MARION LESTER; 
 
 THE MOTHER'S MISTAKE
 
 MARION LESTER; 
 
 OE, 
 
 THE MOTHEB'S MISTAKE 
 
 MISS MINNIE S. DAVIS. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 PUBLISHED BY A. TOMPKINS, 
 
 38 & 40 CORNRILL. 
 
 1856.
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the y.ear 1856, by 
 
 A. TOMPKINS, 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. 
 
 Stereotyped bj 
 HOBART * ROBBINS, 
 New EDglmnd Tjpe and Stereotype Fcnndery 
 IOITOH
 
 ps 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 UPON the literary sea, already teeming 
 with ten thousand lights, we launch our 
 fragile bark. Though simple the offering, 
 it is presented with a sincere desire for 
 good. , 
 
 The object and bearing of this work we 
 leave the reader to understand from its 
 perusal. 
 
 May it awaken thought in a new direc 
 tion, and save at least one heart from the 
 
 influence of religious fear. 
 
 M. s. D. 
 
 BETHEL, VT., May, 1856.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PAGB 
 SELECTING A SCHOOL 11 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 MY SCHOOLMATES, 22 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 INNOCENT AMUSEMENT CONDEMNED AND DEFENDED, .... 32 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 MISS INQOLS, 46 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 NATURE. RELIGIOUS EXCITEMENT, 60 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 A NEW METHOD, WHICH PROVES MORE EFFECTIVE THAN 
 
 THK FORMER, 70 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 SORROW. RENEWED STRUGGLES, 84 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 SCHOOL DUTIES AGAIN. ALFRED'S OPINION 101 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 MT GROWTH IN GRACE, SO CALLED. ARTHUR WILLIS, ....!
 
 X CONTENTS. 
 
 PACT 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 AGAIN AT HOME 122 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE MINISTER AND HIS WIPE. SUNDAY 129 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE RETURN, 136 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE SEPARATION, 151 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE APPEAL, 170 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 CORA'S ILLNESS, 179 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE SLEEP, 186 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 ARTHUR'S PASSION AND INFIDELITY, 200 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 SABBATH SERVICES, 214 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 QUIET HAPPINESS. UNEXPECTED JOY, 219 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 LIGHT COMETH FORTH FROM DARKNESS, 232
 
 MARION LESTER. 
 
 CHAPTEK I. 
 
 SELECTING A SCHOOL. 
 
 " MR. LESTER, do you know anything about the 
 Upton Seminary ? I have been talking with Mrs. 
 Jones about it, you know her girls have been to 
 that school, and I think it must be a very desir 
 able one for May to go to ; don't you think so ? " 
 
 My father laid down his book in surprise. " Why, 
 my dear, I thought it had been decided a week ago 
 that we should send Marion to the Eldon Institute 
 at Slaton. I have made arrangements with Mr. 
 Benton, whose daughters are going, to take charge of 
 her and Cora during the journey." 
 
 Mother's countenance fell ; but in a moment she 
 drew her chair to his side, and began, in her sweet, 
 coaxing way, to plead her case. I saw her heart was 
 set upon the change, and I knew that she would at 
 last bring my father to consent to her wishes. " I
 
 12 MARION LESTER. 
 
 dare say," said she, "the Eldon school is an excel 
 lent one; <fcut we know nothing about it, and the 
 ' Jones girls ' give such good accounts of the Upton 
 Seminary, that I am quite in love with it." 
 
 " Beg your pardon, my dear, but I do know quite 
 as much about the^Eldon Institute as the other. Mr. 
 Benton's daughters have been there two years, and 
 speak of it in high terms; and, more than that, I 
 am personally acquainted with the worthy pre 
 ceptor." 
 
 " But it is so far." - 
 
 " Full a dozen miles nearer than your Upton 
 school, which is one hundred and fifty miles away ; 
 but that will make no difference, as she will not come 
 home till the end of her year. I have an objection 
 to the school : it is very sectarian, and every scholar 
 is obliged to attend the church where the professor 
 preaches." 
 
 "Ah, that is not so pleasant; but I'll trust 
 Marion's principles, and of course no one would 
 meddle with her religious opinions. The Upton 
 school is so much more popular, a regular board 
 ing-school, you know, and boarding-schools are 
 always superior to these common academies. And, 
 besides, they have a native Italian master, and my 
 heart is set on having May learn Italian." 
 
 Many arguments equally profound did my mother 
 bring forward to uphold her cause 5 and, at last,
 
 MARION LESTER. 13 
 
 overcome with her logic, my father yielded the 
 point. She looked delighted ; but the slight contrac 
 tion of his brow, as he resumed his book, proved that 
 he did not perfectly coincide with her feelings. 
 " Father," said I, now speaking for the first time, 
 " is the point settled? Am I to go to Upton instead 
 ofEldon?" 
 
 "Your mother is so anxious about it, I suppose I 
 must consent. I will write to Dr. Severe, who is at 
 the head of the school, to see if you can be admitted." 
 
 "Dr. Severe! Ah, papa, that name sounds 
 portentous ! " 
 
 " Nonsense ! " said father, laughing. " Now run 
 and inform Cora and her mother of the change ; for, 
 of course, you two inseparables must go together." 
 
 I dropped my embroidery, sprang for my bonnet 
 in girlish eagerness, and, in less than three minutes, 
 was across the meadow and at the door of Mrs. 
 Eaton's pretty cottage. 
 
 Seventeen bright years had circled over my head, 
 and pain and sorrow I only knew by name. The 
 only child of fond and wealthy parents, I had thus 
 far trod a pathway of sunshine and flowers. I had 
 received all the literary advantages afforded by our 
 aspiring village, and, in addition, had studied Latin 
 and mathematics with my father. And now I was 
 to go away to school a year, and then my education 
 would be considered complete. Cora Eaton, my 

 
 14 MARION LESTER. 
 
 constant companion since early childhood, was to be 
 my school companion still. Though such intimate 
 friends, we were in many things direct opposites. 
 Her hair was a golden brown, mine ebon ; her eyes 
 were heavenly blue, mine matched my jetty tresses. 
 She was gentle and timid, yet gay and light-hearted ; 
 I was firm, and at times a bit wilful. She was 
 painfully sensitive to disapproval ; but, while I loved 
 approbation, I held to my convictions of right, inde 
 pendent of what the world might say, or even my 
 dearest friends. I loved her fragile beauty, and 
 unvarying sweetness of temper ; she leaned upon me 
 as upon an elder sister, with tender confidence. 
 
 Cora's mother was a widow in easy circumstances. 
 Her only brother. Alfred, was a young man of 
 twenty-two, and on his second year at college. This 
 Alfred was my beau ideal of manly beauty and ex 
 cellence. Smile not, gentle reader; what girl of 
 seventeen has not an ideal, though she may never 
 have met it, and perchance never will ? Alfred had 
 ever been a kind and attentive brother, and I, as the 
 friend of his sister, received a full share of his boyish 
 attentions. We were very near to each other, as 
 near as cousins at least. 
 
 For fifty miles of our journey we enjoyed the 
 company of Mr. Benton and his daughters ; then our 
 ways diverged, and Cora and I travelled alone.
 
 MARION LESTER. 15 
 
 Mary and Emma Benton were amiable, intelligent 
 girls, and we felt as much regret as they expressed, 
 that we were not all going together. Mary, who was 
 three years older than myself, expected to become 
 assistant teacher in the school to which they were 
 going, after a few months more study. At parting, 
 Emma assured us, that, " however much we might 
 like the Upton Seminary, it would be impossible for 
 us to find better teachers, or more agreeable com 
 panions, than at Eldon ; " and Mary added, with 
 glistening eyes, that " it was the pure moral and 
 religious atmosphere pervading the school which 
 made it so dear to her." 
 
 It was a chilling day in autumn, and, towards 
 night, the heavens opened their flood-gates, and the 
 rain fell with a sullen, continuous splash. We were 
 happily unconscious of the state of the weather until 
 we left the warm, light cars, when we received the 
 information that we had half an hour's drive to take 
 in the chill, wet evening. Shivering, and with dread 
 homesickness settling down upon our hearts, Cora 
 and I curled into one corner of the carriage. Our 
 merry driver told stories, and laughed at them him 
 self, but failed to awaken any interest in his hearers, 
 until he announced that the large gray building 
 that loomed up in the distance was the seminary. 
 
 We were shown into a handsome parlor. It was 
 unoccupied and partially lighted by the rays of a
 
 16 MARION LESTER, 
 
 large hanging lamp seen through an open door. We 
 could see distinctly into the adjoining room, which I 
 conclmded was a study ; for directly under the lamp 
 was a table covered with huge books, at which sat an 
 elderly gentleman, writing. "I wonder if that is 
 Dr. Severe?" whispered Cora, in slight trepidation. 
 
 " Hush ! he will come to meet us." But the 
 grave, stern face still bent over the table, and the 
 hand still flew over the page, as though their owner 
 was ignorant of our near presence. Our observations 
 were cut short by the entrance of two ladies, one tall 
 and dark, the other small and very fair. The dark 
 lady introduced herself as Mrs. Winthrop, the pre 
 ceptress, and her companion was Miss Ingols, the 
 music-teacher. Mrs. Winthrop welcomed us in a 
 stately, condescending manner, while Miss Ingols 
 quietly assisted in removing our many wrappings. 
 
 Five minutes were passed in answering matter-of- 
 course inquiries, when the doctor, at the study-table, 
 who had appeared totally oblivious of every surround 
 ing object, suddenly laid down his pen, and, walking 
 directly through the room, shook hands with Cora 
 ana myself, calling her Miss Lester and me Miss 
 Eaton. He was glad to see us; hoped that we 
 should be happy there ; recommended us to be studi 
 ous and attentive, and, with tfie same abruptness 
 with which he had entered the room, he walked
 
 MARION LESTER. 17 
 
 straight back to his study-table and resumed his 
 pen. 
 
 Miss Ingols now remarked that she should be 
 happy to entertain the young ladies in her own room, 
 if agreeable to Mrs. Winthrop. The stately lady 
 bowed in acquiescence ; so we rose and followed Miss 
 Ingols. It was a delightful room into which we 
 were ushered. A coal fire glowing in an open grate, 
 an elegant piano, a table covered with books, a 
 bright, soft carpet, and an inviting lounge, were 
 objects which my vision took in at one glance, with a 
 sensation of pleasure and relief. Noticing the weari 
 ness of my fragile Cora, Miss Ingols drew a stuffed 
 rocker near the fire for her, and gave me an ottoman 
 by her side. Her manners were the most quiet and 
 subdued I had ever seen in any one, and her voice 
 very low and gentle. While we were discussing our 
 supper (which had been brought into the room at her 
 request), she inquired about our studies and former 
 pursuits. 
 
 I knew, by the glance which Cora now and then 
 gave me, that she was deeply in love with gentle 
 Miss Ingols ; but I had not quite made up my mind 
 about her. She was so wonderfully quiet in her 
 words and manners, so entirely passive, so to speak, 
 that I asked myself fif- she had any spirit, any life, 
 any soul. 
 
 Cora looked so longingly at the piano, that Miss 
 2
 
 18 MARION LESTER. 
 
 Ingols guessed her wish, and, with a faint smile, sat 
 down to play. I gazed upon her, wondering if she 
 would play or sing in the same style in which she 
 moved and spoke. She touched the keys dreamily, 
 but the first strain acted like a spell upon her ; her 
 face lighted up, her eyes dilated with feeling, her 
 mouth opened, and such melody as gushed from her 
 lips ! The instrument was a splendid one, and yet 
 her wondrous voice rose above its tones, and mingled 
 with them, rich and clear. My bosom swelled, and 
 my eyes filled : my heart was thrilled to its lowest 
 depths. 
 
 0, yes, she had a soul ; an inspired one, I thought, 
 and music was its language ! 
 
 She left the piano and came back to the fire, ex 
 actly as before : upon her subdued countenance was 
 not a trace of the rapt enthusiasm with which she 
 had sung. I did not doubt her now ; I was sure I 
 should love her. But she seemed a mystery to me. 
 
 In about an hour we started for our own room in 
 fine spirits ; our ardor was somewhat damped, how 
 ever, when Miss Ingols informed us that our apart 
 ment was preoccupied by two young ladies, who had 
 been members of the school a long time. How vex 
 ing ! Cora and I had counted on a room all to our 
 selves, and now our privacy was to be always marred 
 by strangers. Miss Ingols introduced the two girls, 
 \fho rose from their books at our entrance, as Miss
 
 MARION LESTER. 19 
 
 Sarah and Miss Helen French, and then left us to 
 get acquainted, she said. But I was too much vexed 
 to be very gracious at first, and the glisten in Cora's 
 eyes spoke of tears near at hand. The young girls, 
 apparently not much prepossessed in our favor, went 
 soberly back to their books. They sat at a pretty 
 round table, which stood near their bed : on the other 
 side of the room were another bed and a similar 
 table, which Cora and I supposed were for our use. 
 We sat down to our table ; upon which Miss Sarah 
 rose up and lighted our lamp for us, in a very kind 
 manner. I thanked her, and Cora tried to smile : 
 but that homesick feeling had come back to our 
 hearts with full power. Cora whispered, "Let's 
 unpack our trunks." 
 
 " No, dear." I replied ; " I have no heart for it." 
 And so my darling leaned her head upon my 
 shoulder, while I tumbled over the school-books on 
 the table. There was a Bible among them, and, by 
 natural impulse, I opened the sacred book. I had 
 read the Bible much with my father, and he had 
 often told me that, though invaluable to the glad and 
 prosperous, it was doubly precious in seasons of de 
 pression and grief. I knew a few chapters would be 
 salutary in my present frame of mind ; and so Cora 
 and I quietly read from the same page, while our 
 companions across the room perused their lessons in 
 silence. 

 
 20 MARION LESTER. 
 
 " Nine o'clock, and I won't study a moment 
 longer ! " exclaimed Miss Helen, as a clock near by 
 told the hour. She packed away her books with a 
 great bustle. <; Sarah, Sarah, study hours are up ; 
 put away your slate." 
 
 " Don't bother me so; I must get out this problem 
 first," said Sarah, a little peevishly. 
 
 "Now, what if Arthur Willis should hear you 
 speak so shortly ; do you think he 'd pick up your 
 handkerchief again, and give it to you with such a 
 polite bow ? " 
 
 " Pshaw ! what is Arthur Willis to me ? " 
 
 " 0, nothing, I dare say ; though you do think he 
 is the handsomest fellow, with his black hair and 
 eyes, and superb whiskers. Now I would own him 
 handsome if he only wore mustaches. Can't you 
 coax him to, when you get a little better acquainted 
 with him ? " 
 
 "Do stop your nonsense, Helen," said Sarah, 
 rising, and putting away her books ; "it can't be 
 very interesting to our room-mates." The two girls 
 now came and sat near us, and I determined to make 
 amends for my former coldness. Helen opened her 
 eyes very wide as she saw what book I had been 
 reading; and, elongating her pert little face, she 
 asked, in a doleful voice, " Are you pious, Miss 
 Lester?"
 
 MARION LESTER. 21 
 
 The oddity and abruptness of the question con 
 founded me, and I stared at her without a reply. 
 
 "I wish you would be sensible," said Sarah, re 
 provingly. " If Miss Lester is pious, she don't wish 
 to boast of it ; and if she is not, of course it is n't 
 pleasant to be quizzed about it."* 
 
 <: I beg your pardon, Miss Lester ; I meant no 
 offence," said Helen, trying to look sober, but with 
 a wicked twinkle in her blue eye. " I 'm half afraid 
 you are pious, though ; but I know Miss Eaton is n't. 
 She loves fun as well as I do, if her face does say 
 ' homesick ' so plainly." 
 
 Cora laughed, and I laughed too, though I thought 
 Helen a very queer girl. In a few minutes we were 
 talking familiarly together, as if we had known one 
 another a month.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 MY SCHOOLMATES. 
 
 CORA'S kisses awoke me in the morning. Our 
 room-mates were dressing, and chattering like two 
 magpies ; so we sprang from the bed, and commenced 
 our toilet. 
 
 Sarah stood at the glass, combing out her fair curls ; 
 which I thought almost equal to the matchless 
 ringlets floating round Cora's head. Helen's spirits 
 were effervescing, as on the night before. " Sarah, 
 Sarah, I 'm waiting for the glass ! " 
 
 " In a minute, dear ; let me fix this last curl." 
 
 " 0, I forgot; you want to look very charming ! 
 But, mind you, Arthur Willis is going to be a minis 
 ter, and, of course, could not be ensnared by such 
 wicked things as curls." 
 
 " I am not taking any more pains than usual, I 
 assure you." 
 
 " 0, no, indeed ! not when Mr. Willis sits right 
 opposite you at table, and you think him so hand-
 
 MARION LESTER. 23 
 
 some ! Such hair and eyes ! but then he don't 
 wear mustaches ! What a pity ! " 
 
 "Hasn't this Arthur Willis, you say so much 
 about, anything to boast of but fine hair and eyes ? ; ' 
 I asked, suddenly. 
 
 "There, you are interested already!" cried 
 Helen. " 0, Sarah, my poor, dear Sarah, what 
 can you do ? Here is the accomplished Miss Lester, 
 interested before she has even seen him, and Miss 
 Eaton is far handsomer than you, with curls which 
 throw yours completely into the shade. Alas ! my 
 sister will die of a broken heart ; for what can she do 
 beside two such charmers?" Here Helen clasped 
 her hands with a half-comic, half-tragic air. 
 
 " If Mr. Willis has no other claim to our regard 
 than mere good looks, Miss Sarah need not fear me 
 as a rival," said Cora, laughing. 
 
 " Certainly, in that case she will have the field 
 entirely to- herself," added I. 
 
 Sarah turned from the glass with heightened color. 
 " Helen is always making fun, as you will soon find 
 out : but, in this case, she has no reason, for I am 
 scarcely acquainted with Mr. Willis ; and, besides, he 
 is grave and studious, and hardly ever speaks to a 
 girl in school. The professor says he is his best 
 scholar ; and he is very proud of him. as are all the 
 ministers. I dare say he would feel quite vexed if
 
 24 MARION LESTER. 
 
 he knew how freely his name was used by such silly 
 girls." 
 
 " There goes the breakfast-bell ! " cried Helen, 
 "and, as you have finished your grand explanation, 
 I beg leave to lead the way." 
 
 Among the many strange faces surrounding me at 
 the breakfast-table, I had no difficulty in selecting 
 him, who I was sure was Arthur Willis. His pale 
 countenance wore an expression of high intellectual 
 ity ; his hair was dark and wavy, and his eyes were 
 large, black, and mournful. I judged, from his ab 
 stracted air, that he had left his mind with his books. 
 He ate hastily, addressing no one. 
 
 By my side was a lad of sixteen, with a mirth- 
 loving face. He looked at me keenly, and asked 
 if I had recovered from the effects of my cold ride. 
 I then recognized him as our merry driver of last 
 night, and gave him my hand. " I am called Ed 
 Sanders," he said, by way of introduction. 
 
 " And I am Marion Lester, and this is my friend 
 Cora Eaton." He nodded graciously. 
 
 There was some quiet mischief going on at our end 
 of the table, and I soon discovered Ed Sanders to be 
 the perpetrator. But he looked grave enough for a 
 deacon, and passed round the bread, or butter, or 
 sugar, with commendable gallantry ; while, ever 
 and ajion, the girls opposite received whole batteries 
 of sugar-plums, from some mysterious source. A
 
 MARION LESTER. 25 
 
 shower of them fell among Cora's curls, and half a 
 dozen sailed gracefully upon my coffee. Mrs. Win 
 throp' s sharp gray eyes were turned upon us so often 
 that I really feared she would discover the sugar 
 plum sensation ; but Ed performed his part so well, 
 and the girls laughed and winked just in the right 
 time, so that she had not the remotest suspicion of it. 
 
 After breakfast and prayers, Cora and I were left 
 alone in the great dining-hall. Soon Mrs. Winthrop 
 appeared, and after delivering a little lecture, and 
 reading a formidable list of rules, she put us under 
 Miss Ingols' care, who was to tell us about our les 
 sons. Miss Ingols soon planned our studies for the 
 day, and left us with the agreeable permission to 
 remain an hour in her pleasant room, and study by 
 ourselves. 
 
 The weeks passed quickly away, and we became ac 
 customed to our new mode of life, and were contented 
 and happy. Cora, beautiful, happy-hearted Cora, 
 won all hearts ; she was so gay, and yet so gentle ; 
 so affectionate and winning ! And still I had the 
 satisfaction of knowing that she considered me her 
 first and dearest friend, in spite of the fond and flat 
 tering attentions showered upon her. 
 
 Dr. Severe was stern, and unbending in his man 
 ners, and, though a thorough teacher, I regarded him 
 with actual fear. Mrs. Winthrop (who was the pro 
 fessor's widowed sister) I distrusted ; but Miss In-
 
 26 MARION LESTER. 
 
 gols I loved and esteemed. Cora sympathized with 
 these feelings, though she stood much more in awe 
 of Mrs. Winthrop than I did. The other teachers 
 were agreeable and faithful ; but, as we saw them 
 only at recitation, they had less influence upon us. 
 
 We heard much about a certain Lizzie Williams, 
 who had long been a member of the school. She 
 was now detained at home, on account of her delicate 
 health. I had a curiosity to see this young lady, 
 about whom I heard such varied and contradictory 
 reports. Mrs. Winthrop pronounced her a perfect 
 Christian, a model for us all ; and loudly bewailed 
 her absence. Miss Ingols said she was a dear, good 
 girl, and some of the scholars agreed with her, while 
 others shook their heads, and intimated that they 
 thought her overbearing and haughty. 
 
 Ed Sanders told me in confidence, one day, that, in 
 spite of her beauty and talents, he disliked her ex 
 ceedingly. " She was shockingly pious, almost self- 
 righteous," in his opinion. 
 
 One morning Helen French, who always contrived 
 to be behindhand, ran into our room some minutes 
 after the rest of us were quietly seated at our lessons. 
 
 " 0, Sarah ! " she exclaimed, "your Miss Piety 
 has come ! " 
 
 " Whom do you mean? How I wish you would 
 call folks by their right names ! "
 
 MAKION LESTER. 27 
 
 " How dull you are, Sarah ! I mean Lizzie Wil 
 liams." 
 
 " Lizzie Williams ! " Sarah's face shone with 
 animation. " Are you sure she has come ; have you 
 seen her?" 
 
 " Yes, I have seen her. You know the room next 
 to Miss Ingols' has been reserved for her. As I went 
 by there just now, John was carrying in her trunk, 
 and Lizzie sat in a rocking-chair by the window. She 
 smiled and tried to speak, but a dreadful fit of cough 
 ing prevented her, and she turned her face away and 
 covered it with her handkerchief." 
 
 " Poor Lizzie, how I do want to see her ! I shan't 
 have a chance to see her until night, unless I run 
 down now a minute. I have a good mind to." Sarah 
 had gone to the door, and stood holding the handle 
 irresolutely. 
 
 " I thought it was against the rule to leave our 
 rooms during study hours," said Cora, innocently. 
 
 " To be sure it is," said Helen ; " but it will do no 
 harm unless she meets Mrs. Particular, which is n't 
 very likely at this time of day." 
 
 " I believe I'll venture," said Sarah, and she van 
 ished through the door. 
 
 She returned in half an hour, with flushed cheeks 
 and swimming eyes. Helen instantly understood the 
 difficulty, and exclaimed, "0, dear, and so the coast 
 was n't clear, after all ? "
 
 28 MARION LESTER. 
 
 "No," answered Sarah, struggling through her 
 tears ; "I met the professor himself on the stairs. 
 How he happened to be out of his study at that hour 
 I 'm sure I don't know ! But he did n't appear even 
 to see me, though my heart beat so loud I should 
 think he must have heard it. Thanking my stars at 
 my escape, I hurried into Lizzie's room. She was 
 very glad to see me, and we had a nice chat together ; 
 but, just as I began to think of coming back, Mrs. 
 Winthrop came into the room. She was very angry 
 with me, and said that for a punishment I must read 
 twenty extra lines in Virgil ; and how I am to do it 
 with all my other lessons I don't see ! " 
 
 "0, dreadful ! " cried Helen ; " twenty lines, and 
 you have just commenced reading it ! How I wish 
 we didn't study Latin! It is a hateful, dead lan 
 guage, not fit for girls to learn." 
 
 " I shall never get it all out," said Sarah, despair 
 ingly, while her tears fell fast upon the pages of her 
 book. 
 
 " I have learned my Italian lesson, and have ten 
 minutes to spare, so I can help you translate it," said 
 I, seating myself by her side. 
 
 She looked up gladly through her tears. " How 
 good you are ! I will accept your assistance, though 
 I suspect I don't deserve it." 
 
 Every evening, between the hours of six and seven,
 
 MARION LESTER. 29 
 
 the pupils were allowed to call upon each other in 
 their rooms. Sarah was eager to have Cora and I 
 become acquainted with her friend, Miss "Williams ; 
 therefore we took an early opportunity to call upon 
 her. The young lady welcomed us Avith graceful 
 ease. She . was a tall and queenly girl of twenty, 
 with dark eyes and hair. I felt saddened, as I read 
 upon her pale features, in unmistakable language, the 
 assurance that the consumptive's doom would be hers. 
 She was so cordial and agreeable that I could not but 
 be pleased with her. Cora and I both pronounced 
 her very lovable. Sarah looked delighted, but Helen 
 shook her head very knowingly. 
 
 The very next evening Lizzie Williams tapped at 
 our door, and was welcomed in with satisfaction. We 
 school-girls did not care about etiquette, but made and 
 returned calls at our pleasure. For a time we con 
 versed pleasantly upon such subjects as were upper 
 most in our minds. Then Lizzie, who sat by my 
 side, took my hand in hers. " My dear Miss Les 
 ter," she said, " have you a hope ? " 
 
 " A hope ! " I repeated, puzzled at her phraseol 
 ogy- 
 
 " Yes ; a hope in God ! " 
 
 " Certainly. How could I be without faith and 
 hope in God, when I am constantly receiving such 
 tokens of his love and mercy ; and his wisdom and 
 power are manifested in all the works of his hand ?
 
 30 MAKION LESTER. 
 
 Does not your question insinuate a want of intellect 
 ual perception, or moral appreciation, in me ? " 
 
 " You misunderstand me. I mean, have you a 
 special hope for yourself; do you feel that Christ 
 has accepted you as his own ? " Her dark eyes were 
 fixed upon me keenly. 
 
 I fully understood her now, and returned her 
 glance with one equally searching. " No, I am not 
 so presumptuous. I do not and cannot merit the 
 special favor of God, though his bounties have ever 
 been showered upon me. I know Christ died for me, 
 therefore I trust him, not myself." " % 
 
 She withdrew her hand, saying, in a changed ., 
 " I am disappointed in you ; I thought I nad ' ud 
 a congenial mind, one who could appreciate and 
 sympathize with my spiritual experience ; but I per 
 ceive I am mistaken." 
 
 After an awkward silence, she continued : " And 
 you, Cora Eaton, do not profess to be a Christian, any 
 more than your friend ? " 
 
 Cora turned her blue eyes to mine, but the silent 
 answer mine gave her, reassured her, and she said, 
 gently, " I am afraid I am too full of errors and mis 
 takes, to be worthy of the name ; but I wish to be a 
 true Christian ; I am trying to become one." 
 
 "That is it, darling Cora; you do try to be a 
 Christian, and I think you come the nearest to it of 
 any one I know."
 
 MARION LESTER. 31 
 
 " You have a strange manner of speaking, Miss 
 Lester," said Miss Williams, coldly. " I fancy you 
 wilfully misunderstand me ! " 
 
 I was too proud either to explain or defend myself, 
 and, as she rose to go, I haughtily wished her " good- 
 evening." 
 
 " There is Lizzie Williams to the very life ! " cried 
 Helen, as the door closed after her. " She is very 
 gracious, and gives her love to those who make great 
 professions, as she does, but is chilly as an iceberg 
 to us unregenerated mortals." 
 
 " You wrong her," said Sarah. " I own she is 
 strict in her notions, and wishes to have others con 
 form to her opinions ; yet she makes a friend of me, 
 and you know I ' make no profession.' ;: 
 
 "Ah, but you are a subject for hope," said the 
 gay girl, mockingly, " while I, at least, am incor 
 rigible."
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 INNOCENT AMUSEMENT CONDEMNED AND DEFENDED. 
 
 ALFRED EATON often wrote to his sister, always 
 sending a message to me, and sometimes enclosing a 
 half sheet for ' ' sister May,' ' as he often called me. A 
 little before New- Year's we received a missive, which 
 gave us special joy. He was having a few days' vaca 
 tion, and New- Year's he was to spend with William 
 Justin (his college chum), whose father, Judge Jus 
 tin, resided about a mile distant from our seminary. On 
 New- Year's eve the judge's lady was to give a party, 
 and William Justin had sent a request for her to 
 invite Cora and myself, for the sake of his friend 
 Alfred. 
 
 We were delighted at the prospect of meeting our 
 dear Alfred so soon, and when our notes of invitation 
 arrived, we hastened to obtain Mrs. Winthrop's per 
 mission to attend the party. Cora explained the 
 cause of our invitation, and the reason why we were 
 BO anxious to go. 
 
 The preceptress gravely turned over the little del-
 
 MARION LESTER. 33 
 
 icate, rose-colored notes, and expressed her regret 
 that we had received them. 
 
 " I have not seen Alfred for several months," 
 pleaded Cora. 
 
 " I presume you both wish to see your friend/' 
 said Mrs. Winthrop; " but I disapprove of large par 
 ties ; I never allow my pupils to attend them. And, 
 besides, the Justins are 'world's ' people." 
 
 " Are they not respectable people ? " I asked. 
 
 " 0, they are respectable, for aught I know ! 
 Judge Justin is an influential man. On the whole, it 
 would n't do to refuse them, though it is much against 
 my principles to let ' you go. Yes, I suppose I must 
 consent, if you will behave very circumspectly, and 
 return at an early hour." 
 
 Thanking her for her permission, though so re 
 luctantly given, we gladly escaped to our own room. 
 
 The eventful night arrived, and Cora and I arrayed 
 ourselves in our most becoming attire. Cora was 
 dressed in a light-blue silk, and I thought she needed 
 no other ornament than the rich curls which shaded 
 her snowy neck. I wore a rich crimson cashmere, 
 with a few snow-drops in my hair. 
 
 Judge Justin's carriage came for us, and to our 
 
 great joy we found Alfred within it. It was a happy 
 
 meeting, and we had so much to say to one another 
 
 -vthat the ride seemed far too short. As we entered 
 
 the brilliantly-lighted rooms, I thought Alfred had 
 
 3
 
 34 MARION LESTER. 
 
 grown handsomer and more noble-looking, and a feel 
 ing of pride and pleasure thrilled my heart as he 
 drew my arm tighter within his. 
 
 After being introduced to the members of the 
 household, we mingled with the guests. The apart 
 ments wore an air of elegance and taste I had rarely 
 seen. I soon discovered there were several learned 
 and distinguished men among the various groups. 
 Alfred pointed them out, and related anecdotes of 
 them. I soon missed Cora, and, looking round, saw 
 her leaving the room, leaning on the arm of William 
 Justin. Just then a rich burst of music swelled 
 through the house. 
 
 " They have gone to the dancing-hall," said Al 
 fred ; "let us join them. Half the young folks are 
 there already,'! presume." 
 
 Guided by the sounds of the music, we passed 
 through several rooms, until we stood at the door of 
 a spacious apartment, where a company of young 
 people were dancing. Soon Cora's light form met 
 m j eye. I knew by her sparkling face that her 
 pulses bounded in unison with the spirit of the scene. 
 She looked surpassingly beautiful, as with inimitable 
 grace she stepped to the stirring music. There was 
 a vacant space near us, which we appropriated, and 
 joined in the graceful exercises with keen zest. 
 
 After dancing some time I became weary, and, see 
 ing Cora on the opposite side of the room, Alfred
 
 MARION LESTER, 35 
 
 drew me to a retired seat, where we could converse 
 uninterruptedly. He leaned towards me, and com 
 menced speaking in earnest tones. " Marion, dear 
 Marion," he said, " I had an especial object in 
 planning this meeting. I wished to ask you a ques 
 tion, which most nearly concerns my happiness. 
 I have long loved you, Marion, and longed to call 
 you by a still dearer name than ' sister May.' I have 
 your father's permission to tell you of my love, and 
 now it is for you to complete my happiness." 
 
 I will not repeat all the arguments he offered, or 
 the thrilling words he breathed in my willing ear. 
 Suffice it to say that in half an hour we returned to 
 the company, fully, perfectly happy. An additional 
 lustre was radiated from my happy heart upon every 
 thing about me. I had long regarded Alfred with 
 more than a sister's tenderness, and now the senti 
 ment was acknowledged and understood, it became 
 enlarged and intensified, fully swaying my whole 
 heart. 
 
 When we retired to our chamber, I whispered my 
 precious secret in Cora's ear. The darling girl over 
 whelmed me with kisses and congratulations, and 
 playfully assured me that she had guessed Fred's 
 feelings, and had left us alone in order to give him 
 an opportunity to "pop the momentous question." 
 
 Several days after the party, we received a sum 
 mons to meet the preceptress in her private parlor.
 
 36 MARION LESTER. 
 
 "It is a bad omen," said Helen, who delivered the 
 message, with a shake of her pevt little head ; " it is 
 a very bad omen. I 'm afraid Mrs. Particular has a 
 heavy charge to bring against you two." 
 
 Cora began to look apprehensive, but brightened 
 somewhat when I reminded her that we had never 
 knowingly violated any regulation of the school, and 
 consequently we had nothing to fear. 
 
 Mrs. Winthrop received us with an air of stern 
 displeasure. " Young ladies, having given my con 
 sent for you to attend that party last week, as you 
 returned at a proper hour, I found no fault. But. 
 since then, I have learned that there was dancing on 
 that occasion, and I have sent for you to inquire if 
 you joined in that sinful amusement? " Seeing we 
 hesitated, she added, sharply, " Do not deny it, girls, 
 for I know the whole story." 
 
 Indignation burned on my cheeks, and flashed in 
 my eyes, but restraining myself, I answered, respect 
 fully, " We have neither of us a thought of denying 
 it ; we did both dance at the party." 
 
 Mrs. Winthrop threw up both hands, and leaned 
 back in her chair with a faint exclamation of horror 
 at my shameless declaration. Cora trembled, and 
 her eyes filled with tears. The expression of feeling 
 was so disproportionate to the occasion, that I looked 
 on, coolly waiting to see what would come of it all. 
 
 Mrs. Winthrop recovered herself, and regarded ua
 
 MARION LESTER. 37 
 
 with the air of an injured martyr. " By your con 
 duct you have injured my brother, the professor in 
 the institute ; you have injured me and every other 
 teacher here ; and disgraced every sober, religiously 
 inclined pupil, to say nothing of the disgrace which 
 you have brought upon yourselves. Dancing is a 
 worldly, sinful amusement, never countenanced ex 
 cept by worldly, sinful people. To think that two 
 young ladies under my charge should be induced to 
 indulge in it! I cannot express my shame and 
 grief! " 
 
 Really regretting I had offended the good lady's 
 strongest prejudice, I tried to appease her. "I am 
 very sorry to have incurred your displeasure, Mrs. 
 Winthrop, and I assure you, if we had known your 
 objection to dancing, we would willingly have refrained 
 from it." Her proudly-cut features were distorted 
 with passion. 
 
 " Marion Lester, you insult me ! Did n't know that 
 I had the strongest, the deadliest objection to all vain 
 and trifling amusements ? I, who have been professor 
 of religion since a child, who have been accounted an 
 humble Christian these dozen years ! Your knowl 
 edge of my character and of the character of this 
 institution must be very limited." 
 
 I tried to speak, to soothe her with reiterated 
 expressions of regret and apologies, but in vain. 
 
 " Do not apologize ; such dereliction from propriety
 
 38 MARION LESTER. 
 
 has no apology. My brother, the professor, is very 
 angry, and justly so ; but, thinking I could reprove 
 you best, he desired me to do so, and inflict such pen 
 alty as I thought " 
 
 " Stop, madam ! " I began, with an imperious ges 
 ture. I forgot I was a mere school-girl ; I forgot I 
 stood before one in authority. There was a proud 
 swelling in my heart, which bade me assert my supe 
 riority to such unjust, such petty tyranny. " I re 
 spect the opinions of my teachers, and express again 
 my sorrow at offending. "We have been taught to 
 consider dancing innocent and healthful, and did not 
 suppose that even professors of religion could object 
 to it, in a private house, with refined and moral com 
 pany. And as our own parents sanction a moderate 
 indulgence in the amusement, I beg, madam, you will 
 say nothing about the penalty you choose to inflict/' 
 
 Cora checked her tears, which had been flowing 
 freely, and gazed upon me, half in amazement, and 
 half in fear. 
 
 Mrs. Winthrop caught her breath, and looked at me 
 in profound astonishment. So new was opposition to 
 her, so unused was she to anything but the most 
 flattering respect and unquestioning submission, that 
 she half doubted her own ears. After a pause, in 
 which her countenance materially changed its expres 
 sion, she turned to my trembling friend, Cora, and 
 said : " You have manifested contrition, therefore I
 
 MARION LESTER. 39 
 
 will overlook your error, and receive you again into 
 my favor ; but you, Marion, are obstinate. Remem 
 ber, I regard you with extreme displeasure. Young 
 ladies, you may return to your books." 
 
 " 0, Marion, how could you, how did you dare 
 speak so to Mrs. Winthrop ? " 
 
 " You know, Cora, dear, I never oppose rightful 
 authority ; but I '11 not be tyrannized over, not 
 even by the powers that be. I did n't mean to be 
 impudent, though." 
 
 "You wasn't exactly impudent, but you looked 
 so superior, and spoke with such authority, that I was 
 frightened." 
 
 " But it had its effect," laughed I, " for ' Young 
 ladies, go to your books,' was the end of the confer 
 ence." 
 
