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"' ~ ~~" ^~? ^ i Id r to last until after New Year. A few dajtafter ray arrival, General Vitfaii had, considerately, insisted on my accepting my first quarter's salary in advance, so I was now relieved from all anxiety on the score of not being abie to present a suitable appearance amorj'the gay company who were expected at Beechcroft. I had fhncied that I had out*, lived all taste fot gaiety, bat high spirits are infections, and in listening to Edith's lively chatter and brilliant anticipations, I found myself looking forward wjfh unwonted interest and excitement to the coming festivities. She insisted on driving with me to Thcrnby, which was the nearest available place for shopping, and there helped me in the selection of several articles of dread, some of which, I must oonfess, my natural prudenoe warned me against indulging in, bat she would not listen to my scruples.' "Nonsense!" she would exclaim, ezpostulatingly, whenever the shopman was out of hearing ; "do you suppose I am going to let yon ma a ro-im ftM maid , in all sorts of worst eds and common-place things ? No, you must have at least one real nice drees?a white muslin?and some pretty ribbons and lace to setitoff; I wish you would buy a silk, but you won't." . I was resolute against thesilk, for I had one already; a plain brown one that had been carefully preserved in my trunk for nearly four years, during which period I had'worn it bat two or three times, on very grand occasions. But one day, about a week before Christmas, I found en mf bed the most beautiful blue ffllk, to which * was attached a slip paper with these words: "I Hope Miss Gray will not consider it an unwarrantable liberty in an pld lady to present her with the same offering she has made to each of her neioes, and that she will gratify me by wearing my simple rift, with them, on Christmas day." I hastened to Miss Marchmont's room, to thank her, in delighted surprise, for her generosity and thoughtfnlness, and to assure her h aw. eqtiiely Unexpected jtjftfr, ? ' 'Of coarse it is, my dear"-she answered pilSSfe^y; "if you had been ithe sort of per ^Mydtesswas made, trad I might be pardoned^ thrill of gratified vanity?considering how long it was sftice T had worn anything so pretty?in soring how becoming it wqjQf and how youthful it made me look. Christmas eve came, and with it the expected gaests. Most of them arrived late in the afternoon, and it was not until 1 went down in the evening that I was introduced to them. When I entered the drawing-room, I was dazzled for a moment by the blaze of light. The ham of many voices partly ceased?for an instant my self-possession nearly failed me? I was so unaccustomed to making ray appearance in so gay a scene; but I felt re-assured directly as General Vivian came forward to meet me, and led me to a seat in a distant part of the room, where I was glad to find myself in the vicinity of Miss Marchmont, who smiled and nodded pleasantly as X approached. A gentleman arose from her side, and the General presented him to me. "Colonel Vavasour?Miss Gray." He bowed, and resumed his seat, which was between Miss Marchmont and myself. The latter addressed me, saying that the colonel and herself had just been having an argument, which I had arrived in time to decide for them as umpire. "The Colonel claims, my dear, that women have no business to write books, or exercise their minds in any way beyond the useful em% ployments of keeping house and darning stockings. Now I maintain that if a woman? weaker vessel that she be?has a mind, why should she be ashamed to air it a little tor the benefit of her fellow-creatures, instead of keeping her ideas locked up until they lose all their grace and polish ?" "Nay, Miss Marchmont, you do not state my views fairly," said Colonel Vavasour; "I did not say that women should not exercise their minds, I only said it was a pity that there were so many who fancied they could write books, and deluge the public with such a flood of trash in consequence." "Oh 1' then you don't object to their employing their minds; only you think they have none to employ!" said Miss Marchmont; "really, you pay the sex a compliment" "Nay, you misinterpret me, wilfully; but I am sure Miss Gray will understand what I mean. Don't you agree with me, Miss Gray, that it is a great pity the present age is so tinctured with the mania for woman's rights? that there are so many what are called "strongminded women" now-a-days." "I certainly do," I rejoined ; "and have no doubt Miss Marchmont is of the same opinion." "Oh! I am not going to say any more about it," said Miss Marchmont, laughing and rising as she spoke ; "I will leave you two tc discuss the subject together?I am quite af fronted with some of Colonel Vavasour's speeches, and am not going to forgive him foi some time to come." The Colonel smiled as he looked after her "That is one of the most charming womei I know," he said; "now if she were to writ* a book, I believe it would really benefit it readers?her mind is so clear and vigorous and yet so thoroughly womanly in all its sen timents." <<vrir. am-AA with some of vour sex A UU UV UW ^ then, that 'womanly' and 'weak' are synony mous terms ?" I asked. "By no means; I should be sorry to thinl so." "Yet you do not approve of women writing as a general rule ?" He smiled. "My ideas are a little peculiar on some sub jects," he replied. "As a general rule, I d a latent ftifi writing, and yet, with- me, ii might have proved a'dangeroua gift." .. "Why so V* he