Cape May Ocean Wave. *- ■§ ' . j L .i

VOLUME XVI.

„> 3 CAPE MAY CITY, NEW JERSEY! THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1«, IH71.

WHOLE NUMBER 82").

Ova Sroar. DR. ORANTLEY'S VALENTINE. It to nothing (ovary woodsrftrily, after nil—* trifling, fliraey bit of pratUna, nil lace-paper and aUvsr frosting, Mil Rotnnn pearls and wax-like if yon ptoaae, *ar elr and madam, who scout auob paranoial evidences of the folly of young rata and maidtatfoc It waa a ratontina! A laatafU, bagito anovy abocl of gleaming roaea and Cuplda, bat after all It waa only a Valentine; and wo all know how Httle reality of Ming there may bo tn the bestowal or ocvrptantv of a score of sneh dainty French trlflea and what rery aboard and liaahy things they an to yon, dear air and madam ■twmalit Therefose I amaadly afraid that you will not andtlsUnd bow any erratum, having arrived at yrara of discretion— I all ode of conne to the lordly aide of ration, aa I eoppene the attainment o< that period to a very doubtful matter aa regards the other rido— could look on audi a friroloua object with ardent, flaahlng eyoa, a throbbing heart changing color— ooold touch It reverently, and even preea it to hto Upe. He flushed and looked around narroaaly aa be did ao. but the doo r wan ahui and the enrtaina were drawn, and then waa no one to intrude oo the '•doctor" In hie eanctam, aurgery, atndy, alltlng-room, anuggery— whatever you Hke to term the noodecript apartment, which waa toarmly carpeted and oddly fBmlahcd —except hto houaakoeper, Widow Clarke, aa her Tillage geaalpa Invariably addroswd her; and to poor Widow Clarke that room waa a chamber of mysteries, to which Umm of Udelpbo were a humhog. So bo waa guile alooa and safe from any prying eyee aa he wrote a few llnre on the aatiny Inner part of the Valentine— a few lioea only; but oh, how thoee lines bad been written and rewritten on looee sheets of paper! lie made quite a bond re with them aa be concloded hto task. How each word and sentence bad been conned and thought over! How many sleephfee nights it had coat him, nod how many mora 11 would cause! Ilia hands were trembling now, an bo tew bod addressing the large envelope, and be paced the room feverishly, pushing the cliaire out of hto way, thereby upsetting a huge case ef aorgieal Instruments, which Ml with a resounding crash. and knelt down to gather up the gOtasrtag, hideous probes, forceps, tubas, and feneeta. "ICS well If I havens smashed all the luatruiuta. I featlikaa taaatie,-' he mattered, sighing dismally. Then, In hto hurry to replace the case on the crowded table, he pushed . off the precious toUer, and trembled with horror when be perceived the while envelope, with lla magical superscription, lying within nn Inch of hto host "Bad omen! Dot what clap an I expect hot that she will throw It under her fast?" be muttered, sighing still more dismally, If possible, than before. Poor (irorge Gran Dry!— "Doctor'' (Iran Hey, by oourtesy, George G tantivy , l«rtoh surgeon of Ryleaham, In reality —does any ooo need to be told that ho was suffering under a very bad attack of that universal malady which no doctor's skill can alleviate— that terrible, devesting epidemic called love, which we scoff at until we catch It? Under the influence of this malady vary sensible people do rery foolish things, and under Its Induce sober, steady, etererGoocgdXirattlley bad actually bought a Volenti oa, written certain words on the spare pa«» of the Valentine, which had nceaalooed the fore of sleep, ap pouts, and spirits for the past week. In dwelling on them by night and day; and nowWaotgeGranUej oonsumtnav l hto fooUahoi by putting on hto hut, hurrying down to the village pnat-ufllr.-ium strapping the Valentine into the letter-box. How glad be was that it fflffBllMlf IIH«Hl. ■»> bow dread - fully afraid be waa that the poat-mis-t rare *a two daughters had awn him and recognised hto dtogotoed writing, and that by noon to-morrow all hto ditpensary paltoata weald kuow that "the doctor" bad baon arndiuf a VatonUne , to Mtoa Emilia Kendall, up at IheCae- «« - , But It waa gooa now; he had posted , It, and there waa no recall, though an inaaos Idea flitted through hto brain | for a moment oT rushing Into a little den wham the stout post-mistreat c usually sat, aad by Mr means or foal sblalelog position of that Metal letter: for it wss fateful to him. Ha had , staked the deaiwt, highest, brighaat , bops of hto young manhood on that . ni hto flrat'kfv* and hto Ant Vatonwry few youthful litres or faaetoa in hto doH.hardworktag boyhood. A younger ooo of City broker, George had toaraod. before hto childhood was ever, many a head, worldly toaoeo from hto stern father, hto aeMah brother, and Ids H* wratortody medfelne whether b* Ukafl it or art; be waa to ha starred In life, aad Owe he wee to "*>" for himself, tf be foiled In the "do teg," why lhat was hb own lo.A-.ut and nobody she's, nod then followed that allusion re "washing hands," by which Uvalwy act people— front the days of Pittas PUate down ward -ooppoae thfyeaafaDgaUthreaflhecoareqoence of setflsh eownrdkw or neglectful cruelty.jerarereek^p.'vure' hlntjery drsaaM hi hto reehsw moments' of rel .torttag hto profession ,-bnwm for him, though drop in the reew 1 of his heart ha Md bis owa Utopia,, hfawnnthto

