taking a fancy to any child." "Nor have I, this is a young lady." "You? You, Ross? A young lady?" " Yes, I will adopt her ; all that I have or may have, shall, in the end, be hers. What I want of you, sister, is moth- erly protection for the girl. You will not refuse her a home ? " " Refuse her ! "When did I refuse you anything? But a girl — a young lady — I don't understand. Is it any one I know ? " " You have seen her. You remember the young lady who helped select your shawl — Miss Eva Laurence ? " " That splendid creature ! You adopt her ? " Yes, I will adopt her ; in fact, you must do it for me if possible." " And she is to live here ? " " That is what I desire." " As my daughter ? " " Would you be ashamed of her ? " " Ashamed ? Why you and I can make her like a princess. She can go out with me in the carriage, write my letters, make calls. She shall have a maid of her own — shopping money without end." " There, there, sister, your heart is running away with you. We must be kind to the girl without spoiling her. Sim is a sweet, modest young creature, rich in feeling and bright as a flower. Lot us keep her so.'' THE WAY SHE MANAGED HIM. 171 " Of course — of course ! Carter will be delighted. He does so like a pretty face, and hers is lovely." " But he may not consent? " " He ? Of course he will ! All she's got to do with Car- ter is to have his slippers ready, and read the newspaper for him, now and theu ; for, between you and me, Carter is not much of a reader, on his own hook. Oh, he's sure to like it ! " Ross leaned forward and kissed the flushed cheeks, which had become rosier and rosier, with the warmth of a gener- ous nature. " Then we will consider it settled," he said. " I mentioned it just now, because this evening will be an excellent time for introducing her as a friend of the family. That was a part of my idea, when I asked you to invite her." "This evening? Well, why not, she can help me receive. It will be splendid. I only hope she will be dressed properly —that is, like the heiress we intend her to be." " We need not doubt that — now I will go for her." "And I'll just step down and have a talk with Carter about it." i »»— > CHAPTER XXXVI. THE WAY SHE MANAGED HIM. Ross and his sister parted ; she went into her husband's room, and found him in the agony of putting on a new dress coat, rather too small, and which fitted him like a straight jacket. "Mrs. Carter — Mrs. Carter, just come and give this skirt a pull, won't you? I feel as if corked up in a junk-bottle. Confound all your parties, and everything else that takes a fellow out of his frock-coat ! " 172 THE REIGNING BELLE. "Why, Carter, dear, it's a lovely fit. Of course you must expect to be tightened up a little at such a time. Only look at me, would you ever have believed my waist could have been brought down to that, yet I don't complain. There are things, Carter, for which we must suffer.*' Carter wiped his red face with a towel, there being nothing else convenient, at which his wife cried out, "Why, Carter!" and ran to a drawer, from which she brought a handkerchief of the finest linen, with an embroidered mon- ogram in the corner. Over this she dashed a liberal quan- tity of perfume from a scent-bottle, which she shook as if it had been a pepper-box. Then she brought out a point lace barb, parted over a white, silk cravat, which she tied around his stout, red neck, leaving a kiss on his cheek when it was arranged to suit her. All this had its effect. In spite of his coat, Carter soft- ened and became amiable. His hair had been nicely curled at the ends, a thing he had submitted to for the first time in his life, but, on the whole, rather liked. The diamond studs in his bosom glittered like fire-flies, and his watch- chain coiled down his white vest like a golden serpent hiding its head in his pocket. "Now, my dear," said Mrs. Carter, "just stand back and let me look at you." " Well, Mrs. Carter, what have you got to say about it?" Here Mr. Carter put a thumb into each armhole of his white vest, and posed himself superbly. Mrs. Carter took a general observation, drew nearer, smoothed the sleeves of his coat with her plump hand, and observed that better-looking men might be found in the great city of New York, but she had never set eyes on them. At which Carter, being a little doubtful of himself, blushed rosily, and attempted a dancing step, which proved an ignominious failure, his boots being as tight as his coat. "My dear," said Mrs. Carter, busying her hands with THE WAY SHE MANAGED HIM. 173 the neck-tie again. "Do you know I've been thinking of a pleasant surprise for you — a very pleasant surprise?" "Indeed, Mrs. Carter, you have given me one in this party, which I shan't get over in six months. What is it to be this time ? " "A daughter — a full-grown, lovely daughter. What do you think of that?" "A full-grown, lovely daughter, Mrs. Carter? Well, I think you are in want of a straight jacket more than I am, and, after the party, this coat shall be made over to you." " But I am in earnest, husband ! " " So am I, wife, so much in earnest that I shouldn't mind giving up the coat now." "We have often talked of adopting a little girl since you know when." "A flush came around Carter's eyes — he turned away from his wife. " It would be a trouble to bring one up, you know, dear. Now supposiug that done, and a girl came naturally into the family about the age she might have been, wouldn't you rather like it?" " I haven't thought about it, wife, have you ?" "Yes, Carter, and you'll see this girl to-night. I've given you the idea, when )*ou've seen her, just say if she wont be like a sunbeam in the house?" "Like a what?" exclaimed Mr. Carter. Mrs. Carter blushed and fanned herself nervously. "It isn't my idea, Carter; I found it in a magazine story, and remembered it because it was so original." "Let that go. If the girl was like a sunbeam, she'd never get into our house, for fear of spoiling the, carpets. You'd be the first to shut her out, old woman !" " Old woman ! I don't like that, Carter. Look at me with your own eyes, from head to foot, and say if you are not ashamed of yourself?" 174 THE REIGNING BELLE. " Look at you ? Well, I'm a doing it ; but what on earth have you done with all them things from Ball & Black's ? So far, I haven't seen nothing but the bills. I thought you wanted to cut a shine with them to-night." "Well, so I did, but Ross thought I'd better not. You know, Carter, that beauty unadorned looks belter than over- loading." "Oh!" said Carter, "at the magazines again." "Ross thinks so, at any rate, so I made myself simple but elegant. Don't you think so?" " Well, 1 don't know about that, Rebecca, but you're an all-fired good-looking woman, any how!" "Oh, Mr. Carter! all-fired, and just as people are com- ing." " But it's only between ourselves, Beccy." "But you might- " " No, I mightn't. What is it, Jacob ? " " Mr. Ross has come, sir, with the young lady, and wants to know if he shall bring her up." "Yes," answered Carter, after a moment's hesitation, during which he was fitting on a cream-colored glove, with all his might. " Take her into Mrs. Carter's bouder. We'll be there in no time." Jacob went out, and his master tugged away at the second glove, which refused to meet at the wrist. "Mrs. Carter, will you give a little attention? This confounded button." " Yes, my dear, I know what it is, having suffered. There." The glove was closed so tightly that Carter's wrist began to swell above it, but the spirit of martyrdom was upon him, and he marched out of his room without a word of com- plaint, resolving to perform his social duties to the utter- most. Eva Lauronrp was standing near the window of that A GLIMPSE OF FAIRY LAND. 1(0 sumptuous little room. Her eyes had jnst fallen on Ruthy's pictures, framed in an exquisite net-work of gold, and the pleasant surprise brightened her face with a smile that made Carter hold his breath. " This is the young lady," said Mrs. Carter, going up to Eva with a cordial welcome in her face. "Miss Laurence, you have never seen my husband, but he has come to make your acquaintance." Eva turned and saw a rather stout and well-formed man coming toward her, with his hand extended. " Delighted to see you, Miss — make yourself at home, and welcome." Eva, grateful for the warmth of his greet- ing, laid her hand in his. " You are very kind," she said, modestly ; " but Mr. Ross told me I could expect nothing that was not pleasant here." " Mr. Ross shall promise nothing for us that we will not perform," answered the host, blandly. " My dear, that is a carriage — give me your arm. Ross, take care of Miss Eva. Dear me, there is a party going up to the dressing-room. What if we meet them! — oh, the back stairs. They are a little dark, but I'll go first. Car- ter, take care of my train. Ah, this is something like ! " CHAPTER XXXVII. A GLIMPSE OF FAIRY LAND. Uo wonder Mrs. Carter gave voice to her admiration. While she was in her dressing-room, chandeliers and wax- lights enough to turn night into noonday, had been kindled down the vista of three splendid rooms, separated from each other only by rich, flowing draperies of silk and lace, vary- 176 THE IBieVIIfl BELLE. ing and yet harmonious in their colors, as tints melt into each other on a sunset cloud. In the far distance came the soft glow of milky amber, stealing through transparent under-draperies, and throwing a warm tinge over the pale sea-green of the middfe room. Here all the frescoes were delicate and subdued. Flowers seemed to have cast their shadows on the ceiliugs ; the carpets were like snow, in which blossoms, in rich combina- tions, were sinking. There all was delicate, artistic and suggestive. Marble Floras, half the size of life, with one arm full of roses, held back the draperies which fell tent- like between the rooms. Adown the inner lace-folds, flowers were so arranged that they seemed floating in frosty air. At each window the same effect was produced. At one a crouching Venus half hid herself in the snow-fall of the curtains ; at another, some dancing-girl peeped roguishly out, as if looking for a partner. All this revealed by rainbows of light trembling down from the cut-glass chandeliers, formed a picture which fairly dazzled Eva Laurence, who stood in the crimson light of the back room, lost and wondering, herself, unconsciously, the most beautiful object present. Ross, whose genius had created all this, looked on her smiling. Xever had his rare gifts wrought out greater happiness to himself. It was like leading this young girl into a paradise of his own creation ; one, too, in which he resolved that she should remain all her life, if it so pleased her. Mrs. Carter gave one glance at the rooms, another to make sure that they were still unoccupied, and flung her arms about Ross, kissing him on both cheeks. "Let them search, let them say what they please, they'll find nothing like shoddy here," she said, triumphantly. Mrs. Carter was right i^ever was the union of wealth A GLIMPSE OF FAIRY LAND. 177 and genius more perfect in its work. The guests were taken by surprise. Those who came with covert sneers, forgot criticism in admiration. Everything was splendid, everything complete. A legion of fairies could have devised nothing more perfect. Xor was the effect diminished when the host and hostess took their places ; both were observant, subdued and careful. Many of their guests had become suddenly rich like themselves. The war, in its fearful levelizatiou, had given them plenty of company. If anything, Mrs. Carter was a little over zealous in her hospitality. She presented Eva Laurence sometimes more than once to the same guest. She was rather ostentatious of her brother, but people were prepared to like him and forgave that. The crowd grew denser and more brilliant as the evening wore on; diamonds shamed the light from the chandeliers; the glow of rich colors became almost oppressive. The crowd scattered itself across the broad hall and into the rooms beyond. In one there was dancing and such music as makes the blood leap and thrill in young veins. Another closed in the supper-tables, where servants were still at work like bees in a flower-garden. The hum of sweet voices, the chime of suppressed laughter, the flash of some witty reply gave zest and piquancy to the scene. At first Eva was half-frightened. She felt like a bird fluttering in a gilded cage. The scene was unlike anything she had ever witnessed, and her own share in it seemed like a fraud. More than once she was presented to the very persons who had commanded her services at the warerooms. Some of the lace floating around those superb dresses had passed through her hands. She felt keenly the look of surprise with which she was occasionally regarded, and wished herself at home. ""What can it mean?" "Is she a relative ? " "How 11 178 THE REIGNING BELLE. strange!" Eva heard these low-toned observations fre- quently ; her sensitive ear was keenly on the alert for them. She felt alone in that wilderness of people. CHAPTER XXXVIII. FIGHTING ANGUISH. Among the last of the guests was Mrs. Lambert, with Ivon and Miss Spicer. The lady had lost something of her usual graceful repose, and her eyes shone excitedly under the light of her clustering diamonds. Ross was speaking in a low voice to Eva when this lady came up to pay her respects to the hostess. An expression of tender interest was on his face, and the girl answered it with a grateful smile. The woman's heart stopped beating; a deadly faintness seized upon her. For a moment she went blind; voices greeted heron all sides; she could not move through a throng like that without pausing every moment to receive the homage of her satellites. But this evening she passed on, hearing nothing, seeing nothing but those two faces. Still the habit of societ} T was upon its queen. Her salu- tations had their usual grace, she spoke blandty to the hostess and the host, bent her head to Ross, and ignored Eva utterly. The girl blushed, and felt the pain of coming tears, for Ivon Lambert was with his mother. Would he too repudi- ate her. No, the young man bent before her as if she had been a princess, and would have spoken, but Mrs. Lambert, who hancd on his arm, turned abruptly away. He felt the shiver that ran through her frame, and saw the diamonds FIGHTING ANGUISH. 179 on her bosom heave and fall, as if she panted for breath. Others noticed how pale she was, and detected the delicate shade of rouge, thrown into relief by that pallor — a thing they had never dreamed of before. I von led the lady to a sofa, around which her friends thronged, full of anxious inquiries, each concealing a com- pliment. "It was nothing," the lady said, her foot had slipped in getting out of the carriage, and gave her pain for a moment. That was all. This really seemed to be true. The lady had a strong will and indomitable pride. The blood came back to her face fresh and vivid, her eyes grew bright as stars. She, who seldom went beyond a smile, laughed now a low, sweet laugh, that penetrated the crowd with- an under cadence that thrilled it. No young girl ever felt the storm of jeal- ousy like that. The maturity of passion was there, break- ing through all power of concealment. The crowd did not care to search for the cause of this brilliant animation, or some one there might have read that proud heart, in all its fire and pain, and she could not have helped it. As it was, her lips had never been so eloquent, her figure so gracefully impressive. The circle around her was lost in admiration. Miss Spicer seized upon young Lambert in her usual abrupt fashion. "Come!" she said, "madame has no need of us, she has become a fixed star, and I'm tired to death of revolving. Mrs. Carter has got to introduce me to the great genius. Everybody says he is so charming, so distinguished and inaccessible — none of the girls can get a smile from him; but I shall, you may bet high on that ! " Ivon suffered himself to be dragged back to the great drawing-room; for he hoped now to speak with Eva; but just as he reached the place where she had been standing. 180 THE REIGNING BELLE. Ross led her into the crowd. Miss Spicer saw her intended prey move off, and began to reproach Ivou. " There he goes ! and that creature on his arm ! I won- der if he wants a shawl tried on. Such innovations ! As if the Carters hadn't enough of a pull to get themselves into society, but they must attempt to empty Broadway of its shop-girls ! *' By this time Miss Spicer was near the hostess, whom she addressed with vigor. " Mrs. Carter, I have got such a quarrel with you. "When am I to be introduced to that brother of yours ? Can't you see that I'm half in love with him already; a dozen of us quarreling which shall be first — genius is so uncommon and so enticing. Is it true, Mrs. Carter, that you mean to give him lots of money? People say so; but that's of no con- sequence to such of us as can afford to do as we please — for genius, after all, isn't half so common as money. But when am I to be introduced ? " "Oh!" said Mrs. Carter, delighted. "If you had only come a minute sooner! He jutst went away with Miss Lau- rence." w Oh, yes ! I saw it. That shop-girl — I beg ten thousand pardons! but truth is truth — has carried him off! Now tell me, how did she happen to get here ? Lots of us girls are dying to know." Mrs. Carter drew herself up with some degree of dignity. "If you speak of Miss Laurence," she said, "her father was my brother's old friend." "An old friend? Why, he was nothing but a policeman. I have taken pains to inquire." " Still he was an honest and honorable man." " Every inch of him," said Carter, stoutly. " My roof covers no better man to-night." "As for the young lady," joined in Mrs. Carter, taking fresh courage, "she is likely to become nearer to us than a friend. Isn't that so, Mr. Carter?" MR. AND MRS. SMITH. 181 Carter hesitated a moment, feeling as if his wife had en- trapped him iuto a premature compliance with her wishes; but he spoke at last, resolutely enough. " Yes, Mrs. C, there is no harm in saying that, if Ross stands his chance for a share of my property, the young lady will enjoy it equally with him." Miss Spicer pursed up her lips till they almost emitted a whistle. " So, that's the way the wind blows," she said. "Wont it be fun to tell the girls ! " " Miss Spicer, we are keeping Mrs. Carter's guests from her," said Ivon, observing a couple fighting their way through the crowd. "Just like me, always in somebody's path ! " exclaimed the girl, drawing back, but still keeping near the hostess. tl Mercy on me ! who are those people ? Stupendous ! Do look ! " CHAPTER XXXIX. MR. AND MRS. SMITH. The two people were Mr. and Mrs. Smith, she in the glory and amplitude of her moire antique, with the yellow feather in her hair — an addition Kate Gorman had insisted on with spirit, declaring that no mistress of hers was to be put down by them Laurence girls while she was to the fore. So with her feather all afloat, and her dress sweeping out gorgeously, Mrs. Smith came up and dropped a voluminous curtsy before her old friend, who stooped down, like a queen, and, with both hands, lifted the grocer's wife out of the depths of her obeisance. Then Carter and Smith shook hands, and said, "How do you do?" with solemn gravity, while their wives dropped into conversation about the 182 THE REIGNING BELLE. children at home ; and Miss Spicer hovered near, taking venomous mental notes. "Oh, my! this is fun alive!" said the yonng lady. "I only wish your mother had been here to see that curtsy. "Wasn't it sublime ? I"ve seen girls making cheeses before this, but a grown woman, and stout at that, is excruciating! Do take me away, Ivon, or I shall do something dreadful ! n Young Lambert gladly led the girl back to his mother, who still occupied her place on the sofa, and had increased her circle of admirers. Miss Spicer took a vacant place by her friend, who was talking brilliantly. " Oh, Mrs. Lambert, do stop one minute, and hear what I've got to tell you,' ; whispered the young lady, impatient to impart her news. Mrs. Lambert turned from the gay throng around her and listened. u He is going to marry her ! '"' <•' He ? Who ? " The color left Mrs. Lambert's lips as she asked the ques- tion, and a cold shiver ran over her. ■• Who? Why Ross, the genius— Mrs. Carter's brother. He is going to marry that Laurence girl. Mrs. Carter told me so herself." " She told you so ? " The woman's voice was low and hoarse ; those who had listened to her a minute before would not have known it. •■Yes. and her husband repeated it; he is going to give them all his money in the end. Isn't it disgusting ! " " Did they tell you this '.' " "Indeed they did. He is with her now. I saw them : toward the dancing-room." Mrs. Lambert arose, took the arm of a gentleman nearest her. and moved toward the da: ere. She did not speak, could not, in fact, for a band seemed tightening about her throat. MR. AND MRS. SMITH. 183 Over the black-walnut floor, with its mosaic border of satin-wood circling the room a yard deep, a maze of dancers were whirling in and out, swaying gracefully to the music, as young trees bend to the wind. Among them was Ross and Eva Laurence, her hand was upon his shoulder, his arm circled her waist, yet scarcely touched it. He was still in the prime of manly beauty, and the girl was loveliness itself. She was dancing with all the spirit and grace of one to whom the exercise was a delightful novelty ; and he seemed to feel the glow of her happiness in every nerve of his body. When they rested, he stooped over her lovingly, and smiled as she lifted her eyes to his. If ever exquisite tenderness softened a human face, the woman who watched his so eagerly, s.aw it there. Oh ! how she hated that girl ! With what bitter despair she gazed on the man. A sort of fascination possessed Mrs. Lambert ; she linger- ed in the room, and seemed absorbed by a scene that had long since ceased to interest her; but her observation was fixed on one couple ; she saw every look, watched every motion with a strange gleam in her eyes, and an ominous compression of her lips. At last the music ceased, and Ross was leading his part- ner to a seat, when Ivon Lambert came up and claimed her. Then her face changed like a rose suddenly struck by the sunshine ; a delicate glow swept over it ; her eyes drooped when his hand touched her waist; she leaned toward him as a flower bends on its stalk. Mrs. Lambert saw this and drew a deep breath. "Youth," she whispered to herself, "turns to youth. I will not believe it." Mrs. Lambert turned and saw that Ross stood beside her. She drew her hand from the gentleman who had led her to the room, bent her head in dismissal, and touched Ross upon the arm. 184 THE REIGNING BELLE. Did he shrink, or was that a thrill of pleasure tnat fol- lowed her touch ? She would have given the world to know. Her hand grew bolder and laid itself on his arm. He yielded to its pressure, and moved away. In a wing of the mansion was a conservatory full of flowering plants, and lighted with lamps that swung to and fro among the flowers, like mammoth pearls all on fire. Towards this place Mrs. Lambert led her companion. « ■»»»—>- CHAPTER XL. OLD LOVERS. They stood under the shade of a tall drooping tree, star- red with soft, yellow blossoms, that rose out of a little jungle of tropical plants in one end of the conservatory. Around them was the soft glow of moonlight, literally shed from alabaster lamps. From the distance came subdued bursts of music, and close by a fountain sent its diamond drops through the neighbor- ing blossoms, and their bell-like tinkle souuded clear and sil- very as they fell upon the tesselated marble of the floor. Of all places on earth, this was the brightest for a meet- ing of lovers. But these two persons had grey hairs upon their temples, and a look of such unutterable pain in their faces that all this perfume, and the musical fall of water- drops, seemed but a mockery of something that had been. " You wished to speak with me," said Herman Ross in a low, sad voice. " I think we are alone here." " Yes, Herman ! " The man started. Something in the tone of Mrs. Lam- bert's voice, as she uttered the name, sent a pang through his whole system. Still he seemed calm, and his voice changed but little when he spoke again. OLD LOVERS. 185 " Is there anything you wish to tell me ?" Ross asked this question earnestly, and his eyes dwelt on the troubled face of the woman with almost imploring earn- estness. "Anything I wish to tell?" repeated the lady, with a startled look. "What could I have, that you do not already know ? I — I wished rather to ask a question ? " " Well, I am here and have nothing to conceal." <; Ah ! how coldly you speak, Herman! " " How else should I speak, Mrs. Lambert ? " " I do not know — I ought not to care ; but I do — I do ! " The woman spoke with anguish ; she did not weep, but there was something more thrilling than tears in her voice. " There was a time when I believed you," said Ross. " That was when I had a right to ask. Then you would have believed me against the world." " Yes, I would have believed you against the whole world." " But now " "Now I believe nothing, without proof." " But I will believe you, asking no better proof than your bare word." "In what?" The woman hesitated. In her first passion she had thought it an easy thing to question him ; but his chilling calm daunted her. " Herman, tell me, and, oh ! let it be truth ! Do you love that girl ? " The woman clasped her hands, and wrung them together as she spoke. Ross looked at her a moment in grave silence. " I suppose you mean Miss Laurence." " Yes, I mean her." " You ask if I love her ? " " Yes, yes ! Oh, tell me ! " 186 THE REIGNING BELLE. Ross paused a moment, but be did not remove bis eyes from the woman's face. n Will you never speak? " she cried, passionately. " You ask if I love this girl, and I answer. Is there any reason against it? " " You do ! You do ! And almost confess it to me ? " "To you, above all other persons, I deny any right to question me." "Right! I have no rights; only it would be merciful if you would set my mind at rest." "But I do not wish to answer." "Oh, God help me! This is hard!" cried the woman, looking wildly around, as if a power of help lay in the beautiful shrubs. "Is this conscience?" said Ross, bending bis eyes sternly upon her. " Conscience ! Conscience ! " "Madam, once for all, if you have anything to con- fess " " To confess ! " Mrs. Lambert's face was white as snow ; her lips grew cold, and her voice failed. "Confess, or confide. I am willing to use the softer term," answered Ross, touched, in spite of himself, by those contracted features. "But I have nothing to confess, or confide — nothing!" Ross turned away, bitterly disappointed. Something he had evidently hoped to learn from the lad}*, which she either did not understand, or purposely avoided. " I ask you a question, vital to us both, and you refuse to answer/' said the lady, still clasping her hands, where the jewels Bhone, and cut into the tender flesh unnoticed, in her agony of impatience. "First," Baid K">s, sternly, "I will ask you a question." '• Then, you will answer mine? Ask it! Ask it!" cried the lady. IVON AND EVA. 187 Eoss gave a glance around, as if fearing that they were not quite alone, then he took the woman's two hands in his, drew her, not unwillingly, toward him, and whispered a few words. She uttered a low cry, wrung her hands from his clasp, and stood mute and pale, gazing on him with a wild gleam in her eyes, that shone like madness. "Are you mad, or am I?" she exclaimed at last, press- ing both trembling hands on her bosom. " The time of madness for me has long since passed," said Eoss ; " but j 7 ou have not answered my question." "Answered your question! No, then! No, no! A thousand times no ! I — I " Here the lady fell to trembling violently ; for there was a look of unbelief in the man's face, that struck her to the heart, and he turned to leave her in silence. Then the old idea shot through her brain, and she approached him closer. " I have answered you. Now answer me. Do you love this girl, Eva Laurence ! " " yes ! " Eoss spoke in a low distinct voice, which scarcely rose above the fall of water-drops in the fountain ; but it seemed to fill the whole conservatory. The flowers, the water, and the moon-like lamps, had heard it with herself, and seeme'd to rejoice over it — triumph over her. The last hope went out from her heart then, and she believed herself to be dying. CHAPTEE XLL IVON AND EVA. A handsomer couple than I von Lambert and Eva Lau- rence never measured perfect happiness to music. Tall, graceful, thrilled with a glow of uuspokeu love, they fairly 188 THE REIGNING BELLE. floated through the ball-room, which was soon crowded with a circle of curious admirers. The beauty of this unknown girl had created a wide sensation among Mr. Carters guests — a sensation intensified by the hints and jeers flung out by Miss Spicer, who felt herself relieved of a rival, and, next to conquest, loved that species of piquant gossip that approaches a scandal. That young lady had been busy as a humming-bird, in a wild trumpet vine, circulating all that she knew of Era Laurence — her origin, her occupation, and her engagement to the greatest genius just then in fashion. All this time Eva, unconscious of the general interest, was dancing more than was proper for a betrothed young lady, with Ivon Lambert. Who was this girl? Was she really engaged? Had she, in fact, on her very first appearance, enthralled the two men most sought after in fashionable circles ? A shop-girl, with that air of grace and refinement? Impossible! That, at least, must be one of Miss Spicer's canards. Why, in every respect, this girl had all the qualifications of a Reigning Belle. m These were only a few of the whispered comments that went around the circle, as these young people moved harmoniously among the dancers, unconscious of the general attention bestowed upon them. In the pause of the dance, Ivon noticed the cluster of flowers that bloomed upon his partner's bosom. Eva blushed when she saw where his eyes were directed. "You accepted them," he said, with a smile, "without knowing how many wild thoughts were bound up with the blossoms. Had you dreamed of those thoughts, I fear my violets would not have rested on that bosom now."' Eva looked down at her flowers, that rose and fell suddenly, as if they had been cast on the snowy crest of a wave, then she lifted her e}'es to his — a single glance, and the white lids drooped again. I V N AND EVA. 189 Ivon smiled, and his ejes flashed. He required no better answer than that one look. His arm stole around her waist again. Now the thrill of assured sympathy lent them wings. ISTo two birds in mid heaven were ever more alone, or gave themselves up so entirely to the grace of motion. They seemed literallj- floating on the music. When the band stopped, Eva drew a deep, deep sigh — the abrupt silence dragged her out of heaven so suddenly. Earlier in the evening Ivon had seen the glow of flowers, amid softly-shaded lamps, in a vista, from the great draw- ing-room, and led Eva gently that way. As for the girl, the whole scene was fairy-land to her, and all places alike, while he was by her side. She was quite unconscious of the admiration, the gossip, and conjectures that followed her, as she was led through the crowd; equally unmindful of the vast social distance which lay between her position, and that of the young man whose attentions had drawn all eyes upon her. Adam never led Eve into a lovelier nook of Paradise, than the little world of flowers in which the girl at last found herself. Everything was quiet there, even the soft tinkle and low, mellow sound of water drops, as they rained over the marble floor, and pattered on the broad-leaved plants that floated on the fountain. The two stood together in silence. The sound of a voice, even in its lowest love-tones, would have broken up the ex- quisite harmony of the place. Her hand lay upon his arm; he took it in his own, and held it tenderly, as if it had been a flower, and looked into her downcast face, which had been etherealized in the lamp light. " Eva ! " His voice was low and deep, scarcely rising above the sweet noise of the fountain. Eva looked up suddenly ; then her eyes fell to the marble floor, where the red petals of an over-ripe rose had dropped and lay glowing like rubies. 190 THE REIGNING BELLE. "Eva, can you imagine — bave you ever dreamed how much I love you ? n Her hand trembled in his. She caught one of the red rose-leaves, as it was quivering downward, and dropped it again, with a sigh of infinite happiness. Another leaf lodged upon her lip, and for an instant trembled there, scarcely redder or sweeter than the mouth it touched. Ivan stooped down, and with his lips gathered the leaf from here. She made no resistance ; but drew closer to him, and the clasp of her fingers grew warm and tender. " One word, Eva ; only one. May I love you ? ** She lifted her eyes to his. The light of stars seemed quivering in them. " How can you ask me ? Have I not permitted it ai- re ad 3 r ? n The young man drew her gently to his bosom, and laid his cheek to hers, as doves creep together in a nest. " And you love me ? " "A thousand times better than myself," she answered. "And some day, not long from this, you will be my wife ? " CHAPTER XLTI. A WOMAN TRANSFIGURED. His wife. Eva had not thought of that. It had been enough that he loved her, and she loved him. Now an idea of the future flashed through her happiness, and she remem- bered how far they two were apart. His wife! The holy word thrilled her from head to foot with unutterable bliss, mingled with apprehension. "Ah!" she said, '"what a Btrange, sweet word it is. How much it means ; how impossible that I should bear it." A WOMAN TRANSFIGURED. 