Year: 1875

New York. did not know he was at
home"


The days few by on golden wings;
every one seemed more happy than the
last. l took an apronful of peaches and
a book, and lay down in the hammock
under the elm for lazy time one morn
ing. l was scarcely settled when |
heard auntie calling me, and then steps
coming near to me. l raised myself,
and who should be with her but that
Walter Gray! He laughed heartily on
recognizing in my aunt's niece the "wa-
ter nymph," but soon made me feel at
ease by his courteous and merry man
ner. He had come over to see if he
could buy a COW of uncle, and over the
merits of butter and milk we grew quite
friendly. Auntie would have him stay
to lunch, and tried to enact the coun-
try girl, and be as awkward as possissi-
BILE. Two or three times | almost be-
trayed myself by some unguarded re-
mark; but by dropping my fork, upset
ting my milk. and knocking my chair
over when l rose, managed to seem
ill-bred enough to suit my coarse frock,
absent collar, and tumbled hair.


To my utter astonishment, Mr.. Gray
asked me 10 go to picnic at the school
house the next day. While l was star
ing, first at him, and then at myself in
the glass, Aunt Hetty quietly said, "She
will CO." l was ready to beat her,
but beyond few muttered words, said
nothing until he was gone. Then l
made few remarks to her which made
her look SO sorry, that kissed her and
promised to go peaceably.


| made myself look as countrifed as
possible, next morning, and my looking
glass told me that was no longer even
passable. Mr.. Gray made no remark
about my appearance, except to ask if
the glasses were absolutely necessary,
and on my gravely assuring him that
they were, he helped me into the
carriage, and away we went. How en-
joyed the glances the girls gave me, and
their evident contempt for my dress and
manner! 1 found myself alone with Mr..
GRAY, toward the end of the afternoon,
and we sat down on the moss at the foot
of tree for what called a good talk.
His manner had been perfectly kind and
courteous, and he had done everything
in his power to make me forget the diff
ference between myself and the pretty
country girls I had met. After little
forgot my part, and letting the glasses
fall unheeded in my lap, l pulled off
the yellow cotton gloves I had worn all
day, and lying backward, clasped my
hands above my head, contentedly. At
ter minute he said +:


"Maggie Thorne is entirely thrown
away on that old man. What life for
bright, fair woman to live, shut away in
that quiet house."


Following his glance toward the house
on the other side of the road, lazily
answered





Might stop hole to keep the wind away"


The look of utter amazement on his
face was too funny as he gasped out:


"Miss Lorlei, what are you? Hideous
and lovely at the same time, and unedu-
Gated country girl firing Shakespeare at
me in that style. You wear these green
glasses all the time, and yet I have
noticed you can see much farther and
better without them. You have the
most exquisite hand I have ever seen,
and your feet are large enough for a
man. You bow like an empress, and
tumble over your dress the next minute.
can't understand you"


kept my face through all his speech;
and then gave him answer, pulling on
my gloves


"I don't know what you mean by
Shakespeare, and you need not insult my
feet can't help their size. What
made you bring me, if only to tease ?''
And without ceremony / left him more
mystified than ever.


1 saw him very often in the next two
months, and learned to like him very
much for his kindness to my awkward
self. How much I liked him 1 scarcely
knew, until letter from mamma came,
saying that summer was long over and
people were growing very curious as to
my whereabouts. With Q cold, sick feel
ing at my heart, took the letter in my
hand, and went through the orchard to
the place where I had played "Lorlei'
for the benefit of Walter Gray. Bitter
ly 1 regretted my masquerade, for
thought he could never be brought to
like the red-haired, clumsy girl he had
pitied and been kind to.


I lay on the grass crying, holding in
my hand some of the dead leaves lying
all about me, and thinking how like my
own hopes they were. How long lay
there do not know, till some one drop
ped on the grass by me, and cool, sof
hand held my own.


"Crying water-nymph?" and befor'





1 knew it found myself close held b.
two strong arms, and dear voice speak
ing to me.


"Your aunt says you are going away
Lorlei: going away to be educated, ant
taught many things it is right for you t
know. l dare not let you go, little on
until ask if you will think of yoursel
as my own Lorlei, and try to become a
graceful outwardly as your pure, goo
heart and natural abilities will let you
have learned to love you very much an
you will let me hope, will you not ?"
For all answer, lay quiet, lookin
up in his face, and thinking how nice
was and fearing to break the spell b
showing him my real self.


"Do you like this awkward, ugl,
clumsy, ed-haired girl 2'' l finally mar
| aged to ask, with long drawn breath {
! satisfaction.


] "Stop the adjectives," he answered


closing my mouth gently with a cares