Year: 1860

her only response was, every well, l thank
you. How is Col. Lincoln after the terrible
catastropher He smilingly answers All
right, though had you seen the prodigious
leaps made, you would have been sure of
my being all wrong when / found myself


Yes Frank laughs, i should think so
Colonel. Twas a regular Sam Patch af-
fair l believe you landed fifty feet from
where you started. Why did you jump at
all, Colonell You were in no danger


Il know, but / thought was, so l came
near breaking my neck, to get whore /
would be safe. This is not the first time,
l believe, I have run myself into real diff
culties, to escape imaginary ones,' he said
with some meaning.


Minnie answers 4 believe you, Colonel,
with slightly sarcastic smile, which he
does not fail to appreciate. Just now the
dinner bell calls them to the great dining
hall, and after that, the gentlemen were en-
gagged with each other almost the entire
afternoon. Mr.. Ashberton being very fond
of company, and highly pleased with the
young Col. could not think of relinquishing
him until his sleeping hour came, which
was about four. Then he told him he
should have to hand him over to the young
people, hoping he would reunite his ener-
gies and be ready for that game of chess
by evening, so that he would be able to hold
his hand at least four hours, and after this
Frank invites him out for STROLL and so
they are absent till the hour of tea. Min
ME has scarcely said to him sentence since
their first meeting, and now that she join
ed not in their cordial invitation, somewhat
annoys the Col, and at first decides him to
go on. After moments reflection, think
ing that a faint heart never won fair lady,
he concludes to stop over and so answers his
host and lady accordingly. Frank is truly
gratified, for he is highly prepossessed in
the Coils favor, and enjoys his company
extremely, and Minnie is not dispeasod for
there is a charm, fascination in the very
atmosphere which surrounds the young Ap-
ollo, that despite her every effort, she finds
her heart unable to withstand. It will
thrill with wild delight at the sound of that
deep toned voice, and would be happier for
knowing he was near, although she was
striving hard to wish him gone.


The game of chess occupied the greater
part Of the evening and although rather re-
luctantly perhaps by the COL, Mr.. Ashber-


ton enjoyed it much, and this somewhat


consoled the Col. He would have beer


glad to have had a few moments to give


his young friends; but telling them they


must hide the chess board next time, and


then he could be little more liberal, he
laughingly bids them good night, and goes
! to bed.


Next morning brought another golden
sunrise. Minnie rose early and went
out for her accustomed walk, and when re,


turning stops to notice, and arrange some Of


the greenhouse plants, and like merry
bird is fitting about from one to the other


her white morning wrapper, with its blue
border, fitting her delicate form so tastefully,
and the old straw fiat as usual on her arm.
wonder, docs she think it keeps the sun
or the witches Off Surely she can never


be persuaded TO leave it at home. The
faxen curls sporting in the breeze, leave a


coquetish little stray ringlet here and there


around her pure white brow, and that same


fine color her father so admired is again Wis


ible, and, taken all together tends to COM


plete picture of charming youthful


beauty. AT least so thought Col. Lincoln


as he stood watching her from the verandah


unobserved.


All at once he seems to become deeply


interested iD some of those rare plant,


down there, too, and is soon seen standing


close beside the little gardener, accostin(


her very cordially, and we do not thinl
she receives him quite as ungraciously a
she did on the previous day: though thu
color OF her cheek deepens somewhat anC
her heart beats faster, as she looks up sur
prised and answers his mornings salatation
Still after a few moments-in which WI
presume he made the desired and necessary
apologies, and gained once more the OLE
: place 10 her thoughts--she seemed happie
than she had been since the evening wheI
she thought surely Col. Lincoln was 81
angry, and wouldn't love her any more
She didn't expect he cared much for he
of course not, but she didn't think sht
> was quite deserving of such unkindness.-
) Minnie was sensitive little being, and fel
it deeply whenever anybody was displeasec
with her, but she didn't think she had eve
cared quite so much before. She was sur
there was no reason for it, but oh, hov
many hours it had been the sole theme O
her thoughts, and how oft she found hersel
saying: Il wish I could never think of hin
i again, 1t maddens me tha. he IS ever il
my thoughts, and like a spectre haunts a
! my dreams. I know he is a noble fellow
my beau IDEAL perchance, of fine, hanc
Q some man, and that 1 shal! almost env
the fair being he at some future day wi
o call wife, But if Minnie Ashberton WI
I, not the woman to become Mrs. Col. Lincoll
q and Of course she wasn't, she is at lea
I deserving of the respect due every youn
: lady. Aye, if Minnie is little and prett
i she is also very proud, as Col. Lincoln, "
l. doubt not, has learned by this time full we
IS but likes her none the less, we opine,
y the way he is chatting with her. No, n
/ we are ready to vouch that he thinks hin
3 self the most fortunate man living: that
o is all made up and he and little MINI
a are again good friends.


y = CTo be Continued


!. -$$~1S|b----


u Miss Gibson died in Arkansas, from Il
d effects of snuf-dipping. She fell asle'