Year: 1877

brilliant object before him was quite too
much for any dimly remembered warm
ings Of his distantfamily against Amer
lean beauties, or for the fresher hints of
his friendly commander, to keep him
from flying at last into the flame.


can't tell yoa how 1t was, my dear
reader, but somehow or other, in less
time than have been writing these
three lines, Ingram was by the side of
Helen, his left arm encircling her slender
waist, their right hands clinging tnseth-
er, and her sweet head gently dropped
upon his shoulder 1t was charming
group, l dO assure you. There are
many more disagreeable situations in
the world than that of young Isgram at
that moment. 1t was a grand panto-
mime of action. No words could have
expressed their meaning more eloquent
ly. Ii was not time for words = they
would have been impertinent and su-
perfluous. Accordingly their lips gave
utterance to no sound. Whether lips did
any thing else to the purpose, 1t is not
my intention to disclose. am &C trusty
Mr.. Tattle" as to all matters which
should be kept private. Nothing of that
sort was ever wormed out of me. The
ladies need have no hesitation in placing
the most entire confidence in my dis
cretion.


But this silence, though deep and
delicious, could not last forever. Alas
that 1t could not. Murmuring words
soon displaced 1t, and the faith of two
true young hearts was plighted to each
other forever. All holy troth plight
Thine is the true marriage-the era of
the mystic union of souls-of which the
blessing of the priest is but the state
ment and proclamation. Woe to those
who profane its mysteries by levity, by
covetousness, or by falsehoodl


AS soon as their young joy had sub
sided into a sort of tumultuous calm
ness, how they sat, with their hands
looked together, talking over their love
and their hopes They traced with
fond curiosity the course of their true
love" Great Natures Nile''-up to
its small beginnings and unsuspected
springs. Livingston himself could
hardly have surpassed them in jealous
or minute investigation. And then the
more dubious future-how were its un-
certainties turned into realities, and its
doubts transmitted into sanguine hopes
by the potent magic of youth and
love


"Ah, love young love bound in thy rosy


band,


Let sage or cynic prattle as he will,


These hours, and only these, redeem life's


years of ILL.,"


Helens doubts as to her reception
into the family of her lover, were eager
ly driven away by his earnest assurances
of cordial welcome. Sir Ralph and
his mother we're the best of human be-
ings, end had no earthly wish beyond
his happiness; and was not his hap.
piness wrapped up in her? Such is the
logic of youth and love, and it easily
prevailed over one willing enough to
be convinced. The best of human be-
ings sometimes take very different views
of the component elements of earthly
happiness from their children. At least
SO it is said They were too happy tC
fear. The future would take care O
itself. The present was enough fol
them.


But such interviews, though they live
forever, must come to an end in tim,
and space. The time came when the
plighted lovers were to part for the frs
time since they had exchanged thei
sacred VOWS. Dinner-time will com,
round on the day of rejoicing, and OF
the day of mourning, and interpose it
material demands between our souls anC
soft emotions of tenderness and grief
The necessities of the body often afforC
heathful distraction to thoughts toC
highly strung to sensations of JOY or o
sorrow. The body is as homely nurse,
but it is q faithful one, If it be not NAL
treated, and does its best to guard anC
help the immortal child that is entrust
ed to it, to be carried in its arms durinl
its days of infancy. So the time o
parting came, and they parted not TO
any interminable space of time to b
sure-but it was their first parting. /
was not, as just said, an eternal sepa
ration, for there was to be great sleigh
ing-party that evening, and Ingram ha
already engaged Helen to be his com
, panion. With as many last words as
they were to part FOR Vears he at lengtl