Year: 1861

Lou Will attend the receplOn upon
T Thursday evening, to please ME, will you
not, Mildred? p


81 would like to do anything within
reasonable limits to please you, Richard !;
and tell you frankly, that my only reason
for declining the pleasure is that very ia,
nous one given by Miss Flora McFlimsey
upon similar occasion. TO her loyer-I
have really and truly, nothing to wear


Now, Mildred, l thought you girl of
more sense"


Did you? know better than you do
yourself, sir, that you like to see me at
least respectfully dressed, and that you
would not object to see me adorned as
others of my SEX age and position in So
ciety are adorned. In fact, your pride
would be hurt by"


Of course should love to see your
beauty enhanced dearest Mildred, to the
utmost supercilious judges would confess
its superiority; at the same time, am
proud to believe that it is Of character
which needs not the foreign aid Of orna.
ment and that your own sweet manners
viii! compensate for almost any Deficiencies
of the toilet


Even for that rusty blue silk, which
you have seen me wear a thousand times,
and which has been remoddled and re.
trimmed until it is reduced to the last ex-
tremity? lauged the arched voice. Sc
| riously, that is what | will be compelled
to wear il GO My white Grape which
was my dernier resort, last winter is both
soiled and torn. have examined it; but
l cannot make it do Neatness, at least
la f,r 7
Alb, Richard, but few people look upon
me with your eyes. | am to them but a
poor stalk of magnificent branch, which
has no business to thrust itself forward
into polite society at all. Still, as my
good uncle refuses to cut me off, they can
not utterly ignore me; and | occasionally
, receive these attentions. If should go
to my uncle and tell him that needed
new dress, or fifty dollars pocket money,
he would not refuse it. Bot as my aunt
and Julia both drew so heavily upon his
income, and. as neither of them seems to
be aware that have any vanities to crafty,
would not hint to him my necessities
upon any account


9" You are thousand times more beau.
tiful, you have more mind, more soul, and
more accomplishments than that pretty
cousin Of yours, Mildred. 1t sngers me
| to see tow she treats you," said the gen.
tleman, lowering his voice.


The two speakers were in the back par
lor Of the lady's home, and supposed
themselves alone bvt there was Some
one in the adjoining boudoir intenty lis
tening to their every word.


"Oh, no, do not say that / am treated
kindly by every one, even Julia. 1t is not
to be expected that she would think n
homeless orphan, whom her father had
adopted, entitled to all the privileges of
the only daughter. She does all for me
that she thinks right-all that | wish her
| to do"


/" Perhaps she does. Do you know,
Mildred, that before you came, | admired
Julia very much? She was so pretty, so
piquant, witch such u light, sparkling flow
of spirits, that gave her credit for more
soul than she actually possessed. But
when came to know you, your spiritual
| nature your higher order of mind and
beauty, SO much more what | really craved,
SO much more congenial, that Julia lost
the little power she WELDED


+" Despite her belleship and her fortune .
| Well, Richard, | have no reason to doubt
the depth of love which has chosen me,
with all my poverty, from the very side of
SO much more brilliant attractions 1t is
this thought which maxes me so very hap
py. Do you know that am glad | am
not rich ?--tor have the glorious salts
faction Of feeling that you love me for that
which you find lovable in me-


The bright, con6diDg face was lifted to
his with such soft, glowing expression
of contentnent, that the young maa could
not refrain from kissing it.


"There, now forgive me, darling Mild
red ! know am barred and banned
from my true right and title to such bless
ings, just as am from the privilege of
adding to your wardrobe But the day
is not far off when all such restraints,
which your dainty pride hat put upon
me, will be done away with and we will
see who will be the best dressed woman
aud the most caressed wife in this metro-
polls. But must say good morning now
BY the way, you had better furnish up that
same blue silk and attend the reception.
1t is particular occasion. Besides,
shall not enjoy myself at all if my star,
my rose, my Mildred be away" And
pressing the fingers which he held to his
lips, he went away with rapid, bouyant
step OF youth and energy leaving The mai
den oc his choice with blushng cheeks
and brilliant eyes to ponder over her hap.
piness, which not even Me pitable fact
she had nothing to wear was sufficient
to dampen in the least. With those sweet
epithets, which lovers lavish with such
eHtravagance upon the objects of their
affection still lingering in her ears, she
could but be content


Mildred had much reason to rejoice in
her lover In the refined society which he
sought be was distinguished not more for
manly beauty than for The nobility of his