Year: 1878

would not do to show any emotion that
might be construed into signs of relent-
ing. This mans fiery nature did not
suit her usually calm temperament.-
How was it possible that she, so quiet
and retiring, had won love SO terribly
real,- enduringS She could not un-
derstand it, but stood there perplexed,
plying, yet strong in her resolve.


1t was quite true, as she had said; no
man had won her love, as she was not
prepared to know by one single pang the
misery that he was suffering. She knew
that his eyes were haggard, his brow too
early marked with strong lines, his heart
heavy, for many a labored sigh came up
from its depths; but she could feel no
sympathy with him, and but faint pity.
Sometimes she was impatient under his
homage, than once after this al
most stormy interview. His nature was
not fine one it rather resembled the
iron that will corrode till the rust has
eaten beyond the surface, than the good
gold that bears the tempering heat of the
fire and comes out purer than before.


Florence was obliged, in self-defence,
to be cool in her demeanor before him,
and it sometimes enraged him. His petit
tions became more like prosecutions, and
at last for time they did not speak to-
gether. He carried his resolves smother
ed in his own bosom, till his jealousy
grew to be consuming fire. He watched
her at all times with secret rage, and
blood that ran hot to his fingers ends if
he detected her bestowing her smiles on
others. She grew to be afraid of him,
and yet sort of pity kept her power
less. If she had confided in her father
(she had no mother) there might have
been way of escape. In consideration
of the young mans own feelings, he
would have placed them apart. But
gradually it grew to be matter of
course to see him watch her under his
bent, black brows, Ito find him follow
ing her like shadow wherever she
went; and now he said but little of his
love, she hoped it would in some mex
plicable manner die out and leave her
free.


One Sabbath stranger appeared in
the rector's pew. He was not handsome,
though his was one of those faces that
suggests beauty rather than possesses it.
Yet he was sufficiently attractive in
manner and appearance to set the whole
parish to talking and wondering.


"I want you to get acquainted with
him, if that jealous lover of yours will
let you," said Letitia Saunders, little
blonde in pink and white, who called on
Florence the following week, and seated
herself airily, with an eye to the dispo-
sition of her fiounces.


"My jealous loverl" cried Florence,
in some surprise.


eyes, that naughty Southerner whom
some of us admire so much. Little do
we get for it in return, save cool indif-
ference. His is joined to his idol let
him alone.'"


Florence smiled at her f1ippancy, but
crimsoned, too.


He is-no lover of mine" she would
have said, but could not with truth
Nothing to me-" she added, "nothing
whatever. OF course he is attentive
any man would be who holds the posi-
ton he does in my fathers household; ;
but his regards, in my sight, are only
brotherly, assure YOU"


Strangel 1t is all around that you
are engaged"


Indeed?"


Yes, heard it at Mrs. James, and
even Mr. Felix told me as if, 1 imagined
perhaps it was only Imagination, after
all-Willis Boynton had himself told
him."


1t flashed over Florence suddenly pain
fully. Could Willis stoop so low as to
circulate this report, and thus, driven by
his insane jealousy, attempt to bar all
others from approaching her2 The
thought made her cheeks tingle = gave
her thrill almost of anger.


81 am not engaged to Willis and
never expect to be, Letitia. care moth
ing at all for him, and only receive his
attentions as would those of my own
brother If 1 had one. You must see how
cool am toward him."


" Yes, have often remarked that ;
but people will talk in this village, SO
suppose there'll be scandal enough with
reference to the new conner who is very
rich, and think splendid looking, ,don't
Won ? Now there1l he n rush To see who