ISHMAEL

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 481, 18 June 1890, Page 6

ISHMAEL

IN THE DEPTHS. BT j MRS EMMA D. E. N. SOUTHWORTR Author of "Self-Raised.” "Fair Play.” “Till Missing: I-ride," "A Noblo Lord,” "How He Won Hor,” "The Prince of Dpjkness,” “ Tried for Her Life.” Etc.. Etc. CHAPTER LXIII. THE BRIDE-ELECT. She stands up her full height, With her rich dress flowing round her And her eyes as fixed and bright As the diamond stars that crown her,— An awful, beautiful sight. Beautiful ? Yes, with her hair So wild and her cheeks so flushed.! Awful? Yes, for there In her beauty she stands hushed By the pomp of her own despair. Meredith. It had fallen, then ! It had fallen—the crushing blow ! Claudia was betrothed to the viscount! He might have been, as everyone else was, prepared for this ! But he was not! For he knew that Claudia was perfectly conscious of his own passionate love for her, and he knew that she loved him with almost equal fervour. It is true his heart had often been wrung with jealousy when seeing her with Lord Vincent ; yet even then he had thought that her vanity only was infce-e" ted in receiving the attentions of the viscount; and he had trusted in her honour that he believed would never permit her. while loving himself, to marry another, or even give that other serious encouragement. J.t is true also that he never breathed his love to Claudia, for he knew that to do so would be an unpardonable abuse of his position in Judge Merlin’s family, a flagrant breach of confidence, and a fatal piece of presumption that would ensure bis final banishment from Claudia’s society. So he had struggled to control his passion, seemg also that Claudia strove to conquer herself, and though no words passed between them, each knew by secret sympathy the state of the other’s mind. But lately, since liis brilliant success at the bar and the glorious pi’ospect that opened before him, he had begun to hope that Claudia, conscious of their mutual love, would wait for him only a few short years, at the end of which he would be able to offer her a position not unworthy even of Judge Merlin’s daughter. Such had been his splendid ‘ castle in the air.’ But now the thunderbolt had fallen and his castle was in ruins. Claudia, whom he had believed to be, if not perfectly faultless, yet the purest, noblest and proudest among women ; Claudia, his queen, had been capable of selling herself to be the wife of an unloved man for the price of a title and a coronet—a breath and a bauble ! Claudia had struck a fatal blow, not only to his love for her, but to his honour of her ; and both love and honour were in their death-throes! Anguish is no computer of time. He might have sat there half-an-hour or half-a-day, he could not have told which, when he heard the voice of his kind friend calling him. ‘ Ishmael ? Ishmael, my lad ! where are you, hoy ? Come to me !’ * Yes, yes, sir, I am coming,’ he answered, mechanically. And like one who has fainted from torture and recovered in bewilderment, he arose and walked down to the study. Some blind instinct led him straight to a chair that was sitting with its back to the window ; into this he sank, with his face in the deep shadow. Judge Merlin was walking up and down the floor, with signs of disturbance in his looks and manners. A waiter with decanters of brandy and wine, and some glasses, stood upon the table. This was a very unusual thing. ‘ Well, Ishmael! it is done ! my girl is to be a viscountess ; but I do not like it; no, I do nob like it!’ Ishmael was incapable of reply; but the judge continued : ‘lt is not only that I shall loss her, utterly lose her, for her home will be in another hemisphere, and the ocean will roll between me and my sole child—it is not alboa ether that—but, Ishmael, I don’t like the fellow; and I never did and never can !’ Here the judge paused, poured out a glass of wine, drank it, and resumed : ‘And I do not know why I don’t like him ! that is the worst of it! His rank is, of course, unexceptionable, and indeed much higher than a plain republican like myself has a right to expect in a son-in-law ! And bis character appears to be unquestionable ! He is a good-looking, wellbehaved, intelligent, and well - educated young fellow enough, and so I do not know why it is that I don’t like him ! But I don’t like him, and that is all about it!’ The judge sighed, ran his hands through his grey hair, and continued : ~ ‘ II I had any reason for this dislike ; if I could find any just cause of offence in him ; if I could put my hand down on any fault of his character:—l could then Bay to my daughter—“ I object to this man for your husband upon this account,” —and then I know that she would not marry him in direct opposition to my wishes 1 But you see I cannot do anything like this, and my objection to the marriage, if I should objected to it, would appear to be caprice, prejudice, injustice— ’ He sighed again, walked several times up and down the floor in silence, and then once more resumed his monologue : ‘ People will soon be congratulating me on my daughter’s very splendid marriage! Congratulating me ! Good Heaven, what a mockery! Congratulating me on the loss of my only child, to a foreigner, whom I half dislike and more than half suspect —though without being able to justify either feeling! What do you think, , Ishmael? Is that a subject for congratulation ? But, good Heaven, boy ! what is the matter with you? Are you ill?’ he suddenly exclaimed, pausing before the young man and noticing for the first time the awful pallor of his face and the deadly collapse of his form.’ . * Are you ill, my dear boy ? speak!’ ‘Yes, yes, I am ill!’ groaned Ishmael. ‘■Where? where?’ * Everywhere •’ The judge rushed to the table and poured out a glass of brandy and brought it to him. But the young man, who was habitually and totally abstinent, shook his head. ‘Drink it! drink it!’ said the judge, offering the glass. But Ishmael silently waved it off. * As a medicine, you foolish fellow ! As a medicine ! You are sinking, don’t you know?’ persisted the judge, forcing the gloss into Ishmael’B band. Ishmael then placed it to his lips and swallowed its contents. The effect of this draught upon him, unaccustomed aR he was to alcoholic stimulants, was instantaneous. The brandy .diffused itself through his chilled, sinking