wlthont a single family '-row" pn the score ef debts or pocket-money, which — to rather more than tlie majority of E. medical stu dents could say, I Imagine. He wrote vjry dutlfuUy to his father '• —he did not ercn him "guvnor' ' '* in conreaatloa with hto Mends! when t" he was settled In RyVaham, telling » him what a neat oomfortaUe cottage *' he had, what agreeable people the '■ residsato of Rylcsbam were, and bow busily be was employed. ~ Aa time passed oo he said legs of the charms of Ryleaham— sold very little about anything, and wrote bat seldom. U had got into debt; whereupon hto 3 father briefly suggested that George ' might get eat of It »• he got Into It. ■ There werecaaare enough for hto 11 silence and depression of spirit*, 1 0 though debt was not one; but hto ■ father and brother would not have un- I " deratood any others, lie was hard 1 '' worked and hto life was a dull , and I loveless one, despite hto pleasant so- ] e qualntaneca In the village; he was am- I * bilious, and felt himself shackled; he was yearning for a kindred spirit, brave ~ and soaring as his own, whose heart- i iclt sympathy could hold him up and t ft cheer him aa; be wss very lonely, and I ' this splrit-looellnces so intangible, so I * sorrowful, so hypochondriacal appnr- ( cntly to unsympathetic or mslter-of- c f tort natures, deepened awnnd him day 1 br •forBut suddenly a change came over * hto letters; he wrreHeonener, someUmcs t ' in high spirit, sometimes ss gloomily t as he ventured to do, but always rather I incoherent, until his father took him ' 1 to task In a few grim line* of reproof « J so then George look to writing to his s mother. Not that hu seemed to bare 1 anything particular to tell her, except ■ ' scraps aif news that he thought might ] interest ber, aad information about hto <! patlenU, which did not Interest her. , ' George was rather tiresome, Mrs. 1 G ran Hey though L On the endeavor | to And one thrilling chord of sympathy |- ' for the outpourings of a generous, i glowing heart, in whose lympalle oys- |, c ter-Uke nature's! he was continually t J tolling her of his vtolts to "the Otitic," and hto patient's. Miss Kendall's 111- . 1 nees, and the kindness of her niece, a . " beautiful, accomplished girl, Mtos |, Emilia Kendall; her |iatienl nursing < ' of her (unt. her sunny temper, Iwr • j goodness to the poor,— ber perfection. r In a word; and Mrs. Grantley only d ' wondered, pettishly, why George r 1 should ike "such fuss'1 about those a ' Kendalls, and received no enllghtmmi ,, In ber sea's coaUnusI mention of the l 1 illness of the eider tody, and the ,, ° charms and domestic grace* of the r ' younger. Most toothers would,— leu j not so Mrs. Grantley; si, J poor George, t | feeling that the oonfldenro be half- , longed to bestow, was uninvited, ceased hto vohrmiooos correspondence t with hto mother with an aggrieved j f feellag, — sorely he onght to have , known her of old!— and returned to , ! hto old consolation of the bright day- , dreaming aad castle-building when t 1 bis hard day's work wss donr. But what were the most golden vto- , ions, or arieet fabric* of beauty of hto , r boylsl, days, compared to this— this . radiant, blissful, impossible, glorious | ; vlata or happlncas? Ah! none but , those who have led solitary, thought- ' ful. self-contained live*, yet all tho c ' time yearning for an outlet for the ; ° garnered feelings which are bidden ; 1 away from the cold eyes of the outer ; world, can tell what that vista of bap- < ' pinrss was to G sorgo Grantley; how , the earth, air; and sky, seemed changed , r for him; how time was reckoned not j ' by weeks or months, but by the inter- , vols between each light, each trivial, , 1 dellgbtfril and miserably brief Inter j 1 view he had with one woman— aristo- , 1 cractlc, stately, prood, handsome , Emilia Kendall. He was very boyish in some things , ' even yet, poor George, though he was , pariah surgeon of Kytoabam. and he , ' was rery bsytoh iu Ibis wild, incon- * slderate love for a handsome, gracious ( ' young lady, who certainly ha 1 given , extreme kmdness me* xmpect mmeb J " fisted on the occasion of hto medical , visits to the Oastle; but Kmllia Ken.toll waa kind and respectful to every , ' one. Of course this love of hto was ' the rashes t, maddest, most hopeloss \ 1 thing oa earth. George told himself so at toast a hundred tlmos. What if { she were poor, vary poor, her maiden , 1 aunt. Mis* Agath* Kendall, and her ' widowed aunt, Mrs. Percy KendaU- . | a stiff, disagreeable. Inquisitive wo- ( ' cuougli. the tost member* of IhM ( branch of the family of the once J wealthy Kendalls, of Ryleaham Castle; but Emilia Kendall was poorer still. , she waa almost pesnlle**. for all ber , high-born, gracious way*, and ber 1 derer, dark, handsome face; and it was whispered frequently and of ooni George board tbcae whispers, . that Mtos Bcallla KendaU bad a hard 1 life with those two aunts of hen., sod 1 " that bat for the Ill-health of her ' peevish, halptoss Anal Agstha. abe , would hare gaos away frnm Ryleaham j " Castls and sarned her bread. Hto ' Informant ou this laat paint would not 1 poaltlsety vouch to bar assertion, but ] ' aba was sa eartaln aa ef her awn right ' ' band, that "poor Mtos Emilia tnd but i a drear time of It," So spake the ! raeyebsekad fanner's wife, and George 1 " Grantley went hoi In a paroxysm of » longing, Indldsion, tmdernos., Imp-., < ' and fears. - ■ " "A drear time Of It!" Oh, If be had . the power, how far apart from drmri- ' " M her Ufo shonld be! Poor, on- ' ° land, neglected, dreary, that bright- I ' flwad, nobis giri! Oh. Ifhe might. If 1 ha only dared to Ml har that hto life * was here, that If love coald rusk* her ^ happy, sail the knowledge of being the fln.1 aad dearest ottfert of a man's ' earthly dmires maid pkare and cxm- * sole Mr, she would he lonely aad 1 hinMlmi i '

