Year: 1864

trees and vines, and rocks-a silvery brook
with willows dropping over the edge, as il
to catch passing kiss as the bright, pure
wavelets, laughed and gurgled by. And
there were overhead bright patches Of blue
sky, and white floating clouds, and sunshine
that came down in golden sheen" resting
lingering amid the soft curls Of Hattie Clyde,
as standing coquettishly upon a fallen limb
that spanned the narrow stream, shs tossed
1 the boquet of delicate forget-me-nots she
had but just arranged to Harry Wilde. the
boy lover. who, standing upon the bank,
gazed admiringly upon her.


| Then you leave US to orrow, Harry?-
1 am sorry, for 1 shall have no one to ac-
company me in my rambles-no one to res
cue me if should happen to take notion
to drop down into the fearful vortex of this
half-foot whirlpool here beneath me, that
works the mischief with the dried leaves,
| and fiowe rs. and sticks, and everything else
that comes within its terrible power. But
you won't forget us. Harry; and after you
have grown wise and great or in other
words have mastered the science. and be-
come modern Esculapius, you will return,
that we may see how the title of M. D.,
becomes you; will you not?


A smile half serious cured the han dsome
lip of the young man. and it was evident
that the playful remarks of the sweet girl
had nearly called out a confession of some
thing Of which the time had not yet come
to speak, and that it was with a strong ef-
fort that the words were withheld.


You do me injustice. Hattie. he said, to
even insinuate that l could tor a moment
forget the home of my childhood and the
many tender associations with which its
memory is linked.


The tone was sad, and its effect upon the
irl anfa oh 10
springiug to his side, she laid her small fair
hand upon his arm, and looking up into his
face with world Of tender sympathy, said:


/ know you will not forget. Harry; and l
was thoughtless to hint at the possibility Of
such thing, saddening by doubts the last
hours OF your stay. Come. let US go home,
and l will play you the new air to the
words,


He has left me in this wide world alone!
That will be Appropriate for the occasion,
won't it?


And linking her arm in his, the two
walked slowly homeward, the heart of Hat
tie Clyde feeling more the inevitable part
ing than the careless words would imply.





] don't like him, and wish was dead


Strange words those for the lips of a
young. beautiful woman to frame upon the
last eve of her childhood. Yet the excl4-
nation burst bitterly from those of Hattie
Clyde, sitting in her pleasant room, the
small hands clencbed wildly. the dark eyes
revealing the terrible agony that was
scorching up the freshness of her heart, she
gazed upon the open letter lying upon the
desk before her.


What was it? What experience has
come to the young girl, who, long before,
had chatted with Harry Waldo beside the
silvery forest streamletf


Three years had passed since then. and
in all that time not one line or word had
come to gladden. the heart of HA title Clyde,
with the conviction that the one whom she
loved, with depth and fervency rivaliug
that of the angels, had not forgotten.


There had been between them 10 spoken
words of affection-there was no bond bind
ing them sach to each, but beneath the stars
they had looked into eyes that spoke and
read thsre the secrets OF the heart; and 70:
days after the parting it had seemed that
the brightness OF the sun was dimmed, that
the beauty OF earth had departed, and there
was no more Joy,


Weeks and months few by, and the fral
blossoms of Hope, watered by the tears Of
Hattie Clyde, dropped and withered, and
the agouizing conviction forced itself upon
her soul that she was the unhappy victim
Of misplaced love, that she had deceived
herself and that Harry had never thought
of her, save as sister; that it was her own
overwrought imae ination thath had conceived
the idea that other emotions than that
OF friendship had ever warmed his heart
There was no reproach for Harry-no tear
ful complaints. Only deep sorrow buried
in gentle heart, which tim aalthongh it
cured not softsned the poignancy ofangnish,
and breathed upon the suffering spirit the
holy calm of resignation; aud when two
years had gone by. the handsome, talented,
wealthy lawyer, Edwin Thorn sought her
hand in marriage, with a sigh for he sweet
dream of early grlhood, she gave a reluc-
taDs consent, and they were affiance1 lovers


But alas for the peace OF the pure minded
girl. The day preceding the solemniza'ion
of the tie that was to bind the Two in silken
letters, there came a letter. 1t was from
Harry Wide. Glad aud hopeful in its
tone, apoIogizing briefly for his long alb
sence, offering as an excuse his delicate
health, and the fear that correspondence
might add to the attachment existing te
tween them, and hopes be raised n the
bsart oftheswee: girl he had ever loVeo
only to be blasted by the chilling irosts of
death. ".


The letter was long, earnest, hopeful,
speaking OF mis- newly recovered health, the
completion of his studies, his success in
practice, and finished by making her
formal offer of his heart and hand aud the
promise to visit her at an early day.


Too latei The morrow would see her
the wife Of Edwin Thorne, and with tears
sueaming down her pale cheeks, she kissed
over and over the letter that had come but
TO open anew wounds she had striven to be-
lieve Were forever healed. All the linger-
ipg affection in her nature for Harry Wilde
broke forth. and with it corresponding dis
like for the man whom she felt. in the first,
wild burst of grief. had come bstween her