THE MYSTERY OF HADDON'S FERRY.

By E. D. E. X Southworth.

CHAPTER XXXV. Gertrude's sacrifice. Oh, should she nnver share his fate, More dark that fate will prove, His heart more deeply desolate Without her perfect love; But she must suffer for his sake, If this relief she bring, As loving lips would die to take The venom from a sting;. Gertrude gazed at Fitzgerald in mute amazement. She had heard all his words, and she had understood their full meaning, yet she could neither believe in her own hearing or credit her own understand-

ing. Meanwhile, standing before her,_ sad, pale, and firm, he held her little plump hands clasped in his hands with a strong grasp, and held the meek brown eyes riveted on his eyes by his'steadfast gaze. "Do you hear me, my child? Do you comprehend what I say to you ?" he eagerly inquired, gazing intently down into the pure depths of those soft dark eyes, which she had no power to withdraw from his. i tell you that at this moment I am a tree man, but' I may be in the next an exile or a slave,' unless you save me. I am on the brink of a gulf of perdition, from which only your small hand can snatch me. v\ Hi you dare to five me this little hand, Gertrude? Will you dare to be my wife, and that within this hour?" " I will dare to do whatever you wish. 1 only want to do your will," she answered, in a low voice vibrating with her soul's deep emotion. She asked no questions, raised no diffi culties, expressed no doubts, made no con ditions with him who was to be her hus band. Her faith in him was as strong as her love for him was pure, and both were boundless. Then and there, at his asking, she offered up her young heart a pure and perfect sacrifice. He bent his stately head down lower towards her earnest little face, and gazed deeper into the depths of her brown eyes, and then he repeated his question: "Will you really be my wife within an hour, Gertrude?" "Yes, if you will," she answered, softly, steadily. ■ ' " No" matter what anyone may say in op position to your doing so?" he asked, tightening- his clasp upon her hands. '"No matter what anyone may say in op position to my doing so,' " she solemnly re plied, as if repeating the words of some ritual. "And you will not fear to do this, my sweet child?" he tenderly, pityingly in quired. _ '' I will not fear, by your side, said Ger trude, in a low tone. " Then you are, indeed, my own ? Heaven bless you, sweet girl; and, oh, may Heaven help me to be true to you, and to make you happy !" he fervently breathed, as he drew her to his bosom and pressed a kiss upon her pure brow. " Well ! upon my woud — AND HONOUR!" ,-■ This exclamation came from Pat litz gerald, who had just opened the door and now stood on the threshold aghast. Gerald Fitzgerald did not for an instant lose his self-possession. He turned and drew the hand of his blushing companion within his arm, and holding it protectingly there, said: , " Good morning, my merry cousin. Can *»ou tell me where I shall find Dr. Good-

(An ?" '•Yes, sir," flashed Pat. " You can find Jiim trotting, up and down the front pas sage, fretting and -fuming because it is' growing late and"he cannot get his young all together to go to Greenwood to your wedding ! —there is where you will find him if you care to look for him. But will yon tell me what in the old Scratch has brought you here on this you marriage morning, when you ought to be at Greenwood '!" " I \»UI tell Dr. Goodwin, my dear girl, and that will be more to the purpose," said Gerald Fitzgerald, with a smile. " Ah ! but who will tell Geraldine of this visit ? When she hears it I would not be in your boots for a fast horse !" exclaimed Pat, maliciously. Colonel Fitzgerald did not reply; but with Gertrude's hand held caressingly within his arm, he moved towards the door, but was prevented from leaving the room by the sudden entrance of Dr. Goodwin, with little May Faire on his arm. " Well, now, I have got all three of you young Flibbertigibbets together, I suppose we may start —What! you here, Colonel Fitzgerald ! For Heaven's sake, what has happened ?" exclaimed the doctor, in dismay at discovering the bridegroom on his wedding-day so far from the neighbour hood of his bride. "For Heaven's sake, what can have happened ?" " Nothing has happened, my dear Doctor, but what might have been expected. The marriage engagement heretofore existing between Miss Fitzgerald and myself was yesterday broken off by mutual agreement," replied Gerald Fitzgerald, in a voice steadied only by his own strong will. "Humph! humph! humph!" grunted the good doctor, slowly sinking into his old arm chair and quite getting over his hurry to be off. " Yes, it might have been ex pected. Yes, certainly it might have been expected. But you must have become ac customed to that sort of thing by this time, Colonel. And now! Have you ridden over here this morning to ask me to mediate ? Because if you have, my boy, I won't do it. 1 would not do it the last time, and I don't do it this time. A pair, let me tell you, who are always quarrelling before marriage will never agreeafterwards. The best thing you and Geraldine could do would be to separate for ever." " I think so too, sir, and—" " Only you won't do it " " I was about to add, sir, that the separa tion is now a final one." " Oh, yes, final until Geraldine writes you a note or sends you a jnessage, when you will go back to her to have the same trouble .re peated again and again—how many times ? Is this misery to last for ever, Gerald? As your oldest living friend, I ask you."_ " What would you have me to do, sir ?" shrewdly inquired the colonel. "You say that your engagement with Geraldine Fitzgerald is broken off by mutual consent ?" said the doctor. •{ Yes, sir." "And you are not in honour bound to her ?" " No, sir, I am not." " Then enlist for a soldier ; ship yourself for a sailor. Go on an exploring expedition. Find the North Pole, or the source of the Nile. Put as many leagues of sea and land as possible between you and the beautiful enchantress who rules and ruins your life," said the good minister, with emphatic earnestness.

