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not altogether. There were still more subtle his hand, Munch went on to his little domicil, Then, commanding himself, he added more motives. Reverence for the memory of his lost saying to Neil: calmly: wife, the long habit of keeping her father’s se- “ We’ll wash oft" some of this dust, and then “ I came to bring your money, Melieent. The cret as a sacred homage to her—as a kind of sac- go yonder and get mother to play the gttitar for furniture has been sold.” rifice upon her shrine—the feeling of the pil- us.” He laid a thick roll of bank bills upon the grim who pours an offering of his own blood As he entered the house, he stopped, looked table. upon the shrine of his saint. around, sat down his pail, and stared about “ That seems a much larger amount than I These were among the less tangible influences again in wonder. Then he beckoned to Neil, had any right to expect,” she said. “Will you that induced the silence of this man. whose na- who was just coming up. tell me who purchased the furniture?” ture, though simple, was fine and sensitive. “Here's Aladdin been here with his lamp “I did, Melieent. Did you think I would let And because his nature was so fine and sensi- since we went away,” he said. “Just look it go out of my possession—every piece of it tive. the fugitive feeling of years had worn into around! How nice ! Ain't that bed delicious ? made sacred by your touch ?” it as the links of a chain into the more material And that flower-pot and the pictures? It's all “Mr. Avery, I cannot bike any more than the flesh, until his present freedom from fear and her work, father: she’s the fairy that did it. furniture is worth. I am already too deeply pursuit was half a mockery. Here's the red ‘Pilgrim's Progress,’ full of pic- Free and happy! The words rang derisively tures, and here s a foot-stool she worked with in his ears as he sat on the gnarled roots of the ^er own fingers. She likes us-don't yon see? well-remembered ash tree, with the red, rain- 1 told you she did. . swollen bayou murmuring hoarsely at his feet. He dld not - understand why it was that a under obligations- “Do not talk to me of obligations, Melieent. As for the money, take it, and assure yourself it is no more than the furniture was worth. I dared not offer you more. I knew you were [For The Sunny South.] FROM A MOTHER TO HER SOK-IM-LAAV. BY ANONYMOUS. Take her—a frail and tender flower— And in thy heart the bright gem wear; Xor let her e’er regret the hour That placed her young affections there. Take her,—her purest love is thine. And all enchained still clings to thee. Twining around thee like the vine Around a chosen forest tree. Take her, and when in after years The breeze of life blows cold and chill, Be thine the hand to dry her tears. And thine the voice to comfort still. He had been shown a glimpse of happiness to P ainful emotion quivered across Neil’s face as offended with me, and rightly, for my unjust mock him and it had vanished like his dreams be l <,Q k e d around a moment, and then, leaning suspicions, my cruel coldness towards you. I of joy. He had been shown his Melieent -alive his b ® ad on the mantle-board, stifled a sigh. knew you could not forgive me ” and ‘well, more beautiful than before, and the , “ ,She pities me, he thought. “She cannot “I have freely, fully forgiven you, Aleck.” next flash of the magic lantern had revealed her * ove ^ e ’ an< ^ s ^ e " ls ^ es to make it up by kind- [For The Sunny South.J A MISUNDERSTANDING. ‘All! that is kind and sweet of yon, dearest — no longer his. She had drifted a long wav off ne T ss '" , , , , , more than I deserve. But you do not know how from him—farther off. it seemed than when he a moi nent, he had crushed the selfish pang terribly I was tempted—how torn my heart was thought her in heaven. and ra ‘ Hed Ids head. with jealousy. And now, when all doubt is With the trunks that came for Melieent BY S. A. TAI.LEY. “ Kate, yon will dance the next set with me ?” . The request, considering its nature, was made there “She has taken her pretty things to fix us up, cleared away,—when I know your truth and with ludicrous earnestness; and equallv marked had arrived also several articles of furniture- Ch ’ a “ d we „ r , ou o il . fellows can do without purity, never to doubt them again.-when I nn- W as the studied indifference of the reply, hadarr eial. se eral articles t i lrmttire them, cant we? he said cheerfully. derstand the trials you have gone through,— “I don't know I believe I am tired.” presents to her from Mr. Avery in the early “But if she likes to let us have them, father?” now, I cannot console vou, cannot make amends “ Tired ' and this the third set ?