remember, and so it shall be. I resolved that Mark Abrams should be
free, rather than be undeceived by any word of mine. My pride, the
little that is left in my soul, and my resentment, the shadow of it
that yet lingers about me, struggled for a time in a fierce contest,
and as usual, I yielded up my rights, and succumbed again to a cruel
fate. My heart has given up its treasure, and he will never know
aught of the bitter | sacrifice. I feel that I am ill-fated and
despised, Lizzie; and feeling so, I do not desire to overshadow the
life of Mark Abrams. I love him too much, too dearly, ever to
becloud his future with my miserable life. I would rather live on
and suffer in silence, as I have done for years, unloved and
unloving to the end."

Here the beautiful girl ceased her story. Both friends for a time
were silent. In Lizzie's soft blue eyes the tears glistened, and she
looked with surprise into the cold, hard face of Leah, which had
lost its gentle expression, and seemed petrified by this recital of
her woes. Then she said:

"Would I could help you, Leah, by sharing your sorrow."

"No mortal being can help me, Lizzie. I am ill-starred and
ill-fated, I fear."

Filled with sympathy, and with a heavy heart, Lizzie bent her head,
and laid it in Leah's lap; and her silent prayer, though unheard by
mortal ear, ascended to the throne of the Eternal Father, and was
answered in the far-off future.

"It's late, and we must go," said Leah; "already the street lamps