OVL SX MM-SOITHWORTH THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY QI3 Sa-Su The person charging this material is re- sponsible for its return to the library from which it was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons for disciplinary action and may result in dismissal from the University. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN OCT L161 — 0-1096 / / Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Alternates https://archive.org/details/unrequitedloveseOOsout An Unrequited Love A SEQUEL TO FOR WOMAN’S LOVE By MRS. E. D. E. N. SOUTHWORTH Author of Em’s Husband,^’ Gloria,” David Lindsay,*^ ♦*The Bride’s Ordeal,” Etc. A. L. BURT COMPANY PUBLISHERS • • NEW YORK Popular Books By MRS. E. D. E. N. SOUTHWORTH In Handsome Cloth Binding Price - - 60 Cents per Volume CAPITOLA’S PERIL CRUEL AS THE GRAVE “EM’* EM’S HUSBAND FOR WHOSE SAKE ISHMAEL LILITH THE BRIDE’S FATE THE CHANGED BRIDES THE HIDDEN HAND THE UNLOVED WIFE TRIED FOR HER LIFE SELF-RAISED WHY DID HE WED HER? GLORIA DAVID LINDSAY THE BRIDE’S ORDEAL HER LOVE OR HER LIFE NEAREST AND DEAREST LITTLE NEA’S ENGAGEMENT THE LOST LADY OF LONE THE STRUGGLE OF A SOUL THE TRAIL OF THE SERPENT A TORTURED HEART THE TEST OF LOVE A SKELETON IN THE CLOSET BRANDON COYLE’S WIFE FOR WOMAN’S LOVE AN UNREQUITED LOVE For Sale by all Booksellers or will be sent postpaid on receipt of price A. h, BURT COMPANY, PUBLISHERS 52 Duane Street ----- New York Copyright, 1883 By ROBERT BONNER Copyright, 1890 By ROBERT BONNER’S SONS An Unrequited Rove Printed by special arrangement with STREET & SMITH AN UNREQUITED LOVE CHAPTER I MAD MARRIAGE^ MY MASTERS’^ Eose Stillwater had had a trying day, followed by a night of wild dreams, and when she made her appear- ance at the breakfast table of old Aaron Eockharrt, the Iron King, there were heavy lines about her eyes and her lovely cheeks had not yet recovered their accustomed bloom. Young Sylvanus Haught, fresh from West Point, burst upon the quiet breakfast party, bowed to his grand- father and Eose Stillwater and seized his married sister, Cora Eothsay, around the neck and covered her with kisses, all in a minute and before he spoke a word. ^Well, sir! You have got through,’’ said the Iron King, with dignified gravity. ^^Yes, sir, got through ^by the skin of my teeth,’ as I might say ! And got leave of absence, waiting my com- mission. Hurrah, Cora ! Hurrah, the Eose that all ad- mire ! I shall be your cavalier for the next three months at least, and until they send me out to Port Devil’s Icy 3 4 AN UNREQUITED LOVE Peak, to be killed and scalped by the redskins!” ex- claimed tbe new-fledged soldier, throwing up his cap. Soon Sylvanus was seated at the table, sharing the morning meal of his family. “Now that my brother has joined us shall we leave for North End to-day, grandfather V’ inquired Cora, as they all arose from breakfast. “No ; nor need you make any suggestions of the sort. When I am ready to go home, I will tell you. I have business to transact before I leave New York,” grufily replied the family bear. Rose Stillwater took up one of the morning papers and ran her eyes down column after column, over page after page. Presently she came to the item she was so anxiously looking for: “The Very Reverend the Dean of Olivet left the city last evening by the steamer Nighthawk for Boston.” With a sigh of relief she laid the paper down. Mr. Rockharrt came and sat down beside her on the sofa, and began to speak to her in a low voice. Sylvan, sitting by Cora at the other end of the apart- ment, began to tell all about the exercises at West Point which she had missed. His voice, though not loud, was clear and lively, and quite drowned the sound of Mr. Rockharrt and Mrs. Stillwater’s words, which Cora could see were earnest and important. At last Rose got up in some agitation and hurried out of the room. Then old Aaron Rockharrt came up to the young people and stood before them. There was something so ominous 5 AN UNREQUITED LOVE in his attitude and expression that his two grandchil- dren looked dismayed even before he spoke. ^^Sir and madam/’ he said, addressing the young creatures as if they were dignitaries of the church or state, have to inform you that I am about to marry Mrs. Stillwater. The ceremony will be performed at the church to-morrow noon. I shall expect you both to attend us there as witnesses.” Saying which the Iron King arose and strode out of the room. ' The sister and brother lifted their eyes, and might have stared each other out of countenance in their silent, unutterable consternation. Sylvan was the first to find his voice. ^^Cora ! It is an outrage ! It is worse ! It is an in- famy!” he exclaimed, as the blood rushed to his face and crimsoned it. Cora said never a word^ but burst into tears and sobbed aloud. ^^Cora! don’t cry! You have me now! Oh, the old man is certainly mad and ought to be looked after. Cora, darling, don’t take it so to heart ! At his age, too ; sev- enty-seven! He’ll make himself the laughing stock of the world ! Oh, Cora, don’t grieve so ! It does not mat- ter after all ! Such a disgrace to the family ! Oh, come now, you know, Cora ! this is not the way to welcome a fellow home! For any old man to make such a Oh, I say, Cora ! come out of that now ! If you don’t, I swear I will take my hat and go out to get a drink !” 6 AN UNREQUITED LOVE “Oh, don’t ! don’t !” gasped his sister ; “don’t you lend a hand to breaking my heart.” “Well, I won’t, darling, if you’ll only come out of that! It is not worth so much grief.” “I will — stop — as soon as — I can I” sobbed the young woman, “but when I think — of his reverent gray hairs — brought to such dishonor — ^by a mere adventuress — and we — so powerless — to prevent it, I feel as if — I should die.” ' “Oh, nonsense; you look at it too gravely. Besides, old men have married beautiful young women before now!” said Sylvan, troubled by his sister’s grief, and tacking around in his opinions as deftly as ever did any other politician. “Yes, and got themselves laughed at and ridiculed for their folly !” sighed Cora, who had ceased to sob. “Behind their backs, and that did not hurt them one bit.” “Oh, if Uncle Fabian were only here !” “Why, what could he do to prevent the marriage ?” “I do not know. But I know this, that if any man could prevent this degradation, he would be Uncle Fa- bian ! It would be no use, I fear, to telegraph to Clar- ence !” “Clarence !” said Sylvanus with a laugh. “Why he has no more influence with the Iron King than I have. His father calls him an idiot and he certainly is weakly amiable. He would back his father in anything the old man had set his heart upon. But, Cora, listen here, my AN UNREQUITED LOVE T dear! You and I are free at present. We need not countenance this marriage by our presence. I, your brother, can take you to another hotel, or take you off to Saratoga, where we can stay until I get my orders, and then you can go with me wherever I go. There! the Devil’s Icy Peak itself will be a holier home than Eockhold for you.” Cora had become quite calm by this time, and she an- swered quietly : ^^No ; you misapprehend me. Sylvan. It was not from indignation or resentment that I cried, and not at all for myself. I grieved for him, the spellbound old man! No, Sylvanus; since we feel assured that no power of ours, no power on earth, can turn him from his pur- pose, we must do our duty by him. We must refrain from giving him pain or making him angry ; for his own poor old sake, we must do this ! Sylvan, I must attend his bride to the altar ; and you must attend him — as he desired us to do.” ^Desired’ ! by J ove, I think he commanded ! I do not remember ever to have heard his Majesty the King of the Cumberland Mines request anybody to do any- thing in the whole course of his life. He always or- dered him to do it! Well, Cora dear, I will be ^besP man to the bridegroom since you say so! I have al- ways obeyed you, Cora. Ah ! you have trained me for the model of an obedient husband for some girl, Cora ! Now, I am going downstairs to smoke a cigar. You 8 AN UNREQUITED LOVE don’t object to that, I hope, Mrs. Rothsay ?” lightly in- quired the youth as he sauntered out of the room. He had just closed the door when Mrs. Stillwater en- tered. She came in very softly, crossed the room, sat down on the sofa beside Cora, and slipped her arm around the lady’s waist, purring and cooing: “I have been waiting to find you alone, dearest. I just heard your brother go downstairs. Mr. Rockha'vrt has told you, dear?” “Yes; he has told me. Take your arms away from me, if you please, Mrs. Stillwater, and pray do not touch me again,” quietly replied the young lady, gently withdrawing herself from the siren’s close embrace. “You are displeased with me. Can you not forgive me, then?” pleaded Rose, withdrawing her arms, but fixing her soft blue eyes pleadingly upon the lady’s face. “You have given me no personal offense, Mrs. Still- water.” ‘^Cora, dear ” began Rose. “Mrs. Rothsay, if you please,” said Cora, -in a quiet tone. “Mrs. Rothsay, then,” amended Rose, in a calm voice, as if determined not to take offense. “Mrs. Rothsay, allow me to explain how all this came to pass. I have always, from the time I first lived in his house, felt a profound respect and affection for your grand- father ” “Mr. Roekharrt, if you please,” said Cora. AN UNREQUITED LOVE 9 ^Tor Mr. Eockharrt, then, as well as for his sainted wife, the late Mrs. Rockharrt. I ’’ ^^Madam interrupted Cora, ^^is there nothing too holy to be profaned by your lips ? You should at least have the good taste to leave that lady’s sacred memory alone.” ^^Certainly, if you wish ; but she was a good friend to me, and I served her with a daughter’s love and devo- tion. In my last visit to Rockhold I also served Mr. Rockharrt more zealously than ever, because, indeed, he needed such affectionate service more than before. He has grown so much accustomed to my services that they now seem vitally necessary to him. But, of course, I cannot take care of him day and night, in parlor and chamber, unless I become his wife — ^the Abisheg of his age.’ And so, Cora, dear — I beg pardon — Mrs. Eoth- say, I have yielded to his pleadings and consented to marry him.” ^^Mr. Rockharrt has already told me so,” coldly re- plied Cora. ^^And, dear, I wish to add this — ^that the marriage need make no difference in our domestic relations at Rockhold.” do not understand you.” mean in the family circle.” ^^Oh! thank you,” said Cora, with the nearest ap- proach to a sneer that ever she made. have heard all you have to say, Mrs. Stillwater, and now I have to reply — First, that I give you no credit for any respect 10 ^ AN UNREQUITED LOVE or aifection that yon may profess for Mr. Rockharrt, or for disinterested motives in marrying the aged million- aire.^^ ‘Uh, Cora — Mrs. Eothsay!’’ will say no more on that point. Mr. Rockharrt is old and worn with many business cares. I would not willingly pain or anger him. Therefore, because he wills it, for his sake, not for yours, I will attend you to the altar. Also, if he should desire me to do so, I shall remain at Eockhold until the return of Mr. Fabian Eockharrt.^^ At the sound of this name Eose Stillwater winced and shivered. ^^Then, knowing that his favorite son will be near him, I shall leave him with the freer heart and go away with my brother, whithersoever he may be sent. Mr. Fa- bian is expected to return within a few weeks, and will probably be here long before my brother receives his orders. Now, Mrs. Stillwater, I think all has been said between us, and you will please excuse my leaving you,^’ said Cora, as she arose and withdrew from the room. Then Eose Stillwater lost her self-command. Her blue eyes blazed, she set her teeth, she doubled her fist, and shaking it after the vanished form of the lady, she hissed : ^^Very well, proud madam ! 1^11 pay you for all this. You shall never touch one cent of old Aaron Rock- harrt^s millions AN UNREQUITED LOVE 11 Having launched this threat, she got up and went to her room. Ten minutes later she drove out in a car- riage alone. She did not return to luncheon. Neither did Mr. Eockharrt, who had gone down to Wall Street. Sylvan and Cora lunched alone, and spent the afternoon together in the parlor, for they had much to say to each other after their long separation, and much also to say of the impending marriage. During that afternoon many packages and bandboxes came by vans, directed to Mrs. Rose Stillwater. These were sent to her apartment. At dusk Mrs. Stillwater returned and went directly to her room. She probably did not care to face the brother and sister together, unsupported by their grandfather. A few minutes later Mr. Eockharrt came in, looking moody and defiant, as if quite conscious of the absurd- ity of his position, or ready to crush any one who be- trayed the slightest sense of humor. Then dinner was served, and Eose Stillwater came out of her room and entered the parlor — a vision of loveliness — her widow^s weeds all gone, her dress a violet brocaded satin, with fine lace berthe and sleeve trimmings, white throat and white arms encircled with a pearl necklace and brace- lets ; golden red hair dressed high and adorned with a pearl comb. She came in smiling and took her place at the table. Old Aaron Eockharrt looked up at her in surprise and not altogether with pleasure. Eose Stillwater, see- ing his expression of countenance, got a new insight into the mind of the old man whom she had thought she 12 AN UNREQUITED LOVE knew so well. During dinner, to cover the embarrass- ment which covered each member of the small party, Sylvan began to talk of the cadets’ ball at West Point on the preceding evening; the distinguished men who were present, the pretty girls with whom he had danced, the best waltzers, and so forth, and then the mischiev- ous scamp added: “But there wasn’t a brunette present as handsome as my sister Cora, nor a blonde as beautiful as my own grandmamma-elect.” When they all left the table, Mrs. Stillwater went to her room, and Mr. Roekharrt took occasion to say: “I wish you both to understand the program for to- morrow. There is to be no fuss, no wedding breakfast, no nonsense whatever.” Sylvan thought to himself that the marriage alone was nonsense enough to stand by itself, like a velvet dress, which is spoiled by additions; but he said noth- ing. Mr. Roekharrt, standing on the rug with his back to the mantelpiece and his hands clasped behind him, continued : “Sylvan, you will wear a morning suit; Cora, you will wear a visiting costume, just what you would wear to an ordinary church service. Rose will be married in her traveling dress. Immediately after the ceremony we, myself and wife, shall enter a carriage and drive to the railway depot and take the train for Niagara. You two can return here or go to Rockhold or wherever you will. We shall make a short tour of the Falls, lakes. AN UNREQUITED LOVE 13 St. Lawrence River, and so on, and probably return to Eockhold by the first of July. I cannot remain long from the works while Fabian is away. Now, am I clearly understood ^^Very clearly, sir,’^ replied Sylvan, speaking for him- self and sister. ^^Then, good-night ; I am going to bed,” said the Iron King, and without waiting for a response, he strode out of the room. ‘^Who ever heard of a man dictating to a woman what she shall wear ?” exclaimed Cora. Sylvan laughed. ^^Why, the King of the Cumberland mines would dic- tate when you should rise from your seat and walk across the room; when you should sit down again; when you should look out of the window, and every movement of your life, if it were not too much trouble. Good-night, Cora.” The brother and sister shook hands and parted for the night, each going to his or her respective apartment. Early the next morning the little party met at break- fast. The Iron King looked sullen and defiant, as if he were challenging the whole world to find any objec- tion to his remarkable marriage at their peril. Mrs. Stillwater, in a pretty morning robe of pale blue sarce- net, made very plainly, looked shy, humble, and depre- cating, as if begging from all present a charitable con- struction of her motives and actions. Cora Eothsay looked calm and cold in her usual widow^s dress and cap. 14 AN UNREQUITED LOVE Sylvan seemed the only cheerful member of the party and tried to make conversation out of such trifles as the bill of fare furnished. All were relieved when the party separated and went to their rooms to dress for church. At eleven o’clock they reassembled in the parlor. Mr. Eockharrt wore a new morning suit. He might have been going down to Wall Street instead of to his own wedding. Rose Stillwater wore a navy blue lusterless silk traveling dress, with hat, veil and gloves to match, all very plain, but extremely becoming to her fresh com- plexion and ruddy hair. Cora wore her widow’s dress of lusterless black silk with mantle, bonnet, veil and gloves to match. Sylvan, like his grandfather, wore a plain morning suit. ^^Well, are you all ready?” demanded old Aaron, looking critically upon the party. ^^All ready, sir,” chirped Sylvan for the others. ^Uome, then.” And the aged bridegroom drew the arm of his bride- elect within his own and led the way downstairs and out to the handsome carriage that stood waiting. He handed her in, put her on the back seat and placed himself beside her. Sylvan helped his sister into the carriage and followed her. They seated themselves on the front seat opposite the bridal pair. And the carriage drove off. ^^Oh !” suddenly exclaimed old Aaron Rockharrt, rummaging in the breast pocket of his coat and drawing AN UNREQUITED LOVE 15 tHence a white envelope and handing it to Sylvan, ^^here take this and give it to the minister as soon as we come before him.’^ The young man received the packet and looked in- quiringly at the elder. It was really the marriage fee for the officiating clergyman, and a very ostentatious one also; but the Iron King did not condescend to ex- plain anything. He had given it to his grandson with his orders, which he expected to be implicitly obeyed without question. They reached the church, the same church in which they had heard the dean preach on the previous Sunday. They alighted from the carriage and entered the building, old Aaron Eockharrt leading the way with his bride-elect on his arm. Sylvan and Cora following. The church was vacant of all except the minister, who stood in his surplice behind the chancel railing, and the sexton who had opened the door for the party, and was now walking before them up the aisle. The church was empty, because this, though the wed- ding of a millionaire, was one of which it might be said that there was ^^No feast, no cake, no cards, no noth- ing.’^ The party reached the altar railing, bowed silently te the minister, who nodded gravely in return, and then formed before the altar — ^the venerable bridegroom and beautiful bride in the center, Sylvan on the right of the groom, Cora on the left of the bride. The young man performed the mission with which he had been in- trusted, and then the ceremony was commenced. It 16 AN UNREQUITED LOVE went on smoothly enough until the minister in its proper place asked the question : “Who giveth this woman to be married to this man There was an awful pause. No one had thought of the necessity of having a “church father” to give away the bride. The officiating clergyman saw the dilemma at a glance, and quietly beckoned the gray-haired sexton to come up and act as a substitute. But Sylvan Haught, with a twinkle of fun in his eyes, turned his head and whispered to the newcomer: “ ^After me is manners of you.’ ” Then he took the bride’s hand and said mightily: “I do.” The marriage ceremony went on to its end and was ever. Congratulations were offered. The register was signed and witnessed. And old Aaron Eoekharrt led his newly married wife out of the church and put her into the carriage. Then turning around to his grandchildren he said: “You can walk back to the hotel. See that the porters send off our luggage by express to the Cataract House, Niagara Balls. They have their orders from me, but do you see that these orders are promptly obeyed. Now, good-by.” He shook hands with Sylvan and Cora, and entered the carriage, which immediately rolled off in the direc- tion of the railway station. AN UNREQUITED LOVE 17 The brother and sister walked back to the hotel to- gether. ^Tt will be a curious study, Cora, to see who will rule in this new firm. I believe it is universally conceded that when an old man marries a pretty young wife, he becomes her slave. But our honored grandfather has been absolute monarch so long that I doubt if he can be reduced to servitude.^’ have no doubts on the subject,’’ replied his sister, have been watching them. He is not subjugated by Rose. He is not foolishly in love with her, at his age. He likes her as he likes other agreeable accesso- ries for his own sake. I have neither respect nor affec- tion for Rose, yet I feel some compassion for her now. Whatever the drudgery of her life as governess may have been since she left us, long ago, it has been noth- ing, nothing to the penal servitude of the life uponi which she has now entered. The hardest-worked gov- erness, seamstress, or servant has some hours in the twenty-four, and some nook in the house that she can call her own where she can rest and be quiet. But Rose Rockharrt will have no such relief! Do I not remem- ber my dear grandmother’s life ? And my grandfather really did love her, if he ever loved any one on earth. This misguided young woman fondly hopes to be the ideal old man’s darling. She deceives herself. She will be his slave, by day and night seldom out of his sight,, never out of his service and surveillance. Possibly — 18 AN UNREQUITED LOVE for she is not a woman of principle — she may end by running away from her master^ and that before long/^ Cora’s last words brought them to the ^Tadies’ En- trance” of their hotel. ^^Go upstairs, Cora, and I will step into the office and see if there are any letters,” said Sylvan. Mrs. Rothsay went up into their private sitting room, dropped into a chair, took off her bonnet and began to fan herself, for her midday walk had been a very warm one. Presently Sylvan came up with a letter in his hand. ^Tor you, Cora, from Uncle Fabian ! There is a for- eign mail just in.” ^^Give it to me.” Sylvan handed her the letter. Cora opened it, glanced over it, and exclaimed: ^^Uncle Fabian says that he will be home the last of this month.” CHAPTEE II A CRISIS AT EOCKHOLD Brother and sister went to Newport and spent a month. The Dean of Olivet was in the town, but they never met him because they never went into society. To- ward the last of June, Corona proposed that they should go at once to Eockhold. The next morning brother and sister took the early train for New York. On the morning of the second day they took the express train for Baltimore, where they stopped for another night. And on the morning of the third day they took the early train for North End, where they arrived at sunset. They went to the hotel to get dinner and to engage the one hack of the establish- ment to take them to Eockhold. Almost the first man they met on the hotel porch was Mr. Clarence, who rushed to meet them. ^^Hurrah, Sylvan! Hurrah, old boy! Back again! Why didn’t you write or telegraph ? How do you do, Cora! Ah! when will you get your roses back, my dear? And how is his Majesty? Why is he not with you ? Where did you leave him ?” demanded Mr, Clar- 19 ^0 AN UNREQUITED LOVE ence in a gale of high spirits at greeting his nephew and niece again. ^‘^He is among the Thousand Islands somewhere with his bride,” answered Cora. ‘‘His — ^what ?” inquired Mr. Clarence, with a puzzled air. “His wife,” said Cora. “His wife? What on earth are you talking about, Cora ? You could not have understood my question. I asked you where my father was !” said the bewildered Mr. Clarence. “And I told you that he is on his wedding trip with his bride, among the Thousand Islands,” replied Cora. Mr. Clarence turned in a helpless manner. “Sylvan,” he said, “tell me what she means, will you ?” “Why, just what she says. Our grandfather and grandmother are on the St. Lawrence, but will be home on the first of July,” Sylvan explained. But Mr. Clarence looked from the brother to the sis- ter and back again in the utmost perplexity. “What sort of a stupid joke are you two trying to get off?” he inquired. They had by this time reached the public parlor of the hotel and found seats. “Is it possible. Uncle Clarence, that you do not know Mr. Eockharrt was married on the thirty-first of last month in New York to Mrs. Stillwater ?” inquired Cora. “What! My father!” AN UNREQUITED LOVE 21 ^^Why should you be amazed or incredulous, Uncle Clarence ? The incomprehensible feature, to my mind,, is that you should not have heard of the affair directly from grandfather himself. Has he really not written and told you of his marriage ^^He has never told me a word of his marriage, though he has written a dozen or more letters to me within the last few weeks.