Year: 1869

Just at four O'Clock one dazzling af-
ternoon last February, two young per-
sons, opposite genders, took sudden
possession of a neat sleigh, mafled
themselves together in a manner in
tended to secure as far as possible the
double advantage of comforting pro-
lection and engaging appearance, and
after judicious settlement of skirts and
robes on the one hand, and hats and
furs on the other, darted briskly of,
along the smooth and shining roads of
Winston. Clear and still, and not at
all chilling, was the atmosphere. The
sun shed all its splendor from cloud
less sky, and the spotless earth radiant
ly reflected its glittering beams. The
two sleighers with whom we have to
do agreed without debate that no other
day so favorable for their excursion
could have been selected, and in turn
went into spasms of rhetorical excite
ment over the glories of winter-in its
present cheering aspect.


Not having accustomed themselves
to the assiduous study of Nature, they
failed to exactly interpret certain omens
which might otherwise have interfered
with their innocent enthusiasm. Of
course neither had noticed, the night
before, the broad circle of luminous
haze that surrounded the moon, giving
warning of approaching disorder above.
Of course neither considered, as they
dashed along needing only their own
pleasant fancies, the light clouds which
rapidly rising soon overspread the
southern heaven, and gradually threat
ened to obscure the declining sum-
What need had they to anticipate the
possible interruption of their sport?


None, certainly. Their aim was
pleasure.


Lucy Brandon, nineteen, daintily
beautiful, and coquettish by unconquer-
able feminine instinct, filled the hearts
of the youth of Winston, and above
all, those hearts gathered within the
institution for the wholesale manufac-
ture of clergymen for which Winston
is celebrated, with fine frenzies.


The secular youth swore she was an
angel. The students, whose destiny
was theological, did not swear, but af-
ter investigating the subject, and find
ing that angels were sometimes imper-
feet and fallible, proclaimed her divine,
and in their orisons remembered her.


In this way they satisfied all the
conditions of their life. Inside the
walls they were divinity students; out
side, they were students of divinity.


In confidence it may be revealed that
Miss Lucy's highest attributes were, in
fact, of mortal order. She was not
a bit of an angel; but she was what is
much better for the purposes of this
world-a charming girl, with beauty
enough to wind golden chains around
susceptible young hearts, and wit
enough to fasten' them with glittering
clasps, whenever she chose. At the
same time she was as amiable as could
fairly be expected of spirited young
woman who ruled a subservient semi
nary with rod more rigid than any
the professors could WELD; she was,
with all her frolicsome coquetry, as
discreet as dowager, and she was not
destitute of good sense, powerful
proof of which was that she never
wrote her name Lucie. Nevertheless,
it is a melancholy fact that many of the
maidens of Winston persistentiy re-
fused to recognize those infatuating
qualities which by the ruder creatures
were unanimously accorded her.


After a considerable period of su-
preme sway, Miss Brandon at length
sighed, Alexanderwise, for something
new to conquer.
She fell in with Mr.. Henry ESQ chris