s,
white, and paralyzed with nervous terror.

"You need not fear me, Eliza," he said, kindly, "I shall probably never
trouble you again; and though you have no cause to believe my word, I
tell you solemnly that I will never rest until I have found our
daughter, and sent her back to you. Be kind to Densie Densmore; she was
more sinned against than sinning. Good-by, Eliza, good-by."

He did not offer her his hand; he knew she would not touch it; but with
one farewell look of contrition and regret, he left her, and mounting
the horse which had brought him there, he dashed away from Spring Bank,
just as Colonel Tiffton reined up to the gate.

Nell would give him no peace until he went over to see what it all meant
and if there really was to be no wedding. It was Alice who met him in
the hall, explaining to him as much as she thought necessary, and asking
him, on his return, to wait a little by the field gate, and turn back
any other guest who might be on the road.

The colonel promised compliance with her request, and thus were kept
away two carriage loads of people whose curiosity had prompted them to
disregard the contents of the note brought to them so mysteriously.

Spring Bank was not honored with wedding guests that night; and when the
clock struck eight, the appointed hour for the bridal, only the
bridegroom sat in the dreary parlor, his head bent down upon the sofa
arm, and his chest heaving with the sobs he could not repress as he
thought of all poor Lily had suffered since he left her so cruelly. Hugh
had told him what he did not understand before. He had come into the
room for his mother, whom 'Lina was pleading to see; and after leading
her to the chamber of the half-delirious girl, he had returned to the
doctor, and related to him all he knew of Adah, dwelling long upon her
gentleness and beauty, which had won from him a brother's love, even
though he knew not she was his Sister.

"I was a wretch, a villain!" the doctor groaned. Then looking wistfully
at Hugh, he said: "Do you think she loves me still? Listen to what she
says in her farewell to Anna," and with faltering voice, he read: "That
killed the love and now, if I could, I would not be his except for
Willie's sake.' Do you think she meant it?"

"I have no doubt of it, sir. How could her love outlive everything?
Curses and blows might not have killed it, but when you thought to ruin
her good name, to deny your child, she would be less than woman co