ed the age of manhood--and every
one that knew him loved him, for he was a fine, manly fellow,
honorable and generous in every impulse, with a heart susceptible of
the warmest sympathies. He inherited his mother's ardent temperament,
and was of a sensitive and impassioned nature. Captain Sydney had
destined him for a merchant, and as such he had just commenced life
with every prospect of success. Had he been allowed to take his own
inclination as a guide, Harry would fain have followed the sea. But to
this his father was averse, and early, at his command, he relinquished
the desire.

Upon his son all the hopes of Captain Sydney were centered. It was his
earnest wish to see him happily married, and determined to express the
desire to Harry, he one day sought his side for that purpose. Both to
his surprise and approval, the latter informed his father that he had
already met one to whom his heart's warmest affections were given. He
added that the young lady, though poor and dependent upon her own
exertions for her support, and that of an invalid father, was the
descendant of a family said to be highly respectable. "Her
grandfather," he continued, "was Robert Lindsay, a well-known merchant
of Boston; and though his son, Alfred, has dissipated the patrimony
left him by his parent, and now relies solely for maintenance upon the
proceeds of his daughter's needle, I am sure, my dear father, this
praiseworthy effort, on the part of one so young and lovely as Ida,
will but elevate her in your estimation?"

"Robert Lindsay! Alfred Lindsay!" were the exclamations of Captain
Sydney, in a voice full of passion, as those well-remembered names
fell upon his ear for the first time in many years; "boy--did you say
that _Alfred Lindsay_ was her parent? Then be assured that never,
while life lasts, will I give my consent to your marriage with the
daughter of him who was the enemy of my unprotected youth!"

"Father--what mean you?" asked Harry, in tones of amazement, for the
tale whose memory had so sudden an effect upon his companion, had
never been breathed to him. And suddenly recalled to a sense of his
son's ignorance upon the subject, Captain Sydney now hurriedly
sketched the history of the past.

"It is very strange," said Harry, musingly; "but they never mentioned
that they were related to me. It is probable that Ida's father, if
aware of the fact, concealed it from her knowledge."

"Or rather that he instigated her to keep it