Year: 1879

Mr. Frank Stoddarl was taking lunch /
at a popular restaurant few days after
he received Elinor's answer to his let
ter, and, as he sat alone at a small table,
several gentlemen took seats near him,
but where they did not notice his pres
ence. They had evidently been discuss
ing some wOman's character, for one Of
them exclaimed, in a tone Of iucredulity, |
as soon as walters had served them and
gone:


Captain, I think there must be some
mistake about it, can't believe she is |
that kind Of girl. must say never
saw more modest, ladylike young
woman in my life, and I've seen a good
many. I never saw young lady who
seemed less inclined to flirtation."


81 tell you there's no chance for mis-
take about it, Larkins. l didn't get
my information second hand. I knolg
her. You can't fool me in a woman.
Pm too old"


And the Captain gave a coarse, chuck
ling laugh, while Frank felt so much
disgust that he could scarcely retain his
seat, where he could not avoid hearing
their conversation.
Another voice said:


"Oh, Larkins, you can't tell thing
about a woman by the way she talks.
They can lie with such innocent faces
they would deceive any man."


That's So" said another, whose voice
Frank recognized as that o. Mr..
Adolphus Hartley. "And you can't
tell by their looks either they'll smile
on a fellow till he's ready to go down on
his knees 10 them, aud then, when they
see they've hooked their fish, they can
be as cool and Indifferent as if they
never thought Of such thing"


"Well, Hartley, you talk as if you
knew all about it by personal expert I
ence," laughed the Captain. "Did you
fall into the fair charmers trap?"


"Weil, don't mind saying that ad-
mire her style good deal, and although
she didn't have any tin, il I had not
seen she was such an abominable fiirt,
don't know but what she might have
been Mrs. H. to-day instead of what she
is. But 1 couldn't stand that, you
know. It won't do for a fellows wife,
you know. I had a lucky escape,
didn't I? I tell you what, felt aw-
fully cut up, you know, when this story
came out on her, for she fooled me so I
thought she was about as good as the
best Of them for a while, aud hate to
think how awfully near was TO being
taken in"


"Yes, Hartley, you had a hair-breadth
escape, sure enough" said the Captain,
ironically. 80 congratulate you, and
hope you'll have the luck next time to
find a girl that has more tin than
brass"


81 suppose / ought to thank you for
it, Captain" said Hartley, with some
spirit, "for thought you were trying TO
cut me out, and / guess from the way
you talk you got the mitten yourself"


mot 1. Pm not so verdant," said
Talbot, with his coarse, harsh laugh
again. "Nly lady was too anxious alto
gether. ] humored her for while, and
let her think was smitten-but bah
was just finding her out, and ! found
her out, too, can tell you. That young
doctor she's gone of with has got his
hands full. He'll be glad enough to get
rid Of her before long. She's a sharp
one, TO think Of such dodge as attend
lug medical college 10 be with her fel-
low. But ! rather think Tll let the col
lege authorities know something about
her, aud then well see what we shall
see."


And the brutal chuckle was heard
again, while Frank Stoddard's brain
grew dizzy, and he leaned his head on
his hand, trying 10 calm himself enough
TO think what he should do. His first
suspicion, that he had dismissed as alb
surd, was confirmed by the last words of
the revengeful Captain, and his first i'm
pulse was to spring up and attack him
with his cane. But Elinor's calm, pure,
sweet face rose before him, and he felt
that she would be grieved and distressed
to know that he had engaged in public
brawl on her account; but be felt that
her name must not be dishonored by
being bapdied about in such a public
place by so vile a slanderer as the
ruflian near him, so he made powerful
effort to control himself, and then rose
and, stepping to the side Of the Captain
cane in hand, said, in low, intens,
tone;


"You know that you have been lylDl
basely, vilely, for revenge, in every
thing you have said, and you are
shameless coward to slander an absen
woman whom you know is as pure q
an angel, because you think she ha
none to defend her. You are mistaken
I will defend her, while I live, as
would my own sister The good oil
doctor, with whose wife she is staying
will protect her, too, as be would hi
daughter. You deserve to have you
cowardy head broken, and If it was no
for my respect for the one you have s
foully slandered, you would get wha
you deserve right here. If I ever hea
another word of this, 1 will cane you a
1 would dog ~


"You would do well to keep a eivi