The White Lady

Quy umi I had been orphans from our chlldhood, and we bad nuw arrived at years ofmaturity. Our (Ulier, Giiy Tredeifár oí Tredegar in CornwaU, hiul been killed by a fall from liis liorse wliUe out hmiting twautyntne yeam belore ïny flbry opens, and Guy, my dearand oniy brotRw, was bom, on the day whieli followed hls fathei' s death. I, though I was tkrea years oldeï than Guy, could but lndlstinctly renieiuber the tall handsome mau who had tossed me up in hls anus ene fine moriiiiig, laughinijly bidding me be a good girl and not vex "littleinainina" while ho was away, and who was brought lióme, a few houw afte r, a corpsa Scarcely more disUnct were my rpcoUections oí the "little mamnu" he had loved so tendorly. 1 had a dim visión of a fair sad face, brlgïit waves oí chestnut hair, and asmile tliat had 110 sunshine In it, a smile sadder than tears. Such was my motiicr as 1 remembered her, totally uollke the biisrlit lovely girl whose likeuess smlll dowu at iö n the dIÜ gallery -a radiaut fat-u, agraeeful headthrownback wlth a laughin glance at the baby which he was oan-ying plck-a-bai-k : and jetthat plcfiure represeuted uiy motlier nd niysélt thirty long yearü before. Hajipj ycars"had Uiey been, only oiie heavy cio,i, havlug pi.ss(l over thfim live years ino t dhn ihelr sunihlne- years passed in th old Hall which we rrode;ars held so proucily and deariy- years f ehildish joys and griefs, oi the hopes and asplrations of boyliood and glrlhood, of the fuller sweetnees and heanty of manhood and ivomaniiood. of the bltterness nf great sorrow and the fulness of peace. It wlth minuli d réelliigs I reoall them notv. es, the bitter was verj bitter, aud the sweet was very bitter tmains. while ui the sweet we can never taste agaln. stni. loofclnjj back, auntle öracie and 1 eau tliink i the happhiess with eratitude, though we cannot yet thinfc of the tronblo without pain, if indeed we ever shall be able. Auntie Grarie was my iather's only sister, and on his (icutti had cmne to Tredegar, wnere Snelias reiuained ever since; and slio has never !et us miss eitlier of our párente. 1 was educated at home by her and my govcrnesips; but Guy went to Eton and" Oxford, finishing up with the "grand tour," after which he settlrd down quietly at Tredegar witli us, his gre&t ambitiou being t spend the vast fortuna which had been accuinulating so long lii making his tennnts and the viilagers perfectly happy and confortable, turning Tredegar ihto a modem Utopia and doing as much good as he could in his day and generatíon. If, by the fonnderlng ot a lishlng-sniack on our rocky coa=t, happy wives weie made widows and their children fatlier1988, and both renderèd destitute, my brotliers's purse was always ready; ifthc owner o( the smaek were savert by tlie liieboat Guy had eivvn to and supperted at Tredegar, who wouid rcplaee tlíe boát which won tlieia bread . if not "the Squüe, Hsaven blrss 'cm"? So siugle-hearted, genial, and frank, deurly and deaen-edly loved, small marvel we gloried in our Guy I After he had be$l home with us sono little time, auntie Gracia one day told (iuy half seriously that he ought to marry. 1 renicmber how wc Iaüghed nt his Cómica) face of distress as no faced her with the assertlon tliat two women were enough for any one nian to manage, and, having tliat number alteftdy Uedid not wish any adriition. All the tascüiations of the neighboring beauties, of my yaung-hUy visitoj-s, of hall' a dozen pretty coúsins, evcry one of wliom might have been labelled "dangerous." seemed lost upon Guy. Rfraeinbering a day-dreain which I had indulged in during tw. summer of my lifè and the rudc awákehing frum which had settled things for me here, 1 feit