OCR Text |
Show s-f-MHHHH-f4--H-H' f 1'l'4-4-H'-M"M'-H''H'4-'H- I The Bow of Orange Hibboa J A ROMANCE OF NEW YORJt $ Dy AMELIA E. DAR.R- $ Author of "Friend OUvio.," "h Thou nd tho Othor Ono,"Elo. J Copyright, 1880, by Dodd, Mead and Company. T CHAPTER VII (Continued.) Now, hero was tho real Katherino. Hor vory presence, hor smiles, her tears, her words, would bo a consolation consola-tion bo far beyond nil hope, that thp girl by her side seemed n kind of mlraclo to her. Sho was far moro than a miracle to Hyde, As tho door opened, ho Blowly turned his Head. When ho eaw who was really tlioro, ho uttered a low cry of Joy, a crypltlful In its sarlll weakness. weak-ness. In a moment Katherino was close to his sldoSho kissed his hands and faco, and' whispered on his lips the Bwcetc3t wordB of love and fidelity. Hydo was in a rapture. Ho lay still, .speechless, motionless, watching and listening to hor. Hydo could speak little, but thero was no need of speech. Had .ho not nearly died for hor? yas not his very helplessness a pica, beyond tho power of' words. And' so quickly, so quickly, quick-ly, went tho happV moments! Ere Katherino had' hair said, "I" lovo thee," Mrs. Gordon reinln'dcd her that it" was nca,r tlio noon. ' ;v" "Then wo must part.my Katherino, for a little. When will you 'come again?" This was a painful question, because Katherino felt, that, ..however . she might oxcubo herself for tho unforeseen unfore-seen stress of pity that all unaware had hurried her into this interview, sho know sho could not find tho-same apology for ono deliberate and prearranged, pre-arranged, "Only onco moro," Hyde pleaded. "I hod, my Katherino, so many things to say to you. In my Joy, I forgot all. Como but onco more. Upon my honor, I promlso to ask Katherino Van Heomsklrk only this once. To-morrow? 'No. Two days 'hence, then?" "Two days henco I will como again. Then no moro." Ho smiled at her, and put out his hands; and sho knelt again by his side, and kls3Cd her "farewell" on hi lips. And, as sho put on again her cloak and veil, ho drew a small volume towards to-wards him, and with trembling hands tore out of it a scrap of paper, and ygavo it to her. " Under tho )lachcdgoj9Lnlght sho. read It, read It ovor andrR-, tho bltr of paper mado almost Hi and sen-(lont sen-(lont by Phocdrla's tcilietltlon to Ills beloved: "Whon you aro In company with that other man, behave as if you woro absent; but continue to lovo mo by day ud by night; wdnt me, dream of mo, Bxpoct mo, think of me, wish for me, Sought In me. bo wholly with mo: In short, bo my very soul, ns I am rours." CHAPTER VIII. "The Sliver Link, the Silken Tie." If Katherino had lived at this day, iho would probably have spent tho time between her promlso and Its fulfilment ful-filment In self-annlysis and lntrospec-tivo lntrospec-tivo reasoning with her own con-gclonco. con-gclonco. But tho women of a century ago woro not tossed with winds of various var-ious opinions, or made foolishly sub-tlio sub-tlio by arguments about principles which ought never to bo associated with dissent. A few strong, plain dictates had boon set before Katherino as tho law of her dally llfo; and sho know, beyond all controversy, when Bho disobeyed them. In her own heart, she called tho' sin Bhe had determined to commit by Jts most unequivocal name. "I shall make happy Richard; but my father I shall 'deceive and disobey, and against my own soul thoro will be tho Jlp." This was tho poslton she admitted, but ovory woman is Eve in somo hour of her llfo. Tho law of trutn and wisdom may bo In her cat's, but thoapploof do-llght do-llght hangs within hor reach; and, with a full understanding of tho cdnse-quonces cdnse-quonces of dlsobedlenco, sho takes tho forbidden pleasure. Thero aro women who prefer secrecy to nonest, and sin to truthfulness; but Katherino was not one of thonu If it had been posslhlo to sco her lover honorably, sho would have much preferred pre-ferred It, but sho know wojl tho storm of roproaeh nnd diiapproval which would answer any such