^^ ^^That is very extraordinary. And did you not hear any rumor of it ? Did no one chance to see the notice of it in the papers?’’ ^^No one that I know of. No; I heard no hint of my father’s marriage from any quarter, nor had I, nor any one else at Rockhold or at North End, the slightest sus- picion of such a thing.” ^^That is very strange. It must have been in the pa- pers,” said Sylvan. ^Tf it was I did not see it, but, then, I never think of looking at the marriage list.” am inclined to think that it never got into the papers. The marriage was private, though not secret. And you. Sylvan, should have seen that the marriage was inserted in all the daily papers. It was your special duty as groomsman. But you must have forgotten it, and I never remembered to remind you of it,” said Cora. ^^Not L I never forgot it, because I never once thought of it. Didn’t know it was my duty to attend to it. Besides I had so many duties. Such awful duties. Think of my having to be my own grandmother’s church AN UNREQUITED LOVE 22 papa and give her away at the altar ! That duty reduced me to a state of imbecility from which I have not yet recovered.” “But,” said Mr. Clarence, with a look of pain on his fine, genial countenance, “it is so strange that my father never mentioned his marriage in any of his letters to me.” “Perhaps he did not like to mix up sentiment with business,” kindly suggested Sylvan. “I don’t think it was a question of sentiment,” sighed Mr. Clarence. “What ? Not his marriage ?” “No,” sighed Mr. Clarence. “Well, don’t worry about the matter. Let us order dinner and engage the carriage to take us all to Eock- hold. How astonished the darkies will be to see us, and how much more astonished to hear the news we have to tell ! I wonder if they will take kindly to the rule of the new mistress ?” said Sylvan. “Why did not one of you have the kindness, and thoughtfulness to write and tell me of my father’s mar- riage ?” sorrowfully inquired Mr. Clarence, utterly ig- noring the just spoken words of his nephew. “Dear Uncle Clarence, I should certainly have writ- ten and told you all about it at once, if I had not taken for granted that grandfather had informed you of his intention, as was certainly his place to do. And even if I had written to you on any other occasion, I should AN UNREQUITED LOVE 23 assuredly have alluded to the marriage. But, you see, I never wrote to any one while away,’^ Cora explained. ^^Now, Uncle Clarence, just take Cora’s explanation and apology for both of us, will you, for it fits me as well as it does her. And now you two may keep the ball rolling, while I go out and order dinner and engage the hack,” said Sylvan, starting for the office. When he was gone Clarence asked Cora to give him all the details of the extraordinary marriage, and she complied with his request. ^Tt will make the country talk,” said the young man, with a sigh, which Cora echoed. ^^And you say they will be home on the first of July ?” he inquired. ^^Yes,” said Cora. wish I had known in time. I would have had old Eockhold Hall prepared as it should be for the recep- tion of my father’s bride, though I do so strongly dis- approve the marriage. Do you know, Cora, that old house has never had its furniture renewed within my memory ? Some of the rooms are positively moldy and musty. And whoever heard of a wealthy man like my father bringing his wife home to a neglected old country house like Eockhold, without first having it renovated and refurnished ?” do not believe he ever once thought of the propri- ety or necessity of repairing and refitting. His mind is quite absorbed in his new and vast speculations. He 24 AN UNREQUITED LOVE spent every day down in Wall Street while we stayed in New York City.” “Well, Corona, this is the twenty-eighth of June, and we have four days before us; for I do not suppose the newly-married pair will arrive before the evening of the first of July; so we must do the best we can, my dear, to make the house pleasant in this short time.” “And Uncle Fabian and his wife will be at Rockhold about the same time,” added Cora. “I knew Fabian would be at North End on the first of July, but I did not know that he would go on to Rock- Fold. I thought he would go on to their new hovtse. So we shall have two brides to welcome, instead of one.” “Yes. And now. Uncle Clarence, will you please ring for the chambermaid ? I must go to a bedroom and get some of this railroad dust out of my eyes,” said Cora. At nine o’clock in the very warm evening, the three were sitting near the open windows, when they started at the sound of a hearty, genial voice in the adjoining room, inquiring for accommodations for the night. “It is Fabian!” cried Mr. Clarence, springing up in joy and rushing out of the room to welcome his only and much beloved brother. The glad voices of the two brothers in greeting reached their ears, and a moment after the door was thrown open again, and Mr. Clarence entered, conduct- ing Mr. and Mrs. Fabian Rockharrt. AN UNREQUITED LOVE 25 As soon as they found themselves alone^ the two brothers took convenient seats to have a talk. ^^How goes on the works, Clarence?’^ inquired Mr. Fabian. ^^Very prosperously. You will go through them to- morrow and see for yourself.’’ ^^And how goes on the great scheme ?” ^^Even better than the works. Last reports shares selling at one hundred and thirty.” ^^Same over yonder. When I left Amsterdam shares selling like hot cakes at a hundred and thirty-one seven- tenths. How is the governor ?” inquired Mr. Fabian. ^^As flourishing as a successful financier and septua- genarian bridegroom can be.” ^^Why ! what do you mean ?” ‘^Haven’t you heard the news ?” ^^What is it? You — you don’t mean ” ^^Has our father written nothing to you of a very im- portant and utterly unexpected act of his life ?” advised him to marry ” ^^You ! You ! Fabian ! You advised our father to do such an absurd thing at his age ?” confess I don’t see the absurdity of it,” quietly re- plied the elder brother. ‘^Oh, why did you counsel him to such an act ?” in- quired Mr. Clarence, more in sorrow than in anger. ^^Out of pure good nature. I was getting married myself and wanted everybody to be as happy as I was AN UNREQUITED LOVE S6 myself, particularly my old father. Now I wonder he did not write to me of his happiness; but perhaps he has done so and the letter passed me on the sea. When did this marriage take place ^Un the last day of May.’^ ^^Whe-ew! Then there was ample time in which to have written the news to me. And I have had at least half a dozen business letters since the date of his mar- riage, in any of which he might have mentioned the oc- currence had he so chosen. The lady is no longer young. She must be forty-eight, and she is handsome, cultured, dignified and of very high rank. A queenly woman!’’ ^^Do you know whom you are talking about, Fa- bian ^^Mrs. Bloomingfield, the lady I recommended, whom father married.” ^Uh, indeed; I thought you didn’t know what you were talking about or whom you were talking of,” said Mr. Clarence. ^^What do you mean by that ?” ^Uur father never accepted your recommendation; never proposed to the handsome, high-spirited Mrs. Bloomingfield.” ^‘What!” exclaimed Mr. Fabian. ^^Whom, then?” ^^Whom ? Whom should he have selected but ^The Rose that all ad-mi-r-r ?’ ^^Clarence, what, in the fiend’s name, do you mean ? AN UNREQUITED LOVE 27 Whom has my father married?’’ demanded Mr. Fa- bian, starting up and staring at his younger brother. ^^Mrs. Rose Flowers Stillwater/’ replied Mr. Clar- ence^ staring back. Mr. Fabian dropped back in his chair, while every vestige of color left his face. ^^Why, Fabian! Fabian! Why should you care so much as all this? Speak, Fabian; what is the matter?’^ inquired the younger brother, rising and bending over the elder. ^^What is the matter?” cried Mr. Fabian, excitedly. ^^Euin is the matter ! Ruin, disgrace, dishonor, degra- dation, an abyss of infamy ; that is the matter.” ^Uh, come now ! see here ! that is all wild talk. The young woman was only a nursery governess, to be sure, in our house, and then widow of some skipper or other ; but she was respectable, though of humble position.” ^^Clarence, hush ! You know nothing about it !” ex- claimed Mr. Fabian, wiping his forehead with his hand- kerchief, and then getting up and walking the floor with rapid strides. don’t understand all this, Fabian. We were all of us a good deal cut up by the event, but nothing like this !” said Mr. Clarence, uneasily. you don’t understand. But listen to me: I was on my way to Rockhold to join in the family re- union, and to show the old homestead to my wife ; but I cannot take her there now. I cannot introduce her to the new Mrs. Rockharrt — ^the new Mrs. Rockharrt!” 28 AN UNREQUITED LOVE he repeated, in a tone and with a gesture of disgust and abhorrence. “I shall turn back, and take my wife to our new home ; and when I go to Rockhold I shall go alone.” “Fabian, you make me dreadfully uneasy. What do you know of Rose Stillwater that is to her discredit ?” demanded Clarence Roekharrt. His elder brother paused in his excited walk, dropped his head upon his chest and reflected for a few moments. Then he seemed to recover some degree of self-control and self-recollection. He returned to his chair, sat down, and said: “Of my owm personal knowledge. I know nothing against the woman but just this — that she is but half educated, deceitful and unreliable. And that knowl- edge I gained by experience after she had first left Eock- hold, to which I had first introduced her for a governess to our niece. I had nothing to do with her return to the old hall, and would have never countenanced such a proceeding if I had been in the country.” “That is all very deplorable, but yet it hardly war- rants your very strong language, Fabian. I am sorry that you have discovered her to be ‘ignorant, deceitful and unreliable,’ but let us hope that now, when she is placed above temptation, she will reform. Don’t take exaggerated views of affairs, Fabian.” The elder man was growing calmer and more thought- ful. Presently he said : “You are right, Clarence. My indignation, on learn- AN UNREQUITED LOVE 29 ing that that woman had succeeded in trapping our Iron King, led me into extravagant language on the subject. Forget it, Clarence. And whatever you do, my brother, drop no hint to any one of what I have said to you to- night, lest our father should hear of it; for if he should ” Mr. Fabian paused. “I shall never drop a hint that might possibly give our father one moment of uneasiness. Be sure of that, Fabian.” “That is good, my brother! And we will agree to ignore all faults in our young stepmother, and for our father’s sake treat her with all proper respect.” “Of course. I could not do otherwise. And, Fabian, I hope you will reconsider the matter, and bring Violet to Eockhold to join our family reunion.” “No, Clarence,” said the elder brother; “there is just where I must draw the line. I cannot introduce my wife to the new Mrs. Eockharrt.” “But it seems to me that you are very fastidious, Fa- bian. Do you expect always to be able to keep Violet from meeting with ‘ignorant, insincere and unreliable’ people, in a world like this?” inquired Mr. Clarence, significantly. “No, not entirely, perhaps; yet, so far as in me lies, I will try to keep my simple wood violet ‘unspotted from the world, ’ ” replied Mr. F abian, who, untruthful and dishonest as he was in heart and life, yet reverenced 30 AN UNREQUITED LOVE while he wondered at the purity and simplicity of his young wife’s nature. “I am afraid the pater will feel the absence of Violet as a slight to his bride,” said Mr. Clarence. “No, I shall take care that he does not. Violet is in very delicate health, and that must be her excuse for staying at home.” The brothers talked on for a little while longer; and then, when they had exhausted the subject for the time being, Mr. Clarence said he would go and look up Syl- van, and he went out for the purpose. Fabian Eoek- harrt, left alone, resumed his disturbed walk up and down the room, muttering to himself: “The traitress ! the unprincipled traitress ! How dared she do such a deed ? Didn’t she know that I could ex- pose her, and have her cast forth in ignominy from my father’s house ? Or did she venture all in the hope that consideration of my father’s age and position in the world would shut my mouth and stay my hand ? She is mistaken, the jade! Unless she falls into my plans, and works for my interest, she shall be exposed and de- graded from her present position.” Mr. Fabian was interrupted by the re-entrance of Mrs. Eothsay. He turned to meet her and inquired : “Where did you leave Violet, my dear ?” “She is in her own room, which is next to mine. I went in with her and saw her to bed, and waited until she went to sleep,” replied Cora. “Poor little one I She is very fragile, and has been AN UNREQUITED LOVE 31 been very much fatigued. I do not think, my dear, that I can take her on to Eockhold to-morrow. I think I must let her rest here for a day or two.’’ ^Tt would be best, not only on account of Violet’s delicacy and weariness, but also on account of the con- dition of the house at Eockhold, which has not been opened or aired for months.” ^^That is true; though I had not thought of it be- fore,” said Mr. Fabian, who was well pleased that Cora so readily fell in with his plans. ^‘What do you think of the pater’s marriage, Cora ?” he next inquired. would rather not give an opinion. Uncle Fabian,” she answered. ^^Then I am equally well answered, for that is giving a very strong opinion !” he exclaimed. ‘^The deed is done and cannot be undone !” ^Uan it not ? Perhaps it can !” ^^What do you mean. Uncle Fabian?” ^‘Nothing that you need trouble yourself about, my dear. But tell me this — what do you mean to do, Cora ? Do you, mean to stay on at Eockhold?” suppose I must do so.” ^^Not at all, if you do not like! You are an inde- pendent widow and may go where you please.” know that and wish to go; but I do not wish to make a scene or cause a scandal by leaving my grand- father’s protection so suddenly after his marriage, which is open enough to criticism, as it is. So I must stay on 32 AN UNREQUITED LOVE at Rockhold so long as Sylvan’s leave shall last, and until he shall receive his commission and orders. Then I will go with him wherever his duty may call him.” “Good girl ! You have decided well and wisely. Though the post of duty to which the callow lieuten- antling will be ordered must, of course, be Fort Jump- ing Off Point, at the extreme end of the habitable globe. Well, my dear, I must bid you good-night, for, see, it is on the stroke of eleven o’clock, and I am rather tired from my journey, for, you must know, we rushed it through from New York to North End without lying over,” said Mr. Fabian, as he shook hands with his niece. He retired, and his example was soon followed by all his party. CHAPTEE III A FAMILY EEUNION The next morning, after an early breakfast, the trav- elers assembled in the hall of the hotel to take leave of each other. Clarence, Sylvan, and Cora entered the capacious carriage of the establishment to drive to Eock- hold, leaving Mr. and Mrs. Eabian Eockharrt on the porch of the hotel, at which they had decided to rest for a few days. shall go to Eockhold to welcome the king and queen when they return, Cora,” said Mr. Fabian, wa- ving his hand to the departed trio, though he had not the least intention of keeping his word. He then led his pretty Violet into the house. The lumbering carriage rolled along the village street, passed the huge build- ings of the locomotive works, and out into the road that lay between the foot of the range of mountains and the banks of the river. The ferryboat was at the wharf, and the broad-shoul- dered negro dwarf was standing on it, pole in hand. His look of surprise and delight on seeing Sylvan and Cora was good to behold. ^^Why, Lors bress my po’ ole soul, young marse an^ 83 34 AN UNREQUITED LOVE miss, is yer come sure ’nough? ’Deed, I’s moughty proud to see yer. How’s de ole marse ? Wlien he com- ing back agin ?” he queried, as the carriage rolled slowly across the gangplank from the wharf to the deck of the ferryboat. “Your ole marse is quite well. Uncle Moses, and will be home on the first of the month with his new wife,” said Sylvan, who could not miss the fun of telling this rare bit of news to the aged ferryman. The old negro dropped his pole into the water, opened his mouth and eyes to their widest extent and gasped and stared. “Wid — ^w’ich?” he said, at last. “With his new wife and your new mistress,” answered Sylvan. The old negro dropped his chin on his chest, raised his knobby black fingers to his head and scratched his gray hair with a look of quaint perplexity, as he mut- tered. “Now I wunner ef I tuk too heavy a pull on to dat dar rum iug, fo’ I lef’ de house dis mornin’ — I wunner if I did ?” His mate stopped and pulled the pole up out of the water and began himself to push off the boat until it was afloat. They soon reached the opposite shore, drove off the boat and up the avenue between the flowering locust trees that formed a long, green, fragrant arch above their heads, and so on to the gray old house. In a very AN UNREQUITED LOVE 35 few moments the door was opened and all the house- hold servants appeared to welcome the returning party. Most of them looked more frightened than pleased ; but when anxious glances toward the group leaving the car- riage assured them that the family ^^BoodlejocF’ was not present, they seemed relieved and delighted to see the others. With the easy, respectful familiarity of long and faithful service, the negro men and women crowded around the entering party with loving greetings. The news of the Iron King^s marriage was told by Sylvan. Had a bombshell fallen and exploded among the servants, they could not have been more shocked. There was a simultaneous exclamation of surprise and dismay, and then total silence. At the end of the third day all was ready for the re- ception of Mr. and Mrs. Eockharrt. The next day was the first of July. As soon as Mr. Clarence reached his private office at the works he found a telegram waiting him. He opened it, and read the fol- lowing : Capon Speings, July 1, 18 — . Shall reach North End by the 6 p. m. train. Send the carriage to meet that train. Shall go directly to Rock- hold. Order dinner there for 8 p. m. Aaron Eockharrt. Mr. Clarence put a boy on horseback and sent him on to Cora, with this message inclosed in a note from him- 36 AN UNREQUITED LOVE self. And then he gave his attention to the duties of his olEce. He was still busy at his desk when Mr. Fa- bian strolled in. ‘‘Well, old man, good-morning. I return to duty to- day, because it is the first of the month, you know.” “And also the first of the financial year. There has been so much to do within the last few da”s, I am glad you have returned to your post. I would like the pater to find all right when he comes to inspec^. By the way, I have just got a telegram from him. have just sent it off to Cora, so that she may know whlan to send the car- riage, and for what hour to order dinner. You know it would never do to have anything ‘gang aglee’ in which the pater is interested.” “No. Well, you and I must go to meet him. We must not fail in any attention to the old gentleman.” “Of course not. Oh ! what will the people say when they hear the news ? I do not think that the slightest rumor of the mad marriage has got out. I know that I have not breathed it.” “Nor I. But of course it will be generally known within twenty-four hours; and then I hope the pater will do the handsome thing and give his workmen a general holiday and jollification.” “I doubt it, since he has not even refurnished the shabby old drawing room at Eockhold in honor of the occasion,” said Mr. Clarence. Then the brothers separated for the day. Whenever the family traveling carriage happened to AN UNREQUITED LOVE 37 be sent from Eockhold to the North End railway depot, it always stopped at the North End Hotel to rest and water the horses. So when the afternoon waned, as Messrs. Fabian and Clarence Eockharrt had to remain busy in their respective offices up to the last possible minute. Sylvan was stationed on the front porch of the hotel, with tSe day’s newspapers and a case of cigars to solace him while watching for the carriage. It came at i quarter to five o’clock, and while the horses were restx g and feeding. Sylvan sent a messen- ger to summon his two uncles. By the time the two horses were ready to start again, the two men came up and entered the carriage. Sylvan followed them in. ^^See here, my boy,” said Mr. Fabian, ^^you can’t go, you know. There will be no room for you coming back. Clarence and myself fill two seats, and your grandfather and ” ^^Grandmother fill up the other,” added Sylvan. ^^But never mind ; in coming back I can ride on the box with the coachman; but go I will to meet my venerable grandparents ! Bless my wig ! didn’t I give away my grandmother at the altar, and shall I not pay them the attention of going to meet them on their return from their wedding tour ?” The horses started at a good pace, passed through the village street, entered the main road running miles be- tween the great works, and rolled on into the silent forest road that led to the railway depot in the valley. 