Year: 1867




the little beauty charmed and baf
fed him. He found that acting lone
wouldn't humble this little elf; and
determined on speaking it. Minnie's
shade of disappointment wasn't seen
by Herbert; he led her into the
house and in tones that would one
month ago have made her heart leap
joyfully, told her of his deep. true
love for her and his desire to make
her his bride. Minnie's big blue
eyes swimmed in tears as she placed
her little hand in his and told him
that she could not love him as he
wished but felt true regard for him.
Herbert raised the little dimpled
hand to his lips, then silently and
serrowfully arose and left her. This
is of what Minnie is thinking so sad
| ly, and so absorbed is she that she
heard not the latch of the gate click,
nor needed the handsome form that
neared the house. Fred Emory
paused one moment to drink in the
unusual pensiveness and sweetness
of her beauty. Now or never" ex-
claimed he, soto voce. Sprlnging
lightly into the room he startled her
by passing his arm about her little
round waist and tenderly pillowing
her ringletted head on his BOSOM
"You are very unkind," said Min
ME, but her heightened color, the
trembling of the little hand he clasp
ed and the low fattering voice did
not deceive Fred.


"N hyr' said he, and his rich voice
was full of tender pathos, his soft,
wavy moustache, just brushing her
pearly ear. us it unkind of me to
love you with such wild, passion
ate love as I do? Is it unkind OF me
70 know that, unless you consent to
become my own sweet little wife, my
youth will be nipped in the bud, my
life tereft of every charm, my


s.No, no, no." cried Minnie, twin
ING her waxen arms about his neck,
and pressing her face, bedewed with
tears, close to his, 'only love me so
and | ask of heaven no greater
boon"


Gagged at last" thought Fred,
and his now fierce black eyes burned
with fiendish glow, as he felt the
spasmodic clasp of her little arms,
the wild luttering of hel heart, and
the warm tears that fell on his
cheek.


"Then you do love me, Minnie?"
askek he, as he raised her happy,
sparkling face, and imprinted kiss
after kiss on it.


80, SO much!" replied she, drop
ping her head again to hide the deep
bushes that covered her lovely face.


'And are willing to make me hap
py?" asked he again.


"Yes; l will try so-hard to become
worthy of your love-" said Minnie,
softly. II will never tease you
again. added she.


Fred stopped and whispered some
thing in her ear which made her
turn deadly pale; quickly unclasp
ing her arms she slipped from his
embrace, and with low cry of an
guish, left the room.


"The devilr' muttered Fred, his
handsome face covered with vexa-
ton. "Is this then, the end of my
contemplated pleasure this summer?
The confounded little prude!" jerk
ing up his hat he rushed from the
house. Minnie's first thought was:
80! Herbert Brewster, whose rich,
honest love l this night rejected,
would never have acted So" No
sleep for her pretty eyes that night.
Her little feet would grow weary
pacing her sweet, little room; her
little curly head would toss restless
ly on the great ruffied pillow; but
sweet sleep with its benign influence
refused to come to drown the bitter
memory of Fred. Emory's base
words, they would SOUND so terribly
distinctly. After her short, delicious
ly sweet dream of happiness, what a
cruel awakening! She had loved him
so distractedly, he was the very
bane of her existence, her every |
thought was centered IN him. Her
young heart was ready to burst with |
happiness at announcement of his |
love for her: but o! how quickly fol-
lowed the keenest, bitterest anguish
pure and sensitive woman can feel. /
The quick succession of joy and |
grief were too much for her, she |
sank into raging fever which lasted |
two weeks; when she returned to
consciousness she would think of
Fred. Emory with surprising calm
ness. The severe heart-ache was
gone, but the wound her proud spirit
had received could never be healed.
With clear, collected brain, she dis
cerned many hi1eous traits in the
character of him whom her love-
blinded fancy had considered the
personifcation of every manly vir-
tue. With a loathing disgust, she
closed her eyes on the humiliating
scene. "How different was he from
her first true love, Herbert; o, how
different" thought she sadly.


Then atrembling hope that it might
not yet be too late to make reparatlon
with him, took possession of her;
with nervous fingers she penned a
little note to him, humbly entreat-
ing him to call on her at his earliest
possible convenience. In feverish
suspense she awaited his coming
Minnie, with fearful, averted face,
and timid, faltering voice, told Her
bert that she had for some time been
laboring under the impression that
her little worthless heart was secure
in the keeping of one for whom she
now felt centemptous loathing;
but that she now felt how deeply and
truly she had and would still love
him Herbert, if he would permit
her to. Silently and tenderly the
strong arms that would ever shield
her from harm, encircled her, and