asked. "Because I 'coultl not have resisted the temptation of trying to support myself in that way, instead of by teaching, and I should no doubt have starved; whereas by dint of drudge ery I have managed to keep soul and body together/' X answered light! lie looked at me, l tanciea, wim cuuwm, bat he was too well-bred to manifest any surprise at the revelation I had made. -1 had a great ftrnd of sturdy independence in my nature, and did not wish to pass off with any one fbr other than I really was. "You have it io-your power, I think, to do a great dea I of gooft in your vocation," continued my companion, as if teaching was the most natural and easy thing in the world. > I shook my head.. "I have never found that I accomplished any great results," I answered; "and besides, all the enthusiasm I might ever have felt foi my vocation was quenched long ago. One can't take safEoient interest in the dull and common place subjects one has to deal with, to get through anything but the mere ordinary routine of daily work. However, I am speaking from past, and not from present experience, fbr I have not only a pleasant home here, but my two scholars are charming children,;and I cannot but take a sincere interest in them. I was speaking only of teaching as a general rule, and more particularly in 800001*. Having unburthened myself of my little confession, I could now enjoy Colonel Vavasour's agreeable conversation without the uncomfortable feeling that he might be taking me for a mere visitor, and treating me accordingly; but, whatever he might have felt ai the discovery that I was only a governess, it certainly made no difference in his manner. He was one of the most polished men I have ever met, sbd talked intelligently on a variety of subjects, until our tete-artete had beer prolonged tp a considerable length. Presenttysoau one proposed mono, and a '^olkj Miss is going to sing now; doesn't she look exquisitely to-night V' "She has, also, I think, a very charming voice," said Colonel Vavasour; "shall we draw nearer to the piano, Miss Gray ? We can scarcely enjoy the music here, with so much talking going on around us," We accordingly rose and joined the group that gathered around the instrument, and as 1 turned to address some remark to Miss Marchmont, Colonel Vavasour left my side and ap i proached Edith, over whom he bent, saying something which brought a beautiful coIoj and smile to her face. In my wisdom, I im agined that I could read more than ordinary interest and admiration in his gaze, and the thought occurred to me that very possibly il would not be long ere Edith could no more say, with truth, that she had never had at offer. "They would make an excellent match," ] reflected; "for Edith is everything that ii charming and attractive, and he is one of the most refined and gentlemanly men I have evei met." nrr. w - ?1 - T 1 _?11? ? w nen miss vere?wiiu imu icanj a uw i voice?had finished singing, other performeri l took her place. I, too, was called upon to con tribute to the entertainment The Vivian'.' were pleased to think highly of my musicai attainments, and I found that I was listenec to with as much attention as any of the oth ers. Then my two little pupils, Lucy anc Blanche, played a duett I had taught them with Buch precision and nicety that their moth er was perfectly delighted, and called me t< her side to thank me for the progress they hac made. Altogether, the evening was a verj pleasant one, and I believe I enjoyed it quib as much as the guests did. Among the latter, I ha\e only mentionec Colonel Vavasour and Miss Vere, but then were several others to whom I was introduced There was a Mrs. Elliott and her two daugh ters, May and Clara?shy, pretty girls, o eighteen and twenty, who had been school mates of Linda and Edith; Charlie Forrester | a bright, handsome young man, fresh fron J college, who followed Edith everywhere, an< J when she was talking to any one else, foliow ed her with his eyes ; a saturnine looking Mi 11 Germayne; a plain and uninteresting Mis i j Campbell, and two or three others, with whon - j I afterward became acquainted. We did no j separate until the clock had chimed twelyt and every one tried to be first in saying ' "Merry Christmas," at the top of his or he voice. The next day dawned brilliantly, and i t was a bright assemblage of faces that grace i the bounteously spread breakfast table. Vf ) ( rious were the gifts presented and receivec ; most of them being laid either beside or b< i' neath the plates of the recipients. I receive r! tokens from every member of the household some costly, some simple, but all valuable fc . the kindness which had prompted the offering 1 Nor had I failed to prepare for each one c 2 them some testimony of nty grateful affectio s and appreciation. , After breakfast we prepared for churcl -1 The church we attended was at Thornb] | some three miles distant; it had been beaut fully decorated with Christmas berries an - evergreens, arranged in tasteful wreaths an mottoes. The clergyman, a venerable whii i haired gentleman, preached a fine sermon aj propriate to the day, and the music was we ;, selected and executed. Nearly all the pari from Beechcroft went, except Mrs. Vivia and Miss Marchmont, who stayed at home I h superintend some little special house-keepir o arrangements. ! dlrei). Miss Marchm oitf always went." J/? I The question finally came up, what kind of : amusement should be selected far STewYear's 'night? ... 