he pastor."

"For all that, he is cruel and bloodthirsty. I know it. I feel it."

Cora shuddered and made a feeble effort to defend the pastor who had
persecuted her; but Charles, who had the retaliating spirit of humanity
in his soul, declared he was a pious fraud and a disgrace to his cloth.

On their return to the house, Mrs. Stevens met them at the door with a
glad smile on her face, and cried:

"She has come, Charles."

"Who?" he asked.

"Adelpha Leisler."

Mrs. Stevens saw an immediate change in the face of Cora. The features
which had begun to glow with happiness suddenly grew sad and clouded,
and the eyes drooped. Charles did not perceive that sudden change so
apparent to his mother, for, at the announcement of the arrival of one
whom he had known in his happy childhood days, his heart bounded with
joy.

"Where is she, mother?"

"With Goody Nurse."

He hastily took leave of Cora, who, with an oppressive weight on her
heart, which seemed to almost suffocate her, went to the little room in
which she had known so much joy and misery. All was dark now. Her heart
vibrated painfully in her breast. Hope and joy seemed forever banished.
He was gone. She could hear his footsteps moving away from the house,
and, throwing herself on the couch, she gave way to a fit of weeping.
Never did Cora Waters so feel her utter insignificance and loneliness.
She was a child of an indented slave, utterly dependent on the one whom
she had had the audacity to love.

When she realized how unworthy she was, the unfortunate girl sobbed,
half aloud:

"Oh, God, why didst thou create me with desires and ambitions above my
sphere? Why didst thou cast me into this place, where I would meet him,
only to suffer? Father, father, come and take me hence!"

Meanwhile, Charles Stevens, unconscious of her suffering, was hurrying
as rapidly as he could to the home of Goody Nurse, where he was to meet
Adelpha Leisler. He reached the house and was greeted by a tall,
beautiful young woman, with great, black eyes and hair.

The greeting she gave him was warm, almost ardent, for, although Adelpha
was an accomplished young lady, she had all of the genial warmth of
youth. They were soon talking pleasantly of those happy days of long
ago.

Glorious past, gone like a golden dream to return no more! The very
memory of such pleasure produces pain, because it is forever gone. Great
changes had come since last they met. His father was living then,