Year: 1860




speak for itself.


hcsitatcd whether ought not to 60 to
Tremorgon. 1t struck me, however, on
consideration that it would be positive in.
suit to go down, as if to inspect my cou-
sin, and then virtually to reject her.


Mr.. Jenkins, in formally announcing to
me my forfeiture Of the property, inclosed
in the same envelope private note, in
which h, referred to report that evidently
cleared me in his eyes of the suspicion of
insanity. Lady Clara Devereux would not
only, he said, bring me an equivalent for
tame, but she would ally me with very in
hucntial family.


To confess the truth, had weakness
tor pretty face, and probably owed my
safety to a constant succession of enslavers
effacing each others charms. Lady Clara
(who could match me at tirting) was in
power at present, certainly, but her reign
was not to last much longer
! | was leaning over her at the Opera one
night, when suddenly my eyes fell upon a
girl in an opposite box. The effect upon
me was electrical such lovcliness | had
never seen before. A queenly and graceful
form, a hand and arm that would have dri-
ven sculptor to despair, skin so exqui-
sitely fair with its contrast to the sweeping
lashes and glorious tresses of dark, but
richly colored brown hair, features perfect
as Grccian statues, but full of life and
warmth. And those eyes-they stirred
my soul, as a mere stray glance fell upon
me from that distance.


Lady Clara saw my pre-occupation and
its cause. She quizzed me-she criticised
he, rival numerically. Her hair was "au-
burn,' her neck was so unnaturally white
as necessarily to owe its snow to art, her
eyes so dark that she must have learnt a
lesson from the East. 1t was profana-
tion, a sacralego, | felt, and | fled from the
box with horror.


Taking my seat in the stalls, I gazed
upon her. knew every face in society,
and this vision of heaven had never blessed
my eyes before Who could she be, and
where could she have been hid?


Her companions afforded no clue, being
equally unknown. They were an elderly
couple, not without certain look of dis
tinction, but they had a somewhat old-world
air, as if they had been living in compare
tive seclusion.


In vain | made inquiries of men with
the most extensive acquaintance we were
alike puzzled.


A formidable array of glasses was level
led upon her, but she underwent the scru-
tiny with the most well-brcd composure.


Again her glance met mine, and felt,
rather than saw, that she perceived my ad-
miration. | was gratfied, for slight as it
was, a kind of link seemed formed between
us.


Before the ballet was over, they rose to
| go, and | hurried out to take my place on
the stairs. AS she passed me, thrilled at
the touch of her dress, and was bewildered
by the full blaze of her beauty


Quietly followed, and saw her handed
to her carriage. She had not taken her seat
when the horses started. Her arm, out
! stretched to save herself from falling,
crashed through the window, and saw the
blood squirt out in dark jets. An artery
was cut


spnng forward.


81 am surgeon" cried; 81 can stop
the bleeding for the present, but drive
home as quick as possible"


No one rest nted my show of authority,
and the carriage wheeled away with us. A
handkerchief and Brobdignag silver pen
holder designated to look professional for
prescriptions and memoranda) formed a
temporary substitute for tourniquet-
With the pressure of my thumb on the
injured vessel, it sufficed to stop the
flow.


By the gas-llght l could just see that
she leaned back and closed her eyes as if
faint


"Are you suffering? How does your
arm feel now ~ asked gently.


had almost dreamed to hear her speak,
but her voice was music itself as she re-
piled:


my arm is quite cold. Your hand seems
to burn it."


Well it might, for the touch of tina: soft,
smooth arm was sending the blood cours-
ing through my veins at fever speed


Soon, o! SO soon we drew up before the
hotel. Clinging to my arm, she ascended
the stairs. | had stopped by the way at
the shop of chemist knew, and had pro-
cured all that was necessary. Quickly the
wound was dressed, for'it was clean cut,
presenting no difficulty.


Then after laying my card on the table, |
bowel myself from the room, saying that
would call again in the morning.
| went home, but was positively in such
state of excitement that | could not
sleep. This would not do, for I had my
work for the next day, so took seda-
tive, which had the desired effect. Per-
haps had rather over-dosed myself, for
I did not awake till late. 1t was nearly
midday before | reached the hotel.


''They have gone, sir" said the waiter in
reply to my inquiries but the gentleman
left note for YOU


could hardly believe my ears. felt as
if had received a sudden blow. 1t was
cruel disappointment, but with gleam of
hope opened the letter. 1t ran thus:


"Dear Sir: We had intended to leave
town this morning, and your patient,
thanks to your skill, felt so well, that she
would not hear Of change of plan. She
wished to leave you the accompanying tri-
te as sign that she is not ungrateful.-
Indeed cannot express our feeling of
what we owe you.


Yours, sincerely,


IL. l.. JONES'"


Enclosed was ring, small cameo of no
great intrinsic value, but l had seen it on
her hand as | dressed the wound, so to me
it was priceless.


What delicacy this showed Perhaps
she had seen that fee would have panied
me, while this mcmento was unspeakably
precious. With renewed ardor sought to
trace her, but in vain cross-examined the
waiter. lie only knew that they had been
there two or three days, that their name
was Jones, and they came from Wales.-
The young lady must be their daughter,
for he had heard them call her my
child"


Though had never gone as far as this
before, | had often had violent attacks of
love at first sight, or l should have been
positively terrified at my own sensations.
| was obliged to own to myself that if
called in to patient in similar state,