Alice sighed. "I thank our Father in Heaven that I have seen you, and renewed my pledge to be yours in this world-yours as a guardian-angel in the next. I will never, no never, let my life be polluted by contact with that man. I could not live if he were to approach too near me. I cannot describe to you the loathing that I feel for him. I know him to be vile. In London, I heard of his having betrayed the honor of a trusting girl, violating his most sacred promise, because she was not of the same rank with himself. O Henry, when you meet with the crushed and afflicted of my sex, raise them up, and regard them as my sisters. But, Henry, my father thinks him a man of immaculate honor, and as such I must treat him in my father's presence now; but if he dares to ask more at my hand, I will expose him."

Just at this moment, Alice heard a servant anxiously pronounce her name. "My father has sent for me, I must go," said she, with a faltering voice. "Kiss me once, Henry, bless me once, for I fear this is our last happy intercourse."

Henry pressed her slight form to his bosom, and imprinted a kiss upon her lips, whispering,

Then they left their covert, and proceeded toward the house. The servant met them, and informed Alice that her father would see her in the library. She was silent till they reached the hall door, then raising her eyes to heaven, she said,

If this cup may not pass from me except I drink it, Thy will be done."

Henry pressed her hand, and turned away with a heart full of gloomy forebodings.

Alice found her father pacing his study with an unsteady step, and she noticed that his face was flushed, and his eye restless.

"Ah, birdie," said he as she stood before him, "I have glorious news for you. The Marquis of Rockland wishes to place a coronet on this beautiful brow of yours, and I have told him that you will be proud to wear it."

"Father! O father!" Alice almost shrieked, as she staggered back and fell upon a sofa.

"What! what do you mean, my child? Surely you would not decline the honor; no, not when it would purchase for your father a place with the ministry?"

"Ask anything but that, my father," sobbed Alice, as Sir Arthur turned from her in evident anger. "But do not, I entreat you, do not urge me to injure my own soul do not ask me to come in contact with an object that I regard with such loathing."

"Peace! peace!" fairly thundered Sir Arthur.

shall plead his own cause, and you shall listen."

"The marquis

But I may not, father. It would be sin for me it would be very prostitution. He is morally bound to another - he has no heart to give, and-O father, I have none to return."

Sir Arthur was pale with rage. He rang the bell violently, and ordered the servant to summon the marquis.

"Foolish girl! who told you that the marquis was bound to another? But you shall hear him; yes, and you shall love him."

Sir Arthur had settled himself upon a divan to await the entrance of the marquis. Alice heard his step, and tottering from the sofa, threw herself upon the bosom of her father.

"Spare, O spare me, my heart is breaking. Do not let him come near me,- it will kill me."

The marquis approached and knelt by them, at the same time attempting to take her hand. A cold shudder seemed to pass through her frame. She gave a sharp, convulsive shriek, and then her muscles seemed at once to relax, and her head drooped heavily upon the bosom of her father.

"Bring water! she faints!" ejaculated Sir Arthur.

The marquis gave the alarm, and in a moment all was bustle and confusion. Water, salts, all the usual restoratives were applied, but in vain. There she lay, in the arms of her father, pale and motionless, like some fair lilly broken from its stem.

The strong man's heart quaked with fear and anguish. The shock had fully dissipated the fumes of wine, and like one awakening from a fearful dream, he gazed upon his idolized child.

In a few moments the physician arrived, and then, at his command, she was carried to her room and laid upon her own bed.

While all this had been transpiring, the mirth-makers upon the lawn had unconsciously pursued their sports, little imagining that the heart of Alice, the petted, idolized Alice, was being crushed to death by her father's importunity and anger. The servant that had summoned her, now remembered where they were, and gave the alarm. But who shall attempt to paint the consternation of the group that gathered round that pillow, as they gazed upon those features now becoming cold and rigid?