38 AN UNREQUITED LOVE Here the carriage drew up before the solitary station house. Soon the train ran in and stopped. Old Aaron Eock- harrt got out and handed down his wife, before turning to face his sons. A man and maid servant, loaded down with handbags, umbrellas, waterproofs, and shawls, got out of another car. ^Tabian, put Mrs. Eockharrt into the carriage. I shall step into the waiting room to speak to the ticket agent,’’ said old Aaron Eockharrt, as he strode off to the building. Fabian Eockharrt gave his arm to the lady, who dur- ing all this time had remained closely veiled. He led her off, leaving Clarence and Sylvan on the platform to wait for the return of Mr. Eockharrt. As soon as Fa- bian and his companions were out of hearing of the rest of their party, he turned to her, and bending his head close to her ear, said: ^^Well, Ann White, what have you to say for yourself, eh, Ann White ?” He felt her tremble as she answered defiantly : ^^Mrs. Eockharrt, if you please.” ^^No ; by my life I will never give to such as you my honored mother’s name!” ^And yet I have it with all the rights and privileges it bestows, and I defy you, Fabian Eockharrt!” ^^You know very little of the laws relating to mar- riage if you think you have legal right to the name and AN UNREQUITED LOVE 39 position yon have seized, or that I have not the power to thrust you out of my father^s house and into a celV^ ^^You are insolent ! I shall report your words to Mr. Eockharrt, and then we shall see who will be thrust out of his house think that you had better not. Listen, and I will tell you something that you do not know, perhaps.’^ She turned quickly, inquiringly, toward him. He stooped and whispered a few words. He felt her thrill from head to foot, felt her rock and sway for a moment, and then — ^he had just time to catch her before she fell a dead weight in his arms. CHAPTER IV THE WHISPERED WORDS ‘Well! what^s all this?’’ abruptly demanded old Aaron Rockbarrt, as he came up, followed by Clarence and Sylvan, just as Eabian was lifting the unconscious woman into the carriage. “Mrs. Rockharrt has been over-fatigued, I think, sir, for she has fainted. But don’t be alarmed; she is re- covering,” said Mr. Eabian^ as he settled the lady in an easy position in a corner of the carriage, and found a smelling salts bottle and put it to her nose. “ ‘Alarmed ?’ Why should I be ?” “]^o reason why, sir,” answered Mr. Fabian, who then stooped to the woman and whispered : “Nor need you be so. You are safe for the present.” “Will you get out of my way and let me come to my place ?’’ demanded the Iron King. “Pardon me, sir,” said Fabian, stepping backward from the carriage. “Fainting?” said the old man, in a tone of annoy- ance, as he took his seat beside his new wife, “fainting ? The first Mrs. Rockharrt never fainted in her life ; nor ever gave any sort of trouble. What’s the matter with 40 AN UNREQUITED LOVE 41 you, Rose? Don’t be a consummate fool and turn nervous. I won’t stand any nonsense,” he said roughly, as he peered into the pale face of his new slave. ^^Oh, it is nothing,” she faltered, ^^nothing. I was overcome by heat. It is a very hot day.” ‘^Why, it is a very cool afternoon. What do you mean?” he demanded. ^Tt has been a very hot day, and the heat and fa- tigue ” ^^Eubbish !” he interrupted. ^Tf I were to give any attention to your faints you would be fainting every day just to have a fuss made over you. Now this faint- ing business has got to be stopped. Do you hear ? If you are out of order, I will send for my family physi- cian and have you examined. If you are really ill, you shall be put under medical treatment ; if you are not, I will have no fine lady airs and affectations. The first Mrs. Eockharrt was perfectly free from them.” would not have given way to the weakness if I could have helped it — indeed I would not!” said the poor woman, very sincerely. ^We’ll see to that!” retorted the Iron King. Ah, poor Rose ! She was not the old man’s darling and sovereign, as she had hoped and planned to be. She was the tyrant’s slave and victim. A man of Aaron Rockharrt’s temperament seldom, at the age of seventy-seven, becomes a lover; and never, at any age, a woman’s slave. Mr. Fabian now got into the carriage, and sat down on 42 AN UNREQUITED LOVE the front cushion opposite his father and stepmother. Mr. Clarence was following him in, when Mr. Rock- harrt roughly interfered. ^^What are you about here, Clarence ? What are you going to do?^’ ^^Take my seat in the carriage, of course, sir,^’ an- swered the young man, with a surprised look. ^Wou are going to do nothing of the sort! I don’t choose to have the horses overtasked in this manner. I myself, with Eabian and my coachman, to say nothing of Mrs. Rockharrt, are weight enough for one pair of horses, and you can’t come in here. Where’s Sylvan ^^On the box seat beside the driver.” ^^Eeally?” demanded the Iron King, in a sarcastic tone. ^^How many more of you desire to be drawn by one pair of horses? Tell Sylvan to come down off that.” ^^But, sir, there is not a single conveyance of any de- scription at the station,” urged Clarence. ^Tndeed ! And pray what do you call your own two pairs of sturdy legs ? Are they not strong enough to convey you from here to North End, where you can get the hotel hack? And, by the way, why did you not engage the hack to come here and take you back?” ^^Because it was out, sir.” ^^Then you two should not have come here to over- load the horses. But as you have come, you must walk back. Has Sylvan got off his perch? Ah, yes; I see. Well, tell the coachman to drive first to the North End AN UNREQUITED LOVE 43 Hotel. And do yon two long-legged calves walk after it. If the hack should be still out when we get there, you can stay at the hotel until it comes in.’^ ^^All right, sir/^ said Clarence, good-humoredly; and he closed the door, and gave the order to the coachman, who immediately started his horses on the way to North End. On the way home Mr. Clarence inquired of his nephew when he expected to receive his commission and where he expected to be orderd. ^^How can I tell you ? I must wait for a vacancy, I suppose, and then be sent to the Devil’s Icy Peak or Fort Jumping Off Place, or some such other pleasant post of duty on the confines of terra incognita. But the farther off, the stranger and the savager it is, the better I shall like it for my own sake, but it will be rough on Cora,” said the youth. ^^But you do not dream of taking Cora out there!” exclaimed Clarence, in pained surprise. ^Uh, but I do! She insists on going where I go. She is bent on’ being a voluntary, unsalaried mission- ary and school mistress to the Indians just because Rule died a martyred minister and teacher among them.” ^^She is mad !” exclaimed Mr. Clarence ; mad.” ^^She has had enough to make her mad, but she is sane enough on this subject, I can tell you. Uncle Clarence. She is the most level-headed young woman that I know, and the plan of life that she has laid out for herself is the best course she could possibly pursue under the 44 AN UNREQUITED LOVE present circumstances. She is very miserable here. This plan will give her the most complete change of scene and the most interesting occupation. It will cure her of her melancholy and absorption in her troubled past, and when she shall be cured she may return to her friends here, or she may meet with some fine fellow out there who may make her forget the dead and leave off her weeds. That is what I hope for. Uncle Clarence.” And for the rest of their walk they trudged on in si- lence or with but few words passed between them. It was sunset when they reached North End. That evening when Sylvan and Cora found them- selves together for a moment at Eockhold House, the youth said: “Corona Eothsay, the sooner I get my orders and you and I depart for Scalping Creek or Perdition Peak, or wherever I am to be shoveled off to, the better, my dear,” said the young soldier. “What do you think of it all now. Sylvan ?” she in- quired. “I think, Cora, that while we do stay here it would he Christian charity to be very good to The Rose that all admire.’ Nobody will admire her any more, I think.” “Why ?” inquired Cora, in surprise. “Oh, you didn’t see her face. She had her mask — veil, do you call it ? — down, so you couldn’t see. But, oh, my conscience ! how she is changed in these last six weeks! She is not a blooming rose any more. She is a snubbed, trampled on, crushed and wilted rose. Her AN UNREQUITED LOVE 45 face looks pale; her hair dull; her eyes weak; her beauty nowhere ; her cheerfulness nowhere else.” Early the next morning, after a hasty breakfast, Mr. Eockharrt entered his carriage to drive to the works. Young Mrs. Rockharrt, under the plea of fatigue from her long journey, retired to her own room. Cora said to her brother: “Sylvan, I wish you would order the little carriage and take me to the Banks to see Violet. I should have paid her this attention sooner but for the pressure of work that has been upon me. I must defer it no longer, but go this morning.” “All right, Cora!” answered the young man, and he left the room to do his errand. Cora went upstairs to get ready for her drive. In about fifteen minutes the two were seated in the little open landau, that had been the gift of the late Mrs. Eockharrt to her beloved granddaughter, and that the latter always used when driving out in the country around Eockhold during the summer. They did not have to cross the ferry, as the new house of Fabian Eockharrt was on the same side of the river as was Eockhold. The road on this west side was, however, much rougher, though the scenery was much finer. They drove on through the woods, which here clothed the foot of the mountain and grew quite down to the water’s edge, meeting over their heads and casting the road into deep shadow. 46 AN UNREQUITED LOVE They drove on for about three miles, when they came to a point where another road wound up the mountain side, through heavy woods, and brought them to a beau- tiful plateau, on which stood the handsome house of Fabian Eockharrt, in the midst of its groves, flower gardens, arbors, orchards and conservatories. It was a double, two-storied house, of brown stone, with a fine green background of wooded mountain, and a front view of the river below and the mountains be- yond. There were bay windows at each end and piazzas along the whole front. As the carriage drew up before the door, Violet was discovered walking up and down the front porch. She looked very fragile, but very pretty with her slight, graceful figure in a morning dress of white muslin, with blue ribbons at her throat and in her pale gold hair. She came down to meet her visitors. “Oh, I am so glad you have come, Cora and Sylvan !” she said, throwing her arms around the young lady and kissing her heartily, and then giving her hand and offer- ing her cheek for a greeting from the young man. “I fear you must be lonely here, Violet,” said Cora. “Awfully lonesome after Fabian has gone away in the morning, Cora. It would be such a charity in you to come and stay with me for a little while ! Come in now and we will talk about it,” said the little lady, as she led the way back to the house. “Sylvan,” she continued, as they paused for a moment on the porch, “send your coachman around to the sta- AN UNREQUITED LOVE 47 ble to put up your carriage. You and Cora will spend the day with me at the very least.’^ ^^Just as Cora pleases ; ask her/^ said the young man with a glance toward his sister. ^^Yes,” she answered. ^^You are a love!” exclaimed Violet, as she led the way into the hall and thence into a pleasant morning room. Cora laid off her bonnet and sank into an easy chair by the front window. ^^Now,^as soon as you are well rested, I wish to show you both over the house and grounds. Such a charm- ing house, Cora! Such beautiful grounds. Sylvan!” exclaimed the proud little mistress. Cora smiled approval, but did not explain that she herself had gone all through the establishment several times, in the course of its fitting up, to see that all things were arranged properly before the arrival of the married pair. And when, a little later, the trio went through the rooms, she expressed as much pleasure in their appear- ance as if she had never seen them before. The brother and sister spent a very pleasant day at Violet Banks, and when in the cool of the evening they would have taken leave, the young wife pleaded with them to stay all night. In the midst of this discussion Mr. Eabian Eockharrt came home from North End. As he entered the parlor he heard his Wood Violet at 48 AN UNREQUITED LOVE her petition. He greeted them all, kissed his wife, kissed Cora, and shook hands with Sylvan. “Now, let me settle this matter,” he said, good-hu- moredly, as he threw himself into a large arm chair. “First tell me, Cora, what is the obstacle to your spending the night with us ?” “Only that I did not announce even this visit to the family at Eockhold.” “Do you owe any special obligation to do so ?” “It is not a question of obligation, but of courtesy. I should certainly be remiss in politeness to leave the house for a two-days’ visit without giving notice of my intention,” she answered. “Oh ! I see ! Well, I can fix all that. You will both remain to dinner. After dinner it will not be too late for Sylvan to take my sure-footed cob and ride back to Eockhold and explain to the family that Cora is to remain here overnight, and that I will myself take her home to-morrow evening if she should wish to go.” “What do you say, Cora ?” inquired the young man. “I accept Uncle Fabian’s offer and will remain here for the present,” said the young lady. “Like the sensible woman that you are!” exclaimed Mr. Fabian. Half an hour later the four sat down to dinner in one of the prettiest little dining rooms that ever was seen. Soon after the pleasant meal was over. Sylvan took leave of his friends, mounted the white cob that stood AN UNREQUITED LOVE 49 saddled at the door, and rode down the wooded hill to the river road leading to Rockhold. The three left behind spent the remainder of the evening on the front porch, watching the deep river, the hoary mountains, the starry sky, and listening to the hum of insects, the whirl of waters and the singing of the summer breeze through the pines that clothed the precipice, and talking very little. They retired to rest at a late hour. Yet on the next morning they met at an early break- fast, for Mr. Fabian had to go to the works to make up for much lost time while affairs were left under the sole management of Mr. Clarence. Cora remained with Violet, who took her into a more interior confidence, and exhibited with equal pride and delight sundry dainty little garments of fine cambric and linen richly trimmed with lace or embroidery, all the work of her own delicate fingers. ^^They tell me, Cora, that I could buy all these things as cheap and as good as I can make them. But I do take such pleasure in making them with my own hands.’^ Cora kissed her tenderly for all reply. Then the little lady began to ask questions about her new stepmother-in-law. ^^You know, Cora, that I could not ask you yesterday while Sylvan w^as with us. He is in your full confi- dence, no doubt, and I have perfect faith in him ; but for all that we cannot speak freely on all subjects before a third person, however near and dear. At least I could 50 AN UNREQUITED LOVE not ask searching questions about Mr. Eockharrt’s mar- riage before Sylvan. Sucb a strange marriage, with sucb a disparity in years between a man of Mr. Rock- barrt’s venerable age and Mrs. Stillwater’s blooming youtb! I saw ber once by cbance. Sbe looked a per- fect Hebe of radiant bealtb and beauty.” Cora Eotbsay smiled. Sbe might have told this little lady that there was not much more difference between the ages of Rose Stillwater at thirty-seven and Aaron Rockbarrt at seventy-seven than there was between Violet Wood at seventeen and Eabian Rockbarrt at fifty-two. But as the young wife did not see this fact, Cora refrained from showing it to ber. Then Violet wanted to know what Cora herself thought of the marriage. Cora said she thought it concerned only the parties in question, and only time could tell how it would turn out. In such confidential talk passed the long summer day. In the cool of the evening Mr. Fabian came home to dinner. He joined his wife in trying to persuade Cora to re- main with them yet another day; but Cora explained that there were many reasons for her return to Rock- hold. Finding her obdurate, Mr. Fabian ordered Mrs. Roth- say’s landau to be at the door at a certain hour. And as soon as dinner was over and Cora had put on her bonnet and taken leave of Violet, with a promise to AN UNREQUITED LOVE 51 return within a few days, Mr. Eabian placed her in the carriage, took his seat beside her, and drove down the wooded hill to the river road below. ^Tt is not altogether for pleasure that I pressed you to stay till to-night, Cora, although your presence gave great pleasure to my wife and self. I wished to have a private talk with you. Cora, you ought not to stay at Rockhold. You should come to us,’’ said Mr. Fabian, as they bowled along the wooded road between the foot of the hills and the banks of the river. ♦ ^^Why ?” inquired the lady. He did not answer at once, but drove slowly on as if to gain time for thought. At length, however, he said : think that a home with Violet and myself at the Banks would be much more congenial to you than one with your grandfather and his new wife at Rockhold.” ^Hut, my dear Uncle Fabian, under present circum- stances my grandfather is my natural protector and Rockhold my proper home until my brother has one to offer me.” ^^Cora, you are not frank with me. I know how you feel about staying at Rockhold, and also why you feel as you do ; though I do not see by what agency or intui- tion you could have gained the knowledge you seem to possess.” ^Hncle Fabian, I have no positive knowledge of any cause why I should shrink from continuing in my nat- ural home. I have only suspicions, which perhaps you 52 AN UNREQUITED LOVE could clear up or confirm, if you would be frank witH me.” He drove on slowly in silence without answering her. She continued: “I wrote to you while you were in Europe, inform- ing you that Mrs. Stillwater had been invited by my grandfather to come to Eockhold to remain as long as should be convenient to herself. You never replied to my letter.” “I never got such a letter, Cora. It must have been lost with others that miscarried among the Continental mails, when they were following me from one oflSce to another. But even if I had received such a letter, it could have made no difference. I could not have pre- vented Mrs. Stillwater’s visit, nor the event that resulted from the visit. I could not have written or returned in time.” “Should you have prevented the visit or the mar- riage that followed if you could have done so ?” “Most certainly I should.” “Why ?” “For the same reason that you, or Clarence, or Syl- van would have done so. For the reason of its total unfitness. But, Cora, my dear, I repeat that you have not been frank with me. You are hiding something from me.” “And I repeat. Uncle Fabian, that I have no positive knowledge of any ” “Yes ; so you said before,” he exclaimed, interrupting AN UNREQUITED LOVE 53 her. ^^You have no positive knowledge, but yon have very strong suspicions founded upon very solid grounds ! Now, what are these grounds, my dear ? I am your un* cle. You should give me your confidence.’’ If Mr. Fabian had not put the matter in this way, and if they had not been driving along the dark and over-shadowed road where the meeting branches of the trees above almost hid the light of the stars, so that only one or two occasionally gleamed through the foliage, Cora would never have been able to reply to her uncle as she did. ^^Uncle Fabian, do you remember a certain warm night in September some five years ago, when we stopped at the Wirt House in Baltimore?” ^^On our way home from Canada — yes, I do.” ^^My room was close that night and I could not sleep. A little after midnight I got up and put on my dressing gown and went into the adjoining room, which was our private parlor, and I sat down in a cool corner in the shadow of the curtain and in the draught of the window. I fell asleep, but was soon awakened by the sound of a door opening and some one whispering. I was about to call out when I recognized your voice. The room was pitch dark. I could not see you ; but then I was about to speak, when I recognized another voice — Mrs. Still- water’s. You had let yourself in by your own key, through the door leading from her room, which was on the opposite side of the parlor from mine.” Cora paused to wait for the effect of her words. 54f AN UNREQUITED LOVE Mr. Fabian drove on slowly in silence. sat there quite still, too much surprised to speak or move.’^ ^^And so you overheard that interview/^ said Mr. Fa- bian, with a dash of anger in his usually pleasant voice. could not escape. I was amazed, spellbound, too confused to know what to do.^^ ^Well r gathered from your words that you and she were either secretly married or secretly engaged to be mar- ried.^^ ‘^That was your opinion.’^ ^^What other opinion could I form? You were pro- viding her with a house and an income. She was speak- ing of herself as a daughter-in-law sure to be acceptable to your father and mother. Of course, I judged from that that you were either wedded or betrothed, which was an incomprehensible thing to me, who had been led to believe that the lady was the wife of Captain Still- water, remaining in Baltimore to meet her husband, whose ship was then daily expected to arrive.^’ ^^You were wrong, Cora,’^ said Mr. Fabian, now speaking in his natural tone, without a shade of anger — - ^^quite wrong, my dear; there was nothing of the sort. I was never engaged to Mrs. Stillwater.’^ ^^Then she subsequently refused you. I am telling you what I thought then, not what I think now. I have heard from her own lips that after her husband’s death you proposed to her and she refused you.” AN UNREQUITED LOVE 55 Mr. Eabian shook with silent laughter. When he re- covered he asked: ^^And you believed her V’ do not know. I was in a maze. There were so many contradictory and inconsistent circumstances sur- rounding the woman that seemed to live and move in a web of deception woven by herself/^ said Cora, wearily, as if tired of the subject. ^^And, after all, she is a very shallow creature, inca- pable of any deep scheming; there is no great harm. She knows that she is beautiful — still beautiful — and her only art is subtle flattery. She flattered your grand- father ^to the bent of his humor,^ with no deeper design than to marry him and gain a luxurious home and an ample dower, as well as an adoring husband. You see she has succeeded in marrying him, poor little devil! but she gained nothing but a prison and a jailer and penal servitude. I repeat, there is no great harm in her ; and yet, Cora, my dear, I do not permit my wife to visit her, and I do not wish you to remain in the same house with her/’ ‘'Why, Uncle Eabian! you were the very first to in- troduce her to us ! It was you who were charged with the duty of finding a nursery governess for me, and you selected Rose Flowers from a host of applicants.’^ “I know I did, my dear. She seemed to me a lovely, amiable, attractive girl of seventeen, not very well edu- cated, yet quite old enough and learned enough to be nursery governess to a little lady of seven summers. 