Cruel As The Grave

all the softn

ll the sweetne

on the cheru

aven knows how, the

at the age of fifteen, to a wealthy old gentleman, whose years quadrupled hers. But he had used her very kindly, and she had performed her simple duty of love and obedience as well as she knew how to do it.

ow lived in strict seclusion for nearly two years, d

is mother, by her physician's advice, took the boy to Scarborough. That fashionab

ly drawn into the maelstrom of society, into which she rushed with all the impetuosity of a novice or a

principal passport into good society seemed to be his distant relationship to the Duke of Marchmonte. How he lived no one knew. Where he lived every

m scattered about the great hotels of all the large cities in Europe and America.

one more attractive than the red-headed heroes of her native hills, and who, having aurific tresses of her own, was particularl

he pretty little widow and all her substance with less hesitation

ng any part of her property settled upon herself; and, in marrying this man she gave him an absolut

ve happiness on the part of the bride; for the little fair beauty a

cy on the part of the husband, who soon commenced

race-courses, he wished to get possession of the fortune of her son. To do this he persuaded her to sell out certain stock and entrust him with the proceeds, to

ght, in his best interests, the deluded mother did as her husband

s real motive in bringing her to this country was, doubtless, to take her as far as possible from her nativ

ooms at the Anchor, and how he had robbed a

g story of woman's weakness and man's criminali

r to comfort and help you-not in words only, but in deeds; and I only grieve, dear, that I cannot give you back your husband in his honor and integrity a

le; "oh, I hope, as long as I may live in this world, never to be wounded by t

may from the excited woman,

ossible for love to die a sudden and violent death

o take a little comfort. I and my own dear husband will be your friends, will be a sister and a brother to you," said Sybil earnestly, w

an Rosa, but her voic

own hand on that fair golden head, "take comfort. Thi

onged and ruined babe! The sight of him is a sword through my bosom! my child th

remain in this crowded and noisy hotel, you can never recover calmness enough to act with any good effect. So I wish you to come home with me and my dear husband to

oung stranger raised her head and lo

you be our dear and welcome g

t?" exclaimed Rosa, in something like

den-haired head, and speaking all the more calmly because of Rosa's excitement, "you will have repose and leisure to coll

ver such divine goodness seen under the sun before! Oh, dear lady, you amaze, you conf

the more gently for the increasin

for each other. At present you are suffering, and I have some power to comfort you. In the futu

such poor help as mine. But this I know: so penetrated am I by your goodness, that, if ever you should lose your pr

ken, for she was most profoundly moved by

to this excessive praise. She only left her hand in the clasp

eavenly pity, I felt that the good Lord had not forsaken me, for He had sent one of his holy angels to visit me. Ah, lady, if you had only come and looked at me so and spoken to me so, and then passed out and away forever, stil

led emotions flowed do

dulation, yet still caressing the stranger's fair head, "there, dear, dry your eye

and kissed the hands of her ne

ed by your heavenly goodness not to be anx

our preparations for the jo

lso st

me. Will you let me send my maid to help you

hall be much obliged," r

ch of the door-"Will you kindly meet us at breakfast at eight o'clock to-morrow morning in our private si

to load me with benefits, and you must be g

tle before the hour," added Sybil, playfully

ent, she found her husband impatie

ybil," he said, with all the fondness of a

d mischievously, as she took his hand and pulled hi

side and sunk down upon it, and leaned her arms upon his knees, and lifted her beautiful dark face, now all aglow w

ck ringlets, and his eyes gazing with infinite tenderness and admiration down on her eloquent fa

Sybil, what have you

crimson lips breathlessly

ler's wife, even by her own showing, an adventuress by all other appearanc

with an almost comical expression of dismay

nt heart! I only wonder at you, and-adore you!

if you had seen her distress!" pleaded

helped her without inv

?" inqui

e paid her board?

eavenly benevolence beaming through her own. "Oh, Lyon! it was not a boarding-house she w

ting child! I am not so impio

ot like the l

ing to stay with us and prevent ou

ves, than that any stranger should share it with us. But then, oh, dearest Lyon, I reflected that we are so rich and happy in our home and our love, and

er than I, and your will shall

y and her sorrow, you also will admire and pity her, and yo

arch smile, "but how will your proud neig

head was lifted i

her friendship is peer with the proudest among them!" she said, with

taking additional places in the stage-coach. How many will be wanted? What reti

aces required, for the

nurse drink?" inquired Lyon, with a laugh, as without waiting for a reply he rang the bell, a

is the young pair

and bright as the new day itself. She wore a close-fitting travelling dress of cr

s bright, the hearth clean, the breakfast-table neatly set, and the morning sun s

-black ringlets, and passed from the room and through t

and stood there quite ready to a

he dark, bright-blue cloth habit that so highly enhanced the dazzling

miration, and then recovered herself and

ast is quite ready. Will you come now?" inqui

smile, and Sybil led the wa

od before the fire with the morning paper in his hand. He put it down o

Sybil, introducing the parties to

ing mischievously to see what effect the dazzling be

sa

at each other-he, at first, with the courtesy of

no means prepared to witness the involuntary gaze of intense and breathless admiration and wonder that

creature that the world ever saw!

shining on him, Rosa held out her h

tell you how deeply I feel your kindn

e you; for it will be a great happiness to us if we succeed in doing so," replied L

ed from the one to the other; a sudden pang shot through her heart, exciti

. Berners, offering his arm to Mrs. Blo

wound in her heart, this vague warning in her mind, she took her seat at t

in all hospitable attentions t

the table, a groom rapped at the doo

d began to make the last hast

her luggage taken down stairs to be put on the c

with her husband, she laid her hand upon his coat

ou think o

in what you have done for this stranger, you have acted not only with the goodness, but with the wisdom of an angel," replied Lyon Berner

when and wherever I can, my own one, sinc

her, and hurried off

nd so happy that she forgot she had to get ready to go. The

thers, that she could not have told why the pain a

a rival beauty had really caused her nameless suffering; or that it

bitter seed of jealousy was germinating in her heart, to grow and spread p