culties she had fancied killed were only stunned.

When she found herself, one sunny April day, at her little, rude table,
inditing her beautiful thoughts on paper, she grew angry at her folly,
as she termed it, and tore the sheet. "And was she again seeking what
had once blasted her happiness? Let the desolation of the past deter her
from all intercourse with the heartless world again."

But the sunny gleams from the beauty-fraught robes of the spring-queen
had fallen on the chilled fountains, and they began to melt and flow
again. And their music _would_ be heard. As the brook down in the forest
seemed to send sweeter, more joyous echoings on the ear after its winter
sleep, so Annie's soul poured softer, holier strains of melody from its
deep well-spring of chastened, purified feeling. Yet the struggle was
not all over. Some tears, some regrets, some rebellious thoughts, yet
lingered. The wildest storm oft passes the soonest by; but traces of its
effects may remain to the end of time.

Netta returned from her travels, and the two friends, so long parted,
sat together in the old study again, and with clasped hands poured out
their hearts to each other.

Annie could not avoid saying, "My life-happiness is wrecked, Netta!" as
she completed a rehearsal of her misfortunes, "O, that I had been less
confident and aspiring! Then I had not suffered thus."

"Do not speak thus, Annie!" returned Netta, tenderly. "Your happiness is
not lost. With a mind so brilliant as yours, you must not yield to
despondency. I will do all in my power to render your life pleasant, and
so will George. He says your influence made him all he is. You rebuked
his slothful habits and urged him to activity. He felt the truth of your
words, though it wounded him deeply to have them come from you. I know
all, Annie. George loved you once, but I've forgiven him, and love you
all the better for having made me so good a husband." Here Netta laughed
and kissed her friend's cheek.

Annie returned the caress. "If I've unwittingly done you any good,
Netta," she said, "it is no greater pleasure to have done it than to
hear it acknowledged so prettily."

"But don't you think it very singular you have never received your
property from Dr. Prague?" asked Netta, turning the conversation back to
her friend's affairs. "I should have thought it but common honesty in
them to have forwarded your clothes and wages."

"O, why should they trouble themselves to give a