ought of love. In future I
devote myself to ambition, wedded only to my profession, in hope that
in this I shall not meet with another such reward."

Constance Lyle was the only child of wealthy parents. Ever since her
infancy her father had cherished the hope of uniting her with his
ward, Gerald Moreton, the son of a very dear friend. Gerald was left
an orphan before he had reached his tenth year. When Mr. Moreton, on
his deathbed, placed his son under the care of his old friend, he
intimated his desire that some time in the future, the little
Constance (scarcely then four years old) should bear the name of
Moreton. To this Mr. Lyle readily agreed. The little Gerald was truly
a noble boy, and he was much attached to him, years before having lost
a son of the same age; this child of his dearest friend had, in some
degree, served to fill the aching void. Again, Gerald's prospects were
very brilliant; but, to do Mr. Lyle justice, more than all this was
the desire to please his friend, to make some amends for the past. In
years gone by these two men had been rivals for the love of
Constance's mother.

Moreton was a high-minded, noble fellow, and when he became sure that
young Lyle was the favored one, not a thought of ill-feeling entered
his heart against his friend; but going to him, with his usual candor
and generosity, he said:

"I shall go away for a while. It will be rather too much for me to
bear witnessing your happiness, just yet. I shall get over it in time,
though. Heaven bless you, dear friend, and grant you happiness and
prosperity. No one will pray for your welfare more sincerely than
myself. Bid her good-by for me. After a while I'll be back, to stand
god-father to some of your little ones, perhaps."

He remained away three years; and then returned home, bringing with
him a fair, fragile little creature, who remained with him scarce two
years; leaving the little Gerald to comfort and console the bereaved
man, and be a loving reminder of the gentle little dove, who had loved
him so dearly, and then winged her flight above, to watch over and
pray for the coming of her loved ones.

So it was that Mr. Lyle would look with no favor, or even patience, on
any suitor. Even when Constance herself pleaded for Ernest Ellwood,
telling him she could never love Gerald other than as a brother; and
if he would not give her to the one she loved, that she would remain
with them, but would never wed where she could not lo