Year: 1872

ference to the man alone. He's keen, and
bound to make a great show in the world.
There's no use in putting him down, for he
won't stay but it is disgusting to have a low
fellow like him, from no family, putting him.
self on level with the old, old blood, who
wouldn't have blacked their boots on him five
years ago 1t was CALLING to have to treat
him as an equal, and he was thankful there
was nothing to bring him into the neighbor'
hood again


"Uncle Ellison did not think his Christian
graces sufficient to rank him with the true
gentleman.


"Mother thought there was a vein Of coarse
ness in his nature, which could not be erad'
icated.'


"Grace felt AN intuitive uncongeniality
without giving reason.


Stuart said the man and Arthur were
two bully boys together


"Alice put her arms around my neck and
whispered, Don't let that man come here
any more-he isn't nice like uncle Ellison
and RUSSELL


"Even. cousin Tim and Letitia had some
thing to say, and between them all 1 felt
like culprit under sentence. Now, cousin
Jack, you have my confession, and bit Of
character from each of the family"


Jack laid his hand caressingly on Conway's
head, leaned over and kissed her-the first one
he had given since they met at the car
riage-and said softly


Il can't expect you to give up your chances
for an easy and pleasant life, and spend your
best years waiting for me to gain a compe-
tence. I have long felt you were bound to
me more by your fathers influence than be-
cause your heart was mine. If ever you wish
to be free, I shall not be so selfish as to OBJ
ject."


Waiting moment to see if she had any
thing to say, he bid her "Good night" and
went up to bed, forgetting to take a light,
and wondering for an hour if Conway told
her folly in order for him to release her from
their engagement, or because she regretted
flirting in his absence.


Conway went slowly up stairs, pondering
whether Jack valued her happiness above his
own, and would not release her unless she
really desired it; or if he would like to be
free. If he was jealous of Mr.. Meals atten-
tions, he had certainly been very delicate in
showing it.


Grace was still up, slowly combing her
beautiful hair, which fell to the floor as she
sat in low chair by the fire.


"What not in bed YETI" asked Conway,
beginning to take down her own braids.


II did not think you'd be so long, and
sat waiting and thinking"


"Do you think Jack has improved% asked
Conway, demurely.


20 yes. He always seems to be gaining
some new virtue or good quality. 1 couldn't
help thinking, when they all gathered round
the sideboard before dinner, and when the
wine was passed at table, how proud you
ought to be that Jack could not be persuaded
to touch drop"


81 don't object to his taking wine, or to
any other gentlemanly habit he wishes to
form. Such things don't trouble me"


ut isn't so much the taking of glass OF
wine occasionally, as the growing taste for
stimulants to which it leads, that makes me
glad, for your sake, that Jack will have moth
ing to do with it," said Grace, earnestly. 81
nsticed Eugene merely slipped his glass, and
seemed pleasedt to find uncle Ellison and Jack
both on the side of temperance"


"Well, I am glad father does not believe
in sitting at the table and drinking-nobody
knows how much-after the ladies leave; but
his plan of having wine with the dessert, or
just before it, can't hurt any one."


Il wish some one would persuade cousin
Arthur to follow brother Eugene's example.
He resents having Jack brought forward as
model, and I think he is becoming quite
too fond of wine and stronger liquors"


"You are too hard on Arthur. All the
young men in his station drink more or less.
1t is one of the customs of society, and after
awhile they will settle down to steady, every
day life, and their one bottle for dinner, like
their fathers before them;' and Conway's
gaiter came off with a jerk.


"But some of them have gone beyond their
bottle a day now and uncle Ellison says it
is growing vice which has been increased
by the license of camp life and disappoint.
ments since"


"Do you hear the clock, Grace Pit struck
two! I haven't been up SO late since that
first night Sherman's army were here. I'm
eff for the land Of Nod. So, good night"


In FIVE minutes she was in doze; but
Grace lay awake some time, thinking Con-
way was so secure in Jacks love, good prin-
ciples and honor, she had a right not to be
uneasy about his falling into bad habits. She
had told Arthur she could not marry him,
unless he stopped drinking, and he had taken
it in high vexation and said, "he was not ac-
countable to her nor any one else for his ac-
tions-she had hunted long time to find
some excuse for breaking of, and he hoped
she was satisfied" That anything should
ever break Conway's engagement did not
enter her head.


CHAPTER XIV. q"
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