Year: 1874

| the purpose. But l can tell you that lts not
because don't think her good enough for you ;
no, indeed, think her a million times too
good"


Complimentary" muttered Charles.


Il don't know who you may be, nor do
care all I know is you're stranger to these
parts, and how you met Elsie, or got round
her as you've done, passes my understanding.
You look like gentleman" with scornful
emphasis) II 'spose you call yourself one
but you are, you ought to know better than
to seek underhanded meetings with an igno-
rant girl, and worm yourself into her liking,
unbeknown to them as could teach her better.
That's fine gentleman's conduct, forsooth
Actions speak louder than words, and if you
meant to act fair and honest by her, what him
dered you saying so, instead of sneaking after
her in the highways and by.ways like thief?
If you're ashamed of being seen with her,
keep your own company and welcome. Please
God, III soon see her married to one who
don't come ACQUIRING her in secret; she don't
need to 60 a.begging for husband. And l
want you to understand, sir, said Mrs. Deane,
winding up her peroration with exceed 3
ferceness, "that this is an end of everything
between you and she, and you'd best keep
your distance in future and leave honest folks
alone


Here she paused purely from lack Of breath,
and after waiting for an instant in expectation
of an answer-which, however, did not come
triumphantly retired from the field, in the
firm conviction that the enemy was entirely
routed by the force of her oratory. Charles
watched her tall figure until it vanished
among the trees, then with short laugh,
turned upon his heel and strolled off in the
opposite direction.


"Poor little Elsie I'm afraid she'll catch
it," he muttered. "Whata virago that woman
is. Well, I've certainly stirred up nice
kettle of fish. What ridiculous fuss about
nothing! Can't man kiss a village girl, 1
wonder, without bringing such hornets nest
about his ears? suppose all the pumpkins
in the neighborhood will be lying in wait for
me now, ready to cudgel my unfortunate
brains out if so much as cast another glance
at her. Well, it's not her fault; and all this
row only makes me determined to outwit the
old woman and carry my point. She'll cage
my pretty bird, 1 suppose, but I'll see if
can't manage to cut the wires and set her free,
or rather take her captive myself There's
really some zest in the enterprise now twill
be fun to out-general the ancient matron, and
spite my rustic rivals, whoever they may be.
By fair means or foul, I'll carry that dear
little thing away-.shes too good for this
place. That's my determination, and neither
dame nor devil shall hinder me from carrying
it out"


Charles was surprised, and somewhat dis
concerted, to discover, in any member of a
community of such common folks as he sup
posed the villagers to be, so much sturdy pride
as could receive the advances of gentleman
like himself with indifference and even dis
dain. He had thought that he was conde-
scending greatly in offering to make Elsie his
wife, and to be "abused like pickpocket" as
he styled it, instead of being overwhelmed
with the gratitude his magnanimity deserved,
was really too bad The more he pondered
the matter, the more annoyance it caused him,
and the more firmly did he resolve so carry
his point.


Upon Elsie, when her mother reached home,
were poured the full vials of Mrs. Deanes
wrath. The poor little thing was so dismay-
ed and and cast down by the unexpected turn
in the tide of affairs, that she offered no resis-
tance, but meekly succumbed to the torrent of
reproach that flowed from the lips of her an
cry parent. Only once, when it was directed
with especial virulence against Charles, did
she summon courage to interpose faint plea
in his behalf.


"It was my fault, mother, for not telling
you. 1 was afraid you'd be angry. He's a
real true gentleman, and never meant any
wrong"


Woman like, she accepted far more than
her merted share of the blame, for the sake
of sheltering the object of her love. But her
weak defense was not needed much; Mrs.
Deane was too much excited and engrossed
in the expression of her own feelings to notice
the timid Interpolation. She did, indeed, occa'
sonally pause for an answer to the questions
she launched at Elsie concerning all the cir
cumstances of her acquaintanceship with
Charles each answer seeming to stir up a fresh
measure of indignation at the improperly,
the audacity, the duplicity of the whole affair.
Elsie was finally banished to her room, feel
ing herself the greatest criminal in existence.
She shuddered at the thought that her con-
duct must appear bold and unmaidenly in
her lovers eyes ; for her mother had impressed
upon her that he had merely been amusing
himself at her expense, as such fine gentlemen
always did, and trying to see how far he could
make her betray her own folly. This she did
not, could not believe; yet she was confused
and perplexed, and the mere suggestion OF
such an idea made her miserable. She
crept into bed in tears, feeling as if she bore
upon her stigma of reproach that could
never be removed.


"Perhaps he despises me" was the thought
that haunted her, even in her dreams. "He
seemed to care for me-and yet, mother says
he was only trying to see how far he could i'm
pose on me. Oh! l can't think it! But
then, he might have thought 1 was foolish
and ignorant; and l must have let him see
my feelings too plainly. If I ever meet him
anain I shall be ashamed to look into his