duced to her
happiness added also to his. Together with her he had heard the rumor
of Mr. Lincoln's downfall, and while he felt sorry for the family, he
could not help hoping that it would bring Jenny nearer to him. Of this
he told Mary, who hardly dared trust herself to reply, lest she should
divulge a darling secret, which she had cherished ever since Mrs.
Campbell had told her that, in little more than a year, she was to be
the rightful owner of a sum of money much larger than she had ever
dreamed it possible for her to possess. Wholly unselfish, her thoughts
instantly turned towards her adopted brother. A part of that sum
should be his, and with that for a stepping stone to future wealth,
Mrs. Lincoln, when poor and destitute, could no longer refuse him her
daughter Mrs Campbell, to whom alone she confided her wishes, gave her
consent, though she could not understand the self-denying love which
prompted this act of generosity to a stranger.

And now Mary was very happy in thinking how much good she could do.
Mrs. Mason, her benefactress, should never want again. Sally Furbush,
the kind-hearted old crazy woman who had stood by her so long and so
faithfully, should share her home wherever that home might be; while
better than all the rest, William Bender, the truest, best friend she
ever had, should be repaid for his kindness to her when a little,
unknown pauper. And still the world, knowing nothing of the hidden
causes which made Mary's laugh so merry and her manner so gay, said
that "the prospect of being an heiress had turned her head, just as it
always did those who were suddenly elevated to wealth."

CHAPTER XXX.

THE CRISIS.

Mr. Lincoln had failed. At the corners of the streets, groups of men
stood together, talking over the matter, and ascribing it, some to his
carelessness, some to his extreme good nature in indorsing for any one
who asked, and others, the knowing ones, winking slyly as they said
"they guessed he knew what he was about,--they'd known before of such
things as failing rich;" but the mouths of these last were stopped
when they heard that the household furniture, every thing, was given
up for the benefit of his creditors, and was to be sold at auction
during the coming week.

In their parlors at home wives and daughters also discussed the
matter, always ending by accusing Mrs. Lincoln of unwarrantable
extravagance, and wondering how the proud Rose would bear it, and
suggesting that