Year: 1876

and were SchOOlmates. We were rear ed amid the brown hills of New Hamp- shire, far up toward the spires of the White mountains.

 At sixteen, Helen was the belle of the village, the liveliest at all our merry makings, and the admired of both old and young. Indeed, in my whole life, have seldom seen one more beautiful than Helen Marchmont, at the time of which speak. Traces of her loveliness yet remain, but so marred by years and sorrow, that few who knew her then would recognize her in the pale, sad woman of to-day.

 Before Helen was seventeen she had many offers of marriage from young men highly esteemed by her friends, but she encouraged them not; her whole affections were given to Arthur Richard son, the only son of poor widow who resided in our vicinity.

 He loved Helen with his whole soul, but he could not brook the idea of talk ing her from home of comfort, if not of luxury, to the stern life of toll and poverty which lay spread out before him. Many and fierce were the strug- gles between love and reason; but his pride conquered every other feeling, and it all ended in his espousing the resolu- tion of going to sea. A brother of his dead father was largely engaged in the India trade, and this uncle gave him the supercargo's situation on board a merchant vessel which traded between New York and Singapore. It was very hard to leave his widowed mother to her loneliness; very hard to part with Helen but Richardson had before him the prospect of carving his way to fortune, and the thought of what should come afterward buoyed him up through the solemn parting. His heart was full, but he left his native village without a sigh or tear.

 Helen was very grave and quiet for some months after his departure, but | soon her natural sunshiny disposition emerged from the cloud, and again she was the life and pride of the village. Arthur had been absent two years and one fine September morning, as Helen and l were picking over the ripe whortleberries we had gathered on the mountain the previous day, the yard gate opened hurriedly, and in another moment Helen was in the arms of her loverl He had returned for a brief visit of ten days then he was to go away once more, to be absent eighteen months only, and then-the happy blush on Helen's cheek spoke eloquently of what would take place.

 l While he had been away Arthur had prospered. A little more of successful labor, and he would give Helen home of luxury and gratify her every wish. The morning of his departure arrived. When he came to bid her farewell, he put into her hand package, saying:

 "Dear Helen, l want you to wear this to please me. It is my choice, for it is just the color of your own bright hair. And some serene Sabbath day ] shall come home to find my darling in the dress brought her from beyond the sea-" And folding her to his bosom with many 8 passionate kiss, Arthur richardson went away once more. When Helen opened the package she found amid the folds of tissue paper piece of soft, glistening brown India satin. She laid it away carefully; and although l often questioned her as to when it was to- make its appearance in our little church, she always smiled quietly and evaded the subject. But I knew very well that she intended it should be her bridal robe, and she would not have it made until near the time of Arthur's ex- pected return.

 The probationary eighteen months rolled away-daily was the good ship Sarah Jane expected to arrive in port.

 The Sarah Jane was expected on Tuesday, and by Saturday night we might look for Arthur in Milville. Rail ways were things unknown, or oompara lively so, in our region, and the journey from Boston must be performed in an old fashioned stage coach. Saturday came-a clear, cloudless day in April, and by special invitation I went over tc pass the time with Helen, until Arthur arrival. She was flushed and smiling, 8 little anxious, but very happy, and sc beautiful could scarcely keep my ad- miring eyes off her face all through the cool bright afternoon, and when, at eventide, she arrayed herself in the brown satin, and with crimson shawl around her stood by my side on the east ern piazza awaiting the coming of the stage, could not refrain from claspine my arms around her, and exclaining " Dear Helen, how beautiful you are r She smiled her own sweet, gentle smile, as she replied

 "I am glad of it, Mary; glad for his sake." The sun Het-the shadows deepened