CHAPTER XXXU.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 284, 25 July 1888, Page 4

CHAPTER XXXU.

LOVI,. Many months have passed away 3ince wo saw Mre> Bernard and Eva together — months in which much has happened, much good and much harm. There is an old proverb • Time works wonders !' Verily, even in our narrow circle, reader, there have been changes. Once again we are in New Zea *and, at Mr Bernard's house. Mr and Mrs Bernard, Mrs Ash ford — Eva — Florence, and Herbert E&combe are all here. Poor Eva was shocked at the dreadful death of Tom Ashford - shocked, but nothing more. All that trustful love which she had felt for him had died out of her heart when ho had married again. That event had effectually cured her. Her aunt had been easily prevailed upon to give her consent to this visit to New Zealand, feeling that in so brious a climate her da-ling would be speedily quite set up again. Ot course, Eva was free to act for herself, but it it, doubtful if she would have taken the stop against her auut's wishes. Astley was purposely kept in ignorance of the proposed visit of the -isfcers to Airs Bernard. Not so much ;ib a hint had been thrown out, and special care was taken that he should gain no inkling of their arrival. As it happened, there was le^s need of precaution than they Mipposed, for ab the time of their arrival in VV f Astley was away in another part of the colony, whither he had been called on business affairs. They had shipped for Auckland, and had travelled by short stages to W , staying a tew days ab different ports and giving fictitious names, lest, by reading the shippinu notes, Astley should come upon their names. This fact caused some little amusement, bub fortunately led to no trouble. The idea of Mr Bernard travelling under an assumed name somewhat tickled oiindry old acquaintances with whom he came in contact. The object in the iir&t place was to prevent Astley acting upon of his honourable scruples by keeping out of the way, thereby inflicting needles^ torture upon himself and upon a heart that beab but for him. In the second place, they desired it to be a pleasant surpii&e for him. Fortunately for the success of their plans, they did not visit the town where Astley was. They had now been at Mr Bernard's a week, and Astley was expected to-nighfc. Our friends — Florence excepted — had been plotting that the meeting ot the two young people should be alone and free from observation, and their schemes — well laid — were rewarded with success far greater than they had expected. Mr Bernard entered cordially into the business in hand and assisted to the best of his ability. He perpetrated a small fraud upon Astley when he armed, meetinsr him in the hall, giving him a hearty welcome, and bidding him run up to Mis Bernard's boudoir, where he would find that lady — well knowing at the time that she was in his study, where he liad but that instant left her, and that Florence was alone in the boudoir. Astley divested himself of his hat and light overcoat, ran upstairs, opened the door and beheld — surely not Mrs Bernard ! ' Florence ! Oh ! my darling. My own, own love !' And as Florence rose, he clasped her to his heart in a loving embrace, straining her to him again ani again. Than suddenly releasing her, his head drooping as he recalled the past, he cried, ' What am I saying ? Forgive me, Florence. Oh ! forgive me.' Said Florence, placing her hand on his arm, ' You cannot unsay it, A«tley lam your own love,' and he again took her to him, knowing she was his own. His own ! Ab ! what ecstasy was in the thought. What unspeakable happiness, to feel that nothing could part them. She had given herself to him and he would keep her now. Thus we leave them tor the present. In that house was great rejoicing that these two were brought together again. Eva, dear soul, looked beautiful— radiantly beautiful. So Escombe thought. It was gieat happiness to her to see this — the dearest wish of her heart consummated. Does it appear strange that Escombe had grown to love Eva with all the strength of his manly heart ? Another unfortunate love ! He could nob tell it, feeling that suspicion still rested \ipon his sister as being the cause of all the trouble to her ; and though she knew not his relationship to Flora Hamilton of bitter memory, he was far too honourable to take advantage of her ignorance. He loved secretly and silently, trusting in Heaven above ifoafe events would prove his sister's innocence of any complicity in the wicked and' "shamefi.il act that .had caused misery to "30 many. He thought, too, that Eva did not- regarcf him unfavourably ; he even d*ared fo hope that she would not spurn his hand should he offer it. Though he had scrupulously avoided anything approaching a declaration of his sentiments towards her, though he had always acted towaids her as a friend — simply as a friend — he thought he had more than once noticed a tender expression in her beautiful eyes that told of a deeper and warmer feeling than mere friendly regard. Was this so ? It has been said, 'It is impossible to know a woman's heart.' Does a woman know her own heart? Eva knew this much, that she bore towards Herbert Escombe a tender regard ; but I scarcely think she knew that there existed in her heait a little spark that needed but a breath to fan it into a flame of pure, warm love. The spark was surely there— that little spark which Escombe had seen lighting up her lovely eyes, feeling that it shone there for him alone.