Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 4, Number 43, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 25 April 1874 — Page 1

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Vol. 4.—No. 43

THE MAIL

A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

UEMH OP rOETIl Y. goMKTIHE.

Tbvn- i* & ship named rtometliue Mc-ndrraiu of It and wait, One 011 the #fao*v\ impatient,

And «i»* at the household *»t«, Thlnklu*.

It come not In the worn,

Tbtr0,T»» the evening, It may." Bat one 1 knew, not tbinkliix of ship". Worked till the clone of the day Lift Hi a hi* »t thf evtm tn« wm,

Lo, tVre fctsship at aaebo* Uy—[ChrUtSau I nw«u

KJDIlttSATiOy.

To h«w what to be r«df»fd. The mark is of a noble mind. Stir not thy han«l, or foot or heart,

Kit not disturbed, for destiny Is mop- attached, O ituus, to lhw» Than to myself thou art!

AlinS««W»".m!*!**"!If® 1».

T.ok up as»ln our »M of love, \,„! HMvrily sang we three. Wmry and waiting I «tJll ring on Tho little bird has longsine*flown,

And I think that she in heuven above Takes tip again nay A* 1 sin# It twrealone.

of lore, -{The Graphic.

A Life in the Balance.

BYl BtABUtS MOHBIS,

AutUer of the "Blamon# Sleeve Bntton."

CHAPTER VII.

TUB SCHOOL, FOB SCANDAL. Miss Lanra McBride sprang hastily to her feet a»lf. Wilmer entered the eosy sitting room in which she was indolently killing time, and wishing that life was not such a dry, prosy, stopld »®»ir \l was getting to be in thoee days of high civilization. Iler face had an undefined e9njression,hslf welcome, half accusal Srposture hung between advance and retreat. She seemed in fact, a human pendulum, ready to swing backward or forward a* the "Wind of fancy might ira-

^The Doctor stepped briskly forward, smiling at these indications.

And how is cousin Laura? he aakeu. Not much the better sir, for yoiiJ com pe least." •But you are _jaura, are you not he said, trying to take her hand. «If 1 do, it Is not because you deserve it, but because yon great, grand men think you have nothing to do but to offend and t# forgiven and we women are weak enough to encourage you it. You have missed y6ur Christmas present—that's some comfort. Now, sin give an account of yourself. How did we know but yon might be drowned or kidnapped?*

id* mti wkvci on, *v*

:mpany,' she replied, with a pretty etulance, 'for what I have seen ot it at

going to ftfrgive me,

Laura, a're you nH

41acknowledgethat

honeytuckie.

I have been a bad

bov,' he replied, leisurely seating seft. 'But busln^w must be attended

Bnsii^w! 'Whit business had vol to run away in Christmas week, without a word, and when we had been so building on you You just took half our fun away with ywu' ..

I didn't intend •«, I^aura. I todk a run up to Oil City, with Mr. J£*ph«,k look at sonle oil wells thera. To^tell the whole tmtJi, I have been 'smelling oil, tasting oil, Angering oil, aid—* 'Ana what?' •, 'Investing in oO. You1 see, I haye been *A*m with a widden awire to make monev. I hacvo found there a golden opportunity, and have entered into it heavily.*

A ii or it I idea of n, conrfn Kobert. a man of your

your

ey. I give yoa credit for—'

Novr, Laura, I hope yoa ««titA going to financially wise.' Tdtos my advice, and do with him. I don't like him. 'And I do ao thai point it balanced. It is too late now, at any mte. I have xoi* into oil to the full depth of my pocket book. I waaat wvarethatyott knew anything about money, e^ee^

You*Jkm? know hair my knowtedge I ant not a butterfly,' ahe answered, flittliw about the room in very butterfly ffcnfiiton. 'My virtues are not half appreciated in to blind comtnunlty.' 1 ta»tw ron ere not a butterfly. Yon are too heavy t? fly about and dip into ho)My»aelt)e%*nd aM tt»tsortofthitig. Bulnontyoa live a good deal tor the

Ill

li^ upon yoa like a

butU«rflv, and kfcs yom tetelfiwwii. I uel wilL' He leaned back in hU with an expression of comical re*

^8uch la the fltte of RUA. Well. Iiim reedy to Hnffiv and be Mxonmf Bot dont keep me in suspense. Put me out of my tnlsaiy at once.'

