Year: 1862

of pain broke in upon her.

 "Poor Mary" she said to herself. Shall awaken her to feel her sorrow sharpened by my happiness? No; I will keep it within my own bosom till tomorrow"

 I She approached tho bed to see if Mary's sleep was peaceful. Her face was turned partly up ward to the pillow, and had been hidden there to weep; but look of motionless contentment was visible upon it, as if her heart. like deep lake, had become calm, because it's grief was sunk down 50 far within. Happy Is it, and strange that the lighter sorrows are those from which dreams are chiefly fabricated. Margaret shrunk from disturbing her sister-in-law and felt as if her own bitter fortune had rendered her in- voluntary unfaithful as if altered and diminished affection must be the consequence of the disclo- sure she had to make. With sudden step she turned away. But joy could not be repressed, even by the circumstances that would have ex- cited heavy grief at another moment Her mind was thronged with delightful thoughts, till sleep stole in and transformed them, m,into visions more delightful, and more like the breath of winter 1 Joy cold comparison,) working fantastic trace ry on the window.

 1 When the night was far advanced, Mary woke with sudden start. A vivid dream had latter ly involved her in it's unreal life, of which how ever, she could only remember that it had been

 

 For little time sIumber hung about her like 8 morning mst hindering her from perceiving the distinct outline of her situation. She listened with imperfect consciousness to two or three vol leys of rapid and eager knocking at first she deemed the noise matter of course ; like the breath she drew next, it appeared thing in | which she had no concern and hastily she be- came aware that it was summons necessary to be obeyed. At the same moment, pang of re- collection darted into her mind the pail of sleep was thrown back from the face of grief; the dim light of the chamber and objects therein reveal ed, retained all her suspended ideas and restored them as soon as she unclosed her eyes. Again there was quick peal upon the street door, Fearing that her sister would also be disturbed, Mary wrapped herself in cloak and hood, took the lamp from the hearth and hastened to the window. By some accidentit it had been left un- closed. and yielded easily torthe hand. Mary leaned from the window, but did not speak.

 "Whos there?' she finally asked, trembling as she looked forth.

 The storm was over and the moon was up :; it shone upon broken clouds above, and below upon houses black with moisture and upon little lakes of fallen rain, curling with silver beneath the quick entertainment of breeze. A young man in sailors dress, wet as if he had come out Ot Iue ucpGHS Ot IIc Scd, StOoU utOIc utOCl IHt window. Mary recognized him as one whose coast nor did she forget that, previous to her marriage, he had been an unsuccessful wooer of her hand.

 "What do you seek here, Stephen?" "Cheer up, Mary, for seek to comfort you, " answered the rejected lover. "You must know got home ten minutes ago. and the first thing my mother told me about your husband :; so, without saying word to the old woman, 1 clapped on my hat and ran out of the house. couldn't have slept wink before speaking to you, Mary for the sake of old times.

 oa St Sdenhfn a. 94H .h9nght better ezesm to close the lattice for she was no whit inclin- ed to initiate the first wife of.Zadig. But, stop, and hear my story out,' criel the young sailor "I tell you we spoke brig yes terday afternoon, bound in from old England and whom do you think saw on the deck, we'll and hearty, only bit thinner than he was five months ago? Why, it was your husband himself" continued the genrous seamen. He and three others saved themselves on spar when the vessel turned bottom upwards. The brig will float into the bay by daylight, with this wind and you will see him tomorrow. There's the comfort l bring to you, Mary; so good night"

 He hurried away, while Mary watched him with doubt of waking reality, that seemed stronger or weaker as he alternately entered the shade of the houses or emerged into the broad streaks of moonlight. Gradually, howev- CT, a food of conviction swelled into her heart. in strength enough to overwhelE, her, had it's increase been more. Her first impulse was to arouse her sister -n-Iaw, and communicate the newborn gladness. She opened the chamber door. which had been closed in the night and was about to lay her hands on ska siumberer's shoulder. But then she remembered that Mar garet would awake to thoughts of death and woe, rendered none the less bitter by the thoughts of her felicity. She suffered the rays of the lamp to fall on the unconscious form of the bere ved one. Margaret lay in unquiet sleep, and the drapery was displaced around her her young cheeks rosy-tinted, lips half opene q in a vivid smile; an expression of joy, debarred its passage by her sealed eyelids, struggled forth like incense from her whole countenance.

 My poor sister, you will awaken too soon from that happy dream, thought Mary. l Before retiring. she sat down the lamp and endeavored to arrange the bed clothes, so that the chill air might do no harm to the feverish slumberer. But her hands trembled against Margaret's neck a tear fell upon her check and she suddenly awoke. Their mutual joy was made known and they wept in each others arms.