His Heart's Queen

ed almost immediately that something was very wrong about her young sister,

and decision that governed all her movements. "I'm not goin

atoga, where she engaged rooms at the Grand Union for two months, and when Mrs. Richardson called to see her recent

any young girl naturally would under the same circumstances. There was no more moping-there were no more tears; Violet gave herself up, with true girlish abandon, to the allurements that presented themselves on every side, became a

nnati, about the middle of September, Violet seemed entirely herself once more; she was full of life and spirits, the old light of mischief and happiness

had been making, and, feeling too weary to go up to her room just then, she threw hers

ht her eye, and sent a thrill of

eet, Mary Ida Richardson, aged 48 years and 9 months. Fun

oke from Violet

way out of the world into eternity

ace, too! how desolate he would be! And, bowing her face upon

wever, she star

had suddenly forced itself upon

ast twelve; but she might be in time for the las

s glad of it, for she knew that she would op

a simple black cashmere, tore a bright feather from a black hat, drew on

en though she was obliged to take a second car, she

m she had seen once or twice during her illness, and with a quivering lip she begged that she m

and considerately shutting the door so that she might be by herself, a

pleasant about her. A look of peace and rest was on the sweet face. Her hair had been dressed just as she was in the habit of wearing it, and a mass of

over her with streaming eyes. "It is too, too sad; you were so kind, and I

cold form, for it was so life-like. She drew the lace a little closer about the neck, and arrange

he seated herself upon a low ottoman behind the cask

ed and closed again, and was not conscious that any one else was in the room, until sh

! oh, m

went forth to him in loving sympathy, for she knew that

s grief was too deep and sacred to be disturbed; but after a litt

I am so

turned his pale

e exclaimed

nd by the merest chance read the news of this t

he extended to him, and feeling inexpressibly comf

at Violet was all in black, and he knew that she

e added: "I know I cannot say anything to comfort you, but, believe m

d sunny hair in such striking contrast with her black dress, an

ed their clasp after their first greeting, and he knew by he

nd your presence is inexp

e had said it w

d her thus to himself, and now the word had slipped from him unawar

d then drooped consciously, whil

y, and a feeling of dismay took possession of him. There

did not know wh

osed more firmly over his; she shot one dazzling gleam of

m gl

all his own-that she love

of despair, darker and deeper than any he had yet experienced, for he knew that he should not, must

gain, and the woman, Mrs. Keen, whom Violet had met when she first came, entered

cquaintances, began to gather, an

clergyman, who knew Mrs. Richardson intimately,

e. The vail betwixt her and the Master, whom she had loved, was lifted; her hitherto fettered soul

ed the cruel enemy that it ha

carriage, Mrs. Keen came to the young girl and asked he

. "She was not a relative,

re no relatives save Mr. Richardson, and it seemed too bad that there should be no one but hi

erself in the carriage with, a

r, for she knew that the world would crit

in the same carriage with Wallace, and she won

rself she did not care; her motives had been good and p

either going or returning. Wallace seemed absorbed in his own sorrowful reflections, Mr

she had stood alone with Wallace by the casket of his mother, and heard

esence is inexpressi

his own desolation and her unexpected sympathy, had made him forget

toward her, nor of hers toward him, until then; but now she knew that she loved him-that all the world,

let held out her hand to Wallace, saying

realized how very tedious the long,

me in the carriage,

Violet replied, so decidedly that

ome, and she found her sister quite

is not the proper thing at all for you to be out so late alone. Mercy!

hardson's funeral," Violet repli

ke looked

" she repeated. "

ce that I saw the notice of her death in a pa

ld have gone with you," said

Violet exclai

t proper for yo

her sister wanted to show this tribute of

buried?" Mrs. M

g Grove C

u go ou

Violet flus

ide?" demanded her s

chardson and

s. Mencke, with indignant astonishment, "

rally sweet and gentle, but could sh

There were no friends excepting Mr. Richardson. Mrs. Keen invited me to go wi

son to her grave in the company of her son?" demanded Mrs. Mencke sternly.

pposed to have much heart, anyway. But, to tell the truth, I thought I was to ride in a separate carriage with Mrs. Keen, until I went out an

e to couple your name very unpleasantly with that of that low-born carpenter, especially if they sho

't you ashamed of yourself, Belle Mencke, after what he has done for me? Wallace Richa

Our friends would be likely to suspect that he was thus favored if they

for a moment looked so conscious that her s

been very ungrateful in me to stay away and I would do the same thing over again to show my

hat you are to drop this fellow at once and for all time. I won't have any nonsense or sentiment just because he happened to do what any other man with a germ of humanity would have done t

is speech, and her sister, who was observing her closely,

do you mean to say that you intend to offer

acknowledgment, and people in his station think more o

ything else, and you would come nearer the truth. Don't you dare to insult that noble fellow by offering him money; if you do, I will never fo

control herself. She knew, from experience, that when Violet wa

only making yourself ridiculous, and I think we had best drop the subject; only on

d Violet flew to her own room to remove her black attire, and to ease her

rned to love him with all the strength of her soul, and knew him to be, by na

tle to her now if he were taken out of it; and, though she knew she would have many a vigorous battle to fight with her proud sister if she defied her authori