way exceedingly annoying to Lucy, the eldest of the
girls, who was now twenty-two and was as proud, selfish, and
self-willed as she was handsome and accomplished. Old maids she held
in great abhorrence, and her great object in life was to secure a
wealthy and distinguished husband. Hitherto she had been unsuccessful,
for the right one had not yet appeared. Now, however, a new star was
dawning on her horizon, in the person of Hugh St. Leon, of New
Orleans. His fame had preceded him, and half the village of S---- were
ready to do homage to the proud millionaire, who would make his first
appearance at the Thanksgiving party. This, then, was the reason why
Lucy felt so anxious to be becomingly dressed, for she had resolved
upon a conquest, and she felt sure of success. She knew she was
beautiful. Her companions told her so, her mirror told her so, and her
sweet sister Lizzie told her so more then twenty times a day.

Lizzie was four years younger than her sister, and wholly unlike her,
both in personal appearance and disposition. She had from childhood
evinced a predisposition to the disease which had consigned her mother
to an early grave. On her fair, soft cheek the rose of health had
never bloomed, and in the light which shone from her clear hazel eye,
her fond father read but too clearly "passing away--passing away."

If there was in Lucy Dayton's selfish nature any redeeming quality, it
was that she possessed for her frail young sister a love amounting
almost to adoration. Years before, she had trembled as she thought how
soon the time might come when for her sister's merry voice she would
listen in vain; but as month after month and year after year went by,
and still among them Lizzie stayed, Lucy forgot her fears, and
dreamed not that ere long one chair would be vacant--that Lizzie would
be gone.

Although so much younger than her sister, Lizzie, for more than a
year, had been betrothed to Harry Graham, whom she had known from
childhood. Now, between herself and him the broad Atlantic rolled, nor
would he return until the coming autumn, when, with her father's
consent, Lizzie would be all his own.

Alas! alas! ere autumn came
How many hearts were weeping
For her who 'neath the willow's shade
Lay sweetly, calmly sleeping.

CHAPTER II.

THANKSGIVING DAY.

Slowly the feeble light of a stormy morning broke over the village of
S----. Lucy's fears had been verified, for Thanksgiving's