, 1862-04-03

was nothing that had been touched by Eugene
that had not solemn and q sacred value in her
eyes. The trees he had planted, the bowers he
had formed, all had a meaning to her that no one
else could understand; and yet upon each one
of these, and upon her whole heart and life,
seemed written, 1.-THE glory has departedl"
II is time to go back to the days Of NJ. Valen.
tin, and see what became Of the fond husband,
the courageous adventurer. At first be was
almost distracted at the thought Of parting with
Hortense; but once the Rubicon pNssed, be be.
came more calm. A few years, he thought
would find them together, never to part; and
perhaps they would be all the happier for the
separation.
Full Of hope, he went to the mines Of Austria
lia. Day by day he wrought there, enduring
hardships unheGrd Of before, but bearing them
with the courage and fortitude Of q hero. Ever
before him was the word Of HOrtense. ltnerved
his arm in the rough mines, when he struck his
iron into the gold giving soil; II sOothed him
when he lay burning with fever, in rude shanty
in the mountains; his thought by day and his
dream by night was still hisown H0rtense. Not
4 word, however, ever reached him from her !;
and often he shuddered at the fearful prObabili'
ties that arose to his mind. Hortense might be
sick, suffering; might deem him dead or unfaith.
| full; no, that could never be-she would have
faith in him as in the sun. Come what would,
she would not BE- shaken in her trust. But as
he lay in the miserable shed which held his sick
bed, he would have given worlds for one glance
from her eye, one pressure Of her hand, to show
that he was not forgotten and as he watched
the stars overhead, shining through the crevices
Of the low roof he thought that II Hortense
were dead, she would appear to him then in his
need.
The rude miners were too intent on gain to
watch beside his bed, and many were the
long days and nights In which he lay INTENDED.
Aid came at last In the shape Of q chld-S young
boy, whose father was at work in the mines, and
whose mother supported herself and child by
washing. Hours did little Ben. Cole sit beside
him, watching every moment and trying TO give
him ease or, bringing water from the spring, he
would bathe his feVered forehead with his little
hands. tender nurse. indeed, was little Ben,
and on his recovery N. Valentin made the laun-
dress happy by providing for the boy.
NJ Valentin had been richly rewarded for bis
enterprise Gold had showered in upon him In
almost fabulous profnsion; and now he seriously
thought Of returning home. Somewhit enIee-
bled by his late illness, he was struck with dis
may at being again prostrated, and to 6nd that
his disorder was the dreaded smallpox. That he
lived through this, was only because his constitu-
tion was so excellent that even this enemy could
not vanquish it. He did live, but his own mother
could not have known him, so deeply Scared and
dishguFed had he become. Hortensel MOntrvall
were now the beginning and end Of his aspira'
tons One thing only mared his joy on the
homeward route. Would Hortense love the
SCARED and disHgured face that looked at him
from the little glass in his cabinr Would she
endure the long shaggy beard by which he Wss
enabled 10 cover part Of the deep scarsp
lie had taken passage In an American vessel
hound for New York. He arrived safely, and
the next hour saw him on his way to Montreal
He bent his course 10 the neighborhOod where
Hortense had proposed going after his departure.
He inquired everywhere Tor Madame VAlentin
No one knew her He himself was not recog
missed, even when be haunted the places Of busi
ness Another name, Of course, was upon the
familiar door; and hither he turned his steps, to
see f haply some old friend OF former days might
not have heard Of her. Even the name was un-
remembered, or pretended to be; and yet the
person be asked was one whom he remembered
as plotting zealOusly to be invit'd to his dinner.
parties.
"They will remember mo when they find
am rich again." said Valentin to himself bitterly.
He turned into by-strcet, and saw q beggar
sitting in the sunshine Il was the most cordial
and happy face that had met his gaze since he
came back The man did not ask for anything
either, nor show him the withered arm that hung
loosely under his coat and hopeless as the ques-
ton seemed, he thought he would ask il
As he dropped money into the ragged hat that
lay on the ground beside the beggar, he said
careessly. "Can you tell me where Madame
Valentin lives now, my mani"
al used to know her when she lived in Queen
, street. Was that the oneI"
Il was the street where NJ. Valentin's grand
! nSHsc stood.
"She Is gone from that house, but she did not
forget old Jack, and many's the penny she has
given me since. Glad enough was when heard
she was married again"
married I" exclaimed N. Valentin.
"BIess you, sir, yes married to Mr.. Stans.
bury but, poor man, he died year ago."
"Do you know where she lives now"
Somewhere out Of town. don't go so far
now am 50 old. think it is in Bloomsbury
Place, West Terrace"
To paint NJ. Valentin's feelings would be Q
hopeless task lIortensc married. but still free !
A painful revulsion took place in his mind, and
he resolved, as all seemed 10 forget him, that be
would not yet discover himself That night he
visited the ncighborhood Of Hortense, read
" Stansbury" on the door, and managed to Sc
cure the next house, which happened to be quite
empty, and having its garden adjoining hers.
The next day he furnished Il richly, brought .
number OF servants, bought fine carriage and
horses, and under the name Of Richie he settled
down to watch ut his leisure the movements Of
his neighbor. lie chose all his private rooms on
that side Of the house that overlooked hers.
The first time that he saw her was in the gar.
den She looked still handsome, but very sad
and pensivr. He wondered if It was for his loSs,
or her late husbands, lie soon became satisfied
that she lived very retired and quiet lifc tnat
she had little company, and kept early hours
Il was early spring, but he had plenty Of flowers
aud fruit in the greenhouse, and he sent some for
her acceptance with Mr. kichie's compliments.
Again and again he repeated the gihs, and each
time with . selection that marked delicate taste.
Hortense was charmed with her new neighboF,