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r.":-". rj t THEI BARRIER…

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r. rj t THE BARRIER BETWEEN; on, REPENTED UNTO DEATH. CHAPTER III. continued. The comforter came, and calmness succeeded the Whirl of thought and emotion which had careered through her soul during the few past hours. It was Hot the apathetic calmness of despair, but that of resolute purpose, and suffer as she might in her firm teliance on a higher power, she felt she must at tength triumph over this bitter blow. Life is too great a boon to be permanently darkened by any sorrow, and already Amy was consoled by the Certainty that other hopes would arise to cheer the • path she must tread. As if to recall to her recollec- tion one source of happiness which yet remained to lier, a hand tried the lock of the door, and a fresh young voice called out: Mamma Amy, are you here ?' Please open and let Rose in." Smoothing away the traces of emotion, Miss Cunningham put back the curtains, and admitted a girl of fourteen, carrying a bonnet in one hand, and a roll of music in the other. Health bloomed upon her peach-like cheeks, and joyous, full, youthful life glowed throughout her elastic frame. Fashion had not been permitted to distort her graceful form, and her deep azure eyes beamed with mingled mirth and sweetness. Her brown hair hung in soft curls around a white slender throat, and the delicately chiselled features promised great beauty in their full 'development. She eagerly exclaimed: Oh, mamma Amy, you will be so glad, so proud, when I tell you that I am one of the few pupils elected ;by M. Morogini to compete for the gold medal he offers for improvement in music. I am determined to win if (perseverance can gain success." I am glad to hear it, my child, since it pleases You so much." The girl was so fully occupied with her own thoughts, ;'that at the moment of her entrance she did not remark T the wearied expression of Amy's face, but a vibration b the tone of her voice struck on her sensitively 'tuned ear, and she hastily said: Something has vexed you. What is it, mamma Amy ? Can I do anything for you ?" Nothing has vexed me, Rose I am only wearied with the labour of the morning, You know we held -4 reception to day And that wearied you so much ? Why, mamma Amy, I think it will be the finest time of my life, when I can dress myself up as fine as a peacock, with its spread plumage, and have all my friends coming to see how grand I am. Only wait till I am eighteen. and see if I don't make a sensation." A half smile flitted over Amy's face and she gravely Said: I hope you do not intend to become a fast girl, Rose, as some of our young ladies are accused of being ?" Fast! what does it mean but enjoying one's self ? Acting out one's oum character, and not being a Miss Primmy, like some of the young ladies I have seen at 'the few parties you have permitted me to attend. I can never pretend to be what I am not; so, if being true to myself is fast, I suppose I shall be so when I am my own mistress. But one thing be sure of, mamma Amy I intend to hold fast all the good pre- Cepts impressed on me by your ruby lips." That is something gained, Rose. But pray tell me when you expect that important period to arrive when you will become your own mistress ? I have never found a time yet in which a woman can act en- e tirely as she pleases, without meeting the severest censure." Rose opened her blue eyes to their fullest extent. Are women never free, then ?" No, my dear. They are never free from the con- o Centional rules of society-never free to violate the deeper instincts of a true nature I have endeavoured to implant in your mind such principles of rectitude as will be your best guides in the future, and time will only prove to you the truth of my assertion, that women are never free from the trammels of public opinion nor is it desirable that they should be so, if they wish to preserve their own self-respect." Rose mused a few moments, and then said I shall be very rich some day, and I am not very s tad looking. Shall I not have more liberty to act as I < otease than other girls who are plain and poor ? What IS the use of money if it cannot purchase me the privi- lege of doing what I may think right, without caringr what anyone may say ?" What is right you may of course do, whether the privilege be purchased or not. It is wrong-dcing only that I am guarding you against, my love. You may be rich, Rose; but are you not aware that your future fortune depends on a contingency P" No, I did not know that. My nurse is always telling me what a great lady my money is going to make me; but she never hinted that I might lose it. Ilow is that, mamma Amy ?" Sit beside me, Rose, and I will explain your true position to you, for it is time that you should be made aware of it." Rose settled herself in a listening attitude, and Miss Cunningham went on: You have not forgotten Mr. Trevor, the old gentle- 1 man with snowy hair and beard, who used to make so great a pet of you in your childhood ?" No, indeed. I remember Mr. Trevor perfectly. I ■ have many of his beautiful presents now." He had an only son-a wild, reckless youth—who ran away at the age of seventeen, and went to sea. Albert Trevor was heard of at intervals for several years, but at length all tidings of him ceased to arrive. Every enquiry was made, but only vague in- formation was elicited, which led to the belief that he > had perished on one of the Pacific Islands. There was, however, no certainty that it was true, and when Mr. Trevor made a will in your favour, the gift of his fortune was conditional. If his son ever returns, and brings with him proofs of his identity, the wealth of ^at.