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Hetosfitptr;' .for fjrt promotion of f[jt; political, Social, ^jrialtoral anb Contntcrtial Interests of % Soo% jTERMS?$3.001 TEAR, IN ADVANCE. I ~*rr\T otik: ~ "rORKVILLB, 8. O., THHJR8DAY, JANUARY 4, 1877, J NO. 1. * I TAKE THE IS. And good and bad tie end; And thejr who expect to m?xw8flK|AA n#HUe, Are lit danger of marring innr^M? than they'll mend. jjjr you're sure tfl amiss; Tha*eorK't notab#|*e' - A : Take fltf world a* tt k ttiWieipl^Wnlog, \ 1 Ne'eretirup tlie siuliAMfeHMapQW;' \ ' There'JVlsdomIn this;hQUfi<$H$Wtt at repining VV . - 4 Over tilings which nwwded, we know ! Thereof beauty around uAHttSBtla enjoy; And cWde not, unless inBHHBwMl Though Garth's not the HvmHH ilgMl^rfaaaa boy, \ There's something to HA gMro|Nrw1<kt Take the World as It Is, wmHnpNtivdJwj&rowg, - ** ??-??? r.1?un.ir^^BHMKSbd andWolh /. !0 wrc^liittiK? >UCHUVMlMn^ -v ' Jb* - Kheffk# that depend on }?tmwb of t&-?gfrow! \ It* hopes which para by life thSAeams of oar youth. Yet, ()!. whilst the li*lit of "W??, ^^T^hennJn^ts^^ lOTh~K^MWraMHH0ST7" rln one of th? jrti||pnfc-aooks, lying among | ' ^ the-Sco^^ bord^ a complain of Jpufiered unkttfl f; treatment at his bqp^t&is jfeife was a gentpj rather melancholy imaa.. people who rb mem be red her-asa gfii, N^t|iat all the mirtn and cheerfulo^rl^KTOjp^ition had been ' quelled by Da\/id^Jpur wkys. But she t seemed fond offvninM, iideed, for that matter, be 8eeme^:Jb$ ?f,%r too, after his . fashion ; for onc$; ?M) -aba bad been very ill L and like to die, hftlliJiM^gi light after night to nurse her, and bWWlWilio food or drink r for many hours, WftfoWte' Wis pronounced out x of danger. ThejUHnnnildren, adaughi ter and two sons^pMlltyptf Andrew, was a | 6ne, handsome pjj$Jh^b$:.i?d fearless apsi ! strong, skilled in^illlhtrtiiiiaports. Next p \ him in age, was TttBbfrjr pfettjjr, blooming girl, brown-eyed and ftdlWaekedi, and nearly til active aud hardyaa^^^l^J But Davie, thi ( third, was a palei j^ll, atudftjus boy ; caring I for nothing but was 8UP plied, almost tocflRlilWp fin his own good, I by the minister, ?#Wlg&bftjtaiok daily lessons 9 at the manse. 30^ W'S 'ptipil of the minI ister's too; but ibtt at more taste for | study than Aod^wC jd worthy Mr. Ross (was often terrioiM??wpM uj uer tm cicuuccs and want of ap plkstioj whicii made her recitation-hour as pttobli* bore to him as to herself. Though idle rfoer books, and something of a romp, withalKate was, nevertheless, a general favoritf* She was so sweety tempered, affectionate obliging, that nor one could help being?ond of her, and qjt home, she was always?dy to lighten h?K mother's labors, by tabg part in the bousi^ hojdtoi^jjjR Kenne-, however, who w| proud of her danger, was careful mil hjk perinit her & do au rough work. She "l^tracted.berVn the ligbr branches of cookery ; taught h^r to mat and bake the lig^ est imLwlHtestrof breac to roll out pastijy j I to picklo and preserve viut she would {|g| suffer her to parch hefcce and hands over the 6rg. All the houiold cleansing and ^ag .that could noiie delegated to ithe > cu-maid, wa^served for herlell B . .bus, in a mr-ire, brought tWa M W delicately tl most of her <wjfe< posi^of the familflj^fti B proteges of the naiuisteryave them a sort of importa ice in the parisfyd this, in addition to the fa ct of the lassie'topularity in virtM I of hero merits, prev<pd anything liktf fl feeling oft jealousy amo the young ptspU || who were liess consideraj? treated at home k than hereg/lf. # ?'! As Kajtegcew up, heiputy aod wibiWmt I carriage captivated the fly of many a mrnl I beau, a?drwon foe her mordent adniifera : H but though ahythflfeiveddre than one ?ligi< her pla^ko^iiKinn to?|any desiretto en kfcflL ter into thS wed<jed stagier pareijj&^ifli B n had 1 (joked/forward con'^Uv to herkbakiDfl ,*djraata|?eoM cmitcbi.re a little) dtsap fcer rrfbsal uj%t might,fbb ten Bl sonably regarded as excltt offers for a gir Hf in her poai&oittj?, for *nok, young Mai colp LyWal.thriving Crowoer, who hit fl fai r; in ft few years, to one of the rk:h est men in Uw^ly ; Mn l^vie, ( second coujui ftf^ rnijrV niece by 'fear riage, whose superior rft alone-was an in duceraent'in J^b favor, pendently of hit steady character aiis prospects aa j ^ ^^H9BBflk^ss-maa;'t|i Ediob. Many a girl ii B fli<irish, fts ber -not told her, wouh : ^ivenjier eyes to beitber of t^ese.oi ^ aralty the lust, at her diepeeal wctf??d 1uite fferent to the ad T vantagerwbich ?he so ?lly threw away Hn pjer pat^ots cherishe hope, howevei |g| yoongOgdvie's slight prosper in th MT . end ; for, apparently united by the failur B v / of his first ttttlnpt be c^ed, at every op ft portooity, to fbow her marks of alter I / tinn and adoj**tioo, the raaDse si II 1 " / frequent#** thawte og in her neigl ^ borhood.thatiygi^ V? Mne peopl remarked^*** 10 & *?wn did nc Bw go to rack and r?om o renee. And th be'st, or the hat Qgilvie's pj MB rtnte, who knew nothiiWlly of Kat< M had set tWr he?tt<?* taking a loftie H m\cht ^i?d wwe Igrw >jpoeed to the? ^|h + tpjp9 of his into the cou rhich they sui HRl pectad bojded atisehief SMrs. Kennedy Bt had an inkling ofpm sundry hint I 3rop|>e<ltby the miniifc all the mor oa ?ery Wthat her daugl V 1'i ffer might be pewuade^cept his hanc It wou ((^fc^heeahsfand delight t see Kap'ble^S^j *n 8|:heir objectiom to so fiilMfe; for? as sh sai^fte^Be^oo have caue to be wherever sh ing been BTOtpo;BIt ?