" I shall do better than that, sir. I shall put a worthier line between my heart and that unworthy slavery," gravely replied Gerald Fitzgerald, as he pressed the little hand of Gertrude and raised it to his lips. "Why, what do you mean by that, Gerald ? And what on the face of the earth are you doing with my ward ?" exclaimed Dr. Goodwin, who seemed to be awakened for the first time to the consciousness that during all this conversation Gertrude had stood!>y the side of Gerald Fitzgerald, with her hand resting on his left arm and clasped in his right hand. "I have just asked Miss Haddon to be my wife.ahd she has made me very happy by her consent," said Colonel Fitzgerald, with

grave dignity, as he looked proudly and fondly clown on the shy, earnest girl who stood by his side. "Eh? What—what—what? Bless my soul alive! This cannot, be true ! :> ex claimed the astounded doctor. "And I bring her to you to ask your blessing on our union," continued Colonel Fitzgerald, ignoring.the interruption. "Gerald, you must be [frying mad! That beautiful fury must have at last succeeded in unseating your reason !" ex claimed the doctor. " No, no; on the contrary, she has brought me at length to my senses, and I have resolved to put an impassable barrier between me and herself."

" You would put an impassable barrier between you and herself ! You would make that poor girl's heart the barrier !" indig nantly exclaimed Dr. Goodwin. : " This sweet girl has given me her heart, and I will shield it with my own. I will devote my life to her happiness," calmly replied Fitzgerald, as he carried her hand to his lips. "Gertrude, what have you to say to all this?" demanded the doctor, starting up from his chair, and beginning to walk un easily about the room. "Is this true ? Have you consented to marry Gerald Fitz gerald V Gertrude lifted her large, dark eyes to her destined husband 6 face with a look of self-forgetting, worshipping love, and then answered his question.

"Yes, it is true." "You would give yourself to this re jected bridegroom, fresh from his bride's repulsion ?" almost scornfully "demanded the doctor. 1( " Yes, since he wants to have me, meekly but steadily replied the girl. " Do you love Gerald Fitzgerald, you poor, unhappy child, that you would throw your young heart away on a disappointed, embittered, revengeful man, who marries you in wrath, but not in love ? (I beg your pardon, Gerald, but this is the truth, and I must tell her so)," said the good doctor, suddenly pausing and standing before the couple. " Oh, by all means ! Put the case to her strongly—as strongly as you can. She will not forsake me ! She has told me so !" ex claimed Fitzgerald, looking confidently down on the brown eyes that were again upturned in such deep reverence to his. " Gertrude, my child, tell me truly : Do you love Gerald Fitzgerald ?" inquired the minister. " Yes, I love him," said Gertrude, meekly. ~,j»» " And how long since, you poor child ? " Ever since I first saw him. . I could not help it, and indeed I did not want to help it," she answered, in a low, timid, yet earnest manner.

" And you would marry him ?" " Yes." " But, you poor, unhappy girl, he does not love you. He does not even pretend to love you. He has not even told you so.^ Why, then, do you consent to be his wife ?" inquired the doctor, as the tears arose to his honest eyes. " Oh, child ! why do you marry him 7" Again Gertrude, clinging on Fitzgerald's arm, lifted her meek, appealing brown eyes to his face ere she answered her guardian. "I marry him because he willfl me to"marry him ; and I love to do his will." "Are you answered, reverend sir?" inquired Colonel Fitzgerald, triumphantly. Then turning to Gertrude, he said : "Fear nothing, sweet child. I will soon show them all whether I love you."

