The Moorland Cottage

hen-door there was the s

ght for weeks, and now i

or indeed she was very

the leafless thorn, ev

h rain-drops. She did n

for her tears, and did

en behind the rain-clou

t over the fire. He told

he crime a mere trifling

ugh his idea that he wa

en

," said Mrs. Browne, "s

oing to la

to law that he will t

enry he has got for his

a nether mill-stone. An

on, that he dare but do w

ch free-will left as to

Henry knows of it--or, w

tween them they have giv

d I should have come ye

et clear this time, and I

for the

we could repay it," said

on very little. But you

t for y

ot talk of repaying it.

ree from his engagement

d if Mr. Henry says anyt

mages they would have ha

d in any other way. I wi

as to what to say. Keep

eturns and f

me in too," said Mrs. B

y, and then I shall hav

you, Edward? If she doe

you not better ke

e am I to go out of sigh

n the world too? If you'l

make assurance doubly su

ea-nay thing, and I can

etter take care, too,"

by G---- I'll make her

en and tried. Why! it's m

l have it frustrated

d upon her too," pleaded

ould have been such a

n yet, and has plenty of

don't you see, if I'm c

ve a notion Frank had alr

e been broken off in a m

anything

" replied Mrs. Browne.

foolish to think so mu

a deal if it

t herself with thinking

be near eleven. I do wish

r?" said he, turning whi

-closet. He held it aj

ly across the floor. She

h the strange imperceptiv

and saw that he was no

n in her dripping cloak

, bold now ther

what have you fixed

hen lifted up her large

rank," said she, in

up her hands and e

way--I will give you all

-my darl

Maggie to reason," said

bdued ferocity in it, whi

timida

er, and spoke b

en together--we two--br

p to be put in prison--

don't know where--all f

h happ

; but did not speak or

h. You always thought o

ave shown how different

-paramount

u be so hard-hearted a

rying and

"I know that I think to

thought only of Frank. H

Mr. Buxton wishes, cutti

o reason

d Edward, tauntingly.

retty notions! Who told

? How do yo

" said she, in a quiet,

n; but that is quite su

ves me; and I have no

ain, which my own heart

Mr. Buxton

e and utterly truthful,

her brother's fierce lo

ering died away before

he had shown in the morn

r hand between both of he

ward. I know I have not

comfort you forever, if

aps Mr. Frank may not ta

ou, and all may be righ

ting this letter; you

nature, if you can prove

u write this letter under

, he won't give you up w

your

. "If I write the letter

ce. Edward! I will not m

whenever I may--and give

other and I will go, if

do, for you, but all I

I ca

ard. "On your deathbed m

only brother's request.

ath, and may I be t

ggie, springing up, rapi

ds till all is done. Moth

hat you can to conceal h

her bonnet, and was gone

speak to

ombehurst road. As she

ace, and she ta

so. No! he should not h

pressed on, over the th

; and she went still quic

gleam of sunshine was s

her unheeded; little exp

aid she, all at once res

ied manner. "You must no

. Come under these fir-t

o

of what I said, and are w

o

thought and thought. I d

y I did. I prayed firs

sh, I think. I cannot g

wing all, thinks fit to

ad, and try and live out

s the judge, not you; no

opped, because the agita

:--"I am very sorry. The

on from the pain of all

feel in the necessity of

appear against your brot

cannot wonder that I act

e your brother as if

e was so cold and deter

But she then laid

"you will not do what

was your old friend. Th

onduct. But I do not be

ill the menace you utte

older, and life grew fa

ght, when you remembered

n had and knew;--you wo

on, who had done wrong-

ess--and you would think

en mercy in justice--an

felon, you threw him am

as darkened for ever. Ed

he will become wicked i

ed. God is merciful--w

I am so sure you will b

g brother--a chance, th

your pity. Edward is ev

her is too much stunne

very wretched we

arose and shivered in

a moaning sound as of som

gled overhead, made a sh

cy called up an echo to M

d tone of regret, disti

dying sound, as her voi

pen

d as she was by Mrs. Bu

such as that lady, now

how, at any rate, the

Maggie spoke, his dead

ar, distinct tone, thoug

distance of space. At le

iven of the manner in w

nd what she would have w

Words of hers, long a

ade use of in former da

remembered while Maggie s

hange of his tone, and t

efor

ave Frank from being in

weighing and deliberatin

poken

will quietly withdraw

promise, before God, to

r complaint. I will tr

him in every action of h

he disgrace he would vol

e wakens up to know wha

now is more painful

asked Mr. Buxton. "Mr.

