DEEPER AND DEEPER, 89

made worthy of it. This is, perhaps, my religion :
in the eyes of thousands of good people I am but as a
poor outcast child of perdition—worse than & pagan,”

“ You are a real divine angel,” exclaimed the young
man ; “* Mrs. Osborne would love you—she must and
shall know you,” cried he, for at that moment every-
thing seemed easy tohim. “ When they know you
they will not Oppose our union. I will steadfastly
stick to business ; my uncle is not a poor man ; he
will, I am sure, give me a share in his business, [|
will work so hard for you, and we will be so happy.
I shall become good through you; I shall owe my
salvation to you !”

“Amen !” said Jessie, solemnly ; “but I, that am
wiser than you in some things, must guide you 4
little. You are yet an apprentice—I am yet under
my father’s control: a time will come when we shall
both be free. If you love me truly, you must wait
till then. Five years from now shall be our time
of trial. This is Christmas-day. You shall hear
from me on the fifth anniversary of this day, but
to me you shall not write. Five years from this
time our trial shall have ended. Can you be true
to me for so long ?—I know that I shall be true to
rou !”

' Lovers’ vows sound foolish ; therefore, we will not
write down the violent protestations with which
Williams responded to this singular proposal. He
swore that neither heaven nor earth could ever
change him—and at the time he thought so.

(For my part, I, that narrate this story, must here
put in, by way of parenthesis, that had I been present,
or had been in any way consulted, I should have

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