0-i'i I-' i M | "Wehavehad so much dancing I am tired' I U ? iu.!A T inila niKrv w oo nrtf Ad llVATv flfl UJL lb, oaiu jjtuuai) nuv hhw ?w m ?. her sister; "do let us think of something else." "What do you say to the tableaux ?%asked her aunt. "All the subjects are so hackneyed, it is impossible to dud new ones," some one objected. "How about charades ?" I suggested. "Those are better," said Edith; "I think we might get up some new ones. Suppose we try?" \ It was finally decided that charades wet? to be the order of the evening; and fbrfcirijih every one rushed into extensive preparations for the same. I was asked to take apa^ti i but declined; I preferred being a .spectator. * I lent them my wits however in the selection > of parts, and my hands for assisting in the costume arrangements, and among us all we , managed to choose some tolerably good subjects, and array them in creditable outfits. Some of the dresses weie very rich, and re ' - * * i 9.1 ' quired-a great deal of jewelry to oe worn wun 1 them. Miss Marchmont, who possessed a great many valuable ornaments, was called on to contribute, whioh she agreed t? do very 1 willingly. Her jewel boxes were accordingly 1 produced, and the contents duly examined and admired. 1 . "Oh! Miss Marchmont, wbatlovely things!" ' the young ladies exclaimed, gathering round ' her as the little oases were opened one by one "What a splendid necklace; did you used * to wear i^Whofryou were young V' "Oh! look at those emeralds; they are per* ' fectly exquisite"-and so on. What pleased v me best of all was. an antique diamond ring, 1 a single stone, the most beau tifiiLli in ' seen, set round ^u^Lsjlver and black enamel. 1 Independently dHBRtrinsio^orth, the very Singularity crf-iwKracted my fancy. \ "Dp you like that?" Miss Marchmont asked, I nptiqing;tkat I had'teken it up. . "Yes, very much; more than all the regtgjj -:thmk> : jrasfefrbeh jg - VU * "Yes, it ha8*cotrfP*'llwn to' meirom five ' generations; I prize it as much as anything I possess. There is quite a romantic history attached to it, too." > "Oh! do tell us,"cried several voices. . "Well it was given once as a pledge of he V* n nt _ 1 _ _ ' trothment by a certain cavalier 01 unaries ' the Second's court, to a Miss Anne Meredith, an intimate friend of his sister, but who was ! considered beneath him in rank, and as he '! knew that his family was averse to the idea | of his marrying her, he begged her to keep " j the engagement secret for a time, giving her ' | some plausible excuse for doing so. "The young lady lived in the country, and when a length of time had elapsed without } her hearing from him, she wrote to ask if he had forgotten her, and if she was never to see ' | him again. He wrote to her in answerttating ^ I that on a certain day he would come to visit her, and requesting that she would meet him in a spot that he named, in a wood near her father's house. Meanwhile, the family of the , lover found out his secret, and also the ap' pointment he had made. His father, a stern man of violent prejudice, hastened off to Anne > Meredith and bid her renounce all thought of ' marrying his son, assuring her that the latter was but amusing himself at her expense. Faithful, however, to her lover, Anne refused I to believe the tale, unless he came in person I and confirmed it "Baffled at finding his threats disregarded, j the old man rode homeward, reflecting how he could best put an end to this affair. He ' | decided that his best plan would be to convince his son that Anne was unfaithful to him I without allowing him to see her ; but how to ^ manage this ? Meantime the day drew near for the appointed visit of the courtier to his lady-love. At last, the wily father hit upon , a plan ; he wrote to Anne, stating that since 3 his interview with her his feelings toward her had entirely changed, and that he was no ] longer opposed to her union with his son, but was willing to receive her as his daughter, and entreated her to forgive the harshness he had displayed toward her. He added that his son j had been seized with a sudden illness, and j would be unable to come to her as he had intended, but that he was very desirous bf seeing her, and begged her to come to him ing stead. If she would come half way, he would meet her with a suitable escort and conduct a t her, himself, to his own home. ; "The unsuspecting girl, thinking of nothing / but the supposed illness of her lover, whono ^ she pictured to herself as perhaps in a dying state, immediately set off under the protectior of a trusty servant. She met the old man al .j the appointed place, but instead of carrying her home with him, he took her to an entire j ly different place, and put her in charge o: a woman, whom he ordered to keep he] ^ closely imprisoned until he should give hei . i further directions. ir i "The lover repaired to the trysting place r. j but of course did not find his mistress expect )f | ing him. In her stead was a girl, hired b] n | the old father to enact the part of Anne'i ! maid; who with many lamentations informe< j. j him that her mistress had gone off witbanoth p} er man, and that no traces of her could b j. | found. The lover returned home in wrath d ' and soon afterward, more from pique than ai d | fection, married another lady. A few day te : after his marriage he received a brief lette p.; from Anne, accusing him of perfidy and en 11 closing the ring, the pledge of their engage y ment It had been written on her dying bed ,n his supposed treachery had broken her heart, to "Oh, how melancholy! and what becamec ig the ring ?" I "It passed down through various hands uc confidences with regard