LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2055, 24 September 1880, Page 3

LITERATURE.

They wondered what she would be like —the new cousin who was coming to Bedwood.

• I believe she is called Mab,’ said Papa Reed, * I think she was named Mabel. She is abont seventeen, and has been at school for the last six years. She has no home, now that her grandfather is dead, and mad come to ns. More than that I cannot tell you, girls. Whether she is tall or short, dark or fair, pretty or ugly, I cannot say. I never saw her in my life.’ So Bell and Gerty wondered. All their lives they had lived very quietly at Redwood, hiving no companions of their own age, educated by private teachers, and never having been five miles from the spot white they were first bom. 1c was no wonder, therefore, that they thought curiously of this unknown cousin, born on the sea, who had g.ne abroad as a child, whose home had been among the White Mountains, who had spent to many years at school, and could remember no mother.. * She must be very lonely,’ said gentle Gerty, * bhe must know a great deal to have travelled about so much, 1 said stately Bell. They were tall, graceful, soft-eyed girls, having much sweetness of nature, and a singular, delicate beauty, inherited from their mother ; and after awhile they came to the conclusion that Mab, being a maternal cousin, looked like themselves. ‘ I hope she likes music,’ said Gerty, ‘and sings.’ ! ‘ I wonder if she embroiders, and can do fancy work ?’ added Bell. • I am told that she is very highly accomplished,’ said Mrs Reed, thoughtfully, * but so are you, my dears.' Life e most mothers, she hoped that the unknown cousin would not prove a rival to her own charming girls. And yet she was prepared to love the orphan and be very kind to her. * It will be evening when they get here. I hope the open grate and the lights will make the rooms look pleasant and homelike to James’ daughter,’ said Mrs Reed. Gerty practised, and Bell embroidered Parma violets, until the clock struck seven when they heard wheels upon the drive and rushed to the door. It was dark, bnt by the light of the carriage lamps they saw Mr Reed hand to the ground a petite, dainty figure, so smalt as to be childlike ; but there was the grace and confidence of a princess in the air of the girl as she gathered np her rich travelling dress and turned to the door. Mr Reed came up the steps at her side. * This is Mab, my dears. Come right in to the fire. It is a chilly night.’ In a moment they found themselves all together within the luxurious parlor, and Mab heard the gentle tones of her aunt and cousins. They took her wraps, and she stood revealed among them, a delicate little creature, yet with a strange air of complete self possession. ‘Thank yon. I have not suffered from the weather. I am very comfortable,’ she said ; yet there was a coldness, or something akin to it, in the silvery sweet voice, and Ball and Gerty instantly conceived the i lea that she was a great deal older than themselves. She was seventeen, she said, and was very glad to have left school, and thought Redwood would be vary pleasant Gradually, the soft solicitude which had filled Mis lleed’a face gave way to a look of gravity and trouble. Mab was so utterly different from her own timid, confiding girls that she began to feel at a loss with her. Ar din less than half an hour. Bill and Gerty were conscious of a feeling of disappointment. At length came the hour of retiring. ‘I will give yon a bedroom adjoining your cousins,’ Mab,’ Mrs Reed said, ‘so that you may not feel lonely ; and if you need anything in the night, be sure to speak,’ Tor an instant she fancied a grateful look in the long-lashed blue eyes, but the cool, silvery voice was unaltered, snd thinking herself mistaken, she contented herself with .a gentle good night, and saw Mab go away with her cousins. * I declare I haven’t kissed her. I wonder if she cares for one among n-i ?’ said Mrs Beed to her husband. • She is a very self-possessed youngjlariy, »nl and tomehow seems to hold me at arm’s length.’ ‘ She is quite pretty and well-bred. You’ll like her, I’ve no doubt, when you get better acquainted.’ Upstairs, Gerty had said to Mab—- • Shall I help yon undress ? Perhaps you would like to have me, if yon are very ti;od. I often help mamma and Ball.’ Mab declined, politely; bnt her eyes dwelt an instant on the lovely face of her cousin with a look of wonder. Something hard and glittering she placed on the dressing table by the bed Gerty turned pale. • A pistol!’ she faltered, involuntarily. ‘Yes. Are you afraid? You need not be,’replied Mab. ‘I have been forced to travel a great deal alone, and I find it is safer to c»rry one,’she a;ded, quickly unthreading her brown braids, • I would not touch one for the world. I don’t think we ever had one in the house before,’ answered Gerty. She saw Mab look the pistol in a drawer be’ore she went to bed. The next morning she reported the incident to her mother. ‘What a strange girl!’ exclaimed Mrs Reed. She was forced to repeat the ejaculation many times during the next three mouths Mab did net care for embroidery. She sang and played magnificently. She also rode horseback, could drive two horses, a-.d liked to take long, lonely walks over the hills. She was faultlessly polite and pleasant, and seemed to like her c meins; .but there was, somehow, a shadow between her and them, Ball sai l. They did not get on well or talk together, and their tastes did not seem congenial—even in music. Mab seemed sometimes to delight in m’nor a’ra, and even played dirges open, until they would beg her to desist. There was soineth'ng passionate and forceful in her nature utterly unknown to her gentle, dovelike cousins. Mrs Reed fe’t this vaguely, though not quite understanding is, and wondered what she should do to win the orphan’s heart. It was a singularly happy homo, full of love and refinement. Mrs R?ed had the pleasure of feeing that, under her kind core, Mab gained in health and flesh, and actually seemed larger than on her arrival at Bed wool, while eho had quite abandoned her solitary walks and rides, and oftnnr sought thrir united society of her own free will.