"And when is this mad marriage to come off?" inquired Dr. Goodwin. " Within this hour—and half of it has al ready passed away. Dr. Goodwin, here is our marriage license, taken out by me this morning from the Wildeville Registrar's office. Will you lead the way to the church and pronounce the marriage bene diction upon us?" gravely inquired Fitz gerald. "Stay, stay, stay, stay! we are not all lunatics together! You must have felt ■reasonably Bure.o| w^nningjjth^s young girljg consent to have got your license out," saiu Dr. Goodwin, in amazement. "No, I did not. I only felt that there might be a chance for me. It cost but little to take out the license, and so I took it out to save time before coming here. Now, Dr. Goodwin, thirty-five minutes of the hour have passed away. " Gertruds, my dear, do you really wish to marry this gentleman so suddenly?" questioned the doctor. " Yes, sir; since he wills it," meekly replied the girl. •' Gertrude, if I had the power to pre vent or defer this marriage, I would cer tainly exercise it in your interests to-day; but oh, I have not! Your grandfather's unwise will has made it possible for you to marry whensoever and whomsoever you will. Yet, Gertrude, as your oldest and best friend, I would counsel you to beware of this hasty, reckless marriage—this mad marriage—contracted on one side in wrath and for revenge, on the other an inordinate affection and Blind idolatry. Gertrude, let me implore you to pause and reflect before you take this irrevocable step," earnestly pleaded the doctor. " Dear guardian, I have promised, and I will keep my promise," said the girl. " Fitzgerald, I adjure you as a man of honour and a gentleman to release her from her promise," urged Dr. Goodwin. "I must decline to do so, reverend sir," smilingly replied Fitzgerald. " Guardian, I do not wish to be released from my promise," added Gertrude,loyally. Oh, foolish, foolish child ! I would that your grandfather had net made such an unwise will, leaving you to your own devices."

" Oh, how I fchank and bless the memory of my dear grandfather that he left me free to give my heart to whom I chose !" mur mured Gertrude. f' Free to break it upon a rock, you mean, poor child !" sighed the doctor. "Reverend sir, but twenty minutes of the hour in which Gertrude promised to marry me is left," suggested Fitzgerald. "Do you persist in throwing yourself away upon this unresponsive man, poor child ?" inquired the minister. "I persist in giving myself to him be cause he wills to have me," answered Ger trude, in a-low but earnest tone. " Suppose I should refuse to perform the marriage ceremony between you, what should you do then ?" Gertrude lifted her large dark eyes to Fitzgerald's face, and then replied to her guardian: " I would go with him wherever he should wish to take me, to be married." "I should take her to Wildeville and marry her there," added Fitzgerald. " Heaven help her, then ! Ah well! since I have no power to prevent this mar riage, I must at least take precautions to have it legally performed. Gerald Fitz gerald, Gertrude Haddon, follow me to the church. You two young ladies come also with us. You will be wanted as wit nesses," said the rector, leading the way from the parlour, closely attended by the bridal pair. " May Faire !" exclaimed Patricia Fitz gerald, rubbing her eyes in a state of utter bewilderment —" May Faire ! are you sleep ing with me ? Pinch me hard —hard as ever you can ! 1 never was so sound asleep in all my life, and never dreamed such an divil of a dream ! I am dreaming that little Gertude Haddon, poor lamb! is going off to be married to Gerry Fitz ! / know it is a dream, of course. But, oh !do wake me up ! Pinch me hard—hard as ever you can. Stick a pin into me—stick it up to the head. Wake me up at any price before 1 dream that they are really married.

•' You are not asleep or dreatring, Pat ricia, "answered the sober-minded, matter of-fact little fairy. ' $ You are wide awake, and this strange thing is really going to happen, though I can scarcely believe it

myself. Come, Patricia. Dr. Goodwin will be waitino- for us.:' "Allwrone! I'm dreaming I'm coming, since I can't wake up!"1 answered Lat, drawing the arm of the golden-haired airy , in her own ; and walking out of the parlour, they made their way to the church. The two girls pattering up the middle aisle noticed this group of four persons at the altar. Within the chancel stood the rector, in his white, surplice. Before him stood Gerald Fitzgerald and Gertrude Haddon ; behind them, leaning on his ivory-headed cane, was old Luke Marcy, the grey-haired sex ton. c ~ The rector, seeing the entrance of the two young girls, beckoned them to approach. They hurried on and joined the group at the altar, Patricia placing herself on the left of Gertrude, and May on the left ot Patricia. , ~ Then the ceremony commenced, the rector reading from his prayer-boob. Ihe reading went on slowly and steadily on the part of the minister, and was listened to with attention and reverence until the reader came to these grave words : '"If any man know just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak—' " Here the minister made the usual pause, a mere matter of form, since not once in a million of cases does anyone " speak to forbid the marriage. But just as the voice of the reader ceased, the open doorway of the church was darkened by the entrance of a huge negro man, who entered rever ently, came up the aisle and stood near the bridal party, respectfully waiting and hold ing his hat in one hand and a sealed letter in the other. "It is Goliah, from Greenwood,' whis pered Patricia to May Faire. "My dream is getting worse and worse. I shall cry out presently." The minister regarded the intruder in silent uneasiness, and he paused longer than usual, as in expectation of hearing something from this messenger, whom he dared net interrupt the solemn ritual to question. " Reverend sir, will you be good enough to go on with the ceremony ?" said Colonel Fitzgerald, in a low voice. The minister sighed, cast his eyes down upon his book, and lesumed his reading in these words of awful adjuration : " ' I require and charge you both, as ye shall answer at the dreadful day of judg ment, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment why ye may not be lawfully joined together, ye do now confess it; for be ye well assured that if any persons are joined together otherwise than as God's Word doth allow, theik marriage is not LAWFUL.'"