Henry was there, so calm, so statue-like in his sudden grief, that you would have thought him suddenly transformed to marble. There, too, was Aunt Anna, too sad, too stricken, her own heart too nearly paralized to weep or speak. But there was weeping, and anguish spoken in tones of wailing, and wringing of hands, and outbursts of lamentation that might have touched a heart of adamant. But the physician insisted that all should retire but Sir Arthur and his sister and the nurse, while he made every possible effort for her restoration.

After hours of ineffectual exertion, he informed the agonized father that she had probably died from some sudden paralysis of the heart, and demanded to know if she had suffered any sudden and violent emotion.

Sir Arthur struck his hand upon his heart, bowed his head, and hoarsely whispered,

"Then, O God, I have been her murderer."

Alas! how many among the purest and noblest of the daughters of proud England have fallen victims to this Moloch, Ambition. If not, like Alice, suddenly released from mortal anguish, their lives have been one bitter testimonial to those unjust regulations of society that attempt to establish a distinction among men not founded on intelligence and virtue.

A GREAT mind may change its objects, but it cannot relinquish them; it must have something to pursue: variety is its relaxation, and amusement its repose.

WHY should not man too, honor him whom the Creator honors? Upon the head of the wise and virtuous, oftentimes, there rests a glorious crown of silver hair.

Three venerable old men once met together, to have a birth-day jubilee, and to communicate to their children the reason of their having become so aged.

The first, a teacher and a minister, said, "Never, when I was called out to instruct the people, did I refuse on account of the length of the way never have I trampled arrogantly upon the head of youth, and never have I lifted up my hands to pronounce a benediction without really loving and blessing God from the depths of my heart. Therefore have, I become very aged."

The second, a merchant, said, "Never have I enriched myself by doing injustice to my neighbors: never have I gone to bed with the curse of another resting upon me, and of my wealth have I freely and willingly given to all the needy and destitute. Therefore has God permitted me to enjoy many years of happiness."

The last, a magistrate of the people, said, "Never have I received bribes never have I insisted upon a thing in contradiction to my own judgment, and in the most difficult cases, I have sought to unravel all mysteries, and act with fairness. Therefore God has blessed me with age."

Then their children, and also their grandchildren, stepped up to them, kissed their hands affectionately, and crowned them with flowers. And their aged fathers blessed them and said, "As your youth is, so may your age be also: may your children become to you what ye are to us, and may your gray hairs also be crowned with blooming roses."

The crown of age is a beautiful one, but it is found only on such as walk in the way of temperance, righteousness, and wisdom.

ONE OR THE OTHER.

From the German of Hebel.

BY MELANIE.

DURING the reign of Henry IV, King of France, a common peasant was riding from the village in which he resided, toward Paris. Not far from the city he met a stately cavalier. It was the king. His retinue had remained some distance behind. "Where are you from, my friend?" said the king. "Have you

business at Paris?"

"Yes," answered the peasant, "I am also very anxious to see our good king, who loves his people so dearly."

The king smiled and said, "There will be no difficulty about that.” "But how can I distinguish him from the many elegant personages by whom he will be surrounded?"

"I will tell you how you need only observe who of all the multitude retains his hat upon his head, when the vast assemblage shall have reverentially uncovered theirs."

Thus the two rode together to Paris, and, as might be expected, the peasant on the right side of the king; for whatever awkward act your downright simplicity can do, be it intentionally or by accident, it is always sure to do it. The peasant gave ready answers to all the king's questions. He told him many things concerning his agricultural affairs, and relating to his domestic economy, and how too, he would sometimes have a chicken for dinner of a Sunday, and all this time he suspected nothing. But as he saw how all the windows were opened and filled with people, and how the streets were filled with men, all of whom immediately made way for them, het became aware of his situation. "My lord," said he to his strange

companion, "either you are the king, or I am, for we are the only individuals who retain their hats upon their heads."

Then the king laughed heartily, and said, "I am he. have put your little horse in a stable, and attended to all your

When you affairs, come to the palace, and you shall dine with the King of France."