Year: 1869

Yes, Madame, that's my narne,T re
piled, and l bring you a messages from
your family


Come in


The room was poorly furnished, and
wore faded air, as if sympathizing il
the condition of its occupants; but this
would not be noticed while receiving
the graceful courtesies of the lady,
given, it is true, with a weary air and
a heart sickness that no effort of the
poor girl could disguise.


You see me sadly changed sir she
said with weary smile.


Indeed, | do, Madame. l am sorry
that it is so. It is of this that 1 wish
to speak with you, and to prevail on
you to return with me-


1T is too lateP


you are mistaken; your friends
grieve at your absence, and would glad
" welcome your return


you do not know all


Il know that you have been deceived,
but that is not criminal. The baseness
is with the betrayer, not the betrayed.


q know that; l have tried to delude
my own mind and heart with the So
phistry that am only victim; but it
is not so. Listen, and 1 will tell you


4 was infatuated with that man. His
hold on my affection was not such as
young girls usually give to a lover
There must have been some strange
affinity in our natures, for Knowing
his guilt still loved him. 1 saw him
not as he was. / put behind me all
this evil, was resolutely blind to his
criminal practices and his utter dishon-
or. l thought of him only as the bril-
liant man in the world, his graceful
courtesy and brilliant wit 1 have seen
him the admired of all our circle, the
courted, fascinating Crichton of society.
l thought he was honorable and good /;
my ambition was fixed to become a
countess. Like poor Pauline, l listened
to his stories of castle and wide demes-
nes, Of lordships and principalities, un-
til sense and honor faded in the glowing
visions he had created. I had then be-
come fit instrument to help him in his
evil deeds. l became a criminal too.


Many of the jewels were stolen by
me. Together we piled our vicious
calling until discovered and exposed by
you. Why should I remain behind
when he had gonel My peace was de-
stroyed, my reputation would soon fol
low it. What should l do9 1t seemed
as if nv brain would madden. Icould
not confess my crimes. 1t would kill
my parents. Oh! if you only knew
how often IN the visions of the night l
have seen their plying glances, their
love, reproachful words, their sorrow
and distress, and then awaken with Bit
ter sobe to find it a all dream, you
would pardon me that l feel unable to
endure any longer a position so full Of
humiliation. l determined to seek my
partner in iniquity. l came here and
found him.


The story of the poor girl was told
with many a broken sob aud and tears
that came from the heart My own
fell fast as listened. Thought of the
grieving parents far away of her cloud
ed life, with every hope and blessing
wrecked before the blossoms of her
youth were gone; how could help but
pity them and herG I could not hope
now to take her back. Their paths in
life divided from that fatal night; and
sin and shame forbade them to meet.
I told her why l had come to see her
told her all


Tell them you saw me- she said.
Stay take this picture with you, but
say 1 died. and the sad smile grew
wintry, the lilies crept back into the
cheek which thoughts of home had
flushed, and binding tears shut me out
from sight.


left her alone in her despair.


Yes, alone! looking back on the sun
light Of youtb-loOking up to clouds
and despair. The hopes Of her youth
we're gone, and joyless, futureless, the
visions of life had faded and fed