Year: 1865

failure, and the tone in which she asked
the lady's name far too constrained. -r


Her name, Miss En1nghamY Is it
possible you do not know my sister ? ex-
claimed L2DiS, half pleased, balf amused
expession stealing across his features.


Your sister, Mr. Manleyl' reiterated
Elise. i never knew you had sister
she added, and the sense of relief that
crept into her heart was depicted so visi-
bly, in her face that it would have told its
own tale to one less interested in it than
was Louis Manley. DO introduce me,
she continued, in q hurried tone 'you
are really very naughty not to,have done
it long ago.


Louis Manley had no intention Of al,
lowing such an advantage to pass unim-
proved. He was quite quick enough to
read the state Of affairs, and rejoiced to
discover that the girl he had loved for
months was not so Indifferent to him as
he had been led to fear from her gay.
bantering manner. He had already the
fathers consent to win the daughter If he
could, and thinking truly that he might
never have another opportunity like the
present, he said, in voice tremulous with
emotion, Not yet, Elise; have some
thing more to say. May Claim place
in your regardT | do no speak without
your kind fathers appreciation. Let me
hope that one day you will be more to
Adelaide than friend. May not intro
duce you TO her as her future sister-in.
law ?


We cannot tell exactly what answer
ELISE gave; perhaps she could not tell
herself; but it was not very unfavorable
one, if We may rely on Miss Emily's word,
for she declared that the next day she
had seen Mr.. Manley kiss Elise by the
mistletoe, though he could not get under
it. Whether such was the case or not
we will not pretend to say; all we know
is that they were partners in the country
dance that finished the evenings amuse-
ments, and seemed the happiest Of the
happy. and the following day the gentle.
man had long talk with papa in the
very same library where still hung the
mistletoe, looking faded and out of place
but never mind, it had done it's duty.
ELISE as well had something of import
ance to communicate to her mother, to
which the good lady seemed to listen with
much compacency, and less surprise than
her daughter had expected.


Somehow or other, that very mischiev
Gus young lady, Miss Emily, managed tc
get the whole tale at her fingers ends
and roasted her sister most numerically
Adelaide Manley was not little amused
at the prominent part she had unwilling
ly taken in the drama. She had come tC
pay her brother long promised visit
lie only heard Of her intention on the
morning Of her arrival-the day of the
party at Efiingham' slodge-a and, knowing
she would receive warm reception, he
had induced her to accompany him. She
felt too fatigued to dance, and, feeling
rather nervous among so many strangers
her brother had kept by her. AT the
supper table there had been some bandin
age touching the mistletoe, and finding
themselves alone Louis had used the
means we have seen to convince her that
it was not quite harmless. So it all end
ed in Elise Effingham becoming the bride
of Louis Manley before the short days Of
another year came around, and, as far as
we can learn, no one has yet regretted
that the mistlctoe bough hung over the
supper table Indeed, thereis tradition
that a small brown twig of mistletoe lies
hidden in the corner Of Mrs. Manley's
desk. and that, though noisy boys and
girls call her mother, this withered relic
gets many look Of fond recollection. -
Very foolish, of course; but such failings
are apt to overtake the wisest and best
amongst US. A. .4r