afflictive and disastrous, will often arise our greatest good. For the
moment I was disappointed; but now I feel that it is all right."

No change of marked importance occurred in the family of Claire during
the next two years, to the close of which period both he and his wife
looked with increasing earnestness of mind. Fanny had grown rapidly
during this time, and was now tall for her age--and still very
beautiful. In character she was every thing the fondest parents could
desire.

At last came the child's twelfth birthday. Neither Clare nor his
wife referred to the fact; though it was present to both their
minds--present like an evil guest. Must they now give her up? Their
hearts shrank and trembled at the bare idea. How plainly each read in
the other's face the trouble which only the lips concealed!

Never had Fanny looked so lovely in the eyes of Claire as she did on
that morning, when she bounded to his side and claimed a parting kiss,
ere he left for his daily round of business. Could he give her up? The
thought choked in their utterance the words of love that were on his
lips, and he turned from her and left the house.

As Claire, on his way to Mr. Melleville's store, came into the more
business portions of the city, his thoughts on the child who was
soon to be resigned, according to the tenor of his contract with her
guardian, he was suddenly startled by seeing Jasper a short distance
ahead, approaching from the direction in which he was going.
Happening, at the moment, to be near a cross street, he turned off
suddenly, in obedience to an instinct rather than a purpose, and
avoided a meeting by going out of his way.

"How vain," he sighed to himself, as the throbbing of his heart grew
less heavy and his thoughts ran clear. "I cannot so avoid this evil.
It will most surely find me out. Dear, dear child! How shall we ever
bear the parting!"

All day long Claire was in momentary dread of a visit or a
communication from Jasper. But none came. A like anxiety had been
suffered by his wife, and it showed itself in the pallor of her
cheeks, and the heavy, almost tearful, drooping of her eyelids.

The next day and the next passed, and yet nothing was heard from the
guardian. Now, the true guardians of the child began to breathe more
freely. A week elapsed, and all remained as before. Another week was
added; another and another. A month had gone by. And yet the days of
a succeeding month came and went, the child s