|he raaose, ws ^ gaunterinjgjlf^fl^^WJwhen she ws V o^laken by%6f.;^*otfrew, who ws Bfl|^r.k,uraiDg froo a ehoohditioa amoo the hills. \ 4 ?fc 1 I , I - ) 1 * ' I . ? "Halloa, ^felled after her, as he perceived h^frcm ? |U$? distance, "where have you bqth{jhis..'time o' night?" "Night, indeed,'.' laughed Katie; "why the gloaming hatas$ Wwfeag onto fall yet. Look at the sun's fi^BfiMMbp o' Edie's Crag." "I see theqpjdU |eboij|N:f but you've a good stretch aheajf of yfai JW before you reach home. the manse?" "Just," said BSdfcitltotber sent me over to carry a jug ef QgwTnn^to Mrs. Ross, whose best cow fellitiMr^dflif lr two since. And Oh ! Andreitthw^^Wtl^egentlemen staying at the raans^'wWW'ibtae up for grouseshooting. told me so, and he's as proud as eter ypa.iiaw a gallant in your iiife. because ibis fiiifopr ,'fcas promised to let , *im go with:th?? to narrow to show them he way." l? ' "Show thetorthe wir ' I should think they ougi^t to kn$w th*Wj| ^Sbont these hills well enough," sai$ Andrei . "Two of them were out to-day.. I met tbf> n myself awhile since." 1 "pid youSVntakp&KaAe, much interested. "Whaf sortrSttj^W^lblks are they?" "Oh I I ordinary looking jnough, as t 'i&iltd see," rejoined An' ijrew, careles^ly^j^ joun^pen are wont to rejhliy to such irkjjjwieif., 0tye of them's an Engi jjtass stuck in VfciaifPfeAiM 1 he drawls and i> '^#pths "healtM^ttgSftither's some friend | tafTara Ogilm^'l|Nbwieve. By the way, njutie, he's ipoisfn^^^lj to the manse in a fls he with supreme initec IsOppOW/' sine than that, and you MweC:iMw|^'hsirte#3ingly, half in earnest, 1 v '^wy. Kiti?S yo? h?d better make up your ' tSinf, at inswer you'll give him this tjrae.f* Jtitfl if y??:ta(ce ray aavice, you 11 letitjbe ay,.and not.no, for maybe if you say > uo afain,'ft*1!! A<tf glfe you another chance." "Say Katie, still feign"To hia<^nestio4 ?(> often asked before," replied ^ndriftr, ?nd, in a clear, ringing voice, jailed oiit tfil ^anza of a little Scotch . to see." ^Iill be ? brew wedding, Katie, if all his i #M Iqra witness it. Remern V^There's W'llWdtaj^ coming off that Pve ' m larked Katie. "Keep your jokes ^^'nwntttjAndrew ; they're too imk," she added, with l,y6u and everybody else seem vtry amicus to get rid o' me, since you're alyfuyk trjJjjg to put me up to marrying and going off. t ^u'd miss me more than you thin^, i?^j[ ^vnr wast silly enough to go." | ^ $$don^wafet you to go," said Andrew, more mother's always lamenting overyoa^iHjM neste in not taking Ogilvie, bes cans# shult^kl tlwould be a good thing I Tbryoo, matter, for us all. You ^ Oan^jHW,^Katie, that your marriage with lift jto me aod Davie, as well IliytpjpSn. .^There's Davie, especially, who loves Qir.uooKM so; ihe ruignt get mm into a lawyer's offidp, or sjome place like that, in lowojaniile the'making of hira. But then," hMade^qvctijj ^'i that Kate's f?e ffffrqriqffr.over^ ,ft*i not /or persuading you against your will ^4^4 promised mother to \ talk to'you.a bit, aU?d Wee if I couldn't get you into a rtnisonahle Wfcy of thinking it over." "Pttought CDot^er had been talking to urmured^Kjirt^] Infectedly. "I wish, i lor part, that T^m Ogilvie was in Egypt, * or anywhere, else on t of reach. I'm sick of , ftMQUud oljAe u*i^oCfTam Ogilvie ; I am, , indeed." ! j 3 *Pl?fen I'll not api akwtnny more," said Ani drew, affectionately throwing his arm around , her waist, l|>r I'd you, Katie, as you well b now, lor the world. But would you I teltnie, just tbif ODcji^nd for all, what's the | rrnanp that ySu do object to him so much ? . Gwwme a goofvplaan answer, that I may sat. isfy m other wjten she speaks to me again." , "Reason! I 'f^aWtid reason, except just . t$at' my heart^aou't be forced Into the matter i against its wil';" relied Rate, with some exj citement. "Htfs ^11 enough, I suppose. He's !. not ill-favored,port tll-maiutered,.and I've no MftkSoa tn Aiafllrs Iiim* t?w?M mm- Ko lola mo uauou i/v/ ' ueu, rmj ivug OD uc i^I?O | #Ione ; but I'd rs lief rria rry a stick or a stone, . for all the Jotoe'lhaie for'hira. And the Bible i says, you kDow^Ajqi dreyi that when folks mar. ry they mijst lota o ae another best in all the i world ; acid dpy< mauppose I could ever . care for Aim* t i compare with mother, or . you?" ' 1a ,-u'T I "Well, but ffii \ rfiht come afterward, you i know," reixjarjce^A ndrew. i "Never," ?a$l j^te,digkledly. "I'd never j trust my hea* tqitura jtbat way afterward, if *- it didn't begin toiim-a foefore." ; "You area rotifcnwc lassie," said Andrew, I- "and I reckon soiiL people would think you . hadn't common wise, to see you throw away , so good a bhance.TB^t!|t for one, won't urge e you against* your not to please anye body, or foi any hood that might be gained i- by it." / 4 * ibvt-.i i- At this mdtnentl their-ibiiversation was ino terrupted by ih? *wi?Tof voi ces, and directly, l- at a turn in tie pap before them, they espied e t?