Year: 1859

formerly been prosecuted. He no longe
threw aside his books, to bow at beauty
shrine, whenever an occasion presented it
self. He pushed steadily forward toward
the attainment of the prize which was befor
him. His labors were lightened by he
words of love and encouragement; and tn
happy moments spent in her society, lent !
charm to his whole existence.


Many months sped rapidly and pleasant
ly away, and the time drew near for Harry
departure. His intercourse with Alice, hat
been one of uninterrupted happiness, will
the exception of several of those little quar-
rels that lovers so frequently have, ano
which serve to illustrate the truth of the ole
maxim, that 'the course of true love nevel
did run smooth while at the same time
they furnish opportunities, in their adjust
ment, for renewed protestations of love and
devotion. 1t is the prevailing belief thai
these lovers quarrels, as they are called, are
an infallible means of increasing the affec
ton existing between the parties. This
opinion is unfounded. They only furnish
occasions for the display of that love, which
is latent until thus aroused and drawn forth
Wentworth and Miss Vernon had no need
of occasions on which to display their mutu'
al love. Each trusted with the most implic
it confidence, in the others devotion and
it seemed as if no storm had power to shake
their faith in each other. But whenever
any little difficulty arose between them, there
was always present to the mind of Alice,
that dark foreboding, that dreadful presen'
timent of evil which first came over her on
the morning the Christmas guest departed
from Woodlawn.


A month before Wentworth's departure
all was calm and bright, not cloud was to
be seen above the horizon of their love; but
in that bright and cloudless sky a storm was
even now gathering. There has never been
an Eden, without its Satan. The tempter
was soon to appear upon this happy scene,
and rob it of all its beauty.


About the time of which we are speaking,
Weptworth's old fame, Lucia Berkley made
her appearance at L.. She had relatives
there, whom she occasionally visited. Went
worth had met with Miss Berkley once be.
fore, and being then at liberty to pursue his
once favorite avocation of "studying female
character" he had carried his intimacy with
he. to an extent which was not sanctioned,
by the strictest rules of propriety. On the
present occasion, it was nothing more than
his duty to show her some attention, yet he
resolved to limit himself to what the usages
of society required. But with this the fail
Lucia was not content; she was one Of those
who pride themselves upon the number Of
followers that are reckoned in their train,
and Harry Wentworth was not so unimpor'
tant parsonage that she would willingly
leave him out She made it point to play
the agreeable whenever she was in his pre-
sence and on more than one occasion, she
managed to favor him with her company,
when he would willingly have avoided her
Nor did she stop here; she often spoke Of
him publicly, in the very highest terms, and
always placed him first upon the list of hel
admirers To do Miss Berkley justice, she
was perfectly innocent of any evil intention
in anything that she said and did, and had
she known what harm she was doing, she
would doubtless have altered her course I'M
mediately. But there aeas one who was by
no means so innocently disposed, aud who
was determined to make Miss Berkley an
instrument in the accomplishment of hel
own diabolical designs. This person was oul
old friend Mary Clayton. She had seen
Wentworth and Miss Berkley together on
several occasions, and had often heard hel
speak of him in the most laudatory terms
The idea occurred to her, that by making
considerable additions to what she had heard
and seen, and repeating it in Alice Vernon's
hearing, rupture might be brought about
between her and Wentworth. What object
Mary Clayton could have had in bringing
about this result, it is difficult to divine
Before his meeting with Alice, she, herself,
had entertained some idea of captivating
Wentworth; and may it not have been in a
spirit of resentment against the innocent
cause of her failure, that she conceived he1
present design? Whatever were her mo-
tives, no sooner was the design conceived
than she determined to carry it into execu
ton.


An opportunity soon presented itself tc
Mary Clayton, for the accomplishment of hel
purpose. Shortly after she had decided
upon her course of action, she was visiting
at the house of friend in L., where
she met Alice Vernon. In the course of con
7ersation, some allusion was made to Mis-:
Berkley, when Mary took occasion to inquire
of the company, whether they had heard
the latest news. She then proceeded to in
form them that she had heard from reliable
authority, that Harry Wentworth and Lucia
Berkley were now, and had been engaged
ever since her visit to I4--nearly two year:
before. "There can be no doubt" she wen
on to say, "of the truth of what I have
stated for he has paid her the most marked
attention since her arrival here; and l have
even heard Miss Berkley herselfspeak of it. D.


Alice Vernon was struck with astonish
ment at what Mary Clayton had said l.; as
tonishment at her audacity in making sucf
statement. But when she was alone, ant
began to consider all the evidence that hac
" l.--i NJ. y IL a.-ln a1ra ctntn m O n