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that astonished herself, and she felt her heart "May tells me we are forced to bid you stop beating. good-by," she said. " I am sorry ; but I trust "Oh, yes - at first ! " May replied, hurriedly. you are coming back so soon that we can at "Oh! Cora- ” once begin to think of your return in order to "I am sure you have something to tell me, console ourselves." "Thank you!" he answered ; and Cora was my dear," Cora said ; when she broke off abruptly, "I think I know what it is." conscious of a vague wonder that his voice " Don't !" whispered May. " Oh ! it frightens should sound so uncertain and tremulous in this first hour of his certainty of his own triumph. me yet." He led her to a seat, and sat down beside her. She clung fast to Cora ; and Cora held her close in her arms, and was thankful that she She glanced at him once, and saw that he was could offer a prayer for the girl's happiness, deathly pale ; and a fear of some evil for him though all the while she felt death in her heart, banished all selfish thoughts. " Are you in any trouble ?" she asked, quickly. and knew that however long the semblance of existence might last, life was at an end where "Is there any bad news you wish me to break anything like interest or hope for herself was to May ?" "No," he said, gravely, "no. I am going concerned ; it had died in the shudder of agony which shook the very springs of her being, away- shall I come back?" "Of course, you are coming, I know from when May's happy voice broke beneath its May. She did not tell me, but I understand passion of bliss and delicious shyness. "Cora ," May said, suddenly, still with her everything." head turned aside, " Mr. Wellesley is going "Yes, May is very happy," he said, "and I away this morning- he wants to bid you am so glad. Wentworth is a noble young fellow ; but that is not it-___ " good-by." "Wentworth!" repeated Cora, in horror. "Going?" exclaimed Cora. Oh! this was worst of all ; he was suffering"Yes ; for a day or two only. He got a telegram last night. Please go down- he is in May did not love him. " Wentworth !" she repeated. mamma's sitting- room. There's nobody there." Cora knew what it signified ; the trembling "Yes ; don't you know your willful little voice, the broken words-the wors agony was cousin put him out of his suspense this mornover ; she could bear anything now, could evening ?" "I am so sorry; oh! do believe it ! I don't see him - see the pride and joy in his face, do know what to say-I- "" her part without faltering. She clasped May more closely in her arms, "We can leave them to their happiness," he kissed the bonny brown hair that hung about went on , when he saw that she could not finish. "I am a selfish mortal, and must think of my her shoulders , and said, softly, "God bless my darling, and make her a own hopes and fears. May I come back, Cora?" happy woman !" Was she going mad ? Did her senses play She went straight out of the room without her false ? "Oh ! don't you understand ?" he cried out. looking back, gave herself not an instant to think, made no pause until her hand was "I love you ; I had seen you long before you upon the door of the room where May's lover ever saw me ; and, mad as it was, I loved you waited. from the first. May knew it-sent for me here. The very thought that came into her mind- Cora, don't drive me from you. Give me a May's lover-it gave her a wild sort of strength hope- may I come back ?" There was an odd little gasp in her throat, which she knew would support her to the end. She opened the door ; there was no tremor in which made him look suddenly in her face ; he her limbs, no mist before her eyes- she felt read the whole truth there, and the next instant dead and cold ; she was not conscious even of Cora felt herself pressed to his heart, and heard any suffering, she was just walking about like the words of love and tenderness which burst a ghost whose penance it was to linger upon from his very soul. It was all made clear in the long hour that earth and watch the happiness of those still left here clothed in mortality, and bearing mor- elapsed before they were disturbed ; then May danced into the room, exclaiming, tality's sensations and happiness. She saw him rise and come toward her ; she "There's a train going, and there's a poor was the calmer of the two, and held out her wretch must go on it. Is it all right ?" Their faces must have answered, for she white hand, and was the first to speak.