to family "Oh! but I must tell you; I have wantaj to tell you before, but you are alwajre_* dreadfully prudent and" cSlitious. Now, i can't tell mamma this, because it would worry her so much, nor aunt Alice. So you see there is nobody I can talk to but you." "Not Linda f I asked. - j "Linda is the very one it's all about Dc you like that Mr. Germayne, Miss Gray ?' "I have had very little to say to him ; ] ; know him less than any of the other gentle '! men," I replied. "Well, I think he's just hateful! He ii | the man who wanted to marry Linda ever sc long ago?don't you know I told you-^nd i papa would not let her have him. Well, he i did not come back to the house for some time; but at last he promised papa that if he would let him come here, as a friend, he would say j nothing more to Linda about what had passed ! would not try to steal her affections, you i know. So he has been coming here on those terms; but, Miss Gray, do you knovrwEaH saw him do to-night ? He was kissing, her i hand?the mean, dishonorable wretch." ~~" : "And did she allow it ?" I asked. "I don't know?it was only for an instant; but, Miss Gray, you see how he is actingbreaking "his promise, and deceiving papa Oh! I was so angry, I was burning all over; I could have shot him down, right then." "Did you say anything to your sister about it r "No, I didn't want to; for, after all, I believe she could not help it; but papa ought te know." j "But, my dear child, perhaps you are ma | king a great deal out of a very small affair^ 11 it might have been merely an act of gallant i ry?-something not worth thinking about i j again ?" t "Act of gallantry! He has no business tt i be performing such acts' After what hte ; passed, he ought to be specially carefttl^m* 1 ought to avoid all appearance even o?.*any I thing familiar in his intercourse with4fip>^ i! This was quite true, and I could noft^afc i j trovert the opinion of my indignant little - friend, though I thought she made a little toe much of the whole-affair. I now recalled i several slight circumstances, which had nol 1 i impressed me particularly at the time of th?h t occurrence, but which confirmed me in th< opinion?since Edith's revelation?that Mr, ; Germayne was certainly not acting quite horn i orably in regard to Linda, after the promise - - t- ? J ? - Aifliai* > | ilti IltUI lUttUC l/u uci inuivi. i I endeavored, however, to tranquilizeEdith t and after one or two more little outbreaks ? which seemed to relieve her troubled mind she gradually subsided into sleep. I lay f awake for awhile, thinking over the varioui r occurrences of the past week, and then fbl r lowed her example, after which I knew notb ing more until late the next morning. , When we arose the sun was shining bril - liantly; all traces of the storm?an unusual j ly sudden and severe one for the season?hat 3 disappeared, and soon after breakfast on 1! weather-bound guests took their departure. -; About noon, as I was sitting in my room 0 i engaged with some needle-wonc, there was i '? light tap at my door, and in hnswer to my in > vitation to enter, Miss Marohmont made he s appearance. r "My dear," she said; "have you seen any thing of my ring? I am quite concerned > about it, for it has got mislaid apparently ; and can nowhere be found." " "Not the one I liked so much?the olrj >f fashioned diamond ?" I asked. "Yes, that one. Linda wore it, you kno* i- in one of the charades, but she assures m I Ijplaced it, with some other things, j drawer of my bureau. She is such j irl that I can hardly doubt her | and yet the ring is nowhere to be j yould not lose it for a great deal." j i sure no one could have gone to j tire; all the servants had gone to ihe put it there, and no one else > touched it. Besides, all the other ry strange and very annoying," I utl have no doubt it will be found se of the day. Let me help you Miss Marchraont; perhaps it has - - ? * i IttUUUt LUC iluuo/i the house had been )n, but still for safekin, examining every >e of discovering the ' enough, no trace of Marchmont was now i Linda's care," she certain that it had I; but she is so exI cannot think she nking such was the , w.Uh a comical ex; for if I had put it not dropped it out ; fire, or done soraeh a heedless puss," usly, I am worried tknow where in the all search had still umed my daily less, who found some g back into the old 861116(1 uuwu ukuwuij Bwwtsual duties. more concerned than any Kt ;^hH?^Rrli&r' aunt?about the loss of EPIHBP^ ^ ^een *u ^er c^ar8e< H^9^BHpi#k at last, that she might pos^Hg^^^^K&t-mistaken in supposing that ^^nflH^Bftthe drawr ; still, she did not beshe had been, she said, ^^H^^HbiBular in regard to the ring, valuable heir-loom it was, HBjBH^HBLms prized by its possessor. any more about it, H^j^^^^m^Maid-to her at last; "if HMH^^^^^^^j^lt c&unot be helped, 'it^reat pity. Perhaps ^^Bflj^^^^H^^iibcpectedly found some sighed Linda; "but, JgOiMp would rather have cut ^ Sfl^^^Kat this should have hapct* g "nrF* tl riwifflia ' ^"uiyiaidlOD JSir? McTQlftyDo, ^pP^pPyly came to the house, and I noticed !4|jliMH>en he was present she was, evidently, jalrat ease; there was a sort of nervous trepii dalion in her manner when he addressed her, and usually on the day following one of these i visits she appeared more than ordinarily lowspirited. I had never fancied the man's looks Vfcjmanner, but I now began to discover some> thing positively repugnant in both. He had a smooth, insinuating way of speaking that ! was particularly disagreeable to me, and I es pecially disliked the flattering tone he