tunately the physician, for whom I had sometimes wonder if it would not have sent, arrived.

His first act was to send every one out of the room, except myself and a faithful family servant, our nurse. He then bled his patient in the arm, and after bandaging it up, he administered a slight anodyne, and as soon as it had produced its effect, led the way into the parlor.

Once there, the command I had hitherto preserved over myself gave way, and I burst into a hysterical fit of weeping.

"Come, come," said the old doctor, kindly, "this will never do; you will wake your mother, and if you do, I cannot answer for the consequences."

66

“Ob, doctor, do you think she will die?" and I shuddered as I asked the question. There is always hope," he replied. "Keep her free from excitement, and with care I think she will certainly be better soon. How did all this happen?"

I told him as well as I could.

been better if I had died then, before I had borne the bitter burden brought by after years. But I am anticipating. Youth and a strong constitution prevailed over the disease, and I am living to write the story of another heart.

When I recovered, I was sent to Miss Bardour's "Fashionable Seminary for Young. Ladies," where, after two years, Lina join ed me. Five years of school life passed quickly away. I graduated with the highest honors of the seminary, and left the place where I had passed some happy hours for my uncle's princely mansion. He was one of the many merchant princes of New York. A Virginian by birth, he had left his native State, and casting himself into the commercial sea of Gotham, had amassed a vast fortune.

I was welcomed very warmly by my aunt, not merely for my own sake, or my uncle's; but because, as I afterwards dis

"You're a jewel of a girl," he said, covered, she had a secret penchant towards

when I had finished.

"Where is this letter? Have you read it?" No, I have not had time," and I drew it from my pocket.

It contained the official announcement of the death of my father, who had faller. while gallantly leading a charge, at the battle of Buena Vista.

what is commonly called matchmaking.

She had successfully established her own two daughters; that is to say, they had elegant houses and gave splendid parties, and she now looked upon her husband's nieces as legitimate objects on which to exercise her talents. The winter passed away. I was fêted and caressed, but despite the brilliant offers I had received, I was still single. My aunt did not complain. "There is time enough yet," she said. "Your reputation as a belle is es

"Poor child," and a tear stood in the eye of the kind, old doctor, as he said it. "God bless you," and he took his leave. I tried to obey his injunctions and keep tablished at least," but when the next our mother quiet, but I could not.

season passed away also, and Lina's reThe next day, while busied about some turn home found me still unmarried, I household concern, I was summoned by a could see that she was disappointed, and I shriek, and found her in strong convul- thought she seemed to fear that we would sions. I had left the fatal letter in the interfere with each other. Had our fordining-room, and Lina finding it, had car-tunes remained equal, she need not have ried it in to her. I sent for the doctor. been alarmed; for though sisters, no two He came and shook his head. Hemorr- people could have been more unlike in hage followed hemorrhage in quick succes-form and features than Lina and myself. sion. Our uncle was telegraphed and ar- I was called very like my father, and my rived only in time to see his only sister aunt said I was regally beautiful--how die; and Lina at ten, and I at fourteen, that may be, I cannot say; I only know were left motherless.

It is unnecessary to dwell on the days and weeks of agony that followed this crushing bereavement. I only know that I lay for many days in a low fever, and that my life was long despaired of. I

that my figure was tall and finely developed--that I had brilliant black eyes, heavy braids of satiny blue black bair and an olive complexion, with the flushes coming and going on my cheek; while Lina was the image of our mother.

A lithe, rounded figure--petite and sea-side resort, which, not being very fash graceful-golden curls that looked as ionable, was not so much crowded as to though they had caught and prisoned the render it unpleasant. Clayton followed us, sunshine of their native mountains; eyes and I was every day expecting an offer of like the violets springing in the shadow of his hand, when, one evening, whilst we the Blue Ridge; and a fair cheek, tinged like a sea-shell; such was Lina, and each of us heightened the beauty of the other by contrast.

We went to the Saratoga that summer, and one evening on going into tea, as we took our places, I noticed a stranger sitting just opposite. He had not been there before, I was certain; so he was evidently a new comer, and on raising my eyes from my plate, I detected him looking over our way, whether at Lina, or myself, or both,

I could not tell.

