Year: 1871

who has been swept away by great pas

 sion will know how of itself it seems t suffice for everything; for the time it take the place of memory and hope; it does tn

 work of thousand tastes and fancies, an, turns all desires into one channel. T.

 those who have never felt this to be true 1t will seem unnatural that Victor an, Amy should have been content to play ol

 the verge of precipice: that prudence an,

 foresight should have been hushed t

 sleep. that they should have known the in

 evitable end, and yet built nnconcarnedl

 on, as If they did not see the sea rolling il

 at their feet to sweep away the foundation

 of their palace. > | At last the awakening came-to one, a

 least. The morning of the sixth week o

 Ralph's absence brought Amy letter iron

 him, saying that he had accomplished hi

 purposes with complete success, that al

 was now arranged; that he had obtained

 place as professor of a Western college il

 thriving town, and that thither he would

 take her so soon as they could be married

 saying finally that she might look for hin

 in three days from the receipt of his letter

 and the letter closed with the words:

 "Good-by, my little Amy, my own little wife

 Yours, RALPH HoLCoMBE."

 The dream was over, and she opened hel eyes upon the life that was once so abso lutely fact and so fearfully unreal anG false. The lesson she had learned from Victor was not forgotten, but the task she had to perform rose up before her, as il was before Victor came. She sat for hours "a great wave going over her in alternate ebb and tow-trying to reconcile the i'm possible. Not for moment did she think of breaking faith with Ralph without his consent; but at moments a vague hope came to her, that if she told him all be would see that she did not love him, and let her go. But then the great Moloch of woman's life, self-sacrifice for it's own sake, rose up within her, and she thought, 'No: no, must marry him, and I will tell Vic tori will tell him that he must go away and never see me again" And then she tried by sophistry to persuade herself that 1t was folly. that Ralph was right. and so tried to play her own heart false for it's own good-a practice now approved by many good wofnen-not thinking how all truth must begin in. being true to ones self. Then sue determined to speak to Victor that evening, and as she did so half-gailty quiver of joy went through her. She felt beneath her resolution that she was glad to think that she would have pur. chased an hours indulgence of her love, for surely she might tell him that she loved him; might have him once more at her feet, as once, and never yet again; might take the cup in both hands and drink one deep draught before parting forever. And with the thought flood of suppressed longing und passionate impulse came over her. which had been growing in her heart over since the first night, and had never had expression. She waited for him alone in her little parlor that evening, and when he came he felt that change had come felt 1t even as he crossed the threshold and stood within her presence.

 Victor" she said, and his heart leaped, 1t was the first time she had called him '' Victor -" must speak to you"

 "Yes." he said, "I hear you. am ready to listen" dropping at once the veil of convention which he had stuaiously held between them ever since that first evening. 1

 "I have heard from MT. Holcombe to- lay. He comes back here in three days" She She Jpaused; no sound broke the silence ry me in few %srWSissdIy: |" he comes to mar here forever" Another pause. ana nun41i tr9m voice, subdued and "quiet, came from out the shadow in which he stood; !

 .Why do you tell nee this? What have I to do with it?''

 She did not understand him. For a mo- ment she felt alone. forlorn, forsaken, and with cry that came from out her soul, she stretched out her hands, and said,

 "Ah, Victor, help mel Save ne from"

 .sFrom schat?" he said, springing for ward and catching her hands in his.

 "From myself" she said; and then her eyes met his, and she knew that she had told her story in those two words-knew that they spoke her his, that she sought help not against his love, but her own.

 She forgot all but that she loved him, ,and felt Qnly that they were one another's.

 In that supreme hour they knew that fulness of joy, that ineffable ecstasy of bliss that comes to human souls only through one another. and yet which alone of all Gods gifts makes them feel their di. vinity and life an infinity, an eternity of delight in one short moment. To have had it is what Schiller means when he makes Theckla say, Ich hab gebeted und ge- iebt." One such glimpse of heaven is enough to transfgure lifetime. This they had. But when it was over Amy found the briars thick in her path. She had made a step that night which set her feet upon them. She promised Victor to appeal to Ralph, to tell him that she did not love him; and he had 90 worked upon her, so strengthened and inspirited her that she half hoped Ralph would not care so deeply, and would release her. After all, he was too good for her, and would do better with 8 stronger and cleverer woman. She did not yet know that tho very pliability of her nature was her chief charm for him. He could not have loved woman whose in- dividuality resisted him. Careless that he crushed the flower, he was careful only to hold it firmly enclosed in his grasp.

 It was agreed between them that they should not meet again till after Ralph's ar. rival Both were conscious that since the barriers had been broken between them they could no longer maintain the artificial relation possible till then.

 On the evening of Ralph's arrival, Amy went to the station on foot to meet him. The train came in, but did not bring him, and she turned away half relieved and yet disappointed. As she took the wood path leading homeward. step behind made her turn, and in second Victor joined her He made no attempt to account for his presence, and indeed she had forgotten that he should not be there. It was so sweet to see him, she could think of noth- ing else. They had mile to walk, and before home was reached twilight had set in. Her hand was oh his arm and his eyes melting into hers. When they reached \ 4 L l E aH-- .