LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2016, 10 August 1880, Page 3

LITERATURE.

BONNY KATE. It wn to me Kate Bay first came, to whisper in my oar the fact of her engagement to Neil Hivers. Her lips were yet warm with his kies, her cheek flashed with the crimson it pressure had brought there. Her little hand trembled in my own ; hut she hid the tell-tale face within my lap, as she half sobbed out the story of her happiness. To no one would I so soon have given my darling—my b mny Kate—and well I knew my brother (Kate’s father) would sanction aod confirm his suit. Like a troubled dream, the broken sentences falling from the girl’s lips wafted me back many years to just such a time in my own life—an hour destined to ruin and shipwreck, and memories long forgotten stirred to life, refusing to lie quiet longer in their graves, until tears, one by one, fell on the golden bowed head my hand so lovingly pressed, and I could but pray they meant no such presentment of evil for this young life. It was as I expected—my brother cave a very willing consent to the suit, only insisting that a year should elapse before its consummation. It was at this time wo received an addition to cur family. In Edith Howland's glorious beauty, Kate’s loveliness almost paled. She burst in upon ns, ore evening like some brilliant constellation we had been somewhat prepared for, inasmuch as a letter had preceded her, announcing her coming. She was a distant relative, on Kate’s mother’s side, with some Spanish blood in her veins, to which her dark eyes and rich colouring attested. Not since her childhood had she heretofore honored Danton Hall with her presence, and I wondered what freak brought her now; hut, though her host may have shared my wonderment, his hospitality was too farfamed to give it outward evidence, and. had she been a daughter of the house, she could have received no warmer welcome. Indeed, she won Kate’s heart at once ‘ Is she not lovely, auntie! ’ sho exclaimed, when she came as usual to bid mo goodnight, in my own room. 1 1 am so sorry Neil was not here to-nighc to see her,’ she added in her unconscious unselfishness. It was, indeed, an unusual thing for Neil to ba absent, and early next morning he rode over to make amends. I was present when Kate presented him to her cousin, in that moment I fathomed the reason for her coming; in that moment the distrust which had smouldered since first I had looked upon her bl-racd upward. They two had met before. In her eyes, as they rested on his face, flashed a glance of triumph; while his cheek grew pale, and in the formal bow with which he acknowledged the introduction there was none of the easy cordiality which characterised him.

I knew he had coma over for the day ; but ia about an hour—an hour of constraint and inward chafing on his part, of continued and brilliant conversation on bers be ordered hia horse, and soon rodo out of sight. 4 You did not tell me that my new cousin was to prove so handsome, Kate/ Edith said, from where she languidly reclined upon a sofa, ‘I have rarely seen a handsomer man.' Kate’s cheek flushed with the praise, and I saw the words had woven another link in the chain which bound her to the speaker. A few days after, I was entering the library one afternoon, when I caught the sound of Kate’s name, in Edith’s voice. Unconsciously It arrested my steps. 4 Have you, then, so forgotten the past that you have given this pale-faced girl my place in your heart ? Think how I must have changed to stand here and plead with you thus—plead for my own ! What else, think yon, brought me here, but the hope of seeing you face to face— ’ 4 Hush Edith—hush !’ broke in Neil’s voice, while my very h >art stood still, as I saw before me my darling Kate’s happiness trembling in the balance, and I listened eagerly (forgetting the words were not intended for my ear) for what next should follow. 4 Do not say more which will cause you only after regret. Do you forget it was yonr own hand which overthrew the temple my boyish- faith had bnilt ? I was but a college lad, and yon knew your beauty blinded me. I well remember how the day your letter came, stating you had thrown me over, I fancied my belief in woman for ever shattered. Thank Hod! it was but a boy’s love I gave you, which, rightly fostered, might have developed into stronger affections of the man —the affections which now are centered, with all the intensity of which they are capable, upon the gentle girl you cal!, cousin.’ I breathed freer. At least Neil was not unworthy. What now need I fear !’ 4 4nd you dare say this to me !’ questioned hia listener. 4 You dare boast of your love for another! Take care—take care! You may go too far 1 Neil 1’ her voice breaking, and growing tender and soft, 4 you do not mean it—you do but try me, as t tried you in that far-off time. I have never loved any man but you. What does Kate know of love—its power, its depth, its intensity ? Nothing. But lam starving at your very feet, and you deny me even a morsel.’ 4 Edith, forget what yon have said, as I forget it. What would Kate think if she could hear you ? I have told her nothing of that time except its hare fact—withholding, of course, your name. She does not even know that we have met before. When I first saw you, I divined it was your wish, and obeyed. Will you not forget the past, as I have done, and let us be friends.’ 4 Friends ’ —she fairly hissed the word—--4 friends. When I have done to you even as you have done to me, and more, then I may accept your magnanimous offer.’ I was so stunned by what I had heard that I had barely time to make my escape ere she swept from the room. Dear little Kate. I watched her with new tenderness on that evening, as I watched with new zealousness the dark, evil eyes, which from beneath their long lashes, peered vengefully forth. Was it that I felt the magnetic evil power lurking in their depths to work ill to my darling! Every day the intimacy grew between the girls. One evening, Kate came to my room, a magnificent opal flashing on her finger. 4 la it not exquisite ! ’ she said, holding it up to the light. 4 lt ia a gift from Edith. Yon cannot think how highly I prize it. She asked me if I was afraid to wear it —so many people are superstitions about opals—but I told her, as her gift, I could afford to disregard such folly.’ 4 lt ia very beautiful I answered. 4 Let me see it,’ attempting to draw it from her finger, hut she drew hack. 4 Oh, no ; I cannot. I have promised it shall never, never come off, until replaced by my wedding ring. ’ As the summer waned, a new source of anxiety arose. The health and strength which had always characterised Kate seemed in some strange, inexplicable way to desert hoc.