*o young men approaching, carrying guns it on their shoulders, End pouches at their belts, e "The/olts at tl ? mapse," whispered Ani drew, dropping bis arm from Kate's waist. As the two couples aet.theitrangers stopped, ir and one of the?, "iessiog Andrew iu a civil e tone, asked if heqofeld di'eei them to the rnini ister's house, ^s thdy liad aJ^sed their way. J, While Andre# wapgivioghim uie necessary a direction, bis feoiopaaioto, tbe Englishman of e whom he hadjlipokeii fcbr'Kate, was gazing ini tently at theyoun^ gift', %ho had turned her 1. eyes modestly^She was not unconscious o of his scrutint, though she pretended not to 9, observe it, aim. tbd.earneat gaze which she e felt, ratheritiuft* brought a richer bloom e to her chaek, enlancing thus the beauty e which had so-forcitl^ attracted her attention, e "Come, !Vlorti$j^HVaitl right now," ex1, olaimed th 5 one'wlo had alioken to Andrew, n as his colloquy w?(b'thie "fatter came to an end; and naobau his hat, the j. Euglishma i,>ho lad not tittered a word, fola lowed him Ube n>3vwl##ay. is "That'sa|preityglH, Wt it?" asked his is friend, when-thCTVeib ot# of hearing. "Apg parently, we interrupted an interesting conversation between her aweqtheart and herself." ?T v i] i "Her sweetheartI. More likely her brother," sa was the reply. "Didn't you notice the like- ea ness between the two ?" nc "Not I; and brothers of that age don't ubu- a\ ally walk with their arms around their sisters' waists, unless they are a good deal more af- qt fectionate in this rural district than in my ej part of the world. However, sister or sweetheart, she's pretty enough for a fellow not to lx object to giving her a cordial embrace. I hi wouldn't mind trying the experiment, myself; "1 would you?" y( "Not particularly," answered the other, in the drawling tone which Andrew had com- m mented upon, but which he appeared to assume only as his fancy prompted biro to do so; at for presently espying the minister at some dis- gi ~ ? l 1. tance ahead of them, ne exciaimeu, uiuuu iu more briskly, "Come, McGregor, there's Mr. m Ross. Now, I dare say he has been lookiDg for us. It mast be supper time at the manse, sa and it would be a pity to keep them waiting." to And quickening their pace, the two sports- m men soop overtook -their clerical friend, and qi with him, walked rapidly onward toward the manse. si: Meantime, Andrew Kennedy and his sister pursued their way homeward, the former com- w meeting, in his blunt fashion, on the look ol and air of the strangers. tb "I say, Katie, what a gawk that English fa fellow looked, staring at you as if he'd never tfc seen a lassie's face before 1 I'd have liked to box his ears for his impudence, only I sup- D pose it's his way of showing admiration ; and tr maybe it's English politeness to stare folks b< out of countenance." te "He didn't stare me out of countenance; di and I don't think he meant to be rude," said tl Kate, softly. Either the young gentleman's fr admiring looks, or Andrew's remarks there- gi upon, made a somewhat lasting impression c( upon her; for she spoke no more, except in monosylltbles, until they reached home. tl tc p< CHAPTER II. T Three weeks passed by, during which Kate went over frequently to the manse. She had K for some time past been emancipated from tt the school-room there, but being a pet both of 111 the minister and of his wife, who was her ^ godmother, she had a habit of running there 110 often in her leisure time, and of employing sc herself in helping the minister in his flower no garden, of which he was fond, or Mrs. Ross in her housewifely duties, and she always met a tl ready welcome, and was treated quite like one e? of the family. a It was about this time that Mrs. Kennedy tl began to observe a change in her daughter's t( deportment, for which she was at a loss to account. From being an exceedingly cheerful, w light-hearted girl, she seemed gradually to 111 become serious and reserved, wearing at times an abstracted, abseut look, as if her thoughts ai were far away from her present surroundiugs, h and occupied with some new and engrossing A subject. When spokeu to suddenly, she 8( would start and color up violently, as if de- P * - J - ? 4 ? ? .v.w? ?* r\rl iyi Ara tKutl (I leciea ID SOIUCWUUg wiling , auu iuuiv ........ | once her mother was surprised to find her in ^ tears, though she accounted for this last phe- 01 noruenon?au almost unprecedented one in her case?by saying that she did not feel well. t( "Katie, lass, I don't half like it," said Mrs. g' Kennedy, on one of these occasions. "You d are not used to be greeting in this way, nae- 01 body knows for what, and moping about all 8' your lane, as you've been doing lately. Something's wrong wi' you, that I feel sure. Can- P na you tell your mither what it is?" P "It's nothing, nothing, mother, but what I've already told you," hastily answered Kate, 111 striving hard toregaiD her wonted composure. "I'm na' just very well?that is, my head is k dizzy, like, and it aunoys me, and makes me foolish, that's all." J "God grant you may not be going to be ill, ti lassie," said her mother, anxiously. "Your head dizzy, did you say ? That's an uncom- t( mon complaint in one so young and healthy. rl And do you have any pains? Put out your n tongue and let me look at it. Nay, I see nothing wrong there?and your pulse is slow *1 enough. But maybe we'd better have the doc- a tor around. He's an uucommon clever man, and can doubtless give you some remedy that J will set you right again." 