I wont d!o it. Yoa ha vent earned a klsa, and 1 am not going to waste my aweetneea on each a deeert air.'

The Doctor laughed, as if highly amused. I'll excuse yea, then^ill cousin Laura uinly. By the way, has got Hack yet la not this

jteele more cousin 1 Mies Re^iw*^ ^e^eheld with Trttrprlse the effect of his question on the young lady, fthe mw'redand pale in quick suoceasion, her little toot tapping nervously on the

^^Thia waahardqf,**®*'*^1"*

wXyr he asked.lnsurprise.

Ymi I am no* ttddng leeaoas now

"^ilowl* 2T®nSll0J»

*"«•,n

son to teach one of the ancient race of tl»- McBridee.* She spoke bittirriy.

He hair started to hi* with a suppressed exclamation.

Who says this?' he «s 1. 'It is my mother's vei not mine that yy« vmx be sureoC __

Your mother he answorhis «#ce retl with supp vfwillnK- 'This is a chiui-e base, with a vengeance. She was 1 fcctly proper beftweChriti as. What horrible thing has she since done?'

It is a new tune to an old song. New revelations, you know. Mi*s Revnoida Is no longer fit company for young ladum. Poor dear think,' she cried, with sudden indignation, she has been stung by the poisonous tongue of slander. I know sb'i is as pure as angeL But what can I do?'

.».'

jrttolftrU'* Son(i of the Myrtles. JjOVS'SSOXG.

Tf«.-th«T, my tow mm* "*n«

A dark frown gathered on Dr. Wihucr's brow as he heard these words.

I hfr. !«ht* »«u) to me .'i.i In 1n»A ftmVi A ifttit* bird In the tw above

What is said of her?' he asked, huskily. 'Hints, innuendoes—nothing more. Hut they are poisoned arrows, fetal to a woman's reputation.' 'What does it all mean? Whe has spread these reports? On what are thoy 'bunded?* he asked, rising, and nervously dutelung hw chair. 4

M!ss Gordon is the author. She spent Christmas week in Philadelphia—learned something there—nobody knows what. But her whispers of a disgraceful secret, ana her influence in Salem, had been fetal to Mi"® Reynold's prospects.'

The Doctor ejaculated something under his breath, that it would have been polite to speak aloud in ladies' company. «is that all yon know

Positively all."

r«»

bring new plana.' .. .. But there ia something behind all thin. However, I dont care to know.' •But yon shall know,' »he ™pU«rf» heartlTj. aer Ak» flashing. donH bfr lleve It, understand but It fat settled thai XIM Reynolds is not a proper per

Good morning, Laura. I will see you again soon.' The wxfc moment he wa» gone, leaver her a picture of astonishment.

As he hastened with a he°vy tread along the street, his mind was tilled with conflicting emotions. All the chivalry of his nature was aroused in fevor oft he poor girl who was being crushed under the merciless hand of social proscription. Although he did not recognize it just then, a yet deeper feeling was awakened, a sentiment that impelled him to meet and strangle this shapeless monster, bom of a breath, and kindled into life by the heartless voice of scandal. He had convinced himself that she was to him an attractive acquaintance—nothing more. Why, then, this gush and glow of feeling

But we must leave him for a few moments, anfl hasten forward to his destin-

a*Mb»

This reverie was interrupted by the entrance of Doctor Wilmer, whose step seemed to have lost its usual prompt deoision. He paused a moment at the door, gloomily regarding the lady.

4Doctor

Gordon sat In a musing attitude

before a warm stove, that shea enlivening heat throughout the apartment. The stove door stood open, the coals on top showing a doll red heat, At her right hand was a table, with pen, ink.anda sheet or two of paper, on which she had been idly scribbling. She had but just turned from it, and sat regarding the fire with a pleased expression.