Dr. Goodwin pronounced these last words with the most solemn and sorrowful em phasis. But they found no echo in the hearts of those to whom they were addressed.

Gerald Fitzgerald, with all the wilfulness of his reckless mood, was taking to himself this young bride, and she with all the deep religious fervour of her nature, with the joy ful assent of her whole being, was giving herself away to her husband. The minister suppressed a groan and continued the ceremony. When he asked the momentous question :

" ' Gerald, wilt thou take this woman to be thy wedded wife?'" etc., the bride groom's response came forth, low, stern, emphatic—more expressive of determination than of affection :

"I will." When the like question was put to the bride :

" ' Gertrude, wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband ?'" and so on, no one, perhaps, except the bridegroom and the minister, heard her voice ; but, oh, what a completeness of self-surrender breathed in her low-toned response :

"I will." " Who giveth this woman to be married to this man ?" read the minister.

" Me!" squeaked the little, old, grey liaired'sexton, who had evidently .been im pressed and brought hither for this very duty. He set his cane up against a pew, pushed forward to the front, took the hand of the bride, placed it in that of the bride groom, and backed out again. (" My dream is growing more horrible and grotesque every instant," whispered Pat ricia to her companion. "I have just dreamt that we came through the church yard to the wedding, and now I am dream ing that the sexton is giving the bride away, and I shall dream of taking off her glove so that Gerry Fitz may place the wedding ring upon her finger. There ! I told you so !") This last exclamation was caused by a sign from the minister, in obedience to which Patricia, as bridesmaid, drew off the little lavender kid glove of the bride.

And then the ring was placed upon the bride's finger by the bridegroom, who, hold ing it there, repeated after the minister the final and most sacred marriage vow that bound Gerald and Gertrude together in a union that could only be broken by death or by crime. The last prayer was said, the last bene diction was given, the last awful adjuration pronounced: " Those whom God hath joined to gether LET NOT MAN PUT ASUNDER."

Gerald Fitzgerald stooped to salute his bride, and met her meek br^wn eyes up turned to his face, with the beaming look of a child who has just done something to please one whom she profoundly loves and reverences ; her eyes full now of a soft radiance of an angel's pure delight. " What a mere baby she is," he said to himself ; "so pleased at the novelty and importance of being married. Well, poor little one, I must try to make you so content that you may never repent this reckless ' leap in the dark,' " he added, with a sigh, as he gave her the formal kiss that custom demanded.

But the three friends who had witnessed the marriage were now pressing forward to offer congratulations. "Colonel Fitzgerald, you have 'married in haste. Still, it rests with yourself alone to decide whether you will ever have cause to * repent at leisure.' In this/iear, trusting girl, whether you know it or not, you havo secured a treasure. I wish you both all the happiness that I know she so well deserves," said Dr. Goodwin, as he shook hands with the newly-wedded pair. "I thank you, reverend'sir, in the name of Mrs Fitzgerald and myself," replied the bridegroom, with a bow.

"Gertrude, old chap," said Patricia, coming slowly forward and rubbing her eyes—"l am quite conscious that this is all a dream, but I can't help it! I have been dreaming the most grotesque things about you-—dreaming that we walked through a church-yard to see you married to Gerry Fitz, my warlike cousin, Gerry Fitz, and that the old sexton gave you away ! Whew ! what a ' gwobious' dream ! And now I am dreaming that I am wishing you joy ! Well, sleeping or waking, old fellow, I do wish you joy with all my heart!" added Pat, giving the bride a rousing salute. "Colonel and Mr? Fitzgerald, I wish you both much happiness and prosperity," said the formal little blonde beauty, May Faire, offering first her hand to the bridegroom and then her lips to the bride, who both responded in kind. . "And now, sir and madam, I hope you will not disdain an old man's good wishes, seeing he was had up here to take part in these solemnities!" said the old sexton, coming forward with a deep bow. ,"' Many thanks, Marcy, from Mrs Fitz gerald and myself for your kind wishes and valuable services. Will you do us the honour to receive this trifle in acknowledg ment of them?" said Colonel Fitzgerald, as he slipped a small roll of notes into the sexton's hand.

The old man bowed profoundly and backed out again.

"We will now adjourn to the vestry, and register our names," said the rector. " Beg pardon, lnarse minister," said the dark intruder, who, for the last few minutes, had been utterly forgotten ; " I beg a ton sand pardons ; but here 1 has been a-stan din' wid dis letter in my hands a-waitin for de chance to 'liver it to its right owner, which, now, if you please, marster, 1 would like for to do it." , " Well ! deliver it, then ! Who IS the right owner?' demanded Dr Goodwin. " Marse Colonel Geral' FitzgerT, sar. which 1 dunno, nudder, as it's any use to 'liver ob it now, sar." "If the letter is for me, it can wait my leisure," said Gerald Fitzgerald, gi'»nly "Come, reverend sir, if you please, we will go immediately into the vestry and com plete this business by registering this mar riage. We can attend to our dark friend afterwards," he added, as he drew the arm of his bride through his own and led the way into the vestry, followed by the rector, the sexton, the two witnesses, and last of all by the negro messenger. The great volume of the parish register was opened, and the names of the bride groom, bride, rector, and witnesses, with the residences of each, and the day of the month and year, were duly signed and re corded.

