Year: 1866

81 have not deserved this. Carlo, come
here"


My poor shaggy Carlo came forward
wagglng his tail. He laid his head on
my knee and looked up at me wistfully
and fondly, as only dogs can look when
they vainly seek to read the meaning Of
a human face.


"He was an outcast," I said looking
at Mr.. Thompson che was starving
he came to this door; fed him, and
he would not leave it. I took pity on
him-I gave him a mat to lie on and a
crust to eat. He loves me for it but
Mr.. Thompson, l am not quite SO low
as to be brought to this poor beast
level can take care Of myself.''
Mr.. Thompson threw himself back in
his chair and uttered dismayed whis.
tie as I made this free commentary upon
his proposal


"Well, WE'LL" he said, recovering
slowly, 81 can understand that you
should not care fer me, but I did not
expect you would take it so.' ~.


"And how could 1 take it 2" cried
"You give me pity I scorn pity. All,
Mr.. Thompson, if 1 we're not the poor
forlorn girl 1 am, would you feel of
speak so? Do you think 1 Go not
know how rich girls are wooed and won?
If you cared an atom for me, would
you dare to come to me with such Ian
guage 2"


"What language ?"


"What do you mean by taking care
of me?"


''What said. Yes, Augusta, I wish
to take care of you-true, fond, loving
care; nothing shall make me unsay it. :"
He spoke warmly, and manly glow
rose to his face; but I would not give
in, and | said angrily,. that 1 did not
want to be taken care of.


"Dolet us drop these unlucky words
he entreated "and do tell me whether
you will marry me, yes or no. Let it be
if you like, that l want you to take care
Of ME. lam much older than you are,
you know"


[ don't know what possessed me. |
said "No." Oh! how I would have
liked to recall the word, but it was spo-
ken, and he rose with q clouded and
disappointed face. He fingered little
and asked to know why it was No and
not Yes | said we could not be happy
together. He bowed gravely and left
me. I suppose he was hurt for he did
not add word. No assurance of friend
ship, or good will, no hope that I would
relent or change my mind, passed his
lips. The door closed upon him. 1
heard the garden gate fall to, and l felt
in a sort of stupor. 1t was over. What
madness had made me Danish him
Every step took him away further from
me-never-never again-should we
meet. Perhaps he would not have left
me then, if I could have spoken the
truth. All F! if 1 could have said to
him 81 cannot be happy with you be-
cause love and you do not; because
my love aud my pride would suffer all
day long if l were your wife; because
it is easier to do without you than to
have you on these terms" If could
have said all this, would our meeting
have ended thus? 1t was too late to
think of that now, but it was not too
late to suffer. l buried my face in the
pillow. of the couch on which l was sit
ting, and cried and sobbed as if my heart
would break.


Poor Carlos cold nose thrust in the
hand which hung down by my side in
the folds of my dress, reused me.
looked up and saw-Mr. Thompson.
He was very red, and seemed furried.


81 have forgotten my umbrella he
said, a little nervously.


Yes; there it was, in the corner, that
horrible umbrella of his! But, instead
Of going to look for it, he suddenly came
and sat down on the couch by me. l
do notknow how I looked, but felt
ready to die with shame. He took my
hand and kissed it.


"My dear Miss Raymond" he said,
persuasively, "why should we not be
happy together cannot bear to give
you up. indeed I cannot %


"Then do you really like me ?'' l
asked.


"Do I really like you? Why, what
else have I been saying all along?'


''You said you wanted to take care of
me-"


"Oh, if we are to 60 back to that
be began, resignedly. But we did not
go back to that; we went back to no.
thing, for miserable girl suddenly be-
came the happiest of women Still l
was not quite satisfied


"You would not have come back, if
it had not been for that horrible UNI
brella of yours,' I said, with little
jealousy.


"Very true he replied, with his Pc
culiar smile; "but l did come back,
and I glanced in through the window
first, and saw you hiding your face on
that cushion, and Carlo looking at you
as if he thought it strange you should
be SO forlorn and SO I came in for my
umbrella; and, to tell you the truth, 1
had forgotten it on purpose"


Perhaps he only said it to please me !;
but as looked into his face 1 did not
think so then; and, though years have
passed over us both, do not think SO
now.


"GRANDMA," said sturdy, impu-
dent boy, who bad been smashing her