Wilmer! For whom I was

lost about to send!' she exclaimed, not noticing his fhce. For what purpose?' he asked, advanotaidng a soat, at a distance the shadows of the

ing, and from her,

r°°For

medical advice,' she replied, wife

alight laugh. 'I may not look very ill, but I have had a return, these few days

past,

of the old cbmpiaint, and to-day I lave been In great pain.' The business appeal for a moment stayed the set purpose in the visitor's mind. He looked keenly into her face, and aaw indications there that convinced him, despite its smiling expression, that she was indeed unwell.

What has been the matter he asked, advancing and taking her wrist in his Angers, the old look of medical acumen replacing his gloomy aspwt.

She fcrooeeaed to describe the symptoms of her malady with unnecessary prolixity, and with what seemed to him a setee of exaggeration.

makeyoumy

A few doses of the eld medicine will settle that,' he said, seating himself at the table, ami drawing the paper toward him for the purpose of writing a pre-

*C^o?lnof not that!' she cried, excitedly, snatching the paper from him and flinging It into the stove. She had risen in neT excitement, and stood before him with flushed AM# and panting MM. It was not fear that actuated her. Her featarewei« suffused with aglow that could only have oome from same softer sod warmer feeling.

«ning the drawer of the ta

ble she prwcntsd him with otherpaper, again, with an exhausted air, Into her chair.

He looked up in surprise, but said nothing, hastily writing the prescription, winch be folded and g»W her.

She tsnghed, and slightly blushed, ss she took it. .. ., •I did not want yon to see that, ss If feeling that some explanation was due. There are symptoms which we must not let even our doctor* see.'

His eyes, followed by hers, glanced involuntarily into the stove, where lay the scorched and blackened paper. Its writing was eraeed frjrtt

a singfe wcatl, on wl

hastily gftaed up. Their eyes met, filled wliha lender light, a deep blush mantling cheek and brew. flashed upon him the full secret of the tell-tale word, which ted borne uuharmed the ordeal of flre-the divine word, Love.

ben

CHAPTER VIII. HELD TO AKirWKii."

It was a very peeullar position hi which the Doctor found himself. Then was no miMakingtbeexprwBdon on Miss Gordon's free. The warm glow, that mffuaed cheek and brow, the mm of

I Y:A JII /-AUFIOT

*$*•*£

J*b

"NO! NO 1" H8 CK1ED,

no words could have added force. The message from the tire was fttlly confirmed in overy line of her faoe. every curve of her form. Conscious of tho overpowering influence with which inward feeling had mastered her, she lowered her eyes bnt could not for the moment drive her face its love-revealing glow. It was a surprising revelation to her visitor, who had dreamed of tlie title of sentiment that was fio\vini? loneath the quiet visage of hi a old maiden patient. He had no reason to conjecture that under her apparent interest in him burned a repressive llame, which, kindled in age, warms tho heart to new youth, and which tho nervous weakness induced by illness, and the significant word which had escaped the devouring breath of the fire, had forced from its wonted channel till it fiauied out from eye, lip and cheek.

Without a word or look to indicate that he had truly read these too visible tokens, he walked to his chair and seated himself in a shadowy corner, onlv his silence aud this sudden movoment showing that some strong influence had changed the direction of his thoughts. She looked at him with a timid, hesitating glance, in vain his face, half hidden in the shadows of the room, bore an inscrutable expression. What had moved him? Whether he had truly read her e:

xpression or hacl ^yielded to some iminLse from another source she could not telL She waited in burning suspense, half in fear, half in hope, as to tho effect of her involuntary confession upon him. She knew not how evident she had made her feeling. Her visitor, though rather obtuse in discerning the traces of inner Bentiment,had read her face as one would an open page of some impassionod lovo story, ana his movement had been made under the influence of a surprise and mental confusion thatin capacitated him from speech. It was, moreover, an unpleasant surprise. He bad coirio here full Of indignation against this woman for her uncalled-for slander of an innocent girl. Disarmed for the moment by her appeal to him professlonallf^iie was filled almost with eonsternatiorvby this new. silent, but unmistakable appeal to the deepest feelings of his nature. Her action toward Miss Reynolds suddenly assumed a now phase. It meant far more than he had dreamed. It was no longer the act of a heartless gossip, heedlessly ruining a character as occupation for an idle moment, but tho deep-laid