and dying frame, warming, elevating and restoring its powers. ‘ This is the fabled “ elixir of life.” I did not believe there was such a restorative in the world !’ said Ishmael. sitting up and breathing freely under the transient exhilaration.

‘To be sure it is, my boy !’ said the judge, heartily, as he took the empty glass from Ishmael’s band and replaced it on the waiter. ‘ But what have you been doing to reduce yourself to this state?—sitting up all night over some perplexing case, as likely as not.’ ‘No.’

* But I am sure you overwork yourself. You should not do it, Ishmael! It is absurd to kill yourself for a living, you know.’

‘I think, Judge Merlin, that, as you are so Boon about to leave Washington, and as there is so little to do in your office, I should be grateful if you would at once release me from our engagement and permit me to leave your employment,’ said Ishmael, who felt that it would be to him the most dreadful trial to remain in the house and meet Claudia and Vincent as betrothed lovers every day, and at last witness their marriage.

The judge looked annoyed and then asked :

‘ Wow, Ishmael, why do you wish to leave me before the expiration of the term for which you were engaged ?’ And before Ishmael could answer that question, he continued : * You are in error as to the reasons you assign. In the first place, lam not to leave Washington as soon as I expected ; as it is arranged that we shall remain here for the solemnisation of the marriage, which will not take place until the first of July. And in the second place, instead of there being but little to do in the office, there will be a great deal to do—all Claudia’s estate to be arranged, the viscount’s affairs to be examined, marriage settlements to be executed— (I wish it was the bridegroom that was to be executed instead), letters to be written, and what not! So that you see I shall need your services very much. And besides, Ishmael, my boy, I do not wish to part with you just now, in this great trial of my life; for it is a great trial to me, Ishmael, to part with my only child, to a foreigner whom I dislike and who will take her across the sea to another world. I have loved you as a son, Ishmael! And now I ask you to stand by me in this crisis—fori do nob know how I shall bear it! It will be to me like giving her up to death !’ Ishmael arose and placed his hand in that of his old friend. His stately young form was shaken by agitation, as an oak tree is by a storm, as he said : * I will remain with you, Judge Merlin ! I will remain with you through this trial ! But oh ! you do not know ! you cannot know how terrible the ordeal will be to me !’

A sudden light of revelation burst upon Judge Merlin’s mind ! He looked into that agonised young face, clasped that true hand and said:

‘ls it so, my boy? Oh, my poor boy, is it indeed so ?’

* Make some excuse for me to the family below ; say that I am not well, for that indeed is true ; I cannot come into the drawing room this evening !’ said Ishmael. And he hastily wrung his friend’s hand and hurried from the room, for after that one touch of sympathy from Claudia’s father, he felt that if he had stayed another moment he should have shamed his manhood and wept! He hurried up into his little room to strive, in Bolitudo and prayer, with his great sorrow. . ‘ , Meahwnile tHe judge Look Up his hat for a walk in the open air. He had not seen his daughter since he had given his consent to her betrothal. And he felt that as yet he could not see her. He wished to subdue his own feelings of pain and regret before meeting her with the congratulations which he wished to offer.

