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

haltei over that if Annals demeanor was
not that Of one who had forgotten. Yet
he was sincere when be bade Leon Mark
ham 60 d speed in his wooing,
l wish l could paint for you this young
New England gentleman, who loved Anna
Leigh He was handsome, yet it w not
mere outline of feature that made bis face
SO winning. There was a charm in the
earnest expression Of his full dark eyes a
feeling of security in the play of the beau
tiful mouth a beauty Of expression that
made trust cling instinctively to this man
whereyer~he went. He was that rarely
perfect combination, Christian gentle
man.
Seeing these two in the highest attri- /.
butes of their hearts, you can picture the
torture of that interview when Leon be
sought Anna TO be his wife. She admired,
respected, trusted him, but there was no
love in her heart for any but Harold
Noting the agony on his face she told
him she could give him only friendship her
womanly pity was reused, and with the
quick intuition of one noble heart reading
another, she threw herself upon his gen
erosity, and showed him her heart.
"The whcle world believes him m
wothy," she said, in conclusion, "anu I have
never, even to my father, spoken his name
since the fatal New Years night, but |
can be the wife Of no man but Harold Les
lie."
"If your faith is shaken I" he questioned.
"If be proves unworthy, my love may
die. | cannot tell, for cannot believe
him what the world says he IS"
There was moment of silence, so deep
that even the breathing of the two dis
turbed it. Then he rose from his seat and
stood before her
a thank you for your confidence" he
said, in low. tender tones. "and from my
heart l pray that your faith may prove
true"
She rose too, as lie spoke; and placed
her little hands ii his. Twice she tried TO
speak but the words died on her lips 1t
had been an hour Of intense mental pain,
and she was delicaieIy organized and felt
such keenly.
/ Il am your friend 2" he asked.
! MY brother she said softly.
"So be it. Remember. if can serve
you, my life is at the ca of nv little sis
ter" and he bent over her and kissed the
sunny hair ripping from her low broad
forehead, and so left her, comforted and
soothed. to cary away his own agony,
and fight down the bitterest torture Of his
life. Said not truly this was a Christian
gentleman!
+ Three years gIided away. and Leon Mark
ham had visited in the Oh World where
tourists love 20 Iinger. His home had
grown insuPportable when the hope that
!. had made his loye-life beautiful was wres-
ted from him, and be bad wandered away
in quest of change and excitement. 1t
was early winter, and he was in Ita'v,when
wandering one day through the streets of
Rome, be met what seemed to him the
shadow Of Harold Leslie. There was a
moments pause, then hand grasped hand
in cordial pressure.
4You are iil?" was Icons first qnes-
ton.
4 have been, may be again. I hope
50" was the desponding answer How
long since YOU left the States! 2"
/ NEARLY three years"
ado YOU hear often?"
I "Neyer, scarcely. ! have 10 CORES
ponlent"
@Tteu vou=n nv father? | did not know
but
~What? I am yonr friend, Harold :
any father died, you know, in Florence
three months ago, of malariQus fever. !
had never found him, in all these years,
but he saw my name on a list of arrivals
there and sent for me 1t is long story,
Leon" There was something almost pitt
ful in the pleading eyes he raised to his
friends face
Come 10 my room, and tell me all
said Leon. 1T is no idle curiosity prompts
me-
It was but a short walk, and when once
the tale was commenced Harold poured It
forth in terse, hurried words.
He had found upon bis table, on that
fatal New Years day, note from his father
bidding him farewell, and limiting at his
crime. At once he had followed him, but
was too late to catch the European steamer
from New York. Waiting until the next
he had tired for three years to find Norris
Leslie, and the last year published his
name wherever be went, hoping it might
catch his ia,ner's eyes. The one aim and
hope of his life had been to persuade hi,
father % restore the iII-gotten wealth, AMI
|. clear his name. At Florence he was sum
moned to Norris Leslie's death bed, and
gained his point. All that WAS left Of the
/. money SO frauduIently obtained was sent
) in trnsly hands to America; but, unknown
to his SID, his father had also transmitted