Year: 1873

A pang of chill apprehension closed round
Vincent's heart, as he heard these words
fall from her lips.


"Mr. LIE Roy, am Governess. You
have no idea of marrying me. You are
engaged to Miss Langdon, and why do you
try to tlirt with me. am poor, but l am
proud"


"Miss Weston, stop! stop! pray. First
let me tell you. l am not engaged to Miss
Langdon, nor ever have | made any such
professions. l have, l acknowledge, made
love to many pretty girls; but never have
l asked any save you to be my wife. oh,
do not trife with me, Miss Hattie. Re-
member every pang you cause loving
soul, is a sin against. the divinest and most
sacred thing which God has given US on
earth to know"


81 would not for one moment pain you,
Mr.. LIE Roy" said Hattie. The large
tears were already forcing themselves down
her cheek "Listen to me Mr.. LIE Roy,
and l will tell you little OF my past his
tory. When l came here to teach in Mrs.
Evans family, l was engaged to be mar
ried to a young lawyer in Richmond. The
ring you once saw upon my finger was
placed there by Harry Seymour. Wewere
children together, and at the ages of six
teen and twenty-five promised to marry
at an early day. He was then rich and a
bright future apparently before him; but
the war broke out, and he lost all his pro-
perty and slaves. He became dissipated.
The wine cup was his curse; he tasted and
loved it; he made many resolutions, but
alas, like too many, could not keep them;
and one night while in delirium walked
overheard into the James river and was
drowned l could not but think it was
| the doings of an all-wise Providence, who,
knowing the end from the beginning,
saw what future would have been mine.
His death occurred only a few days pre-
vious to the evening you announced your
intention of going to Europe to me. l
received letter from his mother, and
could you have seen the inward emotions
of my heart you would have pitied not
wounded me. l struggled hard to act my
self, and cause ne one to suspect anything
unusual had transpired. l could not eat:
but this was attributed to home sickness.
Had they noticed the mail, they would
have at once suspected the cause as all
letters stamped Richmond cease to come.
From the first moment l saw you, Mr.. LIE
Roy, liked you as friend, and had not
been engaged to another, know not what
might have been the result when you ask
ed me to love you. l was too sad that
night to tell you my secret, and to tell the
truth, thought you were great flrt, fall
ing in love with every new face you came
across, and you were young and going
away-so far away-it was not unlikely
you might change your mind in few
days, and regret the step you were
so anxious to take The Fall after your
departure, l visited an old school-mate of
mine in New York, and who, by the by
proved to be yonr cousin, though strange
to say l never heard you once mention her
name to me. Edith Montgomery is her
name, and here Hattie related to him the
story of her seeing his photograph in
Edith's album, and all the love stories her
friend related to her of her rich Cousin
abroad-and of the engagement between
him and Miss Langdon; how surprised and
shocked she was at the same time conceal
ing her feelings to such an extent that not
even Edith suspected the real truth
Hearing all this from one so near related
to you" said Hattie, 81 determided to
Danish you entirely from my mind and
regarded you in the future as only friend
If that; and felt thankful l had not
granted you the kiss you so earnestly
begged me to give you-and felt free,
knowing l had never given you any en-
couragement ere you sailed for foreign
lands. thought at once the heart of man
was deceitful above all things. Happy
thrice happy am to know my suspicious
were not true, and you are the same true,
sincere friend judged and hoped you to
be-"


"Friend. friend!" said Vincent, edo not
term it that-nay, more, a nearer, dearer
word-a loved" and here Vincent fell
upon his knees before her and begged her
to no longer keep him in suspense. You
are mine; you will be mine, will you not,
dear, dear, Hattiea


"Mr. Vincent you know am, as far as
money is concerned, poor Governess.-
You are wealthy, and do not think your
family would ever give their consent. In
position, sir, am your equal, in educa-
ton, am your equal-and here under
stand me, will marry no man unless con-
sidered by him and his family his equal"


Hattie was here so overcome she could
scarcely speak. Vincent drew here closely
to him, placing his arm around her taper
ing waist, and clasping more tightly her
soft white hand, said, IF these are the
only objections, you are mine, and ere
long l hope to call you my little wife ?"


Then she raised her dropping eyes and
whilst the maidenly blush was bright upon
her cheek, Vincent impressed kiss upon
her lips, saying: "This seals our engage
ment," at the same time drawing from
his vest pocket little box that contained
large handsome solitaire diamond
"This, dear Hattie is yours, and now I
will measure your finger with this little
card and when l return to Philadelphia
will have it set in ring, to be worn by
you till death doth us part"


Reader, what an immense rest is in
great affection. 1t is like some vast sea -
On the unruflled calm, we may float and
dream, blue sky above us, and illimit-
able space around. But how much greater
repose there is ina strong, true, faithful
love. We rest upon it, and do not need to
buffet the waves. We feel that it holds us
above the chances and changes of this
troublesome world; and when we perchance
strike on the quicksand or that hidden
rock, we turn to our life bouy and let the
waters go over us, knowing we are safe.