After tea in the ball-room, while sitting on a divan, talking to the bevy of young men around me, one of my acquaintances came to me with the request that he might introduce a friend.

were promenading on the beach, I was summoned to the parlor, where I was informed that my uncle was awaiting Lina and myself. On entering, I found the room unoccupied, except by my uncle and his wife.

"Where is Lina?" said he, after our greetings were over. I replied that she had gone on a boating party. "Ah!" said my uncle. "Do you ever remember hearing your father speak of a brother of his, who went to California a year or two before his death?"

"Yes, sir, I replied, mentally wondering what my Uncle Archer, of whom I had very seldom heard and never seen, could possibly have to do with our conversation.

"Well," he said, "the last steamer brought intelligence of his death, and that he has left the whole of his immense fortune to Lina."

"To Lina!" I exclaimed.

"Yes. You were not mentioned in the will, of which his lawyer enclosed me a copy. Indeed, your uncle seems to have been ignorant of your existence; for Lina is mentioned as the only child of her parents."

He paused. I did not speak, and he continued,

'Perhaps, if the case were carried into court, the property might be hvided be tween you. Observe, I say perhaps, for I know very little of law."

Certainly," was my answer, "I shall be glad to know any friend of yours," so off Mr. Miller marched, and soon returned with the hero of the supper table, whom he introduced as Mr. Vaughan. The band struck up just then, and Vaughan asked my hand for the quadrille I was disengaged and we stood up together. Mr. Vaughan conversed about people and things very pleasantly, and I was very agreeably entertained during the dance; so much so, that though I don't remember one word he said, I scarcely ever enjoyed myself more in the same space of time. During the evening, I learned that Clayton Vaughan, for such I discovered was his name, was a wealthy sugar planter from Louisiana, who madam rumor whispered, had come North in search of a wife. Of course mothers and daughters were on the qui vive, and many a battery from bright eyes and bright"It was merely a supposition," he reer smiles, was brought to bear upon the plied. Anyway, I consider you entitled unsuspecting Southerner, but without avail. to half of it, and I shall tell Lina so." Vaughan attached himself to our party. "No, no, Uncle. If Lina chooses to and followed me like my shadow. We divide her fortune with me, I shall be walked, rode, talked and sang together, grateful, but it must be her own voluntary and, without an effort, I bade fair to bear proposition," off the prize for which so many were contending.

We only remained at Saratoga for two or three weeks, and then left for some little

"Uncle!" I exclaimed indignantly, "do you suppose, for an instant, that I would go to law with my sister, even if I were entitled to the estate?"

66

"Very well," answered my uncle, and as he spoke we heard Lina's voice in the hall singing a snatch of an opera air. The door opened, and she entered. When she

was made to understand the case, she was) me to her very gradually, but none the almost frantic with joy. She danced about less surely, until he finally neglected me the room, exultantly exclaiming, "A great altogether. heiress! I am so glad! Now I shall have everything I want." Then suddenly stopping before me, she continued: "Did'nt Uncle Archer leave you any-in Virginia, when Lina came in, and thing, sister?"

"No," I replied, smiling. "He thought that father had only one child, and there fore left you his whole fortune."

"Not? I am so sorry. Isn't it queer?" and her bright face clouded.

"Are you really sorry, Lina?" began my uncle. I flashed a glance at him, and he stopped short.

One day I was in our room listlessly turning over the pages of the last new novel, and thinking of my mountain home

throwing herself at my feet, buried her head in my lap. As she did so, I caught the glitter of a broad, gold ring on her finger, and I grew sick at heart.

"I am so happy, sister," she said, raising her blushing face, half hidden by her clustering ringlets, and looking at me.

Dearly as I loved my only sister, and though my dying mother had laid on To be sure I am;" she answered; and me the command given to the Bertha then added lightly: "I tell you what, sis-whose sad lot mine so much resembled, of ter, I mean to get that set of pearls we ad« Child, be mother to this child," my lips mired so at Tiffany's. That at two thourefused to utter more than "Are you, my sand dollars, you know. Oh, I must go darling?". and tell Nannie Jones of my good fortune." And off she ran.

My uncle looked at me. "I am so sorry that your Uncle Archer did not know that

there were two of you," he said.

"I am not," I replied. I had conquered the half-defined feeling of envy that had risen in my breast. "I have enough to support me, and if that should fail, you will not let me starve."