assumed in -conversing with the general. i One evening he had been at Beech croft, and taken leave earlier than usual. Almost imI mediately after his departure, Linda rose and j Indus good-night, and about a quarter of an ; hour later I followed her example. As I was 1 'passing along the lower entry, I heard the r back door, that led into the shrubbery, cau; tiously open, and, to ray great surprise, Linda i came in, wrapped in a shawl, and looking > veiry pale. As she was closing the door I r"obtfTOave sworn I heard the sound of foot ateggjretreating down the gravel walk of the "" Srubbery. *| "Why, Linda!" I exclaimed in great aston- j ; ishraent; "where in the world have you been ? ; . I thofdght you were in your room, long ago." j "Yes," she answered, looking confused so ; I was, but?I thought I heard something and I came down to see what it was. Don't look so ; amazed, Miss Gray. Good-night, I am going up againand she hurried off, while I fol lowed more slowly, revolving the occurrence r in my mind. Her account, given with hesitation, was an extremely improbable one. In the first place, she was a great coward, and would ? dared to go to the door if she had r fancied she heard anything unusual outside; i and besides, her most natural plan would " tffcrtaen to call her father or one of her f In the second place, it was not B likoyjto would have put on a shawl simply 3 lbfa door, for it was by no means a. - >erwdd night, and she had evidently made a up yepMrittjons, whatever for bed, whereas ^jHBfi|iA|ymbit of undressing very quickiWSRer /etirin^T Edith, who shared, her i*j4ays read a chapter in the Bible [ to her mother, every night, and usually t lingered in the chamber of the latter, affec koiBttdy attending to various little arrange5 tn&fe for her Oorafort, before going to bed, so , thai Linda, ^ fihe had any motive for not . gfing upstairs when she appeared to do so, ) would not have feared discovery from her Writer. t I felt sure there was something underhand, ed going on, and that Mr. Germayne was at , tie hottom of it. r / However, it was not my business to speakj i I could not insult Linda, or her family, by - kerning to doubt her word ; but I resolved if -i^er I got proof of what I suspected, to reveal it at once to her parents, which I consid ered to be my duty, unpleasant as it would be. There was another frequent visitor, whose 11 coming was always hailed with pleasure, and ?1 ? -" - ?'??a in tv?*? oofimofinn vorv tlif. ^ f 1110 IltJIU tL |/IHW IU I la j VOV1UJMWIVM *vV 1 fereBTfrom't'hat occupied By Mr. Germayne. , ] Colonel Vavasour was a man whom it was i impossible not to esteem and admire; there - ivas not merely the outward refinement and r courtesy always so'winning, but there was i something so frank, so truthful, and so unre' served in his whole demeanor, that it was eviJ lent the man's whole soul and heart spoke in lis words and actions; there was nothing ooncealed or underhanded about him. The more f 1 observed his demeanor toward Edith, the bore convinced I felt that ray idea respecting r, lis feelings toward her had been a correct fi. ?ne. He was at least twelve years her senior,; or more, bat in this caserneainerence uiu uuw seem too great; he would be the better able to shield her from the care and trouble of the rude world, and the manly repose of his nar ture would counterbalance the too impulsive outpourings and unrestraint of hen. If Edith had a fault, it was her impetuosity of feeling, which sometimes carried her a little beyond the bounds of prndence, and X felt that he was just the one to check without wounding her; one whom she must always respect, and, from the very clinging tenderness of her disposition, love the more because she must obey., "Surely," I thought inwardly; "I could not desire a happier lot for my favorite than to see her united to such a man. He has every noble and attractive quality, and could not - ? ? i _ ts tail to malce tier nappy. And yet Edith's manner toward him puz- j zled me. She al ways looked bright and pleasant at his approach, and yet it seemed to me that her:Way-of talking to him was scarcely that in which a young girl would be likely to address her lover. She was playful, sometimes to familiarity ; would murmur little speeches to him in a low tone, and then suddenly assume a timid, almost reverential air, as if she feared he would think her wanting in respect It was an odd idea certainly, and yet it would occur to me when I watched them. It appeared to me sometimes as if she spoke to him exactly im the same way as that in which she addressed her father. "Edith," I said to her one day; "tell me, my pet, why it is that Colonel Vavasour comes here so often ?" She looked at me a moment, flushed, and then laughed. "What a question, Miss Gray 1" she exclaimed ; "why should /know anything about it?" "Come ! no evasions, mademoiselle, if you please," said I; "don't you suppose I have a little penetration, if I am an old maid ?" . "You are not an old maid, and you haven't a bit of penetration," she rejoined, twining her J ?. ? ? j I.mmm vk/vM Kmtvkf Iqao /vn arms arouiiu me tuiu uu wi^uv v~ my shoulder; "you are only very romantic, and imagine all sorts of things." "I was never accused of being romantic in my life/' said. I "Come, Edith, don't be so unkind as to exclude me from your confidence; confess that Colonel Vavasour doesn't visit here out of pure friendship to your father." "To papa?no ; I suppose he is a friend to all of us." "But not an especial friend of yours V' "Of mine ? Well, perhaps he is; I do