0 of the month. - He sestt n Valentino—, ii tho first -Vstonttne be had ever bought if offsent to any esse, to Emilia Kendall. 1 It was a boyish thing to do, perhaps, r but there was a strongly boyish, romao- ] the Toung surgeon's. { And now we must follow the for- ■ tunes of this ValsnUao to Ryleaham B Castle, whither it waa In due time r conveyed by the village postman; and that liveried official grinned aa be » delivered it to the gray -beaded butler, i well knowing what was Inside such a . large light envelope- Sober \_old ■ Thomas read the address, and laid It ■ down beside Mr*. Perey Kendall's > letter and Mtos Kendall's newspaper. i who Miss Emilia's correspondent, wljo used such huge envelopes and wrote i such a queer hand, might be. at be polished the silver spoons sod told the breakfast knives; socn an uadlgulltod aa that MW one had sent Mtoa Emilia a Valentine never once entered decorous brain, i "Any letters, Thomas?1' "Yes, Mtos Emilia," and the oil servant's face brightened at the sofflnT , of her pleasant voice, tho only chfrT- ' hopefttl thing, except her bflgll; talented face, thai was in the ^lieary old mansion; "one for you. ma'am, . for Mrs. Percy, and n piper for . Agatha." "Letter for me? Give it to ny, Thomas " said Mre. Percy,, entering , the breakfast-room as he spoke, and taking along with her own Emilia's j which she sharply scrutinised. "Who 00 earth lima sent you such an, atSOmtoably vulgar-looking letter?'1 - she demanded. "Perhaps yon had better break the seal and read it. Aunt Percy," said Emilia, one flash coming from her : gray eyes; "I cannot tall until I i Mrs. Percy arched her straight black brows till they almost touched I her hair. "Yon grow mors tmboara- I every day, Emilia," she said with i disdain, half flinging lbs letter* on < the tabic. i Emilia Kendall had a fiery temper when thoroughly aroused, and she very illy aroused, especially by | of word or deed. George I Grantley might term It "warm," I "courageous," or "nobis, " If he i pleased, bat tho truth M abe was downright fiery In her aaqpr— the full, i pewHonate rebound of uubiukcu will - against a severe curb, fiho turned I ontbecold-fhced, btack-browed widow, i a scathing blast from a furnace ' on a grim, dark statue. "You will i make me more unbearable yet. If yon tak. sua, Aunt Pare)- You the only reason why i hair with i yon." "What Is this, Emilia? What to the matter now?" questioned her Aunt i Agatha in a high petulant tons, at she - slowly entered tho room, warmly wrapped tn flannel dressing-gown and shawls. "What to the matter, Isabel?" "Emilia has been favoring me with of her portico lariy aflectlonslc and ladylike sentiments, when I reproved her for a rude remark," replied Mrs. Percy, through ber thin Up* and closed teeth. "Wall, well, really Bmllta, 1 wonder at yon!" said Mtoa Kendall, cress "You know how I detest quarrelling— so vulgar, too! and yet you really seem to bare no consideration.— would think a girl of your age, fou rand-twenty now, would know Thus evincing brr superior ol consideration. Miss Agatha sat down In her arm-chair, while her niece — tho first crimson flush of anger gone from ber face— commenced pouring out tea, looking very pale, proud nnd cold, sa she always did In those frequently recurring sconce. Not until breakfast was over, the orden far dinner given by her to the oook— for even with only three domestics and a meagre household Miss Agatha strictly adhered to sristucrntic customs, and would is soon bare thought of taking poison, aa of dining six in the evening, with a full "31niier— swrvioe ,~ind lbs gray-haired behind her chair— not until the news from the dally paper had been read aloud. Mtoa Agntha'e wool-work given to her, with the wools all assorted, and needles threaded, her morning .lose ol Iron wine measured out and administered; not until then did site open tho Valentine. Her Up eurkd as she did so, and she wns maliciously Inclined to tear the fragile thing to bit* aa ah* drew It forth. "I thought fa giri of my age, fonrand -twenty now,' as Aunt Agaiiia says, waa past the time for having Valentine* sat her!'' *hq mattered, half laughing, half vexed. "I wonder who has been yidleulou* enough to ■cod me litis thing, though it to rery pretty," she said to herself at the silver tissue of the Valentine fluttered her fingers. Just then abe caught tight of Use writing ou the inner page and eagerly turned to read it. rial yse thos^nsdsr^eer et ot s Vst5 nasi set esq l»o HiSTST ye west anfcwl yse. iwalsi Csesss Osssvasv. • Poor George, rarely this tore of hto was ehlvalric and boyish, simple, pure and noble! And Emilia Kendall feeling the truth of every word of that odd. food, foolish letter, ac : •tally sank down, and from her warm rose sobs of emotion to think ■ that any one loved her so! Oeerga GtanUvt! The quirt, good- i - looking young surgeon, who came tn | - feet her aunt's palse, and prescribe i , toniia and aHcmilv™ for tor— Mia. j Agatha persistently lamenting wlieo I I he was gone that Rybshsm ( .-.-lie | . ^STnLY M thai ,hc altovmd he vary sttrtttler, I

