Year: 1859

fatal morning on which she waa so incense'
. with the persecution of her mother. She al
, most wished he would, that she might tax
. back some OF those cruel words, and tel
, him how much she liked him, and how diff
; ferent she found him to what people des
, cribed him. She was sorry she could nc
, love him as wife should love husband
: but perhaps the time would come when he


mind would change. At present she mus
, be true to William. from whom she wa
parted forever, and whose .woe-begone fac,
, would haunt her while she lived. Ye


spite of these sentimental thoughts she wa!


quite angry with herself that she had no


more real sympathy for her broken hearted


lover.


At length Mr.. Thornby arrived, Adelaide


meeting him at the cross roads, where she


knew he would take a short cut across the


farm. One single grain of encouragement


from him and she would have flung herself


into his arms; but he merely took her hand,


placed it under his arm, and proceeded leis-


urely to the house. Adelaide was chilled


by his singular coolness; she was prepared


to give him so kind a reception, and had
even taken the pains to walk half a mile
for the pleasure of seeing him few mo-
ments sooner. 1t was not kind in him to
say the least: Then came over her with
such crash, suppose he does not love me.
Such possibility had never before occurred
to her. What after all those protestations
to overcome it at last! The blood seemed
stagnant in her veins; she could not move
if her life depended upon it. Mr.. ThOrnby
felt the sudden trembling of her hand and
paused in his walk to learn the cause
Adelaide was pale and trembling but it was
only for moment; she laughingly assrlr-
ed him it was customary with her, the re-
suit of fatigue.


The bridal array had arrived before them,
and was already spread out upon sofas,
chairs and tables. 1t was splendid tros-
seau. Robes of such beautiful fabric, that
it seemed dangerous to touch them. lay in
juxtaposition with laces which an Empress
nigh envy. Jewels cleaned from their
crimson cases like stars, while lying upon
the bridal veil, itself not more pure, was
a carcanet of pearls of the rarest quality
All, Mr.. thornby had shown his taste as
well as his liberality! After allowing Mrs
Fairfax due time to admire them, he ex-
planned to her that he wished to speak
apart with Adelaide.


My poor GIRL said he, when they were
alone, did you think l would take advan-
tage of circumstances to wed an unloving
wife? Do you think 1 was monster enough
to drag you to the altar and force you to
take upon your pure lips an unhOly vow +?


Adelaide looked up into his face bewil-
dered, but she did not reply.


Il must confess, he continued, there was
a time when my mad passion and your OBJ
stinacy almost turned my brain, when my
heart grew dark and felt capable of al
most any wickedaess to secure to myself my
priceless treasure-my peerless Adelaide.
That time has passed l have seen you
trying hard to conquer that feeling against
me, trying to like me and amuse me, and
make some amends for what you knew l
must be suffering. 1 determined You should
have your reward. 1t was hard to give you
up, for as told YOU then, loved you as
never before man loved woman; but your
sweetness and patience have triumphed-
There is your bridal paraphernalia, here
the deed Of an estate settled upon yourself
and children, and now resign to you your
younger and earlier lover, and may he make
you as happy as l would have tried to do.


Resign-not your wife-marry William
Beckett oh, you cannot mean it, you would
not be so crueil' exclaimed Adelaide, who
had sprung up inpatient of all restraint,
and thrown herself at his feet.


The eyes of Mr.. Thornby burned with
triumphant FIRE but he merely clasped her
two hands, looking down into her frighten-
ed face.


If you could have loved me, said he if
it had been my fate to have met you when
you were free and heart whole, the world
could not have contained another so happy
as myself But it is my fate to live alone,
unloved, uncared for and unblest, while
you


Il will not leave you,' she cried, you
shall not cast me of, do love you never
knew how much until now; / am not
ashamed to own it, I am proud of it. am
ashamed of that childish folly which passed
or love. As you love me, 50 l love you.
With all the strength, power and force of
ny being; 1 will be your wife, and 50 be-
ng will devote the rest Of my life to your
iappiness.' q,


Mr.. ThOrnby waited to hear no more,
,ut taking her in his arms, folded her to
lis breast which was ever after to be her
iome. Another week and they were mar
led, and Adelaide says it may be that men
ave second loves but she is very sure wo-
nen never love but once. So much for her
omance.


\ humorous divine, visiting gentleman c
rhose wife was none of the most amiable. {
yerheard his friend say: IF it was not 9