A great change had taken place in the prospects and feelings of the Middletons, since they were last introduced to the reader. They were no longer the tenants of the humane Mr. Grinder, for they had paid their rent; and

We must now avail ourself of one of the privileges of authorship, and pass without a comment over a short period of time the space of a few months when winter, with its sober garb, had been gathered into the great past, and merry spring,-time's playful smile- shortly after, they sought for another had become the hoped-for present, and beckoned still with brighter promise to the future.

It was upon a fine afternoon in the month of May, that Kate Middleton sat with Adela Lewison, in a very neatly furnished little parlor, in a neat, though still a small house, but situated in a more desirable location than their former dwelling could boast of.

and more pleasant abode. Edgar had quite recovered his health, and had taken the situation in Mr. Burly's office that had been promised him. By this exertion he had been able to make his mother and sister much more comfortable, in every respect, than they had been since the death of his father; and he was perfectly happy; for besides his being in the receipt of a snug sa

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lary, he was now studying medicine | over each incident that had transpired with his kind friend, Doctor Milnor, since they had last met. who treated him, upon all occasions, as affectionately as he could have done his own son.

reason why Kate was happy-though of this she was scarcely aware herself-was, that Edward Wharton was Kate had redeemed her ring, too, a constant visitor at their house. Not cette souvenir cheri, and she had no that she loved him, or thought that he further anxiety on that score. Indeed, was in love with her ;-alas! she had the Middletons were all perfectly hap- bitterly learned how unattractive is py, and contented with their situation. mere beauty, though backed by the The contrast, to what it had been a few attractions of a cultivated mind and an months before, when sickness, poverty, amiable disposition; but she was pleased and death, seemed to be their only with him. His frank, manly bearing; attendants, had a great influence in his unassuming intelligence; his bold creating this feeling. But what most scorn for the littlenesses of the world; tended to make them amply satisfied with their improved circumstances, was the fact, that they had found warm friends, when and where they had least expected to meet with them.

Carrol had not permitted the acquaintance so strangely renewed, to languish for want of cultivation. His warm sympathies had been excited; and he strove, by every attention in his power, to show them that the alteration in their circumstances had not caused a corresponding alteration in his feeling of respect and esteem for them.

and his unfeigned tenderness towards her and her's, won upon her heart, and she liked him. She felt a friendship for him, and was always gratified to see him.

Somebody has said, that friendship is a dangerous feeling for a young lady to encourage towards a young gentleman, for the chances are many that it will ripen into a warmer sentiment. But Kate thought not so; or thought that her feelings had received too rude a shock to respond, for many years, to the melting tones of love.

She did not suppose, as some very Adela Lewison, too, as soon as she romantic young ladies might have learned from Carrol that her old favor- done, that after having loved once, she ite and friend, Kate Middleton, was could never love again; for she had living in Philadelphia, hastened to meet ceased to think of Fitz Osborne with and embrace her; and with that tact and any feelings but those of contempt kindness, that only women know how and repugnance. Whatever lingering to evince, soothed and consoled her affection may have remained in her under her misfortunes. They were breast towards him before their last soon friends and confidants again; meeting, had then been entirely and pouring the secrets of their souls into for ever dissipated. She had seen him each other's bosoms, and recounting in all his moral deformity, without

one redeeming circumstance that could cause her for a moment to regret his loss.

“Ah, happy she! to 'scape from him whose

kiss

Had been pollution unto aught so chaste.".

Adela did not reply immediately; for she knew that her parents, with their mercenary ideas, though they doted on her, would not have been much pleased to have seen the Middletons on terms of intimacy, after their misfortunes; and And she felt this, and rejoiced that he the acquaintance, if renewed at all, could no longer claim the mastership would only have been tolerated by over a single impulse of that heart, them. She did not like to admit the that once beat so wildly and fondly towards him.

All these circumstances tended to make Kate feel very happy as she sat with Adela upon the sofa, beside the window, with Adela's arm around her waist, and her own upon the shoulder of her friend.

