Year: 1860

spration.


"Oh, Miss Folett," fairly groaned, Z" get up,
do get mp! You are ruined don't you know itH'


I" What is it ?" she cried, alarmed at my man
ner.


"You are sitting upon my palette, and your
elegant cloak is ruined"


"Oh, is that all ?' said she, recovering her
cOmposure, and not showing The least veXatlon
at the sight Of the accident. at was entirely
my own fault, and you mustn't feel badly about
it. Fortunately l wore a scarf under it, and the
sun is so warm | shall not need the cloak going
home"


She took it off, and gave it to her servant.
She could aford to lose hundred dollar garment
without losing her sweetness Of temper she
would have the pleasant excitement Of purchas-
ing another. | thought her white Cashmere scarf
even more becoming than the cloak.


"What is this 2" she asked, examining the
sketch bad made on the day before yesterday


"That is my fancy Of yOu, Miss Folett, before
| saw YOU"


=" You must have been disappointed" she re-
marked, looking up at me with exquisite candor;
" this is 50 full Of splendid womanhood, and
am but a slender little thingp


She was pleased to commend my pictures in
terms that warmed my heart into all its old hope
funess. Finally she concluded her brief visit by
saying that she came to see if | would paint a
companion to the piece she had selected at the
Academy, so that she could take both home when
the Exhibition was over ana ny asking me 10
call at her house when felt inclined TO examine
the works Of art she had collected. 1t was plain
that she had not laid up anything against me On
account Of her cloak, keeping up an appearance
Of amiability while cherishing secret spte as
is the custom Of some women.


If you are Of an imaginative turn | need not
tell you what thoughts filed my being after she
was gone. Vague, uninteligible dreams, all the
more delicious because they were impossible, all
the more splendid because they contrasted with
the privatons Of my daily experience 1t seems
to cost US nothing to dream, yet most often il
costs us very dear. Abstemious as hermit II
my real fare, was extravagant beyond emper
ors in my visions. ] knew that my soul was tit
ted to mate with that refined woman's soul; thai
my physical feet if properly clad In patent
leather CATERS, would not walk amiss amid the
luxuries of her salons


Twilight was deepening around me and my
fantasies when there came another knock at my
door, Warned by the past, went to open IT,
and received from pert errand boy large
package. g Paid" was marked upon II, ana the
boy had departed before | ascertained its con-
tents. Upon opening the wrappers Of stout pa
per, found an entire new suit OF clothes, very
good, and very tasteful, and evidently selected
with knowledge OF my size. Deep modification
struck TO my heart. She has no delicacy," said
[, " to send me such gift as this !" tossed 1t
scornfully across the bed "She does charita-
bic thing for me as she would do it for her wash
erwoman or o beggar Of the streets. II she
wished to assist me, why did she not pay for the
pictures in advance? That would not have hurt
my pride but now-I despise her !"
! / walked across the room rapidly until my ag-
itation was somewhat subdued; then proceeded,
with wonderful coolness and precision, 10 reiold