The Shadow of a Sin

ught Hyacinth Vaughan, as the summ

he gardens. She drew aside the blinds, and saw a lake in all its beaut

character of its own. Second-rate people never go there; its magnificence is of too quiet and dignified a kind. The gorgeous suites of rooms are always inhabited by some of the leading Continental families. Bergheim itself is a sleepy little town

se was not Lady Vaughan's, consequently not under her ladyship's control, a

ns, and in one of the broad open paths she saw an English nursemaid with some little children around her. Hyacinth walked on with a light, joyous heart. She nev

y, amounting almost to sin, of her girlhood, was already fading into the obscurity of a dark, a miserable dream. She was

, into a small clear pool. Hyacinth looked at the scene in wonder. She had never seen anything so pretty in her life. She went up to the water; it was cool, so clear, so fresh and sparkling. She threw off her hat and plunged her hands into it. She laughed aloud as the water ran foaming over them. She little dreamed what a lovely picture she herself made standing under the shade

would be. She gathered a large vine-leaf and filled it. She had

t water; it is no

shed crimson. She had thought that she was quit

me voice, "but the water of the fall is not consi

y the waterfall. He had been reading, for an open book lay by his side; but Hyacinth strongly sus

he continued; "but the water

" she retur

s, the world had all changed for her. She walked out of the vine grove, and sat down

yet sweet lips-a face that in her girlish dreams she would have given to the heroes she loved-to King A

t may be seen on the heads of famous Grecian statues; the forehead was white, broad, well-developed, rounded at the temples, full of ideality, of genius, of poetry, of thought; the brows were dark and st

mused over it. There was nobility, power, genius, loyalty, tru

the face and the voice of a king. I have read of god-like men; now I have seen one. Shall I ever see him again? I can imagin

or breakfast," she thought, and she hurried back to the house. She

was unusual

to the young girl, who evidently expected a reproof. "

n nothing so fair, so dainty, so brilliant as the bloom that overspread her lovely face. "I

us than ever Hyacinth remembered to have seen

n Mr. Darcy comes. Make a fresh toilet, and then

e the breath of a cold east wind over flowers. She had for the time almost forgot

like him." She went away, with smiles on her lips and music in her heart, to change her dress, as Lady Vaughan

ady has ordered from Paris for you. She did not tell yo

face flus

kind of her! Oh, Pincott

ures of silk, lace, and velvet, displa

Pincott, who knew perfectly well why her mistress desired the young girl to look her

girlish graceful figure, with its beautiful curves and symmetrical lines, was shown to perfection; the sleeves fell back, showing a fair, rounded arm. Pincott had great

and Hyacinth, looking at her fair flower-

window, dreaming of the face she had seen at the waterfall. She was roused by the maid's r

d force her to marry Mr. Darcy against her will. She heard the sound of voices as she drew near the room; she opened the door and entered, her beautiful face calm and sere

re stood near Lady Vaughan's ch

nddaughter. Hya

g? Was she haunted or bewitched? Adrian Darcy, whom she had dreaded to see, whose na

son as a damask rose, and that the bright eyes fell until he could see nothing of them. She was spell-bound-th

lady about to drink some clear, cold, sparkling poison

not realize the truth, yet she sat like one blinded by a great flood of sunlight. If she had known how this sweet s

hought. "She is like a roseb

as almost

!" she reflected. "But I can

r senses sufficiently to

place I know. The fountains are very beautiful; and the band is one of the best I have heard. Lady Vaughan, I h

g face. Hyacinth raised her head and looked eagerly

morrow I will go out, but not to-day. Hyacinth will go, though,

to music with him-well, she had not even guessed before what a beautiful, happy world it was. She put on the prettiest of her hats-o

e same kin; so I am not going to call you Miss Vaughan. And I w

amongst men, whose presence filled her

uch a fair young kinswoman. Lady Vaughan had

thought of her-was this what mad

ith some little attempt at dign

eply. "Now, Hyacinth, tell me, what do you l

hree," she sa

seat where you can see all. Here

e beds of lilies and roses, and the blue waters of the lake. The band began to play the sad, passionate m

id watching the changes on

ed, "but I have

t life at Queen's Chase,

et as life c

quite of the old régime. I think

reason?"

woman. Delicacy, purity, refinement, are all so essential-and no girl can possess them brought up un

s not know the shameful escape I tried to make-that

d, "it is not pleasa

e jargon calls 'used up.' You have not been playing at being a woman while you were yet a child; your heart has not been hardened by flirtations; your soul has not been soiled by contact with worldlings; you are fresh, an

irst time in her life Hyacinth ble

ontinued, "but tell me Hyacinth, what becomes o

dies," sh

estimates, its love of sensation and excitement, soon die to all that is fairest and best in life. You," he co

d I do," sh

it would pall upon you-you would be apt to look at it through an eye-glass, and criticise the color of

uld not be so keen

ys most," he said. "I like to see people honestly

enough at the hotel to form a crowd; but Hyacinth was str

aid Mr. Darcy-"the one with two children by her s

simple and unassuming she is! She is staying here with her chi

ce lig

she said; "I have read of hi

not unscrupulous daring. Do you see t

sad, thoughtful fa

tar of the most brilliant court in Europe; no

urned her

ht that, when one was happy and prosperous, sorrow and trouble did not

he beautiful luminous smile she had