beside me. Never did she look so lovely; her hat was off, and her long hair hanging over her face and shoulders, as she stood, frightened and trembling, clinging to my arm. But I would not add to her agitation by speaking to her then, and when she had recovered a little, I led her home. We neither of us spoke. She looked up once and tried to thank me, but her voice failed, and I seated her in the deep window-seat of the library; and when her alarm was over, I knelt beside her, and told her, what she knew full well, that she was all the world to me,and she loved me, Katherine, and I put my arm around her, and called her my own, own Alice. Such happiness could not last long. I was to rejoin my regiment, and I left her, feeling then that nothing but death could separate us, and that I was bound for the battle-field, and she would remain in her peaceful home, the idol of all around her. "My last morning came, and we stood together in the old library, and I gave her my likeness set round with pearls, and a ring with the word "Remember," engraved on it, and I placed it myself on the magic finger, and fondly trusted that there it would remain until I took it off to change it for a dearer one still; and she hid her face on my shoulder to hide her tears, and I felt happy happy even then, to think she had indeed given me her whole young heart. "Katherine, that dear head once more rested on my bosom, and once more I pressed my lips to her cheek, but it was the day she made Grahame over to my care, it was the day she died. She smiled as I pillowed her head on my bosom, and she breathed her last as I gave her my last long kiss." me. The old man paused. "Katherine," he continued, "I rejoined my regiment, and for some months her letters reached me constantly, and then they strangely altered, and then they altogether ceased. About a year and a half after my leaving England, I heard she was married! yes, married to another, and I was frantic, nearly wild. I was first in every danger. It was the only thing that had any charm for And I yet escaped from every field, and was thankless for the life prolonged. I was distinguished; at the end of the war a baronetcy was offered me, and I declined. I had not fought for glory. I had fought only to rid me of my wretched existence. retired here to end my days in solitude, as I then thought. Years had passed; thirteen years since I had seen her, and I had heard that she was miserable, that her husband (Sir Frederick Harcourt) had gambled away the whole of his property, and then I heard he had fled to Paris and been killed in a duel. Of herself I heard nothing from that time until I received a few hurried lines entreating me to go her,that she was dying; and I went, and then she gave me a little packet, and in it she had written at full length, what she had not then the strength to tell me. And I swore, as she lay dying before my eyes, to care for her child as if he were my own, and that he should have my all at my death. And she thanked and blessed me, and, I trust, died in peace. And when I read the long account she had written for me, my brain felt on fire. He had persecuted her with his addresses, and she, trusting to his generosity, and believing he would at once cease if he knew how she was situated, in the innocence of her heart told him of her engagement. He acted accordingly. He deceived her by immediately entreating he might, at any rate, be considered as a friend, and then he contrived to intercept my letters to her, to imitate the writing, for doing which he had a particular facility, and in their place he wrote such as to make her believe I had actually forgotten her. The last, she said, told her that I had positively formed other ties. Hers to me he changed in the same way. When he saw he had succeeded in arousing her doubts regarding me, he again came forward. Lady Villiers, justly enraged against me, was most anxious for the marriage; and Alice herself, telling him she never should, never could love him, allowed him at length to lead her to the altar. There "About a year after their marriage some alteration was made in the furniture of the rooms they inhabited, and an old-fashioned writing table was moved into her's. She was looking over its many drawers and secret corners, when she fell upon some of my writing. was one letter I really had written and there were others begun in his, and then left unfinished, as not sufficiently resembling mine. I have the words that follow by heart. I took them all, and I rushed to him who was now my hushand - I showed them I implored him to tell me my suspicions were not correct. At that moment it would have been a relief to me to find that you were indeed, what I had been made to believe, false rather than that he, to whom I had bound myself for ever, had been capable of such fearful treachery. He was out of temper at the time-he took them from me and calmly threw them on the fire. I know not what I said. but, Richard he struck me and I fell fainting on the floor. He left me so — when I recovered, I felt my former misery was nothing compared to this. Your own letter I had still-I read it once, Richard, and then I put it with the others- your miniature and your ring- and I only opened them two months ago when I knew I was dying - and I wrote this that you might know the truth. Richard you must have been unhappy I feel sure your life has been embittered by me but I die, believing you will indeed forgive me when you think how endurable it has been compared with mine since that fearful day.' "She could not give me these particulars," he continued, "but she told me in a few words what had occurred, and it was happiness to think I had not been deceived by her my own beautiful Alice. "Katherine, can you wonder that as she told me this I thought of no one but her? - I forgot that I had any relation who had claims upon me, and promised her boy should have every thing I possessed. When you and your poor mother came I began to think I had not dealt fairly by you but then I hoped your future comfort would be secured by your marriage with Grahame. At one time I thought - but I cannot believe your little heart was very cold, Katherine that now and it has pained me often to think that I revealed to you the change in his feelings before I clearly ascertained yours and that you - tell me, was it indeed so, Katherine?" Katherine turned crimson and then the colour fled, and she be -- came deadly pale-struggling for composure, she said in a low trembling voice, "I'm very happy now, dear uncle." "And is it as I feared!" exclaimed the old man, "Katherine, my noble child," and he pressed her fondly to him, "and did you, indeed, love him, and give him up for what you thought his happiness? and I misunderstood your noble heart so long," he said tenderly, whilst the poor girl hid her face in her hands. But her secret was revealed - and at last raising her burning face, she said, "No one, not even my mother, ever knew this and believe me, my dearest uncle, it is a dream that has long since passed away." "Bless you, my child, my noble child!" he repeated, kissing her high pale forehead, when she sat calm as usual, before him-but Katherine," he continued, "would it make you happier to know how often I have regretted that he did choose the wife he has. He is not happy and I have heard," he said mournfully, "things that make me fear some dreadful blow is in store for him he may not suspect her yet, but I feel sure he is annoyed at her frivolity and selfishness." Katherine was speechless with horror, "Oh, uncle Grey," she said at last, "Oh, I will not believe she could do anything she ought not - she is young and very thoughtless - but not wicked not-indeed, I trust not." - - oh, I trust but I have feared for him for "I hope not either, Katherine some time and now, my dear child, good night - God bless Katherine! I have kept you up long past your usual hour, and are pale and worn out, I fear." you, you DS Look! With that ever-beaming smile 1. List to Hope's voice! Rejoice, rejoice! Tho' youth is a flower too sweet to last, And every hour when youth is past A wrinkle plants where dimples were, Worse furrows far are those of care! Wit's diamond-flash, and wisdom sage, With brilliants gem the ice of age; Young hearts and minds contain in sooth Th' elixir of eternal youth! 2. Then hear Hope's voice, Nay, do not sigh! Although too fast What! deeper sighs from all around, |