Year: 1868




danced three or four times, who had
talked to him without the least re-
serve, and who subsequently, took it
into her head at one moment to meet
him as a friend, and at another as
almost an entire stranger, Just as the
humor prompted her. The whole
thing was unintellIgible. While he
was thinking over all this, he was
suddenly reused by the familiar signs
that the hounds had scent of fox
He prepared to join the nam body of
the horsemen, and as he was canter-
ing up to the copse in which they
were, a voice he knew said, "A pleas
ant run to you, Mr.. Henley" He
looked round, and saw once again Miss
Devonport, with the sweet look upon
her face that had attracted him so
much two evenings ago.


The day was decidedly successful.
AS there is no necessity to give the
reader detailed account of a famous
run with the marlborough hounds,
the line Of country taken by the fox
need not here be described AS the
November twilight was coming on.
Henley rode up to his hotel, IN an ex-
cellent humor with his horse, which
had acquitted itself most creditably
in the eyes of the Rattleborough
hunters, but angry with himself for
being so much annoycd-pained per-
haps, would be the better word
with Miss Devonport. He could dis
guise the fact no longer; he loved
her. He had loved her from the very
first, and she had treated him in this
unaccountable manner! But he was
prevented from continuing these re
Elections by a letter which was put
into his hands. 1t was from his sis
ter, and he had expected it for some
days past. 1t merely told him that
his father, whose health had for
long time been bad, and who was then
staying in the south Of France, had
suddenly become worse and was par
ticularly anxious to see his SON.
w ould Oliver come at once2


Yes, he would start directly: next
evening. But there was one thing he
would do first: He would see if he
could not meet her IN the street, and
would cndeavor to gam from her some
On the following morn
ing Henley wandered about the town
but not a glimpse could he see Of has
partner at the ball. Up and down
the streets ae went, gazing into the
dim recesses Of linen drapers' and mil
liners shops and other similar resorts,
which seemed to him probable that
the young lady might visit; but still
there was no Miss Devonport to be
seen. Halfway up the High street,
at marlborough. there was a narrow
turning, which led to what was gen
orally called the RattIeborough Lawn,
where the marlborough band was in
the habit of occasionally exercising Its
musical powers, and where the less
select of the Rattleborough young la.
dies were want, in the summer, to
erect their crOquet hoops, and to pur-
sue the mimic warfare of the mallet.
1t was half-unconsciously that Henley
just now took this path. He was
of what was to be done -
how he was to see Miss Devonport-
for he had determined not to leave
the place without seeing hcr-whcn
an abrupt turn IN the avenue brought
HIM suddenly into the lady's presence
\ es, it was Miss Devonport-at last.
He stood still and bowed. Miss Dey-
onport it was but her face no long
er wore the look Of tenderness and
sweetness that had charmed him SO
much at the Hunt Ball.


" Miss Devonport," he said. bowIng
lam quite aware that am guilty Of
some boldncss in thus intruding upon
you. But | have to leave Rattlebor-
ough to-day; and ! feel | cannot do
so without few words of converse
tion with you. If apologize for ask
ing, | do not think you can well be
surprised at my wishing for something
Of an explanation from you. How,
then, am | 20 account for the extraor-
dinary manner in which You have
treated me during the last few DAYS
now recognizing me as friend and
now passing me as an entire stranger?
| confess that when l met you I did
not know that you were engaged to-
Mr.. Hughes" '.Sir?" interrupted
Miss Devonport, with look Of abso-
lutte wondermeut upon her counte
nance.


"What is my information wrong ?"
Is it not as | saT 2


Il am completely at = loss to un-
lerstand to what Gauss / am indebted
for the honor Of this interruption IN
my walk The fact Of my engage
ment to Mr.. Hughes can be no matter
Of moment to you. When ] first saw
you, you We're a stranger. and a stran-
ger you viii still remain


And, having said these words, Miss
Devonport, her free flushed with in
swept past him with the
air of tragedy queen.


A for Henley, he stood rooted to
the spot. To him 1t was all a dream;
but he did not dream long. He laugh
ed low and a bitter laugh a con
summate actress a heartless Hirt -
| ervv Hughes And these are the
Ra stleboroug young ladies sup
pose the atmosphere Of this delightful
place superiuduces the habit, And
here am l, who ought to pc proof
against such silly little contingencies.
fooled eXauisltelv bv a mere country