Year: 1860

certain way that Morgan had, and in which
he was always joined heartily by his wife-my
own cousin, May Stevens that had been-a
way that troubled my curiosity much, until
the one eventful evening that it was satisfied
by hearing the reason why.


All that long sentence without telling what
that way was, or how he was joined IN 1t by
May


1t was simply this: that every time a word
was spoken that led to the period when Charley
Morgan first met my cousin May, they would
both laugh very heartily, but would always
refuse to tell at what they laughed. This was
certainly very provoking, and had little hes
itatiOn in telling them so-nOt once. but many
times-at which they laughed more heartily
than ever, and always ended by kissing each
other and looking very affectiOnate.


determined to have a solution Of the mat
ter If for no other reason than that it worried
me- l am but a woman, and having pleaded
to the possession of curiosity, see no reason
why that foible of my sex should elicit no
charity, and no reason why sometimes it should
not be INDUCED. With this resolution, set
forth one evening, when we three, Morgan,
May and myself, were drawn up before the
Ere and fairly settled for a talk. There was
no use mincing matters, was my first idea, and
with this thought dashed boldly in with


'sMr. Morgan'-I usually call him Charley,
but / was DESTROYS of showing that 1 was
really in earnest-'Mr Morgan, why do you
always laugh and look at May when the SUBJ
ject Of your first meeting with her is spoken
off,


This, 1 was sure was a simple question; and
yet instead of answering it in a simple 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
and solemn, which, in few moments, brought
them both round too looking the same way,
and then May spoke to me seriously, and said:


Cousin Jane, you take our laughing much
more earnestly than 1 thought you would 1t
Is only little memory between Ch Irley and
me that brings the laugh; to US it is droll re-
membrance, but, perhaps, in telling it, there
would be nothing to amuse any one.'


This explanation brought back my good hu-
NOR in an instant, and, with a 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,


well cousin Jane shall have that story,
May, and will tell it myself to her"


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


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


g You shall do no such thing, Madam May"
was Charley's laughing response, as he got up
and kissed May directly in the mouth, Just in
time to stop torrent of words that, in another
minute, would have poured out You shall
do no such thing. This time / shall have my
way and cousin Jane shall not have her curl
Osity excited any more without being salts
fed"


l saw there was to be a discussion on that
point, but l knew that, in some way, Charley
was sure to come OF victor 80, merely saying
that 1 would be back in few moments I
slipped out of the room, and walked 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 usual. AS 1 entered, Charley
drew up the rockingham, and, after seeing
me safely deposited in its depths said


- Now, cousin Jane, shall tell you the story
about how first met my wife


.. 1t is just five years ago this summer that
was granted exemption for one month from
my desk, and went down with my chum Hor-
ace Hyatt, to his fathers in old Monmouth
the garden Of that unjustly abused State New
Jersey. 1 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. should remember it for the
real true hospitality Of the Hyatt's; for the
solid old-time comfort Of the farm, and the
quiet way in which, within a couple of days
after my arrival, was put into possession of
it, and made to feel that il all belonged to me,
to do just what L pleased with. There were
plenty OF horses, and we rode; plenty Of fish
and we fshed; plenty of woodcock, and we shot
All this shall be spoken with proviso I say
we-by which, let it be understood, 1 do not
mean Horaee's two sisters Carrie and Nettie as
having participated in all these apOrts They
rode, 10 be sure-and charmingly they did il;
they fshed, 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 mplishment-they were charm
ing enough without it. am sure L shall excite
no jealousy by declaring that, with one excep-
II 6aU L
and Nettie Hyatt were the two most charming
girls had ever seen. and was Just hesitating
as to which Of them should fall desperately
in love with, when my calculations were all dis
turbed by an accident-fOr so / suppose must
call it-though really seeming like a special
Providence. What this was shall tell in the
best way know how.


For sJme days after my arrival at the farm
my curiosity had been much excited by the oc-
casional panegyric layished by the young Ia
dies upon a once schoolfellow Of their own, May
Stevens by name who was, according 70 their
highly ly-cOlOred account, the most perfect thing
in the shape Of woman, then living. I tried
TO persuade myself that nothing in that line
could surpass Carrie and Nettie; but still the
repetition Of this May Stevens haunted me,
and came like shadow across my new born
passion. / formed, at last, an imaginary May
Stevens; and do what L would, the figure was
with me. At last was worked into an agony
Of curiosity, and trembled with some great
purpose which should bring before me the OBJ
ject Of my thoughts and Of the two sisters coz
tinusl conversation. In what this would have
ended, 1t is impossible for me all this time to
say had not heard, one morning, as entered
the breakfast room, the startling words from
Nettie:


"And so she is coming at last I'm so glad,''


whether it was that the train of NV
thoughts was upon that point at the moment.
or what, cannot say; but knew directly The
whole matter. / saw Carrie with an omen let
ter in her hand, and coupling il with Nettie;.
words, knew that the hitherto only heard of
May Stevens was about to become a reality. T
had no need to ask questions. All the inform
alton was profered. May Stevens-the incom-
parable May-was to spend month at Hyatt's
and they were to expect her st any moment
though, as the letter read, she might not be
down for o week to come. A week lit was
an age, q century; and / was in futter of ex-
citement. Ny long standing passion, of nearly
two weeks duration, for Nettie and Carrie was
forgotten in an instant, and my whole mind
was absorbed in making the best figure pos
sible before this new queen With this idea