CHAPTER XXXVI. GERALDINE S APPEAL. We have been friends together; Shn.il a light word part us now? ANON. WHEN the party turned to leave the vestry they weie confronted at the door by the black giant, Goliah, from Greenwood, who still persistently, yet deprecatingly, held up the letter he brought.

" Ah, yes, I will look at that now," said Gerald Fitzgerald, placing Gertrude in a chair, and then taking the letter from the messenger's hand. The other individuals of the party seated themselves, while Colonel Fitzgerald, after asking permission, opened and read the letter.

It was without date or signature, but it was from Greenwood, of course, and it was written by Geraldine, wildly, passionately, almost incoherently :

" Oli. Gerald, my own, come back to me, for the love of Heaven ! I never meant to drive you from me. I never meant to spoalc the wild, false, wicked, fatal words that so outraged your manhoid. It was not 7, Gerald, but some devil that limi lem norury possession of me. Oh, you know that X could never have spoken to you so -never have driven you away from me on the eve of our wedding-day, for, oh, I love you! I lovo you! I love you, Gerald ! And you know it. I have lovea you ever since I was a chill of live years old, and you a youth of glorious boauty, my childish ideal of all that wa divine in the image >>f the Creator-when your father told me that you were to ho my husband, and you put tho tirst, little betrothal ring upon my finger and called mo your own, " It was then that you took me ' for better, for worse,' and in all my life I never even dreamed of such a thing as inconstancy to you. For me there lived but one man on the face of the eavth —he was my betrothed husband, my king and my lord.

"But, giving you my whole heart, I exacted as much. As for me, no other man lives; so for you it tills me with madness to think that any other woman i-hould exist.

" Oh! why did you sit beside Horatia Rowley so long yesterday evening, quoting Byron s poetry to her, allowing her to Jook into your cyos as she did, to speak to you In the tone sho did, driving me mad with jealousy, opening my spirit to the influx of the hells?

"I have the i'iizgera ds' temper—oh! lot me rather say, I have the Fitzgeralds' familiar devil!—and when I grow jealous, that dovil takes full possession of me. I am no longer in myself. It is not 1 who utter wild, false, wicked fatal words. It is not I who drive you with in sults from my prosem-e—not I, oh Gerald ! but the devil that has obtained transient pos session of tne ; for when ho has left me I could rend my hair and rend my clothes in utter self abhorrence and despair for all that he has made me say and do: for I love you, Gerald— 1 love you—and you know it! And you love me and / know it! You muy harden your heart against me, you may fly from me to the utter most parts of the earth, but you will carry with you the ussurance that we love each other utterly—that wo >-hall love each other a8 long as we i<oth shall live!

"But if you leave me I shall not live! Oh, come back ! come back again to me, Gerald! and let us bo happy iv each other once again ! I would promise—oh! I would gladly vow never to give way to such jealous fury again, but terrible experience has taught me that such promises would be vain; such vows would be broken I might as well promise never to liave an ague a^aiii as never to have an outbreak of temper. 1 cannot help one no more than I can help the other. " But oh! Gerald you made me a promise which you can keep, if you will. It was on the day of your dear father's funeral, after we had returned from laying his remains in the vault, when we were reconciled to each other, and I pleaded with you, and you promised me always to bear with my unhappy temper, since you knew that 1 lo»ed you through all. " That was your promise to me, Gerald, and it gave m« peace ; for I said to myself, here is a spirit stronger and calmer than my own, who will never take mo at my own wild words, but will let these paroxysms of passion pass as a storm passes, without harm to any out to her who must always suffer from shame and re morse when they are over.

"Oh, keep your promise to me, Gerald Fitz gerald ! Keep your promise tome, even though, in my jealous fury, I absolved you from it, and drove you from my presence. It was not I who did it, for I love you, Gerald; it was the devil who controlled me.

"Oh, Gerald! that devil has left me now. Let him not enter you! I thought I saw that devil in your eye for the first time when you left me last night with these fatal words:

" 'You ha.ye driven me away once too often. Good-bye—for ever.'

" But this cannot, mustnotbe so! Oh. Gerald, nothing but the demon could inspire you with the thought of a final, eternal parting with me! Oh, Gerald^do not let that demon get possession of you, for if he should obtain control over your stroiio; organisation, he will goad you to such deeds of desperation, of fatality, compared to which my acts, bad as they are, will seem but child's play. Come back to me, Gerald! Come back to me, or I die. I cannot say that I will never be jealous of you again. My love is a moss-iose ful I of thorns: but I will love you, and love you to all eternity!"

