CHAPTER XXV.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 193, 8 December 1876, Page 6

CHAPTER XXV.

COTJSIK TOM. "I wisfi we could give up the party," she said as they hurried home again ; "it does seem dreadful to think we may be so gay, when perhaps Aleck is at the same moment under fire from the Castle \ and then the money could be spent for the poor orphans." " I see," replied the Doctor, laughing, " they mean to have you among them yet ; all your thoughts are there. But tell me, did that woman give you any news from Vera Cruz P " His tone grew bitter as he spoke. " Yes, Ned," she said, without appearing to notice his manner, "she has had letters to*day, and Aleck bade her not to be anxious if she did not hear again for weeks, as the siege might commence any day," " The false woman did not tell you that Le Compte was there, wearing her poor husband, whom she so cruelly wronged, into the grave by his presence." There was no reply. Eosine was both angry and grieved, almost frightened, at the thought of Lieutenant Hartland in constant contact with Le Compte ; but she had less and less heart for the party, and was quite relieved when the Colonel said that evening, that he was sorry for the girls, but he thought he must give the matter up altogether. Marion was quite annoyed at this result, but the constant attentions of Stapleton partially satisfied her; she was always ready for a ride or a walk, or a game of chess, in which she vas such a proficient that Mr. Stapleton was led to declare in the presence of the family, that he could not have believed a woman could have played so sharp a gime. * " You are old enough," replied the Doctor, catching at his words, " to know that they play at any game better than we, good or bad. Did you ever see a man -who could flirt like a woman, or lie like a woman, or cheat like a woman, if she chooses to try her hand at these things ? " Stapleton was cowed for a moment, he was afraid of his Cousin Ned; but Marion's face burnt with crimson, and she retorted " You are dreadfully cynical, Ned. I should think your acquaintance among the ladies had not been of the best." " I have seen some pretty poor specimens," he replied slowly looking at her intently from under his raised eyebrows, and with that penetrating glance from which she shrunk. Matters went on thus through the winter; concerts, a few private dinner parties, with an occasional dance, served the younir girls for recreation. Cousin Tom made himself useful in many •ways, with his good-natured, indolent habits, and his heaps of money, and he had contrived to find it "not altogether dull," as he told his outside friends. Eosine did not divulge to her sister the failings of his past life, which the Doctor had made known to her, but she shrunk from him, and was always reserved, even when it came to be an almost every day occurrence that he dropped in after dinner and staid till late in the evening. The sisters never talked over Mr. Stapleton, though Eosine had been reminded of what Doctor Hartland had told her, by a freedom of manner on his part which she felt that her sister should resent, and she was questioning in her mind if it were not her duty to speak, when a remark of the Colonel's decided her. " Marion/ he had said laughingly, " if you were in the market,