7 "Oh! no," said Kate, laughing faintly, S with a burniug red spot in either cheek. "I I dou't want the doctor, mother; I'm not going to be ill. Just don't worry about me, for I' there is no cause. I'll feel quite well again a soon." a "1 hope so, truly, my bairn, for it makes ray heart sair to see you so dull and moping like. I like to hear my Katie's merry songs, tl and see her cheery smile ; they always 611 me a with pleasure, and lighten my work," said a her mother, affectionately. The girl clung to h her, as she fondled the drooping head, pass- tl ing her rough, toil-hardened hand with a ten- n der touch over the glossy dark braids of her h daughter's hair. She was not much given to * caressing her children, usually, but it seemed I as though her newly awakened solicitude must w needs find vent in this way. Kate cried again 1' after she was left alone. Evidently there was g some deeper cause for her depression than she r< had chosen to confess; but she made an effort, when next in her mother's presence, to appear h as gay as usual, and partly succeeded in dis- v sipating the latter's anxious fears. h One evening, as she was returning home, af- h ter one of her usual visits to the manse, a quick step followed her, and a voice called b her by name. With a deep blush she looked o up, as the young Englishman, who was still one of the minister's guests, came to her side, a "Good evening, Mr. Mortimer," she Baid, " shyly, as she suffered him to take her hand. F "Katie, don't hurry on so fast; I have so n much to say to you," he said, gently detaining her. "Canuot you stop awhile and talk ? tl We will sit dowu on that rock yonder, where si no one will interrupt us. Nobody is likely to n pass at this hour." n "But it is getting late," she rejoined, hesitatingly, "and mother will be wondering where n I am." "Oh 1 no, it is not late?it is only dim in h I ?l:? . aoa hnw hpiwhtlv thfi sun is still h til 10 nuu\i | oww mw.. ?- -D j ? shining on the hill-side. You must stay, Katie, v for I have^piece of news to tell you, and some- p thing very particular to say beside." tl Thus urged, she made no farther objection, ti but allowed him to lead her to the spot he had designated, where a fallen rock, half over- f grown with moss, offered a resting place, al- v most screened from view by a clump of low a trees, that stood between it and the path. j< Here they sat down, Mortimer still keeping s her hand in his. t! "Katie, I am going away to-morrow," he fa id, in a low tone,as he fixed.his eyes earntly upon her face, from which, at this anluncement, the bright color suddenly died ray. , ? "To-morrow I" she faintly echoed, with a livering lip, while big tears rose to her res. "Yes, Katie, to-morrow. I knew you would > sorry," said the young man, potting her ind to his lips witfi a very lover-like air. 3ave yoa been thinking over what I told )u evening before lafct?" Katie silently nodded. Her heart, at that oment, was too full for speech. "And what conclusion have you arrived ; t" asked Mortimer, in an eager tone. The rl was still silent for a moment, thentremu* usly broke fortb,j&ll in a quiver of exciteent? "Oh ! Mr. Mortimer, I cannot tell what to y 1 My mind misgives me that it's not right i listen tp you, and yet it's awful hard for e to refuse, after all you said. If I was lite, quite sure-r-"^. ^ "Quite sure of what, Katie ?" he asked, as le paused. That you meant it all trnly?that you ould not change your mind afterward?hot 1! to leave my mother and them all, and ten find out, maybe, that I had trusted to ,lse appearances?what would become of me ten ?" "False appearances, my own dear Katie? >o you not believe me, then?do you not uet in my love ? I thought you knew me Jtter," said Mortimer, in tones of mingled nderness and reproach. He would have rawn her close to him, but she shily resisted le pressure of his arm, and turning her face oid him, she sat with her eyes fixed on the round, apparently trying to overcome the mfiicting emotions which agitated her. "I thought I had quite convinced you of le truth of all I said, the last time we spoke igether," Mortimer continued. "You ap sared satisfied then, Katie, w nai nas maue du doubt me since?" "I did not say I doubted you," murmured [ate; "but at night when I lie awake, loughts will come into my head that perplex ie, and make me uncertain bow to act Phen you are with me, I seem to feel that you mst know best; but when I am all alone, it.is > differeut Oh! if I could only tell my lother?if she could only know!" "But don't you see that it is impossible lat yout mother should know, for the presit, Katie?" said Mortimer, gently. "After time, everything shall be explained, and ten ail will be right again. She loves you >o well, I am sure, not to forgive you." "Forgive me I Yes, I'm not afraid that she on't forgive me; but in the meanwhile, she lay break her heart," said Kate, sadly. "Break her heart, if she knows you are well nd happy? You can write that much to er, you kuow ; put a letter where she can nd it soon after we are gone. Don't let idle jruples stand in the way of our life long hapiness, Katie. I know I am asking you to lake a sacrifice for my sake, aud perhaps it wrong, very wrong in me to do it, but I nly do it, believing in your love. If I thought iat you did not love me, I should never dare irankesucha request. But