Year: 1872

young Rowan. lhe elder Rowan
sometimes came, and was always the
respectful, commonplace man Of
business, in whom one could not
help feeling confidence, but whom
certainly no one could take for a
gentleman. The more Mrs. Alsa-
ger knew of the young man, the
more she asked him. He had been
educated at Harvard, he had read a
great deal; he could talk French,
AID could converse about Paine and
Ruskin and art he could play the
piano; yet he never seemed to dream
Of being above his business. Even
Alice after a while became quite re-
conciled to him.


Both ladies grew very fond of Is
abel. Mrs. AIsagcr insisted that
until she was was ready to leave the
house not a hand should be put to
alter any of its arrangements, nor
should the new owners or any of
their servants enter it except as Wis
itors. This, at least, spared Isabel
some pangs. To the last, the old
home was to be the same. She
could never see any change in it
except such change as Fate incXor-
able and already made.


Isabel was to 60 to Florida, ac-
companicd only by her maid,
Swedish girl, who had lived with
her since they were both children.
These last days were very sad. Is
abel was leaving the home Of her
birth, her childhood, her affections
the home which now seemed like
the sacred grave of her dead father
and mother. The doctors assured
her that a warm climate would re-
store her health; but she sometimes
fancied she felt Il presentment that
her own grave would be made in
the south, and she thought it might
perhaps as well be so, although she
ycarned to lie near her mother in
death. Yet she always showed an
outward chcerfulness and courage,
Her one great consolation was SO
purely sentimental that practical
minds would adore her for 1.-THE
thoaght that tender and kindly
hands would care for the places that
had been hers, that the sw9et-voiccs
of loving women and the pure
breath of an atlcctionatc and happy
household would gladden. the old
rooms so dear to her.


Was there no thought of sadness,
no grief of parting, no CLEAN Of
hope in her which had. another
source?


The idea that had shot quickly in
to the minds of Mrs. AlSager and
her daughter when they saw young
Rowan with Isabel had never oc-
Cured to him. lie saw Miss Ger
maine sweet and friendly to him, as
she was to his father and to every


one. He saw that no idea of So
cial separation ever seemed to cX-


press itself in her manner. But she
came Of a great old family, and his


father was only a better sort of a
workingman and he himself aspired
to nothing higher than the success
sion to his fathers business. Itnev-
= er occurred to him as possible that


Isabel could Care for him. Now
, that his father had money and she
, had none, his spirit and manhood
. would have repelled such a thought


more utterly than ever. As lsabe
, Germaine could not love such a tGl-
:, low as he, would he allow his SOU


to entertain even for an instant, the
thought that money could buy her;
! But he loved her, made her his idol
i consecratcd his thoughts to her, con,
fessed his love to himself, and was
glad in the knowledge of it.


He came to see her for the las
O time before her Journey South. They
. were friendly, sad, and in certain
sense confidential. But each on,
d kept great thought back from th'
other.


Would you mind doing me
: little favor before | leave you" h
# suddenly asked.


> Surely will do anything yor
e wish. What is it?"


"Only to sing me that song one
O. more"


h She looked up at him with sa'
d and speaking eyes. But he wa


looking down, had almost turnc,
r away.


She sat down to the piano an
if played and sang in low, sweet tone
III the air he had already heard he


play. The evening was setting in
h the room was growing gray in tn
st dusk. The voice of the singer be
er came fainter and fainter, as deepen
t. ing emotions and memories poure


in upon her, and once it seemed .
SIS if she were about to break dowl
re But she rallied bravely and went o
G. to the end.


= He spoke not a word hut ethan
r, you and goodbye" In the gather


ing dark she hardly knew that !
is. was going until he had gone. 81


looked eagerly around, found thi


she was alone, and broke into tear
m The air of the South, and pc