Year: 1860

There was always mystery hanging
about certain way that Morgan had, and
in which he was always joined heartily 10y
his wife-my own cousin May Stevens
that had been--a way that troubled my Gu
riosity much, until the one cveutful evening
that it was satisfied by hearing the reason
why.


1t was simply this that every time q
word was spoken that led to the period
when Charley Morgan first met my cousin
May, they would both laugh very beartlIy;'
but wonld always refuse to tell at what
they laughed This was certainly very pro-
voking, and had little hesitation in telling
them so--uot once but many times-at
which they laughed more heartily than ever,
and always ended by kissing each other
and looking very alfcctionate.


determined to have a solution of the
matter, if for no other reason than that 1t
worried me. am but a woman, aud hav-
ing pleaded to the possession OF curiosity,
| see no reason why that foible of my sex
should elicit no charity, and no reUsou why
sometimes it should not be divulged. with
this resolution, set forth one evening, when
we three, Morgan, May and myself, were
drawn up before the fire and fairly settled
for talk. There was no use mincing mat
ters, was my first idea K with this thought
l dashed boldly in with


"Mr Morgan"-I usually call him Char.
ley, but | was desirous of showing that /
was really in earnest-"Mr. Morgan, why
do you always laugh and look at May when
the subject of your FIRST meeting with her
is spoken of ?"


This | was sure, was simple question;
and yet, instead of answering it in sim
pie way, they went back, both of them, on
the old plan, and laughed as though the
words l had just spoken were the very best
joke in the world / could do nothing, OF
course, but look grave aud solemn, which,
in few moments, brought them both to,
looking the same way, and then May spoke
to me seriously. and said:


"Cousin Jane, you take our laughing
much more earnestly than l thought you
would. 1t is only a little memory between
Charley and that brings the laugh to us
it is droll remembrance, but, perhaps, in
telling it, there would be nothing to amusc
any one"


This explanation brought back my good
humor in an instant aud, with smile, |
said


Now, May, this is really unkind of you;
for so long have you excited my curiosity
that, even were the story not worth telling,
you should tell it."


"Wel, cousin Jane shall have that story,
May I will tell it myself TO her"


At this declaration, l was surprised to
see May flush upto bright red, and break
out rather vehemently with


mo, Charley-that is really too bad I!
You shall not do it, sir. If cousin Jane is
to have the story, l will tell her myself"
And then, after a pause, she said, "When
we are alone"


"You shall do no snch thing, Madame
May" was Charley's laughing response,
''Yon shall do no such thing. This time |
shall have my way, and cousin Jane shall
not have her curiosity excited any more
without being satisfied"


saw there was to be q discussion on
that point, but knew that, in some way,
Charley was to come off victor; so |, mere
IL saving that l would be back in a few
minutes, stepped out of the room, and walk
ed about the garden until felt sure the
point was settled, when | went back, and
found Charley and May looking as happy
as birds, and laughing the old laugh as us,
ufl. As entered, Charley drew up the
rocking chair, and. after seeing me safely
deposited in its depths, said


NOW, cousin Jane, l shall tell you the
story about how first met my wife


1T is Just five years ago this summer
that was granted exemption for month
from nv desk, and went down with my
chum, Horace Hyatt, to his fathers in old
Monmouth, the garden of that unjustly
abnsed State, New Jersey. | should never
have forgotten that visit, even though had
not there met with an adventure that had
its influence on the whole future of my life.
I shonld remember it for the real, true hos
pitalty of the Hyatts for the solid, old
time comfort of the farm, aud the quiet
way in which, within couple Of days after
nv arrival, | was put into possession of it,
and made to feel that it all belonged to me,
to do lust what pleased with. There
were plenty of horses, and we rode; plenty
of Gsh and we fshed plenty of wood-cock,
and we shot. All this shall be spoken with
proviso. / say we-by which, let it be
understood, | do not mean Horace's two
sisters Carrie and Nettie, as having parti-
cipated in all these sports. They rode, to
be sure-and charmingly they did it they
6sbed. and | am obliged to confess were
much luckier than their guest. But they
did not shoot, though | shall not exult
over their lack of this accomplishment
;hey we're charming enough without it,
am sure | shall excite no jealousy by de.
cIarinc that, with one exception, which |
shall moi mention here, Carrie and Nettie
HYATT were the most charming girls that /
had ever seen, and was just hesitating as
to which of them | should fall desperately
in love with, when my calculations were all
disturbed by an aceident--for SO suppose
I must call it-though really seeming like
a special providence. What this vas,
shall tell in the best way know how.


For some days after my arrival at the
farm, my curiosity had been much excited
by the occasional panegyric laVished by the
voting ladies upon q once schoo-fellow Of
their own, May Stevens by name, who was,
according to their highly'colored account,
the most perfect thing in the shape of a