and re^r derer tn hto way, only not .1 aristocratic enough for Mtos Kendall's I physician. i, Emilia Kendall's wsrjn, gsiMjcms i- nature chafad against her aunt'a lefty tf patronage and supercilious polltmvas to the young surgeon, and teak can r- to be particularly kind and courteous n to him on thai account. Bnttothink, e to Imagine for a moment that those d interview* In her aunt's sitting-room e or bad-room, those few passing salnta- -, toons In her walks, or at church, a should hare led to this! She had I never dreamed of It, fiir George had t carefully concealed hto feedings towards s her. and Btnllto Kendall was not Oho '. of those women who fancy thcmaslves » glittering fishes, for whom a crowd of » panting anglers continually strive.— e She knew her own talents and charms 0 as any one could Sell bar. I dan say, b but she did not think It at all likely or 1 needful that every on* ctoe aaouM ' know and appreciate them too. I Still abe waa s true woman, a very caeenro of feminine, anomalous, lovable. inexplicable being. How she, f with her yearning sympathies, ber f quick, brave Impulses, ber fiery temper, ■ and, beneath all, her glowing wealth : - or devoted, womanly love seeking for ' SOIIM- object whereon to bestow Itself, .- r.uld have been of the root and branch - of tin- imperious, selfish, sumere Jien- ! dills, was a myslery. Yet so "she . ' was; and, for n moment, a throb of : j of fir-iud resentment against tho "presurnptloty*' of the young surgeon filled I I ber brrflist,— but only for n minute, lie kill' not "presumed." i. Timidly, yet bravely, he bad only • told Iter he lovod tier, aa If the confession were wrestled from him. Mo asked for nothing, only that the would remember htm, if she ever : needed a friend. 'She could not be l oflendoil. Lsta man's position bo what it may ; If he- speaks from the boncat depths of . heart, and tells a woman of hto - lore without speaking or hoping for i any reward. If she be a true-hearted i woman, will never hear him with contempt or anger. "If she ever wantod u friend!" Tho I words sounded like mockery. What ' friend on earth had she, save the fret - t ful, exacting relative, who entertained ' for a selfish, capricious affection, i as the only child of Iter ( Mtos Agai tha's) favorite younger brother, and , also aa an unfortunate young creature, I who had made an nhsurd mistake in ! born at all ss bydolngso, abehad , inflicted a severe wrtag on every memi of ber family, Miss Agatha iaparI licular. Emilia' Kcqdall had come i when an heir bad been wanted and i longed lor, aad the baby giri bad been i dismally welcomed iu Kybham Castle aa the being by whom tho luberilauce i was tost Alt the rich estates went to i a far-off branch of the family; and pov- ! crty ' thenceforth .wss till- portion of ' Mitt Agatha and her widowed stvtrr1 in-law. Emilia's mother, a cold, vain woman, almost disliked the dark-oyod. i ugly baby who had so bitterly dtoaps pointed ber, and weut away to seek - for some better chance of prosperity I in the gay world. To her daughter I the was almost a stranger: site hsd married again, and bad other children - and having afforded Emilia's fashion- - able education, and punctually paid • her school bills, and sent a flre-pouud - note occasionally, she considered there 1 was no further claims upon her, and , If there were, she would ignore them, r Practically speaking, "she washed her r bands''of her daughter, as Mr. Grantl ley, senior, had done by hto too. r Tlu-ru was much similarity between r those two young pcohlo. tf they ouiy - km u It. Emilia did not knew It 1 then, but the sat a very long Ume In e the sliadow of her old, gloomy room— (m'r-l of the Oastle bed-rooms were ao, e unless a fire whs kept burning In them) e -with the Valentine in her hand, » thinking over ^crpasl Ufe, at I have a endeavored tovskrtcli it, very sadly c and drearily— for Emilia Kendall— for e she had a brave add sanguine temper- - amrnt, and constantly were the words It recurring, "If you ever want a trtend, i l love ytra more than any one on earth c — oven your own mother did'1— ("That D would not be very difficult," laid EmIt ilia, aloud and bitterly,)- -"more than ^ any man will do again ." g Emilia looked at the words, clearly, d blackly, determinedly written, and her e face flashed and smiled, d "Poor Gearge Grantcly!" she murs I think if George liad Ux-n clalrvoy- ■- pounding a dose for a sick blacksmith a — it might have hern the worse for his g patient. I, Yea, Emilia had Mushed and smiled r over his totter; she wns not ia the lit o angry, and aba pitted him very much, j and there was not a single man on t earth she cared to waste am glance of d her proud eye* on. >t George's prospects were anything e but dark; only he did not know It. It was a pity Emilia thought. Poor p fellow! she would have to spank to 'e him, of wont, and she would speak ^ wisely and kindly— poor fellow! Itwas v amazing the amount of sympathy tho a young surgeon's hopeless love reJlopctoaa? Of course. Meanwhile shr J would gn out, and think about it. She " could not thjnk In the bouse; there „ was little prjtscy, and no security that , she would noV^iul'-rrupted or eclactl ^ n|«n by A not Agatlm. to be tntdo j : useful in same way Besides, sb> ■ .. i rould not Ihlok comfoctaMy In the j „ i same lnnae with Aunt Perry. kj The aalagontem baiwaen Kmtlto ! | and her uncle's widow waa something j |. ! surprising. It really was, at Mtos j „ Agatha sstd am day; to a thoroughly , ,, ! bud temper, "as If they were born on , | purpose hi tonarnl each other aad ; D every one about tticm.'Ip I tto'tiot want 6-r an Iii1jjj.jsi . on ' NIomvIv dteagrc. 'We a lady as any one

it could wish to meet, or avoid, in a long ] s list's walk. There had boca many un- < a lately, that Barillas spirit rebelled fu- I y riouslyat htr own depecateat posiUoo, ■ a sod spurred htr to obtain, at least, a c a Ufe of mots freedom of speech and ac- 1 s ttoo than this, where the waa hemmed I ; In, and chafed, and roused, and grieved c e alternately, every day almost every a boor of ber Ufe. ' r ptc had not seen much of her Aunt t , Percy until tha tost two or three years, I i during which time she had been con- 1 1 stonily at the Castle, and now had s token up har abode there far Ufe there- d g bjdcciding ber nieoe la her opinion ttat L s she must take op her abode elsewhere, t f The goesipe of Ryleaham were not so b - very far wrong when they whispered * s that -Miss Emilia KendaU was thinking b , of "going to be governess, 1 • though how d r Use Information reached tham It would b 1 to toad to sax Mining to Sa a t governs!— with aflaK Woed of all 1 r the Kendalls to ber veins! Yet rarely t i- it was better than this miserable life t i, of genteel drudgery and pennikst de- e r pcndcncc. 1 Surely, yes!. The proud tears were ; i to Emilia Kendalls eyes as she thought i r over It, white she wsudered oo through 1 ; the rustling woods that qntet Feb- t i ruary afternoon. Only one thing wn % ( ■ an obstacle to the way she marked out e for herself. ■ f "I have youth, health, good spirits, s - goad talents, and a fair education « I encrusted with a few showy attain- ■ . menls," she told, aloud and cheerfully; d "why shquld I not corn an honest 1 i independence, and strive to make a s s few valuable acq sale ton ere, and per- r . hap* a real friend or two?" I b But there was am obstacle in the 0 r way of our cbeerfisl, n volute Emilia ii > Kendall,— the poos, elderly, invalid, e nervous, selfish, irritable sunt. Emilia i knew well that She was to be to the a f lonely depeodiog woman en indispenia- I > ble comfort and that Mb* Agatha t r loved her, and was graleftit to her r I after ber own faaLieu. She knew also - lhat the act she ton torn plated would e sever her from her nearest earthly re- t 0 lativc evermore; Miss Agatha would C t renounce tier more entirely than ever e her mother hod done; the would never I 1 forgive her; she would brood over the a Insult to the Kendall pride, and the b - ingratitude and wrong to herself, until e 1 tin- aggregate would present Emilia b . almost in the category with those two J > or three wicked handsome women f 1 among tho dingy family portraits, r - whose names warotcareely mentioned, I: - nnd their characters not at all. f » Tho solemn quiet of the woods was 1 affecting the girl's nmnlly sanguine s 1 nature; a few tad tears succeeded thoee - ' proud ones. b > "She will soy I am Just like that e i dnrk-haired Catharine Kendall, my s - go .1 1 grandmother's niece, or what- I f ever she was. She lived a hundred 1 - years ago. Khe aurrifd dreadfully be- I Death her, and ber portrait wns only d - preserved became of her beauty and r . talents," murmured Emilia, rather - dolefrilly.thtoktsg over the delinquency I t of the wilful beatty tn relation to her t r own error in caiiemplation. Which r r was worse— which would be worse In o I Mtos Agatha's e*Umation.-to be a a ' gn vermes, or to marry beneath her? 1 - To many benostb her! And these r • words brought bock the Valentine to 1 i tier mind; the chew U out of her pocket 1 1 and read It over again twice, ml down s 3 on a trunk of a fallen tree, reflected, ■ read the ValeuUns over again and 1 r smiled and sighed ■ " Poor fellow, I am afraid be will 3 ■ feel It!" :l Willi an obtect if Bllv the reran ll 1 pity young

