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the warmth of your generous nature, this
great obstacle to your progress in the
world.”
“If your inclinations chime with your
sense of duty———” Harry began.
“They do not,” replied Rose, colouring
cei A
u Then ae return my love?” said
Harry. “Say but that, Rose; say but
that, and soften the bitterness of this hard
disappointment.”
“If I could have done so without doing
heavy wrong to him I loved,” rejoined
Rose, “ 1 could haye——”
“ Have received this declaration very
differently ?" said Harry, with great ea¬
gerness. “Do not conceal that from me,
at least, Rose."
“TI could,” said Rose. “Stay,” she
added, disengaging her hand. : Why
should we spon this painful interview;
most painful to me, and yet productive
of lasting happiness, notwithstanding ;
for it will be happiness to know that I
once held the high place in your regard
which I now occupy, and every triumph
which you achieve in life will animate
me with new fortitude and firmness.
Farewell, Harry! for as we have met to¬
day, we meet no more: but in other rela¬
tions than those in which this conversa¬
tion would have placed us, may we be
long and happily entwined; and may
every blessing that the prayers of a true
and earnest heart can call down from
where all is truth and sincerity, cheer
and prosper you.”
6 Another word, Rose,” said Harry.
“ Your reason in your own words. From
your own lips let me hear it.”
“The prospect before you,” answered
Rose firmly, “is a brilliant one; all the
honours to which great talents and pow¬
erful connections can help men in public
life are in store for you. But those con¬
nections are proud, and I will neither
mingle with such as hold in scorn the
mother who gave me life, nor bring dis¬
pres’ or failure upon the son of her who
1as so well supplied that mother’s place.
In a word,” said the young lady, turnin
away as her temporary firmness Sorscok
her, “there is a stain upon my name
which the world visits upon innocent
heads; I will carry it into no blood but
my own, and the reproach shall rest alone
on me,”
6 One word more, Rose—dear Rose,
one more,” cried Harry, throwing him¬
self before her. “If I had been less, less
fortunate, as the world would call it,—if
some obscure and peaceful life had been
my destiny,—if I had been poor, sick,
helpless,—would you have turned from
me then? or has my probable advance¬
ment to riches and honour given this
scruple birth?"
“Do not press me to reply,” answered
Rose. ‘The question does not arise, and
never will. It is unfair, unkind, to urge
it.”
“Tf your answer be what I almost dare
to hope it is,” retorted Harry, “it will
shed a gleam of happiness upon my lonely
way, and light the dreary path before me.
It is not an idle thing to do so much, by
the utterance of a yn brief words, for
one who loves us beyond all else. Oh,
Rose, in the name of my ardent and en¬
during attachment,—in the name of all I
have suffered for you, and all you doom
me to undergo,—answer me that one
question.”
“Then if your lot had been differently
cast,” rejoined Rose; “if you had been
even a little, but not so far above me; if
I could have been a help and comfort to
you in some humble scene of peace and
retirement, and not a blot and drawback
in ambitious and distinguished crowds; I
should have been spared this trial. I
have every reason to be happy, very
happy, not but then, Harry, 1 own Í
should have been happier.”
Busy recollections of old hopes, cherish¬
ed as a girl long ago, crowded into the
mind of while making this avowal ;
but they brought tears with them, as old
hopes will when they come back with¬
ered, and they relieved her.
“T cannot help this weakness, and it
makes my purpose stronger,” said Rose,
extending her a, 6 [ must leave you
now, indeed.”
“T ask one promise,’ said Harry.
“ Once, and only once more,—say within
a year, but it may be much sooner,—let
me speak to you again on this subject for
the last time.”
‘“‘ Not to press me to alter my right de¬
termination,” replied Rose, with a melan
choly smile: “ it will be useless.”
6 No,” said Harry; “ to hear you repeat
it, if you will; finally repeat it. I will
lay at your feet whatever of station or
fortune I may possess, and if you still ad¬
here to your present resolution, will not
seek by word or act to change it.”
“Then let it be so,” rejoined Rose,
“It is but one pang the more, and by
that time I may be enabled to bear it
better."
She extended her hand agam, but the
young man caught her to his bosom, and,