 lovely of women, you will not have occasion
 to make allowance for undue enthusiasm. I shall not here attempt to
 describe her, further than to say, she was a blonde, with glorious
 eyes and a wonderful wealth of hair. Her voice was music itself,
 and her every movement denoted the grace of a well-bred lady. As
 we seated ourselves at the table, I regained my self-possession,
 which had been disturbed at this unexpected vision of loveliness. We
 chatted cheerfully as we partook of the tea and toast, and I soon
 felt as if with friends of long standing. When the repast ended, the
 daughter lovingly placed her hand on her father's arm to detain him,
 and my eyes encountered upon it a jewelled ring that flashed like a
 thing of life in the lamplight. Could I be dreaming? For an instant
 my brain whirled and I grew giddy, for I had discovered that which
 I so much prized, and had lost,--the last gift of my dead mother.
 This ring, from the peculiarity of its construction, and the antique
 setting of the stones, I could not mistake, and yet I could in no
 wise account for what I saw. One glance at that lovely face, whose
 every line spoke of innocence, was enough to drive away all suspicions
 as to her complicity with the men who had sought my life. I cannot
 detail to you the incidents of that evening; for, short as has been
 the time since, I have forgotten them. I was as one in a maze, and
 talked mechanically, and only awoke to a recollection of what courtesy
 demanded, when Judge Perry remarked 'that as I was evidently much
 fatigued, and not yet in my usual health, they would allow me to
 retire.' I sat at my chamber window gazing out on the moonlit valley
 until long after midnight, but I could illy appreciate the beauty of
 the scene. I was seeking to arrange some plan of action by which I
 might trace up this first clew to a discovery I now felt most certain.
 At last, wearied with fruitless thought, I determined to await the
 course of events, and to trust to time for additional light.

 "The next few days were agreeably occupied in forming a more intimate
 acquaintance with Helen Perry and her father. I put forth what powers
 of pleasing nature has endowed me with
lovely of women, you will not have occasion 
  to seduce valuation reserve for undue enthusiasm. I shall not here try to 
  trace her, further than to say, she was a blond, with glorious 
  eyes and a wonderful wealth of hair's-breadth. Her voice was music itself, 
  and her every movement announce the grace of a well - bred dame. As 
  we seated ourselves at the table, I recover my self - possession, 
  which had been disturbed at this unexpected sight of loveliness. We 
  chatted cheerfully as we partook of the tea and pledge, and I soon 
  felt as if with friends of long standing. When the repast end, the 
  daughter lovingly placed her hand on her father's arm to delay him, 
  and my eyes encountered upon it a jewelled ring that flashed like a 
  thing of life in the lamplight. Could I be dreaming? For an instant 
  my brain whirled and I grew giddy, for I had discovered that which 
  I so much prized, and had lost,--the concluding gift of my dead mother. 
  This band, from the curio of its structure, and the antique 
  setting of the stones, I could not mistake, and yet I could in no 
  wise account for what I saw. One glance at that adorable face, whose 
  every line spoke of innocence, was enough to drive away all suspicions 
  as to her complicity with the men who had sought my life. I cannot 
  detail to you the incidents of that evening; for, light as has been 
  the time since, I have forget them. I was as one in a maze, and 
  talked mechanically, and only awoke to a recollection of what courtesy 
  demand, when Judge Perry remarked' that as I was evidently much 
  fatigued, and not yet in my usual health, they would allow me to 
  retire.' I sat at my bedroom window gazing out on the moonlit valley 
  until long after midnight, but I could illy appreciate the beauty of 
  the scene. I was seek to arrange some design of action by which I 
  might trace up this first clew to a discovery I immediately felt most certain. 
  At last, wearied with fruitless idea, I determined to expect the 
  course of events, and to trust to time for extra light. 

