one of deep-seated tenderness, and it may not
be easy to describe the shock which the intelligence gave her. She did
not hear him through without ejaculations of horror, sufficiently
fervent and loud to provoke the glance of her mother, who did not,
however, though turning her looks frequently upon the two, venture upon
any inquiry, or offer any remark. The girl heard her lover patiently;
but when he narrated the catastrophe, and told of the murder of the
guard, she no longer struggled to restrain the feeling, now too strong
for suppression. Her words broke through her lips quickly, as she
exclaimed--

"But you, Mark--you had no part in this matter--you lent no aid--you
gave no hand. You interfered, I am sure you did, to prevent the murder
of the innocent men. Speak out, Mark, and tell me the truth, and relieve
me from these horrible apprehensions."

As she spoke, her small hand rested upon his wrist with a passionate
energy, in full accordance with the spirit of her language. The head of
the unhappy man sank upon his breast; his eyes, dewily suffused, were
cast upon the floor, and he spoke nothing, or inarticulately, in reply.

"What means this silence--what am I to believe--what am I to think, Mark
Forrester? You can not have given aid to those bad men, whom you
yourself despise. You have not so far forgotten yourself and me as to go
on with that wicked man Rivers, following his direction, to take away
life--to spill blood as if it were water! You have not done this, Mark.
Tell me at once that I am foolish to fear it for an instant--that it is
not so."

He strove, but in vain, to reply. The inarticulate sounds came forth
chokingly from his lips without force or meaning. He strode impatiently
up and down the apartment, followed by the young and excited maiden, who
unconsciously pursued him with repeated inquiries; while her mother,
awakened to the necessity of interference, vainly strove to find a
solution of the mystery, and to quiet both of the parties.

"Will you not speak to me, Mark? Can you not, will you not answer?"

The unhappy man shook his head, in a perplexed and irritated manner,
indicating his inability to reply--but concluding with pointing his
finger impatiently to Ralph, who stood up, a surprised and anxious
spectator of the scene. The maiden seemed to comprehend the intimation,
and with an energy and boldness that would not well describe her
accustomed habit--with a hurried step, crossed the apa