Arizona weekly enterprise., 1882-08-26

moment indulged in any such fond delu- sion, interrupted Jane in an ironical tone.
 This little episode between Jane and her step-mamma, seemingly so trivial, proved of the utmost importance to me. Driven to undertake my defense by the criticism of her imposing relative, Jane was led perversely to take an interest in me which I might otherwise have vainly striven to awaken, and I was rewarded on leaving with cordial invitation to call.
 was not slow in availing myself of the privilege, but the first time I went, and while I was sitting in the parlor, with my heart all in fiutter, waiting Jane to come down, the door opened, and who should walk in but the red headed youth. Here was situation. He coofiy stared at me. I fercely glared at him. He took no notice of this, but threw himself familiarly into chair and crossed his legs, as though he had come for the evening. This was more than I could stand.
 "Sir," I said, infamed with wrath and jealousy, there is one too many of us here. I came on invitation; if you are going to stay, I will leave"
 "Ehl Who the devH are you7" he exclaimed, with impudent song .fsoid.
 "I-I! No matter who I am, sir. gether, that's all r I cried, starting from my seat in transport.
 At this minute Jane came in. She shook hands cordially, smiled, and then, turning toward the red headed youth, said, "This is my brother, MT. Petit l bone 1"
 Mrs. Porter looked upon me from the first with a disapproval which rapidly ripened to aversion. As for me, may as we'll be candid and say at once that I was afraid of her. And with good cause; she was woman born to rule. She held the little doctor and his auburn son completely under her thumb. Jane was the only member of the family who dared withstand her. It was, perhaps, the consciousness of my shrinking dread of her step-mother that made Jane mere than usually gracious, and rendered my progress swift to degree that proved to my conservative temperament somewhat bewildering. As my ardor cooled before the prospect of daily encounter with this family Gorgon, Jane became, in turn, more tender and encouraging. In- deed, in after years, when Mrs. Petit bone and lat rare, very rare, intervals have indulged in little mutual, mutual let us say explanations-I have some times timidly hinted in self-defense that she did the lions share of the wooing for which have been instantly and per haps deservedly silenced by the unpal- atable avowal that she chad only mar ried me to spite her step-mother.
 What good ground there was for these mutual accusations may be best gathered from little conversation that took place between Jane and me one evening on the doorstep, 8 conversation which, I may say, sealed my fate.
 It was bright moonlight evening. We were sitting in the shadow of the porch. l was absently holding James hand.
 "Mr Pettibone," she said, suddenly, Chow long have we known each other?'
 "About three months, believe"
 "It seems ever so long. doesn't it?"
 "Well, ye-es it does"
 "It's because we've seen so much O each other"
 'sI dare say."
 "You've been here great deal haven't you?"
 "Have I?'
 Idropped Jane's hand with discom fited feeling. She let 1t rest on my arm and edged little nearer.
 "Why, yes; never had 8 gentleman call so often-that is, not lately"
 "I-Fm sorry," faltered.
 dispose it must look rather particu lar."
 "Eh! Why SOP" I inquired, with vague feeling of alarm. "Why, it might-that IS, folks migh say that you-you almost must meal something !"
 Jane's hand was again lying in mine though didn't put it there.
 "Mean-mean something?" echoed "Yes."
 , Jane's head was now leaning on m shoulder. I don't know how 1t haI 7 pened. I only know I had nc stirred.
 : But IT assure you I don't" , stammered, very much embarrassed.
 "What's that ?" cried Jane, sharply sitting bolt upright and withdrawing he hand violently. 2 "That is, should say-of course, do.n'
 There was now long silence, durin which Jane's head gradually sank to il former position.
 "You say, you-you do, MT. Pett
 bone?"
 "Do-L beg pardon-do what-ths
 is, Miss Porter ?"
 "Do-mean-something," whispere V Jane, encouragingly, from my shoulde 2 Suddenly, as by an electric thrill, I found my tongue. The vision of u ! step-mother vanished. IL all came ou f I talked away wildly and incoherentl. I I have often and often since wondered V V my own rashness, but the end of it a 4 was found myself holding Jane vel Y tightly about the waist, while her hes