Year: 1865

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But one day, being in the Office in the
absence Of the clerk, Lucy Mcrryman
came and dropped letter in the box
When she was gone, he took it up TO pre-.
pare it for its destination. and saw, to his
surprise, the name and address Of his
son. He turned it over and over, read
again and again the address. Yes, it was
to his son! And would give much to
know what it contained And why should
he no: know Morton was a minor. and
should be under bis control in everything.
Perhaps this thing had gone further than
he had feared! The letter looked like it
certainly! And he must never be allow.
ed to entsnge himself with this girl to
the blightiug of all his future prospects.
He examined the wafer it was hardly
dry yet; and the self.willed man, who
would as soon have thought Of csmmit.
ting murder as opening any other letter,
reasoned himself into the belief that be
had perfect right to read his sons let
ters, and his knite slid under the wafer,
and the open letter was before him.


1t contained nothing to alarm. but
something to crafty him. For in it Lucy
told her friend Of their proposed removal
to Illinois, and gave him her future ad.
dress-care OF James Leonard.


When Judge Whitcomb opened the
letter he intended to reclose it and send
it to its address. But now, il he should
suppress it-as he told himself he had a
right to do-a point would be gained /;
yes, two, for he would blame her for not
writing to him before she went away, and
would lose all clue to her address, for the
present at least. Judge Whitcomb was
not a bad man; and hidden 10 his heart,
beneath y crust Of pride and self-esteem,
was warm love for his children. Nor
ton was his darliug,and around him gath
cred the choicest emotions Of his nature.
And had he suspected of the sorrow that
he would subject him to by the act be
contemplated, it would never have been
committed. That the girl would fret
some, he did not doubt. But what right
had she to think Of him? The only sou
Of Judge Whitcomb! Her presumption
ought to be punished! This last thought
decided him and with steady hand he
consigned it to the flames on that right
spring morning. And Morton Whitcomb
recited poor lessons from wondering why
no letters came, and Lucy Merryman
wept bitter tears in her far Western home
tor the answer that could not come.


AS soon as Mrs. Mcrryman was gone.
Judge Whitcomb wrote u long letter to
his son; and in postscript conveyed the
intelligence that Mrs. Merryman had sold
her little place and gone West for some
advantage to her daug liter, he had been
told.


And thus the thread that had connect
ed their lives so long and SO closely was
severed. and they went their separate
ways with their first bitter lesson in dis.
trust and suspicion. Mrs. Merrymanhad
three thousand dollars to place in the
hands Of her brother; and she took her
place as housekeeper in his family, with
honor to herself aud advantage to
him and his two motherless girls. Lucy
also had pleasant home with them. and
finally arose from her subordinate posi-
ton to preceptress Of the very popular
school.


Mr.. Leonard was shrcwd business
man, and the funds entrusted to him by
his widowed sister did not lay idle. BY
speculating in city property he soon
doubled the amount; and venturing still
farther, he added more. And at the end
of four years. with Lucys wages includ
cd, they had ten thousand dollars in
bank


But, oh, how idle! how less than
worthless it all seemed to Lucy when a
violent disease attacked her mother, and
she was forbidden to hope! Everything
that money and the most agonizing care
could do was done. But the mandate
had gone forth, and Lucy Merryman was
alone.


The mothers dying request had been
to be buried by the husband Of fher youth,
in the shadow Of those grand old noun.
tains, near which she was born; and the
brother and the weeping daughter accom-
panied the remains to the village grave.
yard. And thus Lucy Merryman return
ed to the place of her birth. They re-
mained but few days, as her uncle was
stranger, aud without seeing Morton
Whitcomb, who was transacting some
business for his father in Boston, she re.
turned with her uncle to his residence in
Illinois.


But during her short stay she had met
Judge Whitcomb, and he was particular
ly struck with her beautiful face, queenly
mariners and all that combines to uakc an
elegant woman. In MIR. Leonard his
quick eye detected the man Of business ::
and even less acute one would have pro.
nounccd him one OF cultivation aud re-.
finement. As Judge Whitcomb he called
on him at his hotel, invited him to his
house. and offered him all the attentions
that one gentleman need offer another.


When Morton returned and found that
Lucy Merryman had been back, grief.
laden aud desolate, and the old love dream
of his boyhood swept and surgcd in his
heart as Of old, and he longed to sJothe
and cheer her. as in those carly days.
But when his father IN his usual business.
like manner, spoke of her great personal
beauty, digniied manners and good con.
nections. and then added "And her un.
Gle tells mo she is regarded as one Of the
most successful teachers Of the State.
the canker spot burned again, aud he said
hittprv