Year: 1871

mOnenUaIy emOJlOn. sam seemed 10
think you might want me for something, so
came up"


I struggled back to my clients case and
my business mind.


Yes,-no-I've no need of you. We
have a slight clue. 1t may amount to some
thing, and quite as likely may not. think
you had better trust us, and not meddle
with it,"


"Just as you say. Then think I'll run
down and see Senor Romez and Carlota.
Are you sick to-day, c.? You look a
little pale"


"Sick? o no?" And 1 laughed in q
tone that reverberated dismally down my
heart. "By the way, Ned, you go pretty
often to see Carlota. hope it is not mere
ly for idle amusement. She is too sweet
and pure blossom to be dallied with care
lessly. And she has heart full of Spanish
fire and vehemence, that either rejoices in
happy love, or breaks at once beneath the
misery of unrequited affection. l intro
duced you to her, and must look out that
no harm comes of it. She is full pleased
enough now with your attentions. If they
are meaningless, it is time they were him
dered.'


He looked up in my face, his clear brown
eyes dancing with exultation.


"Thank you thousand times, c..
I've hardly dared trust my own convictions
that Carlota loved me. Now you have OBJ
served it, too, / shall have more assurance.
l thank you, for her sake, for this remon-
STRANGE but take the word of sailor who
honors his mothers sex too much to trifle
with their pure and tender affections. I
only seek to win Carlota's favor because |
mean to offer her my heart, fortune and
name as soon as that abominable trial is
over. l only wait to know if it is q fair and
unsullied name 1 can give my wife, to
make known my hopes to Romez and Car
lota. 1t is not honorable to do so before.
Addior


"There goes a noble fellow, if he is my
rival" said l to myself, choking down the
grief that had risen like o hard ball from
my heart to my throat. GA fine fellow
who deserves to be successful lover ana
happy husband. AS for myself-well,
there is my profession left me, my manhood
my ambition. What though this one fair
dream must prove a dreary blank Be-
sides, is not time magical physician The
world has plenty yet as fair and good. Ay,
another may be found as fair and guieess.
Who knows ~


So tried to reason with myself, to coax
my heart to forget the smart, and be CHEEKY
and hopeful again. 1t would not do the
pain burned more fiercely for being smoth-
cred. A voice within, that would not be
silenced, walled sadly. "Carlota," only
"Carlota.


my head, crowned with its thick dark locks
of manhood, upon my desk, just as long
years before / had rested it, when shaded
by curls of childish gold, upon my mothers S
breast, and cried long and heartily. No, l
do not blush for the weakness now. The
tears were beneficial, though very painful.
Their briny smart removed the feverish
aching of the wound, and though the grief
was not removed, its bitterness had fled.


The next day Miguel Romez came to
me with an urgent invitation to join Ned
wilkins on brief visit TO the rancho,
whittier Carlota and he were going the
next week. He was in high spirits his
crops all sold for extravagant prices, and he
had received princely offer for some land
which had hitherto been of little advantage
but now, from its proximity to the city,
had risen to an astonishing value. So Car
lota was likely to be golden prize as well
as tender wife for Ned Wilkins.


knew all the misery should endure at
witnessing the lovers tender attentions,
and yet such was my infatuation, l could
not deny myself this last chance of enjoying
Carlota's society; and so quieting my
conscience by the plea of following up the
carpet-bag clue, accepted the invitation.


A rare journey as it was, even for me,
what must have been Ned's enjoyment
We drove leisurely along through the fresh
moist luxuriance of California scenery, our
pathway be sprinkled with the most vivid
green, and wreathed with vines and flowers
of the gayest hues. The pathway of a
queen or bride could scarcely be more
daintily attired. Ay, and fit queen and
bride shared our enjoyment with us. Ihad
never seen her so gay and light-hearted.
She could scarcely remain quiet moment
and enchanting us with a new pleasure,
sent her rich voice trilling out as musically
as the song of the birds amid the dew