Year: 1873

her niece, Kate Purdy, lived together,
as lived with Aunt Esther, and sort
of feflow-feeling, from our similar con-
ditions, made us wondrous kind from the
first. Kate was a sparkling brunette,
who made love to everybody, finale or
female, Jew or GENTLE, bond or free,
it was all one to her. I am a very
meek-looking personmyself, ight-haired,
blue-eyed, faded out-you almost need
a dark background TO see me at; all.


Kate and looked well together, and
stayed together chiefly for that reason at
first, afterward for strong and earnest
liking that lasted our lifetime. told
her all about the ring, and showed her
the answers to my advertisements and
when our talk reached low water on
other matters, we always fell back on
speculation about those two lovers and
the sapphire ring. Kate was disposed
to treat it more lightly than could find
it in my heart to do. She thought it far
too pretty to hide its light in a bureau
drawer, and after time wore it, think
ing that in that way it might be possibly
seen and claimed by its owner.
We had become very intimate in girls
fashion before I introduced Kate to "my
DOCTOR, as I called him in my heart.
They took kindly to each other, but





heart out of him, as had seen her do
with all other men.


''Why don't you make love to DIR.
Gilmore ?" I asked her at last. "You
are naturally fisher of men, and the
prey is very scarce at Dovecotes.'


&c Firstly" said Kate, I" because you
already have him in your own net, and
unless all signs fail you Will soon land
him. Secondly, he is too fearfully old
and grave. I don't mean that he has
lived any great number of years, but he
is one of those who are born forty years
old, and that would make him at this
present time three-score-and ten"


My world was well nigh empty of kith
and kin when Aunt Esther died, but I
was not not near so doleful as ought to
I had youth and hope, and there was
the doctor. Kate Purdy had been help
ing me to set the house in order after
the dreadful hustle that follows the van
ishing of familiar face.


At night-fan she left me alone for an
hour or two it was then as Kate and I
had tacitly supposed, reading it In one
another's eyes, that smy doctor''scame
to see me.


"I am afraid you are going to be very
lonely here, he said after the first greet
ings were over. - -, - 3


But shall not be here; I am going
to live with the Purdys."


's Are you quite sure they want you ?'


They say So.


Doubtless 6. they feel in that way, now,
of your af1iction. You had far better
come home to me"


He held out his arms, with gesture
that belied the calmness of his words !;
but would not see it.


Chow can I be sure that you want
me ?''


"Do I not say it ?'


60 Yes, and SO did the Purdys. It may
be that your heart is warmed by my lone
illness. 80


"What is the use of fencing, when I
love you and you love me?"


3" How do you know that p


Because you have been so careful
not to show even decent regard for me.
If you had not loved me you would have
been more cordial.


go wiser than Solomon p said but
] saw his arms put out to me at that
moment, and I forgot what o'clock it
was until Kate's opening the hall door
made me draw away from my doc
tor"


Kate made lively talk for few min
utes, but had little response for her
audience.
~ my dear turtle Doves" she said, at
last, laying one hand on mine and look
ing hard at my friend, 81 see how it is
with you. You have reached the point
where two is company and three is a
crowd


"No, we have passed it." said the
doctor. ~


'And Esther is going to marry you p


"You have said it.


!" Then I wish you Joy with all my
heart. By the way, did you bring the
engagement-ring with you?'


"Of course not. s-ze


"You need not look SO irate. Some
men are SO certain of their happiness
that they buy the ring beforehand. Why
don't you use this one that came tc
Esther out of the gate-post ?" said Kate
drawing from her finger the sapphire
ring, which she often wore.


1T would be a bad omen, F." I said
shrinking away from it and suppose
some one should claim it, after all 2"


" L did not think of that but yor
could have another made like it. Moth
ing could be prettier for an engagement


s7H DR.. Gilmore likes it, I am sure ]
have no objection I said, at last, fo1
there was tinge of romance in giving
the ring a happy ending, after beini
spurned by its first owner.
DIR. Gilmore did like it, and put it OF
my finger before Kate went off, will
some good advice about not sitting VI
late, which met the fate of most gool
advice. I crept into her bed in the &c W
sma' hours ayont thetwal, and she wok
Instantly.


This is good example to set befor
a young and innocent maiden," she re
marked.


Oh, Kate" said, in the usual gush
ing fashion, 81 am SO happy, I can't be
lieve it.. f+


"Oh, well, can. Nobody comes t
bed at this time of night unless some
thing awful has happened"


81 wonder he did not fall in love wit
you, Kate


$50 do L; but some men have n
taste, you know? They are to be pitie6
not to be blamed. Besides, as I hay
said before, he is too aged for me. He
be a centurion when you're in yor
prime"
Kate refused to talk all night, as
would gladly have had her, and I di
catch an hour or two of sleep, full {
happy dreams.