Year: 1860

ally being like sponge. When entered
the dining-room they were seated ut the ta
BILE, and went to the head of it to greet my
hostess, a charming woman still in th,
prime of her beauty, a model English mat
ron, with the single fault Of being an invct
crate matchmaker.


After welcoming me, she turned and in.
trodmced me to Miss Lloyd and Miss Cath.
crime Llopd. I started, and my heart beat
wildly; for there before me was my friend
of the opera.


In an instant the old fever had returned
was, enthralled anew. And to my joy,
saw that her recognition was instantaneous
that there was smile on her lip and faint
glow on her check, as sprang forward to
take her hand.


$50 you know each other already" ex.
claimed Mrs. Llewellyn; "ah, Mona, he is
the surgeon who dressed your wound. Why
did you not tell me so p =


II did not know your were friends" she
replied calmly, having perfectly regained
her composure.


"You do not recognize me, though we al
so have met" said laughing voice at my
elbow.


1t was another surprise for me, for there
sat the supposed peasant girl. But after
that first shock nothing could move me,
and | replied coolly, "Ah, the Kitten |
told you should soon find you out"


"What, another mysteryw says Llewellyn.


81 went to the village when the sun came
OUT she resumed, "and borrowed Nannie's
cloak to come back through the rain, or
should have been late for dinner. Mr..
Lloyd gave me half his umbrella, taking me
all the time for village girl"


You acted the part admirably" said,
''and seemed bent on tnrning the fine gen.
tleman's hcad.'"


An overpowering sense of Mona Floyd's
beauty was filing my whole being, and was
immeasurably vexed at finding myself
drawn into this bantering conversation with
her cousin. But very different from my
usual habit, which was to parade my de-
votion, now had an eager wish to hide
what was experiencing.


Still, whenever could do so unobserved,
stole glance at Mona. And each look
tightened, if possible, the chain which was
binding.


Soon after we rejoined the ladies', "thc
Kitten" challenged Charlie to a game of
billiards, and they left the room. Present
ly they returned with an appeal for decision
on some knotty point, to unravel, when
Liewellyn accompanied them to the billiard
room. | was left alone with Mona, and /
positively trembled as approached her.


II received your ring" said, land
value it duly, 1t has never left my finger
since"


mo no! l was almost ashamed to offer
it to you," she replied, "but it would serve
to show that appreciated your kindness"


III have given directions about it in my
will-fcr it to be buried with me-" added,
in reply to her look of inquiry.


The soft air of timidity, the feeting blush,
filled me with transport.


"Why did you leve without giving me
the least clue?" asked more tenderly.
81 made every effort to trace you'


Her charming cotusion, though it glad
dened me, might be painful to her, and I
fastened to continue-''l had bracelet to
return to you: let me clasp it on your arm


1t was close at hand, for being a gold
chain bracelet, l had attached it to my
watch. AS fastened the snap, my eye
fell upon the white seam slightly marring
the symmetry of an arm which Hero's
could not rival.


You will always carry that mark"
said. slow the sight Of an injury to you
panied met


AS spoke pressed the scar with my
fevered lips. Instantly was aroused from
my happy dream, for her arm was snatch
ed away, and her glorious eyes flashed fire.


How could have imagined that she had
any tender feeling for me-? Her confusion
must have sprung from annoyance.


The days flew by at Llandethryn, for if I
was not happy, | was the next best thing
to it, always excited. Daily my infatuation
became greater. | would willingly have
torn myself away, but dad not the power.


Yet | cherished an insane selfdelusion,
mere latter of a belief, that no one saw
what was going on, and to keep up the ig-
nOrance abstained from any manifestation
of preference for Mona. But with all the
unreasonableness of human nature, l was
panied when she seconded my efforts, shun-
ming me and shrinking from me, as was too
often the case.


At such times would fall back upon
1.-The Kitten" who gave me ready but
half-mocking welcome.


Presently found that there was some
thing like this in the case of Devcreux.--
He too drew near Mona with kind of tim
idity, as if he dreaded that each advance
might be repulsed. With the Kitten he
seemed, on the contrary, quite at ease, and
their lively sallies often wound up with
regular romp. And l, Judging from my
own feeling, imagined that our cases were
the same-that he felt no more than friend
ship for the Kitten, while he loved Mona.
Still worse, | sometimes gnashed my teeth
with frenzy, as l thought she might return
his affection.


One of the worst features of the case was,
that devereux never uttered word to me
on the subject, though every night he smok-
ed his cigor in my bedroom, and chatted
with his usual simple frankncss. He was
just the man to rely implicitly upon the ad-
vice of some friend, and for a long time he
had done Inc the honor Of setting me in the
post of Mentor,


But one night he broke through this un-
natural silence.


After fiercely putting away at his cigar
for = quarter Of an hour without speaking,
he suddenly blurted out: IL can't stand
this any longer! Lloyd, old fellow, am dis
tressingly in love with your beautiful name.
sake and feel shall be worth nothing
without her. Here am longing and long
ing, but without the pluck to ask. Some
times | think she will have me, but the next
minute | despair She is so beautiful, so
clever and warm hearted, that feel she is
too good for a poor being like me. What
do you say, old fellow? Shall make the
attempt, or not? At least it would put me
out of my misery"


pondered before I replied. If I let him
suspect the truth, his loyalty Of heart would
make him shrink from paining me, but to
act on this belief would be to take base
advantage of his noble generosity. Yet |
could not be expected to sign the death-war-
rant of nv own homes