you are too nod, too truthful, to have told me what you id not really mean. If I thought you had nly been amusing yourself at ray expense, I inuld never put faith in any woman again." "Amusing myself at your expense," echoed oor Kate, iu whose nature coquetry had no art. "Oh! how can you say such unkind lings? I never said a word that wasn't ue." "Then it is true that you love me, for you now you confessed that you did," said Morraer, triumphantly ; "and loving me, Katie, mi nntrhf. to he willing to go through some Q - 0 w w rials for ray sake, else hovr can you prove iat your love is sincere? Now I am willing > give up all for your sake; and yet you wont an a little risk, submit to a little delay, for jine ?" "It is not of myself, but of others that I am linking," she rejoined. "I could endure nything, if they did not suffer by it." "But that is just it. That is the very trial ou should be willing to bear?the only one ou will be called upon to bear; for as rearde yourself,you well know there is nothing won't do to make you happy. You must ry and endure the thought of their being a ttle anxious, a little unhappy, about you for while, knowing that it will come right after time." "If I only knew when," sighed Kate. "Before long, you may be sure. Once let lem see and know you at home; and I'm not fraid of any opposition on their part. You re good and lovely enough to win their earts. There is not another girl I know, or rat they know, who can compare with you, o matter how great her wealth, or how high 1_ T o rvroa * rlool a| er rauK. 1 uocu iu uuua ? mvH< Vi ealth and rank, before I knew you ; but now find how insignificant they are, compared ith other things. I would not give you, my ttle Scotch wild-flower, for all the artificial litter and bloom one meets in the cultivated egionsof fashionable society." At this moment, a distant rustling was eard, as of some one coming through the roods. Kate started up in affright, glancing urriedly around. She would not for worlds ave had their interview discovered. "I must go," she exclaimed, beloff her reath. "Don't keep me?only think if any ne should come?" '* "Then promise me first," said Mortimer, in n eager whisper, as he still held her fast. When . I send or come, will you be ready 5 temeraber, Katie, this is our parting?tell re quick, before I bid you good-bye 1" A great struggle was evidently going on in he youDg girl's heart^J^or.jUL.Aq8j#p^ jj semed impossible for hir to reply, but .the loments were flying, and discovery was imlinent?there was no room for delay. "Tell me before yoo go," -epeated Mortiler. "Promise me; Katie, <juv>k |" "I promise," said Kate, faintfy. He pressed er to him io a hurried embrac*. kissed her urning cheek twice, and then relying her, talked rapidly off toward the mans^ while, anting and breathless, she slipped through be wood, like a frightened deer, in th* direo* ion of her own houae. After the interview it was harder tban^ever Dr Ber to keep up appearances. Her sijcret weighed very p?ii her vc^nscie^ce, nd every kin^f^m^-i^r motor's, e^u at or merry speoth of h^brot^r- An her life, and it was a oew experience to her to have a part to play, especially each a trying one as this. Bat one thing apheld her, and that was the strong, clinging love, which had sprang ap, secretly, in her heart, ripening, almost at its birth, into maturity, and surrounding its object with a halo of perfection which seeawd to warrant almost any sacrifice which shetaight be called upon to offer at its shrine. She had had admirers enough ; but though her vanity bad been flattered, her affection had never yet been touched in the slightest degree. But when this English gentleman, so far her superior in rank, in education ; so handsome, (at least in her eyes) so manly, and yet so gentle and refined, had whispered to her how fair he thought her, and how happy it would make him if she could learn to care for him just a little, poor Kate felt a wondrous emotion stirring in her breast, whose influence she had no power to resist. And so in spite of inward tremors and selfreproach, she yielded to his solicitations to meet him, now in this place, now in that, when no one was near; and in these stolen interviews her fetters became more and more closely wound about her. For every word of love, every caress be bestowed npon her, deepened and strengthened his influence and made her the I ?iii:.,,. TrialH *ri hi? wiflhps. He con liiUIC niinu|j bv j ivi? fessed to her that his parents had other views for him ; that it was necessary for seme time to elapse before he conld openly make her his wife, but urged her to consent to a secret marriage, after which he promised to get everything satisfactorily arranged. Of course, she was at first greatly startled by this proposal, which seemed to her to involve untold difficulties and dangers; but her lover's arguments gradually brought her mind around, if not exactly to his way of thinking, still, more in accordance, than at first, with his views, and ' those magnetic words, "for his sake," wrought a charm to which she must, perforce, submit. Yes, for his sake, what would she not do ? Anything, certainly, that was not positively wicked, positively criminal; and it could not be that he, so noble, so good, would wish her to commit any real