CHAPTER XX. "WHAT joyful harvester did e'er obtain And days of joy ensue sad nights of sorrow." HAD a thunderbolt fallen among them, its effect would have scarcely been more startling than were Nellie's words. For one instant they gazed in blank astonishment at the undaunted girl who so fearlesssly proclaimed her low birth; then the smothered sneer, the scornful look, the scarcely suppressed murmur of malicious triumph, told her that their fiat had gone forth and her fate was sealed. But she quailed not before them all till Walter Everson shrank from her appealing glance paralyzed with horror. Then nature, overwrought, yielded, and she would have sunk at his feet had not a strong arm caught and tenderly supported her fainting form. "Noble, heroic girl!" exclaimed Murray, casting a glance of ineffable disgust around as he bore Nellie from the room; "such sublime courage finds no response from a heartless world.” "Heaven bless you for this, Mr. Murray," said Mrs. Waters while they gently laid Nellie's still unconscious form upon the sofa in the dressing-room; "friendship in such an hour is indeed most precious; and I may with truth add, most rare." "Would that I had but the right to protect her! would to heaven that my name and hand might shield her from their pitiless scorn!" Mr. Murray exclaimed with an earnestness which caused Mrs. Waters to pause in her efforts to restore Nellie and turn with unfeigned astonishment towards him. "You have my secret now," he continued, while a rich glow spread over his manly cheek; "which, but for this denouement, might ever have remained concealed within my own breast. Let me add then, Mrs. Waters, that this night has deepened my love for that noble girl almost to idolatry—has exalted her to even a higher and holier place in my heart than before. Oh! that the priceless treasure of her love had been mine!" A languid movement of returning consciousness from Nellie caused him to withdraw quickly before Mrs. Waters had time to reply. A grateful smile, however, still rested upon her face as Nellie slowly unclosed her eyes and fixed them upon her. 66 "O Aunt Waters!" she cried mournfully, "how can you smile? It is so terrible! Repudiated, scorned, loathed, cast off! O my God! help me to bear ellie, my dear girl, all is not lost. I feel it, I ; and I smile, nay, I could almost shout for joy ou have achieved such a noble, such a glorious h to-night." triumph! Aunt Waters? Say, rather, my ruin, solation, my death!" it ruin or desolation to gain such a victory over self, Nellie? Is it death to rise superior to the s smile or frown? Reflect a moment, my dear pon the step you have taken. Would you rewould your love even tempt you back to him osed his heart against you when most you needed tection? No, believe me, Nellie, you will yet God, as I do, that you faltered not when your of trial came." ou are right! Aunt Waters!" cried Nellie, ing to her feet with sudden energy, while a of filial love illumined her eye; "they may scorn they will, but they shall know that a mother's. is dear to the child of the forest, and that she not to share her humble lot. Come, let us go; I ot longer breathe beneath this roof. Thus end y dearly cherished dreams, and I go forth to a dark and cheerless; but a Father's hand will ne through, and his love will light the dreary |