‘ After all,’ he said to himself, as he descended the stairs, ‘ after all, I suppose, I should dislike any man in the world who should come to marry Claudia ; so it is nob the viscount who is in fault ; but I who am unreasonable ! Bub Ishmael! Ah, poor boy ! poor boy ! Heaven forbid Claudia if she has had anything to do with this ! And may Heaven comfort him, for he deserves to be happy !’ Judge Merlin walked about, reasoning with himself all day ; but he could not walk off his depression of spirits, or reason away his misgivings.

He returned home in time to dress for dinner. He crept up to his chamber with a wearied and stealthy air, for he was still dispirited and desirous of avoiding a meeting with his daughter. He made his toilet and then sat down, resolved nob to leave his chamber until the dinner-bell rang, so that he should run no risk of seeing her until he met her at dinner, where of course no allusion would be made to the event of the morning. He took up the evening paper, that lay upon the dressing-table by some chance, and tried to read. But the words conveyed no meaning to his mind.

‘ She is all I have in this world !’ he sighed as he laid the paper down. * Papa ! ’

He looked up. There she stood within his chamber-door ! It was an unprecedented intrusion ! There she stood in her rich evening dress of purple moire-antique, with the bandeau of diamonds encircling her night-black hair. Two crimson spots like the flush of hectic fever burned in her cheeks, and her eyes were unnaturally bright and wild, almost like those of insanity. ‘ Papa, may I come to you ? Oh, papa, I have been waiting to speak to you all day : and it seems to me as if you had purposely kept out of my way. Are you displeased, papa ? May I come to you now ?’ He opened bis arms and she came and threw herself upon his bosom, sobbing as if her heart would break.

* What is the matter, my darling ?’ ‘ Are you displeased, papa ?’ ‘ No, no, my darling ! Why should Ibe ? How could Ibe so unreasonable. But—do you love him, Claudia ?’ * He will be an earl, Dapa.’ * Are you happy, Claudia ?’ ‘ I shall be a countess, papa !’ ' Bub—are you happy, my dear, I ask you ?’ Happy ? Who is ? Who ever was V ‘ Your mother and myself were happy, very happy, during the ten blessed years of our union ! But then we loved each other, Claudia! Do you love this man whom you are about to make your husband ?’,. ‘Papa! I have consented to be his wife ! Should not that satisfy you ?’

* Certainly, certainly, my child ! Besides it is not for my rough, masculine hand to probe your heart! Your mother might do it if she wore living, but not myself!’ ‘ Papa ! bless me ! it was for that I came to you! Oh, give me your blessing before I go downstairs to—him whom I must henceforth meet as my promised husband.’ ‘ May the Lord bless and save you, my poor, motherless girl !’ he said, laying his hand on her bowed head. And she arose and without another word went below stairs.

When she entered the drawing-room she found the viscount there alone. He hastened to meet her with gallant alacrity and pressed his lips to hers, but at their

