He felt
drawn toward the unknown lady by a strong and almost irresistible
attraction; and he secretly resolved to see and know her, and pondered
in his heart ways and means by which he might, with propriety, seek her
acquaintance.
While thus he lived two lives--the outer life of work and usefulness,
and the inner life of thought and suffering--the young people of his
party, hoping and believing him to be enjoying the honors heaped upon
him, yielded themselves up to the attractions of society.
Miriam spent much of her time with her friend, Alice Murray.
One morning, when she called on Alice, the latter invited her visitor up
into her own chamber, and seating her there, said, with a mysterious
air:
"Do you know, Miriam, that I have something--the strangest thing that
ever was--that I have been wanting to tell you for three or four days,
only I never got an opportunity to do so, because Olly or some one was
always present? But now Olly has gone to court, and mother has gone to
market, and you and I can have a cozy chat to ourselves."
She stopped to stir the fire, and Miriam quietly waited for her to
proceed.
"Now, why in the world don't you ask me for my secret? I declare you
take so little interest, and show so little curiosity, that it is not a
bit of fun to hint a mystery to you.
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