LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 784, 26 December 1876, Page 3

LITERATURE.

THE MILLER’S DAUGHTER.

( Continued,.)

The walk was a pleasant one, pleasanter it seemed to Guy than he had ever before taken, and long before it was ended, the maiden’s simple naivete and artless grace had made such an impression upon him, that he found his friendship fast merging into a stronger and warmer feeling. On their return they were met by Mr Slater. He paid no attention to Guy beyond an ill concealed scowl, but led away his companion to a seat beneath the trees. Having nothing particular to occupy his attention, Guy seated himself on the doorstep, and endeavored to make friends with the chickens and ducks assembled around him, but his amusement was soon interrupted by the appearance of Vic who, accompanied by a little terrier as pert and saucy as herself, spread dismay amongst the feathery family, and scattered them in all directions. Having ingratiated himself with the dog, Guy addressed himself to its mistress and became soon engaged in an animated conversation, which by degrees turned upon the troubles of the unfortunate Dell.

He acquired no new information, however, his entertainer merely filling up the outlines given already by the miller, but Guy heard enough to awaken within him an earnest, though perhaps selfish resolve to save the fair unfortunate from the fate which menaced her.

That evening Guy had the pleasure of hearing Mr Slater mention the fact that he was going away on business, and would not be back for a day or two. The next day, our hero contrived by discreet management, to take his ‘ friend ’ out for a second walk.

He found that the maiden’s spirits seemed to rise in proportion to the distance of Mr Slater from the homestead, and before the end of the second day of his absence, her naturally merry disposition had shown itself sufficiently to captivate Guy still more with the new graces it displayed. And, as they were walking along the long, shady lane leading to the meadows, and his companion had lapsed into a melancholy and abstracted silence, thinking, probably, of the approaching xeturn of Mr Slater, Guy felt tempted to give utterance to the words of encouragement and affection which trembled upon his lips, but he was forced to admit to himself that if his suspicions of the absent lover proved unfounded, he had no right to come between him and his financee, and since these suspicions were still unconfirmed his sense of justice bade him to be silent.

As the thought forced itself upon him, that, after all, he might be powerless to prevent the ill-assorted union, he sighed heavily. Startled by his vehemence, his companion glanced wistfully at him, but meeting his gaze fixed earnestly upon her, blushed vividly, as if conscious of his thoughts, and then with averted eyes, turned somewhat abruptly towards the house. Slowly and silently Guy walked beside her, yet despite his last gloomy fear, a strange thrill of pleasure came over him as he pictured to his mind with all the vividness of a sanguine lover that last glance of those beautiful eyes. Soon Mr Slater appeared like a black cloud upon the fair horizon, and*the old routine ensued.

At length one evening, when the greater part of the family had retired, a carriage drove up to the door from which alighted an infirm and decrepid invalid, carefully wrapped in innumerable shawls and greatcoat, followed by an obsequious servant, with a vast quantity of luggage. Carefully Guy led his feeble friend up the narrow stairs leading to his room, while the kindly old miller attended to the wants of his servant.

Reaching his room, Guy carefully locked the door and then this invalid with a marvellous activity, threw off his swaddling garments and emerged from their folds, an old acquaintance. Bob. Omitting what passed between the friends on this strange yet joyous we will proceed at once with the conclusion of our story. The following morning, while the invalid Bob was eating, with a woeful visage, the meagre allowance of toast and tea, which, to keep up appearances, had been ordered by his friend and brought up by the anxious Vic, Guy burst suddenly into the room, and dragging his friend to the window, exclaimed, in an excited undertone—- * There—is that the fellow ?’ ‘ What the deuce is the matter with you, Guy ? there’s no hurry; you don’t seem to exercise much consideration for the state of my health, I must say, laughed Bob. £ Do be serious, Bob ; there ! he’s gone out of "sight! ’ s Oh I he’ll be back again shortly—keep cool ‘ Keep cool! There he comes again t Look now, is that the man ?’ * That’s the fellow, by Jove ! ’ excitedly exclaimed Bob, losing his assumed equanamity. ‘ Let’s go down and call Brown. ’ e Don’t do any such thing, you’ll spoil it all,’ said Guy, now in his turn quite calm. * I’ll go down now, and after awhile you wrap yourself up carefully and follow mo. I’ll meet you and arrange it all with Brown.’ * All right,’ replied Bob, and Guy left him. Going down stairs he held a whispered conservation with Brown, after learning that Mr Slater had gone to the village, but would be back shortly, and then, too much excited to keep quiet, strolled out under the willows. Unconsciously his steps led him to a little footpath winding into a clump of cedars. Heedless pf where he was going he kept rapidly on, absorbed with his anxious hopes and fears. Suddenly his path terminated, in a little rustic arbor, and looking around him, Guy saw, leaning upon one of the seats in all the abandonment of intense woe, the unfortunate Dell, her face buried in her ham 1 " through whose dimpled fingers tn'~’ * —•*» after tear in rapid success’''" .mxied tear Row Guy had -mJ. softening ,*cwer before seen that most n—'' a u sights (as many know to their —a woman in tears. Perhaps his ignorance may excuse the singularity 1 of his conduct, for seating himself : beside the prostrate beauty, he gently | Sd her List with his arm aid drew he. • towards him. . ~ Surprised, even in her grief, themaideE 3 withdrew her hands from her face, hut onij r for an instant, for looking up into Guy ' pitying eyes with a glance which seemed t

penetrate his inmost soul, she drew herself away from his relaxing grasp and burst into a still more violent paroxysm of tears. Guy straggled for a moment to apeak, but ere he could utter a word, Mr Slater appeared upon the scene. Scowling savagely upon Guy, he advanced towards his fiancee, and seizing her roughly by the arm, said with a sneer — ‘ Well, young lady, what’s all this blubbering|about.|eh?’ The maiden perceptibly shuddered, and as the ruffian grasped her wrist still more tightly, uttered a slight scream, Guy’s blood boiled within him. Advancing with a rapid stride he laid his hand on Slater’s shoulder, and though almost too angry to articulate, fiercely exclaimed — * Unhand that lady !’ Mr Slater only grasped the slender wrist still tighter, stretched his legs asunder, ejected a copious stream of tobacco juice, and cast an insulting stare upon Guy. ‘Do you hear me ?’ again exclaimed Guy, aloud, beside himself with rage. ‘ Who the devil are you and what the have you got to say about it anyhow ? I guess I can ’ Ere he finished the insulting sentence he had measured his length upon the floor of the arbor.

His face white with passion, Guy turned to the terrified Dell.

(To he continued.)