Year: 1879

readlnBJ, tnouBn ne singled out Laura
as his companion, and turned 10 her for
the appreciation he failed always to OBJ
tain rom others, she never dreamed OF
any peculiar and personal interest on
his part more than that community OF
spiritual interests which was once the
fair Platonic day dream OF many girl
ish soul. Girls in these days know bet
ter, or know more. She had never had
her pulse quickened or her visions per-
turbed by this man. Theoretically she
admired him; his mind seemed to her
very deep. His selfish reticence and
moody temper were great deal deeper
than any mind he had, and his pompous
self-conceit was but cover for the most
Grass and dogmatic ignorance of any
thing more profound than his law-books.
Even his professed religion was form
that did not modulate or sweeten his
daily life; lac kept the commandments
because it was respectable and proper to
do so, not because he loved 10 obey his
Father and Lord. Honesty, cleanli-
ness, economy, a certain hard and USE
full intellect, and tolerable self.control,
were his virtues; but to a person with
any sense of humor he was absurd too
often, and his rampant conceit made him
obnoxious to every one with the least
perception Of character. Luckily for
Laura, neither humor nor perception
was in her makeup. But Mr.. McCraw
was q judicious person, and he by no
means intended to suffer Platonism to
take possession of his soul, and blind
him to his best interests. He fully un-
derstood that marriage with Laura
Stockton would insure him high posi-
ton in society and eventual wealth, and
his friendship of year eliminated in a
formal and distinct offer OF marriage in
the note which we found LAURA reading
and meditating over.


She was panied, grieved, and disap-
pointed; she liked Mr.. McOraw much,
80 long as he was only friend, but not
one tender sentiment pleaded for him as
lover. The truth was, though she
could not formulate 1t, that this man
was not gentleman in any sense of the
word. Good.breeding is safe shield
against an unfit marriage, for well
woman is ropelled by her instincts from
low and vulgar man. And at heart
this precise Mr.. McCraw was both vul-
gar and low. Laura was perplexed, and
tried to recall to herself any undue en-
couragement she might have given him;
but her conscience acquitted her, and
she excused him as being beset by some
passing fancy, and answered his note in
the kindest and most delicate manner,
expressing regret that she must seem to
hurt his feelings, and hoping they would
still continue to be friends.


Partly because she was shy, partly be-
cause she was an American girl, she did
not go to her mother with this note, or,
indeed, confide it to anybody; yet Miss
Sally's sharp eyes read the secret with
the acuteness OF fifteen-when fifteen is
acute; Laura at twenty was no match
for her. Mr.. McCraw smiled o grimly
pleasant smile when he received Laura's
answer. Worldly wisdom was notwant-
ing in him; he regarded her regret and
hope as tantamount to an acceptance,
and in week or two re-appeared at Mr..
Stockton's house as pious, poetic, and
prim as ever, and was received by Laura
exactly on the old footing. She was
pleased to think he cherished no i'll feel
ing at her rejection; he was as much
pleased to be virtually accepted by her
smiling welcome; and Sally, who hated
him, was furious to see that he had re-
turned to his former footing without
even a dint or stain on his mail OF con-
ceit.


She turned upon Laura as soon as he
left the door that morning, Laura
Stockton are you a fool?',


why, Sally, what is the matter ? what
have done nowP


Done When you refuse man, why
don't you refuse him, and not have him
dangle after you like thisT


'Who told you refused him p said
Laura, blushing red as fire.lily.


Your face told me, and various other
indications. can see with my eyes, if
you can't


But, Sally, what done? l don't
see any reason why one cannot dislike to
marry man, and yet like to be friends
with him.


Perhaps you don't; but he does. In
six months see if he don't offer again. -
I'll give you my gold bracelet il he
doesn't. He don't feel rejected; not at
all, / assure you. Laura. if you had
been little yellow gosling on the edge
Of Gross pond, you couldn't be more
silly than you are."


Laura opened her large eyes. Sally,
/ don't think you ought to talk that way
about it; you're only little girl


"A little girl Then you're only
baby, Miss Laura; and / believe in my
heart you area great, big, dear, i'm
practicable baby. Just wait till he Of
fers again, and we'll see who is right
then.


'Sallyp But the lecturer had vanish
cd in wrath.


However. as the summer went on.