Year: 1879

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embarrassed person in the world, he could
without difficulty have smoothed over the mat
ter and banished it from my consideration ;
but his very anxiety to dispel the impression
he had made, convinced me that this had been
no idle fancy of Ralph's, and for Fanny's
sake, felt that 1 ought to know all. Per-
haps I shouldn't have encouraged him to
talk about it. Perhaps it was unfair in me
altogether to pry into secret in which had
no concern; and yet, urged as I was, by an
inde6nable, yet pressing conviction that this
marriage, which 1 had just witnessed, was
bound to be fatally unhappy in its results,
and by the thought that perchance l might
be called upon in some way to defend my
niece and take her part, I felt an overpower-
ing anxiety to become master of a clue which
could reveal to me the inner life and innner
purposes of the one to whose fate she had
link ed hers. There had been sort of myste-
ry about the marriage. Mrs. Tracy's persis'
tent management to effect its consummation
Ralph's moody looks; the suddenness with
which the engagement had been announced,
and the rapidity with which it had been
brought to close; all seemed to point to the
existence of some facts or circumstances in
connection with it, above and beyond the
ordinary course of events. At least, such
was the idea had conceived and now one
cause of Ralph's reluctance-the chief cause,
probably, although must admit that Fanny,
poor girl, was not especially attractive in
herself-was being brought to my knowledge
Did it exist in the knowledge Of others, also,
besides his intimate friends?


Euston, easily drawn on, informed me, be-
fore long, of all wanted to know. Ralph
had con6ded to him, on more than one occa-
sion, his intention of marrying Miss McGreg-
or; and during the previous summer he had
paid visit to New Haven, for the express
purpose, as Euston believed, of paying his
addresses to the young lady in question,
though what the result of this visit had been,
he could not tell me. Up to the time of his
learning of Ralph's engagement to Fanny, he
had supposed that satisfactory understand
ing existed between Miss McGregor and the
former, though he had not been positively as
sured of this as fact. Altogether / learned
enough to confirm me in my previous sus'
picion (which had in fact amounted to con-
viction) that this unfortunate marriage had
been purely the result of interested motives
and cunning scheming on the part of Fan
ny's mother, and that Ralph's heart had moth
ing whatever to do with the affair. | said as
much to Euston, for felt too heart-sick and
indignant to refrain from expressing my feel
ings.


"It's that witch of woman" said I, "who
has brought this about But her own child
will suffer for it, or am much mistaken"


'sBut what motive" hesitatingly asked
Euston, "do you suppose Mrs. Tracy could
have in making the match?"


"Motive why, motive enough" said l.
"rhe case is as clear as daylight. Fanny,
you know, won't have penny. Hollywell
reverts to her uncle on her fathers death, and
l suppose her mother doesn't want the poor
girl on her hands. Barstow has some property
from his grand father on the maternal side
and Madam Tracy thinks it would be nice to
get it into the family, particularly as from
my half:brother's dissipated habits, it is not
probable that his life will extend through
many more years"


My companion ventured to suggest that
Ralph's feelings might have undergone a
change; that he had overcome his passion for
Miss McGregor, before seeking and obtaining
in marriage, the hand of his step-mother's
daughter. I replied that I sincerely hoped
such might be the case-but, I mentally
added, was far, very far, from thinking it
likely.


We soon after parted company, Euston de-
clining my invitation to come home with me
and take dinner. He seemed troubled by
what had told him, and I was inclined to
regret having spoken so freely. But after all,
I reflected, it was not probable that he would
abuse my confidence I knew him to have
an excellent disposition, which was safe.
guard against his attempting to make mis-.
chief


went home and sat down to q comforta.
BILE dinner; but somehow could not enjoy it.
Poor little Fannys pale, wistful face seemed
to rise up continually before my mental vision,
and all sorts of unpleasant possibilities, in
connection with her future life, foated through
my mind. Would Barstow ill-treat her? I
thought not. He was too much of gentle.
man for that. But if it was true that he had
no love to bestow upon her, would not this
knowledge swiftly dawn upon her, and would
not the discovery work like fatal blight
upon her hopes, her happiness, her life itself!
Many heart, I am sentimental enough to
believe, has been withered and broken by
sheer indifference and neglect. And this fact
goes far to support me in my conviction Of
the utter futility and folly of that thing called
love-making, and its ordinary consequence
matrimony. That true love can and does
occasionally exist, I will not pretend to deny
But it is so rare, the genuine article is so often
counterfeited, that it is best to steer clear Of
its shoals and quicksands, and avoid tamper
ing with what is 30 prone to bring confusion
and destruction in its wake.


CHAPTER II.


nR EPANK11N's NARRATIVE CONTINIJED.-