LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1432, 18 September 1878, Page 3

LITERATURE.

MR. ASLATT'S WARD. [" Chambers' Journal."] (Conclvdrd.) •Well, darling, you mu9t know that they did not object t> keeping her with them, as her appearance was calculated to call forth pity, and thus increase their earnings. But it was a rough life for the child, and she suffered from the exposure to all weathers which it entailed. Her father, who ic wa3 believed had seen better days, had never allowed her to go out with the troop, and had done his utmost to shield her from hardship. But now there was no help for it; she could not be kept in idleness. Moved with pity for the child's hapless lot, the gentleman inquired where the musicians resided, and returned to his hotel to consider how he might best serve the little orphan. After much reflection his resolution was taken. He was a lonely man, with no near relative to claim his love. His heart yearned with pity for the desolate child, whose pleading blue eyes and plaintive voice kept appealing to his compassion, to the exclusion of all other considerations. He determined to adopt her, and provide for her for the rest of her life. With this intention he sought the street musicians on the following day, and easily induced them to commit the child to his care. After handsomely rewarding the musicians, he took her away with him that very day, and ever since Ehe has had the first place in his heart. His loving care for the orphan child brought its own reward, for in striving to promote the happiness of little Rose he found his own.'

I was int rrupted by a cry from my companion. 'Rose?' she exclaimed excitedly. • What are you saying, Miss Bygrave ? Tell me—was I—am I that little child ?'

' You are, darling; and now you know how truly you are the light of Mr Aslatt's life. He has; no one to care for bat you, and you alone can make him happy.' • And I have really no claim upon him, am in no way related to him, as I thought! I knew I owed him much, but I had no idea to what extent I was indebted to him. But for his goodness, what should I be now ? Oh, if I had only known this before! How ungrateful I have been to him, how wayward and perverse ? Oh, Miss Bygrave, I cannot bear to think of it !'

' Do not trouble about that, dear,' I Baid, trying to sooth her, for her agitation alarmed me ; 'it is all forgiven and forgotten by Mr Aslatt.'

' Hut I shall never forgive myself,' she exclaimed passionately. 'To think that I have been receiving everything from him for years, living upon his bounty, and jet making no return, evincing no gratitude, taking all his kindness as a matter of course, just because I imagined I was dear to him for my parents' sake!' 'Nay; you are too hard upon yourself, dear Rose,' I said gently. 'To a certain extent you have been grateful to him ; you have again and again acknowledged to me your seDse of his goodness ; and now that you know all, you will clearly prove your gratitude, I have no doubt.' ' But how ?' exclaimed Rose. ' How can I express - how can I show my deep sense of all that I owe him ?'

' In the first place, by getting well as soon as possible, and by letting him see that you once more take an interest in life. For his sake, I know you will strive to bear bravely a trial, the bitterness of which he fully appreciates. And Rose, I must beg of you not to attempt to express to Mr Aslatt your sense of indebtedness. He feels a morbid shrinking from hearing such words from your lips, and has implored me —in case I ever revealed to you the secret of your early life, as I have been led to do this evening to assure you that you are under no great obligation to him, for he considers that he has been fully repaid for what he has done for you by the happiness your companionship has given him.' 1 But I cannot bear to go on receiving so much from him, and yet give no expression to my gratitude,' said Rose. 'You cannot do otherwise,' I replied; 'unless you wish to make him very unhappy, and that would be a poor return for all his goodness. Do all you can to please him ; be as bright and cheerful as possible ; but d'* not, 1 beseech you, let him see that you labor under a sense of painful obligation to him.'

* I will do as you desire,' said Rose. ' But is there really no other way in which I can prove my gratitude ?' 'Not at present,' I replied. 'But perhaps at some future time you may be abln to give him what he will consider worth far more than all he has ever bestowed upon you ; but it would not be acceptable to him if it proceeded only from the promptings of gratitude.' 'I do not understand you,' said Eose, though her cheek flushed. ' Perhaps you may some day,' I answered. ' But now, darling, you must be still, and not talk any more, else I am afraid you will not be so well to-morrow.'

I had hard work to persuade her to be quiet, and though after a time she refrained from talking in obedience to my repeated injunctions. I could see her thoughts were dwelling on the communication I had made to her. Only good results, however, followed from the excitement of that evening. There was a tinge of pink on Rose's delicate cheek the next day; her countenance was brighter, and her manner more animated than we had seen it for some time. Mr Aslatt was delighted at the change, and encouraged by it, he began to talk to Rose of the plans he had formed for taking her to Italy as soon as she felt strong enough to travel. Ho was overjoyed to find that she made no objection to his proposal, but even entered cheerfully into his plans, and declared that she should be quite ready to start in the course of a few weeks. And so it proved, for she gained strength with a rapidity which showed the truth of the doctor's words, that she only needed to be roused in order to get well. We started for the continent at the end of October. It was thought that residence abroad during the winter months would promote Rose's restoration to health, and afford that diversion of mind which was so desirable after the trying experience she had passed through. The result was most sat;sfactory. 'I here was no return of the apathetic melancholy which had been so distressing tt witness; and her enjoyment of the various entertainments her kind friend provided for her was unassumed 1 began to hope that, after all, her attachment to Mr Hammond had not been very deep, but merely a romantic fancy, kindled by the thought of, his misfortunes, and fanned iDto a flame by the breath of opposition. A thousand little incidents strengthened this conviction of mine. Every day it became evident that Rose was learning to appreciate her guardian's character more highly than she had done before. She took a growing delight in his society, and indeed never seemed quite at ease if he were absent. When in the spring we returned to England, Rose's health and spirits had so comp'etely returned, that she appeared little different from the radient girl whose loveliness had charmed me when I first looked at her, save that her manner was gentler, being marked by a winning humility and patience which her former bearing had lacked. I did not long remain at Westwood Hall in the capacity of Rose's companion, though I have frequently visited it since as her friend. One day soon after our return from Italy, she came to me with a bright and blushing countenance, and whispered that she had something to tell me. I had lit'.le doubt what the secret was, and could therefore help Rose out wi'h her confession, that Mr Aslatt had ahked her to be his wife, and that she had consented, though with some reluctance, caused by a, sense of her unworthiness. I I could not do otherwise,' she said, ' whim he told me that the happiness of his future lifedepmded upon my answer; though I know how little I deserve the love ho bestows upon me.' ' But Rose,' I said, anxious to be relieved of a painful doubt, ' you have not, I trustj, been led to a decision coutrary to the dic«

tates of your heart? You know nothirg would be further from Mr Aslatt's desire than that you should sacrifice your own inclinations from a mistaken notion of his claims upon you. He would not be happy if he thought you had only consented that you might not make him unhappy, and not because your own happiness would be promoted by the union.' 'I know that,' murmured Rose, as her cheek took a deeper tint; but it is net so. I feel very differently towards Mr Aslatt from what I did when you first knew me. I think him the best and noblest of men, and I shall be proud and happy to be his wife; only I wish I were more worthy of him. Oh, Miss TSygrave ! I cannot tell you how ashamed I fe. 1, when I think of the infatuation which led me to deceive so kind a friend, or how iatensely thankful I am that you saved me from a wicked act which would have caused unspeakable misery for us both! I pity poor Mr Hammond, and forgive him for the injury he so nearly inflicted upon me ; but I must confess to you that I never really had such confidence in him or cared for him, as I now care for and trust the one whose love I have slighted and undervalued so long.' It only remains to add that shortly after that terrible scene at the Priory Mr Hammond disappeared, and it was thought, went abroad ; but of him and his wretched wife not a scrap of intelligence has ever reached us.