Year: 1871

81 am sure l don't know" he replied,
"but some curious idea must have possessed
the old man, to make such a request
cabinet which he does not wish seen, and
did not care to ask to have destroyed"


A dark suspicion arose in my mind, but
l at once tried to discard it, though after
wards was sorry had not spoken at that
time.


Neither of us spoke any further on that
subject, and the next day l left for the
city, and did not see my friend Stout, nor
Miss Kate for some years, during which
time the events gradually faded from my
mind.


II Il y


We will now pass an interval of nearly
fifteen years, as the events of that time
had no connection with the former part of
my story. During some of these years
had been absent in Europe, and had in all
that time heard nothing from Rolf, or
learned any thing which would warrant
my sending him the promised intelligence.


l had given up practice, but had not lost
my interest in the profession, and SO one
morning when met an old friend in Balti-
more, who said he was on his way to the
courthouse to hear celebrated lawyer
from distance, plead in trial for murder,
at once yielded to his invitation to accom-
pany him.


On the way to the court room he inform
ed me of the peculiarities of the case, and
that the lawyer we were now to hear plead
was the most noted criminal lawyer from
an Eastern State, who had been retained
by the defence. His name was Palm, Rolf
Palm.


In an instant the incident connected with
Rolf Raleigh came fresh to my mind, and
had hardly heard the man speak five min
utes before was confident that the speak
or was none other than the youth who had
left me nearly fifteen years previously.


OF course time had greatly changed him,
and that, with the change in name, made
me a little uncertain, and so after the court
had adjourned, solicited an introduction,
which would give me an opportunity to test
the matter.


The friend who introduced me, remarked,
"Mr. Page is a Virginian, and 1 think you
told me that was your native State"


At this time Mr.. Palm was standing in a
crowd near the door. l could not help
thinking how old he looked, and eagerly
watched him to see the effect of the intro
duction upon him, wondering if he would
remember me.


My white hair and bent figure were no
disguise, that could readily see, and yet
there was no flinching from my scrutiny,
and even thought he tried to recall to me
the memory of the events which had hap
pened in our early acquaintance.


We, however, separated, neither positive
that there had been any recognition by the
other, though / felt confident that he had
recognized me. My head was full Of the
old Raleigh affair, and ] wondered if he
yet felt as he did on the night of our last
interview. Had he married, Or was he still
waiting for his cousin and the message !
had promised to send?


These and many other questions rapidly
arose in my mind, and almost unknown to
myself was already weaving quite ro-
nance in connection with this middle-aged
lawyer. Hi


Shortly after leaving the courtroom |
met another friend who again brought this
old affair to my mind, by telling me that
Stark Forest, the young man referred to as
being much at the Raleigh place at the
time the main incidents of my story had
happened, had just been given a foreign
appointment. To make sure, however,
that it was the same, asked IL it was
Forest of Loudon county?


To this my friend replied it was, and
went on to say, 81 wonder if he will take
wife along"


"Is he married." asked.


"He is q widower," replied my friend,
"but he has recently been laying siege to
the heart Of his cousin, Miss Raleigh, who
report says was love Of his some years
ago."


Now my attention was fairly aroused
and ! at once inquired if she had given
him any encouragement.


81 think not; some people say she is toe
} ambitious, and others assert that she lost
her heart to some one who deserted her in
her youth, answered he. l.l


AS left my friend, my romance assumed
new life. pictured to myself the young
girl who had SO quietly said, "Iwill wait, y