*h an <1 so mely-car v e'd ^'se w i n g-c* hair* \ ^ unique ^ ! Zf’ f ^ "A” d ° tLe 8 * me f° r the past b / m ? ^ ater love alul care , for >™ r Yes: it was the third set. as he very well knew, lift eAhest of drapers and two ™ iis te inl lid tbank her for b T g 80 g? od ‘ , , ba PP«>ess. I am dot even permitted to offer The first he had danced with that Miss Walton, little chest ot (Hatters, and two exquisite inlaid A few moments afterwards, the two, neatly you the sympathy of a friend, for a mere friend tables. Washed and combed, joined Melieent and Har- I can never be to you, Melieent. So you are ‘put to rights which she shared with Harriet, and to arrange his habitual, sweet earnestness, dashed with the am not worthy of him.' shyness of look and the flitting color that “ May he always be kind to you, Melieent. in it a portion of the newly-arrived furniture, marked his present intercourse with Melieent. know lie has acted a noble part, but he is not a hair and blue eyes wit and some of the ornaments and elegant trifles sq ie herself was moved by conflicting feelings fit husband for yon—you, so refined in mind, in s j on \ No wonder Kat( that Harriet had unpacked from the boxes, whenever she met the wistful look of those large, person.” ! “Excuse me. I shal there was a large window at one end of the gentle eyes. Tender interest and compassionate “ He has the true refinement,” she said, room, greatly disproportioned to the size of the regard were the feelings she entertained for him. “He has displayed it certainly,” he return* apartment, but Hagar had had the smaller win- Something in his eyes seemed to crave but not bitterly. “He has shown it by claiming v< dow enlarged ami suitably glazed to please her expect more, and that look smote her with self- with such indecent haste—by taking possessk gentle, simple-minded daughter, to whom she reproach. Both of them avoided all mention of of you, as though you were a chattel, before y< was \erj indulgent, notwithstanding that her the past. Melieent took notice that he had had time to crush and bury any feelings ill manner to her was outwardly harsh. 1 he girl never called her name, and neither had ever might stand between a reunion with him—befo vet how pale he looked; and a pang of regret and remorse had passed through her in remem bering how short a time it was since they had both been so happy. “Don't Mr. Latimer look ill ?" remarked one of the girls; “ and how grave he has become of late!” “Oh ! he has discovered the vanity and emp tiness of all earthly things, and I am told, in tends joining the church,” giggled Annie Wat son. with a sly look at Kate. “Wnat a beautiful horse, and how well he rides!’" said another. “That is Major Tminor's young horse. Wild fire,” replied a gentleman. “ Latimer has the use of him, because no one else dares ride him at present. Young and badly broken. Even the Major is shy of him. but Latimer is a first- rate horseman." Kate found the picnic very dull. The hours, despite music and dancing, crept on slowly to her, and the summer day seemed the longest that she had ever known. She knew that Frank would return late in the evening, and that he would stop at the farm-house on his way home, and unconsciously she found herself looking forward to the time of his appearance. Yes; he certainly did look ill, she thought more than once, and he was graver than usual. Was it on her account ? She had taken pleasure, in making him unhappy. Oh ! how wretched she had been ! But after all, it had been his fault. He had begun it. Had he not neglected her in the first instance for that Miss Walton ? And was she to stoop to win him back ? No ! she would rather die than do so. He might do as he pleased. He was nothing to her now. And Kate tossed her head at the thought, and waltzed with cousin John: and finally, with a half-formed idea of exciting Frank’s jealousy, invited that enamored youth to a ramble with herself and Marian Arnold to “The Spring,” a lonely spot near the farm-house, where a crystal fountain welled out from a rock beneath the shade of overhanging beeches. They had crossed the field and were just en tering the wood, when they were startled by the thundering tramp of a horse’s hoofs, rapidly ap proaching from the direction in which they were going. They sprang aside, not a moment it, on which was set Melicent’s inlaid work-box. They then proceeded to set up the chest of draw ers and decorate it with the elegant little toilet playfully to Mancli: “If I had had a bracket, I would have put your favorite saint—old Santa Claus, you know- a stranger from the city, and the second with her sister: and now he had come to ask her hand for the third set! And there was every lady no ticing it and saying that Frank Latimer was smitten with the city beauty: and Annie YVatson had had the impudence to ask how she liked being “cut out!” Cut out by a wax doll with flaxen ritliout a particle of expres- Kate Eliott felt provoked. I here was a large window at one end of the gentle eyes. Tender interest and compassionate “ He has the true refinement,” she