request; and hor thougnts wore all bfcrit toward do-vising do-vising somo plan which would ennblo hor to leave homo early on that morning morn-ing which sho hnd promised hor lover. But all hor llttlo arrangements failed; fail-ed; and it waB almost at tho last hour of tho ovenlng previous, that clrcum-otanceB clrcum-otanceB offered her a reasonablo ox-cuao. ox-cuao. It came through Butavius, who returnod homo later than usual, bringing bring-ing with him a great many patterns of damask and figured cloth and stamped leather. At onco ho announced his Intention of staying at homo tho noxt morning In order to havo Joanna's aid in soloctlng th covorings for tholr new chairs, and counting up ielr cost. Ho had taken the strips out of hla pocket with an air 0f importance nnd complaUanco; am KathorIn, glanc- ing from them to hor mother, thought sho perceived a fleeting shndow of n feeling very much nkln to her own contempt of tho man's pronounced self-satisfaction. self-satisfaction. So when supper was over, and tho houao duties dono, she determined to speak to her. Jorls was at a town mooting, and Lysbet did not Interfero with tho lovers. Kntherlnc found her standing at an open window, looking thoughtfully Into tho autumu garden. "Mljn mocdor." "MUn kind." , "Let mo go away with Bram In tho morning. Batavlus I cannot bear. About every chair cover he will call in tho whole houso. Moedor, you know how it will bo. To-morrow I cannot bear him. Very near quarr.elling havo we been for a week." "I know, Katherino, I know. Leave, then, with Brum,' and go first to Margaret Mar-garet Pitt's, 'and ask her If tho now winter fashions will arrlvo from London Lon-don this month. And look now, Katherino, Kath-erino, peace Is tho best thing; and to his own houso Batavlus will go in a few wcqks." "Mljn Mocder, sad and troubled are thy looks. What Is thy sorrow?' "For theo my heart aches often mine and thy good father's, too. Dost thou not suffer? Can thy mother bo blind? Nothlng'hast thou eaten lately. late-ly. Joanna says thou art restless all tho night long. .Thou art so changed then, that wert over such a happy Uttlo ono. Hard Is thy mother's lot. Tho dear children I nurBed on my breast, thoy go hero and they go thoro, with this strango ono and that strango ono. Last night, cro to our sleep wo went, thy father read to mo somo words of tho loving, mother-llko Jacob. They aro truo words. Every good mother haa said them, at o grave or at the bridal, "If I ftrrt bereaved be-reaved of my children, I am bereaved." Thero was a sail pathos in tho homely old words ns they dropped Blowly from Lysbot's lips. Many a year afterward Katherino remembered remember-ed tho hour and tho words, especially In tho gray glooms of lato October evenings. Tho next morning ws ono of por-fect por-fect beauty, and Katherino awoko with a feeling of joyful expectation. Sho paid a very short visit to tho mantuamakcr, and then went to Mrs. I Gordon's. A Coach Was In waiting, and In a few minutes they stood together nt Hydo's door. Thcro was a sound of voices within; and, when thoy entered, enter-ed, Katherino saw, with a pang of disappointment, a flno, soldierly looking look-ing man In full uniform sitting by Richard's sldo. But Richard appeared to bo In no way annoyed by his company. com-pany. Ho was looking much better, and woro a chamber gown of maroon eatln, with deop laces showing at tho wrists and bosom. With an air that plainly said, "This is tho maiden for whom I havo fought and suffered; Is sho not, worthy of my dovotlon?" ho Introduced her to his friend, Capt. Wtorle. But, oven as thoy spfke, Eftrlo joined Mrs. Gordon, Gor-don, at a call from her; and Kather-Ino Kather-Ino noticed that a door near which they stood was open, and that thoy wont into tho room to which it led, and that other voices then blended with theirs. But these things wcro as nothing. Sho was with her lovor, alono for a moment with him; and Rlchnrd had nover beforo seemed to her half bo dear or half bo fascinating. fascinat-ing. , "My Katharine," ho