Year: 1871

low pattern summer-house, ON the brink of
small pond. A fine dish of the fruit stood on
the table between them, with which, needle
work, and confidential chat, they were be-
guiling the morning not unpleasantly.


"And SO you have never heard of him
since ?" said Miss Plumptree.


"Never," replied Annie"


"Just like all the men, dear; 'out of
sight, out of mind.'"


"Nay, do not blame him, poor fellow.
do not see how he could have found me
out, if he tried ever 80 hard, left so sud-
denly, so mysteriously."


go, WE'LL" sighed Miss Plumptree, elf
he had been his great-grandfather, he would
have discovered you somehow but young
men are not what they were; they are so
selfish, so listles, everything is too much
trouble to them. And you never limited
anything about it to your uncle?"


go, no" said Annie " besides he does
not take hints you must speak out plainly
if you want him to understand your
wishes"


Hum," said Miss Plumptree.


"And then," continued Annie, "he was
so young, and not in a position to marry
for ever so long and the acquaintance
was so short and his friends would be sure
to disapprove ; 80 that altogether, perhaps
it is better as it is.'


"And do you love him still, dearP'
GO thinly I do ha lind
when had no one else, and"


"Therc don't cry, dear. Have straw
berry"


Annie recovered her equilibrium, and
turned the subject. 81 can't think what
has happened to Uncle William" she said;
che does take such funny interest in how
look all of sudden. He takes in paper
with the fashions in it, and stands looking
critically at me with his hands on one side
and his eyes screwed up, for minutes to-
gether and then he walks round me grave
ly as if were a horse; indeed, / expect
him to say, "Come up; tuck, tuck; come
over!" every moment, or to look in my
mouth. And if my hair is not done, or my
dress cut according to the fashion plates he
scolds me. And then he takes me over to
Southend whenever he hears that packet
is coming in, and walks me up and down
that long pier. And he is always on the
lookout for concerts or entertainments OF
any kind we can go to- Can you explain it?''


81 think can give guess" said Miss
Plumptree in in fact, / expect that my in
huence may have something to do with it.
The plain truth is, my dear, that he wants
to get you married"


"Nor' cried Annie, with jump. But
he told me distinctly, when first came here
that, though might expect to be provided
for in in his will, must not look for any
dowry, or even much of trousseau, in case
l were to marry; and that did not look
much like great anxiety on the subject"


"No, dear but his views have under
gone a change. The fact is that he does
your humble servant the honor to wish


60 and you will take him WON'T you ?
1t will be nice to call you aunt, and have
you living in the house," cried Annie, en-
Enthusiastically





sit seemed to me that the opportunity was
good one for advancing your interests, so
/ refused to give him definite answer
while your were unsettled not but what /
would sooner have you for q companion, of
course but it does not do to be selfish; and
as your uncle is inclined to be what we may
call careful in his money matters, which is
often the case with those who have been
somewhat extravagant in youth, thought
little stimulant to his generosity would be
beneficial. Hushl here he comes. Can any
thing be the matterW


Something the matter Indeed there was
nothing less than threat Of losing his late
wifes property, and being reduced once
, more to the straits which had driven him
into permanent matrimony thirty years be-
fore. One of those Doctors Commons
grubbers, who live by holding out that they
have discovered something to somebody's s
advantage, which generally turns out to
be fraudulent mares nest, but every now
and then-just often enough to tempt fresh
flocks of gulls-proves to be discovery of
real importance-had fished up evidence
that the late Mrs. Johnstone had by rights
only life interest in her first husbands
property and having thereupon discovered
the person who, under such circumstances
would be the claimant, he had put himself
into communication with him.
Said claimant proved indeed to he in the
legal profession, which was disappoint-
ment for the grubber {; but as there was re-
ally something in the evidence he had lit
upon, his time was not entirely thrown
away.


This was the startling information which
was conveyed to Mr.. tombstone in the hard,
, sharp tones of a lawyers letter, and which
he now communicated in his distress to
IL Il