Year: 1873

Sonora.


mo, Sonora, think | will remain
as l do not feel very well this morning


The rest Of you go, and I will amust
myself with reading this book, which Is
far more precious than any pleasure
this world can give to me,u replied
Blanche, elasping in her hands her II.
tie pocket Bible.


"Well, as ! am much fatigued after
my long journey, 1 will remain to keep


Blanche company. Sonora, yu and
Dell go, or the boys may feel hurt al
the refusal of fneir kind invitation y
said aunt Maggie, as she saw Dell seat
herself, and obeying her kind words,
the two left the room, promising not to
be gone long.


As Blanche heard their voices die
away in the distance, she laid down her
little book, and leaning her head upon
her hand, said:


"Aunt Maggie, I am glad you re-
mained to keep me company, for have
much that l would say, and 1 would
rather it would be to you than to So
nora, for | feel that / almost sadden her
home by my lack of health and activ-
ity."


'Fear not, dear girl; Sonora is only
too happy in rendering you anything
that gives you pleasure, and without
you her joy would be incomplete


"That have but a short time longer
to live is useless for me to deny, but to
keep up if possible until Sonora's par
ents and my grandparents make their
promised visit, that may return with
them to my carly home, shall be my
greatest effort. 1 would once more
breathe the air of my Northern home
before die. And, aunt Maggie, as my
property is subject TO my own disposal,
have made my will, which 1 shall
place with you for safe keeping, for fear
anything should happen suddenly.
With the exception of few small Iega-
eiesi have placed everything in the
hands of Clarence, to be disposed of for
the benefit Of the poor and needy.
Doubtless this will be the last time
viii have an opportunity Of speaking TO
any one alone, as we expect our friends
tomorrow, and it will be necessary that
l should be as gay as possible, or they
will never consent TO my returning to
colder cline. Say nothing of what l
have told you, good auntie; the truth
viii come too soon. Let me sleep a lit
tie now, that I may feel refreshed when
the girls return" and nesting her head
IN the pillow, sought the repose so often
denied to the invalid, good nan: and
here we will take our leave Of the beau
tiful and accomplished Blanche Ievere.
who in atoning for the wickedness of
her over-wrought passions was wasting
her young life away, and ere the spring
buds blossomed forth would be sleeping
beside her cousin, Grace Marsh.


Mr.. and Mrs. Hewitt had sold their
city home and retired to their country
sea, there TO spend their remaining davs
in peace and quiet, and deemed the So
ciety of good grandpa and grandma
Marsh, with few other friends, suffi-
cient company, and far better than the
fashionable butterflies of fashion,.
They still retained Kizzy and Samp,
who were happy enough in each others
society with occasional visits from
Juno, the faithful servant of the
Marsh'sl to wish for nothing more.


Mrs. Summers was made perfectly
contented by having her sister always
near her, for Piralto Velerie had re-
moved with his family from Europe
and taken up his abode in the sunny
South.


Andrew Golfer had not yet returned
from his European tour, but wrote often
to his friends in America, acquainting
them with many interesting and ludi-
crous affairs which came under his OBJ
servation, but among them none made
them laugh more than a paragraph cut
from Paris paper, and intended for the
eyes Of Cordelia who, by the way, was
travelling with her husband), and which
read as follows:


"For the last few days this city has
been thrown into an unusual excite
ment by the elopement of the Count de
tazio with the charming young widow
oi an American naval officer. She had
succeeded in turning the heads of ALI
the young Parisians wild by her reputed
wealth and innocent baby face. but
turns out to be only the waiting maid
Of the genuine widow, an invalid lady.
who is here recuperating her heath, and
who, being unable to mingIe in society,
gave the above young lady full oppor-
tunity to parade out in her finery and
jewels, and thus astOnish and catch
Count; but the best Of the joke is where
diamond cut diamond, for the aforesaid
Count is none other than Jacque La
Rue, the gentleman Of coat-brushing
notoriety in the Hotel de Plasi, and of
whom it is reported while i'm New York
tried to win the affections Of one Of the
bellies and become the legal protector of
her small fortune, amounting to five
thousand dollars; but il seems the gem
tleman was foiled by the interposition
Of her friends, and the young lady was
saved from becoming Mrs. Claude Mon
trose, as he then called himself"


Here, leaving them TO have n good
laugh, while they congratulate them
selves on their fortunate escape from the
Vaccinations of heartless seoundrel