191 a It is the sweetest possibility on earth, my Eva ; one that I have had in my heart of hearts since we first met." "How strange," murmured the girl. "But you are so fe:;rless. I never dared look so far." " But now, my girl, now ! " Ivon threw his arms around her drooping figure, and kissed her with passionate warmth. A woman had been lying insensible back of a little jun- gle of broad-leaved tropical plants, out of which a slender tree rose to the glass roof. The coldness of the marble, and some stray drops that reached her from the fountain, brought her back to life, when she heard the low murmur of voices close by, and arose to leave the conservatory. The place where Ivon and Eva stood was sheltered from sight by the plants that concealed this lady; but through the leaves she saw the girl's face, bathed in blushes, as it escaped from the first kisses of love — and the look of intense happiness that flushed it, stung her to the soul. One man alone was in her thoughts, and his supposed pres- ence there, while she lay stricken lifeless, by the cruel truth he had told her, was maddening. A stir among the plants drew Eva's attention that way. She saw a pair of white arms flung upward, on which great jewels flashed in the moonlight of the lamps, and shrunk away from Ivon, passing to the other side of the fountain, startled and ashamed. Before Ivon could speak or follow her, Mrs. Lambert rushed by the fountain, and, seizing Eva by the arm, looked fiercely into her face. '• Never, never, while you and I live, shall yon marry that man ! Girl, remember that I have warned you ! Speak to him — look at him again at your peril! Some things are impossible — this is one. Turn those eyes from my face — never dare to look at me again." Like a storm, the woman had burst upon Eva ; her face 192 THE REIGNING BELLE. was as white as snow ; her colorless lips trembled. The diamonds quivering with fire on her throat and head, were less brilliant than her wild, fierce eyes. Before Eva could speak, or Ivan move, she had swept out of the conservatory, without casting a look on the young man. "It — it is 3"our mother !" said Eva, as Ivon came toward her; so astonished by this outburst in a woman whose self- control had been perfect all the years he had known her, that surprise had kept him motionless. "Yes," he said, "it is my mother; but so changed, so fearfully transfigured, that I scarcely recognized her. She seemed to threaten you." " She did threaten me ; her ej'es were fierce with hate. What have I done that she should assail me so?" '• What have the angels done? I do not understand this, Eva. It is unlike Mrs. Lambert, who is usually so proud and cold, scarcel} 7 deigning to express her own wishes." " She heard all we said, and it drove her wild. Oh, her face was terrible ! " " I scarcely knew it. If she heard all, it was the sud- denness that overwhelmed her. But she is generous. "When you are m}' wife " "Ah !" said Eva, drawing away from him. "How is it possible? I have no right here." " Why have you no right, Eva? " "The poor have no rights in a place like this," answered the girl, looking wildly around. "I have been dreaming!" " It will be your fault, and my eternal misfortune, if this dream does not last for life," said Ivon. Eva shook her head. Her brief trance of happiness was broken up. " But I will have it so," persisted Ivon, passionately. " On all the earth there is not another woman who shall be my wife." "Let us go now," answered Eva, sadly. "Your mother A WOMAN TRANSFIGURED. 193 will be watching. I should have remembered her look, when she first saw me standing by Mrs. Carter." " But for that I might not have said here and now, that no man living ever loved a woman as I love you," said Ivon. Eva lifted her eyes; they were full of tears. <• I shall never forget that you wished to atone for her injustice." •'Atone ! Girl, I love you devotedly, madly. She knows it. I have told her so. And you love me." Eva dashed the tears from her eyes. "Yes, I love you so well that nothing shall induce me to degrade you, by an unsuitable or unauthorized marriage. Your mother " " My mother is dead long ago ! This lady was my father's wife ; kind and generous as any real mother could be, till now. I have never wished to dispute her authority ; but here it must end ! " " To that, no act of mine shall tempt you," said Eva. " I see now how vain and unwise it was to accept this invitation." "Oh, Eva, how wild and unkind all this is! A moment ago I was supremely happy. Now the violence of a lady, who has, in fact, no authority over us, is enough to turn you against me." "No," said Eva ; "if she had not aroused me with such cruel violence, it must have come to the same thing. I have no part in this scene, no place among the more fortu- nate women who grace it." " But you have a place in my heart, Eva." "I know it; but that is a misfortune which I have brought upon you." " A misfortune ! It is my glory. Understand me, Eva. From this night, you are my betrothed wife. Nothing shall separate us ; no, not even your own proud will." 12 1 fU THE REIGNING BELLS. Eva smiled, but the sruile was more pathetic than tears. " Ah, if my will were all ! " "That, going with me, girl, no power on earth shall reach us." His courage and his ardor failed to inspire her. She had been cruelly wounded, and the pride she was scarcely conscious of, armed her against him. "Let me go now," she said, preparing to leave the conservatory. '• Not till you have promised ; not till your dear lips have once answered mine," he replied, straining her to his bosom again, spite of her breathless protest. " Leave everything to me. Have no fear that your womanly dignity will suffer, or that I shall yield one jot of the independence that belongs to me." Eva had no heart to answer. She withdrew herself gently from Ins arms, and moved toward the door, pale and trembling; for, to her, it was a final parting. He followed her haughty and resolute. CHAPTER XLIII. HERSELF AiiAI.V. Eva took refuge with Mrs. Carter, who still maintained her past in the drawing-room. "Are you tired, Eva? Has anything happened to di -tress you ?" Eva tunnd, and saw Mr. E&OSS, whose low, fatherly voice was like a balm to her wounded self-love. ■■ I am a little tired, and all this bewilders me,' 5 Eva re]. lied, lifting her troubled eyes to his. " Ah, Mr. Eoss, I have no real place here." HERSELF AGAIN. 195 " That is to be decided," said Eoss. " Come with me to the supper-room. A glass of wine will do no harm here." Ross was about to lead her away, when she uttered a faint exclamation, and clung nervously to his arm. Mrs. Lambert was making her way toward the hostess, and the very sight of her sent the proud blood to Eva's cheek. Proud, graceful, and entirely herself again, Mrs. Lambert swept up to Mrs. Carter. She had drained more than one glass of champagne, at the supper-table, where the sparkle of her wit, and the hitherto unknown sound of her laugh- ter, had entranced and dazzled her admirers. " Never," they all said, " had the queen of fashion shone out with such wonderful splendor. Something must have inspired her." Something had inspired her, more potent than admira- tion, more fiery than wine; the burning pangs of jealousy, added to a cruel defeat, where she had staked her very soul. Smiling, bland, and wonderfully beautiful, she came up to say farewell. Eoss did not attempt to retreat, but waited her approach with dignified calmness. He felt Eva's hand tremble on his arm, but could not comprehend the cause. Mrs. Lambert did not attempt to ignore the girl then, but passed from the hostess, and took leave of her with iron- ical politeness, which was extended to Eoss, who received it with a grave bow. For once in many years the lady had given way to overwhelming passion ; but her will was strong, and habit aided her in concealing the pangs that had stricken her lifeless in the conservatory. But the restraint she had forced upon herself was beyond endurance. She neither waited for Ivon or Miss Spicer, but accepted the first offered arm, went through the ceremo- ny of leave-taking with fortitude, though the two persons she most loved and hated, stood by the hostess, and gayly bade good-night to her escort, as she entered her carriage. When once alone, the passions, so long held in restraint, I'."' 1 "! THE REIGNING" BELLE. broke forth vehemently. The woman wrong her hands, fell upon her knees, and, burying her face in the silken cushions of her carriage, sobbed, moaned, and writhed, with a force of anguish that threatened her very life. Meantime, Miss Spicer had found Ivon in the crowd and captured him at once. " Where on earth is Mrs. Lambert? I have been search- ing and searching for her. She was at the supper-table one minute; but before I could fight my way to her. she wp.s gone. One might as well have no chaperon at all, as wander about in this wild fashion."' " We shall soon find my mother," said Ivon. "Yes, by the crowd that surrounds her. I wonder if she will ever give up her place as a reigning belle? It looks to-night as if that shop-girl were going to step in ! Ten thousand pardons ; I forget that she was a special friend of yours." " You mean Miss Laurence. She is a friend that I am proud to own." "But you will not own her long, as Miss Laurence, let me tell you. What luck some people have ! She is en- gaged. - ' " Indeed ! Since when, and to whom ? " said Ivon, indif- ferently, for he had no faith in Miss Spicer' s sources of information. "I don't know when; but the man I am certain of. It is Mr. Ross." " Mr. Ross ! " [von was aroused now; the very name startled him. Other thoughts crowded in. Why had the Carters taken Blich sudden interest in the girl ? Why had she accepted his declaration of love, but so resolutely refused his hand '.' "Has the news strmk yoo dunih ? " exclaimed Miaa Spi'-er, with a short laugh. " One Would think so." " Idle gossip, Miss Spicer, seldom has that power over me." HERSELF AGAIN. 197 " Gossip ! "Why, the engagement is declared. I got it from Mrs. Carter herself." ''Is this true?" "As the gospel. Ask her yourself. She doesn't seem ashamed of the match, but presents the girl to any one that comes up. Disgusting, isn't it. As if she had not trouble enough to get into society herself, without that." In his anxiety Ivon had turned toward the drawing-room, which Mrs. Lambert had just left. At the door he met the gentleman who had placed her in the carriage. "Ah ! I have discovered you at last," he said, addressing Miss Spicer. " Mrs. Lambert has gone home. She desired me to say that the carriage would be sent back for you." "The idea!" exclaimed that young lady, casting a sig- nificant glance at Ivon. " Does she expect us to ride home alone ? People will say that we are engaged." " Very naturally," answered the gentleman ; at which Miss Spicer struck him with her fan, exclaiming again, " The idea ! " The gentleman passed on, laughing pleasantly. Ivon and his companion entered the great drawing-room. " There they stand now ! Does that look like an engage- ment ? " cried the young lady. " Watch their faces, see her eyes. What an artful way she has of lifting them — practises at the counter, I suppose. Do you believe me now ? " Miss Spicer used her own eyes as she spoke, and saw that Ivon was deadly pale. Still, she had no mercy on him. "There! See how he bends over her! What expression! What tender interest one can read in his face ! No wonder she looks at him so earnestly. He is the handsomest man I have seen this year, spite of a few grey hairs. Uich, too, or will be ; for the Carters mean to give them everything. Isn't she in a good run of luck? " Ivon did not answer, but led his companion to the mis- - I . ..ent - — . - C I. 8 I K G THE = II U T T E R 3. 199 more frequently than she was con.-cious of. At such time3 e would lean forward, with a hand on each knee. exclaim, in the fullness of his admiration, "Oh, my! Isn't that dress agoing to put down the hull bilen of 'em. If there's a more stupendous lady than she'll he, I'd like to see her a going to the party, that's all. Jim's sister to think of evening herself agin us. White •ns agin peacocks, with moon3 on their spread feathers ! :" Mrs. Smith heard these exclamations with no little ela- tion ; and Kate Gorman repeated them, with Hibernian im- provements, that fairly took the good woman off her feet. It was an important moment when Mrs. Smith descended to the store, with her red moire antique gathered up in voluminous folds around her person, and a huge bouquet in her hand. When Boyce heard her step on the stairs, he fell to work at once, removed baskets of fruit, butter-tubs and fish-bar- rels from their places, and widened a safe passage for the gorgeous dres3, which passed through, as it were, with a rustle and flutter of acknowledgment. This the rni-:tres3 intensified, by a world of gracious thanks, and permission to close the store immediately after ten. This wa3 exactly what Boyce had been aiming at, having made a private arrangement to go out with Kate Gorman. The moment Smith's carriage drove off, Bo}~ce took au- thority on himself, and summoned James to action. " Come along here and help put up the shutters. Haul them baskets inside, and don't stuff your pockets full of cranberries, while you're a doing it. I know yer tricks, old feller, so look sharp, if you want me to hold my tongue." James had just seen his sister come forth in hei white raiment, and fresh flowers, on her way to the party, and felt some resentment at the disparaging remarks Boyce made about her. But he knew well enough that words 200 THE REIGNING BELLE. would be of no avail with the young tyrant, aud obeyed him in angry silence. In a few minutes the shutters were closed, and even the coal-bin, which projected on the side-walk, was safely fas- tened. When this was done, Boj-ce led the way up stairs, and met Kate Gorman at the landing, with her shawl and bonnet on. "They're asleep at last," she said, "all but Jeru:>ha Maria; she holds out like a trooper, for the sight of that red dress just drove her wild, and she keeps snatching at the yeller feather yet. I gave her a double dose of paregoric, and got her under a little; but she's wide awake yet." "Just in time," Boyce broke in. "We shall have a good look at the whole crowd. Jimmy will take care that the youug ones don't fall out of bed. Just you go in there, old feller, and see that you stick to your post, and hold that precious little girl in your arms till she crows herself to sleep. It's just the work for you." " I'll go in, of course, because some one must take care of her," said James ; " but it's too early to close up, and you have no business to go out so soon." "So soon," cried Kate Gorman, tying her bonnet with an angry jerk. "Look at the clock." James did look at the little time-piece, in its square mahogany case, and was astonished to see that it only wanted a few minutes of ten o'clock. Kate gave Boyce a knowing wink, and made a swift motion with her fingers, as if turning the pointers of a clock, which he understood, and answered with an approving nod. " Not just yet," said Boyce, as James was going into the sleeping-room where Jerusha Maria was making vigorous efforts to get out of her cradle. " You've got to go down, and lock us out. I'm not a going to carry a heavy key about in my pocket. Besides, safe bind and safe find is my CLOSING THE SHUTTERS. 201 motto. So make sure you don't go to sleep with the baby, for we depend on you to let us in, and so will the other party." James made no answer, but took the key that Boyce held out, and followed the two down stairs. The store was dark as midnight, for the shutters were firmly closed, and the candle which James carried, only gave out a faint circle of light, by which the clerk and housemaid found their way into the street. James closed the door after them, locked it, and looked around for an iron bar, that usually stood back of the door, ready for the two staples sunk into the woodwork on either side. It was not to be seen. The boy held down his light, and searched for it in every place he could think of, but in vain. "Boyce has flung it down somewhere, moving the things about," he thought, a little anxiously. " It was awful careless of him ; but there's no need of it. The lock is strong enough, and I'm not likely to go to sleep." Just then the little girl up stairs gave an impatient yell, which drove all ideas of the bar out of the lad's mind ; with the key in his hand, he rushed up stairs, calling out cheerfully to the little night-hawk as he went. During the nest half-hour James was busy carrying that spoiled child up and down the room, while she tugged vi- ciously at his hair, sobbed, shrieked, and kicked her tiny feet against his chest, until even her unnatural energy gave out, aud she fell asleep in his tired arms. "With the stealthy tread of a cat, and holding his breath, James laid the child in its crib, and sat down completely tired out. He had been busy all day, and excitement had taken away his appetite. He was not hungry now, but found his throat dry, and a feverish thirst upon him. A pitcher of root-beer stood on the table, with a tumbler, from which Boyce had drank before going out. The bottle 202 THE REIGNING BELLE. of paregoric, brought from the druggist's that afternoon, was on the window-sill close by, almost empty. James took up the tumbler, filled it, and drank eagerly. It seemed a little strong, but he thought nothing of that until he noticed the vial on the window. Then he fancied a taste of paregoric in his mouth. " I suppose they dropped the spoon into the glass, after the baby had done with it," lie thought. "But what a iolly dose they must have given her. There isn't a tea- ppoonful left. How she will sleep, now that I've got her down." The boy seated himself by the crib, and began to swing it lightly to and fro, rather to keep himself busy, than from any idea of its usefulness. After awhile his eyes grew heavy, and his hand rested motionless on the crib. Then it fell away altogether, and, seated in the Boston rocking- chair, James slept as soundly as his little charge. Once or twice the boy awoke with a start, as if some noise had aroused him ; but his head was heavy, and his senses dull. Strive as he would to listen, sleep overpowered him, and was more and more profound as the night wore on. CHAPTER XLV. WATCHING FROM THE PAVEMENT. Meantime, Boyce and Kate Gorman were enjoying themselves in a most aristocratic fashion, in front of Mrs. Carter's dwelling. They had taken a good position, and saw the whole company, as carriage after carriage set down its load. Once, for a very brief time, Kate missed her companion, who had stepped back into the shadow of a neighboring building, and spoke to a young man, who took WATCHING FROM THE PAVEMENT. 203 something from his hand then slunk cautiously away. Directly he disappeared entirely and was lost in the crowd of curious persons, who had gathered to see what fashiona- ble life was like, when viewed from the side-walk, and by gaslight. •• What, me ! " said Boyce, when Kate reproached him for leaving her. " I haven't been six feet away from you all the evening. It was that big woman who stood between me and you. I could have took hold of your dress any minute; only you were enjoying yourself so much with them last two carriage-loads, that I didn't have the heart to disturb yon b}' saying I'm here, Miss Gorman, which I was, though, not being the fellow to leave a lovely and defenceless female alone in a crowd." " Of course you're not, Mr. Boyce," said Kate, fully sat- isfied that he had been close by her elbow all the time. "I only did not see you just then, and, being a little timmer- some at night, the thought of your leaving me alone set me all in a trimble." " But the moment you spoke I was here." " Of course you were ; only I didn't observe it just at the minute. But, oh ! what has come over us now ? Look there ! If she hasn't brought down a handful of stars for her head ! Why, sure, it's the queen herself! " " Not a bit of it," answered Boyce, with supreme con- tempt of the idea. " She's only a customer of ours. I've had to carry home her groceries more than once, when that boy Jim was out. That's Mrs. Lambert." " Mrs. Lambert," repeated Kate, who had never heard the name before, but was still wonderfully impressed by the splendor of that lady's dress. " Well, of course, you know; only, if it was not for that, I should take her for something a great deal more particular. Dear me! what a blaze the house is in. How the curtains shake and tremble. To think of Mr. and Mrs. Smith being in there, with the 204 THE REIGNING BELLE. cream of the country, and I dressing her for the same ! It's beyond belief, if we didn't know it?" "Miss Kate!" '• Well, Boyce, that's me ! " " After the carriages get a little thinner, suppose you and I go down to the theatre?" " The theatre, Mr. Boyce, wouldn't that make us late home ? " " Well, no. We could just drop into the Bowery, see some of them fellows die fighting like fury, and then get back time enough to see all this company come out and go home. They've been having a good time ; why shouldn't we ? " " True for ye : but the child ! " " Haven't we left that boy Jim in full charge, and isn't he a capital nuss. Come now, what's the odds ! While this swell-crowd is enjoying of itself with dancing and champagne, oysters and ice cream, boned-turkey, and what not, you and I are human creatures, with a right to live, and have fun as well as them." " That is the truth, anyhow." " So, having the funds in my pocket, I am ready to stand that amount, if you're conformable." "Well, Bo}'ce, I can't say but I am willing." With this, Kate Gorman took the clerk's arm, and cross- ing over to a street car, proceeded with him to the theatre. An hour or two later, the couple stood in front of Mr. Carter's dwelling again. The crowd had dispersed then, and there seemed little to interest any person in the car- riages that crept up to the door, and, taking in a sleepy freight of revelers, moved away. Still Boyce insisted that the sight was one that he would not lose for the world, and kept the weary girl standing there, until Mrs. Smith appeared at the door, and, with fussy attention to her dress, entered the hack that waited for her. WATCHING FROM THE PAVEMENT. 205 When this carriage drove away, Boyce expressed great willingness to go home ; and Kate, who had dropped half asleep, moved away with him, heartily wishing herself iu bed. Mr. and Mrs. Smith drove, in a dreary, fatigued state, toward their home. The occasion had been a proud one ; but even that could not make them quite insensible to the late hour, and the discomfort of full dress, when the desire for sleep lay heavy upon both. When the carriage stopped, Smith let himself out, and waited to see his wife safe on the pavement. Then he gave a heavy blow on the door with his clenched hand, waiting afterward with some impatience for it to be opened. A full minute went by, and there was no sign of life in the building. Then he gave another impatient blow, and stepped back to see if any one was stirring in the second story. A dim light shone through the blinds; but it seemed stationary, and no one moved. Then Smith shouted, and, taking up a block of wood, flung it viciously at his own window. Evidentl}' late hours did not agree with him. At last, the light began to waver, and finally disappeared. Just then Boyce and Kate Gormau came up, much to the astonishment of their emploj'ers. '•Why, Kate Gorman, Jared Boyce! What does this mean ? " "Oh! nothing," said Boyce, almost airily. " Only Kate and I have been out on a little bender of our own. The store and bab\ 7 are all right ; we left Jim Laurence locked in with them." Before Mrs. Smith could reply, the grocery door was opened, and James stood in the entrance with a lamp in his hand. 206 THE REIGNING BELLE. CHAPTER XLVI. AFTER THE PARTY. The next morning after the ball Mr. Smith arose very cross, and Mrs. Smith slept late, so late that Jerusha Maria grew fearfully impatient, and, having slept off her liberal share of the paregoric, wanted to have the usual rough and tumble romp on her mother's bed. This desire the drowsy woman repulsed with a half-angry growl, that made the child first open her eyes wide with astonishment, then fill her mouth with indignant screams. This outcry James was expected to pacify, while Kate Gorman got the breakfast in grim discontent, for she too was suffering from want of sleep, and took vengeance on the gridiron and coffee-mill, which she banged about viciously, and ground with the fury of a Nemesis. While Smith eat his solitary breakfast, which was in itself enough to sour any man's temper, the coffee being thick with grounds, and the fried potatoes bitter with smoke, Boyce opened the store, and dragged forth his baskets and boxes of merchandise under the sheltering awning; he made a respectable display of vegetables left over from the previous night, and fruit with a suspicion of decay creeping through it; for Smith had slept too late for the early mar- ket hour, and even his stock in trade felt the effect of that one night's advent into high life, the splendor of which had demoralized his home. Thus it chanced that the store work came entirety to Boyce, and that interesting child, with her screams, her kicks, and wonderful capacity for hair - tugging, fell to James, while Kate scolded, and Mrs. Smith slept. In vain the lad tried to hush the indignant young lady ; in vain he bent his head, and offered a splendid mass of AFTER THE PARTY. 207 raven curls for her hands to revel in. Once or twice, I am afraid, he was tempted to shake her soundly ; in fact, he did practice a little in that line, but ended it all in fun, and fin- ished by making up faces, that turned her continuous howl into shrieks of laughter. At last Smith went down stairs, wondering if there was no way of stopping that child's noise, and wishing that he were a woman with nothing to do but sleep till noon, con- tented as a lamb, with an Irish girl slamming things about, and a jerky child yelling Hail Columbia in his ears. Mrs. Smith was too soundly asleep to hear this sarcasm, and the young lady aforesaid set up a new tune of offence, feeling deeply wronged, when her father passed down stairs, without an effort to appease her grief. James struggled under these difficulties with wonderful patience; he tossed Miss Smith into the air till she caught her breath like a sun-fish out of water. He set her down in his lap, and trotted her to Boston, with the agility of a race horse. He exhibited a pair of red morocco boots on her own little feet, which filled her with a moment's admira- tion, and a burst of fervent laughter. He carried her to the window, and pointed out her father, who was talking with Boyce in front of the store, in an earnest and rather excited manner, which did not at first strike him as singu- lar, as everybody was restless and excited that morning. But there was something strange about Boyce, who seemed to be talking in a low, eager way, and watching the thunder- cloud on his employer's face, with keen, sidelong glances, that struck the lad who looked on as false and sinister. Even the child seemed to notice something strange about her father, and stopped crying suddenly. For some unac- countable reason the boy's heart fell, and he watched the two as they walked back into the store with a feeling of vague apprehension. Why, a wiser person than himself could not have told; for he had done no wrong, and had no enemies, unless the young fellow, Boyce, was one. £08 THE REIGNING BELLE. This was what had occurred in the store below. In the hurry of preparation for Mrs. Carter's party, a considerable amount of money had been left in the desk, a circumstance that seldom happened, and which Smith had always pro- vided against, by a deposit every afternoon. Before going up to dress, he had locked the desk, and put the key in his pocket, leaving it there when he changed his clothes. When he went down in the morning, this money was gone, and with it some of the more expensive portions of his stock — two or three small boxes of choice tea, which bore his private mark, and other articles, amounting to the value of several hundred dollars. Now, these things might have been removed from the store by one person, but a horse and wagon must have been used to carry them away, if they were taken any distance. It had been considerably after nine the night before when Smith and his wife started for the party. Boyce had gone out with Kate Gorman directly after, as he confessed, hav- ing been locked out by James Laurence, who retained pos- session of the key. How then could this robbery have taken place before ten. Kate Gorman had been about all the time, and so was James, who was anxious, Boyce said, that the key should be left with him. This was all that Boyce knew of the matter. He and Kate Gorman had been together all the time after they left the store, till they returned to it. Early in the evening they had watched the guests going into the Carter mansion ; then they had been at the Bowery theatre. In fact, every minute of his time could be accounted for. But the boy James, Boyce knew nothing about him. only ili.it he wanted to stay at home, that he was rather anxious to keep the key, and had fastened the door after them when he and Kate went out. Of course there was nothing wrong about that. True, money had been missing in small sums more than once; but thieves were adroit, and, in the hurry AFTER THE PARTY. 