He looked at Miss Gordon with a mixed feeling, in which were combined admiration at finding more in her than he had tended, that momentary gratification which all men must feel in tho manifested love of woman, and a shrinking from one who oould act so basely sshor behavior convinced him she had done. He oould have fotgiven suc» an ittfnry committed through pride of station—the haughty intolerance of the proud to the lowly. But the deliberated attempt to injure ono through the instigation of personal rivalry seemed to him enaction of the meanest and basest description

posite him, like a criminal awaiting sentence, appealing Uy her attitude that the dist rowing sil lenee should be broken.

Ing

It did not strike him at the moment that his indignation had apersonal origin that

—that it was not purely innocence asbut Miss Reynolds injured, aroused him to a chivalrous defenoe.

sailed,! He suddenly wee and approached her, determined to cnt the Gordian knot of his difficulty, rather than sit longer waltfor an inspiration as to what was proper to say.

When I last saw you,' lie said, 'I supposed that yon had recovered from your malady. What has brought a return of it

U^8he

their eyes fell

looked up as if hurt by hj? brusque manner of speaking.

How can I tell yon that Have you obeyed my directions as to quietness and avoidance of excitement Or, to speak more plainly, do you think a trip to Philadelphia was well advised under the circumstances

&. H* 4«s- & a r?» ff-

TERRK HAUTE, IND., SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 25, 1874.

HAVE 1IKARI) QUITB ENOUGH." he asked, interrupting, in a cold, hard tone, that added to her uneasiness.

She looked at him in silence, her fiice becoming haughty under the Impulsion of some inward feeling. Was no not growing rude in his questioning? The repressed indignation that showed through his words counselled him to yet greator brusqueness of speech.

have heard to-day,' he continued, 'soinotliing that affected me very unpleasantly. I do not set myself up as a knight-errant, tilting against society in favor of its victims vet I cannot see innocence maligned without a word in its favor.' 'Well, sir?'she asked, as h6 paused, Every trace of softness had left her face. Deep in her heart burned anger that her unspoken advances had thus been rudely met. There was not anger only, but fear. What did he know Had she imperilled her own hopes in her effort to destroy her rival

I refer to the cruol and unfounded reports that havejeen circulated against Miss Reynolds,' he said, with some show of oxcitement. 'Hints, rather, they have not tho strength of a report. Innuendoes, that sting deeper and spread faster than tho most credible fact.'

A sullen pallor overspread her cheek us he spoke. His question was natural but what deep meaning lay concealed In that strange tone What bad belearo-

^irwwTwiS ^st^nV effortthat she controlled hereelf suffldenUy to reply in aoalm voice

did not imagine that any harm would be done. The weotbe* was mild, the Journey pleasant, I ted an agree-

ab'*Wth

no special souree of excitement?'

Hints! innuendoes! Well, sir? Let me not interrupt you., I have but little further to say. I am well aware of the authorship of these rumors—these slanders, I should say, to give them their right name. What this young girl has done to you Miss Gordon, that you should seek to blast her reputation, I do not pretend to know. That she could possibly have done anything to justify yep in your action I cannot believe.' *.t

Are yon quite sure, Doctor Wilmer, that you are not proceeding too rapidly, and reasoning without premises

Yes I conceive no justification for tho circulation of slanderous reports. Understand me, this girl is nothing to me. I take more than a friendly interest in her. But she is lonely and defenceless. Her business, oft which, perhaps her very bread depended, has been ruined by

YOU.

