Year: 1879

aud he had come for the express pur-
pose OF telling his love bat in her pres
enee his confidence fursooS him for the
/ first time in her life, aud he watched
her anXiously, now thinking she was
kinder than ever before, and then won
/ deriug how she felt toward Frank, aud
If il could be p 'ssible they were engaged.
Then, angry with himself for his cow
ardiee before her, he would try TO assume
his usual indifferent, supercilious air.
saying 10 himself that Of course she
/ must say Eyes :" but, whenever he es-
sayed TO commence his carefully pre-
pared little speech, which concluded
with an offer of his heart aud hand, his
courage left him, aud he uttered instead
some insipid remark about the last ball
or the new prima donna. Finally, max
ing desperate effort, he nerved himself
TO say, in such an unnatural voice that
it attracted her attention at once,


"NIiss Elinor, have long felt


But just then the door opened aud
Captain Talbot entered, aud Elinor was
left TO imagine Mr.. Hartley's feelings,
which, indeed, was not difficult.


Mr.. Hartley, inwardly cursiug his
rival aud his own foolish delay, soon
departed; for the Captain was a rival,
and dangerous Que, too, the young
man thought, in spite of his bald head,
his forty-five years, and his general un-
attractiveness, for he was very wealthy,
and had the name Of being a marrying
man, aud had shown lately quite a
preference for Eliuor, which was very
astonishing to all the young ladies who
were trying to win his regard They
would have felt more astonishment had
they known how she shrank from him
and discouraged his attentions as much
as possible. His nature was coarse and
utterly repulsive to her, in spite Of the
superficial gloss il had recei vel from
education aud association with the re-
fined aud intelligent. He was gross and
sensual in his appearance, and had he
been poor man the fashionable young
ladies who now courted his attentions
would have turned from him with loath-
ing. But as long as girlsa brought up to
no employment by which they can hon
Orably earn their living, many will dis
houorably earn it, by selling themselves
to the man who can offer them the most
money and their eyes are blinded,
their moral sense benumbed, to the
baseness OF such conduct by the false
idea that legal marriage can make it
right.


Captain Talbot had come, like young
Hartley, to ask Elinor to be his wife.
He was not So sure Of his own power as
that vain young man, for his years had
taught him that gold cannot buy all,
aud he well knew that he had nothing
else 10 recommend him TO a young girl /;
but he was incapable of appreciating
Einor's pure aud noble nature, and
thought that because she was poor and
dependent he might tempt her to do
what Others were 50 eager to do, though
| he perceived that she was different from
| them how, he hardly knew. But,
/ though lac could not appreciate, he could
admire, aud he knew that she would
make a stately and beautiful mistress Of
his splendid home, and that she was
more attractive because reserved and
distant in all her intercourse with him.


Mrs. StoIdard had favored the Cap
tain's suit in every way in her power,
for she thought it would be a grand
and appropriate finale TO all she had
done for Eiinor, II she should secure for
her a man who was considered the most
desirable match Of the season.


SO Captain Talbot thought the pros
pect tolerably fair-enOugh so, at any
rate, for him TO venture proposal, for
he feared to delay long, lest some
younger man might deprive him OF the
prize he coveted, for Elinor was a favor
ite with many, in spite OF her reserve
and her poverty.


But he has been talking with her all
this while, aud the result has not been
gratifying to him. He did not profess
much love, but made his offer in an alb
rupt, business-like way, after "A brief
conversation, aud Elinor quietly but
firmly refused him. His nature was
one in which love easily turns to hate
and the expression of his small black
eyes, deeply set in his heavy face, was
not good to see.


'Do you realize what you are doing
Miss Norton ?" said he, in low, hard
tones. 81 offer you an honorable name
a luxurious home, fne position in So
eiety; I offer you my love-everything
a woman could wish-and you refuse It,
Is this your final answer? Perhaps
have been to hasty. will wait, II you
wish, TIL to- morrow. Shall I come to-
morrow :"


He had risen from his seat near bel
while speaking, aud now stood awaiting
her answer, while his flushed face and
shining pate showed how keenly he fell
this blow to his pride as well as his
hopes.


Elinor's face was pale and her lip:
set, but she answered, calmly and
kindly:


My answer is final, Captain Talbot
cannot become your wife, though ]


appreciate the honor you do me, and
'nAuA you Tor it. But cannot change