Though shrewd in his dealings, he never stooped to a system of overreaching.

He was not long, therefore, in establishing a good reputation among business men.

In social circles, where he occasionally appeared, almost as a matter of course he became an object of interest.
Observation, as it regards character, is, by far, too superficial.
With most persons, merely what strikes the eye is sufficient ground for an opinion; and this opinion is freely and positively expressed.
Thus, a good reputation comes, as a natural consequence, to a man who lives in the practice of most of the apparent social virtues, while he may possess no real kindness of heart, may be selfish to an extreme degree.
Thus it was with Mr.Leslie.He was generally regarded as a model of a man; and when he, at length, approached Madeline Henry as a lover, the friends of the young lady regarded her as particularly fortunate.
As for Madeline, she rather shrunk, at first, from his advances.
There was a coldness in his sphere that chilled her; a rigid propriety of speech and action that inspired too much respect and deference.

Gradually, however, love for the maiden, (if by such a term it might be called) fused his hard exterior, and his manner became so softened, gentle and affectionate, that she yielded up to him a most precious treasure--the love of her young and trusting heart.
Just twenty years old, as we have said, was Madeline when she passed, as the bride of Mr.Leslie, from the warm home-nest in which she had reposed so happily, to become the mistress of an elegant mansion.

Though in age a woman, she was, in many things, but a child in feelings.