Year: 1877

x
bright episode in the lives of our Young
people; but it will be sufficient to say
that when they met on the train bound
Tor Philadelphia it was as friends Of
long standing instead of acquaintance.
Ihey mad been out about two hours,
when an event took place that was des-
tined to bring them into closer intima-
cy. Perhaps when accidents take place,
those most nearly concerned are not
the ones that can give the clearest &C.
count. If this is not true, am afraid
that my hero and heroine might be ac-
cused OF unusual stupidity, for they
never could give any satisfactory expla-
nation OF the scene of confusion that
followed. They were talking with the
happy feeling of security which passen-
gers feel who have already journeyed
safely for days, when the shrill sum
mons for the brakes followed by a shock
OF overwhelming force so stunned even
those that were not really injured, that
they could not really recover their
self-command. Harold and his
companions occupied two seats
turned facing each other, and after the
shock Harold found Alice senseless in
his arms. For one brief moment his
own heart almost ceased beating, but
the next his training as physician
came to his aid, and he proceeded to
perform his duties with calmness and
precision. After careful examination
he discovered nothing more serious
than broken wrist, the pain of which,
combined with fright, had probably
produced the faintness, which at first
seemed so alarming. Under the re-
storatives applied this soon passed off,
and when aid arrived our party were
able to proceed to Philadelphia. will
not sadden your hearts by the details of
the less fortunate ones, though Harold
could tell you much that he did for
their aid before leaving, but will follow
our young couple to the close of this
brief story. When Harold held the un-
conscious form of Alice in his arms a
new truth was revealed to him. but like
wise man he put away the temptation
to speak to the young girl till he had
restored her safely to her parents, and
all feeling of obligation to him had
passed away.


A few months later, as he was seat
ed by her side in the pleasant room of
the Van Courtlandt attractive home, an
opportunity occurred which he had no
longer strength to resist. Alice had
been singing in her rich, sympathetic
voice, and perhaps was a trife embar-
rsssed, for hasty movement unfasten-
ed chain from her throat to which
was suspended a handsome locket As
it fell to the floor Harold sprang for
ward and was about to return it, when
blush from Alice caused him to
change his mind. "Please let me ex-
anime this locket," he said; "the work
manship is quite curious" elf you
will not open it," returned Alice, more
anxiously than the occasion seemed to
warrant. For moment Harold exam
ined the costly trifle and then hand
ed it back in silence, but
as he did so the change which had
come ever his face struck Alice pain
fully. She had learned to love him too
well to cause him pain; so with sud-
den change of mind she said, "Open ii
if yov wish;' adding lightly, 'sit is
only a bachelors button, that "-but
Harold had opened the locket and dis
covered his own coat button, and in
that discovery read another. "Alice,
my darling, l love you, do not let it be
a bachelors button any longer" The
words seem light as I write them, but
Harold's tone and manner conveyed 8
depth of feeling that Alice with hel
woman heart could but respond to-
though silence and bushes were al
that gave the answer.