said, "I have ono tormontlng thought. Night and day it consumes mo llko a fover. I hear that Noll Scmplo Is well. Thoy will' mako you marry him, my darling.'" dar-ling.'" "No; that thoy can novcr do." "But I suffer In tho fear. I suffor a thousand deaths. If you woro only my wlfo, Katherino!" "Oh, my love, my love!" "See how I tremble, Katherino. Llfo scarcely cares to Inhabit a body so weak. If you rofuso mo I will let It go. If you refuse mo, I shall know that in your heart you expect to mnrry Noll Semple tho savago who has mado mo suffer unspeakabio agonies." "Nover will I mnrry him, Richard,' never, nover. My word is truo. You only I will marry." "Thon now, now, Katherino. Hero Is tho ring. Hero is tho special Hconso from tlio governor; my aunt has mado him to understand nil. Tho clergyman and tho witnesses aro waiting. Now, Katherino? Now, now!" Sho roso, and stood whlto and trombllng by his Bldo speechless, also. To her fathor and her mother hor thoughts fled In a kind of loving torror. But how could sho resist tho pleading of ono whom eho so tenderly loved, and to whom, in hor maldon simplicity, sho imagine horcolf to be so deeply tiounacnf Jmi mien xucu-ard xucu-ard ceased to speak, -nnd only bo sought her with tho unanswerable pathos of his evident suffering for hor sake, sho felt the argument to bo Irresistible. Irre-sistible. 1 "Well, my Kntherlne, will you pity j roo eo far?" I "All you ask, m loced one, I will I Want." I "Angel of goodness! Now?" 1 "At your wish, Richard." 1 Ho took her hand In a passion of Joy and gratitude, and toiichcd a smalt boll. Immediately thcro was a sudden silence, and then a sudden movement In tho adjoining room. Tho next moment a clergyman in canonical dress camo townrd them. By his sldo, was Col. Gordon, and Mrs. Gordon j and Capt. Earlo followed. Tho ceremony cere-mony was full of solemnity, and or that deepest Joy which dims tho eyes with tears, oven while It wreathes the-lips the-lips with smiles. During It, Kntherlne. knelt by Rlchnrd's side; and overy -vo was fixed upon him, for ho was almost fainting with tho fatlguo of his emotiona; and It was with fast receding re-ceding consciousness 'that ho wills-pered wills-pered rapturously at its closo, "My wife, my wife!" Throughout tho sleep of exhaustion! which followed, sho sat watching him.. Tho band of gold about her finger fas' clnated her. Sho was now really Richard's wlfo; and tho first sensation of such a mighty chango was, in her pure soul, ono of inflnito and rovoron't love. When Richard awoke, ho was refreshed and supremely happy. Tho coach was waiting; and, without with-out delay, Katherino returned wlthi Mrs. Gordon to her lodgings, and them homo. r- As tlmo went on, without belrifc watphed, Katherino felt herself to bo undor a certain amount of restraint. If Bho proposed a walk into tho city,' Joanna or madam was euro to havo tho same desire. Sho was not forbidden for-bidden to visit Mrs. Gordon, tiu'V ovents wcro so arranged as to' mako tho visit almosc imposslblo;. and only once, during tho1 month! after her marriage, had ellO hnd aH' interview with hero husband. For ovon Hydo's Impatience had recognized recogniz-ed tho absoluto necessity of circurq,-spcptlon. circurq,-spcptlon. ' The marringo license had been obtained ob-tained from tho governor, but extraordinary extra-ordinary influenco had been used to procuro It. Katherino was undor ago, and yet subject to her father's authority. author-ity. In splto of book and priest and j ring, ho could retain hla child for at leant threo year8; and three years, i Hyde In talking with his aunt I called "an eternity of doubt and des- " r pair." Fortunately Joanna's wedding-day wedding-day was drawing near, and It absorbed absorb-ed what attention tho general public had for tho Van Heemsklrk family. For It was a certain thing, developing develop-ing into feasting and dancing; and it quite put out of consideration suspicions sus-picions which resulted In nothing when peoplo cxnmlncd them In tho clear atmosphcro of