Year: 1862

The light which we noticed in oul
last chapter came from the apartment
of Helen Clinton. She was busy with
her own thoughts, and even when the
clock struck twelve, she still sat BY her
window in deep silence, her face buried
in her hands. The candle was fast
burning out, and at half past twelve
the last faint rays flashed over the room.
She started as the light fell full on her
face, and it was a ghastly sight, strange
to see what change had been wrought
in so short a time. She was as pale as
death, her eyes swollen and her air was
that of despair. The light had ex-
pired and the moon just rising shown
in unrivaled splendor through the open
window. Helen rose TO her feet and
began walking the floor, her arms fol-
ded and her hair falling over her should
ers in wild disorder. Her compressed
lips opened and she spoke: "Will he
forsake me for only those few sarcastic
words which | so unthOughtedly spoke?
If he only knew how love him he would
not treat me so;" then pausing in her
walk, she said: 81 am a silly girl to
thus be breaking my heart for him
He shall never know my distress. /
will conceal it all and treat him with
contempt" She stood for moment as
if in deep thought, and then added
"But oh! if 1 could only win him back.
But why should l talk se?" she said,
and upon this she very abruptly left
the room and retired for the night.


Leaving Helen to her broken rest for
the remainder of the night, we will re-
turn early in the morning to Mr.. El-
mer's. Sarah Curtis, who for the last
year had been a residen: in Mr.. Elmer's
family, arose with the lark, and with
the help of Carrie, soon prepared break
fast, after which thorough preparation
was made to receive the visitors that
evening. All things being put in or
der, little Fannie Miles and a near
neighbor girl, were dispatched with in
vitations TO all the neighbor girls. es-
pecially Helen Clinton, Mary Ann Fur
guson, and Bessie Lakes. George
seemed unusually gay, and said moth
ing in reference to his conduct the pre-
vious evening. He sought his daily
occupation, and all seemed with him
the same as usual. Mrs. Elmer, who
was very social, good natured lady,
heartily approved of the evening party,
and readily lent helping hand where
ever she was needed, and by three
o'clock a large group of girls of every
age and size were collected in front of
Mr.. Elmer's dwelling. Bess Lakes
was promptly on the spot, and seemed
the very center of attraction, and beau
tiful she certainly was. There was a
roguish smile playing in the piercing
black eyes, which plainly bespoke her
prankish nature. She was attired in a
striking costume, consisting of scar
let skirt and black velvet waist. She
stood anxieusly watching the path
which led to Pigeon Hall. At length
she cried out in tone of merriment:
"Loek, girls, look! the eighth wonder
of the world is coming" All eyes
were turned in the direction she pointed,
and tripping lightly up the path came
Dora Desteile, smiling as she neared
the group of girls. Carrie introduced
her to her companions, and now as il
satisfied. the entire group dispersed in
to the old fashioned yet neatly furnished
parlor, where sat Mrs. Elmer knitting
busily. When there each one took a
good stare at the stranger, who tried by
every means TO make herself agreeable,
but in vain. No one seemed inclined
to converse with her, but all kept up a
continual clatter among themselves
Bessie Lakes was all the time busy at a
side table with pen and ink, ever and
anon glancing at Dora, and then gen.
eral snigger would go around the room
Mrs. Elmer tried to be social, but SC
disturbed was she by the continual gig.
gle, that several times her eyes were
angrily turned toward the corner occu.
pied by Bessie Lakes.


All this time Miss Curtis and Carrie
were preparing supper in the adjoining
kitchen, and when supper was an
neunced, with rush all the girls left
the parlor for the dining room. Mrs
Elmer accompanied Dora, and in few
moments group of ruddy faces were
seated around the well laden table and
enjoying hearty meal. There was but
one girl at the table who tried in any
way to make the stranger at home, OF
acted with the least regard to her feel.
ings. She was slender formed, gray
eyed girl by the name of Eugene Siffon,
q niece of Mrs. Elmer's. Her father
died when she was but a child, her
mother being poor, her aunt had taken
Genie to raise as her own, and many
even of the near neighbors called hel
Genie Elmer instead of Sifon. AS
long as she had lived in the family she
had never become intimately acquain'
ted with Carrie or Miss Curtis, who
was also a cousin to Carrie. Genie
had always taken an opposite course tc
that of Carrie, and instead of priding
herself in grossness and pleasure, she
sought to cultivate something of refine
lment in her nature. She was continu'
ally spurned from the companionshiI
of the girls, who called her saint snt
missionary, and laVished many crue
epithets upon her. From the first sigh