Year: 1872




was so fond, and to form for her a bril-
liant alliance, and thereby bring credi
and honor, as she thought, upon herself
But how she succeeded i'm her plans on
) story will show.


Sonora inherited her fathers disposi
tion, combined with her mothers beauty
She possessed a firm, sound mind, Will,
she was loving, gentle and amiable
She would never yield a point wherein
she knew herself 20 be right, but in
maintaining her own will she did il
with such unobtrusive kindness that
she seldom gave offense. From early
childhood she had shown traits Of an
extraordinary mind, and she was moi
only fond of storing it with the good
and useful of earth, but she also took q
deep interest in religion. Nothing gave
her greater pleasure than to sit and lis
ten to the sublime and beautiful doc.
trines Of our Lord.


At the time our story opens she was
just entering her seventeenth year She
was of medium height, with a form
fully developed. Her complexion was
of that transparent white without spot
or blemish, with just enough color in
her cheeks to give greater brilliancy to
her lovely eyes; and herein lay her
greatest personal charm. They were of
that dark blue which at times can
scarcely be distinguished from black,
and when she raised her long, black
lashes would have that lovely, pleading
look so much admired by our poets.


When wrapt in balmy sleep,
Her lashes on her checks in sllken fringes Law.


She was directly opposite in contrast
TO her friend Blanche Levere. Though.
like Sonora, Blanche had been the only
daughter, she had also been the only
child. She had been left an orphan at
the early age of three years. She had
been left to the care of her maternal
grandparents, who, by doing all in their
power to promote her welfare and hap
piness, endeavOred TO console themselves
for the loss of their last child, her moth



er. She was tall, finely formed girl,
about a year and half older than her
friend. Her hair of raven blackness fell
in curls to her waist, while her eyes
were Of the same midnight hue, and
would twinkle when she laughed, which
spoke truly of the merry heart beneath.
Yes, Blanche had a heart as light and
free as the gentle breeze of summer.
She had never known a sorrow, for,
though an orphan, she had never real
lied it, so faithfully had her kind grand
parents fulfilled the trust reposed in
them.


Life had been with both girls only a
summers day up to the time our tale
begins.


Blanche had completed her education
year before, but Sonora was still an
inmate of Madame C-'s school. Hav-
ing vacation of a few weeks, she, with
the rest of the family, had gone to their
pleasant country seat at Bridgeport,
Conn.,, whittier they went at the return
of each summer, and here il was that
Blanche lived.


This was the first year that Sonora
had gone when the rest of the family
had, generally coming at the close of
July, but they had left the city earlier
than usual, and it was her fathers wish
that she should accompany them. He
wished her to see nature unfold herself,
arrayed in the beautiful garments Of
spring; to refresh her mind and give
full play to her better self; also to be-
hold the works of the Creator rs they
are in the country, where the light of
the sun, moon and stars are not OBJ
structed by buildings, whose tops re-
semble the tower of Babel, and which
always bring to the mind the words Of
good John Rodgers, "Build not your
house too high, but always have before
your eyes that you were born to die"


Though Mr.. Hewitt, or Colonel las he
was always called) was not a professor
of religion, still he was a strictly moral
man, and held in great reverence all
that pertained TO the Holy and Divine.
The morning that we introduced our
fair heroine to the reader was one of un-
clouded splendor in the blooming month
Of May. Nature was adorned i'm her
richest garb. The trees laden with bIos-
SONS might well have tempted mother
Eve to pluck them ere they became the
forbidden fruit. The blithe little birds.
as they carroled from tree to tree. wara
enough to fill the heart with ioy and
gladness and cause US to utter from the
bottom Of our hearts indeed, "God is
love"


After partaking Of breakfast and ar
ranging a boquet upon her mothers
dressing table, habit which she had
followed from childhood, Sonora had
taken a favorite book and gone to her
boudoir for a perusal of it alone, where
she was found by her friend soon after,
as we have seem


Blanche, who never let a pleasant
morning pass without 4 ride upon her
noble white horse, Beauty, had called
for her friend, determining to have her
enjoy herself also, for a horseback ride
to her was at all times preferable to a
book, and she meant, if possible, TO
make others think so too.


The home of Blanche was noble old
mansion, whose massive pillars reached
from the roof to the floor Of the COM
Portable piazza, which extended around
three sides of the house, and whose floor
had vibrafed 10 the trend of merry Young