Year: 1868




con6de her to our care, the daughter to our moth
! ler's friend should seek no farther for home.


do not think the prospect, at first afforded either
of us much pleasure. A young lady in our very


house would sadly disturb our wonted quiet espe'


ciay if she were fond of gayety, and wanted to &c


into society," But neither of US felt any hesitation
3 as to what was to be done. We resolved not to


trust to the delays and chances of letter. One
D of US would remain at home, to superintend busi'


ness and make ready for the reception of the young
/ lady, and her mother, if we found Mrs Chelms
ford able to travel The other was to proceed al


|once to Oswego. My brother insisted that this
latter duty belonged to mo as the elder, and be-
y gan my journey the next morning.


When reached the village among the lakes, |
found the invalid more feeble than had expected


She had evidently not many days to live. Iresolv-
r ed to remain till all was over. She welcomed me
: with feversh eagerness; entrusted to my care all


the papers which concerned her daughter inherit
ance leaving the settlement of her affairs in my
!, hands had some hesitation in proposing to her
: that Margaret should reside, henceforth, with my
brother and myself; some doubt as to whether she
would not think US too young to receive such a


ward. was glad to find that she saw no impro-
priety in it. suppose 1 did not look at thirty


six, very dangerously youthful. She accepted my
offer with tears of joy and many thanks. Itseem'
ed to have been the one pang of her deathstrug-


gle that she must leave her daughter so lonely in
the world. Now she was ready to depart.


II know you will be brother to her" she said,


holding my hand, on the day she died. 81 have


no fears about her, and am very glad to 60. Life


is weary enough at best, and so many whom l


loved have gone before-my husband, the little


boy, my first child, who died in babyhood, and my


mother my truest friend. More are there than
here"


It was my place to console Margaret She griev-


ed for her mother, at first, with an intensity of
guish which no word could portray, but after the
funeral was over she grew calm amid her sadness,


and began, with serene patience, to take up again
her burden of life Iremained with her at Oswego


until I had completed the settlement of her moth
err affairs. They had been badly managed, and
found that when they were reduced to system


there would be scarcely enough left for Margaret
to keep gloves on her pretty hands was very
glad when I made this discovery, that and no
other. had the charge of this business. Now


could spare her from any feeling of dependence.
Every quarter could give her an ample provision
for her expenses in such manner that she should
receive it as the income of her own property. l
would not have her feel under feathers weight
of obligation to me.


| When all our arrangements were satisfactorily
completed, wrote to apprise my brother of our
coming and we started for home. AbUah met us
at the depot.


"My other cousin2" Margaret said, pleasantly,
as she extended her hand, removing all restraint
with her graceful, womanly tact. She had called
me "Cousin Absalom, from the first


found that my brother had worked wonders
during my absence. Our old home no longer look
; ed gloomy abode, even for young girl. Fresh,


bright paper was on the walls, carpets of warm,


rich hues covered the floors tasteful furniture was
disposed about the apartments, and room, lead
ling from the little parlor especially designed for


our guest, had been transformed into conserva-
tory, and was already gay with flowers. With one
consent we entreated Miss Chelmsford to assume


the Office of housekeeper as neither of US felt COM


petent to regulate any longer the affairs of house
hold which was to number such member. She


promised with her customary sweetness, to comply
with our request, and presently our domestic ar


rangements put on an order and beauty they had
never known before.


) When we were fairly settled at home had leis-
ure to study Margaret Chelmsford the first young
j LADY with whom I had ever been famary associ-
ated. Until then I had not observed, what atfec-
ted me strangely now, her remarkable resemblance
to my memories of my mother; to the ideal l had
so long cherished of my future wife. Here were
the 1.-the, graceful figure, the brownsh blue eye,
the low, sweet voice, the winning smile; here, and
my heart thrilled as it had never thrilled before,
was the woman I could love. Thirty-six began to
seem very old to me- Sixteen years between me
and the young life longed to link to my own.
did not mention these thoughts to my BROTHER
For the first time in our lives there was shadow
between us; a fine indefnable ice of reserve.


think it arose, on my part, not from any unwilling
ness that he should read my heart, but from Sc


cret fear as bitter as secret, lest he also might
cognize in her the ideal we had both so long cher
ished, and love her as loved her. Besides, had
: 50 little hope, it seemed useless to talk oft.
She made no distinction in the manifestation ot
. her regard between my brother and me. To US


both she was uniformly all that young sister could
o have been; the joy and brightness of our home
and our lives. Perhaps she CAME to me most ire
quently for advice concerning her affairs, which
o was but natural, as had taken them upon me at
4 first.


A year passed away thus. She, growing recon
y ciled to her loss and blessing our home with hel
v youth and beauty. We alas! 1 could not shut
: my eyes to that now, we loving her, loving hel


both of us desperately, secretly, almost hopeessly
y There are flowers that blossom only once in cen


tury, but fervid and tropical in their late unfold
7 ing Love was slow and late in coming to oul
lives but now its sway was absolute. And yet VIZ
were faithful brothers, still. donot think ethe
of US dared to indulge heartfelt longing tor sue
y cess overshadowed by such backness of desoatioI
- as it must bring to the other.


At length I resolved to speak. She could bu
7 refuse me. Better to know at once that the ia
: ming sword guarded forever against me the gat'
of my longed for Eden, than to wait afar Oft IL
=, :, such intolerabe suspense. I would try my fate
= I went toward her especial sitting room. In th'
passage met my brother, going also in the same
: direction. In an instant it flashed upon me tina
: his errand was identical with my own. Come
:. what would, no woman's love should divide Vi
y whom Heaven had made brothers. I Iwent up tt
y y him and laid my hand upon his arm.


s 'sCome with me, BROTHER" said; opening th'