Year: 1859

who were in distress. He found many
warm friends among the young men Of the
village, who loved him for his kind heart
and pleasing manners. He was an agreeable
companion, and many were the parties Civ
en- by the young people of the place to all
of which he was an invited guest.


1t was on one of these occasions that he
first beheld the face and form of Isabella
Marvin. He was engaged in conversation
with friend, named Henry Wilton, who,
perceiying her, turned suddenly to Oscar
and said:


"By the way; Westbrook, there is Miss
Marvin, the belle of the place allow me to
introduce YOU


"With PLEASURE said Oscar.


The friends Immediately repaired to the
front of the room, where Isabella was, and
after the customary forms of introduction
had been gone through with, Wilton left
them to themselves, and the two were soon
engaged in conversation.


"You have not been long resident of
Stockdale, [ understand" said Isabella.


"But short time has elapsed since first
[ came here, it is true, yet I have found
both the place and the people so agreeable
that feel almost as much at home as though
I had lived here all my life, replied Oscar.


Il am glad you find the place SO agreea-
BILE. l doubt not you have made many
friends since you came among u.s."


Il am happy to say that have" replied
Oscar, naming several young men of the
village whose acquaintance he had formed.
''You, [ believe, are native of Stockdale,
Miss Marvin %


II AMI was born and raised here; am
familiar with every spot for miles round
My mother died here, and lies buried in the
church-yard near the foot of the lane I
don't think [ could ever feel contented away
from here"


The conversation was here interrupted by
the appearance of Morton Baxter, who has
| tily advanced to Isabella's side, and allow
ing his indignation to get the better of his
discretion, he said angrily, and in tone
loud enough to be heard by Oscar, whom at
the same time he regarded with an impu-
dent stare:


Miss Marvin, [ think your conduct in
thus engaging in conversation with man
who Is almost perfect stranger to you IS.
to say the least of it, very unbecoming you
as lady, and you are, in my opinion, max
ing yourself entirely too familiar on so short
an acquaintance as yours has BEEN"


"Why surely, Morton, you cannot be so
selfish as to wish to deprive me of the pri-
vilege of indulging in a. conversation with a
friend,' said Isabella, who having never
seen him display so much temper before,
Was greatly astOniShed thernat


CA friend, indeed" said Baxter. "You
soon make friends. [ suppose he has be-
come quite enamored of you, during your
pleasant conversation.


"Mr. Baxter" said Isabella-a painful
suspicion at the same time crossing her mind
that perhaps report had not been so much at
fault in regard to Baxter's character as she
had at first supposed you do me injustice,
and by your accusations you are liable to
compromise both Mr.. Westbrook and my
self | do not acknowledge your right to
dictate to me whom I shall converse or as
sociate with; [ am not answerable to you
for my conduct"


sIndeed," said Baxter; ''then [ suppose
[ am to infer from that, that you will make
friends of whom you please, without regard
to what [ may say, but we'll see, my lady,
we'll see. Time will show


eyes, we will see" said Isabella, draw
ing her fine finger up to its full height, the
rich blood mantling her forehead; "time
will show that you Morton Baxter, who
have thus presumed to take upon yourself
the office of my guardian, will never have
it in your power to control my actions
You have this night opened your heart, and
revealed your character in its true light. [
now release you from all claims I may have
upon you, and shall expect you to do the
same by me- From this time henceforth,
all intercourse must and shall cease"


''Hussy!" said Baxter, in voice hoarse
with rage; "Hussy, how dare you answer
me thus ? how dare you"


desist," said Mr. Westbrook, who now
thought it time to interfere. II deem it
my duty to protect this lady from your in
suits. You are unreasonable; you are ex-
ercising an authority which you have no
right to. entreat you to leave for the
present, and when you are yourself again,
she will, have no doubt, be willing to lis
ten to any reparation you may desire to
make. Go I beseech you


If Baxter was angry before, he was now
doubly so, and with face almost black with
rage, he turned to Oscar and roared out. =.


"Who are you, you meddlesome, insig-
nifcant upstart, that dare to interfere with
me? You deem it your duty to protect
Miss Marvin from insults, do you? Try it,
if you dare, you rascal, and I'll break every
bone in your BODY


"Mr. Baxter, go away, I beg of you, you
are angry and excited, and know not what
you say or do. have no desire to pick up
a quarrel with you, yet I would be unwor