209 of business, the money drawer was left exposed sometimes. There was no reason to suspect James, because a few dollars had been found missing now and then. But for these sagacious hints, perhaps, Mr. Smith never would have suspected the boy. He knew how adroit bur- glars could be, and his thoughts naturally turned in that direction : but Boyce had managed to unite the boy with this very idea. Burglars always have accomplices, he said, frequently among the servant girls; but that could not be true of Kate Gorman, who was honest as the day was long; besides, she had been with him all the time. No, no, it could not possibly be Kate Gorman, nor James. Things might look a little squally in his direction ; but the little chap was true as steel ; to suspect him was just nonsense. Smith said little. He was a shrewd, close man, who kept his thoughts and his money very much to himself. He questioned Boyce closely enough, and imbibed suspicions conscientiously, that influenced his after action to a cruel extent; but he came to no definite conclusion for that day at least. This much he settled. Mrs. Smith was to know nothing of the robbery; first, because discovery was not likely to spring out of much talking, and again, because his wife had warned him of danger in having so much money in the store. Besides, what was the use of telling her ? Women were always Marplots in such affairs. No, no, he would betake himself to a sharp detective, get the property back, and then inform his wife. Fortunately, she would be far too sleepy that da} T for any special interest in his affairs. Bo} T ce was very willing to be silent; in fact he did not take lovingly to the investigation, and was glad to be rid of it ; his face had been unusually pale from the first, and he moved uneasily when Smith's eyes were upon him, as if the thought of having drawn suspicion on that young boy were distressing him. Not even to Kate Gorman did the grocer mention his loss ; 13 210 THE REIGNING BELLE. but he questioned her in a cautious way, and got full con- firmation of all that Boyce had said. After this, he went to a detective, and set him on the alert. CHAPTER XLVII. HOW MISS SPICER AND ELLEN POST FRATERNIZE. That day Boyce carried some groceries to Mrs. Lam- bert's kitchen. He was very intimate in that region, es- pecially with Robert the footman, who had a face not un- like his own, and hair of the same brick-dust hue, a tint that Ellen Post admired exceedingly. In fact, the waiting- maid's fancy did not stop there, but took in the five feet ten of the footman's entire person. For his sake, she gave a little lofty patronage to Boj~ce, though it was a thorn in her side that Robert's influence had been brought to bear on the cook in the same direction. After all, societ}' is like a tangle of wild vines, it is im- possible to separate the fruit from the leaves that breathe for it. What society is in the mass, families are in detail. Each member has an important influence on the others. The mistress of a household would often be shocked, if she dreamed how completely she is the tool ami puppet of a servant, with more brains and less money than herself; or how completely her most sacred thoughts are criticised and discussed in the kitchen. For some days Miss Spicer had been staying with Mrs. Lambert, who was far from well, and kept her room, refus- ing to see any one but this girl, who brought her news from their outer world, and talked with her continually on the only subject sin- wished to think of. Miss Spicer being an active person, erratic in her move- MISS SPICER AND ELLEN POST. 211 ments, and fond of talking, had many spare hour3 which could not be spent with Mrs. Lambert, who got tired of the girl, the moment her stock of news was exhausted, and pined for solitude, being sick at heart, aud weary of every- thing. Now there was no other lady in the house, and, as Miss Spicer must fraternize with some one, it naturally fell out that she became intimate, and even confidential, with Ellen Post. A little before Boyce brought his basket of groceries into the kitchen, Miss Spicer and Ellen were together in the young lady's room, talking over the merits of a changeable silk, which Miss Spicer was in suspense about, not being quite certain of its effect upon her complexion. Ellen Post stood in the centre of the room, her head crowned with its little French cap, knowingly canted on one side, as she held up the breadths of shimmering silk, which changed and glistened like a pigeon's neck with each move- ment of her hand. "Now, for Mrs. Lambert, I should say at once, take it," she said, with the solemn air of a priestess at the altar ; "but, for you, Miss Spicer, it is different. As a general thing, solid colors, and delicate at that, is what I could wish." " You think so, Ellen ? Well, I am not sure. The silk is exquisitely lovely in itself." "Yes, but haven't you observed, Miss Spicer, that the most charming tints in silk are not always the most telling, when you get them on ! There is the dress you wore the other night. Now, to my mind, that dress was a failure." " That dress a failure ? Why, Ellen Post, it cost ten dollars a yard." "Shouldn't wonder; but still, it didn't come up to my expectations. When the madam came out, she killed it dead." 212 THE REIGNING BELLE. u Nothing, I believe, came up to any one's expectations that night. I never spent such an evening. Every one I knew was out of sorts," said the young lady. "I'm sure the madam was." answered Ellen. "Never saw her so wild and white in my life. What could have happened ? You ought to know, Miss Spicer — you, as one might say, a part of the family." te ," No, I'm not, Ellen Post, and it's likely I never shall be." " Why, Miss Spicer, I thought it was settled. I am sure the madam treats you as if you were her own daughter, and Mr. Ivon " " There, there, don't mention him ! It's only an aggra- vation. One day sweet as honey-dew, the next after some one else, flirting, like a humming-bird, right before my face, and daring to tell me that another girl — one of those for- ward, low creatures that sell goods — has rejected him." Ellen Post dropped the silk which she had been holding, and all its shining folds fell in a heap on the carpet. " Miss Spicer, you don't mean to say that ! " " Yes, I do mean to say just that, and could say more. Only think, Ellen Post, of taking that girl's leavings, a creature with hair like ink, and eyes hid away under her lashes like a brook sleeping under rushes. Then the impu- dence of her air, walking like an empress, and she a shawl- fitter, a — a — Oh, I would give five thousand dollars this very hour to see her so disgraced, that he would be ashamed to own that he had ever spoken to her. I hate her very name ! " ''What is her name? " inquired Ellen Post. "Laurence. Eva Laurence. Such a name for a shop- girl ! " " Eva Laurence. I have heard that before. The madam kept saying it over in her sleep the night she came home from Mrs. Carter's party. She does not like the girl more FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. 213 than j'ou do, I am certain, though I never heard her speak the name except in sleep ; then it left her lips white, as if henbane had touched them." "I should not wonder," exclaimed Miss Spicer, struck by a sudden idea. " Didn't you tell me that Mr. Ross, the great artist, called here once or twice ? " "Once; I remember only once; but she received him in her private room — a thing I do not remember of any other man — and told me to say that she was not at home to a human being. He stayed ever so long — three hours, I should think." "That is strange," said the young lady. "She must have known him before." CHAPTER XL VIII. FIYE THOUSAND DOLLARS. "Miss Spicer, if you'll promise never to mention it, I'll tell you something," said the maid, after a little considera- tion. "Well, I promise ! " "That man, Mr. Ross, I mean, once forced himself into our garden, trampled down the beds, and insisted on finding madam in one of the green-houses, where he did find her, and there they talked together in a strauge way. I did not hear what they said, being in another part of the garden, and old Storms there, so that I could not get closer; but his voice was loud and clear, and hers Well, I can't tell you what hers was like, only there was something that went to my heart in it — tears buried out of sight since she was a girl. I should say " "Well, Ellen, you have surprised me. Who would have 214 THE REIGNING BELLE. thought it of her — so proud, so grandly self-possessed? I never dreamed that she could give way." "Give way! Why, that man left heron the conserva- tory floor in a dead swoon," said Ellen Post, bringing her story to a climax with thrilling dexterity. Miss Spicer sunk down on the carpet, by the billowy waves of silk that Ellen had dropped there, holding up her hands in astonishment. '• Mrs. Lambert in a swoon, a down right fainting fit! I can't believe it. Indeed, indeed, I can't." "You may, for I helped to bring her out, and a dreadful time we had of it. All that night long she lay like a dead woman, and never spoke a word, except one, and that was a name." " What name, Ellen ? " "Herman. I never heard it before, and I don't know who it belongs to in the least," answered the lady's maid. "Herman; that is his name — Herman Ross." "Then, one thing is sure!" "What is that, Ellen?" u She loves that man." "Elleu Post, you take away my breath ! " "She loves that man. It was him she was dressing for that night, when nothing could please her." "The night of Mrs. Carter's party; do you mean that, Ellen?" " Of course I mean that. !Never saw her so hard to please. I took off her diamonds twice, and had to put them on again at last. Never saw anything like it. In any other person I should have known the signs; hut who would suspect her of wanting to please any one in partic- ular? But it's all clear now. We've settled on the right " Why, Ellon, he's going to mairy this Laurence girl himself! " FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. 215 "What ! The man she loves ? " "As true as I sit here — he is engaged to her! It all came out at the party. Mrs. Carter told it. This Ross is her brother, you know." "That was what made her so white and wild. I under- stand it all now. That is why she kept repeating the girl's name in her sleep, which was more like a fit than natural slumber. She has not been herself since." "No, you are right there; she seems like one stupefied by a blow — and Ivon is not much better. He was wild as a hawk that night. Only think of it — mother and son ; but it serves him right. I have no compassion for him, and all but engaged to me." " But if she marries this Ross, all will be at an end with Mr. Ivon. "No, it won't. He thinks her the loveliest, the most beautiful and accomplished creature in the world. Being married won't hurt her with him. He will never think any one fit to untie her shoes. I want him to despise her — hate her. I want to break up this match, which is killing your poor mistress." " But how ? " " I don't know. What is the good of being rich when the thing you want most can't be got for money. Oh, if I had that girl under my feet how I would stamp her down ! " Ellen Post seated herself by the window, and fell into thought. She was a sharp, even-tempered schemer, who saw a chance of killing several birds with one stone, if it only could be brought about. Her ideas were crude as yet, but she saw a gleam of daylight through them. "Five thousand dollars! Did you say that, Miss Spicer?" " I said five thousand dollars. I don't know what I said, but I'd give even that. But what is the good ? " 216 THE REIGNING BELLE. a And you mean it ? " u Mean it ? No, I don't mean it, for the tiling isn't possi- ble. If it were I wouldn't hesitate a moment." " What you want is to disgrace the girl, so that neither of these men would think of marrying her?" " That is what I am pining for, and what will make your lady a well and happy woman. It is for her sake." "Never miud ! I see!" said Ellen, interrupting the young lady without ceremony. " Now there are various kinds of disgrace ; some think poverty enough." " ]>ut that won't do here ; she is poor as a church mouse already, and they do not care a straw for it." " Yes, T understand. We must plunge deeper than that. When it is accomplished, I may be sure of the five thous- and?" " I might promise safely, and call it fifty thousand ; but, if it is possible for you to place this girl in a position which will drive all honorable men from her, I will gladly give you the sum I at first spoke of." " And the madam ? " " She must know nothing of this. She would condemn us, and reject our help, though it is mostly for her good," said the young lady, with emphasis. " This must rest between you and myself. If another soul is informed, I for one will throw up the bargain." " There is no need of that," said Ellen, half buried in thought. " Furthermore, I must have nothing to do with this, only so far as the money is concerned." " That is understood. In fact, I see nothing that you could be of use in." "Of course not." " Nor do I see how an}' one can act as yet ; but all the same, Miss Spicer, I shall earn your money." "Very well; I don't ask how. I only wish for a thing, and when it comes to pass, give so much money." MR. M A H O N E. 217 "Five thousand," said the maid. " Five thousand," answered the young lady, and the bar- gain was closed. CHAPTER XLIX. MR. MAHOKE. Ellen Post went down to the kitchen just after Boyce entered it with his basket of groceries, and there she found Robert conversing in a low, eager voice with the grocer's clerk. As the two stood together, the girl remarked the wonderful likeness that existed between them, in form and color. Both were strong, and, if not tall, well built and active. Boyce was talking earnestly, and glanced around now and then to make sure that no one was listening. There was a look of triumph in his face, that Robert seem- ed to share, for he smiled broadly, while he listened, and laying his hand on the clerk's shoulder, seemed to commend him for something he had done. Ellen Post was impatient, and watched all this with irrita- tion. She wished to speak with Robert, and was angry that he did not come forward the moment she entered the room. "Mr. Mahone," exclaimed the irate maid. "Mr. Mahone, I am waiting to speak with you !" " Mahone," repeated Boyce, with a sly wink at the foot- man. " She might spell that with five letters, and begin them with a B." Boyce spoke in the lowest possible voice, but Robert checked him severely, almost whispering. " Hush, you young rascal. Don't you know that women have sharp ears. Can I never learn you to be prudent." 21fi I II I B SIGNING BELLE. •• About the time I learn yon to be fair." ansvrered Boyce, a Ijtth . remember, this time you've got the mark. I don't moan to do all the work, and ■i the crumbs. JSu put that in your pipe, and smoke •■ Mr. Mahon •• Yes, M M I' ost, the minute I have settled up with this fellow. He's no more idea of figures than a donkey. Only • be always makes the mistake on his side. As I recommended him here, you understand, it's my place to see rerything is on the square." P et gave her French cap a toss that set all its rib- bona in quick motion, and would have left the room in high • II. but for the business that she had in hand. As it irched up to the young men, and broke up their at once. •• SToo stay here. "We may have something to say to yon," Bhe Baid, addressing Boyce, as if she had been that female tyrant, Elizabeth, and he a servant in her path. '•.Mr. Mahone will tell you if you are wanted. So wait." I ce langhed broadly, and took a seat in the kitchen, while Ellen Post and Robert went to the servants' parlor, and shut themsi Ives in, the maid observing that the cook ]>r\ ! 1 1 u r about, and, this thing being serious, they have no listeners. With this caution, she seated her- self on the hair-cloth sofa, and invited him, with her eyes, nit place by her side. it, nothing loth, took the seat, and his arm crept ■Jong the back, until it almost embraced the long, thin of the lady's maid, who looked around sharply to that it was not indecorously near. •• Mr. Mahonel" '■ ' '"' My — my " '■ mind, Robert; this is business. I despise mixing up thii MR. MAHONK 219 "Business is pleasure, where you are concerned, Miss Post." " That is just what I hope it will lead to in the end, for it's a great thing, I can tell you." " Indeed ! Well, that don't astonish me ! You was horn to great things, Miss Post. No mistake about that!" "Which lam ready to share," answered Ellen, "for it will take more than one to earn five thousand dollars ! " " Five thousand dollars ! Why, Ellen, you take away my breath." " It took away mine, at first ; but now I am ready for work. Are you ? " 'Am I ready to make five thousand dollars! Try me, that's all." " Bobert, you know a boy by the name of Laurence. He comes here with groceries now and then." "Yes, I know all about him. He's in the same store with Boyce." "He's got a sister?" " Yes. I've seen her. A stunning girl." "That girl has set her foot on Miss Spicer ! " " What ! There must be some mistake about that ; they don't travel the same road." " No mistake at all. I know what I'm saying. More than that, she has offended the madam, who is bitter against her." " You don't say so ! " " She is handsome." " Stupendously so. Her face fairly took me off my feet." "Mr. Mahone?" Mr. Mahone dropped his arm, and almost leaped to his feet ; a whole volley of small shot rolled off in that one exclamation. " I beg ten thousand pardons. Miss Post. I was speaking of the opinion others might have. As for me, I have eyes TBI REIGNING BELLE. only for one woman, this side of sunrise, and that woman is 1 P '• .Mr. Mahone, sit down. It is hard when the heart is l.d to stick tn business ; bat stick we most." •• Well, Ellen, I don't object. You were speaking of Miss Laurence. I know all about her!" •• Bui how '.' " demanded Ellen, forgetting business again, in a sharp lit of jealousy. " Mr. Mahone, do you visit that ture '.' " "Me? me? Do you think I haven't better taste than Mr. [von? lit- vi.-its her; but, as for me, I'd rather be »ed, n.it being necessitated to go away from home."' - is not 1 > u: -in ess," exclaimed Ellen, growing practi- cal, as her jealousy was appeased. " The long and the short of it is, this gir] has been forcing herself into the company of hei 1" •;• re, which neither the madam or Miss Spicer will i. Mr. [von has taken to her iu a way quite ridicu- has another person of quite as much importance. The ladies don't want her to cross their path again. We must see that she don't.'' "Tin- Laurence family, root and branch, must be brought t" disgrace. Being poor as Jub's cat isn't enough', for some rich people have taken them up. She must be so covered witli shame, that no one will have the courage to speak to h. r in tic "Bui how is it to be done. We might get up a big odalj but people are getting shy of believing such thin--, when they come from the basement; but for that, I am capital at h uihling castles out of card-houses. In our line now, I could work wonders against any girl " any girl, Mr. Maln.ne," broke in Ellen, with allot prida "There are persons that slander cannot '• I me ml any girl like that, if she belonged to our spear, A BARGAIN AT LAST. 221 Miss Ellen. Of course, there are women as high as the stars. Having a sample before me, I can say that, and defy contradiction. " The girl is awful proud of her family ; poor hut honest, you know," said Ellen, once more mollified to the busiuess poi n 'c. " Honest ! My eyes ! that is good ! Why, Boyce was just telling me that the boy has been robbing like sixty — hand in hand with a lot of burglars. It's a secret ; but the detectives are on his track now." « — »» » CHAPTER L. A BARGAIN AT LAST. " You don't say so ! Oh, Mr. Mahone, this is news ! Why, just as like as not, she's leagued in with him. That whole family may be a nest of thieves." " A nest of thieves — and she among them, I shouldn't wonder! " " Prove it ; fasten it upon them ; have the thing made public, and our work is done." " Would that be enough ? " " Certainl}'. Could any girl creep out of a nest of thieves, into such society as the madam and Miss Spicer move in? I should think not." " Would it be enough to prove the boy guilty ? " ques- tioned Robert, thoughtfully. " Xo : she will want more than that." "And even there we may fail. I have it — I have it! Don't put yourself to any more trouble. The whole thing has come into my head at once. 1 only hope you are as sure 1 T H K R B I G RING BELL E. of the money, as I am of earning it. Five thousand you ••" ■• Five thousand ! " •• M : ■ y down '.' " •• Money down ! " •• Bat the division. We may as well start fair, you know, this being business and nothing else." Ellen Post looked down, and began to roll up her cap- \\ith both hands; then she unrolled it, ami smoothed out the ribbon. Something was douhtless in her mind, that •he did not know how to put into speech. At last she faltered out, •• Would there be any need of a division? I thought — I thought, perhaps, that you might prefer the wdiole, which is a fortune for two young persons just starting life in a liquor store, say, or a first-class boarding-house, where a real lady . for the head of the table.'' «Oh!" Ellen looked up anxiously. "What did that emphatic "oh" mean. Had Mahone only thought of this for the first time '.' The face she cast her timid eyes upon was changing rapidly: first, a red (lame darted up to the roots of his ruddy hair, then the color melted away, and a slow pallor vrr it. while a thoughtful and sinister light crept into green eyes. Ellen grew fearfully uneasy. The thousands she coveted would lose half their value, unless Mahone himself was counted in. 'oh,' as if I had hinted at something disagree- ably Mr. Mahone? If so, let us drop the subject. Other • • can be found." Mali 1, for the girl spoke in bitter earnest. her |»-"i>!.', my dear '.' " " M ! yon pit a ' D n't be so cold, so cruel I If I said 'oh,' it was A BARGAIN AT LAST. 223 because a prospect of happiness broke upon me, that took away my breath." Here Mahone seized the hand which was lifted to the cap-string again, and repeated the naughty word oh, oh, oh, half a dozen times between the kisses he lavished upon it; but, strange to say, the obnoxious syllable seemed rather pleasant to her than otherwise this time. Circumstances alter cases, you know." "To think that I shall have a creature like this, and five thousand dollars, all in a breath. I cannot believe it. If a fortune-teller had foretold it, I should have set her down as a rank impostor, and refused to pay her fee. But now, tell me, my Ellen, is it real? Not the money. I don't care the snap of my finger for that! But is it possible that you love me ?" " Love you, Bobert ? Mr. Mahone, I mean ! " "Oh, call me Bobert; do call me Bobert ! " "Well, I will ! You asked if I loved you ? I who never lifted admiring eyes to another man ; had you no eyes to read mine, r.o heart to hear how mine was beating like a — a trip-hammer against my side? Did you never suspect?" " I never dared to hope ; but now — now I am the hap- piest man alive ! You will not talk of other people after this." There was a tone of anxiety in this last question quite as sincere as the protestations he had made ; but Ellen did not observe it. " I shall talk nor think of no one but you, Bobert." Some one knocked at the parlor door, rather sturdily, and broke up this pleasant scene, which might have lasted for hours, but for that. Mahone started up, and opened the door, where he found Boyce flushed with impatience. " I thought you was never coming out," he said, rudely enough. "I have got business to attend to, and can't sit waiting here. If you've got any more to say, say it now." THE REIGNING BELLE. " I'll walk with you, Boyce," answered Kobert, "if Miss ] ' • r ill 63 IBS me." Mi-- Poel bowed with condescension, and the two yoang men wenl Btreet together. That night a woman who lived in a tall tenement house ry tar from Smith's grocery, was surprised by the entrance of two men, with whom she was doubtless on terms of great domestic intimacy, for she came out of her bed- room half dressed, and a little cross, for she had been work- ing hard all day, and dropped to sleep while hushing the child upon the bed she had found no time to make. Some- what the men proposed made her angry, for she pro- . and had fierce words with the tallest of her visitors, who rudely ordered her to be silent, and go back to her child. "With some grumbling she obeyed him. r that, these men came up and down the numerous flights of stairs, again and again, carrying burdens on their shoulders. Then a wagon drove off, and, for an hour or the same men were moving like shadows around the where the Laurence family lay sleeping. CHAPTER LI. A BOY IN PRISON. THE most mournful thing that I have ever witnessed was a child in prison. Once I Baw a hardened little sinner of years, laughing at his mother through the gratings of a cell-door. This child was evidently proud of the adroit theft that had brought him to that disgraceful pass, and pot «'ii airs that an old criminal would have been : of, while the poor mother looked on speechless with wonder and di.- - A BOY IN PRISON. 225 In the same prison, and in a cell like that, a boy younger than twelve, knelt the week after Mrs. Carter's party — knelt and prayed by the meagre prison-bed, which shook under the fearful power of his weeping. Once he lifted up his face, and looked wildly around his dungeon. Then his face fell, and a shudder passed over him. A grave, walled in with stone, could not have been so terrible. Eternal disgrace seemed to have closed him in forever. Alas! alas! what had he done to deserve such hard treatment ! What would become of his mother, whom he had fondly believed him- self protecting? The two sisters, so lovely and good, who had really looked up to him, and loved him dearly — would they ever speak his name again without blushes! How fearfully lonesome it was. The strange, close atmosphere oppressed him like the breath of a pestilence. The cold whiteness of the walls chilled him. Over and over he repeated the Lord's Prayer — the most holy words that ever came from a child's lips; but they seemed insufficient to his anguish, and he cried out, " Oh, Father ! Oh, my God ! keep this from them ! Let me drop down dead here, and I will not say a word; only do not let them know. It would kill them ! It would kill them ! " Then the poor boy would rest a little time in deadly quiet, as if he expected God to answer him then and there ; but instead of the still, small voice that he listened for, came the clang of the cell-door, and a fierce cry of distress from some prisoner just brought in. This semi-lunatic from drink, pleaded for brandy just as earnestly as he prayed for help, but in language which made him shudder, as if the torment of some great crime were already upon him. The night closed in upon him, filling the prison with heavy gloom, inexpressibly mournful. The grating of that iron-door was closed : slowly the gray shadows of sunset fell through the long, narrow slit of stone, so cut in the wall that God's beautiful sunshine could never creep through, 14 T 11 1. ft BIG Ml N G B B LLE. an awful darkness fell upon him. The clang of each into place along those long iron galleries, had goue through and through him like a dull sword. The p of the keeper, walking from cell to cell, seemed to fall on hia hi The 1>"V did not Bleep that night, but shrunk away from hia bed Bhuddering. Its heavy, gray blankets seemed laden with disease and sorrow left by some one who had gone The dull atmosphere of the prison settled down upon him with Bickening density. Into the farthest corner of his whitewashed cell he shrunk, and cowering there, like ir wounded fawn in its covert, listened to all the - of the- night with ears rendered keen by terror. The Bmothered moans of the prisoners, the scuttle of rats about the water-pipes, the tramp of the keeper on the stone pave- it, far below, all had a weird effect upon him, which amounted almost to mad' la it strange that the boy did not sleep, and that he Crouched low in that dark corner all night long? The dull gray of the morning found him there pale, still, and wildly expectant, as if the next thing that could reach him must be death itself. Then came the clang of opening doors, the harsh sound of feet moving to and fro on the stone pavement, a confusion of voices in command, complaint, piteous expostulation, and coarse oaths; for bad men might haiued by the ankle, but nothing could manacle the vile ch to which tluy had become so used that it was second nature to them. . this boy had been bred among women, gentle. women who feared, or rather loved God, and were kind to each other. Even his mother, though silent, and sometimes a little unsympathi t ic, was rigid in her ideas of religion, and ted nothing coarse or wicked, either in speech or thought. Bo the hoy had learned all that a delicate girl ild 1 mi j and this, added to his natural manli- A BOY IN PRISON. 227 ness, had made him far more refined and gentle than lads of his age usually are. He was not the less spirited and ambitious because of the refinement which sprang out of his home life. Real energy is, in fact, all the more effective when a clear conscience and cultivated mind directs it, both in child and man. But what could energy avail the lad in that dreary place ? He had nothing to struggle against ; a vague idea that he was suspected of crime, and brought there to suffer some ter- rible punishment, preyed upon him, but what the charge was, or how to help himself, was bej'ond his power of con- jecture. Some bread, and a teacupful of dark liquid the keeper spoke of as coffee, was brought to the cell where he sat trem- bling and fearfully expectant. The poor boy turned his face away from this food with sick loathing. It seemed as if he could never eat or drink again. The keeper, who was at heart a kind man, took compas- sion on the gentle helplessness of this poor child, and strove to comfort him with hopes of a speedy relief; but James only shook his head, and great tears rose and trembled in his eyes. He could have stood abuse bravely, but kindness melted his young heart, and tears dropped like rain from his downcast eyes while that sympathetic voice filled the dungeon. As he sat thus the shadow of another official fell across the threshold of his cell, and a loud and indifferent voice called out, " James Laurence! " The boy started up and followed this man into the prison yard. He had scarcely stepped upon the stone-flags, when two officers passed him, leading a woman toward the female prison. The boy saw her face, and flinging out his arms cried out, u Mother ! mother ! oh, mother ! " _ _ - t II K I! r I fi N I N G BELL E. CHAPTEK LII. THE SECOND ARREST. Smith had acted with a stern, secret energy. Without consulting his wife, or any one but an iron-hearted detective, he had qnietly arrested little James Laurence, and lodged him in the Tombs. Early the next morning, while Mrs. Laurence was busy cooking her meagre breakfast, a strange man stepped into the kitchen, boldly, as if it had been his own home, and told her to get her things, and not attempt to raise a muss about it, because it was of no use ; her son lught, and nicely caged. She was known to be his accomplice — in fact, the person who had no doubt sefThim On. At any rate he had a warrant against her, as a receiver, and she had better obey it just then and there. The. stolen goods had been found in her out-house, and he was after the money .-harp ; must search the house for that, but not till she was disposed of according to law. Was she ready ? Mrs. Laurence heard all this in stern astonishment. She had been cutting bread, and stood with the knife in one hand, grasping the loaf in the other, motionless as stone. "Me? Me, and my son James? Are you speaking of she said at la>t. ''What have you done with him? What do you want of me?" "Jusl as it' you didn't know. Well, if you will have it, I want you to step out before a justice, and answer for your- lelf." •• \ DSWer for what ? " Bobbery I I think they'd call this burglary, only the boy was in the house, and SO, of course, i only break out, if breaking was to be done." "Stealing I Robbery!" THE SECOND ARREST. 229 These words fell from the woman's lips like lead dropping on marble. A stupor of astonishment seemed turning her to stone. " My boy ! James, my boy ! You said something strange about him ; horribly strange, it seems to me." "I said that we had him safe in the Tombs, where you will be mighty quick, or I'm mistaken. But, come along; it's the best way. The gentleman wanted me to get through without making a fuss in the neighborhood. So get your things, and- " " What is this ? Mother, who is this man ? " Mrs. Laurence instantly came out of the icy trance that had settled on her faculties, and answered sharply, " A person on business, Eva. I believe I am going out ; tell your sister so, and bring my bonnet." Eva detected nothing in the cold, steady voice of her mother to occasion alarm, and went into the next room for the bonnet and shawl, which she usually wore to market. Mrs. Laurence took these things from her hand, and put them on. There was no tremor of the fingers when she tied her bonnet-strings ; no heave or flutter of the bosom, when the faded shawl was folded over it. This poor woman had been so used to bearing her own burdens in silence, that even this fearful shock was endured with speechless heroism. " Girls," she said, looking in at the parlor-door, and speaking rather more cheerfully than usual, " don't wait for me, but eat your breakfast ; Eva must not be late." Euth looked up, and answered, smiling, in her meek, sweet way, " that she would rather wait. Eva, of course, must go." There was no answer to this, and a minute after Euth saw her mother go through the gate, followed by that strange man. " I wonder if it's anything about the mortgage ? " she 230 TUT. RBIGN1 N 9 BELLE. I months more, and I should Eva, dear," she said, in answer to something her Bister had .suggested. "I have no appetite just now, and will wait for mother." Wait for motberl 1W girl! CHAPTER LI II. •i in: woman IH THE LAUNDRY. That morning, a woman, rather young but meanly clad, and appearing miserably over-worked, came into Mrs. Lara- kitchen. Sim was conducted to the laundry by the whose department had fallen so woefully behind hand in the way of table-linen, that she considered a little out- side help necessary. The woman who was usually called upon, when such occasions arose, happened to be ill, and Dt this haggard young person, who lived in the same tenement-house, as a substitute. The laundry in which her work lay was a little dark, and for that reason the door lead- Dto the kitchen was left partly open. During the morning a young man came in, carrying a t of groceries, and, while the cook was heaping the different articles on a table, the two fell into conversation. When the washerwoman's eyes fell on this young man, ipped work, and the napkin she was rubbing rolled down the wash-board into the suds, while she held on to a ■ the tub with each hand, looking keenly through the ■ quite unseen. •■ I bad to do it mysejfaihis morning," said the youth, ting the • lanse '>ur boy's been and got took op for help : ' 'Hi. 7 t tbat pretty, dark-eyed Vfl^ic fellow that comes hero I THE WOMAN IN THE LAUNDRY. 231 generally of late," said the cook, with something like regret in her voice. "Yes, just him; and no mistake ahout that. He was took to the Tombs last night." " You don't say so ! What did he take ? " " Money, and lots on lots of groceries — tea worth its weight in gold ; lots of things." " But what could he do with them ? " "Well, it's all out now, and I don't mind your knowing about it. The boy's mother is a sly old party, poor as a wharf-rat, and, oh my, how crafty ! She sot the boy on, and hid the things for him in the wood-house. The detec- tive found them there. Now, tell me, do you want any better proof than that ? " .