Year: 1879




of distrust in her too credulous mind. 1t i
a story which has been too often told, and i
is not pleasant one to tell. A day came, a
last, when her eyes, over which a glamou
had been cast, were fully opened, and truth
in all its hideousness, was forced upon her
She awoke from her dream to find herself ru
ined, betrayed and forsaken, without help o.
hope in the world. Return to her home sh'
would not. Even though she might hope fo
forgiveness, she dared not encounter famil
lar face. If her folly had been great-her sir
was greater. The suffering which followed
surely exceeded them both. Months OF in
describable wretchedness, of despair, which
tempted her to put an end to the life which
seemed now too heavy burden to bear, cul
minated finally in an illness, during which, fo
a time, the world and all in it was shut OIL
from her knowledge, and itseemed as if Deatf
was coming in answer to her prayers. Better
indeed, would it have been for her had sucf
proved to be the case; but naturally strong
constitution rallied, and set the promised de
liverer at defiance.


And now behold her, restored to a con
sciousness of her misery, cast once again upor
her resources, and scarcely knowing how tt
provide herself with bread. For hersel
alone, the situation would have been pitiabl'
enough; but worse still, the fate of another
life was involved in hers The little creature
who, in its helplessness and unconsciousness
had been brought into the world, to increase
rather than to palliate, her woe, added ten
fold to her trial, and its innocent glances ano
feeble touches pierced her with fresh anguish
and remorse. 1t seemed impossible for he'
to love it. She longed to have it out of the
way and the desire grew stronger as time
went on. She knew it was wicked and un
natural to feel thus; but the tenderness which
Nature would seem to have implanted in hel
heart with the birth of her child, was quite
lost in the deeper, more sombre emotions
which the sight of it awakened.


A wear passed by, during which she strug
gled on as she best could, barely managing
to support them BOTH Then she heard, un
expectedly, of her betrayer-learned thai
he was married, and discovered his place O.
abode. Her resolution was quickly taker
and carried into effect. She conveyed hel
child secretly to his home, and left it by
night in a place he would be sure to find it
with note pinned to its clothing, explaining
who it was and demanding his protection fol
the helpless being to whom he owed, at least
redress for the injury he had inflicted upor
her. eff you do not take her," she wrote
'she will starve, for I cannot provide for her
For myself I ask nothing, nor do l wish evel
to look upon your face again"


The one to whom her appeal was addressed
was not without a heart. He caught a
what he chose to consider means of expia
ton for his crime took the child, and insisted
that it should be brought up in every respec
as though entitled to the position he assigned
it in his household. His wife rebelled a
what she termed an outrage upon respecta
bility. He told her that his determination
was fixed, and that the more gracefully sh'
yielded to it the pleasanter it would be TO-
her. They lived in secluded manner, anc
no one knew or guessed at the identity of tn
child. Those who came later into the neigh
borhood were not even aware that it had no
equal claim upon them both, and the sup
posed mother, making the best Of circunstan
ces, preferred being called so, to having th'
real truth known. 1t may well be supposed
that no great fondness for the little being
thus thrust upon her care, ever filled he
bosom; but expediency made her assume, a
least, an appearance Of what she could no
feel, and the child was brought up with sui
fcient care and kindness to prevent her fron
suspecting the absence Of maternal love
though at the same time the affection sh
gave her protectress, in return, was far out
weighed by that which she felt for her father
who lavished unbounded tenderness and in
diligence upon her.


Annie, not long after, found position a
attendant upon an invalid lady going abroad
She filled the situation with such ability as t.
win the esteem and confidence of her employ
er. She was soon promoted to one of still
higher Importance and TRUST, and continued
to fill it for many years. gradually experien
cling, if not renewal of the happiness whicl
she could never again enjoy, restoration, a
least, to something like contentment and peace
The lady with whom she lived was mistress o
large fortune. She had no children O.
other near relatives to share it with her, ant
upon her death, which finally occurred in Ma
Piles, she bequeathed it all to the one who's
long and faithful ministrations seemed enti
tied to such reward. Still beautiful, though
no longer young, and possessed of so much
wealth, it was not singular that Annie shoult
receive an offer of marriage, which she speed
lily did, from an elderly Frenchman of rank
and good position. They were married, bu
he did not long live to enjoy this union
Upon his death, she retired to country place
he owned in one of the provinces and re
manned there until some business of an impor
tant nature, connected with his estate, called
her to America, where she had connections
living. All who had formerly knowa he1
there, were either dead or out of sight. AnC
she tried in vain to discover what had become
of her child, and those to whose care she hat
entrusted her.


CHAPTER X.


AN ITNEypECTED OFFER