, 1874-01-25

tho south, laden with the perfume OF flowers
and vines: and the insects hummed uuder loot,
and the trees were alive vltn Singing 1ltus; ~ ta
no traccs Of the man he sought, or, indeed, OF
either Of the three ..
tho sides Of the hills, but still fruitlessly. ;,
lie became anxious, and be hurried He had
which had brought Miss Alice and Willis TO the
same part Of the place. He dreaded that he
should find them together.
Another ha1f-hour passed by. he descended
rapidly steep incline, and passed a dense thick
ct, and Vas about to keep On down into the vai-
ley, when, on turning his head to look to the
right. ne behe:d Willis seated before h1a
easel
He vas Alone
Nassau turned about and walked toward him.
They exchanged cold salutations.
1T am glad that have found you," said Nas-
sau. II was searching for you"
"Rcauy! Then, in chat case, I sm glad that
you have found me-"
wish TO speak Of serious matter."
ttVery Nel."
at il about cur relations to each other, and
to Miss Alice"
"Ths old subject, eh :" said Willis, lightly.
'If you please to call it so, yes" returned the
"Weu7"
II wish to say barely. and without any
ia her Own heart, still belongs to me. aud not to
you.'
"That is conviction worth the havins-at
least for you. But what do you mean2" Willis
stopped Rs{ag With ms Ss1ihss; +
thnt what have observed in the past two weeks
has assured me that Miss Alice has been mado to
appear in q light which is an untrue one; that
she has been forced, by her love aud regard for
her aged fatLer, to seem acqniescent in plan
~ gs0H ar
heart"
"Come, come; what do you mean?" cried
Willis. with hsightening color. "Speak out. man.
Do not beat the bush! Do not be roundabout!
Come to the point!
"Your manner assures me that you understand
II take 1t that you insinunte that Miss Alice
has been deceiving mel"
II insinuate nothing OF the kind-pardon me-"
It was Eassau's turn to redden.
II say believe that you AaT6 been deemed
BY her father to be more fitting husband for
her than l. and that she has followed his incllna-
tions in favoring you, rather than hor OWL"
"That belief is not only absurd, but 1t is in
sulting. 1t is insulting to all Of os-to Miss
Alice to her father, and to myself"
"What do you found your belief upon?" de-
manded Willis, rising from his camp-chair.
"What grounds have you? What has ever hap
penod, to make you-'
II kno,o it" interrupted Nassau. in 3 Low,
rapid, and earnest voice; 1 know it. because
! have received many proofs OF her love for
me before you came here; and, inasmuch "a
/ know that Ste is as sincere and true as
woman ever Was, canuot admit suspicion that
her consideration for me- could be quickly and
totally displaced by consideration for another
person. It is clear thaE her father has great
regard for you. I do not quarrel With him
for that. You. no doubt, fill his idea Of
strength and character better than do.
Moreover, you are wealthy, and know the
world. II is entirely reasonable that he
bis treasure tLan Z Sill, I know that I. in
spite Of my shortcomings. have earned Miss
Alce's favor. Upon that depend for my hap
piness. shall strive to retain 1t IN spite Of AZ
obstacles. I should be worthless without it. It
alone can nervo me 10 perform the labors that
have set myself to perform, aud ahal cling to
it 10 long a. feel that it exists. must prove
to YOU, in some way, TINT it does exist l must
show you, by some means, that the smiles abe
gives to you are given IN obedienco to her
do not come from her heart. You must,
bo convinced, as mn convinced
that she does not love you. but that
sLe loves nc that 1t is the agony Of her inward
contentious between her heart and her sense OF
duty that have caused her cheeks 70 become 80
palli,l, her step so slow, and her voice 30 sad
This is not egotism in me. It ls not the empty
boasting Of vain man. or the wild talk OF a
Jealous ono- You and are opposed to each
other. think thai you have deceived yourself.
It is my simple aud imperative duty to u''decei'e
Hero Nassau paused. His voice had be-
run to trembto in spite OF himself Willis
eyes were f1ed, half scornfu}ly aud half pitying-
". upon him. For moment nothing WAS TO ba
heard but the rustic Of the leavea IN the wood.
the hum OF tho locusto, and tha faint Toice OF
the men in the meadows below.
ar;1a rySA 81UuQ8