You have,it may thought

lessly, done her an unwarrantable iujury. I call upon you to repair your work by denying the truth of these slandors.'

And what if I refuse to do so

Then I will do it for you,' he replied, with the bitterness of scorn in his voice. 'I shall seek proof or the unfounded nature of these reports: I shall spread the unvarnished truth before the poople of Salem, and if your own character receives any stain in the action, if your own pride meets a fkll, blamo bnt yourself shall have justice and oharlty to sustain me in my course.'

Now, sir, perhaps you will allow me to speak,' she replied, rising from her chair, and confronting Him with a bearing prouder than his own.

world, and then hear your victim inanx me for my mercy in dealing with her so much more kindly than has her professed friend 1'

What do yon mean?' he cried, overcome, despite himself, by her vehement manner.

What hare you discovered

and how

Kow matters not and what, I will not tell you, nor any one. I do not know that It is incumbent on me to keep idles Reynolds' secret but I will notWone to divulge It.'

You had better for divulge It than build upa shapeless monster of ing hints* If you are ao thoughtful of her, whr have you done this?'

Why Can you not conjecture Not I. Your motive is too deep for my comprehension.'

I Is a I a aware that she is not a fit person to teach young ladies, of good flunily. I cannot give'in plain language, my remons for fhia io the people of Salem but I am determined that she shall no longer impose upon them, and. perliaps, imperil the whole ftiture of their daughters by her connection with them. It Is for this reason that I have token the only means open to me to rescue them from her influence.'

tsrK-rr

?«is.r%3r

•?R^,' •. KSSFC^-RFWSVAV

*•, ^1

%S'&E

#s#.

MS &iS tiSjtP®

at stake, and I cannot stop to choose my words In such a case. You boast of disinterestedness. I know yonr real motive too well to a- vpt such a plea.* 'My real motive!' shete-

ftiled,

turning pale, and sink-

ng into her chair, despite her utmost eitorts at selfcontrol. 'I have told you my real motive,* she continued, in a Mnt voice. 'Excuse my continuing this controversy. It has been too iftuch for my strength.'

I am only sorry that you forced it upon me,' he said. 'I havo held yoa in the highest respect, but I cannot see the defenceless maligned and not stand forward in their defence.'

Doctor Wilmer,' she said, rising with some difficulty,

4you

have doubted my word,

in a manner which I would have borne from no man living but yourself, and I can oiiiv forgive you from the feeling that your ignorance of the truth gives you some warrant for your indignation. I had intended to speak no further to any one, but cannot remain unjustified in your eyes after your bitter accusation. I can confide in you, as a high born gentleman, to let this go no further. You shall learn this secret.'

Despite his anger and incredulity, he was affected by her calmness and dignitv of tone and maimer. There came uixrn him a sudden fear to let Her proceed, lest she should, indeed dash down the idol he had erected in his soul —the image of Miss Reynolds

as a pure, unstained woman.

No! no!' he cried,

have heard quite

enough, I will hear no more! Icannot be made to believe that the girl is not innocence itselL I deny your right to search into her history, and will not accept information that could not have been fairly obtained.'

Then I am a liar, and not a liar!' she cried, indignantly. 'You pretend to doubt, yet dare not hear me! Stay one moment!—I will not rest under your imputations!'

She swept, like a queen, from the room, leaving him the prey of doubt and dread. In a moment she returned, bearing a large envelope in her hand.

Show this to your friend when next you see lier, and ask her if she recognizes it. I ask no more. You have accused me I have aright to justification. Have I your promise to do this?'

Yes!' he replied, seizing his hat. and leaving the room with a hasty tread. A cunning sinile marked her lips as she sank, exhausted, into her chair.

think I have done with Miss Reynolds,' she said.

CHAPTER IX.

A CALL AT MRS. MAY'S.

Dr. Wilmer left the house the prey of the most varied emotions. Miss Gordon bad been impressive in her manner, so

ho had made of her feelings toward him, and of her motive to injure Miss Reynolds, they had been so negatived by her subsequent bearing.

