wealth, to the exclusion of his other children, which alienated their affections and left her comparatively alone. She had a step-mother, a very inefficient woman, who never exerted an influence anywhere, and whose experience in the world was of little worth to any one.
Mr. Carleton's eye was ever on the alert, and no sooner did he perceive the fascinations, riches and beauty had in store, than he began to devise some measure which should chime in with the drift of her feelings, to secure his grasp to such a treasure, and adroitly commenced his work. Without appearing to manifest any particular interest in her he assumed a mock spirit of philanthrophy, and not only gave freely of his means, but discussed the causes and prevention of pauperism with an ability and zeal that could not fail to gain the sympathy and approbation of his hearers, and finally succeeded in winning the public confidence to such a degree that he filled some of the highest offices of trust and honor in the city.
He could allude to the victims of misfortune in terms of charity that would draw tears to all eyes, and plead for the innocence of childhood and the chastity of woman in strains of eloquence that would send the burning tinge of shame to the most gloating sensualist, or the most hardened trafficker in that which robs a man of his reason and affections. His praise was in every mouth and his smile courted in every corner. No uninterested observer of hie rising fame was Grace Blanche, the more interested because of his indifference, showing no sign of vanity at his
