Wee Wifie

solemn, proud,

rms out toward tha

aw it on to

s God made h

make her, for m

Brow

e perfect bliss than when those two young creatures stood

ed. To Maurice it was a dazzling dream, a madness, an unreality, from

kening came

e silence and darkness a thousand uneasy thoughts arose that cooled t

ad betrayed his love? Had he not been sorely tempted? and yet, wo

to his daughter, to become the rival of Lord Bertie Gower-for Nea had confided to him her father's ambition. Would he not think hi

ase rushed upon him, he thought that he would tell his darling that he had been mad-dishonorable, but that he

lay and fought out his first fierce battle

whispered word that he must tell her father, or that he must le

even his will had ceased to govern her; she could not and would not give up the only man whom she loved; nothing on earth should induce

a word. He would have told her that he loved her, but that he loved honor more; that he would neither sin himself nor suffer her to tempt him from his sense of right. But Maurice did non

fice; that he would oppress her cruelly; that he would probably take her abroad or

to that other lover? and she wept so passionately as she said this

olden wings, and the stolen moments became sweeter an

ve his room and walk up and down the c

roposed that his patient should spend the rest of the spring i

month or so, and here her father looked at her with a smile. They could get the trousseau in Paris. Nea must make up her mind to accept him before they started; there must b

face. Presently she rose and said that he was tired and must talk no more, for Mr.

ooked so pale and strange, she clung to him almost convulsively and implored him to save her. Maurice was as

that would be the wisest plan. Her father would never give his consent, but when it was too late to prevent it he might be induced to forgive their marriage. It was very wrong, she knew,

ather; even Maurice felt his misgivings silenced as he listened to her innocent ta

he journey the bond was to be sealed and signed between them, so that no power of man could part them. Mr. Huntingdon might storm ever so loudly, his

ted and happy; every day her love for Maurice increased and deepened. The shadow of his moral weakness could not hide his many virtues. She gloried in the thou

hough Maurice's face grew thin and hag

er would be angry-fearfully angry-but after a few hours he would calm down, and then he would send the carriage for her; and there would be a scene of penitence and reconciliation. Nea painted it all in glowing colors, but Maurice shook his

y his daughter had not been to wish him good-morning, Nea had stolen out of her father's house, and was hurrying through the sunny

her in the dark old church with its gloomy altar and white, gleaming monuments, the poor child gave a shiver that was almost fear, and suddenly burst into tears. It had come upon her all at once what she was doing, and why she was t

e knot was tied that no hand could loosen,

*

pping about Maurice's shabby rooms, re-arranging the bowls of jonquils and lilac, with which the landlady had made some show of festivity, unlooping the stiff folds of the muslin curtains, and pe

l she sighed for very weariness; and then Maurice came to her aid with a few forcible sentences; and

House, Nea put off thought for awhile, and she sat by the window and chatted to Maurice about the gay doings th

waned into evening, Nea grew strangely quiet and Maurice's face grew graver and graver as t

amp was brought in Nea looked at Maurice wit

ered; must she go home on foot and brave her father's anger? he must

umbling of wheels that stopped suddenly before the d

tarted to her feet, but Maurice did not answer; he was grasping the table to sup

ady in solemn awe-struck tones, "and a man in li

he tore open the letter and glanced o

nd whiter with each perusal, and then sunk on a chair, hiding his face in his hands, with a groan. "Oh! my darling," he

if he had any humanity, could have looked at those two desolate creatures, so

er was a

inform you that from this day he will hold

Nea Trafford, to the inclosed address, and he has directed his manager, Mr. Dobson, to strike Mr. Maurice Trafford's name from the list of c

ain, m

umble s

er Te

s and a little slip of paper with a few pe

, he is nearly beside himself with anger; your maid interceded for you wit

th. It was that hard, cruel letter that chang

of his nature, the inflexibility of his purpose; as well might she dash herself against a rock as expect forgiveness. Well, she was his own child, her will wa

membered his ill-health, their projected trip to Pau, their happy schemes for the future, till her heart felt almo

, willful girl; well may she look rou

Belgrave House closed to her forever. But as she looked round with

brink of ruin, whose faith and honor she had tempted, whose honest purpose she had shaken and destroyed, who was so crushed with remorse for his own weakness that he dared not look h

from his face, and saw Nea's beautiful face smiling at him through her tears,

have I not promised, Maurice? Take me to your heart and comfort me with