a party
to secure Mr. Mark O'Donoghue, for whose capture a large reward was
offered."

As Kate listened to this recital, delivered in a tone which showed the
contempt the speaker entertained for an enterprise undertaken by such
actors, her own indignant pride revolted at the baseness of those with
whom her cousin was associated.

"Yes," said she at length, and speaking unconsciously aloud, "no cause
could prosper with supporters like these; there must be rottenness in
the confederacy that links such agencies as these together. And had my
cousin not one friend?--was there not one to wring his hand at parting?"
said she hurriedly, changing the theme of her thoughts.

"There was one," said Travers, modestly; "Mr. O'Donoghue was
noble-hearted enough, even in the hour of calamity, to forget an ancient
grudge, and to call me his friend. He did more--he wished we had been
friends for many a day before."

"Would that you had," said Kate, as the tears burst forth, and ran down
her cheeks.

"And we might have been such," continued Travers, "had not deceit
and malevolence sowed discord been our families. You know not, Miss
O'Donoghue, how deeply this treachery worked, and how artfully its plans
were conceived. The very hopes whose disappointment has darkened my
life, were fed and fostered by him, who knew how little reason I had to
indulge them; forgive me, I pray, if I allude to a subject I ought never
to recall. It was Hemsworth persuaded me that my suit would not prove
unsuccessful; it was by his advice and counsel I risked the avowal which
has cost me the happiness of my future life. I will speak of this no
more," said Travers, who saw in the deep blush that covered Kate's
features, the distress the theme occasioned her. "It was a selfish
thought that prompted me to excuse my hardihood at the cost of your
feelings."

"I will not let you speak thus, sir," said Kate, in a voice faint from
excessive emotion, "there was no such hardihood in one favoured by
every gift of fortune stooping to one humble as I am; but there were
disparities wider than those of rank between us, and if I can now see
how greatly these were exaggerated by the falsehood and treachery
of others, yet I know that our opinions are too wide apart, to make
agreement aught else than a compromise between us."

"Might not time soften, if not obliterate such differences," whispered
Travers, timidly.

"It could not with me," said Kate, resolutely; "this is