Year: 1876

a middle-aged gentleman ran up the
steps, OF a handsome house, i'm a hand
somcr city street, and asked the SER
want who opened the door if Miss Nee
Vile was at home. Being answered in
the affirmative, he sent in his card.
Written upon this was the name-Wil-
liam Belmore.


The servant, having shown him into
the front parlor, took the card up stairs
and returned with the information that
" Miss Melville would be down in
moment" and in a moment Miss Ne
willie herself entered. She was a beau
tiful young woman, Of thrcc-and-twen-
ty. She was dressed stylishly, and bore
herself with an air that told she was
used To society.


She held in her hand newspaper,
around which was folded a wrapper, di-
rected to herself, which she had taken
from the hall table as she passed. She
had only glanced at the direction, and
as yet not opened it. That paper was
myself had just arrived from WASH
ington.


At her entrance Mr.. Belmorc arose
and advanced, holding out his hand
She gave him hers, which he certainly
kept moment or so longer than was
necessary. He was tall, well built
man enough, of fifty years of age, with
gray side whiskers and a high nose


OF course, as newspaper, and one
devoted to fashionable intelligence,
have a great experience in love affairs.
] saw at a glance that Mr.. Bclmore was
in love with Miss Melville, and that he
intended to offer her his hand and heart
at some time. After they had con-
versed awhile, knew that he had re-
solved to do it that very day. She
knew it, too, when he had remarked:
" My dear Miss Neville, have some
thing very particular Ia say to you.''


He began BY telling her that she was
beautiful. Then he told her that he
loved her. Then he mentioned the
amount of his property and real estate,
and asked her il she would marry him.


She thanked him in a very well ar
ranged speech. at the end of which she
declined his offer.


When she had done this there was
silence. Mr.. Belmore broke il bv ma
king an inquiry:


Would she ever change her mind
Might he not hope that. having thought
his offer over, she would view it in a
better light"


She replied that it was not question
Of time, and that she certainly should
not change her mind. She hoped, how
ever, that he would always be her
friend.


At that he grew very angry, though
he tried not to appear So; and in a mo-
mcnt he arose TO go.


She bowed him to the parlor door.
and he went out into the hall, into the
vcstibule. and to the front door. There
new lock, which was a torment To cv-
cry stranger, batilcd him. He stood
prisoner between the two doors. valnlv
struggling 10 open either of,them for
five minutes.


In this space Of time Miss Neville
had seated herself in a grea. arm chair,
and taken me out Of my wrapper. As
soon as she did SO, her eye rested on
paragraph, on each side of which were
placed two pencil brackets.
There were not fifty words between





gin To .remblc in her hands.


lis il possible ;" she cried. and tears
arose to her eyes; and Just then a FAINT
sound in the hall attracted her atten-
ton.


MIR. Belmore had managed 10 open
the inner door and stood at that of the
parlor.


II beg thousand pardons, Miss Ne
Vile" he said. but cannot manage
TO get out of the house as rapidly as
doubtless would be agreeable to YOU"


He was very angry by this time. and
the marks OF two red hot tears Of lage
and griet-middle aged tears-wcrc on
his checks. don't know whether she
saw them. but he noticed those in hers
and the change in her face.


- regret that should have distress
ed YOU" he said. "I-I-l hoped to
make you as happy as different answer
would have made me-"


As ne spoke she put me down on the
table and advanced To HIM:


Would different answer have made
YOU happy :" said she.


That asked the question is suffi-
cient proof of that" said he.


Then, be happy" said she, and held
put her hand.


never saw so happy a man since
was a newspaper.