LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1035, 19 October 1877, Page 3

LITERATURE.

«, •CROSS PURPOSES. Concluded. When Cissy and Halkett appear at break fast the following morning, they take caret > seat themselves as far as possible from each other, and presently it becomes palpable to every one that they are considerably out of sorts. Uncle Charlie suggests that Miss Cissy has over-danced hersed, or given the wrong man his co '<<jc ; a remark that has sufficient truth in it to bring the hot blood into her cheeks. While Captain Halkett, having run through his letters, declares he must return to town by the afternoon train ; at which Mrs Leyton looks uneasy, and cads a co> ert glance at CUsy Mo-daunt. That young lady stands fire pretty wed, but with all her hardihood cannot keep her under lip from trembling ever so l.ttle. This sign of weakness, be assured, does not escape the widow’s tutored eye ; and she instantly challenges Major Blake to a game of billiards a ter breakfast.

‘ My dear Frank, you can’t go to-day,’ says uncle Charlie decidedly. ‘To-morruw they have promised us th- best run we have had yet. I will not hear of your leaving. rit’o and tell her you have sprained your ankle, and send her your undying love.’ IShe will forgive you when she sees you.’ ‘ I wish I could stay,’ says Halkett, laughing ; ‘ but unfortunately my recall is from my solicitor, not from my lady-love.’ 4 Don’t believe a word of it !’ says Uncle Charlie. * A sudden recall always means a woman. Why, when I was a young man, I thought nothing of’ ‘My dear!’ says Aunt Isabel, with a gentle uplifting of the right hand. •(j ite so, my good Belle,’returns Uncle Chailic, patting the soft white fingers. ‘But seriously, Frank, she will do well without you.’ ‘ I have no doubt of that,’ says Halkett, and raising his eyes meets Miss Mordaum’s full

‘ Half an hour later, Cissy, feeling mournful and guilty, steals round to the stables to take a last look at the Baby, a* she is afraid to look at the Baby’s master. Ju-t as she is patting her and rubbing down the soft velvet muzzle, the door opens, and Halkett enters. ‘ 1 am glad to see she is so much better,’ says Miss' Mordannt promptly but nervously, pointing to the injured limb. ‘lf you go today, you will not take her with you, 1 suppose ?’ ‘No; I suppose not.’

‘ Must you go ? ’ H alkett glances at her reproachfully. ‘ Yes ; of course I must. There is no other course left open to me. After what you told me last night, it would be simple madness to remain. ’ * What did 1 tell you? I don’t think I told you anything.’ ‘Well what you led me to infer.’ ‘You should not infer things. I never meant you to do so.’ As Alias Mordaunt says this in a very low tone, she turns her head aside and recedes a sWp or two. A dark Hush rises to Halkett's brow, colouring all his face, even through the bronze au Indian sun Ins laid upon it. A sudden g], am of Rome'hing akin to hope shines in '•is eyes for an instant, but is as speedily hupi reseed. ‘ I'o you know what you are doing? ho says in a tone sufficiently unsteady to betray the agitation ho is feeling ‘ Do you know what your manner, your words seem to me to mean? Do not, I impl re you, raise within me again the hope I have surrendered, unless O Cissy, you will never know how cruel a thing it is to love without return! ’ , . , = But— are you sure—your love - has gamed no return ? 5 d mauds Yisß Cissy in faltering accents, and immediately afterwards feels she h s but one de ire on ca'th. and that is for the grou'd to open and swallow her. ‘ Cissy, Cissy !’ or es I lalke t, * tell me yen do n t care for that fellow B 1 >ke 1’ ‘ Not a bit, not a bit ! says Cissy ; and in aiiotlAr mtfiaßat finds bureelf iu tlaikett s

arms, her tears running riot over the breast of his coat. ‘ Oh, say that you forgive me 1’ she sobs. ‘lt was most hateful of me -about that bedroom candlestick the other night, and everything. But I misunderstood it all. I thought you loved Mrs Leyton. Say that you forgive me !’ ‘ I will not hear a word about forgiveness now,’ says Halkett, who has been assiduously employed in kissing her hair, brow, and any other part of her face that is visible. ‘lt is taking a mean advantage of me; lam so happy this moment, I would forgive my bitterest enemy without hesitation. By and-by we will discuss the question, and I shall grant you pardon on my own terms.’ l-ome time before luncheon there comes a knock low but decided, at Uncle ''harlie’s library door. ‘ Come in !’ calls out the owner of the apartment; and the door opening admits Frank Halkett and Miss Mordant—the la ter keeping well behind, and only compelled by the strong clasp of her companion’s hand to advance at all. ‘ 1 have come, sir,’ says Halkett mildly, ‘to tell you I have, after all, decided on delaying my departure until next week, as lat first intended—if you do not object ’ ‘ Indeed, indeed ; I am glad of that,’ says Uncle Chat lie, just a wee bit puzzled. ‘I need not say how welcome you are.—But what about the business letter, eh, and your hot haste to reach town ? What has changed your p’ans, eh ?’ ‘Miss Mordaunt,’ says Halkett, wrha mischievous glance at Cissy, who is hopelessly confused and horribly shamefaced, in the background. ‘ Mias Mordaunt has induced me to alter my mind.’ ‘Eh ! what, what ? ’ says Uncle Charlie, rising from his chair as the truth dawns upon him, and instantly sinking back into it again. ‘ You don’t mean it! And all this time 1 coni i have sworn it was that fellow Hlake ! And so we’e made happy a pair who, through a mutual misunderstanding, might have never come together again in this world; who, but f r an accidental timely explanation, might have remained through life victims to Cross-purposes. Reader, remember that there are two sides to every story.