, 1864-02-27


better self, and totally distinct from thi
: leapihg step and oiitstretched hand of Glenn
n ency Maybrook. AS John Rudderfortl
d looked in her bright eyes, so full of trus
S and love, and listened to her artless wordl
e OF welcome, a joy swept into his heart
n After short pause and rapid glance, hel
a sunny greeting was extended to Hugh
: She drew him close to Grace and Joined
0 their hands, saying silly:
: 1t is astonishing the pains some people
q take to misunderstood each other. Mr.
v Sherwood, you will never be able to guess
/, at half the charming compliments Grace
: has beea paying you. Only that they might
b make you vain, ] would repeat them"
D Clemency, how dare youv' exclaimed
f Grace, frowningly.
: Clemency, however, was gone. With
{ true feminine tact, she had linked her arm
, in Johns and had disappeared through
| the open window They passed together
, side by side AMONG the flowers until they
l were lost to sight in the dense foliage Of
overhanging lines.
Grace rose to follow them, when Hugh
placed his hand restrainingly on her arm,
! saying, " Do not Ay from me, cousin. My
tongue is fraught with sad tidings for you. b
Grace turned, half in surprise, and looked
at him fixedly.
al am not to blame" he continued, meet
ing her gaze; "a reluctant duty is forced
upon me, aud further silence would be Grim
inal."
"Something very disagreeable, of course" +"
said Grace. " Is it so extremely urgent p
1t is," he replied. Grace returned to
her seat, and he continued, al have, from
sympathy with your tenderer woman's ma
ture, deferred a statement which you ought
otherwise TO have known at an earlier pc.
Rod"
care you quite sure your sympathy is
needed?" inquired Grace, coldly.
"Of one thing at least am sure" was
Hugh's earnest reply.
"And pray what may that ?" inquired
"That stern necessity alone unlocks the
secret l am come to tell you," replied
Hugh
al shall, doubtless, be grateful for your
forbearance, cousin" said Grace, in more
soitened tone.
"Gathcr all vonr strcrytb dear Grace
while tell Won tbat vour atber's memory
his hiph name, and snotless renutatiop have
only been preserved by sacrifice, and that
sacrifice is yours !" said Hugh. with earnest
emotion,
What meon vou ~" asked Craze in
alarm.
inmate snecnlations have wrecked yonr
fatLer's once nrosnerons fSrtunes" reEl;ed
Hugh. "Ali That we have been enabled
to save from the general ruin has been
Wour T marr;nce nv norton, twenty tbousauS
bounds !"
A fripid smile played briefly round Grace's
comnresscJ l;ns hnt She snote not
"T;ll Won marry" continued Uucb fsl.
teriprly !" the interest Of this sum Mil at.
ford ycu sufficient means. and even luxu.
ries, although it will not procure YOU the
brilliant assemblages which filed this man
sion in your fathers lifetime. But perhaps
your heart, maturcd and chastcned by the
hand Of sorrow, will hold those idle vanities
at their true worth"
\ al am fully sensible of my errors, cou-
SIM" said Grace, with naughty irony |:
t" therefore spare me the tedium of your
wise schooling" ...'
"The sweetest flowers sometimes cover
the sharpcst thorns, cousin," retorted Hugh
curtly. sour old friendship, our common
ties Of kindred, may give too rude frank.
ness TO nv speech; if so, pardon me. But
Al. =: =. .a,ok:o,. .&ooIo. and v,.nfn,,nI