Katherlno'a 1 horns, 1 In tlio middlo of tho afternoon of I tho day boforo tho marriage, thero I was tho loud rat-tat-tat of tho brass I knocker, announcing a visitor. It was E Mrs. Gordon, and sho nooded nnd I laughed In n triumphant way that I very quickly brought Kntherlne to her side. "My dear, I kiss you. You aro tho top beauty of my wholo acqunlnt-. anco." Thon, In a whisper, "Richard" sends his dovotlon. And put your hand In my muff; thoro la a letter.. And pray glvo mo Joy; I'havo jnat ( secured nn invitation. I nsked tho councillor and madam point blank for ' It Faith, I think I nm a llttlo of a fa,yorlto with them! How Is tho young Bruc6? My dear, If you don't 1 mako him suffer, I shall novor forgive I you. Alternate doses of hopo and I despair, that would bo my nroscrln- 1 tion." Kathorlno shook hor head. , "On my wedding day, ns I loft RlclP ! ard, this ho said to mo, 'My honor,1 , Kathorlno, is now In your kooplngj' By tho lifting of ono oyolask, 1 will not stain it." "My dear, you aro perfectly charming. charm-ing. You always convlnco mo that I am a bottor woman than I imaglno-myself. imaglno-myself. I shall go straight to Dick, and toll him how oxnctly propor you are. Really, you havo moro perfections perfec-tions than any ono woman haa a right "To-morrow, If I havo a letter ready, you will take It?" "I will run tho risk, child. Now, adlou. Return to your ovorgroons and ribbons." And bo. lightly humming hum-ming Katherlno'a favorlto song, sho loft tho busy houso. Beforo daylight tho noxt morning, Batavlus had overy ono at his post. Tho coromony was to bo porformed In tho Middlo Kirk, and ho took care that Joanna kept neither Dominio do Rondo nor himself waiting. Kathorlno looked for Mrs. Gordon ' in vain; aho was not in tho kirk, and sho did not arrivo until tho fostlval dinnor was nearly ovor. Batavlus was thon considerably undor tho oxclto-mont oxclto-mont of his flno position nnd flno fare. Ho sat by tho side of his brido, at tho right hand of Jorls; and Kathorlno Kathor-lno assisted hor mother at ths other end of tho tabic (To bo continued.) I The Bow of Orange Ribboiv I t A ROMANCE OF NEW YOUK J V AMELIA E. DAR.R. X Author cf "Friend Ollvl." "I. Thou nd .., Othor One." Etc. f 1 J Copyright, 1880, by Dodd. Mead and Company. X I 4,tM.!.AJJ.AXXJ..I I I I . - . T I CHAPTER VIM. (Continued.) I "Come, friends and neighbors," said Joris chcerllj', "I will sing you a song; and every one knows the tune to It, and overy ono lins lieard their vadors j and their moodors sing It sometimes, porhnps, on the grcnt dikes of Vador- land, nnd sometimes In their sweet ! homes thnt the great Hendrlck Hud son found out for thorn. Now, then, all, a song for MOEDHU HOLLAND. AVo have taken our land from tho sea, Jts Holds uro all yellow with Brain, Its incurious uro green on the .en And now shall wo give It to Spain? No, no, no, no! "Vo have planted tho faith that Is pure, That. faith to tho and wv'll maintain; For tho fcorri and tho truth must inrture. Shall wo how to tho popo ami to Spain? lo, no, no, no! Our flhlpH are on every sea, Our honor has novor a stnln. Our law ami our commerce are free: Are wo slaves for the tyrant of Spain? ISo, no, no, no! Then, sons of Datavla. tho spado Tho spado and tho plko and tho main, And the heart and tho hand and the blade, is there mercy for merciless Spain? No, no, no, no! By this time tho enthusiasm was . -wonderful. Tho short, quick denials came hotter nnd louder at every verso; and It wns easy to understand how those largo, slow men, once Idndlod to white heat, were both Irresistible Irre-sistible and unconquerable. Every eyo was turned to Joris, who stood In his massive, manly beauty a very conspicuous con-spicuous figure. His faco was full of feeling and purpose, his largo hluo eyes limpid and shining; and. as tho tumult of applause gradually ceased, bo said: "My friends and neighbors, no poet am I; but always wrongs burns In tho heart until plain proso can not utter v them. Listen to mo. If wo wrung tho Great Charter and the