s plainly set forth. With the exception of our excellent old neighbor and the two Mr. Bainrothes, the circle assembled for the solemn occasion was composed entirely of Mr. Monfort's hou

mine, on which he sat uneasily, and Mrs. Austin, Franklin, and Morton, were ranged together stiffly in chairs placed against the wall, likewise attired in deep mourning. Mr. Bainrothe was seat

riends, as you may all remember, on Christmas-morning, and which he never again reentered. From that day to this the key which I wear has not left my charge, nor been placed in the lock to which it belongs, and to the guardianship of which this will, as soon as made and legally atte

delity and duty shown themselves worthy of his regard. Half of my estate was already in stocks of the United States Bank, and half loaned at interest on sound mortgages. This last was to be called in as speedily as possible and invested also in stocks of the above-mentioned bank, in that peculiar institution known as the Pennsylvania Bank, and still su

jointly with Evelyn Erie, in the last mentioned of whom all power over my actions was to vest until I should be of age, and in whose hands, as guardian, Mabel and her property were exclusively

, across Mr. Gerald Stanbury's name two lines in ink h

nt, and might defer our marriage for years if it so pleased her. And Mabel, toward whom she did not disguise her indifference, was to be hers on this ground perhaps for

and wildly to my head-the whirl of waters was in my ears; yet I struggled against the surging tide, and Claude Bainrothe's grasp upon my hand strengthened and revived me. I was roused from my apathy by hearing Mr.

he last few months. This will was drawn up in August last. I was ignorant of the whole subsequent proceeding, and at that time Mr.

s we all know, was a man easy to offend and difficult to appease, and I suppose" (he swallowed hard as he spoke) "he weighed old fr

y; "but it is not on such an occasion as this, and in the disinterested discharge of my duty, that I

o soon to have every thing your own way. I like plain sailing, sir; am a plain, straightforward man myself, to whom truth is second nature; and, were it not for the violence it might do the feelings of the person chiefly concerned

his hand, trembling with rage, toward me, including in his gesture Evelyn, who by this time was beside me with her salts, chafing my hands. "I am sure we are all willing to yield our executorships if Miriam desires it," she said. "I, for one, should be glad to lift such a yoke from my shoulders, unaccustomed to such a burden. Mr. Stanbur

ay come sooner than you suspect. I, for one, shall keep an unslumbering eye upon you and your devices while I live, even though at a distance.-Miriam, I am always ready to assist you, my dear, in any way possible to me-call on me freely. Remember, I am your friend." He came to me, he took me to his breast, he kissed my brow, his tears were on my cheek. I cast my arms about his dear, old, noble neck; I le

jaws of my dark malady h

crimson curtains, with their white inside draperies and snowy tufted fringes. I had a vague consciousness that some hand had rece

ger will it e

is it now?" The clock in the hall struck

culate for yourself-the turns are invariably twelve and twenty-four hours in duration; if

was very sure I heard her stirring just now, and

e still lies in a lethargy, and will lie in that comatose condition un

I saw no foam on her lips like most

s of a passive kind, with very few or no convulsive str

ilepsy? No, do n

guarded or politic, one or the other-all Quakers are, you know-to give it a

philosopher as well; but, Evelyn, it is very awful," with a g

ow, invariably. Early death is desirable for Miriam. Her best friends should not wish to see her life prolonge

is almost more t

rt the curtains, to call him to me and comfort him, but I could not; I w

d in his disquietude the strength of his affection. Evelyn's malignant cruelty and fal

inued pace.-"Evelyn, just as she lies there sleeping, I would

Claude B

f, and so long a cause of expense and anxiety to my father, whose sacrifices for me have been manifold, and before whom ruin is grimly yawning even now, how could

st met, and when I told you of my sudden passion I was sincere, Evely

ts; you proved yourself all that was noble and magnanimous in woman. What marvel, then, that I more than ever loved you, and wished the obstacle removed that divide

ou who preferred the dross of gold, and the indulgence of your own luxury and that of the sybarite, your father, to the passionate affection I bore you. It is too late now for regret or recrimination. Go, I command you! accomplish your destiny; continue to beguile Miriam with the tale

for now. I will not receive your scorn as my fit guerdon. Is there no strength in overcoming inclination as I have done, in compelling words of affection to flow from loathing lips?-for those scars alone, Evelyn, in contrast to your speckless beauty, would of themselves be enough

wrong, Claude, let us be just! Miriam is very well formed, to say no more, and her skin is like a magnolia-leaf, where sun and w

