Year: 1878




abstinence, but by no means in the same
way; he would indulge himself by buying
some pretty little present for his darling,
which gave her infinite pleasure, save for
the thought OF the sum it must have cost
him. But he always used to silence her
by protesting that the money was "a wind
fall" and did not affect the great mass of
his savings (f2. l8s, 6d), at all.


These wndfalls grew to be pretty fire.
quent after little while. and with their
frequency (though did not associate the
facts together very particularly at the
time), noticed that Fred, whose consti-
tuition was always delicate, got to have q
thinner and more careworn appearance.
Indeed, remember saying on one occa-
sion when he brought Kitty her locket
(and angered ME by declining to accom-
pany me to the play, on the ground of
having no money!. that he looked as ii he
had starved himself to buy it. Moreover,
when did occasionally persuade him to
go with me to any entertainment. he not
only did not take the same interest in |. as
of Aore, which could understand from his
lovelorn state, but he used to fall asleep
during the best part of it, such as the bal
let, which | really could not understand.
II " 40 bdd ChcuSh lOt ouC ltlcuu " 1dli
in love, but that he should do so with ones
sister was a double misfortune, and DESC
lated me, as it were. both ways, for Kitty
and |. being orphans, lived alone together;
and her attentions, which should have been
exclusively devoted to me, were now di-
vided between myself and Fred while, as
have said. lost my friends companion
ship. This state OF things went on for
al Lone TO lx,se
the two young people together very firmly
and to make me feel Fred to be quite lone
OF the tamily"-and then the bright little
bubble burst. Mr.. Jacob Raynor discov.
cred what was going on and stamped it
out as though it had been the foot-and-
mouth disease instead of the tender pas
sion.


For my part, considering the great be-
nevolence of his character, | thought it
was done rather brutally. There was to
be a total cessation of all intercourse; the
lovers were not even to write to one an
other for two whole years, when Fred
would come of age. After that, said the
old gentleman, il his son was still blinded
by his folly, he might take his own course,
though it would never have his fathers
appreciation. l confess it seemed to me
that Fred showed some lack of spirit in
submitting to such harsh conditions, for
since he did not mean to give Kitty up,
and was not in the end to have the pater-
nal sanction, | could not see what
advantage was gained by denying
himself of her society in the meantime.
But his sense of duty, notwithstanding
we Felt sure that his employers would
not have dismissed him Tor taking his
own way in such matter, forbade that
course. He told me that he had express
ed himself very strongly. though with
great respect, to his parent, and that it
had taken all he knew to prevent an inn
mediate rupture. at is my fathers love
for me-" he said, (which makes him SO
inexorabe, since he cannot believe that
my happiness lies where 1t does; while
as TO making me an allowance on which |
could marry, it is the simple fact that he
has not IA guinea to spare, SO We must not
be too hard upon the governor"


HE would have guineas to spare"
said bitterly, (tor felt tor poor Kitty.)
"if he did not throw them away upon The
Ojbbeways and other unconverted tribes"


"Wel, 1t is his own money. Frank"
answered Fred gravely. land he thinks
he is doing good with it,"


And Kitty of couIse took the same view
of the affair as Fred did. She worked
her fingers TO the bone in making articles
of fancy work, and disposed OF them for
such prices as she could get, in order TO
have II little purse by the time those terri
ble two years should be over; and though
| discountenanced her in so doing. / be.
lieve the constant employment saved her
deal OF fretting. Inc toll, to, seemed
to do her no physical harm; her blue eyes
were as bright as ever, and her little
mouth had always u cheerful smile for me
that had tar more OF hope in it than OF
resignation. Her only happiness for the
present, however, (except what lay In
looking forward was, l verify believe to
hear me talk OF Fred and his doings;
how the dear creature looked, what he
said, (and, in the way OF message, even
how he said it, and how he kept up un-
der his disappointment.


Now, as u matter of fact, | had very
little to tell her for though OF course, 4
saw Fred at the office, saw him nowhere
else. He would leave directly his work
was over, and came in the morning as
punctually AS usual. but what he did with
himself In the meantime l could not find
out. From certain appearances, however,
had mlsgiyings as TO his course OF life;
he had wan and dissipated air, and
would sometimes fall asleep over his led
ger, in way that seemed 10 me to hint
| at very late hours overnight. l thought
| II quite possible, knowing his natural love
OF pleasure, that he had overrated his own
strength OF character, and WAS striving
to drown his sense OF disappointment and
injustice in the usual manner. Young IS
was. and not, am afraid, OF too strict
principles myself, thought it my duty rs
kluy's brother TO hint my suspicious, put
Fred assured me that they were ground
less.


IL have no heart, my dear fellow,
just now," he said, ''iof any amuse-
ment, whether harmless or otherwise,
and | find it best Tor me to be alone
| and at home"


was bound to believe him, for l had
never known Fred to tell lie, but 3
week or two aiterward l had good rea-
son to conclude that he had deceived


me. | was iond OF u little gayety my


sell, 10 which Kitty encouraged me--as (
am now firmly persuaded in order that
she might have the more opportunities
Tor siIlng up to work, for when at home
| would not permit it--and on q certain
n 4