Year: 1875


the reader in the last chapter.


never saw the unfortunate girl, upon whom
the hand of Providence seemed so fatally laid
1 was so weak and unwell for some time, from
the effects of my midnight excursion, and the
overwhelming anxiety l had endured, that
Arthur thoug ght it proper to keep me perfect
ly quiet and before was sufficiently recov'
cred to be liberated from the chamber which
was my temporary abiding-place, heard that
charge. Poor Annie had passed away in
another brief but fearful paroxysm similar to
the last, death coming to her truly as bene'
factor and friend. So ended life of mystery,
which had been as sealed book to mortal
eyes!


Sitting now in my happy, peaceful home, l
scarce can realize, on looking back through
the vista of years which lie between me and
the time of which I have written, that in this
calm retreat, my soul was once so shaken by
storm-a storm, though fearful, happily
brief, and followed by sunshine which has il
lumined my path in almost unclouded bright
ness since.


.,.L hava been apda still, so happy! Hap:
py in the love which has bound Arthur's
heart and mine together n golden indissol.
uble chain, whose links will never be severed
but by one Hand, which must in the end break
every human tie. Happy in the knowledge
that my dear father, before he died, turned to
his Rosy as of old, with clinging, yearning
affection, extending itself for her sake to the
man whose spotless purity of life and thought
could not but win regard more powerful
than the influence of jealousy or pride. Hap
py in the duties which strive earnestly to
fulfill, and which make up the quiet unosten-
tatious round Of my daily life.


Aunt Mabel still lives, a lovely old lady,
bright and winsome as of yore; and with
her Ellen, who is rather melancholy and mo-
rose at times, but derives pleasure from the
companionship of her daug ghter, a pretty,
amiable girl, who fortunately bears no resem-
blance to Stephen Holcombe. The latter is
dead A sort of reconciliation was effected
between himself and his wife, during his last
illness, through the agency of my ever kind
godmother, who was sorely grieved at the
misfortune attendant upon Ellen's married
life.


OlQ DaTOaTa, Ioo, 10 Sotuoieu W noi Ao'ae'o y
and sleeps the last sleep of the just" in a
quiet churchyard close by, near the spot where
poor Annie was quietly and privately buried:


1 am writing at my 6reside, on cheerful
winters day, and ever and anon, look out Of
the nearest window at the golden sunshine, the
blue sky. and the sparrows hopping about in
the snow. Blest sunshine, emblematic of JOY
which fades at life's eve, but to return with re-
newed brightness in the morning; blest sky,
screening with its clear, impalpable azure that
world of mystery to which our footsteps are
slowly, steadily pressing; happy birds, chirp,.
ing Of peace and innocence and gladness Of
heart, little living examples of cheerfulness
and content. How beautiful is the world
around mel How light is my heart! l close
the record of my early days, to which, for
brief space, have lent my thoug hts and time,
and which has whiled away some solitary
hours in a pleasant fashion; and turn again
to my every day life, as from the shadows OF
q dream.


1.-THE END -.-.----