Year: 1861

nour more 10 wander together. vi course you
don't want to 60 home.


" Well, as you please, Harry. Ralph and
l will go off to the pond in the cedar grove
and come back in about an hour. But say,
Harry, look here isn't this pretty Z" as she
spoke Sheheld out Ii little box for his inspection.
lie opened it, and disclosed pretty little ring
set with garnets. While he looked at it, AL
ice stopped over and with blush whispered
something into his ear, which made him to nv
keener sight quver in all that part of him that
was alive. 1t was but momentary, however,
for he restored the box, saying codIy Well,
l wish you both every happiness You will
lind me here when you return"


AS they walked slowly away, be followed
them with his eyes, then turned to me- They
are to be married next Suday," he said.


felt all the meaning Of his words. | pitt
ed him. Solitude is ueed to him at this mo-
ment will leave him. AS pulled out nv
watch and prepared for my departure, he said
to me: Il am exceedingly obliged to you, Sir
for your company, but want you to do me one
more favor before you leave. You are strong
and am light. Please take me to the giants
chair. | love to sit on it and dip my hand in
the salt wash of the sea-"
! But are you not afraid of slipping and
falling in ?" l asked for the giants chair was
Enthusiastically shaped rock few hundred
/ yards down the beach, around whose rugged
base the sea at high tide washed camorously
s. Ga no." he answered there is q cleft
in it where sit quite safely. Aud when Ralph
| and Alice come TO look for me | can easily
shout to them from where | am Do take me,
sir. il you please"


Of course obeyed his wishes lifted him
in my arms, and with Bob flying alongside of
US, carried him down 10 the huge old rock
which was regally draped in the rich brown
| tapestry of the sea. | found a comfortable,
dry, cleft in which | slowed him away, and
with promise to come anC see him the follow
ing day, left him, with Bob chattering away
| on his shoulder, gazing dreamily across at the
Connecticut shore


About an hour and three quarters after this,
| was stroiling down the road smoking my af-
terdnner cigar, when heard hurried steps be-
hind me, and the young man named Ralph raa
up pale and breathless.


For Gods sake sir, where did you leave
Harry ?" he cried. We can't find him any
where -


Oh you havn't looked on the giants
chair, then | took him there left him
snug and comfortable"


Bnt we have, sir. We know how fond
he was of sitting there, and when we missed
him from the meadow, concluded that he had
got you to carry him there. But there is no
sign of him, only the poor Bo5o.Ljuk Gyng
wildly over the spot where the rock dips into
the water and crying as if his heart would
break"


Not in the giants chair l cried, with IL
sick feeling about my heart Good God
he has drowned himself"


Drowned himself Why what for ?" ask
ed Ralph with the most uHfeigned astonsh-
ment.


" lie is. in love with his Cousin Alice and
you are to marry he next Sunday" was my
only reply.


The man was stunned. He saw it in an in
slant. All that secret and mysterious love
which had racked the heart of the poor Grip
pie, unknown to him or his betrothed, was laid
bare, he groaned and buried his face in his
This will kill Alice, sir" he said to me-
Come and help me to break it to her"


My conjecture was correct About week
after this the body of the poor paralytc was
washed ashore some miles down the beach,
holding with desperate clutch in one hand q
little daguerreotype of his Cousin Alice


And BOb-he missed the accustomed hand
For days after his masters death he used to
fly down to the old place in the meadow aud
hover around there, waiting for him who neY-
er more would come. This lasted for about
fortnight, when Ralph in passing by, found
the poor bird dead in the grass. which still
bore the impress of his masters form.