Year: 1878

there was one hope-a slender one, but
still hope. They were to meet to-
morrow at the picnic; and, though she
could not take the initiative, yet sonae-
thing might happen. Perhaps
effort, for she had been thus musing
gone out, and rising, ran down stairs to
her pony-phmton, feeling like sorae
guilty thing. all at once remembering
that had been housekeeping.


There was @ great dinner party TINT
day where Isabel was guest. but every
body remarked that she was not herself
She was dull, spiritless, absorbed. Her
usual gay sallies, her contagious wit,
were absent. Little sleep visited her
eyes that night. She was thinking all
the while that she had discovered her
secret too late; she called it seeres now;
a week ago she would have called it
weakness Harry was going, and might
go, was almost certain to 60, without
word.


She dressed for the picnic next day
with the greatest care. She was in q
fever when she reached the :ocks till
Harry made hts appearance, for she
feared something might happen to pre-
vent his coming. He did net, for awhile,
join her; and she was in fever of ap-
prehension till he did. When, at last,
he came up, shc welcomed him with
a bright smile; and from that moment
she was the gayest of the gay. Never
had she been more brilliant. Half
dozen of the most intelligent gentlemen
present were about her; she had a retort
for each; the ball of conversation never
tagged for moment. But, with all,
she was restless. She was hoping that
Harry would give her chance to see
him alone; but he made no movement to
do so.


"Why does he not ask me to go for a
walk ? :" she said to herself. The after
noon was rapidly passing; her hopes
began to grow faint; she resolved on a
decided step.


Chow very warm it is" she cried,
tanning herself vigorously. 81 wonder
if there is more breeze on the beach,"
Immediately her attendants, one and
all, offered to escort her to the shore
Harry among them. She put her arm
in his.


81 will accept Mr. DarnIey's kind es-
court" she said, bowling gracefully to
the rest. "They tell me he is going to
Europe, and it will be my last walk with
him The rest of you I can see dozens
of times yet"


The others took the hint, and, bowling,
| left Isabel and Harry alone. Neither
| spoke until they had left the noisy COM
pany far behind them, and quite out of
sight. and had reached a rocky bluff,
with the low, level sands stretching be-
fore them, and the long line of breakers
whitening in the distance.


"Let us sit down here" said Isabel.


They sat down, and, as the sun was
still warm, Harry put up her silk UNI
brella and held it over her. Still he did
not speak. Something in Isabel's man.
ner began to give him hope, yet he
could hardly believe it; and he feared to
spoil all by precipitation.


care you really going to Europe ? y
said Isabel; and her voice trembled a
little in spite of her effort to be calm.
"Is it not very sudden ?'


cit is sudden; but it is the only thing
left for me to do


"Why ?"


There was a tenderness in the tone
that was unmistakable. and such as Har-
nv had never before heard He looked
at her suddenly and keenly. Her face
grew crimson with bushes her eyes
fell she turned half aside. Then, as il
hardly knowing what she said, she be-
gan to draw lines in the did with Har.
rvs thin bamboo cane, which he had
put down when he opened the umbrella.


A wild, desperate resolution took pos
session of her companion. He was nc
faint t-hearted knight hut, as he had told
Charley, never before had Isabel giver
him even the slightest encouragement te
speak as lover At this sudden shy.
ness on her part he took courage, snd
resolved to peril all ION the hazard oi
the de-"


Only those who have been in sucf
straits themselves. hoping and yet fear
ing, but fearing more than they hoped
can know how he spoke. His earnest