*■ "Then they found the things on the premises ? " " That's just what they did, and this morning the old woman was walked off by a policeman. I saw her go." " Well, I'm awful sorr} T for the boy," said the good-na- tured cook; "he seemed such a nice little shaver. Them eyes didn't look dishonest; but there is no knowing who to trust these times." "Exactly ! Shouldn't wonder if soma one was to suspect me, one of these days. The more innercent a feller looks, the more suspicious, say I. But, tell me, is Mr. Mahone about? I'd just like to speak a word with him, if you'll be kind enough to look him up." The cook laid a paper parcel on the table, and good-na- turedly went in search of Mr. Mahone, observing, " He's more than likely in the servants' parlor, with Ellen Post. Now you've told me some news that'll give me a fit of mournfulness all day long, so I'll just rertalerate, and tell you something worth while. Mr. Mahone and Ellen Post are engaged. They're going to be married right out of hand. She's going to open a first-class boarding-house, and he Well, I suppose he'll do like the rest of 'em, and keep up the marketing." 282 Til B BEIONIMG BELLE. le, full of snow-white linen, stood near the door where these two persona were talking. The woman at the wash-tab, who had become strangely interested, as the conversation went on, stole softly behind this screen, and Bt 1 close to the wall, not three feet from the cook anu her companion. She heard all that they were saying, and the atence brought a flash of fire to her dark eyes. "Why she could not herself have told, for she knew of no person named Mahone, and she had never heard of Ellen Post in bet life. Still the fire was in her eyes, and a sharp throb of nameless suspicion in her heart. I : a moment the young man Boyce was silent, then a low Bhrill whistle broke from him. that's his little game, is it! Well, all right. Just say that I'm here and a waiting to speak with him. I"ll Stay here.*' cook having disposed of her groceries, gave the empty basket to Boyce, and went into the servants' parlor. Directly the footman came out, looking flushed and anxious. " I- it you, Boyce?" he said, pausing close to the laun- dry-door, and peering in to be sure the room was empty. ■ I . ' ; inside here, and be quick; you and I must not be seen together much just now. Well, what is it? Sp< ak Ion ' " •• The old woman, Mrs. Laurence, was arrested this morn- •' Ml right! Hut how do you know?" " 1 tood in the store, and saw the man go that way; you kfl in fidl sight. By just stepping under the awning I can see the vines on the porch, and that crowd of flowers in fl ■ I ' Mi Smith know yet ?" ust found it out, and pitched into her bosband awful He's satisfied, and won't give way an inch. THE WOMAN IN THE LAUNDRY. 233 But isn't she on the rampage ! The worst of it is, I've got to go before the justice, and I tell } r ou it's unpleasant." " Yes ; but you are in for it, and must go through. Any- thing else ? " "Yes; something that the cook told me. Tell me, old fellow, have you put your foot in it to the extent of saddling 3'ourself with another sweetheart. She talks of your being engaged, of a wedding, and so forth. How much of this is true ? " The footman drew Boyce farther into the room, and shut the door. " I say Boj'ce, if I was to marry a woman, with more than five hundred dollars laid up from wages, and five thousand a pretty sure thing, would you stand by me?" " Through thick and thin ; so long as we shared ! " answered Boj-ce, holding out his hand, and working his long fingers like the claws of a bird. " Of course, I should be liberal. Brothers are brothers, you know." " Yes, and don't they grind one another down ? Oh, no, never! It isn't in the natur of one to do nothing, and take all he can grip at. He never lets any one take risks of the law for him. Oh, no!" " But you will run no risk when I marry Ellen Post. The law comes on me there." " Exactly. But I come between you and the law, having seen you married to that other woman, and knowing just where she's to be found any minute." " Well, well, you will not be unreasonable ? " " Oh, no ! But won't she cut up rusty ? " " How is she to find out ? What does Mary Boyce know about Robert Mahone? Why, she don't know who I am living with. In fact, thinks I'm tending bar in some place where women never come ; generally out of business though, or I shouldn't get a share of her earnings." 1 H l. B i: IGNING BELLE. ■■ VI v ii mean to do it. anyhow?" •• y, made up my mind. Such a pile of money tumble in upon a fellow without some risk; so I'll Stand the racket, especially as Ellen Post is a splendid crct •• 1 [andsomei than Mary ? " • N i comparison ; but you've seen her. She was out here thet day." •• What ! That woman with the cap and ribbons ? You don't say bo; golly! here she comes, and I'm off. Don't want to be introduced to my new sister-in-law just yet. light put on airs." With these words Boyce stepped into the kitchen, took up his basket, and left the house. CHAPTER LIV PBEPAKING FOR THE WEDDIXG. "Hs. Kahonb! Mr.Mahonel Is there any news?" said \. 1' -:. advancing toward the laundry. "Hush I Step in here; the cook is always prowling in ■ of that room. That's right. Shut the door. You king about news. Yes, indeed, that boy was arrested lay. This morning an officer is after the old woman — two of the Laurence family are in for it. As for that girl, Era, I'm afraid we can't fasten on her just yet." "Oh, we can wait for her. Mrs. Lambert's agent was is morning about foreclosing a mortgage on the Tiny haren't kept Dp the int. Test. I don't think •he'd order them turned out, much as she hates them. So I told bun she was sick ; but I'd take up his message, which was to ask for directions. .She was asleep on the sofa, PREPARING FOR THE WEDDING. 235 so I told him that she was not well enough to talk about business, but wanted this troublesome mortgage closed up at once, without bothering her again about it." "That was a ten strike," said the admuing Robert. " So, when they get back from prison, their shanty will be gone, and we shall have rooted them out, trunk and branch. I'm sure that must satisfy Miss Spicer." " Yes. If she don't pay the five thousand down after that, she's no lady." " Which she is," answered Ellen, with emphasis. "Why, the verj' last night, she, knowing what was between us, Mr. Mahone, gave me a white-silk dress, only twice worn, with real lace on the sleeves and bosom, and a wreath of white flowers, which she says are just as fashionable for brides as orange-blossoms, which she hasn't had any use for as yet — rnore's the shame to Mr. Ivon, who behaves as no gentle- man has a right to." " Well, no one can say that we haven't done our share. "When will she pay over, my dear?" questioned Mahone, drawing Ellen tenderly toward him. " Just as soon as we are married. I asked her, and she said that." "She did? Well, well! When will that be? With the wedding dress all ready, we might have it in the base- ment-parlor, within a week." "Oh, Mr. Mahone, think of it? I couldn't. The cake — the invitations." " Hang the cake! and as for inform I beg pardon, invitations ; the genteel thing is a strictly private wed- ding." " A private wedding, and that dress ? Such a silk ! You could almost stand it alone ! " "Yes, yes, I know. But who does a bride dress for but her admiring husband ? I shall worship you in that bridal robe and them flowers ; but don't ask me to share the beau- T II K R B I G N I N Q BE L L E. tiful Bight with any other man. I couldn't stand it, being that j< alous." "Oh, Mr. Mahone, I had bo Bet my heart upon it." I my heart on you, Ellen. Just a car- rh you and your adorer in it, the white silk dress a rastliog around your lovely person, trimmed with flowers white Well, yes, white, as bridal flowers ought to be." •• What ; Without bridemaids ? — without witnesses?" " My ] greatness," said Eva. u Unsuited to its greatness!" exclaimed Ross. " Is it a lation to he useful, to give bread for thought — for I power to transmute itself Into material blessing '.' I- the man <-r woman of genius higher or prouder than the G rho made him? [a the wheat, which bends in green ; ening waves to the wind, and grows golden under eva's temptation. 241 the sunshine, less beautiful because hungry millions feed on it ? Are the lilies of the field more splendid than the fruit ■with which our orchards are laden ? Why, Eva, every grand or lovely thing that God has created has its uses for mankind. While men starve and suffer, no gift that comes from Him can remain idle without sin. The great reward of genius is its power to confer blessings; first, by the effort itself, giving new objects of thought or beauty to the world, and again by the material rewards, which cannot be used without adding to the comfort and happiness of mankind." Eoss spoke with an outburst of feeling, which Eva's little speech, natural to a romantic girl, need hardly have called forth. She blushed crimson, feeling his ardent words as a rebuke, while Euth seemed to kindle up with living fire. Her eyes flashed like stars, and a handful of carnations seemed to have been dashed against her cheek, leaving a delicate stain there. She rose to her elbow, radiant. " Ob, Eva ! " she said. " If you knew how happy it has made me to win a little money, when you all need it so much, you would never talk as if the earning it could be considered unsuitable." "You are right," answered Eva, almost crying. "It was a thoughtless speech." " Because you really had never considered the subject," answered Eoss, heartily ashamed of his own enthusiasm. "But all this brings us no nearer to the question in hand." Both the sisters grew silent, and the color faded slowly from their faces. They looked at each other with yearning fondness, and, as if influenced by one feeling, the eyes of both filled with tears. " It can hardly be called a separation," said Eoss, touched with lively sympathy. " There need not be a day in which you cannot see each other." " She must go," faltered Euth, stretching forth her arms. " To keep her with us would be cruel." 15 THE K1I6H1IO BELLE. D her knees by the couch, and buried her m. :.e said. " We cannot part; not while they need of I member mother, how much more you would be fox ber and James, who felt it so hard to give up ." pleaded Rath. *' This is a poor place for you, my :." tt is it better for you and mother?" questioned Eva, •'v. for the temptation to go was strong within her, and she hated herself for it. it we will soon make this home pleasanter for them than it has ever been," said Ross. '•Who is that? Mother?" cred Bath, who heard a woman's step in the porch. a She will think with us. I am sure, ! CHAPTER LVI. MRS. SMITH BRINGS PAIXFTL XEWS. Dot reply to her sister's question, for she had hurri' I ind found Dot her mother, as she e Smith, with her bonnet awry, and her trailing to the ground The pood woman'.- t. flushed with crying, and a fresh rain of tears came to her the moment .-he saw Eva, "Don't! Don't! Order me from the door! I>'>n't nothing, just with looking in my face! my fault; I knew no more about it than my • darling, that never dr i crael father I'll never live with S d do such u thing, without telling PAINFUL NEWS. 243 me ! I'm not a cannibal, nor a Hottentot to stand such things!" Mrs. Smith had hurst forth in this torrent of words and tears on the very door-step. Eva entreated her to come in. Being utterly ignorant of the particular grief that possessed the good woman, she could do no more. " You're just one degree from a heavenly angel, Eva Laurence," continued the good woman, wiping her eyes on the corner of her shawl, as she passed into the parlor. "Smith won't, but I've come to make atonement on my bended knees. Tell me what to do for them, and I'll do it, if Jerusha Maria and I are left without a crust." " My dear Mrs. Smith, what do you mean ? Who has troubled you so? " "Who? My own lawfully-married husband. What? Oh, mercy upon me ! don't you know yet ? Where's your mother ? " "She went out this morning," said Eva, "and has not returned yet. We are expecting her every minute." "Expecting her! Why, don't you know? Expecting her ? Oh ! oh ! this is hard, that I should have to tell it, and he my husband ! Eva, both your mother and James are in prison." " In prison ! " Three voices at once uttered this one sentence. Ruth started up from her couch, white to the lips; Eva stood rooted to the floor, her eyes widening, and lips just apart. Even Mr. Ross started to his feet, and a swarthy color swept over his face. "In prison! Eor what?" he demanded. "Who put them there ? " " Must I say it again ? It was my own husband that did it, backed up, and led blind by that copper-headed cre- tur, Ja Boyce. I know as well as I live, that he's at the bottom of it, though Smith sticks to him through thick and I B B B B I G N I N G B B I. I- E. thin. As for that boy, he's innocent as twenty lambs, : f 'era with Beeces white as Bnow; but you can't make Smith believe it, he's that blinded." •• Pray, Mrs. Smith, compose yourself) and tell us clearly what all this means? On what charge are these two per- BOD8 in prison ? " said Eoss, who was the first to recover his prei ence of mind. "Charges? Why, theft! burglary! receiving stolen property ! Our store was robbed on the night wo went to your sister's party. And they are took up for doing it. I didn't know it till just now. Oh, they were mighty sly, Kate Gorman and all, taking people up, and keeping me in the 'lark ; but I've left 'em. Smith will find out what he's done when I am gone, and his borne is full of nothing but lonelii "Where have they been taken to, Mrs. Smith?" in- quired R '• Where ? The Tombs, to be sure. Xo other place was gloom v enough for them. Smith has gone down to appear, i ,m1 a pretty appearance he'll put in for himself. Oh, girls, it was not my fault!" The poop woman clasped her hands, and seemed about to fall upon her knees before Eva, who flung both arms about her neck, and tenderly wiped her eyes, though her hands .•-liook in doing it, and the dumb anguish in her face was pitiful to - •• Whatever it is, we shall never blame you, Mrs. Smith," gasped Both. Mrs. Smith fell on her knees before the sick girl's couch, and burst into a fresh paroxysm of tears. '• Bnt you must blame him. "Who can help it? To keep mob things secret from the wife of his bosom; hard as a rook, too, against thai [ r honest, trusty, dear old woman. Oh, it's too bad I too bad I Bat that he told me himself, I would have believed it; but there he is, gone down to ; I bCAthen grind-stone." PAINFUL NEWS. 245 " Be tranquil, be patient, ray dear young ladies. I will go at once, and see what this means," said Ross, taking Eva's hand, which scarcely trembled more than his own. "They will need some friend. Have no fear; I shall know how to help them." " I — I will go with you," cried Eva, turning to leave the room. "No; not yet. It would only do harm. All that can be done I will attend to. It is impossible that there should be anything serious in this. Stay quietly at home till you hear from me." Eva hesitated. Her first generous impulse was to brave everything for the two beings she loved so dearly. But nobility of purpose is not always prudently carried out. It requires more fortitude to stay at home and wait, than to rush out and act. The girl was brave, but she was also obedient, and when Ruth spoke, she turned from her pur- pose. "Stay, Eva," said the gentle invalid. "You can do nothing. Our good friend will help us. Stay till he comes." Eva sat down, and burst into tears. Forbidden to act, she could only weep and wait. "Tell him that I have left his house! That — that he is a cruel, hard-hearted man ! Tell him that there is no sort of use in his ever coming home again — for — for Oh, it i* dreadful ! Why can't people die when they want to? " Mrs. Smith would have added more no doubt, but half these words were smothered on Ruth's couch ; and when she looked up, Mr. Ross was passing through the garden- gate. "Oh, girls, what shall we do?" she exclaimed, "what shall we do ! Just say that I never ought to speak to Smith again, and I won't; no, not if he takes Jerusha Maria out of my arms, and gives her — oh ! oh ! — to some other woman." T ii i; B B [Oil N Q B E LIS. "My dear friend," murmured Ruth, "go home to your child— all will be welL" "Yes, I will go!" sobbed the good woman; "but it be down then CHAPTER LVII. IN HASTE FOR THE WEDDING. - Ki.i.in Post was taking in the waist of Miss Spicer's white Bilk dress, and had altered the trimming till it really seemed as good as new. Miss Spicer, herself, had down into the servants' parlor to examine the effect, and had brought from her own room a quantity of tulle scarcely the worse for wear, which had once covered a train- ed over-dress, but was quite fresh enough for the wedding veil; especially as the breadths were joined neatly by a white wreath, which had been beautifully freshened up for the occasion. ■ deeper anxiety than the wedding dress had evi- dently brought the young heiress into the servants' depart- ment, tor fhe pushed aside a mass of silk tulle and frag- Fronn a couch which stood near the expectant . . ncd to prepare herself for a conversation of some length. Miss Poet WftS very busy with the bridal veil, and threw h'-r whole energ apletely into the pleasant task, that she had little attention to bestow even on the young lady who had honored her by a visit, and from whom Bhe ex- ii uch. Thus Mi impelled to begin the subject that j on her mind, without help from the • IN HASTE FOR THE WEDDING. 247 "You are quite sure, Ellen, that there is no mistake about the arrests," she said, at length. Miss Post was holding up the wreath from which a cloud of tulle floated to the floor, and did not answer for half a minute, but she spoke at last. " Sure, Miss Spicer, of course I am. The young man, Boyce, came round and told us the minute it was done. They first took up the boy, then walked the old woman off between two policemen. Boyce waited to see it done, then come to inform Mr. Mahone, who is anxious beyond any- thing, knowing that our wedding depends on their being safely locked in prison." " Your wedding, Ellen, pray what has that to do with it?" questioned Miss Spicer, who was not entirely informed of the wheels within wheels which revolved in the kitchen department. "Just as much as the five thousand dollars that you are to pay over for clearing these people out of the madam's path." " Oh, you depend on that ; but it will take some time before they can be safely disposed of, Ellen." " They are in prison this minute ; by to-morrow, at far- thest, they will be remanded — that is the word Mr. Mahone calls it — back for trial. That ought to be disgrace enough for one family, Miss Spicer." " But this money was to be paid on conviction, Ellen, you must remember that." "No, I do not," answered the waiting maid, casting aside her veil and entering into the subject with spirit, "and if you take it so, it isn't too late to draw back. The young man Boyce has only to clear out of the city, and the}''!! have to be acquitted. Everything depends on him." Miss Spicer changed color and gave the fragments of silks and laces around her a spiteful toss to the floor. Her love of money was almost as warm as her attachment for young I H I B SIGNING BELLE. mbert, or her dislike of Eva Laurence. She had, in fact, promised this large sura of money with a reserved hope of : liii^ the payment after her vengeance was secured. Poet was not exactly the person to be so dealt with. She had no abiding faith in the honor of her con- federate, and was resolved that the trust should not be all on one side. Another reason, still more urgent, gave her cour- to be firm. Ellen had met with disappointments in her life, and she was in haste to secure herself from a mournful t it ion of them by wearing the snow-white robe at the earliest possible moment. Before she could do that, the money which Miss Spicer had promised must be forthcom- ing. Mahone had expressed himself very decidedly on that point. " It seems to me," said Miss Spicer, "that you and your friends are going off from the terms of our agreement, Ellen." »t at all," answered the bride. " Mr. Mahone is the very soul of honor. At first he declined to act without the money in hand, but a word from me was enough to per- suade him into waiting till these persons were in prison. Then," says he, "dearly as I love you, Ellen, superior as are to all other women, I must be firm ; for your own dear sake, I should be prepared to support you like the ladv yon are. For this reason I must have the money down." I here was no resisting an argument put in this compli- mentary way, Miss Spicer. It went at once to the heart." '■I should think it was rather intended to go to my pocket," answered the young lady with a short, sneering laugh. "So " 1 ''" DOl pay the money down your Mr. Mahone will a "" u pie to escape. Ls that what you mean?" "1 am inclined to think that was Mr. Mahone's mean- answered Ellen, holding op her veil again and admir- ing it with her head on one side like a heron looking at his shadow in the water. ■■ Bnl it was all for my sake, so you most DOt think hard of him.'' IN HASTE FOR THE WEDDING. 249 " Miss Post, my Ellen ! " The voice which uttered these words came from the kitchen out of which a door opened. Then Mr. Mahone appeared. " Your Adonis," said Miss Spicer with a short laugh. "No," answered Ellen, innocently, "his name is Ma- hone." " I beg pardon," said the footman, advancing into the room, " I thought this young lady was alone. Boyce has just come in, would you like to speak with him ? " Ellen looked at Miss Spicer, who nodded her head. " He can come in if }-ou desire," said Ellen with dignity, but first allow me to put these garments out of sight." Directly the footman entered the room again, followed by Boyce, who presented himself with an air of mingled awk- wardness and audacity that would have excited either anger or ridicule in Miss Spicer at any other time; now her mind was occupied with the business in hand, so she watched him with keen interest. "This young man has brought me word that the person whom you take so much interest in is safe in prison and will be examined to-day," said Mahone, addressing Ellen, but looking at the young lady. "He has just come from the Tombs." " Then they are both shut up, the mother and the boy," said Ellen. u That's so," answered Boyce, seating himself on the edge of a chair and crushing his hat with both bands, " salt can't save 'em after this. They've got to go." " Then these poor creatures are certainly in prison ? " questioned the young lady, breaking out of all prudent bounds when she thought her vengeance on the fair way to completion. " No mistake about that, Miss, you'd a thought so if you had seen how they took on — affecting, I can tell you, Till. BBIQNING B B L L K. enough t<> bring teara from a common ball. Almost snivel- led my-. -It. if you'll excuse the word, Miss." "Then it is certain?" questioned Miss Spicer. ■•A- bolts and bare can make it," said Mahone. "This young man's evidence is enough to convict a born angel." ■• Ami 1 have given it — and shall have to give it again — nothing but cutting loose and running away can stop that," said the youth, adding the last sentence in reply to a wink li -in Mahone. "Thank you very much," said Ellen Post, dismissing the rk as if she had been an Empress. "I took an ■ people on account of the boy, but if they are really guilty, of course all sympathy ends." "Guilty, 1 should think so," answered Boj'ce, getting himself up from the chair, " good morning — good morning Miss. 1 hone 1 have not intruded nor nothing?" "Good morning," said Ellen blandly, as became a not very young lady so near the hymenial altar. Mahone followed Boyce from the room, and the two men held BOme moments of eager conversation in the farthest corner of the kitchen. '• Did 1 ilo it up brown? " questioned the younger man. "Thai you did," answered the other. "Jared. I always have said you were a trump." •• What is best, every word of it is true. I'm going down to the court now. The young lady has only got the news a little in advance. Good-bye, old boy. I'll come up and give VOO particulars when it's all over." •• I iood-bj e, and Bee that you make no blunders," answered Mahone, "they would be too costly jus! now." " I ' said Boyce, coming back a step or two, "don't take the screws off from that rich girl in there. .Nail ber • ■ we are in too deep." "Oh, never fear, Ellen will do that," answered Mahone, and the two pai ted. IN HASTE FOR THE WEDDING. 251 Meanwhile Ellen Post was proving herself worthy of the confidence Mr. Mahone expressed in her. The moment those two young men left the room she turned to Miss Spicer. " Now are you satisfied, Miss ? " " Yes, that the work you undertook is half done," answered the young lady tartly. " One thing is certain," replied Miss Post quietly resuming her work, " the money we depended on must be paid within an hour, or that young man will come up missing at the examination/' Miss Spicer started to her feet, and flushed angrily, feel- ing herself coarsely coerced. " Ellen Post, I have made you a promise and it shall be performed. It seems that we cannot trust each other. Let that young man go on and I will pay you half the money now, the rest when these people are convicted, not a cent more. Take your choice, a check for two thousand five hundred now, the rest to abide the result of a trial, or nothing. Which will you have?" "The check," said Ellen Post, still going on with her work with a leisurely motion. Miss Spicer left the room without a word. Ellen Post worked faster, and her needle flew. This was all the sign of excitement that she gave. Directly the young lady came down again with a check fluttering in her hand. She flung it into the waiting maid's lap. -Will that do?" Ellen took the check up, and examined it closely. " Yes, it will do," she said, " thanks ! " Miss Spicer flung herself out of the room. The moment she was gone, Ellen Post dropped her work in a white heap on the carpet, and opened the kitchen door. " Mr. Mahone ! " The footman answered the call of his lady love promptly. 262 T B B REIGNING BELLE. closed the door and held up the check. He flushed neon with pleasure. •• Y.ii don't say ^ ! " " That is all we sljall get till after the trial," said Ellen. •• Let me look at it,'"' entreated Mr. Mahoue, reaching out his hand. •■ No, the ink is wet," answered his betrothed. •• Hut, but when — " Mali. 'la- hesitated, some coward thought, which might have been conscience in another man, checked the criminal proposition he was about to make. " Did you ask anything?'' inquired Ellen, slowl}* folding the cluck which she hid carefully away in her bosom. •• Jfes, 1 did, Mi>s Tost. What are we a waiting for? how long will you keep this ardent heart on the fence ? " '• Mr. Mahone, you speak so metaphorically that I can't qaite understand." " When — when are we to be married — to unite our for- tunes and share and share alike ?" Mi— Posi cast down her eyes and began to roll up one of her cap strings, feeling herself to be a young lady of ro- mance with an ardent hero before her. '•When will that confounded — that gorgeous wedding dress he done ? " "It — it can be finished in an hour," faltered the damsel, '• I wasju8t fastening flowers into the bridal veil." "Then what is in the way? "Who is to hinder us from being married this very night?" demanded the lover whom a liugle glimpse of that check had rendered half frantic jjreed. "To-nighl ! ()', ! Mr. Mahonel" this \ery night The dress is ready — I have got what would am. >nnt t«> a basket of champagne stored away, and my he. ul — my heart | '" " I' n't! don't appeal to me in that way; you know my MOTHER AND SON. 253 weakness, you know how impossible it is to refuse you any- thing." "Is that so? Prove it then, Ellen, prove it by having that dress on at eight o'clock this evening. I will have a carriage at the back entrance, and a minister ready. Prom- ise now ; if your love for me is the genuine thing, you will." "Oh, Mahone, I promise!" " At eight, then?" "At eight you will find me here waiting." CHAPTER LVIII. MOTHER AND SON. "When Mrs. Laurence heard this wild cry from her boy, she turned suddenly and held out her arms. The poor little fellow rushed into them, and clung to her, trembling under a fierce effort to be brave and choke back the tears that rushed, hot and painful, to his eyes. Up to this moment the old woman had been too indig- nant for sorrow. The grey of her eyes shone out hard and cold as steel ; but now a mist stole over them and her whole frame shook visibly. "James! James! there, there, hush! These men must not see you cry. You have done nothing. I have done nothing. Be brave then, as your mother is." James drew his head back, and looked in the old woman's face, shaking the tears away from his own vision that lie might comfort her with an effort to obey and be strong. But the sight of that pale, shocked countenance brought them back with a rush. " Oh, mother ! mother ! what will they do to you ? 2">4 THE BEIOIINO BELLE. •• How can we tell, my child?" " And the girls, Ruth; and Eva, will they bring them too? " old woman shook her head. '• I don't know. How can I ? " "Where are they — oh! where are they, mother? " cried the boy. startled with a new fear. "At home. I left them safe — don't, don't tremble so, Jimmy. '' • I'd I tremble? Mother, don't mind, I didn't mean to ; only I was so frightened about the girls. Do they mean to kill us all ? " "Come, come, little chap. Don't you see that we're waiting? A little of this sort of thing is well enough; but you're wanted up yonder, you know." The policeman who said this took James by the arm, not altogether unkindly, and moved toward a flight of stairs that led into the front of the most gloomy building that civilization ever invented. Through dark corridors, narrow passages, and sparsely furnished rooms, the officers led mother and son, who, quite unconscious of crime, felt all the shame and bitter humilia- tion of guilt. Through those vast Egyptian pillars that Memed Strong enough to bear up mountains, and whose very shadows lay like overthrown granite upon the paved floor, they went, growing more ami more heavy-hearted into -'one wilderness, till, at last, they stood in a square roc, in, with a desk running across one end, and some wooden along the opposite side. The woman ami her son sat down on the nearest bench, while the officer leaned his back against the wall and waited. 