Year: 1870

1t is frighlful confession | should
hardly like to make il before certain
ladies. But could never see Rob Case
without thinking of Fid. Fid is only our
poodle, and Rob, l admit it, is 4 sur
prisingly handsome man. He was the
handsomest man, that season, ut the Cape
Of Rocks, where handsome men were by
no means rarity. Nor do | insinuate,
BY the comparison, that Rob was of the
puppy order. On the contrary, YOU arc
to fancy cleverish man, an easy 'alker,
and agreeable acquaintance. But there
was about Rob gentle tinge OF melan-
choly when silent, and so there was about
Fid when not barking. Rob's deep, soil
brown eyes spoke of suffering, and II
depth and tenderness of feeling OF which
common men are incapable; ; just so with
Fid. 1t was impossible to look into her
sad. lustrous eyes and believe that her
highest aspiration was juicy chop, and
that the whole range of her intellect was
taxed to play dead dog" But after
several years acquaintance | am obliged
to believe that the poodle's deepest sorrow
is 10 be driven from the sofa cushion, and
that Fid and Rob agree on one point.
Neither of them is capable of feeling what
he looks.


My view is not the general view. By
no meansi Rob's conquests are written in
the annals OF every watering place OF
note. II is seldom that you find hand
some man who is clever and can talk well.
Add to this faculty OF looking like a
hero, and of stepping into the shoes OF
every ladies ideal, and who can wonder?
Other men freely admitted the fact, and
classed it among other mysterious work
ings of the female mind but Rob was
bored by it; for it is among masculine
peculiarities, that when a man is quite
sure that certain young ladies will only
be too happy to drive or dance with him,
ne is apt TO be troubled with doubts
whether he himself is willing.


So it happened that Rob was lounging
about the hotel. moped and disconsolate,
when Bessie came.


Bessie was in our charge; at least. she
came with my wife, for lhad stoutly
objected TO her visit. Not that dislike
pretty girls of seventeen. Quite the
contrary. Only 1 objected on the same
principle that should to the guardian
ship of an invaluable mist wreath, or a
priceless cobweb; for in Bessie there was
a combination of undesirable circum'
stances-undesirable from my point OF
view, mean. She was of that age when
a girl sometimes unitcs TO the charming
audacity of child the attractions OF a
very lovely woman. IL was her first
season any where. She was extremely
intelligent and very ignorant; pretty, with
that poetical beauty not easily catalogued,
as item, two grey eyes. and 50 on; but
capable at times of lighting up with sort
of inspiration of splendor-a brilliant,rar
little creature-a novelty. Fid's natural
prey, mean Rob, not the poodle; but
the truth is. we have fallen into such a
confirmed habit of calling him Fid, among
ourselves, that find shall be unable to
call him any thing else.


knew what was coming from the first
evening when Fid lounged easily into an
introduction, and in half an hour had
evidently installed himself in that
character of hero aud fairy prince by
which girls like Bessie arc so apt to be
haunted. Here was q prospect Tor a
middle-aged, ease-loving man! A willful,
impressionable, precious only child in
charge, and Fid commencing attentions!
Perplexities and woeful disappointment
were sure TO be the result; nor was this
all. There was another interest involved.
Barry Lugan iancied Bessie. Why, it
would be hard to say, unless Fate would
have it. He was commonly supposed to
be proof. He was twenty-eight or n'ne'
and they had tried him with every thing
-eroquet, tableaux, fetes champetres,
travelling parties. Heaven knows what
not pretty girls, gay girls, domestic girls
fast girls, pious girls. confding girls
strongminded girls-all to no purpose.


But on the very first day of our arrival
Barry, coming in suddenly, surprised
Bessie, her tawny hair about her