 Time passed. Meanwhile, Cora and I progressed 
 rapidly in our studies, and gained in the friendship of 
 those about us. I conceived a strong attachment for 
 Miss Ingols, and she seemed fully to reciprocate the 
 sentiment. I sat alone with her oftener than any 
 other scholar, generally at her request. There was 
 a fascination for me in all her Avays, though she was 
 as unlike as possible my energetic, impulsive self. 
 Always quiet and placid as when I first saw her; 
 always wearing an expression of subdued melancholy 
 upon her features ; never smiling except a faint,
 
 40 MARION LESTER. 
 
 sweet smile, which was like a tiny ripple on the face 
 of a moonlit lake; she ever seemed a touching 
 mystery to me. I instinctively felt that beneath that 
 unruffled exterior lay slumbering passions and yearn 
 ings ; that she had a lofty, noble soul ; and in 
 music only did that hidden soul ever shine upon her 
 face. I have watched with painful anxiety to catch 
 even a faint trace of emotion upon her exquisitely 
 moulded features ; but never, in the most unguarded 
 moment, was pleasure or pain, approval or anger, 
 mirrored there. Only when her flying fingers 
 awoke slumbering melody, did her soul arise and 
 pour out its beauty in her wondrous voice. I felt 
 that she was good, that a strange mystery shadowed 
 her life ; and for this I loved her. 
 
 Cora was a favorite everywhere. Even Lizzie 
 Williams loved and caressed her. And Lizzie was 
 at times gracious and affectionate towards me. in 
 spite of the imaginary gulf which she placed between 
 us. 
 
 Said Cora to me one day, " There is something I 
 cannot understand ; something which has puzzled me 
 ever since we came to this school. Every one here 
 is very religious, or very frivolous, almost every 
 one, I mean. They run to extremes. Those who 
 are religious are always grave and solemn, and hold 
 themselves off from and above the others. Most of
 
 MARION LESTER. 41 
 
 the rest make mock of religion, and despise those 
 professing it." 
 
 "Yes, Cora, I have noticed this often, and with 
 great pain. There are a few exceptions ; Miss Ingols 
 is equally kind and considerate to all ; and one or two 
 are like Sarah French, half-way between, wishing to 
 get religion, but dreading to give up all pleasures and 
 amusements." 
 
 "Yes, Sarah is a good girl; but Helen often 
 shocks me with her strange speeches, as do some 
 others. The other day Ed Sanders said to me, 
 and I am sure he is a kind-hearted, well-meaning 
 fellow, that he hoped I should never get to be reli 
 gious. For his part, he hated religion ; there was no 
 reality in it ; people only wore it as a cloak to hide 
 their faults and selfishness. I asked if he thought 
 Miss Ingols was one of these ; he admitted that there 
 might be something in her professions, but he was 
 certain there wasn't another like her." 
 
 " Did n't you refer to Arthur Willis ? " 
 
 " I spoke of him, and Ed turned up his eyes very 
 knowingly, and declared that Arthur Willis had n't 
 any more religion than his old hat ! he was n't so 
 pious as some folks would like to have him." 
 
 "What an idea! I thought everybody liked Ar 
 thur Willis." 
 
 " So does Ed Sanders ; he says he is the best fel-
 
 42 MARION LESTER. 
 
 low in the world, but something will come to light 
 about him, of which few have even dreamed." 
 
 " What can he mean ? " 
 
 " I 'm sure I don't know. I wish he would n't 
 talk so about religion and its followers ; it shocks my 
 reverence, and shakes my confidence." 
 
 This conversation set me to pondering on the pain 
 ful extremes presented by the subject. The gloom 
 and asceticism, the self-righteous, " I-am-holier-than- 
 thou" spirit of the professed followers of Christ, on 
 the one hand ; on the other, light mockery, contempt, 
 or indifference, for sacred things. 
 
 I had been taught to regard religion as essential, 
 and the possession of it a most joyful thing ; but now 
 my mind was crossed with doubt and troubled with 
 perplexity. I had, hitherto, seen religion dressed in 
 light and beauty ; now it was all changed ; my heart 
 was frightened at the gloom it wore, and, shrinking 
 from the darkness shrouding it, I sought refuge in 
 the sunshine of earthly love. My parents grew 
 nearer and dearer to me, though we were separated 
 by time and distance ; more proudly, more fondly did 
 I watch Cora's increasing beauty ; but how can I tell 
 of the idolizing love which enshrined one image in my 
 heart ! him who had the keeping of my young affec 
 tions ! 
 
 God was described to me in majesty, in power, and
 
 MARION LESTER. 48 
 
 might, and terror ; and I was told to love him 
 supremely. 
 
 My heart rebelled, and I leaned confidingly upon 
 an arm of flesh. Ah ! in bitterness of spirit was I to 
 learn, that though earthly love is sweet and precious, 
 only Infinite love is a safe haven for the tempest- 
 tossed and heavy-laden spirit. 
 
 In my own home, under the guidance of my father, 
 who was a true and consistent Christian, I ever hailed 
 the Sabbath with delight. Then it was a day of se 
 rene and elevated pleasure ; a day of praise, of thanks 
 giving, and holy meditation. Then with rapture did 
 I contemplate the love of the All-Father. 
 
 A few months had wrought a great change in me. 
 Not that I had entirely forgotten my former "faith 
 and hope in God ; " not that the memory of other 
 joyful, peaceful days was wholly lost ; but the pres 
 ent seemed to hide the past: a mist had risen be 
 tween my present and former self. I was sometimes 
 critical and scorning ; sometimes hoping, often fear 
 ing, always doubting. 
 
 Here, Sunday was the most tiresome, oppressive 
 day of the week. Besides attending public services 
 three times each Sabbath, there was a long series of 
 Bible lessons, catechetical classes and prayer-meetings. 
 These duties, followed up with intense ardor by our 
 teachers, proved exhausting to my physical nature, 
 and highly detrimental to my mental powers. Each
 
 44 MARION LESTER. 
 
 Sunday night I retired to bed inexpressibly weary, 
 and painfully depressed in spirits. 
 
 Dr. Severe ministered at the church where all the 
 pupils attended worship. His cognomen seemed sin 
 gularly appropriate, and in the pulpit did he appear 
 most fully to merit it. His style was hard and severe; 
 but I listened with respect, for I gave him at least 
 the credit of sincerity. Often would he launch forth 
 into loud and startling denunciations, and thrilling 
 appeals for the sinner to " flee from the wrath to 
 come." In language which I cannot paint, would he 
 thunder forth the terrors of the Lord ; then, in sol 
 emn, awful tones would he warn the impenitent. 
 
 Thrilled with horror and half-disgust, have I often 
 turned to note the effect of his words. The audience 
 would generally be calm and unruffled ; many would 
 look indifferent, some abstracted, and a few in 
 tensely satisfied, as though the burning words were 
 bread to their hungry souls ; but here and there one, 
 the tender and sensitive, would tremble like reeds 
 before the blast. 
 
 Cora was one of these ; often would her cheeks 
 blanch and her eyes dilate with horror, and once she 
 leaned her head upon my shoulder with a hysterical 
 sob.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 MISS INGOLS. 
 
 ONE windy day our stove smoked fiercely ; there 
 fore we all took our books and sat by the dining- 
 room fire. Soon Ed Sanders came in from a recita 
 tion, balancing three or four books upon his head. 
 He nodded gayly ; " See, girls," he cried, " this is 
 my method of keeping my lessons from flying away, 
 after I have managed to get them into my brain ! 
 The heft of my geometry, Latin grammar, and lexi 
 con, all weighty books, I assure you, effectually 
 prevents the escape of any poor little lesson ; and if 
 I can never again recall a word of it, I have the sat 
 isfaction of knowing it is somewhere in my head." 
 
 We all smiled at his nonsense, and made room for 
 him by the fire ; for he was a general favorite with 
 the girls, he was always so good-humored and merry. 
 For a time we quite forgot our books, and laughed and 
 talked with Edwin, who was in his funniest mood. 
 Then I suddenly recollected we were breaking the
 
 46 MARION LESTER. 
 
 rule by talking in study hours, and withdrew to the 
 window, and resumed the study of my lesson. 
 
 Ed Sanders told such amusing stories that the 
 girls were convulsed with merriment, and Helen, 
 forgetting all restraint, laughed loudly. In a mo 
 ment the door opened, and Miss Ingols advanced into 
 the room. Instantly the laughing group became 
 silent and abashed. Self-condemnation was written 
 on every face ; not that Miss Ingols' manner expressed 
 reproof or displeasure, but we were ashamed of our 
 thoughtlessness. " I am sorry to see this," she said, 
 in her low and gentle tones ; " have you forgotten 
 there is a penalty attached to every rule ? or perhaps 
 you are of those who are content to do ' eye-ser 
 vice?'" then, observing me by the window, she 
 added, "I am glad there is one here who appears 
 to have a stronger sense of duty than the rest." 
 
 There was a slight struggle in my mind, for I val 
 ued her good opinion very highly ; but, scorning to 
 receive unmerited praise, I rose and said, boldly, 
 "You give me too much credit; I had just thought 
 of my duty, and retired by myself to study, when 
 you came in. I deserve to share in the reproof and 
 punishment of the rest." 
 
 " No," said Edwin, stepping forward, " I am the 
 only one to blame. I told stories to make the girls 
 laugh, and I suppose they could n't help it \ so, Misa
 
 MAKION LESTER. 47 
 
 Ingols, please to excuse them, and let me suffer the 
 penalty alone." 
 
 Miss Ingols smiled her own peculiar smile, so sel 
 dom seen upon her face, but which being once seen 
 could never be forgotten. " Such an exhibition of 
 candor and generosity is very gratifying to me," she 
 said, " and, believing you will all be more careful in 
 future, I will gladly pass over this departure from 
 order." So saying, she left the room as quietly and 
 gently as she came in. 
 
 Our gratitude was spoken by a few expressive 
 glances, and then, without a word, we turned to our 
 books. At noon Edwin came to me, and said, " If 
 all Christians were like Miss Ingols, I should be in 
 clined to think there was something in religion ; she 
 is so kind and good." 
 
 The girls all gathered around us, and heard the 
 closing of his sentence. "0, yes; she is so kind 
 and good ! " echoed every one. 
 
 "But," said Helen, "she distresses me, for all 
 that." 
 
 " How so ? " queried I. 
 
 " She is so immovable. It would actually be a 
 relief if she should even scold a little, now and then, 
 just for a change. Did she ever laugh, or did you 
 ever see her change the sad, sweet expression of her 
 face?" 
 
 We all agreed that we felt somewhat as she did,
 
 48 MARION LESTER. 
 
 yet she was very lovely for all that. " I have some 
 times thought," said Sarah, "that she must have had 
 a great affliction in early life, and it is the constant 
 memory of it which makes her so quiet and sad." 
 
 Every one assented to this ; it was a very reason 
 able supposition. 
 
 At this moment Arthur Willis sauntered into the 
 room. His countenance brightened as he noticed our 
 little group, and he came forward and saluted us with 
 graceful courtesy. Arthur could be very brilliant 
 and engaging when he chose. He was so now, and a 
 most animating conversation followed his addition to 
 our circle. At length Sarah changed the topic : 
 "Before you came in, Arthur, we were speaking of 
 Miss Ingols' singularly quiet manners, which never 
 alter at any circumstance. We all agreed that the 
 memory of some early affliction must be the cause of 
 it ; do you think so ? " 
 
 I regretted Sarah's question, for the young man 
 instantly assumed an abstracted air, which was some 
 what peculiar to him. " Yes." he said, as if talking 
 to himself, "Miss Ingols is singular; I should judge 
 by her ways that she had no sensibilities." 
 
 " But what do you assign as the reason for her 
 peculiarity?" persisted Sarah. 
 
 " I think it is religion." 
 
 "Arthur Willis!" I exclaimed, in unlimited 
 surprise.
 
 MARION LESTER. 49 
 
 He turned towards me and said, deprecatingly, 
 "It is only my opinion, Marion. I fully believe 
 religion to be the cause of her touching melancholy. 
 The hope, the joy, the light, is crushed from her 
 heart ! " He walked slowly away, with his arms 
 folded behind him and his head down, apparently 
 absorbed in some profound speculation. 
 
 We stood looking after him in blank surprise. 
 Helen pouted. "I say you are too bad, Sarah; if 
 you had n't asked him about Miss Ingols' queer ways, 
 he might have stayed with us till dinner-time, and it 
 isn't often that Arthur Willis chooses to play the 
 agreeable." 
 
 "How strangely he talked and acted! " said Sa 
 rah. " He has changed very much. A few months 
 ago he pored over his books night and day ; now he 
 has given up two studies, and spends half his time in 
 lounging about. He has grown odd and moody." 
 
 " Girls," said Edwin, " I beg you never to repeat 
 what he said ; it might injure his reputation, and he 
 is going to be a minister, you know." Then, rolling 
 up his roguish black eyes, he folded his arms and 
 bowed his head, in imitation of Arthur, and marched 
 after him. 
 
 4
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 NATURE. RELIGIOUS EXCITEMENT. 
 
 " It ig aa unwise to overtask the religions sensibilities, as to 
 exhaust the mental or bodily powers. * * * It is not the aim 
 of Providence to develop the Christian life in the soul by a suc 
 cession of spasms. It is a growth." Records of Bubbleton 
 Parish. 
 
 SPRING had come ! Light and beauty flooded the 
 earth ; melody and fragrance filled the air. My 
 heart leaped up to meet the embrace of renovated 
 nature, and drank in her heavenly influence. Brood 
 ing doubts and fears all fled away, and in their stead 
 came joy and hope. It was the smile of reviving 
 nature alone which had restored my wonted trust 
 and lightness of heart. The vivifying air seemed to 
 my sensitive ear whisperings of love from the Fa 
 ther's throne. The birds warbled, and the burden of 
 their song was love. Everywhere, in everything, 
 were the love and wisdom of the Infinite visible. 
 
 Nature is a true religious teacher ; by her we can 
 never be deceived or confused. "The. heavens
 
 MARION LESTER. 51 
 
 declare the glory of God. Day unto day uttereth. 
 speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge." 
 The Bible is often read with preconceived ideas and 
 prejudices ; man's vagaries and speculations confound 
 the Word of God, and cruel and selfish dogmas warp 
 the human mind. But the simple, the unlettered, 
 the veriest child, can read untaught from Nature's 
 open book. Love is its universal language, and 
 power and wisdom shine on every page. The reli 
 gion it teaches is one of joy and gladness, love and 
 trust. 
 
 One Saturday afternoon, in the latter part of April, 
 with spirits light and free, I joined a company of my 
 schoolmates for a ramble in the woods. For several 
 days I had been sad and anxious, for the roses on my 
 darling Cora's cheeks were fading, and the fitful 
 lustre of her eye was painful to behold. She " was 
 perfectly well," she said, " though perhaps not quite 
 so strong as usual." 
 
 " But you cough, Cora." 
 
 She insisted that was nothing; it was so very 
 slight it did not annoy her in the least. If she 
 coughed like Lizzie Williams she might, indeed, 
 take alarm. 
 
 Her reference to Lizzie Williams made me sadder 
 than before. Poor Lizzie had wasted away until she 
 was a mere shadow, and the physicians said that, 
 though she might live through the warm months, she
 
 52 MARION LESTER. 
 
 must certainly fade and die with the autumn flowers. 
 And yet she clung to active life with strange tenac 
 ity; she remained at school, and tried to study, 
 though often too weak to hold a book in her skeleton 
 hand. Lizzie was an orphan, and perhaps that was 
 the reason why she was permitted to remain at school 
 when she so much needed the retirement of home. 
 
 These thoughts saddened me, and the fear that 
 Cora might fade and pine as Lizzie had done, sent 
 keen anguish to my heart. 
 
 But on this bright spring day every trace of sad 
 ness was banished from my mind. The tide of life 
 flowed so freely in my veins, and so joyously did my 
 heart bound at the magic touch of spring-time, I felt 
 that Cora, too, must grow strong and glad in the 
 glorious sunshine. 
 
 Cora and I wandered from the rest. At length, 
 very weary, my friend sat down at the foot of a tow 
 ering oak. I scarcely observed her, so enraptured 
 was I with the fascinating scene. My enthusiasm 
 burst forth in words. " See, Cora, the deep, deep 
 blue of the sky, and how sweetly the delicate green 
 of the foliage blends with it ! Was the sunshine 
 ever so bright before ? Hear the birds sing ; they 
 are almost mad with joy. And there 0, Cora, as 
 I live, there 's a clump of violets half hid by that 
 mossy old stump ! " I was quite a child in my
 
 MARION LESTER. 53 
 
 demonstrations, as I sprang to secure the floral treas 
 ure. 
 
 " Here, dearest Cora, I give them to you, the first 
 flowers of spring. Just smell their delicious per 
 fume." But my pleasure was not reflected in the 
 eyes of my friend ; they were overcast with tears, and 
 her cherub lips quivered with suppressed emotion. 
 Cora in tears when spring smiled so beautifully upon 
 her ! She who loved nature with the intensity of 
 which such sensitive spirits as hers only are capable ! 
 The violets so eagerly appropriated, now fell uncared 
 for to the ground. I held the dear girl to my heart, 
 and kissed the tears from her sweet eyes. 
 
 " You are sick, darling, and I was so selfish I did 
 not see it before." 
 
 " 0, no, I 'm not sick; it isn't that ! " 
 
 "Yes, you must be unwell, or you'd not look so 
 mournful this bright day. When did we ever take a 
 ramble before, in which you did not outrun me, and 
 sing, and laugh, and find all the violets before I could 
 spy one ? I must write to your mother, and she will 
 send for you to go home and stay until you get back 
 your lost roses." 
 
 " Now, dear May, don't persuade me that I am 
 sick, for I am sure my health does not suffer in the 
 least, though my spirits do. Marion, there is a 
 weight upon my heart ; I am wretched." 
 
 "How can that be, Cora? I know of nothing
 
 54 MARION LESTER. 
 
 which should make you unhappy. I fear this is a 
 morbid state of mind, and wrong to indulge in. You 
 have ever delighted in spring, why should you not 
 now ? To enjoy our blessings with thankful hearts, 
 is the only way we can show our gratitude to the 
 great Giver." 
 
 A shade of real anguish crossed her features ; it 
 was touching to see that look upon her face, which 
 had ever reflected a heart all sunshine and peace. 
 " 0, dear friend," she exclaimed, "you will think 
 me very wicked, I 'm afraid I am, but I can't 
 help it ! This light and beauty make me sad ; it all 
 seems a dreadful mockery, a gilded show ! Spring 
 doesn't look as it once did to me." 
 
 I stood looking upon her in sorrow and perplexity. 
 Gradually a light dawned upon my mind. Remem 
 bering the doubts and fears which so shortly ago had 
 oppressed me, I thought how much more her sensitive 
 nature must be affected by the religious atmosphere 
 around us. I began to comprehend the state of her 
 mind, and to deplore it. Meditating what course to 
 pursue, I passed my arm about her, and proposed to 
 walk back. 
 
 As we passed along, every step displaying new 
 graces, my spirit caught an inspiration, and I dis 
 coursed with an eloquence which surprised myself of 
 the wisdom and goodness, of the infinite love, of Him 
 who ordained the seasons, and spread over the fair
 
 MARION LESTER. 55 
 
 earth such a mantle of beauty. I quoted from Scrip 
 ture, and from the words of our mutual friend and 
 brother, Alfred, whom we had often heard expatiate 
 most feelingly upon the blessed assurance which 
 nature gives, of the tender and merciful character 
 of the Creator. As I thus talked, I had the satisfac 
 tion of seeing Cora's countenance brighten. When 
 we came out from the woods, and beheld the sun going 
 down behind a splendid mass of golden and rose- 
 colored clouds, her eyes sparkled with their wonted 
 lustre, and her lips parted in a glad smile. 
 
 Just then our companions came running to find us. 
 They had woven an exquisite wreath of tiny leaves 
 and blossoms, and were loudly calling upon one 
 another to choose a queen. 
 
 ' ; Let us crown Cora Eaton ! " exclaimed one, " she 
 is the loveliest of us all." 
 
 'Yes, let Cora be our queen!" cried another, 
 " she is so modest and good ! " 
 
 "Yes, crown Cora! crown Cora!" echoed many 
 voices. 
 
 And so the pretty wreath was placed upon the head 
 of my blushing, yet delighted friend. Her face was 
 lit with smiles as she gracefully received the innocent 
 and affectionate tribute to her beauty. My heart 
 swelled with pleasure as I saw that all doubt and sor 
 row were exorcised, for the time, at least, from her 
 loving heart.
 
 56 MARION LESTER. 
 
 0, that a shadow had never again enshrouded my 
 precious Cora ! 0, that that tender plant, above all 
 others, had been spared the rude shock of that storm 
 which bows the spirit in the dust ! 
 
 We were not destined to enjoy much communion 
 with Spring, for all that time which should have been 
 spent in exercising in the open air, was now devoted 
 to religious meetings. The revival element was at 
 work in our midst. Dr. Severe redoubled his zeal. 
 His pulpit efforts were more pointed and definite than 
 ever, and his lectures in school more frequent and 
 energetic. 
 
 Mrs. Winthrop was in her element, as she mingled 
 with the scholars, exhorting, advising and reproving, 
 with a proud satisfaction. She resolved there should 
 be a " great awakening " in the school, and she labored 
 for that end with untiring assiduity. During the 
 week between the spring and summer terms there 
 was to be a great religious meeting in that place, and 
 her soul's desire was to fit and prepare as many of 
 her pupils as possible to join the church at that event 
 ful season. 
 
 Miss Ingols also labored for the same end, but in an 
 essentially different manner. Through affectionate 
 persuasion and gentle entreaty, she exercised a much 
 greater influence than either of her coadjutors in the 
 work.
 
 MARION LESTER. 5T 
 
 Sarah French was one of the first to be influenced 
 by the "awakening" power, and even Helen was at 
 times grave and subdued. A marked change was visi 
 ble in Cora ; she was nervous, almost irritable. She 
 was restless at night, and languid and moody by day. 
 I saw Avith pain that her health was suffering, though 
 she denied it, and was half-indignant if I intimated 
 that she was unwell. 
 
 I cannot exactly describe my feelings at this time. 
 I was distressed and perplexed. I was convinced that 
 the manner in which my schoolmates "got religion," 
 as they expressed it, was too hasty to be lasting. I 
 felt that the excitement was unnatural ; there was too 
 much profession, too much confusion, to meet with my 
 favor; and, yet, I knew instinctively that all my 
 strength of mind and force of character must be 
 brought to bear against this mighty influence, else I 
 should be swept away in its irresistible current. 
 
 Almost every night for a week there had been a 
 prayer-meeting, a conference, or some gathering of 
 the whole school, in order to keep up the religious 
 excitement. On a certain evening I had determined 
 with myself to remain quietly in my room, and, if 
 possible, to induce Cora to stay with me. Contrary 
 to my expectations she willingly consented ; she was 
 " so tired," she said, that she should like a quiet even 
 ing once more. 
 
 To my vexation, two of our schoolmates called into
 
 58 MARION LESTER. 
 
 our room just before the hour for conference to com 
 mence. (These meetings were all holden in the great 
 schoolroom.) The young ladies were shocked that I 
 should think of such a thing as absenting myself from 
 the conference, and begged me to change my determi 
 nation. I was resolute. "I have not had a decent 
 lesson for a Aveek, and I think it my duty to attend 
 more closely to my studies." 
 
 Helen laughed. " Now, I like it first-rate ; it is 
 a fine way to pass over my lessons. If I can't recite 
 well, I only look as pious as I can, and murmur some 
 thing about prayer-meeting or conference, and that is 
 the end of it." 
 
 Edna Marsh looked upon her in cool disdain, and 
 pronounced her a vain, giddy flirt. 
 
 Helen took fire at this, and snappishly declared she 
 had rather be vain and giddy, than to pretend to be 
 so mighty pious and good, as some folks did. 
 
 Edna colored, but did not deign a reply. She said 
 no more to me ; evidently my firm expression dis 
 heartened her ; so she attacked Cora. " You will go 
 with us, won't you, dear Cora ? What would Mrs. 
 Winthrop say at your absence ? Lizzie Williams wants 
 you to sit with her. Come, now, that's a good girl." 
 
 Cora looked from her to me irresolutely. I 
 answered for her, " No, she is going to stay with me." 
 But Edna took her hand, and was leading her off per 
 force. " Now, Cora," I pleaded, " you ought not to
 
 MARION LESTER. 59 
 
 go to-night ; you are tired and nervous. So much 
 excitement is bad for you ; it is unnatural and un- 
 healthful. Really, I shan't let you go." 
 
 But Cora was over-persuaded, and, kissing my 
 forehead, said she must brave my authority. I would 
 not return her caress, for I was much vexed; nor 
 would I look at her again, though I was conscious that 
 she turned back with a wounded expression as she left 
 the room. 
 
 Angry at what I considered perversity in Cora, 
 and still more grieved than angry, oppressed with 
 loneliness and disappointment, I laid my head upon 
 the table, and yielded to a burst of tears. After 
 some moments spent in the indulgence of my emo 
 tions, I hastily committed my lesson, and then retired 
 to rest before the return of my room-mates. 
 
 I was awakened in the night by low, suppressed 
 sobbings. Turning my head, I beheld Cora sitting up 
 in bed, in a most forlorn and despairing attitude, and 
 rocking her body backwards and forwards. I started 
 up in alarm, and besought her to tell me the cause 
 of her distress. She did not alter her position, nor 
 cease her piteous moaning. Shaking her by the 
 shoulder, I implored her to look up, and not weep so 
 wildly. 
 
 The full moon shone in through the parted curtain, 
 and I could distinctly see her face as she slowly 
 turned it towards mine. Its expression caused my
 
 60 MARION LESTER. 
 
 heart to quiver with an undefined fear. Every feat 
 ure was convulsed with agony; her dove-like eyes 
 were red and fearfully distended, and the veins in her 
 delicately-arched throat swollen almost to bursting. 
 
 "Cora, darling, what is the matter? Are you 
 sick ? has any one injured you ? or perhaps you have 
 had a frightful dream, and are not yet quite awakened 
 from it?" 
 
 "Dream! " she repeated in a thrilling whisper. 
 "It seems like an awful dream; but it isn't, for I 
 have n't slept. I don't dare go to sleep, for I might 
 die before I should wake ! And I have n't made my 
 peace with God ! I am so wicked, so wicked ! 0, 
 Marion, what shall I do ? " She clung to me con 
 vulsively, as though I could save her from some 
 threatened danger. 
 
 " Calm yourself, dear Cora; you are not wicked ; 
 you never committed a wilful sin in your life." 
 
 " O, yes I am ! " she persisted. " My heart is 
 dreadfully sinful and depraved ; and I don't know 
 how to get a new heart ! I 'm afraid I never can, I 
 am so wicked, so dreadful wicked ! " She resumed 
 her former position of abject despair, moaning and 
 sobbing like a sick babe. 
 
 Trembling for the sanity of my friend, I rose up 
 in haste, to get some nervine from a little medicine- 
 case which my thoughtful mother had placed in my 
 trunk. By dint of coaxing and scolding, I succeeded
 
 MARION LESTER. 61 
 
 'in inducing her to swallow a portion, and then, rock 
 ing her like an infant in my arms, I soothed her with 
 every endearing and encouraging word. At length 
 she fell asleep, and I laid her head upon the pillow. 
 
 Then, in bitterness of spirit, did I weep over my poor 
 wounded flower. How I reproached myself for my 
 momentary unkindness the evening before ! Poor 
 child ! she was not accountable ; for a strange fascina 
 tion dwelt in that very excitement which was a bane 
 to her life. 
 
 Can this be the efiect of real religion ? Does it 
 make the pure and innocent hearted shrink with ter 
 ror and alarm ? Can the message brought by Jesus 
 fill the sensitive and loving soul with bitterness and 
 woe ? Is such the religion I must seek ere I can be 
 saved ? Thus I queried, in sadness and doubt, as the 
 night waned. 
 
 Cora slept late in the morning. I told our room 
 mates she was sick in the night, and they stepped 
 lightly and spoke in whispers, fearing to awake the 
 pale sleeper. After breakfast, I found her up, but 
 languid and depressed. Mrs. Winthrop and Miss In- 
 gols both came in to inquire for her health. One 
 brought a dose of medicine, and the other a bunch of 
 flowers. They told her to do nothing, but remain 
 quiet all day. " You may stay in my room to-day, 
 or sit with Lizzie Williams ; she would be glad of 
 your company," said Miss Ingols. 

 
 62 MARION LESTER. 
 
 "Yes," added Mrs. Winthrop, "do anything you 
 please, only be sure and get well enough to attend our 
 meeting this evening." 
 
 I said nothing, while I inwardly resolved that she 
 should not attend the meeting if I could prevent her. 
 
 After tea, I managed to have Cora in our own room. 
 I persuaded her to lie down, and, to my great satis 
 faction, she soon fell asleep. Edna Marsh called again 
 at our door. "I suppose, Miss Lester," she said, 
 "you will not join our prayer-meeting to-night ; but, 
 of course, Cora will do so ? " 
 
 " I think she will not," I replied, pointing to the 
 beautiful slumberer. " She has been quite unwell to 
 day, and has just fallen asleep." 
 
 " She will probably awake soon. I will wait for 
 her, for I know she will be disappointed if I do not. 
 It can't hurt her to go to the meeting, as she will not 
 have to go out of doors." 
 
 " I am sure it would hurt her, and I shan't let her 
 go ; therefore, I beg you not to wait." 
 
 " Indeed ! you appear to have great authority here," 
 sneered Edna. 
 
 " Whether it be rightful authority or not, I mean 
 to maintain it on this occasion," retorted I, with spirit. 
 " Cora was dreadfully excited last night, and I know 
 that to be the entire cause of her illness to-day. I 
 mean to keep her as quiet as possible until she is 
 stronger in body and mind."
 
 MARION LESTER. 63 
 
 " I suppose it will do no good to dispute with you," 
 said Edna, spitefully ; " so I will leave ; but I must 
 confess I think your influence very pernicious ; " and, 
 with a disagreeable smile, she turned away. 
 
 Sarah and Helen, who had remained silent during 
 our colloquy, now rose to follow her. Helen paused 
 a moment to look affectionately upon the sleeping girl. 
 u Poor Cora," she whispered, " she does look very 
 pale ; I 'm glad, Marion, you sent that disagreeable 
 Edna away, for I can see she is bound to make a con 
 vert of her. Now, Cora and I are alike in some 
 things. We both like fun and frolic ; but Cora is 
 so sensitive and confiding, that she takes every ridicu 
 lous thing that 's said about religion as pure law and 
 gospel ; and I do believe, if Dr. Severe should tell her 
 it was wicked for her to have any heart at all, she 'd 
 think 't was just so. Excitement don't hurt me, it 
 does me good ; and I a' n't obliged to believe any more 
 of the preaching than I 'm a mind to." 
 
 " Dear Helen, don't talk so !" said Sarah, with a 
 sigh ; " I am afraid it is very wrong." 
 
 On the morrow, Cora was quite like herself, thanks 
 to a night of uninterrupted repose. I rejoiced in my 
 friend's improved looks, unconscious of the storm 
 hovering on the verge of my horizon. 
 
 " I am glad we can stay peaceably in our own rooms, 
 for once," said Helen, that night. " I 'm heartily sick 
 of these everlasting meetings. But you, poor Marion, : '
 
 64 MARION LESTER. 
 
 she continued, with a sympathizing face, "have got 
 to join a conference-meeting not of the most agreea 
 ble nature, I fear. I have just been called into Dr. 
 Severe's study, where he, and Mrs. Winthrop, and 
 Miss Ingols. were all seated in great state. They 
 wished to know if I knew why you had absented your 
 self from the evening meetings ; and, also, if I thought 
 you had tried to influence any of the scholars against 
 them. I assure you, dearest May, I was careful not 
 to commit you, and only admitted that you had per 
 suaded Cora to remain with you one night, on account 
 of her illness." 
 
 " Is that all they said? " I asked, in some appre 
 hension. 
 
 " No. The doctor bade me request Miss Lester to 
 go directly to him, as he wishes to hold some conver 
 sation with her." 
 
 The faces of my companions expressed anxiety and 
 sympathy. Cora really looked alarmed, so fearful 
 was she that she was the cause of my trouble. I did 
 not wait for any condolence, however, but went 
 directly to the professor's study. 
 
 " I venture to say this comes of that tattling, spite 
 ful Edna Marsh ! " was the indignant exclamation of 
 Helen, as I closed the door. 
 
 I tried to wear a dignified, unembarrassed air, but 
 my self-possession failed me as I crossed the thresh 
 old of the doctor's sanctum. The doctor adjusted his
 
 MARION LESTER. 65 
 
 glasses, and gazed at me in a sort of grave wonder. 
 Mrs. Winthrop threw upon me a quick repellant glance 
 from her sharp eyes, and curled her lip as though I 
 was an object of scorn. Miss Ingols' face was hidden 
 by her hand, which she did not remove once during 
 the whole interview. 
 
 An ominous silence reigned, as I sat down with a 
 loudly-beating heart. Dr. Severe' s harsh voice, as it 
 broke the silence, seemed to my frightened ears louder 
 and more grating than ever. 
 
 " I wish to converse with you," he said, " on a 
 very important subject, apparently a subject which 
 you regard lightly, but which is truly momentous. 
 Impelled by a desire to build up Christ's kingdom on 
 earth, wishing to save as many as possible from end 
 less death, I have, with my assistants, striven to 
 awaken the hearts of my pupils to the interests of 
 religion. And I am happy to say I have, in a meas 
 ure, succeeded ; for several already have given signs 
 of a hopeful conversion, and many more are awakened 
 to a sense of their danger. But one scholar, one 
 obstinate, unrepentant child, may counteract much of 
 this good influence. Such a person may, directly or 
 indirectly, either by words or example, prevent her 
 companions from seeking Christ, and thus imperil 
 their souls' salvation. Do you know such a one? 
 or have you no idea of your great accountability for 
 every word and act of your life ? " 
 5
 
 66 MARION LESTER. 
 
 I tried to reply, but the words died on my lipg. He 
 continued, with still greater severity : 
 
 " If your natural heart, vrhich is totally depraved 
 and sinful, causes you to be careless of your own sal 
 vation, why should you prevent others from seeking 
 eternal life ? " 
 
 I now rallied from the effect of his absurd and un 
 called-for accusations, and answered with considerable 
 dignity : " I would not be careless of my own salva 
 tion, which I know is of infinite importance ; much 
 less have I attempted to deter others from obtaining 
 salvation. You are mistaken, sir, in imputing such 
 thoughts or actions to me." 
 
 " Why, then, did you keep away from our evening 
 meetings?" asked Mrs. Winthrop, quickly. "Why 
 did you repeatedly urge Cora Eaton to remain with 
 you? And last night did you not overpower the 
 wishes of one deeply interested in her eternal welfare, 
 and send her away most insultingly ? What do you 
 mean by such phrases as ' unhealthful, unnatural 
 excitement ? ' ! 
 
 " First tell me why you tired so soon of our relig 
 ious meeting ? " asked the doctor, in a grave, author 
 itative way, very unlike his sister's taunting, half- 
 triumphant manner. 
 
 "I thought they took too much time from my 
 studies. I could not learn my lessons properly unless 
 I sat up nearly all night."
 
 MARION LESTER. 67 
 
 " Intellectual education is important," he said, 
 rather evading my direct answer to his question; 
 " but it sinks into insignificance when compared to 
 the interests of religion. I think your reason shows 
 little respect for the judgment of your teachers, and 
 sets your own will above theirs. Was your object, in 
 telling your friend Cora so much about * dangerous 
 excitement,' merely to keep her from the meetings so 
 that she could study better ? " 
 
 " No, sir." 
 
 " What, then, was your object? " 
 
 I dreaded the reception which I feared my answer 
 would meet. Hesitatingly I said : " Cora was very 
 nervous and excitable, and I thought she needed rest 
 and quiet. I really feared she would become sick if 
 her mind remained in such a state of agitation " 
 
 ' ' And so you tried to frighten her by talking about 
 dangerous excitement! " interrupted Mrs. Winthrop. 
 " You went so far as to say that her indisposition 
 yesterday was the effect of a highly- wrought state of 
 mind ! What ignorance ! what perversity ! " 
 
 " Truly my sister may say ' What ignorance, what 
 perversity ! '" said the doctor. " Cora was in a most 
 desirable state of mind. Her agitation was the striv 
 ing of the Spirit with her natural heart, and the 
 result might have been a glorious one had you not 
 interfered. I cannot express my regret. I fear your 
 influence is pernicious. Through your own admission.
 
 68 MAKION LESTER. 
 
 as well as from other sources, do I arrive at this con 
 clusion. If you continue to make such strange and 
 injurious remarks to your companions, or still keep 
 away from our religious meetings, I shall think it my 
 duty to remove you entirely from the society of your 
 friend Cora ; in short, give you a room to yourself, 
 with no companion whom you can contaminate. I 
 will wait a few days, to give you time to retrieve your 
 character, hoping, in the mean time, your heart will 
 be awakened to repentance and newness of life." 
 
 He rose, as a sign that he had done with me. I left 
 the room with streaming eyes, and a heart swelling 
 with wounded feeling and a deep sense of injustice. 
 
 Miss Ingols must have followed me quickly, for 
 before I had gained my door, her arm was about me, 
 and she drew my head upon her bosom. " Dear 
 Marion," she whispered ; " don't take it so much to 
 heart. I know, however much you may have mis 
 taken your duty, you meant no harm. I understand 
 you better than they. Only do right now, and they 
 will know you as I do." 
 
 I thanked her, but could say no more, so violent 
 was my emotion. 
 
 " Grod grant that this circumstance may not con 
 firm your prejudices against religion ! I beseech 
 you, Marion, to heed the instructions given you. 
 Perhaps you may yet obtain the 'pearl of great 
 price.' "
 
 MAKION LESTER. 69 
 
 The hall was dark, and I could not see her face ; 
 but there was an energy in her tones I never had 
 heard before, and the cheek pressed to mine was wet 
 with tears.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 A NEW METHOD, WHICH PROVES MORE EFFECTIVE 
 THAN THE FORMER. 
 
 I WAS unhappy. My first impulse was to write to 
 my parents, requesting them to take me home. But 
 second thoughts convinced me of the impropriety of 
 that course. My father and mother had just started 
 on a tour through the Western States, which would 
 occupy several months ; therefore our house was shut 
 up. I did not wish to pain my parents, as I knew it 
 would, if they were aware of all the circumstances 
 surrounding me ; and of course I could not, nor did I 
 wish to go to my now lonely home. 
 
 Therefore I resolved to remain, to perform my 
 duty, and be patient and submissive. I would outlive 
 the aspersions of those who so misunderstood me, and 
 prove them false by my uprightness of conduct. 
 
