to call in twice every day, and each
time found her slightly improved.

"May I not see her now?" he again asked, at the end of these
additional days of anxious self-denial.

"If you will not talk to her," said Mrs. Turner.

Martin promised, and was shown up to her chamber. His heart sickened
as he approached the bed-side, and looked upon the thin, white,
almost expressionless face, and sunken eye, of her who was now the
ruler of his affections. He took her hand, that returned a feeble,
almost imperceptible pressure, but did not trust himself to utter
her name. She hardly seemed conscious of his presence, and he soon
turned away, sad, very sad, yet full of hope for her recovery.

The healthy action continued, and in a week Mary could bear
conversation. As soon as she could begin to sit up, Martin passed
every evening with her, and seeing, as he now did, with different
eyes, he perceived in her a hundred things to admire that had before
escaped his notice. Recovering rapidly, in a month she was fully
restored to health, and looked better than she had for years.

Just about this time, as Martin was making up his mind to declare
himself her lover, he was surprised, on entering their parlor one
evening, to find on the table a large brass door-plate, with the
words, "MARY TURNER, FANCY DRESS MAKER," engraved upon it.

"Why, what are you going to do with this Mary?" he asked, forgetting
that she did not know his peculiar thoughts about her.

"I am going to commence my business," she replied in a quiet tone.
"I have learned a trade, and now I must turn it, if possible, to
some good account."

"But your health won't bear it, Mary," he urged. "Don't you know
that you made yourself sick by your close application in learning
your trade?"

"I do, Mr. Martin; but still, you know why I learned my trade."

Mr. Martin paused for a few moments, and then looking into her face,
said--

"Yes, I know the reason, Mary, and I always admired your noble
independence in acting as you did--nay," and he took her hand, "If
you will permit me to say so, have loved you ever since I had a true
appreciation of your character. May I hope for a return of kindred
feelings?"

Mary Turner's face became instantly crimsoned with burning blushes,
but she did not withdraw her hand. A brief silence ensued, during
which the only sounds audible to the ears of each, was the beating
of their own hearts. Martin at length said--

"Have I aught to hop