St. Elmo

sented a ghastly debris of dead and dying, of crushed cars and wounded men and women, who writhed a

to her blunted faculties. She was held fast between timbers, one of which seemed to have fallen across her feet and crushed them, as she was unable to move them, and was conscious of a horrible sensation of numbness; one arm, too, was pinioned at her side, and something heavy and cold lay upon her throat and chest. Lifting this weight with her uninjured hand, she uttered an exclamation of horror as the white face of the little baby whose fingers she had clasped

and a dead baby wedged

ch hurt, l

am. Please take th

train from trestle-work over a deep ravine, had occurred near a village station, and two physicians were busily engaged in examining the wounded. The sun had risen, and shone full on Edna's pale, suffering face, when one of the

r is dislocated, and some of the bones are broken in your feet

consciousness, her feet and ankles were tightly bandaged, and the doctor was chafing he

the cars? Do you know

died when I

as wit

but Grip

atives or frien

I am all alone

id you c

ttan

were yo

to take care of me, I was going to C

you will do for

eard, and mused a moment

I would like to kno

led, and looked r

en a dog that w

t Irishman, took his pipe f

s hind legs were smashed-dragged so-and I tapped him on the head with

g in her heart why God did not take her instead of that dimpled darling, whose parents were now weeping so bitterly for the untimely death that mowed their blossom ere its petals were expanded. The chilling belief was fast gaining ground that God had cursed and forsaken her; that misfortu

ttle soldier! Te

a Ea

asked the lady, stoopin

ma'

to walk about, it will be a real charity. I never saw so much fortitude displayed by one so young; but her fever

splendid eyes she has! Poor little thing! Of course you will come and prescribe for her, and I will see that she is carefully nursed until she is qui

a long avenue, the rattle of the wheels on the gravel aroused the child's attention, and when the carriage sto

next to mine," said Mrs

d her eyes, and looked around the elegantly furnished and beautiful room, she felt bewildered. Mrs. Murray sat in a cushioned chair, near one of the windows, with a book in her hand, and Edna had an opportunity of studying her face. It was fair, proud, and handsome, but wore an expression of habitual anxiety; and gray hairs showed themselves under the costly lace that bordered her morning head-dress, while lines of care marked her brow and mouth. Children instinctively dec

Edna? I believe

bring up the refreshments she had directed prepared. As she felt the girl's pulse, Edna noticed how white and soft her hands were, and how dazzling

are you

t thir

y luggage o

mall box o

t for it." She rang t

nk I shall be ab

ing you must not hesitate to ask for it. A servant will

thank you very much-" She pause

oked at her an

the matte

as so ungrateful and

w s

hed that I had been killed instead of that dear little baby, who had a father and mother to kiss and love it. It was all wrong to feel so, but I was so wretched. And then God raised up friends even among strangers, and shows me I am not forsa

and Mrs. Murray's voice fal

, I have no doubt. Who taug

and

since you

r mo

you r

yes,

u must make yourself as contented as po

ir. Mrs. Murray came often to the room, but her visits were short, and though invariably kind and considerate, Edna felt an involuntary awe of her, which rendered her manner exceedingly constrained when they were together. Hagar was almost as taciturn as her mistress, and as the girl asked few questions, she remained in complete ignorance of the household affairs, and had never seen any one but Mrs. Murray, Hagar, and the doctor. She was well supplied with books, which the former brought from the library, and thus the invalid contrived to amuse herself during the long, tedious summer days. One afternoon in June, Edna persuaded Hagar to lift her to a large, cushioned chair close to the open window which looked out on the lawn; and here, with a book on her lap, she sat gazing out at the soft blue sky, the waving elm boughs, and the glittering plumage of a beautiful Himalayan ph

g the ashes of other days, exhuming a thousand precious reminiscences of mountain home, chestnut groves, showers of sparks fringing an anvil with fire, and an old m