 Cora continued in the same fitful, excited state. 
 Often at midnight did she weep upon my bosom, 
 bemoaning her imaginary or exaggerated sins, and 
 shrinking from the wrath of God. At such times I
 
 MARION LESTER. 71 
 
 would soothe her as best I could, and afterwards keep 
 my own counsel, for experience had taught me to be 
 discreet. In every minute particular I strove to meet 
 the wishes of my teachers, and yet Mrs. Winthrop 
 was cold and severe ; and sometimes, when addressing 
 the scholars, the doctor would make some cutting 
 remark, so personal and rebuking that my cheeks 
 would tingle and my eyes swell with coming tears. 
 
 Between the hours of nine and eleven I practised 
 on Miss Ingols' piano, while she gave lessons in 
 another part of the house. On one occasion I took 
 my history with me, and after my practice I en 
 sconced myself on the wide, sunny window-seat, to 
 study. The adjoining room was Lizzie Williams', 
 where the pale invalid sat all day, in a large rocking- 
 chair, surrounded by her books. The door communi 
 cating between the two rooms was slightly ajar, and 
 I distinctly heard some persons enter Lizzie's room. 
 I recognized the voices of Mrs. Winthrop and Miss 
 Ingols, but did not heed the conversation until the 
 sound of my own name arrested my attention, and 
 I became the unwilling auditor of their colloquy. 
 
 " To be sure, since the occasion to which you re 
 fer, Marion Lester has attended every meeting, and I 
 have heard no more of her injurious speeches ; but 
 still I think her influence is to cool the zeal of many 
 of her companions. When all the rest are crying and 
 praying about her, she sits as immovable as a statue.
 
 72 MARION LESTER. 
 
 Now, if she had got religion, it would look very 
 proper in her ; but, as it is, I think it is sheer obsti 
 nacy." 
 
 " Dear Mrs. Winthrop," said Lizzie's feeble voice, 
 " I think you are mistaken ; perhaps she is praying 
 in her heart all the time." 
 
 "Perhaps so," was the reply, with a doubting 
 emphasis. " But what a contrast she is to Cora 
 Eaton ! She is a most promising convert, and, after 
 all our efforts, I can't say that of more than half a 
 dozen. Now Marion is very popular in the school, 
 and, she has such a ' taking ' way with her, if she 
 would seek religion many would follow her." 
 
 Now I heard the gentle tones of Miss Ingols. " I 
 think if she should become converted she might bring 
 many more into the fold of Christ. Though Marion 
 has strong feeling, I am convinced she will never 
 accept religion through fear, something besides her 
 emotions must be worked upon. She has a thinking 
 mind, and that must be affected. Her intellect must 
 question, her reason must be satisfied, before she can 
 be won over." 
 
 "Yes, that is it," was the reply; "she must be 
 reasoned with. I can talk with a dozen doctors bet 
 ter than I can with her, for she won't take a single 
 statement for granted, but must have a profound rea 
 son for every word I utter. I am quite in despair 
 about her."
 
 MAKION LESTER. 73 
 
 " Perhaps," suggested Miss Ingols, " we have not 
 taken the best course with her. We may have been 
 a little too harsh. A little persuasion and argument 
 might influence her." 
 
 " 0, I presume," said Mrs. Winthrop, in a quick, 
 sarcastic tone, " I presume my brother, the profes 
 sor, has made a great mistake in this instance ; and 
 you have the rare penetration to discover it, and 
 to analyze the incomprehensible character of this 
 young lady ! But, according to your theory, she 
 may yet be saved, for Rev. Mr. Delano will preach 
 next Sunday, and remain in the vicinity until 
 after the great convention. He is young and tal 
 ented, and people say he is very persuasive, and 
 wins a great many into the church. His gentle 
 hands may break the rock which resisted the fire and 
 steel!" 
 
 Miss Ingols' voice was sweet and unruffled, as she 
 said : 
 
 " It is very true that different minds must be influ 
 enced by different circumstances. I hope this Mr. 
 Delano will prove as you describe him, and win 
 Marion, as well as others, to Christ." 
 
 "0, I do hope so ! " said Lizzie, eagerly. " May 
 is a dear girl, and I long to have her enjoy salva 
 tion ! " 
 
 Mrs. Winthrop said, quite graciously, " I am sure 
 I hope so, too. Mr. Delano must be here as much aa
 
 74 MARION LESTER. 
 
 possible, and he shall have a chance to influence her, 
 for I am particularly anxious about Marion, as she 
 will lead the rest." 
 
 Here I slipped softly from my seat, and left 
 the room, agitated with various emotions. I was 
 half angry, half amused ; my pride was wounded ; 
 and yet I remembered that Lizzie had spoken of me 
 affectionately, and Miss Ingols with respect. 
 
 " And so they think me a wicked unregenerate ! " 
 I said to myself. " But there is a faint hope in this 
 Mr. Delano, he, with his youth, and talents, and 
 persuasive powers, may win me into the arms of the 
 church possibly ! ' He shall have every opportu 
 nity to influence her.' 0, yes, they will form an 
 amiable conspiracy to convert me, because I am pop 
 ular among my companions, and may lead them ! 
 Now, Marion, to be forewarned is to be twice armed. 
 Keep your reason clear, and don't yield at the first 
 alarm." 
 
 In spite of the great resistance I was to hold out 
 against this new instrument for making proselytes, I 
 had a girlish curiosity to see the young and talented 
 Delano. As he arose in the pulpit, I fastened my 
 eyes eagerly upon him. He was eminently handsome 
 his wavy hair was thrown up from his white brow ; 
 his brown eyes were lighted with a pleasant expres 
 sion ; his complexion was exceedingly delicate, and
 
 MARION LESTER. 75 
 
 his finely-cut lips parted, displaying two rows of 
 pearls. His voice was both musical and powerful, 
 and his address very graceful. He was, in person and 
 manner, calculated to captivate the imaginative and 
 susceptible. 
 
 Yet, when Arthur "Willis rose to lead in prayer 
 (he had, of late, sat in the pulpit and assisted in the 
 exercise, thus preparing himself to enter upon the 
 duties of the ministry), I thought his countenance 
 expressive of a higher intellectuality, and his simple 
 manner preferable to the studied grace of the other. 
 But, after all, he was too pale, too grave, and sad- 
 looking, to compare favorably with Mr. Delano. 
 
 The sermon was so unlike what I had ever heard 
 in that desk before ; it was so new, so beautiful in 
 conception, that I was delighted. It was brilliant, 
 poetic; with many bursts of real eloquence. His 
 subject was " God seen in Nature," and he handled 
 it in a masterly manner, scarce once touching upon 
 those grim doctrinal points to which I was so averse. 
 As he sat down in the hush succeeding his last lofty 
 flight of eloquence, I felt that I was vanquished 
 through my weakest points ; my fancy and imagina 
 tion were full-fed, my love for the beautiful and 
 poetic well satisfied. 
 
 The afternoon discourse was very different. His 
 style was tender and affecting, and his sermon a union 
 of the doctrinal and practical.
 
 76 MARION LESTER. 
 
 But, in the evening, it seemed as though he had 
 united all his forces to thrill his audience through 
 and through ; his oratory was the most singular and 
 effective I had ever heard. His voice was capable of 
 every intonation, and, with that powerful instrument, 
 he swayed his hearers at his pleasure. His descrip 
 tions were the most terrific, his appeals the most 
 direct and affecting. In language which I cannot 
 paint he described the lost, the deplorable state of 
 humanity. A visible shiver passed through many 
 forms, as he pictured the all-wise, all-powerful 
 Jehovah the Perfect, the Just ! He whose su 
 premacy was so awful, whose power was so infinite ! 
 And we. frail, trembling mortals, were alienated from 
 his love, and subjects of his eternal displeasure. The 
 same ideas, expressed in the harsh language and 
 stentorian voice of Dr. Severe, had filled me with 
 disgust ; but now the language and manner were so 
 different, that I was melted at once. The working 
 of the speaker's face, his flashing eye and impassioned 
 gestures, all attested that he was fearfully impressed 
 with his awful theme. 
 
 And then, when all hearts were quaking with fear, 
 he suddenly changed his deep and solemn tones to 
 the most tender and touching accents. He spoke of 
 Jesus, the kind, and merciful, and loving friend. 
 He called him the blessed Prince of peace, the willing 
 Saviour of all who would come to him. At the
 
 MARION LESTER. 77 
 
 right hand of the Father he was ever making inter 
 cession for the children of men ; and ever with out 
 stretched arms inviting the lost to rest in his bosom. 
 He was ever pleading, ever striving with sinful man ! 
 
 Then the preacher, with open arms and streaming 
 eyes, besought the lost wretches before him to flee to 
 that only refuge from the wrath of God ; to accept 
 the proffered mercy ere it were too late ; to throw 
 themselves into Jesus' arms, before death should 
 shut the gate of hope and seal their despair. 
 
 The effect upon the audience was electrical. Loud 
 sobs and suppressed shrieks attested to the high- 
 wrought state of feeling. I rose involuntarily to my 
 feet, with suffocation on my heart, and a burning, 
 agonizing fear scorching my brain. 
 
 0, Marion ! where now is thy clear reason, and 
 questioning mind? All deluged in the surging 
 waves of terror and alarm ! 
 
 On the morrow, when the school assembled for 
 prayers, Mr. Delano was present, and led in the 
 service. He made a very interesting speech, which 
 had the agreeable power of leaving both teachers and 
 pupils in a high state of self-satisfaction. As, with 
 hat in hand, he bowed his adieu, the professor in 
 vited him to attend the inquiry-meeting which was 
 appointed for the evening ; which invitation he prom 
 ised to accept.
 
 78 MARION LESTER. 
 
 Here was a new inducement for everybody to be 
 at the inquiry-meeting, for Mr. Delano enjoyed a 
 most enviable popularity, especially among the girls. 
 " He was the handsomest and smartest minister in 
 the world. He was a perfect darling ! " &c. &c. All 
 were loud in their praises, but Cora, who looked even 
 more sober than usual. 
 
 " Why don't you speak ? " said the lively Helen. 
 " Don't you think, Cora, he is a wonderful man ? 
 What a beautiful voice he has, and how affectingly he 
 talked last night ! Why, he made me shiver all over, 
 and when they all burst out a-crying, I certainly 
 thought I should go into fits ! Is n't he very elo 
 quent?" 
 
 I saw Cora's pale cheek turn still whiter, as Helen 
 so characteristically described the effects of his elo 
 quence. She smiled, however, as she said she 
 thought Mr. Delano a very remarkable man ; still, 
 she believed she was afraid of him. 
 
 " Afraid of him ! what a little mystery you are ! 
 But I must hurry up my lessons ; for what if Mr. 
 Delano should take it into his head to be present at 
 some of the recitations? " Here the giddy girl com 
 menced studying with great earnestness. This 
 remarkable fit of industry lasted just ten minutes, 
 and then Helen was flitting from one thing to 
 another about the same as usual. 
 
 At the inquiry-meeting I was more like myself
 
 MARION LESTER. 79 
 
 than on the preceding evening. I regretted I had 
 been so carried away by the excitement, and promised 
 myself that I would retain a firmer hold upon my 
 nerves and susceptibilities. Thus fortified, I was 
 enabled to remain tolerably calm while in the midst 
 of an unusually exciting meeting. 
 
 On "Wednesday the French girls, Cora and myself, 
 were invited by Mrs. Winthrop to spend the evening 
 with her in her private parlor. Helen was delighted, 
 and flew to the glass to rearrange her hair, mean 
 while chattering as fast as possible. " Mrs. Win 
 throp used to invite her scholars into her room when 
 ministers called there ; but now it is a great while 
 since she has done so. Mr. Delano will be there, of 
 course, and Arthur Willis, I dare say. I hope so, 
 at least, for I have n't spoken to a man or a boy, 
 for over a month, Dr. Severe excepted." 
 
 The strict rules of the seminary, forbidding all 
 conversation and communication between, the sexes, 
 were particularly obnoxious to Helen, who loved 
 dearly to " chat with the beaux," as she expressed it. 
 These rules had been rigidly enforced, until about the 
 time of my entrance into the school. An eccentric 
 patron of the institution had induced the doctor to 
 annul the most rigid of these regulations, and, for a 
 time, all the pupils met freely, at table, and in all 
 the public apartments of the institute. But in the 
 spring the old rules were put into active force again,
 
 80 MARION LESTER. 
 
 the doctor pronouncing the experiment he had tried 
 a most dangerous one, as the freedom allowed pro 
 duced too much mirth and hilarity among the scholars, 
 and distracted their attention from religious subjects. 
 
 But I am digressing. At first I felt pleased at 
 this unexpected compliment paid to my companions 
 and myself ; then the conversation I had overheard a 
 few days before, recurred to my memory, and mate 
 rially dampened my ardor. I gravely made a few 
 additions to my toilet, while the others laughed and 
 chatted in a flutter of anticipation. Resolving to be 
 very reserved during the whole evening, I followed 
 my friends into the parlor. 
 
 Both the doctor's and Mrs. Winthrop's reception 
 of me assured me of their restored favor. Darling 
 Cora felt it even before I did. I knew it by the 
 sudden joyful flash of her blue eye. As we expected, 
 Mr. Delano and Arthur "Willis were present, also 
 gentle Miss Ingols. After the ceremony of introduc 
 tion, we seated ourselves in a row, and Dr. Severe 
 and Mr. Delano resumed the thread of conversation 
 which our entrance had broken. 
 
 At first I was inclined to listen to their discussion 
 of some knotty theological point, but immediately 
 thinking better of it, I directed my attention to 
 Arthur. The young man was in a thoughtful mood, 
 and I could scarcely elicit a word from him. In fact, 
 we had a dull, prosy time for about half an hour,
 
 MARION LESTER. 81 
 
 when music was proposed, and I was requested to go 
 to the piano. As I passed Miss Ingols, she whis 
 pered, " Select sacred music, my dear." 
 
 Therefore, in accordance with her wish, I chose a 
 splendid anthem. After preluding a few notes, I 
 declared my inability to perform it alone, and 
 requested the rest to sing with me. Whereupon 
 Mr. Delano and Miss Ingols came and looked over 
 my shoulder. He sang the finest bass I had ever 
 heard, and her rich, flexible voice took up the alto. 
 Arthur found the place in another book, and Cora 
 looked over with him, he singing a clear, sweet tenor, 
 and she joining with me in the air. Altogether we 
 formed a grand quartet, and continued singing for 
 some time, charmed with our own melody. 
 
 We were all animated by the sweet influence of 
 the music; I felt my reserve and coldness melt 
 away before it, and we returned to our seats, quite a 
 cheerful group. 
 
 The doctor now excused himself, and retired to his 
 study. Mrs. Winthrop displayed a large pile of 
 " compositions," and, with Miss Ingols to assist her, 
 sat up to the table and engaged in the formidable 
 task of "correction." Then Mr. Delano took upon 
 himself the duty of entertaining the four maidens 
 seated silently on the sofa. There was no resisting 
 his persuasive, self-assurant manner, and, before we 
 6
 
 82 MARION LESTER. 
 
 were aware of it, we were all conversing in a familiar 
 strain with the wonderful minister. 
 
 Several efforts were made to draw Arthur into our 
 circle, but he was plunged, irrecoverably, into the 
 depths of a profound revery. 
 
 Evidently Mr. Delano had been informed of the 
 religious struggles in the minds of Cora and Sarah, 
 for he spoke to them in a brotherly and affectionate 
 manner. He called them young Christians ; he fully 
 understood their alternate hopes and fears, and sym 
 pathized with them in their painful struggles. He 
 adjured them not to yield to the promptings of the 
 adversary, but to be steadfast in the faith ; and, when 
 an opportunity offered, he advised them to be bap 
 tized and unite themselves with the church, that their 
 feet might stand on a more sure foundation, and also 
 that they might be an example to others. 
 
 Then he adroitly turned the conversation to Helen 
 and myself. He inquired what books we had read, 
 and which ones we liked best. We talked about our 
 various studies ; about our several homes and their 
 local circumstances. "When he learned that I was 
 interested in Natural Philosophy, he launched into a 
 pleasing description of certain experiments he had 
 seen performed, and gave us some new and useful 
 information on the subject. Helen had a taste for 
 botany, which he soon discovered, and delighted her
 
 MARION LESTER. 83 
 
 by promising to show her a splendid book of engrav 
 ings of a great many plants and flowers. 
 
 Thus pleasantly the time passed until nine o'clock, 
 and we retired, feeling that we had enjoyed a very 
 agreeable evening. 
 
 " Mr. Delano is a very entertaining man, and, 
 though he is a minister and very religious, he has 
 too much good taste to talk about his piety all the 
 time ; and is too much a gentleman to obtrude his 
 peculiar sentiments upon everybody. I like him for 
 that. I wish all pious people were as sensible." 
 These were my last drowsy reflections as the dream- 
 god shook his many-colored pinions above my pillow.
 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 
 
 SORROW. RENEWED STRUGGLES. 
 
 " The heart is made too sensitive 
 
 Life's daily pain to bear ; 
 
 It beats in music, but it beats 
 
 Beneath a deep despair." 
 
 A MESSENGER comes for Cora. Her mother is 
 sick, dying, and if she would behold her face ere 
 death has forever set his seal upon it, she must hasten 
 to her bedside ! I hold the dear girl in my arms, 
 and kiss away her tears ; but they keep coming 
 thicker arid faster, and she will not be comforted. 
 
 Then I fold her dresses and pack up her books, 
 making every arrangement for her, for the poor 
 stricken girl is powerless ! 
 
 One more embrace one more pressure of her hot 
 lips to mine, and she is gone ! I am alone, for the 
 sister of my love is absent. I am in grief, for now 
 has sorrow touched the heart of him, my best-loved 
 one! 
 
 I seize a pen, and fast the fair page is covered with
 
 MARION LESTER. 85 
 
 words. I cannot stay. Dear Alfred ! his heart is 
 in shadow ! I need not be chary of my tenderness 
 now, I do not now fear to pour out my whole soul to 
 him, for he needs it all to soften the sharpness of this 
 coming woe. 
 
 My tears are flowing fast, as I write fond words 
 of encouragement, of hope, and consolation ; then, all 
 moist with my tribute of sympathy, and glowing with 
 the fervor of my affection, the little missive is sealed 
 and sent on its healing errand ! 
 
 The three weeks that followed ! An age seemed 
 compassed in them ! Darkness, and fear, and doubt ; 
 torturous anguish by day, and blasting visions by 
 night, are my confused remembrances of them ! 
 
 I cannot describe how the firm ground of hope and 
 safety slipped from beneath my feet. I cannot tell 
 how I seemed to lose my identity, and all my former 
 instructions were forgotten, and my former pleasing 
 hope and shining faith were wrested from my grasp. 
 I only know that I became mentally isolated, as it 
 were, from all things else, and seemed drifting alone 
 on a dark and stormy sea, without a compass to guide, 
 or a haven in view ! 
 
 I thanked God Cora was not there to witness my 
 struggles. Her quick eye would have divined my 
 mental torture, and her loving heart would have 
 throbbed in pity for me. I could not have borne
 
 86 MARION LESTER. 
 
 that, in such a state of mind. I desired no sympa 
 thy, I shrank from exposing my inward strife to 
 another mind. Those about me thought me cold and 
 indifferent, when my soul was buried in itself, yet 
 quivering and burning with intensity of life. 
 
 Mr. Delano was almost constantly with the scholars. 
 He soon obtained a most unbounded influence over 
 many of them. He could reprove, exhort, and advise, 
 without giving offence, as easily as he could praise 
 and commend. And he was so kind and thoughtful, 
 and could do and say things as no one else could ! 
 He paid the most delicate attentions to Lizzie "Wil 
 liams. He often led her into the school-room, and 
 when a few were gathered into Mrs. Winthrop's 
 parlor, he would seat her in the easiest chair, and 
 place a footstool at her fee, as gently as a woman. 
 When she was more unwell than usual, he often sat 
 with her in her own room, and talked upon religion, 
 the theme she always chose. 
 
 And I, too, was often with them. A spell, a fas 
 cination, drew me to them, though I then thought it 
 was Lizzie's repeated invitations, and Mr. Delano's 
 pleasant welcome. They talked upon religion, and I 
 listened ; 't was so at first. Mr. Delano never 
 spoke directly to me at such times, and I might have 
 remained a mere listener had I been less inquiring, 
 less frank. But I broke the barrier by an abrupt
 
 MARION LESTEK. 87 
 
 question. I fancied I saw a flaw in his argument, 
 which I pointed out, and begged his explanation. 
 
 There was a flash in his eye, and a half-exultant 
 smile upon his lip, as he turned to answer me. 
 " Marion," he said, " your question gives me great 
 pleasure ; it shows you have thought upon the sub 
 ject, and only need a little guidance to put you in 
 the right way." He then went on to give a labored 
 explanation, with many metaphors and winding argu 
 ments. I had but a vague understanding of it when 
 he concluded, and could hardly tell what the original 
 point was which I had wished explained ; still, his 
 manner was so confident, I had not a doubt but his 
 explanation was perfect, and expressed myself satis 
 fied. Again and again were similar scenes enacted, 
 for my restless mind would question, and Mr. Delano 
 was always ready to talk with me. 
 
 I was young in years, and still younger in expe 
 rience. I was unskilled in argument, and unlearned 
 in theology, for that which my father had taught me 
 was simple love and good- will ; but this was so difier- 
 ent, so complicated, so awful, so mysterious ! I was 
 bound to understand it ; but, alas, I could not ! I 
 tried not to believe it, but an unbidden power forced 
 it upon my conviction. 
 
 At this stage of my experience, the spring term 
 closed. Then was holden the great convention. A 
 rush of people, a host of ministers, preaching, exhort-
 
 88 MARION LESTER. 
 
 ing, and praying, crying, groans of despair, and 
 shouts of glory, all mingle confusedly in my memories 
 of that time. On the first day of the meeting, twelve 
 of the scholars, including Sarah French and Edwin 
 Sanders, the once lively, religion-despising boy, with 
 several others, were baptized and taken into the 
 church. 
 
 To my surprise, Cora returned the day before the 
 close of the convention. Then I learned that the pro 
 fessor had written, requesting her to come at that 
 time. The lovely orphan was paler and sadder than 
 ever, and not, as I had expected, overwhelmed with 
 her grief, but unnaturally calm and still. 
 
 That evening Mr. Delano tapped at our door; 
 Sarah hastened to admit him. He looked upon us 
 affectionately. " Marion, Cora, Helen," he said, 
 " I am charged with a most important mission. To 
 morrow a great number of people are to be baptized 
 and united with the church. Dear girls, I trust you 
 will not let this opportunity pass unimproved ; give 
 me your names, and let me add them to the happy 
 number who will profess themselves the followers of 
 Christ. I know I need not tell you of the vast im 
 portance of the step I desire you to take ; it is essen 
 tial, necessary to your salvation, for, though it may 
 be possible to be a Christian and not of the church, 
 it is a dangerous ground for one to take. In the 
 bosom of the church you will be measurably guarded
 
 MARION LESTER. 89 
 
 and defended from evil. For you security and safety 
 can only be found in the company of the followers of 
 the Lord. I have striven with you all, others have 
 lent a helping hand, and, now that your minds are 
 prepared and your hearts softened, I pray you to take 
 the sacred vows upon you publicly acknowledge 
 your acceptance of Christ." 
 
 Helen began to weep, and covered her face with 
 her hands. 
 
 Cora said, in a gentle voice, " I will join them; 
 you may take my name." I was surprised at her 
 unmoved expression and quiet manner. Mr. Delano 
 smiled upon her ; he knew it would be so ; he was 
 sure she would not hesitate. 
 
 " And you, Marion, you, of course, wish to make 
 a public confession and acknowledgment of your 
 faith?" 
 
 " 0, sir," I cried, trembling, " I do wish it, I do 
 desire to, and yet I hesitate ! My parents bow at a 
 different altar ; they would be grieved, justly angry 
 with me, should I take such a step without their 
 advice or consent. I reproach myself for concealing 
 my experience from them ; let me write to them, and 
 then, perhaps, I may be permitted to " 
 
 " Marion, consider ! This is not a common ques 
 tion of filial duty, but the issue is life or death ! 
 Eternal life or eternal death ! Marion, consider ! 
 The Holy Spirit has striven with your natural
 
 90 MARION LESTER. 
 
 depravity ; you are now awakened to a sense of your 
 danger ; you believe Christ is your only refuge from 
 the doom which a just and offended God has pro 
 nounced upon the sinful world ; you are not in tbd 
 dark now. Marion; you cannot plead ignorance ; your 
 heart has been partially illuminated with divine light, 
 and yet you hesitate ! 0, my God, what may be 
 the consequences of this backwardness ! You will 
 fall back into your old state of coldness and indiffer 
 ence ; and, 0, how much worse were this last state 
 than the first ! Will the gate of mercy always be 
 open ? Can you at any time retrieve your lost estate ? 
 Do not be presumptuous, Marion ! " 
 
 He held my hand with an iron grasp, and his eagle 
 eye pierced my soul like a burning arrow. 
 
 "I do consider, I will not be presumptuous," I 
 gasped ; Ci but my dear, good father, how can I 
 wrong him so ! He will think me heedless of all his 
 love and goodness. 0, I 'm bewildered, I know not 
 what to do ! " 
 
 " 'T is a weak and wicked excuse ! The pleasures 
 of the world entice you ; your obdurate heart is yet 
 untouched by the refiner's fire." 
 
 " Not so, dear sir; Heaven be my witness that it is 
 only the respect which I owe to my parents, only my 
 fear of their grief and displeasure, which bids me 
 shrink from this duty." 
 
 " Mark your own words ' which bids me shrink
 
 MARION LESTER. 91 
 
 from this duty ! ' Then you feel it to be a duty, a 
 duty which involves an everlasting interest, and still 
 you shrink from it! Marion, this is weak, this is 
 cowardly ! Do you deem the displeasure of your 
 parents of more moment than the displeasure of your 
 God? There is a mighty responsibility devolving 
 upon you now ; but accept the proffered mercy through 
 Christ, become his professed and devoted follower, 
 and how possible, how probable it is, that you may 
 be the instrument, in the hands of God, of their 
 conversion their salvation ! How happy that 
 would be, how glorious ! And yet you hesitate, you 
 shrink from publicly devoting yourself to Christ. 
 Marion, you love your father and mother ; you say 
 they are good ; I implore you, for their sakes as well 
 as for your own, not to neglect this blessed opportu 
 nity. Now is the time to accept Jesus, and then a 
 blessed calm will steal over your soul. But refuse 
 him now, and it may be too late, forever too late ! " 
 
 His language filled me with terror. 0, was the 
 immortal destiny of three human souls dependent 
 upon the decision of one weak, simple maiden ! So 
 he argued, so I feared. I wrung my hands, weep 
 ing wildly. 
 
 He looked upon me with a softened expression, 
 and said, compassionately, " Poor child, you are be 
 wildered ; you cannot judge for yourself; trust in me ; 
 let me decide for you. Shall I not report your name
 
 92 MARION LESTER. 
 
 with the others, vrho are to be baptized to 
 morrow?" 
 
 Gasping and sobbing, I murmured, " I can't prom 
 ise you now, but to-morrow morning I will give 
 you my answer. 0, please, do leave me alone, for. 
 indeed, I can't bear any more ! " 
 
 I managed to restrain myself until he left the 
 room, with a sorrowful, disappointed expression upon 
 his handsome face. Then I threw myself upon the 
 bed, and rolled over and over, yielding, in passionate 
 cries and tears, to the tempest which raged through 
 my whole being. Heaven and hell, eternity itself, 
 seemed resting on my naked soul. 0, what a respon 
 sibility ! I, a frail, ignorant child, must decide the 
 awful question. Great God, why didst thou delegate 
 to thy creatures such dreadful power ? Better be a 
 beast a soulless rock than to run such a fearful 
 risk! 
 
 The tempest spent itself. I sat up, and looked 
 around upon my companions. 
 
 Cora sat motionless, with her small hands folded 
 in her lap. Like a beautiful statue she looked, with 
 her patient, mournful face. Her spirit was indrawn, 
 for she appeared unconscious of anything about her. 
 Helen's face was still hidden in her hands, and 
 Sarah stood by my side, with a frightened look. 
 " You are better," she said, with a sigh of relief. 
 " Dear Marion, dear Helen, only give yourselves up
 
 MARION LESTER. 93 
 
 to Christ, and you will be happy. Do, both of you, 
 consent to Mr. Delano's wishes." 
 
 "Helen," I cried, sharply, "will you be baptized? 
 will you join the church? " 
 
 She lifted up her tear-wet face, " No, Marion, I 
 cannot ! 0, perhaps I am tampering with my last 
 hope of heaven, but I cannot give up all the pleas 
 ures of this life ! I am only just sixteen, and the 
 world is so bright and beautiful to me ! I love to 
 dance and play ; I must laugh when my heart is full 
 of glee, no, I could not always be so grave and 
 melancholy as religious people are. But my father 
 and mother wish to have me baptized ; they are 
 frightened because I don't get religion ; but I can't 
 help it. I'm so young, now, there's plenty of 
 time, by-and-by I will repent and get religion." 
 
 Sarah looked perplexed, then brightened at a new 
 thought ; "I heard Mrs. Winthrop say she was going 
 round to talk with all the scholars to-night ; she will 
 be here soon, and perhaps she can influence you." 
 
 " 0, dear ! " I cried, bounding from the bed, "Mrs. 
 Winthrop is my aversion ! I will not stay here a 
 minute longer. I will go to Miss Ingols ; she is the 
 only one I am not afraid of." 
 
 Suiting the action to the word, I hastened through 
 the hall to Miss Ingols' room. My rap was answered 
 by a gentle " Come in." She was seated in the 
 middle of the room, unoccupied, and in a deeply
 
 94 MARION LESTER. 
 
 thoughtful attitude. I drew a footstool to her side, 
 and sat upon it, leaning my head on her lap. Her 
 small soft hand toyed with the stray locks on my 
 temples. Then all my fear and anguish tided back 
 upon my heart, and I wept and sobbed almost as 
 wildly as before. She let me cry without saying a 
 word until I became calm : then she spoke in her 
 usual even tones. 
 
 "I understand the cause of your emotion. Tour 
 mind has arrived at a crisis ; this is the decisive 
 hour of your life. I believe your heart, your judg 
 ment, will lead you aright." 
 
 I looked up into her face. " Then you wish me to 
 be baptized, and to join the church ? " 
 
 " Certainly, my dear ; I wish every one would be 
 baptized, and feel especially desirous for you, whom 
 I both love and esteem." 
 
 " Do you think baptism a saving ordinance? " 
 
 " Yes and yet perhaps not always ; at least, 
 it is very important. Those who have received bap 
 tism have stronger motives for living a Christian life, 
 and, believe me, the church is a great safeguard." 
 
 " But my parents think differently ; at least, they 
 are opposed to this church ; they say they have 
 wider and more liberal views of God and his govern 
 ment." 
 
 " In any other instance I should advise you to 
 honor the opinion of your parents ; but, Marion, this
 
 MARION LESTER. 95 
 
 has to do with your own soul. Let no earthly consid 
 eration come before its eternal interest. This talk 
 about wider and more liberal conceptions of God's 
 government is very dangerous. It leads men to 
 scepticism, and makes mockers of religion." 
 
 " Miss Ingols, I want to ask a question. I believe 
 you are truly pious, but you are always grave and 
 sad. Is it religion which makes you so ? Must I, too, 
 become melancholy, never smiling, never expressing 
 any emotions?" 
 
 " God forbid that the possession of religion should 
 affect you as it has me ! No, my dear, you may be 
 cheerful, you can be happy, though all worldly 
 pleasures and amusements are forbidden." 
 
 " But, pardon me, Miss Ingols, why does not your 
 religion give you joy ? Mrs. Winthrop, and Lizzie 
 Williams, and all other professors that I know, are 
 continually telling how happy their religion makes 
 them." 
 
 "0, because they believe it, while I feel it. It 
 sinks into my heart, deep into my heart, the 
 fearful depravity of man, and his awful responsibility. 
 I see, around me, hundreds hurrying to destruction, 
 and I am powerless to save them. 0, that sight 
 blasts my vision ! " She covered her pallid face 
 with her trembling hands. I was deeply affected at 
 this burst of feeling from her who ever maintained 
 such a nun-like repose of manner.
 
 96 MARION LESTER. 
 
 " You wonder at my emotion. 0, Marion, my 
 outward calm but hides the volcanic fires within ! " 
 She pressed her hand passionately upon her heart. 
 " Here is a living crater, and the burning lava never 
 ceases to fall upon my heart. Not often is the out 
 ward crust of coldness broken, but my love and anxi 
 ety for you have overthrown my self-control. Per 
 haps my sad experience may benefit you ; perhaps it 
 may decide you at this great crisis. In confidence 
 will I give you the secret which has blighted my 
 life." 
 
 " And in confidence will I receive it." 
 
 She drew me to her, pressed her lips upon my 
 forehead, and, with averted face, told her sad tale. 
 
 "I was a thoughtless, happy maiden, one of the 
 happiest in all the world. I was as sensitive and 
 confiding as your friend Cora, as merry and joyous 
 as Helen. At eighteen, a beautiful dream of love was 
 unfolded to my heart, and then I was ten times hap 
 pier than before. My Roland was so handsome, so 
 manly, so brave ! He was the very soul of generos 
 ity, and scorned a mean action. 0, I loved him with 
 my whole heart! He was my father's clerk, and 
 resided in our family. Day by day he seemed nearer 
 and dearer, and his love for me was manifested in his 
 every word and look. 
 
 " There was a revival in our village. The people 
 were awakened from their indifference, and many
 
 MARION LESTER. 97 
 
 found comfort in Jesus. I had scarcely had a serious 
 thought in all my life, but I was deeply impressed 
 now, and became one of the first converts. My faith 
 has never wavered since then. God knows I have 
 never regretted that hour but 0, others " 
 
 She caught her breath with a gasping sob, and was 
 silent. I felt her arm about me tremble violently. 
 " Dear Miss Ingols, if it gives you such pain, do not 
 tell me." 
 
 " No, no," she said quickly. " It cannot give me 
 more pain than I now feel. I need sympathy ; my 
 soul longs to pour out a portion of its woe into anoth 
 er's breast ; and, besides, Marion, you need the les 
 son. Well, Roland was not religious ; he did n't like 
 the revival. He was a great mimic, and he imitated 
 to perfection all the oddities and peculiarities of the 
 ministers. When I became converted he was more 
 tender of my feelings, but I could see that he felt just 
 as before. I felt deeply anxious for his salvation, 
 and one day I tried to reason with him. But he 
 laughed at me, and was so funny and merry that I 
 laughed too. He sprang upon his horse, which stood 
 saddled at the door, and, while pony was taking his 
 preliminary steps, said, the words are burned into 
 my memory, ' I tell you, Harriet, religion is all 
 a farce. Let those who like it play it ; I have no 
 faith in it ; ' and with a light laugh he rode away. 
 
 " Sick at heart, I turned to enter the house. 
 7
 
 98 MARION LESTER. 
 
 Right by my side stood our minister ; he had heard 
 Roland's last "words. He looked at me sharply, and 
 said, ' Girl, your heart is entangled with that young 
 man's ; you must draw him up to your standard, or 
 he will draw you down with him to perdition ! ' 
 
 " I burst into tears, and hid myself in my chamber. 
 There I made a vow that when he returned, I would 
 talk with him, and never leave him until I had 
 touched his heart. But, alas ! alas ! I never saw 
 him in life again ! In less than half an hour his 
 bleeding, mangled corpse was brought into the house. 
 And, 0, worse than the bitterness of death, he was 
 launched into eternity ! An awful gulf stretched 
 'twixt him and me ! His last thoughtless words 
 danced, like so many demons, before my reeling 
 senses ! 0, heavens ! Roland ! Roland ! " 
 
 She leaned heavily upon me, and from her labor 
 ing bosom came up such agonized moans as curdled 
 my blood with horror. 
 
 After a long pause, she spoke again. " The min 
 isters all said there was ' no hope, no hope for 
 such as he ; his portion was with the scoffers of 
 God.' I believed it then, I believe it now. For 
 weeks I was raving. 0, that my reason had never 
 been restored ! that I might forget ! But I can 
 not forget ! Ever in my ears is sounding ' No hope ! ' 
 and ever is my heart calling for Roland ! I have 
 lived within myself, wearing an outward garb of cold-
 
 MARION LESTER. 99 
 
 ness. And what are all the events of this life to me, 
 now ? I am dead to all the passions and emotions 
 common to us all, for this one living, deathless woe 
 fills my being." 
 
 I almost shrieked in painful sympathy. 
 
 "Marion," she said again, in a broken voice, " my 
 lesson is this : seek your own salvation ; then labor 
 for your friends, for all you love, and bring them 
 to the feet of Jesus. Do this, if you wish for a 
 moment's peace, here or hereafter. If I had kept 
 Roland by my side, if I had pleaded a little more 
 earnestly with him, he might have been saved ! But 
 now, unavailing, undying regret is only mine ! " 
 
 She leaned back in her chair, weak and powerless 
 with exhaustion. At that moment, as though my 
 high-wrought feelings must be strained to the great 
 est tension. Lizzie Williams entered from her bed 
 chamber. Her emaciated form was wrapped in a 
 long night-robe ; her thick, black hair hung loosely 
 upon her shoulders, and the lamp in her hand sent a 
 deathly glare upon her wan face. She came directly 
 to me, and twined her arm about my neck. " Dear 
 May," she said in the hollow tones of the consump 
 tive, "dear May, I know why you are here. The 
 adversary is striving for a final victory over you. 
 Eise up and be strong ; give your heart to Jesus, and 
 all will be well with you. 0, Marion, I have only 
 a little while to stay on earth, and my last request,
 
 100 MARION LESTER. 
 
 my dying wish, is that you should receive the bap 
 tism to-morrow. Promise me you will, I implore." 
 
 It was as though a voice had called upon me from 
 the grave. The fire in my veins seemed suddenly 
 turned to ice. 
 
 " Look up, dear friend, and say that you will ! " 
 
 My soul gave a great cry. 0, I would do any 
 thing, everything, all things required of me ! 
 
 " Yes, yes, yes, Lizzie I give you my word ! "
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 SCHOOL DUTIES AGAIN. ALFRED'S OPINION. 
 
 CORA and I were baptized, and formally received 
 into the church. Again did excitement burn on 
 Cora's cheek, and her apathy was changed to wild 
 enthusiasm. But I was like one walking in a trance. 
 The fearful agitation of yesterday now reacted power 
 fully : a numbness settled down upon my heart, and 
 pervaded my soul. Like an automaton, I passively 
 spoke and acted in obedience to every direction given 
 me. 
 
