The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-10-25

Tor you until your return. Tomorrow morn.
ing will put you in full possession Of my
views" ...'
My preparations were soon made. The
following day dned Mt the Banks. There
was no one present but the family. After
dinner l was invited to spend the evening
there, and rs Mr.. and Mrs Banks had short
visit to make, Dora was left to entertain me
until their return.
Now, ir there was any thing in the world
l would have given ten years OF my life for,
il was for teie-a.tee with Dora Banks
Without any sacrifice OF mine; and yet, now
that ! had it, what could say! l felt that
to make love to her-I being a comparative
ly poor clcrk-would be, under the circum.
stances, piece Of gross ingratitude and n
breach Of confidence. Yet what could | talk
about? We sat there, for some minutes after
the elder people had departed in embarrassed
silence. Dora was evidently waiting for me
to say something. and that added to my EN-.
barrassment. At length she took the initia'
tive.
"Your departure isa rather sudden deter
minatinn, Is it not, Mr.. Lovatt"
"Rather 50, Miss Dora-Ibes pardon Miss
Banks, ! mean."
A long pause, varied slightly by the very
loud ticking Of an ormolu clock on the
mantle. accompanied by terrible humping
under my waistcoat.
"There is not apt to be yellow.fever at Rio
at the season you arrive, Mr.. Lovatt"
30 no, not at ALL"
The young lady gavea long breath, as
though relieved. Another pause ensucd.
"IIave you been to the opera much, this
spring, Mr.. Lovatt?"
"No, Miss Banks-but once My duties
arc 80 aborious-so-thati Isl
Another pause, of great length. / began
to feel confused. I felt my face redden. !
stole glance at the lady. BY Jove! she
was blushing to the very roots other hair
Just then our eyes met.
Ten minutes after the conversation was
quite lively.
81 thonght OF you, sometimes, too" quoth
the lady. al recognized you the moment
you came into the house."
al had never forgotten you; and knew you
on the moment" quoth tho gentleman.
Now the moro violently bodies. charged
with electricity, are attracted to each other,
the moro violently they arc rcpelled. The
attraction between Dora and myself must
have been very strong in the first instance,
for at the sound of Mr.. Banks latch-key In
the door the two bodies aew hastily to the ex-
ofthe apartment; and when tho mer-
chant and his wife entered the.parlor, Loyatt
was glancing over some knicknacks on q
pier table between the front.windows, and
Dora Banks was turning over the pages Of q
at the piano near the other end
Of the room.
After an hours general conversation bid
the ladies farewel-the vessel leaving early
next morning. They accompanied me to the
loor, and somehow or other We got mixed
up, and felt the gentle pressure Of Dora's
fingers. in return for u squeeze that must
nearly have disabled her hand. IL thrilled
me from head to foot. But as walked
home grew very miserable. ] felt that |
had not acted rightly. I had violated all
INV fine promises to myself on tho first trial.
"Pepperidse Iovntt!" said ] TO myself,
s'you are rascal. Is this your gratitude to
AZ hpnest man, who has shown you such
favor? Making love clandcstinely to his
dear girl Pepperidge you
ought to be ashamed OF yourself Never
mind she will forget you-and you must
bc glad of It. What sweet girl she is
All, IL I were only rich !"
Next day I sailed. We arrived ut Rio
niter very short Passage, and our CORES.
ponden. proved to be right. The -four cano
at the very height Of tho market, and coaoe
was unusually low, Everything went swim
mingly and just a 1t was concluded perfect
aect OF vessels arrived and coffee advanced
But my confidence about the yellow fever
was misplaced. It caught me. and badly at
that. The ship remained a week later, and
was sufficiently better to be able to so on
board without danger.
We had been but few days at sea when
was able to walk the deck. II happened
In the course Of conversation that expressed
my regrets to the captain that We had no
chickens on board. I had taken strange
fancy for an omelct. r
"Lord bless you :" answered the old salt,
who had taken fancy to me frou the first
day, "ihai's easily made up. just wait a
few hours, and II the werthcr keeps good
we II stop at my poultry.yard."
That afternoon had an explanation Of
his speech, for We came in sight OF o small
island few miles from the coast, and made
for It. As we approached saw It to be q
nearly barren rock, about mile In length.
mostly white, with q few green patches an'
rising about fifty feet in the centre from the
.,,faee of the water. But what struck me
VA, the number Of .ca.birds upon It, scatter
~ =, n, surface or rising in clouds. A boat
80, lowered, and I went with the party
We had no difficulty in cfscting a landing |;
and while the rest were gathering eggs, ]
wandered ovef the island.
/, was singular place-singular from the
number OF birds, old and young. but more
c-.,c, the y,eculinr situntion OF the