Year: 1876

Istarted T had never contemplated such
afSossf otiity, though the idea was not entirely
- new one to me. did not dream that Olive
would consent to marry me, even should ask
her to do so.


"Dear mother" said I, solve does not
care for me, except as sister might"


"You do not know" she rejoined, earnestly;
"you can not tell. She would not confess her
feelings unasked. Promise me, Phillip-pro-
mise that you will try to win her love. She
would make you dear and good wife. She
is truly lovely aad amiable, and were she my
own daughter could not love her more than
do"


II could not wish happier lot, mother,
than to marry her." slowly replied; "but 1
think she cares more for Rudolph than for
me-"


Mono! Indeed, you are mistaken. She
has been more with Rudolph, and is more
unreserved with him, but that is all. She on
ly loves him as brother"


She spoke with some excitement, and fear
full of agitating her, offered no farther OBJ
lection, but Immediately gave her the prom
ise she had asked for. I confess that in ma
king it, my heart was stirred with new and
exquisite hope; for itdawned on me then, more
clearly than ever before, how blest / should
be could her wish be carried out. Young as
I was-a mere boy-still I had already the
feelings of man, and was conscious of the
awakening of hopes and desires within me as
fervent as those of ripper years.


My mother now appeared satisfied, and
said no more on the subject. 1t had entered,
however, deeply into my mind, and the im-
preston thus made could never again be
eradicated.


A few hours later my dearest parent had
passed away, and only what was mortal of
her remained for our sad eyes to gaze upon.
That mortal part, the beauteous, but senseless
clay, now invested with loveliness not of
earth, lay before US for three more days, then
was borne away and laid to rest, in our fami-
ly burial place in neighboring churchyard.


Our little circle was now broken up. 1t
had been arranged for Olive to 60 and finish
her education-that is, the higher branches
and accomplishments the roof of a
maiden lady of the name Of Storr, who lived
at Bath. She was q sort of relative of my
mothers, most estilnable person, and was
to have charge of Olive until the latter
should attain her majority, of which she still
lacked four years. I decided to travel. l
had no definite object in remaining at home,
and longed to see something of the world,
and also to improve my knowledge on many
important points. Rudolph would remain in
charge Of the old family mansion. 1t was a
lonely prospect for him, but be was attached
to his present mode of life, and felt it his duty
also to look after the estate.


II shall miss you, Phil, when you are
gone" he said to me, with sigh, on the eve
Of my departure for the Continent, "but I
know you'll be happier away than here, and
would be selfish to wish to detain you. 1
shall be solitary enough, though"


"Perhaps in a year or two you'll be taking
a wife, and bringing her home to cheer you
up" replied. "You will not find it solitary
then"


A blush crossed his frank face. "Perhsps
may" he answered, "but still that is only a
chance. We can not tell what the future has
in store for any of US"


I looked at him narrowly. I wanted, it
possible, to divine his thoughts, but i could
not make out if he had any especial intention
in his mind. Since my conversation with my
mother, recorded above, had watched him