Tom is not too old to try his hand ; you know men. are never too old to hope." "Ah," she replied, with a mock serious tone, "but twenty and fifty ! the difference is too great ; besides, I shan't think of such a thing without Mr. Leighton's permission." This jest had brought the blood to Eosine's cheek, and fixed the firm resolve in her heart. The time came when they were alone, preparatory to retiring for the night; she hesitated, but Marion was before her. "I declare," she exclaimed, throwing herself into the large arm-chair, where Eosine and Laura had often sat together, "if I were in the market, I would set my cap for Mr". Stapleton; I rather like him, and I know—." She hesitated, while Eosine pat her hands over her face and burst into tears. "You silly child, what is the matter ?" said Marion, leaning over her sister, and speaking coaxingly. "Marion, it i S perfectly frighful?" she sobbed as soon as tears would let her speak. " What is frightful ? » asked Marion. "Why, to hear you talk in this way. Are yon not solemnly engaged to Mr. Leighton ? " "To be sure I am. Have I denied it ? " "Then how can you speaJc, or even think of another in that Way r " One cannot help one's thoughts," replied Marion, sulkily "Cannot help one's thoughts!" exclaimed Rosine. "Why. sister dear, are not wicked thoughts indulged, the very root and fountain of wicked actions ?" «. * rWell'r Well ' BU PP° se they are, I haven't said I want the man, or that I would break my engagement; I was only imagining what might have been. You preach, morality to me, my little saint, but don t you think I can see how that small heart of yours flutters between the attractions of the architect, when the letters come from abroad, and the tangible attentions of the physician, "I will not hear this ! " said Eosine, rising in great anger, her lips quivering with emotion. " I came to warn you of danger, but all I can say will be of no use. lam only repaid by insult ! " and taking her candle, she left the room without another word. Marion would not recall her impudent words, although sha was a little pained by their result; they burned down deep into her sister's heart, and for the first time they closed their eyes to sleep alienated from each other. v. j ter , Rosin e bad gone away, her sister took out a letter she had that day received from Mr. Leighton, and reread it. It ran thus :— • „,, _. _ "Athi.a.cca, January, 18— . "Mi DeajbLovb: . Your long absence and infrequent letters dishearten me. I do not go about business with the courage I would if you were by my side. Don't think I would deprive you of a moment's happiness where you are, I only wish to share it. Who is this 'Cousin Tom, of whom you write so freely ? Is he a young man ? You see already I am anxious on that point, not but I trust you, but dear Marion, how can I help envying the man who can sit by your side and chat with you, while I, who have the best right, am exiled ? You ask for news. I have just come to Athlacca from S , and have only heard that Sobriety had been detected in efforts for a clandestine marriage with her Cousin Dan ; the girl is not yet fifteen, and your father thought it should be stopped but she is shrewd enough to elude us all. As a magistrate, I gave my opinion, is quite an old bride in these parts. " Dr. Nelson is as pious as ever. Father Sheridan told him in my hearing that he should have been a priest — 1 think to too. He has no tie in the world but his little sister Philomena, who is visiting your mother, for whom the young thing has conceived a strong affection. Who could help it ? Were it not for your mother, my separation from you would be unendurable, but she always gives me strength and hope. ' Old Cap ' casts his 'pity 'at me every time we weet, says I look • cut up/ which is the truth, When may I come-for you, my Marion ? My circumstances warrant our marriage whenever you will name the day. Tell me when it shall be dearest. Your faithful, Horatio Lekjhton." As she closed this letter, two tear-drops started to Marion's eyes, but she dried them instantly, and as hastily thrust the letter into a drawer, and went about her toilet for the night. She was not in an enviable state of mind, although she knew from her ' womanly instinct, as well as from words to which she had that day listened, that she could, if she chose, be mistress of the golden store pertaining to Thomas Stapleton, G-ent. No direct offer had been made, how could he so insult her, when he knew of her engagement? She tried, as she slowly brushed away her long hair, deliberately to consider her case in all its bearings upon that which was her goal — worldly advancement. Here was an opportunity that the west in those days could not afford her, an establishment in any city of the Union, an establishment with an inexhaustible fortune, and nobody with any claim to it but herself ! Ah, what wonderful things she could do with it ! — and she fell asleep dreaming of convents and churchos in the distance, which she was straining her eyes to look at, but could not see for the dark pall that hung between them and her weary gaze. The sisters met as usual in the morning, but Eosine, although she tried to forgive, still carried the sting of those unjust words. She could not hide the disturbance from Dr. Hartland's observant eye. He came to her immediately after breakfast, .where she stood leaning against the window frame after the family had left the room. He put his arm across her shoulders, and said kindly but jocosely, " Quarrelled, Rosa ? " She did not reply, but he saw her burning cheek, and the tear just ready to start, and he added, more seriously, *J Can I help you, dear sister V*

"Thank you, Ned, I am foolish. Marion hurt my feelings sadly last ni^ht, when I meant it for her good." "Preaching to your elderr, eh?" he replied, turning her about, and sitting down by 7ier side in the recess of the window. j-j ""O'J 10 * 5 preaching, Ned; I feel a little about Marion, as I did about Laura in the early part of Aleck's absence, and— and— ." "It is the same game over again/ he said, sternly. "I hate tl° 1 j £ ou J all ri ? ht — y° v s P ok e to her about it ? Noble sister ! l should nave done it, only she is our guest, and I should certainly get very angry if I undertook it, and say something she would never forgive. Have you ever told her of Tom's former habits P " -„^ "I have told her nothing, Ned ; only remonstrated." " And Bhe was very angry ? " "Yes; but I should not so much have cared for that, if she had not accused me of the same thing." Eosine looked frightened the moment the words were out of her mouth, and heartily wished them recalled. " Accused you, Eosa— accused you of flirting ? With whom, pray ? Me, of course. Ha, ha, ha ! " he added, laughing heartily ; "that is ,too .funny ! I suppose she can't imagine any bond but that of lovers between you and me ; she can't think of any other love than that j but we understand it perfectly, don't we, Rosa ? " he said, leaning over her. " Yes, Ned, perfectly ; I think." " Then we need not trouble ourselves about others. But perhaps she thinks I keep you from lovers. I hope I may, from such as Tom Stapleton." J "But she accuses me of carrying on a flirtation between you and Harry Greenwood." " What does she know about Harry ? " he exclaimed, turning and gazing at her with his piercing glance. "Nothing," replied Rosine, casting down her eyes under his gaze ; "only she knows that lam glad when you get letters from him, and read them to me." "A great foundation upon which to accuse you of a flirtation. Upon my word, she is very impudent, and I shall tell her so, if she tries to make a hedge between you and me." " She cannot do it," said Rosine, bravely; no one can." "Thank you for that," he replied, taking both her hands in his : " thank you, Rosa, you have not said such a sweet word for this long time. I thought once, only for a minute, that such a hedge was growing. It waß the day the Asylum was burnt, when you snatched your hands from me in such an unsisterly manner. Was that hedge some of this young lady's planting ? I thought so, he added, as Rosine made no answer ; "and now, once for all, whoever says a word to mar or destroy the perfect brotherly and sisterly feeling between us, is our enemy. Isn't it so? I can't allow any man to marry you," he continued, laughing, " without a clear understanding in this matter." Rosine smiled through the lingering tear-drop that hung on her eye-lid, and determined that nothing should ever mar the comfort of her sisterly intercourse with dear brother Ned.