, 1881-02-18

When he was left alone, the sergeant
drew his chair over to the window and
sat down there. He had scarcely done
SO when the door was opened, and q
Young girl entered the room. She did
not notice his presence there, for she
went over to the fire, and remained
standing before it. Her face was partly
turned toward him, and the sergeant
gaZed upon it with deepening interest.
1t told its own story, the sweet face
plainer than many words Is told that,
lovely as ii was, sorrowful tears had
married ITS gentle beauty and though
now a smile frightened over it, that smile
was the shadow of some pleasant memory,
and not the light of present Joy. A
domestic came in, and started when she
saw the young girl.
II thought you were up stairs, Miss
Amy"
Miss Matte wished to be left alone
for awhile, Nancy" she answered
"Oh,. Miss Amy, you oughtnt have
left hef alone. She might make way
with herself. l remember poor mother
telling of young lady who was going
to be made to marry man she didn't
like, and when they went up to call her,
they found her lying dead, she killed
herself miss, rather than marry him. To
be sure, Miss Matte, isn't forced TO mar
ry old Frazer-excuse me. Miss Amy,
but can't say mister to an old villain
like him-but any one can see it's kill
ing her All, Miss Amy, if Mr.. Harry
was here to-night-Well, if she isn't
gone w exclaimed Nancy; for at her last
words the young girl had hastily Quilted
the room. ''She's off like an arrow
whenever I mention Mr.. Harry to her.
Good Lord who is that 2" she cried,
springing back on perceiving the ser
geant.
Don't be frightened girl r' said he.
"Oh, the soldier! Goodness what a
fright you gave me!'
$50 there's going TO be a avoiding here
tonight, my grip" said the sergeant.
1.-The bridegroom is no favorite, I'm
| thinking"
The proverbial fascination of scarlet
coat disarmed Nency's prejudice against
the intruder, for she answered without
| hesitation,-
You're thinking right, then. Every
| thing has gone wrong. with the master of
late, and the last hundred pounds he
| had left he gave for q share in what he
heard was a salmon fishery near Rom
ford. The salmon turned out to be
| frogs, and then old Frazer kept lending
him money, and making him to do this
and that until the master had borrowed
seven hundred pounds of him! Then at
| once he came down on him for his
money, and either he must go to Bride
well or poor Miss Matte become his
| wife. And my darling young lady went
down on her knees to her father begging
him, for his and her mothers sake TO let
L I SI,1 IL, l,r.
| contented with him if ne was fifty times
| happy. But he could not be worse than
he is; he is as ugly as the big CORNISH
giant. It's my belief he'd sell the last
gray hair of his mothers head if he
could get farthing for it. My dear
young mistressl What husband he is
for YOU"
Nancy hid her face in her apron and
sobbed aloud.
1.-The old story" said the sergeant,
.''and to make it complete, my girl, your
young mistress should have another
lover whom she likes"
And so she has" sighed Nancy, drop
ping her apron and tear at the same
time. "A fine young gentleman, but
not farthing he can call his own. All.
Miss Matte and Mr.. Philip would have
made beautiful couple"
''Philipl" the sergeant repeated, in q
surprised tone.
'Philip what ?"
''Philip Blackstone"
"Philip Rackstonel Why, my girl,
soon after we marched into town, I
pressed shilling into his palm. Bless
me, if didn't think at the same time no
common trouble made him list"
"'ListP she exclaimed. "He kept his
word then; he said from the first he
didn't care what would become of him if
Miss Matte married. Oh, my gracious,
to 'listr'
"Well," said the sergeant, half sneer-
ingly, "it's my candid opinion that man
is fool who cannot meet with the spirit
of mans disappointment in love-"
''D'ye bear that ?" Nancy exclaimed,
her cheeks crimson with Indignation. ''I
knew a better and drawer man than ever
you saw. who couldn't bear disappoint~
ment in lover
''I doubt it." was the gallant reply.
doubt it! Wasn't he my masters
son, Mr.. Harry, Miss Mattie's brother
and Miss Amys lover. He was to be
sure, as wild as young colt, always up
to some frolic; and still, for all his wild
way every one uhcu hin. W HtneVer the
players came to town, you'd think he
was out of his senses for Joy. Now. the
master was always hard upon the players
calling them pack of idle vagabonds
and the like; and it didn't mend matters
| when he found out that Mr.. Harry went
on the stage one night, dressed like an
old witch. He's disgraced himself and
us, says he. and with my consent he
shall never marry Amy Bradley and
Miss Amy, who is the masters ward,
though she loved Mr.. Harry in her heart
said much the same thing, that she never
would marry a man she couldn't be
proud of; so, to make long story short,
Mr.. Harry ran away. This night, five
years ago, was the last time we saw him {;
but 1 can't help thinking he'd come
back and make all the poor hearts that
love him happy:
HE became player, dare say" the
sergeant said; 'just the kind of a life a
good-fOr. nothing like him would fancy.
And yet he might turn up one of these
fine days as rich as the great actor Wa--
den, who is to play here tomorrow
night, SO the bills say"