 I said I was very happy ; I imagined I was so, but 
 it was a very questionable sort of happiness, which 
 admitted both anxiety and fear. I was safe now, of 
 course, but my friends were in danger! A great, 
 proud resolve grew up in my heart I would con 
 vert them ! Yes, to me was delegated the priceless 
 privilege of leading those dear ones to the true altar. 
 I dreamed not of presumption, for were not the fool 
 ish things of this world to confound the wise ? 
 
 Poor Lizzie Williams grew rapidly worse. No
 
 102 MARION LESTEE. 
 
 longer could her most blinded friends doubt that 
 death had woven his meshes round the citadel of her 
 life. Her guardian came to take her away; he looked 
 inexpressibly shocked when he beheld the fearful 
 ravages made by disease upon the once blooming girl, 
 and gently chided her for concealing her real state 
 from him. 
 
 Her parting with her schoolmates was painful in 
 the extreme. Dissolved in tears, she flung her arms 
 about me. " 0, Marion," she cried, " I shall never 
 see you again ! " 
 
 " In heaven," I whispered, " we shall meet again ! 
 You are not afraid of death, Lizzie?" 
 
 " No, not for myself, but there are others. I have 
 a dear, good brother ; but, alas, he is unconverted ! 
 and I have remained here unconcernedly, when every 
 power of my being should have been exerted in his 
 behalf. 0, bitterly do I regret this error, for now 
 he may never find the way to Jesus ! Marion, do 
 you take a lesson from my painful contrition for this 
 neglect. You have dear parents and a lover. 0, 
 may these friends, dearer to you than all others, be 
 saved through your instrumentality ! Promise me, 
 Marion, that you will never cease to importune them 
 until they accept the proffered salvation. So, when 
 death shall take you by the hand, and bid you turn 
 your eyes away from earth, may you not feel this 
 regret which stinga me now ! "
 
 MARION LESTER. 103 
 
 She turned from me to say farewell to her mates 
 clustering round her, and then, almost fainting from 
 weakness, she was borne to the carriage. I never saw 
 her again. In a few days came the tidings that the 
 silver cord was loosed Lizzie was at rest ! I 
 believed that her spirit was welcomed to heaven, and 
 this thought mingled sweet consolation with my fall 
 ing tears. 
 
 One day Cora and I were told that a friend had 
 called to see us. We were both sure it was Alfred ; 
 and, eager to welcome him, we hastened to the recep 
 tion-room. He arose quickly as we entered, and, 
 opening his arms, drew us both to his heart. I met 
 him with a joyful face ; but when Cora sobbed upon 
 his breast, I recollected the death-stroke which had 
 robbed him of a mother since we had last parted. 
 There was a mournful shadow on his face, but it 
 passed quickly, and a look of hope and trust came 
 instead. He spoke to her such sweet and cheerful 
 words that she was soon calm, and -wiped away her 
 tears. 
 
 Then we sat upon the sofa, he encircling us both 
 with his arms. His dear presence seemed to animate 
 us both with unwonted joy. Cora was more like her 
 self than I had seen her for many a day, and April 
 smiles and tears sparkled over her face. Alfred 
 looked from her to me with love-lit eyes. " Here is 
 my whole world ! " he cried, "the whole world which 

 
 104 MARION LESTER. 
 
 my heart embraces ; and yet I must not forget the 
 struggling world without ; for ye, dearest ones, will I 
 pray first, then for my brother man." 
 
 I forgot everything in my joy at his presence, and 
 for a time our communion was like that of angels. 
 But a word broke the delightful spell. 
 
 " I hear there has been a revival in your school. 
 Have your hearts been shaken, and your nerves un 
 strung, by the commotion? " 
 
 There was a constrained pause. 
 
 At length Cora said, in a low voice, " Dear brother, 
 what should you say had it shaken the fetters from 
 our souls, and made us free ; and the scales from our 
 eyes, and given us sight? " 
 
 He turned his half-bewildered, questioning gaze 
 from her to me. "Yes, Alfred," I said, "this re- 
 yival has brought grace to our souls. We both of 
 us feel that we have ' new hearts,' born of the Holy 
 Ghost." 
 
 " Marion, Cora, do you mean that you have been 
 turned by fanatical excitement ? Am I to understand 
 that you have bartered away the faith of your fathers, 
 for a heartless, selfish creed? " 
 
 Wounded by his words, I drew back coldly. 
 "Your harsh adjectives are very unnecessary. You 
 are to understand that Cora and I have renounced the 
 wicked pleasures of the world, and joined the church 
 to which this school is connected."
 
 MARION LESTER. 105 
 
 The muscles of his face contracted, as though his 
 heart had received a sudden thrust. Putting us both 
 from him quickly, he walked back and forth, as was 
 his custom when laboring under any excitement. 
 
 I was so unprepared for such a show of feeling, that 
 I became confused and silent. 
 
 " What were you thinking of ? without informing 
 me, or even consulting your parents ! What infatua 
 tion ! 0, I was not prepared for this ! I had more 
 confidence in your strength of mind. I thought that 
 the religion of love and beauty was well grounded in 
 your hearts. Girls, girls ! I fear you have made ship 
 wreck of your happiness ! " 
 
 ''Alfred, dear brother! don't be angry with us ! 
 I know, if you consider upon it, you will not blame us, 
 and perhaps, in time, you will join us ; then we shall 
 be so happy ! " 
 
 ' ' Happy ! " He stopped short. " If I should ask 
 you, you would say you were never so happy before^ 
 when your altered looks deny it. 0, blind boy that 
 I have been ! I thought, Cora, that the extremes of 
 your passionate emotion and despairing calmness 
 were the effects of natural grief; now I see that the 
 worm of doubt had sapped the life of your heart." 
 
 His lip quivered, and tears stood out upon his 
 lashes. 
 
 I laid my hand upon his arm. " Dear Alfred, I 
 am sorry you have not known this before ; we have
 
 106 MARION LESTER. 
 
 done wrong in excluding our best friends from our 
 confidence. But I do not regret I pray I may 
 never regret the events which have shown me the 
 danger threatening my everlasting peace. Alfred, 
 our faiths differ ; shall that sever our affection? " 
 
 His affectionate nature could not resist the appeal. 
 "No, dearest May, Heaven forbid! Nothing shall 
 divide our hearts ! " 
 
 He took me by the hand, and we sat upon the sofa 
 again, as before. " I do not, I will not, blame you, 
 dear girls. Now I think of it calmly, I cannot 
 wonder at it. Two such loving and confiding hearts 
 it is not strange that your reason was overpowered. 
 And so you have been borne away in the fierce cur 
 rent of fanaticism, and stranded your faith on the 
 dark shore of partialism ! " 
 
 " Alfred, you talk very strangely ! " 
 
 "Do I, dear sister? I feel all that I say, and 
 more. I am older than you, and understand, better 
 than you, the wiles and persuasions of the so-called 
 ambassadors of -Christ. In college I am in the midst 
 of a fierce revival, yet I hold fast to my beautiful 
 faith. I am not ashamed of it, and I would not deny 
 it for honor or friends ! I am an especial object of 
 attack ; scoffs, and jeers, and cruel taunts, are levelled 
 at me ; I am branded as a heretic, because, forsooth, 
 I say that God is a loving Father, and unchangeable, 
 and that Christ died to save all. But I am the
 
 MARION LESTER. 107 
 
 stronger for opposition ! Then I am flattered ; my 
 love of approbation is appealed to ; my high place in 
 my class, my attainments, are all arrayed insinuatingly 
 before me ; but I scorn to be driven from my strong 
 hold by so weak an instrument ! Never, God help 
 ing me, will I deny my honest convictions ; and may 
 I not be left to a faith so dishonoring to Him ! " 
 
 I tried to bring my agitated mind to a point, that 
 I might speak to him with effect. I wished to warn 
 him against the fatal error under which he labored. 
 I would have assumed the office of mentor, and talked 
 to him as others had talked to me. But I could not 
 form a single reproving sentence. There was such a 
 manly earnestness in his manner, such decision in his 
 tone, that I shrank from confronting his position. So 
 I remained silent, thinking that, when time had soft 
 ened his prejudices, I would attempt to win him over. 
 Love might prevail where opposition and flattery had 
 failed. 
 
 There was an awkward silence, during which 
 Alfred looked down with a shaded brow. Suddenly 
 he raised his head, his old, familiar smile breaking 
 like light over his countenance. 
 
 { I thank God this step is not irrevocable ! When 
 you are removed from this chilling atmosphere, you 
 will soon turn to the true altar of love and hope." 
 
 " Do not flatter yourself that I shall renounce my 
 faith so easily. I was not quickly won, nor shall I
 
 108 MARION LESTER. 
 
 be quickly turned from my present ground of 
 hope." 
 
 " Well, Marion, we will not quarrel about it now, 
 for I see that superstition clouds your mind. I hope, 
 I pray, it may all be dissipated in time. I desire one 
 thing of you, May; you must immediately inform 
 your father of the change in your belief." 
 
 I readily promised, for conscience admonished me 
 to do so. 
 
 Now he rose to go, and seemed for the first time to 
 observe Cora's paleness and languor. "Why, Cora! " 
 he exclaimed, " how thin and pale you have grown ! 
 and you have a cough, that is bad." 
 
 It was nothing but a cold, Cora said, not worth 
 minding. 
 
 But Alfred looked troubled. " It is worth mind 
 ing, I fear. You must have some balsam. I will 
 buy a bottle and send you, and Marion must see that 
 you take it." 
 
 I promised, if Cora was inclined to be neglectful, I 
 would exert my authority ; she should certainly take 
 the balsam. 
 
 Cora smiled, saying she should be a very unresist 
 ing victim to my authority, for she did not object to 
 the balsam. Then Alfred embraced us both fondly, 
 and bade us adieu with a cheerfulness which my 
 instincts told me was forced and unnatural. 
 
 I wrote to my father, and the answer which I
 
 MARION LESTER. 109 
 
 received brought tears of mingled contrition and grief. 
 Thus it ran : 
 
 " My only, my precious child, what words can I 
 use to tell you of the wound inflicted by your letter ! 
 The contents came like a sharp and stinging rebuke 
 to my soul. 0, bitterly do I reproach myself for 
 placing you within the pale of such an improper in 
 fluence ! and your mother is weeping, and deploring 
 her own want of forethought and discretion. 
 
 " My Marion, do you forget the hours of religious 
 enjoyment which we have passed together, our read 
 ings, our communings with a loving Father, through 
 nature? Have I not taught you that mercy and 
 justice are equally blended in the divine character, 
 and that His spirit is love ? And now you reject all 
 those holy lessons, and, instead of the gospel, which 
 is ' good news,' you take to your heart a dark and 
 cruel creed ! Mercy is lost in stern justice, and the 
 Father forgotten in the offended God. Your only hope 
 is in Jesus ; and even he, who died for all, will be 
 defrauded of his own, through the wiles of the devil. 
 Are you better, are you happier, for such a faith ? 
 Does the word of God appear more luminous to your 
 understanding? or, rather, are you not plunged in 
 gloom, and does not the Bible seem a tangled web of 
 mystery ? 
 
 "0, Marion, if I had thought it would ever have 
 been thus with you ; were you dead I could not have 

 
 110 MARION LESTER. 
 
 mourned so bitterly ! But the Lord will answer my 
 ceaseless prayer ; you will again rejoice in his un 
 clouded love ! I do not reproach you, my child ; I 
 will never hlame you for what has passed; the sin 
 lies at my own door, and now I feel that the punish 
 ment is more than I can bear. 
 
 " I will come for you immediately, and in the pure 
 atmosphere of home may you be restored to your 
 right mind. " Your ever fond Father." 
 
 I showed this letter to my confidant, Miss Ingols, 
 who was filled with apprehension. If my father re 
 moved me from school so soon, I might be led astray ; 
 I might even fall from grace. 
 
 Trembling at the thought of so dire an event, I 
 asked her advice. She placidly studied the letter. 
 " I think your father is a good man, and feel that his 
 expressions of sorrow are sincere ; yet he is cherishing 
 a fatal error. Marion, it must be your task to dis 
 abuse his mind of the darkness which he fancies hangs 
 over yours." 
 
 " I hope I may be allowed to do so ; yet it must be 
 done more by actions than words ; for he is my father, 
 and I respect as well as love him." 
 
 " That makes me think you had a visit from your 
 friend, Alfred Eaton, the other day. Did you tell 
 him how you and Cora had found a new hope? " 
 
 "Yes."
 
 MARION LESTER. Ill 
 
 "What did he say?" 
 
 " At first he was half angry, and then he talked 
 much in the same strain that father does in his letter." 
 
 "And you were true to yourself, Marion? You 
 told him of the fallacy of his hopes, and of the supe 
 riority of the religion you profess? You warned 
 him with earnest and loving words ? " 
 
 I turned my crimsoning face away, and remained 
 silent. 
 
 " Marion, did you have any influence with him, or 
 was he very obstinate ? " 
 
 " I was very wrong, Miss Ingols, but, indeed, I 
 could not bring my heart to talk to him as I ought. 
 And his mother has just died ; I was so full of pity 
 and sympathy I could scarcely say anything." 
 
 She placed her hand upon my shoulder, and brought 
 my face round close to hers. Her voice was husky, 
 as she said, ' ' My dear Marion, what if you should 
 never see him again ? What if he should die unrepent 
 ant, and you had never spoken a word which should 
 give birth to even a thought of the true salvation ? 
 Did Lizzie Williams' last words fall unheeded on 
 your ears ? Has my own agonizing experience no 
 influence on your mind? " 
 
 I hid my face in her bosom and burst into tears. 
 " I am not blaming you, dear girl ; I only wish to 
 impress a true sense of your duty on your mind. 
 You will grow stronger in the Lord, and then you
 
 112 MARION LESTER. 
 
 will not fear to urge salvation upon any whom you 
 love. You are but a young Christian, just received 
 into the kingdom, and I would guard you from dan 
 ger. A few months longer in this place would be 
 of incalculable benefit to you. Could you only stay 
 through the fall term, as you have intended, I would 
 let you go without a word, feeling that you were 
 strong in the faith. You must beg your father to let 
 you stay. You have united yourself with this church ; 
 tell him that his taking you away from here would 
 not undo that act. Then urge upon him the neces 
 sity of remaining to complete the course of study 
 you have commenced. I think he will yield to your 
 persuasions." 
 
 I wrote as she directed, and, according to her pre 
 diction, my too indulgent father was overcome by my 
 arguments and entreaties. He gave a reluctant con 
 sent for me to continue there through the fall term ; 
 and, of course, Cora was to remain with me.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 MY GROWTH IN GRACE, SO CALLED. ARTHUR WILLIS. 
 
 THUS were the chains riveted about my soul. 
 Thus was a chilling theology indoctrinated more fully 
 into my mind, which sent its grim shadows down to 
 the innermost depths of my heart. 
 
 I strove to live consistently with my professions. 
 All my girlish grace and lightness of manner was 
 merged into an austere gravity. I walked and talked, 
 and worked and studied, with methodical exactness. 
 I attended every religious meeting, and regarded 
 every religious observance with unwearying patience. 
 I was by nature an enthusiast, and now that the 
 energies of my mind were all bent to this one point, 
 it was little wonder that I even went beyond my reli 
 gious models. 
 
 Even Lizzie Williams, in the height of her popu 
 larity, had never been so delighted in by her teachers, 
 nor so envied by her companions. Where I was 
 once disliked and distrusted, I was now a special 
 object of affection and admiration. Dr. Severe treated 
 8
 
 114 MARION LESTER. 
 
 me with marked kindness, and Mrs. Winthrop lav 
 ished upon me every term of praise and endearment. 
 My exemplary conduct was often referred to, and 
 many times have I been pointed out as a model 
 scholar and Christian. Flattery's most poisoned 
 draught was presented to my lips, and I drank. I 
 became proud, not of my beauty, nor dress, nor 
 wealth, nor station, not of my mind, nor its acquire 
 ments, but of my religious preferment, my fancied 
 spiritual improvement. 
 
 I came to think I was an object of God's special 
 favor ; to feel within myself that I was surely one of 
 his elect. I regarded all other sects and denomina 
 tions with a genuine aversion, and thought there was 
 little hope of heaven out of the pale of my own 
 church. 
 
 I look back upon the time of which I write, through 
 a long vista of quiet years, and I can comprehend 
 more clearly than then all my thoughts and emotions. 
 It was a blind infatuation which possessed me. A 
 fatal error clogged my spirit's pinions and bent them 
 earthward, when I would fain have soared above. 
 
 Withal I was not happy ; a continued unrest, an 
 unsatisfied longing, pervaded my soul. Then I would 
 think it was all my want of spiritual fervor, and I 
 would pray and wrestle with myself until exhausted 
 with mental agitation. 
 
 There were some backsliders among the converted
 
 MARIOX LESTER. 115 
 
 pupils, and it required great ingenuity and patience 
 on the part of the teachers to reclaim them. It was 
 once whispered about that Edwin Sanders had been 
 the perpetrator of a practical joke upon the professor ; 
 but the story was soon hushed up, for Edwin was a 
 member of the church. Yet nature was too strong 
 to remain always hidden beneath the imposed restraint, 
 and sometimes it displayed itself in wild freaks and 
 dare-devil fooleries, greatly to the discredit of his 
 professions. Still we had hopes for the wild boy, as 
 he invariably manifested great contrition for his sins, 
 and sometimes for a whole week would conduct with 
 unquestionable propriety. 
 
 I began to hear Arthur "Willis spoken of sneering- 
 ly, the irreproachable Arthur Willis ; what could 
 it mean ? I observed the doctor treated him coolly, 
 and that the young man himself appeared more un 
 happy and perplexed than before. Could it be pos 
 sible that the high hopes centred in him would be 
 disappointed ? So I feared ; and yet his noble counte 
 nance belied every aspersion which could be breathed 
 against him. 
 
 One evening Cora and I were with Miss Ingols. 
 listening to her charming music, when Arthur Willis 
 entered. He wished us good-evening, and expressed 
 his satisfaction at finding us all together, as he might 
 have no other chance to say good-by to us. 
 
 " Am I to understand," said Miss Ingols, leaving
 
 116 MARION LESTER. 
 
 the piano and placing a chair for him; " am I to 
 understand that you think of leaving us ? " 
 
 " Yes, Miss Ingols, I am going now, of my own 
 free will. I prefer to walk out like a man, than to 
 wait until I am driven, dogged out, hissed out ; or, 
 in more polite language, expelled ! " 
 
 His tone was the concentration of bitterness, and 
 his words surprising for one so gentle and refined. 
 
 " I am sorry you are going, and still more do I 
 regret your apparent dissatisfaction." 
 
 " I am glad to go where I can breathe freely ; and 
 I will never enter a religious hot-house again ! " 
 
 " I am in a perfect puzzle, Mr. Willis. Have you 
 quarrelled with the professor? Do explain your 
 self!" 
 
 " Miss Marion, I have, unfortunately, a mind of 
 my own, which must draw its own inferences, a mind 
 which cannot be bought, even for the sake of popular 
 ity or fortune. The coldness of former friends, and 
 the withdrawal of their support, cannot make me sec 
 truth in an absurdity, nor harmonize contrarieties. 
 I once thought the Bible a perfect guide, and had 
 confidence in Dr. Severe as an expounder of the 
 Word. I resolved to fit myself for a minister of the 
 gospel, and commenced my tutelage under Dr. Se 
 vere. But my heart questioned what my creed 
 asserted, and then my mind was thrown into per 
 plexity and confusion. The more I studied, the
 
 MARION LESTER. 117 
 
 more I pondered, the greater was my difficulty. A 
 great problem has been revolving in my mind for 
 months, and I can only conclude that the premises 
 are false. My first expressed doubt brought down 
 upon my head a sharp rebuke ; and, since then, as 
 my convictions have become more and more unsettled. 
 I am denounced as a come-outer, an infidel ! Argu 
 ment, entreaty, threats, alike have failed ; it is reason 
 I want, and that is not yet clear to my mind. In 
 two months I should have completed my studies, and 
 then I was to be ordained. But, of course, that could 
 not take place in my present state of mind, and so I 
 told the doctor. Goodness ! what a storm I had 
 raised ! Before, the house was almost too hot to hold 
 me, and now I am called an ingrate, a deceiver. I 
 am accused of purposely unsettling the minds of those 
 who have fallen back from the Christian ranks ; if it 
 had not been for me all who were converted might 
 yet have been humble devotees. Verily, if an earth 
 quake had swallowed us up, it would be a just penalty 
 for the harboring of a heretic such as I am ! " 
 
 He sat very upright during the delivery of this 
 speech. His usually pale face was flushed, and an 
 unwonted light flashed in his dark eye. 
 
 " Arthur Willis, you are beside yourself! " 
 " Make yourself easy, Marion ; I am nearer in my 
 right mind than I have been, and I shall be quite 
 sane when I have left this place. If, indeed, there is
 
 118 MARION LESTER. 
 
 a God, I almost doubt it sometimes, it is strange 
 he does not reveal himself more clearly to man, that 
 there might be no disputing about his government." 
 
 Cora's eyes were dilated and swimming in tears. 
 She laid her little hand on the young man's arm, and 
 said, gently, " I pray you never to question, in 
 thought, the existence of God ; rather seek his face, 
 and embrace his religion; then you will no more 
 doubt." 
 
 His expression changed, and he said, in a softened 
 voice, " What is this religion, Cora, which you would 
 have me obtain ? I cannot see it, I have never found 
 it. Is it not, after all, a phantom of the imagination, 
 rather than a reality? " 
 
 " 0, believe me, it is a reality, a necessity ! else 
 how can you be saved?" She turned away froin 
 him ; still I could see the bright drops fall through 
 her fingers as she essayed to hide her agitated face. 
 
 Miss Ingols now spoke : " Your error has been in 
 reasoning too much. There are mysteries in religion 
 which we cannot always fathom, and it is best to 
 leave speculation and argument alone. You will go 
 away for a little while, and then, when your mind is 
 rested, and has resumed its natural tone, you will 
 come back again, and all we have hoped for in your 
 behalf will be accomplished." 
 
 Arthur shook his head. "My dear lady, I shall 
 never voluntarily return. My heart is weaned from
 
 MARION LESTER. 119 
 
 everything pertaining to a ministerial profession, and 
 I assure you I shall never sue for the renewed friend 
 ship of those who tell me that a pure moral life will 
 avail me nothing at the last day, if I have not pro 
 fessed that something which men call religion. If 
 the highest morality is nothing in the sight of God, 
 and religion can exist without morality, then, indeed, 
 I would be an infidel rather than seek that reli 
 gion ! " 
 
 I was inexpressibly shocked, and yet I felt he had 
 been used unkindly. 
 
 " I perceive I am grieving you all, and this talk 
 is doing no good," he said, rising. " I will now bid 
 you good-by ; and if, when I am gone, you hear my 
 name coupled with reproach, remember how long I 
 battled with myself, and that at last I was driven 
 away by unkindness and unmerited scorn." 
 
 He shook hands with us severally, while his fine 
 face was contracted with the emotion he could not 
 wholly subdue. 
 
 " May the Lord follow you and lead you aright ! " 
 said Miss Ingols. The young man bowed and turned 
 away. 
 
 Soon Mrs. Winthrop appeared, with an air of 
 triumphant satisfaction. ' ' And so he has concluded 
 to go at last ; it will be a great relief to my mind." 
 
 "Do you mean Arthur Willis?" queried Miss 
 Ingols.
 
 120 MARION LESTER. 
 
 " To be sure. I am heartily glad he has the 
 sense to perceive that his presence here is a nuisance. 
 He has done no little harm in privately teaching his 
 infidel notions; and, even if he had never said a 
 word, it could not but have a bad influence for one 
 who intended to be a minister to take the stand that 
 he has. His mind has been in a ferment these six 
 months, and now he comes out a rank infidel. It is 
 so discouraging, so mortifying ! " 
 
 "It is a sad case," said Miss Ingols; " and yet I 
 think the word infidel is too harsh to apply to him. 
 And, begging your pardon, Mrs. Winthrop, I am 
 sure you wrong him in accusing him of intentionally 
 misleading others. He is one who cannot bear 
 harshness, and he feels that he has been condemned 
 unjustly. He goes away with bitter feelings, and I 
 fear that the very measures which have been taken 
 to convert him will, in the end, drive him to destruc 
 tion." 
 
 " Have you concluded, madam ? Have you arrayed 
 all your charges ? First, I am taken to task because 
 I call this young man what he undoubtedly is, an 
 infidel. Then you accuse me of making wrongful 
 charges against him. And, to crown all, you insinu 
 ate that my brother, the professor, has ill-treated 
 him, has been unnecessarily harsh towards him ! 
 This is too much ! Why, if the doctor has been at 
 fault at all, he has been too patient, too forbearing !
 
 MARION LESTER. 121 
 
 This is not the first time you have called our conduct 
 or our motives in question, and it is very displeasing 
 to me. You forget your place, Miss Ingols." 
 
 The indignant blood bounded to my brow. I 
 turned to see how Miss Ingols bore this insulting 
 harangue. Her countenance was unchanged, and 
 her voice as clear and sweet as ever. 
 
 " You mistake me, Mrs. Winthrop ; I call no one's 
 name in question ; I only expressed my opinion that 
 the best method had not been taken. I cannot but 
 regretfully feel that if a little more patience and 
 indulgence had been used, Arthur Willis might have 
 remained with us, and been eventually saved from 
 the danger now threatening him. 0, if his noble 
 soul is forever lost, what responsibility lieth here ! " 
 
 A sudden paleness overspread her face, and she 
 rose up quickly, and passed into her bed-chamber. 
 I understood the motion, and knew the anguish of 
 her crushed heart had swelled in renewed power, 
 and that for hours the black waves of woe would roll 
 over her soul, without one struggling ray of hope to 
 pierce the gloom. 
 
 " Well, Harriet Ingols is the strangest girl ! I 
 never could make her understand her place. But 
 why Cora, Marion, how came you here listening 
 to the conversation of your superiors? You are 
 guilty of a great impropriety. Go to your rooms, I 
 say, and study better manners ! "
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 AGAIN AT HOME. 
 
 THE fall term had closed, and we commenced 
 making arrangements to return to our homes. I was 
 glad, for Cora's sake, that our school duties were 
 over, as I felt that she was failing. The balsam, 
 which Alfred purchased for her cough, had not proved 
 very efficacious, and I saw, with alarm, that her 
 appetite and strength were fast forsaking her. But I 
 argued that a change of scene might benefit her, and 
 hoped much from the nursing of a good aunt of hers, 
 whom Alfred had persuaded to live with them. 
 
 My father came for us. There was nothing in 
 his fond greeting reminding me of the change which 
 had taken place in me since we had parted ; nothing 
 which betokened grief or displeasure on his part. 
 He was very kind and attentive, and solicitous for 
 our comfort in the smallest matters. On the journey 
 he pointed out every object of note or interest, and 
 talked about them in his usual instructive and enter 
 taining manner. And yet, in the pauses of conver-
 
 MARION LESTER. 123 
 
 sation, I was conscious that he studied my face with 
 painful anxiety. 
 
 I was grateful for his forbearance, and thought I 
 could only repay him with great delicacy and con 
 sideration. " And," said I, inwardly, " when he is 
 convinced that, after all, I am right and he is wrong, 
 we will love each other more than ever, and I shall 
 be so happy ! " 
 
 Animated with these hopes, the time passed quickly 
 to me. Before nightfall I was in my own home, with 
 my mother's welcoming voice in my ear, and her 
 tears and kisses on my cheek. 
 
 A year is a long time to be from home. A year ? 
 it seemed like three ! Now again in the dear, famil 
 iar place, my breast was overcharged with happy 
 emotion. 
 
 " I had not grown a bit, or altered in the least ! " 
 so declared my mother in her first salutation. But 
 when my bonnet and wrappings were removed, she 
 thought I had grown older, and lost some of my 
 bloom. 
 
 " Don't tell a girl of eighteen about losing her 
 bloom," said my father, laughing ; " she must wear 
 roses many a year yet." 
 
 " 0. I hope so ! She is tired now, and has 
 studied too hard, I dare say. You must do nothing 
 but rest yourself for a month, my love, and hunt up 
 all your favorite books and employments. See ;
 
 124 MARION LESTER. 
 
 May, I have brought your little work-table and 
 rocker into the parlor, so everything might seem 
 natural to you." 
 
 So I sat in my old familiar chair, with my dear 
 father and mother on either side. The incense of 
 affection was so delightful, and such pleasant memo 
 ries came thronging in upon my heart, that every fear 
 and anxiety was forgotten. There was nothing to 
 mar our first interview, and not a sad thought in 
 truded, save when I remembered that darling Cora 
 had no parents to welcome her. 
 
 A day or two after, Cora visited us, and as she 
 went away, my mother stood at the window watching 
 her thoughtfully. She turned, with a gentle sigh, 
 and seated herself by my side. 
 
 " Poor Cora ! '' she said, " how she is changed ! 
 She used to spving through the garden like a bird, 
 and her face "Aras like a gleam of sunshine ! Now 
 her step is slow and languid, and she is so still, and 
 pale, and sad, it makes my heart ache to look at 
 her." 
 
 " No wonder, mother ; her home is desolate. 
 Alfred is away, and she must be lonely only with 
 her aunt." 
 
 " Yes, poor child, she feels her bereavement sadly. 
 But that alone could not destroy every trace of her 
 joyous nature." 
 
 " Cora is unwell and low-spirited."
 
 MARION LESTER. 125 
 
 "I see that plainly enough, the dear, motherless 
 girl! I think she is consumptive. Yet, surely, 
 Marion, there is something more than common sorrow 
 and illness affecting her spirits. She is changed 
 every way ; I can hardly realize that she is the same 
 Cora Eaton who, one year ago, was the merriest, 
 wildest gypsy in town. And her laugh, May, you 
 used to say, was like the sweet gush of a bird's song. 
 Ah, she seems like a blighted flower ! And you, 
 my dear, are altered, too. When you were gone the 
 house seemed too still ; I used to long to hear your 
 loud, hearty laugh, and to see you dancing and hum 
 ming about your work ; but you are still and grave. 
 I fear, Marion, you are not as glad as you ought to 
 be, to come home again." 
 
 " Dear mother, don't say that ; I am glad to be 
 at home, and you and father never seemed dearer 
 to me ; but " Here tears choked my utterance, so 
 touched was I by my mother's tender reproaches. 
 
 "There, I've made you cry already, and I 
 promised your father I would never say a word to 
 grieve you, or which should sound like the shadow 
 of a reproach. Forgive me, May," she said, wip 
 ing away my tears, while her own came faster. 
 " I do not mean to find fault with you. I only am 
 to blame if the sunshine of your faith is turned to 
 coldness and gloom. 0, if I had listened to your
 
 126 MARION LESTEE. 
 
 good father's advice, this sorrow might have been 
 averted ! " 
 
 " Mother, mother, don't cry; it breaks my heart ! " 
 
 " There, I will be calm for your sake, darling ; 
 but, 0, it is sad to have the one star of our dwelling 
 dimmed and shaded to have our only child become 
 the victim of an iron theology ! for what else can I 
 call it, when I witness the transformation of two 
 such children of nature and joy ? But I am the 
 most to blame, and that makes my grief the more 
 bitter ! " 
 
 " Do not blame yourself, dear mother, for what I 
 bless you! " 
 
 " You bless me for it? My child, you know not 
 what you say ! But you never shall have anything 
 to cross or disturb you. Your father says that, if 
 you are not opposed, your mind may, in time, out 
 grow these errors and prejudices." 
 
 " Dear mother, hear me ; I am not unhappy, at 
 least, I shall not be when you and father have 
 accepted the true salvation. If I am changed in 
 appearance, 't is because I now see the responsibili 
 ties, the stern realities of life, where I once only 
 beheld the sunny side. I hope and pray I may be 
 the instrument, in the hands of God, of the conver 
 sion and ultimate salvation of those I love. When 
 you think as I do, you will rejoice in the events 
 which you now lament."
 
 MARION LESTER. 127 
 
 " My child, think not you can turn your parents 
 from their altar of faith. I am indeed unworthy to 
 be called a Christian, but your father is one in the 
 truest sense. For many years he has taken Christ 
 for his guide, and prayerfully, earnestly, has he tried 
 to walk in his steps. I have been a worldly woman, 
 and yet I have long felt the need of genuine reli 
 gion. Now will I seek it more earnestly than ever, 
 not that I may be saved from endless woe, but that I 
 may rejoice, as the children of God rejoice ! The 
 religion of which I speak will make life brighter 
 and heaven nearer. It is fittest for the young, as 
 well as for the old; for the gay, as for the sad. 
 It dries the mourner's tears, and illumines every 
 shadow of life. That you, my precious child, may 
 enjoy this religion, is the ceaseless prayer of my 
 heart!" 
 
 She arose with a dignity which awed me, while 
 her face, still wet with tears, was eloquent with high 
 hope and trust. 
 
 She left me to my reflections, and sad and confus 
 ing they were. Conscience whispered severe re 
 proaches. Instead of warning her of her danger, 
 instead of weeping and praying with her, and telling 
 her of my agonizing fears, and yearning hopes, I 
 had allowed myself to be overcome by her regrets. 
 I had not even defended my position with Christian 
 zeal. Ah ! with deep reverence and affection on the
 
 128 MARION LESTER. 
 
 one side, and threatened desolation and separation 
 on the other, I was painfully bewildered. "But 
 another time I will be firmer ; " and so I put aside 
 the imaginary duty, which, though unpleasant, I 
 deemed unavoidable.
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE MINISTER AND HIS WIFE. SUNDAY. 
 
 "WELL, Marion, how do you like our minis 
 ter?" 
 
 "I cannot say that I like him very much." 
 
 "I suppose my daughter can give her reasons for 
 not being pleased with one who is universally admired 
 and beloved ? " 
 
 " Why, he is I can't exactly say he is gay and 
 trifling and he is sufficiently dignified but he is 
 so has such a brisk, cheerful way, that I can't like 
 in a minister." 
 
 "How would you have him appear? I suppose 
 you think ministers ought to look sad and solemn, 
 always talking and acting as though they were at 
 somebody's funeral." 
 
 " No. father, not so bad as that ; still, it seems, if 
 a minister feels the responsibilities of his office very 
 sensibly, and realizes the sinfulness of man, that he 
 will always be grave and serious." 
 
 " Gravity and seriousness certainly become the 
 9
 
 130 MARION LESTER. 
 
 sacred office ; but Mr. Whitney is a very social man, 
 and in friendly intercourse is always cheerful, and 
 sometimes witty and merry. This I consider per 
 fectly consistent, as the faith he proclaims is a bright 
 and glorious one. The gospel he preaches is ' good 
 news to all people ; ' so, why should he not wear a 
 smiling face and a glad heart? " 
 
 I did not immediately answer, but sat looking into 
 the fire, as though I might find there a suitable reply. 
 My kind father did not press his question, and, observ 
 ing my thoughtful air, he opened his evening paper, 
 and began to peruse it. 
 
 This talk was about the young pastor of the society 
 of which my father was a member. He had been 
 located there about five months. His bride was 
 Mary Benton, the young lady introduced in the first 
 chapter ; her sister Emma now occupied her place as 
 assistant teacher in the Eldon Institute. 
 
 The praises of the minister and his wife were on 
 everybody's lips. His talents, and goodness, and 
 genial manners, were proclaimed at the mention of his 
 name. And Mrs. Whitney was the dearest, sweetest 
 woman in the world ! Everybody loved her ; the 
 rich and genteel admired her refined dignity, of man 
 ner, and the poor and suffering called her their good 
 angel. Where there was sickness or mourning, 
 wherever temporal or spiritual food was needed, there
 
 MARION LESTER. 131 
 
 was lovely Mary Whitney by the side of her noble 
 husband. 
 
 Thus were the characters of the minister and his 
 wife pictured to me, and, had not my mind been 
 warped by prejudice, I should have appreciated and 
 loved them at once. 
 
 As it was, I felt embarrassed and half-annoyed 
 when informed that Mr. and Mrs. Whitney had called, 
 and were awaiting me in the parlor. I entered the 
 room, feeling a little awkward. My constraint was 
 quickly dissipated, however, by Mrs. Whitney's easy, 
 affectionate greeting. She met me just as when we 
 were schoolmates, and gracefully presented me to her 
 husband. 
 
 Mr. Whitney had a frank, happy countenance ; 
 he was far from being handsome, yet his plain 
 features were stamped with intellect, giving them 
 a noble cast. His clear blue eyes wore a beaming 
 light, and his large mouth seemed spiritualized in 
 his genial smile. A thrill of happy animation 
 passed through the circle (there were other visitors 
 present), and I felt, instinctively, that it emanated, 
 like electricity, from the smile of Mr. Whitney. 
 I could not exactly decide whether he had the 
 remarkable faculty of extracting honey from every 
 thing, or whether the sunshine within brightened 
 whatever he touched. 
 
 He was just such a character as I naturally ad-
 
 132 MARION LESTER. 
 
 mired ; but then my mind was in the morbid state, 
 and his cheerfulness reacted upon me painfully. 
 Life, to me, wore a stern and rugged aspect ; and 
 I thought that a true Christian, even if secure of 
 his own salvation, should ever be studying to show 
 the way of redemption to others. So, fully believing 
 the religion I professed, though of a very social 
 temperament, I could not enjoy the amenities of 
 friendly intercourse without self-reproach. Of 
 course, therefore, no one like Mr. Whitney could 
 escape my censure. In his case, recently imbibed 
 prejudices rose up and condemned him, and every 
 smile my diseased imagination counted almost a 
 sin. 
 
 The morrow was the Sabbath. The sun rose 
 in unwonted splendor. "Without, all was light 
 and beauty; within, were conflicting elements 
 warring upon my peace. A momentous question 
 arose in my mind ; should I wound my parents 
 by refusing to accompany them to meeting, or 
 should I go and hear the preaching of what I 
 believed to be a fatal and soul-destroying her 
 esy? 
 
 I soon decided upon the point, and, taking my 
 Bible, sat down quietly to its study. When my 
 parents appeared, dressed for church, mother looked
 
 MARION LESTER. 133 
 
 at me in surprise, and said, "Are you not going 
 with us, Marion ? " 
 
 I shook my head. 
 