'I he widow looked around with a vague feeling of eurios- i'y. The bare room, in another place, would hardly have challenged notice ; but here, in the heart of that gloomy MOTHER AND SON. 255 prison, thoughts of crime and its gloomy train of sorrows made the place desolate indeed. The Judge, who sat wea- rily on his bench, scarcely looked that way when the door opened to admit these two prisoners. He had become so accustomed to human suffering, so familiar with every aspect of crime, that both had ceased to shock him. After a little, he beckoned to the officer, who came for- ward and answered a brief question put to him. "It is," said he. "an old woman and her son, charged with a heavy crime, the boy with grand larceny, the woman with receiving the goods he had stolen, probably at her own suggestion." The Judge cast a severe glance at the woman, and went on with some business that had occupied him before -the officer's entrance. But few persons were in the court-room, for scenes like this were commonplace affairs, and men had scarcely the curiosity to look twice, when the mother and son seated themselves on the same bench with some half dozen other persons, gloomy, hardened and evil-looking, who awaited examination. After awhile, the Judge leaned back in his leathern chair, and the officer was ordered to come forward with his charge. He spoke kindly to the old woman, who arose, tall, rigid and tearless, to obey. This woman knew herself to be in- nocent, and felt the wrong that had dragged her before that tribunal with bitter, even fierce resentment. When her hand clutched the railing before the Judge, it was with a grasp of iron, and the eyes she bent upon him burned with smouldering fire which he took for defiance. When the judge called Mrs. Laurence by name, the lad clung to her dress, and followed her up to the bar, with some wild idea of protecting her from the harm that threat- ened them both. But there was nothing for him to do. He understood THE REIGNING BELLE. lno iraong was intended, but bad no idea of tbe form in which it was to come upon them. Thus he stood close to his mother, pale and bewildered. They had given him no chance to speak to bis mother, nor did be know <>f what she was accused. All was gloom and distrust around him; his proud young heart swelled with a sense of infinite degradation, which seemed to close in his life with sudden darkness. He turned bis eyes upon the judge with thrills of dread, then lifted them to bis mother, from whose face they fell away, heavy with tears. As the mother and her boy stood before this, to them mysterious tribunal, two men came into tbe court-room, and James gave a start as be saw them, and uttered a faint cry, which drew bis mother's attention. The first man who presented himself was Jared Boyce, who came forward with a studied swagger, tbougb his usually florid face was almost ashen pale, and bis cowardly eyes wandered away from any look fixed upon them. The other man was Smith ; be too was pale and greatly agitated; he only cast one glance at tbe lad, wbose face brightened at the sight of him, and turned utterl}' away from the woman, who searched bis countenance keenly with I "Oh, sir! ob, Mr. Smith! what does it mean? "What will they do with her?" half sobbed, half whispered the boy, who still considered Smith bis friend, and drew closer to him in an agony of hope. Smith turned asvay with a frown; bis course was taken; justice should be done; why then should he permit himself to be disturbed by the woman's stern glance, or the largo, pleading eyes of the boy. Now and then, be glanced to- ward the door, as if apprehending something from that quarter. Bui tin- fixed resolve of his face did not change. He waved the poor lad back with his hand, but made no other reply to his pathetic appeal. MOTHER AND SON. 257 " Oh, mother, what can I do for you — what can I do? " cried the boy, creeping back to the old woman's side. " Everybody turns against us." "Hush! be a man!" was the answer; but the old wo- man's voice was broken and her mouth quivered. " Do they mean to send us back to prison, mother ? " This time the boy addressed the policeman who had all along betrayed extraordinary pity for him. But another person heard it and answered, " Not as bug as I live to say that it sha'nt be done, Jimmy dear !" James sprang forward and caught Mrs. Smith by the gown. " Oh, ma'am, you will take her away, you will — " Mrs. Smith interrupted him. " Yes, I will, if it kills me I will ! " Here the good woman released her dress from the boy's grasp and went up to the judge. " Sir," said she, "now may it please your honor, I have come down here all alone to see that justice is done to these two people who are innocent as milk, yes sir, as skim milk. They are my friends, neither of them ever touched the value of a pin that I didn't give them with my own hand. They " The judge here interrupted an argument that would have been effective before a jury, and in its honest intensity interested him. "Who are you, Madam ? I do not understand." "Who am I ? Yesterday I should have been proud to say I was that man's wife, but now ! " Here poor Mrs. Smith cast a reproachful glance on her husband ; burst into a passion of tears, and only answered the judge with her sobs. " She is my wife," said Smith, in a troubled voice, " and won't believe in their guilt, though the goods were found in 16 258 T II K REIGN IH G H B I. T. B. thai (Toman's wood-house. Some of them was in the cellar. The officers can testify to that, but .she won't believe a word of it." \ . I won't, there!" cried the woman, brushing away a Fresh burst of tears, and turning upon her husband, "not if Pd seen them a doing it with my own eyes. There are things, Mr. Judge, that human nature won't take in, and this is one of them." "Do you know anything about this charge of your own knowledge ? " questioned the Judge kindly, for the woman's lessness had made its impression on him. •• Know, Mr. Judge. Yes, I know that it's a shame and a disgrace that we shall never get over as long as my name is Smith. Why, sir, if you could have seen that boy tend- ing my Jerusha Maria, his innocence would be clear as clear to you. No paid nurse was ever so careful or so handy — the way he used to hold up her two feet in them red morocco - for her to crow over, was a sight in itself. He steal, b B store — nothing but a heathen would think of it."' Here Mrs. Smith turned upon her husband, and flashed a storm of wrathful glances on him from her yet tearful eyes. •■ STou're a pretty man. ain't yoa — an honor to the name of Smith, oh yes! It would make } r ou happy to see these two innocent creatures in States Prison, with balls and chains on their ankles. I can see you now a gloating over it. and those two girls breaking their hearts. Oh, Smith ! Smith ! I wouldn't have believed it of you !" ■• There, there, my good lady, 1 can honor j r our feelings, 1 • you interrupt the case. Pray step down and let me take the evidence of these persons," said the Judge. •■ I'.nt yon won't believe them, just promise that you won't believe them, and I'll be still enough." "Believe me, they shall have justice," answered the . kmdly. "That is all any of us want," said Mrs. Smith, and THE EXAMINATION COMPLETED. 259 stepping down, she took her place by Mrs. Laurence, reso- lute to stand by her to the last. "Young man, step this way." Jared Boyce obeyed this order from the magistrate, and mounted the step which ran in front of the judge's seat. His face was flushed to a bricky red now, and his eyes wan- dered away from any one who attempted to look into them. They were turned furtively aside from the judge while Boyce told his story in a hard, cruel voice, which never faltered or softened in its tone from beginning to end. We know what that story was, and how the wicked plot to ruin this brave, innocent lad had grown and perfected itself in the craft aud greed of a few base creatures, who at first thought only of throwing their own guilt on him, but afterwards broadened their plot in hopes of great future gain. It was impossible for Boyce to keep the blood from reced- ing now and then from his face. When that stern woman's eyes were bant on him, he seemed to feel their searching fire, and grew deadly pale, though his glance never rested on her once. Two or three times the accused lad made a step or two forward, with his hand clenched, tempted to strike his fellow-clerk for the slander he was uttering ; but a touch of the old woman's hand brought him back to her side, and the perjured wretch told his story to the end, with- out interruption of any kind. CHAPTER LTX. THE EXAMINATION COMPLETED. Then Smith the grocer took the stand. There was hu- man feeling in this man, and he bitterly repented the step he had taken after his wife learned of it, and put in her pas- %% I THE REIGNING BELLE. rionste protest. Bat compunction came too late. Plis charge had been made; the case was taken out of his hands. He WOold gladly have softened, or withheld his own evidence; but the oath enforced upon him was a sacred obligation to ■peak the truth, and against his own will Smith gave iu his evidence honestly. While he was speaking a gentleman came into the court- room, and quietly drew toward Mrs. Laurence and her son, who caught him by the hand and whispered, " i Mi, take her home ! don't let her stand here to be look- ed at BO I Peel her hands; they are cold as stones! Let them take me, I am a man, and can bear it; but a night in one of those cells would kill any woman ! Please, oh, please ! We haven't another friend on earth but Mrs. Smith and you, since he has turned against us." Sere James cast a look full of mournful reproach on Smith, whose voice began to falter, and once more he besought per- mission to withdraw the charge and let these two helpless creatures go. Guilty as they were, he did not like to see them punished. Then the old woman advanced toward the judge and spoke. It was the first time she had uttered anything but dry, hard monosyllables, since her entrance into the court- room. " If you are to decide this," she said, firmly ; but still with respect, "I ask that this man shall show us no mercy that can leave a suspicion of wrong on me, or on my boy. If you are a just judge, search out the truth, find the guilty ■ us; first and foremost wring the perjury from that young man's BOUl, fur he is perjured." Boyce tried to evade the long, steady finger which the woman pointed at. him; but there was a Force and weird nation in her look which held him motionless. He grew Coldly white to the lips, and the ruddy hair rose upon his temples like meadow-grass lifted by the wind. THE EXAMINATION COMPLETED. 261 "That — that is libelous," he faltered at last. "I only come to do iny duty, and because Mr. Smith wanted me to." " Well, I just wish I hadn't ; that's all," said Smith, wip- ing his moist forehead. " I'd rather have lost twice the money, than go through with all this again ; to say nothing of the awful muss at home, where I don't know as my own wife will speak to me." " Oh, you never fear that — they always do ! " said Boyce, with an uneasy attempting to shake off the impression which Mrs. Laurence had left upon him. "Shouldn't won- der if she forgives you one of these days, hard as she takes it ; women are, naturally — well, suppose we say, soft." "Silence!" said the judge, on whom the young man was fastening a vague suspicion of treachery. " Come for- ward, Mrs. Laurence, and make yonv own statement." Mrs. Laurence laid her hand on the railing before her, looked the judge steadily in the face, and answered that she had nothing to say, except that, up to the time of her arrest she had never heard of the robbery, or known that her son was suspected. " But some of the goods were found on your premises. How do you account for that ? " said the judge. "I do not account for a thing of which I have no knowl- edge. If stolen property was found there, neither I nor this child had anything to do with it." " Then you deny all knowledge of the stolen goods found in the out-house on your premises ? " « I do ! " " And the boy ? Step down. He may be able to tell us something. James Laurence ! " James came forward, pale and frightened ; but in no way downcast; his eyes clear, honest, and limpid with truth, were lifted almost with confidence to the judge, whose face softened with an irresistible feeling of compassion as he bent it toward him. 2 _ THK REIGNING BELLE. • !'• 11 mo what yon know of this," he said, very kindly ; '•but tir>t let me caution you. If you are the guilty boy this ikes y<>ii out, I have no power or right to make you accuse yourself. Be careful what you say; iunocent or guilty, you shall have a fair trial." ■• I will answer everything, only please tell me what is it you want to know?" i have heard the charge. You know what this young man has been saying. Is it true ? " • Y -. sir, I heard every word he said. Some of it was true, and some wasn't," answered the boy, lifting his honest to the magistrate's face. '• How much of it, then, was true?" " He did give me the store key, sir, and I was left home to take care of things." Here the boy faltered a little, and his eyes fell, his manly little heart refused to own that he was left in care of a girl baby before all those people. 'Well, what did you do after that?" u I tried to fasten the door inside, but the bar was gone, so I left it as it was, locked but not barred, and went up stairs." •• Who was with you then?" •• No one, that is, no one but Jerusha Maria. Kate Gor- man had gone out with Jared Boyce, and we two were locked in till our folks came home from the party." 1 who is Jerusha Maria? Is she here? " .Fames glanced at Mrs. Smith, and answered, with hesita- tion, that Jerusha Maria was Mrs. Smith's little girl, and couldn't come to a place like that, not being old enough." '• Bat being that bright," broke in the mother, "that if i cry ready to break her heart." 1 b* mag led. but went on questioning James. " Well, what did you do after that? " "I eat down : | Maria, and tried to coax her to go to bleep," faltered tlm lad, blushing crimson. THE EXAMINATION COMPLETED. 263 " Well, what next ? " " She wouldn't do it, sir." "Being good as gold, but obstinate, taking after her father in that respect," broke in Mrs. Smith, with a last dash of scorn at her husband. " They had kept up a racket before going out," said James; " and that left her wide awake. It wasn't her fault." "I'll be bound it wasn't!" exclaimed the mother, with tears in her eyes. "Well?" said the judge, silencing Mrs. Smith with a gesture of the hand. " Well, sir, I — I sat down by her and rocked the cradle till she fell asleep." The poor boy confessed this with a glow of burning shame in his eyes and cheeks; it was the only thing in his young life that he shrank from making known ; the great cross taken up to save his mother and sisters from starva- tion. "Well, when the child was asleep — what next? " "I drank a glass of root beer that tasted of paregoric, and went to sleep myself. It was wrong, but I could not help it." " But you woke up again ? " said the magistrate. " Not till the folks came home." " And this is all ? " " That is all I can remember about." The magistrate hesitated ; there was something so straight- forward and honest in the two persons brought before him, that some intuitive feeling made him suspicious of the evi- dence that seemed to condemn them. But there was, in fact, nothing to contradict it; nothing that could justify him in setting the prisoners free. While he hesitated, there arose a slight disturbance at the door of the court-room. 264 THE REIGNING BELLE. CHAPTER LX. AX UNEXPECTED WITNESS. A young woman, evidently of the working classes, was talking eagerly with a policeman, stationed at the door of the court-room, which disturbed the judge, who looked that way with an expression of annoj'ance. Boyce also gazed anxiously around ; a deadly whiteness arept over his face, as he looked for some other door by which he might hope to escape. None presented itself. Rendered desperate by fear, he hurried toward the woman, and attempted to pass her, forcing a ghastly smile to his lips, calling her by name, and saying, with airy lightness, that he wished to speak with her. The woman turned upon him fiercely. He saw that her eyes were heavy with weeping, and her whole face flushed with angry grief. Every nerve in his body quivered ; the breath stopped in his throat. He could not have main- tained that jaunty air a moment longer. " Come along ! I have lots to say to you ! " '•Say it to him!" answered the woman, pointing toward tin policeman. "He will go with you, I dare say. I have got business in here." "Business! You? What? What business?" "Gome back, and you'll hear. At any rate, I'm not afraid of you going far. Make sure that you'll be wanted ! " •■ What do you mean, woman? Are you going back on your own husband?" gasped the frightened wretch, in a ■ whisper. " Are you, Mary?" "Notyet," answered the woman. " But no wonder you think so, fol I'm going to do a queer thing for oucel " •• What? What is that?" " I'm going to speak the truth, and shame — Well, no matter.'' AN UNEXPECTED WITNESS. 265 " Mary ! " "Yes! That's my name. Mary Boyce. Tell Mr. Jla- hone that the old name is good enough for me and my baby ; but then we don't wear French caps and pink streamers, and no young lady is yearning to give me five thousand dol- lars for disgracing innocent people ! Such things don't often come in the way of a poor woman, who goes out to day's washing to support herself and her child, besides handing over her hard earnings to the man who wants to leave her." " Mary ! Mary ! Listen to me ! You are mistaken ! Some wicked person has been telling you lies ! " Boyce caught his sister-in-law by the arm, driven frantic by her words. She tore herself from his hold, and hurrying up to the judge, broke in upon him. "Sir! Yer honor! I know all about this case! That young man standing there is Jared Boyce, my husband's brother. Swear me, please. Let me tell the story with my hand on the Bible." "Let her be sworn," said the judge; and the woman who had been engaged for extra help in Mrs. Lambert's laundry laid her hand on the Bible and kissed it reverently. " Now," said the magistrate, " what is it you wish me to hear ? " The woman answered promptly and under considerable excitement. "It was my husband and that copper-headed scamp that robbed Mr. Smith's store. They two planned it weeks and weeks ago ; but it was not till Smith took a new boy on, that they could make anything of a haul. They did it to- gether. My own husband, who is a footman in Fifth Avenue, only he goes by another name, expects that will carry him through bigamy and burglary, and everything else bad that begins with a B. In short, sir, only this THE RKIGNING BELLE. morning, going out to my day's work, as innocent as a lamb, thinking my husband was at his place down town, where females couldn't come, though I never saw a smither- een of his money — not I. Well, yer honor, I went to me daVa work in a new place, being on account of another woman's not being well, and there I finds my own hus- band making up to a creature that yer honor wouldn't wipe your shoes on, saving yer presence, and she calling him Mr. Mahone, and talking about a wedding-dress that stands alone with richness, and a Miss Spicer, who wants eternal and everlasting disgrace to fall on a family by the name of Laurence. '• Well, yer honor, the long and the short of it is this en- tin -1 y. Jared Boyce and his brother, me own lawfuliv-wed- ded husband, robbed Mr. Smith's store, both of groceries and money, which they divided atween them, in my own room, and the groceries they packed away under my bed and in the closet, and me saying nothing, till they come one night and carried them away ; so I, being put about by this, fol- lowed after them, and, with my own eyes, saw Jared and me husband hide the groceries and other things away in a woodhouse back of a little place where I afterwards saw yon woman going in and out as if she belonged there. '• Well, yer honor, I said nothing about that, but minded me work, and keeping the baby nice in hopes it might 'tice me husband home more, wondering what it all meant, when I found out behind that close-horse in the laundry what was going on in them underground rooms, where servants set up for ladirs ; I just wiped the soap suds from my arms, put on my bit of a hood and foregathered awhile with a nan that Btanda on our corner, about the best way of telling the truth and keeping me husband from that prowl- ing lion with the cap, and it please your honor, he told me to come down here, and never fear thai your honor wouldn't give Robert a taste of Blackwell's Island which 1 hope you AN UNEXPECTED WITNESS. 267 will, just enough to set him straight and keep him out of the way of females in caps till he turns to his own lawfully married wife and child. That is all I ask your honor, and if you don't believe me, just send some one up to me little place and I'll show him a chist of tea and a box of crackers that they left with me, besides other things just to pacify me for taking off the rest, which I didn't like at all, not always haviug tea and such things in the house." Here Mrs. Boyce was interrupted by the Judge, who pointed towards the door, and in a stern voice ordered the officer to stop that man. The man was Jared Boyce, who had been making sickly efforts to slink out of sight, while his sister-in-law was giv- ing her evidence. He had crept up to the door through which he was about to make a desperate plunge just as the Judge observed him. Terrified and shaking from head to foot, the poor wretch muttered that he wasn't meaning to go out, and retreated to the nearest bench, where his limbs shrunk together, and his face grew more and more livid, as the woman rambled on with her evidence. " Your honor," said she, " I don't want yez to be hard on my Bobert. A week at Blackwell's Island will be plenty to bring him to his sinses and make an honest man and dutiful husband of him. But as for the woman who was tempting him into unlawful bigermy, as the perliceman calls it ; twenty years wouldn't be too much for her, with plinty of hard work at the wash-tub, and bread and water to live on." Here Mrs. Boyce was preparing to step down from the witness stand but turned back again, having thought of something else. "It was that female, your honor, that set him on to par- secute this woman, that never says a word or cries a tear more an if she was made of stone, yer honor ; and it was her that put him up to marrying her owuself before the THE REIGNING BELLE. priest, so ye cannot give the crather too much punishment, which is all I have to say, that I think of now." J Living thus expressed her wishes. Mrs. Boyce came down from the witness stand with a look of triumph on the face th it had been stained with tears when she went up; for she bad great faith in her own eloquence, and entertained no ibt that the judge would kindly deal out justice exactly as she had recommended, for he had seemed deeply inter- 1, and smiled more than once while she was giving her evidence. Jlut the woman's countenance fell when she saw Jared crouching on his bench, pale and shivering with dread of the fate her words had prepared for him. She went up to him, with a little hesitation, and was about to assure him of lnr protection, but he glared upon her like a wild beast, and turned his face to the wall, muttering hoarsely, •' I ret out of my sight, you fool ! It is in States Prison f.'i- year- you've put me and your own husband this day." C woman was struck dumb by his words; the color left her face to its natural wan misery. She looked wildly around toward the judge, who was talking with the tall gentleman who had entered the court room so quietly. She looked again at Boyce, and in a broken, piteous voice be- sought him to tell her the truth, would the judge be so cruel after all she had said to him." '■I'ruel. you idiot! he can't help himself," answered the clerk, livid with malice and cowardly dread, " you've done for me, and you've done for your own husband." " No, DO, it's wanting to break my heart ye are. just out Of spite ; but I don't believe ye. It's the woman he'll send ap yonder." "The woman, he can't touch her!" •' What ! what is it ye -ay." '• That woman w ill .'airy her head high as ever, while you are worse than a widow, that's what I say. ,J AN UNEXPECTED WITNESS. 269 "A widely — me a widdy, whist now, Jared, it's jokin' ye are." " Joking," repeated the clerk, bitterly, •'•' It seems like a joke, don't it ? They are making out the warrants now, but I can tell you this, for your comfort. Robert will be married before they can reach him." " Married ! To that woman ? " " To that woman." Once more Mrs. Boyce rushed before the judge. " Oh, yer honor — " The judge waved her back, he was giving orders about some papers that a clerk was writing out. " But, yer honor," persisted the distracted creature. " You can go home now, my good woman. The officer will let you know when you are wanted again," said the judge, without lifting his eyes. The poor woman looked wildly around the court room, but there was no one to whom she could appeal. Then struck with the thought that her husband was perhaps being married, she rushed from the room. It was nearly dark when this poor wife, stung with regret for what she had done, and tortured with dread, reached the vicinity of Mrs. Lambert's dwelling. She dared not at- tempt to go in, but walked up and down the block, keeping the servants' entrance in view all the time. Once or twice she passed a police officer who seemed watching like herself, but shunned him with trembling dread. What did he want there, and who was he waiting for? After it became quite dark, the poor woman lingered in sight of the house. She had walked all the way down to the Tombs and back again, her limbs were weary, her heart ached with apprehension. Oh, if she could only see her husband one moment to warn him of the danger her own ignorance had brought upon him. The woman grew desperate, she could pace that sidewalk 270 T II E REIGNING BELLE. get. If was quite dark and her child would be crying with hunger; at any rate she would ring at the servants' door. \& Blre. Boyce was advancing for that purpose a carriage drove up She hesitated and drew back into a shadow of the garden wall. The policeman was near her, but she was too much absorbed to observe him. Directly the door opened and two persons came out. One a figure in flowing white garments that gleamed like snow across the darkness; the other a man. There was a pause near the carriage, and the woman was close enough to hear every word these two persons said. The woman drew back and seemed to hesitate about entering the carriage. "Your friend is not here; we cannot proceed without him ; there must be witnesses," she said. "But we shall find them at the minister's," pleaded the man. " I don't preteud to know what keeps my friend Boyce, but one witness is as good as another; do step in, or we shall be late." Ellen Post had her foot on the step and was gathering the bridal veil about her, when a strange hand was laid on her arm, and the face of Mrs. Boyce gleamed on her with the lamp-light full upon it. •■ Woman, go back into the house, take off them white things and ask God to forgive you. This man is my own law fully wedded husband." The deep, honest feeling of the wife gave dignity to her ipei ch. Ellen Post stepped back and stood gazing on her, pale and breathless. "Who are you? What does this mean?" she faltered at la " 1 am tli is man's wife, that's what I am, and we have hild, wln.-h you can see any day if you will come to my place, Ellen Poi •• 1 don'l believe it. Mahone, Mahone,come here and tell thia woman she lii WAITING FOR NEAVS. 271 "Oh Eobert, Eobert, run for your life. Jared is in prison ; they will be after you," pleaded the poor wronged wife. " Don't wait for anything, but go." "Why don't you speak ? Why don't you deny this ?" demanded Ellen Post, stamping her whitely-clad foot on the sidewalk. " The gentleman has something else to do," answered the strange voice of a man who had quietly drawn near and laid his hand on Mahone's shoulder. " Eobert Boyce, you must go with me." " A policeman ! " faltered the bride, " what does this mean ? " "A policeman," moaned the wife; "oh Eobert, Eobert, say you forgive me ! " Boyce turned his wild eyes from his wife to the officer, and stared a moment in the man's face. Then he made a sudden twist, wrenched himself free, and made a bound for- ward — one bound and the heavy hand grasped his shoulder again. Before either of the women could speak, Eobert Boyce was led off into the darkness. CHAPTEE LXI. WAITING FOR NEWS There is not, upon the face of the earth, more harassing trouble than that which springs out of ignorance and sus- pense. Eva and Euth Laurence had but a wild and vague idea of the evil that had fallen on the two most beloved members of their little household. They knew nothing of the law, and imprisonment to them was an awful blending of suffering and disgrace, to which the unchecked imagina- tion lent unknown horrors. 272 THE RBIGNING BELLE. They sat together for a time in dead silence, each afraid to sp. ;ik. lest she should add something to the distress ol the other. But, as time wore on, this stillness became intolerable. Eva sprang to her feet and began to walk the room, with the wild restless tread of a panther in its cage; while Bath clasped both slender hands over her bosom, and let the tears run unchecked, from under her closed eyelids. " < >h, Both, Both! what must we do!" cried out Eva, wringing her hands and wrenching them apart with impet- uous force. " I cannot stay here waiting in this way ; he, ought not to ask it." " But what can we do ? Ah, me ! how helpless we poor girls are ! " said Ruth, opening her eyes, and wiping away the tears with her trembling hand. "Even your strength would be wasted, and I am so weak." '• Oh, if I had something to lift — some great load to carry — sister, sister, I can believe now how ready persecuted wo- men were to walk, unshod, among hot ploughshares. I could do it to save them aud bring them back to us safe. I could ! I could ! " •• My sister, my own, own Eva, be patient. It would be only wasted strength if you could do all this; be patient and wait !" " \\ ait, wait ! that is a woman's destiny in this world," said Eva, with passionate vehemence ; " but how can we — can we ? The pain of it is driving me wild ! " " Remember," answered Ruth, speaking softly in her sweet patience, " we have a strong, good man at work for us. Is there no strength and hope in that?" '• Bat I want to do something ; I must, I must." •• Deal Eva, what can you do? Is it nothing that we have already woo Bach a friend? have patience, sister." "Patience, Bath, I have nothing but apprehension and fear. Think of her, our mother, so still, so proud. Yes, the proudest woman 1 ever saw, with all our poverty WAITING FOR NEWS. 273 and struggles ; think of her in the hands of a policeman — in a cell of the tombs." " I do think of it, and it leaves me weak as a child ; but Eva, there is a God above." Eva turned away from the sweet invalid with a gesture of sharp impatience. " Yet our mother, and the dearest, brightest, noblest boy that ever lived, are forced from their homes, and innocent as angels, dragged like wolves through our streets. I cannot understand it; I cannot understand it!" " Oh, Eva, Eva, have some faith in the justice of God, in the energy and goodness of this man who has already done so much for us. I am sure he will bring them back again ! " '• But the time lengthens so. It is hours and hours since she was taken away ! All night long that poor child has been shut up in a prison. Oh, it is terrible ! " "Ah, here is something; a carriage stops at the door. It brings us news, good or bad," cried Ruth, now as much excited as her sister. " Run to the door, Eva." Eva had already sprung into the little entry, opened the door and met Mrs. Smith half way from the gate. "What, what is it? Where are they?" she enquired, breathless with dread and impatience. Mrs. Smith took the girl in her arms and kissed her, leaving a stain of tears on her cheek. "Don't be afraid; don't be anxious. They'll both be here in less than no time ; I jumped into a hack which Smith will have to pay for, thank goodness, and made the driver hurry up his horses to an extent that they will never think of." " Then they are free ? they are coming ? " "Free as birds, and coming along full split, no mistake about that. They wanted me to take the empty seat, but I had not the face to do it after Smith's conduct ; though he 17 274 THE REIGNING BELLE. did melt i- 1 -_r 1 1 1 down and try to back out when be saw bow I took on." By tlif time this stream of words bad heralded the good woman's news, Bhe was in the parlor, had half lifted Ruth from lier couch, and was lavishing hearty kisses on her pale ■• What has happened? what did they do down there? No wonder you want to know all about it. Well, I went straight down to the Tombs, which is just the lonesomest pile of stones inside, that you ever set eyes on; pillars like them Sampson carried off on his shoulders, and stone rooms that chill one like graves. Well, I wandered about among them hunting up your mother and that precious boy, till I found them at last in a room full of benches with a short counter along one end, and a man sitting behind it, and there stood your mother looking stern and gray as a rock in the winter, and there was little Jimmy a standing by her with his big eyes full of tears, which he kept wiping away. for fear folks might see him cry, poor darling; and that fellow Boyce had been telling his lies, and Smith was back- ing him up, and things looked awful cloudy till I up and had my say, though Smith was standing there wanting to stop me, and Mr. Ross, my friend Mrs. Carter's brother, come in and stood by your mother like a monument. But I would have my say, and I did." •• I haven't any doubt, girls, that this speech of mine did th<- business; but another woman came in and finished up tin- wl 'le thing. She was Jared Boyce's brother's wife. they diil the robbing and stealing, and hid the things in your wood-house. I wish you could have seen the scamp B e, when the woman told on him; he was just as gray I all skimped up; you wouldn't have known him — anyway. I shouldn't; and Smith is just about the sheepiest man yon ever Bot eyes on, and wants me to say how awful sony he is, which I won't; and what a fool he ten, which 1 will. WAITING FOR NEWS. 275 "There, now! Didn't I tell you! Here they come, all in one carriage, just as good as new. Let me lift you up, Ruthy, and }'ou can see 'em get out, Mr. Ross and all, who is a gentleman, if one ever lived. There, there! " Trembling with joy, Ruth looked out and saw Eva dart- ing down the front walk with her arms extended. Little James leaped into them and clung to her neck, covering her face with kisses; then he made a bound into the house, and Ruth saw no more ; for his arms were around her, and his voice filled the room with its sobbing gladness. Directly Eva came in clinging to her mother, who moved up the walk with her usual grave step, and put aside her bonnet and shawl before she said a word. Then she came up to Ruth, knelt by her side, and laid her head upon the cushion like one who throws down a heavy burden and longs to rest herself awhile. Gentle Ruth drew close to the old woman, and with tear- ful kisses, softened the stony grayness of her lips, until they began to tremble. Then her whole frame shook, and, clinging to the girl, she cried out, " Oh, God be thanked, I am home again!" in a voice that made everyone in the room weep ; for feelings so restrained and pent up are terri- ble in their force when they once break bounds. Mrs. Smith sat down in the corner of the room and cried piteously as she took in the deep pathos of this reunion. She had begun to soften toward her husband, accepting his sin upon her own shoulders ; and thus sat condemned before the family he had so grievously afflicted. The boy James saw this, and went up to her, wiping away the tears from his radiant eyes. " Oh, what should we have done if you had not been our friend?" he said; "poor mother would have been there all alone with me ; but you did not forget us." " Oh, Jimmy, Jimmy ! You will never want to live with us again," said the good woman. THK REIGNING BELLE. "Won't I though :** answered the boy, eagerly. rposed Mr. B ss; "sol mg as lie works for any one, Mrs. Smith ; but we most put him to school and I ollege. Don't you think so, madam ? " •■ Wliat me, me'. You don't mean it, Mr. Ros •• J'.ut I do mean it."' ■• I. vi. Eutb, mother! do you hear that? Hurra ! This morning I was in a prison-cell that seemed dug out of a rock; and now — now I*m going to college! Why d you stop crying and say Hurra ! every one of you, Hurra ! " CHAPTER LXII. THE MORTGAGE. A master will had been at work and removed all the principal reasons that kept Eva Laurence in the old home at the cottage. James had never been permitted to return to his work at Smith's grocery, though that repentant man would gladly have appeased his conscience and the wrath- ful compunctions of his wife, by giving him the position so summarily vacated by Boyce. This arrangement Mr. Boss had frustrated, by placing James, after a short examination, in the entering class of the City Academy, when his busi- ness education commenced, while Boyce, with his aristocratic '.:• r. made a quick passage through the Court of > - sinns. This precious pair of worthies were already com- >urn of three years each at Sing Sing, to the infii sfiss Ellen Poet, and the profound grief of the poor w This ill-used woman, in the first fire of jealousy, and in the blindness of perfect ignorance, had denounced the two ., in a vague hope that the court would have power to THE MORTGAGE. 