sorry that hé ehould not know the happiness of requited Iove ; tUat it would come later Idid not doubt. Tliree ycars ago Guy received a pressjng sunjnions f rom a college-frifind to join hini in a winter tour througl thu South ut France, whiüKtr lie was gullid t rooruit hi3 Btrength afte a long course oï liard study which had vcry materially affected his usuftlly delicate health. The friemlship batween Hugh Gordon and my brother was very wan and siucre, and Guy dld not hesitáte to accede to his request. Tliey wero to winter at Caunes. Nico, or Mentone, wliichever piace suiteii them best; and, as I baile Guy "Good-bye," 1 sald laughingly- "BriDg me back a little sister to Iove, Guy : I want some one who wiil always keep you at home," öuy had been gonc tlueo months. flnd we had heard from lilm only occaslönally- foir, man-like, he was not a very ood correspondent- when one morninij in the heginuiug o! Mnivli l received a letter frotn him endosing a few pretty lines lVom mil a photogwph ot one who would ere the autunm be my sister. "You wiil trv to Iove me. sister Jeun. if not for my own sake, then bwause 1 Iove hiin so dearly," rau the daiuty iiote. "l don't exuect auntie Gracieoi; you to think ol uie as he does; but, dear. I wili do my best, my very best to inaku him happy. "Bkktd: Lf.oxhardt." From Gny's letter I learnt tbat Bertle's mother was dead, and that her father had ijïLjried a seconft time- a young Ficnch lady Wuly üve years older than Bertie lie;sell ; tliat tliey aadbeen living at "Mentone ever sinco Mr. LeShhardt's deáth, two years bof ore. Bertie was half French, Guy sald, ). i viux becö entbrely educated in France, and she iva just twenty-one. jThe photograph repiejented a fair young girl wiíh tía dark e lü, ; eracéful heatl, and a vry jiretty tisure - by BO raeaus a beauty, but with oinething unïpinnion and piquant about her which was loubflejs very attractive; and the little note, osimply cbarmiüK, bewitched auntie and MC. In a couple ot mouths Guy returncd ïome. lle looked well and happy; but there was a chango In hls Which we could 50t fall to reniaik, m adtied steailfastness in !iis dark gi-ay eyes, a sweeter, graver smile íurvinj his lip. "ííertie and Mrs. Leonhardt wiil be here sarly next month," he said qoietly to me. "I hink you wiil lovoher, J-u:i; sim is venfrank and true. You are not sorry, dear?" "Sorry?" I echoed. 'NTothius In the world sould ïuake me happier! Love her? Of nourse I shall " It was in tljat fairest tune of the yearwhich Charlotte Brónte 80 prettlly describes as "The marriage-tiiiu' ol .May Wlth lier yuimg lover June" Ihat Bertio came auionx us. We drove over sne evcning. Gay and I, in the pony-cairiage '.o the llttle roadside-sUiüou whlch as tlic aearcsttu Tredegar, to meet ourguests. 1 reinember viviilly all the details of lmipy drlye. Cuy, radiant witli happlqev ''1;e k sr .'.ooiboy ont lor akoliday, drove aloiig recklcssly, leavlng the wagonette wuich was to convey tlif servante and uunkslar tjoliintl. The soft evening air fanned osluour rapid passage; the llttle tation ltself seemed en feta, iiir tlie statlonsnaster had ; t:i-.t tor hortlculture, and,had placed planta and fiowers wherever he coald Und tpace for theiu, lils own littli' cottage belng a perfect bower; wliile liis mötiier, an old fainily-servant of ourown, bad deccauted tlielittle waitingtuom In honor of Bartle'sarrivaL (uystood talklnj? to tlie s.tation-inastor; 1, by his side, ralted a little anxloualy. Alter a quarter of an hout had elapsed, the train eame in. As It did so. an elderly servant out of liveiy sprang out of a seemid-class carriage, and, catching sight of (iuy, eame forwavd wlth a smilp Ilgliting np liis pleasant face. "My