The Broken Emblem.

THE BROKEN EMBLEM .

Tlie fashionable season was at its height , and all the places of fashionable summer resort Avere thronged by visitors , seeking health , rest , or to amuse themselves by mingling Avith the multitudes that flock together from all parts of the fashionable world .

Lake George was not behind other similar resorts in the number and variety of its visitors . Sherill , the pleasant and affable host of Lake House , Avas in his glory . No man ever kept a better hotel than Sherill , and no hotel ever had a better landlord than tlie Lake House .

And no landlord ever kept a hotel in a place more calculated by nature to attract and please , than tlie pretty little village of Caldwell , hidden away amid mountains that surrounded the head of that most beautiful of all sheets of water , " not

excepting the Como , " Lake George . 'Twas the middle of July , Avhen in the great cities the church doors had been closed for a little season , that the weary servant of God might flee aivay to the country for a short respite from Ms labours , and catch a breath

of air untainted by the dust and heat of the city . When the busy bustling merchant bad deserted bis counting room and left bis business cares to bis tried and tasty clerks , and be bad down to Ms old Lome

gone amid the bills of the country , from Avlienee lie came a few years ago to seek Ms fortune in the busy whirl of the metropolis ; ivlien tlie judge and the lawyers bad left the court room in silence , Avhile they sought a holiday in the AVoods far aAvaywhen

green ; , in short , everybody AVIIO could , had fled from the beat and bustle of the city , and sought for a time rest and quiet in the country .

At such a time , no matter IIOAV many years ago , the crowd of visitors at the Lake House were assembled in the upper galleries , that extend around the house , in the evening , amusing themselves in almost every conceivable mannerwhen the atten

, - tion of nearly all was attracted to the street front of the bouse , by the arrival of a carnage from Glen ' s Fields , bringing two new guests to the Lake House . Sherill was at the door , ready in bis bustling

goodhumoured way to bid them Aveleomo . The neAV comers Avere a gentleman , apparently about thirty years old , and a little girl certainly not more than five . The gentleman Avas tall and slender , had black hair and eyesAvore a suit of

very , plain black , but of costly material . He lvas very pale , as if in ill health . His countenance Avore a sad and sorrowful expression indicative of a grief of long standing , but of a never yielding character .

As to the little girl , my pen utterly fails in any attempt to describe lier . Suffice it to say that she Avas in all tilings the perfection of childish beauty , making one as he looked upon her , think that the days of angel visitation to the earth bad not

ended ; and one as he gazed upon her innocence and beauty , almost expected to see the brig ht angelic wings unfold , and the little one take flight to a woyLd more congenial than this . Taking the girl by the handtlie gentleman entered the office

, of the hotel and entered upon the register in a businesslike handwriting , the name of LaAvrence Clark and daughter , leaving the place of residence and destination blank .

As soon as a room Avas assigned him , lie retired Avith Ms daughter , Avhom he called Belle , and was seen no more until at the supper table . After supper , lie called the landlord aside and inquired if lie could recommend to him some female of kind

and gentle disposition to Avliose care he could safely entrust bis little daughter for a feAv days , Avhile they remained at the hotel . Sherill replied in tlie affirmative , and conducting the stranger to the public parlour he introduced him to bis daughter ,

the beautiful and accomplished Miss Sherill , a young lady of some eighteen years , AVIIO readily consented to take the charge of little Belle for such time as tlie father might desire . These arrangements haA'ing been satisfactorily completed , and little Belle p laced in charge of lier new friend , LaAVrence Clark Avandered aAvay by himself until bed time .

Days flew rapidly aAvay , and LaAvrence Clark remained the same retiring and lonely stranger to all tlie company of visitors at the hotel , as when be first came among them . He neither sought nor accepted any companionship , except that of little Belle , for Avboni lie evinced an almost idolatrous B 2