Year: 1871

I would dearly love to 90 With you if
could" -


"Constacce, you puzzle mo greatly"
I said in bewilderment It this une1-
peoted refusal. "Can it be your fear
Of dependence? You are dependent
6ere Is well, aud more than you could
be with me. I should be more than
repaid by your love and companionsbip,
and you would fad kindness and sym
pathy with me. Tell me frankly Why
you refuse"


~ cannot indeed" with distress al
over her face. "Wait, please; you will
know soon. Do not go home yet.-
This house will seem like a prison with
out you. Pray do not 60. Watt
Who kuovs7 You may do good too."


Wholly puzzled aud nouplassed, I
gave assent, wondering what she could
mean, what she foresaw to guide her in
her inexplicable course but I thoug ght
I understood this child's nature too
we'll to charge her with caprice, and be-
lieved she was acting for some special
purpose, therefore it was with much
anxiety and interest I awaited coming
events.


A week later as I was passing the
library I was surprised to hear Con-
etance speaking rapidly in tone Of
earnest, almost passionate entreaty.-
The glimpse I caught ofthe scene with
in haunted me with = strange sense of
underlined terror as pursued my way
to another part Of the house. Mr.
Levering was seated beside table,
his face buried in lis hands, while his
niece stood over him, one arm about
his shoulders, the other hand graspins
what I took to be pistol, and held it
behind her as if she had just snatched
it from his grasp. What she said I did
Cot hear, but I knew from her tones
that it vas something which had reused
all her being into life.


The entreaty was mingled With ring
Of command new to this gentle, sub
missive girls voice. What could it
mean?


had not long to wait. The truth
came cut too soon. None save Con stance
and I knew how nearly the rash man
had come to self destruction, but I un.
derstood it all when it was announced
that Mr.. Levering had tailed, and bis
proud family reduced to penury.


Mrs Leveriag was prostrated by the
terrible blow; Esielle hurled from her
pedestal Of pride with force that near
~ crushed her.


And now in the midst of this house.
hold wreck, Constance rose up to angel
ic height, the comforter and sustainer
Of all. She it was who snatched the
husband aud father from a sorrovful
death, and by her brave, true words,
won him to meet his fate like a man.
Her loving kindness and sympathy
soothed and sustained him who had
been too weak and careless to shield
her from injustice and cruelty. It
was her voice which breathed into Mrs.
Levering's ear words Of sympathy and
hopefulness, her hands which put back
from Estelle's tear-wet face the heavy
masses Of hair and wandered over her
brow with touch that made her weep
afrssh for very shame. Womanly in
her carstulness, masculine in her
strength, magical in her power-Con-
stance moved through the mazes Of
trying scenes with steadiness and self
possession that astonished me. Now I
understood what she meant in her re-
fusal to leave when I wished it. She
had foresccn it, and looked forward to
this hour in which she rose superior to
US all.


After this I returned home alone,
leaving my friends in the midst OF con.
fusion, unable to give them any accept
able aid in their misfortunes. In a lit
tie while the family was broken up
Mrs. Leverlng and Estelle chose rather
to become dependents and accept the
hospitality of wealthy friends to shar-
ing the reduced fortunes of the bank
rupt, and, deserted by wife and child,
he turned into quiet abode followed
by Constance, loving, faithful, forgiv-
ing ami kind.


From her new home she wrote to
me, cheering, hopeful little notes in


which she described their humble and


toilsome mode of life with brave spir-
it, looking forth to brightness in the


future. Mr. Leveriug was going to be-
gin anew, mautully, and she "meant to


help him all che ,oul1." How I bless
ed her in my heart for little angel!


But all the grand hopes were dashed
as soon as entered upon. The uncle
fell i'll, and the neice was called upon
to watch and tend him through a weary
illness, then to close his eyes in a rest
that nust be eternal. DR.. M:rlin 5
skill lis Of no avail, and again t::a ono
she had come to love best on ear IL was
called away while she was just Learning
to feel the sweetness Of her power to
give help ADD comfort. Poor Con.
stance Hers indeed seemed DOOM
ed life. All her bop=s were ruthleakly
shattered ! All her loved ooes torn
/ l.