The circumstances connected with the life of the object of his new-formed attachment are of a nature singularly romantic, and as our history progresses her career, as shadowed forth in this work, will form a touching episode in the drama of every-day life. There resided in the town of Sheffield at this time a widow lady, named Maitland. She was possessed of a small income, and led a quiet life. Peace, who had been introduced to her by one of the neighbours, was anxious to improve the acquaintance, his reason for this being a sudden passion for her daughter Aveline. When once bent on any object he was not a man to be easily thwarted. Aveline Maitland was possessed of no inconsiderable share of beauty. She was exquisitely formed, graceful, with small delicately-chiselled features, which were singularly sweet in their expression. Taken altogether, there was an air of refinement about her that might well inspire any man with the master passion. It is somewhat singular that such a radiant, fair young creature should have touched the heart of a man of so coarse a mould as Charles Peace. But so it was. He saw her by chance at her mother’s residence, and he was struck with her grace and beauty. Her influence over him was so powerful that for a short time he became quite an altered man. He dressed with scrupulous care, was soft and gentle, and indeed it might be said winning in his manner. Aveline Maitland, utterly unconscious of the fact that she had made a conquest of her mother’s visitor, treated him with courtesy, and conversed freely with him upon the various topics of the day. Mrs. Maitland gave a party one evening. Peace, who heard of this, volunteered to play the violin to the dancers. The widow availed herself of his services, and he made himself particularly agreeable to all the guests. After this he procured a box at the theatre, and escorted the widow and her daughter. During the performance he was most polite and attentive to both the females. It was a source of great trouble to him, however, that the fair Aveline did not offer him any encouragement. On the contrary, he could not conceal from himself that she was cold and distant. Nevertheless he did not despair. It is an old adage, “That faint heart never won fair lady.” Peace was mindful of this. Most assuredly his was not a faint heart at any period of his career. He was determined to woo and win Aveline. This time he was desperately in love, but there is another declaration made by a great poet――namely, “The course of true love never did run smooth.” It would be hardly worth while to make an effort to ascertain whether Peace’s passion for the fair Aveline could be included in the category of “true love;” there was so little truth about the man throughout the whole of his sinful life that the reader will find it difficult to believe of him being inspired with a pure and holy love for one of the opposite sex.