never fails to present. Our readers will, therefore, please go contrary to the advice contained in Mr. Mordaunt's suggestion, delivered the evening previous at one of the private parlors of the Astor, if they would behold the most lovely river views in the State of New York.

"Miss Mortimer," said Mr. Mordaunt, "our party are all well posted in Hudson River scenery; I vote, therefore, for a quick trip and plenty of leisure at the Delevan. Cars for me!"

"Agreed! agreed!" said one and all.

While the party pursue their journey, will the reader bear with us a moment, as we introduce to his more intimate acquaintance James Mordaunt, Esq., who performs a most important part in this history.

James Mordaunt was now twenty-five years of age. His parents separated from each other when he was but an infant. Soon after the separation, caused by a want of kindness to Mrs. Mordaunt on his father's part, James's mother was carried to her grave. She was a woman of the highest culture, the keenest sense of motherly affection, a consistent Christian, and generally, wise in her plans and judgments. Had she been spared to rear her son under her own light and example, the talents with which nature had most lavishly endowed him, would scarcely have failed to present society with an upright, useful, and safe counsel for the widow and fatherless, the orphan and unfortunate, in the noble profession which now he was destined to dishonor. His mother's death seemed to be one of those providences which man's judgment would have pronounced unnatural and unwise, were it not that the ways of that Providence,

though "past finding out," are the direction of infinite wisdom.

James was reared by an aunt, the wife of his mother's brother. She was a brilliant, energetic, self-denying, ambitious, but unscrupulous woman. Under the semblance of Christian graces and virtues, she possessed some dangerous characteristics of temper and thought. "Means to the end, right or wrong!" "Success covers all the sin!" These old sayings express her character better than any extended description. Added to this, she was quick to perceive, prompt in her plans, and swift to execute. Her nephew learned but too well the lessons which the example of his aunt constantly presented. He learned also to worship her as a being placed far above the ordinary of her race. Her will, to him, was law; the gratification of her slightest wish, his delight.

James had received a liberal education. He graduated at Columbia College, New York, with the highest honors in the gift of his classmates and instructors. His legal studies had been mastered with equal success, and he was now a junior partner in one of the most reliable law-firms in the metropolis of America. Already his name began to be sounded upon the lips of the great merchants, brokers, ship-masters, and bankers, who rule the winds and waves of the commerce, progress, and renown of the American name.

Mrs. Tryon, James's aunt and second mother, was a widow. She maintained a princely establishment in Fifth Avenue. Her patronage was certain success to any ambitious and fairly skilled youth. She could open the gates to the magic circle of High Life in

New York. "He visits at Mrs. Tryon's," settled the question, "Shall Mr. be invited?" in the affirmative for many a youthful aspirant after the pleasures and influence of fashionable life. A short conversation held between Mrs. Tryon and her nephew will possess the reader of some facts which are necessary links in this story.

"James, do you know how Hon. B. F. Mortimer stands in regard to property?"

"Oh, yes! His fortune is ample. Our firm hold some of his assets here in New York, as agents, which yield him a clear rental of $5,000 per annum. Besides this, he owns a country residence on the banks of the Cayuga Lake, in the western part of the State, attached to which are three hundred acres of splendid farming lands."

"Well, do you know, I have found out that he has an only daughter, and but one son. The daughter is eighteen years of age; pretty, dark hair, dark eyes, unexceptionable complexion, form, etc., and withal I am informed she has some knowledge of the world; graceful, easy, witty. A gentleman friend tells me she is really brilliant. Now, James, I want to see her, and if-well, you know it is about time. you began to think of a wife. I have nearly concluded that she will do. But I must see her first."

"Then you shall have your wish. The whole family, I learned from my senior partner yesterday, will be in town next week, en route for Washington. Mr. Mortimer is member for his congressional district. An invitation from you through my partner will be just à propos, for Mr. Mortimer must spend a few days here on business matters. Wait until they are quietly domesticated at the Astor, and with your head

and my hand, the desired object can be accomplished."

This conversation occurred about six months prior to the time which saw the party already described as on their way for Niagara. Of course Mrs. Tryon accomplished her design. Bell Mortimer proved to be even more satisfactory to the ambitious aunt than imagination, upon chance description, had painted. She was perfectly captivated by the gentle girl.

"Yes, James," said she to her nephew, "now is your time or never. Go with the party to Niagara; make a visit at her father's home; and, before you return, have matters all arranged if possible. With the good will of the father, the love of the mother, and your own talents, of which I must be allowed the expression, I am more than proud-there, there! don't be frightened; you have heard nothing but truth: you must be a weak one if you fail with the daughter."

"True, but I do not love her. She is attractive and "

"Pshaw! My wise sir, marriage is a game-love is but an empty title. I married for place, money, and power. You had better marry for love, and live on it. Don't you think it would be better for us both had I, a little sentimental in my youth, taken up with some poor love of a man? What a nice time it would be were I now living with you in a quiet hovel-my poor husband gone-and you teaching school, and boarding round, or selling lace, bodkins, hair-pins, and calicoes, or patiently adding mortar and a brick, mortar and a brick, mortar and a brick, until the sum total of mortar and bricks gave you fourteen York

shillings per diem, as you lawyers say, upon which to support your lone aunt. How the neighbors in the parish would laud the dutiful nephew who devoted all his earnings to support his poor, heart-broken widowed mother's sister."

The expression of face and action, gesture, etc., with which Mrs. Tryon accompanied this argument, caused her nephew to burst into an almost uncontrollable fit of laughter.

"Good, good! What an advocate of woman's rights you would make! My dearest mother, I am convinced. Your words shall be commands. Mademoiselle Bell Mortimer shall be my aunt's niece if the battle is to the 'vigilant, the active, the brave,' ha, ha, ha! Mrs. James Mordaunt! Capital!"

"Your trunks will be ready in time for the morning train. I shall scarcely see you off; the hour is too early for me; so be a good boy, and write how events progress."