Year: 1871

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


Pm so glad you are here this month"; "
Jenny said, because I'm to be married
in October, and / have always been crazy
to have you for bridesmaid, and Dick
is to be Harry's best mar" Belle
blushed


"But Dick has fallen hopelessly,
madly in loyeI' Belle turned pale.


[" Yes, / was 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 bothering him about my
freckled school friends-you know your
picture shows freckles; but bless me,
you haven't any nowl And your picture
don't look any more like you than it
does like me, not bit


But tell me- said Belle, ais your
brother engaged to this lady2"


Engaged? Why, dear heart, he don't
know her name. He just found some of
her old clothes somewhere. Hes got
her old slippers under glass case; he
got her gloves stuffed under another;
he's got her night gown done ur5 in
lavender; he's got her gold thimble
hung on his watch chain; and | do be-
lieve he's got hair-brush and some hair
pins next to his heart. Oh, it's folly to
interfere He's beyond all hopel i did
think the excitement of my wedding
would wean him from it; but not bit.
He looks at my new things as calmly as
an oyster, and only said--it's not kind
of me to repeat it, though" broke of
Jenny.


"What was it he said2' inquired
Belle, laughing now heartily Don't
fear for my feelings.


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


And SO Belle thought, as she looked at
her old slipper and glove lying beneath
a globe on either side the faithful Rich
ards mantle


" And" said Belle, since he desires
only to meet me on the morning Of the
wedding, so it shall be-, l will be intro
duced only as we are leaving the house,
and he can do as he pleases about con-
tinuing the acquaintance afterward."


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


Jenny and Belle shopped, and talked,
and visited together for the next few
days, and when the morning arrived, and
amid bevy of beautiful girls, Belle
shone like queen, the bride was eclipsed
and delightfully."- acknowledged it


o. Belief" she said, II 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 COMETS 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 het
lovely white throat lay the turquoise
locket that held Dicks golden curl.
Upon the beautiful head, crowned by its
chestnut hair, 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 Jenny old
schoolmate Then, as he held out his
hand, she raised her eyes, and laid her
tiny palm in his, and said


" | think we had better rectify that
mistake about the traveling-bags, Mr..
Marcy"


"Good heaven, Jenny" said Dick
Marcy, why didn't you tell me that
your friend Belle was my Angel of
Mercy?'"


Because didn't know 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 Jenny,
mischieyously.


1t would be hard to say which of the
four that made Jennys bridal party was
the happiest that day.


Dick did not go to Paris that winter
He found that St. Louis contained more
attraction 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 trav-
brushed up for the occasion.
DR., Townsend, who is to 90 along, says
he knew the minute he saw that girl she
would one day be Angelica Marcy, as he
" felt it in the air.