s she ceased speaking, there came an imperious
summons at the street door, that turned all eyes immediately toward the
one mode of entrance and exit.

"Ahem!" said the host, moving with majestic tread to answer the knock,
"it seems that we are to have some more visitors." "What! who!" as the
corpulent figure of old Mr. Garnet appeared upon the threshold.

"Good evening, doctor; you did not expect me, I know," said that
gentleman, coming forward, "but I thought I'd drop in unceremoniously
with my friends, here," (turning and revealing the little group behind
him,) "as I had some particular business with two of your guests, that
could not possibly be delayed."

At that moment a piercing shriek was heard from the corner, where the
minister's lady sank in a terror of guilt and shame. She had caught
sight of a slender, ill-clad figure, that stood peering in from the
darkness without, at the light and warmth of the cheerful room. The
great, wild, haggard eyes glanced curiously and searchingly around, till
they reached the woman's hiding place, and rested upon a form strangely
familiar; then, with a slow, shuffling, uncertain gait, Richie Penrose
strayed into the room, regardless of those who watched her, and went
directly up to the rigid figure, that bore on its white, set features
the very impress of despair.

"Mother," the girl said, kneeling before her, and speaking in confused,
stammering accents, "they told me you sent for me to come to you and be
cared for, and have food and warm, pretty clothing, and no hard work or
cross words or blows, such as they gave me in the home I left. You used
to promise me, mother, that when you got somebody with gold enough to
buy all these, that you'd take me away from there. So, when that man
came for me, I hurried and got away before they should be sorry, and
come and take me back again. Is this the pretty home you used to tell me
about? and is that man my father?"

There was no reply to this last question. The minister's wife had
fainted.

All eyes were now turned toward her unfortunate husband. He rose to his
feet, reeling from the effects of the sudden shock, and the dreary
hopelessness of his face touched every heart. "My friends," he said,
huskily, "there is little to be said. This sudden revelation has crushed
me, till my soul grows faint with the bitterness of a terrible woe.
Believe me, I have had no part in this wicked deception, but only
considered that I was in the path