Year: 1872

by MATTE DYER BRrrrs.


Perhaps it was seeing Jenny McNsry's .
pretty face at the window that made
Ralph Southwick unable to resist the
temptation to run into McNary's as he
went by. Perhaps it was q thought Of a
little white envelope he carried in his
breast pocket, and which he meant to
slip into Jenny's dear little hand at the
fret opportunity.


Anyway he dropped in, and nobody
thought anything Of it, because he lived
at the very next house, and was accus.
toned to run in and out whenever he
pleased. He had pleased often the last
few days, for be was going away the next
day, to a distant city, to engage IN busi-
ness. and he would never see Jenny or
any Of the rest. at all.


Jenny vas sitting at tho window
crochsting a snow white pair of wool
mittens, aud Of course Ralph must ad-
miro them.


care you always making mittsus p he
asked, I've seen you at two or three
pair. this winter.


"Nsll, you know, thcrs are two or three
boys in the house." said Jenny, land |
make a now pair all round every winter.
Don't 60, Ralph"


Yes, | must. I'll bs over to night,
you know. What a pretty crochet.
needle you havsl Coed bye, IN gone"


And ss Ralph bent down, pretending
to look at the noodle, he dropped the
little white envelope in Jenny's lap.


Up in hcr room, all alone, secure from
curious eyes, Jenny read tho words it
contained. They we're few but they we're
earnest, and they told her what Ralph
had been telling her in every other way
for three months back-that he loved
her. And they asked her, If when he
was settled in busines, he might come
back and claim her for his wife.


Jenny had invited two or th.es friends
in to spend the last evening with Ralph
at her house, and the little note begged
fvr some answer then.


"Give ne only a notion" it said 'just
look. or some little action, dear Jenny,
that may speak to me alone, by which
before | sleep to night l may know
whether | shall ever have . wife or not
Do this dearest child, and make happy
him who loves only you. RALPH"


With flushed cheeks, and starry Dyes,
and smiling lips, Jenny read Kalph's
letter-read it more than once, and hid
it in her tender bosom. Very quietly,
but with her girls heart throbblng with
tumultuous happiness, she sat down and
put the last stitches to the pretty pair of
white mitteus. Then she wrote little
note, folded it, and pinned it securely in.
side of one Of the mit!ens. And inside
that little note were these words:


DEAR RALPH Your letter has made
me very happy, for | will not deny that
| do love you. l made the mittsns for
you. Take them, and if you care to take
with them the hands which made thom,
they are yours, dear Ralph, with the
whole heart Of JENNY"


Though that was the last evening of
Ralphs stay, Jenny could not be un
happy, nay, could not help being gay
and joyous, for had he not said he loved
her?


She could not help smiling teasingly in
Ralph's face whe hs looked anxously at
her, for did she not know he was watch
ing for the token which be had asked for,
and which she meant to give him all in
good time?


And so, just before the leave taking,
Jenny slipped out into the hall, and laid
the white mittens, neatly folded, with
the tiny note inside, in Ralph South
wich's hat on the hall table.


Frightened and excited with girlish
tremors, she felt as if she could not say
a word to Ralph that night, so when
their friends had lett, she few away up.
stairs to her room while no was saying
good bye to her mother. She knew we'll
she would see him in the morning, and
then


All, we'll, little Jenny went to sleep
that night, with soft cheek pillowed on
her dimplsd hand, and = tender smile
lowering around her crimson mouth, and
wandered all night with her lover, in the
happy land of dreams


Jenny was neatly dressed at an early
hour next day. and waiting with nervous
trembling happiness for Ralph's com
ing. But Ralph did not come.
1t was almost the hour for the train to
bear him away; but no Ralph appeared.
Oh, what had happened, what could have
happened, what could keep him?


She sat down by the window, and she
saw him come out Of his door with his
valise in bis hand, and walk rapidly away
toward the depot, without even one glance
at her house.


Her heart sank in her bosom like lead
Had he made her the victim Of . cruel
joker 1t could not be He would
write when he got to the city, asd sx'
nlain Yes ha wrnta xhan ha got TO the