277 bring her husband back into the bosom of her family a bet- ter and kinder man. How keenly she had been disap- pointed, and how many bitter tears she shed over her help- less babe, no one but the unhappy drudge herself could tell. Miss Spicer, too, suffered both in reputation and temper. Her name had been roughly handled in the trial, and her plan of disgrace for the Laurence family had recoiled on herself. But this young lady was not of a nature to feel the shame of this exposure keenly, or abandon a project which she had once set her mind upon. Of course, she de- nied the whole thing, and called on Ellen Post to witness that the story told by Mrs. Boyce, and confirmed by the two convicted men, was a fabrication from beginning to end. Mrs. Lambert believed this, and Ivon would not permit himself to doubt it ; for to a generous and noble character like his, the undercraft and meanness of a small nature is simply incomprehensible. As for Ellen, she was a ready witness in the young lady's behalf, for the check had been honored before Miss Spicer knew of the failure of her conspiracy, and the waiting maid was willing to make any return that did not involve the money itself. As for the little episode of the wedding garments. Ellen passed it off with an airy declaration that she had only been altering a dress for Miss Spicer, and punished the curiosity of her fellow servants by a canard, they were all fools for believing. But the malice of Miss Spicer was not to be checked by a single defeat. By some means she had learned that Mrs. Lambert's agent held a mortgage on the Laurence cottage, which the harassed family had allowed to sink into an almost hopeless amount by unpaid interest. This mortgage she empowered her own agent to purchase and forclose at once. It was an act of vengeance, which she hoped would destroy all vestige of respectability which this poor house- '_' > THE REIGNING BELLE. hold had struggled so hard to maintain. But even here she lefeated ignominiously. Mrs. Carter happened to be in the Laurence parlor when the notice of this new calamity was served upon the family. had called to urge once more the acceptance of her noble offer on Eva. before going out on a shopping excursion which was to terminate at Ball & Black's, where something unusually splendid, in the way of a diamond bracelet, had been offered to her attention. "Come, now, get into the carriage, and we'll talk over affairs as we ride along," said the good-hearted woman, whose desire to have Eva with her had grown into a passion. " I ve got Carter's check for the bracelet, which is gorgeous, but I want your opinion. I wish Miss Buthy here could go too ; but she shall see it when we come back. Come, dear, step about lively, or we shall have Battles sulking again." As Eva went to get her bonnet, two important events happened. The notice of foreclosure was put in her hand b} r a strange young man. whose ring at the bell had drawn her to the front door, and while she was wondering what it could mean, the postman came into the yard with a letter from the establishment in which her duties lay. This letter curtly dismissed her from the situation, which was forfeited, the proprietor said, by her impertinence to Miss Spicer, a young lady who had been a most valuable customer, and had Dally entered a complaint against her. Carrying the two documents in her hand, Eva went back to the parlor with tears in her eyes and a throb of bitter pain at her heart. ■■ I >ear me, how white you look ! What is the matter?" questioned Mrs. Carter, lifting herself from the eas3'-chair, and laying her hand on Eva's arm. ''What is there in them papers that makes you shiver so?" Eva turned her heavy eyes upon the kind-hearted ques- tioner. THE MORTGAGE. 279 " The letter is for rue," she said. " I've lost my place." " Lost your place ? Well, I'm glad of it ! " a That is nothing. Other establishments exist; but this — this cruel slip of paper is terrible. I think — I fear it will turn us all out of doors ! Oh, my poor mother ! How will she bear it? After all that has been put upon her, I would rather place a serpent in her hand than this." " Let me look at it before you do that," said Mrs. Carter, resolutely. " I understand these things better than any of you." , Without waiting for a reply, she took the paper, and read it with an eager, cheerful look, which went to Eva's heart. " It is easy," she thought, " for the rich to look on such things as trifles ; but for us ! She cannot understand how terrible it is for us ! " " How much does all this amount to ? " inquired Mrs. Carter, with prompt energy. " Does any one know ? " " Indeed ! indeed ! we all know too well. Every cent, as it ran up, has been counted over and over again," said gentle Ruth. "As to the interest, I have something toward that, and might have earned more and more, if they would only have given me time ; but now " The poor girl stopped short ; tears were crowding on her speech with such bitter force, that she clasped both hands over her face, and sobbed aloud. " There ! there ! None of that ! It is all nonsense, you know. What is the amount ? That is the question before the American people." Eva, with her eyes seeking the floor, told the sum, in a shrill whisper ; for now, when the amount was demanded, it seemed enormous, and her lips gave it forth with a spasm. This miserable sound had scarcely left her throat, when the little parlor was filled with mellow laughter, which seemed to mock and overpower Ruthy's sobs, and her sister's anguish. 280 THE REIGNING BELLE. "What, only that!" "Only that!" exclaimed Eva, kindling with astonish- ment. " It is more than enough to turn us all out of house and home ! " " l'»ut, my child, the lots are worth three times the money. You have no idea how property has risen since the war." " I don't know, and if I did, what good would it do with- out a dollar in hand ? " "No! no! Eva; I have been saving; I have got money — not anything to what they want, but some," cried Ruth, wiping the tears from her eyes, which somehow began to kindle with vague hope. " Oh, Euthy ! we shall want that to keep us from starv- ing. My place is gone ; James has nothing to do ! Mrs. Carter, please give me that paper. Mother must know. It is only cruelty to hold it back." "Not just yet, if you please. Bad news comes to a head soon enough, without forcing. Go and get your things; there will be time to settle that when we come back. Don't you see Battles snapping the flowers with his whip ; that shows that he is getting furious — so do make haste." CHAPTER LXIII. THE PRICE OF A BRACELET. Eva obeyed. Perhaps she was glad to accept the respite which Mrs. Carter offered her. Still her hands trembled as she fastened the tiny bonnet on her head, and covered her face with a veil, with a vain effort to hide all traces of the tears that still welled up to her eyes, spite of all her efforts. " Come now, let us be off. Just keep cool, and don't fret yourself into a fever, till wo come back," said Mr*. Carter, THE PRICE OF A BRACELET. 281 kissing Ruth before she went out, "and not a word to the grim— I mean nice old lady in yonder. There, there, no more sobbing — she'll hear you." Bright as a sunbeam, and full of energy, which contrasted with Eva's mournful lassitude, Mrs. Carter swept through the little yard, and for once defied Battles' evident ill-tem- per. "Drive to Carter's office," she said, "and be quick about it. Don't dare to let the grass grow under them horses' hoofs, when I'm in the carriage. Get in, my dear ; don't wait for me. There now, we are ever so comfortable — you and I." Away went the carriage at full speed, for Battles, not daring to disobey orders entirely, resolved to vent his ill- temper by overdoing them. At another time the sulky coachman might have terrified the good lady within, by the reckless speed with which he crashed into the carts and omni- buses on his way toward Wall Street. As it was, this hidden motive seemed nothing more than prompt obedience. " Tell Carter to come out ; I want to speak to him," said the lady, when Battles drew up near the office-door, and the footman looked in for orders. In a few moments, Carter came down the steps, rosy and smiling, his heavy watch-chain swinging loosely down from the pocket of his white vest, and the diamonds in his bosom glistening richly. " Well, what is it ? " he inquired, looking into the car- riage, and nodding kindly to Eva. "Brought the article down for me to look at, I suppose. It is of no use ; if you like it, that's enough." Mrs. Carter took out her reticule-purse, opened the gold clasp, and took a scrap of paper from it. " Just cut that in two, and give me half. I've changed my mind about the bracelet. It isn't much of an affair, after all, that is, considering the price asked. I've made up my 282 THE REIGNING BELLE. mind to invest in real estate. So, just cut down the check, and let me go." Cartel langhed till the diamonds in his bosom shook off quirk flashes of light. "Well, tli is is a new idea. Cut down a check half, » one's wife is going into real estate ! Haven't made so much money on one job in a week. Here, come along, you fellow." Beckoning joyously to the footman, Carter went into his office with the check in his hand. Directly the servant came out with the abridged paper neatly folded, which Mrs. c put into her purse, and gave another order regarding the r^ute her carriage was to take on its way home. The good woman got out once or twice, leaving Eva alone, and at last came from a lawyer's office with a folded paper in her hand, which was hurried into her pocket, when she saw Eva looking at it. Once more Battles drew up his horses at Mrs. Laurence's gate, and with his heavy face clouded with disgust, waited gloomily for his mistress to go into that shanty, as he was pleased to call it. Mrs. Carter, oblivious of her servant's discontent, bustled out of her carriage. She almost lifted Eva to the ground, and opened the gate for herself, absolutely pushing the foot- man on one side, and bursting her delicate mauve glove in the operation. 'Now, my dears, you can call that mother of yours! D 'nt stop to take off j'our bonnet, Eva, but bring her in. That's right. Here she comes, looking as if she expected a policeman. Mrs. Laurence, my dear neighbor, my darling good woman! here is something for you; just a trifle — a little mite of a present. Take it, and chuck it, neck and into the hottest corner of your cooking-stove." Mrs. Laurence took the paper in her hand, looked at the Lndorsemi nt, looked at Mrs. Carter. The color flushed THE ADOPTION. 283 into her face ; tears, that imprisonment and wrong had failed to wring from her, came, drop by drop, into her hard eyes. "Why, why this is the mortgage!" she said. "The old mortgage, that was eating up everything ! " "Exactly. Put it in the stove, and never think of it again. It is mine, and I give it to you for a nice little bon- fire. Eva, dear, come and kiss me. Ruthie, why what are you crying for, child?" Down by the invalid's couch Mrs. Carter sank upon her knees, folded her arms around the startled girl, and began to sob like a great warm-hearted baby, as she was — God bless her ! After a little she lifted her face, all wet and smiling, like a full-blown rose, with rain trembling on it, and got up, ashamed of her own goodness, and the emotion that sprung out of it. "You see I always was such a goose — crying when I ought to laugh, and hard as a rock when I ought to cry. Don't let anybody know that you ever saw me like this. But I tell you, girls, it isn't every day that one can get so much joy out of a trumpery bracelet, and save half the price too. You have no idea how much money that old paper has saved for Carter. Ell be bound he's chuckling over it yet." CHAPTER LXIV. THE ADOPTION. Eva, whose face had changed from red to white, with a swift transition of feeling, came forward suddenly, and threw her arms around Mrs. Carter's neck. THE REIGNING BELLE. " Oh, how good you are ! How I love you ! Can we do anything — anything on earth to repay all this?" she cried, in a warm outburst of gratitude. '"It seems to nie that I lid fall down and worship you ! " •• There ! there! That's all nonsense, my dear. Just remember that there is only one thing you can do, and having once refused, I can never ask you again after this, not wanting to buy love." u Oh, don't say that, Mrs. Carter. It was because they could oot spare me — because they were in such trouble, and needed help so much. Even now " p a minute, dear. Does your heart go with me? " - Fes! yes!" " Will you go with me now? That is, will you let me arrange this with your mother. The people down yonder don't want your help. I do. My life in that grand man- sion is lonely. I haven't been brought up to reading, and music, and such things. I want some one to write my notes, do my spelling, and sing to Carter — and am ready to pay fur it. If you are willing to work for men that sell goods, why not work for me at double the price ? I don't mean to keep you away from home ; there needn't be a day that you can't come here. Besides, I have an idea about Euthy. You shall learn to drive the pony-carriage, and take her out every morning. I'll have an elevator put up in the house, and she shall just be lifted up to Herman's studio — in fact there'll be no break up about it. Say now, fot all. will you come? " I »h, if you knew how I wish it ; but poor Euthy !" ■ S e don'1 look so terribly troubled," said Mrs. Carter, glancing at the gentle girl. '• I shall like the rides so much," said Euthy. " Then, perhaps, I might see what the Park is like." yon shall, with plenty of cushions, and a gentle hone. There cau be nothing like it. There now, vju see, Eva." THE ADOPTION. 285 E\ a went close to her sister, knelt down, and laying her cheek against the pale, tremulous face, whispered, " Sister, darling, could you let me go." " We should not he much apart," answered Ruth. " And she is so good." While the girls were consulting together, Mrs. Carter went into the kitchen, where she found Mrs. Laurence pressing the mortgage down with the poker into a flaming bed of coals. The scarlet light shone on her face, giving it the glow of long-banished smiles. She closed the stove as Mrs. Carter came up, beaming with good nature, and spoke eagerly. " You needn't ask me ; I have no right to keep her from you. Eva has been a good girl, take her; but let her come home sometimes for Euthy's sake." After this there was a passionate clinging of arms, warm kisses, and a tearful face, looking wistfully through the car- riage window, as Mrs. Carter drove away with her adopted daughter, for the whole affair amounted to that, under the guise of au agreement. In less than a week it was known throughout the fashion- able world that the wealthy Carters had adopted that beau- tiful girl, Eva Laurence, and intended to make her an heir- ess. It was also known that the whole Laurence family had been benefited by the change — that a delicate, lovely girl, who had been a great sufferer from childhood, had developed such wonderful talent for painting, that Mr. Ross had taken her for a pupil. This was all true. From that humble cottage Eva had passed into a life so luxurious and pleasant, that it realized all her ideas of paradise. No more work, no walking up and down town in drifting snow or driving rain. Warmth, beauty and kindness, surrounded her on every hand. Her love of the beautiful was gratified to the full. It seemed to her that there was hardly a thing on earth which was not given to her wishes. 286 THE KI.IGNING BELLE. •■ STes, one." l'nt she would not tli ink of that; Fate had forbidden her to lore ; in giving hei everything else, that great first boon of womanhood had been withheld. But she had in ex- change that sweet, pure, fatherly affection, which seemed to have Imcii taken away forever when Laurence died. No one could be more generally kind than Mr. Carter, but it was on the artist Ross that her heart rested with more than filial affection; his loving patience, his tender assiduity, sometimes won tears of gratitude from the girl. Was this love? Yes, but oh how different to that which lay buried deep in her heart for the man she could not marry. In a few weeks from this the season was at its full, and the Carters plunged into all its gayeties with a zest and brilliancy hitherto unknown to them. To own and intro- duce a creature so lovely, and so exquisitely refined, into fashionable life, was a crowning glory to the ambition which had urged these new people into society. They accepted invitations — they gave parties — they occupied the most prominent box at the opera, and had the glory of knowing that their protegee, in spite of her humble origin, in spite of envy and persecution, was in fact the Reigning Belle of society. It would be false to say that Eva did not feel this change in her life as a transition into something like fairy land. CHAPTER LXV. IN THE I'AKK. The prettiest park- phaeton you ever set eyes on, drove up to the Laurence cottage] a pail of white ponies with snowy IN THE PARK. 287 tails that took the wind like banners, stopped with the docility of pet kittens before the gate. An afghan on which living roses seemed to bloom, was thrust aside, and out sprang a young lady, who ran up the walk and entered the house without knocking. " Ruthy, Ruthy dear, I have got them in training at last. Do look out of the window and see what darlings they are. Now for your first ride in the park." Ruth sat up on her couch, thrilled throughout her feeble frame with unusual excitement. "Oh Eva, are those the horses? am I to ride in that pretty thing ? but how — how can I get there ? " "Never mind about that; I feel strong enough to carry you myself. The truth is, I — I never was so happy in my life ; to think, dear, that they should give me all the pleas- ure of doing this, for everything is mine, Ruth. We can use it just when we please, and you shall ride every pleasant day of your life." "And see how the country looks. Oh Eva, what a darl- ing, fairy god-mother you have been to us ! " " Have I ? Then you are glad I went away? " " Only half away, sister. Why you are with us a great deal more now, than while slaving down in that store." " So I am, darling, and it is delicious to belong to one's- self. They love me too." "Yes, I should think so," answered Ruth, a little sadly. " Who could help it ? " " But we must not be talking at this rate ; the day is too lovely. Where is mother? Oh, here she comes." In the bright exuberance of her feelings, Eva threw both arms around her mother's neck and kissed her with affectionate warmth. "Where are Ruthy's things, mother? she must be dressed at once." "They are lying on the bed, Eva; everything is in THE R EIONINO BEL L E. order," answered the old woman, fairly smiling all over her face. Eva ran into the bedroom and came ont with a saeque of fli ecy, white cloth, and a hat on which some soft feather tips clustered like snow. These she put on to sister Ruth with her own hands, saying blithely as she tied the hat strings : " Yes, Eva had a little lamb, Its fleece was white ;is snow; And every where that Eva went That, lamb was sure to go." At which Ruth laughed like a pleased child, but said the bonnet felt so strangely on her head, it would take her a little while to get used to it. Then her curls had always wandered about in such a lazy fashion, what could she do with them ? " Oh, they're all right," cried Eva, bringing a little seven by nine mirror that Ruth might look at her own sweet face, framed in by the bounet, which she did, blushing like a wild rose ;it the sight of her own delicate beauty. "Oh Eva, I hardly know myself! " " Of course you don't. Come, mother, are you and I strong enough to carry her out? I might have brought one of the men, but somehow I could not bear to have them touch her." The two women were about to lift Ruth between them, for the length of the flower garden was more than she could hope to walk, when Mrs. Smith came through the gate followed by her husband, who approached the house with nl hesitation, which his wife was eagerly reproving. "Come along, they don't hold malice, I tell you, besides, they know thai you didn't mean it," she said. '• No won- der you are ashamed of yourself, but that scamp might have imposed on Sampson — no, Solomon — hisself. So just w:iil< in. as if oothiug was the matter, and never seem to mind IN THE PARK. 289 Smith did walk in, looking humble and confused, but his reception was so frank and cordial that he found no diffi- culty in offering to carry Ruth to the carriage, which had been the object of his visit. So the girl was taken out tri- umphantly in the powerful arms of their old neighbor, while the other females followed smiling, chatting, and congratu- lating each other, like a brood of robins, when the strong- est fledgling begins to fly. Mrs. Smith shook up the cushions which formed a sort of couch in the carriage, on which the gentle girl was placed in a half recumbent position by Smith, while all the neigh- borhood looked on from doors and windows, wondering what w^ould happen next to that Laurence family, and if they had really made up with Smith, after that affair about the robbery. There would be no doubt on that subject after that dainty nest of a carriage drove away, for Eva shook hands with Smith before she raised her whip from its socket, and Mrs. Laurence stood talking with him in the most cordial man- ner by the gate, full ten minutes after it drove off. One of the nearest neighbors heard him say, " You can always depend on me to carry her in and out, Mrs. Laurence. It is the least I can do." Then all the curious people that had been anxious about the matter, saw Mr. Smith and Mrs. Laurence shake hands over the fence, and they knew that cordial relations had been established between the cottage and the corner grocery. This pleasant thought perhaps served to deepen the ex- quisite sense of enjoyment that pervaded the whole being of that gentle invalid, as she found herself moving in the open air for the first time almost in her life. The easy motion ; for Eva kept her ponies down to a soft unbroken trot ; calmed her into a state of dreamy happi- ness. At first she was a little frightened by the noise of heavy wheels and the rush of life all around her; but Ruth 18 290 THE REIGN IK G BKLLE. had not won for herself such abiding faith in God's merry without putting some trust in human strength. She won- dered at the cool dexterity with which Eva guided her pretty equipage through the streets, and shuddered a little now and then, as a carriage rushed by them, so near that it Beamed as if there must be a clash of wheels; but this soon wore off, for, with a graceful sweep and a swifter trot the ponies turned into the park, and Kuth found herself in paradise. Trees just tinged with the first frost of autumn, the grass soft and green as velvet, gleams of water here and there, flowers scattered along the drive, or clustering in gorgeous masses ; above all a soft blue sky with snowy clouds heaped upon it, drifted to and fro by a mild south wind. Can any- one doubt that this was heaven itself to that fair and gentle girl who had never in her whole life looked upon a scene of such beauty before; indeed had scarcely seen a tree that was not covered with dust from a city street, or a growing flower except the humble garden plants that bloomed around her own home. '■ Oh, Eva, Eva ! this is too beautiful ! drive slower ! drive slower! I cannot bear to see all these heavenly things pass away," she would murmur, catching her breath with delight '•Tin- water there; the water, let me look at it ; lit me feel the moist sweet air on my face." Eva would check her ponies and bend her smiling eyes on the invalid with loving satisfaction whenever she made a request of this kind; occasionally she would utter a little gleeful laugh at some question that a child would not have aaked. Sometimes her eyes would fill with tears, as she felt the touching pathos of all this joy springing out nf In r sixer's utter isolation, which she in her health and beauty ireely comprehended before. ■• What are those beautiful white creatures, Ruthy ? Ah, indeed! how should you know? They are swans, dear; IN THE PARK. 291 there now, watch them as they clear the water with their snow white bosoms. See them arch their graceful necks and sail off toward the other shore scarcely cariDg to make way for the pretty boats that glide up and down with such sleepy stillness. Beautiful, you say, yes, indeed it is beau- tiful. I shall never get so used to it that every visit will not give me new delight." Ruth did not answer. Her heart was too full of new feelings. She drew a deep breath and closed her eyes. It all seemed like a dream that she wanted to impress on her brain. That moment a landeau drove by in which was a lady and gentleman. Mrs. Lambert and her step-son, Ivon. Ruth opened her eyes suddenly. " What is the matter, what made you start so, Eva ? " "Nothing," answered Eva, gathering up her reins. " Only you seem tired." "No, no, I am only happy." Mrs. Lambert had seen Eva Laurence, and the sight sent a swift thrill of pain through her bosom. She turned and spoke to her son. " Ivon." Young Lambert turned sharply to his mother ; he also had seen the two girls in their little phaeton, and the sight brought back a keen remembrance of all that this woman's pride had made him suffer. " Did you speak, madam ? " "You saw that young lady, and bowed coldly. I am sorry for that." " Sorry, wh} r , madam ? " " Because circumstances are changed, now. I no longer oppose your wish to marry her." " Indeed, and in what has the lady changed ? " " She has become the adopted child of a man who, at least, holds a high position in commercial circles." 202 inE REIGNING BELLE. « And is. I am told, engaged to marry the person whom that man intends to make his heir." '• [von, I do not believe it ! " " If it were possible for me to doubt what is an admitted fact, my own position is the same." '•What, have you ceased to care for her?" asked the lady in a voice rendered sharp by intense anxiety. The young man answered her with four of the most mournful words that ever brought sadness to a human heart, "It is too late!" CHAPTER LXVI. THE INDIA SHAWL. Eva had no heart to enjoy her sister's happiness after that one glimpse of Ivon Lambert seated by the woman who had so cruelly broken up the sweetest hope of her life. His cold bow and averted eyes cut her to the soul, and she drove slowly home with a chilled and disappointed feeling that contrasted forcibly with the generous and unselfish pleasure of the morning. Perfect happiness is always a hope of the future. With all her success and triumphs Eva was haunted by this one cause of discontent. Ivon Lambert had met her more than once in her social triumphs since she had resided with Airs. Carter, but it was always with a degree of reserve that chill- ed her to the heart and made success itself almost worth- less. Indeed, after a few months of admiration and excite- ment which followed her footsteps at every turn, society be- gan to pall upon her. One party was so like another, there waa bo little variety in the people she met, that the girl lometimea felt a craving for the rest and quiet of her old life. THE INDIA SHAWL. 293 At such times she would go back to the cottage, and strive to sink gently down into the enjoyment which graced the tranquil existence of her sister Ruth, but hers was a rest- lessness of the soul, and for that there is little solace either in gaiety or quiet. Hunger of the heart can only be appeased by that which it craves. One thing seemed strange to Eva; from the time she left the cottage, Mrs. Laurence had changed completely. There was something like reserve, and even shyness in her man- ner when they met. This Eva could not understand, but it chilled her a little. With James and Ruth she was always welcome, and almost adored. To them she had never chang- ed ; all the pomp and wealth of her surroundings only made her the more beautiful. Some months after Eva had settled down in her new home, like a nightingale among the roses, she entered a little re- ception room off the hall, and fouud Mrs. Carter in conversa- tion with a sharp-eyed, cringing little man, who seemed to be urging some request with great persistence. " I have been so long looking for the purchaser, madam. First I trace it to one party, then to another, and at last to that dealer who would not remember to oblige me. But I found a way to reach him and made an arrangement. He gave me the number of this house, and madam's name. I had great hopes that you would be willing to part with the shawl for the price you gave, as the owner wants it so much. I never, in all my experience, saw any one feel the loss of a pledge so keenlj*. So, as madam has a good heart, I can see that by her face, I am sure she will not drive a hard bargain with the poor man." Mrs. Carter seemed restless and somewhat annoyed at this man's eager pertinacity. At one of the principal dealers in such expensive articles, she had purchased one of those rare and most exquisite shawls, which are manu- factured expressly for eastern potentates. These rich shawls THK REIGNING BELLE. difficult to obtain, and precious among ordinary importa- tions, as diamonds compared with meaner stones. She knew that there was not another shawl to compare with this one f.T sale in the city, and bad happened to purchase it at a bargain. Now this man, whom she did not know, but who announced himself as a pawnbroker, who had once held the Bhawl in pledge, and sold it among other forfeited articles, waa appealing to her, in a keen and pathetic way, to give it up, fur the moderate price she had paid, because its former owner was driven almost frantic by the loss of it. Mrs. Carter, being a woman, was touched by this appeal ; but from the same feminine reason, found her love of a bar- gain, and her ambition to possess something more rare and beautiful than her neighbors, opposing the kind impulse with peculiar force. When Eva entered the room, she felt a sense of support, and was almost ready to leave the deci- sion to her, fur she had already learned to depend on the young girl in most matters of taste. •' K . .i, dear, run up to my dressing-room, and bring a shawl you wiil Unci in my armoire. I want you to look at it, and help me decide about parting with it." Eva ran up stairs, found the shawl, and came down with it falling in rich folds across her arm. "Ah, that is it," cried the pawnbroker, eagerly rubbing his hands. "I should know the pattern among ten thous- and. To think now that I should have known its value so little ! It cuts me to the soul ! " Mrs. Carter had taken the 6hawl, and was busy opening its marvelous folds, revealing the long slender palm leaves in which the best tints of a rainbow were wrought with the toil and art seldom bestowed on the modern fabrics that flood our market. '• Ah. it is so beautiful! I should hate to part with it," said Kva, who had learned to estimate a creation like that in her life behind the counter. " You might search years at finding unu like it." THE INDIA SHAWL. 