"I must set myself to work to ascertain the trouble that must dwell
in her heart so constantly to becloud her face. I'll bribe Helen to
find out for me. It may be some unfortunate love affair--who knows?
I think I would like to put any fellow out of the way that might be
seeking her hand. I believe I would kill him, if necessary. Perhaps,
dear Journal, I should not have written that terrible monosyllable,
but as you tell no tales, I'll let it stand.

"Now, I must to bed, and sleep, if I can--sleep away some of the
tedious hours that lie between me and another sight of the fair
Leah.

"Already the clock strikes two."

"And Mark was not there to-night, as I had hoped and expected,"
sighed Leah, as she stood before the elegant dressing-case of her
bed-chamber, and laid aside the articles of her toilet, after the
revel was done. "Only another disappointment! And yet, I know that
Bertha invited him, and lie promised me to attend. I should not have
worn these ear-rings and this brooch, which were my mother's, had I
known Mark would have been absent. Oh, my angel mother!"

A tear stole slowly down her face, and fell upon the shining pearls
that she still clasped between her fingers. "Why did not the grave
cover us both? Why was I left alone and so desolate in the world?
Can it be that Mark has deceived me--Mark Abrams, the only friend in
the world that I implicitly trust? God only knows. I remember now,
how he looked at my mother--what mockery to call that woman
mother!--when I asked him if he would attend the tea-party. I