» surgeon was to Bmllta KendaU, to be U 1 sure! I As she put the Valentine to her h - pocket again she heard footsteps ap- h ■ preaching her by U>e path which ted S ) to the village through the wood, llcr o ' first thooght waa that it was George ® Grantley, and the waaqulte angry with * y herself, to foe! bow hot her cheeks be- b r caifie, and bow her heart throbhrei b - violently; bat it was only Mrs. Ham- ^ k tog Mas. Hammond, who led hron b h George's Informant of that doubtful ' piece of newt that Mtos Emilia Ken- d '* doll was going to be a gorcroeai. The n 0 young surgeon was a prime favorite with the farmers motherly, kind- b '• hearted wife, and Miss Emilia Ken- - r doll was another, though in a lesser t degree. "Yoa might as weU talk In one of o the royal prineetees as to Mtos Emilia. 1 though ah* arts always kind and ■ smiling,*' avowed Mrs. Hammond, t h and she curtoted as deeply now, to ber c * sudden encounter, as if the toll young tody In ths gray holland dresa had t d really base of regal birth. { * Emilia replied kindly to Mrs. Ham- 1 '• moods greeting, and after Inquiries " as to her chUdrsa, her husband, and I ,f their farm, the was taming away. ( when she bethought her ol a poor sick « K laborer. In whose sorrowful case she wss deeply interested. I ,r "Mrs. Hammond how to John < 0 Styles to-day, did you hear?" she k asked. 1 "Poorly enough, Mto- Kaodsll; I *" i>oorly enough. I sent over there a i h while ago with a drop of sweat milk ' for the children, poor things; sad hto ! 10 wife sold he waa vary low. He's to a I " git way, too, for lb* doctors going m away." 1 II "Tho doctors going away!" ex- I * claimed Emilia ltf "Oh, yen, mtos," replied Mia. Horn- ' ; mood, glowing with delight .at being i ' able to communicate new* to Mto* - ; Kendall' aad eridetoly astonish ber. u "Suildeneet thing to the world It was! - : Knew no SMI* about it than the chili " unborn, laat evening; when this > morning omnro by post a letter 'to ™ gnat taste.' all written over It, to toll ld hitu hH father waa took with a fit or | touching, nnd not expect «d to Ho, •■'and away the poor T««K gentleman ' r : bad to fly. A and Valentine for him, [hi Ntoa Kendall. ntU!" 7-: Msnth. rolored fasMly. "U vrao," k »he repttsd, vary gvsvrly, and toddtog

Hammond good evening,' walked greatly to that good woman's dissatisfaction, who would have liked discus* the story in twenty way*, and her own impression thereon, coupled with the impressions of Widow Clarke, the "doctor's" housekeeper. But Mtos Kendall walked on, deeply thinking. "Poor fellow!" abe murmured, "he must be to git trouble. I am sure , be was a j good son, and that his lovod him dearly, poor fellow!" The next day came and went, the after and two succeeding ones, before the turgeffn Slurried, and even < then it was only to stop two days, and i up to Loodon again, nit father 1 ]not yet oat of danger, Emilia i bat that ho was not expected to ' It woe not until ten days after : had received the first summons that finally returned to Ryleeham.— ; one of thoee ten days, some- i times in the morning, sometimes In i the afternoon, Emilia went out, gen- i erally by the wood-path on to the vil- i where sho visited some sick poor : people, dispensed some of -Mtos I Agatha's cold charities with her own i bands and pleasant smile, and a git deal about George Gnmtlcy. I It was now nearly throe weeks since i •he received the Valentine; it teemed altogether such a strange thing, the i writing and the receiving of it, that i the would have felt sure It wan only a I bat for the real presence of the < Valentine, a little frayed at the edges and worn-looking, for it was the down- i right, unvarnished truth that Uiu hod read that Valentine about i times oa an average, carried it iter pocket, and thought of It i earth, even your mother, loved you. I would devote my life to you, if I had i die right. If ever vou want a friend, i remember George Grantley." "Remember him! She was thinking : of him morning, noon, and night; thinking of blm in Uioeo dark, solcmu > rooms; thinking of bim white : enduring the presence of her Aunt ! who had really begun a species i of petty tyranny towards her, finding quieter and more subdued appar ; ently than she used to be; thinking of during the diry vigils to Miss qs tha's bed room, listening to her fretfhl complaints and petulant re- i marks; thinking of him In contrast to ber loveteee life, her undecided, gloomy "Married beneath roe!" she said, ' scornfully, herself; "tic to a gentleman —I know and feel sure of that; 1 am a . He to aclcvcr, struggling, young surgeon ; 1 am a penniless girl, without home or friend, except an aunt who perpetually finds fault with me, and who listens to the evil tongue of Mrs. Kendall, who detests me. I tee much Inequality between our positions, George Grantley." ■She was safely distant from Castle Ryleaham in her favorite promenade, the teaf-strewn wood-path, when she uttered this heresy against the creed of the Kendall family pride. She had scarcely uttered it when sho caught sight of George Grantley. advancing right towards her. She would have to have run nwny , though she was Emilia Kendall; but he hiul caught sight of bar. "Good evening, Miss Kendall! evening, to It uot?" be sold, rather hurriedly, and taking off hat. "Yes," aaid Emilia; though it might been midnight far ought slie could could E

