Year: 1876

ness, ITuSCluS tO LIule W IeuoVo tuo uooSoAoo
symptoms, and restore him to his forme
soundness. For in her heart terrible sus
picion had gradually found place-terrible
yet not 80 terrible as the truth-she fanciet
he was growing insane. Night and day tn
fear haunted her; but she breathed it into nj
mortal ear; none knew it but God. In be-
hours of solitude she wrestled in anguish will
this haunting fear, sending up fervent pray
ers that "a calamity so dreadful might b.
averted from them; or, if it did come, tha
they might have strength to bear it.


It chanced, about this time, that a Letter
came to Mrs. Lyndon, from widowed siste
of hers, who lived in another State, telling O.
a long and trying illness from which the latte
was slowly recovering. and begging her to g
and spend few weeks with her, during tn
necessary absence of another relative, Wit
had hitherto nursed her, but was now unex
pectedly called away. The rector's wife wa
sorely troubled and perplexed by this sum
mons. On the one hand, the call seemed TOT
urgent one to be refused on the other, sh'
felt that it was almost impossible for her tx
make up her mind to leave her husband
When she showed the letter to Mr.. Lyndon
however, he seemed to think it such an indis
putable fact that there could be no room fol
doubt in the matter, but that it was her duty
to go without delay, that she felt hersel
forced to yield to his decision, especially, a
she could not venture to give him her reasons
for desiring to remain at home. With 6
heavy heart, therefore, she made her prepara
tions and took occasion, when alone with hel
daughters, to give them many charges con
cerninp the care of their father while she was
gone.


"My dearest girls" she said to them as she
was packing her trunk, and they stood BY
handing her such articles as she called for
"you must be very good and attentive to dear
papa during my absence, and not let him be
worried about anythiug and above all, you
must promise not to mind any little uncom
Portable things he may say or do, for we must
always take into consideration that he is moi
WE'LL" (This fiction of bis being out of health
had come to be accepted now as an establish
ed fact by all the family though in their OWL
minds they all knew that there was really
something else underlying this apparent cause
for the alteration in his deportment.)


"Indeed, we will, mamma" said Lii. eve
will take just as good care Of him as you do. y


"And you must write very frequently, fol
you can't think how anxious I shall feel to
know how every thing is going on"


1--WE can write on alternate days." said
Edith. "Lily can write one day, and the
next, and then you will hear regularly"


"Oh you needn't write every day. 1 could
hardly expect that; but should like to hear
at least twice or three times week"


II hope aunt Elizabeth won't keep you very
rorrs;5-


Il must stay as long as she requires me
but trust that will not be more than two OF
three weeks. Of course, I could not leave
her until Julia returns. I wish [ might ask
her to come back with me. The change would
probably do her good"


"Don't you think you could ?" said Lily
hesitatingly.


81 don't know. I should like it-but il
might not quite suit"


All three of them we're equally conscious
of the obstacle which stood in the way of this
natural arrangement; but not one of them
would give utterance to it. 1t was sacred
subject, even among themselves Mrs. Lyn
don sighed heavily. Sometimes she felt as il
the burden of life now were almost too heavy
one for her to bear. But she knew thai
others had heavier burdens, and found
strength to carry them; and she dared moi
murmur at her appointed lot, though al
times the future looked dark to her, indeed.


1t was quite an event for any one of them
to be going on journey, for it was but sci
dom they had a call from home, and there
was considerable excitement attendant OF
Mrs. Lyndon's departure. She herself fell
inclined to regard it as great undertaking
but the younger ones rather envied her the
opportunity Of going among new scenes, ano
experiencing little variety in life. Had sht
been going under more cheerful auspices, she
would not have disliked it, but in the present
state of affairs the prospect of the change was
to her anything but pleasant one. Onf
thing, however, cheered her-her husband
seemed brighter and better, and altogether
more like himself, during the few days thai
elapsed before her leaving, than be had done
for some months past; and in bidding him
good.by, she was consoled by the hope thai
this improvement might prove a permanent
one.


To tell the truth, the rector was not grieveo
at his wife's departure. There had been
time when the anticipation Of giving her up
even for week or two, would have troubled
him, and made him feel as if he were losing
something essential to his daily comfort and
peace of mind. But now her panionshiE
was, at times, little irksome to him. He fell
under sort of restraint, in the CONSCIOUSNESS
that she was exercising secret, though un
tagging supervision over him; supervision
under which he WINGED, though he knew thai
it sprang from motives of the tenderest affec
ton. He did not guess how much or how
little she could read of what was passing ir
his mind, and perhaps attributed to her 6
keener penetration than she possessed. Unit
a year ago, there had been no reserve between
them, even in the smallest triAe. Their mu
tual interchange of thoughts and ideas hao
been as frank and open as the monday. Bu