Cruel As The Grave

best of da

r aspect a

elf-will. She was a law to herself. No one, not even her aged father, had the slightest control over her except through her affections, when they could

selfishly as he loved this darling daughter of his age, he wished t

no less by her personal charms than by her great fortune. But one and all were polit

to assume the name and arms of Berners in order to perpetuate the family patronymic, and to live with his wife at the old manor house in order not to separate the only child from her aged father. And it was not every

e told. Since his return from the university she had seen him every Sunday at church, and had grown to look and to long for his appearance there, until it came to this pass with her soul, that the very house of God seemed empty until his place was filled. And besides this, s

ately adored her, even while ignorant of her love for

desire of her heart had ever been left for a moment unsatisfied. She never knew until now the meaning of suspense or disappointment. And now here was

s was no weak "V

ent, like a w

ask cheek, and

ena," who would dare all and

rties and invite her lover to them. But the briefless young lawyer in the napless hat and thread-bare coat neve

but it had very seldom been kindled by a breath of provocation. Now, however, it frequently broke out without the slightest apparent cause. No one in the house could account for t

," said Miss Winterose, to he

of that possession. It's entailed family propert

," muttered her old father to himself, as he sat alone in his a

her father or some other one of her slaves to make her happy. She was kept waiting, and it was everybody's fault, and everybody

that warned him of the approach of that sudden death by congestion of t

. So, one evening, he sent for Sybil to come into his sitting-room, and when she obeyed his summons, and came

en from you any day, any hour, and I would

th a blending of affectionate solicitude and angry impatience in her tones and looks,

enty years longer to please you-if I can. But whether I l

hy can you not

ion; your hand would become the aim of every adventurer in the county; you would become the prey

y of a fortune-hunter, or the slave of a brute! I look as if I was likely to be-do I not? Father,

, laying his hand upon the fiery creature's head; "be qui

weak and whimpering women. I have no sympathy whatever for your abused wives-even for your dethroned or beheaded queens. Why should a wife permit herself to be abused, or a queen suffer h

know not what you say.

ctim. All who suffer and die in a great cause are martyrs; but those who suffer and die for nothing bu

help you

myself as well as if I were a son, instead of a daug

all others, but can you always protect y

id not

ery young filly that you are-Sybil, I greatly desire to see you mar

?" murmured Sybil, with a quick, strang

oung lawyer? But that was not li

ch for you in the county. And I'm sure

angry gestur

h for the ground he worships to keep him

! But we'll say no more of him. But there's

ghting the Indians on the frontier instead of

n! Next there is

ugly littl

e, for so young a man. And

d obey his owner's orders,

" sighed the old man, but he

elors of the neighborhood, who, he knew, were ready upon the slightest encourag

Sybil, with some sar

ou is to take a sure road to your hatred! And yet, oh, my dear! I wish to see you

whom I could endure fo

is Wave of Death that is sure to bear me off sooner or later to the Ocean of E

so much wish to

n anything else in

ung man in the neighborhood whom

ne, my d

you s

my love. Wh

laid her arms upon his knees and her beautiful blac

ave forgotten to name: one who loves me, and i

breath-"a fortune-hunter, on my life! the da

s possible from being what you

wealthy

r in everything but in

ch in these! But who is he, un

nd his gray head to his daughter's lips, and put his shrive

settled in Blackville, whose p

d the old man, throwing up

r," breathe

e love

no

ou lov

odded

ot as it might have been. She can gain nothing by that connection! But then she need not lose anything either," murmured the ol

seen the young m

fat

ther house wh

vitations to visit his friends, he accepts no

ford to vi

s work now in the beginning of his career that he has but little money;

e with his views perfectly. He will make his mark in the world

r her lover so praised by one in

ng to have entered into any engagement withou

ement, father," ge

ht for him even to have wooed you without my consent! Nor can I conc

r wooed me,

E

ver sought

e me to understand tha

do, f

y don't he come and tell m

as never even

E

reathed a word

do you know that h

voice, and by my own heart! Oh, father, do you think I

e speak?-that's what I want

not comprehend that he

e should be too proud to seek an alliance with a Berne

r cooled the

ad not c

he had misunderstood her, and ma

pposite to that. It is because he is poor and we are ri

erstand! I

rest young

r told h

worth were a

bring myself to marry any one but him; and he loves me truly, but does not seek me?" she breathed i

n whatever, except his poverty and big long line of poor relations, th

ch! We have enough for so

I really do like him, and if he had more money, and less relations, I

hank you for saying that," exclaimed

d, what do you want me to do, my darlin

ment as you know best how to do it, without wounding his pride. You sympathize with his politi

t el

state, and its accounts must be falling into disorder, Lyon is a lawyer

an agent, and much as I esteemed that young man I never once thought of applying to him! But the fact is, I

iness man to have collected such great store

o to-day and offer him t

fore, but as your agent, father, you must

d t

leave the

ent of the revenues from several rich farms, but also those from the stone quarries, iron mines, and the water mill at the hea

with the utmost courtesy. And as the acquaintance between the proprietor and t

or better than in this young man,

beautiful as in this old man," t

his esteem and affection. The young man returned the

so much together, he was not very long in making the discovery so delightful to his soul, and yet-so trying too! for, as a man of good principles, there seemed to be but one course left open to

ent into the study of his employer and in a few

d man looked up f

Howe gave

never to return to the Hall,

could not conceal the misery it ca

ige you to leave the hou

you ask?" excl

d you!" exclaimed old Bertram with a tw

o far as to seek her hand! I could not make

hen, can you know whether she will accept you or not? or, conse

claimed the young man, in quick, broken tone

o much encouragement to woo a maiden. Before you make up you

ng at the back of the chair for support. He was inured to sorrow, but not

ction your addresses to my daughter," said old Bertram, speak

iately in search of Sybil. And that same night, old Bertram had

stly; "for it was not another great fortune, but a

p to the last hour of his life. The "Wave of Death," found him in his arm-chair, and bore him off

conditions of the marriage contract, assumed the name and arms of Berners, was united in marri

inger over their tea-table in the old inn at Norf