St. Elmo

ond, they were rarer and briefer still; but toward the close of the third he wrote more frequently, and announced his in

exorcised, and only when the cold touch of the golden key startled her was she conscious of a vague dread of some far-off but slowly and surely approaching evil. In the fourth year of her pupilage she was possessed by an unconquerable desire to read the Talmud, and in order to penetrate the mysteries and seize the treasures hidden in that exhaustless mine of Oriental myths, legends, and symbolisms, she prevailed upon Mr. Hammond to teach her Hebrew and the rudiments of Chaldee. Very reluctantly and disapprovingly he consented, and subsequently informed her that, as he had another pupil who was also commencing Hebrew, he would class them, and hear their recitations together. This new student was Mr. Gordon Leigh, a lawyer in the town, and a gentleman of wealth and high social position. Although quite young, he gave promise of eminence in his profession, and was a great favorite of the minister, who pronounced him t

s morning of her seventeenth birthday and as she stood clipping geraniums and jasmine and verbena, memory flew back to the tender years in which the grisly blacksmith had watched her career with such fond pride and loving words of encouragement, and painted the wh

you are smart enough to teach a school and take care

enth birthday, for then he had bought her a blue ribbon for her hair, and a little china cup and saucer; and now tears sprang to her eyes as she murmured: "I have studied hard and the triumph is at hand, but I have nobody to be proud of me now! Ah Grandpa! if you could only come ba

r young face with its delicate cameo features, warm, healthful coloring, and brave, hopeful expression. Four years had developed the pretty, sad-eyed child into a lovely woman, wit

"vanity and vexation of spirit," that "man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward"; yet as she stood on the line, narrow and thin as Al-Sirat, that divides girlhood and w

on the rocky walk attracted her attention, and a moment after,

dispatches from my sister to Mrs. Murray,

ad supposed, Mr. Leigh, from your

my mind to rise early, but I cannot make up my body.' In one respect I certainly claim equality with Thorwaldsen, my

upon wha

-night in honor of the event, I have come to insist that my classmate shall enjoy the same re

t I never go o

th an exercise in one hand and a Hebrew grammar in the other. A propos! Mr. Hammond told me to say that he would not expect you to-day, but would meet you to-night at Mrs. Inge's.

selected some delicate oxalis cups and nutmeg geranium

le of his coat, he drew a small

ne was missionary in Arabia, he saved the life of a son of a wealthy sheik, and received from him, in token of his gratitude, a curious ring, which tradition said once belonged to a caliph,

n prime Of good H

g are said to belong to the former dialect, and to mean 'Peace be with thee,' which i

t enveloped the gem, and

emerald, set with beautiful pearls, and underneath the Arabic inscription was

d: "I do not quite comprehend the symbolism of the ra

ss the meaning." E

atisfy me, as the Arabic love of mutton is

look at it and

rbet is the only idea suggested to my mind. You need not look so shocked, for, when

second chapter

m sorry to say that I do not remember that partic

r deepened on her cheek as

gel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them. And suddenly there was with the angel a mul

manger, and the Arabic inscription is certainly the salutation of the angel to the sheph

nadmissible, from the fact that it blends crescent and cross

dates, the roasted lamb, the loaf of barley bread, in the siege of Medina. Even the Moslem Jehennam is a palpable imitation of the Hebrew Gehenna. Beside, sir, you know that Sabeanism reigned in Arabia just before the advent of Mohammed, and if you refuse to believe that the Star of Bethlehem was signified by this one shining here on the ram's horn, at least you must admit that it refers to stars studied by the shepherds who watched their flocks on the Chaldean plains. In a cabin

, as you have at least attempted to read the riddle, let me beg that you will do me th

have placed the ring on he

e the honor, but indeed you must e

t, Miss

am not willing to deprive you of it; in the second, I do not think it

dear friends? Why c

hem; as she marked the heightened color and embarrassed expression on one fair, sweet face, and the eager pleading written on the other, so full of manly be

. I am very glad to s

arty, as you will infer from this note, which she charged me to deliver

over the note Edna turn

igh ex

wish Mrs. Murray to d

rdon, wha

grant my sist

nless she prefers staying at home with her books.

