The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1867-01-29

her tall magnificent father with an almost
worshpping love, Anna had been repaid
bv the tenderest, most caressing affection
ever bestowed upon a child. Surrounded
bv the purest Christian influences, her re-
ligion hal been one of the beauties of her
life, gliding and refining all else: Then
the love that had grown so unconsciously
in her heart was almost childish passion
so long ago seemed its commencement
As she sat in the low arm chair before
The fire, on that cold morning, she let her
thoughts dwell upon Harold as she be-
lieved him to be. The tall, manly figure,
the frank, open face, the voice, ringing and
cheerful: not one memory was there of an
act or word that was not open and frank as
the sunshine. Harold Leslie a swindler!
1t was very hard to realize, and the mole
memory painted of his life, the more clear
Iy she contradicled the suPposition.
at is false" she said at last, in her
heart. He IS noble, good and true, and
he viii vet prove himself so. | cannot
griere father by any violent assertion Of
what l believe, but l will wait. am yours,
Harry, YOURS only. Ny promise was not
made for a day or week, but for life, and
if you never come 10 Gam it, will die,
true to my first, only love" She pressed
her lips TO the diamond circlet upon her
finger, and in her heart pledged herself TO
keep her hetrothal vow.
Mr.. Leigh looked anxiously at the little
face, as Anna came in to breakfast, but
she gave him brave sweet smile, and he
was satisfied.
Il never dreamed the little witch had
so much pride" he said 10 his sister
shes true Leigh" was the proud an
swer.
And Anna only smiled, thinking the
day would come when she might confess
that more than pride sustained her. II
was a sore struggle at first for Anna Leigh
. to enter again into society soon enough 10
prevent conjecture as to her Withdrawal.
Her engagement was so recent that no Ger
tain tidncs Of it were ahoat, aud the New
Years party, planned that the loving father
might Introduce his intended son-in-law
to his friends, had paSSed without any sus-
picion being aroused Of the failure Of It's
If1a;n object. The DAYS crept weafily tc
the girls darkenei life. In vain she
brought pride, religion and duty to bear
upon her heart; there was still ever present
the bitter, wearing sense Of loneliness and
pain. She loved he~ father fJuJlv: she
loved her aunt, but she had given to Har-
old a deeper, stronger love than either, and
her heart cried out against the cruel sep
Grafton and the cloud upon his name.
Could she have thought him the unworthy
man the public voice proclaimed him to
he, she had pride enough to have thrust
his love from her heart, even if she broke
it with the rupture, bat he faith was not
vet shaken. There was some mystery yet
to lie explained he had been fofce,l, per
haps to join bis father, implicated innocent
". She knew nothing Of business arrauge-
ments, but she was sure he would return
yet, uusPotled, and prove his iunoeerce
Nearly year had passel, and no news
had been obtained of the defauIters The
bank was closed, and the directors trying
. to meet some of the claims upon them
Execrations against the name of the presi-
dent hal gone up from merchants crippled
or ruined, from widows and orphans beg
CARED, from o,d men and women who had
been years toIiing for the sums invested
from sufferers and sympathizers, till Anna;
heart would cover and shrink, a. if from {
blow, whenever the name fell upon her
ears. Yet in her heart she gave the liz
to every word that touched her lovers goo.
name.
Sumner was over, and fail brought The
Leighs from Newport to Leigh House, thei1
city home 1t was an old fashioned home
stead, built during the Revolution, before
the city was more than village, and, il
spite Of modern improvements atr4 addition;
it retained It's old title still. Annals face
bal changed in these months Of suspense
and trial. From careless child she bad
/ become a thoughtful woman, bearing a Sc
cret sorrow hidden from every eye. The
laughing eyes OF old were now earnest and
grave; the smiling lips frmer, the face les
mobile, yet sweet and winning in its ex
/ preston Of dignity. A tiny woman, bur
winsome and lovely in her dignifed grace
/ Leon Markham wor>hipped her. It i
not too strong word to paint the passion
ate alteration he poured forth at her feet
He bad guessed something on that New
/. Years night, when he missed her from th,
room, but her temperance a few days later
her gentle Ioveliness all unchanged, witt
on.y dignity that might be the throwing
aside Of cln!dIshness, completely deceivine
him. He had none of the claim of child
hoods acquaintance, for lie had come from
New England home to Annals ustiv,
city but few years before. There wa
everything to favor mm. His position an.