 My father's face- expressed deep grief and disap 
 pointment. " I thought, as there is no church of 
 your faith in the place, that, of course, you would 
 accompany us to the sanctuary. Can we not wor 
 ship the Lord together, even if our faiths are un 
 like?" 
 
 I trembled violently, yet my sense of duty pre 
 vailed, and I said, composedly, "Forgive me, father; 
 I cannot go with you ; I feel it would be wrong ; 
 pray, do not ask me ! " 
 
 The tears came to mother's eyes, and she was going 
 to plead with me, when father drew her arm within 
 his, and led her away. His face was very sad, almost 
 stern, I thought. 
 
 Then I thought of our pew, where I had sat so 
 many happy Sabbaths in the past ; and of my father 
 and mother sitting there alone " a twelvemonth ; " 
 and now their only child had returned, and would not 
 worship with them. I thought how lonely, how 
 desolate they must feel ; and I wept in pity for them, 
 and in pity for myself. 
 
 0, it was sad ! and yet it was a cross I must bear 
 for the sake of Christ. 
 
 After that there was nothing said about my going 
 to meeting. I was allowed to remain at home without
 
 134 MARION LESTER. 
 
 any opposition. I saw it made my parents very 
 unhappy, as it certainly did me ; but my religious 
 teachers and my convictions pointed out a certain 
 path of duty, and, feeling like a young martyr, I 
 walked firmly therein.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE RETURN. 
 
 ALFRED returned at last from college, crowned 
 with honors, buoyant in hope, and radiant with 
 health. He wore high honors, and yet his erect, 
 manly form and lustrous eyes told no tale of wearing 
 study, or of the "midnight oil." Though a hard 
 student, a very book-worm, Alfred was too active, 
 too fond of nature, to sacrifice health to unremitting 
 study, without change or exercise. So his equable, 
 elastic, healthful temperament carried him through 
 his course with undiminished health and spirits. 
 
 He was matured, improved, and polished in out 
 ward appearance. His elevated conversation evinced 
 a harmonious mind and an enlightened understand 
 ing. His open, expressive face was in keeping with 
 an honest, upright heart. 
 
 So appeared my friend to my partial eyes, a 
 union of manly grace, intellect, and goodness. 
 
 And when my hand was locked in his, and his 
 smiling eyes looked into mine with such happy sig-
 
 136 MARION LESTER. 
 
 nificance, a delightful spell enthralled my senses. 
 Then was dissolved the gloomy, misty atmosphere 
 surrounding me ; then were the fickle, heating, heart- 
 blighting fancies, which I misthought religious fervor, 
 banished, sent trooping away in darkness ; while a 
 broad burst of sunlight flashed upon my awakening 
 heart. 
 
 I seemed endowed with a new existence ; or, rather, 
 for the time being, I was again as was myself before 
 I became a gloomy, sad religionist. The blood 
 tingled with keener life in my veins ; my eyes felt 
 the new light streaming from them. 
 
 Mother smiled a little maliciously. " Alfred, it is 
 well you have come," she said, playfully; "your 
 presence acts like a charm on Marion. She has 
 moped and pined ever since she came from school, 
 and I have tried in vain to find a remedy. You 
 seem to have brought the needed elixir." 
 
 Deeply blushing, half-vexed, half-amused, I pro 
 tested against my mother's position as exceedingly 
 absurd. 
 
 Mother laughed, and Alfred laughed, too; then 
 he turned upon me such a smile, a grave, sweet, 
 comprehending smile, that I was more confused 
 than ever, and the crimson tide rolled again over 
 my burning cheeks. 
 
 Alfred enjoyed my distress. His black eyes 
 twinkled wickedly. Then I obtained the control of
 
 MAKION LESTER. 137 
 
 myself, and began to look very dignified and resolved ; 
 whereupon Alfred became grave again, and sat down 
 by my side. 
 
 My mother directly left us alone. 
 
 Then we discoursed soberly, yet gladly, of the 
 things nearest our hearts. The past, with its remi 
 niscences both pleasing and mournful, was reverted to: 
 and the future, the bright, untried future, presented 
 delightful pictures of felicity. 0, the castles we 
 builded, and the sweet life we lived in fancy ! All 
 too bright for realization were our plannings, as we 
 forgot that the threads in the web of life are not 
 all golden ones. 
 
 And, still, in my happiness, I heard, in a secret 
 chamber of my soul, a chill whisper, a foreboding 
 knocking at my breast. I felt there was yet worm 
 wood in the sweet cup whose delicious foam I was now 
 quaffing. 
 
 I remembered we were not really and entirely one, 
 as we tried to make it appear to ourselves. I remem 
 bered that we still worshipped at different altars. 
 He, alas, knelt at an altar which would blight our 
 budding happiness with rayless darkness, if he per 
 sisted in his allegiance there ! But, 0, I would win 
 him to my altar, and he would be saved ! I was sure 
 of this. 
 
 So the whisper, the foreboding, the wormwood 
 were forgotten. Our first meeting could not be
 
 138 MARION LESTER. 
 
 marred with either. I was so drawn away from my 
 cankering fears and anxieties, so long nursed, but 
 now. allowed to slumber, that I was willing to bask in 
 the sunshine, nor desired to touch upon religious 
 themes. 
 
 The conformist, the religionist, was merged into 
 the happy maiden. I was my own self again. Would 
 to Heaven the shadows had all been exorcised, never 
 again to darken my mind ! 0, that in that sacred 
 hour had been obliterated the dark, unnatural phase 
 of my life ! But it was otherwise to be. Injured 
 nature must be redressed. Only could the love of 
 God throw light upon my path, showing my mistaken 
 way. And it pleased Him to do it in the storm and 
 thunder-shock ; so it was needful, so tenacious was 
 my mind of opinions I had once embraced. 
 
 But I will not anticipate. 
 
 It was a clear, bright morning. The first snow 
 of the season lay glittering in the sun ; it covered 
 the bosom of the earth several inches deep, win 
 ter's downy mantle. 
 
 We sat at breakfast, discussing hot rolls and deli 
 cious coffee. The keen air vibrated to the merry 
 jingle of sleigh-bells ; I looked up, and beheld Alfred 
 at the gate, in a gilded sleigh, with his beautiful pony, 
 Archie. Buried in buffaloes, with only her dear face 
 visible, was his sister Cora. And how fresh and smil-
 
 MARION LESTER. 139 
 
 ing she looked ! Months had passed since I had seen 
 such a fine color on her face, or such a joyous light 
 in her eye. Verily, Alfred was a magician, bringing 
 sunshine, and smiles, and roses, with his loved pres 
 ence. He entered the house with a cheery greeting. 
 
 " It is a glorious morning, Marion, and we are 
 going to enjoy it to the utmost ; will you ride with 
 us?" 
 
 " Will I go ? certainly, and without any urg- 
 ing." 
 
 My good mother hastened to bring furs and woollen 
 gloves, while I encased my feet in fur-lined over 
 shoes. Then, well wrapped in shawls, with a blue 
 silk hood tied snugly over my ears, I turned gayly to 
 my father, and asked if he thought there was any 
 danger of my freezing ? 
 
 He smiled affectionately, and answered, " No, my 
 dear ; not while your young blood is so full of life 
 and animation as now. Why, darling," he continued, 
 drawing me to him in a fond caress, "you are bright 
 and sparkling as my own May used to be, and ever 
 should be ! It makes me glad to see it." 
 
 Alfred led me to the sleigh ; then there was doubt 
 expressed about our riding all thre^e on one seat, with 
 so many wrappings and buffaloes. But the seat was 
 wide, and we were all small, and we packed in nicely. 
 
 u Plenty of room, plenty of room, but not an inch 
 to spare."
 
 140 MARION LESTER. 
 
 Archie pawed the ground impatiently, throwing 
 into the air little, feathery clouds of snow, while his 
 proud neck was beautifully arched. One crack of 
 the whip, and away Archie sped, like a bird on the 
 wing. 
 
 Rushing through the keen, bracing air, the tink 
 ling bells sending back a sweet chime in our ears, the 
 sunshine glittering everywhere, all combined to the 
 exhilaration and vitalizing of our spirits. 
 
 There is something inspiriting in a sleigh-ride. 
 It animates and quickens the pulse ; it lifts the spirit 
 on buoyant wings ; its quick, gliding motion imparts 
 a thrilling pleasure; and, with sunshine and gay 
 company, nothing is more delightful. 
 
 Our little party keenly enjoyed the occasion, and 
 laughter and merry jests effervesced from our over 
 flowing spirits. 
 
 Cora acted more like a wild sprite than anything 
 else, and her glad laugh gushed in melody as of old. 
 But, by strange perversity of temper, laughter, from 
 those lips so long mute to every joyous sound, stirred 
 a plaintive chord in my breast. It reminded me 
 more painfully of the change in her than her touch 
 ing sadness itself. 
 
 Then I found myself mentally speculating on the 
 probability of her continued cheerfulness, and my own 
 joy, if Alfred should embrace our faith. I became 
 silent and thoughtful.
 
 MARION LESTER. 141 
 
 But Alfred brought me back again by his nn- 
 diminished, inexhaustible cheerfulness; and once 
 more present enjoyment cast out anxieties and sober 
 thoughts. 
 
 "We dashed by a group of school-boys, shouting, 
 and rolling, and tumbling in the snow, and pelting 
 each other heartily with snow-balls. 0, school-boys 
 love the merry winter-time ! 
 
 A little further on, the wicked, impish wind 
 whisked my light veil away. 
 
 "Your pretty wrought veil, Marion, 0, see, 
 the wind has stolen it ! " cried Cora. 
 
 High up in air it fluttered, as though meditating a 
 flight to the upper regions ; then, suddenly diving 
 downward, it scudded along near the ground. 
 
 "You hold the reins, Marion, and I'll after the 
 little thing." 
 
 ".No, no, Alfred, don't chase after it; it is of 
 little consequence, and I 'm sure you never can over 
 take it." 
 
 " Yes, it is waiting for me on the corner of that 
 rail : here are the reins, May ; and hold them tight, 
 for Archie 's antic." 
 
 And away Alfred ran after the fly-away veil. 
 Just as he reached out his hand to seize it, the capri 
 cious trifle fluttered away in a twinkling first on 
 one side, then on the other now high above the 
 head, now resting in a little nook ; but always flying
 
 142 MARION LESTER. 
 
 from his grasp. Alfred followed with right good 
 will, and Cora and I laughed till the tears ran down 
 our cheeks at the amusing chase. 
 
 At length he captured it with a triumphant shout, 
 and turned back, shaking the treacherous lace play 
 fully in air. His handsome face was flushed and 
 glowing with the exercise, and sparkling with mer 
 riment. 
 
 I sat, looking backwards, with the reins lightly in 
 my left hand. Suddenly, like the shriek of a mad 
 demon, the car-whistle pierced our ears. We had 
 stopped a rod before a railroad crossing, and now a 
 long train came rushing onward with lightning 
 speed. 
 
 At the first sound of the whistle the pony threw 
 up his head, and bounded forward like a deer. 
 
 " The cars are coming ! " shouted Alfred. " Hold 
 the horse, Marion, turn him into the snow-drift ! " 
 
 But I had no control over the excited animal, and 
 we were rushing madly on to destruction. 
 
 " Good heavens, they are lost ! 0, my God ! my 
 God ! " groaned Alfred, in agony. 
 
 I heard the runners grate upon the iron rails, I 
 heard the mighty engine thundering, groaning, crash 
 ing, dashing onward, close upon us, with the alarm- 
 bell wildly clanking in my ears. I shut my eyes 
 with a smothered cry for mercy ! 
 
 The next instant I felt a slight shock, and was
 
 MARION LESTER. 143 
 
 thrown forward upon Cora. Dizzy, confused, almost 
 stunned, though more with terror than real injury, 
 I stood up and looked around. Our sleigh had just 
 cleared the track, and Archie had run plump into a 
 snow-drift ; this caused our sudden stop. The train 
 had flashed by, and was now curving gracefully in the 
 distance. 
 
 " 0, what a deliverance ! Great God, I thank 
 thee ! " burst from my full heart. 
 
 Cora lay motionless in the bottom of the sleigh. I 
 raised her up ; she had nearly fainted, but the thrill 
 ing words, "We are safe, Cora! we are safe!" 
 instantly revived her. 
 
 " Where is Alfred ? " she whispered. 
 
 At a little distance, on the other side of the track, 
 he was half-kneeling on the ground, with his back 
 towards us. Poor Alfred ! he had turned away that 
 he might not see us die. 
 
 " Dear Alfred ! dear brother ! " we cried together, 
 " come to us ; we are unhurt, we are both safe ! " 
 
 He slowly rose, and looked towards us like one 
 stupefied. One hand he pressed to his brow, the 
 other outstretched with a bewildered air. 
 
 "Dear, good Alfred, we are both alive! we are 
 unhurt ! " 
 
 Still he stood like one in a dream. 
 
 " 0, Alfred, don't you see us?" 
 
 Quicker than thought, a flash of intelligence and
 
 144 MARION LESTEE. 
 
 comprehension passed over his ghastly face, and he 
 sprang forward. 
 
 "You are both saved! Cora, Marion. dear 
 precious ones ! Praise God ! Bless his name for 
 ever ! " and he clasped us both in his arms, covering 
 us with kisses and tears. 
 
 " I had turned away from the sight of your death, 
 and in that awful moment my soul was struck dumb 
 with agony. I rose, expecting to see my loved ones 
 wounded, bleeding, dying, perhaps already dead. 
 But you are delivered ! It seems like a miracle ! 
 Let us thank the Lord for his goodness ! " 
 
 We were silent, and from our hearts went up 
 deep, devout thanksgivings. 
 
 We were now nearly recovered from the effects of 
 our fright, all but Cora, who, still pale and droop 
 ing, lay in her brother's arms. 
 
 " What shall we do, Marion ? Cora is almost 
 frightened to death." 
 
 " Here is Mrs. Hunter's .house ; let us go in and 
 stay until she has recovered." 
 
 " That is a good idea. I will drive under the shed, 
 and cover Archie with a buffalo, to punish him for 
 this rascally trick, and leave him to repent at leisure, 
 while we warm and rest ourselves by Mrs. Hunter's 
 fire." 
 
 " I know she will welcome us kindly."
 
 MARION LESTEE. 145 
 
 " 0, here 's your veil, Marion ! I have kept it safe 
 in spite of all." 
 
 I received it almost remorsefully. " 0, the worth 
 less thing ! the cause of all our trouble. Little, 
 spiteful, capricious elf! I'd give it again to the 
 winds if you had not worked so hard to restore it to 
 me." 
 
 " 0, don't do that, May, as all our troubles have 
 come out brightly. Poor, innocent, unconscious 
 veil ! " he said, tying it over my bonnet, and bring 
 ing his face, into which the color was slowly return 
 ing, close to mine. " Think of nothing but your 
 providential escape, darling. My heart will never 
 cease to give thanks when I remember this hour. 
 But here we are at the house, and good Mrs. Hunter 
 stands at the door to welcome us." 
 
 The lady had seen our danger and escape, with 
 mingled consternation and thankfulness, and she 
 overwhelmed us in one breath with condolence and 
 congratulations. 
 
 0, horrors, how frightened she was ! what a 
 narrow escape ! how fortunate, how lucky, we were, 
 and how thankful we must be ! But she knew we 
 were awfully frightened ; we were all pale, and Cora 
 was white as a sheet. 
 
 " Come in, come right in ! Poor child, how you 
 tremble ! Here, sit in my big rocking-chair; and you, 
 10 

 
 146 MARION LESTER. 
 
 Miss Marion, and Mr. Eaton, do help yourselves 
 to chairs- I 'm so flustered I hardly know what 
 I'm about." 
 
 Seeing our calmness, she soon regained her usual 
 equanimity, and hurried up the fire under the kettle, 
 for we must all drink some tea ; it would be so good 
 for our disordered nerves. Alfred disclaimed against 
 the need of any tea, but the good lady persisted, and 
 he yielded for fear of grieving her. After we were 
 well warmed he proposed going on to the village of 
 C . 
 
 "Are you sufficiently rested, Marion? I have 
 
 an errand at C , and must go on ; will you go 
 
 with me ? " 
 
 I was ready to go, and commenced tying my 
 hood. 
 
 " 0, but my tea is just ready to drink ; wait until 
 you have had some." 
 
 " We will leave Cora to your care until we come 
 back," said Alfred, " and she can drink the tea. 
 You really must excuse us now, Mrs. Hunter, though 
 I thank you very kindly." 
 
 We left Cora in an easy-chair, sipping her fra 
 grant hyson, and Mrs. Hunter expressed her pleasure 
 in our plan of leaving the dear girl an hour or two 
 
 with her. 
 
 t 
 
 We were happy, though our spirits were sobered 
 and chastened. We talked of our love, of our duties
 
 MARION LESTER. 147 
 
 to each other, and to the world. Not extravagantly, 
 not in passionate, unmeaning phrases, did Alfred tell 
 me how much he loved me, how he worshipped me ; 
 not after the fashion of novel heroes, did he call me 
 angel, goddess, beauty ; he never once declared that 
 he would die for me ; hut in truthful, earnest words, 
 he assured me of his undying affection and interest 
 in my welfare. 
 
 A half-hour's brisk drive brought us to the city- 
 like village of C . "We rode directly to a hotel. 
 
 Alfred called for dinner and a private parlor. I was 
 soon seated in a handsome room. My friend excused 
 himself for a little time, and I sat alone, dreaming 
 pleasant dreams ; still conscience whispered, ' ' You 
 have not unburdened your breast fully to Alfred ; in 
 spite of his perfections he yet lacks one thing. 
 Tell him of your fears, and hopes, and wishes, con 
 cerning his spiritual welfare." 
 
 "Not yet, not yet!" pleaded my fond heart; 
 " another time will be better ! " 
 
 Sooner than I expected, Alfred returned. He 
 threw a tiny packet into my lap. 
 
 " Is this for me, Alfred?" 
 
 " It is for my Marion, if she will accept it." 
 
 I unrolled it with eager curiosity, and an elegant 
 ring dropped from a little roll of cotton. 
 
 "0, Alfred, what a beautiful present ! " I turned 
 the little toy over in my hand, admiring its beauty
 
 148 MAKION LESTER. 
 
 and richness ; then, raising my eyes to his, I let 
 them speak my thanks. 
 
 Alfred's face was very eager and smiling. ' : Put 
 it on your finger, dearest." I did so, and playfully 
 held the hand up for his inspection. He put it to 
 his lips. "Let it be a sign of our betrothal, and 
 never take it off while our hearts beat in unison/' 
 
 " Then I think I must always wear it, Alfred." 
 
 " As long as you live, May ! " 
 
 It was Alfred's first gift, and how significant in 
 my eyes ! My girlish heart swelled with pleasure 
 in the gift, and love and tenderness for the giver. 
 
 After dinner we returned to Mrs. Hunter's. Cora 
 had fully recovered, though not so rosy and cheery 
 as when we started in the morning. 
 
 Mrs. Hunter was all hospitality. Alfred must 
 put pony in the barn, and I must take my things 
 right off; she was going to have a quilting-party that 
 afternoon, and not a word would she hear of our 
 leaving until night. 
 
 So we consented, and, truth to tell, not much 
 against our inclinations, to stay and see the quilting- 
 frolic. I had scarcely withdrawn my glove when 
 Cora observed the glittering circles on my finger. 
 A meaning smile curved her lip and danced in the 
 height of her roguish eye. 
 
 I will not stop to tell about the quilting ; it was 
 like all similar parties composed of laughing girls
 
 MARION LESTER. 149 
 
 and sociable matrons. The tea-drinking was a merry 
 affair, but could not be described, such good-natured 
 confusion abounded. 
 
 Just as the sun hid his broad disk from view, 
 leaving long crimson streaks upon the white crests 
 of the western hills, we bade adieu to our pleasant 
 hostess and her lively company, and started for 
 home. 
 
 Alfred Eaton was received with attention and 
 respect by many who claimed no tie of affection or 
 consanguinity. His sterling integrity, fine talents 
 and acquirements, were well known and appreciated 
 in his native village. 
 
 He was invited to lecture before the Lyceum, quite 
 a literary and popular body. He had been, since 
 boyhood, a famous declaimer, and now the villagers 
 were anxious to hear a Lyceum lecture from the 
 young collegian, about whom so many pleasing 
 prophecies had been spoken. 
 
 Alfred accepted the invitation, and consented to 
 address the people the ensuing Friday evening. He 
 shut himself up in his study, and for two days and 
 nights labored unremittingly. When the eventful 
 night arrived, the hall was filled with an intelligent 
 and appreciating audience. I sat where I could see 
 the changing play of the speaker's eloquent face, and 
 not a word did I miss of the instructive, classic,
 
 150 MARION LESTER. 
 
 chaste oration. There was no embarrassment, no 
 hesitation, but he was calm and collected from be 
 ginning to end. 
 
 How proud, how rejoiced I was ! Every burst of 
 applause, every whispered commendation, caused my 
 heart to bound with delight. 
 
 When the young orator descended from the stand, 
 many pressed round him with congratulations and 
 heartfelt praises. Smiling and bowing to the right 
 and left, Alfred made his way through the crowd to 
 where I was standing. He read my eulogium in my 
 glistening eyes. 
 
 " Your silent praises are worth them all, my 
 Marion ! " he whispered, as he drew my arm within 
 his. 
 
 " Alfred Eaton is a noble fellow ! " said my father, 
 heartily. " A noble fellow ! He has a great mind, 
 a warm heart, and a true soul ! It is a great satis 
 faction for me to know that, when I must give my 
 daughter into another's keeping, it will be to one so 
 worthy." 
 
 " Thank you, dear father, for these praises ! His 
 honor is my pride ! " 
 
 My cup of happiness was full to the brim. My 
 heart, surcharged with blissful emotions, overflowed 
 in joyful tears.
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE SEPARATION. 
 
 " A little cloud arose to dim our heaven ; 
 Its shadow fell upon my frightened heart," 
 
 ****** 
 " 0, foolish pride ! 0, spirit faint and weak ! 
 That would not make one effort to retain, 
 Or with small sacrifice the treasure seek 
 Thou wouldst have given thy life-Hood to regain." 
 
 M. A. H. DODD. 
 
 I DREAMED strange, wild dreams. Fearful visions 
 crowded in upon my sleeping fancies, and drove sweet 
 slumber from my eyelids. I dreamed of sickness, of 
 death, of separation from the idol of my young affec 
 tions. Again did Miss Ingols breathe into my ear 
 the tale of her fearful bereavement, and I thought 
 my sorrow was like unto hers. Grim nightmare held 
 my senses in his crushing grasp, cold sweat stood 
 upon my forehead, my limbs were numb, my heart 
 chilled with terror. 
 
 At length I awoke, exhausted and distressed. 
 When the first ray of the Sabbath morn peeped in at 
 my window, I arose, feverish and heart-sick.
 
 152 MARION LESTER. 
 
 I thought remorsefully of the week of light pleas 
 ure I had passed. How could I be happy with Al 
 fred, knowing his danger and seeing his blindness ? 
 If I might not instruct my parents, should a se 
 cret fear, a single wish or hope of my heart, be 
 hidden from the chosen companion of my life ? 0, 
 no ! I had wronged him and myself by this culpable 
 silence. 
 
 I fell upon my knees, imploring divine forgiveness 
 and assistance, and, with agonizing prayers for the 
 salvation of my friend, I promised to use all my 
 powers to lead him to the throne of mercy. 
 
 0, if he should die unconverted ! My dream 
 haunted my mind, and the thought was agony. But 
 the lover of Miss Ingols mocked at religion ; Alfred 
 did not ; still he indulged a dreadful error. Then I 
 remembered of having heard Mr. Delano say that such 
 were even more reprehensible in the sight of God 
 than open profaners, as they lead many more astray. 
 Even the morality and integrity of their lives weigh 
 against them, for the world would be deceived and 
 lost by such appearances. So there was little com 
 fort for me, save in the hope that my love and per 
 suasion would soften and subdue his heart. 
 
 When the church-bells rang, I peeped through the 
 shutter. My father and mother walked through the 
 gate, both looking up wistfully at my window, as 
 though they thought I might relent, even at that late
 
 MARION LESTER. 153 
 
 hour, and bear them company. My heart smote me, 
 and a sigh struggled up from its depths. 
 
 Then Alfred passed by, with Cora on his arm. He, 
 too, looked up longingly, and with a clouded face 
 went slowly on. 
 
 I drew back quickly. "0, I have a trial before 
 me ! But I will be strong ; even friendship and love 
 shall not make me waver ! " 
 
 At noon Alfred called for me. " Did you over 
 sleep yourself, or are you indisposed, that you did 
 not attend service this morning ? " he asked, in a 
 half-bantering way. 
 
 " 0, no ! I rose early, and I am in usual health." 
 
 " Then you will go with me this afternoon ? Cora 
 is too feeble to go again to-day. You will allow me 
 the pleasure of your company ? " 
 
 " Excuse me, Alfred, I cannot go with you." 
 
 " Not when I so much desire it, dear May? For 
 my sake go just this once." 
 
 " I am sorry to deny you, but I cannot do other 
 wise without doing violence to my convictions of 
 duty." 
 
 ".Now don't be whimsical, Marion ! Do put aside 
 your unnecessary scruples. Remember how many 
 times we have walked together to the house of God. 
 Surely our happiness is at an end if we are always 
 to be thus divided. Dear Marion, if you love me, go 
 with me now ! "
 
 154 MARION LESTER. 
 
 I hesitated, almost overcome by his persuasion. 
 Then the memory of my morning -prayer and vow 
 arose before me, and I was firm again. 
 
 " No, no, Alfred, I cannot go ! It is in vain you 
 urge me." 
 
 " As you please, Miss Lester." 
 
 His brow flushed with mortification, and almost 
 haughtily he walked away. 
 
 Then the waiting tears were permitted to fall un 
 restrained, and the victim of a mistaken and false 
 duty murmured that the right path was so rugged 
 and hard to tread. 
 
 Evening came, and Alfred was again by my side 
 in our little back parlor. I had expected to see a 
 slight coolness, or pique, in his manner ; but on the 
 contrary he was unusually affectionate, though sober 
 and apparently preoccupied in mind. I also had a 
 subject which I desired to approach, yet hesitated, 
 studying how to do it both delicately and pointedly. 
 
 But Alfred, with native frankness, almost abruptly 
 broached the subject occupying both our thoughts. 
 
 " Marion,"' he said earnestly, yet gently, " I was 
 both mortified and wounded at your refusal to gratify 
 me to-day : yet I would let it pass without a word, 
 trusting to your generosity and good sense to over 
 come these unworthy prejudices, were it not for the 
 sake of your father and mother. Your vacant seat
 
 MARION LESTER. 155 
 
 looked mournful to me, Marion ; and think you not 
 your parents were lonely ? Their sorrow was written 
 on their faces. Their only one, the child of their 
 love, and upon whom they lavish their temporal 
 wealth, and the still richer wealth of their affections, 
 refuses to worship with them in the temple of the 
 Lord ! Is this right ? Is it like your affectionate, 
 sacrificing self? " 
 
 " Alfred, I know it grieves them, and it is a sore 
 trial to me ; yet it is my duty, and I do not shrink 
 from it." 
 
 " Your duty ? No, Marion ! You have an unfor 
 tunate, mistaken sense of duty. Your parents are 
 worthy, consistent Christians, and even if you deem 
 them embracing some wrong views, as there is no 
 church of your sect in the neighborhood, what possi 
 ble harm can it do you, or them, for you to attend 
 divine service with them ? " 
 
 " "What if I believe them to be in a great error, a 
 fatal error ? " 
 
 "0, Marion, your father ! your true, noble, up 
 right, Christian father ! he, whose unblemished 
 life is a monument of praise to himself, yes, an 
 honor to God ! you question his piety, accuse him 
 of embracing fatal errors, dangerous to Christianity ! 
 0, Marion ! " He spoke with touching reproach in 
 his tone. 
 
 " No, Alfred, 0, no ! I honor my father, I love
 
 156 MARION LESTER. 
 
 him ! I know he is sincere, true to his convictions, 
 the very soul of honor ! And still, consistently with 
 all this, he may be fearfully mistaken, he may be 
 nursing delusive hopes, resting secure in a false doc 
 trine. I believe so, and this is why I cannot worship 
 at the altar where he bows." 
 
 "And if you do believe this, you cannot hope to 
 convince him of his errors ; he is already past middle 
 life, and his religious faith is ingrown with his very 
 nature. You can never convert him to your posi 
 tion. So, Marion, why not save him this vexation, 
 this heart-ache ? Be true to your own loving heart, 
 and overcome your prejudice, superstition, I had 
 almost said." 
 
 " You know I am firm by nature, and, when con 
 vinced that a certain course is right, am not easily 
 shaken." 
 
 " Yes, my dear girl, I know you have firmness 
 and decision of character ; I know you have no fluc 
 tuating, credulous mind ; and this is why I marvel so 
 greatly at your change of faith. This energy, this 
 self-reliance I have admired and loved in you ; but let 
 not an excess of this virtue, which, persisted in, would 
 lose its former charm, cause your own unhappiness 
 and that of all those you love. Dear friend, darling 
 Marion, hear and answer my petition ! Abate your 
 firmness on this point. For the sake of your fond
 
 MARION LESTER. 157 
 
 parents, for my sake, whom you profess to love more 
 than all, yield to my request ! " 
 
 His arms were about me, and he drew me closely 
 to his breast. 
 
 " Dear May, for the world I would not grieve 
 you, as your conduct did me to-day ! I felt so dis 
 appointed, so lonely ! I could not bear to have it 
 always thus. If you love me, if you value my 
 happiness, you will never refuse me again. Only 
 meet me at the sanctuary, and I will trust to the 
 future to divest your mind of the clouds of error 
 hanging over it, and then I shall have my own Ma 
 rion back again, frank, joyous, consistent, as when I 
 first loved her ! " 
 
 My heart was melted ; I was almost subdued. My 
 head dropped upon his shoulder for a moment. Then 
 it seemed as though a warning voice whispered, 
 " Beware, beware ! do not listen to Love's sophis 
 tries ! He is catechizing you, when you should warn 
 and reprove him. Now is the time ; be strong ! " 
 
 I withdrew myself from his embrace, and com 
 menced my defence with becoming dignity. 
 
 " You talk about my errors, prejudices, and super 
 stition : you hope I will yet worship God by your 
 side at the same altar ! Alfred, that can never be, 
 unless you go with me, not I with you ! I gave up 
 a mistaken, unsafe religion, for one sure and stead-
 
 158 MARION LESTER. 
 
 fast, and the entreaties of those I love best on earth 
 cannot wrest it from my grasp." 
 
 " God forbid, that my entreaties alone should give 
 you ground for a religious faith. Your own reason, 
 by the light of nature and revelation, must be your 
 guide. I was only pleading for a little tolerance, a 
 little condescension on your part." 
 
 " Alfred, if you could only see into my heart ! I 
 am filled with apprehension for you, as well as for my 
 parents. You trust implicitly in the mercy of God, 
 forgetting man's free agency, forgetting the condi 
 tions ! Let us study the Bible together, that you 
 may see the proof of your mistake in the words of 
 holy writ." 
 
 " I have studied the Bible, Marion, enough to 
 know that it reveals a loving Father, to know that 
 Christ came to proclaim good news, which shall be 
 unto all people ; but I have not read it enough to 
 purify my heart, and make it all love, like that of my 
 Divine Master ; not as much as I ought, Marion ; but 
 I will read it the more : we will study the sacred 
 pages together, and then, perhaps, we may be united 
 in this respect as we are in all others." 
 
 "I hope so, Alfred!" 
 
 " You believe that God is Love, and that Jesus 
 died alike for all?" 
 
 " Yes ; but then man is a free agent ; there are 
 conditions "
 
 MARION LESTER. 159 
 
 " There are no conditions which can alter God or 
 the Saviour; there are conditions "which cause the 
 temporary ruin and wretchedness of sinful man. 
 But, this is my strength and hope, from all this seem 
 ing evil good shall be deduced in God's own time." 
 
 " It is a beautiful theory, I admit, but, alas, not 
 founded on the word of divine truth ! And, 0, my 
 friend, this subject is a dangerous one to tamper 
 with ! ' As a man soweth, so shall he reap.' ' 
 
 " True, very true, Marion ; every act of our lives 
 has its proportionate reward or punishment ; and this 
 reward or punishment is inherent in the very action, 
 and inseparable from it. And, knowing God to be 
 wise, and merciful, and just, I rest happy in the 
 thought that he is the judge of man, not man him 
 self." 
 
 " ' As death leaves us, so judgment shall find 
 us ! '" 
 
 He almost disconcerted me by his quick glance of 
 surprise. 
 
 " Be careful, Marion, and not quote the oft-repeated 
 words of your ministers or teachers, imagining they 
 are the words of holy writ. I did not dream that 
 these dismal dogmas had sunk so deeply in your 
 heart. I lament you are so changed." 
 
 "I changed! I am not, only in those things of 
 which I had need ; and you, 0, Alfred, if you were 
 changed in some things, it might be better ! I dream
 
 160 MARION LESTER. 
 
 of your danger by night ; it haunts me by day ! 
 And now I would warn you, I would implore you, 
 to pause and think. I cannot find words to tell my 
 inexpressible anxiety ! " 
 
 Burning tears gushed from my eyes, and fell over 
 my face in a shower of grief. Alfred was touched. 
 
 " Forgive me, Marion; I spoke too lightly of your 
 faith. 0, indeed, if you believe it so firmly, I 
 wonder not at your grief! The world must look 
 dark to you; heaven shrouded in a pall; and life 
 arid, bitter, barren ! 0,1 pity you, my own love ! 
 I pity you and pray for you ! " 
 
 " You pity me ! Well you may, when I view my 
 best loved ones on the brink of endless ruin ! Pity 
 yourself, Alfred! Pity and pray for yourself! 0, 
 what can I say to you ? How can I open your blinded 
 eyes?" 
 
 I was clasping my hands and crying piteously. 
 
 " Poor child, you are beside yourself! Be calm ; 
 compose yourself." 
 
 " How can I be calm, when I am shaken with 
 such terrible alarms, and you are so cool and col 
 lected? Alfred, I have been outwardly calm too 
 long, and now the anxiety which has been preying 
 upon my heart, rises like a torrent and overcomes 
 me ! Alfred, dear Alfred, heed my words ! " 
 
 " What would you have me do ? Your vehemence 
 distresses me."
 
 MARION LESTER. 161 
 
 " What would I have you do ? 0, heavens ! don't 
 you see your danger? Death, desolation, separation, 
 endless woe, unless you seek acceptance of Jesus ! " 
 
 " Hush, Marion ! This is very wrong. You are 
 highly excited with imaginary dangers. I am willing 
 you should talk with me, if you will be calm, and 
 argue quietly. There is no reason in these wild 
 rhapsodies." 
 
 I wept upon his shoulder until my passionate 
 emotion was exhausted ; then I spoke again, but my 
 voice was tremulous. 
 
 " I know there is no reason, no argument in my. 
 passionate entreaties. To any other one I might 
 talk calmly, and present my arguments ; but I have 
 thought of your conversion so much, and prayed for 
 it so constantly, that I am almost distracted. Truly 
 as I believe in your love for me, I feel as though I 
 were alone in the universe until I am assured of 
 your conversion, which will lead you to the true 
 salvation." 
 
 Alfred was silent, only tightening the pressure of 
 his arm about me. An expression of sorrowful per 
 plexity settled down upon his face. 
 
 "You have heard me speak of my teacher and 
 friend, Miss Ingols ? She made me the confidant of 
 her grief; and that sorrow of hers has haunted me 
 ever since like an awful warning. She loved when 
 she was even younger than I. She became a pro- 
 11
 
 162 MARION LESTER. 
 
 fessor ; but her lover mocked and despised religion. I 
 don't mean to compare him with you, dear Alfred, 
 of course not ; yet there is a similarity which makes 
 me tremble ! She pleaded and expostulated with 
 him, and he laughed at all she said, and left her, 
 scornfully denouncing religion and all its professors. 
 In a few minutes he was' brought back to her a life 
 less corpse. He was dead, and his last words were 
 in contempt of religion. 0, what an awful bereave 
 ment ! This black sorrow has sat upon her heart 
 ever since then, blighting every source of happiness. 
 Poor, dear Miss Ingols ! " 
 
 I had wrought myself up to a high pitch of excite 
 ment by the repetition of Miss Ingols' sorrow, and I 
 shook with convulsive sobs. 
 
 "What does this prove?" said Alfred; "what 
 does it prove ? Only that a thoughtless, irreligious 
 young man was suddenly stricken from life, and man 
 pronounced upon him a fearful doom ! His love 
 poor, credulous, unfortunate girl ! believed that he 
 was lost, and has been wretched ever since. 0, 't is 
 a beautiful, consistent religion ! clothing the mourn 
 ers in sackcloth and ashes, and making the heart 
 afraid to trust its beloved in the hands of God, the 
 All-merciful Father ! " 
 
 My tears were quickly dried. I was piqued. 
 Alfred was obstinate, even daring to speak scornfully 
 of what was to me a dreadful reality.
 
 MARION LESTER. 163 
 
 "I am to consider it a great compliment, too, 
 Marion! You hope to enjoy heaven; I am un 
 worthy ! " 
 
 A flash of wounded feeling burnt my cheek. 
 
 "Now, Alfred " 
 
 " Excuse me, Marion, do ! I was wrong to speak 
 so bitterly. All this talk will avail nothing ; we are 
 both getting nervous ; so let us always be silent on 
 this subject. You have confidence in my moral 
 ity?" 
 
 " Certainly ! " 
 
 " Though I have many faults, did you ever know 
 me to do a mean or dishonorable action? In all my 
 life did you ever know me to speak falsely or deceive 
 any one? " 
 
 "Never, Alfred; but why these strange ques 
 tions?" 
 
 "Will not this satisfy you, my Marion? "With 
 perfect confidence in my moral integrity, can you 
 not be content to let me worship God as I think 
 right?" 
 
 " No, it will not content me ! A ceaseless fear for 
 your happiness would harass me. And we are taught, 
 Alfred, that the enlightened, moral, influential man 
 has more to answer for to God, than a reckless sinner, 
 if he misunderstand God's testimony, and tells men 
 of happiness and heaven, when there are ten thousand 
 dangers and quicksands intervening."
 
 164 MARION LESTER. 
 
 Alfred started, with a deep, indignant blush man 
 tling his brow. 
 