295 " You hear ? " said Mrs. Carter, looking irresolutely at the anxious pawnbroker."' " Yes, madam, I hear ; hut if it is beautiful to a stranger, how much more so to the person who owned it ? " Mrs. Carter looked at Eva with distress in her eyes, and hesitation in her manner. •• What can I do ? It does seem hard." Before Eva could answer, the man broke in, '•'Besides, madam will remember, that I am a poor man, and have spent much time in searching for that shawl, which time is a dead loss, if I fail to bring it back to the owner, who is ready to pay me." <; That does seem hard ! " said the good woman, appealing to Eva. who was so lost in admiration of the shawl, that the man's greedy eloquence half escaped her. u The owner has been to my shop again and again, wild to get it. At first he wanted to have it back for a little ; but now he will pay anything. The last time he said, ' get it. and I will not count the cost. It is a case of life and death. I must have that shawl.' Then I went to work in earnest. This was an inducement for one who toils so hard and gets so little. After all my pains, madam will not be so cruel as to take a poor man's time for nothing." "Eva, I think he must have it !" u Wait a moment. Let me call Mr. Ross. He will com- prehend the claim this man has better than is possible for us. He is in the study ; I will find him in a minute." Eva ran up stairs, while the pawnbroker, half-baffled and wholly anxious, stood eyeing the shawl with mercenary craving, and Mrs. Carter felt like a victim. THE REIGNING BELLE. CHAPTER LXVII. THE PAWNBROKER GETS HIS PRICE. Directly Mr. Ross came down, and followed Eva into the room. The pawnbroker stepped back to the wall, and uttered an exclamation full of trouble and surprise. ''What! The gentleman here! — here, in this very house ! I cannot understand ! " Ross turned, his eyes kindled, and his cheeks flushed. "Here at last? You have found it then ? The shawl ! — the shawl ! Oh, sister, you have it ! But how can you tell if it is the same ? I must be assured of that." " Why, Ross, what is the matter ? Do you know this man ? "What is my shawl to you ? " " Your shawl ! " " Yes, brother ! " "And you got it of this man ?" "It seems that it came from him ! " " Yes, it is the same ! I will swear to it ! Oh, sir ! the time I have taken to search it out is well worth all you promised." "Perhaps. I do not know yet. Give me the shawl, sister ; in half an hour I will return." Ross was white in the face. He took up the shawl, and gazed upon it, until tears absolutely trembled in his eyes. Then he folded the garment carefully, as one handles a shroud, and went forth, carrying it in his hand. Mi-. Laurence was busy in her kitchen, absolutely hamming over an old-fashioned love-song, for the great load "I a hard lite li.nl been lifted from her shoulders, and awkward gleams of cheerfulness were begiuuiug to dawn in DpOD her. THE PAWNBROKER'S PRICE. 297 All at once a man entered the back door, and came toward her. "Why, Mr. Boss, is that you? I didn't hear the bell," she exclaimed, smoothing down her apron. "I did not ring, Mrs. Laurence; I wished to find you alone. Look at this, and tell me if it is positively the shawl that came around that child, and that you put in pledge?" Mrs. Laurence wiped her moist hands on a towel, and un- folded the shawl. " Of course it's the same shawl, wherever it came from. There is no mistake about that. 1 can swear to the curl in every one of these long leaves." "It is then absolutely the garment that came around the child you adopted ? " " Yes ; I am ready to swear to it, if that is what you want." "No ; there is no need of that." Again Eoss folded up the shawl, and left the house, pass- ing swiftly through the yard, and looking at Ruth, who sat at the window, without a consciousness of her presence. Mrs. Carter and Eva were still in the reception-room. The pawnbroker had retreated to the hall, where he sat on one of the carved chairs, crouching uneasily forward, and holding a rusty hat clenched in his hand. His eyes were full of hungry anxiety, for the reward which he had hoped for seemed slipping from his grasp. Still he waited, in abject patience, determined to press his claims to the utmost. In less than half an hour the man started, and listened with the vigilance of a house-dog. A latch-key turned in the street-door, and Mr. Eoss came in. He stopped on see- ing the pawnbroker and asked sharply what he waited for? then checked himself, and muttered, "Ah ! I remember. You want the reward. How much was it ? " The man started up, and began to speak eagerly. But Eoss lifted his hand. I B B B I [ONI .N G B K I.I. E. "The amount? — name it. I a?k nothing more; that which I promised you shall have." •• Without regard to the price paid by the lady ? " •• Without regard to anything. I am not disposed to cavil over a thing like this." The pawnbroker paused, calculated, and looked keenly at his victim, sorely tempted to double the original sum prom- ised him. But there was something in the eyes fixed upon him which checked the idea, and he named what had been his most exorbitant demand. '• Wait ! " With this single word, Ross went swiftly upstairs, and came down again with a check in his hand. The man started up, seized the paper, glanced over it, and hurried from the house, with a greedy light in his eyes. Ross turned into the reception-room, stood a moment on the threshold, pale, trembling, and with a look of wild yearning in his eyes. Eva, came toward him, smiling. " Do tell us what makes you so anxious, Mr. Ross " The girl broke off with a cry of dismay. tor Ross had flung his arms around her, and was straiuing her to his heart with wild vehemence. '• My child! My darling! My own, own beautiful child!" The man was raining kisses upon her forehead, which was wet with his tears. Mrs. Carter Btarted up. and with her two shaking hands attempted to tear the man and girl apart. • Herman ! Herman ! Are you crazy ? And she under • f. under my care ! Give her up. I sav ! *' -till held the girl close ; but lifted his head, and looked his angry Bister in the face. He could not speak, though hi< tremulous lips mored, and his eyes were flooded. The woman's voice Boftened. •• Herman, what does this mean?" MISS SPICE R ' S DISMISSAL. 299 ••'It means, my sister, that as God has been merciful, I believe this girl to be my own child ! " The man was trembling from head to foot. He put Eva's face back from his bosom, and looked tenderly down upon it. "Have you never felt this, my darling? Did your soul never tell you the secret that has so long filled mine?" "I have no breath to answer," faltered the girl. a Your words strike me dumb ! How can the things be that you speak of? " " I cannot tell ; yet I know. Wait a little while, and you shall both be convinced that I am not out of my mind; let the rest prove as it will." CHAPTER LXVIII. MISS SPICER RECEIVES HER DISMISSAL. A newspaper was in Mrs. Lambert's hand. In the listlessness of a mind utterly prostrated, she had taken little heed of passing events, and of the little drama which had been enacted against the Laurence family, almost under the sanction of her own name, was entirely ignorant. It was an old paper which had been wrapped about some parcel at which the lady was looking. Just as she was about to lay it down, her own name, with that of Miss Spicer, astonished her into sudden interest. The article she read was an account of that trial which had sent the Eoyce brothers to Sing Sing. Mrs. Lambert knew that Eva had been adopted by the Carters, and that her success in the fashionable world was something marvellous, but of the underhand machinations that led to it. she had never dreamed till now. 800 THE REIGNING 15 E I. L E. Ivon Lambert bad informed himself of the main features nf this disgraceful transaction at the time, but never men- tioned them to his step-mother, who was suffering, and so ill that no unpleasant thing was permitted to come near her. Sin- knew in a general way that the man Robert Mahone had left her service ; but under what circumstances, w<.'vy person admitted into her presence was interested in con- cealing. Thus it happened that this statement in the paper took the proud woman completely by surprise, and aroused the -it he pride in her nature so completely, that Ellen Post, when --he answered the sharp pull of her lady's bell, was startled by the vivid fire that lighted up those sad features. " Ellen Post, is this thing true?" Mrs. Lambert held the paper out in one hand, pointing to the report with the other. Ellen caught one glimpse of the hateful sheet, recoiled a little, then gave her head a toss, and said, with a degree of careless contempt that did honor to her nerve : " Oh, that was Miss Spicer's little job. My name was dragged in promiscuous. That about me is all lies, from beginning to end; but Miss Spicer and that Mahone was awful thick for awhile. She was always giving him money, being so malicious against that handsome Laurence girl, that she was willing to plot with any one against her. I'm pretty sure she teas in the scrape, because she once offered me anything I'd ask just to join in with them; but, of conrse, I never had a word for her, but no. I want to marry that Mahone! The idea! I hope, inarm, you think bet- ter of me than that." Mra Lambert was a woman of the world, whom airs, Mich as her maid put on, were not likely to deceive. She simply folded the paper, drew forth her portemonnaie, and paid Ellen Poet a month's wages in advance. •• I cannot give you a recommendation," she said, very miss spicer's dismissal. 301 quietlv, "and probably shall never have occasion to men- tion your name. Perhaps you had better put on your things, and go at once. The express man will come for your trunk." Ellen Post turned her half-scared, half-insolent face on her mistress. It had turned to a dull grayish-white, and her eyes gleamed with gathering malice. "Perhaps, marm, you had better think twice. Some girls are blind as to what is going on around them, and can be sent off meek and broken-hearted; but I ain't one of that sort. Just take a second thought, marm. Tou'd bet- ter, I can tell you." "I never take a second thought, Ellen. Go! I am engaged !" The slender finger that pointed toward the door belonged to a fragile, but firm little hand, which scarcely seemed strong enough to support the diamonds that blazed upon it ; but a revolver could not have more effectually silenced the impudent servant. Ellen walked backward, step by step, until she almost fell against a footman, who stood in the door with a card in his hand. Mrs. Lambert took the card, giving no further heed to the retreating maid, and read the name upon it. •■ Miss Spicer ! Tell her to come up." There was a rustle of silk flounces, a clatter of high heels, as Miss Spicer came up the stairs. There was also a strong scent of the last fashionable perfume left floating in the hall, as she entered her friend's boudoir, closing the door behind her. Fifteen minutes after this Ellen Post glided down the back stairway, with an evil look on her face, and a satchel in her hand. Then all was still, and only a faint murmur of voices dis- turbed the sumptuous quiet of that lady's boudoir. Voices, did I say ? Only the quick, rattling sound of Miss Spicer's 802 THE REIGNING BELLE. tongue was heard; the firm, even tones of Mrs. Lambert never penetrated beyond the room in which she sat. Once, when tlic door was open, and Miss Spicer stood upon the ermine mat, biting her lips, and heating her flounces with the end of her cane parasol, the clear ringing tones of that voice penetrated into the hall. "No, .Miss Spicer, I will take leave of 3-ou now; for this is the last time that you will ever be admitted into a house of which I am mistress." Miss Spicer turned upon the mat like a little fury. u Well, madam ! I suppose it is just possible to live with- out coming into your house ! Heaven knows, it's been dull enough since that girl cut you out with Ross, the painter! This is the gratitude one gets for paying off your debts. I'm thankful for one thing, though! She'll marry him, and leave you to break your mean old heart; while Ivon will hate } t ou forever and ever for breaking up his little matrimonial game. Good-bv, Mrs. Lambert. If you can stand it, I ought to, having nothing very dreadful to look back upon, and plenty of youth, which you will never have again ! " As Miss Spicer was flying down stairs in her hot wrath, Ivon Lambert came into the hall, and stood aside for her to pn^s. She stopped suddenly, and held out her hand with a hysterical laugh. "There; let's shake hands, and say good-by. Your lovely mother has just turned me out of doors; but see if I don't pay her oil'! If that fellow, Ross, don't marry your old lady-love, and I for one have no idea that he ever thoughl of it. 1*11 marry him myself, and ride over the old woman rough-shod. With his genius and my money we could do it — for people are beginning to talk about her awfully. I can tell you ; something about the conservatory. and tainting dead at the artist'.s feet. Ellen Post knows all about it. She's just been sent away, and won't the miss spicer's dismissal. 303 story ring. Of course I shan't help it forward. Oh, no ! she hasn't insulted me ! " Before Ivon could even comprehend this rude speech, the young lady had turned the latch and door-knob with a force that tore her gloves, and hurried down the pavement. Ivon, who had intended to visit his mother, went to her room, where he found her pacing up and down the carpet, flushed with suppressed excitement, and with unusual fire in her eyes. " My son ! — my dear son ! I am glad, very glad that you are here. Something, no matter what, has disturbed me. I have been hard and selfish with you ; my own wretchedness has made me cruel." "Your own wretchedness, mother!" " There, there, Ivon ! Do not question me ; but gener- ously accept my atonement, without explanation. I have been verv. verv unhappy of late; but I am not speaking of myself. You are dear to me as any son could have been. "When I die, all that I have shall be yours, without restric- tion. From this day out the world shall know you as my heir. A:. other thiug, once more I say to you, seek out that girl and marry her, if you can. I will accept her with all my heart. Carter has made her his heiress — be it so ! I make you my heir. Go, ask her to marry you." '•Mother! Mother! how can I? She has refused me once," cried the young man. '•But that was after I had trodden on her pride, when she thought herself worse than poor. Now you go to her with my full cousent. I will call upon her, and urge your case, if that is needful. Go, my boy — go now. I shall not be at rest till your fate is settled." Astonished, bewildered, and like a man in a dream, Ivon Lambert went to his own room. Was his step-mother in her right mind ? Had she placed him in a condition to approach Eva once more, now that she was an heiress? If 804 THE REIGNING BELLE. so, mercenary motives could not be imputed to him. Yes, yes, there was yet a chance of such happiness as he had given up in despair. CHAPTER LXIX. THE TRUTH. Another ring brought a servant to the front door, where a gentleman with a package in his hand, stood waiting. The man reached out his hand for the parcel, but in its place, received a card, with directions to carry it at once to his mistress. There was no question about Mrs. Lambert's being at home; no seeming doubt that she might refuse herself; all of which was strange; but the servant did not think of that till long afterward, for obedience seemed natural to that voice of quiet command. •• My lady will see you in her own room — walk this way," said the man, returning promptly, after delivering his mes- sage. He ushered the stranger up stairs with great defer- . and opened the door with a bow, altogether forgetting the package which the man carried. Mrs. Lambert was struggling to compose herself; but she had been greatly excited, and every nerve in her frame quivered. She tried to speak, but the effort only brought into her eyes. !: u did not take the hand held out to him with Bach timid hesitation; but laid his handle on a chair, then turned rnly agitated face upon the trembling woman. " Blizal etb, I have come to aab you a question." "I will answer it, Sermanl Then is nothing you can a>k that I will not reply to. But first, — do not misuuder- THE TRUTH. 305 stand me ; I ask it for — for the sake of my step-son. An- swer the one question that I asked you. Is that girl, I mean Eva Laurence, anything to you ? " " Anything to me — and you ask this ? Yes, every- thing!" " You love her, then ? " " Yes, better than my own soul." "But — but you cannot marry her. It would be " The woman's lips turned deadly white, and what she might have said died upon them. u Marry her ! Woman, I wonder the heart does not sicken in your bosom at the thought." " It does ! it does ! Then you never thought of it. I had not wronged you so deeply that you meditated that awful blow, that wicked, wicked crime." "I never thought of it, Elizabeth!" The woman clasped her hands, and a wild sob heaved her bosom. " Still you loved her ! Ah, me ! it was only the impedi- ment ! If I were dead, now !" The woman held out her clasped hands, and her face was wet with a rain of tears. For the first time, a look of almost yearning tenderness filled the sad eyes bent upon her, and a touch of compassion quivered in the man's voice. " Sit down, Elizabeth. I have a few questions to ask, and for once you and I must have truth between us." Mrs. Lambert dropped to the sofa, near which she stood, and Koss drew his chair in front of it. The curtains hung low, and the light fell dimly around them, so dimly that they seemed like ghosts questioning each other. " Elizabeth, when we first met, and I found you Lambert's widow, there was too much of passion and reproach in our interview for a clear understanding of events, which seem to me vague and unsatisfactory. Quiet yourself, now; be 19 CO'} THE REIGNING BELLE. calm, if that is possible, and let us thoroughl} understand each other." The woman made a strong effort, and hushed her sobs. •• When we married, I was a wild, passionate youth, pen- niless, almost friendless ; but I loved jou, God only knows how dearly ! " •• And, oh heavens ! how I loved you ! *' a Had I been older or wiser in this world's wisdom, it would have been an act of treachery when I won you to that private marriage ; but I was an enthusiast, possessed of some genius, and more wild hopes. Perhaps in the arro- gance of these untried feelings, I held your father's wealth in too much scorn. Certain it is, I never craved it, never wished for it." "I know that, Herman; yet it was this very wealth that drove us apart." " I asked you to go away, and share my fate " " I could not : remember how young I was. An only child, loving my father, whose forgiveness you refused to ask — loving you better than my own life, but afraid to follow the hopeless path you were resolved to tread. W hy did j . leave me then ? Was I angry — was I unreasonable in that struggle, so hard upon a young girl, pampered, as I had . ; did I say things which were altogether beyond for- giveness .' " "If I left you in anger, bitter and keen as it was, my '• conquered it, before I was half across the ocean," said B B8. "But what came after? My letters were un- 1." •• I never received them. Some one, my father, 1 think, kept them haelc. (_)h, Herman! you will never know how I I for one line ! " re me your hands. On your life, on y< air honor — as yi (ration, did you never hear from a hue of my writing after I left yon? " THE TRUTH. 307 " As God shall be merciful to me, I never did ! " The woman felt the two strong hands that clasped hers shake like reeds. ■• And you thought me dead ? " "I did'! I did!" "Then, and not tiil then you married this other man ?" "Oh. Herman ! It was only my hand and wealth that I gave him. When love perished in my heart I had only ambition left." "Then all love for me had perished? " "Herman! There never has been a time when the very memory of our love has not been dearer to me than the adoration of any living man." The hands which Eoss still clasped were tightened pain- fully. For half a moment he was silent. When he did speak, it was almost in a whisper, and his voice was hoarse. "Elizabeth ! What have you done with our child?" Mrs. Lambert wrenched her hands from the passionate grip fastened on them, and stood up in wild agony. " Our child ! Oh, Eather of heaven ! is there no mercy for me ? Have I not suffered enough ? " The woman had no strength to stand. As grass goes down beneath the scythe, her limbs gave way, and her face fell forward on the cushions of the sofa. Eoss bent over her. "Elizabeth!" " Leave me ! You have torn the vulture from my heart — let it bleed to death ; for, in a little while, I, like my child, will be beyond human reach ! God knows all that I have done, and all I have suffered." Eoss knelt down by the woman, and laid his hand on her shoulder. Her suffering overpowered all sense of wrong in his bosom. The thing which she had done seemed less hideous when her grief filled the room, as with the wail of a mother bereft. 308 THE REIGNING BELLE. "Our child is not dead, Elizabeth ! I come to tell you b I" The woman lifted her face. •• Not dead !" •• I ■ t that awful thought haunt you no longer. The child is alive Not an hour ago I held her in my arms. God spared her life, and you, wretched woman, a great crime." The woman shuddered. " God help me ! God forgive me ! I was sorely tempted." CH AFTER LXX. OUR CHILD. A moment after these words left her lip?. Mrs. Lambert started up. The idea that her child lived had seized upon her with force; for the first time, her face, still colorless, w;i~ radiant. "She is alive! — your child and mine! Alive! and you have found her for me ! A child given to my hosom — a Bin lifted from my soul! Man ! Augel ! Husband! Let me fall down and worship yon ! " ■ First thank God that an awful sin has been lifted from your conscience." " I do ! I do! But the child — where is she? TVho is ? Will you let me see her — touch her — bless her? Oh, will you?" •• Sfou have seen 1 "Where? When?" •■ \- my - iter's house. She is known as Eva Laurence." more the woman sunk to the sofa unite and pallid. • I. turence was the policeman you spoke with just before OUR CHILD. 309 you turned down to the river. He followed you. He saw you leave the infant upon the rock, where you had carried it; watched as you crept away through the woods ; reluctantly, he thought, but still you went, leaving the child to its fate." " No, no ! I did not. In less than an hour, oh ! much less, for I was hardly out of the shadow of the trees, I went back, resolved to bear everything, suffer everything, rather than part with it — but the rock was bare ; the moonlight lay upon it, cold and white. I searched eagerly, but my child was gone. I sought for it everywhere — in the hol- lows, among the ferns, in the water. All night I wandered up and down on the shore — but my child was gone. I had left it wrapped up, warm and asleep. No human being was nigh. The rock sloped downward ; it had rolled into the water ! I thought this — I have always thought it. Oh do not look on me with those searching e} r es, Herman. I was mad, wild — driven to desperation — a child-mother flee- ing that night from shame and a father's wrath. "My father had been absent almost a year. He had placed me in a school in New England, which I left, as if for home, but hid myself in New York. When my baby was but a few weeks old I learned that my father was com- ing home. If I was not there, he would search for me at the school, and learn how long I had been absent. You had left me ; I had not heard from you. Consider, I was so young — all alone, a wife, a mother — but without a hus- band. All this drove me mad. No doubt I was absolutely insane." Here Mrs. Lambert's passionate excitement began to exhaust itself. She lifted a hand to her forehead and went on. " I remember, in a vague way, wandering off in search of a river, with the child in my arms, longing to hide my- self and it in the water. If I had any purpose, it was to 310 THE REIGNING BELLE. go beyond the reach of my fathers wrath, and take my hahy with me." Here the woman, seized with infinite self-pity, began to Q and weep. "I remember nothing, except that the black water fright- ened me. I think it was not for myself, but the child. I was wondering if it could be kept dry and warm when I was asleep down there. Then I grew afraid for myself, and fled into the woods to escape the dull, heavy lapping of the water, which both lured and repulsed me. I have told you. It was gone when I came back, gone forever and ever; I had come back, clear in my mind, resolved with half insane courage, to take it in my arms, and tell my father the whole truth. But it was gone. It was gone ! " When the woman ceased speaking, Iioss knelt by her side, and heavier sobs than hers filled the room. "My poor girl ! My wronged young wife! God forgive me the rashness of my youth — the injustice of my man- hood ! " She lifted her face, radiant under the storm of tears that had passed over it. "You pity me! There is no longer suspicion in your eyes. Sometimes you will perhaps think that I was not all to blame, that in wresting the child from my bosom, God punished me enough. Ah, you did not know how I loved it, how I pined for it ! How gladly I would have taken it in my arms and followed j*ou to the ends of the earth!" •■ Elizabeth, Elizabeth!" There was no theatrical outbreak ; but those two hearts, that had been separated one-third of a life-time, seemed breaking with a great fullness of joy. "Ah, my Elizabeth! There is something in life for us She took his hand between hers, and kissed it. OUR CHILD. 311 " Oh, Herman ! I never, never expected to be so happy again." " But there is greater joy than this in store." " I know ! I know ! Our child ! That beautiful girl. I was so jealous of her, Herman. Only this very day did I consent that Ivon Do you know that Ivon loves her dearly ? "Well, only an hour or two ago I promised to make him my heir if he could persuade her to marry him. That was half because I pitied his disappointment, and half because people said that you loved her," said the poor woman with a laugh, that reminded Eoss of her girlhood. " Aud so I did from the very first. Now I understand why. She is very like you. That was what struck me." " Was I ever so beautiful, Herman ? " Eoss bent down, and kissed her forehead. " But you have not told me how you found all this out. We must have good proof; a doubt would kill me now. Ah, me ! how strange this happiness seems." . " I did not come to you, Elizabeth, without proof, though the very face of our child is enough. Come here, and see if you remember this ! " Eoss took the shawl from a table, where it had been laid and shook out its folds. Mrs. Lambert uttered an astonished cry and stood gazing on it, shrinking back a little as one retreats from the touch of a shroud. " It was my mother's," she said at last. " I remember wrapping the child in it, praying her to pity me if angels in Heaven could feel pity. Oh I remember it so well. " When our Eva—" " Our Eva," whispered Mrs. Lambert, clasping her hands so softly that he went on, without heeding the pathetic in- terruption. " When our Eva was found on the bank of the river, this shawl was wrapped about her. There was some coral too." 312 THE REIGNING BELLE. " Pink coral from Naples; I remember it ! " But what did they do with my child? How was she made the lovely creature we find her ? " • Laurence was a gentleman in his habits, and educated the girl well. He left me a letter, which 3-011 shall read. There can be no doubt that she is our child ; Mrs. Laurence admits it, and no girl ever did her parents more honor." "And this policeman brought her up?" •As his own child, with his own child; and no two young ladies could possess more refinement." '■ And I could look down upon them with scorn." " You did not know them. But now ? " u Now I have but one wish ; for — for you have forgiven me, Herman ?" Mrs. Lambert held out both her hands ; the passionate tenderness of girlhood swept over her face, as it fell upon his bosom, drawn there by the strong arms that she knew would enfold her evermore. "Now let me see my child, and die of happiness," she said, lifting her radiant face from his bosom. " In less than an hour Eva shall be with you," said Ross. "An hour! how long it will seem, Herman." " The happy can afford to wait," he answered. " Now I will go and tell them everything." " Must this be ? " asked Mrs. Lambert, with a touch of shrinking pride. '• Five persons imist know the truth, Elizabeth. Beyond them, <>ur anhappy past need never be known." bid those five?" '• My sister, her husband, Euth Laurence, Ivon, and our child." '• 1'.'- it bo. We can trust them; for all have been kinder to her than her own mother." '■ !•• yond them we will have no explanations. There must public wedding, and that will silence all questions." A DOUBLE "WEDDING. 313 A soft, rosy color came into the woman's face, and for a moment her eyes sunk. "When the young people are married, Eva will be your daughter, of course. Chance has arranged everything for us," Ross went on. " But she has refused Ivon." " I tell you she loves him." " I am sure that he loves her." "And where love is, what power can keep two souls apart ! I tell you, Elizabeth, it will be a double wedding, and after that a double household." " Go — go and bring Eva ! " CHAPTER LXXI. A DOUBLE WEDDING. Mrs. Carter and Eva still remained in the reception- room. The passionate words of Herman Ross had filled them with amazement if not alarm. They could not believe the thing he had so wildly stated. "If it should be now," said Mrs. Carter, "if you really are his daughter and my niece, I shall just believe a special Providence sent you under this roof. Only to think how I took to you from the very first." " I cannot understand, it all seems so unreal. Not Ruthy's sister — not related to little James. It is impossi- ble ! " answered Eva, in sad perplexity. " Still there was something from the first that made me turn to him. Love, yet not love; such tenderness as brings tears into one's eyes. Is that the way a child feels towards its father ? " " Well, as I never had a father since I was six years old," answered Mrs. Carter, " perhaps you'd better ask some one 814 THE REIGNING BELLE. . l'ut that ia a good deal like my own feelings toward Herman; for I just worship him." •■ When will he come hack? I am so restless," said Eva going to the window. am I. It's of no use to attempt anything ; my heart jumps into my mouth at every noise. What if it should prove true ? Come and kiss me, child ! n Eva threw her arms around the good womam's neck, but she was so nervously restless that her very kisses were trem- ulous. " I am so anxious," she exclaimed. " He is coming ! that is his step ! " It was Herman Ross, walking up to the door with the light tread of a boy. His face was radiant when he entered the room. He advanced to Eva and took her tenderly in his arms. " It is true, my child; my own, own child ! " Eva looked at him wonderingly; the whole thing seemed so marvellous, that she could not at once return his caress. " But how ? tell me more ! " she faltered. Ross sat down on the couch, and drew Eva to his side. Mrs. Carter moved her chair closer. He told them all, with the brief passionate eloquence which perfect joy inspires. Before half his narrative was over, Eva had crept into his arms, and Mrs. Carter was Bobbing like a child. " Ami this lady is my own mother?" Ross leaned forward and kissed Eva's forehead. " STes, Eva, your unhappy, bereaved mother." • Poor lady!" '• She is waiting for you now." Eva arose agitated and trembling. '•1 am ready; take me to my mother. Oh! how strangely the word seems; but my mother that was! how can I give her up I" A DOUBLE WEDDING. 315 " There is nothing to give up, Eva ; but everything to accept." "You — you have always been my father!" cried the girl with a sudden outburst of affection, "from the first moment I have loved you." " And you will love me ? " " Dearly, papa." The girl gave a little joyous laugh. "Oh, what a dear, dear word, papa, papa ! " " But there is one dearer yet, Eva." " Yes, by and by I shall get used to it ; but will she let me, I hardly dare." " My sweet child, how little you know her. She is count- ing every moment till you come. I left her crying like a child." " Poor lady, poor mamma." The girl's face brightened all over, as the word fell from her lips. She looked shyly at Ross, and whispered it again and again as if to familiarize herself with the sweet sound. He smiled and passed his hand over her head. " Come now, your mother is waiting." Eva left the room and then Eoss saw that his sister was crying bitterly. " What is the matter ! Why are you distressed ? " he asked. " Oh ! I loved her so ! She was like my own child. Now — now that other woman will take her from me." " That she never will ! Elizabeth understands too well all that you have done for her child." " After all," said the kind woman, brightening up like a child, "she is my niece, and that is something." " Besides, you forget that Elizabeth is your sister," said Ross. " Mrs. Lambert my sister — mine ! How strange it seems — such a beautiful, lovely lady." 316 THE REIGNING BELLE. re Eva came down stair.