Year: 1874

| his boyhood, or rather should say knew
him as boy, for he has been many years
absent from his country and did not know
of his return, till he came this afternoon to
request me to perform the ceremony"


"The lady is very beautiful, very' said
Robert thoughtfully, and to himself rather
than to the rector who, however, some
what to the boys surprise, Immediately
replied, -,.


"She is very beautiful, and fear Rich
ard has done wrong in persuading her to
become his wife without the consent or
knowledge of any of her friends except her
twin-sister, who, schoolgirl, like herself,
and of course as much stranger here, is
not very safe counsellor"


"I wish you would tell me all you know
of them, dear UNCLE" said Robert, "for l
feel a strange interest in them. The lady
is SO gentle and lovely and the gentleman
seemed so stern and cold, so prompt and
determined. l almost hated him when he
turned SO abruptly from his carriage and
rode of, as if relieved at having performed
painful duty"


"Nay, Robert, you wrong him he is
summoned to attend his father immediate
ly, who is only waiting his arrival there to
sail from New Orleans for Cuba, where he
has large estates which require his constant
supervision, and where his sons assistance
and society are particularly needful to him.
Old Mr.. Harding is an honorable and
warm-hearted though eccentric man, and
Richard, knowing his excitable temper,
dared not take his bride with him, and
when urged him first to obtain his fathers
consent and then come and ask her openly
of her relatives, as gentleman should do,
he told me that to wait was to lose her for
ever, for her step father was his fathers
bitterest enemy; that she was the daughter
of British officer who resided many years
at Halifax and left, at his death, no fortune
to these twin girls and widow, whose
weak nature disqualified her TO stand alone
in the world, and whose polished manners
and great beauty rendered her still very
attractive, who had within few months
after her widowhood married a man of
wealth and influence but of inferior rank,
which SO incensed the sister of her late
husband, Col. Ormond, that she refused to
have any intercourse with her, and even
threatened to bestow her little fortune on
charitable institution, instead of giving it
to her nieces as she had often promised.
But now, dear Robert, we must talk of
other things more nearly concerning our
selves, for have much to say TO you before
you leave mo next week for College,"


"Isn't the masther down yet, ma'am,"
said Norah, opening the door of the little
parlor, and adding in half vexed tone,
81 wonder he don't come when he knows
| my cakes will be all spilled for him?"


"You would not wonder" peevishly re-
piled Mrs. Stanton, the housekeeper, "if
you had heard him talking in his study
with Robert till almost morning. sup
pose they have both oversight themselves"


"Well, and sure it's pleasure to talk
to the boy any time, and the ould gintle-
man was just beginning to say his last
words afore he leaves for the school, ma'am
and sorry we'll be whin he's gsne."


They were interrupted by the agonized
voice of Robert, crying


"Mrs. Stanton, Norah, come, come
quick to the study" and in an instant
both we're standing at the study door, ap-
palled at the scene within. In his high
backed arm chair close by the open win
dow, just where Robert had left him the
night before, sat the good rector, looking
so calm, SO beautifully quiet, that for one
moment they almost thought he slept; but
the repose was too deep, too rigid for sleep,
and the two women paused and looked at
each other with sad, troubled faces for
several minutes, ere Mrs. Stanton pressed
a cold hand in hers, and murmuring, "He
is dead, poor old gentleman" burst into
tears.


The death of their beloved pastor spread
so deep gloom over the whole parish, 80
many hearts were heavy with sorrow, that
Robert felt almost ashamed of the utter
loneliness and desolation he felt while so
many sympathized in and shared his grief.


Day after day the Summer sun rose and
set and found Robert lingering yet in the
lonely rectory, pale and hopeless, and not
until Mrs. Stanton told him that her grand
son had come to take her to his home in a
neighboring village, did he seem to COM
prehend that the house which had so long
sheltered him was his home no longer.
Than ha rnusad hfmaeIf and with raveren
tial care packed the few books and other