mistress is hf k, sir," he said, touchins; his nat Guy went forward; 1 waited, looklnp;atthe little station, the train wlth lts rad gleam, the steam of the engine stealin.; througj fhe green foliage, tlie portCTB hurrj nehitherand tliitlier, eur caniagei and serraste in the back-gtpund, niy punios wini; paíiently. Presently I saw a little tiziire in soft gTay coming swiftly towards me, and a verysweet volee said half tiuii.liy, halí gladly, with a little Frehch accent- "Jean, is it yon?" 1 put niy arnis found h?r for a moment, whlsperlng a lew loving ivards. Slie was smiling in reply wheu Quy came to us with a lady on his arm whom 1 greeted as Mrs. Leonhardt. Gabvielin Leoahardl was Uiat rare belng, a Ucautüul Frenen Wonde, her delicate regular feartres, her Inxurúnt fair halr. turqtioiso-hlue oyes, and (tateiy lii;ure formln? a Um' ensemble so rareiy lovely tliat, lookingon her. the Qiought crussed me for a moment wliy Guy had not chosfin tlie ste.p-moi.hiT, who was so muefa mofe beautiful tlian hii íiíicep. She sat byOuy-as we dixivo. Upiaevard that soft Rumnint cvUng, Bertie ty iny pide, wUU oi:v MUe Ul ciasg. Ing mine, her eyes stndying niy taco and then straying toGuy's and rusting there with perfect contcutanent. "That deer little station I" Bertie said. as we (trove iiway. -Is t not pretty, Gabrielle? Jean, I ani Engllsh; but tliis is my iirst visit to England. i Ibve that little station!'' "I tope yon wül like England also," I returned, smiling at her eager wamith. She was a chikl to me. "Ah, but certainly ; how could I do otherwise?" The EngHsh was almost perfect, here and there :i Hïeurh Idlom making it plquant mul pretty; her volee too was slngulany sweet aiu) rlch. And vet, more thau unce durimc oiir.lrive, I wislicd a little regretftllly that Gabrlelle had been mybrothcr'schoiee, which regrel made me all the more tender, remorsefuüy x. perhaps, towuds Bertie. IsTVedegar, Bertie," (iuy sid quietly. as wc entered the part and, thoiigh her eyes met bis wlth a loving light in them, she dld not speak. When we reached the house, the large doors mere opaned, and in the preat hall tlie servan ts were waiting. Guy helped out Mis. Leonhardt and myself, nd tlien 10 liftedout Bertie. "Do yon thlllk yon will be happy here, doarestV' I heard him whisper. "Avectoi, Guy!" she whispered, in reply, pronouncing hls name In tlie Freneh way. And Uien. wlth her band stiU In hls, he led her iuio the hall where auntie Qracle stood, Uertie'j J I j iiiiwit-t r little ns niy ;uint took her fn her anus; bul she tooked round and smjlingly acl pd the servants' salutatlons; tlien Guy drew her away a little iinpatiently, and tli: libran door closed nfter them. A lew minutes later tho drcssing-bell raüg; therewasa sound of rustling silken robes and the elatterlngof little pointed heels in the corridors, swrci laughter and women's voices ruiugling wlth men's deeper tones, tlien a sound of closing doors, and all was stUL I was dressed, stnnding tallan? to my maid, opeirelírán(isa'l(Cl'fsSÍJeoíifi!lM'i;inavítfiír; and Bertie enterod. She was dressed insome tleecy black material; the only touch of color abdjut her being a creainy yellow rose which uestled near her white throat. Her face looked a little pule, 1 thought. "Jean," she said, "may I go down with you? It Is foollsh, I kuow; but I feel a little uervous at seèlng so many stránge faces." "01 conree, dear," I answered, smiling; and we left the dressinir-room, whlch, like mauy of the bed-roonvs, spened into the large gallery whíeh rao round three sides of the house and which was lined with oíd family portraits and plctures. "Have we time to see one- only oneV" she said. "Jean, will you show me your and Guy's mother's picture?" 