what are yo

r voice, which faltered; but making a s

lost, and what I a

ng to work all your

nough to educate myself

do not think that the factory you spoke of would be an agreeable pla

in some way, and I don't see what else I can do. I am not abl

ety lawn, and she mused for some minutes; then

you remind me of my own child, I will not allow you to go there. I will take care of and educate you-will see that you have everything you require, if you are willing to be directed and advised by me Understand me, I do not adopt you; nor shall I consider you exactly as one of my family; but I shall prove a good fr

ood, but I have no claim on you-no right to i

As for the expense, that is a mere trifle, and I do not expect you to

an not tell you how much I thank you; but I shall try to

is t

u will receive the money that my ed

d, and stroked the

clothes, and I hope to see you always neat. I shall give you a smaller room than this-the one across the hall; you will keep your books there, and remain there during study hours. At other times you can come to my room, or amuse yourself as you like; and when there is company here, remember, I shall always expect you to sit quietly, and listen to the conversation, as it is very improving to young girls to be in rea

white hands down to h

have cause to regret your goodness;

ecessary to remind you of it. I dare say we shall get on very happily toget

s white forehead; and Edna longed to throw her arms about the

t was thrown open, and a gentleman strode into the room. At sight of Edna he

d-l does t

long absence. This is one of the victims of that terrible railroad disaster; t

ame-bag, and led him to the adjoining room

lly shaded with long heavy, black lashes, but repelled by their cynical glare; and the finely formed mouth, which might have imparted a wonderful charm to the countenance, wore a chronic, savage sneer, as if it only opened to utter jeers and curses. Evidently the face had once been singularly handsome, in the dawn of his earthly career, when his mother's good-night kiss rested like a blessing on his smooth, boyish forehead, and the prayer learned in the nursery still crept across his pure lips; but now the fair, chiseled lineaments were blotted by dissipation, and blackened and distorted by the baleful fires of a fierce, passionate nature, and a restless, powerful, and unhallowed intellect. Symmetrical and grand as

the shop; but something in the impatient, querulous tone, in the hasty, haughty step, and the proud lifting of the regal head, reminded her painfully of him whose overbearing insolence had so unwontedly

et my right arm it will not be six weeks before she makes you infinitely sorrier for your deluded self; and you will treat me to a new version of 'je me regrette!' With your knowledge of this precious world and its holy crew, I co

listening to a conversation which was not intended for her ears, she coughed several times to arrest the attentio

na,' forsooth! No doubt her origin and morals are quite as apocryphal as her name. Don't talk to me about 'her being providentially thrown into your hands,' unless you desire to hear me say things which you have frequently taken occasion to inform me 'deeply grieved' you. I dare say the little vagrant whines in what she considers orthodox phraseol

urray, only a few words of which were audible, and

t? And with your accustomed suavity forgive me, if I chance inadvertently to whisper above my breath, 'Le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle?' What the deuce do you suppose I care about her 'fait

l not scoff and sneer at her religion; at

that reached the girl, as she put her fingers

she had only known this one hour earlier, she would have declined the offer, which once accepted, she knew not how to reject, without acquainting Mrs. Murray with the fact that she had overheard the conversation; and yet she could not endure the prospect of living under the sa

respectful to him, when he is not even respectful to his own mother! Oh! I wish I had never come here! I shall always hate him!" At this juncture, Hagar

ou have tired yourself sitting up too long. D

s. Murra

ress-tell you that you were to l

to take care of me

n stay; for you can be a great comfort

age conversation on the part of the servants, Edna turned her face to the wall and shut her eyes. But for once

he is about the only person who dares to talk to him. He hates everybody and everything; but he doesn't tread on folks' toes unless they are where they don't belong. He is like a rattlesnake that crawls in his own track, and bites everything that meddles or crosses his trail. Above everything, child, for the love of peace and heaven, don't argue with him! If he says black is white, don't contradict him; and if he swears water runs up stream, let him swear, and don't know it runs down. Keep out of his sight, and you will do well enough, but once make

ht, perplexed, distressed, and wondering how she could avoid all the angulariti