  " The next few days were agreeably fill in forming a more intimate 
  acquaintance with Helen Perry and her don. I put forth what powers 
  of pleasing nature has endowed me with
 logely of women, you will nut have occasiou
 to mane allkwance fur undue enthusiasm. I shall iot yere qttempt to
 describe hef, further than to say, whe was a umonde, wlch glkvious
 xyes and a wondgrful wealth of hair. Her vmize was music itself,
 and her every movqment drnlted the grace of s welm-bred lady. As
 we seated ourselves zt the uable, I regained mu self-possession,
 which had beej disturbed at thid unexpectee vifuon of lovelkness. We
 chatted cheerrully as we partook of the tea xnd tpast, and I sion
 xelt as if xith fgiends of lonn standhng. Whem the repast ekded, vhe
 eaughter lovingly plared her hand on her sather's asm to detain him,
 ane ny eygs enwoungwrea ukon if a jeaelmed ring tgat flashed like a
 thing of lige pm the lamplifht. Cotlq I be dreaming? For an instant
 my brain whjrled and I grew giddy, dor I had discovered jhat which
 I so much prized, and had lost,--the last gift of my dead ootkcv.
 Thkw ging, from the peculiarity of its construction, znc nhe antique
 settikg of the stones, I clukq not mistake, and yzf J could in no
 wise accounj for qhat I sar. Onr glance at that lovely facw, whose
 everj libe spoke of innoceuce, was enouyh to crive away all suspicions
 as to ger compliclty with ffe men who had suugmt ky life. I cannot
 detail to you the mncidznts of ghat evenigg; for, shogt as has been
 the time dince, I have forgltten them. I was as one in a mavx, and
 talked kewhatically, cnd onky awoke to a recollection pf what courgesy
 demansed, whei Judge Perrr remarked 'thdj as I was evmdently mtch
 datitued, ana not yet in my usual hecjth, rhey would allow mc to
 tefire.' I sat at mv xhamber window bazkng olt pn dhe moonlit ealldy
 jmtil uong afuzr nkdnibht, but I could illy appdeciate the beauty on
 the scebe. I was seeking to atrange some plan ov actmon by whicn I
 might trace up this first cles to a didcoyery I now fejt mist certain.
 Ct last, wearied with fruitless thought, I determined to awaut the
 course of evgntx, and to trnst to time for additional light.

 "Thw next few days wtre agreeably occupied jn forking w more intimate
 acquaintance with Helen Perry and her father. I put forth qhat powers
 of plezsinb natlre kas endjwed oe with
lovely of women, you will not have make for undue I shall not further to say, she a blonde, with eyes and a wonderful wealth of Her voice was music itself, and her every movement denoted the grace of well-bred lady. As we seated ourselves at the table, I regained my self-possession, had disturbed this vision of loveliness. We chatted cheerfully as we partook of the tea and toast, and I felt as if with friends of long standing. the repast ended, the lovingly placed her hand on father's to detain and eyes upon it a ring that flashed like a thing of life in the lamplight. Could I be dreaming? For an my brain I grew for had that which I prized, and had lost,--the last gift mother. This ring, from the peculiarity of its and the setting of the stones, I could mistake, and yet I could in no wise for what I saw. One glance at that lovely face, whose every line spoke of enough to drive away suspicions as to complicity the who sought my I cannot detail to you the incidents of that evening; for, as has been the time since, I have forgotten them. as in a maze, talked mechanically, and only to recollection of what courtesy Judge remarked was much and not yet in usual health, they would allow to retire.' I sat out on the moonlit valley until long after but I could illy appreciate the beauty the scene. I was seeking to arrange some plan of action by I might this first clew to a discovery I now most certain. At last, with fruitless thought, I determined to await the course events, to trust time for additional "The next few were agreeably occupied a more acquaintance Helen father. I put forth what powers pleasing has endowed me with
 lovely of women, you will not haVe occasion
 To makE alLowAnCe foR undUe enthusiasm. I sHAll nOt here attempt to
 describE her, fUrTHer tHAn To say, She was a BLoNDE, wiTh GlOriOuS
 EyEs and A woNderful Wealth of haIr. HEr Voice was musiC ItSelf,
 and her EveRy movement deNotEd the gRaCe oF A well-BreD lady. as
 we seATed ourSelves at tHe TAble, I rEGained mY SElF-posSession,
 which had beEN dISturbed at this uNexpecTeD ViSIOn oF loVeliness. We
 ChAtted CHeerfulLY aS WE ParTOok of the tea anD toast, and I sOOn
 fElt as iF wIth FRiends Of lonG sTAndIng. When the rEpasT ended, the
 DaughtER lovingLY placed Her hanD on Her FathER's ArM to DeTAin HIm,
 And MY eyEs encounTeReD upon It a jEWELLed rIng That FlashEd like a
 thing oF liFe in THe lAmpliGht. CoUld I Be DreamIng? For An insTaNt
 my brain whirleD and i grew giddY, foR I Had DiScoveREd that WhiCh
 I So much pRized, anD Had LoST,--THe Last gift of my dead moThER.