"While I live, you shall lack nothing I can give you;" and he folded me in his

arms.

"You are your mother's own child," he said, as he released me.

Previous to this time I had reigned the acknowledged belle in the quiet little watering place. Now Lina came in to divide the honors of the belleship with me. She was a beauty and heiress; I was only a beauty and a wit-and money, you know, always carries the day so that many of my admirers deserted my standard, and in Mammon worship went over to Lina.

"He has asked me to be his wife," she wen on, unconscious that every word went like a dagger to my heart.

"I am so happy. I always thought, until lately, that he loved you. I think it is so strange he should have preferred me."

"Sister, forgive me. I did not mean it; indeed I did not,” ́sbe said, but I had been stung to the quick, and I turned away from her. It was during the same evening I was not sorry to have this touchstone that I strolled down to a favorite resort of by which to try my adorers, and rather en- mine. Near the beach a line of cliffs rose joyed it; but when Clayton Vaughan precipitously, and in one of them was a transferred his homage from me to my sis-cave, or rather hollow, just large enough to accommodate one person comfortably. ter, I was bitterly disappointed. He had paid me the most marked attention, and II was sitting here, looking out to sea, and had unwittingly lost my heart to the hand-watching the billows gather and break, some, fascinating Southerner, when Li- when I heard voices on the cliffs above: na's sudden accession of fortune became "By the bye, Vaughan," said a voice known. He withdrew his attentions from which I recognized as Mr. Miller's, "What

made you desert our lovely brunette for had been, I set myself to her little, childish sister?"

I could not catch Vaughan's reply, though I held my breath to listen; and the next time I heard distinctly Mr. Miller was speaking again :

"You are the last man I should ever have suspected of marrying for money, Vaughan."

heart. It was a hard task.

conquer my The trite old

saying, "It is easier to do than to undo," held good, I found, in my case.

But enough of this. The wedding day was fixed for the 10th of December. Clay ton would have preferred a quiet marriage in Trinity, and a start for the South by the morning's train, but neither my aunt nor

I was looking over an old magazine the other day, and I came across the following:

"Two weeks ago I would not have be-Lina would hear of such a thing. The lieved myself capable of it," said Vaughan latter had no idea of closing the grand sadly. Pity me, my friend. I love that business of life so quietly, or of relinquishgirl as I never loved before, and never ing the parties of the season. shall love again; but I cannot ask her to share a beggar's fortunes. My large estates are all under a mortgage, and unless by next spring I can raise money enough to pay it off, I shall be houseless and the grand business of life. Prudent mammas "And marrying is, you know, after all, homeless; Lina's fortune-nay, the tenth fondly hope to rescue the morals of impruof it will do this, and prevent them from going for the fourth part of their value. dent sons by an early marriage. Prudent She has promised to wed me, and next papas speculatively think to make the forwinter I shall lead to the altar a bride I tunes of imprudent sons by a wealthy do not love, and who, to crown my mise-marriage. Prudent sons regard the affair ries, is the sister of the woman I do, so as a business transaction, by which they that we shall be constantly thrown tohope to gain larger means and more exGod help gether. Miller, pity me; for it almost tended liberty. And the bride; drives me wild to think of what is to come her-unless, as sometimes happens, she is hereafter." able to help herself."

"I do from my soul," was the reply. This was all I heard, and as their footsteps died away, I ran to the hotel. I met no one, and rushing to my room, threw myself into a chair, and tried to think. I had believed my cup of bitterness was full; but I was mistaken. The heart of the man I loved so well was mine, and my sister had given her love when only her gold was cared for. I did not mention the conversation I had overheard to Lina, for the scene of the morning was too fresh in my memory for that, but it gave me a clue to Vaughan's hitherto mysterious conduct. I knew now why he shunned me so persistently, and my brain reeled and I grew sick at heart as the dreary future rose before me.

