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THE LAND-CLAIM.

" She didn't prefer hlm, sir; that wasn't the way of it, at all. She just thotght she must ao whatever her father said; and she wouldn't give it aup, sir, not cten after he died." "My dear niece," said Sir Deming, in an altered voice, " you did well. It was your constancy and obedience which secured my affection for you-for I have not been ignorant of what has occurred and has restored you to your right and proper social position." After a pause the baronet continued." I can tell you, Mr. Allen, the secret influence which enabled this tender young girl to withstand your entreaties and the impulse of her own feelings. It was the knowledge she had of the fruits of disobedience in her mother. My sister, the Lady Alicia Carleton, was the loveliest and sweetest-souled creature alive when she was my sister.But, she fell from her high estate. She disgraced her lineage by marrying clandestinely with a gardener. She lived a life of poverty and pain. Before she died, she wrote me, secretly, a confession of her fault. and told me that her dalughter would not resemble her in character. I have seen her severely tried, and I find she has her mother's grace without her mother's faults. I am satisfied with her. Embrace me, my dear child! "When Alicia felt herself enfolded in her uncle's arms, a weight of grief and care, whose heaviness she had not known until she came to be freed from it, was lifted from her young life. Here was natural affection-legitimate protection-friendship, security and support. She shed some happy tears on her uncle's breast.

  " And now, Mr. Allen," said the baronet, as he held his niece in one arm, " as this young lady's guardian, I wish to settle a question

which is distressing you very much at this moment, as I can see by your face. You are afraid since I have got her, that I shall take her away from you, without consulting either of you on the subject. No such thing. She wouldn't be run away with-you see I know all about it-and now I have a mind to make her run away with you! What do you say to that, sir? " "I say, Sir Deming, that I should yield to such a proposition much more readily than your niece was inclined to." " That's what I presumed. Our sex never could refuse a woman, from the days of Adam down to ourselves. Well Alicia, ask Mr. Allen if he will marry you to-morrow." "'Oh! exclaimed Mrs. Wyman, overcome with surprise. But Alicia said nothing, and Allen blushed like a girl. "Yes, that is the way; said the baronet. " If I had told you both you should not have one another, you would have had enough to say. But having told you you should, there is perfect silence." " I should save Miss Newcome the embarrassment of putting such a question, Sir Deming, did not a consciousness of my own unworthiness tie my tongue, " said Allen. "What's that, sir! Are you suddenly become some terrible vii