Year: 1867

nant at his want of appreciation of hos
pitality for which they were noted. As
for the young ladies of GreenviIle, they
were unanimously of the opinion "that
he was very handsome with the ex-
ception Of Kate Wylde, who declared
that he was horrible looking creature,
with his fierce whiskers and staring
black eyes.


Squire Graves was by no means
misanthropicalin his natural disposition;
on the contrary, he had a heart more
than usually sympathetic and generous
in its impulses. His seclusion and the
chllliOg reserve of his manner were
owing to a recent family affiiction,
which, though It attached neither dis
grace or blame to him, had cast tenn
porary gloom over his feelings, and
made him shrink from society. He had
settled himself down to the dull routine
of his present life with the fixed de-
termination of never leaving it. But,
alas for the vanityof human resolutions,
especially those which repress the nat
ural craving of the heart for love and
sympathy, he was already growing
weary of it. And as near the close of
day-the warm July day above men
tioned-he sat upon the verandah
smoking, an unusually lone feeling came
over him, and the silence around seem
ed almost oppressive.


"What a bewitching pretty coun-
tenance that girl has % he soliloquized.
"Kate Wylde, [ believe they call her.
| think never heard such sweet
laugh"


Squire Graves had seen Kate at
church every Sunday since his arrival,
and had been irresistibly attracted to.
ward her; and that very morning, as
he chauced to 60 by her fathers house,
he had caught glimpse of her bright
eyes and rosy cheeks in the garden into
which he had been tempted to look by
the merry tone and gleeful laugh which
proceeded from it.


Then as he dreamily watched the
smoke circling above his head, he fell
to wondering how such face aud figure
would look opposite him every morning
at the breakfast table: and what gen
eral transformation they could effect in
his lonely home. From which blissful
dreams be aroused himself with half
sigh at the celibacy to which he had in
wardly pledged himself


"Them pesky boys are in the medder
again, Squire" said his man Joe,
thrusting his head through the door.
"That ere grass will be 50 tied up that
it can't be moved no how you can fix
it."


The boys of the neighborhood had
been very annoying of late in their
depredations upon his orchard and
garden, in which he took no little pride,
and the announcement of this fresh raid
quite exhausted bis remaining stock of
patience.


They are :" he exclaimed. "I've
tried what virtue there is in words,
now, I'll try the effect of something
more potent. Go and unchain Bruno! y


With the huge mastiff at his heels
which, fierce as he was, was perfectly
under his masters control, Squire
Graves reached the brow of hill wh:ch
gave him view of the fair raiders. In
a STOPPING posture, little could be dis
cerned of them above the tall grass save
their heads, whose strange geer GER
tainly gave them a very masculine ap-
pearance.


In spite of bis indignation, desirous
Of frightening rather than Of hurting
them, Squire Graves held back the
eager dog until ne had by loud halloo,
warned them of his design.


As soon as the girls saw the fierce
animal with open mouth, bearing down
upon them, they let fall their pals and
baskets, and run for the nearest iu-
closure, over which they tumbled in
manner distinguished less by grace than
expedition giving vent, in the mean
time to series of piercing screams,
such as can proceed only from female
lungs, and those in an unusually
healthful state and vigor.


All got safely over with the excep-
tion OF Kate, who, being the last to go,
hit her foot against stone, and was
momentarily stunned by the fall it oc-
casiored.


As Squire Graves caught glimpse
of the flying foe, his angry feelings
changed to astonishment and dismay
and he quickly fastened to the spot to
prevent any further mischief


Back, Bruno back, you brute !'
he exclaimed, as Kate rose to her feet
and turned her flushed face towards
him.


Good heavens it was the divinity
that had occupied his thoughts of late.


81 earnestly trust that you have sus-
tained no injury, Miss Wylde ~ be said
bowling respectfully, as he spoke.


"Not in the least, sir; though it is
not owing to any consideration on your
part"


every gentlemanly conduct 1 must
say" she added, looking with an in
dignant air, first at her soiled dress, and
then at the crest fallen man before her.


'I-I beg your PARDON" ne stam-
mered, "but the fact is, your dress so
deceived me that really took you to
be boys


"Took us to be boys?" repeated
Kate in astonishment.


Then, as her eyes fell upon the hat at
her feet, her anger evaporated in