Year: 1859

folly of the animal, aping humanity in thus
earnestly striving after what would furnish no
| nourishment when obtained. But Alfred was
too young and too happy to moralize. The
| present moment was all-suffcient for him. and
stood still there in its fulneSs, unconnected with
past or future. This might have lasted long,
/ had not the child been attracted by the dove
shadows, and, looking up to watch the flight
of the birds, her eyes encountered the young
man. A whole heart full of sunshine was in
the smile with which he greeted her. But,
with a startled look, she turned quickly and ran
away; and the dog, still full of frolic, went
bounding by her SIDE AS Alfred tried to pur-
sue them, bough knocked off his hat With
out stopping to regain it. he sprang over q
hoy-hedge, and came in view of the veranda
of a house, just in time to see the fairy and
her dog disappear behind trellis covered with
the evergreen foliage of the Cherokee rose
Conscious of the improprety of pursuing her
farther, he paused to take breath. AS he pass
| ed his hand through his hair, tossed into mass
es by running against the wind, he heard
voice from the veranda exclaim -
Whittier so fast, Loo Loo ? Come here,
Loo Loo !"


Glancing upward, he saw a partriclan-look-
ing gentleman, in handsome morning gown,
of Oriental fashion, and slippers richly embroi-
dered. He was reclining on lounge, with
wreaths of smoke floating before him ; but see
ing the stranger he rose, and taking the am
ber-tubed cigar from his mouth, he said, half
laughingly


You seem to be in hot haste, Sir Pray,
what have you been hunting ?"
Alfred also laughed, as he replied


have been chasing charming little girl,
who would not be caught. Perhaps she is
your daughter Sir ?"


She as my daughter" rejoined the gentle
man. A pretty little WITCH is she not ? Will
you walk in, Sir ?"


Alfred thanked. him, and said that he was
in search Of Mr.. Duncan, whose residence
was in that neighborhood.


"I am Mr.. Duncan" replied the patrician.
Jack, go and fetch the gentleman's hat and
bring cigars"


A negro obeyed his orders, and, after smok-
! ing awhile on the veranda, the two gentlemen
walked round the grounds.
Once when they approached the house, they
heard the pattering of little feet aud Mr. Dun
can called out with tones of fondnesS


Come here, Loo Loo Come, darling,
and see the gentleman who has been running
after you ~


But the shy little fairy ran all the faster,
and Alfred saw nothing but the long red rib,
boaS of her gypsy hat, as they hoated behind
her on the wind.


| Declining a polite invitation to dine, he
walked back to the city. The impression on
his mind had been so vivid, that, as he walked
there rose before him vision of that graceful
arch with waiving vines, the :undulating flight
Of bo ell aI
tions of that beautiful child How would his
interest in the scene have deepened, could some
sibyl have fOretoId to him how closely the
Fates had interviewer the destinies of himself
and that lovely little one
When he entered the counting-room, he found
his employer in close conversation with Mr.
Grossman, wealthy cotton broker. This man
was but little more than thirty years Of age,
but the predomnance of animal propensities
was stamped upon his countenance with more
distinctness than is usual with sensualistS of
twice his age The oil of thousand hams
seemed oozing through his pimpled cheeks
his small gray eyes were set in his head like
the eyes of pig his mouth had the impress
sion of a satyr and his nose seemed perpetu-
ally smiling the savory prophecy of food. When
the clerk had delivered his message, he slap
ped him Familiarity on the shoulder, and then
said


So you've been out to Duncan's have you?
Pretty nest there at Pine Grove, and they say
he's got rare bird in it but he keeps her SO
close, that could never catch sight of her
Perhaps yOu did get peep Ell 2"


saw very beautiful child of Mr. Dun
cans" replied Alfred, but did not see his
wife"


THAT'S very likely" rejoined Grossman
because he never had any wife"


He said the little girl was his daughter,
and | naturally inferred that he had a wife"
replied Alfred.


That don't follow the course, my gosing,"
said the broker. You're green young man
You're green swear I'd give good deal
to get sight of Duncan's wench. She must be
deYiiiSh handsome, or he wouldn't keep her so
closen


Alfred Noble had always felt an instinct
antipatAy towards this man, who was often let
ting fall some remark that Jared harshly with
his romantic ideas of women-something that
seemed to insult the memories of a beloved
mother and sister gone to the spirit world
But he had never liked him less than at this
moment for the sly wink of bis eye. and the
expressive leer that accompanied bis coarse
words, were very disagreeable things to be as
sociated with that charming vision of the en-
circling doves and the innocent child.


SCENE II.


TINE passed away, and with it the average
share of changing events. Alfred Noble be-
came junior partner in the counting house
he had entered as clerk, and not long after
ward the elder partner died Left thus to rely
upon his own energy and enterprise, the young
man gradually extended his business, and
seemed in fair way to realize his favorite
dream of making fortune and returning to