Year: 1874

] PA10NNai b'' AANAy
and he determined to discover the
cause; and to this end he be-
gan to seize every chance to draw
her into conversation, but with
little success, for all his overture
of friendship were decidedly re-
buffed. Poor Hester lamented
that the two she loved best should
not be friends, and encouraged him
to walk and talk with Nab, or
rather attempt it, for to the gentle
mems great disgust she would
leave him as soon as possible to
fiirt with perhaps some insipid
cadet. But by and by he found that
the girl would listen to him,
and anxious to gain her good
opinion he exerted himself, and
with such good effect that his words
and tone would ring in her ears
long after they had been spoken.


One evening he surprised her
seated alone on the piazza step (;
she started when he drew near,
and he thought he could see the
glimmer of tears beneath the silk
en- lashes that so carefully veled
her eyes. He opened the conver-
sation with some commonplace re-
marks, and then said abruptly:


"Miss Nab, why did you avoid
me so carefully when we first met p


Her head was turned from him,
and her fingers plucked ncrvously
at a scarlet rose she held, but she
made no reply.


"Why was it ? do you dislike me,
Miss Lee!" he repeatedly earnest
ly, and he was himself surprised at
: the anxiety with which he awaited
an answer.


Her head turned slowly toward
him, and for q second her eyes met
his as she said , "Dislike you 7"
Something in her words and
look startled him, and rising quiet.
: ly he faced her, saying rapidly
"Then you did not! You do"


She rose also, and the red petals
4 of the flower she had savagel!
D torn to peices hoated to the ground
where they lay in the glow of th'
: setting sun like drops of blood.
81 did not contradict your asser.
ton, sir. If l do dislike / sec nc
reason why we should discuss the
point" she returned, icily, and
then passed into the house.
, Stanhope looked after her ad
miringly, and it seemed as though
he had realized for the first time
how beautiful she was. Again and
again her look and tone rose to his
mind, and with the remembrance
was interviewer a dim, vague hope.


The poor child reached her room
at last, how, she never knew, for in
spite of her calm tone, her very
brain seemed reeling, and there
bowing her head she groaned
81 did not mean-oh, my promise
my promise!''


From this time Stanhope almost
unconsciously began to absent him
self from Hesters company to seek
that of Nab, whose conduct at
time was a perfect riddle.


Hester encouraged him, for her
faith in him was so perfect that
never for moment did she suspect
him of q breach of trust and Nab
seeing this night after night, said
to her self, 81 will keep my prom.
ise,'


A month after their first meeting
Stanhope was her escort on a water
party. Hester having headache,
declined going, but pressed Nab to
accept Mr.. Morton's attendance
and the girl, against her better
judgement, decided to go.


During the day he was very ST.
lent, but not so Nab. If she had
never been called "nirt' before
her deeds that day would have
won her the title. But laugh and
dance as she would, she was pain
fully conscious that q pale, stern
face was watching her, and that a
pair of black eyes kept guard
over her.


AS evening came on the yatch
was turned homeward, and the
party grouped themselves in differ
ent parts of the vessel. Nab slip
ped away unperceived, as she
thought, and seated herself where
she could not be seen by the merry
groups.


Presently q shadow fell across
the deck at her feet, and looking
up she saw Stanhope Morton.