The true Democrat., 1857-03-03
NO. 21.

surprise, and flush, deeper than the Crmea browning dyed his face.
 "JaHe. Miss Dixon! Is it really you? I un- derstood you were not here tonight" And what said as he clasped my hand, did not know, and never nave.
 "Wat moment" he murmured in haste, as he turned away with Kate; and after leading her to seat beside Nils. Dixon, he came back again, and would have gently pulled me out of my corner.
 "What do you want with Jane?" spoke up Miss Betsey, sharply. Let her be. She is as well here as any where else, especially after coming tonight in opposition to everybody.-- Go back to Kate; thought you were going to dance with her"
 Kate is in no hurry." he replied. "Tske my arm, Jane." And before had recovered my scattered senses, I was walking through the room with Sir Lionel. "Jane, you don't loo; well. You look thin and pale. You have not been happy
 "Not very,"I answered. "ThngS at home go crossways, l expect There are children now, hear. But to think that you should have been ensconced in that prison corner all the evening! l cannot make it out though, had seen every one present, I never even heard your name anuounced.- Why did you not come forward and speak to rue?''
 Miss Betsey took me there whom we came in. could not leave it without her."
 "Bessed Miss Betsey! I'll be even with her. l remember her tricks of old. Jane, did you wonder that you never heard from me!--aIl these years?
 "I did at first: not much afterwards. No: at all since you have been Sir Lionel"
 Il was trying to build up my tortunes--as l told you--but the construction got ou so slow. ly that was not justified in writing; and felt that had been anything but justified in hav- ing spoken to you what did. Matters are changed now" They were indeed, for me--since I last saw Lionel The hope of that hour had given place to the despair of chs. He did not speak and l, who felt the silence awkward. interrupt ed it at random.
 Have you come home to remain, Sir Li- onel?"
 e Yes. If my old friends will call me Lion el again, without the Sir"
 He looked at me poutedly. as he spoke, and l blushed deeply. We had wandered on, did not know where, far from the reception rooms.
 "Jane do you think my accession to wealth and position ought to change my friends to- wards me?'
 blushed again, stammered and did not an- l swer. Why did 1? Because there was that in 1 his manner, which had set my heart wildly 1 beating.
 "Has it changed you, Jane! How silent | you are. You know that when the fortunes | were built up Lionel Rupert was to want wife. ! I told you that wife--if hal my wish i should be no other than Jane Dixon: say so 1 still. You agreed with me then, Jane: will 1 you dissent now?' "But-may we 20 in here?" interrupted | in my agitation, for Lionel had opened the | door of small room, which had a blazing fire | but no lights, evidently one not meant for 1 guests.
 "May we! My dear you forget that am in my own house. This is to be my smoking sauctum. l hope you allow smoking, Jane" l could bear up no longer. l leaned my ] head on the table and wept happier tears than it had ever been my lot to shed. Lionel raised 1 il, thinking perhaps his breast was better resting place than tle- table, and then they ceased to how
 But your position is go changed now" whispered. "They will say that I am not { good enough for Sir Lionel Rupert"
 "I dare say they will-behind my back" laughed Lionel. "Especiaily Miss Betsey and 1 your fathers revered wife. But they dare not dictate to me, that's one comfort. Jane. am 1 the head of the clan"
 But Lionel--" /! "What, Jane?''
 I could not say. And Lionel took from my ! lips the kiss he had left upon them that far. ago day, and led me back to the rooms.