I have seen such, like small-pox marks, only ten times more fri

ngagement never would have been contracted-no, not though the inferno

y, and your sense of hon

n patience, but absolute disfigurement, deformity, such as you assure me those burns have left behind them, is too dreadful! Had not Dr. Pe

uch fastidious notions may be laid at rest before your marriage, or poor Miriam, with her wa

nst this I shall carefully guard. My bargain would be broken, otherwise. It is a clear case of barter a

ou tell me," she said, bitt

erhaps; yet it is, nevertheless, ha

ransfigured into an anvil, on which a thousand tiny hammers seemed to ring. Yet I could not move, nor speak, nor weep-n

he; fulfill your contract, sealed with go

do you hate and scorn me? Answer me

, so suddenly! Only the day before abandonment, remember, you had made protesta

those professions

an, lest the s

hat, and that in their coffins t

o life," she laughed, contemptuously. "I am sick of this dr

d as now." I heard him kissing her hands passionately, and

es. Mrs. Austin will be here in a moment now; what wil

that you forgive me-on such cond

"Do you still claim forgiveness? I am not angry, though, take that assurance for all c

to me, Evelyn?" he said, in eager ton

le, Claude"-

Evelyn, just once mor

I love you. O God! why do you return to a theme so bitter and profitless to both? Come, let us look

agony and the condition into which I was fast drifting. Once or twice during the progress of this conversation I had tried to lift my voice, m

de me, holding my pulse-Mrs. Austin and Mabel were at the be

tin," the doctor sa

fore-you were too slow; she fell back before she could

ned and were fixed upon his f

believe-at lea

"Papa does not want you-I want you-I will not stay with Evelyn and Claude-I will go down in the ground too, if you die. My si

tried in vain to silence her. My pulse returned under th

will live for you if I can-a

Mabel away until she can be quiet and behave like a lady; her sister

ement of the hand. "Not Evelyn;

nybody at all, Miriam and I, only each other. Go you and make that panada ready, an

as led passively away. She was capable of great self-control on emergencies, like her own dear sainted mamma, who always

s of returning convalescence had been manifested. "I have marked your seizures narrowly, the periods are perfect-have limited them to eighteen hours l

rom where, Dr

e partially to yourself at five this afternoon. I had just come in then, having been unavoidably detained. We administered, or tried to administer, wine-but too slowly; you fell back

some time this morning-for

ur? Who was

n the room at the time, but no one knew of my recovery of consciousness. I lay as if spellbound. I heard conversation and understo

am, the will has much to do with all this. It i

but I certainly did not wis

of the scene with Mr. Stanbury-the passionate old man was very unwise to excite you so; he meant well, though, no d

be under the pledge of confidence," I repl

ly, M

was epileptic, and it troubled me. Now, I call upon you solemnly to answer m

partially nervous, I think-one of Natu

d not dec

ces, surely; not at any time

consulted together about it once, I believe. Do tell me

p me God!" he

ered hand which had so often ministered to me and mine in sorest agony-a hand

it that alleged these things? They were slanders, and deserve to

pronounced my disease epilepsy, but insinuated that you thought

our own household, Miri

hedding quiet

ce young man you are going to marry, but I never liked his father. I say this frankly to you, child; but, in truth, I have had no sufficient reason f

