ight for him; prejudices,
even the most deeply-rooted, must yield, in time, to love. When he
should come again it would be to claim his victory.

No thought of abandoning the pursuit crossed his brain; no impulse of
ruth stirred his heart. Did she suffer? So did he--keenly, cruelly.
Let her end this torture for them both; let her lay aside these
senseless scruples, and place her hand in his. His arms were open to
her, his heart yearning for her; let her come and anchor in the sure
haven of his love.

Pocahontas told her mother, very quietly, of Thorne's visit, his
proposal, and her rejection of it; just the bare facts, without comment
or elaboration. But Mrs. Mason had a mother's insight and could read
between the lines; she did not harass her daughter with many words,
even of approval; or with questions; she simply drew the sweet, young
face down to her bosom a moment, and held it there with tender kisses.
Nor did Berkeley, to whom his mother communicated the fact, volunteer
any comment to his sister. After what had passed, Thorne's proposal
was not a surprise, and to them the girl's answer was a foregone
conclusion. Poor child! the brother thought impatiently, the mother
wistfully, how much bitterness would have been spared her could she
only have loved Jim Byrd.

During the weeks that followed Thorne's second return north, the two
families were thrown together more and more intimately. Blanche's
engagement and Warner's increased illness served to break down all
restraints. All through the winter the boy had steadily lost ground,
and as the spring progressed, instead of rallying as they hoped, his
decline became more rapid. The best advice was had, but science could
only bear the announcement of bereavement; there was nothing to be
done, the doctors said, save to alleviate pain, and let the end come
peacefully; it was needless to worry the boy with change, or bootless
experiments. Even to the mother's willfully blinded eyes, and
falsely-fed hopes, conviction came at last that her son's days were
numbered.

Berkeley, Royall and other of the neighboring gentlemen took turns in
aiding with the nursing and the night-watches, as is the custom in
southern country neighborhoods where professional nurses are unknown.

Of all the kindly friends that watched and tended him through long
weeks of illness, the one that Warner learned to love the best was
Berkeley Mason. There was a thoughtful strength in the natu