ed together, "that the noble
and self-sacrificing girl, whom I have no words to thank, and no power
to repay, has reaped a worthy reward in the love of one of the few men
with whom a fond father may venture wholly to trust the happiness of his
child."

Exhausted by so much excitement, Mr. Clinton now complained of sudden
faintness, and was assisted to his room by Willie, who, after waiting to
see him fully restored, returned to receive the blessing of Emily upon
his new hopes, and hear with wonder and delight the circumstances which
attended the discovery of Gertrude's parentage.

For although it was an appointment to meet Mr. Amory which had summoned
him back to Boston, and he had in the course of their interview
acquainted him with the happy termination of a lover's doubts, he had
not, until the disclosure took place in Mr. Graham's parlour, received
in return the slightest hint of the great surprise which awaited him. He
had felt a little astonishment at his friend's express desire to join
him at once in a visit to Mr. Graham's; but on being informed that he
had made the acquaintance of Mrs. Graham in Germany, he concluded that a
desire to renew his intercourse with the family, and possibly a slight
curiosity to see the lady of his own choice, were the only motives that
had influenced him.

And now, amid retrospections of the past, thanksgiving for the present,
and hopes and aspirations for the future, the evening passed rapidly
away.

* * * * *

"Come here, Gerty!" said Willie, "come to the window, and see what a
beautiful night it is."

It was indeed a glorious night. Snow lay on the ground. The air was
intensely cold without, as might be judged from the quick movements of
the pedestrians and the brilliant icicles with which everything that had
an edge was fringed. The stars were glittering too as they never
glitter, except on the most intense of winter nights. The moon was just
peeping above an old brown building--the same old corner building which
had been visible from the door-step where Willie and Gerty were wont to
sit in their childhood, and from behind which they had often watched the
coming of the same round moon.

Leaning on Willie's shoulder, Gertrude stood gazing until the full
circle was visible in a space of clear and cloudless ether. Neither of
them spoke, but their hearts throbbed with the same emotion as they
thought of the days that were past.

Just then th