said. said with an affection of carelessness. “I prefer room, greatly disproportioned to the size of the regard were the feelings she entertained for him. “He has displayed it certainly',” he returned to sit here and rest awhile.” apartment, but Hagar had had the smaller win- Something in his eyes seemed to crave but not bitterly. “He has shown it by claiming you She had expected him to plead farther, or at dow enlarged ami suitably glazed to please her expect more, and that look smote her with self- with such indecent haste—by taking possession least to propose for the dance following: but he you only said: that “ Perhaps that will be best, if you are really .... . . . . , . . , , might stand between a reunion with him—before tired. But it is warm here. Shall I get you a . ~ • made this window her beloved resort, in winter made an allusion to the days when they were all you had time to consult your own heart, that pleasanter seat, - there by the door of the too soon, as a gray horse with a loosely-flowing Miss Conklin ? you,” she replied haughtily. ,” turning to a gentleman standing Marian ? I have been looking ning.” away on Mr. Arnold s arm, leav- scious where I went; but, indeed, where else Frank alone. Get her a seat behind the library was there for me to go?” door, indeed ! And by the side of that homely .... ,. . „ , “What is it you say, Melieent ?—he has not old Miss Conklin, a standard wall-flower of all set of . evres china. They hung some ot the ‘at the head of your bed, Mancli. I have him claimed you for his wife?” the liiverdale parties ! And there he was now, pictures upon the walls, ornamented the mantle- here, as jolly as ever, you see,” taking an image “He has not spoken one word that could be j actually leading Miss Walton out again for the piece with an alabaster vase of flowers, and of the rotund, jovial old saint out of her work- construed into such a claim. He has not even t second time! She bit her lip and her cheek ranged the books and pretty nick-nacks of box and holding it up. “If I had a bracket, I touched my hand <ti called my name, or intruded grew hot and flushed. ivory, pearl ebony and siner filagree upon the would set him up where he could smile at you himself upon me in anv wav.” “Miss Eliott, allow me the honor of one shelves and mantle-piece, and wherever there as you slept.” “And yet he loves you so, Melieent. To do turn?” was a place for them. ...... I “Why, Ishmael—father, I mean—can carve what he has done, he must love you with dejro- Now, Kate knew that waltzing was a thing of “lonve put your prettiest pictures here to beautiful brackets out of cedar cigar boxes and tion.” * which Frank Latimer utterly disapproved, and Spring,” with the great beech tree droopin^ one side, and these little white figures that look thin slabs of maliogony, and walnut and such “He does. Oh ! I would to heaven he did not,” that of all persons this gay and handsome and above it. And there, on the green turf at the so sweet, and the other vase, and your nicest like. Many a basket full of brackets I’ve sold she cried with the tears rushing to her eyes, dissipated Colonel McLean was the last with foot of the tree, close beside the little pathway, connterpane and pillow-cases. Pretty Lady, for him—haven’t I, father? Ill bring you a “ Poor, faithful, tender heart!” ‘ whom he would have liked to see her so engaged, lay the form of Frank Latimer—pale and rno- what made yon do that ? ^ piece of cedar and let you begin to whittle “Do you not love him, Melieent?” or whom, indeed, she would herself have chosen tionless, with his arms thrown above his head, „ ‘A'Y, , V on i ,“ cent - “They are now, while Harriet gets the guitar for mother to “I think I could die to make him happy,” she on any other occasion. Onlv last night she had his eyes closed and his hair and dress disordered, tor Neil and Munch. Ihey like pretty things as play a little for us, before I go to scale the fine answered. ' \ heard Frank remark in her presence, and evi- Dead—dead ! Oh ! could it be that he was really well as we do, and their poor little room is so mess of fish we’re to have for supper.” “ Then you love him, surely—do you not ?” dently for her benefit, that no really modest dead and lost to her forever ? bare. Do you know what we can do while they It was a pretty, home-like picture that was to She raised her eyes, suffused with tears, to his, young lady, knowing who McLean was, would Kate threw herself on her knees by the side are away fishing ? \\e will carry these things be seen on Hagar's porch a little while after- that he might read her answer in their mournful waltz with him. And this would be such a good ot the motionless form. She lifted his head and over to their room and fix it up some, they will wards, as the sunset slanted through the oak depths. opportunity of showing how little she cared for held it tenderly pressed to her breast as she think the fairies have been at work upon it. boughs and the humming-birds darted about “Alas!” she said, and bowed her face upon Frank Latimer and his opinion ! So she at once called his name. Harriet assented with alacrity. ^ She was will- among the late jessamines in Harriet’s garden. : her hand. j accepted the Colonel’s offer, and the next mo- " Frank ! oh, Frank, dearest, speak to me !