Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-05-09

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far better off under the loving care of NV
sisters than he could be with me"
True, said Monroe, twist ug the quill
round and round bis fingers. "Wdo's
that knockin? Letters, Ell? Don't mind
me, open your correspondence
May complied, tearing open the euyel-
opes, and giancing carelessly over their
Enclosures, until he came to the last one.
AS his eyes fell on it he uttered an excla-
nation Of astonishment.
"What beauty" exclaimed Monroe
who with the privileged impertinence of
long established friendship, caught up tie
letter as it fell from Mays hands "Well
| I'd just like 10 know what this means,
you sly scamp"
~ pom my word-upon my honor"
| calculated the astonished young man, Il
never saw the face before cannot i'm
agiuc who she is, nor how the picture
came herer'
mo massage with it?"
"Not word But The direction is
certainly plain cnough-Captan Ray
mond May, Philadelphia"
- "Well, can only recommend to you
to wait patiently for time to solve the
question" said Monroe, rising. Come
10 look up for q moment from the en-
,hanting photograph, and give a follow
little attention. want to know if YOU
are agoing to Mrs. Leaford's Saturday
night"
"Yes-no-I don't know. 1 haven't
made up my mind"
"AIl right; III call for you at nine to
a moment"
Away went Monroe, leaving May still |
hnnIng over the fair conntenance which /
seemed to enehant him Ike a dream.
The eXotics in Mrs. Leaforl's bay win
dows were foIl blossom and brightness;
the fire. which one or two days had rem
dered far from disagreeable, even in
April, gIo@od cheorfuIly il the CRATE, and
half a dozen young guests, matronizod
by their pretty hostess and Mrs Waiter
from New York W ore busy, some read
ing, some chatting, and some engaged
in the graceful mysteries Of embroidery
and crotchet
"By the way, where is Virginia." ask
Ell Mrs. Leaford, giaucing round.
'She will be here presently, she took
her letters up stairs to real" answered
her sister.
That very instant Miss Lynno's light
touch fell on the door knob, add she came
into the room, looking pretier than ever
in a white cashmere morning wrapper,
relieved by the hutter Of blue ribbons.
"Lizzy," she SAID coming to her sisters
side, Il have had the strangest advent
uro this morning"
"What do you meanl" asked Mrs,
Walter.
CAS- l opened one Of my letters" she
said, laughing in q half pleased, half puz-
lied manner, ''ort fell a photograph Of
course l supposed it was the Que Of those
had taken Of myself just before left
New York"
"Weu," ejacalated the eager chorus of /
listeners, land it was" ,
The prettiest baby You ever saw :" |
exclaimed Virginia, holding W the pic i
ured representation Of our old acquain- /
ance, "Baby Harry" and her auditors /
pronounced ecstatically upon it. utteriny a
'arious femilino adjectiyeS O. de- ght t
md admiration. a
Saturday night arrived, most propiti- 0
,usly, with a keen wind. brilliant star
ight, and Mrs. LeaforJ's spacious rooms s
we're soon filled. Mr. Monroe and Capt. +,
DAY were among the later arrivals, aud 4
made their way towards Mrs. Leaford as Il
killfuIIy as they could through the mass y
f crinolne which swayed around a
"Here he is, Mrs Leaford !" said Mon, Y
oe, as at length he reached the lady fr
ought for q brought him according
) contract; but do you believe the lazy v
ellow had cooled up on a sofa for an eve st
ING over his books! If it hadn't been Ell
u my interchangeable efforts you wouldn't g
ave seen him tonight" III
"I'm much obliged to YOU" said Mrs. 7
eaford, laughing captain Nav, the ia
1ly amends you can make for such an NJ
ltrageous breach of discipline is to be o,
st..as agreeable as you can to my fair be
nests tonight. Miss Lynne, let me
'esent You to Captain May" W
AS the young officer bowed low over SO
e extended hand Of the New York or
,auty he was half uncertain whether he pc
as broad awake or wandering in mazas tic
q dream. There, before him, stood en-
g reality Of that lovely photograph, her tn
-ty hair wreathed with pearls and her al
rk beauty contrasted with dress of lea
fest pink, with moss roses at her belt. ter
If he had been in love before, his case los
as hopeless now-desperate, irremodi- sh'
lie! do
How quickly the next two weeks flew ' ms
p! 1t WAS not until the night before he u"
lied that Capt. May mustered up cour- TIA
c to confess to Miss Lynne that her
niltude was i'll his possesion-for, Of :
lrse, that would necessarily involve ed
2 surrender of precious property. But
felt that he must at length tell her sal
? truth; and so, with sinking heart, he te
arched up the broad marble steps of Dire
IS. Loaford's mansion, and was shown bay
o pretty little room, opening out of
fragrant conservatory. AS he waited
SIS LYnnes appearance, be nery0usIv ry