Year: 1877

weak, am afraid. I grew desperate
tonight and came out, why and
where did not know. There is my
tale. You see you can not help me.
1t was kind of you to think Of help
ing me. It is getting late, I am
afraid. Good night"


She turned quickly round, wishing
to hide the tears that were again COM
ing into her eyes, aud q another mo-
ment would have been gone; but
Vincent, fastening after her again,
compelled her to say:


"But I can help you, Miss Lindon.
L must help you" aI trr -E--g


Hfs first impulse had been to offer
her money, but he at once saw how
unwelcome such an offer would be,
how impossible TO make her accept il.
Instead of that be proposed 70 find
work, to proYide her sewing enough
TO enable her to make 4 living. The
offerEss at once thankfully accepted.
4 sAnd, I" said Vincent, as they were
parting, 81 may see you again l
may come and see you ?D


"Thank yOu," she replied, firmly
but modestIy. II had rather you did
not. I must work all my time. You
are very kind TO get o. work % 4


And so they parted.


Leonard Vincent was as good as his
promise with regard to finding Laura
work, but, after few weeks he prov
ed disobedient to her wish that he was
not to visit her. In time she grew
more cheerful, and more willing to
talk freely, though il was long before
she lost, when speaking to her friend,
the air of reserve, which was the re-
suit of her natural pride.


At last Vincent, obedient to an i'm
pulse which had now become too
powerful for restraint, told Laura that
be loved her, that he wished to make
her his wife. He already knew that
she was not Indifferent to him, but he
little knew of the consuming passion
which, kindled at first by gratitude,
now burnt fiercely in her heart-of
the efforts it had long cost her to
choke ardent affection beneath the
gsrb of cold respect. Laura's emotions
were powerful, but her self-command
still remained more powerful and
now, while she modestly confessed
her love, she urgently besought her



what might prove an irreparable err
ror. But Leonard was needless, Of
the consequences. In the warmth of
the moment sought an interview with
his father, and desired him to sane
tion his marriage with Laura, at the
same time giving truthful account of
her life and present condition.


Old Mr.. Vincent was a retired cot
ton spinner. His immense wealth
had been accumulated by lifelong de-
votion to business and his nature, of
coarse material to begin with, was
now rendered more selfish and intol-
Grant by the addition of q vulgar
pride.


Furious at first when he heard of
his sons announcement, second
thoughts induced him to rely upon
low cunning as a better instrument
against his son, who was himself
proud, but not ignobly so. He pre-
tended TO consent to the match on
one conditIou-that Leonard should
first enable himself to support a wife
by his own exertionE, Independent of
any hopes he might entertain OF set
from his father.


Laura had awaited the issue of the
conference with outward calmness,
but, in reality, in suspense that
to agony.


"You have asked ?n she exclaimed,
hastily, as her lover came to see
her Immediately after receiving his
answer.


"All is well, dearest" he replied.
"But we are both too young as yet.
Let US be faithful to each other. Till
our marriage you will live at my
home and my parents will care for
you. l am going to spend a year
abroad"


Laura strove bravely with Eer
and tried to appear glad.
In another week she was living under
Mr.. Vincent's roof, and Leonard had
sailed for America.