— g to do any service for thej‘ Pretty Lady,” Melieent was the central figure, with her guitar , He drew the hand gently away, carried it to ment was whirling around to the strains of an only one word !”she sobbed; and bending down, •m close about her she kissed the pale forehead and pressed her nearly touching her cheek to his. pledge of our betrothal, as w-ell flusned cheek. * “Dearest, dearest Frank, speak one word— Poor Kate ! Never in her life had she felt so only one !” she plead again. “ Look at me ! Oh ! ashamed of herself, and it was with almost dis- tell me that you are not dead !” gust that as the waltz ceased she turned from Latimer’s eyes opened with a startled and halt- , o -—.Fapiind» her partner.. One. glance she gave in Latimer's conscious expression. .Now, let us go briskly to work and change stool, rapturously absorbed in the music, and ers.” direction, and caught his eye' bent upon her “ThankvGod!—oh ! thank God ! You are not the looks of things, said Melieent to her will- unconsciously keeping time to it by nodding “Then you will cast me oft' utterly?—you will with a look of grave surprise. The gravity did dead, my dearest! mg hand-maid. her head and disheveling the short black locks give yourself to him. tliongli there is no law that not quite leave him during the rest of the even- “Dead!” echoed Frank, wonderingly; “of rein and without a saddle dashed past them, ap parently half frantic with terror. “That is Major Trainor’s horse!” cried Ma rian; “the horse that Mr. Latimer rode this morning. Oh ! Kate, he must have been thrown and killed !” Kate's face became pale as marble. For an in stant she appeared as though she would have sunk to the ground; but the next she bravely, with an effort, recovered herself. “ Oh, John !” she gasped, “ run—run for your life—for a doctor!” And without another word she herself started off, following the path through the wood, marked by the deep hoof-prints of the affrighted horse. In three minutes she came in sight of “ The mg to do anv service tor the “Pretty Lady, Melieent was the central figure, with her guitar , He drew the hand gently away, carried it to ment was whirling around t< whom she worshipped as something more than upon her lap, her slender hand playing with its his lips, and then held it closely clasped in his. intoxicating waltz, his an mortal. She gathered up her arms lull ot things strings, the breeze lifting the light curls on her “ You have taken off your rings, my dearest,” waist and his mustached lip and followed Melieent to the little one-roomed forehead, and her eyes cast down, resting upon he said; “the pledge of our betrothal, as well flusned cheek. To work they went, and in an hour, feminine that Melieent had just smoothly curled, ingenuity and taste had transformed the cheer- Neil, with the piece of wood‘for the bracket less room into a pretty chamber, made tresh and carving in his hand, watched the group and lis- briglit-looking by the neat curtains hung at the tened to the music until his eves filled with windows and draped back with blue ribbons; tears. by the snow'y Marseilles counterpane cohering the bed, the bright rug laid down before the hearth, the small but choice pictures hung upon the wall, and the handsome chair and beautiful little table which Harriet had brought over at Melicent’s suggestion. To give the finishing touch of brightness to the little room, Melieent arranged a vase full of Harriet’s prettiest flow ers and set it upon the table. Melieent had taken more pleasure in these __ 0 , and she triumphed in the conviction that course not. But what is the matter, Kate she had succeeded in rendering him at least Eliott ?” uncomfortable. It had become a tacitly understood thing that Mr. Latimer should escort Miss Eliott home upon all occasions, and the gentlemen were obliges you to do so. The law would give you your freedom if ” “Is there no obligation higher than law?” she asked, rising and standing before him. “Is not duty above law, and gratitude above both? I How much she looked like Milly in that sim- would despise myself, I would be the veriest in- ple dress and with the simply-arranged hair! grate on earth, if I forsook him now, after all he therefore shy of intruding their offers of service, it he only dared ask her for one of those old has done and suffered because of me. I have So it happened that when he said, rather stiffly: songs they used to love to sing together, — “The blighted his life. I owe it to him, as the only “Shall I have the pleasure of seeing you home?” YVillow Tree,” or “Come, My Love, with Me!” reparation in my power, to honor and cherish she had no excuse of a pre-engagement. The request was trembling on his lips, when him with wifely duty as long as his life shall “I shall be sorry to trouble you,” she said Mancli, who had opened the music book that lay last.” closed on a chair before her, pointed to a song “And you will do this, Melieent?” and begged that she would sing it. “If he asks it of me,” she said, with gather- 81ie complied, but taltered and paused, and ing firmness. “This I have resolved upon—this “Cousin John will see me home. I would Miss sarcastically. “You know it is no trouble.” This was said rather coldly. Cousin John will see me home. Kate sprang to her feet as though she had re ceived a galvanic shock. Frank also ai’ose and vig orously brushed the dead leaves from his hair. “Has anything happened?" he inquired anx iously. “ You look so pale and frightened !” She was red enough now. “ I —I thought you were dead,” she stammered. “Dead !" “Your horse—we met him running away, without a saddle and with the rein broken.” “Oh !” said Frank, with a queer smile upon his lip; “I understand now. I tied him to that sapling there whilst I took a rest after my long simple arrangements for Neil s comfort than she seemed to regret having begun it. They urged is the only duty that seems clear to me in the not for the world deprive you of the pleasure of ®nd hot ride, which had given me a headache. had found in any occupation for many days She smiled almost joyously as she listened to Harriet’s delighted exclamations. “Won’t Neil think it’s grand? And won’t Mancli sleep like a bird in its nest when he lies in this nice bed ? Pretty Lady, I’ll run down in the field and bring mammy and Gabe to look at it?” her to continue, and she went on until she came to the last verse: “There comes no answer to my heart— Memory and hope are vain; I only know we live apart. And dare not love again.” future. And since I have resolved upon it, it is a moonlit walk with Miss Walton.” I must have fallen asleep unconsciously, and he best that we do not meet again, Aleck. It can Frank turned his eyes full upon hers. So, he no doubt became frightened at something—the result in no good to us, and it can but give pain thought, this was the cause of her singular and squirrels, probably and broke loose. another panu hitherto most unaccoulitable behavior. An ex- He stood looking at her flushed cl to him, and I must not cause him another pang that I can prevent.” “Is this your final decision, Melieent?” “It is. My conscience constrains me to abide by it.” It is well. I think vou have never loved me Here her voice broke into husky tones and her bosom heaved with stifled emotion. She rose “No, no. They will be coming home pres- hastily and went into her room. Manchglanced entlv. See, the shadows are grouing long, at Neil, and saw that he was deadly pale. Harriet truly, or you could not'talk so calmly about con- Lnng out jour knitting and let us go and sit on rose to follow Melieent, but Neil gently re- science and gratitude, knowing to what desola- tne porch jondei. I mil get the book with the strained her. tion your words consigned me. I will obev your pictures mid show tliem to \ou, ftud lend jou “^iie would rutlier lie n.lone, lie suid. wislies. I will not seek your presence u f, uin. the story I promised.” Then he walked off with the slow, listless step Farewell f’ And when Neil and Manch came home with that tells of a burdened heart. He clasped her cold hand an instant, let it fall their tish, they saw Harriet sitting at Melieent s * AAV * — x 1 ** 1 . their tisli, they saw Harriet sitting at Melieent s At this moment, a horseman rode up to the and looking once at her trembling lips that could of being jealous,” he said, almost severely, leet, the knitting dropped in her lap and^her gate, dismounted and came towards them. The not trust themselves to speak, he turned from ‘‘Jealous!” Sin large, deer-like eyes fastened intently on Meli- firm, quick step, the tall figure, the graceful ber and left the room. Then she sank down cent, who was reading aloud a fascinating fairy bearing, w*ere easily recognized. It was Mr. story, illustrated by colored pictures, which, Avery. He politely lifted his hat to Hagar, who being explained by Melieent as she read, were a had come in from the field and was standing on great help to the girl’s slender understanding, the porch. It is likely she was as much charmed by Meli- “1 wish to see Melieent,” he said. “Is she cent as bj* the story—by the music of her voice here?” and the graceful fall of her hair, and the beauty The old dame eyed him with a glance of dis- of her white throat encircled by its delicate like and suspicion. ruffle - all of which the girl, who had a passion- “What do you want with her ?” she asked at