Year: 1877

Presently, when her answer came
i! was as calm as at 6rst-not tre'
NOR in a single tone.


No, my friend it could never be.


We'll, be it so, he said tenderly.-
I am too much agitated, and you are
perhaps too much panied to continue
this proGtless and sad conversation
Let the matter remain for month
then, if you permit me, | will renew
my suit. l will leave you now.


No, she said, suddenly speaking
with unwontel energy. DO not g
vet, Mr.. Allen, | must speak before
you So.


Then he turned and bowed family
to her.


1T is best that tell you now-that
I undeceye you-because it woult
be cruel to you, yes, to US both, to lei
this matter end here to be renewed
again 20 soon.


Now he gazed upon her sadly, but
seated himself to listen.


She was slowly but diligently pull
ing rose to pices and as each petal
went hutterng down upon the carpet
shv seemed to be plucking out from
her heart, one by one, the tender re,
membranes which might have found
a lodgment there.


Then the little lines at the corner
Of the mouth were slowly contracting
AS though she could not bear to re-
veal in words her own secret sorrows.


4 am not now so young, she SAID,
that | should still show the ditidence
of girl.hood. At twenty. eight one
should have passed through much, If
not all, Of girish sentiment, Mr.. Al,
len one should then, if ever, be fit
ted to know and adorn her woman
hood. Yes, even though she gain
her knowledge though bitter suffer
ing


Here her voice faltered = little, but
she plucked out at one grasp all the
remaining p1tals Of her rose and scat
tered them over her lap. When she
spoke again her voice was as calm as
ever.


Six years ago papa was living. W.
had only recently come here from the
East, and the change TO both of us
was very pleasing He was not rlch'
but We had enough for every want
After all his years OF business and
close confinement, the easy, unre,
strained life here upon the prsirles
we're surely to be keenly enjoyed. -
And our greatest pleasure was riding
on horseback. Sometimes together,
sometimes alone, as the humor selzeo
ue, We went galloping through the
lanes which separated the farms, or
out upon the broad stretch of open
country that then swept down to the
bluffs overlooking the Illinois river
This ride to the bluffs was my favor
ite one. When there, in view Of the
motionless river and the timber skirt
ed bluffs Of the opposite side, l used
to dismount, throw myself in indolent
enjoyment on the crispy grass and
dream-for girls will have such
dreams-of him who was to come and
conquer.


She paused moment and he sighed
as he interrupted her.


Go on, please.


One day, when galloping down the
prairie near the bluffs, my horse, usu-
ally go true, balked at deep crevice
across the path which the summer
heat had made. l was thrown heav-
lily forward to the ground, and for a
little time was insensibie. When !
recovered, a gentleman, stranger
was sitting by me, and boy, whom
he had despatched for that purpose
soon came with water. / tried to rise
but even with his assistance | could
not stand. A sprained ankle and the
severe shock of the fall were even too
much for my health and vigor.
sank down with a groan. When !
could do so, begged him to 60 to my
father, which he did at a terrible gait
not sparing his horss under the hot
midsummer sun.


Mr.. Kimberlee, the gentleman who
was 80 kind


Philip Kimberlee, Of Chicago?' he