Year: 1860

hiuoI p0 lICh YES my lTlenu, you arc q
fortune-hunter +


No, no = cried the bachelor you do
me wrong If she has expensive habits,
of course, / should like her to have some
thing of her own, because my means
couldn't afford it,


'Fiddlestick for your not alfording it
Why man, what do You mean to do for her
aside from comforting on her the supreme
honor of becoming Mrs. Jacob Holister ?
give her the privilege Of looking after your
house and wardrobe 2 furnish her with
goods from The store at cost


Don't jest, Hobart; assure you it is
a serions thing to me-


i wish it were, for then you would DO as
you ought. No man has a right to place
a girl in the position you will put Sarah
Norris in if you leave her without saving
anything more. Her acceptance of your
attentions has already drawn remark upon
her people will say she was willing to
have you, but you did not give her the chance.
1t isn't generous, it s't fair. If you know
yonr own mind so little, or were so doubt
tul about her worth, you aught never to
have been so attentive to her. Come IIol-
lister he continued, do be persuaded Lay
aside few Of your old maidiSh notions.
and act like o sensible man. Sarah Nor.
ris appears to be all that You wish and.
should she have few opinions or habits
different from yours, her affection will doubt
less teach her to conform TO your views
hereafter or, it not, you can agree to diff
Ter, Helen tells me Sarah talks of going
to Chicago TO spend the winter if ! were
you | would not let her go. Keep her at
home and make her consent to have YOU
before Christmas


Mr.. llolIister hesitated then half
promised then said 'he would take the
matter into consideration


y few mornings later found him in Mr.
Norris comfortable parlor. Sarah was
looking her very prcttiest her blue eyes
were unusually gentle, her fair check wore
its sottest rose. She was very busy with
some wonderful tidy in crochet and, as
she sat near the table-now intent on her
work ; now raising her head and looking
at him as she joined in the conversation
lie decided in his own mind that she would
form charming piece Of furniture for any
drawing-room. Imagine, now, that he had
purchased that handsome house of old
Squire Badwin's imagine the large front
room, east of the hall, fitted up as their
daily parlOr, handsome carpet and curtains,
sofas, and all that he could afford to have
things handsome, and he would have them.
Then fancy Sarah there as mistress the
lamp lit, the curtains drawn himself not
so very far off her smiles all for him her
thoughts for him; the picture was delight
fnl! lie was almost tempted to run every
risk, and offer himself the minute Mrs.
Norris shond step ont of the room. and
give him an opportunity Cf doing so.


But then came up the old doubts; oh! what
would he not have given for cairvoyant
power to see whether the foot inside that
pretty shoe were just as neat and as pure
as it ought TO be whether the attire, not
seen, were as cleanly and delicate as what
was outwardly visible. How he wanted to
know whether the kind, pleasant voice al
ways sounded as gently as it did now to
him Above all, how he wished to be
certain what Sarah's answer would be !
She had seemed encouraging, but then one
never knew perhaps she was engaged to
somebody all the time. When all his fine
qualities, his undoubted piety, our good Mr..
HOIlster had his share of vanity he
would have liked, as little as anything to
have it known through Baldwin that Miss
Norris had rejected him So he looked,
and longed, and fingered, and hestated,
and finally went away without declaring his
mind. The next day Sarah set out on her
Journey TO Chicago.