. From your affectionate mother."

Natalie folded the letter, and repeating aloud, "can I ever love my
mother less?" she leaned her head upon her hand, and wept.

The day drew near when the Sea-flower, accompanied by Mr. Alboni, (for
such was the name of the gentlemanly artist,) and Clarence Delwood,
should seek her island home. This was anything but a pleasant
anticipation for Winnie, for since her mother's death she had learned to
lean upon Natalie, though younger than herself, and had received from
her in times of trial, such sweet counsel as would sink into her heart,
giving her new strength, making her a wiser and a better being. In the
time which Natalie had been in the Santon family, there had been a
perceptible change in the character of the beautiful coquettish heiress.
Those blemishes which the faithful mother had discovered, upspringing in
her daughter's youthful heart, marring her otherwise lovable character,
had been erased; not that she had lost in any degree that gay, cheery
openness of heart which we love so well to meet,--she was yet the Winnie
Santon of days which had known no lowering skies, the singing bird of a
June morning,--save that an occasional plaintive note, breathed out upon
youth's freshness of life's realities.

It was the last night in which these maidens, Winnie and Natalie, might
pour out to each other the fulness of their hearts. The last, did we
say, the last? distance would separate them ere another sunset, and
ocean would intervene; yet we have said,--the last. Folded in each
other's arms, they sat in the pale moonlight, each reading within the
other's soul, an appreciation of this holy hour. Holy hours are they
indeed, which lead our thoughts far up beyond this mortal sphere,
pointing us to other than earth's vanities. Beautiful, yet so unlike,
they were; and ah, what is more beautiful than maiden purity?
Woman,--she fell, yet her name will ever stand foremost in the ranks of
all that is exalting.

"And who will there be to love me, when you are gone? Who will talk with
me so gently, and keep my feet from the dangerous paths which surround
me?" asked Winnie, as the discordant tones of Mrs. Santon's voice stole
in upon their quietude, from an adjoining apartment.

"If there is anything in this beautiful world of ours which can make me
sad, it is the parting from those whom I love; yet I know it is but for
a little while. Dear Winnie, can you realize how kind our Father is,
that