touch the colour fled from her face and did not return. With attentive courtesy Lord Vincent handed her to a seat and remained standing near, seeking to interest and amuse herwithhisconversation. Butjustasthe tete-a-tete was growing unsupportable to Claudia, the door opened and Beatrice entered. Too many times had Bee come in upon just such a tete-a-tete to suspect that there was anything more in this one than there had been in any other tor the last six months. So, unconscious of the recent betrothal of this pair, she, smiling, accepted the chair the viscount placed for her, and readily followed Claudia’s lead, by allowing herself to be drawn into the conversation. Several times she looked up at Claudia’s face, noticing its marble whiteness ; but at length concluded that it must be only the effect of late hours, and so dropped the subject from her mind. Presently the other members of the family dropped in and the dinner was served. One vacant chair at the table attracted general attention. Bub, ah < to one there that seat was not vacant; it was filled with the spectre of her murdered truth. ‘ Where is Mr Worth ?’ inquired Mrs Middleton, from the head of the table. ‘Oh ! worked himself into a nervous headache over Allenby’s complicated brief ! I told him how it would be if he applied himself so unintermittingly to business ; bub he would take no warning. Well, these young enthusiasts must learn by painful experience to modify their zeal,’ said the judge, in explanation. Everyone expressed regret except Claudia, who understood and felt how much worse than any headache was the heart-sickness that had for the time mastered even Ishmael’s great strength ; but she durst utter no word of sympathy. And the dinner proceeded to its conclusion. And directly after the coffee was served the viscount departed. Meanwhile Ishmael lay extended on his bed, clasping his temples and waging a silent war with his emotions. A rap disturbed him. * Come in.’ Powers entered with a tea-tray in his hands, upon which was neatly arranged a little silver tea-service, with a transparent white cup, saucer and plate. The wax candle in its little silver candlestick that sab upon the tray was the only light, and scarcely served bo show the room. Ishmael raised himself up just as Powers put the tray upon the stand beside jhe bed. ‘ Who has had the leisure to think of me this evening ?’ thought Ishmael, as he contemplated this unexpected attention. Then, speaking aloud, he inquired : * Who sent me these, Powers?’ ‘ Miss Middleton, sir; and she bade me say to you that you must try to eat; and that it is a great mistake to fast when one has a nervous headache, brought on by fatigue and excitement, and that the next best thing to rest is food, and both together are a cure,’ replied the man, carefully arranging the service on the stand. ‘I might have known it,’ thought Ishmael, with an undefined feeling of self-re-proach. ‘ I might have known that she would not forgec me, even though I forgot myself. What would my life be at home without this dear little sister? Sweet sister, dear sister ! Yes, I will follow her advice ; I will eat and drink for her sake, because I know she will question Powers and be disappointed if she finds that I have not done justice to this repast.’ ‘ Will you have more light, sir ?’ asked the footman.

‘No, no, thank you,’ replied Ishmael, rising and soating himself in a chair beside the stand.

The tea was strong and fragrant, the cream rich, the sugar crystalline, and a single cup of the beverage refreshed him. The toast was crisp and yellow, the butter fresh, and the shavings of chipped beef crimson and bender. And so, despite his heartache and headache, Ishmael found his healthy youthful appetite stimulated by all this. And the meal that was begun for Bee’s sake was finished for his own.

‘ Your head is better now, I hope, sir?’ respectfully inquired Powers, as he prepared to remove the service. ‘ Much, thank you. Tell Miss Middleton so, with my respects, and say how grateful I feel to her for this kind attention.’

* Yes, sir.’ ‘ And, Powers, you may bring me lights now.’

‘ Yes, sir.’

And a few minutes later, when Powers had returned with two lighted candles and placed them on the table, Ishmael, who lenew that nob an overtasked brain but an undisciplined heart was the secret of his malady, set himself to work as to a severe discipline, and worked away for three or four hours with great advantage ; for, when at twelve o’clock, he retired to bed, he fell asleep and slept soundly until morning. That is what work did for Ishmael. And work will do as much for anyone who will try it. It is true in the morning he awoke to a sense of woe ; bub the day had also its work to discipline him. Ho b-eakfasted with Bee and her father and the judge, who were the only members of the family present at the table ; and then he went to the City Hall, where he had an appointment with the District Attorney. That morning the engagement between Lord Vincent and Claudia was formally announced to the family circle. And Bee understood the secret ot Ishmael s sudden illness. The marriage was appointed to bake place on the first of the ensuing month, and so preparations for the event were at once commenced. Mrs Middleton and Claudia went to New York to order the wedding outfit. They were gone a week, and when they returned, Claudia, though much thinner in flesh, seemed to have recovered the bloom that had been frightened away by the viscount's first kiss.

The great responsibility of the home preparations fell upon Bee. The house had to be prepared for visitors ; not only for the wedding guests; but also for friends and relatives of the family, who were coming from a distance and would remain for several days. For the last mentioned, new rooms bad to be made ready, And all this was to be done under the immediate supervision of Beatrice. As on two former occasions, Miss Merlin called in the aid of her three favourite ministers—Vourienne, Devizac and Dureezie.

On the morning of the last of June Vourienne and his assistants decorated the dining-room. On the evening of the same day Devizac and his waiters laid the table for the wedding breakfast. And then the oom waß closed up until the next day. While the family took their meals in their small breakfast-room.

During the evening, relatives from a distance arrived and were received by Bee, who conducted them to their rooms.

By this inroad of visitors Bee. herself, with the little sister who shared the bed, were driven up into the attic to the plain spare room next to Ishmael’s own. Here, early in the evening, as he sab at his work, be could hear Bee, who would not neglect little Lu for anything else in the world, rocking and singing her to sleep.; And Ishmael, too, who had just laid down his pen because the waning light no longer enabled him to write, felt His gieat trouble soothed by Bee’s song.