And God did help Lina. Through all the nearly seven years for which she was a wife, from the marriage in Fifth Avenue to his bloody death on the battle-field, she never knew that her husband loved her only as a brother should love a sister. I question if now, when in Heaven, she is aware of it, for I have a theory of my own, which will not allow me to believe that the blest are ever suffered to know what, if known below, would have given them a moment's pain. But I am anticipating. The loving, warm-hearted child-she was only seventeen-never dreamed that Clayton Vaughan sought her fortune, not her love. How could she, believing, as she did, that he was himself almost a millionaire? I was the only one of the family I was not heroine enough to pine away who knew of the existence of the mortfrom disappointed love; to imagine myself gage, and I felt a delicacy about repeating broken-hearted, and compose whole vol- knowledge gained by-tell it not in Gath umes of sonnets on my desolate condition; -eaves-dropping. So Lina and Clayton or to pour my sorrows into the sympathiz-Vaughan were married in my uncle'sing (?) ears of five or six female friends; splendid house, by the Right Reverend but inwardly resolving that no one but Bishop-I forget who now, but no matter, myself should ever know what a fool I he is gathered to his fathers long ago.

VOL. XXXVIII-3

I was first bridesmaid: very beautiful, days old, who lingered for two days, and they said, in white lace and pearls; whe-was then laid in the same grave with its ther beautiful or not, it mattered little to mother. Alas,

"When sorrows come, they come not single spies,

But in battalions."

Scarcely had the earth closed o'er her, ere her sister was attacked by a violent fever, and was soon laid by her side. She left no children, and I was now the acknowledged heiress of my childless uncle. Had these events only taken place one year sooner, all might have been different;

been."

Years passed or my aunt died, and my uncle and I were left alone. I had plenty of suitors; but one after another they were all dismissed as soon as they proposed. It

me. The rack they used of yore may have gone out of fashion; but there remains still another, if possible, more painful-in fact, a species of mental rack. Of the two, I had rather feel the first. On that you may shriek at the torture on the other, you must smile, and smile, to conceal the agony you suffer, and quaff the waters of Marah quietly and unflinchingly, in order that the world may think that the jewelled goblet you hold to your lips is brimming with a draught from the Castilian fount. On such buta rack was I stretched that night, and yet. Of all sad words from tongue or pen, no one knew it. I drew the glove from The saddest are these. "It might have his hand as quietly, and, to all appearance, as unconcernedly, as I would have done. from Mr. Miller's, who, by the bye, waited with me, and I listened to the holy words of the marriage service as calmly as though they had not been tolling the knell of my most cherished hopes. The rite was was not for love of Vaughan that I reover. The holy words that united my sis-mained single. I had crushed out the ter to the man I loved had been spoken, wild passion I had felt for him, but I had and it was a deadly sin to love him now. not learned to love any one else. I was All this passed through my mind in an in- too wealthy in prospects to marry for mostant, as I turned to greet the newly mar-ney; being in the first circles, I had no inried pair with a smile as bright as I had ducement to marry for position; and liking ever worn, As I did so, Clayton bent his head and touched my forehead with his lips. I had not expected this, and for a moment my brain grew dizzy. The room Things were in this state when Lincoln swam round, and I almost fell, but I recov-issued his famous proclamation calling for: ered myself almost instantly, and taking a seventy-five thousand volunteers. My goblet filled with ice water from a waiter uncle was a true-hearted Southerner, and near, raised it to my lips, drank it off, and his blood boiling within him at this infrac was myself again. tion of State rights, he disposed of his

no one well enough to marry for love, I was content to incur the odium of old maid hood.

I was the gayest of the gay that even-property, and turning our backs on Yaning, but when the party was over and the keedom, we returned to our native State carriages of the guests had rolled away, no Lina wrote pressing us to come to her, but one saw the scalding tears that wet my my uncle having a holy horror of our pillow, and the headache of which I com- Southern fevers, could not be induced to plained the next morning was laid to the trust himself among the flats of Louisidissipation of the night before. A week ana; so, much against my inclination, her more of parties, and Lina went South. Iinvitation was declined, and we took up did not accompany her. Clayton's invita- our abode in Richmond. tion was not very pressing, and for myself, I did not care to go.

It is not my intention to speak of the enthusiasm which pervaded all classes; of Lina's wedding party was the last given the belief that God himself was marching, in our house that season. My uncle's at the head of our armies-a belief which youngest daughter, who had been married gained confirmation at the battle of Bethel, a short time before my return from school, where the iron sleet fell as harmlessly died in January, leaving an infant of a few around our beardless boys as a shower of