hich they call by my name, on Midnight, my black horse, and
I always clear the gate at a bound. I like such things, and there is
not a fence or a ditch in the neighborhood which I cannot take.
Hoidenish, do you call me? Well, perhaps I am, but I am a pretty
nice girl, too, and I love you and want you to come here at once and
be happy. Sir Jack has told me how different your life has been from
mine, and how tired and worn you are; but here you shall never know
weariness again. Your life shall be one long rest, in the loveliest
place you ever saw, and we will all care for you so tenderly, and
bring the roses back to the dear face Sir Jack says is now so pale.
I am seventeen, and not a mere child, though I am not much larger
than your thumb, and I can be your companion and friend, if you will
only come. You must love Sir Jack. You cannot help loving him when
you know how good he is! Why, if I tried real hard I could love him
myself! But he looks upon me as a child, though he does not play
with and tease me as Cousin Harry did. Poor Hal! There is such a
pain in my heart when I think of him so strong and full of fun in
the morning, and then dead before noon. Oh, Hal. Hal! My tears are
falling fast for him, and I am so lonely without him. Come to me,
Bessie, and you shall never have a more devoted friend than little

"FLORENCE MEREDITH."

There were tears in Bessie's eyes when she finished this letter, which
told her something of the warm, loving nature of the impulsive Irish
Flossie, whom she knew she could love so much, while the perfect rest
promised her at Trevellian Castle looked so very pleasant to her and she
was so tired, oh, so tired in mind and body, that it seemed to her she
could gladly lie down in some quiet spot and die, if only thus she could
rest. And Jack had offered her rest and happiness and luxury with him,
but she must not take it, must not consider it for a moment. She was
promised to Neil. She would be true to Neil, even though he neither
wrote nor came. She had loved him always, and tired as she was, she was
ready to take up life's work again and battle and toil for him, if need
be. And when Jack said to her, "You will be my wife, Bessie?" she
answered him, sadly, "No, I cannot. I might learn to love you in time,
if I could forget the past--forget that I love another, am promised to
another."

"Love another! Promised to a