right of self-tnxatlon from Mary in A. D. 1477; if In A. D. 1C72 wo taught Alva, by force of arms, how dear to us was our maxim, 'No taxation without representation,' rep-resentation,' Shall wo Blvo up our long-cherished rlsht? lako tho blood of our fathers In vain? Pn wo fear any tyrant to llBlit? Shall wo hold out our lunula for tho chain? No, no, no, no! Even tho women had cnught flro at this allusion .to tjto Injustice of . tho r Stamp Act and Quartering Acts, then hanging over tho liberties "of tho Province; Prov-ince; and Mrs. Gordon looked curiously curious-ly and not unkindly at tho latent rebels. "England will have foemen worthy of her steel, If she turns these good friends Into enemies," sho reflected. re-flected. Tho emotion was too Intense to be prolonged; and Joris Instantly pushed bock his chair, and said, "Now, tljen, 1 friends, for tho dance. Myself I think not too old to take out tho bride." ' Nell Semplo, who had looked like a j man In a dream during tho singing, went eagerly to Kathorlno ns soon as Joris spoko of dancing. "Ho felt strong enough," ho said, "to tread a measure In tho bride's danco, nnd ho ! hoped sho would so far honor him." "No, I will not, Noll. I will not tako your hands. Often I havo told you that." "Just for to-night, forgive mo, Knth-j Knth-j erino." "I am sorry that all must end so; ' I cannot danco any more with you;" and then sho affected to hear her mother calling, nnd loft him standing among tho Jocund crowd, hopeless and distraught with grief. CHAPTER IX. i Katherlne'o Decision. Joanna's wedding occurred at tho I beginning of tho winter and tho winter 1 festivities. But amid all tho dining I and dnnclng nnd skntlng thero was n I political anxiety and oxcltemont that leavened strongly every social and domestic event. Tho first Colonial Congress had passed tho threo resolutions resolu-tions which proved to bo tho key note of rosibtnnco and of liberty. Joris had emphatically Indorsed Its action. Tho odious Stamp Act was to bo mot by tho refusal of American merchants either to Import English goods, or to EOi. them upon commission, until It -wnb repealed. Homespun becamo fnshlonnblo. Tho government kept Its hand upon tho sword. Thp people were divlddd Into two parties, bitterly antagonistic to each othor. Tho "Soiis oY'Llherty" wore koeplng guard over tho, polo which symbolized their determination; The British soldlory wore swaggering and boasting and openly lnu.ltlng , patriots on tho BtiortH.V.tplfh tho "Now York Gazette" In (IfinjUy; articles was stimulating to tho iitnloW tho Spirit of resistance to tyranny. Still In splto of this homo troublo nndj In splto of tho national anxiety, tho; wlntor months wont with a do-lightsome, do-lightsome, poaco and regularity in tho Van HooniBklrk household. Nell Sera- plo ceased to visit Kathorlno after Joanna's Jo-anna's wedding. Thero was no quarrel and no Interruption to tho kindness that had so long existed bo-tweon bo-tweon the families, but Nell novor again offered her his hand; nnd such conversation as they had was constrained, con-strained, and of tho most conventional character. As Iiydo grew stronger ho spent his hours In writing long letters to his wife. Ho told her overy trivial event he commented on nil sho told him. and her letters rovealeil to him a soul so pure, so true, so loving, that ho vowed "ho foil In love with icr afresh every day of his life." Ono exquisite morning In Mny Kathorlno Kath-orlno stood at an opon window looking look-ing over the garden and tho river, and tho green hills nnd meadows across tho Btrcam. Her heart was full of hope. Richard's recovery was so far advanced that ho had taken several rides In tho mlddlo of tho day. Always Al-ways ho had passed tho Van Hcoms-klrks' Hcoms-klrks' house nnd always Kntherlno had been waiting to rnin down upon his upI!tod faco tho lnlluenco of her most howltchlng beauty and her ton-dorest ton-dorest smiles. As sho happily mused, somo ono called her mother from tho front hall. On fine mornings It was customary to loavo