Year: 1871

OF Lne hecCOfy, ana IOf mOul0H'
forgot that be was not once again
the young and ardent man, who
had, nearly twenty years before
loved and wooed Custance Penfold
Leonard Tremaine and he had both
been smitten by her beauty and
gentleness; they had agreed that
their sympathy in this love should
not break their friendship. Only
when he left the presence of his be-
loved, a:rejected and heart-brOken
man, he had vowed not to marry
unless it was the daughter of her
whom he deemed the pearl of her
sex.


Now he had returned to redeem
this pledge. He once again saw
his early love. Did he feel pang
of jealous envy as he looked on the
wife of his friend? Must it be con-
fessed? He felt instinctively that
Custance had chosen Alright for his
happiness, as we'll as her own, and
that the winning, helpless gentle
ness of the girl had developed into
the soft apathy of the woman, and
that his own vigorous energy and
quick perceptions would have been
banked and deadened by the utter
want of congeniality between their
natures: But a deep sigh escaped
him when he thought of the bright,
eager Adeline.


off I were but younger-if I
could go back P' he sighed. "But
to purchase such a bright JEWELS
it not a sin, and a cruel sin ?"


And Cuthbert Pendennis was
long ere he slept that night.


X X X


"Its too bad, Adeline. Ever
since that detestable nabob came,
you have been engaged by him, and
I have scarcely been able to get one
word with you. Are you so easily
induced to forget old days, old
friends-old lovers?"


"Hush-hush, Horace you must
not speak to me-" was the girls
trembling reply; "yOu know it is
wrong-useIess."


81 know nothing of the sort,
Lima; I only know that I always
considered you quite belonging to
me, ever since we were children,
and till this old fellow came you
never avoided me, or made excuses
for refusing everything 1 asked
Now you neither walk nor ride with
me, and when we are thrown togeth-
er you seem as if you would rather
talk to any one than me. If 1 had
not by accident, or rather by per-
sistent watching, managed to join
you in this dear old summer house,
I should never have had the chance
of even asking you the reason Of
this caprice, Adeline. But now I
am determined to know the truth.


Cuthbert Pendennis had been aD
involuntary eaves-drOpper to this
little scene, and he listened breath
Iessly for Adeline's next reply.


"Horace, there is very little to
tell, but you ought to guess without
giving me the pain of speaking it.
We have been boy and girl hitherto,
and been INDUCED in the liberty
which childish friendship warrant
ed. Now, it is different. Neither
mamma nor Sir Ralph Dasant
would be pleased if we were to do
just as-as if"


Gas if we were something more
than friends, Adeline. Are we not
so? You know-you must know
how dearly love you, Lima. I al
ways called you my little wife when
1 was a boy, but it was not in jest.
l meant it then, and mean it now.
Lima, shall it be so? Will you not
consent ?"


No; I cannot, Horace. Please
do not ask it. Your father would
never consent 10 your marrying a
girl without q fortune; and you
would be miserable if you could not
spend all you wanted"


"Who told you this, Lima ?"


"Mamma did. She said it would
be necessary for you, to make you
happy, and to help you to live as
you ought to do. And I have moth
ing. So you must never think Of
ne, except as dear old friend, Hor-
ace."


ooh, yes, I understand. You are
too wise, or your mother teaches
you to be so, for such a foolish thing
as marrying for love, when you can
get hold of a wealthy nabob. But I
could never have believed you
would sell yourself in that way for
gold, Lina-I am glad to be unde-
ceived ere it is too late"


The girl appeared to sit silent
and motionless, for a deeply inter-
ested listener could not catch the
slightest sound.


"Is this your final determination,
Adeline? will you not bid me hope,
and act on that hope? One word
and I am answered"


"Horace,dear Horace, forgive me,
but I cannot"


"FOrgivo you Never !" thunder
dered the young man, sternly, and
the next moment he rushed angrily
from the spot.