Could it then be true? Was there some mysterv overhanging this girl too disgraceful or too terrible to put into words—something that rendered her an unfit associate, a dangerous teacher for voung, untrained minds

That she was, in herself, aught less than the most severe social judge could demand, he would not for a moment admit. But might not her life be dragged down from its native level by disgrace in lier connections? It is easy, and doubtless just, to argue that this would throw no shadow upon her purity. But he had been educated In a severe school, and it was no light labor to overeomo inbred prejudice by force of reasoning. After logic has exhausted its round of argument, prejudice arises in its ftill stature, clinging to the mind with stubborn pertinacity which bare syllogism can never hope to imitate.

With all that dread, anger, and depression that had effected him for the last hour, was mingled a deeper feeling sentiment that made the fortunes and character of this young lady of the most vital importance to nim—for the time being the one, absorbing question of his life.

You speak

of charity,and would do that from which I shrank of justice, without a remote idea of what misery to your protege the word involves of truth, not dreaming that truth would crush the reputation that I have but lenientlv dealt with. Go on, sir, as you are so determined. Disoover this truth spread it before the world, and then hear your victim thank

verae

Gordon I cattfiot Itaud calmly cried, In

sne room. iu» IH» WU" you plainly. The whole ftiture life of one womaa, in whom I am interested, is

It was a pleasant winter day. He ted wandered, in the deep fnbrece of thought. Into the quiet suburbs of the town! ilie short January day ted wan©d to twilight no one accosted him, and he was left alone to his dreaming meditation, and the brief, unclouded sunlight of the new dawn of affection in his soul. The circumstances were not favorable for long continuance of this mental condition. The envelope given him by Mtss Gordon, and which yet lav firmly lasped to his tend, recalled nim to a seme of the true relation of affairs. He remembered, with regret, his promise to present this to Miss Reynolds. An impulse to examine its contents oame strong upon him, hut was at once rejected. He wished not, in truth te dared

Price Five Cents.

not, risk the fearful revelation, which ho ted been given reason to believe lay within its close folds.

Our mental life is as ftdl of adventures, perils, and escapes, as is the physical. While outwardly calm, the mind may be whelmed in depths of passion—may touch the utmost bounds of the realm of thought. From such a mental episode Dr. Wilmer was aroused by a voioe from the world without.

Good evening, Doctor. I have been wishing to see you all dsy, but have not had an opportunity before.'

It was the quiet, matter-of-fact tone of Mr. Josephs Doctor Wilmer returned him a cool 'Good evening,' not well pleased with tho Interruption.

I have some pleasant news for you,' said the merchant, calmly 'or, at least, have flattered myself with the hope that you would find it agreeable.'

Let me hear it, then,' said the other, rather impatiently. 'I am ready to weloome anything agreeable.'

I heard last night that our borers had struck a fine veinW oil. Thoy say tho well has run a hundred barrel stream for several days, and that further boring will no doubt much increase tho flow.*

Ah! And how much is this worth to

m«4You

might sell your shares to-mor

row for double what they cost you. In fact, I know where I could easily place them, at a handsome profit to you ir you but say the word.'

Had I not better let them alone?' That is for you to say. I thought it best to offer vou the chance. There is always danger of accident or change in the flow, and it seemed to me a duty to jive vou an opportunity of withdrawing safety.'

Are you about to sell out? No. I will venture a while longer.' And I also. I thank you for your information but prefer to follow your example. Excuse me now, Mr. Josephs I have a visit to make.'

The merchant looked, with an inexpresslve countenance after tho retiring figure of his friend.

