Year: 1869

iuluh NOu VIII ON SUI Aliiii


"Sorry. aunt? Sorry for what? Sorry
because have shaken off an engagement
that was becoming perfect slavery?"


mo, Alma; sorry because You have
grieved as noble heart as ever throbbed
sorry because You have trihed with sincere,
pure love. such IS il is given TO but tew
women to win"


But, Aunt Mary, youdo not know how
exacting and disagreeable Leon had be-
come"


How was he disagreeable, Alma?"


always scolding me"


''Scolding9 For what ,"


well, not exactly Sco,ding. but find.
ing fault, in his quiet way. don't know
but | could have borne it better if he had
flown into a rage, and given me real
scolding; but when he commences,
alma, dear" then know there is a
catalogue of faults and shortcomings aS
long as nv arm TO follow. The fact is,
Aunt Mary. Leon Harris is too good for
me. He ought to find saint. and l am
not one"


But, Alma, you have not told me now
the cause of your last quarrel, your rup-
tured engagement"


II hardly know myself"


"Alma, You cannot mean that you
have taken such step without grave
causc?"


lit was coming home last evening from
Mr.. Williams party. Leon sent me a
beautiful bouquet in the morning, and |
carried it TO the party. was dancing
with Mr.. Warren, when some chance
remark about flowers brought my bouquet
into notice. and Mr. Warren asked for q
flower. OF course there was lecture
waiting for me as we came home. One
word led to another, till finally | told him
that was weary of his continual fault
finding. and he had better look elsewhere
for a wife, who would combine all the
perfections of a saint with the patience OF
an angel. As for me, | was aware that
could never aspire TO the character.


alma! Alma! And YOU parted so?"


"Yes. We were just at home, so he
bade me farewell on the step, and went
away. But he will come back he always
does when we quarrel, though Ineyer did
90 50 far as that before"


And if he comes?"


Il shall repeat my decision. am
heartily tired OF his fault-fnding and
dictation. | won't be bound down so
strictly to guard ever word and look. |
am sure innocent fiirtations now and then
are not heinous crimes, but have TO be
called 10 an account for every one. lam
quite glad to be tree again."


And before the remonstrance she saw
in Aunt Mary's face could be uttered, the
wilful little beauty sped away to her own
room.


"Glad? OF course she was glad!n So
she said to herself hundred times that
day, wondering little, however, at a
dull, restless pain in her heart that would
not be driven back As the day faded
into the early twilight of a February
evening, she dressed herself carefully
saving in whispers to her heart, "He will
come back; and-and perhaps, if he is
really sorry, we will make up again"


So the blue silk he admired was put on
the pretty lace he loved nestled agains
the white throat; and when all else was
donned with an especial care, Alma
bethought her of her bouquet. She had
thrown it pettishly iuto corner in her
anger of the proceeding evening; but
perhaps there was one flower yet un-
faded. that she could put in amongst the
folds of her hair. Perhaps one OF the
scarlet geraniums he loved to see against
the glossy jetty braids, was yet bright
enough for ornament. Rather slowly the
young girl went to the corner where the
flowers lay upou the floor, and, lifting
them, sat down 10 search for one fresh
one.