Year: 1877

the first three lines of the closely-written
pages. then glanced at the signature, and
folded and laid it away. She knew her sis.
ter was waiting for the usual afternoon read
ing, and she dared not read her letter first
and then go to her sisters room. So for
more than two hours she read aloud mechani-
cally and when, at the end of that time,
Alice said gently, "Do not read any more,
lear, or it will be too late for your walk"
he closed the book and went TO her own
room, shut and locked the door. She read
the letter through-the manly declaration
Of love that singled her from all the wo-
men Edward Howe had known, and asked
her, in earnest, passionate words, to be his
wife His wife She repeated the words
slowly to herself. His letter announced his
immediate departure for England. His
father was i'll, not dangerously so, but he
wished his eldest son with him, and in obe-
iience to that wish he should leave Canada
on the following Saturday. This was his
reason for writing to her, for the wedding
would take place on Thursday. and he had
promised TO remain for that, and on Friday
he would be able to come, for only an hour
Or two, to Lennox, to receive his answer !;
but he assured her that no long time should
elapse before he would return to claim
MS bride.


For a long time Irene Carleton sat very
luiet aud still in the low chair by the win
low. She lived her life over again-the
iarly, happy days when she and Alice had
played together, with their loving mother
present to share their enjoyment; the sad
time When the knowledge came that poor
Alice must be helpless sufferer the sadder
time when her dying mother had so solemnly
rharged her to watch over the young life 80
fearfully shadowed the years that had
passed since then the resolution she made
hat she would never marry, but would de-
vote her whole life to her sister, a resolution
hat more than one had tried to change ;
he many happy hours she had spent with
he man whom alas she loved-all these
and more passed through her mind, as, with
fearless eyes, she watched the rosy flush Of
sunset fade away from the pure white snow
Tomorrow she would see the man who
loved her, and after tomorrow ? She dared
not look into the future, dared not think of
the time so soon to come when the parting
would be over, but dinly and drearily there
appeared as in a vision the many to-mor-
rows life might yet have in store for her.
She was reused by one OF the servants knock
ing at the door. "Miss Alice's tea has
been brought up; was Miss Carleton ready
for hers 2"


The sisters were in the habit of taking
their tea together in Alice's room, and in a
few minutes Irene was there, outwardly as
calm and self-possessed as ever.


"Did you have pleasant walk 2" asked
Alice. as her sister drew low chair to the
side of her couch.


" | did not go out at all, dear. 1t seemed
very cold and drcary outof-doors, and, by
contrast, very warm and bright in the house,
answered Irene, pleasantly.


Poor Alice little suspected the effort her
sister made to appear natural during that
memorable evening, and once she asked her,
tnxiously, "Are you quite well tonight,
lrene2 You look very pale, it seems to me y
and she looked fondly at the fair young face
she 50 loved and admired.


81 think perhaps | caught little cold
yesterday when | was on the pond skating,
answered Irene, reproaching herself at the
same time for the slight deception.


1t was not till she was alone in the quiet
darkness of the winters night that tear
came to relieve her aching heart. and heavy
Sobs came with the fast-howing tears. Bu
The sobs were soon hushed, for her room was
next to Alice's, and at night the door be
tween always stood open, so that she coulC
near the tinkle of the little bell she Away
placed by Alice's bedside before she left he
lor the night But no summons came tha
night, for the invalid girl slept unusual,


we'll, and when the gray dawn stole in, thu
lair, child-like features were still composed
in sleep; while in the other room, Irene
pale face and wide-open eyes showed trace
oi suffering such as had never before lei
their impress there she had drank deepl
Of the cup which, sooner or later, is held +
the lips of all.


The day was bright and clear lren


lever knew how the slow morning hour


passed away; the one ever present though


was that by three O'Clock her lover would b


with her, and before the early winter tw


light should have fallen over the quiet vi


age he would have parted from her Afte


timer she read aloud to her sister as usua


out to the day of her death Irene Carleto


could never have told what words she reaC


She listened with feverish anxiety to tn


summons that, a little before three o'clocl


came" A gentleman wishes to see Mi;


Carleton"


Mr.. Howe had been shown into Irene


own sittng-room, and while he waited fl


her his eyes took in every detail OF the sin


ply-furnished but perfect room, where, |


Ielt sure, the girl he loved must have passe


many hours.


Tne door opened, and she came slowly i


the folds of her blue dress falling graceful


around her, and the masses of her ripplit
hair partly gathered in loose coil and part
resting on the rich lace that shaded her nee
Edward Howe stepped forward to meet he
but his heart sank she could not be comil
to welcome a lover with that sad, wea


look, and pale face. The little hand was e


tended to him, and, as he took it in his ow
he said anxiously, IL am afraid you are i
Miss Carleton"


: There was silence for few momen


and then Miss Carleton answered, the 10
1 sweet voice little lower than usual, " No
! am quite well, Mr.. Howe" Then she S
> Town on the broad lounge near the fl


aud motioned him to a seat not far from h
I But he paid no attention to the slig
motion of the fair hand, and came and sto
= reside her. as he said, " Did you receive /
n etter. Miss Carleton %


q The young girl bowed her head witho


speaking.


n Then you know why | am here to day
e IN waiting for my answer"


v Still the fair face dropped before him, a
o no sound came from the sweet lips. Edwa
y Howe grew anxious. He sat down besi
a ner. and laid one hand on her white finge
h III do not understand your silence. W
y do YOU not speak to me p


n Then Irene looked at him and said, slow
IS "What can say Z"


n Say that YOU will be my Wife" he
9. ,wered. eagerly, land those will be
v sweetest, dearest words ever heard" a