sobbing, for she really could see no end to the troubles that threatened her. Aylesford, with another oath, muttered-" Cold comfort this for a man. But what else can be expected from a whimpering old dunce? If she'd had sense and courage, she'd have got rid of this militia Major civilly, after the first interview. However," he continued, "I mustn't let her see what I think. She can be of service to me yet, and I must keep her in temper. I really believe she loves me as if I was her son." So, again going up to her, and embracing her, not without something even of affection, he said"There, aunt, compose yourself. What's done can't be helped. But, now that I've come back, I'll take this matter into my own hands; and the first thing is to get rid of this rebel visitor. How long have Kate and he been out?" He looked at the clock as he spoke, his frown deepening, for the hour was even later than he had thought. "Deary me," exclaimed Mrs. Warren, in reply, her face displaying visible consternation, "it's almost noon. I wonder if anything has happened. I'm sure something has," And she began to wring her hands. "I've felt all the morning that it would." Aylesford wheeled on his heel to conceal his impatience. But immediately he returned. "Have they been absent two hours? Three? How many?" Deary me, don't be so cross ?" replied his aunt, his very impatience frustrating his object. "You frighten me, Charles. I'm sure I've done nothing to deserve this—” "For heaven's sake," cried her nephew, losing control of himself, "cut this short, and tell me how long they've been gone, and what road they took.” Aylesford at last extracted the unwelcome intelligence that Kate and his rival had been absent since eight o'clock. "Time enough to make a dozen proposals," muttered he, "and talk down the scruples of twenty heiresses, especially when a beggar of an officer is the suitor, who has had the good luck to help her off from a wreck. But I'll put a stop to the fellow's insolent pretensions. If the mischief be not done already, I'll take good care he gets no more such opportunities; and if he has practiced on my cousin's susceptibility, of whom I'm the natural protector, as being her nearest male relative, I'll run him through." With these words he stepped to the window, ordered a horse to be saddled, and having ascertained the direction in which the equestrians had ridden, set off in search of them. Fortune conducted him immediately to them, as we have already seen. Helen I love thee; by my life I do: I swear by that which I will love for thee, To prove him false that says I love thee not.-Shakspeare. I cannot love him, He might have took his answer long ago.-Shakspeare. I'll have my bond, I will not hear thee speak. THOUGH Kate could not think, without aversion, of ratifying the family contract to marry her cousin, yet she commiserated his disappointment, and was consequently more tender to his feelings than she would otherwise have been. These sentiments had governed her during the interview at the bridge. No true woman takes pleasure in the suffering of an unfortunate lover. Kate had, on that occasion, thought more of her cousin's disappointment than of Major Gordon. But, when she had reached Sweetwater, and was left to solitary thought in the privacy of her chamber, she saw that, in trying to save the feelings of Aylesford, she had hurt those of her preserver. Her momentary anger at the latter's coldness gradually subsided, and when she met him, on the following day, she returned his bow, as we have seen, with all her old cordiality. Kate was sitting alone in the parlor, to which we have already introduced the reader, on Monday morning, when her cousin entered the apartment. Something in his manner betrayed to her that he sought a private interview. Her heart began to beat fast. Aylesford, for a minute or two, did not speak. He walked, in an embarrassed way, to the window; looked out a moment, glanced at Kate, and then tattooed on the panes with his fingers; and, finally, turning abruptly towards her, said "How is it, Kate, that you have compromised the family, by permitting this Major Gordon to visit here so frequently? His rebel commission surely ought to shut your doors against him." Kate's color, which had been heightened ever since Aylesford entered, flushed to a still deeper crimson at these words. But, having determined, while remaining firm to her purpose, to do everything else to conciliate her cousin, she paused awhile before replying, in order to command voice and judgment alike. "I do not see, Charles," she said, finally, "that I have compromised the family. Major Gordon, though not a royalist, is a gentleman, and entitled to the civilities due to all such. In addition," she added, with another blush, "he deserves particular attention at our hands; you yourself must admit this." "I don't admit any such thing," answered her cousin, "He nettled alike by her quiet manner and by her words. helped to save your life, I know; but so would any other person in his place. I myself," he added, with an outburst of really natural feeling, "would have given my right hand to have been there, and risked my life also for you." Kate was touched. "I believe you," she said, with a voice full of feeling. To do him justice, Aylesford loved her with all the passion of his illy regulated nature, and when he heard this reply, and saw Kate's emotion, what was good in him awoke responsive to it. He fell upon his knee, by a sudden impulse, and seizing her hand, said— "Then why wont you believe still more, dear Kate? Why wont you believe that I am the most sincere and devoted lover ever woman had? That I have been taught, from my youth up, to look upon you as my future wife? That all my associations of home and happiness have centred around you? Oh! Kate," he cried, as she withdrew her hand and shook her head sadly, "have pity on me. Don't let your heart be estranged from your own blood and kin, merely because a stranger has done that which I would have died a thousand times to do." Kate shook her head again mournfully. "It is not that," she faltered. "Then what is it? I implore you to tell me. By the memory of our fathers, who loved each other so well, what is it that makes you cold to me, and to me only?" Kate had been struggling for composure to reply. Deeply moved, she said— 'Rise, Charles. This is no attitude for you to assume, nor for me to allow." Her manner was firm, though gentle, and Aylesford rose and stood before her. "I cannot listen to such language," she began. "I must be truthful, even if I speak words that may seem harsh; and I do not love you, Charles " He clasped his forehead violently with both hands. "Yet what have I done," he cried, after a moment, like one beside himself, "to win this hatred? Oh! never man loved as I love you, Kate." "I do not hate you, Charles," was Kate's mild reply. "You are my cousin, and the last male representative of our family, and therefore have a double claim on me. I like you as a relative, though I see much," she added, hesitatingly, "to condemn. But to be your wife is impossible. It would bring happiness to neither of us. And knowing that it would not bring happiness," she added, in a firmer tone, "it would be a sin in us to contract it. Otherwise, perhaps," and here her voice trembled, "I might have ratified the wishes of our parents; which, but for this incompatibility between us, I should feel bound to obey." Aylesford, whose angry sense of humiliation had been gradually rising, was subdued again by these last words, for he thought Kate was relenting. He, therefore, answered eagerly Or," for she shook her "There is no incompatibility. head, "there shall be none. Only try me. I will be anything you wish. We have been apart so long, that perhaps we do differ in some things; but I place myself in your hands; mould me as you will.” His impassioned manner left no doubt on his hearer's mind that he was sincere, at least for the time; but Kate well knew that natures like his were past reforming; and she could not, therefore, permit herself to be misled by these earnest protestations. The interview was becoming too painful, and she rose to terminate it. "Don't talk in that way, Charles," she said, with tears in her eyes. "Please don't," she added, placing her hand restrainingly on his arm, as she saw he was about to renew |