I It was just after Christmas, and Mah had seemed strangely touened by the numerous gifts she received, when Mr Reed found it necessary to leave home for a few days. The coachman and his wife, who was the cook, had gone to a funeral, and only one domestic—a timid German girl—remained with the ladles. ‘I do not like to be left so,’said Mre Ef>sd, ‘ because we always have money and valuables in the house. ’ Mab’s small, proud head was lifted quickly from her book. ’ Do yon really think there is any danger. Aunt Gertrude? ’ ‘I suppose there is some,’ said Mrs Beet, reluctantly, ‘ One of our neighbors wa« robbed last Fall. Our house is Isolated by the grounds, and we are known to be in good circumstances. Will you be kind enough to go around and see if the outside dmra ore locked, Mab ? Qretehen is so mi-erah'e! ’ It was twilight as Mab made the round of the large, rich house. feveral doms, which she found unfastened, she looked, and suddenly stopping in the front hall, looked about her with a suspicious air. Then ste cime into the library, where her aunt was writing a letter. ‘ Aunt Gertruda, has any one called at the house to-day who smokes cigars ? ’ ‘No ’ ‘I think I can smell cigar smoke in the hall ’ * You must he mistaken, my dear. It is probably the broiled meat w;ioh Grctohea burned at supper.’ Mab smiled faintly as she sat down again to her book. Her senses were all ve r y flue and keen ; it was impossible that she should be mistaken. She left the library room, and wont carefully all over the house, coming back to her bonk but not to read. When her cousins went np to their room she went with them. She sat by the open fire for a few moments, then quietly remarked—- ■ Gerty, 1 would like to sleep with Bell to-night. It seems lonesome in my room, now that nnelo has gone.’ Gerty looked her surprise, but answered ‘ You can just as well, can’t she, Bell ? I will go down and sleep with mamma. I meant to have proposed it to her, but forgot.’ In a moment Gerty, envelop'd in a wrapper, had ran downstairs. Mah went into her own room, and came back with a. magazine. ‘ Don’t you want to enjoy the fire a little while, Bell ? Sit down here, and I wiJ read you a story.’ Mab was a very beautiful reader, and Bell eagerly acquiesced. They were soon occupied with the book, and presently the clock had * truck el,ven, and the entire silence of tho house told that all were deeo in slumber. ‘ Dj you like the story ?’ asked Mafc. * v ea ; and I think I neve- heard you read so beautifully, Mab,’ Bell replied For she had been struck by an unusual clearness and steadiness in her cousin’s voice ; when Mab leaned f -.rsvaid and laid a written slip of paper upm her lap. In silent surprise, Beil took it up. It read, in pencil: ‘There is a thief under the bed. Do not make any noise, but trust me. ’ As Reli raised her eyes, blind with terror, she saw Mab draw her little, guttering p : sioi from her bosom, and walk towards the bed. She stopped before it. * Como out!’ she called, in a clear, resolute voice. ’ Come out from your hidingplace, or I will shoot you in it! ’ One thrilling instant there was silanes ; then a stir under the bed betokened, without doubt, a presence there. In a moment, a brutish yonng fellow crawled from under the bed, and stood, trembling, before the steadily-presented revolver. 'Don’t shoot mol’ he whimpered. ‘I didn’t mean to hurt nobody, an’ wanted, money bad.’ ' Take yourself downstairs without miking the least noise.’ Mab responded, advancing upon him with the revolver, and closely following the young man d iwn tho thicklycarpeted stairs. She closed the front door upon him, remarking, at the last; ‘Ever attempt this again, and you will not get off so easily ! ’ Bell met, on her return, Mah’s blue eyes, glittering, her cheeks burning, *He has gone,’ she said ; * and no ore has been disturbed or alarmed, 1 when the or lor suddenly faded from her face, and she sank into the easy-chuir she had just left, whits and helpless. ' Oh. Mab —dear, dear Mib—don’t faint 1 3 cried Bell, in a terrified wlfisper, clinging about her. But poor Mab, her delicate strength all spent, lav as if deid, and in spite of hsiseli Bell felt forced to call her mother. Bravely imitating Mab’s self-control, she revealed nothing but the fact that Mab was in a f»int; and Mrs Reed, accustomed to sickness, devoted herself to Mab’s restoration without alarm. The latter soon recovered, and, folding the girls tenderly in their be 1, Mrs Heed gave *. few last directions and warnings, aid stole back, satisfied, to her warm couch. Bell, for the first time in her life, stole caressing arms about: her cousin, and Mob returned the embrace. Bell was filled with wonder at Mat’s character, and Mab—a strange sweetness stole over her as she rested in the gentle embraoe. It was nearly daylight before the two slept. Mr Heed came home early, and they were called, at lest, to a late breakfast. ' What do those pale cheeks mean ?’ he cried, in wonder. And then Bell could be no Jo-ger restrained. To the amrz ;ment of thereat o£ the family the whole truth was told. Mr Reed caught the small form of Man in his arms, and, as if she hod been his own girl, drew her down to his knee, and looked searchingly into her pale countenance. ' You, child ?’ he said. ' How dared you ?’ ' Vncle Godfrey, I knew there might be terrible work if I did not,’ answered Mibi earnestly. ‘But a thief is most always a. coward, ain’t he? Yet a brave robber is conquered by a revolver. I was ready to kill him on the spot rather than bo shouid hurt one cf yon. Oh, uno’e, Aunt Gertinde. giva - yon don’t know what you are to me ! I never was loved and cherished before. I can’t remember my mother, and no one else has ever loved me. I seem to yon small and young, but from a child my heart has grown old in breaking for aff c'ion. And t cared so much for it that I could not make light friendships, like other girls. I have always ben alone; and I have tried to do without love and be brave and useful in the world. Do you understand ? Why, 1 never in all my life have known auj thing like your thoachtfulness, your little attentions, your glad pride in each other, your unselfishness Aunt Gertrude do you remember the night you rubbed my feet in your warm bands, when I came from riding? I went to bed and cried, yet I tried to keep mvseif from loving you. On- 10, do you remember tha chamois jacket you brought me, lest I should take c >ld skating ? No one ever thought of my health before, since I can. remember. .Do tlusc seem little things to you ? Oh, they hwa been so much to me. And now that I have told you all, perhaps you will and do love me a litt e, for I love you. I love you all dearly I ’ and the poor child broke down in passionate crying. They gathered about her, weeping, too, and bestowed upon her kisses and caresses enough even to satisfy her hungry heart. Her Annt Gertrude must needs take bar right in her lap, and when all were oa’mer, M»b began to tell more about the strange story. ‘ I knew I was not mistaken in smelling cigar smoko ; I 1 ev;r am deceived in odore. And tho more I ti ought of it, tfce more sore I was that something wes wrong I could smell it, too, in the chambers, and I became certain that there was an intruder concealed somewhere on the floor. I knew I must do something ; I have bseu used to emergencies, and had confidence in m 3 self; bull seamed to so little time. The evening flow «ray before I had deoid -d what to dc. Bnt when I wont upstairs with the girls, I began to understand, for I saw a mau’s feat under the bed. I got Gerty to go down, and kept Bill with me, because she waa les nervous —had more composure than Gerty. Bell, I did not know a word I was reading fro ti that magazine. I was on’ y remembering to read steadily, while I thought what it was best to do. I dii not want to frigbtec yon, Annt Gertruda.’ Her aunt kissed fcer nkoethiice. ‘You are a strange girl, Mab} has thaat heaven jou are what you are! ’