1 did so. She looked at it earnestly "What a ilear little baby you were, Jean!" was the only remark slie made. W'e descended tlie broad "etcalier d'luinneur," as 3he ealled it, and entered the diuing-room. ütirguests as yet were notnumerous, though we general!) assembled ;i houseful to do honor to (iiy's blrthday, which was in the iniddle. oí July. Tnreeorfouï pretty girls, about ctoublo that Dumber of eligible men, öny's collfige-friends, tuo or ttiree pleasant chápenos iHut waotvtl, Miv. i.v...i. hardt was already there when we entered. She stood tallcin;; to (iuy and young Lord Üldham, who was a great l'riend of Guy's, and who took liertie in to dinner. Dur.ing dinne.r he kept her well amused; and Bertie evidently talked well, though she was a trille nervuus. Arj occas}onal glance atGuy generally met with a íovtog one In return; but neither my brottier nor his.i?iece was of the kind who wear thelr iiearts on their sleeves. After diuner Mrs. Leonhardt played some of Chopin's entraneing musle. While she was playing, the gentlemen entered; buttti3 sllenee was unbroken save for the ïnusic. "Howexqulsltel" "What a touch!" "What taste!" "Such expresslonl" echoiSl through tiie room, amld uiilveisal applause. "I ajn triad ymi are pleased," shesaldqiüetly. "I love ÓhoiH. My professor ras a liupil of his. But, Jean, will you not play somethlng?" As 1 was excuslng inyself, Guy approached. "Perhaps yon would sing Bomethlng, madame?" he said. '■Am 1 exactlngln asking yon lor n song?" She acqulesced. (íny. at tiie piano, bogan the acconiíianiinent ol Gounod'8 "Bereeuse," and shc sang It exqulsltely. Her volee- a rlch soprano of great purlty and compass- had been excellently trained. Agaln the thought struck me, howhadGny wtthstood faschiations sucli as here? The song ended, :he applanse. rang forth, and Gabrielle langhingly .-un - . il lieraeknowtedgmentB. When llie room was quiel agaiu, Guy began an aecompanlmuni we were very familiar with. "Bertie." he wild quletly, "I am waiting." She carne to bis sidu, her faca ilu.shing a llttle. "Don't ask me to-night, Guy," she whispered. "Why not. mousie? It is so long since I heard you Sliig, nvtgnonno. I ask you." Very still was the room as she began. Her volee rose, ricli and solt, so f uil of expression, pathos, and palp that my eyea ii!l:i with tears. BtroDgly, witii a subdued passion in every note, eaine the words- "For him 1 gave up all, My peoplê - yea, my God, I luveïl the very grouhd Wnereon UieChrlstlaD trod!" There was a minute's dead silenceas her voice died away; thei). beiore any óne spoke, Gny, at the piano, began agalrt, and the spell was broken. Again her voice rose, tlüs time with a triumphant strain, singlng Itose Friquet's song out of Les Dragons de Villarf!, "ll-m'ntmc," the color coming and Ing in her sweet (ace. When sho nnished, the applausu coukl not be ooi i There ;is no more singing. Bortle retlred to a couch and aat wlfh auntle Gracle. Om1 by ohe our guests retirad, the ladiesto.tbeii diaaslng-Tooms and mldnlght conflilence men to the Utlm-jh: as wo called tlio billianlrooin, wliich was in the bachelors' quarters in Uie east wing of tlio house, 6w a last ci'ai and game of bllliards; Guy, Bertte, Gabrielie, aml i stiil Uugered. "You look tlred, Sire. Leonhardt," Guy said, at last. ")r I unrea wnable U keepyou up so late; and Bertie is half asleep. Don't protest, mademosielle; jour eyes aie uoi halt thelr usual si?.e.:' .Mis. Iieonhardt laitghed as sha sald good uigiit. "It Is not yct very late," slie said; "uut we have traveled mucli to-day." "I owe you adebi ol gratitude torthepleasure you gave mj gueets ;:il myself to-night. Bensoir i ! bon n Theo Guj klssedme, nud, tumhigtoUertie, put