CHAPTER LXIV. CLAUDIA S WOE. I I Ay, lady, here alone You may think till your heart is broken, V Of the love that is dead and done. Of the days that with no token, For evermore are gone. Weep, if you can. beseech you! There’s no one by to curb you : His heart cry cannot reach you : Hi 3 love will not disturb you: Weep—what can weeping teach you? Meredith. Sitting within the recess of the dormer window, soothed by the gathering darkness of the quiet, starlight night, and by the gentle cadences of Bee’s low, melodious voice, as she sang her baby-sister to sleep, Ishmael remained some little time longer, when suddenly Bee’s song ceased, and ho heard her exclamation of surprise: ‘ Claudia ! You up here, and already dressed for dinner! How well you look ! How rich that maize-coloured brocade is, and how elegant that spray of diamonds in your hair ! I never saw you wear it before. Is it a new purchase ?’ ‘lt is the viscount’s present. I wear it this evening in his honour !’ ‘ How handsome you are, Lady Vincent! You know I do not often flatter ; but really, Claudia, all the artist in me delights to contemplate you ! I never saw you with such brilliant eyes, or such a beautiful colour

‘ Brilliant eyes! beautiful colour ! ha ! ha ! ha ! the first phrenzy, I think ! The last—well, it ought to be beautiful ! I paid ten dollars a scruple for it at a wicked French shop in Broadway ! And I have used the scruple unscrupulously !’she cried with a bitter laugh, as of self-scorn.

‘ Oh, Claudia ! rouged !’ said Bee, in a tone of surprise and pain. ‘ Yes, rriuged and powdered ! why not ? Why should the face be true when the life is false ! Oh, Bee—’ she suddenly broke forth in a wail of anguish— 4 lay that child down and listen to rne ! I must tell some one, or my heart will break !’ There was a movement, a low, muffling, hushing sound, that told the unwilling listener that Bee was putting her baby sister in the bed. Ishmael arose with the intention of leaving his room and slipping out of hearing of the conversation that was nob intended for his ears ; but utterly overcome by the crowding emotions of his heart, he sank back in his chair. He heard Bee return to her place. He heard Claudia throw herse IJdown on the floor by Bee’s side, and say ‘ Oh, let me lay my head down upon your lap. Bee !’

* Claudia ! dear Claudia! what is the matter with you ? What can I do for you ?’ ‘Receive my confidence, that is all! Hear my confessien. I must tell somebody, or die. 1 wish I was a Catholic and had a father confessor, who would hear me and comfort me, and absolve my sins and keep my secrets !’ ‘ Can any man stand in that relation to a woman except her father, if she is single, or her husband, if she is married?’ asked Bee.

‘I don’t know ! and I don’t care ! Only when I passed by St. Patrick’s Church, with this load of trouble on my soul, I felt as if it would have done me good to steal into one of those veiled recesses, and tell the good old father there !’

‘ You could have bold your heavenly Father anywhere.’ ‘He knows it already! but I durst nob pray to Him ! lam not so impious as that either ! 1 have not presumed to pray for a month—not since my betrothal!’ ‘ You have not presumed to pray ! Oh, Claudia !’ . •

‘ How should I dare to pray, after I had deliberately sold myself to the demon, after I had deliberately determined to sin and take the wages of sin ?’

‘ Claudia ! Oh Heaven ! You are certainly mad !’ * I know it ! bnt-the knowledge does not help me to the cure! I have been mad a month!’ Then breaking forth into a wail of woe, she cried : ‘ Oh, Bee ! I do not love that man ! I do not love him, and the idea of marrying him appals my very soul!’ ‘ Good Heaven, Claudia, then why ’ began Bee, but Claudia fiercely continued : ‘I loathe him ! I sicken at him ! His first kiss ! Oh, Bee! the cold, clammy touch of those lips struck all the colour from my face for ever, I think ! —I loathe him !’

‘ Oh, Claudia ! Claudia ! why, in the name of all that is wise and good, do you do yourself, and him, tbo, such a - terrible wrong as to marry him ?’ inquired the deeply-shocked maiden. ‘ Because! must ! Because I will! I have deliberately determined to be a peeress ot England, and 1 will be one, whatever the cost.’

