Year: 1876

There is, perhaps, more truth than
poetry in the old saying that ga woman
don't know her own mind half the
time" But in these days of Atlantic
cables, electric telegraphs, Keely mo-
tors, and elliptical skirts, we live so
fast that a young woman must step live
ly if she wishes to keep up with the
times.


Two years ago a very pleasant party
was assembled at a certain charming
cottage ON the Newport Cliffs. 1t was
in early July, before the great rush,
when cottage life is much more enjoy
able than at the height of the season.
The lady of the house had invited four
young girls, all lovely, two of whom
had been out for three winters, and
were pretty well versed in the little
mysteries of New York fashionable life.
To meet these charming creatures four
gentlemen had been hidden to the cot
tage. Three of these were among the
best parts in town, being of good fam
lily and handsome fortune. The fourth,
Harry Barton, young lawyer just
commencing his career, was one of the
greatest beaus in society, and one of the
most popular men at the clubs; but he
was poor-his fortune was yet to
make. He had been invited to the cot
tage partly because of his wit, clever
ness, and social talents, and partly be-
cause of his well known admiration for
Miss Clifton, to whom he had devoted
himself ever since she first made her
appearance in society some three weeks
before. Barton was desperately in love,
and had made up his mind to marry
Miss Clifton if she would have him. So
far he had not asked her to become his
wife; he hesitated on account of his
slender means, but of late his business
prospects had frightened, and he de-
termined to make the fatal plunge be-
fore leaving Newport. Miss Clifton
was, as the phrase goes, very fond of
Barton, but she had been educated in
the school of modern fashionable life,
and looked upon marriage as the step
ping-stOne to an establishment of her
Own-house in town, villa at Newport,
box at the opera, well appointed equi-
pages, expensive toilettes, etc. This she
knew was utterly out of the question
with Barton-it was a great pity, for
she really liked him and took more
pleasure in his society than that
of any other man. Meantime
one of the eligible men at the cottage,
who was in a position to furnish
the requisite establishment with all its
attendant luxuries, paid very marked
attention to Miss Clifton, drove her out,
talked to her in the quiet hooks on the
piazza, danced with her in the even
ings-in a word, it looked very much
as If he meant business, and his atten-
tions were generally conceded to be of
a - healthy character. All this nearly
set Barton crazy, though in appearance
he was perfectly impossible. He deter
mined, then and there, to push things
and decide his fate. He found his Op-
portuni'y in Sunday afternoons walk
along the cliffs. The next day the party
was to break up and scatter in different
directions; with him it was now or
never. On their way home he told his
love in a few simple, manly, straight
forward words. Miss Clifton trusted
they would always be friends; she
had a very sincere, very great
regard for him, but could not
marry him. He was cut to the
heart, but accepted the position, and
continued to be on friendly terms with
the Cliftons, where he was invited more
or less during the ensuing winter. The
eligible pGrti never came to time, no
other desirable PGrti came forward, and
Miss Clifton remained single. Mean
while BartOn's business had greatly inn
proved, and his aunt died in a fit of
kindness, leaving him couple of hun
dred thousand dollars. Two years had
passed since the episode we have relat-
ed, when, in the latter part of June Of
the present year, substantially the same
party were again assembled at the cot
tage on the Newport Cliff. Though
during all these two long years Barton
had been a regular, if not a constant,
visitor at the CliftOns, he had never
again brOached the subject of his re-
iected love. But Miss Clifton knew his
nature and felt that he loved her as
faithfully and as devOtedly as ever; that
his pride and timidity alone prevented
him from renewing the offer. She was
now herself really in love with the man.
They found themselves once again on
the cliffs alone together, passing the
very spot where Barton had told
his love. Miss Clifton asked did he
remember a walk they had on those
cliffs two years ago? Yes, he did. Did
he remember the subject of the con-
versation on that occasion? Very
family, and looking toward the sea,
Yes, he did. Evidently Mr.. Barton was
embarrassed and much moved. Miss
Clifton determined to come bravely to
his assistance. "Well, l have changed
my mind on that subject"


Mr.. Barton, apparently still more
embarrassed and still more overcome,
&C So have l."


They walked home in silence, and
thus ended an idyl by the seaside.


Miss Clifton and Mr.. Barton are fic-
titious names; but this fairy tale is an
open secret for those who move in a
oor+oip Nauu York GOT - Mem York S3LI7