l
stronger this morning?"

"Yes--I always do in the forenoon"

"Do you feel well enough to talk of Miriam and her future?"

"Oh, yes."

"What do you propose to do with her?"

"I shall leave her to Aunt Henrietta--she will never let the child
want."

"But Mrs. Waugh is quite an old lady now. Jacquelina is insane, the
commodore and Mrs. L'Oiseau scarcely competent to take care of
themselves--and Luckenough a sad, unpromising home for a little girl."

"I know it--oh! I know it; why do you speak of it, since I can do no
otherwise?"

"To point out how you may do otherwise, dear Edith. It would have been
cruel to mention it else."

She looked up at him with surprise and inquiry.

"Edith, you have known me from my boyhood. You know what I am. Will you
leave your orphan daughter to me? You look at me in wonder; but listen,
dear Edith, and then decide. Marian--dear martyred saint! loved that
child as her own. And I loved Marian--loved her as I had never dreamed
it possible for heart to love--I cannot speak of this! it deprives me of
reason," he said, suddenly covering his eyes with his hands, while a
spasm agitated his worn face. In a few minutes he resumed.

"Look at me, Edith! the death of Marian has brought me to what you see!
My youth has melted away like a morning mist. I have not an object in
life except to carry out purposes which were dear to her benevolent
heart, and which her sudden death has left incomplete. I have not an
affection in the world except that which comes through her. I should
love this child dearly, and cherish her devotedly for Marian's sake. I
shall never change my bachelor life--but I should like to legally adopt
little Miriam. I should give her the best educational advantages, and
make her the co-heir with my young brother, Paul Douglass, of all I
possess. Say, Edith, can you trust your child to me?" He spoke
earnestly, fervently, taking her hand and pressing it, and gazing
pleadingly into her eyes.

"So you loved Marian--I even judged so when I saw you labor hardest of
all for the apprehension of the criminal. Oh, many loved her as much as
you! Colonel Thornton, Dr. Weismann, Judge Gordon, Mr. Barnwell, all
adored her! Ah! she was worthy of it."

"No more of that, dear Edith, it will overcome us both; but tell me if
you will give me your little girl?"

"Dear Thurston, your proposal is as strange and unusual as it is
generous. I thank you most sincerely, but you must give me time t