‘ But oh ! have you thought of the deadly sin—the treachery, the perjury, the sacrilege, oh ! and the dreadful degradation of such a loveless marriage?’ ‘Havel thoughc of these things—these horrors? Yes! witness this tortured heart and racked brain of mine !’

* Then why ? oil ! why, Claudia, do you persevere ?’

‘ I am in the vortex of the whirlpool and cannot scop myself !’ ‘ Then let me stop you ! My weak hand is strong enough for that! Remain here, dear Claudia! Let me go downstairs and report that you are ill, as indeed and in truth you are. The marriage can be delayed and then you can have an explanation with the viscount, and break it off altogether !' ‘ And break my plighted faith ! Is that your advice, young moralist?’ ‘ There was no faith in your plighted word, Claudia ! It was veiy wrong to promise to marry a man you could not love ; but it would be criminal to keep such a promise ! Speak candidly bo his lordship, Claudia, and ask him to release you from your engagement ! My word on it he will do it.’

‘ Of course ! and make me the town talk for the delight of all who envy me !’

‘ Better be that than an unloving wife !’ ‘ No, Bee ! I must fulfil my destiny 1 And besides I never thought of turning from it ! lam in the power of the whirl' pool or the demon !’ ‘lt is the demon ! the demon that is carrying you down'into this whirlpool! And the name of the demon is Ambition, Claudia ! and the name of the whirlpool is Ruin.’

‘Yes! it is ambition that possesses my soul! None other but the sin by which angels foil would have power to draw my soul down from Heaven !— For Heaven ivas possible to me, once !’ And with these lasc words she melted into tears and wept as if the fountains of her heart were broken up and gushing through her eyes. ‘ Yes,’ she repeated in the pauses of her weeping, ‘ Heaven was possible for me once! never more ! oh ! never, never more ! Filled with the ambition of Lucifer, I have cast myself out of that Heaven. But alas ! alas ! I have Lucifer’s ambition without his strength to eu Her. ’ ‘ Claudia, dear Claudia !’ ‘Do not speak to me ! Let me speak, for I must speak or die ! It is nob only that I do not love this viscount, but, oh, Bee,’ she wailed in the prolonged bones of mnutterable woe, ‘ I love another! I love Ishmael!’

There was a sudden movement and a fall.

/ You push me from you ! Oh, cruel friend ! Let me lay my head upon your lap again, Bee, and sob out all this anguish here ! 1 must or my heart will burst! I love Ishmael! His love is the Heaven of Heaven from which Ambition has cast me down ! I love Ishmael! Oh, how much, my reason, utterly overthrown, may some time betray to the world ! This love fills my soul! Oh, more than that! it is greater than my soul 1 it goes beyond it, into infinitude ! There is light, warmth and life where Ishmael is ; darkness, coldness and death where he is not! To meet his eyes ! those beautiful, dark, luminous eyes, that seem like inlets to some perfect inner world of wiedom, love and pure joy ; —or to lay my hand in his, and feel that soft, strong, and elastic hand close upon mine—gives me a moment of such measureless content, such perfect assurance of peace, that for the time I forget all the sin and horror that envelopes and curses my life ! But to be his beloved wife ! Oh, Bee ! I cannot imagine in the life of Heaven diviner happiness than that!’ A low, half-suppressed cry from Bee. And Claudia continued:

‘ It is a love that all which is best in my nature approves ! For oh ! who is like Ishmael? Who so wise, so good, so useful ? Morally, intellectually and physically beautiful ! an Apollo ! more than that, a Christian gentleman ! He is human and yet he appears to mo to be perfectly faultless !’ There was a pause and a low sound of weeping, broken at last by Claudia, who rustled up to her feet, saying : ‘ There ! it is past !’ * Claudia,’ said Bee, solemnly, 4 you must not let this marriage go on ! to do so would be to commit the deadliest sin !’

' I have determined to commit it then, Bee.’

‘ Claudia ! if I saw you on the brink of endless woe, would I not be right in trying to pluck you back ? oh, Claudia, dear cousin, pause ! reflect— ’

‘ Bee, hush ! I have reflected until my brain has nearly burst! I must fulfil my destiny ! I must be a peeress of England, cost what it may in sin against others, or in suffering to myself !’ ‘Oh ! what an awful resolution ! and what an awful defiance ! Ah ! what have you invoked upon your head !’ ‘I know not! the curse of Heaven, perhaps !’ ‘ Claudia !’

