Year: 1863

lieutenant in the navy, from the three
years's cruise which he had just started
upon at the period Of our first meeting


Daily intercourse must have taught her that
l was only too anxious to serve and please
her; but she persisted in considering me a
rude, ungracious being, aud treated me
accordingly.


At last, amongst her admirers and she
had many-appeared one who seemed, to
my jealous eyes, more favored than the
rest. He ~as a fair, light whiskered,
mooth.spoken young gentleman, who
politeness and propriety. Miss Kitty used
him as foil to set off my supposed rude.
ness and want of amiability: she praised
his manner, his face, and his voice, until I
was well nigh distracted. Many troubled
hour have passed in my office, many a
long night have tossed to and fro upon
my pillow, pondering on some method
which might obliterate the bad impression
had made on Kitty. II was all in vain.
Sometimes. when had striven my best to
make her like me, would begin to hope
that had succeeded, and fancy kindness
in her eye and softness in her voice; but
the old spirit always broke out again, and
blighted all my dreams.


1t was just about this time that the cloud
which had been lowering above our land
so long burst over it in the black thunder
storm Of war. Our mother country called
| upon her sons for aid, and she was answer
ed. From the desk and counter, from the
workshop and the forge, went troops Cf
valiant hearts to battle for the right.
could not stand unmoved amidst the tumult,
and had no wish to do so. One night
frightened my aunt into Mysteries by max
ing my appearance in q captains uniform.
| had not thought Of Kitty Earle-fcr the
first time had forgotten her-and when,
ed, they found her lying senscless upon the
floor Of her own room, never thought of
ascribing her sorrow to my sudden
announcement: the thought was too ab-
surd.


In week We were to leave the city, and
| was very busy, so that saw her but once
in all that time. The night previous to our
departure went home, to bid them all
formal farewell for the last time, perhaps.
1t was solemn thought, and walked on
pensivcly, so absorbed in my own edita-
tons that did not even notice lady who
crossed my path just beside the fountain
in Madison Square, until she uttered my
name, and touched me on the arm. II was
Kitty Earle.


albert" she Mid-and there was not
one touch Of the old mockery in her voice
l-"Al lbert, is this ycu? am so glad that
have met you" Her beautiful face never
seemed so lovely as it did now, with that
softened light upon it, and when offered
my arm she took it frankly, and We walked
on together. Twilight had fallen-the
children and nurse. maids were all gone
home, and the place was very quiet. She
did not speak, and l was the first to break
the silence.


II leave to morrow" said. Il wonder
when shall returny'
l thought she drew little closer to me
as she answered-"Soon, hope"


You say that as if you meant it." I
said, bending down to look into her face.-
"Have you really forgiven me SO far?
should be glad to know it."


Her left hand lay within my own, and
her right one came slowly up and met it.
Yet still she did not speak. .....


"Let me hear it from your Own lips," l
said. ''Shall We be friends hereafter? Do
you quite forgive mei'


1T is you who should forgive" she
answered. II have used you shamefully
Listen 70 me, Albert All along I have
known you better than seemed to. I have
pleased myself with tormenting you.
have acted an unwomarly part. Yours
was slight offence, and punished it as
though it were a great one. If" and
here her voice broke down, and her eyes
filled with tears-"If you should never re-
turn, cannot forgive myself"


took the soft hand which had crept uI
to meet its fellow in my own. She did no,
draw it back. Ipressed my lips upon it
and she was not angry.


i kitty" burst forth, "dearcst, dearest
Kitty, you cannot tell the load that you
have taken from my heart To be de
spsed by you was almost mere than
could bear: to know you are my friend i.
bliss indeed"


liam your friend" she answered -"youl
true ard earnest friend"


, The shadows had deepencd about US, ant
in our walk we had come back again to th'
/ fountain. No one was near to see us, anC


my arm stole about her waist. "A frient
is very dear" l said, "but there is some
thing dearer. Willy be that dearer thing
to me, one day, kitty?'


could not sec her face, but needed n,
answer save the dropping OF her head upo,
my shoulder. My Aunt Briggs nearl.


went into Mysteries again from sheer de
, light, when led Kitty up to her chair al
; hour afterwards, and said-''rhis is IN,
r treasure, now, aunty. Take good care Of
{ until claim it of you."


: sit beside the camp fire now, and thinl
r Of that sweet night. A little blue veil lie
folded against my heart, beneath my sol
, der's uniform, and when Kitty gave it t
, me she whispered such sweet words that
I cannot write them here, but can only thinl
| of the happy day which is to come, if liz
! is spared to me until this war is over.
t TIE WAY or THE WoRLD.-We wer


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