Year: 1871

shut myself up in the library, read them.
They were as follows:


"Twenty years have passed, Mr.. Ferne,
since was dismissed from the kindest
home and dearest friends 1 ever had.
Twenty years since held little Harry in
my arms, and covered his dear face with
my tears.


81 am laying now on my deathbed the
light from my home in heaven seems falling
on me by this light read, l beseech you,
the truth ought perhaps to have told you
twenty years ago."


"Did you ever quite believe in my guiltP
l sometimes think not, for l read compass
ion, such as one seldom feel for the guilty,
in your face, when looked on you for the
last time. must tell you something Of
my history, and will be as brief as posi-
BILE.


"I never knew the love or care of pa
rents. was little child when they both
died. My fathers sister took care of me
and brought me up. She knew she could
not leave me any money she therefore
gave me what she considered equivalent to
a fortune, a very superior education. She
denied herself almost the necessaries of
life, that might study in France and Ger
many. She died when / was eighteen, and
her annuity of course ceased. l was then
thrown entirely upon the world; but,
thanks to the care of my kind aunt, I was
able to do well for myself.


"I was but nineteen when entered Mr..
Norman's family as governess to his little
girl. Mrs. Norman died when my pupil
was born. There were two sons. The
eldest, heir to his fathers position and
estate: the youngest, Allan, in meeting
with whom met my fate. Ahi / know
it was wrong. 1 should never have loved
him, but was young and so lonely, and
he loved me so much.


"He persuaded me to be married pri-
vately, and, to my grief and sorrow, con-
sented. left his fathers house under pre-
tense Of going to live with some friends,
and we were married. He took me to a
pkOOIJ AIGio hOLiob dllu lOI Ouo buOTb year
we were perfectly happy. Then my Cla-
rissa, my baby, was born, and earth seemed
to me heaven.


"I cannot tell you how Allan fell but so
it was. He soon tired of our once happy
home and Of me. Drink, gambling, and
vice made perfect wreck of my poor hus-
band. At last he could no longer support
me. He bade me work for myself, and I
did so. would sooner have begged for my
bread than have been separated from my
baby.


81 worked for my husband and myself
too. His father paid his debts many times
until even he cast of, and would have no
more to do with him. Allan did something
in the end which compelled his father to
offer him sum of money to leave the
country.


"My husband went to England. None
of his family were aware Of his marriage,
nor do think they have ever known it.
Soon after he left the country my baby
my one earthly treasure-died. My heart,
my love, and the happiness of my life, lie
buried with her-my darling, idolized
child


"I came then to live with your family,
and found more peace and kindness under
your roof than had ever known before.
You remember seeing the little shoes and
golden curl that fell from my box. They
had belonged to my baby. used to sleep
every night with them pressed to my heart.
Little Harry reminded me of my child, and
worshiped him for her memory.


"0ne morning you may not perhaps re-
member it-you gave me letter from my
husband l had been obliged to let him
know my address, for had had some i'm
portant business to transact for him. need
not say l had ceased to love him. Thought
him settled far away in England but to
my infinite distress found he ;had re-
turned to America, and had resolved to see
me. hesitated long as to whether l
should confde my story to Mrs. Ferne. /
never had the courage to do so. Would
that had my life would have been very
different.


"I was in a state of great agitation,
when, the day before the robbery, l had
another letter from my husband, saying
that he must see me that night, as his life
was at stake, and asking where he could
meet me. / told him at the end of the
shrubbery at eleven o'clock. When all in
the house had retired, went out to meet