, 1878-05-31

on your skill am Indebted for my re-
covery. owe her much, and you must
put me in some way of expressing my
obligations"
"She is paid for her attendance, replied
the doctor, Carelessly, "and will accept
of nothing from YOU, except what you
will not perhaps be willing to bcstow on
her.
"Wha; do you mean by that, doctorI'
"NotNing," answered he, as he de-
parted with another significant smile.
Hartlaud fell into a reverie, from
which he was reused by the steps Of
Gencvicyc, who entered the room with
slow timiiity, aud asked, in trembling
accents, after his health.
II am quite well, dear Geneyieve,
thanks t. your blessed kindness, which |
can never repoy.'
My wages ale already paid an.
swered she with apparent simplicity;
"and now that you are quite recovered, |
am going away. came to bid you fare
we'll, to express my wishes for your hap
piness, aud 10 ask of you sometimes TO
remember poor Gencveve.'
There was something eXquisitely
touching in her voice, her look, and the
dewy luster Of her eyes, as she pro.
nounced these words, which entered the
very soul of Hartland.
"Genevieve," said he, "sit down by me
and hear what am going to say. Nay,
| insist upon your being seated, for you
have much to hear, aud it does not be
come one who owes his life to YOU, to be-
seated while you are Standing
ut does not become one like me to be
seated in the presence Of one like you, y
replied Genevicvc in a low aud thrilling
voice of deep humility, as llartland with
respectful violence compelled her to
place herself by his side on the sofa.
"Genevieve," he said, 'yod have saved
my life. am not ungrateful, ID not
leave me with load of obligation on
my heart that will weigh me down to the
earth with sense of absolute degrade
ton. Ny life will be comparatively
worthless, unless you permit me to con
secrate it to your happiness. would
make you my wife, cried Har;and,
with tone aud expression that could
not be mistaken. MY dear, dear wife,
to live with me and be my love forever.
"Are you really in earucstl' faltered
she, with tears and trembling. "What,
poor Genevieve"
"Yes, poor G,nevievc, am in ear
uest-serious and solemn as a man can
he at the mo nent when the happiness
of bis life hangs on the decision Of a
moment
His nurse rose to leave the room.
Hartland sought to detain her a moment,
for her answer. But she only replied
with look and accent he could not com
prehend. "You will receive it soon from
my mistress"
"Pshaw!" exclaimed he, in pet;
"what care for your mistress"
But you must care for her, aud love
her, too; she is far more worthy Of your
heart than poor Geneyieve."
"If do may MY"
"Hush! do not swear, least you should
forswear yourself the next minute. Re-
member what say. In less than a quar-.
ter of an hour you will forsake poor
Genevieve. You will not acknowledge
your love for her in the presence of my
mistress"
Come" cried Hartland, seizing her
hand, "lead me at once to your mistr ess,
and put me to the test"
Genevieve did not reply, but led him
into capacious apartment whose win
dows, reaching the floor, opened on
terrace overlooking a little river that
skirted green lawn, as it coursed its
way to eternal oblivion in the bosom OF
the great father of waters. No one was
there to receive him, and Genevieve i'm
mediately left the room, merely saying,
81 will tell my mistress You are here"
He remained few minutes looking out
on the scene before him, but unconscious
of its loveliness, when he was reused by
the opening of door, and turning round
perceived female advancing with hesi-
tating steps and head inclining toward
the earth. Her face was entirely hid by
a thick, black vail, which described be-
low her waist, and prevented the con-
tour of her figure from being seen.
HartIand advanced to pay his compli-
ments and express his Acknowledgements,
which he did with his usual grace and
fluency. But the lady made no reply,
and for few moments seemed greatly
agitated. At length she slowly put
aside her vail, and at once disclosed the
face of Genevieve, glowing with bushes
of modest apprehensive delicacy, her
eyes cast down and her bosom swellin 4
with emotion. In an instant he com.
pretended all.
"Genevievsl" he exclaimed. "Is it
possiblel"
YES" answered the well-remembered,
persuasive, gentle voice which had SO
often soothed his pains, and quieted his
impatience in the hours Of sickness.
"Yes, once poor Geneyieve, your nurse
now rich and happy Geneyieve, for now
she has found in the man she would have
selected from ali the world one who loves
her for herself alone. Hartland, dear
Hartland, will you forgive met 1t is
tue last time that | will ever deceive
you"
Hartland WAS not obdurate, and the
forgiveness Was accorded hy folding Gen
evieve in his arms, aud impriutiug on her
lips the first, sweetest kiss Of love.