t and feelings when he advances
further in this narrative. Old Lindsay, who was of a manly and generous
disposition, felt considerable surprise that all intimacy should have
been discontinued between his son Charles and Alice Goodwin. As for
the property which she now possessed, he never once thought of it in
connection with their former affection for each other. He certainly
appreciated the magnanimity and disinterestedness of his son in ceasing
to urge his claims after she had become possessed of such a fortune; and
it struck him that something must have been wrong, or some evil agency
at work, which prevented the Goodwins from reestablishing their former
intimacy with Charles whilst they seemed to court that of his brother.
Here was something strange, and he could not understand it. One.
morning, when they were all seated at breakfast, he spoke as follows:--

"I can't," he said, "comprehend the conduct of the Goodwins. Their
daughter, if we are to judge from appearances, has discarded her
accepted lover, poor Charles, here. Now, this doesn't look well. There
seems to be something capricious, perhaps selfish, in it. Still, knowing
the goodness of their hearts, as I do, I cannot but feel that there
is something like a mystery in it. I had set my heart upon a marriage
between Charles and Alice before ever she came into the property
bequeathed to her. In this I was not selfish certainly. I looked only to
their happiness. Yes, and my mind is still set upon this marriage, and
it shall go hard with me or I will accomplish it."

"Father," said Charles, "if you regard or respect me, I entreat of you
to abandon any such project. Ferdora O'Connor is now the favorite there.
He is rich and I am poor; no, the only favor I ask is that you will
never more allude to the subject in my hearing."

"But I will allude to it, and I will demand an explanation besides,"
replied Lindsay.

"Father," observed Harry, "I trust that no member of this family is
capable of an act of unparalleled meanness. I, myself, pleaded my
brother's cause with that heartless and deceitful girl in language which
could not be mistaken. And what was the consequence? Because I ventured
to do so I have been forbidden to visit there again. They told me,
without either preface or apology, that they will have no further
intercourse with our family. Ferdora O'Connor is the chosen man."

"It is false," said his sister, her eyes sparkling with indignation as
she spoke