 "This from Marion my Marion! She whom 
 I thought so generous, so delicate and ingenuous ! I 
 can hardly believe my senses ! 0, you are changed, 
 every way ! You are altogether unlike your former 
 self whom I learned to love when a tiny girl ! I 
 wish to mercy that obnoxious school had been blown 
 to the East Indies before you were entered there ! 
 While in college I bore insult and reproach for 
 opinion's sake, but I cannot bear it from you ! 
 Marion, you are infatuated, fanatical ! " 
 
 Now it was my turn to start with angry color. 
 Genuine anxiety was extinguished in wounded pride. 
 I turned my head away inf haughty silence. 
 
 "0, Marion, if it should always be thus ! If this 
 difference is never to be done away, where is our 
 promised happiness ? Alas, I fear the rosy dreams 
 of hope are already lost in a stern, cold reality ! " 
 
 My heart started, like an alarm-clock, with wild, 
 irregular motion. The resentful flash had died away 
 from Alfred's face, and a regretful shadow veiled his 
 beautiful eyes. I saw how I had wounded him, but 
 had not he wounded me in turn? "Ah, foolish 
 pride ! " And so the hasty words were not stayed. 
 
 "There is a remedy, sir." 
 
 "How?" 
 
 " Our engagement, of which you seem to be weary, 

 
 MARION LESTER. 165 
 
 can be annulled. If our happiness cannot be found 
 together, then it must be apart ! " 
 
 " Do I hear you au-ight ? " 
 
 ' ' Undoubtedly ; still I can repeat it. We cannot 
 be happy together, for I am firm in my opinion, you 
 obstinate in yours. There would be too much fric 
 tion in such a union." 
 
 " Are you in earnest, Marion ? " 
 
 "Never more so ! " 
 
 He seized my hand, holding it tightly. "There 
 is truth in what you say ; but is there no other alter 
 native ? Cari we not be indulgent towards each 
 other?" 
 
 A nervous tremor seized me, still my unappeased 
 anger hurried on the catastrophe I began to fear. 
 
 " It is a subject of too much moment to be lightly 
 set aside. I should never cease my importunities, 
 and you would become wearied and disgusted with 
 them. If you are determined not to change your 
 religious faith, then, as I have said before, we could 
 not be happy together. You think me changed, 
 unworthy of your love we had better part." 
 
 " Marion, we are both excited, let us not do that 
 which we should afterwards regret. Think a moment 
 before you speak again." 
 
 My frightened heart cried: "Retract! retract!" 
 but my wilful, unruly tongue, completely under the 
 dominion of an adverse current of evil, said :
 
 166 MARION LESTER. 
 
 " I am perfectly calm, sir ; and I am in earnest." 
 
 " Shall I take you at your word, Marion ? " 
 
 " Certainly, why should you not? " 
 
 He dropped my hand with a smothered groan. 
 
 " Your words have forever divided us ! Farewell, 
 Marion ! " 
 
 He strode hastily away, only pausing a moment 
 with a backward glance of anguish and reproach. 
 
 There was a quick revulsion of feeling. I began 
 to realize the import of my passionate, unguarded 
 words. I reached out my hands, and would have 
 cried, "Alfred, stay! my own Alfred!" but the 
 words died inarticulate upon my lips. The door 
 closed heavily. He was gone ! 
 
 And we were parted forever parted ! so Alfred 
 had said ! This was no trifling quarrel, like those 
 which had spiced our childish intercourse; there 
 would be no pretty " making up " on the morrow 
 no sweet reconciliation. 
 
 "We were parted, and my own unworthy, hateful 
 pride had caused the rupture ! A loud ringing was 
 in my ear ; my brain grew giddy ; a sickening 
 weight oppressed my heart. I tottered to the sofa, 
 and sank upon it, more dead than alive. 
 
 Long I lay there, realizing nothing, only conscious 
 of a dull throbbing in my temples, and a heavy, vice- 
 like ache, muffling the beating of my heart. Long I 

 
 MARION LESTER. 167 
 
 lay there, soul and body, heart and spirit, crushed, 
 benumbed. 
 
 At last the dismal trance ceased to bind me with 
 its more than iron fetters, and I came to myself with 
 a long-drawn sigh and an ague-like shiver. The 
 candle had expired in its socket; .the fire had long 
 since died out, I knew by the chill atmosphere ; and 
 the starlight only revealed in dim outline surround 
 ing objects. Slowly my faculties resumed their 
 action memory first. I remembered everything 
 with a desolating sense of bereavement. 
 
 What were friendship and love to me now ? Alfred 
 was lost dead 0, worse than dead to me! for, 
 living, he was not mine, and, sick or dying, I was not 
 his to soothe and comfort ! The thought was torture. 
 I could not bear it ! 
 
 And yet it was best our destinies were severed. 
 Alfred was unregenerate, unconverted, and nurs 
 ing the deadliest errors. But still, 0, merciful 
 Heaven ! had I been patient, enduring, he might have 
 been saved ! And now only the interposing arm of 
 the Almighty could avert his ruin ! I wrung my 
 hands, and suffocating moans bubbled up from my 
 agonized bosom. 
 
 Alfred was no more to me ! We were parted ! My 
 own rash bands had turned the sweet stream of hap 
 piness into the murky channel of despair. No 
 blessed tears came to mitigate the bitterness of this
 
 168 MARION LESTER. 
 
 overwhelming woe. Prayerless, tearless, motionless, 
 I sat with clenched hands, looking into the appalling 
 future. 
 
 I felt a wound in my finger the hard edge of a 
 ring had been goaded into the flesh, and slightly torn 
 it. It was the ring the ring given by Alfred's 
 love ! lie had told me to wear it as long as our 
 hearts were united. 0, now it were mockery to let 
 it remain upon the hand which was no longer his ! I 
 tried to tear it off, but in my half-frenzied haste it 
 would not move. To my excited fancy it seemed 
 riveted, grown, upon my finger. 
 
 At that moment my eye was caught by a small, 
 dark object lying at my feet. I stooped to pick it 
 up, It was a brown kid glove, which had been 
 accidentally dropped by Alfred. 
 
 It sent a shock all over me, like the thrill one feels 
 when coming unexpectedly upon some object worn by 
 the dear departed. The touch overcame me ; I was 
 dissolved in tears, salutary tears ; they saved my 
 senses from delirium, my heart from perfect blight. 
 
 I was brought to my reason, and, covering the 
 dear glove with kisses, I groped up stairs to my 
 chamber. Gently, almost reverently, as though it 
 were indeed a token of the dead ! I drew the ring 
 from my finger, and laid it, with the glove, in a small 
 box, and turned the key upon them.
 
 MARION LESTER. 169 
 
 Already was the sky streaked with the glory of 
 coming day, yet it was midnight in my breast. I 
 threw myself upon my bed, weeping and praying for 
 comfort, and strength to bear me up.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE APPEAL. 
 
 " WHAT have you done to Alfred, Marion ? " 
 
 I could not restrain a convulsive start, but, with a 
 powerful effort at self-control, I said, calmly, "Is 
 there anything the matter with him, father? " 
 
 "I met him, a few minutes ago, on the street, 
 looking wretchedly pale and sick. I asked what 
 ailed him. He smiled, a ghastly sort of smile, and 
 said he had no bodily ailment, as he knew of. He 
 was hurrying to the depot to take the western train. 
 He would not tell me the cause of his sudden start, 
 nor where he was going, nor when he should come 
 back. Altogether, he acted more like a crazy boy, 
 than a sensible man. Perhaps I am wrong, my 
 daughter, in connecting the cause of his unaccount 
 able behavior with yourself? Am I so ? " 
 
 " How can I tell ? and yet, perhaps, you are 
 right." 
 
 He looked into my face searchingly. ' : Is it pos 
 sible that you have trifled with that young man?
 
 MAKION LESTEE. 171 
 
 that, for opinion's sake, you have broken off your 
 engagement with him ? " 
 
 " Yes, father, our engagement is annulled, and it 
 is best so. With such difference of opinion we could 
 never be happy together." 
 
 My father's face wore an expression of stern and 
 sorrowful reproach. " Your religion, as you call it, 
 has darkened and overshadowed your young life ; it 
 has brought sorrow and perplexity into the hearts of 
 your parents ; and now it bids you tamper with your 
 own heart's deepest affections, to lightly throw aside 
 the love of one worthy and true. Marion, what 
 strange perversity is this ! It passes my comprehen 
 sion this infatuation ! " 
 
 I clutched at a chair for support, for I was shak 
 ing from head to foot. The anguish against which I 
 was battling, must have been written on my changing 
 features, for he looked at me until his expression 
 softened and tears rushed to his eyes. 
 
 "0, my dear, unfortunate child ! you are more to 
 be pitied than blamed. Your understanding is 
 clouded, your reason perverted. You sport with 
 your desires, and fling away happiness. May the 
 Lord God make his face to shine upon you ! may he 
 be your guide and teacher ! for, I, alas, can do 
 nothing for you, deep and yearning as is my love !" 
 
 I could bear no more, and, turning abruptly, I 
 sought my own chamber. At first it seemed that
 
 172 MARION LESTER. 
 
 the tide of painful emotions rushing over my soul 
 must find vent in a storm of sobs and tears. But 
 " No, no ! " I said, in self-command, " tears are tell 
 tales." I crushed down mj eyelids to keep back the 
 burning tears ; I pressed both hands tightly upon my 
 bosom to subdue the quivering sobs, and soon the 
 tempest was lulled, and outward calm prevailed. 
 
 There is, in every woman's nature, growing up 
 beside her love, a certain pride, delicate and peculiar. 
 It seeks to conceal from the world the evidences of 
 her affection; and when her heart knows grief or dis 
 appointment, then all her endurance is put in requisi 
 tion to hide, even from the eye of the dearest friends, 
 the sorrow preying within. Every expression of 
 emotion is delayed until the stricken one is alone 
 with night and her grief. 
 
 Thus it was with me. I felt that my happiness 
 was wrecked, that my dream-castle was shattered, 
 come to naught. But within my own heart must be 
 hidden the bitter regret, and night alone witness the 
 swelling tears. 
 
 As I sat there, mutely overlooking the past, Cora 
 entered Avithout knocking. She was very pale ; her 
 eyes were swollen, and looked as though their beau 
 tiful lustre had been washed away by many tears. 
 
 " Cora, I am happy to see you; take my easy- 
 chair."
 
 MARION LESTER. 173 
 
 She sat down without speaking, looked at me 
 reproachfully, then suddenly burst into tears. 
 
 " What is the trouble, darling? " I asked, bracing 
 my nerves, for I guessed her affliction. 
 
 " 0," she sobbed, " Alfred acts so strangely ! He 
 has gone off somewhere, and I don't know how long 
 he will stay. I shall be so lonely, so homesick with 
 out him!" 
 
 " Don't worry about it. dear. It is some business, 
 perhaps, and he will come home soon." 
 
 She removed her handkerchief from her face, and 
 looked at me again. " Marion, don't you know why 
 he has gone ? He is in trouble, 0, don't you know 
 what it is ? He would go off, in spite of all my en 
 treaties, and he strained me to his breast, and called 
 me his only darling, his only friend ! What did he 
 mean, Marion ? Can it be possible tell me, is it 
 true, that you have taken back the vows you gave 
 him, because he does not think just as we do on reli 
 gion, because his opinion is not like yours?" 
 
 " Cora," I said, trying to speak steadily, " Alfred 
 and I had a long talk Sunday night. We found that 
 we could never agree on the subject of religion ; we 
 both thought we never could be happy together, and 
 and I said we concluded we had better part." 
 
 " That 's it ! I knew it was that ! " cried Cora, 
 nervously. " Alfred is n't a convert ; so you think 
 he is n't good enough for you. You think he is a
 
 174 MARION LESTER. 
 
 wicked, unregenerate sinner, and so you cast him off, 
 my dear, good brother Alfred ! 0, Marion, how 
 could you ! It is not like you you did not mean 
 it!" 
 
 " How sensitive you are, Cora ! If Alfred and I 
 agree to disagree, and are contented to be parted, why 
 should you take on so ? " 
 
 " It is the greatest wish of my heart to see you 
 the bride of my brother, dear sister May ; and if 
 truly you and Alfred were content to be parted, I 
 should be unhappy. But you must have discharged 
 Alfred, for he is so wretched ! 0, Marion, he loves 
 you so fondly ! How can he ever get over his disap 
 pointment ? And we had all planned so much hap 
 piness together ! I was to be your own sister, and 
 you was to nurse me so tenderly when I am ill ; and 
 if I should die, I thought Alfred would have you left 
 to love him ; and now now it is all over, and I 
 shall have no sister, and when I die he will be left 
 alone ! " 
 
 She flung herself into my arms, drowned in tears, 
 while my own fell upon her golden tresses. 
 
 " I can tell you how it was," she said, between 
 her sobs ; " you argued until you both became excited, 
 and then there was a lover's quarrel. Now, May, 
 can't you make it up ? Alfred will come back, and 
 you will receive him kindly? Do say you will, 
 Marion ! " 

 
 MARION LESTER. 175 
 
 She looked up with a pleading expression upon her 
 sweet face. 
 
 " I shall always receive Alfred kindly, of course ; 
 but there will be no making up, as you call it ; he 
 would not wish it. any more than I. I can be your 
 sister, though, and will nurse you when sick, just as 
 much as though I were Alfred's bride ; and all for 
 love for your darling self." 
 
 "You can't make me think Alfred is satisfied. 
 Didn't I see his sorrow? 0, how his heart must 
 ache, poor, dear Alfred ! " She fell to crying again. 
 Her tender, loving heart was filled with sympathetic 
 sorrow. 
 
 " I thought you loved Alfred, Marion." 
 
 " And I did, most truly." 
 
 " Did ! then it is past ; your love is turned to 
 hate?" 
 
 " 0, Cora, don't, don't talk so ! " 
 
 " Did I hurt you ? I didn't mean to. And Ma 
 rion, you surely do love him still ! I know it by 
 your looks. Your lips are very white and quivering, 
 and you press your hands over your heart. 0, you 
 will be true to this heart ! you will recall Alfred by 
 renewed promises of love ! " 
 
 " Cora, I have pride as well as love. Shall I 
 recall a lost lover? " 
 
 "But you will let me do it, Marion? A little hint,
 
 176 MARION LESTER. 
 
 a very little one, and he will come back rejoicing. 
 Do say I may ! " 
 
 " Cora, I forbid you ! Not the least word, not 
 the slightest hint of such a thing ! If I knew I 
 should never see another happy moment, I would not 
 so demean myself." 
 
 " Dear Marion, let me persuade you ! I will write 
 to Alfred, and tell him I fancy you will smile upon 
 his return. Such a gentle hint as that would not 
 demean you, May ; it would be only foolish little 
 Cora who gave it, and he would think it all right." 
 
 " Never, Cora; never write like that ! I tell you 
 it is better as it is. Our religious opinions are so 
 unlike ! He will soon find another more worthy of 
 his love, and I I shall in time, perhaps, learn to 
 be happy without him." 
 
 My self-control was giving way. Cora's agitation 
 induced a violent fit of coughing, which suspended 
 her entreaties. As soon as she could speak, she 
 began again : 
 
 " It is all pride, nothing but pride; and though it 
 may be very honorable, I cannot think it right when 
 it comes before your happiness, and that of one so 
 good and true as Alfred. Look at me, May. See 
 how my flesh has wasted away. I fear I am very 
 unwell, and I know I am growing worse instead of 
 better. You have driven my only brother away from 
 me, and my home is so lonely ! Do you love your
 
 MARION LESTER. 177 
 
 poor orphan friend ? If you do, you will make me 
 happy when it is so easy a thing ! " 
 
 Deeply affected, I drew the weeping girl to my 
 breast. " My darling Cora, I would sacrifice much 
 to make you happy, but this which you ask is impos 
 sible. If Alfred himself were by my side this mo 
 ment, with words of love and reconciliation on his 
 lips, I would not hear them ; at least, I would only 
 promise him my friendship. Now that this rupture 
 has occurred, much as I regret it, I will never be any 
 thing more to Alfred, until he is convinced of his 
 mistaken belief, and gives strong evidence of a hope 
 ful conversion." 
 
 " 0, Marion, Marion ! " began Cora, but a par 
 oxysm of coughing checked her words. Cough, 
 cough, cough ! 0, such a suffocating, harrowing 
 cough ! It struck a knell through my heart. She 
 leaned back in my arms struggling and gasping for 
 breath ; fighting with all her feeble strength against 
 that incessant, dreadful, merciless cough ! Every 
 selfish emotion was now lost in intense anxiety for my 
 distressed friend. I was on the point of calling on 
 my mother for help, when the spasm ceased ; a fear 
 ful pallor overspread her face, and the handkerchief 
 she removed from her lips was deeply stained with 
 crimson. I could scarce suppress a shriek of terror. 
 I laid her down upon the lounge where we had been 
 sitting, and ran in haste for my mother. 
 12
 
 178 MARION LESTER. 
 
 I found her, and implored her to hurry to Cora's 
 side. The poor girl lay just as I had left her ; she 
 had fainted, and her handkerchief, saturated with her 
 life-blood, had dropped to the floor. 
 
 I was panic-struck, and walked back and forth, 
 vainly crying, "What shall we do? 0. what shall 
 we do?" But mother, though shocked, was self- 
 possessed ; she sent her maid for a doctor, and set 
 about restoring animation to the death-like figure 
 before her. 
 
 Cora's aunt Fanny came, filled with fond alarm, 
 and all night did they watch by the darling girl. In 
 the morning, with the utmost caution, she was carried 
 .home, and laid on the bed in her own beautiful cham 
 ber. Not whiter than her cheek was the snowy dra 
 pery surrounding her, and, as I gazed upon her with 
 a failing heart, I felt that health's roses would never 
 bloom again for her.
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 CORA'S ILLLESS. 
 
 "And all our thoughts ran into tears, 
 And all our hopes turned into fears, 
 And sunshine into dismal rain ! " 
 
 BEAUTIFUL COKA graceful, merry, joyous Cora 
 tender, loving, grieving Cora was quickly and 
 surely passing away. There was little more of earth 
 for her, but a few days, at best. So said the physician, 
 turning mournfully away. 
 
 Insidious disease had long been preying upon her 
 vitals, and now a short and rapid decline would end 
 the struggle with life. Great God, must this be ! 
 must one upon whom our hearts lavish such wealth 
 of love, be borne forever from our sight? Must 
 death breathe upon her loveliness, and quench the 
 light of her eye, and chill her heart, and stiffen her 
 limbs ? Yes, it must -be ; earthly love can only 
 watch around her pillow, hoping and fearing, waiting 
 and praying, until the Jordan is passed, and the 
 victory is won.
 
 180 MARION LESTER. 
 
 She lay day after day, scarcely speaking, with her 
 violet eyes open and fixed, and a mournful expression 
 ever deepening in them. 0, it was inexpressibly sad 
 to watch the going-out of that young life ! And day 
 by day, and hour by hour, she faded before our eyes, 
 seemingly as fast as a snow-wreath melts beneath the 
 sun's warm rays. 
 
 Cora was attended by fond and faithful nurses : 
 her aunt, who was a gentle, motherly woman ; and I, 
 who devoted my whole time to my sick friend ; and, 
 lastly, her brother with the most assiduous and touch 
 ing kindness hovered round her couch. 
 
 Alfred .had been immediately recalled, and he came 
 stricken with grief. We met daily by the couch of 
 our loved one, with a quiet "good-morning," or "good- 
 evening," nothing more being ever exchanged between 
 us, unless it were some remark pertaining to the sick 
 room. Our eyes never met, except with a quick, 
 passing glance, and even that would start my heart 
 into a painful beating. 
 
 Cora seemed unconscious of the change, or to have 
 forgotten there had ever been any. I was thankful 
 for that, and was careful that nothing should remmd 
 her of it 
 
 I knew Alfred still loved me, and my heart never 
 beat more fondly for him. The most constant watch 
 fulness and composure of manner on my part only, 
 preserved the barrier of coldness and constraint un-
 
 MARION LESTER. 181 
 
 broken. I was partly sustained by pride, and partly 
 by an undefined yet delicious "hope. I was unshaken 
 in my determination never to unbend towards him 
 until he had acknowledged the falsity of his position. 
 If he loved me as I believed, and having lost me, 
 might he not be led to study upon the subject of our 
 difference ; and, pondering upon it, might not he be 
 brought out of darkness into light ? Our separation 
 might in the end result in his salvation and my own 
 rejoicing. These thoughts comforted me ; this hope 
 was the only star I could discern in my overclouded 
 horizon. 
 
 Alfred asked Cora's permission to invite the Rev. 
 Mr. Whitney to call upon her, and she passively 
 acquiesced, as she did to every proposal. Mr. Whit 
 ney came, and, in spite of myself, I inwardly confessed 
 that his manners and conversation were very becoming 
 in a religious teacher beside the bed of sickness. He 
 was cheerful, yet subdued, and his voice took a pecu 
 liarly sweet and gentle intonation. He seemed to 
 know just what to say, and exactly how to say it. It 
 was plain he had often stood as counsel and comforter 
 to the sick and dying. 
 
 He remained some time, and yet Cora seemed re 
 freshed instead of being wearied. He appeared to 
 leave a soothing influence behind, which ministered to 
 us all. 
 
 One day I found Cora alone. She was reclining
 
 182 MARION LESTER. 
 
 in a large cushioned chair surrounded by pillows. 
 She wore a tasteful muslin wrapper, and her golden 
 hair lay in native luxuriance upon her shoulder. The 
 hectic burned upon her cheek, and a painful, intense 
 light streamed from her eyes. 
 
 I bent over her tenderly. " I am glad to see you 
 off that tiresome bed. Are you better, darling? " 
 
 The invalid slightly s-hook her head, and closed her 
 eyes. Tears, like crushed pearls, glistened on her 
 lashes. " No, no," she said, in touching accents, " I 
 am not better I never shall be ! I shall die, I 
 know it, Marion ! Young as I am, I must leave this 
 bright, beautiful world. 0, Marion, how can I bear 
 to die, so young, so unprepared ! " 
 
 She covered her face and wept. I took up one little 
 transparent hand, and kissed it many times with deep 
 emotion. 
 
 "My own Cora, I cannot deceive you; we can 
 keep you but a little while. It is hard to die so 
 young, and God knows how our hearts are wrung at 
 the thought of separation. But I would that you were 
 resigned. Can you not fix your mind upon the 
 green, immortal shores ? Let hope give you a fore 
 taste of that heaven you are so soon to enjoy." 
 
 She uncovered her eyes, and looked at me with an 
 expression which startled me. 
 
 " Marion, you believe I have a hope in Jesus. Alas, 
 alas, it is not so ! I am unworthy, unaccepted of
 
 MARION LESTEE. 183 
 
 God. I was baptized, I joined the church, and sat at 
 the communion-table ; but I was unworthy. I was 
 afraid to do otherwise. It was fear of hell, not love 
 of God, which actuated me. Will such conversion 
 satisfy the Almighty? Will Jesus accept such repent 
 ance ? 0, no, no, no ! Now death is beckoning me 
 away ; I have no rock of safety ; Jesus is far from 
 me! " 
 
 I was dreadfully shocked at this confession, but 
 soon rallied. Cora had little self-esteem, and no self- 
 reliance ; her mind was weakened, as well as her body; 
 she undervalued herself, and was distressed by un 
 necessary fears. Thus I thought, and tried to soothe 
 and assure the sick girl. 
 
 But she heeded no words of comfort, and piteously 
 besought me to show her the way of salvation to tell 
 her how to be saved to tell her what she should do 
 to reconcile God to her. 
 
 " 0, Cora, darling ! don't you know the way? It 
 is Jesus. Pray to him, and he will lead you." 
 
 "I do pray, 0, so fervently! But Jesus seems a 
 great way off, and I am afraid that 's why he will not 
 hear my prayer. 0, MarioD, the valley of the shadow 
 of death is dark to me, and I am afraid, I am afraid 
 to tread therein ! " 
 
 Aunt Fanny now came in, and, seeing the excite 
 ment of her patient, removed her to her bed, and 
 enjoined the strictest silence upon me.
 
 184 MARION LESTER. 
 
 That was the longest and saddest day I passed. It 
 was dreadful to have Cora so unreconciled. And was 
 it possible that Christ was indeed far from her? 
 Every pulsation of my heart was a prayer that He 
 would light the way to her feet, and give her a sure 
 and genuine hope. 
 
 The next morning I was detained from her bedside 
 until a late hour. I found her very tranquil. " Our 
 friend Mary, Mrs. Whitney, has been here," she said, 
 "and she talks so comforting! Her words seemed 
 like medicine to my heart." 
 
 "I am very glad you enjoyed her call, dear one." 
 
 " She has promised to spend an hour with me every 
 morning, and I am very glad of it." 
 
 I was pleased for the sake of my friend, and yet, 
 obeying a feeling I did not really understand, I de 
 layed going to see Cora, every morning, until after 
 Mrs. Whitney had made her call. 
 
 Both the minister and his wife became frequent and 
 welcome visitors. Cora seemed to love the sound of 
 their voices. Their influence over her was wonderful ; 
 she became serene and even cheerful, and at length 
 could speak of death with quiet resignation. 
 
 Though vexed with misgivings, I could not but be 
 grateful. My cherished friend was nearing the river 
 of death, the dark waves were rolling at her feet. 
 But each hour her heart grew stronger, and she smiled 
 more brightly upon us. Jesus had heard her prayer ;
 
 MARION LESTER. 185 
 
 and, trusting in Him, she was undismayed, for He 
 would lead her safely through. 
 
 Thus she descended into the valley, calmly and 
 peacefully. Love waited upon every motion, and 
 unseen bands of angels were hovering near, ready to 
 guide her across the waters !
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE SLEEP. 
 " He giveth his beloved sleep." PSALMS cxxvii. 2. 
 
 " Of all the thoughts of God, that are 
 Born inward into souls afar, 
 
 Along the psalmist's music deep, 
 Now tell me if there any is, 
 For gift or grace, surpassing this 
 ' He giveth his beloved sleep.' " 
 
 ELIZABETH B. BROWNING. 
 
 WATCHING and grief had made me nearly ill, and 
 so one morning I rested, and did not visit Cora until 
 afternoon. As I entered her chamber, I felt intui 
 tively that " the hour was nigh at hand." 
 
 A mysterious brightness veiled the young girl's 
 face, and peace breathed forth from her smile. Dis 
 ease had dealt kindly with her loveliness. Though the 
 roundness of health had departed, there was no ghostly 
 sharpness of outline in her features or limbs. Her 
 beauty seemed etherealized ten-fold intensified ! 
 The waves of her magnificent hair were spread over 
 the pillow, and the pearly brow beneath appeared the
 
 MAKION LESTER. 187 
 
 abode of quietness and rest. She folded her hands 
 upon her breast, and lay there like an exquisitely 
 sculptured image of Patience and Hope. 
 
 Some distance from the foot of the bed, Alfred 
 paced softly back and forth, with the lines of deep 
 sorrow written on his brow. How I longed to breathe 
 into his ear a word of love and comfort} 
 
 Good aunt Fanny sat on one side of the couch, and 
 on the other Mary Whitney with her placid face and 
 voice of music. There was a hush on every heart, 
 and, in silvery accents, she took up a strain of heavenly 
 consolation. She read : 
 
 " ' Let not your heart be troubled : ye believe in 
 God, believe also in me. 
 
 " ' In my Father's house are many mansions-; if it 
 were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare 
 a place for you.' " 
 
 "What a trusting smile parted Cora's lips ! The 
 words of the Divine Comforter were ministering 
 spirits to her soul. And, as Mary read on, a look of 
 holy placidity deepened on her face. 
 
 Awe-struck, I held my breath, lest the sacred spell 
 should be broken. 
 
 There was a gentle ringing of the door-bell, and a 
 sound of footsteps below. Aunt Fanny left her seat 
 and went down stairs noiselessly. She came back 
 with a companion, and I heard her say, before opening
 
 188 MARION LESTER. 
 
 the door, " She is very low, and cannot bear much 
 conversation." 
 
 It was Mr. Delano. Rejoiced to see him then and 
 there, I held out my hand, which was taken with a 
 cordial pressure. I introduced him to Alfred, who 
 bowed without speaking. 
 
 " I was passing through your place," said Mr. 
 Delano, " and hearing that your sister, a dear young 
 friend, and a lamb of my flock, was ill, I felt it to be 
 my privilege to call upon her." 
 
 Alfred bowed again. "You are welcome, sir; 
 please be seated ; " and he continued his melancholy 
 walk up and down the room. 
 
 Mr. Delano approached the bedside. A shadow 
 flitted across the invalid's placid brow, yet she smiled 
 a welcome, and tried to raise her feeble hand. He 
 took it in his, and said, " I am grateful for the priv 
 ilege of seeing you again, my dear girl." 
 
 She smiled again, but her sweet serenity was dis 
 turbed. His presence seemed to awaken painful 
 associations. 
 
 " When the shores of life are receding, it is pleas 
 ant to know that the pilgrim is a Christian, and hath 
 the promise of salvation. Is your heart calm, and 
 your mind prepared for the change awaiting it ? " 
 
 " Yes," she whispered faintly; but in that moment 
 the angelic brightness of her countenance was hidden, 
 and lost in the gathering shadows of anxiety. Her
 
 MARION LESTER. 189 
 
 eyes roved restlessly from his face to mine, and from 
 me to Alfred. 
 
 I began to regret Mr. Delano's presence, and men-, 
 tally to reproach him. Perhaps others might need 
 such questions ; but why should he disturb the dying 
 hour of one so innocent and child-like ? What little 
 she lacked I felt would be graciously overlooked by 
 the heavenly Judge. She was almost an angel now ! 
 
 But the reverend gentleman, unconscious of my 
 mental ejaculations, went on in his conversation. 
 
 " I am happy to hear your answer," he said ; "I 
 believed it would be so. I was sure your professions 
 were real, and your conversion of God. It is the 
 hope of life through Jesus that sustains you now. 
 Like a young Christian you repose in His arms." 
 
 A look of wild alarm shot across her features, and 
 she cried out with unnatural strength, l( 0, you have 
 waked me from a dream of false security ! Alas, I 
 am unworthy to be called a Christian ! My profes 
 sions were but mockery, for it was fear which actu 
 ated me. I thought more of hell, than God, or 
 heaven ! " 
 
 " Sir," said Mrs. Whitney, " you are disturbing 
 our invalid. I beg you to drop the exciting subject. 
 Her mind has been tossed with fears and doubts, and 
 now the love of God has given her peace." 
 
 " Madam, she is a lamb of my flock ; she received 
 the baptism at my hands, and I have a sacred right
 
 190 MARION LESTER. 
 
 to question her relative to her religious experience. 
 From her language I am led to fear that she has 
 fallen from her high estate. She acknowledges that 
 she has been reposing in a false security, and it is 
 well that she is awakened to a true sense of her con 
 dition before it is too late." 
 
 " Too late ! 0, is it too late ? " cried Cora in a 
 piercing voice. ' ' Help me, help me, or I shall perish ! " 
 
 " Pray to God, believe in Jesus, and he will help 
 you." 
 
 " 0, I remember everything now ! Your presence 
 brings back those dreadful, dreadful days ! I thought 
 I had found peace at last, I thought heaven was 
 close at hand, but you have awakened me from 
 that delusive dream. 0, it is dark, dark to me ! " 
 
 I wanted to fly to Mr. Delano, and push him from 
 her bedside ; but I felt as if bound hand and foot. 
 0, why did not Alfred heed what was going on ? How 
 could he keep pacing back and forth, so deaf to every 
 thing? 
 
 She threw up her hands wildly, and tossed from 
 side to side with almost supernatural strength. It 
 was the energy of despair. 
 
 " Save me, save me ! " she cried ; " you pray to 
 God for me, for I am afraid. 0, it is so dark, and I 
 am dying ! 0, I 'm afraid, I 'm afraid to die ! 
 Won't anybody help me ? Can't you pray for me ? " 
 
 " I will pray for you, poor, misguided child." 

 
 MARION LESTER. 191 
 
 " Do, do ! for I am dying, dying, and there 's 
 no light there ! " 
 
 Alfred turned quickly ; his mind had been in 
 drawn, but he began to comprehend the scene. With 
 an authoritative gesture he said, " Mr. Delano, is this 
 your mission, to distract the dying ? Let my poor 
 sister rest in quiet." 
 
 " What is the quietness of an hour to an eternity 
 of unrest ? " 
 
 "0, Alfred, dear Alfred! do help me, for I am 
 afraid ! " 
 
 " Peace, sir ! " 
 
 Alfred spoke in a deep, impressive tone. Mr. Del 
 ano withdrew to the window, with a haughty and 
 injured air, and Alfred bent tenderly over his beloved 
 sister. 
 
 " Cora, darling sister, there's nothing to be afraid 
 of. I am with you." 
 
 " But you can't save me from the wrath of God. 
 Nothing can, for I am foredoomed ! 0, why was I 
 born, to die so young, and so unprepared? I am 
 afraid ! I am afraid ! " 
 
 She covered her eyes with her hands, as if to shut 
 out some baleful vision, while a visible shudder 
 thrilled her frame. This great agitation threatened 
 a speedy dissolution ; and, merciful Heaven ! would 
 her last words be a shriek of despair ! Sick and 
 faint with terror, I leaned upon the table for support.
 
 192 MARION LESTER. 
 
 Alfred burst into a wail of agony. " Mrs. Whit 
 ney, comfort her if you can ! I cannot speak to her." 
 Saying this he resumed his monotonous walking, and 
 weeping as if broken-hearted. 
 
 'Mrs. Whitney began to make gentle, mesmeric 
 passed over Cora's head and shoulder, meanwhile 
 repeating comforting passages of Scripture. But the 
 agonized girl continued her moan, " I am afraid ! I 
 am afraid ! " 
 
 At this crisis Mr. Whitney came in. Observing 
 Cora's agitation, he looked round inquiringly. ' ' What 
 is the matter with the dear girl ? Why is she so dis 
 tressed?" 
 
 No one answered. His eye fell upon Mr. Delano, 
 and I read in a glance that he comprehended it now. 
 
 " Mr. Whitney, Mr. Delano, the minister who 
 baptized our Cora," said aunt Fanny between her 
 sobs. 
 
 Both gentlemen bowed slightly. 
 
 " Mr. Whitney, you are good and kind ; you will 
 help me ! Show me how I can be saved ! ' ' cried 
 Cora. 
 
 " Calm yourself, my sweet girl ; there, let me 
 smooth your pillow, and lay your head upon it. 
 Don't you feel better now? " The wild, half-maniac 
 expression softened on her face, and she shut her eyes 
 with a succession of quivering sobs. 
 
 Highly as I regarded Mr. Delano, and in spite of
 
 MARION LESTER. 193 
 
 my prejudice against the sentiments of Mr. Whitney, 
 I felt that the latter was best adapted to give comfort 
 to my dying friend. 
 
 Cora spoke again in plaintive, heart-touching tones, 
 " I am going to die, and I have not reconciled God to 
 me. Dear sir, do tell me how to die so that he will 
 receive and love me ! " 
 
 " Nay, poor child, it is you who are unreconciled, 
 not God. He is unchangeable love. Fear not to 
 trust your soul in his hands. ' He so loved the world 
 that he gave his only begotten Son, that the world 
 through him might be saved.' Paul says, ' For I am 
 persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor 
 principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor 
 things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other 
 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love 
 of God, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.' ;: 
 
 " 0, tell me more, tell me more ! " she murmured, 
 pleadingly. 
 
 " 'He will swallow up death in victory, and the 
 Lord shall wipe away all tears from off all faces.' 
 ' He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is 
 love.' ' There is no fear in love ; but perfect love 
 casteth out fear.' ' We love him, because he first 
 loved us.' Trust in God's love, Cora ; trust in Christ's 
 saving power ! " 
 
 " 'T is sweet to hear your words ; they soothe me ; 
 they soften this dreadful fear, and yet I am perplexed. 
 13
 
 194 MARION LESTER. 
 
 Others tell of hell, and vengeance, and fearful retri 
 bution. I am still afraid to die ! " 
 
 Great tears gushed over her wan face. I groaned 
 in anguish of spirit. 
 
 " Cora, shall I pray to God to send you this holy 
 Comforter, and give you peace? " 
 
 " Yes, 0, yes ; for I need it sorely ! " 
 
 Mr. Whitney had knelt, and we were about to fol 
 low his example, when Cora beckoned to Mr. Delano, 
 saying sweetly, " You will join us, my friend ? " 
 
 He hesitated ; his proud heart rebelled. But the 
 pale, spiritual face, with its pleading gaze, overcame 
 him. He could not resist the appeal of one standing 
 at the shadowy portal of death. He came forward a 
 few paces and fell upon his knees. A satisfied smile 
 flitted across Cora's face ; she folded her hands 
 devoutly. 
 
 I tried to raise my thoughts to Heaven, but strange 
 and conflicting emotions warred upon each other in 
 my aching breast. 
 
 The words and tone of the pastor breathed over my 
 soul with a subduing power : 
 
 " Our Heavenly Father ! " 
 
 The moisture stole beneath my eyelids, and my 
 spirit cried, " Our Heavenly Father ! " 
 
 Eloquently, fervently, he prayed ; touchingly sim 
 ple, thrillingly earnest, was the petition borne up to
 
 MARION LESTER. 195 
 
 the Father's ear. I felt a portion of the blessing he 
 craved fall like scented dew upon my heart. 
 
 I rose to my feet, comforted and strengthened. 
 Alfred still knelt, with his face hidden in the bed 
 clothes. 
 
 Cora slept, so like an image of death one might 
 have thought the spirit really flown, but for the 
 slight undulation of her bosom. The tranquil bright 
 ness I had before observed illuminated the beautiful 
 face. 
 
 Mute, motionless, scarcely breathing, we stood 
 around her bed-side. Methought if her spirit floated 
 away on that balmy slumber, it were a sweet way to 
 die. Yet my heart yearned to see once more the light 
 of those curtained eyes, and to hear her voice assur 
 ing us that she died in peace. 
 
 Mr. Delano stood at a little distance, with a 
 gloomy, almost sullen, gathering of his brows. Al 
 fred did not change his humble position. I longed 
 to kneel by his side, and mingle my tears with his, 
 that our mutual grief might be assuaged by sympa 
 thy. But that was not my privilege. I could not 
 intrude upon his sorrow, remembering how I had 
 wronged him. 
 
