212
GUARDY'S
PEARL .
I don't think I ever felt so like a fool. To be room , and looked a little suspiciously, I fancied, at my jewel- case, now almost empty. Finally, foiled in my elopement was not half so hard as she said, good-night, ( our rooms were on the to have merited the white witch's contemptsame side of the house, but hers was at one end for I love Marguerite almost as well as I do of the balcony, and mine at the other, ) and then Charley. But I didn't hang my head like a I sent Martha away, pretending that I would chidden child then ; I scolded, and laughed, do my hair myself. Twelve o'clock ! It was and cried , and defended Charley, and would not nearly time to start ; so I put up my window allow him to say that it was at all his fault. and gazed cautiously out. The rain had stopped "I only implore you not to tell aunt Frances," a little, but it blew just as hard as ever ; and, said I. "Write for Guardy to-morrow, if you oh, dear! how slippery the balcony looked ! choose ; but I won't be bullied by that old lady. No help for it ; so I turned my gas down very And then, just think of my bag and jewelry at low, and having lowered my bag, gathered my the bottom of the river !" Marguerite's lips dress in my hand, and slid safely and almost { quivered at the climax. noiselessly down. Then came a gust that nearly "Kathie, darling, go home, " said Charley, at took my breath away, and there was a distant last. " Miss Vivian, I am thoroughly ashamed gleam of light in the summer-house. How could of my own conduct. Try to be as merciful to Charley be so imprudent ! On any less stormy that poor child as you can. May I come back night the people at the lodge must have seen it. as far as the house ?" I am certainly a very plucky girl, for between But Marguerite sent him to the lodge instead, the pitchy darkness and the wet, slippery ground, to knock up the keeper, with a story of being I was in a little the worst plight I ever imagined . locked in ; and then we girls battered against On I plunged , however, until I got to the little the wind and rain back to our balcony. Without a bridge, and there stopped to take breath . My word, Marguerite locked the window, turned on bag was heavy, so I deposited it on the boards, the gas, and throwing herself in my easy- chair, and at that instant I heard Charley's voice, so laughed a little, low laugh of contentment. sharp and quick, that I fairly jumped. "Oh, Kathie! you naughty, naughty child ! "Kathie, take care, for heaven's sake ! Don't How I have been watching you every moment try the bridge, it's broken in several places, since last night, when I overheard you plotting and the stream has risen so— " with Charley in the library, and made up my Bang ! A furious blast of wind, a rush of mind to stop you . I would have done it earlier, swollen water ; and as he snatched me away but you were bent upon trying it. Yes, I folfrom the dangerous locality, the remains of the lowed you from the time you started, except ' little bridge went floating off- my bag, my that I let myself quietly out of the house- door, jewels, and my dresses with it, and I, like Lord instead of the balcony. I have kept my own Ullric, was left lamenting." counsel ; and you will be heartily ashamed of it " Goodness ! my bag !" I gasped ; and then, as in six months. Child ! don't be silly ! Are you I saw Charley's face, by the light of his lantern , crying ?" 66 To be sure I am," sobbed I, as Marguerite's I went off into a fit of laughter that nearly busy fingers loosened my wet cloak. " You're strangled me, as I tried not to make a noise. " How upon earth are we going over, Charley ? such a cold, proud girl, you don't know what The gate is locked, and the stream impassable. " it means to love any one as I love Charley. I Alas ! for the romance of the elopement, fancy tell you I shall die if Guardy separates me from Charley's horror ! "Don't you think we're a him." And I stamped my feet in genuine, passionate misery. Marguerite drew me down close pair of geese, dear ?" • Most unmitigated ones," said the clear, soft beside her, and kissed me twice. I looked up in voice of Marguerite, close at my elbow . In my surprise at the unexpected caress, and saw that fright I nearly tumbled into the water, and her eyes were full of tears. "So I am too cold to love, Kathie ? Little Charley was almost as bad. There she stood, her long hair wet and loosened , her pale face girl, do you wish to listen to a story— a short and gleaming eyes looking at us with a mixture one, and very commonplace. I would like to of censure and kindness. comfort you, and, perhaps, I can do so best by " Kathie, come home, " said she, a little telling you what a sore heart I have cared this severely ; “I think you are mad to risk so much five years. Yes, five years- don't you know in such an utterly thoughtless, childish fashion. I'm twenty-four, Kathie ?" She did not look Mr. Blake, I hardly think such foolish children it, with her beautiful, pearly skin, and violet have any claim for mercy at Our King's hands. " eyes ; and she smiled , as I told her so.