As Gerald Fitzgerald read this reckless, impetuous, impassioned outpouring of Geraldine's stormy soul, his face grew pale and paler until it faded to the hue of ashes, his frame shook and reeled until he leaned his elbow upon the mantel-piece near which he stood. As he continued to read his form drooped more and more, his heud bowed lower and lower over the paper he held in his shaking hand. Meanwhile the messenger and the sexton gazed stolidly on. They felfc no particular interest in the letter.

Dr. Goodwin and the two girls watched the reader furtively, anxiously. They knew well that the missive which was wringing his heart came from Geraldine and invited him to his allegiance. They only pitied Gertrude, and wondered what Gerald would do. And the poor, unloved bride ? Gertrude, sitting near him, saw Fitz gerald's emotion, and knew that all this distress was caused by the letter he was reading, and that the letter must be a peace-offering from Geraldine, come too late ! With true delicacy she turned her head away. She would not watch him in his present mood. Had she done right in giving herself to him ? Would her gift really bring him peace and happiness ? She dared not dwell upon that question now. She had become his wife in compliance with his will—that will which was now and henceforth her law. Was she sorry for what she had done ? No, no! and a thousand times no ! for she loved without self-love, and such love never looks back with regret upon its offerings. Nevertheless, as she turned her eyes away from watching Fitzgerald's troubled countenance, all the innocent delight died out of her sweet face, and left it meek and pensive as of old. Fitzgerald finished his letter, and laid it down on the mantel-shelf beside him. He remained leaning on his elbow, lost' in thought, for a fe v minutes, and then with an effort, aroused himself, and said : "This letter requires an answer, Dr. Goodwin. I think you keep stationery here. Wood you kindly allow me to write a few lines at your table ?" " Certainly, Colonel," replied the rector, as he drew out a drawer from the side of the table, took pen, ink and paper from it, and laid them upon the top,

Fitzgerald excused himself on the plea of necessity, drew a chair to the table, sat down, and wrote : "Old Red Sandstone Church, Tuesday after noon. " My Dkar Cousin Gkraldine : I have just received your letter. I canno'. come to you, aa you requested me; nor can 1 believe, even if I had the power to obey your call, that it would bo wise or well to do so. " Experience has demonstrated that, strong as our attachment to each other has hitherto been, we cannot live in Harmony together. No house would be large enough to contain you, your familiar demon, and myself. I have known this for some time-; yet again and again, when I have witnessed the power of that demon 'jealousy' over you, I have allowed sober judgment to be conquered by tassion, and have returned to you. ' , " And no w. to placeit for ever beyond the power of passion so to overwhelm judgment aa to rum both your life and mine, I hav<i this hour raised an impassable barrier between us. 1 have just united myself in marriage to Gertrude Haddon, to whom, Heaven helping me, 1 nope to make a faithful husband. , "I shall show this letter, and all future letters that may pass between you and me, to my young wifo; but 1 hope that few or none may be written ; your own good sense will advise you that, under these circumstances, all intercourse, whether personal or epistolary, should cease between us. .

"And now, wishing you all the happiness your temperament will permit you to receive, " I remain, your affectionate cousin, " Gerald Fitzgerald." He finished his letter, looked up for a moment, as if he would have called his child-bride to him, and then recollecting himself, and the respect due to her, he took up the letter, arose, and went to her side. She raised her head, and then he saw that all tho light of gladness had died out of her pale, patient little face, and he knew the cause.

He placed the letter in her hand, saying, gently, in a low tone : " Before I send this letter off I wish you to read it, Gertrude. There must be no secrets between us, my child." She looked gratefully up to his lace that face which was as the sun of light and life to her, and then she dropped her eyes to the paper and read his farewell words to Geraldine. When she had finished reading she returned the letter to his hands and sighed. "I will try to make you happy, sweet girl," he whispered, in response to her sigh. " Oh, that I could only make you so, ' she breathed, her whole soul's devotion in her tone.