not like him extremely." "Like is a cold word, Edith; can't you find one a little more expressive, dear?" She raised her blushing free and looked into my eyes. "How inquisitive you are 1" she said; "I never imagined before that you were that sort of person. However, 1 can't help telling you just a little bit about it?I suppose he does ftek*fp?her % special interest inmeu.". - r em?tfAti'1?u& I. "Well, my pet* 'I think he is worthy of having the 'special interest,' as you call it, returned; only I think he would give it a different name." "Ah I how wise you are," she rejoined, shaking her Dretcv hold; "perhaps, one of these O A * ' * dayB?but no, I won't say any more now?let me go, Miss Gray, I really hare something to attend toand she broke from my detaining clasp, leaving me with a strange mixture of feelings, half glad, half sorry, stirring at my heart. What was it all about ? I had fancied that I would feel the sincerest pleasure at finding my surmises respecting their attachment correct ; and yet, now that they had been confirmed by her own words, an indefinable something seemed to in^in my breast and mar the brightness of the whole prospect It was.almost akin to disappointment, and yet how was it possible that I should feel disappointed at what I had all along expected and wished? Forthwith I fell into a fit of musing, in which my own life, past, present and to come, seemed to glide in a sort of review before me; but it was chiefly the future that most occupied my thoughts. The future, ah 1 how dim, how indefinite it was i I asked myself, was my time always to be spent in teaching? . Was I to be a mere waif, roaming from house to house, Btaying in each one as long as my services would be required, with never an abiding place, never a home of my own? And then I pictured myself a lonely middle-aged woman, living in lodgings when perchance I had amassed enough money to preclude the necessity of working any more for my living, if that day ever really should come. I had not even any near relatives?not a human being with whom I could look forward to passing the evening of my life; I would always be solitary, always excluded from the precious sunshine of home sympathise and home affection. I had somehow worked myself into a fit of the blues, and I was silly enough presently to lean my head down on my desk and indulge in a few quiet tears?the first I had shed since 'my arrival at Beechcroffc. They lightened my heart, however, and-by-and-by I began to mw noanninor fa/tllltlM. find to fisk VAOIUUig am*J twwvMi-^ myself how it was possible Pcould be so foolish, and still worse, so un^t^fal. I had abundant cause for thankfulriSKs in my present position, and moreover, it was a position I had every reason to hope would be a permanent one, at least until Lucy and Blanche were grown up; for their mother had more than once said she hoped I would never leave them until their education was completed. That time was at least six or seven years distant, and if I was well provided for for seven years, surely I need not complain. "And as a kind Providence has taken care of me thus far, I may well be content to leave the future in His hands," I said, mentally; "so, Frances Gray, no more nonsense if you. please! It was well enough for you to have the blues before you came here; but there is L l; 1 thmn enougn suusmne at ?>eeuuuiui? w vunv ? all away." [to be continued next wbek,] [Oopiea of the EjfQniuR containing the previouf chapters of this Story can be ftiralihed to new snbacrlbets.] ? * "Wi* Was. Mr. Chiselem a very popular man when he lived in your town!" inuuiwd a busybody of a friend. "I should trunk he was," replied the gentleman; "as many persons endeavored to prevent his leavings and and several of them, including the sheriff's officer, followed him some distance.", , i~. : ?}i. P tip Winter, who strips tb* Ifeaves from around us, makes us see the distant regions they formerly concealed; so does old age rob us of our enjoyments only to exchange the prospect of eternity before us. V * ? t J f kV ' *' *" fwrag* ?in? ???? WSSeSmi ^ ' OP THE TAX-PAYEES' CONVENTION, The Convention assembled in the Senate Chamber, at Colombia, on Tuesday, the 9th instant, at 11 A. M., and was called to order by T. J. Goodwin, of Orangeburg. Robert Adams, of Richland, temporary Secretary. After a few nreliminariee, the meeting ad iourned for a half hoar, when, upon re-assembling, the Chair announced the meeting ready to proceed to business. The call of counties was then made, and the following delegates answered, and signed their names at the chair: Abbeville?None. Anderson?J. B. Sitton. Barnwell?Johnson Hagood, J. J. Counter Beaufort?IL C. Smart, J. H. Screven, tr Charleston?W. D. Porter, G. A.,Treufcolw, George Shrewsbury, Thomas T. Simons, Richard Lathers. Chester?J. S. Wilson, A. H. Davega. Chesterfield?'~E. B., C. Cash. ClarcTid.on?None answered. Colleton?Non answered. Darlington?P. F. Warley, Edward Mcintosh. Edgefield?h/L C.