The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-10-24

of your hospitable mansion just now ? O,
here he comes to speak for himself-the
Chevalier Charley Stanton!"
Agatha turned calmly to welcome the
new conner, and the keenest eye could
scarcely have discerned the deeper shade of
color that glowed on her delicate cheek, as
he quietly came forward to greet her.
''Fill your glasses, gentlemen" ex-
claimed Fitz Aubyn, holding high above
his head tiny chalice of engraven Bohe-
mian glass, trimming with crimson wine,
and let us drink to the health of our fair
hostess, Miss Agatha Milne.''
The impromtu toast was received with
general acc}amations of satisfaction, and
Fitz ABBY glanced around second time
to see if all had followed his injunctions,
ere he touched his lips to the glass.
Come, Stanton, no lack of chivalry
here; where's your glass?"
Il will drink Miss Mines health in clear
iced-water with the greatest pleasure, -
said Stanton, smiling; but never touch
wine.''
"Never touch wine ? and pray why
nOt?"
Because it is against my principles, :"
said Stanton, with quiet tirmness.
FitZ Aubyn curled his lip in cOntemptu-
GUS silence, which became several degrees
harder when a young man leaned forward
to interpose his word.
''Otfer it to him yourself, Miss Milne.
Surely he cannot be so lost to all sense of
gallantry as to refuse it from you, fair
hand!"
Agatha had grown very pale; but with
out speaking she filled one of the tiny
goblets, and held it towards Charles
Stanton.
''Will you not take it from me?"
Stanton looked at her with calm gravity.
Miss Milne, | should be coward, in
deed, did allow your persuasions to sway
me from the fixed principles which are the
guiding stars of my whole life
He bowed and withdrew. The glass fell
from Agatha's hand, and shivered into a
thousand sparkling fragments; she bit her
scarlet lip, until the blood started, with a
strange, sympathetic thrill of exultatiOn.
Had he wavered for an instant in his de-
termination, she would have despised him !.
:" y very poor investment, those horses
of mine, and all this behavior 0-td-good-
neutrality-suspicious., " muttered Fitz Aubyn,
about four weeks subsequently, as he strobe
into the brilliantly Illuminated salons of
the Club House. Here, waiter, glass
OF brandy and water-quick!"
''What's the matter, Fitz you look as
black as thunder cloud !" observed by
stander, who was leaning against marble
pillar and picking his teeth in most lei
surely and epicurean manner.
''The matter :? Do you remember that
magnificent Agatha Milne, the Queen of all
the Beauties %
''Of course | do she hasn't lost her
wits nor her property, hope?"
mo; but IRE lost the latter item pref
ty etfectually. Who do you suppose she
is going to marry %
Il am sure l cannot guess. Do tell
your news at once, and don't keep fellow
in suspense in this sort of way
''Well, she is going to become Mrs
Charley Stanton actually going to marry
a man with fossil aunt, and principles
that won't allow him to drink a glass of
wine! Bah the humbug that passes
current in this world
II could have prophesied as much be-
fore, my dear boy, if you would only have
done me the honor to listen to me, ''obser-
we'd the other, coolly unfolding the newspa-
per, so as to get at the inside columns
'You gay, dashing young fellows are all
very well as long as girl wants to amuse
herself; but when it comes to a lifelong
question, she's apt to prefer sofeman for
her husband"
Fitz Aubyn groansd deeply, but consid-
cred his position too precarious to be worth
arguing!
'But, Agatha, you never would tell me
,chy you didn't like him, and now you're
just as bad. Tell me, that's darling, why
you have changed your mind?"
And Agatha only laughed and crimsoned,
and made the same old provoking answer:
"Oh-because! %