Year: 1875

I felt sure that something was wrong; yet
an inde6nabe dread of arousing my fathers
displeasure Ia most unusual apprehension on
my part) restrained me from making farther
inquiries. Tea was ready on the table, and
l took my customary place as soon as had
removed my hat and shawl, feeling glad to be
amid the familiar surroundings again. JOY
Gus as my trip had been, it seemed strangely
pleasant to be at home.


"You look bright and happy, my child"
said papa. "You are wonderfully improved
in your appearance since you went away"


/ thought his tone was unusually mild and
tender, though tinged with melancholy.
Anxious to remove his depression, whatever
the cause of it might be, commenced to give
an account of our jaunt, painting in lively
eolors the diversions of which had partaken,
the places had visited, and the acquaintan-
ces had made. He listened with interest,
occasionally making remark or asking a
question, and often smiling at the nonsense |
purposely talked and l was beginning to
think that had quite succeeded in obtaining
the object had in view, when one portion of
my narrative seemed, in some unaccountable
way, to revive the gloom wished to dispel.


II have wonderful piece of news for you,
which had nearly forgotten. Guess who's
engaged to be married p


"Any friend of ours ?"


"Oh yes, very intimate friend" :,


81 suppose it must be your cousin Ellen.


"Why, papa! How could you make such
a clever guess y


"As Ellen has been your companion ever
since you left home, it is not singular that |
should first think of her. Did she make con-
quest while at the Springs?"


Il don't know exactly whether it commen-
ced there or not I fancy the foundation of it
must have been laid before. But tell me,
now, who her tancs is.


"Of course you cant! That's the singular
part of it. Stephen Holcombe is the happy
man."


"What is there 80 very singular in that p


suddenly remembered that papa knew
nothing of what had passed between Stephen
Holcombe and myself Oh the day of my tste.
laughed, colored, and suppose looked some
what embarrassed, for he regarded me atten'
lively, and asked almost directly


"Were you aware of any prior attachment
on his part?"


"A fancied attachment-or pretended
one," l answered promptly. But at any rate
he has quite got over Mut'


"Have you been keeping any secrets from
me, Rosy % asked papa gravely.


"None worth telling you, papa


Either he was satisfied with the inference
he drew from my reply, or did not care to
pursue the subject farther. He asked no more
questions, but pushing his plate from him
unused with a serious and abstracted look
Finding that my chatter ceased to amuse him
too became silent and feeling little weary
from my journey, soon betook myself tc
bed.


slept late on the following morning, and
found when went down stairs that my father
had already finished breakfast and gone out
He came in, however, before | had risen from
the table.


"When you have got through" he said, after
bidding me good-morning, "Come to the Ii
brary for little while. wish 10 see you
about something particular"
This Of course was sufficient to excite my
curiosity; and was prompt to obey the sum
mons. found him walking up and down
with his hands clasped behind his back, his
customary attitude when in reflective mood
He stopped when l entered, and drew chair
forward.


"St down." said he motioning meto it.
obeyed, feeling as if there we're something
quite solemn and mysterious in this prelimi
nary. He then drew from his pocketa letter
the seal of which had been broken, and laid
it on the table before me.


81 wish you" said he, in slightly tremlouE
tone Ito read that. Read it carefully, and
make no comment until you have thoroughly
understood its contents"