and forgetting everything save the bright, beautiful
face which looked up to him so eagerly.

"Then," answered 'Lena, "take this letter and see it deposited
safely, will you?"

Glancing at the superscription, Durward felt his face crimson, while
he instantly remembered what Mrs. Livingstone had once said
concerning 'Lena's attachment to Mr. Everett.

"Sometime, perhaps, I will explain," said 'Lena, observing the
expression of his countenance, and then adding, with some bitterness,
"I assure you there is no harm in it."

"Of course not," answered Durward, again mounting his horse, and
riding away more puzzled than ever, while 'Lena returned to the
house, which everywhere gave tokens of the approaching nuptials.

Already had several costly bridal gifts arrived, and among them was a
box from the captain, containing a set of diamonds, which Mrs.
Livingstone placed in her daughter's waving hair, bidding her mark
their effect. But not a muscle of Anna's face changed; nothing moved
her; and with the utmost indifference she gazed on the preparations
around her. A stranger would have said 'Lena was the bride, for,
with flushed cheeks and nervously anxious manner, she watched each
sun as it rose and set, wondering what the result would be. Once,
when asked whom she would have for her bridesmaid and groomsman, Anna
had answered, "Nellie and John!" but that could not be, for the
latter had imposed upon himself the penance of waiting a whole year
ere he spoke to Nellie of that which lay nearest his heart, and in
order the better to keep his vow, he had gone from home, first
winning from her the promise that she would not become engaged until
his return. And now, when he learned of his sister's request, he
refused to come, saying, "if she would make such a consummate fool of
herself, he did not wish to see her."

So Carrie and Durward were substituted, and as this arrangement
brought the latter occasionally to the house, 'Lena had opportunities
of asking him if there had yet come any answer to her letter; and
much oftener than he would otherwise have done, Durward went down to
Frankfort, for he felt that it was no unimportant matter which thus
deeply interested 'Lena. At last, the day before the bridal came,
Durward had gone to the city, and in a state of great excitement
'Lena awaited his return, watching with a trembling heart as the sun
went down behind the western hills. Slowly the hours dragged on, and
many a time