Dr. Lacey bit his lip, but forcing down his anger said, “She possesses the same attraction which every guileless, innocent person has.”

“Guileless and innocent,” repeated Mrs. Carrington; “rather call her artful and designing.  Depend upon it, doctor, you have only seen the bright side of her disposition.  You should see her in her room, and know how much trouble her sister has with her!”

She might have said more, but Dr. Lacey stopped her by saying rather warmly, “Mrs. Carrington, you shall not talk so about Fanny.  I know you do not like her, and consequently, whatever you can say of her will have no effect upon me.”

So saying, he quitted the apartment, leaving Mrs. Carrington to her own reflections.  They were not very pleasant, for Dr. Lacey’s manner had said as plainly as words could say that she had better mind her own business, and she began to think so herself, for she muttered, “After all, what is it to me if he does like Fanny?  I am bound fast, but oh, if I were free, I’d compass heaven and earth to secure him.”  Her wish to be free was soon realized.

That afternoon, when the Sea Gull came up from Louisville, it brought home her husband, wearied, worn out and sick.  He took his bed, and never left his room again until strong men carried him out and laid him down to sleep in the silent graveyard.  The close of his life was calm and peaceful, for he had early chosen the better part, and he looked upon the grave as but a stepping stone from earth to heaven.

His life was a dreary pilgrimage, for though he possessed for his young, giddy wife, a strong, ardent affection, he had long known that it was not returned, and he felt that she would be happier if he were dead.  She, however, paid him as much attention during his illness as the gay life she led would allow; but she was often away, and night after night was he left alone with his Bible and his God, while she was in the midst of some fashionable amusement.  Her neglect was, however, partly made up to him by the kind care of Fanny, who gave him all the time she could possibly spare from her school duties.  Mrs. Carrington found it very convenient to call upon her, whenever she wished to be absent, and hour after hour the fair young girl sat by the sick man’s bedside, employed either with her needle, her books or drawing.  Mr. Carrington was a fine scholar and gave her much assistance in her studies.

When he grew too weak to read, she would read to him from the Bible, stopping occasionally, while he explained some obscure passage, or endeavored to impress on her mind some solemn truth.  Thus were the seeds of righteousness sown, which afterward sprang up and bore fruit unto everlasting life.

At last the chilling dews came upon his head, his eye grew dim with the mists of death, and then he laid his cold, white hand on Fanny’s head and prayed most earnestly that heaven’s choicest blessings, both here and hereafter, might descend upon one who had so kindly smoothed his dark pathway down to the valley of death.  A few words of affectionate farewell to his wife and he was gone.  His crushed, aching heart had ceased to beat and in a few days the green sod was growing above his early grave.