wrong. And Mortimer truly loved her; his professions were not insincere. He thought her the prettiest, the most charming little specimen of simplicity he had ever met, and there was depth enough in his nature to enable him to appreciate her innate goodness and sterling worth. Yet, after all, that love is and must be selfish, which seeks its own gratification at the expense of others' happiness and welfare, and asks from its object so great a sacrifice. He knew it would half break Kate's heart to steal away secretly from her home, and to think of the sorrow of those she left behind. But he thought her affection for him ought to outweigh every other consideration, cancel every claim of duty which had hitherto bound her, and make her ready to endure anything rather than give him up. fii* weflks nassed awav. and one morning Kate was gone from the little cottage, no one knew whither. Search was made for her in vain, but at last iu her room was found, where in the first hurry of agitation and terror it had been overlooked, a tear-stained note, has - ? % o I tily written and inditfereutly spelled, coniessing that she had gone away with some one who loved her very dearly, who was very good, very noble, and would be as kind to her as kind could be, hut whose name she could not yet reveal. Very soon, she hoped, she would be able to tell them everything, i and they must not grieve about her, for she was sure to be happy in all respects save one, . and that was her separation from them and the concealment she was obliged, for the present, to practice. And ohl would her dear mother, and all of them, forgive her? For , she knew she was doing wrong to leave them ! in this way, hut she hoped and believed it was i alitor the best; and she sent them all ber ; best love, and many kisses?and here there , was a great blur on the page, where the tears > had dropped, half effacing the concluding words, and the hurriedly scrawled signature, "Your own Katie," on the line beneath. i Wonder and anger and grief and longing, nil were vain to remedy the disaster. Kate i was gone, and weeks and months passed by, i and no farther tidings of her ever reached her - home. CHAPTER III. > Some ten years subsequent to the events re1 lated in the preceding chapters, two ladies, one elderly, the other considerably her junior, yet past the bloom of youth, were seated, on a pleasant June morning, in a once elegantly ; furnished but now faded apartment overlook: ing the Thames, near the brink of which their bouse, an old-fashioned country mansion, was situated. Both ladies were plainly dressed, and both ' - ? fn?/\ Ponfo roKlnK I were eDgageu 1U Lieeuienruia, inu mv/N nuivu i seemed to indicate that, whatever their rank f might be, they were not persons of self-indul1 gent habits or unnecessary leisure. Their whole air and appearance denoted that they were well-born and refined, yet there was a I certain shabbiness of aspect about them I which, like that of the room, told of the decline of past prosperity; and the countenani ces of both, but especially that of the elder, i were shadowed by au expression of melan; choly, which in the latter assumed the peevish , tinge of discontent. "I do wish, Geraldine," she was saying, in a tone of voice entirely corresponding with ' her looks, "I do wish that you could be persuaded to regard this matter in a different i light. It is so annoying to have you persist , in a view of it which is not only unreasonable 1 and absurd, but entirely uncalled for." "By no means uncalled for, mamma," answered the other, calmly. "I look at the whole affair in a matter-of-fact light, and itefEkftwnaf afaTslg as..jjqders ta nd i n g of the facts of the case, which you w3fulIJ\rftC(i8e to believe.^ T~r "Nonsense, Geraldine; mere obstinate pre* judice on your part. I am sure no one could act in a more gentlemanly, honorable man-, ner than Desborough has done from the firstf' and I don't see why you should impute fclie motives to his conduct." - - - p i "1 don't impUW 1A1HU duct, mamma. Oq the contrary, I give him credit for being perfectly honest and sincere,'^ said Geraldine, with a touch of sarcasm in her ace^ ings of so-caHed'first love.' Cannot yon be satisfied with something more qniet, more suitable to your age and his ?" "I do not heed to be reminded, so often as you appear to think necessary, of the fad; that my mature age does not warrant these 'silly extravagances/ as you term them," rejoined Geraldine, a scarcely perceptible flash rising to her cheek; "bat without any display of boyish ardor or enthusiasm, a real sentiment of affection would certainly prompt a greater mannAW mar Ira T/ird Dfldhftf. wai IllbU UlMUUWl VIIWU UJM* MV ough's intercourse with me, whom he professes to wish to marry. You must acknowledge that no icicle could be colder." "What you term coldness, I consider merely as a suitable gravity, a dignity befitting his position, and which, to my mind, is far more proper and becoming than the fashionable levity so popular now-a-days." "I am sure I am no admirer of fashionable levity, nor could my worst enemies ever accuse me of indulging in it. But putting this question, and the question of Lord Desborough's intrinsic worth, which I am quite ready to admit, aside for the present, I adhere to the first and most