But whatever of evil lay before me, I would allow no shadow to darken my anticipations then. In these coming years I knew lurked many a lengthened shadow, dim and undefined, but slowly unfolding before me day by day, weaving with subtile changes the great web of the future. Then with the sudden impulse of a child, I remembered the dear old Lodge-now, alas! my home no longer-and Elsie's fond love and tender care then at a bound contrasted it with the strange new faces and lack of love which might surround me. Out toward the great new world, my desire bounded, and my heart throbbed exultingly, when I thought that in a few days, a week at farthest,j would spread my wings, like a long captive bird, and flee away to the home nestling in fair NIew England hills, and the love waiting for me. The letter finished and dispatched, I threw myself on the stone bench by Elsie, and gave myself up to unlimited day dreams. Page: 8-9 Switch to Image Mode CLOSE -9 8 ATHOL. What a lucky thing-no, I will alter that-what a prov- idential thing it is, that the young are so endued with a certain elasticity of spirits, a something between hope and fear, I think it is, that never shrinks, as in later years, from the uprooting of old -ties, but trustingly looking forward to the future, welcomes with delight any change. And so I was for it was directed to "John Graeme, Esq., Duval et cie., Paris," and testified that I, Atholinda Derwent, his ward and cousin, was ready and waiting, until such time as he should see fit to take her away from her dear old home, and place her at once among strangers in a strange land. Then I read it over two or three times, to see that every i was properly dotted, and the tone sufficiently respectful, and -: finding nothing to be gained by my oft-repeated perusals, uS - I directed and sealed it with as much solemnity as if I were sealing my destiny within its folds. CHAPTER I "ATHOLINDA DERWENT "-I signed my full, long, bar- barous name, and folded and directed the letter, with an inward anathema upon poor old Elsie for bestowing the unlucky cognomen upon my unoffending self. Page: 0 Switch to Image Mode CLOSE Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by POTT, YOUNG & CO., In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. NEW YORK: POT T, YOUNG & CO., COOPER UNION. "Smile not, fair unbeliever! One man, at least, I know, Who might wear the crest of Bayard, Or Sidney's plume of snow." WHTTIER. O! for a knight like Bayard, Without reproach or fear! My light glove on his casque of steel, My love-knot on his spearl "Then I said, my own heart throbbing To the time her proud pulse beat, Life hath its regal natures yet- True, tender, brave, and sweet. Page: 0 (TitlePage) Switch to Image Mode CLOSE (TitlePage) ATHOL. Page: 0 (Cover) Switch to Image Mode CLOSE (Cover) Publication Year: 1873 Source: New York : Pott Young, 1873.