world know what is true from what is false. I learnt
afterwards that the very worst that was said of them was even less than
the truth."

"Of course, _you_ knew nothing of Stebbins being a Mormon?"

"Oh! sir, how could I? There was nothing said of that. He pretended he
was emigrating to Oregon, where a good many had gone. Had I known the
truth, I should have drowned myself rather than have gone with him!"

"After all, you would not have obeyed your father's will in the matter,
had not something else arisen. At his solicitation, you gave your
consent; but were you not influenced by the incident that had occurred
in the forest-glade?"

"Stranger! I have promised you I would conceal nothing; nor shall I.
On discovering the falsehood of him who had told me he loved me, I was
more than mad--I was revengeful. I will not deny that I felt spite. I
scarcely cared what became of me--else how could I have consented to
marry a man for whom I had neither love nor liking? On the contrary, I
might almost say that I loathed him."

"And you _loved_ the other? Speak the truth, Marian! you have promised
to do so--you loved Frank Wingrove?"

"I did."

A deep-drawn sigh followed the confession.

"Once more speak the truth--you _love him still_?"

"Oh! if he had been true--if he had been true!"

"If true, you could love him still?"

"Yes, yes!" replied she, with an earnestness not to be mistaken.

"Love him, then, Marian! love him still! Frank Wingrove is true!" I
detailed the proofs of his loyalty from beginning to end. I had learnt
every circumstance from Wingrove himself, and was able to set them forth
with all the circumstantiality of truth itself. I spoke with as much
earnestness as if I had been suing in my own cause; but I was listened
to with willing ears, and my suit was successful. I even succeeded in
explaining that _sinister kiss_, that had been the cause of so much
misfortune.

CHAPTER EIGHTY FIVE.

FURTHER REFLECTIONS.

I might, without blame, have envied them those sweet throbbings of the
heart, so different from my own. Widely different, since mine beat with
the most painful pulsations. The cloud which had fallen upon it through
the revelations of the Mexican, had been further darkened by the details
that confirmed them; and now that the excitement, of the conflict was
over, and I had an opportunity to reflect upon the future with
comparative coolness, the agony of my soul became more