He gave ooo penetrating glance at It but ber eyea were cost down Iu u alienee, he thought. Ho " deadly pate, and Ml bis lip f< nervously. b "Mtos Kendall, your aunt quite q wall,— 1 mean better thou usual, I be told, turning away, as If a proceed, hto own way. c "She to much as usual. Dr. Grant- n ley," replied EmlUo, raising ber eyes b to his chooeiug face. ^ Jitoad, awkward silence ensued, which a neither teemed able to break. a "Dr. Grantley," the begon at length, r a voice that trembled audibly, "you g —you wrote a totter to me about l three weeks ago. ' ' I The fojdeo light of the suuscl In the r okl oak wood seemed to fade away misty darkni before bis ryes. ' and the leaf-atrewn gross around to and whirl, but be answered > calmly, "I did, Mtos Kendall." < Dead silence again. The evening s breeze rustled the dry sere leaves and r grass, and the birds began their even- 1 song. a "It was piumpliou of me. Mtoa ' was It not?" told George s Grantley, and hto voice sounded hoarse and strange to hto own cars. 1 "In what way?" said Emclto. I gravely. Sho was oalm and oolkctal > , enough, poor George though L . i "In— to— my writing, at I did— 1 ' I was wrong. I -had no Hfclrt; > ; I coald not help it, I suppose," bo ( , mid, with a abort Impatient sigh.- 1 : "Yoa are not offended, Miss Krndxll r ' , would not offhnd you for anything In i , the world.". r "No, I am not offended. Drl Grant- ; I toy; but I think you an very foolish." < . she replied to a low tone, and looking | < down. : I "Yea, I dare say. Well, doo't tot j , fully trouble you, Mtos Kendall.— i I , .We my be friends; or— perhaps you , would rather not see n>e'-I eon go : !h4J"tf-N * I "RoUfef not see you! How con you , be ao Obkurd?" said Emilia, toughing . , hysterically, forth* was trembling, and i ' George looked puzzled few a minute, i and then smiled sotvowftilly. "It might be best for myself, , Mtos KendaU. I doo't think I can ; Emilia In-dred straight St him,— htr '

i dork ryes brilliant Willi merriment k and tome tenderer feeling hesldee. i J She told lyre white ungloved hand on \ , hto arm. "Mind, George (irantky, I I , doo't tell yoa to g* away," she said, f gently, and there was a rery precious i - smite oo ber red lips. . , George stared wildly at ber lor an I instant, said something inarticulate, i • and then— well really, dear sir and b madam, to whom I deferred in com- f ■ mencement of this history. I know 1 • you don't like to hear oT "soft noo- I sense," but there are others, a vast t • majority, too, who do like to hear of 1 , it, and Imperatively demand it in a re- n i cital ttke;thc present; so what course v I can I best pursue to give satisfaction i ■ to both parties? I-et u* suppose an i of an hour or so, and then re- 1 < > tum to the pair we left standing be- j r neatb the old oak-tree in Rylethani c 1 Wood. They were standing there i . yro, thraigl. the sun hail gone ilowo < - and the twilight shades were fast f i i coming. They wore not conscious of • U; and there to no saying how long > i - one of the two might have remained ; v r in blissful indifference to sunlight or ! « ■ twilight, but that (he other s|>oke to ; I i surprise and alarm. 1 1 I "It is very late! 1 shall be inisnrd." I t ! Then her companion said, with a ] a sigh of regret. "My darling. 1 j • i shall intee you worse." r I Then the first speaker, hurriedly j ( : and smilingly, said, with both hand- ; g t outstretched. "Good evening. Good- j t i No, no, you must uot come s i with me. Good-bye." k 1 "Say Gcorgr, Emilia; my il again, - my darling." I i< I "Good-bye— George— guud-byc— no. d I no, sir!" t t A girlish tough rippled out through ' f 1 the allll air. and Uicn came the echo ! „ of a light, hasty foot tripping away in ! t i tlx dirortix. of ttjhstiam , rustic, ti . while George Grantley, with his hat h I off, stood beneath the old Hto wateh 8 . the last flutter of tho long, flowing o gray dress. He stood there-, lla: dew I ; falling on hto brown curly bair. like n 1 ; mad'under a spell, as then- was no I: i doubt 'be was. his face lluslicd and - i radiant Ukc a man on whom Fortune ; 1 1 has suddenly bestowed the i-hc-icval j i gift which earth's treasure held for i t [ hlui- like Just what he was, tlu: Imp- ! t plcst fellow in the county— one or the r f happiest, proudest fellow- to Ilic wide 1 I world that spring evening. { <] r "Can it be true? can It l>o true?" lie n . said over and over again, as lie at . I i length wended his way home l>y llic ' I • light of the crescent moon; "can it be ; true? Emilia, mjri-wlfc!— mg' wife!— i , my own wife!" < , He was a foolish, romautic fellow, I , you know, nnd had a hit of old- ■ . fashioned idea* abont reverencing r i woman, about constancy, and ikrotod, I , self-sacrificing love, nnd bo actuallv I stood for a moment to look up to - . Heaven, to thank the Great Giver ol [ all Good for bestowing such a blmtlog i r on him— to pray to that tame git < Father of all to bless his beloved, and | • keep her safe, and help liirn to niako , , henfuturo life a bright ami pace fill | Foor George! Why should 1 record i 1 any more of his strange words or ' t deeds?— for I must confess lhat Dr. , • Granlteya character for grave reserve , b and corefril. methodical ways, suffered i s tome damage for the next week. I do i t not wish to record any disagreeable* c cither, so I mutt pass over Emilia's i ! trials at tlui Castle. If it wasn't a I b ipecte* of martyrdom, it was some- . IT thing very 'ike it, front the hour that , George Grantley had requested an , t Interview with Miss Agatha; and J stood quivvriug to hear the quiv*nug hear tli* In