56 AN UNREQUITED LOVE And she did her duty and made herself beloved by you all, did she not?” “Yes, indeed.” “And so she always has done and always will do. And yet, my dear, you must not live in the same house with her now, even if you did live years together when she was your governess.” “Are you not even more prejudiced against Mrs. Roekharrt than I am?” “Bah! no, my dear; I have no ill will against the woman, though I will not let my niece live with her or my wife visit her.” “I wish. Uncle Fabian, that you would be more ex- plicit and tell me all you know of Rose Flowers — or Mrs. Stillwater — ^before she became Mrs. Roekharrt.” “Have you told me all you know of her, Cora, my dear ?” “I have said several times that I know nothing, and yet — stop ” “What?” “In addition to that strange interview that I over- heard, yet did not understand, there was something else that I saw, but equally did not understand.” “What was that?” “Something that happened while were were in New York City in May last.” “Will you tell me what it was ?” “Yes, certainly. We were staying at the Star Hotel. AN UNREQUITED LOVE 5T We stayed over Sunday, and we went to the Epkcopal church near our hotel, to hear an English divine preach.’’ ^Welir ^^He was the celebrated pulpit orator, the Dean of Olivet ” ^^Good Heav ” exclaimed Mr. Fabian, involuntar- ily, but stopping himself suddenly. ^ What is the matter demanded Cora, suspiciously, was too near the edge of the precipice. We might have been in the river in another moment,” said Mr. Fabian. Cora did not believe him, but she refrained from say- ing so. ^^The danger is past. Go on, my dear.” ^We were shown into the strangers’ pew. The vol- untary was playing. We all bowed our heads for the short private prayer. The voluntary stopped. Then we heard the voice of the dean and we lifted our heads. I turned to offer Mrs. Stillwater a prayer book. Then I saw her face. It was ghastly, and her eyes were fixed in a wild stare upon the face of the dean, whose eyes were upon the open book from which he was reading. Quick as lightning she covered her face with her veil and so remained until we all knelt down for the opening prayer. When we arose from our knees. Rose was gone.” Cora paused for a few moments. ^^Go on, go on,” said Mr. Fabian. ^We did not leave the chiirch. Grandfather evidently took for granted that Rose had left on account of some 58 AN UNREQUITED LOVE trifling indisposition, and he is not easily moved by women’s ailments, you know. So we stayed out the services and the sermon. When we returned to the hotel we found that Rose had retired to her room suffering from a severe attack of neuralgic headache, as she said.” “What did you think ?” “I thought she might have been suddenly attacked by maddening pain, which had given the wild look to her eyes; but the next day I had good reason to change my opinion as to the cause of her strange demeanor.” “What was that?” “We all left the hotel at an early hour to take the train for West Point. Mrs. Stillwater seemed to have quite recovered from her illness. We had arrived at the depot and received our tickets, and were waiting at the rear of a great crowd at the railway gate, till it should be opened to let us pass to our train. I was standing on the right of my grandfather, and Rose on my right. Suddenly a man looked around. He was a great Wall Street broker who had dealings with your firm. Seeing grandfather, he spoke to him heartily, and then begged to introduce the gentleman who was with him. And then and there he presented the Dean of Olivet to Mr. Rockharrt, who, after a few words of polite greeting, presented the dean to me, and turnd to find Rose Still- water.” “Well! Well!” “She was gone. She had vanished from the crowd at the railway gate as swiftly, as suddenly, and as in- AN UNREQUITED LOVE 59 comprehensibly as she had vanished from the church. After looking about him a little, my grandfather said that she had got pressed away from us by the crowd, but that she knew her way and would take care of herself and follow us to the train all right. But when the gates were opened we did not see her, nor did we find her on the train, though Mr. Eockharrt walked up and down through the twenty cars looking for her, and feeling sure that we should find her. The train had started, so we had to go on without her. My grandfather con- cluded that she had accidentally missed it and would follow by the next one.^’ ^^And what did you think, Cora thought that, for some antecedent and mysteri- ous reason, she had fied from before the face of the Dean of Olivet at the railway station, even as she had done at the church.’’ ^^When and where did you find her?” ^^Not until our return to New York City. My grand- father was in a fine state ; kept the telegraph wires at work between West Point and New York, until he got some clew to her, and then, without waiting for the closing exercises at the military academy, he hurried me back to the city. We found the missing woman at St. L ’s Hospital, where she had been conveyed after having been found in an unconscious condition in the ladies’ room of the railway depot. She was better, and we brought her away to the hotel. The Dean of Olivet went to Newport, and Mrs. Stillwater recovered her 60 AN UNREQUITED LOVE spirits. A few days later she married Mr. Eockharrt at the church where the dean had preached. You know everything else about the matter. And now, Uncle Ea- bian, tell me that woman’s story, or at least all that is proper for me to know of it.” “Cora, you read Rose Stillwater aright. She did on both these occasions fly from before the face of the Dean of Olivet. I will tell you all about her, for it is now right that you should know; but you must prom- ise never to reveal it.” “I promise.” CHAPTEK V WHO WAS ROSE FLOWERS f ^Well, my dear Corona, I must ask you to cast your thoughts back to that year when you first came to Eock- hold to live, and engrossed so much of your grand- mother’s time and attention that your grandfather grew jealous and impatient, and commissioned me to ‘hire’ a nursery governess to look after you and teach you the rudiments of i^ucation. You remember that time, Cora ?” inquired Mr. Fabian, as he held the reins with a slackened grasp, so that the horse jogged slowly along the wooded road between the foot of the mountain and the banks of the river, under the star-lit sky. “I remember perfectly,” answered the girl. “Well, business took me to New York about that time, and I thought it a good opportunity to hunt up a governess for you. So I advertised in the New York papers, giving my address at an uptown oflfice, while my own business kept me downtown. “The first letter I opened interested me so much that I gave my whole attention to that first, and so it hap- pened that I had no occasion to touch the others. It was from one Ann White, who described herself as a moth- 61 62 AN UNREQUITED LOVE erless and fatherless girl of sixteen^ a stranger in this country, who was trying to get employment as assistant teacher, governess, or copyist, and who was well fitted to take sole charge of a little girl seven years old. ‘Terhaps this might not have impressed me, but she went on to write that she had not a friend in the whole country, that she was utterly destitute and desolate, and begged me for Heaven’s mercy not to throw her letter aside, but to see her and give her a trial. She inclosed her photograph, not, as she wrote, from any vanity, but that I might see her face and take pity on her. ^^Cora, there was an air of childish frankness and sim- plicity about her letter that was well illustrated by her photograph. It was that of a sweet-smiling baby face ; a sunny, innocent, beautiful face. I answered the letter immediately, asking for her address, that I might call and see her. The next day I received her answer, thank- ing me with enthusiastic earnestness for my prompt at- tention to her note, and giving me the number and street of her residence in Harlem. I got on a Second Avenue car and rode out to Harlem; got off at the terminus, walked up a cross street and walked some distance to a bijou of a brown cottage, standing in shaded grounds, with sunny gleams and flower beds, and half covered by creeping roses, clematis, wistaria, and all that. went in and was received by the beautiful being that you have known as Rose Flowers. She was dressed in some misty, cloud-like pale blue fabric that set off her blonde beauty to perfection. After we were seated 63 AN UNREQUITED LOVE and had talked some time, I telling her what light du- ties would be required of her — only the care of one good little girl of seven years, and of a very mild old lady who was the only lady in the house, and of the old gen- tleman who was the head of the family, strict but just in all his dealings ; and of our country house in the moun- tains and our town house in the State capital — and she expressing the greatest and frankest anxiety to become a member of such a happy, amiable, prosperous family, and declaring with childish boasting that she was quite competent to perform all the duties expected of her and would perform them conscientiously, I suddenly asked her for her references. T — I have not a friend in this world,’ she said ; and then in a timid voice, she asked : ^Are references indis- pensable V Uf course,’ I answered. ^Then the Lord help me ! Nothing is left but the river. The river won’t require references’; and with that she buried her little golden-haired head in the cush- ions of the sofa and burst into a perfect storm of sobs and tears. Now, Cora, what in the deuce was a man to do ? I had never seen anything like that in all my life before. I had never seen a woman in such a fit before. All this was strange and horrible to me. am a middling strong old fellow, but that beauti- ful girl’s despair upset me, and I never could hear any one hint suicide, and she talked of the river. The river would receive her without references. The river was 641 !A.N UNREQUITED LOVE kinder than her own fellow creatnres ! The river would give her a home and rest and peace ! She only wanted to do honest work for her living, hut human beings would not even let her work for them without refer- ences ! And I declare to you, Cora, she was not acting, as you might suspect. She was in deadly earnest. Her sobs shook her whole frame. '^At last I myself behaved like an ass. I went and knelt down beside her so as to get quite close to her, and I began to comfort her. I told her not to mind about the references; that she might have me for a reference all the days of her life ; that she should have the situation at Eockhold, where I would convey her and introduce her on my own responsibility. “While I spoke to her I laid my hand on the little golden-haired head and smoothed it all the time. Out of pity, Cora, I assure you on my honor, out of pity. After a while her sobs seemed to subside slowly. I told her that her face was to me a sufficient recommendation in her favor, an all sufficient testimonial of character; but that I must have her confidence in exchange for my own. “You see, Cora, I was very sorry for the poor, pretty creature, and was really anxious to befriend her; but also my curiosity was keenly piqued. I wished to know her private history, and so I assured her that she should have the position she wanted on the condition of telling me her antecedents. “At last she yielded, and told me the story of her AN UNREQUITED LOVE 65 short, willful life. This, then, was her poor, little, pa- thetic story: ^^Her name was Ann White. She was the daughter of Amos White, an English curate, living in a remote vil- lage in Northumberland, and of his first wife, who had died during the infancy of her youngest child, Ann, a year after which her father had married again. Ann’s stepmother was one of the most beautiful women in England, and — one of the most discontented, as the wife of a widowed clergyman who was old enough to be her father, who had three sons and two daughters by a former marriage, and who was trying to support his family on a hundred pounds a year. Yet, so long as her father lived, Ann’s childhood was happy. But her father, who had been a consumptive, also died when Ann was about seven years old. Then the family was broken up. The three stepsons went to seek their fortunes in New Zealand. The eldest stepdaughtr had been mar- ried and had gone to London a few months before her father’s death; the younger stepdaughter went to live with that married sister. Ann and her stepmother were permitted to remain at the parsonage until the successor of Amos White could be appointed. At last the new curate came — a handsome and accomplished man — Rev. Raphael Rosslynn. He was a bachelor, without near relatives. He called on the Widow White and at once set her heart at ease by begging her not to trou- ble herself to leave the parsonage, but to remain there for the present at least, and take him as a boarder. He 66 AN UNREQUITED LOVE was perfectly frank with the lovely widow and told her that he was engaged to his own cousin, and that as soon as he should get a living promised him on the death of the present incumbent, and which was worth twelve hundred pounds a year, he should marry, but that he could not allow himself to anticipate happiness that must rise on a grave. But in the course of the year that which might have been expected happened. The young widow, who had never cared for her elderly first hus- band, fell desperately in love with her lodger, who was not very slow to respond, for her grace, beauty and al- lurements attracted, bewildered, and bedeviled him, so that he forgot or deplored his plighted vows to his good little cousin. To shorten the story, the cousin released him. In a few days the curate and the widow were mar- ried. Ann was utterly neglected, ignored, and forgot- ten. Her lessons, which, before the advent of the hand- some curate, had been the widow's care, were now sus- pended. Time went on, and these ardent lovers cooled off. Not that their youth or health or beauty waned; not at all ; but that their illusions were fading. Yet, as often happens, as love cooled, jealousy warmed to life — - each one conscious of indifference toward the other, yet resenting a corresponding indifference in the other. As years went on, six children were born to this unhappy pair, whom not the Lord but the devil had joined to- gether, and with their increasing family came increasing poverty. It was hard to support a growing household on one hundred pounds a year. AN UNREQUITED LOVE 67 the seventh year of their marriage, in desperation, the Reverend Raphael advertised his ability and readi- ness to ‘prepare young men for college/ He obtained but one pupil, one Alfred Whyte, the son of a retired brewer. You perceive that he had the same surname with the young Ann, but it was spelled differently — with a y instead of an ^i,’ as her name was. He seems to have been a fine, hearty, good-natured young fellow, about twenty years of age, with a short, stout form, a round, red face, and dark eyes and hair. He hated study, but loved children, animals, and outdoor sports. It was in the course of nature that he should fall in love with the fair fifteen-year-old beauty Ann White. ^^She returned his affection because since her father\s death he was the only human being who had ever been kind to her. The first year that he spent at the parson- age was the happiest year Ann had ever known. Before it drew to an end, however, their happiness was cloud- ed. The young man had over and over again assured the girl of his love for her, and at last he asked her to marry him. She consented. Then he wrote and asked permission of his father to wed the curate’s stepdaugh- ter. ^Yhe answer might have been anticipated. The purse-proud retired brewer, who had dreams of his only son and heir going into Parliament and marrying some impoverished nobleman’s daughter, wrote two furious letters, one to his son, commanding his immediate re- turn home, and another to the Rev. Raphael Rosslynn, 68 AN UNREQUITED LOVE reproaching him with having entrapped his pupil into an engagement with his pauper stepdaughter. ^^We can judge the effect of these letters upon the peace of the parsonage. ‘^^The Reverend Raphael commanded his pupil into his presence, and after severely censuring him for his conduct in ^betraying the confidence of the family who had received him into its bosom/ he requested that Mas- ter Whyte should leave the house with all convenient speed. ^^The youth urged that he had meant no harm and had done no harm, that he was honestly in love with the young lady, and had honestly asked leave to marjy her, and that he certainly would marry her — " - ^Though mammy and daddy and all gang mad.^ ^^Mr. Rosslynn referred him to his father’s letter and ordered him to depart. And then the reverend gentle- man went to his wife’s room and bitterly reproached her that her forward girl had been the cause of his losing his pupil and eighty pounds a year. ^^She told him that the fault was his own ; that he should never have received a young man as a resident pupil in the house where there w^as a young girl. fierce quarrel ensued, which was ended at last by the reverend gentleman going out and banging the door behind him with a force that shook the house, and in a state of mind that rendered him singularly unfit to read AN UNREQUITED LOVE 69 the prayers for the sick beside the bed of a dying parishioner to whom he was urgently summoned. ^^Mrs. Eosslynn immediately hastened to wreak her vengeance on her stepdaughter. She set her teeth as she seized the unlucky girl, whom she found at work in the kitchen, pushed her roughly on into the narrow pas- sage up the steep stairs and into the little back loft that the child called her own bedroom. ^^Here she took a firmer grip upon the girl, and with a dog whip that she had hastily snatched from the hat rack in passing, she lashed the hapless creature over back and shoulder. ^Ann never sruggled or cried out, but held her tongue in fierce wrath and stubborn endurance. Could that woman, the victim of all ungovernable passions, have but known what she did, or foreseen its results ! ‘^At last she ceased, pushed the bruised and wounded child away from her, sank panting to a chair, and as soon as she recovered her breath, began to insult and abuse the orphan child of her deceased husband, charg- ing her with disgracing the house by improper conduct, of which the girl had never even dreamed ; accusing her of causing the loss of their pupil and the income derived from him, and reproaching her for making discord be- tween herself (Mrs. Eosslynn) and her husband. ^^Ann replied by not one word. ^^At length the maddened woman, having talked her- self out of breath, got up, left the room, and locked the 70 AN UNREQUITED LOVE door, not on her victim alone, but on all the evil spirits she had raised from Tartarus and left with the girl. “Ann sank upon the bed, weeping, moaning, and grinding her teeth, her body prostrated by pain, her soul filled with bitter wrath and scorn toward one whom she should rather have been led to love and honor. In the fiery torture of her flesh and the humiliation of her spirit she uttered but these piteous words : “ ‘Oh, my own mother ! — oh, my lost father ! do you see your child V “For more than an hour she lay there before the fierce smarting and burning of her scourged flesh began to subside. The short November afternoon darkened into night. No one came near her. The hour for supper passed. No one called her to the meal. She heard the family passing to their rooms. She heard her mother putting the other children to bed — a duty that she her- self had hitherto performed. At last all sounds died away in the house, and she knew that all the inmates had retired, and the lights were out. She was medita- ting to run away; she did not know in what direction, or to what end, further than to escape from the home that was hateful to her. “Evil spirits were with her, suggesting many desper- ate thoughts ; at length they infused a deadly, horrible temptation to a deed of self-destruction so ghastly that its discovery should appal the family, the parish, and the whole world ; that should cover her tormentors with shame, reproach and infamy. AN UNREQUITED LOVE 71 ^^She sprang np from her bed and went to search in the drawer of a little old wooden stand, until she found a half page of note paper and a bit of lead pencil. '^She took them out and wrote to her persecutors, say- ing that she was going to throw herself — not into the sea, nor from a precipice, because both earth and sea give up their dead — but into the quicksands, which never give up anything; they, her tormentors, should never even see again the body they had bruised and torn and degraded; and she prayed that the Lord would ever deal by them as they had dealt with her. ^Tt must have been near midnight when she heard a tap at her window, so light that at first she thought it was made by a large raindrop ; but presently her name was softly called by a voice that she recoamized. Then she understood it all, and her thoughts of the quicksands vanished. ^^Her room was a small one in the rear of the house, immediately over the back kitchen, and her back win- dow opened upon the roof of the wood shed behind the kitchen. She went and hoisted the widow, and there on the roof of the wood shed stood Alfred Whyte. ^^He told her that he had taken leave of the ogre and the orgress hours before, and they thought he was off to London by the four o’clock mail ; but that he had gone no farther than the railway station, where he had bought a ticket, and had gone on the platform, as if to wait for his train; but when it came up, instead of ta- king his place on it, he had slipped away in the confu- 72 AN UNREQUITED LOVE sion of its arrival and had hidden himself in the woods on the other side of the road, where he had waited until it was dark, when he had come back to watch the parson- age until every one should have gone to bed, so that he could get speech with Ann. ‘‘And then he asked her if she were ‘game for a bolt.’ “She did not understand him; but when he next spoke plainly, and inquired if she would run away with him and he married, she answered promptly that she would. “He told her to get ready quickly, and to dress warm- ly, for the night was damp and cold, and to tie up a little bundle of things that she might need on the jour- ney; but not to take much, because he had plenty of money, and could buy her all she needed. “ ‘Much !’ Poor little thing, she had not much to take! She put on her best dress — a well-worn blue serge — a coarse black cloth walking jacket, and a little straw hat with a faded blue ribbon. She had no gloves. She tied up a hair brush, worn nearly to the wood, a tooth brush not much better, the half of a broken dress- ing comb, and one clean linen collar, in a small pocket handkerchief, and she was all ready for her wedding trip. “He told her to bolt her door before she came out, because that would take the ogres some little while to force it open, and would give the fugitives a better start. “Ann did everything her boy lover directed, and final- AN UNREQUITED LOVE 73 ly stepped out of the window on to the roof below, and joined him. He let down the window and closed the shutters with a spring that securely fastened them. ^^That, he told her, would certainly give them a longer start, for it would take an hour at least to force the room open and discover her flight. ^Then they left the parsonage together. ^^She had forgotten all about the parting note of mal- ediction which she had left behind her on the stand, as she stepped along the lane leading to the highway. ^‘He asked her to take his arm, and when they reached the public road, he inquired if she were game for a ten-mile walk. ^^She told him that she could walk to the end of the world with him, because she was so happy to be beside the only one on earth who had ever been kind to her — • since her father’s death. ^^Then he explained the steps that he had taken, and must still take, to elude pursuit ; how that he had gone to the railway station and bought a first-class ticket for the four o’clock express to London, and afterward, when the train came up, he had mingled with the crowd get- ting off and getting on, and so eluded observation, and had slipped away and hidden himself in the thicket un- til dark, so as to make every one concerned believe that he had gone off by the mail train alone to London. ^^Now he told her that they must trudge straight on ten miles north, to take the train to Glasgow; so that 74 AN UNREQUITED LOVE while people were hunting for them in the south, they would be safe in the north. “As they walked on he told her that he wanted to get away from England and see the world — the new world across the ocean. He had seen Europe summer after summer, traveling with his father and mother on the Continent. Now he wanted to see America; and asked her if she did not also. “She told him that she wanted to see every place that he wanted to see, and to go everywhere he wanted to go, for that he was the only friend she had in all the wide world. “So they walked on for about three hours, and then, about two o’clock in the morning, they reached the little railway station of Skelton. They had to wait two hours for the parliamentary train, which came heavily puffing in about five o’clock on that November morning. “Young Whyte took second-class tickets, and led his closely veiled companion to her seat on the train. And they moved off. “They reached Glasgow about ten o’clock the next day, and found that there was a steamer bound for New York, to sail at noon. No time was to be lost, so they both went to the agency together, represented themselves as a newly-married pair, and engaged the only state- room to be procured — which happened to be in the sec- ond cabin. Their tickets were filled in with the names of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Whyte — ^which indeed consti- tuted a legal marriage in Scotland, where a marriage- AN UNREQUITED LOVE 75 able pair of lovers have only to declare themselves man and wife, in the presence of competent witnesses, to be as lawfully married as if the ceremony had been per- formed by the Archbishop of Canterbury in his own cathedral. ^^They took possession of their stateroom on the Cal- edonian, which sailed at noon of the same day, and in due time arrived at New York. ^^They spent two days at an uptown hotel, and then took the pretty cottage at Harlem, in which they lived for several months. Ann’s boy-husband often told her that she grew prettier every day, and he seemed to grow fonder of her every day. He supplied her with a nicer outfit of clothing and more pocket money than she had ever had in her poverty-stricken life, and made her much happier every way than she had ever been before, as long as his money lasted. ^^He had left Eng?and with nearly one hundred pounds in his pocket — ^the amount of his half-yearly al- lowance. ^^On his arrival in New York he had written to his father and confessed his marriage with his tutor’s step- daughter and begged forgiveness and — remittances. ^^Ann declined to write to her stepmother or the curate, declaring that she preferred that they should be- lieve that she had been driven by their cruelty to bury herself in the quicksands, and that they should suffer all the remorse of conscience and reprobation of society that their conduct toward her deserved. 76 AN UNREQUITED LOVE ^^But weeks passed on, and no letter filled with bless- ings and bank notes came from the offended and obdu- rate father, though the boy constantly assured his girl- wife that the expected epistle would surely come in time, for he was the ^old man^s^ only son, whom he would not be likely to discard. ^^Meanwhile their money was running low. The youth was anxious to travel and see the new world, and to take his bride with him, but he could not do so without funds. At the end of six weeks after he had written the first letter to his father he wrote a second, but received no answer; later still he wrote a third, with no better success. ^^They had gone a little into debt, in order to eke out their little ready money until the longed-for letters of credit should come from England ; but at the end of six months credit and cash were nearly exhausted. ^^One morning in May the boy-husband took leave of the girl-wife, saying, as he kissed her good-by, that he was going down into the city to see if he could get some work to do. ^^Without the least misgiving, she received his fare- well kiss, and saw him depart — watched him all the way do^vn the street, until he got to Second Avenue and boarded a downtown car. ^^Then she re-entered the little gate, and began to tend the jonquils and hyacinths that were just coming into bloom in her little flower garden. She did not ex- pect to see him until night, nor — did she see him even AN UNREQUITED LOVE n then. When the little gate opened at eight o’clock and a man came np the walk leading to the front door at which she stood^ he was not her husband, but the letter carrier, who put a letter in her hand and went away. ^^She ran into the house, and lighted the gas to read her letter. Though it gave her a shock, it did not shake her faith in her boy. ^^The letter told her, in effect, that Alfred Whyte, when he left her that morning, had started to go to Eng- land in the only way by which he could get there — that is, by working his passage as a deck hand on board an outward-bound ship ; that he had decided on this course so as to get a personal interview with his father, to whom he would go as a penitent prodigal son; for he was sure of obtaining by this means forgiveness, and as- sistance that would enable him to return and bring his little wife back to England, where they would thence- forth live in comfort and luxury ; that the reason he had not confided to her his intention of making the voyage was because he dreaded opposition from her that might have led him to abandon the one plan by which he hoped to better their condition. ^^He concluded by entreating her not to think for one instant that he intended to desert her, who was dearer to him than his own life, but to trust in him as he trust- ed in her. In a postscript he told her where to find the small balance of money they had left, as he had only taken enough for his car fare to the city. In a second postscript he promised to write by every opportunity. 78 AN UNREQUITED LOVE In a third and last postscript he begged her to keep up her heart. ‘Tt seemed a frank letter, yet it was reticent upon one point — the name of the ship on which he had sailed. This omission might have been accidental. It cer- tainly did not raise any doubt of the boy’s good faith in the mind of the girl. ‘‘She cried a great deal over the separation from her lad, and she made a confidante of the elderly Irishwo- man who was her sole servant. “After two weeks, Ann began to watch daily for the letter carrier, in hope of getting a letter from Alfred; but day after day, week after week, passed and none came. But there came news of the wreck of the Por- poise, which had sailed from New York for London on the very day that Alfred Whyte had left the country — and which had gone down in a storm in mid ocean with all on board. “But as numerous ships had left New York on that day bound for various British ports, it was impossible to discover whether the boy was on board or if he shipped under his own name or an assumed one. “Ann cried more than ever for a few days, but then seemed to give up her lad for lost, and to resign herself to the ‘inevitable.’ “She wrote to Mr. Alfred Whyte, Senior, but got no reply to her letter; again and again she wrote with no better success. The little balance of money left by her AN UNREQUITED LOVE 79 boy-hnsband was all gone. She began to sell off the trifles of jewelry that he had given her. ^Une morning the letter carrier left a letter with a London postmark containing a bill of exchange for a hundred pounds, and not one word besides. ^^Had it come from her boy-husband or from his father? She could not tell. ^^Well, to be brief, she never saw nor heard of him again. She lived comfortably with her motherly old servant, enjoyed life thoroughly and grew more beauti- ful every day, and this fooFs paradise lasted as long as her money did. Before her last dollar was gone, she saw the advertisement in the Pursuivant for a nursery governess, and answered it, as has been told. ^This, my dear Cora, is the substance of the story told me by Ann White on the day that I called on her in answer to her letter. What do you think of it?’’ in- quired Mr. Eabian, when he had finished his narrative. think the cruel neglect of her stepparents and the sufferings of her childhood accountable for all her faults and I feel very sorry for her, notwithstanding that she seems to be a very heartless animal,” replied Corona. ^^That is the secret of the wonderful preservation of her youth and beauty even up to this present time. Nothing wears a woman out as fast as her own heart.” ^^You engaged her as you promised to do, but why did you introduce her at Eockhold as a single girl, and why under an alias?” gravely inquired Corona. introduced her as a single girl at her own request 80 AN UNREQUITED LOVE because of her extreme youth and her timidity. She naturally shrank from being known as a discarded wife or a doubtful widow. Besides, I never did say she was a single girl. I merely presented her as Rose Blowers, and left it to be inferred from her baby face that she was so.” “But why Rose Blowers when her name was Ann White?” “What a cross-questioner you are. Corona ! but I will answer you. Again it was by her own desire that I pre- sented her as Rose Blowers, which was not an alias, as she explained to me, but a part of her true name. She had been baptized as Rose Anna Blowers, which was the maiden name of her grandmother, her father’s mother.” Cora might have asked another question, not so eas- ily answered, if she had known the circumstances to which it related, namely: why Mr. Bahian had fabrica- ted that false story of the young governess which he palmed upon his parents ; but, in fact, Cora, at that time a child seven years old, had never heard of it. But she made another inquiry. “What became of Rose Blowers after she left us? Did she really go to another place ? Who was — Captain Stillwater ?” Mr. Babian drove slowly and thoughtfully on with- out answering her question until she had repeated it. Then he said: “Cora, my dear, that is a story I cannot tell you. Let AN UNREQUITED LOVE 81 it be enough for me to say, the Stillwater episode in the life of this lady is the ground upon which I forbid my wife to visit her and object to my niece associating with her.’^ ‘^Does Violet know the Stillwater story?’’ ^^No; not so much of it even as you have heard. Now, look here, Cora, you think it inconsistent perhaps that I should have brought this woman to Rockland years ago to become your governess, and now, when she is my father’s wife, object to your intimacy with her. In the first instance she has been far, very far, ^more sinned against than sinning’; she had been very imprudent, that was all. She was really the wife, by Scotch law, of the boy she ran away with and then lost. I saw nothing in her case that ought to prevent her entrance into a re- spectable family, and Heaven knows I pitied her and tried to save her by bringing her to Eockhold. I saved her only for a few years. After she left us — ^biit there, I cannot tell you that story ! You must not be intimate with her.” ^^Yet she is my grandfather’s wife !” ^^An irreparable misfortune. I can’t expose her life to him ; such a blow to his pride might be his death, at his age. No! events must take their course; but I hope he will not take her to any place where she is like- ly to be recognized. Nor do I think he will. He is aging fast, and will be likely to live quietly at Eock- hold.” ‘^And I think she also would avoid such risks. She 82 AN UNREQUITED LOVE was terribly frightened when she recognized the Dean of Olivet. Was he really her stepfather, the once poor curate ^^Yes. You see, while they were lionizing him in the Eastern cities, his portrait, with a short biographical notice, was published in one of the illustrated weeklies, where I read of him, and identified him by comparing notes with what I had heard.’’ ^^How came he to rise so high ?” ^Uh, he was a learned divine and eloquent orator. He was well connected, too. It would seem that a very few months after his stepdaughter’s fiight he was in- ducted into that rich living for which he had been wait- ing so many years. From that position his rise was slow indeed, covering a period of twenty years, until a few months ago, when he was made Dean of Olivet.” ^^To think that a man capable of quarreling with his wife, and ill-using their stepchild should fill so sacred a position in the church !” exclaimed Cora. ^^Yes ; but you see, my dear, the church is his profes- sion, not his vocation. He is a brilliant pulpit orator, with influential friends ; but every brilliant pulpit ora- tor is not necessarily a saint. And as for his quarreling with his wife and ill-using their stepdaughter, we have heard but one side of that story.” When they entered the Rockhold drawing room they found Mrs. Eockharrt alone. She arose and came for- ward and received them with a smile. ^^Your grandfather, my dear,” she explained to Cora, AN UNREQUITED LOVE 83 ^^came home later than usual from North End, and very much more than usually fatigued. Immediately after dinner he lay down and I left him asleep.’’ ‘ Where is Uncle Clarence ?” inquired Corona. “He remains at the works for the night. Will you have this chair, love ?” said Rose, pulling forward a lux- urious “sleepy hollow.” “No, thank you. I must go to my room and change my dress. Will you excuse me for half an hour. Uncle Fabian?” inquired Cora. “Most willingly, my dear,” replied Mr. Fabian, with a very pleased look. Cora left the room. “I will go with you,” exclaimed Rose, turning pale and starting up to follow the young lady. “No. You will not,” said Mr. Fabian, in a tone of authority, as he laid his hand heavily on the woman’s shoulder. “Sit down. I have something to say to you.” CHAPTER VI FABIAN AND BOSE ‘‘What do you mean ?” “I should rather ask what do you mean, or rather what did you mean, by daring to marry any honest man, and of all men — Aaron Eockharrt ? It was the most au- dacious challenging of destruction that the most reck- less desperado could venture upon.” Eabian Eockharrt continued mercilessly: “Do you not know what, if Mr. Eockharrt were to discover the deception you put upon him, he might do and think himself justified in doing to you ?” Rose shuddered in silence. “The very least that he would do would be to turn you out of his house, without a dollar, and shut his doors on you forever. Then what would become of you ? Who would take you in?” “Oh, Fabian!” she screamed at last. “Do not talk to me so. You will frighten me into hysterics.” “How don’t make a noise. For if you do, you will precipitate the catastrophe that you fear. Be quiet, I beg you,” said Mr. Fabian, composedly, putting his thumbs in his vest pockets and leaning back. 84 AN UNREQUITED LOVE 85 ^^Why do you say such cruel things to me, then? Such inconsistent things, too. If I was good enough to marry you, I was good enough to marry your father.’^ ^^But you were never good enough to marry either of us, my dear. If you will take a little time to reflect on your antecedents, you will acknowledge that you were not quite good enough to marry any honest man,’^ said Mr. Fabian, coolly. ^^Yet you asked me to marry you,’’ she said, sobbing softly, with her handkerchief to her eyes. ^^Beg pardon, my dear. I think the asking was rather on the other side. You were very urgent that we should be married, and that our betrothal should be formally announced.” ‘^Yes; because you led me to believe that you were going to marry me.” ‘^Excuse me. I never led you to believe so, simply allowed you to believe so. What could a gentleman do under the circumstances? He couldn’t contradict a lady.” ^^Oh, what a prevarication, Fabian Eockharrt, when every word, every deed, every look you bestowed on me went to assure me that you loved me and wished to marry me !” ^^Softly, my dear. Softly. I was sorry for you and generous to you. I gave you the use of a pretty little house and a sufficient income during good behavior. But you were ungrateful to me, Rose. You were unkind to 86 'AN UNREQUITED LOVE “I was not. I would have married you. I could not have done more than that.” “But, my dear, your good sense must have told you that I could not marry you. I have done the best I could by you always. Twice I rescued you from ruin. Once when you were but little more than a child, and your boy-lover, or husband, had left you alone, a young stranger in a strange land — a girl friendless, penniless, beautiful, and so in deadly peril of perdition, I took you on your own representation, and introduced you into my own family as the governess of my niece. I became responsible for you.” “And did I not try my best to please everybody?” sobbed the woman. “That you did,” heartily responded Mr. Fabian. “And everybody loved you. So that, at the end of five years’ service, when my niece was to enter a finishing school, and you were to go to another situation, you took with you the best testimonials from my father and mother and from the minister of our parish. But you did not keep your second situation long.” “How could I ? I was but half taught. The Warrens would have had me teach their children French and Ger- man, and music on the harp and the piano. I knew no language but my o^vn, and no music except that of the piano, which the dear, gentle lady, your mother, taught me out of the kindness of her heart. I was told that I must leave at the end of the term. And my term was nearly out when Captain Stillwater became a daily AN UNREQUITED LOVE 8T visitor to the house, and I saw him every evening. He was a tall, handsome man, with a dark complexion and black hair and beard. And I always did admire that sort of a man. Indeed, that was the reason why I always admired you.” ^^Don’t attempt to flatter me.” am not flattering anybody. I am telling you why I liked Captain Stillwater. And he was always so good to me ! I told him all my troubles. And he sympa- thized with me ! And when I told him that I should be obliged to leave my situation at the end of the quarter, he bade me never mind. And he asked me to be his wife. I did consent to be his wife. I was glad of the chance to get a husband and a home. So all was arranged. He advised me not to tell the Warrens that we were to be married, however. So at the end of my quarter I went away to a hotel, where Captain Stillwater came for me and took me away to the church where we were mar- ried.” ^^You had no knowledge that Alfred Whyte was dead, and that you were free to wed !” ^^He had been lost seven years and was as good as dead to me ! Besides, when a man is missing and has not been heard of for seven years, his wife is free to marry again, is she not ?” ^^No. She has good grounds for a divorce, that is all! To risk a second marriage without these legal formalities, would be dangerous ! Might be disastrous ! The first husband might turn up and make trouble!” 88 AN UNREQUITED LOVE ‘T did not know that! But, after all, as it turned out, it did not matter !” sighed Rose. “Not in the least!” assented Mr. Fabian, amiably. “After all, it was not my fault! I married him in good faith ; I did, indeed !” “Did you tell him of your previous marriage ? That is what you have not told me yet !” “N-n-no; I was afraid if I did he might break off with me.” “Ah!” “And I was in such extremity for the want of a home.” “Had not my father and mother told you that if ever you should find yourself out of a situation, you should come to them? Why did you not take them at their word ? They had always been very kind to you, and they would have given you a warm welcome and a happy home. Now, why need you have rushed into a reckless marriage for a home ?” “Oh, Fabian!” she exclaimed, impatiently, “don’t pretend to talk like an idiot, for you are not one ! Don’t talk to me as if I were a wax doll or a wooden woman, for you know I am not one !” “I am sure I do not know what you mean !” “Well, then, I loved the man ! There, it is out ! I loved him more than I ever loved any one else in the whole world ! And I was afraid of losing him !” “And so it was because you loved him so well that you deceived him so much !” AN UNREQUITED LOVE 89 ^^Didn’t he deceive me much more V’ ^^There were a pair of you — ^well matched ! So well, it seems a pity that you were parted ^^Oh, how very unkind you are to me !” ^^Not yet unkind ! Only waiting to see how you are going to behave!’^ have never behaved badly ! I was not wicked ; I was unhappy ! Unhappy from my birth, almost ! I had no evil designs against anybody. I only wanted to be happy and to see people happy. I honestly believed I was lawfully married to Captain Stillwater. He took me to the Wirt House and registered our names as Mr. and Mrs. Stillwater. And we were very happy until his ship sailed. He gave me plenty of money before he went away ; but I was heartbroken to part with him, and could take no pleasure in anything until I got a little used to his absence.’’ think you told me that you met him once more before your final separation. When was that meeting ? Eh ?” ^Tabian Rockharrt, are you trying to catch me in a falsehood ? You know very well that I never told you anything of the sort. I told you that I never saw him again after he sailed away that autumn day ! I waited all the autumn and heard nothing from him. I wrote to him often, but none of my letters were answered. At length I longed so much to see him that I grew wild and reckless and resolved to follow him. I took passage in the second cabin of the Africa and sailed for Liverpool, 90 AN UNREQUITED LOVE where I arrived about the middle of December. I went to the agency of the Blue Star Line, to which his ship belonged, and inquired where he was to be found. They told me he had sailed for Calcutta and had taken his wife with him! It turned me to stone — ^to stone, Fa- bian — almost ! I remember I sat down on a bench and felt numb and cold. And then I asked how long he had been married — ^hoping, if it was true, that my own was the first and the lawful union. They told me, for ten years, but as they had no family, his wife usually ac- companied him on all his voyages. So she had now gone with him to Calcutta.” “I suspect the people in that office were pretty well acquainted with the handsome skipper’s Vays and man- ners,’ and that they understood your case at once.” “I do really believe they did,” said Rose; “for they looked at me so strangely, and one man, who seemed to be a porter or a messenger, or something of that sort, said something about a sailor having a wife at every port.” “So, after that you came back to New York, and did, at last, what you should have done at first — ^you wrote to me.” “There was no one on earth to whom, under the pe- culiar circumstances, I could have written but to you. Oh, Fabian ! to whom else could I appeal ?” “And did I not respond promptly to your call ?” “Indeed you did, like a true knight, as you were. And I did not deceive you by any false story, Fabian. AN UNREQUITED LOVE 91 I told you all — everything — how basely I had been de- ceived — and you soothed and consoled me, and told me that, as I had not sinned intentionally, I had not sinned at all ; and you brought me with you to the State capi- tal, and established me comfortably there/^ ^^But you were very ungrateful, my dear. You took everything; gave nothing/^ would have given you myself in marriage, but you would not have me. You did not think me good enough for you.’’ ^^But, bless my wig, child ! for your age you had been too much married already — a great deal too much mar- ried ! You had got into the habit of getting married.” ^^Oh! how merciless you are to me!” Rose said, be- ginning to weep. ^^No; I am not. I have never been unkind to you — as yet. I don’t know what I may be ! My course to- ward you will depend very much upon yourself. Have I not always hitherto been your best friend ? Ungrate- ful, unresponsive though you were at that time, did I not procure for you an invitation from my mother to ac- company her party on that long, delightful summer trip ?” had an impression at the time that I owed the in- vitation to you father, who suggested to your mother to write and ask me to accompany them.” Mr. Eabian looked surprised and said — for he never hesitated to tell a fib: ^^Oh ! that was quite a mistake. It was I myself who 92 AN UNREQUITED LOVE suggested the invitation. I thought it would be agree- able to you. Was it not I myself who sent you forward in advance to the Wirt House, Baltimore, there to await the arrival of our party, and join us in our summer trav- el ? And didn’t you have a long, delightful tour with us through the most sublime scenery in the most salu- brious climates on earth ? Didn’t you return a perfect Hebe in health and bloom ?” 'T acknowledge all that. I acknowledge all my ob- ligations to your family ; but at the same time I declare that I also did my part. I was as a white slave to your parents. I was lady’s maid to your mother, foot boy to your father. I don’t know, indeed, what the old people would have done without me, for no hired servant could have served them as faithfully as I did.” ^Uh, yes; you were grateful and devoted to all the family except to me, your best friend — ^to me, who gave you the use of a lovely home, and a liberal income, and a faithful friendship ; and then trusted in your sense of justice for my reward.” ^^1 would have given you all I possessed in the world — ^my own poor self in marriage — and you led me on to believe that you wished to marry me, but, finally, you would not have me. You went off and married another woman.” ‘^Bah ! we are talking around in a circle, and getting back to where we began. Let us come to the point.” ^^Very well; come to the point,” said Rose, sulkily. ^^Listen, then : It is not for your reckless elopement AN UNREQUITED LOVE 93 with your stepfather’s pupil, when you were driven from home by cruelty ; it is not for your false marriage with Stillwater, when you yourself were deceived; but because with all these antecedents against you — ante- cedents which constituted you, however unjustly, a pa- riah, who should have lived quietly and obscurely, but who, instead of doing so, took advantage of kindness shown her, and betrayed the family who sheltered her by luring into a disgraceful marriage its revered father, and bringing to deep dishonor the gray head of Aaron Rockharrt, a man of stern integrity and unblemished reputation — ^you should be denounced and punished.” ^^Oh, Fabian, have mercy! have mercy! You would not now, after years of friendship, you would not now ruin me?” '^Listen to me ! You checkmated me in that matter of the cottage and the income. Yes, simple as you seem, and sharp as I may appear, you certainly managed to take all and give nothing. And when you found out that you could not take my hand and my name, you waylaid me at the railway station, when I was on my wedding tour, and you swore to be revenged. I laughed at you. I advised you to be anything rather than dra- matic. I never imagined the possibility of your threat- ened revenge taking the form of your marriage. Well, my dear, you have your revenge, I admit ; but in your blindness, you could not see that revenge itself might be met by retribution! One man kills another for re- 94 AN UNREQUITED LOVE venge, and does not, in his blind fury, see the gallows looming in the distance/^ ^^What do you mean ? You cannot hang me for mar- rying your father/^ exclaimed Rose. ^^No; don’t raise your voice, or you may be heard. No, Rose, I cannot hang you for treachery; but, my dear, there are worse fates than neat and tidy hanging, which is over in a few minutes. I could expose your past life to my father. You know him, and you know that he would show no ruth, no mercy to deception and treachery such as yours. You know that he would turn you out of the house without money or character, desti- tute and degraded. What then would be your fate at your age — a fading rose past thirty-seven years old? Sooner or later, and very little later, the poorhouse or the hospital. Better a sweet, tidy little hanging and be done with it, if possible.” ^^You are a fiend to talk to me so! a fiend! Fabian Rockharrt,” exclaimed Rose, bursting into hysterical sobs and tears. ^^Now be quiet, my child; you’ll raise the house, and then there will be an explosion.” don’t care if there will be. You are cruel, savage, barbarous ! I never meant to do any harm by marrying Mr. Rockharrt. I never meant to be revenged on you or anybody. I only said so because I was so excited by your desertion of me. I married the old gentleman for a refuge from the world. I meant to do my duty by him, though he is as cross as a bear with a bruised head. AN UNREQUITED LOVE 95 But do your worst; I don’t care. I would just as lief die as live. I am tired of trying to be good ; tired of trying to please people; tired, oh, very tired, of liv- ing !” ^^Come, come,” said soft-hearted Mr. Fabian; ^^none of that nonsense. Place yourself in my hands, to be guided by me and to work for my interests, and none of these evils shall happen to you. You shall live and die in wealth and luxury, my father’s honored wife, the mistress of Eockhold.” He spoke slowly, tenderly, caressingly, and as she listened to him her sobs and tears subsided and she grew calmer. ^^What is it you want me to do for you ? What can I do for you, indeed, powerless as I am ?” she inquired at last. ^^You must use all your influence with my father in my interests, and use it discreetly and perseveringly,” he whispered. ^^But I have no influence. Never was the young wife of an old man — and I am young in comparison to him — treated so harshly. I am not his pet, I am his slave !” she complained. ^^But you must obtain influence over him. You can do that. You are with him night and day when he is not at his business. You are his shadow — beg pardon, I ought to have said his sunshine.” am his slave, I tell you.” ^^Then be his humble, submissive, obedient slave ; be- 96 AN UNREQUITED LOVE tray no disappointment, discontent or impatience at your lot. The harsher he is, the humbler must you be ; the more despotic he becomes, the more subservient you must seem. Make yourself so perfectly complying in all his moods that he shall believe you to be the very ^perfect rose of v^omanhood,’ more excellent even than he thought when he married you, and so as he grows older and weaker in mind as well as body you will gain not only influence but ascendency over him, and these you must use in my interest.’^ ^^But how ? I don’t understand.” ^Tay attention, then, and you will understand. Mr. Eockharrt is aged. In the course of nature he must soon pass away. He has made no will. Should he die intestate, the whole property, by the laws of this com- monwealth, would fall to pieces ; that is to say, it would be divided into three parts — one-third would go to you ” Rose started, caught her breath, and stared at the speaker ; the greed of gain dilating her great blue eyes. The third of the Eockharrts’ fabulous wealth to be hers at her husband’s death ! Amazing ! How many millions or tens of millions would that be? Incredible! And all for her, and she with, perhaps, half a century of life to live and enjoy it ! What a vista ! “Why do you stare at me so ?” demanded Mr. Fabian. “Because I was so surprised. That is not the law in England. In England there are usually what are called AN UNREQUITED LOVE marriage settlements, which make a suitable provision for the wife, but leave the bulk of the property to go to the children — generally to the oldest son.’^ ^^And such should be the law here, but it isn’t ; and so if my father should die without having made a will, the great estate would break, as I said, into three parts — one part would be yours, the other two parts would be divided into three shares, to me, to my brother, and to the heirs of my sister. The business at North End would probably be carried on by Aaron Rockharrt’s sons.” ^^But would not that be equitable?” inquired Rose, who had no mind to have her third interfered with. ^Tt would not be expedient, nor is such a disposition of his property the intention of Aaron Eockharrt. I know, from what he has occasionally hinted, that he means to bequeath the Great North End Works to me and my brother Clarence, share and share alike ; but he puts off making this will, which indeed must never be made. The North End Works should not be a monster with two heads, but a colossus with one head — with my head. So that I wish my father to make a will leaving the North End Works to me exclusively — to me alone as the one head.” think if I dared to suggest such a thing to him, he would take off my head !” said Rose, with grim humor. think he would if you should do so suddenly or clumsily. But you must insinuate the idea very slowly 98 AN UNREQUITED LOVE and subtlely. Clarence is not for the works; Clarence is too good for this world — at least for the business of this world. I think him half an imbecile ! My father does not hesitate to call him a perfect idiot. Do you be- gin to see your way now ? Clarence can be moderately provided for, but should have no share in the North End Works.’^ ‘^The North End Works to be left to you solely; Clarence to be moderately provided for; and what of the two children of the late Mrs. Haught ^Dh! my father never intends to leave them more than a modest legacy. They have each inherited money from their father. No; understand me once for all, Rose. I must be the sole heir of all my father’s wealth, with the exceptions I have named, and the sole successor to his business, without any exception whatever. You must live, serve him and bear with him only to obtain such an ascendency over him as to induce him to make such a will as I have dictated to you. You can do this. You can insinuate it so subtlely that he will never sus- pect the suggestion came from you. I say you can do this, and you must do it. The woman who could de- ceive and entrap old Aaron Eockharrt, the Iron King, into matrimony, can do anything else in the world that she pleases to do with him if only she will be as subtle, as patient, and as complacent to him after marriage as she had been before marriage.” ^Tf Clarence is to be so provided for, Cora and Sylvan AN UNREQUITED LOVE 99 to have modest legacies, and yon to have the huge bulk of the estate — ^where is my third to come from ^^Why, my dear, I could never let you have so vast a slice out of the mammoth fortune ! Your third of the estate must follow Clarence’s share of the business — into nothingness. You must play magnanimity, sacrifice your third, and content yourself with a suitable provi- sion,” said Fabian, equably. will never do that! I would not do it to save your life, Fabian Eockharrt I” ^Uh, yes, you will, my darling. Not to save my life, but to save yourself from being denounced to Mr. Rock- harrt, and turned out of this house, destitute and de- graded.” don’t care if I should be ! Do you think me quite a baby in your hands ? I have been reflecting since you have been talking to me. I have been remembering that you told me that the law gives the widow one third of her late husband’s property when he dies intestate, and entitles her to it, no matter what sort of a will he makes.” ^^Unless there has been a settlement, my angel,” said Mr. Fabian, composedly. ^‘Well, there has been no settlement in my case. So whether Aaron Eockharrt should die intestate, or whether he should make a will,. I am sure of my lawful third. So I defy you, Mr. Fabian Eockharrt. You may denounce me to your father. He may turn me out of doors without a penny, and Vithout a character^’ as the 100 AN UNREQUITED LOVE servants say, but be cannot divorce me, because I bave been faithful to him ever since our marriage. I could compel him by law to support me, even though he might not let me share his home. He would be obliged by law to give me alimony in proportion to his income, and, oh ! what a magnificent revenue that would be for me — with freedom from this tyranny into the bargain ! And at his death, which could not be long coming at his age, and after such a shock as his dutiful son proposes to give him, I should come in for my third. And, oh, where so rich a widow as I should be ! With forty or fifty years of life before me in which to enjoy my for- tune! Ah, you see, my clever Mr. Fabian Eockharrt, though you frightened me out of self-possession at first, when I come to think over the situation, I find that you can do me no great harm. If you should put your threats in execution and bring about a violent separa- tion between myself and my husband, you would do me a signal favor, for I should gain my personal freedom, with a handsome alimony during his life, and at his death a third of his vast estate,” she concluded, snapping her fingers in his face. “I think not.” ‘‘Yes; I would.” “No; you would not.” “Indeed ! Why should I not, pray ?” she inquired, with mocking incredulity. “Oh, because of a mere trifle in your code of morals — an insignificant impediment.” AN UNREQUITED LOVE 101 ^^Tchut!’^ she exclaimed, contemptuously. ^^Do you think me quite an idiot think you would be much worse than an idiot if, in case of my father’s discarding you, you should move an inch toward obtaining alimony or in the case of the coveted ^third.’ ” ^Tshaw! Why, pray?” ^^Because you have not, and never can have, the shad- ow of a right to either.” ^^Bah ! why not ?” ^^Because — Alfred Whyte is living!” She caught her breath and gazed at the speaker with great dilating blue eyes. ^^What — do — you — mean ?” she faltered. ^^Alfred Whyte, your husband of twenty years ago, is still living and likely to live — a very handsome man of forty years, residing at his magnificent country seat, Whyte Hall, Dulwich, near London.” ^^Married again ?” she whispered, hoarsely. ^^Certainly not ; an English gentleman does not com- mit bigamy.” ^^How did you — ^become acquainted — ^with these facts ?” was sufiiciently interested in you to seek him out, when I was in England. I discovered where he lived; also that he was looking out for the best investment of his idle capital. I called on him personally in the in- terests of our great enterprise. He is now a member of the London syndicate.” 102 AN UNREQUITED LOVE ‘^Did you speak — of me ?” “Never mentioned your name. How could I, know- ing as I did of the Stillwater episode in your story V’ “And he lives ! Alfred Whyte lives ! Oh, misery, misery, misery ! Evil fate has followed me all the days of my life,” moaned Rose, wringing her hands. “Now, why should you take on so, because Whyte is living? Would you have had that fine, vigorous man, in the prime of his life, die for your benefit ?” “But I thought he was dead long ago.” “You were too ready to believe that, and to console yourself. He was more faithful to your memory.” “How do you know ? You said my name was never mentioned between you.” “Not from him, but from a mutual acquaintance, of whom I asked how it was that Mr. Whyte had never married, I heard that he had grieved for her out of all reason and had ever remained faithful to the memory of his first and only love. My own inference was, and is, that the report of your death was got up by his friends to break off the connection.” “And you never told this ‘mutual friend’ that I still lived ?” “How could I, my dear, with my knowledge of your Stillwater affair ? No, no ; I was not going to disturb the peace of a good man by telling him that his child- wife of twenty years ago was still living, but lost to him AN UNREQUITED LOVE 103 by a fall far worse than death. No — I let you remain dead to him.” '‘Oh, misery! misery! misery! I would to Heaven I were dead to everybody! dead, dead indeed!” she cried, wringing her hands in anguish. "Come, come, don’t be a fool ! You see that you are utterly in my power and must do my will. Do it, and you will come to no harm ; but live and die in a luxuri- ous home.” CHAPTEK VII sylvan's oedbes While the amiable Mr. Fabian was engaged in sooth- ing the woman whom he was resolved to make his in- strument in gaining the whole of his father’s great busi- ness bequeathed to him by will, carriage wheels were heard grating on the gravel of the drive leading up to the front door of the house, and a few minutes after- ward the master’s knock was answered by the hall waiter, and old Aaron Eockharrt strode into the draw- ing room. “I did not know that you had gone out again. I left you on the library sofa asleep,” said Pose, deferentially, as she sprang up to meet him. ‘^I was called out on business that don’t concern you. Ah, Fabian ! How is it that I find you here to-night ?” inquired the Iron King, as he threw himself into a chair. “I brought Cora home from the Banks,” replied the eldest son. “Ah ! how is Mrs. Fabian ?” “Still delicate. I can scarcely hope that she will be stronger for some weeks yet.” 104 AN UNREQUITED LOVE 105 ^^When are you going to bring her to call on my wife?’^ demanded the Iron King, bending his gray brows somewhat angrily and looking suspiciously on his son; for he was not pleased that his daughter-in- law’s visit of ceremony had been so long delayed. ^^As soon as she is able to leave the house. Our phy- sician has forbidden her to take any long walk or ride for some time yet.” ^^And how long is this seclusion to last ^^ITntil after a certain event to take place at the end of three months.” ^^Ah ! and then another month for convalescence ! So it will be late in the autumn before we can hope to see Mrs. Fabian Eockharrt at Eockhold.” fear so, indeed, sir.” do not approve of this petting, coddling, and in- dulging women. It makes the weak creatures weaker. If you choose to seclude your wife or allow her to se- clude herself on account of a purely physiological con- dition, I will not allow Mrs. Eockharrt to go near her until she goes to return her call.” When Cora reached her chamber that evening she sat down to reflect on all that her Uncle Fabian had told her of the past history of her grandfather’s young wife, and to anticipate the possible movements of her brother. Her own life, since the loss of her husband — now loved so deeply, though loved too late — she felt was over. The future had nothing for herself. What, therefore, could loe AN UNREQUITED LOVE she do with the dull years in which she might long veg- etate through life but to give them in useful service to those who needed help ? She would go with her brother to the frontier, and find some field of labor among the Indians. She would found a school with her fortune, and devote her life to the education of Indian children. And she would call the school by her lost husband’s name, and so make of it a monument to his memory. Revolving these plans in her mind, Cora Eothsay re- tired to rest. The next morning she arose at her usual hour, dressed, and went downstairs. Old Aaron Eockharrt and his young wife were al- ready in the parlor, waiting for the breakfast bell to ring. She had but just greeted them when the call came, and all moved toward the breakfast room. Just as the three had seated themselves at the table, and while Rose was pouring out the coffee, the sound of carriage wheels was heard approaching the house, and a few minutes later Mr. Clarence and Sylvan en- tered the breakfast room with joyous bustle. ^^What — what — ^what does this unseemly excitement mean?’’ sternly demanded the Iron King, while Cora arose to shake hands with her uncle and brother ; and while Rose, fearful of doing wrong, did nothing at all. ^^What is the matter ? What has happened ? Why have you left the works at this hour of the morning, Clarence?” he requested of his son. came with Sylvan, sir, for the last time before he AN UNREQUITED LOVE lOT leaves us for distant and dangerous service, and for an unlimited period/’ ^^Ah! you have your orders, then?” said Mr. Eock- harrt, in a somewhat mollified tone. ^^Yes, sir,” said the young lieutenant. received my commission by the earliest mail this morning, with or- ders to report for duty to Colonel Glennin, of the Third Regiment of Infantry, now at Governor’s Island, New York harbor, and under orders to start for Eort Farther- most, on the Mexican fontier. I must leave to-night in order to report in time.” Cora looked at him with the deepest interest. Rose thought now she might venture on a little civil- ity without giving offense to her despotic lord. ^^Have you had breakfast, you two ?” she inquired. ^^No, indeed. We started immediately after receiv- ing the orders,” said Sylvan. ^^And we are as hungry as two bears.” ^^Bring chairs to the table, Mark, for the gentlemen,” said young Mrs. Rockharrt, who then rang for two more covers and hot coffee. ^^Cora,” whispered Sylvan, as soon as he got a chance to speak to his sister, ‘^^you can never get ready to go with me on so short a notice. Women have so much to do.” ^^Sylvan,” she replied, have been ready for a month.” CHAPTEE VIII SOMETHING HNESPECTED The day succeeding that on which Sylvanus Haught had received his commission as second lieutenant in the Third Eegiment of Infantry, then on Governor’s Island, New York harbor, and under orders for Port Earther- most, on the southwestern frontier, was a very busy one for Cora Eothsay; for, however well she had been prepared for a sudden journey, there were many little final details to be attended to which would require all the time she had left at her disposal. A farewell visit must be paid to Violet Eockharrt, and — worse than all — an explanatory interview must be held with her grandfather in relation to her departure with Sylvanus Haught, and that interview must be held before the Iron King should leave Eockhold that morn- ing for his daily visit to the works. Cora had often, during the last year, and oftener since her grandfather’s second marriage, taken occasion to allude to her intention of accompanying her brother to his post of duty, however distant and dangerous that post might be. She had done this with the fixed pur- 108 AN UNREQUITED LOVE 109 pose of preparing this autocratic old gentleman’s mind for the event. Now, the day of her intended departure had arrived ; she was to leave Rockhold with her brother that after- noon to take the evening express to New York. And as she could not go without taking leave of her grand- father, it was necessary that she should announce her intention to him before he should start on his daily visit to North End. Therefore Cora had risen very early that morning and had gone down into the little office or library of the Iron King, that was situated at the rear of the middle hall, there to wait for him, as it was his custom to rise early and go into his study, to look over the papers be- fore breakfast. These papers were brought by a special messenger from North End, who started from the depot as soon as the earliest train arrived with the morning’s mail and reached Rockhold by seven o’clock. She had not sat there many minutes before Mr. Eock- harrt entered the study. am going away with my brother,” Cora said, with- out any preface whatever, ^^to lort Farthermost, on the southwestern Indian frontier.” think you must be crazy.” ^^Dear grandpa, this is no impulsive purpose of mine. I have thought of it ever since — ever since — the death of my dear husband,” said Cora, in a broken voice. ^^Oh ! the death of your dear husband ?” he exclaimed, rudely interrupting her. ^^Much you cared for the 110 AN UNREQUITED LOVE death of your dear husband ! If yon had, yon wonld never have driven him forth to his death! for that is what yon did ! Yon cannot deceive me now. As long as the fate of Enle Eothsay was a mystery, I was myself at somewhat of a loss to acconnt for his disappearance — ^thongh I snspected yon even then — bnt when the news came that he had been killed by the Comanches near the bonndaries of Mexico, and I had time to reflect on it all, I knew that he had been driven away by yon — yon ! And all for the sake of a titled English dandy ! Yon need not deny it, Cora Eothsay ^Tt wonld be qnite nseless to deny anything that yon choose to assert, sir,’^ replied the yonng lady, coldly bnt respectfnlly. ^^Yet I mnst say this, that I loved and honored my hnsband more than I ever did or ever can love and honor any other hnman being. His departnre broke my spirit, and his death has nearly broken my heart — certainly it has blasted my fntnre. My life is worth nothing, nothing to me, except as I make it nse- fnl to those who need my help.’