tho door standing opon; and tho visitor advanced to tho foot of tho stairs and called once more, "Lysbct Van Hecmsklrk! Is thero naehody in to bid mo welcome?" Then Katherino know it was Madam Semplo; and sho ran to her mother's room nnd begged her to go down-and down-and receive tho caller. For In theso days Kathorlno dreaded Mndam Semplo Sem-plo a little. Very naturally, tho mother moth-er blamed her for Nell's suffering and loss of tlmo and prestige; and sho found It hard to forglvo also her positive posi-tive rejection of his suit. And towards Nell, Joris had a 'secret 'se-cret feeling of resentment. Ho had taken no pains to woo Katherino until somo ono else wanted her. It was universally conceded that ho had been tho first to draw his sword, and thus Indulge his own temper at tho exponso of their child's good nnmo and happiness. hap-piness. So, below tho smiles and kind words, of-a longIqndshlp, thoro was1 bitterness. If thero hnd not beon Janot Semplo would hardly havo paid that morning 'visit; for before Lysbet wns half way down tho stairs, Katherino Kath-erino heard her call out: "Hero's a honnlo como of. But It Is what a folks expected. 'Thp Dauntless' Daunt-less' sailed the mdrn, and Capt. Earl wP a contingent for tho West Indies station. And who wP him, guess you, but Capt. Hyde, and no less? Thoy bay he has a furlough In his pocket for a twelve-month; moro like It's a clean total dismissal. Tho gudo ken It ought to bo." So much Kntherlno heard, then her mother shut tho door of tho sitting room. A great fear made her turn faint and sick. Woro her father's words truo? Tho suspicion once entertained, en-tertained, she remombered sovernl llttlo things which strengthened It. Her heart failed her; sho uttered a low cry of pain, and tottered to n chair like ono wounded. It was then ton o'clock. Sho thought tho noon hour would never come. Eagerly sho watched for Bram and hor father; for any certainty would bo hotter than such cruel fear and suspense. And, If Richard had roally gone tho fact would bo known to them. Bram camo first. For onco sho felt Impatient of his political enthusiasm. en-thusiasm. How could sho caro about liberty poles and Impressed fishermen with such a real terror at hor heart? Joris was tenderly explicit. Ho said to hor at onco: " 'Tho Dauntless' sailed this morning. Oh, my little ono, sorry I am for thco!" "Is ho gone?" Very low and slow woro tho words; and Joris only answered, an-swered, "Yes," Without any further question or ro-mnrk, ro-mnrk, sho went away. Thoy wcro amazed at hor calmness. And for somo minutes after sho had locked tho door of her room, sho stood still In tho mlddlo of tho floor, moro like ono that has forgotten something, and Is trying to remombor, than a woman who has received a blow upon her heart. No tears camo to her oyes. Sho did not think of weeping or reproaching, re-proaching, or lamontlng. Tho only questions sho asked horsolf wcro: "How am I to got llfo over? Will such suffering kill mo very soon?" About two o'clock Lysbot wont to Kathorlno. Tho girl opened hor door at onco to hor. Thero was nothing to bo said, no hopo 'to offer. Tho mother did not. attempt to say ono word of comfort, or hopo, or excuse. Sho only took tho child In hor arms, and wopt for hor. "I lc 'od him so much, mocdor " "Thou could not help it x , omo and 'gallant and gay he ,ns . . "And hq dW love m. v woman ktlowri'whon Jho is loro.i "Yos, I nmaur. he loved i'tp" "Ho has gone' RenVy un,' "No doubles there en u stay in thy roomf.and'lhave thj Mll t ,Hlt 'wllll thyself.'' "No; I will como to m won Every Ev-ery day, will not he th. Mm. I shall look no morb'fpr any,j ,UI ,ny dutv I will do.'V Thoy wont, downsiniM t ,-ther. Tho clean linen, the st. Minis thnt required. mendln lay upon v ( table. Kntherlno sriC down to tt, tis iu-si olutely, but'Wmost uncPMs(l,.nsly, sho put hor noodld through an I tlr..ugh. Her suffering vas pitiful tl,i Httlo ono who n fow months ago would hnvo wopt for a cut filler now MMitly battling with tin bitterest nuon