Year: 1859

arose, what course was she to pursue p
Should she inform Wentworth that all con.
nection between them must be Immediately
dissolved? This course she admitted, on
reflection, would be rash and iuconsiderate
she should frat ascertain whether or not,
there was any truth in what Mary Clayton
had said but how was she to ascertain this ?
should she ask an explanation from Went
worth himself? This, pride prevented her
from doing, and she finally decided to pur-
sue an intermediate course She resolved
to treat him with markedcdaness when they
met again and should he inquire the cause
of her altered manner, she would allow him
an opportunity to vindicate himself. Fatal
resolution Why did she not determine to
treat him with the same candor, that he had
always manifested towards her? Why did
she not open her heart to him, and allow
him to place himself in his true light?-
Why did she not trust him with that implic-
it confidence with which he had ever trusted
her? As her resolution was taken, the same
dark foreboding that she had SO often felt,
came over her; and the spectre that she had
often seen, appeared pointing with its skele-
ton finger to the dark abyss before her. But
the warning was unheeded.


When Wentworth again met Miss Vernon,
it was in the company of several other per-
sons. He was surprised and panied at the
studied coldness with which she received
him. Attributing this change in her de-
meanor to indisposition, or some such cause,
and unwilling to believe that such treatment
was intentional on her part, he endeavored,
in his usual cordial manner, to draw her into
conversation but all his advances were met
by the same cold formality. Conscious of
having offended in nothing, and finding that
this treatment was the result of deliberate
intention on the part of Miss Vernon, he
resolved to be as cold and stern as herself.
His genial good-bumor quickly vanished.
Pride came to his aid, and the warm-hearted,
affectionate Harry Wentworth of moment
before, was transformed into different be-
ing Proud, naughty and stern, be would
scarcely have been recognized as the same
person.


Thus they yparted; the hearts of both bleed
ing with anguish on account of their es-
arrangement; and each, ready to receive the
other back with open arms. But the first
step had been taken, and pride forbade them
to retrace that step


"Alas how light cause may move


Dissension between hearts that love.


A something, light as air-a look,


word unkind or wrongly taken


Oh g! love, that tempests never shook


breath, touch like this hath shaken.


And hearts, so mingled, seem


Like broken Clouds or like the stream,


That smiling left the mountains brow


As though its waters ne'er could sever,


Yet, ere it reach the plain below,


Breaks into floods, that part forever"


The time for Wentworth's departure was
at hand; he had but q few days longer to
remain at l.. Before leaving he deter
mined to make last effort at reconcilia-
ton with Alice Vernon should he fail In
this, he felt as if he would be willing to
leave his native land never to return; he
felt as if existence would then be a burden
instead of blessing. Tn order to accom-
plsh his object he called at Mr. Vernon's
the evening before his departure. There
were visitors at the house, SO that he was
prevented from seeing Alice alone, as he
very often did. During the entire evening,
they both wore an air Of assumed coldness
and indifference. Little did those present
know what tempest of emotions was raging
in their breasts, under an exterior apparently
so calm.


When Harry at length rose to take his
leave, the heart of Alice sank within her.
She would have given worlds, had they been
hers to give, to have him defer his depar-
ture, but for a day, and be would have given
worlds to have her make the request; but
she did not ask him to stay, aud they parted
as they had last parted, coldly and calmly
But that calmress was the calmness of des-
pair.


On the morning that Harry Wentworth
was to leave L. for the city of N
where he was to embark, his friend, Ernest
Graham called, to say goodbye. Ernest OBJ
served the care.worn, troubled look of his
friend, and not thinking that it was sufficient
ly accounted for by the fact, that he was a.
bout to bid farewell to home and country, he
inquired if there was anything wrong.


"You have always sympathized with me,
my friend, when in trouble, replied Harry,
"and now when I impart to you this last,
deepest sorrow, I know that you will enter
into my feelings, and compassionate my suf-
ferings; for, God knows, if I ever needed
your sympathy, it is now. Do not be sur
prised, when 1 tell you that I leave l.
to-day, never to return" He then proceed
ed to relate the incidents connected with his
estrangement from Alice Vernon. "Siuce
this has occurred" he continued, "the place
has become almost hateful to me. Should |
return, these scenes would only serve as per-
petual remembrancers of joys that are no
longer mine"


"You shall not go thus" exclaimed En-
nest. II know that Alice still loves you ;
and with little explanation, all may yet be
right. Defer your departure for a short
time; see her again, and have this mystery
cleared up"


"And shall I PROSTATE myself in abject
submission at her feet, when all my advances
| hnua hnnn nat with scnrnfnl indifference