-, Mrs. Carter had begun to console herself; after all, it was something to liave a niece like Eva. anil a sister-in-law who had been for years a leader in society. Mrs. Lambert was indeed waiting with passionate im- patience for a sight of her child. The flood of her own happiness fairly transfigured the woman. Her pride was all swept away; the calm force of her character had dis- appeared with the secret that she had guarded so well. Siic walked the room; she flung herself on the couch and wept the sweetest tears that had ever visited her eyes. She went to the window and looked longingly out. Would they never come? surely, surely more than aa hour had passed. A dozen times she walked to the window ; a dozen times she seated herself, resolved to wait in patience. W Inn she heard footsteps coming, a sweet faintuess crept over her, and reaching forth her arms, she saw everj'thing in a mist. Then the kisses rained on her face, seemed coming through a dream ; but above it all came that one sweet word that she had so longed for when that girl was a helpless babe, lost to her as she thought, forever. " Mother, mother!" Two weddings astonished society within a month of that day. Ross the artist, and Mrs. Lambert were married on the same morning with Ivon Lambert and Eva; of course the fashionable world was thrown into a state of excitement; but Mrs. Lambert had controlled public opinion too long fur any tear of losing social power under any circumstances. M re. Carter was very lonely and desolate in her grandeur for some weeks, hut it was not long before Ruth Laurence was almost as much at the house and as welcome there as Eva had been. The park carriage was by no means given up, though it frequently happened that young James hand- led the white ponies in place of sister Eva, and sometimes A DOUBLE WEDDING. 317 Mrs. Laurence was seen by his side, sitting prim, upright and vigilant, as if she fancied that some one might suspect her of putting on airs, because of the great prosperity that had settled on her fainily. It often came to pass in the after time, that Mrs. Carter took her tea-dinner in Mrs. Smith's upper rooms without much household scandal; but when her carriage began to stop at the corner grocery on its way to or from the cottage, the cup of Mr. Battles' indignation was full, and he loftily gave warning. After all, that diamond bracelet came from Ball & Black's in full splendor, and lying on its purple satin cushions, was among the most conspicuous of Eva Lambert's bridal presents. THE END. T. B. PETERSON and BROTHERS' PUBLICATIONS. NEW BOOKS ISSUED EVEEY WEEK. Comprising the most entertaining and absorbing Works published, suitable for the Parlor, Library, Sitting Room, Railroad or Steamboat Reading, by the best writers in the world. g^° Orders solicited from Booksellers, Librarians, Canvassers, Newi Agents, and all others in want of good and fast selling books, which will be supplied at very Low Prices. «^l MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS' WORKS. 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ILLUSTRATED. Reduced in price from $2.50 to $1.50 a volume. TJiis edition is printed on fine paper, from large, clear type, leaded, that ail can read, containing One Hundred and Eighty Illustration g on tinted paper, and each book is complete in one large duodecimo volume. 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TUs edition is printed on the finest paper, from large, clear type, leaded, Long Primer in size, that all can read, the whole containing peas' Six Hundred f til page Illustrations, printed on tinted paper, from designs by Cruikshank, Phiz, Browne, Maclise, McLenan, and other artists. The fol- lowing books are e«ch contained in two volumes. I'.leak House Cloth, $3.00 Sketches by " Boz," Cloth, Barnaby Budge, Cloth, Martin Chuz7.k-v.it Cloth, Old Cunbsjty Shop, Cloth, I. tffi Donit Cloth, DoflrtJe'y and Son, Cloth. .00 3.00 3.00 s.oo 3.00 3.00 Our Mutual Friend, Cloth, $3.00 Pickwick Paper- Cloth, 3.00 Tale of Two Cities, Cloth, 3.00 Nicholas Nickleby Cloth, 3.00 David Copperfield, Cloth, 3.00 Oliver Twist Cloth, 3.00 Christinas Stories, Cloth, 3.00 The following are each complete in one volume, and are reduced in pric* from $2.50 to $1.50 a volume. Great Exppctation?, Cloth. $1.50 | Dickens' New Stories, ...Clo'.h, $1.50 American Notes: and The Uncommercial Traveler, Cloth, 1.50 Htintpd Down: and other Reprinted Pieces, Cloth, 1.50 The Holly-Tree Inn; and other Stories, Cloth- 1.50 Price of a set, in thirty-three volumes, bound in cloth, §49.10 " " Full sheep, Library style •• Gfi - P0 " " Half calf, antique "- 00 " " Half calf, full gilt backs, etc 9 y - 00 Book3 sent, postage paid, on receipt of the Retail Price, by T. B. Peterson & Brothers, Philadelphia, Pa. e T B. PETERSON & BROTHERS' PUBLICATIONS. CHARLES DICKENS' WORKS. ILLUSTRATED OCTAVO EDITION. A'< duct i in price from $2.50 Co -^1.7 . > « volume. Htion i* printed from large type, double column, octavo page, et ■ one volume, the whole containing near Six Hnudi [(lnotrtttio . thank, Phiz, Browne, Maclise, and other a Our Mutual Friend Cloth, $1.75 David Copperfield, Cloth, si Cloth, 1.75 Barnabv Rudse Cloth, 1 ' loth, 1.75 tations Cloth, 1.75 Lamplighter's Story Cloth, 1.75 L'wist Cloth, 1.75 ■ I mse CI ith, 1.75 D »rrit Cloth, 1.75 . in i S >i Cloth, 1.75 . ■• B \z," Cloth, 1.75 ; Martin Chuzzlewil Old Cariosity Shop * Christmas Stories i Dickens' New Stories,... Cloth, ies,„. Cloth, Aim rican Notes and Pic-Nic Papers, Cloth, Pricj of a set, in Black cloth, in eighteen volumes, $81 Full sheep, Library style 40. " " Half calf, sprinkled edges *S « " Half calf, marbled edges "'1 " " Half calf, antique •>' « " Half calf, full gilt backs etc., "NEW NATIONAL EDITION" OF DICKENS' WORKS. This is i'ne cheapest complete edition of the works of Charles Dickens, « rj ... d in the world, being contained in seven large octnt • utm », with a portrail of Ch irlea Dickens, and other illusiniti.ni>, the .• making nearly iiVe fAoiwanrt very large double columned pages,\n large, i r type, handsomely printed on fine white paper, and bound in the str- i and most substantial mann x. Price of a sot, in Black cloth, in seven volumes " " Pull sheep, Library style - " " Half calf, antique 30.00 « " Half calf, full gilt back, etc., 30.00 CHEAP SALMON PAPER COVER EDITION. in one large octavo volume, Christmas Stories 28 The Haunted House 2- 1 fncommercial Trai eler A House to Lei 25 Perils of English Prisoners Wreck i I len Mary T.'o Tiddler's Ground Our Mutual Friend House Little Dorrit h I ! rimaldi 50 '!' le Pic Nic Papers No Thoroughfare l n Hunted Dowi 2i The Holly-Tree In. 25 Irriper'a Legaoy 25 ptions 25 /.'.■ ' book being complete Pickwick Papers 35 Nichol . i • 35 35 D field 25 Mirtin Chuzzlewit 33 iriosity Shop 25 Cwisl 25 in \ itos 25 tations 25 II ird Timos 25 A rale of I 25 ! 25 5 • from the Sen 25 Barnaby Radge 25 •■ Bos," 25 Mn. I, inn ! an 1 .Mrs. 1 M • ■>• Junction :md I»r. Mfl I taT Books spnt, postage paid, on receipt of the Re-tail Price, by T. B. Peterson & Brothers, Philadelphia, Pa. T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS' PUBLICATIONS. 7 CHARLES LEVER'S BEST WORKS. Cbarlea O'Malley, 75 Harry Lorrequer, 76 Jack H in ton, the Guardsman,... 75 Tuiu Burke of Ours, 75 Knight of Gwynne, 75 Arthur O'Leary, 75 Con Cregan 75 Davenport Dunn, 75 Above are each in paper„or a finer edition in cloth, price $2.00 each. Horace Templeton, 75 | Kate O'Donoghue, 75 EMERSON BENNETT'S WORKS. Bride of the Wilderness, 1 50 Ellen Norbury, 1 50 The Forged Will, 1 50 Kate Clarendon 1 50 The Border Hover, 1 50 Clara Moreland, 1 50 Viola; or Adventures in the Far South-West, 1 50 The above are each in paper cover, or in cloth, price $1.75 each. The Heiress of Bellefonte, and I Pioneer's Daughter and the Walde-Warren, 75 I Unknown Countess, 75 WILKIE COLLINS' BEST WORKS. The Crossed Path, or Basil,.... 1 50 | The Dead Secret. 12mo The above are each in paper cover, or in cloth, price $1.75 each. Hide find Seek, 75 Sights a-Foot, After Dark, 75 The Stolen Mask, The Queen's Revenge, 75 The Yellow Mask, Mad Monkton, 50 ' Sister Rose, 1 50 50 25 25 25 MISS PARDOE'S WORKS. The Rival Beauties, Romance of the Harem,. 75 Confessions of a Pretty Woman, 75 The Wife's Trials, 75 The Jealous Wife, 50 The five above books are also bound in one volume, cloth, for $4.00. The Adopted Heir. One volume, paper, $1.50 ; or in cloth, $1 75 The Earl's Secret. One volume, paper, $1.50 ; or in cloth, 1 75 MRS. HENRY WOOD'S BOOKS. George Canterbury's Will, 1 Roland Yorke, 1 The Channings 1 Red Court Farm 1 EMer's Folly 1 St. Martin's Eve 1 Mildred Arkcll 1 Shadow of Ashlydyat 1 Above are each in paper cover The Mystery, Above are each in paper cover Orville College The Run awn v Match, The Lost Will The Haunted Tower, 50 Oswald Cray, 1 50 50 Vomer's Pride, 1 50 50 Lord Oakburn's Daughters ; or, 50 the Earl's Heirs, 1 50 50 Squire Trevlyn's Heir ; or, 50 Treylyn Hold 1 50 50 The Castle's Heir; or, Lady 50 Adelaide's Oatl 1 50 or each one in cloth, for $1.75 each. 75 ] A Life's Secret, 50 or each one in cloth, for $1.00 each. 50 I The Lost Bank Note, 75 50 Foggy Night at Offord, 25 50 William Allah- 25 50 ' A Light and a Dark Christmas, 25 MISS BRADDON'S WORKS. Aurora Floyd 75 I The Lawyer's Secret,. For Better, For Worse, 75 | 25 lgg° Books sent, postage paid, on receipt of the Retail Price, by T. B. Peterson & Brothers, Philadelphia, Pa, 8 T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS' PUBLICATIONS. ALEXANDER DUMAS' WORKS. c .nut of Monte Criato I 50 I be [r in Mo* 1 00 l,:i Valliere - 1 00 of a Marquis 1 0(1 if Meridor 1 00 'I be I bree Qu irdsinen 75 Twenty fears An. r 75 mne; the Son of Athoa, 75 The Conscript. A Tale of War, 1 5' I. ire and [liberty. A Tale of the French Revolution of 1792, The above are each in paper cover, or in cloth, price $1.75 each. Mi inoirs ol a Phj aician, Qui en'a Necklace, Six Years Lati r Countess of C barmy, Andree de Taverney fhe Chevalier, Forty-five * > uardsmen, ''.'he Iron Hand ... Camille, "TheCaraelia Lady," 1 00 1 Ml 1 00 1 oil 1 00 1 00 75 75 1 50 1 .0 75 ! ia de Cbambure 75 l e II irrora of Paris, 75 illen Angel 75 , - in Prance 1 sabel <>(' 1! ivaria, i ounl of Moret i0 | (leorge, GEORGE W. M. REYNOLDS' WORKS Man with Five Wives Twin Lieutenants Annette, Lady of the Pearls,.., Mohica ns of Paris . The Marriage Verdict, 75 | The Corsiciin Brother.- 50 I. Buried Alive, Mysteries ol Courl oi London,.. 1 00 Roe • Foster. Sequel to it, 1 50 Caroline of Brunswick 1 00 Venecia Trelawney 1 00 Lord Sax Lale,.. 1 00 Christoval 1 00 R ... , Lambert 1 00 Mary Price, Eustace Quentin, Joseph Wilinot Banker's Daughter, K.-iiiietl The Rye-House Plot,.. The Necromancer, The above are each in paper cover, or in cloth, price $1.75 i ai b. The Opera Dancer, 75 I Waterloo, 75 Robert Bruce, 75 D jearded Queen 75 'I ..• Gipsy Chief 75 M iry Stuart, Queen of Scots,... 75 ... the Hereof So itland, 1 00 Isabella Vincent, 75 Vivian Bertram, 75 Countesa o( Ln ..lies 75 Lives of the Harem 75 Ellen Percy 75 A^ues Evelyn, 7> EUGENE SUE'S GREAT WORKS. The Soldier's Wife, May Middleton Duke of Marchraont, Massacre of <■ lencoe Queen Joanna : Court Naples, Pickwick Abroad, Parricide The Ruined Gamester Ciprina; or, the Secrets of a Picture Gallery, Life in Paris < !ountess and the Page Edgar Montrose Wandering Jew, 1 5') tea of Pari.- 1 50 Martin, the Foundling, 1 50 \ . .-. b in clol h at $2.00 each. Life and Adventures of Raoul De Surville,. First L..ve Woman's Li.ve Fema le Bluebi aid.. Man-of-War's-Man, . MADAME GEORGE SAND'S WORKS. l el 75 C mntcRi of Rudolstadl 75 l i i Love 75 i C i iir 50 J i y, 1 .'.it Do. I 75 Fanchon, the Cricket, paper,... Do. do. cloth,... Indiana, a Love Slury, paper,. Do. d .. Cloth,... Consuelo ai.d Rudolstadt, Loth in one volume, olotb 50 50 50 50 25 75 6d 50 ..0 50 50 50 50 50 ..(I 25 I 00 i 50 1 50 1 75 2 00 Books sent, postage paid, on receipt of tho Eotail Price, by T. B. Potorson & Brothers, Philadelphia, Pa. T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS' PUBLICATIONS. 9 HUMOROUS AMERICAN WORKS. Beautifully Illustrated Major Jones' Courtship 75 Major Jones' Travels, 75 Simon Suggs' Adventures and Travels,.. 75 Major Junes' Chronicles of Pineville 75 Polly Peablossom's Wedding,.. 75 Mysteries of the Backwoods,... 75 Widow Rugby's Husband, 75 Big Bear of Arkansas 75 Western Scenes; or, Life on the Prairie 75 Streaks of Squatter Life, 75 Pickings from the Picayune,... 75 Stray Subjects, Arrested and Bound Over, 75 Louisiana Swamp Doctor, 75 Charcoal Sketches 75 Misfortunes of Peter Faber,.... 75 Yankee among the Mermaids,.. 75 New Orleans Sketch Book, 75 by Felix 0. C. Barley. Drama in Pokerville The Quorndon Hounds,. My Shooting Box, Warwick Woodlands,. 75 75 75 75 The Deer Stalkers, 75 Peter Ploddy 75 Adventures of Captain Farrago, 75 Major O'Regan's Adventures,.. 75 Sol. Smith's Theatrical Appren- ticeship, 75 Sol. Smith's Theatrical Jour ney-Work, 75 The Quarter Race in Kentucky, 75 Aunt Patty's Scrap Bag 75 Percival Mayberry's Adven- tures and Travels, 75 Sam Slick's Yankee Yarns and Yankee Letters, 75 Adventures of Fudge Fumble,. 75 American Joe Miller, 50 Following the Drum, 50 DISRAELI'S WORKS. Henrietta Temple,. Vivian Grey, Veuetia, Young Duke, Miriam Alroy Contarina Flcmint FRANK FAIRLEGH'S WORKS. Frank Fairlegh,.. 75 I Harry Racket Scapegrace,..., Lewis Arundel, 75 I Tom Racquet, Finer editions of above are also issued in cloth, at $1.75 each. Harry Coverdale's Courtship, 1 50 | Lorrimer Littlegood, The above are each in paper cover, or in cloth, price $1.75 each. C. J. PETERSON'S WORKS. The Old Stone Mansion, 1 50 | Kate Aylesford, The above are each in paper cover, or in cloth, price $1.75 each. Cruising in the Last War, 75 1 Grace Dudley; or, Arnold at Valley Farm, 25 I Saratoga, JAMES A. MAITLAND'S WORKS. The Old Patroon, 1 50! The Watchman, 1 50 The Wanderer 1 50 The Lawyer's Story, 1 50, The above are each in paper cover, or in cloth, price $1.75 each. Diary of an Old Doctor,. S art a roe, The Threo Cousins WILLIAM H. MAXWELL'S WORKS. Wild Sports of the West 75 I Brian O'Lynn,. Stories of Waterloo, 75 I 50 50 50 75 75 1 50 1 50 50 1 50 1 50 1 50 75 (g^* Books sent, postage paid, on receipt of the Retail Price, by T. B. Peterson & Brothers, Philadelphia, Pa. 10 T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS' PUBLICATIONS. WILLIAM HARRISON AIHSWORTH'S WGRHS. I f Jack 60 75 in 1 vol., cloth, $1.7 5. Comrt of the Stuart* 75 tie 7j Star Chamber, ~:< Paul's 75 Court of Queeu Anne, 50 : Dick Tur|>in 50 Life of Davy Crockett, 50 Tower of London 1 51 Miser's Daughter 1 00 Above in cloth $1.75 each. Life of Grace u'Malley, 50 Life of Henry Thomas, 25 Desperadoes of the NewWorld, 25 Life of Ninon De L'Enclos,..., 25 Life of Arthur Spring 25 Life of .Mrs. Whipple and Jes- see Strang, 25 G. P. R. JAMES'S BEST BOOKS. 5U Lord Montague's Page, 1 50 | The Cavalier ] The above are each in paper cover, or in cloth, price $1.75 each. The Han in Black, ~'j I Arrah Neil 75 Mary of Burgundy, 75 I Eva St. Clair, 50 DOW'S PATENT SERMONS. Dow's Patent Sermons, 1st . Low's Patent Sermons, Series, $1.00 ; cloth, 1 50 i Series, $1.00; cloth, 1 50 Low's Patent Sermons, 2d Dow's Patent Sermons, 4th Series, $1.00; cloth 1 50 I Series, $1.00; cloth 1 50 SAMUEL C. WARREN'S BEST BOOKS. Ten Thousand a Year,. ..paper, 1 50 i Diary of a Medical Student,.. 75 Do. do. cloth, 2 00 | a. K. PHILANDER DOESTICKS' WORKS. Doesticks' Letters, 1 50 i The Elephant Club 1 50 Plu-Ui-Bus-Tah, 1 50 | Witches of New York 1 50 The above are each in paper cover, or in cloth, price $1.75 each. GREEN'S WORKS ON GAMBLING. Gambling Exposed I 50 I The Beformed Gambler, 1 50 The Gambler's Life 1 50 I Secret Band of Brothers 1 50 Above are each in paper cover, or each one in cloth, for $1.75 each. MISS ELLEN PICKERING'S WORKS. The Grumbler 75 Marrying for Money 7o Poor C main ." 50 ' Kat ■ Walsingham, 50 Orphan Nieoe, 50 | Who Shall be Heir? ?,3 The Squire 38 Ellen Wareham, ;-;s Nan Darrel, 38 CAPTAIN MARRYATT'S WORKS. Faithful 50 Japhet in Bearofa of a Father,.. 50 Phantom Shi] 50 Midshipman Easy 50 i : if Many TaV.-, 50 Frank Mil luiay. Naval OffloOT, 50 Bnarkyow, 60 Newton Porster King's Own Pirate and Three Cutters.. Simple Percival Ceene Poor Jack Sea King 50 60 50 50 50 50 50 K4T Books sent, postage paid, on receipt of tho Retail Price, by T. B. Poterson & Brothers, Philadelphia, Pa. T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS* PUBLICATIONS. 11 MRS. GREY'S CELEBRATED NOVELS. Cousin Harry, 1 50 | The Little Beauty. 1 The above are each iu paper cover, or in cloth, price J^l.75 inch. A .Marriage in High Lite, 50 The Baronet's Daughters, Sipsy's Daughter, 50 j Young Prima Donna, Oid Dower House, 50 Hyacinthe, . Belle of the Family, 50 Dike and Cousin, The Little Wife, Lena Cameron, Sybil Lennard Manoeuvring Mother Alice Seymour, „ Mary Seaharu Passion and Principle,. The Flirt, Good Society, Liuu-Hearted, J. F. SMITHS WORKS. The Usurer's Victim: Thomas Balscombe, Adelaide Waldegrave; or, the Trials of a Governess, REVOLUTIONARY TALES. The Brigand, Ralph Ru union, Se/en Brothers of Wyoming The Rebel Bride The Flying Artillerist, Wau-nan-gee, 50 Old Put: or, Days of 1776, 50 Legends of Mexico, 50 Grace Dudley 50 The Guerilla Chief, 50 The Quaker Soldier, paper, 1 50 I do. do. cloth, 1 75 T. S. ARTHUR'S HOUSEHOLD NOVELS. The Lost Bride, 50 The Two Bri.les 50 Love in a Cottage, 50 Love in High Life, 50 Year after Marriage, 50 The Lady at Home, 50 Cecelia Howard, 50 Orphan Children 50 Debtor's Daughter, 50 Mary Moreton, 50 Six Nights with the Washingtonians. The Divorced Wife, 50 Pride and Prudence, 50 Agnes; or, the Possessed, 50 Lucy Sandford 50 The Banker's Wife, 50 The Two Merchants, 50 Trial and Triumph, 50 The Iron Rule, 50 Insubordination; or, the Shoe- maker's Daughters, 50 With nine original Illustra- tions. By Cruikshank. One volume, cloth $1.75 ; or in paper.. ..$1.50 Lizzy Glenn; or, the Trials of a Seamstress. Cloth $1.75; or paper, 1.50 LIEBIG'S WORKS ON CHEMISTRY. Agricultural Chemistry, 25 I Liebig's celebrated Letters on Animal Chemistry, 25 1 the Potato Disease, 25 Liebig's Complete Works on Chemistry, is also issued in one large octavo volume, bound in cloth. Price Two Dollars. RIDDELL'S MODEL ARCHITECT. Architectural Designs of Model Country Residences. By John Riddell, Practical Architect. Illustrated with twenty-two full page Front Eleva- tions, colored, with forty-four Plates of Ground Plans, including the First and Second Stories, with plans of the stories, full specifications of all the articles used, and estimate of price. Price Fifteen Dollars a copy. FRANK FORRESTER'S GREAT BOOK. Frank Forrester's Sporting Scenes and Characters. By Henry "Wil- liam Herbert. With Illustrations by Darley. Two vols., cloth,.. S4 00 5^» Books S9nt, postage paid, on receipt of the Retail Price, by T. B. Peterson & Brothers, Philadelphia, Pa. 12 T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS' PUBLICATIONS. EXCITING SEA TALES. Adventures of Ben Bra \ I i in.-, the .Mini '.. ; . A .•. entures ; or, Life on the Ocean,. I. i Paul Periwinkle Percy Effingham Cruising in the Last War l; i Kin.- J i Coi sair 'I , Doom d Ship The Plying Dutchman The Flying STankee i h - S ■■■ Middy The King's Cruisers Life of Alexander Tardy Red Wing Yankee Jack, Yankees in Japan Buccaneer, .1 unk 1> i% is, the Pirate Valdez, the Pirate, I im i [< 1m 1 1 arry Tempest and Rover I \Var\--.M;m Mark Shades of ( ity Life, The Rats of the Seine i harles Ransford, The Iron Crot - i er Pii ates The Pirate's Son, Jacob Faithful Phantom Shi] M idshipman Easy Pacha ol Many Talis Naval Officer, Snarleyow Newton F or s ter King's Own, ' Pirate and Three Cutters, Peter Simple Percival Keene, i ' or -i ack Sea King GEORGE LIPPARD'S GREAT BOOKS. The Empire City Memoirs of a Preacher B n ne, Washington and his .Men, Legends of Mexico, The Entranced, The Quaker City 1 Paul Ardenheim 1 Blanche of Brandywine 1 Washington and his "id; or, Legends of the American Revolution 1 Mysteries of Florence 1 OOlThe Robbers Above in clo Ueach. The Bank Director's Son, 50 MILITARY NOVELS. BY BEST AUTHORS. With Illuminated Mil Charles O'Malley ' Jack llinton, the Guardsman, ■ i I Iwj nne Harry Lorrequer Arthur O'Leary C •!! Cregan I O'Doi oghue I I Davenport 1 tunn Iventun ' \ le- \'..x '■■ iterloo ] ' Wife Guerilla Chiof iv Covers, in five Col irs. The Three Guardsmen Twenty Years Alter Bragelonne, Son of Athos Forty-five Q uardsraen Com Bowling's Adventures,... Life of Robert Bruce The ( i ipsy Chief ' • lencoe Life of Guy Fawkes, Child of Waterloo Adventures of Ben Brace Jai k Ariel Wallace, the Hero of Scotland, Following the Dram Che Conscript, n Tale of War. Bj Al( lander Dumas 51 50 50 50 50 25 25 2» 2* 25 25 50 60 50 50 50 60 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 75 75 75 75 50 25 25 25 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 T5 1 00 60 1 50 8fc£T Books sont, postago paid, on receipt of tho Retail Price, by T B. Poterson & Brolhors, Philadelphia, Pa. T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS' PUBLICATIONS. 13 GU3TAVE AIMARD'S WORKS. White Scalper, 50 The Freebooters,. Tue Prairie Flower,. Tne Indian Scout,... Tiio Trail Hunter,... The Indian Chief,... The lied Track, 50 75 Trapper's Daughter,. The Tiger Slayer,...., The Gold Seekers, The Rebel Chief, The Smuggler Clue],. The Border Rifles,..., Pirates of the Prairie 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 LANGUAGES WITHOUT A M ASTER. French without a Master, 40 j German without a Master, Spanish without a Master, 40 Italian without a Master, Latin without a Master, 40 I The above five works on the French, German, Spanish, Latin, and Ttal Languages, whereby any one or all of these Languages can be learned any one without a Teacher, with the aid of this book, by A. II. Montei Esq., is also published in liner style, in one volume, bound, price, $1. HARRY COCKiON'S WORKS. Sylvester Sound, 75 Valentine Vox, in paper, 75 do. finer edition, cloth, 2 00 WAR NOVELS. BY HENRY MORFORD. Shoulder-Straps. 1 50 I The Days of Shoddy. A Ilis- The Coward, 1 50 I tory of the late "War 1 Above are each in paper cover, or each one in cloth, for $1.75 each. LIVES OF HIGHWAYMEN. The Sisters The Steward, Percy Effingham,. 75 75 75 Life of John A. Murrel, 50 Life of Joseph T. Hare 50 Life of Col. Monroe Edwards,. 50 Life of Jack Sheppard, 50 Lite of Jack Rami, 50 Life of Dick Turpin, 50 Life of Helen Jewett 50 D isperadoesof the New World, 50 Mysteries of New Orleans, 50 The Robber's Wife, 60 Obi; or, Three Fingered Jack, 50 Kit Clayton 50 Life of Tom Waters, 50 Nat Blake 50 Bill Horton 50 Galloping Gus 50 Life r, Italy I isgrave..... The [nquisition in Spain M irried Life i II i,l. By .Mark Lemon, By C. II. Wiley. Illustrated,. Flirtations in America i ■ Coquette Thackeray's lrUh Sketch Book, Whitehall, The Beautiful Nun, Mysteries of* Three Cities Genevra. By Miss Fairfield,.. New Hope; or, the Rescue Crock of Gold. By Tapper,... 75 Twins and Heart. ByTupper, 75 75 15 WORKS AT 50 CENTS. BY BEST AUTHORS. The Wo ii in in R id. A Cump Twelve Months of Matrimony, 1. lata : or the V ira ikon 50 T le Greatest Plague of Life,.. 50 Clifford and the Actress, 50 I i - Lovers 50 Ryan's Mysteries of Marriage, 50 ] Orp ians and Caleb Field,. 50 M ireton 11.11 50 B ill Brandon, 50 Syl>il Grey 50 I ■ Life in New fork, 50 1 ' rev 50 Diaryofa Physician, 50 ii .'nut Squire, 50 'I '■; • M ink, by Lewi. 50 The Beautiful French Girl,... 50 i i 'lenient, paper 50 do. do. cloth 75 Miser's Heir, paper, 50 do. do. clotl 75 anion to the " Woman in Black,' By Emelie F. Carlen The Admiral's Daughter, The American Joe Miller Ella Stratford Josephine, by Grace Aguilar,.. The Fortune Hunter The Orphan Sisters Robert Oaklands; or, the Out- cast Orphan, Abednego, the Money Lender,. Jenny Ambrose Father Tom and the Pope, in cloth gilt, 75 cents. < Portrait,... 1 Henry Clay's $5 Portrait 1 Tanzania, a Poem 1 WORKS AT 25 CENTS. BY BEST AUTHORS. Aunt Margaret's Trouble, 25 (The Mysteries i Bed m The Woman in Grey 25 The Noblemun's Daughter.. .. P| Deformed 25 Madison's exposition of Odd I • Prima Donnas 25 Fellowship 1 M u Marriage 25 Ghost Stories. iVluPtrnted .1 . Downing's Letters 25 Ladies' Science of Etiquette,... 1 -; of a Convent,... 25 The Vbhey of Inniumoyle 1 Warrington 25 Gliddon's Ancient Egvpt I ' : 25 , Philip in Search of a Wife Charles Hansford 25 Rifle Shots 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 00 00 00 25 25 25 25 25 25 THE SHAKSPEARE N0VFLS. ShnV iends,... 1 00 I The Secret Passioi 1 00 < . ... 1 00 I ■ are also In one volume, cloth. Price Fi ur Dollars. -0* Books sent, postago paid, on roceipt of tho Retail Price, by T. B. Peterson ft Brothers, Philadelphia, Pa. T. A. TROLLOPE'S WORKS Each work is complete in one large duodecimo volume. Price of each, $1.75 in Cloth ; or, $1.50 each, in Paper Cover LEONORA CASALONI; OR, THE MARRIAGE SECRET. "The pictures of life in Italy, as drawn by Trollope, are as charming as the} - are true. In ' Leonora Casaloni.' the description of the basilica of St. John of Lateran. at Rome, of the hills on the sea coast where Leonora lived, and of the wild passes of the Apennines through which Ceasare traveled, are among the most vivid things of their kind in fiction. The character of Gobbo is an original one, and the poor fellow strangely enlists our sympathies. The interest turns upon the marriage-secret of a great Roman family, which is adroitly kept in mystery until the conclud- ing pages. This is a story of striking merit — produced in the maturity of its gifted author's mind." — R. Shelton Mackenzie. GEMMA. A TALE OF LOVE AND JEALOUSY. " Mr. T. A. Trollope gives us in 'Gemma,' one of his novels of Italian private life of the present day. The descriptions of the city of Siena — of the country around — of Savona. the desolate town of Maremma — are won- derfully graphic, and bear witness to their having been done from the life by one who has lived in the places and loved them. The scene in the great church of Savona is brought vividly before the reader, who will not easily shake off the impression it produces. We would recommend the reader to learn for himself the unravelling of the plot and the final result. The story will well repay perusal, and the interest increases as the story pro- c e Is." — Low/on Atheuaum. BEPPO; THE CONSCRIPT. " In ' Beppo the Conscript' we are transported to ' the narrow strip of territory shut in between the Apennines and the Adriatic, to the south of Bologna and the north of Ancona,' where European civilization once cen- tre 1. Tasso sung and raved, and the Dukes of Urbino flourished. But not to revive their past glories are we beguiled to the decayed old city of Fano. and the umbrageous valleys that nestle amid the surrounding hills; it is the normal, primitive, agricultural life and economy of the region, and the late political and social condition of the inhabitants, which this story illustrates. The means and methods of rural toil. — the 'wine, corn, and oil' of Scriptural and Yirgilian times ; the avarice, the prido, the love, the industry, and the superstition of the Contadini of the Romagna : a household of prosperous rustics, their ways and traits ; and the subtle and prevailing agency of priestcraft in its secret opposi- tion to the new and liberal Italian government, — are all exhibited with a quiet zest and a graphic fidelity which takes us into the h^art of the people, and the arcana, as well as the spectacle of daily life as there latent and manifest. The domestic, peasant, and provincial scenes and charac- ters are drawn with fresh and natural colors and faithful outlines." — Hemy T. Tuckerman. MARIETTA; OR, LIFE IN TUSCANY. '• Mr. T. A. Trollope, always a prime favorite of ours, has excelled him- self in ' Marietta.' It is a charming book — charming not for its exquis- itely graphic and accurate pictures of Italian life in country and city, but still more so for its admirable delineations of character." — London Sutur- dny Prrzs. MRS. HENTZ'S GREAT WORKS. T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS, No. 30G Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, have just issued an entire new, complete, and uniform edition of all the celebrated Novels written by Mrs. 1 I.; Bentz, in twelve large duodecimo volumes. They are printed on the, finest paper, and hound in the most beautiful style, in Green Morocco cloth, with a new, full gilt back, and foI.1 at the low juice of $1.75 each, in Morocco cloth ; or in paper cover, at $1.50 each ; or a complete set of the twelve vol- umes, in Morocco cloth, will be sent to any one, to any place, free of postage, on receipt of Twenty Dollars, by the publishers. The following are the names of the twelve volumes: LINDA ; OR, THE YOUNG PILOT OF THE BELLE CREOLE. With a complete Biography of Mrs. Caroline Lee Hentz. ROBERT GRAHAM. A Sequel to "Linda; or, The Young Pilot of the Belle Creole." RENA ; or, THE SNOW BIRD. A Tale of Real Life. MARCUS WARLAND ; or, The Long Moss Spring. ERNEST LINWOOD ; or, The Inner Life of the Author. EOLINE; or, MAGNOLIA VALE; or, Tho Heiress of Glenmore. THE PLANTER'S NORTHERN BRIDE; or, Scenes in Mrs. Hentz 's Childhood. HELEN AND ARTHUR; or, Miss Thusa's Spinning- Wheel. COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE; or, The Joys and Sorrows of American Life. LOVE AFTER MARRIAGE; and other Stories of the Heart. THE LOST DAUGHTER ; and other Stories of the Heart. THE BANISHED SON ; and other Stories of the Heart. The above twelve books have proved to be the most popular series of Novels ever issned in this country, as they are written by one of the most popular Female Novelists that ever lived. Each of the above twelve books are complete in one volume, duo leoimo, hound in Green Morocco Cloth, with a new, full gilt back, prioe $1.75 eaob ; or a complete set. done up in a neat box, for $20.00 ; or each hook is done up in paper cove]-, price $1.50 each ; or $17.00 for a oomplete set. Address all orders, ;it oner, to receive immediate and prompt attention, for .-ill or any of the above I kg, to the Publishers, T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS, No. 30G Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 3ook$ are for sale by all Booksellers, or copies of any qf tltern will /.. i< t, post , aid, to anyplace, on re.,t of price by the publishers, PETERSON'S MAGAZINE *-» CHEAPEST AND BEST OF ALL! ♦-•■ Splendid Offers for 1872. This popular Monthly Magazine gives more, for the money than any in the world. It has the best colored fashions, the lest original stories, and the best engravings of any lady's book. Great and coitly improvements will be made in 1872, when it will contain OA E THOUSAM) PAGES ! FOURTEEN §PL,EXI>II> STEE1L. PIiATES ! TWELVE COSiOHEl> BERLIS PATTERNS ! TWELVE MA30IOTH COLORED FASHIONS I OXE THOUSAND WOOD CUTS! TWENTY-FOUR PAGES OF MUSIC! All this will be given for only TWO DOLLARS a year, or a dollar less than Magazines of the class of " Peterson." its THRILLING TALES AND NOVELETTES Are the best published anywhere. ATI the most papular writers are employed to write originally for " I'tln-sim/' In 1872, in addition to its usual quantity of short stories FIVE ORIGINAL COPYRIGHT NOVELETS will be given, viz: Bought "With a Price, by Ann S. Stephens; The Island of Diamonds, by Harry Danforth; Once Too Often, by Frank Lee Benedict; Lindsay's Li k. by Miss F. Hodgson; and A Wife Yet Not A Wife, by the author of "The Second Life." MAMMOTH COLORED FASHION PLATES Ahead of all others. These plates are engraved on steel, twice the usual size, and contain six figures. They will be superbly colored. Also, several pages of Household and other receipts ; in short, everything interesting to ladies. TERMS-Always in advance: One copy, for one year ? 2 00 Five copies, for one year ° W> Eight copies, for one year 12 00 SUPERB PREMIUM ENGRAVING! Every person getting up a club of five at S1.60 each, or eight at $1.£0 each, will be entitled to an extra copy of the .Magazine for 1572, and also to a cnpy of the superb parlor mezzotint (size 24 inches by 18), " Five Times Ono To-Day," which, at a store, would cost four dollars. &g- Specimens sent gratis, to those wishing to get up Clubs. Address, CHARLES J. PETERSON, No. 306 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. MRS. EMMA D. E. N. SQUTHWORTH'S WORKS. Each Work is complete in one large duodecimo volume. A NOBLE LORD. Sequel to " 77, Lost Heir of Linlithgow." THE LOST HEIR OF LINLITHGOW. THE FAMILY DOOM; or, THE St A OF A COUNTESS. THE M. I WEN WIDOW. 51 quel to ' ' The Family Doom. ' ' (7,7 II. AS THE GRA VE. THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS. THE MOTHER-1N-LA W. THE DESERTED WIFE. THl CHANG1 D BRIDES. THE BRIDE'S FA IF. SI. QUEL 1 CHANGED BRIDES. TRIED FOR HER LIFE. A Sequel to "Crueleuthe Grave." THE BRIDE OF LLEWELLYN. THE till' SYS PROPHECY. THE FORTUNE SEEK Ell. THE LOS1 HEIRESS. THE dims I mas GUEST. THE BRIDAL EVE. THE THREE E FATTIES. FAIR PLAY; OR, THE TEST OF THE LONE ISLE. HOW HE WON HER. SEQUEL TO tl FAIR PLAY." THE FATAL MARRIAGE. THE HAUNTED HOMESTEAD. LOVE'S LABOR WON. THE MISSING BRIDE. LADY OF THE ISLE. THE WIFE'S VICTORY. THE TWO SISTERS. FALLEN PRIDE; OH, THE MOUNTAIN GIRL'S LOVE. INDIA; OR, THE PEARL OF PEARL RIVER. VI VIA: OR, THE SECRET OF POWER. THE CURSE OF CLIFTON. I III: DISCARDED DAUGHTER. THE 117/ OW'S SON. ALL WORTH ABBEY. Ill TRIBUTION. Price of each, $1.75 in Cloth ; or $1.50 in Paper Cover. Above books are for Bale by all Booksellers. Copies of any or all of the above books will be sent to any on,., to any place, i pre paid, on reoeipl of their price by the Publishers, T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS, ' 'ii BTKUT BtBBBT, I'iiii ai>: i pmia. Pa. r -r I '— . r