CHAPTER XXIII. THE SISTERS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 190, 17 November 1876, Page 6

CHAPTER XXIII. THE SISTERS.

Marion and her lover had settled down, after the first flash of their betrothal, "aheap like old folks," Sobriety said, as in absence came the regular letter, and when present the re 'ular visit, and always the regular newspaper, which Marion, studied with "Teat diligence. ° Rosinehad heard of the engagement in] her city home, and talked it over with Colonel Hartland, who pronounced Lei°-hton as promising a young man as he had met for years. But the busi-ness-like courtship was not to be continued unbroken; late in the*, autumn came a pressing letter from Colonel Harbland, urgin<* his friend to allow Marion to pass the winter at the east. He°was coming to St. Louis on government business, and would brin* her back with him. It was only right, he said, that she should have a tew glimpses of life before taking her place among the matrons. Mr. Benton and his wife looked at each other wistfully, as if waiting for a question, when they had read the letter. ° " What do you think of it, Lucy ? " ha said, leaning towards her, and clasping her hand in his; "it is hard, to ask your only remaining daughter." ' "It is not that alone makes me hesitate, Philip ; while I have you I can never be lonely. I am thinking separation and contact with the world might be the best test of her love for Mr Leighton." «' I have often doubted the depth and endurance of her love for hiui^ but never of his." " Perhaps it would be well to leave the decision entirely with Marion, 'said the wife; "such a visit might benefit her in many waysi and be a comfort to Rosine." " Yes," replied the father, in a tone of relief; "a winter together would be wholesome for both the girls. It is really a pity that Hartland has no daughter of his own; hi 3 son's marriage does not promise much comfort; I trust the Doctor, if he ever marries, will do better." Mrs. Benton answered only with a half-suppressed si<*h changed to a smile as Marion entered, ruddy and glowing from a sharp canter with her lover across the prairie. "O, beautiful ! glorious ! " she exclaimed, as her quick thought took in the contents of the letter her mother had put into her hand, saying, " We shall leave the answer to you, my daughter." "But can I go?" she inquired, eagerly, and'then blushingcrimson, as she met the earnest look of her father ° "Your mother and I think it best to leave the decision with you, said her father. ''Then l shall surely go," she cried, clapping her hands and running to the door to meet Mr. Leighton. « Think of it, Horatio ! a winter in . Isn't it enough to make me giddy P " v 'l A^iT g iddier '" said, in his outspoken honest way, as she stood before him. » Why will you torture me ; you know you will not go I J "But indeed I will," she replied; "look at this;" and she gave him the letter of invitation. fc All that evening he plead and reasoned to no purpose with the refractory, determined spirit of Marion ; she was not to be shaken • she even questioned his love for her, that was so selfish as to wish to keep her immured in Athlacca, when she had such an opportunity for improvement as well as enjoyment. She played the injured one, till the lover almost persuaded himself he had wronged his beloved, in wishing to keep her from what was so much for her good. " Old Cap " soon heard the news, and came "peff<nn°- it over " as he said, to search out the truth of the matter. ° " This beats all my first wife's relations I " he exclaimed, as he approached the door in which Marion and Horatio were seated, he teaching her to tie a sailor's knot. " Takin' track for the east ! he Miss ! Well, I must say it's nigh time, since you've beiuggled S^Tif- m en in these diggins; put the Doctor in J a fiver that none of his truck'll cure, I'll be bound, and made an old man XSjp^SSStoL^ii*: 8 time y- st^ed. You foil*. I " What am Itodo ? She will not take me with her," rppfcd Leigton, with an attempt to smile, while he extended one handto Rice, and in the other held the strands of the yet untied knot •'• n t ?°£ a as can ' fc "atie?" said Rice, looking quizzically at Marion. " You know thar's many a slip " The young couple blushed crimson, and the words sank deep into JJMgJtoa s heart. It was evident to himself that he did not fully trust Marion; perhaps the fervor and strength of his own affection made him more doubtful of hers. Harold was at home for a few weeks this time, a fine grown young man, nearly as tall as his father, with his mother's brown eyes, and Rosine's golden hair. He was filled with high hopes and great expectation, having chosen his profession as civil engineer, and was determined, with the strength of a powerful will, to be among the first therein. He had made warm friends in St. .Louis, and he scorned Marion's desire to go east; he never cared to see anything east but Rosine and Willie; the great growing west was his Eldorado. He turned and annoyed Marion by asking her if, when she was Mrs. Governor of Illinois, she would use her influence to give him the laying out of the railroads through the {state. A little depression came over Marion a few days before she left home, and her mother was relieved by even this symptom of heart; for it had been a surprise to her how, with the chosen object to be left behind, there should be such readiness for a separation. Horatio and Harold accompanied her on her way as far as Chicago, where they vrere to meet Colonel Hartlaud, who bj

