Year: 1875

SclOuSly V6Xeu MIN d llLtle.


II suppose not" he replied.


"Well, I happen to know that there is only
a few years difference between your age and
hers"


"That, of course, reduces me to silence
though perhaps the difference is greater than
you think. What lovely flowers these are. l
need not ask you if you arranged them, as
found you in the act when came in.'


He could not have explained to himself the
reason why, but somehow it was distasteful to
him to have her sister brought under discus
sion. She felt no suspicion of his little arti'
fee to change the topic Of conversation, and
commenced pointing out her favorites among
the flowers, dwelling on their charms in a
manner that proved her true love and admi'
ration for them. While she was thus engaged
Edna came in. She looked we'll pleased to
find them together.


"You are friends already, I see," she said
giving her hand to Hugh.


Excellent friends" he replied. eve could
scarcely fail to become so, under the circum'
stances"


Claribel soon slipped off, and went to seek
Jennie, whom she scolded for not having come
down stairs, to help her entertain Mr.. Thorn.
ton.


II couldn't take the trouble" said Jennie,
lazily. II am not dressed, as you see, and
would not exchange this novel, at present, for
the society of the most captivating man in all
Christendom. What is he like, this paragon
of Edna's?"


II like him ever so much, and I think he
will suit Edna exactly"


Jeanette made little grimace.


"That's not very definite" said she. "Is
he quiet or lively, handsome or ugly, clever
or stupid, tall or short?"


"He is not precisely handsome, but very
noble-looking. He has dark eyes, though his
complexion is fair and his hair rather light ;
his forehead is broad but low, and he is tall
and broad-shouldered, and has beautiful teeth
and English whiskers-does that description
satisfy you?"


ut is rather jumbled up, but it will do.
On the whole, he is not disappointment? p


"Oh not at all. I am sure you will be
pleased with him"


Don't be too sure of anything, especially
where am concerned. However, shall see
him this evening, and judge for myself /
am quite prepared to adopt him as my future
relative, and be gracious to him accordingly. %


"He did not make any allusion to that at
all. I fancied he would" said Claribel.


elbow could he, simpleton, when he is not
engaged yet? 1t is to be presumed he will
settle the matter with Edna first"


Nevertheless Claribel felt that Hugh's man.
ner when he alluded to Edna had not been
quite what she expected it would be. She
had very romantic ideas, and could scarcely
define her requirements of a man in his posi-
ton, but it seemed to her there was lack OF
enthusiasm, sort of matter -of-fact way about
him that did not come up to her ideas of the
glow of poetry and romance with which, she
thought he ought to invest his lady-love'a
very name. This fancy she kept to herself,
however and no doubt had she betrayed it to
Jennie that young lady would have turned it
into ridicule, and made her unsophistication a
target for the shafts of her amiabe satire, as
it was her wont to do.


Hugh Thornton, during his residence
abroad, had formed the habit of keeping a
journal, for the purpose of diverting his
thoughts and partly relieving the dullness and
WEAKNESS of his life. On the evening of his
meeting with Claribel, he made the following
entry in the volume, which he now opened for
the first time since his voyage.


my European life seems almost like a
dream, now that am once more settled qui-
etly in my native State. Notprecisely settled
either, for have, as yet, no fixed home. ''''''
1t is time I should make some definite plan
in regard to my future life. ''''''I have found
my old love, my youthful ideal, unchanged
She is a very fair and lovely woman, rich in
those graces and virtues which would make a
mans home happy. Why is it, however, that
ones anticipations of any great and stirring
joy is seldom, if ever, quite equalled by the
reality? 1 miss the old thrill in my heart
her presence used to awaken there-it seems
to me my pulses beat more sluggishly than OF
yore. 1t gives me pleasure to note her beau,
ty, her goodness, her bousewifely ways, and
to know that her regard for me is as warm as
overland yet there is a want somewhere
which I cannot define. Perhaps have ideal.
lied her too much in my thoughts, or perhaps
as one advances in life, ones taste and percep.
tions become changed. But why should it be
so? Where there is real worth, real beauty
why should it satisfy less at one time than at
another? l do not know-but there is a
charm wanting, somewhere, that used to en-
thrall me, and it will not be invoked by the
longing of my soul.


"My destiny, however, is clearly marked
out for me, and | must accept it. Let me
look it honestly in the face. [ cannot but
confess to myself that it is one which most
men would welcome gladly. Edna is suited
to me in age and in disposition. l know and
esteem her good qualities, and feel assured
that she loves me, and will devote her life to
making me happy. She is thoroughly unset
fish. and what rarer or lovelier gift than un'
selGshness can be found? Moreover she will
be wife of whom l may justly be proud
she is emnently fitted to adorn society. Even
after mngling with those who have possessed
all the advantages of a European education
can discover no flaw in her style; no one