Year: 1860

friends at home, 'as they are probably won
derng now, what has thus detained him.


You are going home then, Col, for a
visit 2 enquiries Mr.. Ashburton.


Yes sir, that was my design when l
started this morning, little dreaming of such
smash up and of being left to spend a
pleasant halliday with my friends Frank
and Minnie, and the honor of making the
acquaintance of the rest of their family


"Tis an i'll wind that blows nobody any
good, but Col. We are right glad to have
this sad accident, which has been so detri-
mental to so many, turn out so favorably
for u.s. Frank remarked. You were in
tending to pass by on the other side as did
the Levites Of old; but fate otherwise de-
cided. We are not, | see, indebted to you
Col, after all-twns the force of circum-
stances. That old engines haring up gives
us this treat. 1 am deeply obliged to
them assuredly, and will only settle the
matter amicably with you Col. with the
promise that you remain now over night,
and call and spend some days on your return
trip


'Of course he will not leave tonight
There is no special necessity is there, Col.
Lincolni We should be gratiied to have
you stop over" Mrs Ashberton said, to all
of which Mr. A. heartily responded. But
Minnie, who with one word could have de-
cided him, seems to be suddenly struck
speechless-at least she bears no part in
the tea-table chat, and her coldness almost
amounts to rudeness, the Col. is half inclin-
ed to think. He we'll understands the
seeming indifference and though he feels it
deeply, he cannot really blame her. He
is well aware that tho fault is his alone
A fault he has ever felt anxious to have for
given and forgotten, and which, for the past
few hours he has believed must be, if hap
piness ever cheered him again.


He felt little hesitancy when Frank so
cordially invited him to 90 home with him
this morning-a slight repugnance to meet
ing with his little fair haired friend, from
whom he had parted something over year
since, leaving such unfavorable impressions
for which there was not shade OF an excuse.
He had intended seeing her in the morning
before she left and telling her how sorry he
was, that he had no thought of thus wound
ing her, that it was only, on his part, play
ful Jest. He did not dream of arousing
little Minnie to such state of feeling
Surely he would not cause her an unhappy
moment for the world. He thought she
would, as usual, laugh it of, and thus beg


him, in her sweet, winning way to unite the


boat, and row her lightly over the sea-


This was what he expected, but we have
seen that it ended very differently. Unfor-
tunately for him, his business next morning
was unusually urgent, and such as demand
ed his immediate attention, and kept him
wholly occupied, so that he had not mo.
ment to give to his friends or even accompa-
ny them to the cars. So he lost the oppor


tunity of undoing the errors of the previous
evening, for the present, about which he
fumed and fretted, for little time, consider
ably. He often thought of writing Minnie
some explanation, but hearing soon after
through her cousins, that she was far away
at some distant boarding school, he conclud


ed it best to let the matter rest. His only
object at that time being to relieve Minnie's
injured, wounded feelings, to soothe them
as he would have done had she been hi;
little petted, darling sister whom she always
reminded him so much of. 1t was for this
he first became interested in her. She
seemed to bring back something of the ole
quiet Joy he used to feel when at home


with that little Nellie laughing, playing
dawning here and there like tiny blossom
of loneliness. The angels could not leave


it in so uncongenial cline, for fear it would
droop and wither, but bore it gently OIL
their bosoms to that heavenly land, wher'
we love to think of those who have gon


before. yes therep Col. Lincoln ofttime
exclaimed, Il shall perchance see her again


For that she basks in the light of God
own beaming smiles, and is one of tn
! brightest spirits there l have no doubt. No
| not single one. God grant I may NEE


her therer This then, was why he regret
f ted having hurt Minnie's feelings, and VIII,
he wished at that time to eradicate thos
, unpleasant impressions. On his part, ther
was nothing of love, other than as he woult
have loved any beautiful, winning, gentl
r child. Thus he looked on Minnie theI
and enjoyed the moments passed with hel


as he would have done, as he did thos
spent year or two since with his little fair


like sister. But now as he meets her S
changed, so beautifully changed, as he note
the finishing touches of the great sculptor
hand as he has with magic skill wrough
3 upon and completed, as it were, the casket
in which to leave for time the immorta
pearl of great price, until the Master call
. for it. There was woudrous beauty there
= Exquisite, almost inimitable. Col. Lincol
: thought as he stepped forward to greet tn
S fair vision which he soon felt was tn
t lovliest that ever before met him face t
: face: Gould this lovely creature be the Ii
b tie Minnie Ashberton he had so affronte
one year ago9 Was it possible one sho
Q year could thus change, thus beautify p
Surely she was very, very pretty. Il though
$ her exceedingly interesting, almost bewitcl
t ingly lovely then, but my brightest dream
S ne'er pictured such charms. So pureI


beautiful and divine in every form and fei
S ture.' If Col Lincoln had not loved befor
Q or if he thought so, he could think so L


longer from the moment Minnie entere
J, the largo drawing-room that morning an
# approached the handsome young Col. vii


such cold dignity extending her little viii
t ewelled hand, with one of her rare, swe
S smiles, which her utmost endeavors cou