‘ Be silent, Bee !’ ‘I must not, cannot, will not be silent! My hand is weak, but it shall grasp your arm to hold you back ; my voice is low, but it shall be raised in remonstrance with you ! You may break from my hold; you may deafen yourself to my words; you may escape me so ; but it will be to cast yourself into— ’

4 Lawyer Vivian’s “ gulf of perdition !" Is that what you mean ? Nonsense, Bee. My hysterics are over now ; my hour of weakness past; I am myself again ! And 1 feel that I shall be Lady Vincent—the envy of Washington ; the admiration of London ; the only titled lady of the republican court, and the only beauty at St. James !’ said Claudia, rustling a deep courtesy. ‘ Claudia—’ ‘ And in time I shall be Countess of Hurstmonceux, and perhaps after a while Marchioness of Banff; for Vincent thinks if the Conservatives come in his father will be raised a step in the peerage !’ ‘And is it for that you sell yourself? Oh, Claudia, how Satan fools you ! Be rational; consider:.. wKat* is. it. to be a countess, or even a marchioness ? It is “ distance lends enchantment to the view.” Here in this country, where, thank the Lord, there is no hereditary rank—no titles and no coronets these things, from their remoteness, impress your imagination, and disturb your judgment. You will not feel so in England ; there, where there are hundreds and thousands of titled personages.yourcovetedtitlewillsink to its proper level, and you will find yourself of much less importance in London as Lady Vincent than you are in Wasbingtonas Miss Merlin. There you will find how little you have really gained by the sacrifice of truth, honour and purity ; all that is best in your woman’s nature—all that is best in your earthly—yes, and your eternal life !’ ‘ Bee, have you done ?’ 'No. You have given me two reasons why I thiuk you ought not to marry the viscount; first, because you do not love him, and secondly, because you do love—some one else. And now I will give you two more reasons why you should not marry him—viz., first, because he is not a good man, and secondly, because he does not love you. There!’ said Beatrice, firmly. 4 Bee, how dare you say that! What should you know of his character ? And why should you think he does not love me?’

‘ I feel that he is nob a good man ; so do you, I will venture to say, Claudia. And I know that he marries you for some selfish or mercenary motive ; your money, possibly. And so also do you know it, Claudia, I dare to affirm.’

‘ Have you anything more to say ?’ ‘ Only this : to beg, to pray, to urge you nob to sin—not to debase yourself ! Oh, Claudia ! if loving Ishmael as you profess to do, and loathing the viscount as you confess you do, and knowing that he cares nothing for you, you still marry him for his title and his rank, as you admit you will— Claudia! Claudia! in the pure sight of angels you will be more guilty, and less pardonable than the poor lost creatures of the pavement, whose shadow you would scarcely allow to fall across your path !’ * Bee,you insult, you offend, you madden me ! If this be so—if you speak the truth —I cannot help it, and I do not care. I am ambitious ! If I immolate all my womanly feelings to become a peeress, it is as I would certainly and ruthlessly destroy everything that stood in my way to become a queen, if that were possible. ’ * Good Heavens, Claudia ! are you then really a fiend in female form ?’ exclaimed the dismayed girl. *I do not know. I may be so. I think Satan has taken possession of me since my betrothal! At least I feel that I could be capable of greatcrimesto seouregreat ends,’ said Claudia recklessly.

‘ And, oh ! Heaven ! the opportunity will be surely afforded to you if you do not repent. Satan takes good care to give his servants the fullest freedom to develop their evil. Oh, Claudia, for the love of Heaven, stop where you are ! eo no further. Your very next step on this sinful road may make retreat impossible. Break off this marriage at once. Better the broken troth better the nine days’ wonder than the perjured bride, and the loveless, sinful nuptials! You said you were ambitious. Claudia’ here Bee’s voice grew almost inaudible from intense passion— ‘ Claudia ! you do not know—you cannot know what it costs me to say what I am about to say to you now ; but—l will say it: You love Ishmael. Well, he loves you—ah ! far better than you love him, or than you are capable of loving any one. For you all his toils have been endured, all his laurels won. Claudia! be proud of this great love; it is a hero's love—a poet’s love. Claudia ! you

have received much adulation in your life, and you will receive much more ; but you never have received, and you never will, so high an honour as you have in Ishmael’s love. It is a crown of glory to your life. You are ambitious ! Well, wait for him ; give him a few short years, and he will attain honours, not hereditary, but all his own. He will reach a position that the proudest woman may be proud to share; and his wife shall take a higher rank among American matrons than the wife of a mere nobleman can reach in England. And his untitled name, like that of Csssar, shall be a title in itself.’

