The mountain Democrat., 1863-05-30

ling, but year old baby isn't much COM
pany for man of thirty, you must admit
Besides, he is far better off under the low
ing care " <SY oI.s.e.s t"an 6e eVee< ~
with me-
True, said Monroe, twisting the quill
round and round his fingers. who's
that knocking? Letters, ch? Don't mind
me, open your correspondence
May complied, tearing open the envel-
opes and glancing carelessly over their
contents, until he came to the last one
As his eyes fell on it he uttered an excla-
nation Of astonishment
What a beauty 7 CALCULATED Monroe,
who. with the privileged impertinence Of
long established EtieNJsAlp, caught up the
letter as it fell from Raymonds hands
well, I'd just like to know what this
means, you sly scamp!
Upon my wOrd-upon my honor Char
ley, CALCULATED the astonished young man,
4 never saw the face before! cannot
imagine who she is, or how the picture
caINe beSep
NO message with it?
Not word but the direction is cer-
tainly plain enough-Captain Raymond
May, Philadelphia
We'll, | can only recommend to you to
wait patiently for time to solve the ques-
ton, said Monroe, rising. Come, do look
up for q moment from the enhancing pho
tograph, and give a fellow little atten-
toni want to know if you are going to
Mrs. Leaford's Saturday mighty
Yes-no-I dent know. | have not
made up my mind
All right; I'll call for you at nine to a
moment
Away went Monroe, leaving Raymond
May still bending over the fair counte-
nance which seemed to enchant him like
q dream.
The exotics in Mrs. Leaford's bay win.
dowS were in full blossom and brightness;
the fire, which one or two days cold had
rendered far from diSagreeable, even in
April, glowed cheerfully in the crate, and
half dozen young guests, matronized by
their pretty hostess and Mrs. Walter from
New York, were busy, some reading,
some chatting, and some engaged in the
very graceful mysteries Of embroidery and
crochet.
by the way, where is Virginia p asked
Mrs. Leaford, glancing around.
She will be down presently answered
her sister; she took her letters up stairs
10 read
That very instant Miss Lynne's light
touch fell on the door knob, and she came
into the room looking prettier than ever,
/ in white cashmere morning wrapper, re-
lievcd by the flutter Of blue ribbons.
Lizzie. she said, coming to her sisters
side, 4 have had the strangest adventure
this morning.
what do you mean ? inquired Mrs.
Waiter.
AS | opened one of my letters she
said, laughing in half pleased, half puz-
zled manner, out fell photograph! OF
course supposed it was one Of those l
had taken Of myself just before left New
York
WelI,' CALCULATED the eager chorus Of
listeners, and it vas
/ The prcttirSt baby you ever saw!' ex-
claimed Virginia, holding up the pictured
representation of our old acquaintance,
'baby Harry and her auditors pounced
ecstaticaIly upon it, uttering various very
feminine aJectiSes Of delight and admi-
ration.
Saturday M gnt arrived most propitious.
ly, Hith keen wind, brilliant starlight !;
and Mrs. LeafOrd's spacious rooms were
soon filed. Mr.. Monroe and Captain May
were among the later arrivals, and made
their way toward Mrs. Leaford as eklllfully
as they could through the mass Of crino-
line hich swaye1 around.
Here he is, Mrs. Lealordn exclaimed
Monroe, as at length he reached the lady
sought for. I've brought him according
to contract; but, do you believe, the lazy
fellow had cUiled up on a sofa for an eve
ming over his books! Ii it hadn't been
for my indefatigable efforts, you wouldn't
have seen hiIn here tonight
I'm sure I'm very much obliged to
you,' said Mrs. Leatord, laughing, Cap
tain May; the only amends you can make
for such an outrageous breach Of diScip-
line, is to be just as agreeable as you can
to my fair guests tonight. Miss Lynne,
let Inc present Captain May
As the young officer bowed low over
the extended hand OF the New York beau
ty, he was half uncertain whether he was
broad awake or wandering through the
mazcs of dream. There, before him,
stood the lovely reality Of that lovely pho
tograph, her .jetty hair wreathed with
pearls, and her dark beauty contraSted
with dress of the sOfteSt pink, with moss
roses at her belt.
If he had been in love before, his case
was hopeless now-desperate, irremedia-
| BILE!
How quickly the next two weeks few
by! 1t was not until the night before he
sailed that Captain Raymond May must
cred up courage to confess to Miss Lynne
that her similitude was in his possession
for, of course, that would necessarily
involve the surrender of precious proper
ty. But he felt that he must at length
tell her the truth and so, with sinking
heart, he marched up the broad marble
steps of Mrs. Leaford's mansion, and was
shown into q pretty little room opening
out of fragrant conservatory. AS he
awaited Miss Lynne's appearance, he nerv-
ously turned over the pages Of the gilded
volumes that lay on the table. One was
a Photographic album, and he glanced me-
chanically at the various faces there con-
tained, without really seeing them, until
suddenly the rosy face of his own little
Harry-Minnie' child-smiled up in his
own
why, is it possible? I must be mis-
taken