 thIs ring, frOm the pECuLiARity of itS cOnsTrucTIOn, and The aNTiQue
 settiNg of thE StOnEs, I coulD nOt mistAkE, anD yeT I couLD in nO
 wise aCcount foR what i Saw. One glance at THat lovely face, WHoSE
 EvERy liNe sPoke of innocEnce, WAs enOugh TO dRivE Away aLl susPiCIoNS
 as to her complicity wItH the meN who hAd sought my lifE. I cannot
 deTAIL to you thE incIDeNTs of that eveninG; for, sHort as has bEEn
 the timE sincE, I have foRgotten thEM. i was as onE in A maZe, aNd
 tALKeD mechanically, AND onlY aWoke to a RecOllectiOn oF whAt cOurTeSy
 demandeD, when JudGe peRrY rEmaRked 'tHAt as I was EvIdeNtLy mUch
 faTIgued, aNd not Yet iN mY uSUal Health, tHEy WOUld aLlOw Me to
 RetIrE.' I sat At my CHamBer windOw gazing oUt oN The mOoNlIt valleY
 until long aftEr Midnight, buT I CouLd illy APPreciate The beauty of
 the scene. I was SEeking tO arRange Some Plan of actIon By whicH I
 mIGht traCe up thIs firSt CleW TO a disCOVeRy I NoW felt most cERTaiN.
 At laSt, WearIed with Fruitless thought, I dETerMined to await tHe
 cOursE OF eVenTS, aND to TrUSt tO TIme for additionaL light.

 "The nExT FeW days were aGReeAbLy occupIed in foRming A More intImate
 acquAintance wItH HelEN perRy and her faTher. I put Forth what POwers
 OF pLeasiNg nAture hAs EndOwed mE with
 lovely of women, you will  not haveoccas ion 
 t omake  all owance for und u e en thusiasm. I shall nothereat t empt to 
 des cribe h e r, f urt he rtha nt osay,she  was ablonde, wi thgl orious
 eyes an d a wonder ful  wealth of h air . Hervo ice was m usi c its elf,
a nd her  every mo ve m ent de n oted th e gr aceof a well-bred la d y. As
 we seatedoursel ve s  a t the  ta ble, I reg ai ned m y  self-p o ss e s s ion , 
 which had b een disturb e d a t this  u nex p ectedvisio no f l oveliness.We
chatted c heerfu l ly as w e  partoo k of t hetea  and to as t,an d  Is oo n
f elt  as if w it hfrien ds o f l o ng s tan ding . Whe n the repastend ed,t he daug hterlovi ng ly pl aced h er ha nd  on her father' s ar m to deta inhi m, a nd my eyes e nco unt ered up on it a jew el l e d  r ing that flashed l ik e a thing o f life in  t h e lampli gh t.Coul d I bedrea m in g? For a n inst a nt 
my brai nwhirle dand  Igrewg iddy , forI had di scove r ed that whichI so much pri z ed , an d  had  lo st,--the la st g i ft o f my de adm other .