stinging satire and the lured insults in were flung at him. until theproud pa undaunted Kendall spirit woke within at girl, sod tlu- turned to tha pain or woman, whose cruel tongue to wounded an honorable man to the quick. w "Auut Agotlis, 1 have always been m obedient and affectionate niece,— I pi can say so from riiy heart. I I is re not bad a very happy life here at tho hi of time*,— you yourself ackaow- ei ledged that Nig sgo, Since Mn. T Perry came, it has l«wi far worse. I le a Kendall, and they hare been It always self-wilted and impatient bo- a ninth wrong* ond insult*, it well as w grateful and true to those who love them. 1 am not one to I ear insults, it Agatha,— and yoa have Insulted Is through my affianced husband." w "Kmllia Kendall," said her aunt, tl "I insist ou your tearing the room!" "In a moment, sunt, when I tell E I you this, that had you treated George w Grantley differently, I hiul beau more tl amenable to jour will, — -perhaps r remained here as loug as you b wished me to do; Irat now 1 have no w alternative. He bat hern cruelly c wronged l>y you, and, I mutt make tl amend*." • H Mis* Agatha scaruely understood b her, and did not believe ber. Mrs. C counseled severity to the ut- Ii most, but Mis* Agatha knew the Ken- t! dolt spirit better than she did. She felt sorely perplexed and divided between I tending her nhsoe to a school In France, • or kcciring her nailer personal rarrtU- t but the question was decided tor t ! Mitt Agatha in a more summary moo- p : nor than «b« dreamed of. j | Poor days afterwards, just a month | from Valentine's Day. Mtos Agatha ] ; came down to ber late breakfast, and i espied on her plain a tetter directed to t I ber, hut not stamped. a "Whom to lids from? IFtart c j Emilia?" she asked, petulantly. n "1 ha vent scmi Iwr Lwlay," said f : Mrs. Percy, suspWously- "gradout! a Agatha! what to the matter?'' "Look there,'; raid Mtos Agatha, In c I husky queer tone, her thin Hp* grow- ! ing pallid, at she pointed to the algna- b : tun: of the note she had just read— r ' "Kmllia KendaU Urooltey." 1 •Shi:'s married!" shrieked "Mrs. if Psrey. L "Yea- thfe'-mdug," was the re- j' ' plj; "that will da— you will be good/ j raougb. Isalw). uot to ratio.. th4t I ■ ' giri to mo again— giva meaty trsu" _j| I

Married that morning, sure enough, I and now mlk* away with her husband ■ who had obtained a brief holiday of a ' few days! Emilia Kendall Grantley! ,1 and George, "Dr." (ironttey now by ' right, for ho had studied for his degree ' and had received it a very short time I in (act, during his visit to Lou- ' don. * • • ■ • 1 "Everything seems to tarn out well mc now," said happy George. ' was in the very room where that 1 famous Valentino had been written; ' it was on exceedingly-pliant- 1 room now, half scientific study; nnd there, balanced on tho mass 1 rewriting- table, was a handsome toughgirl, in a violet morning robe. "Got a dukrdom, you dear okl j George? ' « I "No, love; but I have got my fath'J cr's good-will and my mother's bleatj oo my marriage; and they want ' 1 in *to " 7itb*y. *re com • ' j And so they did. Incredible as it appear, Mr. Grauttey, senior, " | was quite reconciled to the idea of hto J son's marrying n porUontesa girl. He ! been greatly softened by life late r 1 Illness, and by hi* youngest son's de- 1 ' voted attendance to him. lie gruffly c admired hto daughter in-Uw, and raid, " "George waa a srutiblc (ellow to uiari ry good blood and beauty, ifhe couldn't C get money," made her a prcscut of a * gold watc)j and chain and some luuid- | ruby oruamcuU, and gave his " j a thousand pounds to Wgiu houve- 1 [ keeping wlili. The gossip* of Kykshutu, who cur- | watched to see wliat sort of a ! '' j wife 111m Emilia Wo*, going j and their highly imaginative ; 1 assertions dtoprovvd She wasjustthe | ' sonic gracious, aristocratic lady .lie ! [ ever bceit ouly far more snuUncly in uppcaraticc lluut of yore. - was not romantic or melancholy, I or above attending to the affairs of her ' or condcscvndiugly i>ollte to la-r | or liauglily and severe with j ! wife ; and a- for George ""ITic doctor ain't a hit like he used ' 1 be!" was the universal asucn-ratiou. i 1 be nnderatood hi llic must eoinpli- ' mentory «a.*e Imaginable. I "Tltc maste r is as gay as u lark," ' Widow Clarke, who wo* coek ' I and fatoluui still, though OMtoled by ; ' I eldest daughter, who made u uent ; J (here her voice was lowered to aotemu | ' whisper) '*tlic mistress understands j ' one of them Ug hook*, and the 1 full of things as well as the ' master himself. I see her myself tustiy nn hour toifiuu reading them out for 1 and ho writing away." No wonder George Grantley looked Aud yet in this new delightful home- 1 so tweet and untried before, Emilia j 1 thought often nnd sadly of 1 the proud, miserable, lonely woman up [ ' at the Castle. "IIow happy we are, George?" tho ' young wile often exclaimed, with a 1 sigh of mingled pleasure and sorrow. tN would glance arouud that parlor with the bright te-a-cquii" agc on the sofa table, the rase* of spring flowers, and the glow of totnp and firelight shining on the gilt backs i of volumes of choice poetry or fiction; i on the proud, sunny trtiile on Iwr liusi band's face, watching every movement - of the white hands busy among lira i gleaming teacups, every ripple of the i dark hair flowing lack into a tangle I of glossy rolls aud curls, and then cont it with the silent, sombre room , treat with the silent, sombre room , "

Uylcshaui Castle; whence had de- 1 a parted for fiver, all light and youth, | ' and hope, and beauty, and left ouly I * hitter, sullen memory the more. : r Urn desolate inhabitant*! ' v "Oh, ]K»r Aunt Agatha! If she | ' would only tec me and come down to 1 sometimes, we might make ber hap- ' ' Ge irgc!" ^ « Hut Mi** Agatha refused to ever sa j 8 her niece again, until that sorrow ful | « evening, when poor, old, gray-headed j ' Thomas hurried lV-hly to Dr. Grant- ' door, aud on his own re*irausibiT- 1 ' ("for Mrs. l'crry hsd ordered 1dm i ' not") implored the Doctor to come and | ' Mtos Agatha. ! ' Emilia was not at borne that evening, hot wbcu her husband met her on ' return from the country town whither slie Irad gone ou business. ' was awe and pity on hto Qua. Gently tie broke the new*; and i tor the first Uw rawro fo r wedding day, wept Utter lean; for 1 standing in one of tho pleasant roams of ber Happy cottage home, she beard that the lonely, sorrowful woman whose joyfaea existence abe had *b compassionated, was forever beyond reach of In-rsymiavthyor kindness. had bade her old servants goodand she died alone, save for Grantley. lie liod heard tier words and closed her eyes in "Gearge Grantley, try to be a good to Emilia," she said, with of her old calutie stsrnoesa even then. "I have heard slie seems very with you. I sm glad, very glad— forgive me for what 1 said to Emilia was food of me a little, I think." Foor, desolate Agatha Kendall! When her will w»- read, alter of money and good to her servants, every fraction she po-e**«d 1 of money, old heir-loom* ami ornaments, waa left to "Emilia KcihUU [ [ ranl'.- y, as a testimony of her aunt's ( affection." | Mrs Percy got fifty pounds ami considered lierseU sliamcfUllj tiled. _ Sp, after all. Mr. Grantley, senior, the satisfaction of incessantly plumlngSoiiueclf over his young eon's 'marpogu Snore thoroughly than he 1 fecfever done. — — !/ "Clevrr fe-Umv, my ifaliii!- , Picked up au hein, slr!-feilh Maod J and beauty into the bargain!1' | That was all Mr. Grantley knew of the sacred joy of hto sou's wadded Ufe. -| united (eh. rare and Mtafful ehanre! 1 1