" You will sure to do so, my little dove," he answered, as he returned to the table and placed Geraldine's letter and his own in one envelope and sealed and superscribed it to Miss Fitzgerald. " Take this to your young mistress at Greenwood, and t"ke this in consideration of your long ride," said Colonel Fitzgerald, as he placed the letter and a small sum of money in the hands of the gigantic messenger. " Thanky', Marse Colonel, thanky' werry much, indeed, sar ; which I has had sich a wild-goose chase arter you, as never was. Fus' fing, airly dis mornin,' Miss Gerline had me rousted out'n bed and sent off 'dout my breakfas' to carry dat letter to you, sar, r.t de Summit, which I 'rived here 'bout ten o'clock, and was tole' how your honor had done rid pos' haste to Wildville. And I starveneavtodeaf arter my long ride without my breakfas', and didn't eben dare to stop to get any defreshments from Aunt Hetty, 'cause Miss Gerline had give me strict orders not to stop nowhere till I had 'livered de letter into your honor's own hands. And when I got to Wildeville it was about leben o'clock, and dere dey tole me how you had gone to the Ole Red Sandstone Church, and had left orders at de Wildville Hotel for de coach to follow you on here immediate. And I jes' snatch a loaf of bread from de shop, and hey a flippenny bit of pay for it, and come on here as hard as I could to fetch de letter, which, much it misgives me, come too late ; but it was no fau't o' mine; Marse Colonel." concluded the giant. "The letter came in very good time, I assure you. But you spoke of the carriage I ordered. Has it come, do you know ?" " Yes, Marse Colonel; ( it*'gofe here mos' soon as I did. Fact is, it lef Wildewille 'fore I did. It's at de door."

"Very well, then. You had better return at once to Greenwood with my answer to your mistress's letter," said Colonel Fitz gerald. The giant bowed himself out. When he had gone, Gerald Fitzgerald turned to his bride, saying: " Come, Gertrude, bid your friends good bye. We must try to catch the five o'clock stage-coach from Wildeville." " Will you take her away immediately?" inquired Dr. Goodwin. "Immediately. That is the law of etiquette, I believe, at weddings, when there are no cards and no reception," said Colonel Fitzgerald. " And no breakfast, and no bride's cake, and no trousseau, and no presents, and no love, and no nothing!" added Patricia Fitzgerald, in a whisper to May Faire. "You will please to have Mrs Fitz gerald's effects forwarded to Fuller's Hotel, Washington city, reverend sir," said Colonel Fitzgerald. |

'' You will remain in Washington city for some little time ?" inquired Dr. Good win.

" I hardly know. Much will depend on my little lady's wishes, and she has not had time to form any yet. We may go abroad. We will write and let you know, sir."

" Oh, Fitzgerald ! be good to my child !" exclaimed the rector.

'•' I shall be loyal to my wife," answered the bridegroom, earnestly.

" Yes, lam sure you will. Heaven bless you, my dear Gertrude, and make your married life as happy as it deserves to be !" exclaimed Dr. Goodwin, as he laid his hands in benediction upon the young bride's head.

She pressed those venerable hands to her heart, arid silently bade her old friend adieu. She kissed Patricia and May, and then turned to her husband, who had already bidden farewell to the party. Colonel Fitzgerald drew her arm with in his own, and led her out to the carriage which was waiting at the church door.

The minister, the two girls, and the sexton walk,ed out to see them off. Gerald Fitzgerald put her into the car riage, entered and placed himself by her side, and gave the signal to the coachman, who immediately started his horses and drove away. ...: ■ .

'"She has, gone to sea in a sieve, she has! In a sieve she has gone to sea: In spite of all her friends could say, On a stormy morn of a winter's day, She has gone to sea in a sieve,'" sang Pat Fitzgerald, gazing after the carriage. " Oh, yes, I know," she added ; "you will tellme that this is a golden afternoon in glorious autumn, and that she has gone to the city in a coach. But' she has gone to the sea in a sieve,' for all that."

(To be continued.)

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1887.

