Year: 1862

The cook, however, who also acted as house- Keeper, was not inclined to make so light of the matter as these younger and more .thoughtless oenlzens of the household.

 For my part she said, T don't see any. tnlng to laugh at, and wonder that man st MT hazetts years should let himself be taken In such bare-faced manner; but it is q true saying, sure enough that there's no fool like an old fooll' -, Having thus expressed her sentiments with re. gard to her master, she continued to manifest her disapproval of the proceedings in the dining. room hSklndry vituperative remarks on widows in general, as a particular and distinct species of the human race.

 Well, but cook, it all happened accidentally said James, whatever comes of it.

 70, don't tell me-accidental, indeedi rlbe bound she knew very we'll who lived here, and did it on purpose to get her foot in, or else why door, should like to know. But it's jest iko them widders; there ain't one of 'em but is as artful as-I won't say who'

 In the meanwhile the tete.o-tete above was pro. gressing charmingly. Mr. Hazlett had not en. Joyed his midday reflection SO much for consid- erable time, and this was most extraordinary anomaly, for he would have shrunk almost with horror, or at least with nervous fear, from the bare thought of deliberately inviting lady to lunch with him alone; yet, now that Fate had brought this visitation so unexpectedly upon him, he did not feel it near so embarrassing as fancy would have depicted, had he known beforehand that such an event was actually about to take place. Yet he was not an unsocial man by na. ture neither did he entertain any of those heret- ical notions respecting the arts and wies of the fair sex that are so often cultivated in the minds of middle-aged bachelors like poisoned weeds, choking up and destroying the liberal and kindly sentiments that might lead them to adopt hap. pier state of both

 The two individuals brought so strangely to- gether. seemed to enjoy the joke amazingly. It was so Imaginable, and the amusement it created made them feel as if they had been acquainted with each other for ten years instead of ten min utes. .Ihe conversation ran into various chan. nels, and at length touched on the subject of matrimony.

 Yes, single life is all very we'll, said Mir. Hazstt, while man is on the right side of forty; but, after that, when he takes to his own hresde, he finds that he wants a companion. I begin to feel that way, assure you.

 Then why not make changer said the Ia. dy, with naircte that was quite fascinating

 Well, don't know. It wants some courage to rouse ones self out of old habits. Now what age would you take me to be?'

 This was delicate question. The lady did not like to answer it according to honest belief therefore she deducted about ten years from what she imagined to be the real sum total, and TO. piled

 'Forty-fve

 The gentleman smiled pleasantly He fele gratified, and drawing himself up with an air of selfsatisfaction said in tone that implied you will hardly believe t'-I am ffty-six.'

 Of course she expressed all the surprise that appeareI to be expected and although she was by no means designing person it would per- haps be going little too far to say that not thought entered her mind prejudicial to the fu- turr liberty of the old bachelor.

 Howeveral things must come to an end, as was now exempliied in the case of lunch and fog. The time devoted to the former had in deed been prolonged to an unusual length, and the sun was again visible in the form of a crini- son ball so Mrs. Cumley rose to depart and as she was putting on her gloves repeated her grate- full acknowledgements of :he polite attention she had met with in her difficulty.

 Will you allow my servant to get you a cabr ? said Mir. Hazett.

 Q, no, thank you. The dstance s so short can walk home very well. Good morning sir l assure you shall never forget your extreme kindness. Good bye'

 There was something in the sound of good bye that fell pleasantly on the ear of Mir. Haz- :! lett. He was unwilling to bid a final adieu to so charming person and with reckless disre. gard of probable consequences, he said boldly then and there---

 Will you permit me to have the honor of calling to enquire how you get homer

 To which she replied

 Q, you are very good A dubious answer that might be interpreted without any great strength of imagination. Yes you may come.

 As soon as she was gone, Mr. Hazlett sat down t. finish rea1ng the newspaper; but he did not find it nearly 50 enlivening as the widows cheerful talk; and Tn fact he had never felt 50 lonely as he did during the remainder af that eventful day.

 The question put by his lively entertaining guest-''lhen why not make changer recuP- red more than once to his mind and each time the mental response was-'She is quite right; there is no reason on earth why not

 x

 It was about tkree months after the adventure We have just related when handsome carriage and pair laden outside with travelling trunks portmanteaus and emblens of travellers return, ing from a journey drove up to a door in, Tor rington Square.

 4 smirking footman instantly came out and let down the steps of the vehicle from which alighted good looking midlle-aged gentleman who with smile and nod transferred his stick and rail~ap wrapper to the obsequious lackey while he assisted a lady in descending from the carriage.

 See to the luggage, James, he said {; then drawing the arm of his fair companion through his own he conducted her through the hall to the dining room where blazing fire and table laid out for a sumptuous repast betokened that their arrival was not unexpected

 The gentleman looked radiant and happy and as with beamng eyes he welcomed his smiling bride to her new home, he said, facetiously--

 But, after all, dear you must allow that 1t was 4 not you who was lost that day in the fog