Year: 1871

talk it over at home, and hope Belle would
not marry before you came home from
Europe. She is full as anxious to know
you, and wears your hair and mine in a
locket father gave her last year. Give
her lots of love, and beg of her to over
look your many imperiections, for the
sake of her old school fellow, Jennie


Then this gentleman is, of course,
Miss Jennie's brother said Rosa, and
what will she say when she hears of your
having met in this romantic way


don't intend to tell her Of it till 90
to New York this fall, said Belle. Per-
haps her brother will call


But in this supposition Belle was wrong
The month passed, and she saw no more
of the golden-headed Richard.
I And she carefully separated the yellow
lock in the little keepsake from the dark
tress of Jenhie's and put it back into its
! place alone, while another locket held a
bit of Jennie's. And some way Belle
looked very often at the wee golden curl
and she never did so but the rest of the
handsome head sprang up beside the lock
and she would sit and contemplate the pie
ture her fancy wrought for her, little
dreaming the interest she was allowing to
grow in her bosom for Jennie's brother.


In the fall, Belle and her father went
to New York, and the first day after her
arrival found her sitting with her old
friend, who, after the first elusive meet
ing was past, sat down to empty her soul.


l am so glad you are here this month,
Jennie said, because I'm to be married in
October, and | have always been crazy to
have you for a bridesmaid, and Dick is to
be Harry's best man.


Belle blushed.


But Dick has fallen hopeIessly, madly
in love


Belle turned pale.


Yes, L was so dreadfully provoked
when he passed through st. Louis and
never went near you. But he went wild
over some lady he met on that fatal trip


He will talk to me by hours of his
Angelica And when | have spoken Of
you he has been positively rude, and asked
me to have done botheriDg him about my
lreckled school fTiend-you know your
picture shows frcckles. but bless me, you
haven't any now. And your picture don't
look any more like you than 1t does ike
me, not a bit.


But tell me, said Belle. Is your
brother engaged to this lady ,


Engaged Why, dear heart, he don't
know her name. lie Just found some Of
her old clothes somewhere. He's got her
old slippers under a glass case he's got
her gloves stuffed under another hes got
a night gown done up in lavender; he's
got her gold thimble hung on his watch
chain; and | believe he's got a hair brush
and some hair-pins next his heart. Oh.
it's folly to interfere He's beyond all
hope l did think the excitement Of my
wedding would wean him from 1t, but not
a bit. He looked at my new things as
calmly as an oyster, and only said-it
not kind Of me to repeat it, though,
broke off Jennie


What was it he said inquired Belle
laughing now, heartily Don't fear for
my feelings


Why, he said, III stand up with your
friend Belle, and see you safely married.
and then I'm off to winter in Paris. I'm
done with love on my own account Jennie.
It's positively awful


And so Belle thought, a. She looked at
her old slipper and glove lying beneath a
globe on either side Of the faithful Rich
ards mantle.


And, said Belle, since he desires on
ly to meet me on the morning Of the we'd
ding, so it shall be- | Will be introduced
only as we are leaving the house, and he
can do as he p.eases about continuing the
acquaintance attcrward'


Belle was radiant with happiness when
she returned to her father, and delighted
his fond heart by the change, for Belle
had been very quiet Of late.


Jennie and Belle shopped and talked
and visited together for the next few days
and then the eventful morning arrived,
and amid bevy Of beautiful girls, Belle
shone like a queen Even the bride was
eclipsed and she delightfully."- acknowledged
it.


%, Belle : she said, l long to have
old stoical Dick see you-hark there's
his step. Come into the next room now
and be introduced. Don't wait till the
carriages come-it's an hour yet


And Belle, with beating heart, swept
through the door, and stood even as Dick
first saw her, only in place Of the gray
travelling dress, magnificent white satin
fell in rich folds about her, and upon her
lovely white throat lay the turquois locket
that held Dicks golden curl. Upon the
beautiful head crowned by its bright chest
nut hair, a coronal Of pearls added to the
grace and beauty of an image that shrined
in Dicks heart, was already an angel


Belle did not look up, but she felt the
presence, as Richard Marcy came up and
was introduced to little Jenne's old school
mate. Then, as he held out his hand, she
laid her tiny palm in his and said


! think we had better rectify that mis-
take about the travelling bags, Mr.. Mar
cy.


Good heavens, Jennie said Dick Mar
cy. Why didn't you tell me that your
friend Belle was my Angel of Mercy


Because didn't know it till last night
and then Belle made me promise not to
tell. And, besides, you didn't want to
meet the freckled school girl till it was
positively necessary returned Jennie, mis-



1t would be hard to say which of the
four that made up Jennie's bridal party
was the happiest that day.


Dick did not 90 to Paris that winter
He found that St. Louis contained more
than any foreign city.


But the next fall will see Dick and
Belle on their wedding tour and he vows
he will have the two old romantic travel
ing bags brushed up for the occasion. DR..
Townshend, who is to go along, says he
knew the minute he saw that girl she
would one day be Angelica Marcy, as he
= felt it in the air


A ReminiScence of Gen. Scott.