some change of plan was to go to that city instead of St. Louis, as at first proposed, and therefore cquld not come to Athlacca. It was with, a heavy.heart Leighton returned to his now lonely | life, when the last wave of .the white Bignal disappeared with the retreating steamer. Kls energetic and untirincr nature could only he satified by constant unwavering efforts for the position he was determined to occupy. Marion -was welcomed by Colonel Bartland's family, not as a stranger, but for Rosine's sake, like one belonging to themselves ; and but few days passod, when with her pushing nature she had impressed even Mrs. Hartland with a sense of her energy and j power : to her sister she made known the state of things at Inglewood, gave her a description of Leighton, caricatured Dr. Nelson, and talked so much of herself, as to leave such an impression of her importance upon Rosine's mind, as to lead her to wonder how she could very well be spared from Atblacca. " Rosa/ she said, a little reproachfully, after noting for one week in silence, the pet ways and fond expressions of Doctor Hartland toward her sister, " I told you without reserve all about Horatio, our engagements and plans, and you have never even hinted to me that Dr. Hartland, or Ned, as he bids me call him, is a lover of yours, and that you are as good as engaged." " What possibly put that into your head ? " replied Rosine, with eyes dilated with surprise, and with, a start and almost a ■cream. *• He is old enough to be — not quite my father, as he once said, but he is fifteen years older than I, and never had a thought or dream of me except as a younger sister." " Nor you of him ? " inquired Marion, with a slight touch of sarcasm in her tone. "No," replied Rosine, hurt by the tone and the implied suspicion; "never, Hove him to be sure; how could 1 help it ? he is so kind to me, but not, in that way. Why, Marion it is absurd ! " she added eagerly. "By no means absurd," said the sister, laughing at her earnestness and evident confusion ; "he is a splendid fellow : I don't mean, handsome, though he isn't ugly; but he's so genial, funny, and sensible ; and then of course he's rich, all these years in his profession, here, and high up in it too; I wonder he has not married before ; if I were you — " " O don't sister ! " exclaimed Eosine, fearfully, putting both hands over her sister's mouth ; " don't Bay any more. I don't like to have such thoughts about him, they -would mar the freedom of ] our intercourse, and I am afraid now, I shall think of them when J we meet." i " What a funny chudjyou'are/^said Marion, putting her arm I affectionately about her waist ; "but I reckon if papa were to see you together, you might have one of his severe lectures on coquetry and flirting', such as he gave me/ " [ " Coquetry ! flirting ! " exclaimed Eosine, withdrawing a little \ from the snug embrace ; " I think they are both wicked : and I am sure this is no such thing." '< Tell me about this Miss Greenwood and her brother," said Marion, seeing how deeply she had wounded her sister, and desirous of changing the. subject. "I heard the Doctor joking you about him, when the note came to you to-day from her." RoeLne was glad of any change in the conversation, and though her feelings were smarting under the imputation of a flirt, she was still desirous to conciliate her sister, therefore she drew from her pocket the paper, questioning if she really had a right to read Dora's note to Marion. The sister observed the hesitation with which she moved, and said petulantly, " I wish I had staid at Ing Wood; you are afraid to confide in me; new friends have taken the place of old/