important point, which is his palpable indifference to me?an indifference so palpable, mamma, thatl wonder even at your anxiety to secure him for n son-in-law overcoming your maternal pride sufficiently to make you excuse it." } If Geraldine's voice had previously assumed a sarcastic tone, the inflection was doubly marked now,, as she pronounced the words "maternal pride." Her mother, however, chose to ignore the scarcely veiled sneer, which it did not suit her present purpose to resent. "What on earth, Geraldine, do you expect?" she irritably asked. "Is he to go down ??? ? Aanolian AP A1/1 fll* PA IT). I UU 1110 l&UCCO| iiivu a ix*vaiiwa vi v*u| v* vwm. pose flowery verses iu your praise,' and sing them under your window at night while he twangs a guitar as an accompaniment t" "Oh! no, there would be great danger, from his advanced age, of his catching cold, or perhaps even a rheumatic fever," was the satirical response. "Your ideas of lover-like conduct are even more extravagant than mine, since I never should exact such fatiguing marks of devotion as those." "Nothing could be more sensible or proper than the way in which he spoke to me of his wishes," continued the elder lady. "Having said what he did on that occasion, I presume he thinks it unnecessary to be forever harping on the same string. He considers that you do I him thejustice, at least, to believe in what he has said, and be is unwilling to press you in your decision, since it seems so hard to arrive at." "Few lovers are so considerate," remarked Geraldine. "There I agree with you," said her mother. : "To my mind, few men are so worthy of regard, so deserving in every respect, as this man, who is desirous of bestowing on you his noble name, and his large fortune?two gifts, Geraldine, which it would be worse than folly iu you to reject." "Especially the fortune," said Geraldine. "I acknowledge, mamma, that we are is some respects?in most respects?sunk very low; but let me be spared, at least, the humiliation of such a descent as this?to barter my last atom of self-respect for the sake of a few paltry thousauds." "A few paltry thousands, indeed!" exclaimed her mother, indignantly. "Why, Lord Desborough is one of the richest men in the peerage, as everybody knows. And as to our being sunk so low, I don't know what yoa can mean by such an expression, except that we are poor, which is no fault of ours?and if you have lostyour self-respect, I, at least, have not lost mine I" J"I am glad to hear it," said Geraldine, in a low tone. "It is well that one of us, at least, has that to fall back upon." "You talk very straflgely to-day, Geraldine. I must say that you are very little comfort to me in my decliniug years," said her mother, bitterly. " When you see me as I am, feeble and broken in health, and oppressed by untold anxieties and cares, you might at least do all in your power to cheer and help me, instead of contradicting and opposing me, thwarting my most earnest desires, and using such a disrespectful tone toward me as would make any dutiful daughter blush." "Mamma, you cannot call me undutiful, or reproach me for not helping you. Do I not work from morning till night, denying myself even the least gratification in order to contribute what I can to your comfort ? Do I spend anything on myself but what is abso1 * -' ? ? 0 \,T -? ore no Knffov iUCeiy uecessary i mj muiu? ??? than yours; in fact they are older and more worn, for I always look to the necessities of your wardrobe first. Do I not strive to supply you with delicacies, allowing myself only the plainest food ? Do I not stay with yon all the time; never, or very rarely, even going out for a walk, unless to accompany you ? Do I, in any way, seek my own pleasure or amusement, even to the trifling extent of read- J ing an entertaining book, when it interferes with your wishes ? Surely all this is no want i of duty or respect." "All this may be very true. Yet it amounts to very little, if you persist in refusing to gratify the one crowning wish of my life. And one, too, that you can so easily gratify? one which any woman less foolish, less obstinate than yourself, would yield to with delight 1 If Desborough had asked you to marry him twelve years ago, you would have jumped at the offer, Geraldine, you know yon would; but now?" "Hush," interrupted her daughter, in a trembling voice, while the flush deepened to scarlet on her cheek; "there are some speeches, mamma, which I will not bear, even from I you. Is it not enough to feel that I was once euiltv of an absurd weakness, which, unhap-1 liU. ija not able to. deny, without being j twittecH^Bfcfcytt^^grward^^Lord fiflBHRHHI tbougi^^B^^^BBMHI^H was ^ IHI Colonel Mortimer did me the honor to wish | that I might become his daughter-in-law, and . ' # that his son proved refractory?not that I think the less highly of him for that On the contHiry, it was greatly to his eredit that he ! refused to marry for money. Refusing to enter into the desired alliance then, when I had something to recommend me, it wonld not be * 1 pleasant now, for him to have me forced upon him, poor, and plain, and obecnre as I am." "Have you been foroed upon him I Good Heaven, Geraldine, how could that be possible? Does he not voluntarily seek your hand? Con he not follow his own wishes in that matter V* "He certainly wonld not have thought of it, unless the idea had been suggested to hiro? rejoined Geraldine, with emphasis. "I under1 l!