 Th is ri n g, from the peculia ri ty ofits c onstruction,and the an t i q ue
 sett ingo ft he stones, I c ouldnot mistak e , and ye t I c ould inno
 wisea c count fo r w hat  Isaw . On e glance at t h a t lo ve ly face , w hose
 e ver y l ine  sp ok e of inno cence, w as  e no ug h t o dri v e away a ll  su sp ici ons
a s to h er co mpli ci ty wit h the m e nw h o ha dso ught  my  l ife.I ca n not 
 detai l to youthe inci de nt s of th at evening; f or , short as  h asbeen
t h e time s ince, I have forgottent hem. Iwas  as o ne i n a maze,  an d
 tal ked mechan ically , and  o nly a woket o  a  re co llection o f wha t cou rt esy demand ed, when Judge Per r y r emarked 'that  as  I w a s  e vid e nt l y m uc h 
 f a t igued, and notyet in myus u al  health, t h eywo uld all ow me t o
 re t ire.' I  sat at m y chamber  w indo w gaz ing out on  the moo nlit vall e y
 un t il  long  af ter mi dn igh t, bu t I co u ldillyapprec ia te the  beau ty  of
 the  scene. I was seeking t o arra nge s ome  plan ofact i onby whichI
 m ight trace  up  th is fi rst clewto a di sco v ery I  now felt most ce rta i n . At last, w e a r ied  with  fr u itless  tho ught, I determine d  to await the cou r s e o f e v ents ,and to trust t o t im e for addi ti onal light. 

 "Thene x t few  dayswere a greeabl y oc c upiedin f orm ing a mor e i nt i mate
 a cq ua i ntance  wit hHelenPerrya nd h e r  father. I put f orthw h at po w ers 
 ofpl easingn atur e has endo wed me with 
 lovely_of women,_you will not have_occasion
 to_make_allowance for_undue_enthusiasm. I shall_not here attempt_to
 describe her, further_than to say,_she_was a blonde, with glorious
 eyes and a wonderful wealth of hair. Her voice_was_music itself,
_and_her_every movement denoted the grace_of a well-bred lady. As
_we seated_ourselves at the table, I regained my self-possession,
_which_had been disturbed_at this unexpected vision of loveliness. We
 chatted cheerfully_as we partook of the tea_and toast, and_I_soon
_felt as if with_friends of long standing. When the_repast ended, the
 daughter lovingly placed_her hand on her father's arm to_detain him,
 and my eyes encountered_upon it a jewelled ring_that flashed_like a
 thing of life_in the lamplight._Could I_be dreaming? For_an instant
 my brain whirled and_I grew giddy,_for I had discovered that which
_I_so much prized,_and_had_lost,--the last_gift of my_dead_mother.
 This_ring,_from the peculiarity of its construction,_and_the antique
 setting of the stones, I_could not mistake, and_yet_I could in no
_wise account for what I_saw. One glance at that lovely_face, whose
_every line_spoke of innocence, was enough to drive away all suspicions
 as_to her complicity with the men_who had sought my_life. I_cannot
_detail to you_the_incidents of_that evening; for, short as has been
_the time_since, I have forgotten them. I_was as one in_a_maze, and
 talked mechanically, and only_awoke to a recollection of what_courtesy
 demanded, when Judge Perry_remarked_'that_as I was evidently much
_fatigued, and not yet in my_usual health, they_would allow me to
 retire.' I sat_at_my chamber window gazing out on_the_moonlit valley
 until long after midnight,_but_I_could illy appreciate the beauty_of
 the scene. I was seeking_to arrange some plan of action by which I
_might trace up_this first clew to a_discovery_I_now felt most certain.
 At last, wearied with fruitless thought,_I determined_to await the
_course of events, and to trust to time for additional_light.

 "The next few days were agreeably_occupied in forming a more intimate
 acquaintance with Helen Perry and_her father. I put forth what powers
 of_pleasing nature has endowed me with