over any

Maggie, taking his hand

the same, whatever it w

written that t

o give it up, if Frank w

Mr.

and drooped her head,

when he knows all, I wil

eve that any shame surro

Frank's lov

Buxton. "But what I tho

seeing how she shrunk ba

to write,)--was to go to

ink he had escaped, and

ould throw up the agency

is in England, Mr. Henry

so blown, I don't thin

t do you say to

I must ask her. To me

ill; and it seems lonely

rever. I cannot tell you

you what your good

ime. If Mr. Henry trace

good reason to give, a

t Frank and you were to

should have been afraid

clever. Stay!" said he,

ee Edward, and discover

ward appearance. "I'll

he must be off, as soon

next packet sails the da

from the

ong the road. He spok

grateful to me for this.

I mean to try, not to ca

orce,' says Mr. Henry. H

onger he lives, the mor

looks for it now, even i

rent

o answer, or even to att

to wait while she ran do

m. Her mother was alone,

had gone into the hay-lof

ip

nce of her interview with

should go

rowne. "Why that's as far

thought you'd done someth

ad

is something. He is

must go and tell him, o

e comes, do show him how

to E

gs, whatever was their

the court, and up the sl

as tired in body to an e

opening beam of hope i

er her flesh

k, but turned again as s

. She left the house-doo

ough the kitchen into th

rd, and partly rocky co

pon, and mounted the lad

er Edward stood, with a

aggie!" said he, heaving

ve you agreed to write

me, I see by

xton all. He is waiting

t be so hard!" She

" said he. "You've never

him whe

ight trust him. He has p

ys you must go to Americ

we him thanks, and

ene. I'm not up to it. B

police? If I had a fart

ut be off to

hink he would do anything

e in distrust. He says hi

does not know what will

a in two days. It is sa

think of something bette

sk or ex

etter," replied he, "tha

erica. I'm in more scrap

in America there's many

ps while he spoke. Once i

ck by his ghastly look.

ave been stamped upon h

n his age warranted. Hi

d dirty, added to his

f all--deepest of all-

t long for this world;

given--if he were placed

her's son might yet repe

ging back as they came n

ike some guardian angel,

thankfulness. He, on th

and half wished he had

police, rather than hav

erv

for she loved him all

dless. She could not, or

had upbraided Mr. Buxto

him away to America. The

portable to him. He loo

not meet Mr

what you wish me to do.

where you want to

elf away as heartily a

felt that he had done a

Maggie's entreaties, ha

ere was Edward speaking

ing any gratitude. The

loomed in th

lad to find you come i

place for you. The so

tt

y," said Edward, doggedl

have co

ve gone without seeing

. Buxton, I cannot let h

ll die if you

so," said Edward, kind

signify. Mr. Buxton is

he truth, even if Mr. B

ng to express any word

others who may--and wi

nough to get to Liverpoo

off this

s. Browne, holding him t

to temptation, and went

y one to care for you, a

'll get wrong again, and

ll by yourself, in some b

me--how can you stand s

without

and steadfast, as if she

s the opportunity for sel

r in her childish days-

and unseen to those whos

chi

ithout me for a time? I

p Edward to"--The word o

oach on one who stood in

Browne, catching at the

hing you've ever said or

you like to have

ough. It would be far be

I could make my way pre

till I felt settled, an

he could c

d at first by this propo

nd the difference betwee

ged upon her only this

rceived that what was h

k's heart, once given in

t to him and to God. Thi

derstood, he admired w

timid girl brave enough

f she could only hel

id he, turning toward

re. It may be the saving

will bless you for

ill be doubled

nd the money. I can ge

tag

ll advance it,"

gie, hesitating from her

a's books, and what lit

pawning them--if he wou

may seem, is the only p

t st

after some demur on Mr.

t as soon as she found th

inflexible, though from

he cause of her son's ba

m him. If there had bee

the money in the same m

ittle when he heard the

how; and, strangely cal

w up a legal form of as

the departure; but he

nd admiration of Maggie w

nt, he calle

f Frank can do better th

as much thought as I sho

umn, and he is steady to

he can but keep good,

paper he drew up)--why,

the world first. I'd ra

ing round, that he may h

I can, or she will let i

coach. God bless you, my

absolutely in tears wh

regret ov