As she entered the garden the outline of a figure; sitting on a bench at its further extremity, made her stop for a moment, but thinking to herself, "I expected it, and why should I be afraid ?" she walked on fearlessly, until the person, roused by the sound of her footsteps, started up, and turning toward her, said half-aloud: "Lenora, is it you ?" Quickly she sprang forward, and soon one hand of the beggar was clasped in hers, while the other rested upon her head, as he said, "Lenora, my child, my daughter, you do not hate me ?" "Hate you, father ?" she answered, "never, never." "But," he continued, "has not she--my--no, not my wife--thank Heaven not my wife now--but your mother, has not she taught you to despise and hate me ?" "No," answered Lenora bitterly.

"She has taught me enough of evil, but my memories of you were too sweet, too pleasant, for me to despise you, though I do not think you always did right, more than mother." The stranger groaned, and murmured: "It's true, all true;" while Lenora continued: "But where have you been all these years, and how came we to hear of your death ?" "I have been in St.Louis most of the time, and the report of my death resulted from the fact that a man bearing my name, and who was also from Connecticut, died of yellow fever in New Orleans about two years and a half ago.

A friend of mine, observing a notice of his death, and supposing it to refer to me, forwarded the paper to your mother, who, though then free from me, undoubtedly felt glad, for she never loved me, but married me because she thought I had money." "But how have you lived ?" asked Lenora.
"Lived!" he repeated, "I have not lived.

I have merely existed.
Gambling and drinking, drinking and gambling, have been the business of my life, and have reduced me to the miserable wretch whom you see." "Oh, father, father," cried Lenora, "reform.

It is not too late, and you can yet be saved.