Gladys, the Reaper

ta said she had a headache, and preferred staying at home. By way of curing it she put on her best bonnet and went for a walk. As soon as she was out of sight of the house she set off at a p

ightening the trunks of the interlacing trees. As she saw the lights and shadows dancing before her she became serious for a moment, and fancied they were like the will-o'-the-wisp, and por

y bordered with blackberry bushes in full blossom, brought her to what seemed a large mass of brambles, low underwood, and occasional young oaks. There were, however, little patches of grass here and there amongst the thicket, and into one of these she got with some difficulty. This was the hall from which diverged one or two little pas

Large, gloomy trees outspread their brawny arms on each side of this gorge and lovingly embraced above it, so that the rays of

of the ravine. She looked around, and down into the depth below, but she could see nothing but trees and brushwood. She was not strong-minded, so she began to be afraid. However, summoning up her courage, s

ght, over rocks and brushwood, down into a foaming stream beneath,

ecrating, and therewith of her parents, and her duty to them. For a moment-only for a moment-she thought she would return, and strive to atone for the falsehood, by giving up the object of her evening wandering. But a bright gleam of sunshine darted

nded, as it were, on their impetuous course. Again, for a moment, a serious comparison arose in her mind, and she wondered whether her life might be like that of the flowers she had cast away from her? whether she might be carried, by the force of contending passions, and left to wither upon some hard shore

she felt a hand on her shoulder, heard a voice call her name, and starting round, saw her cousin Howel behind her. He had crept so

,' were the first words, a

have been waiting an hour,' was the rejoinder, in a tone

ollect something that brough

. Poor Uncle Griff! How is aunt?-and you

about the death of the miser. She was not sor

e been ill, but shall soon be all right a

month nex

ough they have done their best to make you do so, by calling me

o, Ho

et the long black curls fall over the girl's neck. 'No, you are only prettier than ever, co

l; but tell me what

your hair first, to see how an evening toi

e-bush at their back, and he insert

see you in a ball-room. We will go together

I think,' and she tore them from her hair, and threw them, as she had do

uly and plainly. I am become a rich man, how rich I do not myself know; and I mean to let every one belonging to

Rices and Lady Mary Nug

iner carriage, more beautiful clothes, a handsomer house

all things

and we will soon see whether we c

cou

ta; tell me, ar

cou

consent, and he gives

ago, cousin Howel; but father w

d he refuses it, will you marry me t

Netta, who coloured and trembled, and murm

o abroad, and return and ask pardon, and I will take a

er, Howel

to do, if you will marry me. But if you refuse me, I shall ju

wicked,' cried Netta

er, that I will have a carriage ready at the corner near the turnpike. But I can settle all particulars at the proper time, provided on

annot tell whether

arents or relations! I am sure, Netta, that you are taught to do all this; besides, you cannot help it, if you love me. You know that

began

am afraid of father, and could

o do not cry, and we will be as happy a

ed on and

ld you like; I shall have plenty of money, I shall probably write a book when we are abroad, which will make me famous as well as rich; we will come home and astonish the world. If you do not promise, I

and rarely did he employ his powers of persuasion in vain, particularly with the fair sex

fear, after all, you do not love me, and I

ow I always promised-I always said-I-I-will do a

our father

ot care for an

that we shall be happy, and you sha

le-though I should like to put them down, just as well as you-but because we have loved each other ever sin

oth touched

le cousin, Netta; but what

head, and looke

e there; and Sir Hugh was very attentive to me, and said a great many things to me. And h

ss Gwynne, or her fortune; so you need

f, you ought to say,' and N

r manners, and stupid fat face, could not light a candle to m

que her cousin, and she succeeded; but she did not expect to provo

ves with nobody. Now is the time to resolve; I shall never ask you again; and whatever your opinion may be upon the subje

ally did before her private interviews with her cousin en

ou ask me again or not. It is not

of this,' and Howel made a face to represent Sir Hugh swelling h

you are, with your cross face. You are e

this is absurd. Is it to be Sir Hugh in

and restlessly pushing her foot through the grass and

t you,

in, Rowland, threading his way down the opposite side of the ravine. He was soon at the bottom, and in

ou be doing here?'

,' was the somewha

lk home with me,' said Rowland, looking reproach

e of Netta's meeting you here, and, I therefore, must be

o prevent my seeing your sister, at any rate

he absence of my father, assume his place. Net

s manner was authoritative, and s

will brook,' passionately exclaimed Howel.' I beg you to account for your conduct, and to und

secrate the Sabbath by an unseemly quarrel amidst the most beautiful works of creation, nor offend my sister's ear by recrimination. If you h

family is Owen, except, perhaps, Netta, who is turned by

don, cousin How

and see us as a relation, in a straightforward manner, Howel, we should

, Methodist parson like you. I wish you as many converts as you desire, but not myself amongst the

ly said, 'Good day to you,' The brother and sister took an opposite course to his, and had to cross the brook, whilst he pushed his way through the briers that had impeded Netta's path. He turned and watched them

in him that commands the attention and respect

whilst the music of the waterfall i

my father got so usuriously, in doing good! That would be making a use of a miser's money, rarely, if ever, made before? and might be worth the trial, if only to work a new problem, whether ill-gotten wealth could

rother, to which she did not condescend to reply, until he spoke

ing to be cross enough to

ink it my duty to tel

eling, unnatural brother,' cr

again without my father or mother'

d times nicer and kinder than you are. You have n

unjust? you know I

ng to be good, and only wishing to see me before he goes to London, and having plen

oluble words that would soon have worn themselv

ther take French leave, or hate all their relations? and if they married they would not be happy, he was sure. But he knew it was wrong to deceive his parents. In this uncertai

g her headache, and Rowland at once related to his mother what he had seen of Howel