Year: 1872

(COnc!hdeQ.)


After mailing this, which would
not start under week, for mails
in those days were tardy both in
making up and travelling, he
mounted his horse and rode full
speed 10 the place where his first
relay was stationed, which calling
for, he took onward with him
When at a convenient distance
from human habitation, he dis
mounted from his first horse,
changed the saddle and set him
free to Join his wild companions
of the prairies. Thus be did with
each one until he reached the sea.
port where he sold his last horse
to the first purchaser, went on
board q ship and was soon on his
way to Europe.


He contrived to make himself
as unnoticed as possible, keeping
his berth on plea of sea-sickncSs.
Those who did observe n i m
thought ne was an invalid travel
ing for his health which idea he
encouraged as much as possible.


When be arrived IN Europe he
resumed his own name, wrote an
affectionate letter directed to his
cousin William saying that be had
been quite i'll and unable to write
before. He affected to suppose
William to be returned home by
this time, and would therefore di-
rect his letter in accordance.


In due time, a letter with a
black seal came to him, telling
him Of the untimely death Of Will
liam and the intense grief Of his
widow. Maurice wrote consoling
letters in reply, describing how
shocked and grieved he was at the
news. "He knew" he said, "that
at one time he had misunderstood
his dear cousin, but hoped that
his conduct of late years proved
how deeply he regretted his child
ish ebullitions Of temper and dis
trust.


He remained away from home q
year and halt, and then returned.
His love had not decreased in that
time, but was, if possible, more
absorbing than ever. His was a
temperament which, reused from
Indifference, must either hate or
love, tenaciously TO the last. Once
more in the society Of his idol, he
commenced the most devoted at
tentions and showed himself SO
deeply in love, that her woman's
heart was touched, and she con-
sented to be his wife. "But," she
said one day, "we will not live in
the old house again, for it would
bring up SO many tender memo.
ries. l went there some time al,
ter that dreadful news, and the
parlor was just as he left it, the
night before his departure. His
cigar was on the table, and he had
even commenced q letter to me
l left it Just so, and have not been
there since" Here she struggled
to keep down her emotion, cover
ING her face with her hands, anc
it was we'll for Maurice that she
did, for had she seen his face then
she would have been dismayed in
deed. The jealousy which he
thought buried with the unfortu
nate cause rose fercely within hin
once more. Though he would "a
ther have lived in any other spot
in the world, he determined tt
make his wife forget William ir
the place where he had been mos'
dear to her. "Darling," he said
! "you must love me more than yor
ever did William, and prove it tt
me by living where l first learned
to love you"


This speech startled her at first
! but at the same time bis grea


love pleased and hattered her; 81
she yielded to his wishes. The


house was reftted throughout
! The only thing in which Maurice
! had dreaded detection was th'
filling up of the floor in the but


terry. He had hoped it would pass
f! unnoticcd, ,orif observed be though


to have been done by William ; a


be had promised his wife he woul(


20 it, ut some leisure time. Luckl
ly the house had not been exam
med at all SO now If noticed i
o,,IS bo obor,-oS ~ now improvn