The Two Destinies

on obtained at a date in my life later by many years than any

r mentioned. My father had a strong prejudice against the Scotch nation. Dermody knew his master well enough to be aware th

his experience, Dermody was a man in a thousand to any master who was lucky enough to discover him. His friends bestirred themselves. In six weeks' time he

s for not at present mentioning his address. In this way he baffled the inquiries which my mother's lawyers (failing to discover a trace of him in other directions) addressed to his London friends. Stung by his old master's reproac

part of Scotland, the little household

dmother, holding firmly to her faith in the predestined union between us, sustained the girl's courage and cheered her heart. She could hear her father say (as my father had said) that we were parted to me

me old age. In her last conscious moments, she said to Mary, "Never forget that you and George are spirits consecr

s abruptly broken on her side, as it had been abruptly broken on mine. In the first days of m

r. A cold, caught at the inclement season, turned to fever. For weeks she was in danger of death. When she recovered, her head had been stripped of its beautiful hair by the doctor's order. The sacrifice had been necessary to save her life. It proved to be, in one respect,

at the head had lost by what

her early years, not regularly beautiful; but the change in her was not the less marked on that account. The wan face had filled out, and the pale complexion had found its color. As to her figure, its remarkable development

mplaint. The bodily strength that she had gained in these later days had its sympathetic influence in steadying her mind. When her father once or twice ventured to ask if she was still thinking of me, she answered quietly that she had brought herself to share his opinions. She could not doubt that I had long since ceased to think of her. Even if I had remained faithful to her, she was old enough now to

she had attained the age of nineteen years. Even at this distance of time my heart sin

ip. He had brought one man alive to land, and was on his way back to the vessel, when two heavy seas, following in close succession, dashed him against the rocks. He was rescued, at the risk of their own lives, by his neighbors. The medical examination disclosed a broken bone and severe bruises and lacerations. So far, Dermody

he supervision of the farm work, and he permitted Dermody to occupy his cottage for the next three months. This concession gave the poor man time

ttle money that he had saved was not enough to support his daughter and himself. The Scotch frie

roposal which took father and daughter alike by surprise. He made Mary an offer of marriage; on the express

th the fisheries in the North of Scotland when the vessel was wrecked. Mary had produced a strong impression on him when they first met. He had lingered in the neighborhood, in the hope of gaining her favorable regard, with time to help him. Personally he was a handsom

rse it would be best for her helpless

of a wife. Could she fairly expect in the time to come to receive any more attractive proposal than the proposal now addressed to her? Mr. Van Brandt had every personal advantage that a woman could desire; he was devotedl

ions, she decided on speaking

ould honestly offer; and, with time, love might come. For the rest, she had long since disassociated herself from the past, and had definitely given up all the hopes and wishes once connected with it. Repose for her father, and tranquil happiness for herself, were the only favors that she asked of fortune now. These

ed the terms without

n on the case. He warned Mary that the end might be near. A physician was summoned from Edinburgh, at Mr. Van Brandt's expense. He confirmed the opinion entertained by the country doctor. For some days longer the good bailiff linge

he relatives in London resented Dermody's neglect of them. Van Brandt waited, delicately and considerately, until the firs

also the time at which I was on my way home from I

ion is now told; the narrative leav

uties, as a wife. She, too, is living in Scotland - living, by a strange fatality, not very far distant from my country-house. I have no suspicion that she is so near to me: the name of Mrs. Van Brandt (even