* Butler, James H. Giles, M. W. Gary, 0. Sheppard, A. P. Butler. Fairfield?None answered. , Georgetown?Benjamin H. Wilson. Greenville?J. L. Westmoreland. . Horry?None answered. Kershaw?James Chestnut. Lancaster?W. M. Conners, J. B. Erwin. Laurens?B. W. Ball, G., W. Sullivan. Lexington?J. N. Huffman. rra ars Marum?inomas xuvaus. Marlboro?C. W. Dudley, T. C. Weatherly. Newberry?Ellison S. Keitt, R. L. McCaughrin, Oconee?None answered. Orangeburg?T. J. Goodwyn, D. J.Rumph. Pickens?None answered. Richland?Columbia Board of Tlfcde?Edwin J. Scott, R. D. Senn. Citizens'delegates? Robert Adams, Wm. Wallace, J. H. Kinsler, C. H. Baldwin, E. W. Wheeled W. K. Greenm . % Spartanburg?G. Cannon, A. B. Woodruff. Sumter?None answered. Union-?W, H. Wallace. Williamsburg?None answered. Forife?John K. London, Cad. Jones. Mr. B. W. Ball, of Laurens, moved that a committee of nine be appointed to report suitable officers. Mr. B. H. Wilson, of Georgetown, moved to amend by proceeding to ballot for permanent officers; which amendment was adopted. Mr. Chestnut nominated W. D. Porter, of Charleston, for permanent President M C. Butler nominated Gen. M. W. Gary, of Edgefield. M. W. Gary, in the following remarks, declined the nomination. He said substantially: I am here not as an aspirant for any office within the gift of this Convention, but as a representative of H * people of Edgefield. Since the'results of. toe whr have been so disastrous to us, I must confess that whatever ambition I might have lptd Jjwvtoat.I fry. yn??o I HO, [thereiore-unwJHing that by the use of.-my [name f^e harmony of this .Convention should be disturbed. I do'think, at a time like the present, when we are oppressed we ihould present a united front?we should have no differences between us. Actuated by these feelings, I must decline the nomination. [Ap plause.] The following officers were then declared duly elected in the permanent organization : President?W. D. Porter, of Charleston. First Vice President?M. C. Butler, of Edgefield. Second Vice President?C. W. Dudley, of Marlboro. Third Vice President?D. H. Chamberlain, of Richland. Fourth Vice President?Gabriel Cannon, J^yron Fox, of the Charleston Republican, and W. M. Conners, of Lancaster, were appointed Secretaries. Rules were introduced for the government of the Convention, by ex-Senator Chestnut, which were adopted On taking the chair, the President made a conservative and eloquent address, characterizing the Convention as a body of tax-payers, assembled to preserve property from destruction, and calling on the delegates in the name of the people, who had been deeply wronged, to act so as to command the sympathy of the whole country. Mr. Hagood, of Barnwell, offered the following, which was adopted: Resolved, That Mr. J. P. Thomas be invited to a seat on the floor and to participate in the deliberations of the Convention. Mr. James Chesnut, of Kershaw, offered the following, which was agreed to: Resolved, That the Hon. A. P. Aldrich be invited to a seat on the floor of the Convention, i . li-J?A- AI__ J_us A: ana to participate iu uitj ueiiuerauuue ui mo body. Mr. M. W. Gary offered the following, which was agreed to: Resolved, That the privileges of the floor of this Convention be tendered to the Hon. D. A. January, of St Louis, Missouri The following, offered by Mr. M. C. Butler, was agreed to: Rooked, That a committee of eleven be appointed by the Chair to confer with his Excellency Governor Scott, in pursuance of the 4th resolution of the Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of the city of Charleston, and report to this Convention in writing or otherwise. Rooked, That the Hon. Mr. Miller, United States Senator, from the State of Georgia, be invited to a seat on the floor of this Convention. Mr. G. Cannon offered the following, which was agreed to: Rooked, That it be referred to the Committee of eleven to enquire of the Governor how many and what amount of bonds he has signed under the various acts authorizing the same, and what disposition has been made of said bonds. Mr. B. W. Ball, of Laurens, offered the following, which was agreed to: Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee of eleven to 'confer with Governor OVUU) a LIU lilYODUgBtC BUU 1Q]IU1V VJ win) uwj to what extent State and county officers have been unnecessarily increased since the organization of the State Government in 1868, and with the view to retrenchment and reform, and to what extent they might be dispensed with. 4 The following, offered by Mr. Ellison E^itt, of Newberry, were laid on the table, there being bat one vote in the negative: Resolved, That the President of this body be, and he is hereby authorised, to appoint a committee of six to draw upa petition setting forth the grievances of the people of this State; and asking the President and Congress to take charge of the State, and to put it upon an enduring foundation?a foundation that will secure a titir representation of the people, that wemay go to work, and not only buila np our own State, but aid in advancing the prosperity and the glory of the Republic. Resolved, That the several counties of the State are respectfully invited to meet at their respective dourt houses on the first Monday in June next, and appoint two delegates, who jng, when, afterorganizing, they will proceed in a body to Washington city, and present the petition to the President, t' Mr. Gash, of Chesterfield, offered the following, which was agreed to: Resolved, That the Governor of the State of Sooth Carolina be invited to a Beat on the floor of this Convention. Mr. Warley, of Darlington, oflfered the following, which was agreed to: Resolved, That it be referred to the Executive Committee to inquire and report upon what terms and for what consideration the making and execation of the Blae Ridge^Railroad Company, and other companies/ of a mortgage to Henry Clews, Henry Gourdin and George 8. Cameron, to sectffe the pavrpent of certain bonds, was ratified and cmmnned by the Legiriatare, and the said moorage declared to be a "lien prior to that of the State on aR property described in Mod'ttdrtgage, and on the