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A Story OF An American
BY MATTE DYER BRITTs.
CHATTER xxI.-(continued.)

Maggie's wedding day, the twelfth,
was very near at hand. Marcia's had
been expected month or six weeks
later, but Mr.. Louis was anxious to have
il come off earlier. There was reaso,I
for his haste beyond love for his ex-
pectant bride. The dropping state Of
Myra Leslie's health had become evil
dent to every one, and her family were
very anxious about her. All the old
grannies in the neighborhood predicted
that she was going into galloping con-
sumption.
Louis lie Dru knew--Sam, Lima and
Florence suspected--tbat Myra was
dropping with broken heart, but not
one of these four expressed an opinion
regarding the matter. Doubtless 1t in
tluenced Mr.. Louis in his desire for
haste So did little incident which took
place at Douglas Hall about this time.
Florence had no love for Louis---she
knew him to be villain as well as il
Vance had told her the whole story. But
of course she treated him with perfect
courtesy when she met him.
Florence was spending the day at the
hall with Marcia, who often invited her.
Marcia had always loved the noble girl.
She loved her even better now, because
she believed that Vance loved her. In
deed, the whole family, including the
sharp-sighted Mr.. Louis, Were under the
same mistake, just now-that Of believ-
ing Vance and Florence engaged
The two girls were in the parlor, with
Louis, when a message was brought to
Marcia that the dressmakers wanted her
upstairs. When she arose to obey the
summons, Florence. having no fancy for
9 tete-a-tete with Mr. Louis, rose also,
saying, LET me go, too"
Il was about asking you to excuse me
for little while" said lie Drn. II think
! will Indulge in short ride before din
ner.'
AS they left the room, Florence drew
her handkerchief from her pocket A
white paper huttered out with the bit of
cambria and fell to the floor. Florence
did not see it, but Mr.. Louis did. He
stopped, picked it up, and was about gal
lantiy 10 restore ii when his eye CHANGED
to catch postmark upon it. He quietly
waited until the girls had left the room,
and then looked at it.
II was an empty envelope, addressed
To Miss Florence Edwards, and post
marked New Haven, Conn. And Mr..
Louis recognized the handwriting as that
of Vance Douglas.
I'm the fiend's namer quoth Mr..
Louis, what is he doing there? I'll ven
ture the Squire doesn't know where he
Is Why didn't Miss Siyboots tell it,
when she knows they are anxious for
news from him? Now III put Marcia up
TO Il thing or two. What If he makes
discoveries there? Pshaw, he can't.
There's no danger. But all things con-
sidered, it may as well be best to make
matters safe before he comes home.
Wonder if can't manage it? Business
letters took him off--why shouldn't they
take me. TOO? I'll think Of it. I'll not
give missy this envelope, but put it
where she'll find it,"
He went back to, the chair in which
Florry had been sitting, aud dropped the
envelope where it had first fallen Then
he went out to keep the engagement,
which was not lonely ride, inasmuch as
he only rode as far as the woods on the
shore just below River View, where he
dismounted, tied his horse to tree, and
disappeared in the grove, where a blue
eyed girl was waiting for him with a
sorrowful heart.
1t Glanced that Florry had received
yance's last letter that morning, just as
she was starting for the hall. She had
hnrriedly glanced over IT, and slipped it
into her pocket, to re-read during the
day, not even taking time to put 1t into
the envelope. Lucky carelessness! which
saved Louis from reading the letter
which would inevitably put him on the
right track Florence came back into
the parlor before Marcia did, and then
she saw the envelope lying close to her
chair. She quickly picked it up, and her
face flushed as she saw what it was.
.'How careless l was to drop itv' she
said to herself. What if Louis had pick
ed it up? How glad am l found it
myself I'll make sure it doesn't drop
! again.
They were anxious, at the old hall, for
vance's return in time for Maggie's we'd
ding. At the supper table, the day after
Florry's visit, the Squire said, for the
tenth time, ut least:
Il wonder why our boy doesn't come,
or at least, write to us?'
'I'm afraid he is Sick" said Aunt
Madeleine. 1T isn't like Vance II stay
500
Marcia said nothing, nor did Louis,
just then; but as they walked to the par
Tor, after supper, he said:
Marcia did 1t never occur to You TO
ask Miss Edwards for news of Vancei
If were you, would ask her"
CHAPTER XXI.
The elegant parlors of the Leslie man
sion were brilliant with lights and odor-
GUS with fioHers AT an early hour they
were filed with ''fair women and brave