“But why did you not let me know of your return, dear Kate?" said Adela, who had been listening with wrapt attention to something Kate had been relating; "we surely knew each other well enough to cause you to feel assured of my friendship and love."

fact, nor did she wish to make an assertion that was not correct; so she changed the subject by asking Kate if Fitz Osborne knew of her return.

"I was told," said she, "that you were very intimate."

"We were once," Kate replied; "and he knew of our losses. But of all who had ever professed friendship for us, he was the worst."

"How?" asked Adela.

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Because," replied Kate, "he professed most; and when he became aware of our misfortunes, he not only neglected us, but he acted like a heartless, deliberate villain! But he is a friend of yours, Adela, so I will not do violence to your feelings by speaking against him."

"No, indeed he is not," said Adela. "At least I am not, nor ever have been a warm friend of his. I could never admire him, notwithstanding he has done all in his power to cause me to do

"I did! I did, Adela," said Kate, pressing her hand; "but we were so surrounded with difficulties and trouble, that we scarcely knew what we were about. Besides, we had received so little sympathy, that it seemed like courting scorn for us to make ourselves known to our former acquaintances. Believe me, I often thought of you, and of the pleasant hours we had so; and if I were to credit his words, passed together; but I was not sure and his looks, though he has never of the reception that might have been spoken plainly, (I have always preextended to me by your family. You vented that,) he would wish to be are a warm-hearted, generous girl, and something more near to me than a would, I knew, be guided by your feel- mere friend." ings; but to have met with coldness or reserve at your house, would have been extremely painful to me."

"Do not trust him, Adela! Do not trust him!" said Kate, hurriedly: "he is incapable of loving; he flatters only

to betray. Believe me, I know him too well. I once thought differently of him, -I once thought that he contained within himself all that was perfect in man; but I have since learned by proof, that he is at heart a demon; and only bears the form of his Creator, without acknowledging any of his attributes. My affection for you induces me to tell you, that if there is a being you should dread to be connected with, that being is Henry Fitz Osborne! and you would think so too, if you knew as much of him as I have known; therefore, I advise you as I would a sister, not to place trust or faith in him."

by the possession or want of a few dollars; though I sighed to think that the bright dream I had been indulging in, and which had made earth a heaven to me, was so rudely dispelled,— that the fabric which fancy had reared, should suddenly crumble to the dust,and that the being whom I had worshipped almost as a God! should fall so very, very far below the standard of a man!"

"He is a mean, mercenary, pitiful wretch!" said Adela, with great animation. "He did not deserve you, Kate, and you ought to be glad that you did not become his wife."

"I do not mean to, I assure you," "I do not regret him," said Kate. said Adela, looking a little surprised at " But I have not told you, Adela, the her friend's warmth; "I am not in the worst treatment that I received at his least danger of having my peace de- hands. You will scarcely believe that stroyed by him, of all men. There is this man, who, when I was in prossomething in his look and manner, perity, had used every art to gain my that convinced me from the first mo-esteem-who by every attention had ment I saw him, that he was hollow solicited my love, and who professand heartless; and such a disposition ed to prize it beyond any possession could never have any influence over mine. But is it true, Kate, what I heard some time ago,—that you were to have been married to him?"

earth could bestow-who succeeded at length in securing my affections, and when adversity came, left me neglected and unnoticed-that this man, when

"It is," replied Kate, turning away we did meet-when my family were her head.

"And he deserted you!" said Adela, half interrogatively, as she pressed more closely to Kate, and twined her arms around her waist.

pining in want, and a dear brother lay prostrate on a bed of sickness, that had almost been a bed of death to himthis man, presuming on the misery and destitution that he knew I experienced, "When I became poor, he did," | dared unblushingly, first to insult me replied Kate; "but that was nothing. by his presence, and then to make proWhen I discovered that I had been mistaken in him, I rejoiced that the discovery had not come too late, and that our fortunes had not been united. I pitied the mind that could be swayed

positions that were disgraceful to himself and dishonorable to me. What do you think of this man, who, when I spurned him from me, and scorned to reply to the wretch whose cowardly