CHAPTER XI.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1926, 8 November 1884, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XI.

V JOYFUL SURPRISE. Haying airived safely at Kinlochlinn, Charlie, with a heavy heart and anxioua mind approached his father's hou3e, when seeing no one about and the blind in his father's room drawn down, misgivings crept through his mind ; he entered the house and walked quietly up stairs to his own room, the door of which he found partly open, and which joined that of his father's. Entering cautiously for fear of disturbing his father, a sight met his gaze which compelled him to halt at the entrance. Before the mirror stood a lady arranging her hair. Standing spell-bound with the handle of the door in his hand, he wondered who it could be that had taken the liberty of using his room ; the objeot of his contemplation stood still for an instant, then turned suddenly round with a half scream, and Bella McKay and Charlie stood face to face. Notwithstanding the changes which two years had made on them, the recognition was instantaneous on both sides, and the names "Charlie" and "Bella" escaped unconsciously from their lips at the same moment. A visible change had taken place in both, but it was an undeniable improvement. Bella had now become a tall, handsomely-formed lady; her hair had taken a darker shade, and a statelineas was perceptible in all her movements, which struck the young Advocate with wonder and admiration. Charlie's looks and manners made a no less favorable impression on Bella : his former fresh color had given place to a slight paleness, his fine high forehead was stamped by the eifects of hard study : this, with a slight beard, which encircled his chin, gave him a more manly appearance. He was somewhat altered in form and stature, and was dressed in black, which added to his appearance. After looking at each other for a short time in silence and confusion, they both adjourned to the sitting-room, each taking a seat at separate windows. An unpleasant pause now took place, Charlie finding himself in the company of his former love, but now, he thought.JLady Lundy ; and Bella in the presence of her former love, but now, as she believed, her cousin's husband. Bella was the first to break the silence, by asking whether he was accompanied by Mrs. Stuart, her face being turned towards the lawn while she spoke, and her voice being husky and tremulous. Charlie, thinking he had misunderstood the question, replied, " I beg your Ladyship's pardon, I believe I have not heard you correctly, or whether yorf asked if some Mrs. Stuart accompanied me." Bella turned her streaming eyes upon him, half doubting and half believing her ears, and earnestly enquired whether he was really married to her cousin Catherine. The young Advocate at once satisfied her that he had not yet had that fortune, but in return asked his interrogator whether her noble husband, Lord Lundy, was at the castle. It was now Bella's turn to be surprised, and replied that she never had, or wished to have, the honor of receiving that title. We will not attempt to desoribe the happy meeting of the restored lovers, but rather draw a veil over the joyful scene which ensued — the many explanations, the jealousies they suffered, the anxieties of mind, and lastly, the despairing state of their feelings on seeing the articles in the newspapers which .extinguished their hopes and crowned their miseries. Solemn vows of constancy were exchanged between them that no earthly power should in future interrupt the smooth current of their love. Charlie was, however, sorry for the unin-' tentional impression he had made on the heart of Catherine Forbes, through hia partiality to her, on account of her being so like her cousin; and Bella was now made fully confident of her lover's faithfulness by his regard for her cousin, through the resemblance that existed between them. Such was the substance of their joyful union, as they sat side by side on a sofa, Charlie with one arm round Bella's tapering waist, with his other hand imprisoned in her delicate hands, drinking draughts of love from each other's eyes. Bella related to her lover without reserve, and for the first time, her long and undenying love for him ; how her father, through the

flattery of Lord Lundy, cairied her away against her will to London ; bow hia Lordship persecuted her while there with his addresses, particularly when he attained hia majority, demanding her as his bride, after gaming her uncle's intercession, which compelled her to leave at once and seek her father's protection, at who 39 feefc she flung herself, entreating his sympathy in her behalf. When her father wished to know the cause of hsr objections io Lord Lundy, she gave as an gxcubg that she had no inclination to change her, state, at least for some years to come ; and through her tears and supplications he promised his intercession. On hearing of Mr. Stuart's illness she obtained leave of her father to visit and attend on him. The day before, on finding himself getting worse, he consented to send for his son, and that day she c<une over earlier than usual, in order to writo the letter, as Mr. Stuart was unable to do so. On hearing that Mr. Stuarii was asleep, she entered Charlie's room, laid aside her bonnet and shawl, and arranged her hair. While doing so, her mind was taken up with the letter she was to writo to her former lover, but now another's. At that instant the object of her thoughts appeared before her in the glass, and, not knowing whether it was the influence of her imagination ov hia spirit, she gave the scream. (To he continued.)