neither am I what the world calls a Christian; but by God's help, I
pledge myself to be one of Christ's followers; and of one thing I am
confident, I shall never be if I grope my way alone through the world,
as I must if I lose you, what I shall be if I have you for a guide!"

"It is enough; you depreciate your own merits," she said, glancing
proudly upon him; "go, when I return, and with your own lips ask my
mother, if she can find a place in her noblest of women's hearts, for
him who is all too worthy of her daughter's love."

He folded her to his heart, and the rich harvest moon had sunk far below
the horizon, ere these two kindred spirits had wearied of the
glorious night.

Mr. Santon had not felt the utter desolation, after the first
overpowering sense of grief had passed, after his wife's death, that he
would have felt had he had no one upon whom to have leaned. As it was,
his home was not desolate, for he cherished his daughter as the "apple
of his eye," and he had come to be like himself again. Happy faces met
him as he came in wearied from his duties "on 'change," and he had again
assumed his easy, jocose manners. Natalie was still continuing her
studies, making unprecedented progress, to the rapturous delight of the
Signor; while Winnie enlivened the whole household.

As mistress of the mansion she had new duties to discharge, though they
were not so arduous as to deprive her of entertaining the young
aspirants to her hand, who if they did not throw themselves at her feet,
it was only for the want of an opportunity. And thus was everything
going on harmoniously at Santon Mansion, when, to the no little surprise
of every one, it was rumored that the wealthy Mr. Santon was about to