entire line of the Bine Ridge Railroad,-and on all other propertiareftht several companies, or which they, ?r either of them, may hereafter ^oqaire." * ~ l_ * - *. ? . i a . ,1 i Mesolved, That toe uommnsee oe inuvcieu to report what action, if any, can be taken by this body to ptereot the aaboftliimtiaii of the State's lien upon thelino<6f the Bine Ridge Railroad, and tke*ntir8 properties ofthe oth-" er companies, to the junior claims of private individuals. Mr. M. W. Gary offered the following, which was adopted: Resolved, That a committee of mm heappointed to memorialise the Governor and the I^gMature ofthuSt^uta the expedieocy of repealing or modifying the election laws of this State, and that said committee do report upon the expediency ofadop*ing"tKe cumulative system of voting, or 'such system as will protect the rights ofminorities. ' The Convention then adjourned *$1.5 P. M. . AFTERNOON SESSION. Upon ther?aaBembling oftbc' Oflweuthm, the President announced the following; ec?h mittees: > alBotlcWsBeeoTutiou?BL&Bntieay Cadwaider Jones, QoMAJuttamk, -B/ W. Ball, W. H. Wallace, Bfcfcard Lathers,. A. M. Lowry, G. A. Trenholm, A't] r# Scott, W B? 8HwS) T. C. Weatherlyv, Committee of seWh on Election ^add Suffrage Laws-?M*W< Gary,^O. If. Dudley, William Wallace, B. H. Wilson, J.P. Thorn- , as, E. 8. Keit^,iL (^^yi^|||[||^ ^ son Hagood, Thomas Y. Simons, C. W' Dudley, E~B. C. Gwh^F. &' Wadey, iu^.AJX L W&ortkn??IlnH'. Woodruff. " r?j AfW the announcement of the oeinmfttees, Mr. C. W. Dudley too* thewwi-aowrevyred the past in a speed) of some dumtio& tetl then flob^lttedthe fol lowi ngrrtoluticiiis,' wbkjh were referred tothe&ecative OmtMtH Boohed;'1. Th?tthe- meditate no resist, ance whatever to the CtoVenBfaask of the 3. That we ^cefa! measures only, for the solution Of any difficulties that now exist or may hereafter exist 1 in the administration of the afflrifs of this State, and we entertain the belief, thatall the changes and modifications that may be desired In that connection can and will be effected by the quiet influence of an enlightened pub, lio opinion. 4. That the exigencies of the times demand . from the people other efforts than those intended to promote the success of any "party their true interests consisting in uniting with good citizens of any and all parties in-promoting the welfare of every section and or every class of the people. 5. That we deprecate any and all locpl disturbances arising out of the irritation consequent upon the supposed mal-admimstration of public affairs in the State, and appeal to the people to respect the laws and to look to them only for the redress of such grievances as may xfow or hereafter exist, and unite with ' their fellow-citizens in a continual effort to promote the cause of peace and harmony amongst all olaases of the people and secure the permanent prosperity of the State. Mr. F. F. Warley introduced the following, which were referred to the Executive CommittaA ? Resolved, That this Convention earnestly exhort the people of the State to abstain from all acts of violence calculated to supplant the regular and due administration of justice^ and to rely upon the law and other proper agenthey justly complain. Resolved, That His Excellency Governor Scott having expressed a desire to appoint good men to office, it is but due to him that the citizens of every county should oaatmonicate freely with him in reference to the feel* ings and qualifications of his appointees to of* fice, and give him the opportunity to raaove those who have shown themselves to be inefficient, unworthy or unfit for the offices they hold. Resolved, That we recommend the people I throughout the. State, without- aspect to political opinions, to assemble in primary meetings, and earnestly but respectfully petition the Legislature to abolish the numerous useless offices which are sustained by taxation, to repeal the many obnoxious and unequal laws which encumber our'statute boohs, and to enact such laws Aft will secure to the tax-payera a fair representation in the Legislature. Mr. Aldrich offered the following resolution, which was referred to the Executive Committee: Resolved, That the Executive Committee do inquire and report on the grievances of taxation without adequate representation in the taxing body, and suggest a remedy for the existing eviL : ' Mr. Chamberlain offered the following, which was referred to the Executive Committee: Resolved, That a Committee of five be raised to examine and report upon the accounts " - ? ' 1 A ft .1 of the State, witutne financial Agent 01 toe State in New York, and that they apply to the Governor for his aid and authority to make this Anamination* Also, the fo lowing preamble and resolutions were referred to the same committee: Whereas, The material wehfae of the property-holders and tax-payem of this State demand the faithful enforcement of the laws for the protection of life and property; and, Whereas, violeoce and crime, if permitted to go unpunished, tend inevitably to derange the industry, paralyse the enterprise^ and destroy the national welfare of our State, therefore, Ranked, That the Executive Committee of this Convention be instructed to inquire into the alleged violence now prevailing in. several counties of this State, and to report upon a plan for the better execution of the laws against such violeooe, and the better protection of all citizens in their lives told property, throughout the State. The Convention then adjourned until 12 M. on Wednesday. [CONTINUED ON SECOND PAOB.] J y . f . VaStS* f V