Year: 1878




my arm and stood quite still before me.


"Me ] o, did you say me 2"


And then l saw the moonlight falling
on her face, and it was not the face of a
girl shining with happy confusion when
she hears the story of his love from the
man whom she prefers. It was pale and
shocked, and then she hid it from me in
her hands and burst into tears.


1 needed no other answer. 1 knew my
suit was hopeless.


Don't cry, dear |" said I, ''I never
thought to wound you"


81 thought you knew" she went on,
sObbingly, 81 thought my uncle might
have told you. am TO marry Mr.. Nor
ris. 1 got letter from him to day. OF
can you forgive me2"


She stretched out her little hands
imploringly. took them in mine, and
l kissed them-they were sacred to me;
they belonged to another, and I kissed
them while my heart was breaking.


"Forgive you my darling!" said,
81 would forgive you if you killed me, 1
think. Don't grieve, Annie, 1 will try
to bear it"


We parted at her uncle's without an
other word, and 1 went home to the
motherly heart that 1 knew would suffer
with me, but whose tender sympathy
would uphold me in this hour of bitter
trial.


The next day 1 sent off my resignation
to Washington, for my mother and
agreed to leave the village where we
had passed so many quiet years. 1t was
in the afternoon of the same day that
the letter of which I had spoken, that
now knew was for my rival, attracted my
attention. I took it up reluctantly
felt l would as readily have touched
poisonous snake-and was just about to
put the postlnark on when / saw that
the stamp upon it, instead of being
postal one, was a revenue stamp, and
that the letter, instead of speeding off on
wings Of love to New York, must be
consigned to the dead letter office in
Washington. With a thrill of savage
delight 1 flung it into the box appropri-
ated to the reception of such castaways
and went on with my evenings work.
With that work went on mechanically,
but my thoughts were not agreeably
employed. That then was the answer
to the missive which she had received.
But it should be long before he would
get it-get ii too late perhaps for IN ex-
plantation; for misunderstanding be.
.ween lovers had often arisen from
Slighter cause than the non-arIival of an
expected letter. l pictured him waiting
and longing for the letter that would not
come, and she, poor girl, how her tender
heart would be tortured by his imagined
neglect when no answer would be forth
coming. She, l knew, would suffer in
silence, and fondly hoped that he
would do the same. 50 | locked the
nail bag and waited for the messenger
to carry it to the station. The express
would pass in an hour and half. Aud
then a struggle began in my heart The
mis-stamped letter seemed to look re-
proachful at me from the box into which
| had thrown it, and seemed to whisper
to me that one little act of mine could
send it unimpeded on its mission.


No one, believe. unless he was in
my situation, actuated by the same de-
pairing, selfshly hopeful feelings that
were overmastering me, could under
stand what base impulse conquered
when at last, after an hours temptation,
[ took that letter from its resting place,
substituted postage stamp for the
revenue one, opened the mail bag and
let it go. Then after it was done some
hot tears rushed to my eyes. 1t was my
last hope, and 1 could not help indulg-
ing some weakness over its grave.


The next mail from New York arrived
three days after. I had the poor salts
faction of seeing the results Of my good
action in letter in the handwriting Of
my rival, addressed to Annie, making its
unwishedl for appearance, as ! knew it
would, and shortly after DIR. Merrill
took it away with him as he called for
his mail. Loungers came in and out of
the Office and went away finding me little
disposed for conversation. Nothing yet
was known in the village of my acquisi-
tion, SO 1 was spared the pain of listen
ing to congratulations that I was in no
mood to hear. When I went home that
evening I was surprised to find my
mother absent, and still more surprised
when on opening note she had left for
me, learned that she was with Annie
at DIR. Merrill's, and that I was to fol-
low her there. Hopeless as / felt, the
prospects Of seeing Annie again promised
me only painful pleasure, but still the
thought Of being near her had a sweet
and sad fascination that could not re-
sist. When I reached the doctors !
found himself and my mother seated in
his office, 80 intent on the moves of a
knights gambit, that mere nod on my
entrance showed their consciousness OF
my arrival. Annie was not there; ]
found her in the parlor standing upon
the hearth rug, the glow of the freight
shining on her golden hair and glow
of eager, happy expectation in her look
that was new to her sweet face.


"I am so glad to see you" she said,
giving me her hand. 81 have been inn
patient for your coming and I will tel


Futf .--I