I knew the offer was safe,' he said. Ho cannot blame me when the tide

ClDr?Wilmor

Mrs.

seemed

had before half convinced him

self that she was indifferent to him. In life's fierce flow she had sunk below the surface, lost under the flood of absorbing interests. But the moment a hand was raised to lay opprobrium upon her feir feme, his soul sprang up in passionate defence, a gush of Indignation too deep for any mere impersonal chivalrous sontiment. Blind as he was to the source of his own feelings, they now rose in his mind too vividly to be mistaken. Was this what he had taught himself to consider as friendly interest, this tompory, perhaps, but utter, absorption of all the faculties of his mind, all the energies of his nature, in one sensation. Hie image of Miss Reynolds lay clasped to his soul, more truly than if she herself had laid in throbbing appeal in his arms, and he dared the world to Venture a against her purity or fair fame, was but one of many quick-succeeding emotions, but while it las

found it impossible to re

turn to the frame of mind which Mr. Josephs had interrupted. Despite himBelf, the subject of his conversation with the merchant overcame the absorption personal matters in which he had teen bunged. There is constant conflict beween the world and the spirit in the human soul and no mind can sink so deeply beneath the surface of the physical but that worldlv affairs will intrude and soon dull the fine edge efour purest

The visit which he had spoken of making was to Miss Reynolds. It had been some time since he had last met her, and a considerable interval had elapsed since thev had exchanged more than a passing'word. But the events of to-day had so deeply affected his mind, that he felt irresistibly drawn toward her.

May introduced him into the same

apartment in which he had before found her voung lady boarder. Slic was seated in a low chair, bya centre-table, on which a book lay opeh. But her thoughts were not upon the printed page. Her cheek rested upon near hand, her head drooped pensively her eyes rested upon the bright fire that burned in an open grate before her she

absorbed in an unwritten work

—the sad story of her own young life. At least her visitor thought so, as she rose wearily, upon his entrance, and turned upon him eyes whose light was veiled as by a dream that lay in shadow between them, while her mouth was whom dream iine.

I beg you will pardon my intrusion, Miss Reynolds,' he said, as the landlady [retired. 'I have a reason for wishing to !ee yon, other than that dictated by

Prav be seated. Doctor. I am not sick,' she said with a faint smile, 'and hope no more of my careful friends have been trving to give me into your hands a patient.

Tnat is just niv mission, he replied, as he seated himself on the other side of the grate.

Eilied,

asted, every ad

thought—fear of the world's opinion, pride and nrejudlce—vanished from his mental vision, and he felt that his was, indeed, the sentiment immortalized by tho poets, and deified by half the ancient nations—felt that love ted at last taken his whole nature captive.

You gave me to understand,

when here before, that yon hail no sickness within the power of my drugs.' He- looked keenly at her as he spoke. 'Have yon no illness now?—no deep disease, that may be reached by sympathy, if not by medicine?'

There was an unusual pallor on her faoe. The mouth, the most expressive feature, bore traces of recent suffering there was a look in the eyes that seemed as if tears had only been restrained by pride. So much he noted in his close

professional glance. She looked up in surprise at his question. Yet he saw that his words had struck home—saw it in a quick quiver of the lips—an expression of pain that flitted across her features.

To what do you refer?' she quietly asked, after a moment's silence.

have learned to-day—thfaaiterooon, only—of the scandal that has been set afloat in this town, of which you have been made the victim, and hasten here to offer you my sympathy, at least, and my better services in any way that you no better service,* she re-

with humid eyes. True sympathy the highest service which one soul can render another. I can only thank you in return.'

IDr. Wilmer's somewhat business-like iJr changed into a softer manner as he replied. He had been constrained, either through of opening! ner.

through design or through the difficulty of opening his errand in A proper man-

Could any man render less, in a case of such clear wrong?' he answered in an excited tone. 'It te a cold word to express what I felt when I heard how you fid boon traduced,' be continued, draw-

be your friend, boon if you would make use of me In any difficulty, and under any circum-

I am an indolent—a selfish

man, perhaps but, where you ooncerned. His words were more measured than his looks. The face often runs far in advance of the tongue, and she read in his a feeling which was by no means signified in his words or at lesst, her eyes drooped before his Intense gase, and became fixed upon the Are, Wing from him any meaning which they might have held. (ooimjitnm ow vsxr PASS.]