Year: 1879

$50 1 will, !" answered John Waldron
pleasantly, all in good time. Have
patience: there is much to be. told you.
She is not here but at my house in
Green Point. wish to explain some
matters to you before you see her be-
cause you must meet as strangers. You
appear to be woman of good sense,
and one VINO would not willfully destroy
your daughters prospects in life. Listen
to me; let me acquaint you how you be-
came deprived of your child, and beg of
you to be guided by my advice"


" 1 will do whatever you say, sir"
she answered meekly, g for so good and
great gentleman like yourself would
not advise me to do anything wrong"


" Great am, no doubt" he respond
ed with proud smile, "but good-ah
that's another matter. L must tell you
my history, my good woman, so
that you will understand my position,
and / shall tell you things L never once
dreamed would pass my lips to mortal
ears. came from proud family and
as poor as they were proud. Reverse
of fortune had reduced our once proud
estate to nothing, until at twenty-six 1
found myself alone in the world, with
only tolerable education and my quick
wits to help me to the wealth was de-
termined to acquire. The road to for
tune is a rough one, and few reach 1t
without the aid of accident or influence.
had no influence, trusted to the chap
ter of accidents. Nature who had been
so lavishly kind to me, pointed out the
way. 1 was determined to marry an
heiress | had the good fortune to at
tract the attention of Miss Farrell
True, her reported wealth first drew me
towards her and spared no points to
gain her love. In this 1 was successful
beyond my hopes. 1t was great tri-
umph for the poor brokers' clerk to have
gained the prize from his wealthy and
aristocratic competitors. Nor was my
love altogether mercenary, for though
her fortune was the first incentive to
seek her heart and hand, when that
heart was mine, my love had become so
intensified would have married her
without penny"


1t was strange that this strong and
wise man of the world should thus pour
out the very secrets of his soul to a sim
pie and ignorant woman. 1t appeared to
be relief to Jno. Waldron to let down
the mask of placid reserve he had worn
so long, and make full confession.--
There had been dreamy monotony all
these years in his mind, and it was like
opening long closed room and letting
in the daylight-it purified his SOUL
She sat and listened without comment,
too much astonished, indeed, to speak,
and he continued:


We were married much against her
fathers inclination. From the first he
guessed my motives and distrusted me
to the last. He made his will in such
manner that could never obtain pos
session of his daughters property, if
such hadl been my desire-though it
never was. 1 was satisfied to have con-
troll of the income, which amply sup
piled our wants; besides, the business
in which he settled me, began to pros
per and pay me well. Indeed by pru-
dent speculation, now possess enough
to buy the Farrell estate twice over
But was still poor man when he
died. Lillian and lived in perfect uni
son. She was not without her faults,
the trivial ones of spoilt child, but was
patient, never exacting, for her heart
was kind and good and she loved me
tenderly. The birth of our child ce-
mented our union with endearing
bonds. Then came the clouds of sor-
row after all this sunshine of happi-
ness. My wife was stricken down by
the destroyer's hand and taken from me.
cannot describe to you the crushing
weight with which this blow fell upon
me. Had it not been for my darling little
one should have gone mad, and given
up all. rallied my senses for her sake.
She too sickened, and then indeed the
world looked blank. Lured by the news
of her illness, as vultures scent carrion
from afar, relatives had never heard
of, harpies who knew the tenor of the
Judges will, began to gather, offering
their coincidence in public, but secretly
gloating in anticipation of their divis-
ion of the property. My fortune hung
upon my child's life, for my business
had not then assumed lucrative form


her death would be ruin to me. /