, firmly. "Let this be perfectly understood between us t

told me you were eng

the for many qualities-I am attached to him even; and he is infinitely

is your re

p your knowledge of it strictly to yourself. I cannot

ry or caprice such as this concealment points to. You must deal with this y

ceit, or time-serving, or caprice, or perfidy. No, Dr. Pemberton, it is on his own account solely that I wish to keep this matter quiet for the present. Should he wis

y-a lovers' quarrel! I understand it all perfectly now. Don't be too hard on the young fellow; he

ery much in love?" I asked, in a hard, cold, subdued voic

ver; even when alone it is noticeable, Miriam. I ca

f such preoccupation, you would be better prepared to coun

f that my change of resolution arose only from pique and jealousy, that would soon be ove

leave. The conversation I had heard seemed stereotyped on plates of brass, that rang like cymbals in my ears. Toward morning I

y. I, too, have found my mate at last. It was for this I was called. The sea has given u

that kiss up

impression on me. I awoke refreshed and

reat bitter burden came rolling back upon my soul, like the

, as in many others, insensibly, and the balance of thought kept equal. I have heard persons complain frequently that they could not dream of their dead, wi

s it most, and to lose the consciousness of a sorrow is to ca

ent at least of the rupture, on his own account, presented itself too forcibly to my mind to permit me such self-indulgence. I felt assured in the first bitterness of feeling, t

ved so tenderly, but from whom I felt now wholly severed,

uld he be more to me t

n mine, and his affection proof against change, but coldness, perfidy, loathing, such as he had avowed, these coul

n of affection, his lover-like caresses; yet, in recoiling, it had been bruised against its prison-bars, bruised and crushed like a bir

e of all foreign observation and hearing. In order to do this, I might have to wait, and in the

f an adjacent city, her specialty being vocal music, and her mourning permitting only sacred concerts. Her own highly-cultivated voice, it is true, had ill repaid the care that had been lavished on it, sharp and thin as it was by

ed to have an hour's private conversation with him in the library, a room most dear to me, once as the chosen haunt of my fath

d myself to believe. I had made up my mind, during the time I had been sitting alone in that sombre room, as to what I would say to him, and how clearly and concisely I would array my wrongs in words, and pronounce his sentence. But, when he

ing, candid, devoted look he knew so well how to assume; "are you sure you are not going to be ill again,

l manner, which broke on me as suddenly and as glaringly on the eye as rouge will do on a woman's cheek in sunshine,

ering with my composure my strength. "Do not concern yourself about my health, I beg. It is quite

go to Paris next year, and have the best advice; in the mean time Dr. Pemberton must

on my side-I am young, vigorous, growing still, probably, in strength, and shall fling off my malady eventually, as a strong man casts a serpent from his thigh. I

ed!" He was very nervous now, I saw.

spare your fastidious ear. I cannot wonder, however, that they shocked you, with your previous feelings to me. I do not like to look upon them myself, ye

g suddenly from his seat as pale as ashes, and cli

are free from all claims of mine from this moment, and that henceforth we can only meet as friends or strangers-

her work, I feel; a piece of her bitter vengeance! Tell

tly, I saw-was t

I never will gainsay, however bitter it may be to me; bound hand and foot; indeed, in her power by its decisions for a term of years, her knowledge of the fact that I had overheard her conversation with you in my chamb

and covered his face with his hands. The blush of shame mounted above his f

my impulse, I would have cast my arms about his neck as about a brother's, and whispered, to that stormy nature, "Pea

eave entirely in your hands. Of what I overheard I shall never speak, I promise you, even though sorely pressed for my reasons for our separation. My own p

ieved by my voluntary promise. He took my hand humbly now, and

oble Miriam!" I heard him murmu

t us think what will be best for you to do. I wish to spare your feelings as much as possible, and I will say all I can with truth to exone

Are you implacable then, Miriam?" and the cold dew stood in beads on his now pal

Claude. It implies anger or hatred, it seems to me.

e circumstances. This cool philosophy in one so young is monstrous! Mock me n

n the way peculiar to him when excited, as he proceeded, stamping slightly w

the diamond cross on a black enamel ground set on its circle of gold that he had placed upon my

is finally at an end between us from

hall not find me ungrateful. Go, queenly spirit! go, soul of tenderness, pity, and most unselfish faith, that ever fold

ed to render any further intercourse between us wise, or other than torture at that season. Bes