Year: 1875

CONCLUDED FROM LAST wEEK.)


So the summer was wearing away
untarnished, brimming with a new
meaning to Laura. The high heavens
seemed to bend and bless her; the
stars to come out only to look at a
happy mortal; the river to ring its
silver chimes in union with her
thought; the very hedgerows to blos-
som and sing because she smiled !;
while even the sober, everyday sun
light wore a touch Of romance. But
when she drew her curtains at night,
across which the trees and the moon
light wove beautiful designs, she used
to wonder if all her summers would
prove as sweet. Can it be possible
that ever she anticipated the equinoc-
tial?


And one day there was the Major
back again. He had a weed on his
hat, and looked as if yachting hadn't
agreed with him. And Geordie fore
swore the Captain on the instant, and
returned to his old love; which he pre-
faced with the pleasing report that
"the Captain, was hand in glove with
his Laura ; he heard Harry say so. -
The Major made no reply, but put
Master Geordie down, and devoted
himself to telling Mrs. Devon that
the death Of a friend in the neighbor-
hood, of whose estate he was executor,
had brought him back thus unexpect-
edly.


Laura and the Captain had gone
across the fields with a. basket of
fruit for a sick woman, and Geordie
ran to meet them halfway with the
latest news.


"And now you won't be, going off
all the time with the Captain, will
you, Laura? And you'll stay At
home and play chess with the Major,
and I can look on and see the bishops
catch it-won't you, Laura ?"


"And what is to become Of meT
asked the Captain.


"You!" said Geordie, nonchalantly.
You can look on too, I suppose
can't he, Laura ?"


AS for the Major, he took it all in,
and confirmed Geordie's fact at a
glance.


"She is more like an angel than
ever" he thought. "Confound the
fellow! he's handsome as a picture
too. Well, it's good to thiuk that
she isn't thrown away, at least. There
are always crumbs of comfort falling
from the rich mans table, and if she
is satisfied I can 60 hungry"


And perhaps he wasn't so talkative
the remainder Of the evening, but you
would never have suspected from his
air that he was disappointed lover.


He didn't make his stay at the
Devons, however, but was there from
time to time, as business allowed. l
doubt if it was always quite a pleas
ure to him to see Laura and the Cap
tain together constantly; but it was
his only chance Of seeing her at all,
and he strove to persuade himself that
he enjoyed her happiness as if it were
his own. Perhaps it was the one
honeyed drop in a deadly draught.


At breakfast, one morning, while
they arranged for the days pleasure
a servant brought in the letter from
the mail.


"Ah, Laurence, you are always in
luckw cried Harry. "Here's a budg
ct for you."


'No congratulations, pray, till W.
see if it is not a dun" He looked al
the address as he spoke, and put il
down with a little start.


"Why don't you read it," asked
Geordie. II always read mine RICH,
off,"


"Mine" consisted of one which tn,
Major had written and Laura read K
him.


ut doesn't look promising" answer
ed Laurence; but directly after break
fast he had horse saddled, and wa
off at a furious pace, as if ten thous
and demons were in pursuit"


"Doesn't he go like time! sait
Geordie, admiringly. When the Cap
tain was quite clear of hamlet O
homestead, with nothing but pasture
land and woodland, bounded by ,
blue line of water, within view, b
reined in his horse, and proceeded t
digest his letter. It was not appal
lingly long, and written in a firm
clear hand, as if the writer had bee'
too sure of her cause to suffer an
tremors of doubt to ruHle her nerve,


It ran thus:


"DEAR BELL,-I don't believe 70
deserve any thing half so affectionat
from me as that; but then, you know


my heart always runs away with m


head, or I shouldn't be writing this I


you after all your neglect. It is ver


gay here, at the Springs; but peopl


are constantly asking about you, an


I have to invent all manner Of storie


rather than let them suppose I don


know all your hithers and yons.


can't endure this much longer if


don't see you soon, what shall I think