CHAPTER XII.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 173, 21 July 1876, Page 6

CHAPTER XII.

CAPTAIN JtABTEN COMEB HOME, AND WHAT FOLLOWED. " Thank heaven ! Captain Marten's ship is in the harbor," exclaimed Edward Hartland, as he came into dinner, addressing his father, who had just returned from his first drive with Rosine since her illness ; " the honest old sailor will put an end to the goings on of Laura with Le Compte; she is positively the town's talk." " Silly moth," replied the Colonel, " she will burn her wings this time j wont she ? " "I hope so ! " said the Doctor impatiently, looking at Rosine. " She has given so many heartaches, it is a pity she should not know how good it feels, v indeed she has any heart to ache." " It appears to me, Ned, you excite yourself very unnecessarily about Laura Marten," remarked Mrs. Hartland. "What.doyou^ care about her flirtations ? " ~ " Because I have a mother," he replied gravely, " and a sister," he added, bowing coldly to Rosine. "I cannot bear that any of their sex, especially one who has, as we may say, been one of our circle, should, be found guilty of such disgraceful conduct." " But would she marry this Le Compte/' inquired the Colonel, " even supposing marriage to be his object ? " "Marry the devil!" exclaimed his son, testily; "a pleasing prospect of repose must a woman have as the wife of such a man, with his amours and liaisons all over the country. No he'll never marry willingly. Captain Marten is a downright honest man, and hates philandering. I should not wonder if Miss Laura_were put under bonds to keep the peace." " I haven't seen Laura for more than a week," said Rosine, a* they rose from the table, making an effort toward a conversation with Dr. Hartland, which she had never been able to bring about since her illness. "It would have been better if you had never seen her," replied he, in a sharp angy tone, turning away to the window. " Ned," said the Colonel, in a voice of authority, " why do you speak so to Rosa ? See, you have brought the tears to her eyes. I have noticed your ill-natured way of speaking to her of late. Til not have it." "Rosine knows the reason very well," replied the Doctor, taking notice of bis father's anger byj word* but leavingjthe room immediately.

"Don't mind |him, darling," said the' Colonel, caressingly; "heis a crabbed fellow — a terrible early disappointment made him so." The tears dropped upon the work which she had taken up. "He shall not bring his moroseness to trouble you," he added, rising;, " and I'll tell him so." " O, please don't speak to him about it," said Rosine, drawing Colonel Havtland down by her side. "It is something in connection with Laura that makes him angry with me." "He has no right to be angry with you on any account. I'll not have such ungentlemanly conduct in my house ! " "Please don't speak to him about it, father," she pleaded, using the paternal title as a sure passport to his heart, "it will pass over soon, and he will be as kind as ever." Only a few days went by before Laura come to pour out her heart to Rosine, and to say farewell. Somebody had been to her father with the tale of her misdoings, she was sure it was Ned. At any rate, Captain Marten had insisted upon her quitting Le Compte's society at once : this she found almost impossible, as he met her everywhere. Only the day before, her father while threatening to shut her in solitary confinement, saw Le Compte pass the window, bowing and kissing his hand to her, which so exasperated the old sailor that he bade her pack and be ready for her aunt's at once, where she should stay till she could behave herself and mind her father. She had tried, again and again, she said, and wept while she said it, to be rid of the man ; she did not care for him ; Rosine knew she was faithful to Aleck ! The young girl looked up doubtingly at this assertion. " Truly I am," she reiterated. Le Compte knows of our engagement, and seems so perfectly to understand our position, that I really think it very old fogyish in my father to make such ado about nothing." She laid her head in her friend's lap and wept heartily, wished she had never seen Le Compte, was afraid of him, and yet drawn towards him. " What should she do ?" was her inquiry. Rosine begged renewedly that the secret might be made known at once to her father. " What, without Aleck to help her bear the consequences? No, never. Captain Marten would," she knew, "be more indignant than ever." Rosine summoned her moral courage for a desperate venture; her timid nature would hardly have brought her to the step, but for the counsel and blessing of Father Roberts, which she had sought during her indisposition. Weary with the long contention between her will and conscience, j she had at length submitted to rightful guidance, and given the required promise that the intimate friendship should be given up ; and now when she was ready to yield, though Laura was as dear to her as ever, Providence opened the way that made the effort she had dreaded for so many weeks comparatively easy. Once bring the rebellious will into a state of submission to known duty, and myriads of obstacles that before seemed insurmountable, take flight directly. She told Laura decidedly that she could no longer be bound by the secret ; she had sinned by her share in it, lost the Doctor's friendship, and was suspected of double-dealing, and she avowed her intention, if an opportunity offered, to tell what she knew ; she thought it would be better for Laura as well as herself. Her friend was very angry, accused her of treachery and meanness, said it was like all Catholic priests, interfering between friends. Rosine in her turn, incensed by the reflection on Father Roberts, recriminated, charging Laura with using her as an instrument to her own ends, and in a moment of time the chain of friendship was ruptured between the two.