, but the old man had but
little hope. In three courts, after a long and patient hearing, the
decision had been against him; if it should again be adverse, he would
be totally ruined. As it was, so greatly had his means become reduced,
that it was with difficulty he could raise sufficient money to pay off
the heavy expenses of the last court. The fees of his two attorneys
were yet unsettled, and he feared, greatly, that he should not be able
to induce more than one of them to attend at the Supreme Court. On the
other side, money was expended freely, and the most energetic counsel
that money could command enlisted. The fact was, the principal reason
why Mr. Tomlinson had failed in each of the three trials that had
already taken place lay in the superior tact, activity, and ability of
the adverse counsel.

The anxiously looked-for period at length came, and Mr. Tomlinson made
preparations for leaving home to meet the final issue, after nearly
five years of most cruel litigation.

"Dear father!" said Edith, as they were about to separate. She spoke
with forced calmness, while a faint smile of encouragement played about
her lips; her voice was low and tender. "Dear father, do not let this
matter press too heavily upon you; I have a hope that all will come out
right. I do not know why, but I feel as if this dreadful blow will not
be permitted to fall. Be calm, be brave, dear father! even the worst
can be borne."

The maiden's voice began to quiver, even while she uttered hopeful
words. Mr. Tomlinson, whose own heart was full, bent down and kissed
her hurriedly. When she looked up, he was gone. How fast the tears
flowed, as she stood alone on the spot where they had just parted!

A few hours after the father had left, a gentleman called and asked to
see Edith. On entering the room where he had been shown by the servant,
she found a young man whose countenance she had never seen before. He
made known his business after a few embarrassing preliminaries, which
proved to be an overture of peace from Allison, if she would accept the
offer of marriage he had made her five years previously. After hearing
the young man patiently through, Edith replied, in a firm voice--"Tell
Mr. Allison that there is no evil in this world or the next that I
would consider greater than a marriage with him."

He attempted to urge some considerations upon her, but she raised her
hand, and said, in a tone of decision, "You have my answer, sir; take