‘ Bee ! Bee ! you wring my heart in two ! You drive me mad ! It cannot be, I tel! you ! It can never be ! He may rise l there is no doubt but that he will! But let him rise ever so high, I cannot be his wife * his wife ! horrible ! I came of a race of which all the men were brave, and all the women pure ! And he— ’ ‘ls braver than the bravest man of your race ! purer than the purest woman !’ interrupted Bee, fervently. ‘ He is the child of shame and his heritage is dishonour ! He bears his. mother’s maiden name, and she was—the scorn of his sex and the reproach of ours ! And this is the man you advise me, Claudia Merlin, whose hand is sought in marriage by the heir of one of the oldestearldoms in England, to marry ! Bee, the insult is unpardonable! You might as well advise me to marry my father’s footman ! and better, for Powers came at least of honest parents !’ said Claudia, speaking in the mad, reckless, defiant way in which those conscious of a bad argument passionately defend their point. For a few moments Bee seemed speechless with indignation. Then she burst forth vehemently :

4 lt is false ! as false as the father of falsehood himself ! When thorns produce figs, or the deadly nightshade nectarines ; when eaglets are hatched in owls’ nests and young lions spring from rat holes, then I may believe these foul slanders of Ishmael and his parents. Shame on you, Claudia Merlin, for repeating them ! You have shown me much evil in your heart to-night ; but nothing so bad as that! Ishmael is nature’s gentleman ! His mother must have been pure and lovely and loving ! his father good and wiso and brave ! else how could they have giventhissonto the world? And did you forget, Claudia, when you spoke those cruel words of him, did you forget that only a little while ago you admitted that you loved him, and that all which was best in your nature approved that love ?’

‘No ! I did not and do not forget it ! It was and it is true ! But what of that? I may not be able to help adoring him for his personal excellence ! But to be his wife—the wife of a—horrible !’

4 Have you forgotten, Claudia, that only a few minutes ago you said that you could not conceive of a diviner happiness than to be the beloved wife of Ishmael ?’

4 No ! I have nob forgotten it ! And I spoke the truth ! but that jov which I could so keenly appreciate can never, never be mine ! And that is the secret of my madness ! for lam mad, Bee ! And, oh ! I came here to-night with my torn and bleeding heart! torn and bleeding from the dreadful battle between love and pride ! came here with my suffering heart > my sinful heart if you will ! and laid it on your bosom to be soothed ! and you have taken it and flung it back in my face ! You have broken the bruised reed ! quenched the smoking flax ! humbled the humble! smitten the fallen! Oh', Bee ! you have ( been more cruel than you know ! Good-by® ! Good-bye !’ And she turned and flung herself out of the room. ‘Claudia, dear Claudia ! 0h,., for : Ve me! I did not mean to woun .* rife -- if I spoke harshly ic was becajpoc* felt for both ! Claudia ! come !’ cried Bee, hurrying after her ; but Claudia was gone. Bee would have followed her ; but little Lu’B voice was heard in plaintive notes. Bee returned to the room to find her little sister lying awake with wide-open frightened eyes. 4 Oh. Bee ! don’t do 1 and don’t let she tome bat. She stares Lu !’ 4 Shall Bee take Lu up again and rock her to sleep ?’ 4 ’Es. ’ Bee gently lifted the little one and sab down in the rocking-chair and began to rock slowly and sing softly. But presently she stopped and whispered : ' Babv !’ ‘’Es/Bee.’ ‘ Do you love cousin Claudia ?’ 4 ’Es, but she wates me up and stares me ; don’t let she tome adain, Bee.’ 4 No, I will nob; bub poor Claudia is not happy ; won’t you ask the Lord to bless poor Claudia ? He hears little children like you !’ 4 ’Es ; tell me what to say, Bee.’ . And without, another word the little one slid down upon her knees and folded h*' lands, while Bee taught the sinless chile- bo pray for the sinful woman. ■

And then she took the babe v.m'lier lap, and rocked slowly and sr- .softly until she soothed her to sleep. Then Bee arose and rustled softly about the room, making h- : simple toilet before going to the sa >n to join the guests.

(To he Continued.)