^ ^^Enbbish!’^ exclaimed old Aaron Eockharrt, tnrn- ing over the leaves of his paper and looking for the financial colnmn. ^^Grandfather, please hear me patiently for a few minutes, for after to-day I do not know that we may ever meet again,’’ pleaded Cora. The old man laid his open paper on his knees, set his spectacles np on his head, and looked at her. ^^What the devil do you mean ?” he slowly inquired. AN UNREQUITED LOVE 111 I am to leave Eockhold witli my brother this afternoon, to go with him, first to Governor’s Island, and within a few days start with him for the distant frontier fort which may be his post of duty for many years to come. We may not be able to return within your lifetime, grandfather,” said Cora, gravely and ten* derly. ^^And what, in Satan’s name, unless you are stark mad, should take you out to the Indian frontier?” ho demanded. ^^I might answer, to be with my only brother, I being his only sister.” ^^Bosh! Men’s wives very seldom accompany them to these savage posts, much less their sisters! What does a young officer want his sister tagging after him for?” ^Tt is not that Sylvan especially wants me, nor for his sake alone that I go.” ^Well, then, what in the name of lunacy do you go for ?” ^^That I may devote my time and fortune to a good cause — to the education of Indian girls and boys. I mean to build ” ^^That, or something like that, was what Eothsay tried to do when you drove him away, as if he had been a leper, to the desert. Well, go on ! What next ? Let us hear the whole of the mad scheme !” mean to build a capacious schoolhouse, in which I will receive, board, lodge, and teach as many Indian 112 AN UNREQUITED LOVE children as may be intrusted to me, until the house shall he full.” “Moonstruck mania! That is what your mad hus- band, driven mad by you, attempted on a smaller scale, and failed.” “That is why I wish to do this. I wish to follow in his footsteps. It is the best thing I can do to honor his memory.” “But he was murdered for his pains.” Cora shuddered and covered her face with her hands for a space ; then she answered, slowly : “There may be many failures; but there will never be any success unless the failures are made stepping stones to final victory.” “Fudge! See here, mistress! No doubt you suffer a good many stings of conscience for having driven the best man that ever lived — except, hem ! well — to his death! But you need not on that account expatriate yourself from civilization, to go out to try to teach those red devils who murdered your husband and burned his hut, and who will probably murder you and burn your schoolhouse ! You have been a false woman and a mis- erable sinner, Cora Eothsay! And you have deserved to suffer and you have suffered, there is no doubt about that! But you have repented, and may be pardoned. You need not immolate yourself at your age. You are a mere girl. You will get over your morbid grief. You may marry again.” Cora slowly, sadly, silently, shook her head. AN UNREQUITED LOVE US yes ; you ^^No; no; no, dear grandpa. I will bear my dear lost husband’s name to the end of my life, and it shall be inscribed on my tomb. Ah! would to Heaven that at the last, I might lay my ashes beside his,” she moaned. ^^Now, don’t be a confounded fool, Cora Eothsay I To be sure, all women are fools ! But, then, a girl with a drop of my blood in her veins should not be such a con- summate idiot as you are showing yourself to be. You shall not go out with Sylvan to that savage frontier. It is no place for a woman, particularly for an unmarried woman. You would come to a bad end. I shall speak to Sylvan. I shall forbid him to take you there,” said the old autocrat. Cora smiled, but answered nothing. She had firmly made up her mind to go with her brother, whether her grandfather should approve the action or not; but she thought it unnecessary to dispute the matter with him just now. ^^So, mistress, you will stay here, under my guardian- ship, until you accept a husband, like a respectable woman,” continued old Aaron Eockharrt. Still Cora remained silent, standing by his chair, with her hand resting on the table, and her eyes cast down. The egotist seemed not to object to having all the talk to himself. ^Uome!” he exclaimed, with sudden animation, sit- ting bolt upright in his chair. ^^When I found you in ^is room just now, you said you had something to tell 114 AN UNREQUITED LOVE me. And you told it. Naturally, it was not worth hearing. Now, then, I have something to tell you, which is so well worth hearing that when you have heard it your missionary madness may be cured, and your Quix- otic expedition given up ; in fact, all your plans in life changed — a splendid prospect opened before you.’^ Cora looked up, her languor all gone, her interest aroused. Something was rising in her mind ; not a sun of hope — ah! no — ^but nebula, obscure, unformed, in- distinct, yet with possible suns of hope, worlds of hap- piness, within it. What did her grandfather mean? Had he heard something about Was Rule yet Swift as lightning flashed these thoughts through her mind while her grandfather drew his breath between his utterances. ^Tisten ! This is what I had to tell you : I had a let- ter a few days ago from an old suitor of yours,’’ he said, looking keenly at his granddaughter. Cora’s eyes fell, her spirits drooped. The nebula of unknown hopes and joys had faded away, leaving her prospect dark again. She looked depressed and disap- pointed. She could feel no shadow of interest in her old suitors. received this letter several days since, and being at leisure just then, I answered it. But in the pressure of some important matters I forgot to tell you of it, though it concerned yourself mostly, I might say entirely. Shouldn’t have remembered it now, I suppose, if it had not been for your foolish talk about going out for a AN UNREQUITED LOVE 115 missionary to the savages. Ah ! another destiny awaits your acceptance.’^ Cora sighed in silence. ^^Now, then. Of course you must know who this cor- respondent is.” ^^Without otfense to you, grandfather, I neither know nor care,” languidly replied the lady. ^^.But it is not without offense to me. You are the most eccentric and inconsistent woman I ever met in all the course of my life. You are not constant even to your inconstancy.” Having uttered this paradox, the old man threw him- self back in his chair and gazed at his granddaughter. am not yet clear as to your meaning, sir,” she said^ coldly, but respectfully. ‘^What! Have you quite forgotten the titled dandy for whom you were near breaking your heart three years ago ? For whom you were ready to throw over one of the best and truest men that ever lived ? For whom you really did drive Eegulas Eothsay, on the proudest and happiest day of his life, into exile and death !” ^^Oh, don’t ! dont ! grandfather ! Don’t !” wailed Cora, sinking on an office stool, and dropping her hands and head on the table. ‘^Now, none of that, mistress. No hysterics, if you please. I won’t permit any woman about me to indulge in such tantrums. Listen to me, ma’am. My corre- spondent was young Cumbervale, the noodle!” 116 AN UNREQUITED LOVE ^^Then I never wish to see or hear or think of him again exclaimed Cora. ^Tndeed ! But that is a woman all through. She will do or suffer anything to get her own way. She will defy all her friends and relations, all principles of truth and honor ; she will move Heaven and earth, go through fire and water, to get her own way ; and when she does get it she don’t want it, and she won’t have it.” ^^Grandfather !” pleaded Cora. ^^Silence! Three years ago you would have walked over all our dead bodies, if necessary, to marry that no- ble booby. And you would have married him if it had not been for me ! I would not permit you to wed him then, because you were in honor bound to Eegulas Roth- say. I shall insist on your accepting him now, because poor Eothsay is in his grave, and this will be the best thing to do for you to help you out of harm’s way from redskins and rattlesnakes and other reptiles. I don’t think much of the fellow ; but he seems to be a harm- less idiot, and is good enough for you.” Cora answered never a word, but she felt quite sure that not even the iron will of the Iron King could ever coerce her into marriage with any man, least of all with the man whose memory was identified with her heart’s tragedy. The old man continued his monologue. ‘^The best thing about the fellow is his constancy. He was after your imaginary fortune once. I am sure of that. And he was so dazzled by the illumination of that ignis fatuus that he didn’t see you, perhaps, and AN UNREQUITED LOVE 117 didn’t recognize how much he really cared for yon. At all events, in his letter to me — and, by the way, it is very strange that he should write to me after the snubbing I gave him in London,” said the Iron King, reflectively. Cora did not think that was strange. She, at least,, felt sure that it was as impossible for the young duke to take offense at the rudeness of the old iron man as at the raging of a dog or the tearing of a bull. But she did not drop a hint of this to the egotist, who never imagined passive insolence to be at the bottom of the duke’s forbearance. ^Tn his letter to me,” resumed old Aaron Rockharrt, ^^the young fool tells me that, immediately after his great disappointment in being rejected by you, he left England — and, indeed, Europe — and traveled through every accessible portion of Asia and Africa, in the hope of overcoming his misplaced affection, but in vain, for that he returned home at the end of two years with his heart unchanged. There he learned through the news- papers that you had been recently widowed, through the murder of your husband in an Indian mutiny. That’s how he put it. He further wrote that, in the face of such a tragedy as that, he felt bound to forbear the faint- est approach toward resuming his acquaintance with you until some considerable time should have elapsed, although, he was careful to add, he always believed that you had given him your heart, and would have given him your hand had you been permitted to do so. He ended his letter by asking me to give him your address,, 118 AN UNREQUITED LOVE that he might write to you. He evidently supposed you to be keeping house for yourself, as English widows of tjondition usually do. Well, my girl, what do you think I didr ^^You told me, sir, that, being at leisure just then, you answered his letter immediately,” coldly replied Cora. ^^Yes ; and I told him that you were living with me. 1 gave him the full address. And I told him that I was pleased with his frankness and fidelity, qualities which I highly approved ; and I added that if he Avished to re- new his suit to you, he need not waste time in writing, but that he might come over and court you in person here at Eockhold, where he should receive a hearty, old- fashioned welcome.” Cora gazed at the old man aghast. ^^Oh, grandfather, you never wrote that!” she ex- claimed. never wrote that ? What do you mean, mistress ? Am I in the habit of saying what is not true ?” ^^Oh, no; but I am so grieved that you should have written such a letter.” ^Why, pray?” ^^Because I cannot bear that any one should think for a moment that I could every marry again.” ^^Rubbish !” ^Well, it does not matter after all. If the duke should come on this fooFs errand, I shall be far enough out of his reach,” thought Cora; but she said no more. AN UNREQUITED LOVE 119 The breakfast bell rang out with much clamor, and the old man arose growling. ‘^And now you have cheated me out of my hour with the newspapers by your foolish talk. Come, come to breakfast and let us hear no more nonsense about going on that wild goose chase to the Indian frontier.’^ At the end of the morning meal he arose from the table, called his young wife to fetch him his hat, his gloves, his duster, and other belongings, and he got ready for his daily morning drive to the works. shall remain at North End to bid you good-by, Sylvan. Call at my office there on your way to the de- pot,^’ he said, as he left the house to step into his car- riage waiting at the door. As the sound of the wheels rolled off and died in the distance, Rose turned to Cora, and inquired: ^^My dear, does he know that you are going out West with Sylvan?’^ ^^He should know it. I have spoken freely of my plans before you both for months past,’’ said Cora. ^^But, my dear, he never took the slightest notice of anything you said on that subject. Why, he did not even seem to hear you.” ^^He heard me perfectly. Nothing passes in my grandfather’s presence that he does not see and hear and understand.” ^Well, then, I reckon he thinks you have changed your mind; for he spoke of meeting Sylvan at North End to bid him good-by, but said not a word about you.’^ 120 AN UNREQUITED LOVE ‘‘He will believe that I am going when be sees me with Sylvan,” said Cora. And then she touched the hell and ordered her car- riage to be brought to the door. “We must go and take leave of Mrs. Fabian Rock- harrt,” she said to Rose. Twenty minutes later Cora and Sylvan entered the pony carriage. Sylvan took the reins and started for Violet Banks. They soon reached the lovely villa, where they found Violet seated in a Quaker rocking chair on the front porch, with a basket workstand beside her, busily and happily engaged in her beloved work — embroidering an infant’s white cashmere cloak. She jumped up, dropped her work, and ran to meet her visitors as they alighted from the carriage. She kissed Cora rapturously, and Sylvan kissed her. “How lovely of you both to come! Wait a minute till I call a boy to take your chaise around to the stable. And, oh, sit dovra. You are going to stay all day with me, too, and late into the night — there is a fine moon to-night. Or maybe you will stay a week or a month. Why not ? Oh, do stay,” she rattled on, a little inco- herently on account of her happy excitement. “No, dear,” said Cora, “we can only stay a very few minutes. The rising moon will see us far away on our route to New York.” “W-h-y ! You astonish me ! How sudden this is ! AN UNREQUITED LOVE IZt Where are you going asked Violet, pausing in her hurry to call a groom. ‘Tet me explain/^ said Cora, taking one of the Qua- ker chairs and seating herself. ^^Sylvan has just re- ceived his commission as second lieutenant in the Third Regiment of Infantry, now on Governor's Island, New York harbor, but under orders for Fort Farthermost, on the extreme frontier of the Indian Reserve. He leaves by the afternoon express, and I go with him.^^ ‘^Cora!’^ exclaimed Violet, as she dropped into her chair. know you have talked about this, but I never thought you would do such a wild deed ! Please donT think of going out among bears and Indians!^’ must, dear, for many reasons. Sylvan and my- self are all and all to each other at present, and we should not be parted. More than that, I wish to do something in the world. I cannot do anything here. I am not wanted, you see. I must, therefore, go where I may be wanted and may do some good.’’ ^^But what can you do — out there?” Cora then explained her plan of establishing a mis- sionary home and school for Indian children. ^^What a good, great, but, oh, what a Quixotic plan! Sylvan, why will you let her do it ?” pleaded Violet. ^^My dear, I would not presume to oppose Cora. If she thinks she is right in this matter, then she is right. If her resolution is fixed, then I will uphold and defend her in that resolution,” said the young lieutenant, loy- ally. But all the same his secret thought was that some 123 AN UNREQUITED LOVE fine fellow in his own regiment might he able to per- suade Cora to devote her time and fortune to him, in- st^d of to the redskins. After a little more talk Cora got up and kissed Vio- let good-by. Sylvan followed her example with a little ^ more ardor than was absolutely necessary, perhaps. At Eockhold luncheon was on the table, and young Mrs. Eockharrt waiting for them. Mr. Clarence was also at home, having determined to risk his father’s dis- pleasure and to neglect his business on this one day — this last day, for the sake of the niece, and the nephew who were so dear to his heart. After luncheon Sylvan went out to oversee the load- ing of the farm van, which was drawn by two sturdy mules, with the many heavy trunks and boxes that con- tained Cora’s wardrobe and books — among the latter a large number of elementary school books. Mr. Clar- ence stood by his side to help him in case of need. Cora went up to her room, where nothing was now left to be done but to pack her little traveling bag with the nec- essaries for her journey, and then put on her traveling suit. She had a quantity of valuable jewelry, but this she put carefully into her hand bag, intending to con- vert it all into money as soon as she should reach New York, and to consecrate the fund, with the bulk of her fortune, to her projected home school for the Indian children. As she sat there, she was by some occult agency led to think of her grandfather’s young wife — to think of AN UNREQUITED LOVE 123 her tenderly, charitably, compassionately. Poor Rose ! In infancy, from the day of her father’s death, an un- loved, neglected, persecuted child ; in childhood, driven to desperation and elopement by the miseries of her home; in girlhood, deceived and abandoned by her lover; now, in womanhood, as friendless and unhappy as if she had not married a wealthy man, and was not living in a luxurious home. Poor Rose ! She had lost her sense of honor^ or she never would have married Mr. Rockharrt, even for a refuge. But, through all her sins and sorrows, she had not lost her tender heart, her sweet temper, or her amiable desire to serve and to please. She had now a hard time with her aged, des- potic husband. He had not gratified her ambition by taking her into the upper circles of society, for he seemed now to have given up society; he had not pleased her harmless vanity with presents of fine dress and jew- elry; no, nor even regarded her services with any sort of affectionate recognition. Cora sat there feeling sorry that she had ever shown herself cold and haughty to the helpless creature who had always done all that she could to win her (Cora’s) love, and whom she was about to leave to the tender mercies of a hard and selfish old man, who, though he highly approved of his young wife’s meekness, humility, and subserviency, and held her up as an example to her whole sex, yet did not care for her, did not consult her wishes in anything, did not consider her happiness. Cora sat wondering what she could do to give this 124 . AN UNREQUITED LOVE poor little soul some little pleasure before leaving her. Suddenly she thought of her jewels. She resolved to select a set and give it to Rose with some kind parting word. She took her hand bag and withdrew from it case after ease, examining each in turn. There was a set of diamonds worth many thousand dollars ; a set of rubies and pearls, worth almost as much; a set of emeralds, very costly ; but none of them as lovely as a set of sap- phires, pearls, and diamonds, artistically arranged to- gether, the sapphires encircled by a row of pearls, with an outer circle of small diamonds; the whole suggest- ing the blue color, the foam, and the sparkle of the sea. This Cora selected as a parting present to her grand- father’s young wife. She took them in her hand and hurried to Rose’s room, knocked at the door and entered. Rose was seated in a white dimity-covered arm chair, engaged in reading a novel. She looked surprised, and almost frightened, at the sight of Cora, who had never before condescended to enter this private room. “Have I disturbed you ?” inquired Cora. “Oh, no; no, indeed. Pray come in. Please sit down. Will you have this arm chair ?” eagerly inquired the young woman, rising from her seat. “No, thank you. Rose; I have scarcely time to sit. I have brought you a keepsake which I hope you will sometimes wear in memory of your old pupil,” said Cora, opening the casket and displaying the gems. AN UNREQUITED LOVE 125 Rose’s face was a study — all that was good and evil in her was aroused at the sight of the rich and costly jewels — vanity, cupidity, gratitude, tenderness, ^^Oh, how superb they are ! I never saw such splen- did gems ! A parure for a princess, and you give them to me ? What a magnificent present ! How kind you are, Cora ! What can I do ? How shall I ever be able to return your kindness said Rose, as tears of delight and wonder filled her eyes. ^^Wear them and enjoy them. They suit your fair complexion very well. And now let me bid you good- by, here.” ^^No, no; not yet. I will go down and see you off — see the very last of you, Cora, until the carriage takes you out of sight. Oh, dear, it may indeed be the very last that I shall ever see of you, sure enough.” hope not. Why do you speak so sadly ?” ^^Because I am not strong. My father died of con- sumption; so did my elder brothers and sisters, the children of his first marriage, and often I think I shall follow them.” Mrs. Rothsay looked at the speaker. The transpar- ent delicacy of complexion, the tenderness of the limpid blue eyes, the infantile softness