The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1855-10-26

must be.paid that day or they would be
turned out into the street.
Robert now bent his steps in this quarter,
ana lett the poor woman showering bless
ings upon his head, even. after he had lost
sight of her door. II was new but very
pleasurable sensation that the young Tracy
experienced on Elm street. He had never
before received SO much enjoyment from the
expenditure OF any sum of money, as from
this small amount. lie returned to his Of
flee, which might more appropriately have
been called his smoking room, and bepsn to
rummage over his law books. He really
read few passages in Blackstone, though 1
am afraid he did not giveit his undivided at
teniion. Not long after this came off a
grand soircc at Mrs. Raleighs, where Robert
Tracy became introduced TO Miss Flora Ma
son, and-to Miss Lizzie's iuexpressiblc annoy.
ance, to this girl, Just emancipatcd from
school, he paid most marked attention. She
was not pretty, but, aside from this, all he
had imagined her to be--a cheerful. spriglit-
ly, and unaffected girl, whom he had admi-
red very much and after that evening he
paid frequent visits to her fathers residence,
and as he came to know her better, it reuui-
red constant reflections on John to prevent
his actually falling in love with her.
The mystery was solved at last BIZ casual
inquiries he discovered that her cousin John
Somers, young lawyer, had recently gone
West. He was the rival, then, and from all
he could learn, every way worthy of her
Every body liked him and wished him well,
except Robert Tracy, and he, it must be con-
fessed, so far from joining the rest of man
kind in those good wishes, really at times
wished him worse things than the fever and
ague, though that would have been bad
enough forany ordinary degree of maligni-
ty. Yet notwithstanding Tracy's inhumsni-
ty towards John Somers, his benevolence
continued in active exercise in Elm-street.-
de found out and relieved many cases of
suffering, and assisted many in obtaining
situations, who were idle, not from indolence.
but from inability to get work.
So passed away more than year.
1t was just before Christmas, and Robert,
who was going to treat himself to making
the most useful presents he could procure to
his proteges, was just emerging from one of
those dwellings, where he had been to dis
cover what was most needed, when the sud-
den apparition Of Flora Mason. Just opposite,
rooted him to the spot
She, on her part, seemed equally aston
ished, but almost Immediately regained her
selfpossession, and exclaimed, Scan it be
possible that you, Mr.. Tracy, are the young
gentleman Of whom have heard so much
here 7"
Robert was silent she bushed, as il
caught in some disreputable act, but his
very looks confirmed Flora in her suspicious
"Bnt l have a grave charge to make
against you" she continued, laughing
I"You declared that Miss Flora sent you, so !
have been credibly informed by the good
people who have detailed the circumstance.
against you. When did send you, sir q
have no recollection of tue fact"
"Bnt you did, Miss Flora,' replied Rob
ert, in his turn recovering himself; and draw
ing out his letter which we have aIread,
read, and which he carried suspiciously nea
his heart, he handed it to the writer.
| 1t was now her turn, to blush, and cheeks
neck, and brow were crimson, as Rober
went on to tell her what an effect vt had up
on him. Heidi more~-he declared his love
for her, concluding, forgive this avowa
| Miss Flora; know how hopeless is my love
for you; vet vain as it is, / do not regret it
1t has reused the better part of my nature
and whateverin the future may be, L owe
to your influence. God bless you for that
May you be happy! Farewellr'
Lis voice was chokcd, and tears stood in
his eyes; he pressed her hand warmly and
turned away.
But Flora recalled him.
"Mr. Tracy" said she, "let me explain.-
This letter is not what you supposefs to be-
IL is nothing more nor less than school
composition, which lost in the street. Our
teacher, who had great many queer no.
tions, bid us all write lovc,lette one week
and this was mine"
"And John, interrupted Robert
Exists only in imagination" replied
Flora.
What Robert Tracy, said next, and what
Flora replied, il is quite unnecessary to re-
peat. Suffice it to say, that her first genu-
inc love.letter began, "My dear Robert" and
that even when they were old enough TO
have outlived the age of romance, a sedate
old married couple, they still cherished the
yellow, time-worn pages Of Flora's- first love-
letter.-Ihe Ladies' Visitor.
A little boy friend of ours, a few
day age, while coming down stairs,
A - ii - =. y