CHAPTER XVII.

THE FIRST TEMPTATION.

"You love me, Aaron ?" she murmured, as she suffered his arms to clasp her waist, and met his burning glances fixed upon her.

"Better than my life-my soul-my all."

"Oh, Aaron," murmured Margaret, and she seated herself, while her eyes were half filled with tears, "where is this to end ?"

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End, Margaret? Why, darling, it has not begun yet," he replied, with a bright, happy smile.

"Oh, yes; but, Aaron, I have thought very much since yesterday-yes, ever since I came here—where is this to end ?"

"I really don't know what you mean, Margaret," said the young soldier, leaning back in his chair, and gazing at his companion in amazement. "Are you already sorry for what you have said or heard ?”

"Oh, no, no-not sorry, Aaron," she hastily interrupted, bending upon him a look full of love. "But think (for we must think), why did we ever meet? Why did I ever act and speak as I have done? Oh,

Aaron, what must you think of me-what must I— what ought I to think of myself?"

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Surely, Miss Moncrieffe," said Major Burr, rising, with an appearance of coolness in his manner. But

Margaret did not permit him to finish his sentence, for springing forward, she threw herself upon his neck, and murmured:

"Dear Aaron, don't speak so coldly." He was vanquished a second time. "No, Aaron, I only feared for the future. Think-you are engaged against those with whom I am connected by every tie of honor, duty, and affection. How can it be that we ever shall be

happy under such circumstances ?"

"Would not my Margaret make any sacrifice for him she loves ?"

"I would consider nothing a sacrifice, Aaron. But how can it be? My family are proud, haughty, and wealthy, and they would disown and spurn me if I should unite myself with one of a nation whom they have learned to look on as traitors and rebels. Nay, Aaron, do not frown on me so, for it is not Margaret who says it. I am ready to say, and thus prove my sincerity, thy home shall be my home, and thy God my God.'"

"Thanks, thanks, my dearest Margaret," replied the impassioned lover, gazing with enamored looks upon the beautiful and animated girl who stood before him. "I trust not to demand any such sacrifice of you, for

this unnatural war cannot endure much longer. I feel confident in the success of our arms, and though your family may be proud, haughty, and wealthy, I shall be enabled to place you in a position which will make you the equal of any in this country."

"I ask no position higher than to be yours-nothing but your love and your presence to make me supremely happy. Look you, Aaron," and she gazed at her lover with an earnestness which fairly fascinated him, “situated as we are now, one of us must make a great sacrifice, or we must part."

"Part, Margaret !" and the young aid started; "part. And what does this sudden change por

tend?"

"Do not say change, Aaron. I cannot change," and she looked half-sadly, half lovingly at him. “I cannot change. I am yours, and only yours; do with me as you please. But listen to me," and approaching him, she lowered her voice almost to a whisper, "I am rich, highly connected, and, through my family, possess boundless influence, and what, Aaron, have you ?"

"A patrimony which I am spending freely in my country's cause, my sword, and my determination to make for myself a name and fame of which even you shall be proud."

"In neither can you fail. But listen, Aaron; do not reproach me if I venture to speak as my heart dictates. I am young-very young for the sad experiences

through which I have passed; but I am old enough to know my own feelings, though perhaps not old enough to control my impulses. You possess every thought and feeling which I am capable of giving; there is no sacrifice on earth I am not ready to make, to prove my love for you, if proof be needed. But, Aaron, how are you placed? You, siding with a cause which you believe to be right-nay, which you feel to be right," she added, seeing a cloud gather on the young soldier's brow," and the success of that cause is very far from being certain, for with undisciplined troops-with men deprived even of their promised pay (you see I know all these things), poorly fed, and worse clad-men who have enlisted only because every other means of employment was debarred them "

"Margaret, stay-you wrong my countrymen. Poorly fed, worse clad, and compelled to endure unlooked-for hardships, as they are and have been, they are animated by a feeling which makes them superior to the hirelings who compose the arms of your countrymen. Each man has a stake in this issue, and each man is prepared to stand or fall by the result of the conflict in which we are engaged."

"And you, Aaron ?”

"Me-oh, well, I don't think of myself. My mistress is glory. I mean to make a name-to leave my mark on the page of history-and if I can do that, I shall depart satisfied."

"And that to me, Aaron,” said Margaret, with tearful eyes, as she gazed upon the young enthusiast before her, "that to me, who have said that there is nothing I could deem a sacrifice if I could serve you. But this contest, I am confident, will prove fruitless. So far as your countrymen are concerned, there can only be one termination to it. England, with men and money at her command to an unlimited extent, will, if needed, overrun this country with troops-brave, loyal, disciplined troops. Within two months, this very city will be in our possession, and where will you be then ?"

"Margaret, you talk wildly," said the major, affecting an offended air.

"I do not talk wildly, Aaron; and even while you say so, you do not believe it. I know more, much more than you think I do; but I know nothing half so precious as that you love me," and approaching, she took his unresisting hand.

Margaret-Margaret Moncrieffe," exclaimed Major Burr, looking at her as if he would read her very soul, "what do you mean?-what do your words import ?"

"What I would, as I am able to do, prove my love for you. I mean that if you have the courage to make a small sacrifice for me, I am prepared to make a greater one for you."

"I do not understand you, Margaret," said the