- ?. lis ?\iftaa an/1 SIADQ DI9 QlUllVOB pcucvwjf I uo ^/miw *>uw sympathizes with as, and is generous enough to wish to afford as relief, which it is possible only in this way for him to do. As to love, or even ordinary liking, he does not feign the shadow of it. Oh I mamma, for pity's sake , m do not let as disease- the subject auy longer now; it is too humiliating, too painfal in its details." ^ "Very well," cried her mother, in an excited tone, as she rose from her seat; "it shall be as you wish. I will cease to argue with yoa, to try to persuade yon of your folly. Only recollect this, that in denying my fondest wish you are probably guilty of the sin of -a willfully shortening my days. Yes, look as ' startled asyou please, obstinate daughter of minvthe fact iB~so.N l was assured by the doctor, not a week since, that I had a disease of the heart which any ajsappointment, any undue agitation, might canse to terminate fa- /f tally. On the other haud^ease of mind and physical comfort would, ?e said, probably preserve my lift for years to come. With you ..therefore, rests the-Jtltern^tive; but act as you Beej5t. ^My-death, I presume, would " J9 be less of a misfortune than a benefit to you, I since it would relieve you of the persecution JJ to which I subject you." With these words, and in a state of great excitement, me ayjm&er .. left the room, closing the door with violence behind her. ,r ; Geraldine sat perfectly motionless where her mother had left her. Her hands were tightly clasped, and every trace of color had forsaken her countenance, leaving it ashy . pale. "If this is, indeed, true,''she muttered to herself, "it is vain for me to contend any longer. I may as well yield to my fate. Oh I mother I?if I could kilow how far yon have ; let yourself be urged by a desire to work upon my feelings 1 But no, I dare not impute such motives. It must be true, though I have heard nothing of it uotil now. BJiserable that I am, there is no escape for mer-no escape for him?from the misery to which I am forced to condemn him." Scarcely had this soliloquy passed her lips, when a sharp cry from^the-aaighboring room * 8 tar tied her, MHfshe ran to ascertain the cause. She found her mother wrrthing on her bed, as if in great pain, her hand pressed to her side, and hastened, terrified, to offer her assistance. ) "Go-r-go I" was the vehement reply to her i offers; "you can 3o up good. The very sight of yon completely unnerves me. Fetch the doctor, quick.; he may relieve thiy piercing agony, at least, for the time." ' *'- nnf An hAr ureawy vioxaiwiuv |/?v v**, Mv. boaoet and set out in quest of their physician, who at this hour of the day was usually to be found at his own residence, which, fortunately, was near at band. 8hb met him as he was on .the poipt of going into' town, and begged him Jo retarn with ber without delay ;^pd taking her Tip in his .phaeton, he drove her immediately pack home.. On the way, he corroborated the statement her mother had made to her, of thecqpdition of her health; and poor Oeraldine, when she heard this, severely reproached herself for having allowed any shadow of doubt in regard to it to enter her mind. So great now was her distress and remorse, that she resolved, mentally, to shrink ho longer from what seemed evidently her duty; since, in refusing to make the sacrifice, she might, indeed, find herself goilty of her mother's premature death. Dr. Philipson soon succeeded in relieving his patient, by means of restoratives which he had brought with hinijaud having seen her tolerably composed*, hp took his leave, after privately calling Geraldiirer aside, and charging her to be careful in guarding against anything which might startle or annoy her mother in the least degree, as any agitation of her nerves would probably cause a recurrence of the attack. That evening, Lord Desborough called. Geraldine had, in fact, expected it, as he had * been in the habit of visiting her periodically twice a week since he had made his proposal of marriage, to which she had, up to the present time, given no definite answer. When she went op again to her mother's chamber after his lordship had bid her goodnight, her face was pale, but rigidly composed, ~ J -??? (wKifiillr milm an la vine her ttUU UOI TUIW vmvuuij , , j 0 hand on the invalid's arm, she said injow bat distinct tones? "Be content now, mamma, for I have fulfilled your cherished wish; I am Lord Deeborough's promised wife." "Geraldine, is it really so ? God bless yo?, my dear! You will never repent." cried the sick woman, as she drew bcr ' luctant face near enough topp8Ehwii^9 _ | upon her cheek.N While Gerildme watf buy 'xs* ing herself with arrangement^ for 1mt comfort . daring the coming night, she talked inoe?u>t? ly and rapidly of the new shite of a Shirs ; of the advantageous prospect it secured to them ; nf lior nwn hanniness : of Lord Deeboroujih's w? ?rr ? - ? good qualities, and the certainty of his making an excellent husband?to all of which Geraldine listened, but replied JMlTlpr her brain was throbbing with fever Mjl^Sid she duslonging inexpressibly for an^gHnjll of Quiet came to-ffifctt^sst ? ^