Year: 1876

|
rarely losing her self-poise. But now the
slender ringed fingers of her fair shapely
hand trembled trifle as they closed tightly
over her daintily carved fan and she flut-
tered it a little unsteadlly, though the
breeze came strong and sweet from the gar.
den below.


A hush seemed to come over them fol-
the space Of a moment. She waited, think.
ing he might answer, and drew back tri-
| fe, leaning her head against the fringed
cypress sprays that clung to the pillars of
| the portlco.


He earnestly scanned her proud contour
and figure, for he had met them for the
first time that day, and had not become ia
| miliar with Uhe shade of the light-brown
hair, nor the changing lights and shadows
of her orbs.


They had been defiant, then frightened ;
now they were cold, and now tender, and at
last they grew tired and wistful. Yet with
all these changes, they never lost their
| honest expression, but looked like a
great child's set in woman's thoughtful
countenance.


And as he watched her, his heart yearned
towards her as it had snever before done
for woman's love.


"Miss North" he said and then he
paused moment, seemingly to study her
thoughts.


For answer, she looked up questioningly,
and her weary look was more decided now.


"Ada y he said, again, more softly and,
as he spoke her name, a flush crept over
her cheeks and she dropped her head. "If
you would only say, yes Tonight" he
pleaded, and there WAS a soft light in his
eyes. ~ love you just as dearly as though
| had known you for years. You are nv
sisters dearest friend, and you are almost
as familiar with nay character and WAYS as
il you were with me lifetime. Mary would
be delighted, and my parents pleased also.
You have no friends to consult. Say yes
now, and if my love and devotion can repay
you, you shall never regret giving your as
sent. And 1t will be so fond recollection
for me to remember hereafter, that asked
you to be my wife the first evening l ever
met you, and you had faith enough to trust
me and promise"


He was very manly and tender in his
glance, and his smile loving and persuasive,
and Ada could not meet them unmoved.
She turned away suddenly, and looked stea-
Oily out toward the sky. A shiver passed
over her frame, and she moved, as if to
leave.


"rhe dew is falling" she said, seeming
unable to frame any other excuse, in her
confusion, for going into the house.


"Yes," he answered, taking her hand and
smiling, sit is falling in your eyes, my dar-
ling"


"Don't" |" she said, with a half sob that
touched him, and looking bravely up,
though her tears flowed. ''In the morning
will tell you-and tell, too, why could
not answer you tonight"


sin the morning, then," he answered,
touching his lips lightly but tenderly to the
hand he held within his own.


She turned quickly, and he heard her
light. swift footsteps ascending the stair
case and along the passage, the slight rustic
of train in their wake. The door of her
room opened and closed the key with
decided click shot the bolt in its place, and
he heard no more.


Then he walked into the garden, rather
restlessly, wondering within himself il he
had not been a shade too rash, and feeling
d slight sense of relief, if the truth were
told, that she had reserved her answer.


He was wonderfully interested in her,
certainly. For more than year her praises
had sounded IN his ears, rung with constant
changes by the voice of his sister Mary.
He had not thought to like her and when
he had troubled himself to think of the
subject at all, it was another woman he pic
tured. stately, strong minded, self-satlsfied,
and disagreeable in the extreme.


Without wealth she had maintained a
prominent place in fashionable circles, he
had been told. And without brains, he argued,
she had palmed herself off for woman
who was both lovable and wise. Not the
best logic in the world, but to be candid. il
was only his first impression in the matter,
and he had not taken the trouble to think
upon the subject at all.


So, when he met her the next day at the
house of friend, where she was spending
the summer with his sister, his first sensa-
tions were of surprise-then pleasure.


A self-possessed graceful girl bowed DO
litely to tall, handsome man, and then, as
though IL was an afterthought, quietly put
out her hand to him.


He forgot to view her critically, as he in
tended to do Afterwards, when his sister |
came to consult her about some trifie in the |
way OF dress, he remembered his intention, |
but some how it did not seem an easy thing |
to do.


well-ftting white dress set off a round |
but not too tapering waist, there was a |
heavy braid of yellow brown hair, droop |
ing curl knot of ribbon here, a fall OF /
lace there, afower pulled carelessly through |
a soft colored tie at the white throat A |
combination he scarcely understood, vet
harmonious in the extreme.


She was stately, yet there was a pretti.
ness about her all her own. She seemed
Doth gentle and strong, and before he was
aware of it, she had entered door in his
heart, and she had fastened the door like
she had fastened the door ofiher room that
night. A recess, too, it was, that he had
never known before.


He was not very young, this man of whom
am writing He had not been without his
love perhaps but the girls
soft voice and manner touched a chord in
his heart which had never vbrated before.
He had been generous man, because he
had dispensed his charities with q lavish
hand. He was very tender and kind to
those he loved, but always best of all to
himself


If he fancied house, yacht, a horse,
ne purchased it at once. He never sold his
present moment for the future, never
onged for a time to come when he should
oe happier, but always grasped the present
pleasure, preferring it to promises OF future
10y.


SO, when he met Miss North, he said, at
irst.


"Shes very lovely" and by-and-by when
le had watched her more closely he told
himself that in all his travels he had never
before met a woman that in his heart of
hearts he longed to call his own.
That night, when the stars were out and