Year: 1861

speak few words with you in private"


Mrs. Leonard arose, and passing thro'
the folding doors, to distance that con-
yer sation carried on in an undertone could
not be hearcd by the visitor, although
feeling some anxiety relative to q gold
watch that hung over the mrntlc, she could
keep her eyes on her. "Well, Percy"
said she to her nephew, what have you
to say of nature so private ~


" Simply, that do wish you would take
this young lady on trial. know what
your impression is, but if ever saw limo.
ccnce depicted in human countenancc, 1
see it in hers. Artifce may have lured
her in the hands of vice, and if she has
made her escape, turn her not away from
your door and compel her to return"


Percy" said his aunt, =" if her face
was not SO beautiful, were its expression
ever so innocent, do you think she would
find in yoa so powerful pleader :"


She ought to-" he replied, Slightly
coloring, and think she would" Pro-
mise me aunt, that you will receive her."


No. for your sake, must turn her
away"


That you shall never do. 1promised
my friend, Noithcote, that would spend
few days with him, and although it is
not exactly the season to make visit in
the country, 1 will start tomorrow. Now
aunt you have no excuse, or none that you
are capable Of despising, if it will prevent
you from performing a good action. l
have sewing enough myself that l wish to
get done to employ her three months"


Well, Percy, since you are so earnest
for her to remain, if you will promise to
make Jour visit to your friend Northcote,
vii take her week or two upon trial,
though should not be surprised if she
should know no more about hemmng than
you do"


Mrs. Leonard returned and resumed the
seat she had left


" L think you told me your name was
Mary Leviston,' said she to the girl, who
sat weeping and trembling.


"I did,"


" As my nephew thinks of leaving town
Tomorrow to be gone some time, and, as l
shall be rather lonely, have concluded
to let you remain week or two upon
trial.


Your words are thousand times bet.
ter than life TO me- she said.


" If you remain there are several con-
dtions which you must promise to comply
with"


" | will comply with any condition that
you wish All ask is that you will suf-
fer me to stay"


"The first condition is that you must,
under no pretcxt whatever, leave the house
except to attend church on the Sabbath,
and then it must be in company with some
person l shall provide to go with you"


That will suit me exactly-I do not
wish to 60 out ~


/" Another is, that you must not attempt
to hold any correspondence with your old
associates"


"There is not person on earth with
whom l wish to hold any correspondence"


{" The third and last condition is that if
any of your old acquaintance call, you
will refuse to see them"


" All that you require, l should have
performed voluntarily"


"Well, then, you had better take off
your cloak and hood, for the room is rath
er warm to require such warm garments.


She withdrew to the opposite side of the
apartment, and Percy observed that at the
moment she removed her hood, she tore
wreath of flowers from her hair, and
crushed it in her hand, which soon after.
wards, when she imagined she was not no
ticed, she threw it into the fire.


When diyestcd Of her cloak and hood,
with her rich dress exactly fitted to her
form, and her bright golden hair enwovcn
with pearls, Mr., Leonard could not help
confessipg to herself that she had never
seen a female so perfectly beautiful. If
the admiration of Percy was graduated on
a lower scale, his copntenance was no
true index of his mind, and the idea of
his proposed visit into the country began
to grow exceedingly distasteful to him.


The next morning at the breakfast table
Miss Lewiston appeared in calico morn
ing dress, which Mrs, Leonard had pro-
vided for her, with hair, which was plainly
parted on her forehead, compressed into


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