Year: 1859

She is aware of the almost monamania
apprehension of being firted with, whicl
bachelors on the shady side of thirty, en-
tertain, and her object is to lull suspicion
She listens with deep interest wher
Clarence descants upon his favorite au
thors and permits herself to be found
reading them, bushes at the detection, but
confesses frankly that the passages he
quoted and commented upon appear in a
new light. -. fa 90 ara rsaJ .l.


hulled by spell more potent than the
fabled sirens, Clarence yields himself a
willing victim to the delicious dream Of
youth, FIRST love, all of manhood's s
strength and fervor. Lily notes his absent
moods and the frequent resting of his
speaking eye upon her face when he
fancies her absorbed in book or work, but
she guards her knowledge we'll and be-.
trays it not by word or act, yet wen knows
how he will construe the downcast eye,
the flushing check and quickened breath :
ing when he is near.


Her plan is almost perfected, her aim
almost accomplished He fingers longer
at her side and earlier hastens from his
business that he may mingle with that
circle around which her Circean spell is
thrown. at -sa-. t.1a a.i.aa



If she wishes for the copy of some
favorite piece of music, his is the ready
pen that performs the willing task. And
now his admiration is more evident, he is
unsuspecting even at the age of thirty
five and so blind in his infatuation that he
makes no effort to conceal his passion from
the prying eyes of curious gossips he
loves and believes he is beloved, where
then the necessity for concealment


Fannie has witnessed the fatal proof of
power she had never doubted, with many
bitter pangs of self-reproach for her
thoughtless banter and rash PROMISE
With an aching heart and fearful, plead
ing eyes she would throw herself at Lily's
feet and pray that her cousins noble,
generous heart might not be crushed by
the relentless Juggernaut of coquetry. Ii


"Oh, Lily, return his love. Do not win
him to betray. Cast not from you the
inestimable treasure of his pure affection
but receive and prize it and it will enrich
your future life" ~ 8f


Fannie Acknowledges the skill which she
had called in question and the visit may
now terminate. 1t is the eve of her de-
parture and Lily silently glides from the
parlor that she may indulge those pent up
feelings which become impatient of con-
troll. The presence of nature is ever
soothing to grief and she wends her way
to the lovely arbor where so many happy
hours have been spent with those dear
friends from whom, SO soon, she parts,
perhaps forever. .r-..


Lost in reverie she notes not the ap-
proach of footsteps until her lover seats
himself beside her and fixes those truth
ful eyes, which her own dare not encoun-
ter, upon her face as though he fain would
pierce the casket that enshrined her heart
and read the emotions written there.


"And you will leave us Lily? Your
smile has frightened many spot thai
will grow dark with shadow when the
beam is withdrawn We shall miss you
Lilly, miss you sadly and will not one re
gret linger in the sad farewell you mus
pronounce tomorrow ?"


"Your question is a reproach it argues
unusual coldness on my part, which,
think, L have not shown"


81 meant not that; | know your hear
is formed to entertain the tenderest emo
ton and could not feel the ties of friend
ship severed without pang, but an
selfish in my pain and fain would hav
you sympathize with me in feeling tha
this is not the parting of mere friends i
is Withdrawing from my world the sun
light of its happiness and dark indec,
would be the night should it have set t.
rise no more. ! Lore you Lily. / thinl
you are aware of this, for have made n,
secret of my passion, as soon would tn
eastern dcvotee have thought of conceal
ing his worship of the sun, as my low
for you ;-ahd | have striven to obtail
your affection in return. Tis no rife,
heart offer you, Lily the words which
have spoken no other car has ever listene
to and ] would know, dearest if the feel
ing which pervades my soul finds re
, spouse in yours" .'''


Coldly was the eagerly sought han
Withdrawn and those expressive eyei
honest truthful. LOVING in their gage wer