Year: 1873

you to cease your persecution of me.
Neither your threats nor vows of
vengeance can intimidate me. You
cannot crush my spirit, nor cause my |
will to bond one atom. Yon will
please to leave my presence


The last speaker, q young, and
spirited girl, stood proudly erect, and
gazed with unutterable dislike, upon
her companion, q young man of gross
features and repulsive appearance.
1t is not necessary that you annoy
me further, you will please CO."


She pointed in the direction of the
half>open door. companion obeyed
her, muttering as he departed that he
would yet live to make her repent her
ill>spoken words.


Maud Aston was the daughter of a
deceased army officer. The death of
her mother, at late day, had lef, her
alone in the world; and had placed her
under the guardianship Of Blivin
Boormoth, minded, unscru-
pulous and avaricious old English
squire, who. to secure the small
fortune left his ward BY his parents,
sought to marry hsr TO his son. Maud,
full understanding the motives of the
father, had opposed every overture
made by the young uan for such Sd
| alliance, and it had resulted in The
scene. which has just been described.
| The young woman hastened to her
room, and after securely fastening the
door, sat down and began to reflect as
to what future course would be best for
her to follow, 1t Twas evening, and
through the window -panes everything
looked dark, dreary, and hopeless To
remain longer beneath thu roof that
sheltered Blivin Boormoth, seemed to
portend lites~that would be more
hopeless still It took her but brief
space of time to make up her miad
with regard to what future course to
follow. She hastily. AROSE. and tying a
small quantity of wearing apparal
together in bundle, she enveloped
herself iu a thick shawl aud hood, and
silently stole forth from the house Of
her prosecutors, out from the hated
place and from the presence of its
odious OCCUPANTS, into the gloom
of the dewy night.


She hurried away, hardly knowing
or caring where she was going, only
that she effected her escape from Blivin
Boormoth and his disolute son.
Sometimes she stumbled and fell
sometimes she fancied she had half lost
her way her dress became damp and
bedraggIed with the dust and dew but
stimulated by hope, and strengthened
by excitement, she thought nothing ol
weariness or bodily fatigue, SO long al
the distance increased between herself
and her tormentors.


In neighboring village lived Lady
Mordaunt, the widow of an arm,
officer, who had formerly belonged t
the same regimont that her father hat


been connected with during his life


time. With Lady Mordaunt Maut


had long been intimately acquainted


and between them existed the mos
friendly relations and 80 to Lad,
D. Mordaunt Maud determined to 20


hoping to find in her house


temporary asylum where she would b


free the prosecutions of her guardian
}" and his ill-favored son.


She arrived at Lady Mordaunt,


home early on the following morning


nearly exhausted by her long an


wearisome journey. Lady Mordaun


received her cordially, and when sh
. had listened to o recital of he


experiences she took her to heart lik


mother, and promised as far as lay il


her power, to protect her from tn
:, further opportunities of her guardian


For some months Maud lived il
IN strict seclusion, all efforts upon the par
ID ID of Blivin Boormoth TO discover he
i'd place of retreat were unavailing.
h One day Lewis Mordaunt Gam


home unexpectedly to visit bi