Year: 1869

There are not many sadder eyes this
present year than those which looked
out from under the white forehead O
young Sylvia Farnham. And yet tht
wave of trouble and death and anguish
which has flown with such heavy
surge and coldness through so many
hearts of the land had passed her by
to all outward seeming, quite un-
touched.


Sylvia Farnham's mental ailment
was of that kind, talking over which
the best of US are apt to shrug little,
and say, "Nonsense!" So reluctant
we are to admit our belief of things
we do believe. We know how Sylvia
Farnham might sit bereaved, though
death had neither touched nor threat
ened the least of her beloved. Think
of the capacity for human tenderness
and devotion a gentle, clear-headed
girl will garner up from her own ma
ture and our literature in the years
which pass between sixteen and twenty
three. And fit seeks LAVISH outlet,
and is driven back ashamed, will not
the heart sink and quiver under the
sickening weight?


Sylvia had never been specially in
love, though she knew very well that,
as American girls go, her wedding
bells must ring before many years, if
at all, and she thought marriage the
"true state" as we all think, whether
we say it or not. Not long ago she
had observed among the Office signs of
the town new name, "Philip Flea
rem" and by and by she began to Gin
clude" its owner-a man firm of hand
and step, with eyes and voice passing
those of most men in clear, kindly
breadth and fullness.


Will you tell me the common result
of girl of Sylvia Farnham's stamp
seeing much of such man? The de-
mand of right soul for virtues like its
own being apparently fully met, how
about the human instincts the mobiles
truly feel? Wbatneed to goover the old
theme wherewith the sweet singers and
ready writers have found their best oc-
casion for all times?


. Sylvia and Elcaren had not very
long met at social gatherings, and
talked, and played c hess before, scarce
ly with her cognition-silently, and,
as it were, in the night-the food
gates felt the opening pressure, and the
tide of her whole life's love sci forth
in steady flow toward this one man.


And SO, reader, if you have been in
love, as you very probably have, you
will see how girl who had been cool
and stately as Diana for twenty three
years, could come to thrill and glow by
virtue of a single step, and voice, and
touch. She was afraid of herself, she
was coming to love himl How could
she, who had "detested" such things,
let her hand be retained so long in bis
the last time they parted? More easily,
clearly, than to have Withdrawn it
properly" away. l tell you there is
painfulness almost counterpoising
the bliss of that sort of incident The
high reserve of whole, pure maiden
hood can not be thrown of, though but
partially, with ease, even under rising
loves quickening light.


You having been in the state pre-
supposed. viii know how it was with
Sylvia after an event like the following.
She was, you win remember, in the
mood we have just discussed, entering
on a passion which at its full would
have thrown herself and the whole
world besides at the feet of this be-
loved. And yet, back of it all, was
the maiden delicacy grown doubly SEN
sitive, and ready to take keen alarm at
word.


1t was q social evening at Mr.. May
hew's. The parlors were fuii-the
talk and passing to and fro very brisk.
Not specially observed, as she thought
Elcaren was soon.at her side; but be-
fore long agsy little piece of the world,