of face, throat, and hands, certainly did not seem to promise much strength or long life ; but Cora spoke cheerfully : ^^Such hereditary weakness may be overcome in these days of science, Rose. You must banish fear and take 126 AN UNREQUITED LOVE care of yourself. Now, I really must go and put on my bonnet.” ^^Very well, then, if you must. I will meet you in the hall. Oh, my dear, I am so very grateful to you for these precious jewels, and more than all for the friend- ship and kindness that prompted the gift,” said Rose; and perhaps she really did believe that she prized the giver more than the gift ; for such self-deception would have been in keeping with her superficial character. Cora left the room and hurried to her chamber, where she put on her bonnet and her linen duster. She had scarcely fastened the last button when her brother knocked at the door, calling out: ^Uome, Cora, come, or we shall miss the train.” Cora caught up her traveling bag, cast long, last, lingering look” around the dear, familiar room which she had occupied when at Rockhold from her childhood^s days, and then went out and joined her brother. In the hall below they were met by Rose. ^^Be good to her, poor thing,” whispered Cora to Sylvan. ^^All right,” replied the young lieutenant. Rose’s eyes were filled with tears. It seemed to the friendless creature very hard to lose Cora, just as Cora was beginning to be friendly. ^'Good-by,” said Mrs. Rothsay, taking the woman’s AN UNREQUITED LOVE 127 hand. But Rose burst into tears, threw her arms around the young lady’s neck, hugged her close, and kissed her many times. ^^Good-by, my pretty stepgrandmother-in-law,” said Sylvan, gayly, taking her hand and giving her a kiss. ^^You are still ^The rose that all admire/ but the best of friends must part.” And leaving Rose in tears, he opened the door for his sister to pass out before him. But she, at least, passed no farther than the front porch, where she stood look- ing down the lawn in surprise and anxiety, while Syl- van hurried off to see what was the meaning of that which had so suddenly startled them. What was it? What had happened? A crowd of men, silent, but with faces full of sup- pressed excitement and surrounding something that was borne in their midst, was slowly marching up the ave- nue. Cora watched Sylvan as he went to meet them; saw him speak to them, though she could not hear what he said ; saw them stop and put something, which they bore along and escorted, down on the gravel ; saw a par- ley between her brother and the crowd, and finally saw her brother turn and hurry back toward the house, wearing a pale and troubled countenance. ^‘^You may take the carriage back to the stables, 128 AN UNREQUITED LOVE John,” said the lieutenant to the wondering negro groom, as he passed it in returning to the porch. “What is the matter, Sylvan ? What has happened ? Why have you sent the carriage away V’ Cora anxious- ly inquired. “Because, my dear, we must not leave Rockhold at present,” he gravely replied. “There has been an acci- dent, Cora.” “An accident ! On the railroad ?” “No, my dear; to our old grandfather.” “To grandfather! Oh, Sylvan! no! no!” she cried, turning white, and dropping upon a bench, all her latent affection for the aged patriarch — ^the unsuspected affec- tion — waking in her heart. “Yes, dear,” said Sylvan, softly. “Seriously? Dangerously? Fatally? Perhaps he is dead and you are trying to break it to me ! You can’t do it ! You can’t ! Oh, Sylvan, is grandfather dead ?” she wildly demanded. “No, dear! No, no, no! Compose yourself. They are bringing him here, and he is perfectly conscious. He must not see you so much agitated. It would annoy him. We do not yet know how seriously he is hurt. He was thrown from his carriage when near North End. The horses took fright at the passing of a train. They ran away and went over that steep bank just at the en- trance of the village. The carriage was shattered all to pieces; the coachman killed outright — poor old Joseph — and the horses so injured that they had to be shot.” AN UNREQUITED LOVE 129 ‘‘Poor old Joseph! I am so sorry! so very sorry! But grandfather! grandfather!” “He was picked up insensible; carried to the hotel on a mattress laid on planks, borne by half a dozen workmen, and the doctor was summoned immediately. He was laid in bed, and all means were tried to restore consciousness. But as soon as he came to his senses he demanded to be brought home. The doctor thought it dangerous to do so. But you know the grandfather’s obstinacy. So a stretcher was prepared, a spring mat- tress laid on it, and he has been borne all the way from North End to Eockhold Ferry by relays of six men at a time, relieving each other at short intervals, and es- corted by the doctor and our two uncles. That, Cora, is all I can tell you.” He then entered the house, followed by Cora. They found Rose still in the front hall, where they had left her a few minutes before. She was seated in one of the oak chairs wiping her eyes. She had not seen the approaching procession with the burden they carried. And of course she had not heard their silent movements. She looked up in surprise at the re-entrance of Cora and Sylvan. “Oh!” she exclaimed. “Have you forgotten any- thing ? So glad to see you back, even for half a minute. For, after all, I couldn’t see you drive away. I just shut the door and flung myself into this chair to have a good cry. Can’t you put off your journey now, just for to- 130 AN UNREQUITED LOVE night and start to-morrow ? You will have to do it any- how. You can’t catch the 6 :30 express now/’ she added, coming toward them. ^We shall not attempt it, Rose,” said Sylvan, in a kinder tone than he usually used in speaking to her. am so glad,” she said, but her further words were arrested by the grave looks of the young man. ^^What is the matter with you?” she suddenly in- quired. ^^There has been an accident. Rose. Not fatal, my dear, so don’t be frightened. My grandfather has been thrown from his carriage and stunned. But he has re- covered consciousness, and they are bringing him home a deal shaken, but not in serious danger.” While Sylvan spoke, Rose gazed at him in perfect si- lence, with her blue eyese widening. When- he finished, she asked: ^^How did it happen ?” Sylvan told her. Rose dropped into a chair and covered her face with her hands. She was more shocked than grieved by all that she had heard. If her tyrant had been brought home dead, I think she would only have sighed ^^With the sigh of a great deliverance !” ^^Let us go now. Rose, and prepare his bed. Sylvan will stay here to receive him,” said Cora. The two women went up to the old man’s room and AN UNREQUITED LOVE 131 turned down the bedclothes, and laid out a change of linen, and many towels in case they should be needed, and then went' to the head of the stairs and waited and listened. Presently, through the open hall door, they heard the muffled tread and subdued tones of the men, who pres- ently entered, bearing the stretcher on which was laid the huge form of the Iron King, covered, all except his face, with a white bed-spread. Slowly, carefully, and with some difficulty they bore him up the broad stair- case head first — preceded by the family physician. Dr. Cummins, and followed by Messrs. Fabian and Clarence. Rose and Cora stood each side the open chamber door, and when the men bore the stretcher in and set it down on the floor, the two women approached and looked down on the injured man. His countenance was scarcely affected by his accident. He was no paler than usual. He was frowning — it might be from pain or it might be from anger — and he was glaring around. Rose was afraid to speak to him, prone on the stretcher as he was, lest she should get her head bitten off. Cora bent over him and said tenderly : ^^Dear grandfather, I am very sorry for this. I hope you are not hurt much.” And she had her head immediately snapped off. ^TDon^t be a confounded idiot !” he growled, hoarsely. ^^Go and send old black Martha here. She is worth a hundred of you two.” Rose hurried off to obey this order, glad enough of 133 AN UNREQUITED LOVE au excuse to escape. And now the room was cleared of all the men except the family physician, the two sons, and the grandson. These approached the stretcher and carefully and tern derly undressed the patient and laid him on his bed. Then the physician made a more careful examination. There were no bones broken. The injuries seemed to be all internal ; but of their seriousness or dangerousness the physician could not yet judge. The nervous shock had certainly been severe, and that in itself was a grave misfortune to a man of Aaron Rockharrt’s age, and might have been instantaneously fatal to any one of less remarkable strength. Dr. Cummins told Mr. Fabian that he should remain in attendance on his patient all night. Then, at the de- sire of Mr. Eockharrt, he cleared the sick room of every one except the old negro woman. When the door was shut upon them all, and the cham- ber was quiet, he administered a sedative to his patient and advised him to close his eyes and try to compose himself. Then the doctor sat down on the right side of the bed, with old Martha on his left. There was utter silence for a few minutes, and then old Aaron Eockharrt spoke, “What’s the hour, doctor ?” “Seven,” replied the physician, after consulting his gold repeater. “But I advise you to keep quiet and try to sleep,” he added, returning his timepiece to his fob. AN UNREQUITED LOVE 133 As if the Iron King ever followed advice ! As if he did not, on general principles, always run counter to it ! “Didn’t I see my fool of a grandson among the other lunatics who ran after me here ?” he next inquired. “Yes.” “Where is he now ?” “With the ladies, I think.” “Send — him — up — to — me !” The doctor shrugged his shoulders and went to obey the order. The obstinacy of this self-willed egotist was surely growing into a monomania, and perhaps it would have been more dangerous to oppose him than to com- ply with his whim. In a few moments Dr. Cummins re- entered the room, followed by Sylvan Haught. “I hope you are feeling easier,” said the lieutenant, as he bent over his grandfather. “I have not complained of feeling uneasy yet, have I ?” growled the Iron King. “You sent for me, sir. Can I do anything for you ?” “For me ? No ; not likely ! But you can do your duty to your country ! How is it that you are not on your way to join your regiment ?” “I had actually bidden good-by and left the house to start on my journey, when I met the men bringing you home.” “What the demon had that to do with it ?” “I could not go on, sir, and leave you under such cir- cumstances.” “Look here, young sir!” said the Iron King, speak- 134 AN UNREQUITED LOVE ing hoarsely, faintly, yet with strong determination. “Do you call yourself a soldier or a shirk? Let me tell you that it is the first duty of a soldier to obey orders, at all times, under all circumstances, and at all costs! If you had been a married man, and your wife had been dying — if you had been a father, and your child had been dying, it would have been your duty to leave them !” “But, sir, there was no real need that I should go by this night’s express. If I should start to-morrow morn- ing, I shall be in good time to report for duty. It was only i FICTION, DARNLEY . A Romance of the times of Henry VIII. and Cardinal Wolsey* By G. P. R. James. Cloth, i2mo. with four illustrations by J. Watson Davis, Price, ^i.oo. As a historical romance ‘‘Darnley’' is a book that can be taken up pleasurably again and again, for there is about it that subtle charm which those who are strangers to the works of G. P. R. James have claimed was only to be imparted by Dumas. If there was nothing more about the work to attract especial attention, the account of the meeting of the kings on the historic “field of the cloth of gold” would entitle the story to the most favorable consideration of every reader. There is really but little pure romance in this story, for the author has taken care to imagine love passages only between those whom history has credited with having entertained the' tender passion one for another, and he succeeds in making such lovers as all the world must love. WINDSOR CASTLE. A Historical Romance of the Reign of Henry VIII Catharine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. By Wm. Harrison Ainsworth. Cloth, x2mo. with four illustrations by George Cruikshank. Price, $i.oo. “Windsor Castle” is the story of Henry VIII., Catharine, and Anne Boleyn. “Bluff King Hal,” although a well-loved monarch, was none too good a one in many ways. Of all his selfishness and unwarrantable acts, none was more discreditable than his divorce from Catharine, and his mar- riage to the beautiful Anne Boleyn. The King’s love was as brief as it was vehement. Jane Seymour, waiting maid on the Queen, attracted him, and Anne Boleyn was forced to the block to make room for her successor. This romance is one of extreme interest to all readers. HORSESHOE ROBINSON. A tale of the Tory Ascendency in South Caro- lina in 1780. By John P. Kennedy. Cloth, i2mo. with four illustrations by J. Watson Davis. Price, |i.oo. Among the old favorites in the field of what is known as historical fic- tion, there are none which appeal to a larger number of Americans than Horseshoe Robinson, and this because it is the only story which depicts with fidelity to the facts the heroic efforts of the colonists in South Caro- lina to defend their homes against the brutal oppression of the British under such leaders as Cornwallis and Tarleton. The reader is charmed with the story of love which forms the thread of the tale, and then impressed with the wealth of detail concerning those times. The picture of the manifold sufferings of the people, is never over- drawn, but painted faithfully and honestly by one who spared neither time nor labor in his efforts to present in this charming love story all that price in blood and tears which the Carolinians paid as their share in the winning of the republic. Take it all in all, “Horseshoe Robinson” is a work which should be found on every book-shelf, not only because it is a most entertaining story, but because of the wealth of valuable information concerning the colonists which it contains. That it has been brought out once more, well illustrated, is something which will give pleasure to thousands who have long desired an opportunity to read the story again, and to the many who have tried vainly in these latter days to procure a copy that they might read i,t for the first time. THE PEARL OP ORR’S ISLAND. A story of the Coast of Maine. By Harriet Beecher Stowe. Cloth, i2mo. Illustrated. Price, $1.00. Written prior to 1862, the “Pearl of Orr’s Island” is ever new; a book filled with delicate fancies, such as seemingly array themselves anew each time one reads them. One sees the “sea like an unbroken mirror all around the pine-girt, lonely shores of Orr’s Island,” and straightway comes “the heavy, hollow moan of the surf on the beach, like the "wild angry howl of some savage animal.” Who can read of the beginning of that sweet life, named Mara, which came into this world under the very shadow of the Death angel’s wings, without having an intense desire to know how the premature bud blos- somed? Again and again one lingers over the descriptions of the char- acter of that baby boy Moses, who came through the tempest, amid the ■tngry billows, pillowed on his dead mother’s breast There is no more faithful portrayal of New England life than that (ililcb Mrs. Stowe gives in “The Pearl of Orr’s Island.” BURT’S SERIES of STANDARD FICTION. THE SPIRIT OF THE BORDER. A Romance of the Early Settlers in the Ohio Valley. By Zane Grey. Cloth. x2mo. with four illustrations by J. Watson Davis. Price, |i. 00. A book rather out of the ordinary Is this * ‘Spirit of the Border.** The main thread of the story has to do with the work of the Moravian mis- sionaries in the Ohio Valley. Incidentally the reader is given details of the frontier life of those hardy pioneers who broke the wilderness for the plant- ing of this great nation. Chief among these, as a matter of course, is Lewis Wetzel, one of the most peculiar, and at the same time the most admirable of all the brave men who spent their lives battling with the savage foe, that others might dwell in comparative security. Details of the establishment and destruction of the Moravian “Village of Peace” are given at some length, and with minute description. The efforts to Christianize the Indians are described as they never have been before, and the author has depicted the characters of the leaders of the several Indian tribes with great care, which of itself will be of interest to the student. By no means least among the charms of the story are the vivid word- pictures of the thrilling adventures, and the intense paintings of the beau- ties of nature, as seen in the almost unbroken forests. It is the spirit of the frontier which is described, and one can by it, perhaps, the better understand why men, and women, too, willingly braved every privation and danger that the westward progress of the star of em- pire might be the more certain and rapid. A love story, simple and tender, runs through the book. CAPTAIN BRAND, OP THE SCHOONER CENTIPEDE. By Lieut. Henry A. Wise, U. S. N. (Harry Gringo). Cloth, izmo. with four illustra- tions by J, Watson Davis. Price, |i.oo. The re-publication of this story will please those lovers of sea yams who delight in so much of the salty flavor of the ocean as can come through the medium of a printed page, for never has a story of the sea and those “who go down in ships” been written by one more familiar with the scenes depicted. The one book of this gifted author which is best remembered, and which will be read with pleasure for many years to come, is “Captain Brand,*’ who, as the author states on his title page, was a * ‘pirate of eminence in the West Indies.” As a sea story pure and simple, “Captain Brand” has never been excelled, and as a story of piratical life, told without the usual embellishments of blood and thunder, it has no equal. NICK OP THE WOODS. A story of the Early Settlers of Kentucky. By Robert Montgomery Bird. Cloth, i2mo. with four illustrations by J. Watson Davis. Price, |i.oo. This most popular novel and thrilling story of early frontier life In Kentucky was originally published in the year 1837 . The novel, long out of print, had in its day a phenomenal sale, for its realistic presentation of Indian and frontier life in the early days of settlement in the South, nar- rated in the tale with all the art of a praicticed writer. A very charming love romance runs through the story. ’Phis new and tasteful edition of “Nick of the Woods” will be certain to make many new admirers foi this enchanting story from Dr. Bird’s clever and versatile pen. GUY FAWKES. A Romance of the Gunpowder Treason. By Wm. Harri- son Ainsworth. Cloth, i2mo. with four illustrations by George Cruikshank. Price, |i.oo. The “Gunpowder Plot** was a modest attempt to blow up Parliament, the King and his Counsellors. James of Scotland, then King of England, was weak-minded and extravagant. He hit upon the efficient scheme of extorting money from the people by imposing taxes on the Catholics. In their natural resentment to this extortion, a handful of bold spirits con- cluded to overthrow the government. Finally the plotters were arrestedc and the King put to torture Guy Fawkes and the other prisoners with royal vigor. A very intense love story runs through the entire romance* BURST’S SERIES of STANl>i\RD FICTION^ TICONDEROGA : A Story of Karlj' Frontier I^ife in the Mohawk Valley., By G. P. R. James. Cloth, i2mo, with four page illustrations by J. Watsox,' Davis. Price, |i. 00. The setting of the story is decidedly more picturesque than any ever evolved by Cooper; The frontier of New York State, where dwelt an English gentleman, driven from his native home by grief over the loss of his wife, with a son and daughter. Thither, brought by the exigencies of war, cornea an English officer, who is readily recognized as that Lord Howe who met his death at Ticonderoga. As a most natural sequence, even amid the hostile demonstrations of both French and Indians, Lord Howe and the young girl find time to make most deliciously sweet love, and the son of the recluse has already lost his heart to the daughter of a great sachem, a dusky maiden whose warrior-father has surrounded her with all the comforts of a civilized life. The character of Captain Brooks, who voluntarily decides to sacrifice his own life in order to save the son of the Englishman, is not among the least of the attractions of this story, which holds the attention of the reader even to the last page. The tribal laws and folk lore of the different tribes of Indians known as the “Five Nations,” with which the story is interspersed, shows that the author gave no small amount of study to the work in question, and nowhere else is it shown more plainly than by the skilful manner in which he has interwoven with his plot the “blood” law, which demands a life for a life, whether it be that of the murderer or one of his race. A more charming story of mingled love and adventure has never been written than “Ticonderoga.” ROB OF THE BOWL : A Story of the Early Days of Maryland. By John P. Kennedy. Cloth, i2mo. with four page illustrations by J. Watson Davis. Price, $1.00. It was while he was a member of Congress from Maryland that the noted statesman wrote this story regarding the early history of his native State, and while some critics are inclined to consider “Horse Shoe Robinson” as the best of his works, it is certain that “Rob of the Bowl” stands at the head of the list as a literary production and an authentic exposition of the manners and customs during Lord Baltimore’s rule. The greater portion of the action takes place in St. Mary’s — the original capital of the State. As a series of pictures of early colonial life in Maryland, “Rob of the Bowl” has no equal, and the book, having been written by one who had exceptional facilities for gathering material concerning the individual mem- bers of the settlements in and about St. Mary’s, is a most valuable addition to the history of the State. The story is full of splendid action, with a charming love story, and a plot that never loosens the grip of its interest to its last page. BY BERWEN BANKS. By Allen Raine. It is a tender and beautiful romance of the idyllic. A charming picture of life in a Welsh seaside village. It is something of a prose-poem, true, tender and graceful. IN DEFIANCE OF THE KING. A romance of the American Revolution. By Chauncey C, Hotchkiss. Cloth, i2mo. with four illustrations by J. Watson Davis. Price, $i.oo. The story opens in the month of April, 1775 , with the provincial troops hurrying to the defense of Lexington and Concord. Mr. Hotchkiss has etched in burning words a story of Yankee bravery and true love that thrills from beginning to end with the spirit of the Revolution. The heart beats quickly, and we feel ourselves taking a part in the exciting scenes described. You lay the book aside with the feeling that you have seen a gloriously true picture of the Revolution. His whole story is so absorbing that you will s>t UP far into the night to finish it. As a love romance it is charming. t I ( ► I UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 3 0112 003190912