.“Love him!” cried Cecil, with a strange pathos that contrasted with the ineffable brightness of her countenance. “Lovehim! Yes, I do, with all my heart and soul. I shall love him till I die, and I shall pray for him morning and evening, Gretchen, for his welfare and happiness, but I can never sec him again.”

“ Perhaps you’ll pray for his betrothed

too?” The brightness fled from the beautiful features. “ No, I cannot pray for her !” cried the girl, with a pang ot jealousy trayer

sing her passionate young soul—“ not yet! But I want him to be happy, and I don’t believe he will be since he must think of mo and our parting, and know that he has won my heart and lett me, to suffer. Knowing what I am, he must pity me !” “ If yon don’t want him to think yon pining away for love of him, why don’t yon marry some one else ?” asked old Gretchen, artfully. “If yon were to marry, he couldn’t be worried about you ?” “ I shall never marry. Who would want me—a tonudling ?” “ Some one loves your beautiful face, Miss Cecil, and worships the very ground you walk on. Ho has no proud relations to influence him. I mean Mr Crafton.” “He? You must be mistaken. He does not love me.” “Ho does. Can’t I road looks ? lie docs love you, Miss Cecil, and I wish you were safely married to him. Why spoil your sweet eyes over such toil ? Why remain penned in the house hard at work through all the bright days ? Why make of yourself an old woman while yon are so young ? He would take you to travel, would give you horses and a carriage, a bright home, and serv ants to wait upon you ? Hear Miss Cecil, I wish you would marry him ?” “I thought you did not like him, Gretchen,”

“ I may have said so, but that was nonsense. Ido like him. It would be a happy day for me that would see you his witc.” “it cannot ho. He does not know my history ; if he did he would not wish to make me his wife. Don’t speak, Gretchen. It cannot ho. You and I will live together always, with no one to come between us. 