last, ate enjoyment of beauty, noted with the raptu- “You’ve got nothing to do with my son’s wife, rous admiration of a lover. She don’t belong with vou nor with vonr set.” where she stood, pressed her face upon the win dow ledge, and let her restrained feelings find vent in a burst of passionate weeping. Pres- entlj - some one knelt l\v her and softly put back the hair from her face, smoothing it with the gentlest touches as she whispered: “Pretty Lady, don't cry so. You'll break my heart. ” (TO BE CONTINUED.) cheek and of amusement flitted across his downcast eyes, and the slight smile of amuse ment changed to one of a softer expression. “I am really sorry that j - ou should have been alarmed; that is, I iconhl be ” She glanced up and understood him. “It makes no difference," she said, blushing crimson and turning away. But he caught her hand. “ It has made a great difference to me, Kate,” he murmured. She did not withdraw her hand, and he put his arm about her waist and drew her to him unresistingly. “I shall bless this hour as long as I live,” he whispered; “ for it has given me back the Kate that I loved. You will be yourself henceforth, darling, and not—Miss Eliott?" She looked up with ej'es glistening through tears, but with a smile trembling on her lip. “ If I had not thought j-ou really dead,” she said. “ l'ou would not have kissed me and culled me ‘darling Frank pression half countenance. “ Miss Walton is a very agreeable young lady,” he said. “Don’t j t ou think her prettj-?” “Pretty? Yes, to some tastes, no doubt. But I don’t admire a face with an eternal silly sim per, and great ej’es with no expresson, and a complexion that more resembles French carmine than any hue of nature.” Frank’s face became verj’ grave. Kate, I had believed j’ou above the weakness She glanced up install tlj\ “ Mr. Latimer, j-ou forget j’ourself when you presume to address me in this manner. And I must re mind j-ou that I do not allow every one to call me Kate !” “I beg j’our pardon, Miss Eliott.” She turned away with a statelj’ air. It was quite evident that with all his gravity and real annoj’ance, there was mingled a certain amuse ment, and this naturally added to her irritation. To be laughed at, and by him ! Riverside w’as very gaj’ that summer. Many “ How sweet she is !” said Manch, looking at Melicent's lovely figure, framed in the vine arch of the little porch. “And to think that she is “I have something to deliver to her.” “ Give it to me. I'll put it in her hands.” No, madame,” returned Mr. Avery with firm She tried to turn away her blushing face, but strangers were there, and parties and picnics E e took it in both hands, and raising her dim- \\ ashington, where General and excursions were the order of the (lav. And pled chin, kissed her over and over again, while at them all, Kate Eliott, one of the prettiest, all the little squirrels chattered in scandalized my mother!—a lady like her ! I can’t make it dignitj-; “I prefer to speak to her myself. I' At a party Butler was a guest, the hostess, glancing over the table, perceived his cup unfurnished with an important implement, of which he was supposed real to me somehow. I look at her. and look at have money from the sale of her furniture, which to appreciate the value. her. and she seems far oft’and above me, though I wish to pay over into her hands and take her “Why, General Butler, she exclaimed, in a she’s sweet and kind to me as can be. l’ou un- receipt for it. It is a matter of business.” little womanly gutter ot consternation, “haven t derstand. father—don’t you?” That word “business” is a potent talisman, you a spoon t Neil nodded in silence. He could not have It is allowed many privileges. It opens the “No, indeed, madame . quickly responded u spoken just then. He knew the feeling in all its most jealouslv-guarded doors and intrudes into ^ be General, springing from his seat w ith well wa y t never resenting her neglect, and still atten- bitterness. the sacredest privacy. It had ' ~ I,,, • ” ' “Seems to me—she ought to a' had a nicer upon Hagar. She hesitated an i chap for a son. One of them fair-faced, book- reluctantlj’waved her hand for the unwelcome tlo YL? ueneve me, you maj searen me : intimate in the familv and a favorite with all learned fellows with shin j-hair, what can read visitor to go in— indicating the door of Melicent’s off outlandish lingo like a top, and’s got g’ogra- room. He went up to it and knocked softlj-. phy and figgers at their tongue's end. I wish I Receiving no answer, he turned the handle of the wasn't sunburnt and my hair wasn't so unruly door and entered. She stood at the window, and I could read my new Robinson Crusoe with- her face averted from the door. She thought the out a bobble. But I'll learn yet: I'll do in j-best intruder was Harriet, and did not look around to please her, and maybe some day she won't be until he softlj’ called her