 As I gazed upon the sleeper's face, a change came 
 over it, a chill, dark shadow, unmistakably, un 
 deniably the shadow of death's wing. A suppressed
 
 196 MARION LESTER. 
 
 cry rose to my lips. The watchers by that couch 
 exchanged startled, grieving glances. 
 
 Anon another change ; a softly-dawning smile 
 parted her lips. She slowly unclosed her eyes, like 
 one awakening from a delicious dream. A heavenly 
 lustre transfigured her face, like the face of an angel. 
 
 " I 'm not afraid now ! " Sweet as the harp's music 
 stole those words into my soul. 
 
 " I 'm not afraid now ! " 
 
 She looked upon us with an enlightened, compre 
 hending gaze. Her spirit, partly disenthralled, saw 
 and understood the mystery of life and death. 
 
 She spoke clearly, and without pain or weakness. 
 
 " I thought I was borne to the gates of heaven on 
 the wings of that prayer. I heard heavenly voices, 
 I seemed filled with light, and a thrill of unutterable 
 joy pervaded my soul. I 'm not afraid to die ! God is 
 my Father ! I feel it ! I know it ! " 
 
 Alfred sprang to his feet, and bent forward, listen 
 ing to her transporting words. 
 
 "Dear Mr. and Mrs. Whitney," continued the 
 dying one, with sweet tranquillity, " I bless you for 
 your love and kindness ; and, when you are nearing 
 the shores of eternity, may you be cheered by the 
 gracious assurance which makes my dying pillow the 
 portal of heaven. 
 
 " And, dear aunt Fanny, don't cry ; I am going
 
 MARION LESTER. 197 
 
 home ! I will watch over you and love you in heaven. 
 Good-by till we meet there ! " 
 
 The good lady pressed the extended hand to her 
 heart, and turned away in an agony of tears. 
 
 " Mr. Delano," the gentleman drew near, " if 
 any should ask how Cora died, tell them the All- 
 Father breathed upon her departing spirit ; tell them 
 I died believing, knowing that the love of God is 
 sufficient for us all ! Farewell, dear sir, and the 
 Lord grant that your faith may become enlarged and 
 purified ! 
 
 " And now, my brother, my sister, I must bid you 
 farewell." The others drew back, and Alfred and I 
 stood by her pillow. " Alfred, I know you will 
 mourn for me, but not without hope. Your blessed 
 faith will sustain you, and in time you can speak 
 cheerfully of my departure. I will be your guardian 
 spirit, if the Father is willing. Wipe your eyes, my 
 own Marion. If you felt what I feel, and knew what 
 I know, you would rejoice rather than weep. You 
 recollect all my painful struggles, and doubts, and 
 fears ; you realize in your own heart the gloomy 
 shadows which our religious faith created. 0, Ma 
 rion, God is love ! I would I could make you feel it 
 as the Father himself hath revealed it unto me. 3 T is 
 a fearful thing to limit the love of God, or the saving 
 power of Christ ! My dear sister, study the word
 
 198 MARION LESTER. 
 
 of God, study nature, and these things "will be clear 
 to your mind. 
 
 " Comfort Alfred, Marion, for he will be lonely. 
 0, 1 remember, a cloud has come between you ! That 
 should not be. Marion, lay your hand in Alfred's, 
 that I may die feeling that my two dearest ones are 
 united. Dear Marion, do it for my sake ! " 
 
 I looked at Alfred. The language of his eyes 
 were, " For Cora's sake ; I will require nothing of 
 you, only gratify our beloved by placing your hand 
 in mine." 
 
 My eyes answered his in similar words. I laid my 
 hand passively in his open palm ; it received no pres 
 sure. I began to tremble from the intensity of my 
 double grief, and would have fallen but for a power 
 ful effort of will. 
 
 Cora's eyes lighted with joyful affection. " It is 
 well," she whispered ; " may your hearts be united 
 as are now your hands. Bless you, bless you, dear 
 ones ! " 
 
 Her fictitious strength was fast ebbing away. She 
 looked around with a faint smile, and then appeared 
 to sleep. 
 
 Suddenly she started, crying rapturously, "Mother, 
 I come ! 0, peace joy heaven ! " 
 
 The upraised hand fell lightly on the counterpane. 
 Her spirit had flown ! But the impress of celestial 
 joy seemed left upon the still, marble face.
 
 MARION LESTER. 199 
 
 Alfred's tears rained upon the pearly brow. " She 
 has fallen asleep at last ! " he murmured. 
 
 " Yes, she sweetly sleeps in the Father's arms ! " 
 said Mr. Whitney, reverently.
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 ARTHUR'S PASSION AND INFIDELITY. 
 
 " Darkness and void ! no future ! not a ray 
 Of welcome light ! a cold, chill night, 
 
 Lacking the break of day ! 
 An ending of the whole career ; 
 A fatal stopping-place in life's swift race ; 
 A mingling of cold clay, without a cheering ray 
 
 Of hope ! nipped at life's birth ! " 
 
 WE laid our Cora by her mother's side in the 
 church-yard. The softly-falling snow soon covered 
 the hallowed mound. There is an inexpressible des 
 olation in the thought of leaving our beloved alone in 
 earth's wintry bosom, with the snow piled high above 
 the lately-glowing heart, and the chill winds shriek 
 ing above the dreamless bed. I knew her spirit was 
 rejoicing in light, and yet my soul was so earth-bound, 
 I could only think of her as lying shrouded and coffined 
 in the damp, dark grave. 
 
 A pall hung before my eyes ; it shut out the light 
 of heaven, and blackened the sweet phases of social 
 life. My bereaved heart mourned the death of two,
 
 MARION LESTER. 201 
 
 for now was Alfred truly lost to me. Immediately 
 after the funeral he had left the place, and the fairy 
 cottage, lately so happy a home, was left untenanted 
 and alone. 
 
 It looked so mournful to me, that closed and 
 empty house ! The sight of it augmented my misery, 
 and so I fastened my window-blinds, and shut myself 
 up in my own room, a prey to gloomy sorrow. 
 
 The fond endearments of my parents had no power 
 to assuage my grief, and my religion was too dead 
 to revive the energies of my crushed and bleeding 
 heart. 
 
 Late one afternoon I thought to indulge my mel 
 ancholy by visiting Cora's grave. I threw on a bon 
 net and shawl, and passed out unnoticed by any of 
 the family. The sky was black with gathering clouds, 
 and fierce gusts of wind bowed the naked branches 
 of the trees. I heeded not the weather, or, rather, 
 liked it, it accorded so well with my mental atmos 
 phere. 
 
 As I neared the spot, a form arose from the grave. 
 I was retreating in alarm, when a well-known voice 
 arrested my steps. " Marion Lester, do not be 
 alarmed. Have not I the same right to weep over 
 this dust that you have ? " 
 
 The voice was that of Arthur Willis ; but I .could 
 hardly believe the worn and haggard face, and wildly- 
 gleaming eyes, and long hair, and disordered dress,
 
 202 MARION LESTER. 
 
 could belong to that elegant and fastidious young 
 man. 
 
 " Arthur Willis, how came you here ? why came 
 you here ? It is inexplicable to me." 
 
 He dropped down wearily upon the ground, and 
 clasped his hands about his knees, with such a look 
 of utter despair, that I felt my bitter sorrow was sur 
 passed by his. 
 
 " You wonder why I am here," said he in a plain 
 tive monotone; "but you never knew how I loved 
 her ; she never dreamed of it ; I hardly knew it my 
 self ! I loved her, adored her ! beautiful, angelic 
 Cora ! I looked upon her as a superior being, as she 
 really was. The ground she trod upon was sacred to 
 me ; the air she breathed perfumed to my senses ; 
 and her face and smile, how they are pictured in my 
 heart ! " 
 
 He bowed his head upon his knees, and was silent 
 a moment, then looked up with a stern and wild 
 expression. 
 
 " I never told her I loved her. but I meant to 
 when the world should smile more brightly on me, 
 and then we were to dwell in an Eden together. Now 
 she is dead ! Her lovely form and angelic face, her 
 loving heart and priceless mind, are all blighted to 
 gether ! She is dead ! Don't you see the sun can 
 not shine through the clouds of mourning ? At night 
 the stars will be lost in gloom, for she lies cold and
 
 MARION LESTER. 203 
 
 still ! Hear the wailing of the winds ! It is for 
 beauteous Cora ! 0, I would the sun might never 
 shine again ; that the stars would ever hide their 
 faces ; that nature would never come to life in spring 
 time again for Cora is gone forever ! 0, Cora, 
 Cora, that I were lying by your side, and then I 'd 
 care not whether summer or winter, flowers or frost, 
 reigned above us ! " 
 
 Filled with dismay and surprise, I strove to find 
 words to comfort the half-demented young man. 
 The poignancy of my sorrow was softened and almost 
 forgotten in sympathy for the wretched one before 
 me. 
 
 " Arthur, it is dreadful to part with our beloved 
 Cora ; but there is hope in Jesus. She is not dead, 
 but risen to a better and higher life." 
 
 " Don't tell me that ! " he cried, sharply ; " I know 
 better. There is no heaven nor hell, no future ! 
 Death is an endless sleep, and I would it had fallen 
 upon me now ! " 
 
 " Have you forgotten the revelation of God ? " 
 
 " Don't talk to me of God ! I tell you there is no 
 God ! " 
 
 I began to doubt his sanity, and looked at him in 
 pitying silence. 
 
 " Once I thought there was a God, "but I know 
 better now. The God men worship is a fickle, 
 changeful God, loving and hating, blessing and curs-
 
 204 MARION LESTER. 
 
 ing, just like man. Men are fools to quarrel about 
 a being that is not." 
 
 "Now, Arthur, you cannot mean what you say. 
 I don't believe you are in earnest ! " 
 
 A bitter, mocking smile wreathed his lips. " De 
 luded girl, I tell you there is no God ! The chaos, 
 the discord, the sins and sufferings of life, all deny 
 the existence of a Supreme Being. Call it all nature, 
 or chance, or what you please, for I tell you there is 
 no controlling, ruling spirit ; else why would the 
 good and lovely be cut down in the morning, and the 
 wretched and sinful live on until night ? 0, Cora ! 
 Cora ! " he cried, being again overcome with the 
 tiding waves of grief, "thou art no more forever! 
 Never, never shall I see thee again ! Oblivion, night, 
 has fallen on thy glorious beauty ! " 
 
 Again that look of wild and stern despair. His 
 hands were clenched, his teeth set, and his eyes 
 gleamed with an unnatural light. 
 
 I was struck with horror. "It is a dreadful 
 thought annihilation no God no heaven ! 
 Arthur, your trouble has unsettled your mind. 0, 
 study the precepts of Christ ; seek religion, and you 
 will behold light beyond the darkness." 
 
 He rose to his feet with a threatening air. " Re 
 ligion !" he hissed through his teeth, "religion! 
 it is a curse, a blight ! Don't speak the word beside 
 her grave ! "
 
 MARION LESTER. 205 
 
 Somewhat intimidated, I drew back a few steps. 
 " 0, Arthur, Cora loved religion. She was a Chris 
 tian." 
 
 "And didn't it kill her? didn't it kill her? 
 Shall I seek what withered the life in the heart of 
 my love ? Never ! I will hunt it down ! I will 
 annihilate it if I can ! Religion ! I will tell you 
 the history of it with me. When I was a child, a 
 mere babe, the word was a bugbear to me. I must 
 get religion, or hell would get me ; I must love God, 
 or he would hate me. And, when I became a man, 
 I thought to devote my life to the saving of my fel 
 low-creatures ; my heart was full of high purposes 
 and pitying compassion. But because I used my 
 reason a little, instead of the creed, I was put down 
 by religionists, and prematurely driven from their 
 ranks by persecution. This was enough to destroy 
 my confidence ; but I saw more. Did n't that revi 
 val bring clouds, and darkness, and fears? Didn't 
 the young and joyous become sad and gloomy as they 
 became religious ? 
 
 ' And you, Marion Lester, were a frank, ingen 
 uous, happy girl ; but religion spoiled you. Your 
 charming vivacity was lost ; you grew cold, haughty, 
 and self-righteous. 
 
 " And Cora ! her smile was light, her voice 
 melody ! 0, my heart burned within me as I 
 saw the blight fall on her ! Her smile faded, her
 
 206 MARION LESTER. 
 
 voice became low and plaintive, and her music-laugh 
 drowned in tears ! These are the effects of that 
 religion which you bid me seek ! " 
 
 " This is heresy ! Arthur, think of your state at 
 the judgment-day, if you persist in this dreadful 
 belief." 
 
 He leaned towards me. and whispered, " They- say 
 she is doomed, and, if so, I will be doomed too ! 
 Heaven would be hell without her ; hell would be 
 made happy by her presence ! Dr. Severe told me 
 she was dead ; that she had renounced religion, re 
 tracted her professions, and died without a hope. He 
 said she was doomed ! His horrible words made me 
 what I am ! My heart is withered, my brain is 
 afire." 
 
 The winter winds pierced me through, but his 
 words penetrated to the very core of my heart. A 
 superstitious fear oppressed me. The tall head-stones 
 loomed up grimly in the gathering shades of night. 
 The glaring eyes of the insane man paralyzed me ; 
 my teeth chattered and my limbs trembled. I would 
 have refuted his dreadful words ; I tried to tell him 
 Cora died in peace ; but my tongue refused its office. 
 
 Arthur sank down upon the ground again. " Go 
 away, Marion Lester, go away ! You do not pity 
 me ; you disturb me. Let me weep alone by Cora's 
 grave. Cora ! Cora ! but she does not hear me 
 never can ! "
 
 MARION LESTER. 207 
 
 He threw himself upon her grave with a bitter 
 wail. 
 
 I glided away with fleet steps, leaving that wreck 
 of intellect and manhood grovelling in despair. This 
 was the last drop in my cup of agony, and I could 
 bear no more. My senses seemed leaving me, and, 
 as I sped along, I wildly prayed that my reason 
 might not be dethroned. 
 
 My parents were anxiously waiting for me, but I 
 brushed by them, and ran up stairs into my chamber. 
 I shut the door and knelt by my bed. It was the 
 attitude of prayer ; but vainly, for a time, did I in 
 voke its spirit 
 
 Passion, fear, grief, and awakening doubts, rioted 
 in my tortured brain. Long I knelt there, until a 
 quietness came over me, and I could review the 
 strange words of Arthur. He said religion had 
 spoiled me, made me cold, proud, and self-righteous. 
 Was it possible that religion had done this? I 
 studied the past, and conscience arose with a thou 
 sand stings. 0, truly I had nursed the empty form 
 of religion, when the beautiful spirit, which should 
 be indwelling, was unacknowledged and unfelt ! 
 
 Tears gushed from my eyes, and I fervently im 
 plored divine forgiveness, assistance and guidance. 
 
 Still I retained my position, for I became too weak 
 to rise, and my head grew giddy with sickening pain. 
 I dimly remember the presence of my mother, and
 
 208 MARION LESTER. 
 
 how I was raised up and placed in bed. I felt a burn 
 ing, rushing sensation in all my veins ; a feeling of 
 oppression and weakness came over me, and all con 
 sciousness was lost. A long blank followed. 
 
 When memory and reason resumed their empire, I 
 lay upon my pillow, helpless as a new-born babe. 
 I could not raise my hand or turn my weary head. 
 I had been oblivious for many days ; I knew it by 
 the thin, pale features of my mother, bending fondly 
 over me; I knew it by the added lines on my 
 father's brow, and the sad expression of his face. 
 
 I asked no questions, but immediately relapsed 
 into a dreamy slumber. Gradually the life-powers 
 rallied; the nourishment placed to my lips was 
 grateful to my taste, and an eloquent eye, and, now 
 and then, a feeble word, expressed thanks for the 
 constant and unremitting attentions of affection. 
 
 Then came sweet Mary Whitney, with step soft as 
 the falling snow-flake, and her low and tender tones. 
 Her refreshing presence was a cordial to my heart. 
 Then Mr. Whitney was admitted to my chamber, 
 cheerful, genial, fresh as the morning. He always 
 brought in sunshine with him, and left a bright ray 
 for a token of his return. 
 
 As I grew stronger the memory of my sorrows 
 returned with added power, and I was continually 
 trying to analyze the counter elements which had
 
 MARION LESTER. 209 
 
 rent my heart and blunted my understanding. Ar 
 thur's words rung in my ears, " Religion spoiled 
 you; you became self-righteous." My eyes were 
 opened to my real position as a Christian. I had 
 been too much of a sectarian too self-willed for a 
 follower of Christ. I had been intolerant of opinion, 
 narrow and selfish in my views. I began to realize 
 how deeply I had wronged Alfred Eaton ; how I had 
 wounded the hearts of my parents. 
 
 I was filled with contrition, and resolved to be 
 more yielding and compliant. Still, the all-impor 
 tant question of man's future destiny agitated my 
 mind. Such mental disquiet retarded my recovery. 
 Sometimes I cried out in anguish, "It is all dark, 
 dark to me ! " 
 
 Then upon the ear of my soul would sound, like 
 half-remembered music, the dying words of Cora, 
 "God is love." Her sweet serenity, the. beautiful 
 confidence with which she at last yielded up her spir 
 it, would rise before me with a soothing influence. 
 " God is love ! " Upon this vast, delightful thought, 
 I would allow my aching heart to rest for a moment. 
 This bright point alone saved me from renewed delir 
 ium. 
 
 One day I was bolstered up by pillows, my father 
 sitting behind me and supporting me with his strong 
 arm. 
 
 "Marion," he said, "there is a preacher of your 
 14
 
 210 MARION LESTER. 
 
 faith in the neighborhood ; if you wish, I will invite 
 him to call upon you." 
 
 " Thank you, father, but I do not care to see a 
 stranger. I am much pleased with Mr. Whitney, 
 and would rather he would continue his visits." 
 
 There was a little silence, during which I strength 
 ened myself for an acknowledgment. " Father, dear 
 father, I have not regarded your wishes as I ought, 
 nor have I been obedient in all things. I have had 
 wrong views, for I believed that Christians were con 
 fined almost exclusively to one sect; now I know 
 that all who love the Lord, and try to do his will, are 
 Christians, whatever their name may be. I have 
 learned ttiis from Mr. Whitney, and am sorry for my 
 bigotry and exclusiveness. Will you forgive me, 
 father, for the pain I have occasioned you? " 
 
 In a tone of emotion he replied, " My child, it was 
 all forgiven long ago." 
 
 " I knew it, father, even before I asked you ; and 
 now I am going to try to be a tetter Christian, and 
 to be worthy of such a good father. But I can't 
 think clearly ; my mind is all in a whirl of confu 
 sion. I wish I could understand the plan of salva 
 tion !" 
 
 " My Marion, that is not necessary now ; you are 
 too weak to grapple with such a weighty subject. 
 Wait until you are well, and then you can study for 
 yourself. The life and teachings of Jesus will be a
 
 MAKION LESTEE. 211 
 
 perfect chart to guide you. For the present let your 
 heart rest in God's love ; endeavor to realize that he 
 is your Almighty Father, and your anxiety will give 
 place to a pleasing trust." 
 
 "0, how much better I feel ! I am glad I have 
 told you my troublesome thoughts, for I seem relieved 
 and strengthened. Dear father, take away this 
 pillow which is between me and your heart. There 
 let me rest my head upon your breast. Now, is not 
 the little cloud between us vanished away, and am I 
 not your own Marion again, your only and dearest 
 child?" 
 
 "My God, I thank thee for this hour ! " he whis 
 pered, in a broken voice. I could feel the throbbings 
 of the great heart against which I rested, and I knew 
 that happy tears were falling on my head. 
 
 From that time I recovered more rapidly. My 
 mind resumed its natural tone in proportion as my 
 physical system became strengthened. I was sur 
 rounded by soothing and elevating influences. Books, 
 and flowers, and music, with cheerful conversation, 
 enlivened the tedium of convalescence. 
 
 My parents were all love and kindness, and Mr. 
 and Mrs. Whitney constant in their attentions. And 
 other friends, as they were gradually admitted, testi 
 fied their affection in various ways. 
 
 I talked much about religion with my father and 
 Mr. Whitney, and that tended to increase my seren-
 
 212 MARION LESTER. 
 
 ity, as all doctrinal points were avoided, and genuine 
 religion, in all its loveliness, only dwelt upon. My 
 heartfelt gratitude is due these friends for the deli 
 cacy and consideration manifested towards me. 
 
 This was what I needed rest from all contested 
 points ; and, when I was fully restored to health, my 
 mind was fresh and clear, and unaccountably free 
 from the fetters which had trammelled it so shortly 
 ago. 
 
 i 
 Once, in looking over a city paper, my eye was 
 
 arrested by a name, a dear familiar name, Alfred 
 Eaton ! It was in a list of lectures given before a 
 certain literary society. His lecture was pronounced 
 both brilliant and useful, and his talents and moral 
 worth commented upon with earnestness and evident 
 sincerity. Coming tears quickly obscured the let 
 ters. This being, so noble, so worthy, I had deeply 
 wronged. He had once loved, but now without 
 doubt despised me. He would be happy, and hon 
 ored of men, and I, alas, had not a single claim upon 
 his affection or esteem ! 
 
 Thfe was the reopening of a wound which could 
 not be easily healed. " But it is a just punish 
 ment," I murmured, in bitter self-condemnation; 
 " I deserve it all for my bigotry and passionate haste. 
 I must make this great trial serve for my improve 
 ment and spiritual elevation. And I must crush
 
 MARION LESTER. 213 
 
 this love out of my heart ; I must learn to read of 
 him, to speak of him ; and even to meet him, with 
 out emotion. Yes, yes; I must overcome myself, 
 and, when he returns, Marion Lester shall meet him 
 as a sister should a brother as I should meet the 
 only brother of my dear ascended Cora ! "
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 " Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts 
 with praise." PSALMS c. 4. 
 
 " Approach not the altar 
 
 With gloom in thy soul ; 
 Nor let thy feet falter, 
 
 From terror's control ! 
 God loves not the sadness 
 
 Of fear and distrust ; 
 0, serve him with gladness 
 The Gentle, the Just ! " 
 
 F. OSGOOD. 
 
 A MORNING in June, a Sabbath morn in June ! 
 Sweetest and holiest of all times ! Earth wears a 
 smile from heaven. Nature has donned her robe of 
 loveliness. Everywhere innumerable tints of green 
 flash in the bright sunlight, and the arching skies 
 above are serenely, intensely blue. Each zephyr, as 
 it floats along, bears on its wings perfume from the 
 violet and rose ; and the wild- wood songsters shout 
 their loftiest anthems ! 
 
 All nature is jubilant ; and yet, methinks, there is 
 a holy stillness on the air, for all sounds of mortal 
 toil are hushed, and the " voice of God " speaks
 
 MARION LESTER. 215 
 
 audibly to the listening heart. The gushing sun 
 shine has a mellower tinge, and the flickering, 
 dancing foliage throws softer shadows on the green 
 sward. The very air seems instinct with love and 
 beauty ! 
 
 Not a discordant element in nature, not a jarring 
 chord in the " harp of life." Harmony within and 
 without. 'T is the sabbath of the year the sabbath 
 of the soul ! 
 
 On such a morn, and in such a frame of mind, did 
 I repair to the temple of the Lord. I was now fully 
 restored to health, and prepared to enter into all the 
 active duties of life. My mother's face was wreathed 
 in heartfelt smiles, and my father's eyes shone with 
 a proud, rejoicing light. Leaning on his arm, I 
 walked slowly up the aisle, and seated myself, as was 
 my wont in former days, between him and my 
 mother. My heart rose, and beat quickly, as I 
 looked around the little church, from which I had 
 been so long absent. How much of life I had 
 learned since I last sat there ! What sorrow, what 
 tribulation, what humility ! 
 
 Many eyes were turned upon me; some coldly, 
 others curiously, and some in joyful surprise. From 
 Mary Whitney, sitting in the minister's pew, I 
 received a quick glance of affectionate approval. By 
 her side was a young lady, radiant with smiles ; I
 
 216 MARION LESTER. 
 
 had no difficulty in recognizing the beautiful Emma 
 Benton. 
 
 In the same range with ours, was an empty pew. 
 My eyes sought it involuntarily, and quickly did the 
 rushing tide of memory cause them to overflow. 
 Where was the little classic head, with its wealth of 
 shining hair falling 'neath a dainty hat, which I so 
 oft had seen above the edge of the high-backed pew ? 
 Where my darling Cora, whose vacant seat looked so 
 desolate to me then ? Where was her gentle mother, 
 who ever sat by her side ? Where her noble, manly 
 brother, with his earnest, upturned face ? The pew 
 was empty ! Two of those beloved ones had joined 
 the church of Christ on High, and one was far away, 
 and forever estranged from me. 
 
 I drew down my veil, and let the heavy tears fall 
 unrestrained. But there was no bitterness in my 
 tears, no rebellion against the will of the Most High ; 
 it was only a natural outgushing of emotion, which 
 could not be repressed. 
 
 I grew calmer as the services proceeded, and when 
 Mr. Whitney announced his text, I could look up 
 prepared to hear his words with composure. His 
 theme was the "Mission of Christ," and not a word 
 did I lose of the simple, truthful, soul-stirring dis 
 course. I listened eagerly, almost breathlessly, as 
 the vastness and sublimity of the subject were unfolded 
 to my mind. The sermon was clear, concise, and
 
 MAKION LESTER. 217 
 
 logical, proving the power and completeness of the 
 scheme of salvation, and the certainty of the fulfil 
 ment of Christ's mission, which was " to seek and 
 save that which was lost." He closed with a rapt, 
 prophetical view of that glorious era when Christ's 
 mediatorial reign shall have been accomplished ; 
 when, sin and death finished, he shall give up all 
 things into the Father's hands, " that God may be 
 all in all." 
 
 My mind was settled now ; there would be no 
 more fear, no more painful questioning for me. God 
 would be all in all. Christ's mission would be 
 accomplished ! When, and how., and where. I cared 
 not, in the blessed knowledge that it would be done 
 in God's own time ! The thought seemed to illumin 
 ate my mind and to vivify my heart. 
 
 I bowed my head upon my hands, lost to all out 
 ward things in the contemplation of the delightful 
 theme. My soul seemed bathed, absorbed in light, 
 and the breath of Eternal Love swept each sensitive 
 chord of my being. I had .never felt such nearness 
 to God ; such complete confidence in his changeless 
 mercy. 
 
 New faith and hope budded and blossomed in my 
 heart, the fruit of which, in after days, was saving 
 food to my soul. I received such a baptism of joy 
 that I felt I could never sorrow again as I had done. 
 Death was no longer a grim spectre, but one of
 
 218 MARION LESTER. 
 
 God's good angels. And even that cruel separation 
 from one still living, and still beloved, seemed now 
 .endurable. Now I never need fear for myself or any 
 I love, for Jesus is sufficient for all ! 
 
 I partially shook off the blessed revery. and raised 
 my head. Mrs. Whitney stood by my side, quietly 
 waiting for me. How long she had remained there I 
 knew not, for the audience had entirely dispersed, 
 and the sexton sat dozing by the door. 
 
 She took my arm with an expressive smile, and led 
 me away. She understood me too well to jar upon 
 my delicious musings with even the gentlest word, 
 and we walked on in silence, and parted at the gate 
 with a pressure of the hand, which meant more than 
 words. 
 
 Once alone in my own room, I fell upon my knees, 
 and my heart gushed forth in gratitude and praise !
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 QUIET HAPPINESS. UNEXPECTED JOT. 
 
 Two years flew by, on wings of quietness and peace. 
 No one event stood out prominently from any other ; 
 but all the incidents of life seemed woven with silken 
 threads. 
 
 My religious faith had grown and strengthened 
 with me, and now it was a part of my very being. I 
 was happy, and studied to make those around me 
 taste the sweet cup too. Mrs. Whitney and her sister 
 Emma were my dear and intimate friends. Emma 
 was a child of nature, fresh and guileless in char 
 acter. With Mary, religion was a living principle ; 
 with Emma, it was an impulse. I derived much pleas 
 ure and benefit from the society of these friends, for 
 the observation of their practical virtues kept me 
 continually reminded that religion was not a mere 
 thing, but a life to live. 
 
 In the spring the Eaton cottage was opened, and 
 the good aunt Fanny, before introduced to the reader, 
 came to dwell in it. The garden was ploughed and
 
 220 MARION LESTER. 
 
 planted, and the flowering vines and shrubbery 
 trimmed and watered. The long-neglected place 
 smiled again in all its pristine beauty. 
 
 Mother Gossip reported that the owner was to 
 return soon with a bride, and settle in his native 
 place. I tried not to believe it ; but, when Rumor 
 concurred in what Gossip had said, I was forced to 
 yield the point. I heard the tale with conflicting 
 emotions, and yet tried to deceive myself into the 
 belief that it was a matter of indifference to me. 
 " Yes, I am glad of it," was my mental declaration, 
 " for if he is married, he will meet me more frankly, 
 and our old footing of friendship can be reestab 
 lished." I actually thought I had so far overcome 
 myself that I could live near Alfred Eaton, and on 
 terms of friendship, without endangering my peace. 
 
 June wore again her coronal of roses, and proudly 
 queened it over retiring spring. The first Sabbath 
 in the month was bright and balmy, and a counter 
 part of the blessed day when the last trembling doubt 
 lifted its shadow from my mind. 
 
 I had scarcely seated myself in meeting, when I 
 was conscious that the Eaton pew, so long empty, 
 was now occupied. Two young men were seated in it, 
 and one was Alfred ! My heart gave a bound, and 
 then stood still. " How foolish to be so startled ! " I 
 said to myself, trying to regain the reins of self-gov 
 ernment ; but I could not. The sight of Alfred, so
 
 MARION LESTER. 221 
 
 unexpectedly, awakened a host of unpleasant memo 
 ries. I did not hear a word of the sermon, nor was 
 I fully recalled to myself until the minister rose 
 to pronounce the benediction. Deeply conscience- 
 stricken, I started to my feet, and lifted up my head 
 in prayer for forgiveness. 
 
 And this, 0, Marion, is your boasted self-con 
 quest ; this your victory over an affection long 
 since worse than useless ! 
 
 While passing out of the church I discovered that 
 Alfred's companion was none other than Arthur 
 Willis ; but how changed in every expression ! What 
 serene elevation in his eye ; what dignified composure 
 in every motion ! I had little time to speculate on 
 his changed aspect, for he came directly to me with 
 a cordial greeting. 
 
 I pressed him to go home with me and spend the 
 intermission. He readily acquiesced, and, as Alfred 
 was surrounded by welcoming friends, I passed along 
 without a single glance or token of recognition. 
 
 After a few common-places, Arthur turned to me 
 more earnestly: " We have both been changed since 
 our last meeting. We have come out of darkness into 
 marvellous light. Blessed be the name of the Lord ! ' 
 
 " Blessed be his name ! '.' I repeated, softly, and 
 deeply impressed. " I know that only the glorious 
 light of the gospel could create such a happy change 
 in you as your appearance indicates."
 
 222 MARION LESTER. 
 
 "You look at me inquiringly," he said, with a 
 feint smile, " and I mean to gratify your natural 
 curiosity without any questions." 
 
 He lowered his voice to its gentlest tones. 
 
 "After our painful interview by Cora's grave, I 
 wandered for weeks from place to place, on the verge 
 of madness. But the good God directed my steps, 
 and brought his divine influence to bear upon my 
 distracted mind. I met Alfred Eaton, and, knowing 
 him to be the brother of our dear ascended Cora, I 
 felt irresistibly drawn towards him. I confided all 
 my sorrows to him, and from that time he has ap 
 peared to regard me with a brother's affection. 
 
 "0, such a friend as he has been to me ! So faith 
 ful, so constant, and patient ! Under God. I owe 
 my present light and happiness to him." 
 
 My heart was thrilled with these praises of Alfred, 
 but I could not speak. 
 
 Arthur went on. 
 
 " My new friend tried to heal my heart by relig 
 ious counsel ; but I cried out that he could not feel 
 such sorrow as mine. He then told me of his own 
 griefs, how he had laid all his family in the silent 
 grave. But I persisted that Cora was more dear to 
 me than a parent or sister, that he had never felt 
 such love, and of course could hardly dream of such 
 a sorrow. I was half shocked at the effect of my 
 words, for his face was distorted with an expression
 
 MARION LESTER. 220 
 
 of anguish ; and he turned it away and remained 
 silent for a long time. When he at last looked up, 
 he was calm, almost cheerful. ' To prove to you,' he 
 said, { that religious aspirations will comfort and 
 strengthen you, I will tell you a little more about 
 myself. Your beloved is taken from you by death, 
 and mine, though still living, is as surely separated 
 from me. I have taken back vows unfulfilled, and a 
 disappointed affection stings my heart. But I am 
 enabled to bear it, and to work for my fellow-men, and 
 my own advancement. It is faith in God which sus 
 tains me.' I looked at Alfred reverently, yet no 
 chord in my soul echoed to his words. I shall never 
 forget his look of sorrow when he learned that I was 
 a confirmed sceptic ; but his ardor for my conversion, 
 his indefatigable patience, conquered me at last. 
 Slowly but . surely my scepticism was uprooted, and 
 faith planted in its place. I learned to love the Bible, 
 to believe it : and every page was luminous with the 
 love of the eternal Father." 
 
 He paused as if waiting for me to speak. My heart 
 was full, and tears streaming from my eyes ; but my 
 belief that he was ignorant of my identity with the 
 unworthy love of Alfred, gave me a slight degree of 
 composure, and with difficulty I murmured a few 
 words of sympathy. 
 
 "And now, though sorrow may overtake, though" 
 storms may encompass my path. I lean safely on the
 
 224 MARION LESTER. 
 
 everlasting rock ; God is my shield, Jesus my refuge ! 
 I believe in God's love, I feel it, I know it ! And 
 the least, the last of God's children shall one day 
 know it ; not as I do now, but in a glorious and 
 beatified state ! Great Father, hasten the time ! " 
 
 He removed his hat, and stood looking upward. 
 His soul, beaming through his eyes, seemed to pierce 
 the azure into realms above. The breeze lightly lifted 
 his midnight tresses from a brow of splendid propor 
 tions, and his lips were parted in the fervor of his 
 emotions. Never had I seen a face expressing such 
 spiritual elevation, such high-toned intellectuality. 
 
 A glow of gratitude warmed my breast, that a 
 being so exquisitely gifted, so spiritually-minded, had 
 not been long permitted to grope in the darkness of 
 despair. 
 
 We were now at the door, and my father stood 
 ready to welcome us. 
 
 I soon found, to my surprise and increased pleas 
 ure, that Arthur Willis had completed the study of 
 divinity, and was now an ordained minister of the 
 gospel of reconciliation and peace. When the bell 
 rung for afternoon service, Mr. Whitney called to 
 invite him to preach. After a little demurring, the 
 young man consented, and the two ministers walked 
 on in advance, leaving Mrs. Whitney and Emma to 
 go with me. On the way I gave them a brief outline 
 of my former acquaintance with the stranger gentle-
 
 MARION LESTER. 225 
 
 man. Emma thought it was a very romantic story ; 
 and, as she liked his looks so well, she was prepared 
 to be pleased with his preaching. 
 
 I made amends for my previous abstraction by 
 earnest and devout attention. I was instructed and 
 deeply gratified. The speaker appeared to lose his 
 identity; to entirely forget himself, in his ardent 
 delineation of gospel truths. And this young man, 
 so fearlessly proclaiming salvation, had once been 
 tossed on speculative seas, and driven by bleak storms 
 on to the shore of infidelity. But God had saved his 
 bark from total wreck, and sent an angel .to pilot him 
 into the boundless ocean of truth. And now he stood 
 before me, a man in the truest sense of the word. He 
 had fought with fire and battled with tribulation, but 
 now he rode above the clouds in an element of love 
 and trust. 
 
 " 0, bless the Lord for his loving-kindness!" I 
 murmured many times that afternoon. 
 
 I had planted Cora's grave with her favorite wild 
 flowers, taken from her own accustomed haunts ; and 
 nearly every day since the birth of the roses, I had 
 twined a wreath about the head-stone. After meet 
 ing, I plucked the fairest buds in the garden and 
 carried them to the sacred spot. "Alfred will see 
 them," I thought, "and know that Cora is not for 
 gotten or neglected." 
 15
 
 MARION LESTER. 
 
 After I had placed the wreath upon the spotless 
 marble, and stood looking upon the fragrant mound 
 with pleasing melancholy, I observed Alfred walking 
 slowly towards me. Much as I desired to meet him, 
 I shrank from him then and there, and turned to leave 
 the spot by another walk. He divined my object, and, 
 crossing over, intercepted me in my path. 
 
 He extended his hand, saying with his accustomed 
 frankness, " Why do you avoid me, sister May ? " 
 
 I had met him, had heard his voice, and he had 
 called me "sister May." My heart beat violently, 
 and a sharp pang of disappointment shot through it. 
 I would fain have passed by him, but I could not 
 without positive rudeness. " Come, dear Marion, and 
 sit down upon this stone ; let us commune a little 
 together." I sat down without a word, and trembled 
 with emotion. 
 
 Alfred looked upon the wreath-crowned grave with 
 glistening eyes. " I see Cora still lives in your affec 
 tion," he said softly ; " my heart thanks you for these 
 sweet attentions." 
 
 I felt there was necessity for speaking, but my 
 voice was constrained and low, as I said, " None knew 
 Cora but to love her, and I who loved her so fondly 
 can never forget her." 
 
 " No, no," he said, musingly; " those truly loved 
 are never forgotten." He threw himself on the grass 
 at my feet, and we were silent for a time ; at last he
 
 MARION LESTER. 227 
 
 turned his face towards me very earnestly. "It is 
 strange," he said, "when I have so yearned to see 
 you, and thought I could never tell you all that is in 
 my heart, that, now you are beside me, I can hardly 
 speak at all." 
 
 "I believe it is often so when old friends meet. 
 You have been absent a long time." 
 
 His eyes lighted. " Has it seemed long to you, 
 Marion ? Have you ever thought of me, or wished for 
 my return ? It has seemed an age to me, and if I 
 had not had so much to do, I don't know how I could 
 have got through with it all. 0, Marion, I have 
 never forgotten to dream of you to pray for you 
 to love you ! Do not turn your face away ; let me 
 read your eyes ! If you have still any love for me, 
 fear not to let your heart speak out, for I come offer 
 ing my heart again, and praying for a return ! Once 
 you said we should be happiest apart ; have we not 
 both proved that a mistake, and will you not agree 
 with me in saying that our best happiness will be 
 found in each other's society? " 
 My heart beat wildly, tumultuously ; my head 
 grew giddy with excess of joy. 
 
