Year: 1879

fall forever; and then went out like
n flame. The next knew was sensa-
ton of cold, and of being bound so that
could not move. l heard sounds, and
longed to speak, and open my eyes; but
could not. Then thought that some
one was carrying me. BUTT was all so
dim that the effort to recall tits like try
ing to catch notes in the beam. Then
some one else took me, and laid me on
a hard bed, and felt rs though a strong
light was shining over me. could see
the glow Of 1t, though my eyes were
shut felt quite happy, and believed
that was in heaven. Some one took
my hand, and / thought that my moth
er had come to meet me. lay there,
and drew that light and warmth to my
self, and woke slowly to n new life. 1t
was as though had been in some terri
bic place, and friend-my mother, or
some one else-had led me out of it, and
now all was safe. opened my eyes,
and saw face bending over me !"


Rose started suddenly forward from
her corner of the sofa, and impulslvely
held out both her hands.


80 my friend my friend ~ she cried
passionately, 'it was you who saved my
life. Do not forsake me, nor send me
away from you'll"


A flush swept over the doctors face,
at the suddenness of her appeal. He
clasped the two trembling hands, and
looked earnestly into the fearful face.


" Ny dear, never dreamed Of desert
ing you,' he said l." and as for sending
you from me, you will only go to your
own, and hope to see you often. In
deed, dear, / am as unwilling to spare
you as you are to go. shall be lonely
here.'


"Could you not go to the Hall, and
live with me, and Mrs. Coolidge, and
Lily?" asked Rose, softly touching
with her delicate finger-tips one of the
hands that had held hers, and that still
rested on the sofa between them.


AS she spoke, she leaned slightly to-
ward him, then drew back timidly,
withdrawing her fingers from his hand.
Kind as he was, he was so dignified and
unresponsive that she half feared him.


Doctor Thayer breathed quickly, and
his eyes scintillated, as he look ed at her
one instant in silence. This girl was too
utterly ignorant. He must put q stop
to such solicitations, and, cruel as 1t
seemed, give her a lesson in respect for
the worlds opinion.


could live there only as your hus-
band, Rose" he said, and in the effort
to speak calmly his voice sounded cold.
" 1t is not usual for gentlemen no older
than / to become the guests of young
ladies. The world wonld consider it
very improper"


She looked at him one instant, with
her beautiful eyes dilating with surprise,
then a crimson blush rushed over her
face, burning like flame her palIid
whiteness,-a blush Of mingled pain and
shame. For the first time, the thought
came into her mind that she had been
bold and indelicate, that she had Offend
ed and disgusted him, and that there
was something shocking in her express
ing her affection, and her willingness to
love him. That, then, was what his
coldness had meantl She sat over
whelmed with humiliation. Could it be
that he would think she meant to ask
him to marry her2 The thought took
her to her feet as though she had receiv-
ed galvanic shock.


'' You must pardon my childish igno-
rance" she stammered, half turning
away, and not looking at him. And
there was a ring of pride, almost of an
ger, in her voice. 6 You know have
had no chance to learn such things"


She was going away, but he detained
her.


my dear Rose he said, with sor-
rowful tenderness, "do not leave me so.
Do you think that / am blaming you
or that am ungrateful for your affec-
tiony 1 only said this to you to save
you the necessity Of hearing it from
somebody else."


" She shrank away from him, with
drawing the hand he had taken.


"You make me think myself mean
and unmanly 7" he exclaimed. Have
insulted youy"


"No," said Rose, with dropping
head; bat you have made me think of
things never thought of before"