^er returns to him, and my little Rose will only be entitled to two thousand pounds from the estate." The young girl listened with absorbing interest. An expression of disappointment swept over her bright face, but it was only momentary; she smiled sweetly as before as she said: So my claims to the state of an heiress are in -shadow-land, after all; for I shall look upon this money as absolutely belonging to another person, and I shall be afraid to appropriate any portion of it, lest 'the real owner may re-appear and demand an account from me." Your old friend guarded against that, Rose; for he wished you to be really benefited by his bequest, even if his son should come back to his own. The property is to accumulate until you have completed your seventeenth year; for your education JE300 was annually allowed, and after you have reached that age the income is to be used unreservedly by yourself. Should Albert Trevor ever return he will only be entitled to claim the estate as it was left by his father. The accumulations from the income of the £ 20CK) "~°UrS' *Q Edition to the legacy of What a good man Mr. Trevor must have been, and how kind of him it was to provide against a claim which would have rendered his money nearly useless to me. I am sure I hope that Albert Trevor will ,come home some day and enjoy his own fortune. I shall have quite enough without it. How old is he mamma Amy, if he is still living ?" Too old to make a romantic marriage between you .and him, my dear. It is now sixteen years since young Trevor ran away from his father—he was seven- teen at that time, so you see he is at least thirty-three years old." Rose blushed vividly, and a smile dimpled her rosy lips. I really was not thinking of that, mamma Amy, though it would be as nice as some of the things about which we read in books; only Mr. Trevor is BO very old—he will soon be quite venerable. Amy laughed at her idea of age, and replied- "He is only three years older than your cousin arold, and you do not consider him such an antiquity. tfl ^T°' indeed. I am a silly child to talk thus. ousin Harold is young enough and handsome enough 'l°hoan^ ^or my pretty mamma Amy; and Hush, child. That subject is one I have never r-itted you to discuss with me. Now, indeed, it harried" Juried past. Mr. Danvers is and Rose looked wistfully into the nothing °V«?^MS0 was Pale> fixed—it betrayed BnpiVif'nn « 1 *10Pe(l) I wished, but I dare not around wT'- ajd she impulsively threw her arms around her friend, and burst into tears. bukingl^id—°rt Amy steadied her voice and reo- kmgly saId- has d° 7ou weep because one you love found a wife to make him happy ? Harold has too long led an aimless, wandering life his marriage will bring him back to his country and his friends. Young as Rose was, she had too much tact to at- tempt to explain the cause of her tears. She smiled through them, and said— You will pardon me, but I believe that I am jealous myself of this new wife. I hope she is not so beautiful as to eclipse all the rest of us." She is not beautiful, but I am sure she is fascina.. ting, elegant, and high-bred, or Harold would never have sought her. Her portrait hangs in the library, where it was placed this afternoon. You can go and examine it." Rose waited for no second permission; with her girlish curiosity on the qui vivo, she went at once to the library. No voice responded to her light knock upon the door, and she ventured to enter noiselessly and approach her uncle. Mr. Danvers sat in front of the fire, gazing with rapt attention upon the face of his daughter-in-law, as if a spell was laid on him by the subtle attraction it possessed, in spite of its want of beauty. The young girl stood several moments silently con- templating the portrait, and then, with characteristic frankness, exclaimed: "Did cousin Harold have to go all the way to Paris to find that ugly little person for his wife ? I declare she is not much better looking than the old applewoman who sits at the corner of the street near Madame Duchatel's house. Poor Rose she had disgraced herself for that day. Mr. Danvers turned on her with his most awful frown. I am afraid that madame has performed her duty very remissly, since you permit yourself such liberty of speech as this. Miss Rose Chard, is this the greeting you owe to the bride of my son, and the daughter of my house ?" The emphasis was perfectly overwhelming. Rose blushed painfully, then a half smile would peep out of the corners of her arch mouth, and she demurely said: Pray, pardon me, sir. I did express myself too strongly; but, with your permission, I must still think that cousin Harold could have found a hand- somer bride at home. Mamma Amy, for instance." The old man winced he quickly said I do not think your mamma Amy, as you choose to call her, ever intends to marry. If she does, she would hardly have refused Harold, as she tells me she did three years ago." Rose looked incredulous, but she did not reply. Her feminine tact taught her several things of which Mr. Danvers would never have dreamed. After a pause he condescended to ask the young girl: Doe? not this face attract you, Rose, after you have had time to scan it thoroughly ?" No, sir, it does not," was the prompt reply. I have been studying phrenology and physiognomy lately, and I think I could analyse it; but you would not like me to do so, sir." Both the so-called sciences you refer to are hum- bugs but what does this face reveal to you, as judged by their rules ?" Rose replied with reluctance I would rather not, uncle. If I speak at all, I you must tell the truth, and it may offend you." No, I shall not be offended; you may speak frankly." Thus urged, the girl raised her arm, and pointed to different portions of Mrs. Danvers' head and face, as she slowly said: Craft, guile, wilfulness-little conscientiousness and large acquisitiveness." Mr. Danvers started up, exclaiming with great ex- citement Child child do you realise that you are speak- ing of Harold's wife? See how utterly false your judgment must be, for he could never have chosen such a woman as you describe." Oh, I hope not-I trust not, uncle for I love him too deeply to wish him any evil. Forgive me, sir, if I have offended you." No, child, I told you I would not be offended, but I am hurt that all of you should depreciate my new daughter's appearance. You shall read her letter to me, little one, and when you can write such elegant French, I shall consider you a credit to Madame Duchatel's instructions." Rose gladly accepted the permission, and after attentively perusing it, she confessed that her judgment of Mrs. Danvers must be erroneous a refined and cultivated woman only could have pennep this charming epistle. (To be continued)

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