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Show 74 H.ICII.AIW HUIWJS. with no less art than pcrsm·clTIHCC'. John IIunlis WHS a vain man, and confident of his position; rmd yet he did not approach that c:tlm and high-nlindr,d girl without some trepidation. llis first overture bcgnn with a reference to the conflict which she had so hnppily interrupted:- "Mary, you 1l:wc this day witnessed that wllich I sllou ld willingly !Javc kept for m·cr from your knowledge. You havo seen tl10 strife of brother with brother; you have beheld a Yiolcncc shocking to lnun.mity, and, if not ending like that of tl1o first murderer, one which, but for your timely comiug, might have had, for one or both of us, n no less fatnl termination. I l1opc, Mary, you do me the justice to believe tl1at I was not to blame in this quarrel." lie drew his chair 11igher to hers, as he thus spoke, and waited for her answer with no little sol icitude. She hesitated. llow cou1J slJC else than h esitate, when an assenting answer sanctioned the adJrcss, the sincerity of which she sc.riously questioned 1 "I know not what to say, :Mr. llunlis," was her reply. 11 I saw not enough of the st rife of wl1ich yon SJleak to pass judgment upon it. I will not pretend to say who began it; I would rather not speak on the subject at all.H "Yet l1e-Richard liurdis-lw spoke of it to you?'' hereplied suspiciously. "No, I SJ)Oke of it to him, rather," was tl1~ fearless answer. "In the first moment of my surprise and terror, l\Ir. Hurdis, T spoke to Richard-to your brother-about his rasltness; and yet, though I spoke, I know not truly what I said. I was anxious-! was alarmed." "Yet you know that it was his rashness, l\Iary, tlw.t provoked the alTair," he said quickly. "I know that Richard is rash, constitutionally rash, John," she replied gravely. "Yet I willuot pretend to say, nor am I willing to think, that the provocation cnmc entirely from him." "Hut you saw !tis violence only, Mary." "Yes, that is true; but did his violence come of itself, John 1 Said you nothing 1 did you nothing to provoke him to tl1at vio~ Ience 1 was there no vexing word 1 was there no ·cause of strife, well known before, between you 1 I am sure that there must I ~ GOOD AND EVIL SPIRITS. 75 have been, John, and I lcnve it to your candor to say if there were not. I haYe known Richard long-we were children together- and I can not think that, in sheer wantonness, aml without provocation, he could do what I this day bchcltl." A faint yet bitter smile passed over his lips as he replied:" And do you think, Mary-is it possible that yon, a lally, one brought up to regard violence with terror, and brutality with clisgust-is it possible tltat you can justify a resort to blows for a provocation g iven in words 1" 'rho check of the maiden crimsoned beneath the tacit rc~ proach ; but she replied without shame:- "God f01·bid! l do not; blows arc brutal, and violence de~ grading to humanity in my eyes! But though I find no sanction for the error of Richard, I am not so sure that yon have yolll~ justification in his violence for every provocation of which you may ltave been guilty. Your brother is full of impulse, quick, and irritable. You know his nature well. Did you scruple to olTend it 1 Did you not ofiCnd it 1 I ask you in honor, John llurdis, since you hn.ve invited me to spenk, was there not some previous cause of strife between you which pro~ voked, if it did not justify, your brother in his violence 1" "It may be-nny, there was, Mary! I confess it. And would you know the cause, Mary 1 Nay, you must; it is of that I would speak! '\Vill you hear me 1" "Freely, John!" was the ready and more indulgent reply. "If the cause be known, tho remedy can not be far off, John, if we have the will to apply it." He smiled at what ho considerCll the aptness of the reply. llc drew his chair still nigher to her own; and his voice fell and trembled as he spoke. "You arc the cause, Mary!" "I-I the cause!" She paused and looked at him with unreserved astonishment. "Yes, you, and you only, l\fary! Richard Hm·dis hates me, simply Lecause I love you! Not that he loves you himself, :\Iary !"he spoke quickly-" no, he would control you for his own pride! he would rule you and me, and everything alike! llut that ILC shall not! No, l\Iary! hear me-l have been slow to speak, as I was fearful to offend ! I would not be pre~ |