ldon. Disposed to ease and quiet in the hour of
prosperity, when adversity came, it aroused him at once to vigorous,
decisive action. Though bereft of love and fortune at a blow, as it
were, his manly spirit did not cower and sink beneath the strokes; that
he suffered is true, but he bore up bravely under the adverse fortune.
He was proud, as all great minds are, and the blight so publicly cast on
Annie Evalyn's good repute, cut him to the quick; but he hoped she might
be able to refute the aspersions cast on her by Sumpter, for he was loth
to think ill of a being that had appeared so amiable and exalted in her
nature, so lofty in soul and intellect, and was beautiful as an angel in
person. But, instead of this, she fled by night from the scene of her
confusion, leaving behind all her effects, and no clue to her intended
course. Did not this wear the appearance of guilt? Still he did not
condemn her, but learned from Dr. Prague the place of her former
residence, and wrote a letter, assuring her of a continuance of
affection, and asking an explanation of Sumpter's strange tale. No
answer was returned,--indeed, the letter never reached its destination;
but this Sheldon did not know, and was forced to regard the silence as
another proof of her cupidity.

With this view of the matter he found it less difficult to subdue his
passion. He could not, _would_ not love a guilty, artful thing.

And now fell another blow in quick succession; his land investment
proved worthless, and at a sweep his fortune went past power to recover.
Hardin expressed much regret, but Sheldon could not avoid noticing that
he clutched at every opportunity to save his own affairs, and exposed
him to the most uncertain hazards.

Old Dr. Prague loudly bewailed Sheldon's ill luck, and declared he would
never forgive himself for having advised the young man to embark in the
cursed speculations. But Sheldon begged him not to be unnecessarily
distressed, as it was no fault of his that the schemes proved abortive;
and the good doctor finally coincided, and settled down to his oranges
with tolerable serenity.

Sheldon did not long remain inactive; he left those scenes amid which
misfortune had overtaken him, and repaired to the eastern cities, where
he readily found employ in an extensive printing establishment, and
applied himself assiduously to his duties. In a short time he was
admitted to the firm, and became assistant editor of a popular magazine.
Thi