name. At the sound ashamed of me. She saj’s she isn't now—and of his voice, she turned quickly around. His she likes me, I know she does. She likes j-ou. unexpected presence at that moment of weakness too, father: I see her brushing your coat so care- and emotion overcame her. She made a step ful the other day, when you left it off', and she forward and faltered, trembling in every limb, told me I must be loving and good to you He caught her wavering figure in his arias and alwaj-s, for j’ou were noble and true; them were held her for an instant close to his breast, look- her words,—noble and true." ing down into her face with passionate earnest- this.” As he prattled on in this fashion, he was help- ness. Then, as the color flowed to her cheeks ing his father spread his cast-net upon a clump and she opened her eyes, he silentlj’ placed her of myrtle bushes to drj-. in her chair bj’ the window and seated himself Then, turning to the well close bj\ he whirled beside her. the windlass briskly, and bringing up a bucket “Why did you come?” she asked reproaeh- of cool water, poured it over the fish that Neil fully. had turned out from the bag into the tub placed “Why did I come? Have I no heart? Have The laughter which greeted this spontaneous Kate’s brothers and sisters. But Kate herself sally “ may be better imagined than desenued. scarce h- noticed him. It is true she would sit and watch at her own window till she saw him Hall, a queer genius, had made frequent coming up the rose-bordered walk, and then she promises to his friends that he would put an would stand at the head of the stairs and listen end to himself. One stinging cold night he vowed he would go out and freeze to death. About eleven o'clock he returned shivering and snapping his fingers. and pretended to be the happiest and most light- i n S hearted creature upon earth. And j’et never in And when cousin John and two doctors and a her life had she been so miserable. * . couple of men bearing a shutter between them As for Frank himself, he went quietly on his rushed upon the scene, followed by a hurrying procession of about twenty or thirtj’ picnickians, thej’ discovered Mr. Frank Latimer coolly brushing the dust from his coat sleeves, while Miss Eliott was entirely absorbed in looking for violets amid the fern leaves. •• Oh ! Kate, I was scared half to death !” said Marian. “ I really thought Frank was killed,!” “Dear me; how silly !” said Kate. “So it was,” observed Annie Watson, with a sharp glance at the two. •“ Dead, indeed ! Why, I declare he looks more life-like than I’ve seen him for the last six weeks. And Kate hasn't been a bit frightened either; only see what to his voice as he conversed in the great, breezj’ hall with some member of the family. But she would never join them—onlj’ dress herselt taste- ,, m; . uli , fully and arrange her hair in the most becoming (i> . Whv don't" 5 vou freeze ?” asked a loving manner and pass through the hall with an air of color she has . relative. dignified indifference, on her way to get a book As thej-all walked back, amid much laughter “ Bj’ Jove !” said the pseudo suicide, “ when I from the librarj-. And all this just to show how freeze I mean to take a warmer night for it than little she thought of or cared lor him ! Such was the state of affairs when on a fine August daj' a grand picnic party was held at an and merriment, to the farm-house, where Wild fire was now happily secured, Kate whispered: “ But Miss Walton?” “She has been engaged to mj’ brother for I am afraid vou will come to want,” said an old half-ruined farm-house some miles distant nearlj- three months past.' Frank replied. I old lady to a j’oung gentleman. “I have come to want already,” was the reply; “I want your daughter.” A Squandered Y'outh. - from Riverside. Evervbodv was there except think I ought to tell you, Kate, though they Frank Latimer. The business of the Riverside wished it kept a secret until just before the mar- Bank, with which he was connected, required his riage. And Tom being awaj’, j'ou know it was presence elsewhere, and Kate Eliott, on herwaj- my duty to the picnic, had met him mounted upon a superb Kate nodded. under the well spout. Another bucket of water I no desire to know concerning the welfare of “Ah: five and twenty years ago, had I but planted seed* g ra y horse, journeving to a neighboring town. He “Can you forgive me, Frank?’ she murmured filled to brimming the white, scoured pail that one who was so lately my bride”— mv own—who r, „„,i ^ fr,ot had" grncefullv lifted his hat to the party in pass- penitently. And he replied by a pressure of the hung under the well-shed, and taking this in is still mv idol ?” How now I should enjov their shade, and see their fruit bad gracefullj* lilted his hat to the partj in pass swing in the breeze.” ing, and Kate had thought how handsome and penitent! j’. hand which rested on his arm.