one who understood him, who wa* second self, aa "other deaiar life In that was all bs understood et the grave, lender rnui ta which daughter-in-law held bar dead aunt's memory; or why— apart Cram the cause of the legacy— tha dark-eyed who was born ou Yakatine'* Eve, should he called Agatha. No matter. Gearx« and Emilia understood it altogether; and perhaps that other Agatha knew of their lori rig-kindness in the world beyond the grave. THE HAUNTED ROCK. [COXCUTBBD.] 1 replied that be might believe it or uot, as pleased him; that I had told him nothing but the truth; and begged to be allowed to give up my situation at once, as, 1 sold, no earthly consideration would induce me to |uias u night alone again In the light-house. lie looked hard at me for a moment, and then sold, "Of course it to your own fancy; bnt something has eridcutly frightened you. I witl try you once and get Wilson to stay with you this next week; and next Saturday night 1 will myself come off and stay with you." We weut down together to Witoou'. cottage; and although his wife wo, •UU very unwell. Mr. Thomson got him to agree to came off with me at once, and stay the next wrek, and on the Saturday he himself would join \\ o returned to the light-bouse at Wilson In no very good temper, : und evidently thinking me a cowardly 'fool, or that 1 was hoaxing him.- - we got off he insisted ou gum- - down to the cellar with uie. Evcry ; thing wa* as we had left it, rave Urn •in .linn, -una we turn fattened with loug uaifa, was afar. Its oat It Htmi-ii i In line U ta wrmclcd jnm Ii « icood; j ' at once a»ured my cdiuponiou that I had never been down the step* siucv he was with inc. He heard toe in •'fence, hut with evident incredulity ; aud together wc fastened lip the Join in such a manner lhat nothing ahull | of * ledge- hammers would open it, ami returned to the walqji-room. . Hie days and uighU Went quickly by, uoth - lug occurring to alarm or disturb u. In the slightest degree. Wilson r> - c-ncicd Ids good temper un bearing . that his wife (to whom he was deeply ' attached) was lunch better, and proved | himself, as before, n mostoutertalniug couqanion. At about four o'clock on j Saturday aftcrnuou Mr. Thom>-.ii came ml, aud asked u* Uinteriugly The reply, or course, war, "Nolle "However, I'll look out with you he | nlgUL" . He thcu questioned mc closely upon the exact situation aud description of f j sound* 1 had beard, and minutely ex- , j mined tlic whole place. The fiulcuIng* of tlKcx-IUrdoorwereuotremorcJ, hut an additional padlock put ou, as also ou tho light-house door. Mr. Thorn sou then said that, at lb* sounds appeared to begin and t nd in , the cellar, toward eleven o'clock we • would post ourselves, armed with re- , velvets, opposite tho door, and wait tho , event 1 cerfaluly did not much relish ; tho prenpect; but the other two ocetiwd . so cool and confident that 1 could ( make no demur. Wo patoed a picas- , ant evening iu the watch-room, till, at o twenty minute* toelevsn, the revolvers , were carefully looked to, and, with a Urge ship's lantern throwing nut a , . brilliant light, we descended the spiral iigm, we aesccnuca UK spiral

| stair In a body, and lunging up the ; light, waited "hat might ensue. It ; a very calm night, and the gentle I ripple of the wares against the rock was barely audible, and no profound was the dead silence that we could bear the tlow. monotonous ticking of the 1 clock In the watch-room. As we stood iuid waited, wo knew not for what, in . . almost the foundations of that kmc- ; building, the miuqtes seemed like | as we eyed each otter and the I damp, grim walls around. Hoddculy ""be clock in my room > out eleven, and during the mlni ale or two that ensued *e hold our ! very breath* in expectation. All at once the struggling and oaths , commenced close to us in the cellar.— i The words were audible now— "Dowu, . damn you, down!" In harsh, rough tones, intermingled with heavy blows aud feeble moons for mercy. Suddenly, before our very Usees, the door which we bad fastened oo_ c.irv - , fully tlcw open, and tho step wdnl by . us as we crouched bock almost into , the very walL Tho struggling now sounded op In the watch room, and I then again seemed coming nearer . to ut, step by step, as if a heavy . body wo* being lifted down the - stair. I glanced at my oanpaur ions; tbey were both ashy pale, lojt j seemed calm and resolute. The step* came nearer, nearer, and again paused 1 Into the cellar; and again the wild cry j of • -George. Gearge' for God's write a don't murder me!" rang out etoac by; and as tho words died away a vision y appeared before ~ tu, (ho horror of » which, even at thl« lapec of time, , makes mc shut my eyee in dread. I!y * tho light of a pah- lambent flame that seemed to spring from every port ot r the cellar we raw Uw dead body of « r man lying an the ground, the face so. I I haul SO halUflsd sod covered with . blood at to iko the features iudto- ■ llngutohahle. Over It stood a womar in her night-drera. her ansa exloodo ' if to ward of a Kiss- while from s gaping wound In ber throat ibe MooI poured down in torrent*. I romem her the agon irad entity visible tn thi Urge blue eyee, and the rtppliu; mattes of gaiden hair conlmsLD,, ' strongly with tha blaodnalkoaoo t —but no more; for I fall InarnsiblWhan I came to, I found myself ibed, and ao dspiorably weak that could barely faun round. 1 bad ba. i Icortrtxim M na t'AOX.)