Year: 1875

Mabel, apparently quite unaware that any
thing unusual was in progress, came into the
room.


II have Just got line from your papa, my
DEAR" she said to me, "announcing the fact
that he has unexpected business to attend to
in the village, and will not be at home until
evening, so we are not to wait dinner for him.
hope it is nothing serious; it is such a very
unusual thing for him to do"


In my own mind, inclined to the belief
that my fathers real motive for absentlng
himself, was his reluctance to meet DR.. Ward
law in the character ofmy afianced lover; or
perhaps desire to gain time to compose his
feelings and accustom himself to the idea of
the new condition of affairs.


1t was quite late in the evening when ne
returned. l ran out in the hall to meet him,
and helped him off with his overcoat: =.


"How tired you must be, papa" said,
trying to speak in my usual voice, though
there was an under-thrill of anxiety in it l
could not quite repress. 81.


"Yes, am tired, my dear. Is tea ready r


"Just ready; we would not have it brought
in until you came"


"You got my note safely, I hope? You
did not wait dinner?"


satisfied him on that point, and holding
his hand in mine led him into the parlor.
He neither rejected nor returned my caress.
He had spoken wearily, but calmly, and when
he came into the light, noticed that his face
wore look of care, without being cold or
stern. He conversed much in his usual man.
ner, nor could perceive any abatement in
his polished courtesy toward his guest. l
fancied, however, that he was keeping his real
feelings in allegiance, and wearing sort OF
mask.


When bedtime came, DR.. Wardlaw said,
looking toward aunt Mabel, that as he would
be obliged to leave very early in the morning,
he would say goodbye at once, as ne did not
wish any one to take the trouble to rise to see
him off,


II shall come down, of course" said papa
"I am accustomed to rise very early"


"And so am I, said my aunt. "It will not
inconvenience me at ALL"


I had already arranged with him to be
down in time to bid him goodbye, so l said
nothing He smiled at me, and gave me
quiet pressure of the hand, as we exchanged
good-nights; but noticed that papa kept his
eyes studiously averted from me whenever
either of US spoke to the other, as if be feared
to read in our glances the tokens of a mutual
understanding and confidence in which he
had no part


I rather dreaded the idea Of the parting in
the morning. before SO many witnesses; but
I need have had no fears. One moment he
had me to himself, while aunt Mabel was put
ting up his lunch, and my father had gone
out to give some order about the horses


"Rosamond, you will hear from me very
soon. Will you promise to write to me Of
ten?"


GAS often as you like-but I am afraid I
don't write nice letters"


'sThey will be nice enough to satisfy me, l
do not doubt Let me hear from you regu-
larly, at least three times a week; and they
must be long letters, full of your thoughts
and plans and Wishes just as if you were talk.
ing to me-just as you will tell me all your
thoughts one day. When shall that be?''


"Oh! how can tell? In year or two,
perhaps"


"In a month or two," he rejoined, conf
dently. "Don't look so startled. | am q
man of action, and do not brook unnecessa-
ry delays. will settle it all with your father.
Of course, you must not oppose my wishes.
There they come-no time for more converse
ton, now. Good-by-my little love! We
shall soon meet again"


did not know whether to laugh or cry, as
I went up to my own room to reflect on his
parting words. 1t seemed to me an impossi.
bility that we should be married as soon as he
had said. Yet the resolute manner in which
he had spoken, and the confidence he appear
ed to feel in my compliance with his wishes,
provided he effected the desired arrangement,
gave me sort of idea that in this as in most
things, he would have his own way


longed for an explanation with my father,
but none came. After DR.. Wardlaw had
gone, he never mentioned his name; and 50
unreal did my engagement seem, that was
sometimes tempted to fancy it must be only a
little romance of my own.


To some one, however, I must open my
heart; and this one was my godmother. She
received my confession without much surprise,
and owned to having had her suspicious
aroused, by some words my father had, one
day, allowed to escape him. but she was con-
siderably perplexed by the discovery of the
singular position in which the affair stood.
1t would never do, she said, to have it made
a mystery of. Papa ought to consider the
look of the thing. If 1 was actually engaged,
it ought not to be kept secret from every,
body as if it was something to be ashamed of.


II can't proclaim it," said I, and Dr..
Wardlaw has no friends here to talk about it /;
so suppose it will go on this way until I am
actually married-if that event ever takes
place"


"But how very odd of your papa, Rosa
mond Ifhe wished you never to marry, he
should have said so from the first; but hav-
ing his consent, he ought to act in rational
way about it,"


Twas returning alone one evening from an
errand to the village, when l heard rapid
footstep following me, and directly a voice
that knew, accosted me, as its owner came to
my side.


"Good evening, Miss Rosamondw it said,
and I looked up in dsagreeable surprise to
encounter the gaze of Stephen Holcombe's
black eyes, and reluctantly placed the tips of
my fingers in his offered hand.
"How coldly you look at me" he said in a
low tone, giving my fingers pressure from
which l withdrew them in indignant haste.
My first impression WAS that he must have
been drinking too much, and did not relish
the idea of his walking with me under such cir.
cumstances; but was at loss to know how
to get rid of him without giving him positive
otfense, which, on Ellen's account, l was un-
willing to do. l therefore merely assumed
my most freezing manner, and said nothing
in reply.