Year: 1861

1t was very cold. and the wind blew
very brisk--so brisk that it blew down
the sign hanging in front!of Harry El-
Wells law office. Mr.. Elwell heard the
noise: and, as he was too poor to keep
a boy to order around he sprang down
the creeking stairs to sec what occa-
si"nedit. Soon he came up again, and:
arming himself with some nails, a
hammer and a chair, he descended to
fasten up the sign with Henry A. El-
we'll, Attorney at law shining on it in
large letters Of gold.


While thus engaged he did not see
the figure of little close yelled lady
who passed by him and ran lightly up
stairs into the office. After hammer
ing away some time, twic: hitting his
thumb and muttering something that
wasn't prayer, he followed the little la
dy up stairs. But Harry saw no lady
when he got there; the fact was, she
was hid in the little closit at the other
end of the Office, and never did that
office contain fairer specimen of that
beautiful flower called woman. The
very spiders knew there was something
beautiful there, for they ran out of
their holes in all directions; but fortu-
nately, did not touch the bare arm or
cheek of the pretty little Annie Clark,
the betrothed Of the young lawyer, who
she was now playfully watching through
the crack of the door.


Harry seems very busy she thought.
4 wonder what that letter is about that
ne is now writing; and, as if to an
swer her thought, Harry commenced
reading aloud:-'My dearest Fanny;
! cannot tell you all the love I feel for
you? You have told me that you doubt
my love. Q, Fanny, how can you
doubt it! What can | write to you to
convince you? In your letter you say
that there is report that am engag-
ed to another: I assure you that it is
false. 1 love you and you only, and
l am anxious to make you mine forever
as soon as you will name the day.
Your own true lovor.


The spiders in the closet altered their
opinion about the beauty of the newly
arrived inhabitant, who moved about so
restlessly that she destroyed several of
their habitations, and sent them sor-
rowing to their holes. Poor Annie,
she scarcely heard the merry laugh of
Master Harry, her heart was almost
bursting with anger and wounded love;
for she loved Harry dearly, and, to see
him write such letter to another near
ly maddened her. However, she man
aged to keep quiet until he left the
office to go to dinner, when she slipped
back the bolt and went down stairs,
very determined, but with heavier
heart than she had known in all her life.
Annie was the daughter of wealthy
farmer who resided in large white
house, as it was called, close by Har-
rys Office. Thither she went and sur
prised every one by locking herself up
in her room and refusing all admittance.
After supper was ershe stole down
stairs and walked quickly to the post
Office, which was also the store of the
village. After making few purchas-
es she managed to obtain look at the
letters recorded that day to 90 by the
evening mail. They were not many;
but amongst them was one directed to
Miss Fanny Bruce, of New York city,
and in Harry's we'll known hand wri-
ting. She knew that, for she had a
little bundle of letters tied round with
blue silk in her own desk, all directed
In the same bold clear hand, and sign
ed Harry A Newell. Annie's last hope
was now shattered, and, very pale. but
very proudly she walked home.


Mr.. Elwell came back from dinner
accompanied by hashy dressed young
gentleman. who smoked long cigar
with very professional air.


! T fhinE.' eaiA Harry Ct will fitch