 "Speak, dearest Marion, my Marion I may call 
 you so ? Have not the clouds all passed from our hori 
 zon, and may not our hearts be reunited in a pure and 
 Christian bond ? Having loved you once, I can never 
 cease to love. Now tell me, Marion, do I plead in yain ?' '
 
 228 MARION LESTER. 
 
 " 0, Alfred, this is so much more than I expected 
 so much more than I deserve I I ; 
 
 " Tears, Marion ! what do they mean? " 
 
 " They are tears of joy. Alfred. But I do not 
 deserve this happiness I do not deserve it ! 
 
 " Not deserve it ! Assured of your love, I am the 
 happiest man in the country ! Give me your hand, 
 Marion, in token of our renewed pledge." 
 
 I gave him my hand ; it was clasped fervently and 
 pressed to his heart. ' ' Now, in the presence of God our 
 Father in this sacred spot where repose the ashes of 
 my kindred in memory of her, who clasped our hands 
 above her dying pillow, and prayed that our hearts 
 might be reunited as were our hands do we pledge 
 anew our love and our fidelity ! No storms, nor sun 
 shine, nor pride of opinion, nor even death itself, shall 
 ever divide our spirits now ! Do you accept the vow ? ' ' 
 
 "Jdo!" 
 
 " Then may the Great Father smile upon us in this 
 hour, and sanctify to our good the trials we have 
 passed through ! " 
 
 The solemnity of his words tempered with awe the 
 happiness gushing over my soul. Our joy was too 
 deep and indwelling for expression ; therefore we sat 
 a long time without speaking. But after a while I 
 began to question him. 
 
 "Why, Alfred, loving me as you say you do, did 
 you remain away so long? "
 
 MARION LESTER. 229 
 
 "Don't chide me, Marion; I will explain it all. 
 For months after leaving here I felt desolate and 
 alone. Believing that we were forever separated, I 
 tried to forget you. I studied hard, and was noticed 
 and patronized in the literary world. I tried to banish 
 your image from my heart in the pleasures of ambi 
 tion, but in vain. Then I gradually became possessed 
 of the belief that time would overcome your unworthy 
 prejudices ; and that your questioning mind would 
 never rest until it found the sure and steadfast anchor 
 God's love. Many times have I been on the point 
 of flying to you, to impart to you all my hopes and 
 wishes ; but my better judgment prevailed. I would 
 not run the risk of a disappointment, until you had 
 had time to learn your own heart ; until your mind 
 had fully outgrown the effects of that desolating storm 
 of fear and darkness. 
 
 " Imagine my pleasure, then, when, on returning, I 
 read in the beautiful serenity of your face the peace 
 of the spirit. I knew at a glance that your soul had 
 been deeply baptized in the religion of love. But 
 when many tongues joined to praise you, to tell of 
 your patience, and charity, and Christian meekness, 
 my heart almost failed me. I feared you had risen so 
 much above and superior to me, that I could never 
 call you mine. But, thank God, you are my own 
 Marion again ; and brighter, purer, dearer than 
 ever ! "
 
 230 MARION LESTER. 
 
 Upon his shoulder I -wept my joy. Yet conscience 
 would not take the half of his praise; "but I will 
 try, I will try to be worthy of it all ! " was my mental 
 resolve. 
 
 ; At that moment Arthur Willis stepped lightly be 
 fore us. I started in blushing confusion. " Excuse 
 me if I am intruding," said Arthur. 
 
 " No intrusion, my friend," said Alfred, in his own 
 hearty manner ; " you have come at a happy moment 
 The heart which I once lost is given again into my 
 keeping, and I hold it as a priceless treasure. Marion 
 is my affianced, mine and only mine." 
 
 Arthur smiled brightly. " I congratulate you both 
 with my whole heart. May nothing ever mar your 
 present happiness. Trial has purified and elevated 
 your affections, and you are the happier for the storm. 
 It is thus our heavenly Father worketh all things for 
 our good. Let us trust in Him always." 
 
 His words and tones seemed more natural to him 
 who has trod life's path many years, than to one just 
 on the threshold of manhood ; but I felt that they 
 sprung fresh from his heart. Then he turned and 
 looked long upon Cora's flowery grave. I expected 
 to see his brow overshadowed, and his features con 
 vulsed. But the smile spread over his face until it 
 was illumined with the light of the soul. 
 
 " This wreath," he said, pointing to the chaplet of 
 flowers, yet turning his gaze upward, " is a sweet em-
 
 MARION LESTER. 231 
 
 blem of the crown of immortality encircling her brow. 
 Angelic Cora ! I fancy her spirit floats on that rosy 
 cloud, just above the portal where the sun goes in to 
 rest ; and, now I close my eyes, I feel her holy pres 
 ence close to my heart ! " 
 
 I was overcome, and from the fount of tenderness 
 fresh tears gushed forth. A warm drop fell on my 
 hand, over which Alfred bent his head. 
 
 Arthur, his soul borne upon wings of faith, forgot 
 our presence. He went on in a sort of rapture : "Once 
 I wailed in black despair, the blighting of my heart's 
 idol ; now Cora is my star crowned in heaven ! ever 
 guiding, ever leading me upward ! " 
 
 0, Cora ! Though loved and cherished on earth, 
 how much more beautiful and precious in heaven ! 
 Thy life could never have accomplished what thy 
 death hath already done. Thy star, rising higher 
 and higher, draweth upward, still upward, the hearts 
 of those clinging to thee ! Darkness and gloom are 
 banished from the portal through which thou hast 
 flown, and Christ himself brightened the way for 
 thee! 
 
 "0, morn celestial ! where the sun 
 Is needed not to make the day. 
 The glories of th' Eternal One, 
 
 God, shall light the place alway ! 
 And moon and stars give not their light ; 
 That morn shall never fade in night ; 
 And Faith and Hope I '11 need no more 
 On Love's own amaranthine shore ! "
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 LIGHT COMETH FORTH FROM DARKNESS. 
 
 " But this is over. Light hath visited 
 Her winter-shrouded spirit. Night and day 
 Her eye is riveted upon the page 
 Which yielded peace and everlasting life ; 
 And she hath found it. 
 
 Up in her breast 
 
 Hath sprung mysterious strength. The ills of life 
 Are passed from her remembrance. She doth live, 
 And move, and have her being, in the light 
 Of God's eternal presence : and the fears 
 Of death and hell have now no place within 
 Her heaven-instructed soul." 
 
 JULIA H. SCOTT. 
 
 THE curtain is lifted again after a lapse of five 
 years. Alfred and I live happily in our little cot 
 tage, crowned with peace and plenty. Good aunt 
 Fanny is my housekeeper, and an indispensable 
 member of our family. 
 
 These years have touched lightly the principal 
 characters of our story. I can count a few more 
 gray hairs on my father's head, and an added wrinkle 
 here and there ; and mother has taken to wearing
 
 MARION LESTER. 233 
 
 caps and spectacles ; but over their faces there is a 
 peaceful lustre radiated from hearts quietly happy. 
 
 Mr. "Whitney still breaks the bread of life to a 
 united and prospering flock. He is honored and 
 beloved, and his wife, the sharer of his toils and 
 pleasures, has a place in many hearts. Their home 
 is brightened with the presence of Emma Benton, 
 who is as gay and light-hearted, and withal as beau 
 tiful and good, as in early girlhood. 
 
 Arthur Willis ministers to a large society in a 
 neighboring city. He is a very useful and popular 
 man, but he cares little for fame only as a means of 
 being useful in a wider sphere of action. He is true 
 to his integrity, and his heart is still untouched by 
 earthly ambition. He preaches " Christ and Him 
 crucified," and salvation to the world, with increas 
 ing sincerity and ardor. Though Cora's star is still 
 reflected in the holiest mirror of his heart, he feels 
 the need of an earthly companion. He has wooed 
 and won Emma Benton. The dear girl just whispered 
 in my ear that but six months will elapse ere she will 
 be led to the altar by the noble and gifted Arthur 
 Willis. Peace and prosperity attend them ! 
 
 Alfred's business called him into the Empire State, 
 and, as it was in the height of the Saratoga season, 
 I decided to accompany him to that far-famed water 
 ing-place. We planned to go directly to Saratoga,
 
 234 MARION LESTER. 
 
 where Alfred would leave me, and, after the disposal 
 of his business, return and spend a few days ; after 
 which we were to make a leisurely homeward tour. 
 
 I invited Emma Benton to go with us, which invi 
 tation was accepted with enthusiasm. After a 
 delightful journey we arrived at the Springs in high 
 health and spirits. One day was spent in pleasant 
 walks and drinking of the water, which, of course, 
 we pronounced very delicious, and superior to any 
 other, and then Alfred left us, saying he " must 
 work before he played." He bade us be as happy as 
 we might, and Emma assured him that that would 
 be happy enough, for, in that beautiful place, with 
 each other's society, and books and pencils, she 
 thought a month might pass away before even the 
 charm of novelty would be worn off. 
 
 The following morning was bright beyond compare. 
 I was ready for a walk, but Emma had fallen in love 
 with the landscape seen from a certain point, and I 
 could not coax her from the window. She would get 
 her drawing materials, and, after she had sketched the 
 outlines of the pretty scene, would walk with me 
 wherever I pleased. So I concluded to submit with 
 a good grace, and declared my intention to take my 
 note-book and go down in the public parlor, or walk 
 on the piazza. 
 
 She laughingly called after me to study the faces 
 well, for I might display my sagacity by picking
 
 ft 
 MARION LESTER. 235 
 
 out the heroes and poets, or great characters of any 
 sort. 
 
 I replied, in the same vein, that human nature was 
 the best study in the world, and where could I find 
 it more diversified than at Saratoga ? 
 
 But, though there were a number of richly-dressed 
 people in the parlor, there was nothing remarkable 
 about them, and I fell to musing, now and then 
 dreamily tracing a line or two in my note-book. 
 Once my eyes wandered through the open window 
 upon the piazza, and I suddenly became interested. 
 A female, with a small and delicate figure, walked 
 slowly back and forth, leading a three-year-old boy 
 by the hand. The lady was dressed in the deepest 
 mourning, not in silks and tasteful laces, but gloomy 
 serge, and a long crape veil hid her face. She was 
 evidently in deepest sorrow, and I felt instinctively 
 that it was grief, not years, which bowed her form. 
 
 She formed a touching contrast to the gayly- 
 dressed butterflies of fashion flitting hither and 
 thither. 
 
 I watched her with painful interest. 
 
 The little boy spoke in a plaintive voice, and the 
 lady, partially raising her veil, bent to hear. I 
 caught a momentary glimpse of her face, and imme 
 diately recognized the pale but familiar features. It 
 was Miss Ingols, or rather Mrs. Delano. 
 
 Shortly after my marriage, I had received a letter
 
 236 MARION LESTER. 
 
 from her, informing me of her union with Mr. De 
 lano, and of their removal to the west. I imme 
 diately replied with affectionate congratulations, and 
 told her of my own marriage and happy change of 
 faith. I had never heard from her since then, nor 
 had I heard of the decease of Mr. Delano ; still I 
 needed not to be told that she was a widow, and her 
 child an orphan. 
 
 I stepped to the door, that she might have a chance 
 to recognize me. She paused, and, raising her veil, 
 looked at me earnestly. I went towards her, smiling ; 
 " If I am not mistaken," she said, in a trembling 
 voice, " this is Marion Lester." 
 
 "No, you are not mistaken," said I, "and I 
 have the pleasure of meeting my old friend and 
 teacher." 
 
 She caught my outstretched hand, and deluged it 
 with tears. 
 
 " Excuse me," she said, "for I cannot help it. 
 I am very nervous, and the least thing overcomes me. 
 And I am very glad to see you, dear Marion, or 
 perhaps I ought to say, Mrs. Eaton." 
 
 " 0, no ! let me be Marion to you still. Mrs. 
 Eaton is too formal for old friends." 
 
 She smiled ; but, 0, it was more mournful even 
 than her tears ! 
 
 "You are unchanged, I see; you look as bright 
 and happy, and almost as girlish, as when I first
 
 MARION LESTER. 237 
 
 knew you. But I I am desolate, and alone ! " 
 Again a shower of grief choked her words. 
 
 We were attracting too much attention from curi 
 ous loungers, and Mrs. Delano invited me into her 
 private room, where we could be secure from intru 
 sion. She looked like a confirmed invalid as she 
 leaned back in her chair, as if exhausted. Her 
 features were very pale and thin, and, if I had 
 thought their expression touchingly mournful in 
 other days, it was now one of bitter despair. 
 
 The little boy seated himself demurely at her feet, 
 and folded his small hands with strange quietness. 
 He had his father's fine features and lofty forehead, 
 and his mother's deep hazel eyes, with all their sor 
 rowful light. He was not eager and restless like 
 other children, but prematurely grave and thought 
 ful. 
 
 " And this is your little boy ? " I asked, wishing 
 for something to say. 
 
 "Yes; this is my little fatherless child," she 
 replied, laying her hand on his brjght locks. 
 
 " What do you call him?" 
 
 " Roland." 
 
 There was deep meaning in the quivering tones, 
 and in the sudden veiling of those mournful eyes. 
 
 I thought, with a gush of emotion, which I could 
 scarce repress, how, in the first joy of mother-love, she 
 had not forgotten him whose sudden and terrible
 
 238 MARION LESTER. 
 
 death had poured night into her young soul, but had 
 given ,his name to her precious babe. She called 
 him "Roland!" 
 
 How expressive of never-dying affection of still 
 living sorrow ! 
 
 " Roland, dear, you may go down stairs and play 
 a little while; mamma wants to talk with her 
 friend." 
 
 The child looked into her agitated face, not won- 
 deringly, but pityingly and appreciatingly, I thought, 
 and slowly and reluctantly left the room. 
 
 " The dear little fellow is so timid and bashful," 
 said the mother, gazing after him with fond emotion, 
 11 that I have to force him from my side sometimes. 
 He never runs about and plays like other children. 
 I wish he would." 
 
 " He is a beautiful child, but he looks delicate." 
 
 " He is feeble ; and it is more on his account than 
 my own that I am here, though the doctors told me 
 the spring waters would be beneficial to me. But I 
 don't see any improvement, and the gayety and 
 bustle of so much company are very annoying. I feel 
 there is no cure for me no balm for my wounded 
 heart. I told you my little Roland was fatherless ! " 
 
 " Yes," I replied, struggling with tears; "you 
 are desolate and bereaved ; but time will heal the 
 wounds of your heart, as you must have faith in the 
 happiness of your departed friend."
 
 MARION LESTER. 239 
 
 "0, Marion, Marion, it is not that I am a widow 
 it is not that I am bereaved, that my spirit is 
 broken ! Much as I mourn for my good husband, 
 much as I miss his society, I could learn to bear that, 
 believing he is called and chosen of God ; but my little 
 Roland has no one to guide and teach him now ! 
 Sometimes I think I have doomed him by giving him 
 that name. It was a fatal, idolatrous love which did 
 it ! " 
 
 " My dear friend ! God is the father of the father 
 less." 
 
 ' ' I know it ; but think of the responsibility resting 
 upon me ! How can I teach his young spirit how 
 can I show him the way of salvation, when my own 
 feet have faltered and led me into folds of dark 
 ness?" 
 
 " Why do you so underrate yourself? You can 
 teach your child love and obedience, as you have 
 instructed many other young spirits." 
 
 "Ah, Marion, when you knew me I had a Chris 
 tian's hope ; now I feel I have no part or union with 
 God's own ! " 
 
 She looked at me with such a fixed} despairing 
 gaze, that I was petrified. 
 
 " When my baby was born," she continued, with 
 that same dreadful look, "the forced calmness I had 
 worn so long was broken up. I have been nervous, 
 erratic, half-crazed ever since. I know God is angry
 
 240 MARION LESTER. 
 
 with me, and has turned the light of his countenance 
 far away from me, for I have rebelled against his 
 decrees. My heart has never ceased to cry Roland ! 
 Roland ! and now fears for my little Roland fill up 
 the measure of my woe. Poor, unfortunate child of 
 an unworthy mother ! " 
 
 Her features suddenly contracted, and tears rained 
 in torrents from her eyes. I folded her slight form 
 in my arms ; I held her poor, crushed heart close to 
 my own warm, happy one, and pressed my lips to her 
 pure forehead many times, ere I could speak. 
 
 " It is a dreadful thing, this want of faith." 
 
 "Yes, it is dreadful," she repeated; "and tears 
 are all the privilege left me. I have wept the foun 
 tain dry many times." 
 
 " My poor friend, you think God is wearied with 
 your ceaseless prayers for the salvation of your 
 Roland ; it cannot be so. ' His mercy is everlasting. 
 His mercy endureth forever.' ' He chasteneth whom 
 He loveth.' " 
 
 "He is merciful, but I have tried him too long. 
 Still, for myself alone I would not groan and strive so 
 much. If I only knew that my little boy would grow 
 up good, and be accepted of the Lord, I believe I could 
 be comparatively happy." 
 
 " ' Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord ! ' Jesus 
 took little children in his arms and blessed them, say 
 ing, 'of such is the kingdom of heaven.' If God so
 
 MARION LESTER. 241 
 
 loves and cares for your child now, do you think, as 
 soon as he becomes a man (which is only to be a child 
 of a little larger growth), He will leave him entirely 
 to himself? Rather believe he will ever be encircled 
 in the arms of Infinite Love ! " 
 
 Her features took a more quiet tone, and she re 
 mained silent and thoughtful. When she spoke again, 
 it was in a more natural manner. "I believe I do 
 wrong to worry so much about the future ; I suppose 
 it is wicked, but I am sure the sin brings its own bitter 
 punishment." 
 
 " It does indeed ! and, as you are so bitterly pun 
 ished here for this sin of distrust, do you think the 
 merciful Father in heaven would punish you still 
 more dreadfully, and forever, for this same error ? I 
 cannot believe it ! " 
 
 She passed her hand over her forehead with a 
 puzzled air, and was silent. Seeing that she was 
 almost fainting with weariness, I persuaded her to lie 
 on the bed. I was about leaving her when she begged 
 me to call in her little boy. 
 
 The child stood at the door patiently waiting for 
 admission. He came in softly, and took a seat by the 
 side of the bed. His mother put out her hand, which 
 he took in both of his own, and laid his little cheek 
 caressingly upon it. Deeply affected, I turned 
 away. 
 
 Emma was wondering and almost alarmed at my 
 16
 
 -42 MARION LESTER. 
 
 prolonged absence. When I explained the cause of it 
 she "was affected to tears. And yet she could not 
 realize, as I could, the desolation in the heart of the 
 mourner. After dinner we started for a romantic 
 stroll. Emma suggested taking the little Roland 
 Delano with us. Pleased with the proposition, I 
 stepped in to ask his mother's permission. It made 
 my heart ache to see the little fellow sitting, just as I 
 had left him, ia that darkened, stifled room. 
 
 Mrs. Delano was glad to have Roland go with us, 
 as the air and exercise might do him good. But the 
 child manifested no pleasure, and I saw that he would 
 prefer to remain in-doors, though he made no oppo 
 sition as I led him away. 
 
 Emma caught him up in her arms, calling him a 
 little darling : she kissed him. and playfully pinched 
 his cheeks, ' : to make them a little red/' she said. 
 
 The child smiled ; but it was the reflection of his 
 mother's smile, and I could not bear it. 
 
 "What a strange smile for such a child, a mere 
 babe ! " exclaimed Emma, " Why, my little man, if I 
 don't find something to make your eyes shine, and 
 your cheeks rosy, something to make you laugh right 
 out, I shall think you are a fay, or sprite, any 
 thing but a child ! " 
 
 She plied him with sugar-plums and kisses ; I told 
 him stories and sung him songs ; and we both played 
 hide-and-seek under the trees, until his laugh rung
 
 MARION LESTER. 
 
 243 
 
 out clear and childlike. Between us both he was in 
 danger of being killed with kindness ; but Emma ac 
 complished her object, and I had the satisfaction of 
 taking Roland back to his mamma, with bright eyes, 
 glowing cheeks, and hands crowded with wild flowers. 
 
 Mrs. Delano raised her head with a languid smile 
 as we entered. Roland's face became shaded, and he 
 walked forward with hushed footsteps. I could not 
 bear to have his unwonted joy react upon him so soon, 
 and withal I was determined to give a wholesome les 
 son to his repining mother. 
 
 "Haven't you rested long enough, Mrs. Delano? 
 Let me help you up there. This is a very easy 
 rocking-chair, and this is a pretty footstool, only it is 
 too dark to see the working plainly." I raised the 
 curtain and put up the window, letting in a flood of 
 light, and a gush of music from a warbler trilling on 
 a tree near by. " Is n't this pleasant? Air and light 
 are precious gifts of Heaven ! " 
 
 Mrs. Delano covered her face. "Don't, Marion, 
 don't ! Do put down that curtain ! I can't bear light, 
 and music, and beauty ; they mock me ; they jar 
 upon my spirit! " 
 
 " Don't you think you can bear light, and beauty, 
 and music, better than your little boy can endure 
 gloom, and sadness, and silence ? " 
 
 Though I spoke very gently, she comprehended 
 my full meaning, and looked up quickly with a flushed 

 
 244 MARION LESTER. 
 
 brow. I smiled seriously, and her eyes fell. She 
 drew her child to her bosom. " 0. 1 am selfish, very 
 selfish after all. in the face of my absorbing love for 
 thee, my little Roland ! " 
 
 I saw tear-drops glisten on the child's fair tresses. 
 
 " This will never do, Mrs. Delano ! I am going to 
 be mistress here for a little while, and I shall be very 
 peremptory, I fear. Roland, dear, just take your 
 flowers to the window, and make a nice bouquet of them. 
 To-morrow I will buy you a pretty little vase, and you 
 shall fill it every day with flowers, to put upon your 
 mamma's table." 
 
 The child flew like a humming-bird, and in half a 
 minute was clapping his hands, and mocking the singer, 
 whose heaven-taught song had so oflended his mother's 
 morbid ear. 
 
 {( I have found a good medicine for Roland," she 
 looked up expectantly, " sunshine and gladness ! " 
 
 "Thank you, dear Marion," she said, with quiv 
 ering lip ; " you have taught me a needed lesson ! " 
 
 I combed out her long tresses, and, while braiding 
 them, I chatted cheerfully of my own happy home, 
 and of all the blessings surrounding my path ; of sweet 
 Emma Benton, whom I would introduce to her to 
 morrow ; of our pleasant walk, and Roland's childish 
 glee. I pointed out the exquisite landscape, seen from 
 the window, which she had never looked at before.
 
 MARION LESTER. 245 
 
 Her eye brightened, and her voice borrowed a cheerful 
 tone from mine. 
 
 But soon her old look came back again, and she 
 said, with a sigh, "I wish I might enjoy all this 
 beauty of nature and sweetness of life! " 
 
 "0, my dear friend! has not God given you 
 eyes to see, and ears to hear ; and will you be wilfully 
 blind and deaf? You have a mind fitted to appreciate 
 the beauties of nature and glories of art ; you have a 
 heart sensitive to social joy and religious bliss ; and 
 why, why can you not enjoy all the beauty and sweet 
 ness of life ? " 
 
 : - 1 wish I could feel it all just so ; but I can't ! 
 There is a cloud all about me, and it is dark, very 
 dark ! " 
 
 ' That is because your eyes are shut, and your 
 mind wrapped in itself. Look up, my friend ; open 
 your eyes, and you will see God's love gilding even 
 the cloud above you. The darkness is all in your 
 self." 
 
 " I don't dare to have you talk to me in that way, 
 Marion ; for now I remember that even you, in whom 
 so many hopes were centred, have turned away from 
 the God of our salvation, and rest in your own 
 strength ! " 
 
 " Not so ! It is entirely on God's strength that I 
 rest ! My faith and hope are enlarged and purified.
 
 246 JUARIOX LESTER. 
 
 The God in whom I trust is a God of salvation, and 
 the Saviour I adore is sufficient for all ! " 
 
 She looked at me dubiously. 
 
 I -went on with enthusiasm. ' : Once I sought re 
 ligion because I feared to be without it; now it 
 attracts and engrosses my soul because it is in itself 
 BO precious and desirable ! My religion is one of love 
 and beauty and gladness. I can think of no sorrow 
 so terrible, that this glorious faith can not soften 
 and make endurable ! " 
 
 "Your words are pleasant; I like to hear them, 
 but I ought not. I fear they will mislead me." 
 
 " Can you be worse off than you are now, when 
 you are shrouded in darkness and gloom ? But I 
 will not sermonize any more, or you will really get 
 to be afraid of me. Good- night, and sweet dreams to 
 you ! I shall not forget your flower- vase, little one. 
 Good-night." 
 
 A few visitors took their meals in private, but 
 Emma and I liked best the sociability of the common 
 table. One day, at dinner, in glancing down the long 
 vista of faces, at the further end were two familiar 
 ones. A thrill of pleasure quickened my pulses as I 
 recognized my old school-mates, Edwin Sanders and 
 Helen French. Helen had ripened into a beautiful 
 woman, and Edwin was a fine-looking man.
 
 MARION LESTER. 247 
 
 Soon Helen's flashing, restless eyes met my earnest 
 gaze ; she started with a bright color, and bending her 
 head, which had the same coquettish, wilful turn, as 
 of old, whispered a word to her companion. Then I had 
 to endure a whole battery of glances ; but I only smiled 
 quietly and happily to myself, and went on with my 
 dinner. As soon as the repast was over, they hastened 
 towards me, and I smilingly held out both hands. 
 
 " It is she ! it is Marion Lester ! " cried Helen, 
 flinging her arms about my neck, and kissing me in 
 transport. 
 
 Edwin was equally pleased at the meeting, though 
 he expressed his pleasure more suitably to the dignity 
 of a gentleman. 
 
 "0, Helen French ! I should know you anywhere 
 in the wide world ! You have not altered one bit ! " 
 
 "Now, now," said Edwin, "I shall not allow my 
 bride to be called by her maiden name any longer. 
 Let me introduce Mrs. Sanders to you. We were 
 married last week, and this is our bridal tour ! " 
 
 I bowed low, and touched the bride's jewelled 
 fingers to my lips, in mock gravity. Then there was 
 a flood of questions, and answers, and exclamations, 
 quite discouraging to Emma, who soon excused her 
 self, saying she must finish shading her picture. Ed 
 win declared he could not get in a word edgeways, 
 and he would leave us until our torrent of small talk 
 was somewhat abated.
 
 248 MARION LESTER. 
 
 We were glad to be left alone, and talked as only 
 old school-mates can talk after a long separation. 
 
 " Where 's your sister Sarah ? " I asked at length ; 
 " I almost forgot to inquire about her." 
 
 "0, she is married and settled down in M . 
 
 She has two little children, and has become quite 
 matronly." 
 
 " How I should like to see her ! Has she married 
 well?" 
 
 "Yes, her husband is a professor, and that suits 
 her, of course. She is just the same dear, good girl 
 that she used to be, only she preaches to me so much 
 about getting religion. And 0, Marion ! who would 
 have thought that you, of all others, would backslide 
 and become one of the world again ? I do say, it 
 almost took my breath away when I heard it ; and 
 Sarah could n't believe it at first ; but, when Miss 
 Ingols told her, she had to. And then the poor girl 
 half cried her eyes out. She and Miss Ingols would n't 
 either of 'em have mourned as much if they had 
 heard of your death ; though, for my part, I 
 could n't see anything so very terrible about it." 
 
 I laughed heartily at Helen's graphic story, and 
 sought to correct an erroneous opinion. " They 
 did n't need to mourn so much, for I loved real re 
 ligion more than ever. I only enlarged the borders 
 of my faith, and took in all God's children." 
 
 Helen shook her head laughingly. " I don't know
 
 MARION LESTER. 249 
 
 about that sort of religion ; I have heard of it, and it 
 is dangerous. They say ' it will do to live by, but 
 is n't good to die by.' ' 
 
 " And is your religion good to die by, Helen ? " 
 
 " My religion ; ha, ha, ha ! that is a good one ! I 
 have n't the least bit of religion about me, though I 
 suppose I must have before I die. Edwin and I have 
 agreed to take the world easy, and enjoy all we can ; 
 then, you know, when we are growing old, we can 
 get religion a great deal better than now." 
 
 " My dear Helen, how much you will lose ! Re 
 ligion is a life to live, not a thing to get ! " 
 
 Helen made a wry face. " I cannot live religion ; 
 I should get tired to death of it ! My plan is the 
 best, I 'm sure ; for if you live your religion, and 
 don't get the right sort, after all, you '11 be in dread 
 ful danger. Don't look so sober, May ! " 
 
 " I can't hqlp it, and I don't believe the religion 
 you talk about getting some time is good to die by ; 
 and I am sure Miss Ingols (she is Mrs. Delano now) 
 has proved it bad to live by." 
 
 " Mrs. Delano," said Helen, as if glad to change 
 the conversation, " where is she ? " 
 
 " She is in this house, and in the deepest sorrow. 
 Her husband is dead ! " 
 
 "Poor, poor thing ! " 
 
 " Yes, Helen, she is an object of pity. Her hus 
 band is dead ; she has lost her religious hope, and
 
 250 MARION LESTER. 
 
 thinks she is doomed ; and she is in agonizing fear 
 about the salvation of her child." 
 
 "Miss Ingols ! impossible! Why, if she isn't 
 going to heaven, I don't know who will ! What puts 
 such horrible ideas into her head ? " 
 
 " It is the fruit of that religion which you are 
 going to get to die by, Helen ! But won't you go 
 and see the poor thing? She would be pleased to 
 meet you." 
 
 " No, I would n't see her for the world ! It would 
 do her no good, and I 'm sure I should n't get over it 
 in a month ! I can't bear to see any one that is so 
 melancholy, and I don't want anything to make me 
 sad on my bridal tour. We are only going to stay 
 until to-morrow ; so pray don't let her know we are 
 .here. Here comes Edwin ; he would be surprised 
 if he knew what a gloomy subject we have got on to." 
 
 The young gentleman came up with a playful 
 remark, which put all our grave thoughts to flight, 
 and a long, happy conversation ensued. 
 
 On the morrow, when I was waiting to see my 
 friends off, and expressing regret at the shortness of 
 their stay, Helen exclaimed, with a saucy shake of 
 her bright little head. " Don't put so much solicitude 
 in your black eyes, Marion ! Ed and I will get along 
 well enough, and will look out to get religion in good 
 time ; BO never fear for us." 
 
 " I was only thinking what a pity it is that my
 
 MAEION LESTER. 251 
 
 two friends, walking through a flowery vale, should 
 only see the common flowers beneath their feet, and 
 be blind to the rare and fragrant blossoms growing 
 higher up, yet within their reach." 
 
 " You are getting to be poetical," laughed Edwin ; 
 and yet I saw I had awakened a new thought, and 
 was glad the words were spoken. 
 
 " Marion, I do believe there is some sense in your 
 doctrine, after all. I thought about it last night until 
 my head ached. I do hope it is true ; I do hope so. 
 Mon chere ami ! But, after all, I believe I '11 stay on 
 the safe side, ha, ha ! Good-by, good-by, dear ! 
 Come and see me when you can ! " 
 
 " Good-by, Helen ; good-by, Edwin ! " 
 
 While tossing kisses through the open window, I 
 lost sight of Helen's sparkling, piquant face, which 
 only needed an indwelling happiness to make it truly 
 beautiful. Though she was full of glee, the joy was 
 on the surface, for the deep, deep fountains of her 
 nature were yet unsealed, and she was ignorant even 
 of their existence. Alas ! what a waste of God's best 
 gifts! 
 
 0, the fruit of this false, mistaken faith ! how 
 bitter it is ! It is blight and mildew to some spirits ; 
 and others, less sensitive and more elastic, it frightens 
 away from the fountains of life ! 
 
 Before Alfred came, I had obtained great influence 
 over the mind of Mrs. Delano. She was more serene
 
 252 MARION LESTER. 
 
 and cheerful, and I began to believe that the Lord in 
 his great mercy would send her the Comforter. I had 
 no difficulty in enlisting Alfred's sympathies for my 
 unfortunate friend. He sought to win her confidence 
 and esteem by kind and brotherly attentions ; and his 
 earnest, truthful words, so fitly spoken, awoke a new 
 and profitable train of thought. She ceased to fear, and 
 then learned to respect, our peculiar faith, as her absurd 
 ideas of it were exchanged for those more truthful. 
 
 We invited her to accompany us home and spend 
 a few months. She had many scruples at first, but 
 little Roland helped me to overrule them. The 
 child was delighted at the thought of living with 
 aunt Marion, as he called me, and pleaded with his 
 mother with childish volubility and eloquence. She 
 consented at last, saying she needed the influence 
 of just such a quiet and happy home as she knew 
 ours must be, to restore her to health and serenity. 
 
 " And to happiness, my friend ! " 
 
 " Nay, Marion, I may become resigned, but never 
 happy ! " 
 
 " I have hopes even of that blessed contingency." 
 
 " You are a bright prophetess, Marion, and you 
 look almost like one inspired, with that radiant light 
 in your eye ! But your extravagantly large ' hope ' 
 accounts for it all." 
 
 " If it is extravagant, I shall cherish it. that your 
 hope may be increased and strengthened by it."
 
 MARION LESTER. 253 
 
 I allotted the pleasantest room in the house to 
 Mrs. Delano. Honeysuckles peeped in at the win 
 dows, and my choicest verbena, and rose-bush, and 
 stately calla, stood on a little antique stand. The 
 drapery of the bed and windows was white, and the 
 glowing colors in the carpet contrasted pleasantly 
 with the delicate wall-paper. Altogether, it had a 
 cheerful, cosey, home look, and the flash of pleasure 
 and gratitude overspreading Mrs. Delano's pale brow, 
 as she first entered it, amply repaid me for my 
 endeavors to please her. 
 
 I took care to place religious books upon her table ; 
 some to comfort and elevate her heart, and others to 
 direct and enlighten her mind. These were read at 
 first, but soon her Bible engrossed her whole attention. 
 
 " Night and day 
 
 Her eye was riveted upon the page 
 Which yieldeth peace and everlasting life." 
 
 And, 0, how fervently I prayed that she might 
 find it ! 
 
 As days passed on, her eye grew brighter, and her 
 voice firmer. Health breathed kindly upon her 
 enfeebled frame, and her step became elastic; and 
 once I caught her humming snatches of a song ! 
 
 Meanwhile little Roland thrived wonderfully in 
 the country air and sunshine. His cheeks grew 
 round and ruddy, and his hesitating, mournful man-
 
 MARION LESTER. 
 
 ners were exchanged for genuine childish exube 
 rance and joy. He became a dear and treasured 
 member of the family, stealing into our affections with 
 that sweet audacity so well known to the little ones. 
 
 One night, at sunset, Mrs. Delano and Alfred and 
 I were in the garden, enjoying its fragrance and 
 beauty. Alfred stooped to bind up a broken flower, 
 so that the mellow light fell full upon his manly 
 brow. It seemed to give it a lofty, spiritual expres 
 sion. Mrs. Delano felt it as well as I. 
 
 " Mr. Eaton, I believe you are a true Christian ! " 
 she said, suddenly. 
 
 "Do you?" said Alfred, with a half smile. 
 " Thank you ! " 
 
 " I wish you would give me your definition of 
 religion." 
 
 Alfred thought a minute, and replied, "Love to 
 God and to man ! " 
 
 "Is that all?" 
 
 " Is not that enough? Does it not include all? 
 If the heart is deeply imbued with love, where is 
 there room for sin ? Selfishness and hatred, and big 
 otry and passion, cannot dwell with heavenly love." 
 
 Mrs. Delano looked down, musingly. " The world 
 is full of sin and discord, and I don't see how it is 
 all going to be made harmonious with love. I don't 
 see how every soul can become pure and holy." 
 
 " But God does ! he who sees the end from the
 
 MARION LESTER. 255 
 
 beginning. We are weak and ignorant, but God is 
 infinite in wisdom. c His ways are not our ways, 
 nor his thoughts our thoughts.' 0, believe, with me, 
 that the divine Architect of the universe hath power 
 to accomplish an all-perfect and glorious result ! " 
 
 "0, this happy faith ! I would it were mine ! " 
 cried Mrs. Delano, raising her streaming eyes upward. 
 
 The truth was striving in her heart. 
 
 The seed of truth, dropped at the right moment, 
 and with a skilful hand, will oftentimes have more effect 
 than whole years spent in doctrinal argumentation. 
 
 "Mamma," said little Roland, " are we going to 
 live here always ? I love this pretty home ; I love 
 aunt Marion ! Say, can't we stay here always? " 
 
 " Ask aunt Marion if we may ? " 
 
 " May we live here always, auntie? " 
 
 " Certainly, darling ! As long as you and your 
 mamma are contented here I shan't let you go away." 
 
 "0, good, good ! " cried the little fellow, clapping 
 his hands. " I '11 run and tell Willie Edson I 'm going 
 to keep this good home, and he '11 be glad too ! " And 
 away he darted like a bird on the wing. 
 
 " The medicine you once prescribed for Roland 
 has done wonders," said Mrs. Delano. " Yes, ' sun 
 shine and gladness ' are precious remedies." 
 
 " Roland is a gleam of sunshine himself, and his 
 heart is all gladness ! But, my dear friend, you are
 
 256 
 
 MARION LESTER. 
 
 reading and thinking too much ; rest a little while." 
 I tried to remove the open Bible from her lap, but 
 she retained it, saying, gently, " Let me keep it 
 always in my sight, Marion, for it is 'a lamp unto my 
 feet, and a light unto my path.' ' 
 
 A heartfelt smile illumined her features. I had 
 never seen such a smile upon her face before, and 
 sweet hope sent a quivering wave down to the centre 
 of my heart. 
 
 "0, this blessed, blessed book ! Marion, I have 
 read it all my days, but never with such eyes as I 
 do now ! It seems a new and glorious revelation. 
 ' Lord, I believe ; help thou mine unbelief ! ' : 
 
 " And now you see light, even through the cloud 
 above you?" 
 
 " Marion, the cloud is entirely gone. It is light 
 all around me. Doubt and fear have fled away, and 
 hope and joy come trooping in their places. The 
 great wound in my heart is healed. I know that my 
 loved and gone before are basking in the blaze of 
 Infinite Love ; I feel a portion of it warming and 
 thrilling every nerve of my being ! " 
 
 Tears of joy ran over my face, but hers wore a 
 look of holy elevation ; and I knew that the Com 
 forter nestled in her heart !
 
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