han any one else whom I happen to know, and I want her to accept it as a birthday memento from me, b

examined it, and

, with my approval and advice, she need not hesitate to wear it hencefo

er, and as she released her hand, Mrs. M

n scarcely believe it! And you-Go

ieve to say! You

e ringing of the breakfast bell, and s

rs must surely mean, "Disquiet seize thee!" for they had shivered the beautiful calm of her girlish nature, and thrust into her mind ide

ak to you about your

h me to go, my dear Mrs. Murray

best people, and you could not possibly make your debut under more favorable circumstances. Beside, it is very unnatural that a young girl should not enjoy parties and the society of g

myself for society. These people care nothing for me, and I am as little interested in them. I hav

work do y

aching. In a few months I hope to be

ow me to judge what is proper for you. Clara Inge is my friend, and I can not allow you to be rude to her. I have sent the carriage t

o. Please let me stay at home! You can frame some polite excuse, and M

weigh with you much more than Mrs. Inge's wishes, for you are quite right in s

handsome fortunes. Mrs. Inge came frequently to Le Bocage, but Edna's acquaintance with her was comparatively slight, and in addition to her repugnance to meeting strangers she dreaded seeing Mr. Leigh again so soon, for she felt that an undefinable barrier had suddenly risen between them; the frank, fearless freedom of the old friendship at the parso

gee manifested no trepidation. They arrived rather late, the company had assembled, and the rooms were quite full as Mrs. Murray entered; b

, and we must celebrate our birthday by having the first dance together. Excuse you, indeed! You pr

n with the curious scrutiny to which she was subjected, brought a sudden surge of color to her cheeks. The dance commenced, and from one

tinizing the face lifted toward Mr. Leigh's, while he talked to her, the pastor thought he had never seen a countenance half so eloquent and lovely. Turning his gaze upon her partner, he was compelled to confess that though Gordon Leigh was the handsomest man in the room, no acute observe

ot a handso

n and

es

There is such a rare combination of intelligence, holiness, strength and serenity in her countenance; such

ross most women; how long mere abstract study will continue to charm her; and I tremble when I think of the future to which I know she is looking so eagerly. Now, her emotional nature sleeps, her heart is at rest-slumbering also, she is all intellect at pres

mire her very much,

shadow crept over his plac

n any one know the child well,

h-if he could only consent to marry her-w

d, not to raise your little finger in this matter; not to utter one word to Edna that might arouse her suspicion

a glimpse of the beloved countenance of her teacher, she drew her fingers from Mr.

round so often; hoping to catch sight of you.

dna glided into the seat nex

ou about a change in

re to-night only for a few moments, to g

ebrew, I will not waste any more time on it just now, but take it up again after a

re you tired

t I think, if you are willing, I shall discontinue it-at least, for the p

ial reason for this

eyes to his, an

sir, I

ear, do as you l

ould go now

ed to enjoy your dance ver

him, and he saw tears glis

gh his, and led her out on the dim veranda,

s you, Edna. Will

not see how I can extricate myself without displeasing Mrs. Murra

yourself,

that while I am under her roof she will exact it of them. To-night, during the dance, I heard two of her fashionable friends criticising and sneering at me; ridiculing her for 'attempting to smuggle that spoiled creature of unknown parentage and doubtless low origin into really first circles.' Other things were s

tell me all t

from repeating i

Leigh h

ope

heartless, giddy people are to be pitied, are beneath your notice. Try to fix your thoughts on nobler themes, and waste no reflection on t

do my duty in all things, and poverty is no stigma, thank God! My grandfather was very poor, but he was noble and honest, and as courteous as a nobleman; and I honor his dear, dear memory as ten

tterness poisoning it. Mr. Hammond could not see the

than your future peace of mind demands. If you have any difficulty in convincing Mrs. Murray of the correctness

sted an introduction; and though her heart was heavy, and her cheeks burned painfully, she exert

nted her on the sensation her beauty had created; and felt relieved and comparatively

ce to going, you acquitted yourself admira

he evening agreeable to me. I think your kind desire to se

amed that at that instant tears were rolling over the flushed face, while the

ll learn! Her eyes are set on Gordon's fortune, and Mrs. Murray is silly enough to think he will step into the trap. She will have to bait it with something better than Hebrew and black eyes, or she will miss h

the charmed circle of fashionable soci

n her pillow, she coul

the horny but outstretched hands, the brawny arms, the untutore