Each weak she grew weaker and weaker. At first we scarcely noticed it, though it sounded oddly, indeed, to hear her. who had always been the one to return unfagged from any excursion, however long or tiresome, to be the first to propose return. At last we insisted upon summoning the physician. He came, but shook his head There seemed to be no disease that he could fathom—a few weeks, the cooler weather, would bring her all right again ; but the few weeks passed, the cooler weather came, and my darling’s cheek grew paler. The ring was now much too large for the little finger it once so closely girdled. Kegarding it sadly, one day, she said : 4 1 believe the opal's evil influence ia at work, after all, Edith. Look, is it not paler! T think I have never been quite well since I have worn it ’

Was it altogether my fancy that, looking hastily up, 1 saw a flash of triumph in the dark eyes bent npon her, as the color surged upward in Edith’s cheek? Was there ground for my wild suspicion that my child’s Idle words might not be without foundation. • If yon think so, Kate, take it off, dear, ’ I interposed. « Oh, no!’ she exclaimed, laughingly. ‘ Edith and I have made a compact. J. always keep my word.’ < You surely arc not superstitious. Miss Hay,’ said Edith, But I answered nothing, only when, an hour later, I saw Neil Rtvera wending his way across the lawn, a sudden resolve flashed into my mind, which I determined should bo put into speedy execution.

The ring was to be replaced only by her wedding-ling. Then the wedding should take place at once—months earlier than we had anticipated, and Neil should take his bride to other scenes, where she might recover health and strength. I made him my ally, still not even to him trusting my da k suspicions of the opal, and found him eager an i anxious to enter into all or any -f my plans. With my brother (Kate’s father) I had a more difficult task To have his child leave him for a st’a>-ger, when she was ill and suffering, seemed hard indeed ; but I told him he might trust her to her husband, and when the doctor strengthened me, saying it was long what he had wished to propose, her father gave reluctant consrnt. I arranged then for Edith's absence for a few days, and as she found the old hall dull, and thought her plana successfully working, she was glad to go. Then we unfolded our scheme to Kate, as though it had been decided on the moment. ‘ At least, send for Edith,’ she pleaded. ‘She will think it so strange.’ * I shook my head. * There must be no excitement, darling. Neil is going away on business ’ —this was a pretext —‘and he wit) not go without you.’ I left him to fiui-h my arguments, and when 1 returned, knew he had been successful. The next day, my benny Kata was married. In my hand she placed the opal. ‘Edith bade me promise,’ she said, ‘I should give it to no one but her; but yon will see the gets it, auntie, will you not ? It must be nonsense, but;l fancy I feel better already. See how strangely my finger looks where it has been.’ I said nothing, but that day placed the ring in tho doctor's hands, saying only it had a curious history attached to it, and was supposed to be permeated by some subtle poison. ‘ I would advise you, Iciea Bay, to destroy it,’ ha said, on hii return. ‘lt conceals a deadly poison and is so arranged as to oocasionaliy imperceptibly prick the finger and let a drop mingle with the blood, producing net de >th, but weakness and disease. Who could have invented so barbarous an instrument, and how did it become into your possession! ’ I did not answer his question ; he had answered mice—that was sufficient. I awaited quietly Edith Howland's return, ‘ I will leave my brother to deal with yon,’ I said, after pouting forth my knowledge of her treachery. But she only smiled as she answered—- * In five minutes. Miss Ray, I will be ready to receive him: but believe this—l never intended to kill her ; only to show Neil how poor, and weak, and fragile was the girl he had preferred to me. I thought thus he would return to his allegiance. If I had failed in this, I would still have spared, her life.’ White and breathless with indignant horror, I led Kate’s father to the librarydoor, leaving him to meet alone one who had threatened such misery to his home ; hut my name in startled accents, recalled me. In fivo minutes, she had said, she would be ready. She spoke truth ; for she had gone for judgment before another and a higher tribunal—a Judge whose mercy equals His justice. In all her radiant beauty, she lay, cold and lifeless, and dead one slender hand grasping the empty vial, whose contents had so swiflly and so surely done their appointed work—a fitting termination to such a life.