6



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KEATING'S WORM TABLETS, A PURELY VEGETABLE SWEETMEET, both in appearance and taste, furnishing a most agreeable method of administering toe only certain remedy for INTKSTJNAL or THREAD WORMS. It i 3 a perfectly safe and mild pre paration, and is especially adapted for Children. —Sold in tins by all Chemists. Proprietor, THOMAS KKATING, London. Export Chemist and Druggist. A WONDERFUL MEDICINE. BEECHAM'S PILLS Are admittechby OH /} j^^. thousands to be Vl^*^<.'**\ worth a Guinea a /fSf/ *\ Box for bilious and fQj/ \VJ^\ nerVOUB disorders, B s if \ \\ such as wind, and Kr.'r-I ■»» a _,~, Ttr , \-/i> 1 paininthestcmach, I / PATENT | 1 B\ ck headache, gidj llAi •••«^ I^l diness, fulness and ISi PII LS. /©sl swellin(jaftermeals. I- .\ * ft* l dizziness and drow lvH\ '—'^ /**»/ slness, cohl cbills, IwL /»?/ flushings of heat, \rjfiS. y&Jf l°ss of appetite, XXwS^r^-^Ax^ Bhorlness of brenth, ffc^ "iizpr eoßtiveness,scurvy disturbed sleep, *s|fst» frightful dreams, and all nervous and trembling sensations, &c. The first tl 038 will give relief in 20 minutes. This is no fiction, for they have done it in thousands of oases, Every sufferer is earnestly invited to try one box of these" Pills, and they will be acknowledged to be WOKTH A GUINEA A BOX. For females of all ages these Pills are invaluable, &S a few doses of them carry off all gross humours, open all obstructions, and tiring- about all that is required. No females should be without them. There is no medicine to be found to equal BJSECHASrS PILLS for removing any obstruc tion or irregularity of the system. If taken according to the directions given with each box they will soon restore females of all ages to sound and robust health. For a weak stomach, impaired digectioa, and all disorders of the Uver, they act like MAGIC," and a few doses will be found to work wonders upon the most important organs of the human machine. They strengthen the whole muscular oyEtem, restore the long: lost complexion, bring back tha keen edge.of appetite and arouse into action with the ROSEBUD or health the whole physical energy of the human frame. These are "FACTS" admitted by thousands embracing all classes of society; and one of the best guarantees to the nervous and debilitated is, Bescham's Pills have the largeßt sale of any patent medicine in the world. BEECHAM'S MAGIC COUGHPILLS As a remedy for Coughs in general, Asthma, Diffi culty in Breathing, Shortness of Breath, Tightness and Oppression of the Chest, Wheszing, *c, these Fills stand unrivalled; and anyone labouring under any of the above complaints need only try One Box to prove that they are the best ever offered to the public for Asthmatic and Consumptive Coughs, Hoarseness and Oppression of the Chest. They speedily remove that sense of oppression and diffi culty of breathing whioh nightly deprive tho patient of rest. They give almost instant relief and comfort to those afflicted with the above distress ing and, when neglected, dangerous complaints. Let any person troubled with any of the above complaints giye Bkbcuah'e Concur Pills a trial. The most violent Cough will in a short tune be removed. Cactioit.'—The public are requosted to notice • that the words " Bbkchim's Pills, St. Helens," are on the Government Stamp affixed to each Box of the Pills. If not on they are a forgery. Prepared only and sold wholesale and retail by the proprietor, T. Beecham, Chemist, St. Helens, Lancashire, England, in boxes at is. l£d. and 2s. 9a. each. —Sold by all Druggists and Patenr Medicine Dealers throughout tho Colonies. H .B.—Full directions are given with each box. ASK* for the1* cetebrat&l- "WoTfeV Schnapps. Accept nothing else under any consideration. "VTTOLFE'S SCHNAPPS is imitated, f T May this caution be serviceable. Avoid all imitations. Dentistry. EC 0 X AND S ON, • DENTISTS, Kingsloy House, Hobson-street, Auckland. Edwin Cox, Licentiate in Dental Surgery R.C.S., England. Herbkkt Cox, Doctor of Dental Surgep , University of Michigan, U.S., America. J GOODWIN COX, DENTAL SURGEON. 118, Queen-street i A.M.P. Society's Boildiag Auckland. A M. CARTER, SURGEON DENTIST (By Examination) (Late five years with E. Cox and Son), May be Consulted at his Residence, GARRETT'S BUILDINGS, Karangahape Road (near top of Howe-street). CHARGES MODERATE. GAS ADMINISTERED. Conveyances. TIME TABLE DAVIESBROS. BUSSES DEVONPOUT TO TAKAPUNA, HURST MERK, LAKE liifiACH, AND SOHOOLHOUSE. Telephone: Dkvonport Bureau. Leaves Victoria VVhakk, Devonport.— 8.20 a.in,, 10.20 a.vi., 2 p.in.,il p.m. Sundays— 10 a.m., i.20 p.m. Fares, Is. . Lkaves Takapona. — 9,5 a.m., 11.15 a.m.. 3 p.m., 5 p.m. Sundajs—ll a.m., 1.30 p.m. Special Trips can be arranged at Post-Offloe, Devonport , LJ Ladies* and Gent's SADDLE HORrfiliS, BUGGIES, BREAKS WAUUONjsITTES, oaajL»-a ' and conveyances of every description at shortest notice. Expresses meet every boat to receive and for ward! uggage of all descriptions. PATEESON AND CO., GRAIN MERCHANTS. LIVERY AND BAIT STABLES. Omnibuses, Brakes, Cabs, and Saddle Horses for Hire at lowest rates. Special arrangements made with Evening and Picnic Parties. Stores and Stables:—Lome-street, Mtßoskill, and Avondale. Auckland. N.Z. Insurance "XTEW ZEALAND INSURANCE COM JLI PANY (FIRE AND MARINE). Capital ~.£1,000,000. Paid-up and Reserve Funds £135,003 Protection from FIRE or MARINE LOSS Can be Effected in this Company. CLAIMS MET WITH PROMPTITUDE AND LIBERALITY. JAMEd BUTTLE. Manager. THE Best Gifb for Home friends is Brett's Auckland Almanac, containing a Pictorial Representation of Queen-Btreet, De scription of the Provincial District, New Guide yoi Hot Lake. &c. &c i SUITS, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, with Water bury Watch fpr Nothing, at J. H. Dalton's, Tailor, victoria-street East; WEDDING CARDS.—Latest Style at the Stak Lithographic Works, Short aud-street, Auckland*



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