his'iiriii round h regardless of ourpresence; we looked away dlscreeUy. A few whispered worde, a !oii klas lefton the whitf brow, and Uien Cuy opened the door foi us, aad we separated for the nljfht The nexl inornlng Bertle begged io sec the Iiictinï;'.iUcr;c-.. and so tooáid BSreral ot ourgiiests. Thcgreat hall at Tredcgarwaa ilanked bv two broadoaken stalrcases, the onè teading to the blUiard Rnd siaoking rooms and that part óf Qie house espectall) uptoGuy'a coUege-b'iends. wliore liis own rooms were, the other to the picture-gallerles. They ere alwnya a favorita resort, the dark velvi't lounges being geneinlly in reque3t,and the pielures, aoma ofthèm inis-d'irnvre of art, formwl an excuse for tnanj' a OIitetlOD, niany a compliment, and niany a pretty speech. Pertie, standing by (uy's side, was gazuig üt our mothei's pioture. "You are likc lier, (iuy, when yon are pleased; when you are angry, you are your father hlmself." "Have you ever seeu me angry, Mousle?" - "Sonieünies.'? She was looking very lovely üiis mornlng. Her liair. which was very luxurlaut, and ol that lovelj blond eendre theold painters loved. riN fatlhig down lier back In two broad plaits Mi cl ith ribbon; her dren was of gray, v : mauve lmr at her tlnoat; het face wn Hu8hed, her eyes, lovelj velvetrbroun ey iniing. tfcrstep mother, looking superbly liaudsome in a ni'inuiiir-di ■■■:■ purple, fastenadat her wais; wit h ii eurioiialy-wrought band .nul iioM tasheS, w;(s 6trolllng mi with Lord üldham, talklngol art and artlsts iik(:i connol We had be&D balf-waj down the line of defunet Tredegars, ga : ■-.■ men In doublet ani romen Inva eostume.s. h Court ariies v. ben Guy wa Bummoned to n reive some rather important Information from his stewaixl. "Beni. wlll you excuse me fora slmri time? Jtr. Faliser, will you take my plai and show iMisö Iieonhardt pnr'Mons'? 5Toi are almost as svell aoqimlnlod wttli Uiem a - 1 am." As ho vent off, Bertle looked alter iiii. witU htr radiant face noüdingaiid suiíí:k (lt was tiie last time we saw it so brlght) ; ■ rheu, as }ie. disappeared, she turnedto Mr. Pallsei and addressed htm with a graceful couïtesy and deterenee n hich must have been winning to the old clergrraan, who bad held the living of Tredcgar durinj; two generatiuns. They went on together, stopping short before one of the plctures to examine ii more closely. lt represënted thé interior of a bedchamber t'nrninhed in dark oak rlchly and i claboratoly carved, whii'h, witli the heavy ' velvet hanglngs. made rather a gloomy background. A haiulsome man in the prime oí ' life, wearlng a Cavalier dress, liis long lovelocks faUlllg round his handsomo debonair face, was sittlng in a caveless attitude on the sideof the heaV] four-post bedstead, hlseyee iixed on a shadowy ligure standing just within the closed door, thé figure of a womaii with long falling huir, and one hand ralsed asit in reproof or warning, while at the painted window a small white bird was beating is apowj phunage against the glate. Th is pioture represënted a legend which had been banded down forsonie generations in our family. lt was stated tliat our i tor Rene Tredegsr bad just retired on the. night ut his twenty-ninth blrthday. Gallant Cayallex thongb he was. report said thatltent was u rune. renowned even among the rones who were by no meausrare In Charles ll.'s Court l! v;ts whispered that a fair yuiiut; : iri. Clcely Wadman. ttiedaughterof awooduiaii on the otate. IkhiI owed het ruin to lilm, and liad hidden her StlStae in death; tUat on ; the ulght ob wlüch the (iarvoi's watenhad 1 ■!" ed over the errlng, loving, broten heart a white tignre had appeared to Rene and had eolumnly cui-sed him. telling kim that