Year: 1874

1
prepared to say that you are not right
Can | see Miss Ellisonf"


The doctor touched the bell and asked
the servant to request Mary's presence,
and then he went out Of the room, that
the two might feel unembarrassed.
II wanted to know If your uncle's de-
cision is the same as yours 2
1T is." she said in low voice, aud
with face averted.


And you object to me because am
q good for nothing p


II think my uncle's idea OF what
man should be in the world is correct
one.


And you do not love me"


i cannot marry you.


"Then you do love me3"


81 might have loved you had it beer
different with us; but do not dare to
say more. "


"And if were to make myself worthy
Of your" he asked.


She did not answer, but her silence
was more expressive than words would
have been.


MARY, he said, al ask and make no
promises. l only know that l love you,
and hope to win you yet. :.


He arose. and they said, GOOD. by. "
Would he prove himself q man : was
what her heart questioned. Would she
wait for him was the question in his
mind


"And now whatp" asked the doctor
| az, ha uao o1,na with Mary


1--WE shal! see, was the answer.
Fred Seward went to his room at the
hotel and asked himself the same ques
ton the doctor had spoken. land now
whatY"


He had been told that his life was of no
use to any one, and that he amounted to
no more than straw carried on breeze
Was it so? He began to think out the
question Was his life worth farthine
to any living person up to this time
No, it was not What had he to show
for these twenty five ycarsS A little
smatterng Of knowledge; nothing else.
Was any one better because he had
livedp No. He could not recall an in
stance where he had ever been Of help to
any one. Supposing he should lose his
fortune to day, what could he do? Moth.
ing.


He did not spare himself in his cross
examination, nor did he hesitate about
calling things by their Iight names No
wonder DR.. Burgess had declined him
for husband for his niece But what
should he do2 All that was difficult
question to answer. A lawyer3 No,
he had no taste Tor the law. The
church No, no; he was unworthy so
high calling. A doctor1 Why not
Yes, why not doctor?


There was quite sensation among the
loungcrs at Swampscott when it was
found that Fred Seward had left them for
that season. And the sensation was still
farther increased when they heard he was
studying medicine with Dr. Sweet OF
Boston. If DR.. Burgess heard the story
he never mentioned the matter to his
niece, nor was Fred's name ever spoken
between them.


Three years rolled round without
change to Mary Ellison, except that she
grew more beautiful with each new year.
Her uncle had moved to Boston, and she
was among the most admired bellies OF
society Yet admiration and fattery
seemed to have no power over her, and
she was as eften to be met with at the
bedside Of the sick and in the houses OF
the poor, as in the brighter halls OF lux
ury and extravaganza.


And there was enough that one could
| IL 70 ,ho anna hat u,ill;nn 'rhnns m q
of people had seen their little all swsl-
lowed up in the great flames, and needed
all the encouragement and help they
could obtain But Mary Ellson was a
rare missionary. She was among the
poor and the helpless, because her heart
was tender with pity for them, and not
that she might hear men sound her
praises.


Anything I can do for you to day
Uncle ? she asked, us she started on her
morning rounds.


Nothing, my dear; but don't be gone
long"


~ wish | knew what was best to do"
you might have heard bin saying when
she had gone. Had | better tell her,
or let things take their own course
The fellow is in earnest, and is proud al
Lucifer. What shall doY And again
he drew a letter from his pocket, as il al
his trouble was in that 1t was the frs
communication he had ever had from
Fred Seward. Here it is:


"DR. BuRGEss-Dear Sir: When lcf
Swampseott. three years ago, 1t was will
the determinato n Of making myself o'
some practical use in the world, and ol
removing the charges that ! felt you SO
Justly made against me. ! was anxious
to do this not only for myself after
had been made TO zee how frivolous my
life was, but also that might gain the
respect Of your niece aud with the inten
ton of again asking her to become my
wife. have been studying in the Office
of an old school mate Of yours, DIR.
Sweet, and have enjoyed my life much
more than had ever thought apostolic
NV purpose in now writing to you Is to
saw that when last saw Miss Ellison, ]
said to her | should renew my proposal
Since that time circumstances have arisen
which compel me to say to you that
cannot renew those proposals, nor can
| aspire to Miss Ellison's hand. Ol
course, you will do with this as You may
think best, but ! should he glad il you
could keep the in your own hands.


"With great respect,


"FRLp X. SEWARD.