A Perilous Secret

, and an invitation to visit his new house if he was forgiven. Julia said she could not forgi

asure," said

e had brought a hamper with all the necessaries of life-table-cloth, napkins, knives, forks, spoons, cold pie, salad, and champagne. They lunched beside the brook on the lawn. The lovers drank his health, a

-never

mustn't be

spise j-jealousy

d," said J

in, you two," said Wal

reat!" said Julia. "I

e, and Walter drove Julia hom

found a short not

t be as unhappy as I am. He says he has reasons, but he has not told me what they are, except that your father has other views for you; but, indeed, with both parents against us what can we do? Forgive me the pain this will give you. Ask yourself whether it gives me any less. You were all the world to me. Now everything is dull and distasteful. What a change in one

AR

nd again. It brought the tears into his own eyes, and discouraged him deeply for a time. But, of

d my governor's nonsense. As for your father, I do not despair of softening him. It is only a check; it is not a defeat. Who on earth can part us if we are true to each other? God ble

hopeful love, ti

of receiving a knockdown blow astonished and charmed her. She thought to herself, no wonder women look up to men. They will have their own way; they resist, of

tisfy the yearning hearts of lovers unnaturally separated. Walter and Mary lived so near each other, yet now they never met. Bartley took care of that. He told Mary she

health and spirits suffered, and sh

nger. Julia Clifford saw he was in trou

ld interest you," sai

erested in the troubles of my friends,

nk so. Well, then, yes, I am u

l you introduced me

es

is lo

ord, she is

gels till we are found

at

od Walter. She deserves a

no man to your good Walter, though I am not worthy

you will see. Make me your confidante. Explain, please.

iscovered our love, and fo

all? That for her father! You shall have her in s

im, not to you," said Walt

e the girl; and a very sweet girl she is. Will you accept me for your all

of you! Of course it will be a great blessing

"begin by telling me-have

N

and you on Mister. Now mind, you must ignore all that has passed, and just ask his permission to court his daughter. Whilst you

am a child in such matters compared wi

der the horses directly;" and s

ut another word, and Julia flew up

*

e county of Durham, whom he had ferreted out by means of an agent, men who knew a great deal about coal. They had already surveyed the farm, and confirmed Hope's

tried to draw a bit, and tried to read a bit, and tried to reconcile a new German symphony to her ear as well as to her judgment, which told her it was too learned not to be harmonious, though it sounded ve

rush and clatter of hoofs, and Miss Clifford and Walte

d and puzzled. The next moment her quick intelligence told her t

and stood beside it, af

to call on you at her request. My own visi

y," murmured

, and took stock of one another's dress, looks, character, and souls with supern

e her approaches

ot returning your call before this

me, Miss Clifford,"

roken, I want you

ay

we are cousins; at least I suppose so. We are both cousins

on her fair hostess i

h such keen intelligence that her

Walter played the peace-maker, and brought us together again without wounding my pride. By-and-by I found out Walter himself was in grief about you. It

ye

ometimes pooh-pooh their daughters' affections; but when the son of Colonel Cliff

her hands, bu

flow

o comfort you. You seem

, I

e here an

s head on Julia's shoulder, and

u bette

so

way. And then a designing mother cajoles the poor girl and deceives her, and does a number of things a man would call villainies. Don't you fret your heart out for so small a thing as a father's opposition. You are sure to tire him out if he loves you, and if he doesn't love you, or loves money better,

repeat was the cream of Julia's discourse, and both her advice and her symp

was announced, Mr. Bartley dismissed his rugged visito

id he had admired her from the first moment, and now his happiness depended on her, and he felt sure he could m

tley sto

o your person or your position. But there are difficulties, and

ter, eagerly, "he must aband

come his prejudices against me and mine. But there is another difficulty. My daughter is not old enough to

showed Bartley quite prepared for this interview, and he baffled the young man without offending him. He was cautious not to do that, because he was going to mine for coal, and feared remonstrances, and wanted Walter to take his part, or at least to be neutral, knowing his love for Mary. So they p

"am I not to see her or speak t

hanged first, if I w

nd Julia found her pale, and grieving for Walter, and persuaded her to write him two or three lines of comfort; she did, and that drew pages from him. Unfort

at her old nurse was going to visit her sister, Mrs. Gilbert, who li

ked Julia,

carelessly. "Wednesday, if it is fin

know?" a

and, dear, she said a strange thing-a very strange thing: she kn

a. "Your father told yo

They both treat

ey pretend t

is some mystery behind t

ound out that money governs the world. Let me see-your mother wa

re I don

ee; and when you marry, he must show his accounts

as dis

n't bear to think that of pap

Some day I will tell you things in my own life that have soured

rt she felt sure that she had read Mr. Bartley

t just as well dig a well and throw his money into that. She herself was sorry he had not waited for Mr. Hope's return before undertaking so serious a speculation. Warmed by this preliminary, she ventured into the delicate subject, and told him the substance of what we have told the reader, only in a far more timid and suggestive way, and implored him to advise her by return of post if possible-or why not come home? Papa had said only yesterday, "I wish Hope was here." She got an answer by return of post. It disappointed her, on the whole. Mr. Hope realized the whole situation, though she had sketched it faintly instead of painting it boldly. He was all sympathy, and he saw at once that he could not himself imagine

d. "How kind and wis

-"too

After a while the latter invited her into the parlor, saying there is somebody there; but no one knows. This, however, though hardly unex

rew her to his bosom. She sobbed there; he poured inarticulate words over her, and still held her, panting, to his beating heart. Even when the first gush of love subsided a little he could not be so rea

as astonish

said she. "I thought you had more resp

ardon, and say the separ

e forga

emency, and proceeded calmly to

had proposed such a thing. Walter promised that readily enough, but stuck to his point; and as Mary's pride was wounded, and she was a girl of great spirit though love-sick, she froze

to obey you in greater things than that. Ah!

as you love me, for I respect you." Then her

several times; then ended with her hand. "Oh,

, but made

good friends

m both unhapp

fell at her feet. She picked it up, and immediately found a note half secreted in it. The next moment it

had met, and he must speak to her directly. Would she meet hi

im to tempt her! She must not go. There was no time to write and refuse; but she must not go. She would not go. And in this resolution she persisted. Nine o'clock struck,

ale and agitated. He did no

said; "but I saw no ot

you love me a

ubting me," she sa

bandry, and it was very unfair to do it, and to smoke him out of house and home. (Unfortunately the wind was west, and blew the smoke of the steam-engine over his lawn.

O

other views for his son. Mr. Bartley said he was thankful to hear it, for he looked higher for his daughter. 'Higher in trade, I suppose,' said my father; 't

; not f

he first quarrel was only skinned over. Don't deceive y

at, Walter? Oh, hav

l sometimes this will drive me mad, or make me a villain. I am beginning to hate my own father, and everybody else that thwarts my love. How can they earn my hate more surely? No, Mary; I see the future as plainly as I see your dear face, so pale a

aid Mary, faintly. "Wh

erhaps you will listen to reason when you see I can't wait for the consent of two eg

deep sigh, "I see even m

o. They are impa

n on as you would do. Come, Mary, for pity's sake, decide which you love best-your father, who does not care much for you, or me, who adore you, and will give you

, and I will not marry secretly; that is degrading. And, oh, Walter, think how young I am and inexperienced, and you that are so much older, and I hoped would

calm, for these words

y and goodness. Forgive me, I will never tempt nor torment you again. For p

t, dear," said Ma

tear himself away by a great effort, and she leaned limp and powerless on the gate, and heard his footste