Cruel As The Grave

untains, there fo

valley, there

p rock and diz

ssion and the

orest, cavern,

companions,

guage clearer

ks, which she w

, lit by moonbeams

s' almost unconscious jealousy suddenly called into existence, and as suddenly soothed to sle

turn the course of fate just as surely as the little sw

ch. Mr. Berners handed in first Mrs. Blondelle,

eft-hand corner next to me," said Sybil, still standing while she pointed out their several places on the back seat; and she spoke perhap

t between you two ladies, the proverbial 'thorn between two roses,'" replied Lyon Berners, gayly and gallantly, with perhaps on his side a latent desire to sit

. Mr. Berners politely put Mrs. Blondelle in the left-hand corner, and

and nurse. Facing them on the front seat, with their backs to the horses

were no other passengers inside, or out. Mr. Berners and his

e horses started and the coach rattled along over the stony streets

te of Virginia, taken at this delightful season of the year; and of all routes I know of none

reach your beautiful home?" sw

; but we shall be four days on the road, as we propose to put up a

into the open country, where the landscape was f

flat country around our seaport," said Mr. Berners

sant to look upon," an

r language when you see our vast forests, our high mounta

aken that corner seat. And worse than all, to her apprehension, neither her husband no

inside, and who would have made themselves very confidential with Mr. Berners on any subject within their knowledge, from crops to Congress, if he had not been too engaged with his fair guest to pay them much attention. Sybil continued silent, except when occasionally her husband would ask her if she was comfortabl

hill, where our party passed the night. Here, in the village inn, Sybil Berners, feeling that Rosa Blondelle, as her guest, was entitled to her cou

onged, the travellers separated, and we

it to the right cause. He was equally unconscious of having done a wrong, or inflicted a wound. And now his manner to his wife was as tender, loving, and devoted as it had ever been since thei

alone together once more,

o herself that all his devotion to Rosa Blondelle in the stage-coach was but the proper courtesy of a gentleman to a lady guest, who was, besides,

order to take the earliest coach, which, having lef

genuine affection, embracing and kissing her and her child, making them even more welcome than she had done before,

ces the travellers sat dow

ew, and they prepared t

ready on the back seat. But they were gentlemen, who voluntarily and prompt

the enthusiasm of Rosa Blondelle burst forth. She said that she had seen grand mo

avagant delight of a child, for as a child this lovely stranger often seemed

in that strange wound deepening in her hear