coln would
both be in the city, and she knew that neither of them would scruple
to do or say any thing which they thought would annoy her. Mrs. Mason,
too, missed her, and longed to have her at home; so she resisted all
Ida's entreaties, and the next letter which went to Aunt Martha,
carried her refusal.

In a day or two, Mary received two letters, one from Billy and one
from Mrs. Mason, the latter of which contained money for the payment
of her bills; but on offering it to the Principal, how was she
surprised to learn that her bills had not only been regularly paid and
receipted, but that ample funds were provided for the defraying of her
expenses during the coming year. A faint sickness stole over Mary, for
she instantly thought of Billy Bender, and the obligations she would
now be under to him for ever. Then it occurred to her how impossible
it was that he should have earned so much in so short a time; and as
soon as she could trust her voice to speak, she asked who it was that
had thus befriended her.

Miss ---- was not at liberty to tell, and with a secret suspicion of
Aunt Martha, who had seemed much interested in her welfare, Mary
returned to her room to read the other letter, which was still
unopened. It was some time since Billy had written to her alone, and
with more than her usual curiosity, she broke the seal; but her head
grew dizzy, and her spirits faint, as she read the passionate
outpouring of a heart which had cherished her image for years, and
which, though fearful of rejection, would still tell her how much she
was beloved. "It is no sudden fancy," said he, "but was conceived
years ago, on that dreary afternoon, when in your little room at the
poor-house, you laid your head in my lap and wept, as you told me how
lonely you were. Do you remember it, Mary? I do; and never now does
your image come before me, but I think of you as you were then, when
the wild wish that you should one day be mine first entered my heart.
Morning, noon, and night have I thought of you, and no plan for the
future have I ever formed which had not a direct reference to you.
Once, Mary, I believed my affection for you returned, but now you are
changed greatly changed. Your letters are brief and cold, and when I
look around for the cause, I am led to fear that I was deceived in
thinking you ever loved me, as I thought you did. If I am mistaken,
tell me so; but if I am not, if you can never be my wife, I will
school myself to t