The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-06-24

were marked with her tears. But she had
still her husband, her own Harry, who was
more to her now than he had been in the first
days of their married life. Did she think TO soft
en- his hard old heart? 1t was too late if she
did.
Before it reached him, she received one
from him, or from his physician, saying that
he was sicIS--had been sick for weeks, and
was now fast sinking into his grave. Death,
or the sight of the grim tyrnnt, is n wonderful
thing to break up old feuds;!and when james
Anderson felt that he had not long to live, his
nristocratic pride sunk down to the measure
of the narrow house he was about to occupy
md sent at once for Marion. and her boy,and
Harry Lee. Yes, the very man he had thrust
out from his door, he sent for by name, and
sent, not his forgiveness, for that he fell they
did not need, but his confession that he had
done wrong, and his Marion wrong, md he
only lived now TO hive them come back TO
smooth his dying pillow. Oh! how Marion
wept that her boy was gone, and she could
not take him to her father that he might love
and bless her child
Her father died in her arms, with his hand
in that other husband, and they buried him
in the old family burying ground, and raised
n costly pillar ut the head of his grave. And
by its side n neat and beautifully scuIptured
monument was erected, bearing only the
words
"OuR FRsT-BoRN."
.t,IJ
Twenty years!-they seem long in prospect
long in passing-hut oh! how short when
gone. Twenty years passed over the heads
of Marion and Harry Lee, and no other child
was born 10 them. But little girl-another
Mnrion-a daughter of one of Harry's sisters
who died, was taken to their hearts TO fill the
void there. They returned TO the old man
sion other father, where they continued to
reside. Time brought its healing TO their
wounded spirits, and they mingled again wish
the world as ifno child had been sundered.
The little Marion grew up to be beautiful
woman, and loved-loved stranger. She
met him on one oftheir summer journeys,
and had been with him amongst the beauti-
! ful and noblest scenes of our country, and
listened to his voice, breathing out those
| glowing words that only come from a heart
full OF love for Nature in her grandest scenes,
and which soon win their way 10 the heart
of such a woman as Our younger Marion
But no one knew who he was, and though
his attentions to her were always oi'the tend
crest kind, aud revealed to her MS plainly as
words OIL his heart, and 10 others, still he had
never spoken to her ofhinlselfnor his love.
! Harry and his wife were sitting in their
room one evening, at the hotel i'll,
where they had been spendinga few days,
and Marion had gone out with the stranger
81 cannot but feel little apprehension ofour
Marion;" said Harry to his wife. "That her
heart is deeply interested in this stranger, no
one can fail TO see"
"Do YOU fear that she will do as did, Har-
ry?" said she with smile which he returned.
"Uh, no. i only fear that her honrt may
be too much taken with him 10 bear up if she
should be disappointed. He seems to be
worthy young man, but who is hep"
ale is your uamesake, at any rate, Harry,
for that is his name. 1t would be strange
coincidence, MS they say-another Harry and
Mnrion;" aud she laughed at the thought.
"Would it not be well to speak to her on
the subject? You must remember that she
belongs to my side of the house, and has not
the heart of Marion Anderson TO sustain a
disapr
'No, no." said she; 81 do not fear for her,
and have formed SO high an opinion ofhm
that should be slow to believe his soul is
not all honor" s..
AT this moment Marion entered, leaning on
the arm of the stranger.
"Ths lady tells me, Mr. Lee," said he, "that
you are to leave for your home in the morn
ing"
"such is certainly our intention," replied
Mr. Lee.
"Then, late as it is" said tho stranger, 81
must beg you still to hear an explanation
wish to make, and for which we shall not
probably have an opportunity in the morn
ing.'
"Anything that concerns YOURSELF shall
listen to with pleasure," said Mr. Lee.
81 will return in a moment" he said, and
left the room.
Marion-I call the younger lady by this
name-was gone when he returned. Per-
haps she anticipated the object of his COM
municasion TO her uncle, and young ladies do
not like to receive proposals in public. The
stranger held in his hand bundle, aud took
seat in front ofMr Lee. .....
"The communication" said he. (which l
am about to make to you, is one in which /
feel a deep interest, and much of my future
happiness, / will not say all depends upon
the result OF it,
He paused a moment as if to collect him
SELF and then proceeded with an unhesitating
voice and frank manner, that at once Impress
ed his auditors in his favor.
81 love your niece, Mr. Lee. You must
already have noticed this in my attentions to
her. though to her | have never yet breathed
word in reference to it. Perhaps l have
done wrong in what have done, for | am a
stranger to you all, and to confess the truth,
sir, am as much a stranger to myself 1
know not who am. This package, which
have had in my possession for many years, is
the only record have ofmy pareniage, and
is in truth very insufficient one, even when
my history is told"
As he said this he opened the bundle,
which seemed to consist of several packages.
From the first he drew out n number of
small articles, the ornaments of II chilps
dress. The next revealed the dress ofa child.
He was proceeding to open another, when,
with cry of agony, Marion sprung from her
seat, and seizing tho little dress, exclaimed
rWhere did you get this? Oh tell me,