mpleton the most
anxious and poignant regret. There had been a young woman in Mrs.
Westbrook's service, who had left it a short time before the widow died,
in consequence of her marriage. Her husband ill-used her; and glad to
escape from him and prove her gratitude to her employer's daughter, of
whom she had been extremely fond, she had returned to Miss Westbrook
after the funeral of her mother. The name of this woman was Sarah Miles.
Templeton saw that Sarah more than suspected his connection with Mary;
it was necessary to make a confidant,--he selected her. Miss Westbrook
was removed to a distant part of the country, and Templeton visited her
cautiously and rarely. Four months afterwards, Mrs. Templeton died, and
the husband was free to repair his wrong. Oh, how he then repented of
what had passed! but four months' delay, and all this sin and sorrow
might have been saved! He was now racked with perplexity and doubt: his
unfortunate victim was advanced in her pregnancy. It was necessary,
if he wished his child to be legitimate--still more if he wished to
preserve the honour of its mother--that he should not hesitate long in
the reparation to which duty and conscience urged him. But on the other
hand, he, the saint, the oracle, the immaculate example for all forms,
proprieties, and decorums, to scandalize the world by so rapid and
premature a hymen--

"Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears
Had left the flushing in his galled eyes,
To marry."

No! he could not brave the sneer of the gossips, the triumph of his
foes, the dejection of his disciples, by so rank and rash a folly.
But still Mary pined so, he feared for her health--for his own unborn
offspring. There was a middle path,--a compromise between duty and
the world; he grasped at it as most men similarly situated would have
done,--they were married, but privately, and under feigned names: the
secret was kept close. Sarah Miles was the only witness acquainted with
the real condition and names of the parties.

Reconciled to herself, the bride recovered health and spirits, Templeton
formed the most sanguine hopes. He resolved, as soon as the confinement
was over, to go abroad; Mary should follow; in a foreign land they
should be publicly married; they would remain some years on the
Continent; when he returned, his child's age could be put back a year.
Oh, nothing could be more clear and easy!

Death shivered into atoms all the plans of Mr. Templeton.