, 1880-09-13
How We Met.
BY MARY BRENTW OOD.

! had been traveing all summer as
agent for business firm; and on this
Glorious September day l found my
self in the thriving city of Nj. l
happened to remember an old college
chun. a dentist, who had settled here;
and. as I was now on short vacation,
I determined to cali on him, and talk
over the happy days of auld lang syne.
I found him in pleasant. handsome
office, the same frank, whole sonled
nan that I had known and loved in the
0lden time.
We we're sitting in the Office talking
over old times when l said:
Are you and Annie married yet?'
The smile left his lips.
mo. To be honest with you, Sid !,
ane has long since married another
and for chat reason l am still an old
bachelor and always expect to be-
THAT is shame. But you do not
mean to tell me that any girl in her
right senses vould reject ycur suit?'
That is more than l can tell, as
nov, at forty, I can say that never
aTerea myself to any wo-nan. AS you
know, kept company with Annie for
awo years I loved her with my whole
soul, end was intending to ask her to
marry me when | had established a
good practice; but before that time la d
come she went to Framinghan to spend
the summer, and it was there she met
Douglas Dumont, and he won her
heart, and at last ber hand that was
seven years ago. l was wretched fer a
time. and cursed my folly for not
speaking; but time, the great pbysi-
clan, has almost worked miracle, and
/ only feel the sting once in while as
] do tonight"
The stalwart fellow arose and walked
ne floor to gain the mastery of his
emotions; and [ thought if Annie
could have known how deep and true
vas the love he had given, she must
have loved him in return.
And row." he said, again resuming
his seat, how does it happen that you
are still single?''
laughed and said:
@' To tell the truth, am in love with
phaptom-a will O tho wisp "a
summer dream--whateve you choose
to call her. Draw your chair little
nearer, and l will explain.
1.-THE first time | met this vision Of
ioveiiness was on one of the grandest
summer nights you ever saw. l was
going out on the Boston boat. The
sun had sunk in the west like great
ball of fire. Soon after, the full moon
Lit up the water with silvery light,
while our boat left long line of foam
on the bosom of old ocean. l was
sitting on deck, watching the white
sails in the distance, and thinking of
the glories of the night, when l be-
came conscious of the glance OF pal r
of dark eyes fastened upon nae. l
looked up and they were then with
drawn, while their owner, a lovely
young lady of twenty or more, ap-
peared to be intently watching the
foam -fecked water. 1t is not often that
I speak to a stranger, but there seemed
to be kind of magnetic attraction for
re about her which could not resist !;
and it did not seem as if we were
strangers, although I knew we had
never met before.
"I began a conversation by a few
commonplace remarks. She responded
pleasantly, with just Indifference
enough to make me exert myself to
draw her out. And then began one of
the pleasantest evenings of my life.
She was a lady in every sense of the
word, with a pretty independence OF
manner which showed she was capable
of taking care of herself. She was
we'll informed on all subjects, and en-
tered with so much zest and earnest
ness into what we were discussing that
she captivated me. / saw that her
beauty was no superficial charm, but OF
q deep, soul-growth that could never