Year: 1860

"Come now, Ralph"


And the lady sprang up with blush and q
frown, and little hutter of smile, while the
slipper which she was embroidering dropped
to the floor


'Well, hang id you've no business to look
so pretty that fellow cant help kissing
you."


And he stood there, with his handsome,
saucy face, his bright, amused eyes, his jaunty
air, and the half mischievous, half pentent
look which he had taken on for the occasion


She tried to look serious and dignifed, as
became wife of three years standing.
| Cousin Ralph, you forget that we are no
longer children, and that it is MT quite proper
that you should be $3.50 rude"
| ut s fact, May" gently seating her, and
picking up the slipper; "but looking at you
sitting there as came past the window, with
your face bent down over your work, and your
curls huttering about it, quite forgot that
you were anything but May Darling, and /
Ralph Upham your boy lover, who used to
| tease you from morning until night, and end
by loving you better than ever You have
the sweet face that used to laugh out on me
from betwixt the lilac bushes, at the old south
window at Uncle Jacobs; and only thought
Of this when l kissed il"
His words had touched some secret chord
of memory and feeling-you would have seen
that by the tremulous shadows which went
over the sweet face-by the small faint sigh
that futtered out of the lips red as a stem Of
ripe ourrants


He had seated himself by her side, and had
caught the tassels of her dressng-gown, and
was swinging them back and forth while he
talked.


"Those we're pleasant times Ralph but
perhaps its as well now, not to talk of the
past


"Why not, pray2 There is nothing, surely
in that fair picture lying away back in the
memories of both our hearts, that we shall
not recall it together, ="


"Oh, Ralph, you haven't lost your old trick
of talking everybody into Just yonr way of
thinking" and this time the lady looked up
and smiled in her companions face but
there was little shadow Of doubt and pain in |
the smile


" And you haven't lost your old face May
Darling, with, its childlil1e, wishful look-the |
dear, sweet face that was the angel of my |
boyhood and youth "


He was stroking the glossy golden hair now,
with that sort Of restless grace with which |
Ralph Upham always did everything


A deep flush mounted to the lady's brow. |
q" Oh Ralph, you must not talk TO me in that |
wayl" and she moved uneasily.


81 beg your pardon, May, but how in the |
world can help forgetting every other minute
that you are the wife of another mani BY the |
by, l want to hear something of this husband |
of yours. shall always owe him n grudge |
for cutting me out; but then he must be an in
carnaton Of all excellencies TO have found his |
way into that best room of that little heart


He is a good, true, noble man; and he
l. L -


She spoke the words out strong and brave
ly, as though they expressed settled convic-
ton Of her heart


~ am glad TO hear it, May Whatever
scapegrace l may have been in times gone by,
my heart has always cherished the warmest
desires for your happiness"


He saw these words had their effect and |
continued after a little pause, "Well, tell me
something further about this husband of yours
Is he handsomeG'


The world calls him a most promising
young lawyer Really, May you can have
nothing more TO wish for r watching her face
with his bright keen eyes.


'No-oh, no; nothingl'


She spoke quick and emphatieally, but not
exactly with enthusiasm


well Pm satisfied now, May respecting
your life-fully, entirely and / need not tell
you how my heart reIoices IN this


"You are very kind, Ralph" and now she
looked up and smiled openly and warmly in
his face


II was at WinsteAd last week. Tie old place
looks Just as Il used TO-"


This was opening into great storehouse
of old memories and associations-Mrs. Deni-
sons thoughts instantly leaped forth to grasp
them, for she was an impulsye little creature
and she sat bV the sitting room window with
her cousin that summer morning, and talked
OF her childhood, and walked amid the scenes
which they two hadliyed together Her cousin
led her adroitly up and down the green, fra
grant passages Of her youth--he spoke of frol-
les in the helds, and berryings in the woods
and sails on the pond


He flashed up before her the old winter
evenings at the brown parsonage, with their
cracking birch fires, their piles Of nuts and
apples. The years Of the pastwere his loom,
and like skilfnl weaver he shot out Of it Just