no male Xredegar wmildreaoliliisthirtiethyear, and that tlirec nights before the death of each she would appear and wam him of his , proaching eud. lt was rumored also that Kene had spoken, asking her if she were Cicely Wadman, and that white figure had Bolemnly shaken her bead, polntlng wlth her hand to the bird bealing lts snowy breast against the glass, and wliioh, asshe pointed, So ran the legend. By a seriesof strange colncldehces, no male ïredeirar bad during the last tour generatlons reaehed histhirtleth year, and all but one had met death by accident or violence. ily own father had died at tv.enty-seven, hisolderbrotlierineetiugliis deat.i at twenty-two by the ïoundering of his yacht in the Baltic. Still we never aitaehed the least tmportanee to the legend; and it was with the greatest surprise that I saw lts effect on Bertie, as Mr. Paliser gave her an explanatlon oí the pidture, laughW heartily at the idea of a supernatutaj visitor and treating the story, as we all dkt, as an old legend not wonliy a momenfs credence. Bertie, as she listened, grew deadly pale, and stood as if tumed to stone. "Is it tri ie?" she asked, In an awe-struck voiee so full oí pain that Mr. Paliser grew very grave. '.Miss Leonhaxdt," he said, "you don't really give a nionient's serious belief to anything so absurd? 11 (.iuy were here, he would Indeed laugh at you." "But Guy's fatlier?" Questioned Bertie, shivering. "Died at twenty-seven, and his grandfatherwbenhewasa year younger," answered the cler2"vntiï -v . t.-.x..., . ui11Lat..v doubt lt'ss, but nothiug more! llere comes Guy: he looks like dyiug, does he not, Miss Bertie?" Regardlessof aparanees, Bertie sprang tohim and elung cmivulsivelv to his arm. "What is it, :ny chlldï" he said anxlously; then, guessing the cause of her asiitation, ho laughed a gay ringing laugh. "You foolisb little woman, I must indeed scold jou if you are goiüf; to have h ysterics at all our legends I" She drew a long sobbing sigh of ten'or, and then, lopking up, seemed togather strength frora the proud honest eyes toókinglntohen. "Oh, Gny, forglveme; but sucha strange preseutlment of il t came over me as 1 listened ! Sce- 1 am better now. I am not afarid when you are near," she went on, as Mr. l'aliser moved away ; "you areso strong, Guy - beat with me." Guy drew her away to a deep oriel wiudow, and there stooped and pressed a long tender kiss on the fair pale brow. "1 hope you will never have a care you will not let ine boar lor you, mhjuoniie," he said gently. "SÖ11 I am gHeved tothink that fooüsh picture has u)st-t you." Secure in the curtaincd recess, Bertie's head sank upon his breast, "You are not angry, üuy?" she whinpered. "Angry with you, BntieV' "See." She went on- -put vour hand close tomyhearl and feel how it beats. Sucha Strong hand! Ah, Guy, as yout hand is strongcr Uian mine, so is yonr heart braver! The thougbf- she shuddured- "was too dreadfull" As the days slipped by, Bertie wonhervay closer to everv heart at Tredegar. Our grandmother Lady Kiltnaine had taken the greatest fancy to her ever since Bertie, with her graceful foreign Conrtesy, had stooped to kiss the withered jewtïled hands. Guy seemed to live only for her, and lavlshed on lier so many beatitlf nl gïfts that Ëertiesaid laughingly she conld start a Jeweler's shop; but a shade Hngered on the fair yonng face which liever wl.oiiy left it, a-orroiuiwixikendread, wbj;h alwjijs seemed to haunt the great brown eyes. 1 was perhapa the only one who notleed t, and it may have been fancy, for, in ïvply to niy iuestion, "ïoo are happy, little sister?'1 Kerüe would look at me queitioningly, and laugb as slie replied, "Jlappyl Was ever any one so happy?" TO HE COXTINVEn.