Year: 1877

TOWARDS US. An examination vi JOylul
surprise broke from her lips when she
perceived the young sailor, and upon
Mary's informing herthat itwas Charles,
she obeyed the impulse of her heart, and
running into the arms opened to receive
her, hid her blushing face in his bosom.


The scene affected me very much but
thought Charles took 1t very coolly,
and disengaged her from his arms
great deal sooner than would have done
under the same circumstances. He then
turned all sorts of sOlors, and seemed
ready to drop to the. earth which actions
seemed rather unaceountable to me, as
such an agreeable encounter eXhillrated
my spirits in the highest degree. We all
then entered the house, where Charles
received the congratulations of Helen's
parents upon his safe return. Seated by
the side of the blushing maiden, he an
swered the many questions respecting
his health, the voyage, and SO forth,
with great deal more patience that 1
could have done with such beauty as
Helen by me. had never seen her look
so lovely and so happy as upon this oc-
casion. Her bosom heaved with emo
tions, her large dark eyes were fixed at
intervals, with the utmost tenderness,
upon the countenance of her lover, and
her rich brunette skin was tinged with
the deep flush of happiness. She was
only two years older than me, but, L
am sorry to say, she took no more notice
of me than if was not in the room,
which conduct on her part made me feel
very indignant, although was too much
of man to show it. But L could not
help running my hand defiantly over
the down which, with the aid of tele-
scope, might have been detected upon my
upper lip. My indignation, however,
did not prevent me from noticing all
that passed between the two lovers
which, by the way, was not much. j
did not see him look at her more than
once, and then it was with the mournfnl
expression of pity in his eye, which
the occasion did not seem to warrant.
1 could see nothing about Helen to
pity; she appeared perfectly happy and
contented.


At last 1 saw Charles bend down his
head and say something to her in low
tone. Helen then arose, and tripping
to her mothers side, said she was going
to take walk with Charles, to which
her mother gave willing consent. The
young lady was good enough to invite
Mary to accompany them, but Mary de-
clined the invitation, with smile that
went to my heart. expected she would
have extended the like civility to me,
and was making up my mind to accept
it, when she brushed by the place where
1 wns seated, without giving me glance,
and left the room in company with my
man-of-war cousin.


"She's wonderful proud all at once"
thought I. 81 think Mary is the pref
tiest, after all !"


My cousin was blonde, with deep
blue eyes, waving curls of glossy brown
hair, and a form which gracefully united
the airy lightness of girlhood with the
full rounded proportions of the woman.
Her skin was of dazzling whiteness, al
though her cheeks were tinted with the
rosy hues of beauty and health. Her
step was as light as the fall of snow
drop, and her teeth can only compare
to little white-robed fairies looking forth
from red rose, to which flower her full
pouting lips bore astriking resemblance.
She was just the same age as Helen, and
had of late entertained serious thoughts
of proposing in due form. only waited
the completion of an elegant dress coat
which the tailor was already engaged in
making for me, and which L thought,
together with my gold watch chain,
would give me more manly and ire
sistible appearance.


But TO proceed with my story.


In about half an hour Charles and
Helen returned from their walk, and
had no sooner entered the room than
the latter sank into seat, with Deep
drawn sigh. noticed that she was
pale and trembled exceedingly. All her
former joyousness seemed to have de.
serted her, and there was redness about
her eyes, as though she had been weep
ing.


Charles had a restlessJ mournful ex-
preston which fairly made me pity him
from the bottom of my heart


Helen's parents had left the room q
moment previously, and Mary and my.