meeting Mr. Cashel personally. His present intention is to
visit your neighborhood next week.

I am, dear sir, truly yours,

M. Kennyfeck. Cornelius Corrigan, Esq., Tubber-beg Cottage.

The second letter was as follows:--

"Simpkins and Green have the honor to forward for
acceptance the enclosed bill for two hundred and seventeen
pounds, at three months, Mr. Heneage Leicester, of New
Orleans, on Mr. Corrigan.

"They are authorized also to state that Mr. Leicester's
affairs have suffered considerably from the consequence of
the commercial distress at N. O., and his personal property
has been totally lost by the earthquake which took place on
the 11th and 12th ultimo. He therefore trusts to Mr. C------
's efforts to contribute to his aid by a greater exertion
than usual, and will draw upon him for two sums of one
hundred, at dates of six and nine months, which he hopes may
suit his convenience, and be duly honored. Mr. Leicester
continues to hope that he may be able to visit Europe in the
spring, where his great anxiety to see his daughter will
call him."

"The ruin is now complete," said the old man. "I have struggled for
years with poverty and privation to ward off this hour; but, like
destiny, it will not be averted! Despoiled of fortune; turned from the
home where I have lived from my childhood; bereft of all! I could bear
up still if she were left to me; but now, he threatens to take _her_, my
child, my hope, my life! And the world will stand by him, and say,
'He is her father!' He, that broke the mother's heart,--my own darling
girl!--and now comes to rob me--a poor helpless old man--of all my
companionship and my pride. Alas, alas! the pride, perhaps, deserves the
chastisement. Poor Mary, how will she ever learn to look on him with
a daughter's affection?--What a life will hers be! and this
deception,--how will it, how can it ever be explained? I have always
said that he was dead."

Such, in broken half-sentences, were the words he spoke, while
thick-coming sobs almost choked his utterance.

"This cannot be helped," said he, taking up the pen and writing his name
across the bill. "So much I can meet by selling our little furniture
here; we shall need it no more, for we have no longer a home. Where to,
then?"

He shook his hands in mournful despair, and walked towards the window.
Mary was standing outside