Year: 1873

be hattered (and what woman, or mar either, is ? but wise enough to wish tc be esteemed for something more lasting than evanescent physical charms.

 He seemed to have forgotten his Quixotic notions about "reform," un. less he expected to make 8 reform in politics. Margaret wondered if her re- fusal had had anything to do with damping the glowing enthusiasm he had brought back from college. Some of it must yet remain with him, for he was hard worker in his profession, and old Squire Horton had once told her that there was not better lawyer of his age in the commonwealth.

 Her rejection had not made him her enemy anyway. She was glad of that for when he would consent to be serious and not chaff her over her conquests, and hail her as Queen Margaret, he was the most interesting man she knew. He was well read, and had impercepti- bly, led her into the enjoyment of high CT literature than she had once cared for, and helped to cultivate her taste in many ways.

 He seemed to value her opinions, too. He told her once that when she grew tired of ruling puppets, she might, with her pen instead of her fan for q scepter, rule men and women.

 She wondered if he meant it. She was half disposed to try it. She was tired enough of ruling puppets, and longed for newer and better worlds to conquer. She was twenty-five now, and the Dead Sea fruits of six ''seasons" had turned to ashes on her lips. Itwas dry as dust, and she was weary of it. Suppose she had married Ralph, she thought, would it have been better She thought not. She certainly would not have had such an opportunity to sound mere conventionality to it's shal- low depths, and would not have felt her present aspirations for something high CT and more enduring.

 Sitting thus, musing, she did not notice that the object of her thoughts stood before her, until his shadow fell upon her face.

 She looked up startled, and for a mo- ment flushed with confusion.

 ''Hail to the Queen!'' was his saluta- tion. "Was ever queen before who made subjects but to turn them adrift ?" His tone and manner grated harshly on her present feelings, and she made no answer.

 "Have you inscribed your victory on your banner?" he asked?

 ''I do not understand you, sir," she answered haughtily.

 "You don't, ayei We'll, that is funny. Do you suppose am not familiar enoug with your archery to know when the animal has been struck? Come now, Miss Margaret, don't play the innocent with me. I met young Carson going down the hill, and one glance showed what was the matter with him The King of France with forty thousand men Went up the hill and so came down again.

 "What, still silent! Come, don't take it to heart. Why let the stricken deer go weep, it will do him good and make a man of him. Don't mar your victory by mourning over the wounded

 'Mr. Wentworth, you shall not speak in that manner to me, as though were one of the professional coquettes, who lead men on and then trample on their affections for idle, wicked amusement ]; | I had right to expect better opinion from you. If you have not enoug gh re- spect for me to refrain from uttering such thoughts, have at least enough self-respect not stay and listen to them!" saying which Margaret swept away with the mien of an offended god dess.

 Ralph was struck dumb with aston ishmeat. He had been chafing her for years about her conquests, why should she flare up so now? He watched her as she went down the hill, and then lighted cigar and sat down on the bench she had just quilted to think the matter over.

 "Angry because I think her firt, " he growled to himself. "Humph! If she cuts all her friends who entertain that opinion she will have a slim reti- nue. Has she alright to expect better of me. The deuce she has! Was not her first victim? But, then, I must say she did not have to try any to secure me, and so far as I've observed, she hasn't lured any of the other fellows on They fell in as naturally as I did, and most of them seem to have got out in better condition, for they've got mar ried, while I've felt no further inclina- tion that way since the first desire was so unceremoniously nipped."

 ''Had right to expect better opin- ion from me-" he thought. "Well, that's so, by George, so she had. And I'll tell her so. I can't afford to have her angry. Who in thunder would I have to talk to? I couldn't get along without her. Suppose I must some day, however, for she certainly won t keep up this refusing business forever.

 'Had right to expect better opin- ion from me. Well, she must care enough about my good opinion to make it matter of speculation, anyway, may be after all-

 "But pshaw! I'm done with that. I've played the stricken deer once and don't like the character"

 And impatiently finging away his cigar to emphasize the conclusion Ralph went to find diversion for his mind by occupying his hands in gather ing up the croquet implements before it was dark. Shouldering them he started home, but as he approached the apple tree he saw Miss Woodford just stopping to pick up the book she had left behind in her hasty flight.

 He hurried up at once to get his dis agreeable duty of apologizing over, and plunged at once into it with

 "Miss Margaret, did not think you would take what said so seriously. l ought to have had seen enough to know you would be in no humor for joking after such scene. You were right to expect better opinion of me-"

 1T ought not to have been so nasty, J she answered, "I've often let you say such things unchecked, but I had just been thinking of"

 "Of what, Margaret"

 "Of myself-and of you. Of how we both have changed since we first knew each other. I was thinking you under stood me and saw something better in me than others do. I thought maYbe