The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1859-04-21

mind; and fair as star rose anew in
his heart the image of his Anna. The
danger that had threatened her peace
had forever passed. There had never
been any formal engagement between
them; but that night the glad and
happy Anna named the day on which
she would become her lovers wife.
Cassius told his Brother of this when
they met that night.
'WeIl, Anna is a good girl you
will be happy with her; but for my
part | have determined to take the
heiress' -
"And Mercy!" questioned Cassius,
looking steadily at his brother.
"She has no claim on me; there is
no engagement to be broken
"Brokcn hearts are, to my mind,
worse than broken gagcments. Leo
beware what you do!'
"lf girl is silly enough to break
her heart for me how can | help it,"
said Leo, sulkiIy.
"lou couldn't help doing everything
in your power to gain that heart
could you, Leo! Your love was 80
evident that it needed no words to
show it--Nlcrcy never thought of dis
trusting you; or asking vows any more
than you did of diStrusting her, or
binding her by promises; and now
when every feeling and action has
bound you in all honor to her, just be-
cause no vow was ever spoken, you
say she has no claim on you, and you
leave her for one whom you do not,
and probably never will love. How
dreadrully mean and wicked such con-
duct is. Thank God, thank God, that
am saved from it'
"You'd better be praying for grace
to obey the wishes Of your parents" "
retorted Leo.
"There is a higher duty than that
which we owe to them. To that duty
shall cndcavor to be true"
LEO, dear Leo, why do you shrln
me 50! For II whole week, which
has seemed a year, have | watched
and waited loryou to come. For three
long years all the blessed time that
we have known each other-thcrc has
not been so long time in which we
have not met. lsaw you yesterday
in the street; and was going towards
you when suddenly you hastened away
You must have seen me. Oh Leo
what have done! how have | often,
ded you! Tell me, dear Leo tell
me all the truth. Anything is better
than this dreadful suspense, and these
wild conjecturcs. have heard-oh
Leo | cannot write it--Lco, Leo, YOU
will kill me if you lorSakc me now
Did seek your company oryour love!
Remember, remember all that is pass
ed, and you cannot charge me with
presumption orc immodcsty when
tell you plainly that your love is all
my liie--my love was not given light
| Iy, nor unsought, dcSpisc it not now.
Or if you have ceased to love me,
come to me once more. Come and tell
me so with your own Iips-sucL words
from you'll think would kill me as quicl,
as any sword, and then the agony
would be orcr, and could 20 to the
cold rest Of the grave. Come to me
that this misery may be removed, OF
that every hope and joy ormy life may
/ be at once struck down to death, anC
not be left to die the lingering anc
most dreadful of all dcaths-that O
slow torture. Leo, | charge you, o,
you hope for mercy when yonr time o
trouble comes, to come to me and tel
what it is that has changed you So
MERCY.'
This was the letter that was place.
in Lco's hands upon the evening OF hiI
acceptance as the lover Of tho veal
thy ($l00,OOW Miss Thorndykc. lie
bad come home in high glec, and tolt
to his parents and brother all his gooc
fortune.
When they were alone Cassius pu
into the laughing Leo's hands that let
ter
One lool; at the handwriting, anc
he thrust it deep into his pocket anl
went out.
Shutting himself into an unlrcquen
ted room he tore open and read the
message from poor Mercy.
There was look of pain abou
his mouth; and the great sweat-drop!
stood upon his brow, as he read
When he had finished he gave deeI
groan and glanced, with reary,help
less look about the room. He woulc
had given much could he have seel
Mercy thcrc--but the die was cast.
the loving, faithful girl was sacrificed
In few moments Leo crumpled til,
letter in his hands: and while a har,
and settled look came over his face
he wrote with a pencil.
"DEAR MERCY Il am sorry to hav,
caused you pain or trouble--l hav,
ALWAYS meant to have been your trut