Year: 1861

a cleaning of superior intellect lnrhef
eyes, and serenness upon her brow that
told of pure nature, which, if it did not
attract, instantly won upon more init
mate acquaintance, the highest esteem.


Her uncle was pompous old gentle
man of tho Virginia school, and loved
to display his hspitality, and therefore
encouraged the frequent visits of nu-
merour friends, so that his mansion was
ever the seat of life and Soeiability.
He was a fine, robust looking person
and he admired the society of the young
and gay. His wife, who was still very
handsome, of late seemed disposed to
be rather hyphocondriacal, and spent
much of her time in her own room.
Consequently. as they had no daughter;
Myra was called upon to exert herself
the more in entertaining guests, and
keeping unsullied the social honors of
the house. Yet amid all the splendor
and dazzling efforts of fashion by which
she was sencompassed, she still retained
that simplicity of soul which was hers
when she lay weeping upon her moth
ern's grave.


Among her suitors was young
lawyer:son of the Speaker of the House
Representatives For a long time he
had been striving to gain her affections,
and his cultivated mind and upright
principles did not fail to impress her
in his favor. Indeed, her heart yearn
ed toward him moro from the day on
which she learned that he preferred
her above all others. But she had one
great fear that she was not loved for
herself entirely. She was afraid that
the reflection of her unclc's high sta
ton and perhaps a faint expectation
that she would inherit portion of his
estate, had partly influenced the young
man in choosing her for his wife,


She was a noble girl, for although
each day her lover pressed her to name
the time when all her hopes should be
consumated, and she felt her soul eX-
pand with complete reciprocation, she
would not listen to him until she was
sure that nothing was anticipated but
the life long possession of her own heart.
She did not like to speak with her sui
tor upon the subject, but was firm in
her purpose, and after prayer to
Heaven that she would have strength
mivcn her to bear the issue, whatever 1t
might be, she repaired to his dwelling,
and called for Mr.. Moore, his father.
She was ushcrcd into the library, and
the genial old man stepped forth to
greet her saying:


"Why, Myra, my child, God bless
pou for coming out to see me this cold
morning-comc to invite me to the
wedding !-Come sit here by the fire
aI4d tell me all about it.


Poor Myra could hardly summon up
courage to answer him-hcr tongue
seemed to clcavc to the roof of her
mouth, but raising her eyes on high, as
if calling for help, she turned them full
and earnestly towards the old gentle
man and said:


at depends upon the result Of the
visit whether there is amy wedding at
ALL


'Why?' quoth the alarmed father.


'Because,' said she, fear that when
Rudolph finds thatI am to be aportion-
less bride-that | am not to bring him
one dollar, his feelings may change
his ardor all die out. My uncle will
pass his son--the orphan will havo
enough to be grateful for, in the gene
rous support and protection she has en-
ioyed thus far from his hands


"Sweet child l love you better than
before, and I know some one else who
will set intrinsic value on 50 honest Il
heart. Rudolph is talented, and will
soon rise in his profession, and in the