that can como to a olng woman -tho sense of cruel, unoxpecUd, unmerited desertion. So for an hour an hour of speechless sorrow, they sat. Tho at-mosphoro at-mosphoro was bccomlm; Intolerable Uko that o,n nightman- and Lysbot was feeling that she must speak and move, and so dissipate it. when thero was a loud knock at the front door. Kathorlno trembled all over. "Today "To-day I cannot bear It, mother. No ono can I see. I will qo upstairs.' Ere tho words were finished, Mrs. Gordon's voiro was audible. Sho camo into tho room laughing, with tho smell of fresh violets nnd the fooling of tho brisk wind around her. "Dear madam," she cried, "I entrent you for n favor. I nm going to take the air this afternoon; be bo good as to lot Kathorlno como with mo. For 1 must toll you that tho colonel has orders for Boston, and I may see my charming charm-ing friend no more after to-day." "Katherino, what say you? Will you go?" "Please, mljn moeder." "Make great haste, then." For Lysbet wns pleased with tho offer, and fearful that Joris might rrlvc, und refuso to let his daughter accopt it. Sho hoped that Katherino would receive some comforting message. "Stay not long," sho whispered, "for your father's sake. Thero Is no good, moro trouble to give him." "Well, my dear, you look Hko a ghost. Have you not ono smllo for a woman so completely In your Interest? I promised Dick this morning that I would bo suro to get word to you" I "I thought Richard had gone." "And you were breaking your heart that Is easy to be seen. Ho has gone, but ho will como back to-night at eight o'clock. No matter what hap-pons, hap-pons, ho i&.ffforlyorB,tdo..T)olHinot,-jfalNDi3LJis'mlcIng i&.ffforlyorB,tdo..T)olHinot,-jfalNDi3LJis'mlcIng jfiTT flfrin his 'blind Tosc6 your" "I thought hothnd gone gone, without with-out a word.? ; "Faith you aro not complimentary! I flatter myself that our Dick is a gentleman. 1 do, indeed. And, as ho Is yet perfectly" in his senses, you might have trusted him." "When will Richard return?" "Indeed, 1 think you will havo to answer for his resolves. But ho will speak for himself; and, in faith, I told him that he had como to a point whoro I would be noflonger responsible for his actions. Inm thankful to own that I havo some conscience loft." The ride was not rV very pleasant ono. Katherinojcould not help feeling thnt Mrs. Gordon was distrait and Inconsistent; In-consistent; andMownrds Its close, sho becamo very silent. Yet sho kissed hor kindly, audi drawing her closely for a last wonl.saUi, "Do not forget to wenr your wadded cloak and hood. You may havo to tako tho water; for tho councillor livery suspicious, let mo toll you. Remember what I say tho waddod cloakTnnd hood; and good-by, good-by, my dear." S "Shall I bee you soon?" "When wo maj ,,ioet again, I do not protend to say; till then, I am entirely en-tirely yours; nndso again good-by." Tho ride hnd not occupied an hour; but, when Kathorlno got homo, Lysbot was making tea. A cp wlu bo g00t, for you, mljn klndj And sho smllod tondorly In tho faco that had beon so whlto In Its woeful anguish, but on which thoro wasow tho gleam of hopo. And sho perceived that Kathorlno Kathor-lno had received somo mosBago; sho ovon divined that tQro might bo somo appointment to keep; nnd sho detor-mind detor-mind not to bo toojwiso and prudent, butto trust Katherino for this ovon-lng ovon-lng with her ownffiestlny. That night therWna a mootlng nt tho town hall nndfiprIa loft tno hou8Q soon nftor his tca.gf . , F?r ?" lTu ?loro Kathorlno sat In tho brond ll-ht of the window, fold-lng fold-lng and unfoldinggEo. pieces of whlto linen, sowing a 8t$h or two h nnd putting on n bugon or tapo thero. Madam passed qug,y to am, fr) about her homo lBtI sometimes stopping to say afew wor,,a to , daughter. When Jlbot wg to do so, sho bogalo j ,nt0 h deep dyT.0' Mroaaos tho table-llnon table-llnon which Katholte had SQ and carefully exai 0yor "J of lino damask ngjjjjnB Bh with a perp oxod g d f Kathorlno doHctlffifo nt Qnco dorstood tho causoj (To bo cjffiUod |