Year: 1878

of Sir Henry TO their innermost depths


Not since Berenics died had anything
operated so on his feelings. He was 81


lent for long time, from the very en-


barrassing fact that he was at loss fol


words TO express his unfeigned regret al
the intelligence made known to him sc


unexpectedly. Before he could give ut.
terancc to any one OF the many thought:
passing in quick succession through hi:


mind, Florence rose from the table, anC
lett the room. Sir Henry mentally
blamed himself for his very stupidity


lie got up from the table, and followed


her, with the intention OF apologizine


for his apparent inattention and disre
gard tor what she had told him. Bu


when he stood in the library door. anG
heard her singing in her pleading. pas
! sionate way, he found himself incapable
of longer resisting the tender sentiment


which swayed within him for her A,


tat moment he was fascinated more


than ever by her peculiar beauty. If he


ever. al any time, entertained thought


Ct her that was uncongenial with truth


snd virtue itself. it was removed from


his heart, and a love. which amounted


almost to iniatuation, filled its place.


love OF which he had never dreamed un


I'll awakened by the prospect OF losing


her. The pain which her words at the


table had given him. the doubts which


mys,ified him then. were now clear ant


comprehensive enough-yes. he lovee


her. He waited until she had ceaset
/ playing-until the last faint note OF he


perfect melody vibrated no longer upol


the cords OF his impassioned soul. Then
| going up to her, he laid his hand gentl,
upon her bowed head and asked her VIII,
she wept. To which Florence replied


II have been happy and contentec
here; the mot pleasant hours that


have ever known have visited me here


yet duty urges me TO accept the kind in


vitation extended by my uncle, and from
the fact that my aunt IS, at this moment


lying very i'll. and needs my companion


ship, renders it expedient tor me to star


without delay"


Florence, cannot make up mind tc


let you goi tor the day on which yor


leave this house, will vanish also wha


sunshine there is he'e to gladden. my


heart; baby will mss you, and wil


miss you worse than any one. In Other


words, life will be dull and common.


place if not shared by you; therefore
Florence if you can accept second love


be my wiie-stay with me; for the very
thought of ycur leaving maddens me "
He was beside her nov, even clasping
her to his breast, and calling her tender.
ly his dariing-his beautiful one.' Flor
ence waited to hear him through. Then
she said, calmly and with her usual self
possession, Sir Henry. thank you for
the high compliment which you have
paid me, in selecting me to share the
abundant love OF your noble. generous
heat but find it impossible to comply
with your request unless you can accede
to the conditions which l am about TO
propose


Name your terms. Florence l will
consent to anything now. rather than
lose you, who have recently become SO
dear to me-"


well. then" SAID Florence, "you
know that when you married Berenece
you came to America. brought her here,
thinking tiat change would do her
good. Now. what l wish to know is
this. if marry you, will you take me
to London? If you promise to do so. l
appr. .ciate your indulgence, and thank
you for it; otherwise, cannot marry
you-at least for time-ior cannot
willingly refuse or neglect my aunt's
request to be with her at this trying
time


Sir Henry hesitated for a moment, but
the irrepressible charms of the velvet
voiced siren bound his strong soul as
with magic spell; therefore he gave
his promise without even a moments
reflection or consideration. Sir Henry
thought he could we'll afford to be SUBJ
missive in this particular to the woman
he adored, to prove to Florence how sin
cere he was. how thoughtful for her
He not only consented to take
her to London, but proposed that they
should first make continental tour. As
Florence was not exactly prepared for
such an unexpected manifestation OF his
goodness; therefore it is not surprising
that momentary pang of remorse stung
her to the very soul, yet its weight was
not sufficient to deter her from her evil
purpose, Tor to one who had 80 long
nursed and cherished deceit in her heart,
it was but an easy thing to reconcile her.
self to the step which she was about to
take. Florence had a double policy for
wishing to bring things to crisis first.
1t was highly important for her safety to
leave New York just then, and she had
not the means to take her to London
therefore she thought that Sir Henry's
well-filled purse was God-seud to her
At this very inauspicious time, for Flor
ence. not having heard anything from
ler vile accomplice in regard to Hagar.
was i'll at ease. and concluded it would
oe to her advantage to leave America as
'oon as possible hence the fabrication
't the pathetic story Of her aunt's sick
less. which was only a well-studied lie,
to deceive aud urge Sir Henry
more Immediately into tho snare that
Ter cunning brain had woven for him. 1t
certainly was n strange thing to
ee that good man lowering. day after
lay, about this bad woman. giving her
lis constant and undivided attention.
himself. as it were, in the light
/! her radiant beauty. and drinking. to
is hearts content. deep draughts OF
liss. drawn. as he thought, from the
'untain of her sincere and perfect love.
III, innocent man! iallacious hope!
nat. ere long, must awaken thee from
ny too fervent dream when the leaves of
~ newly budded love will be scattered