Year: 1876

~-3r>l>5-.s~Ae>>A-
cant face always being subject of mortitica-
ton to me, that is, when I allowed myself to
think about them. Selwyn always spoke
slightingly of personal beauty-at least in
men. He acknowledged that he was an ar
dent sdmirer of it in women-but this, fan
cy, was from motives of generosity.


Not long before my first college term was
completed, I received news from home of
quite an unexpected and interesting nature.
Nv mother wrote me that she had received
into her family young orphan girl, lately
bereft, by sudden accident, of both her pa
rents, distant connections of ours, whom we
had but seldom seen: This young girl, who
was about my age, she described as possessing
very lovely disposition, and as she seemed
to rejoice in her compsnionship, and antici-
pate much comfort in having her constantly
with her, could not but feel grati6ed at
what afforded her satisfaction, though I had,
at the time, no personal interest in the mat.
ter. Her name was Olivia Marchmont, and
she was, but for her newly-constituted guar
dian, quite alone in the world, having neither
brother nor sister, nor intimate friend.


thought but little about her until I was
on my homeward way to spend the first COL
lege vacation. Then, as neared our country
place, I began to feel my natural shyness as
serting itself, at the anticipation of encounter
ing stranger.


Our meeting came about Unexpectedly, yet
quite simply, and was robbed Of the embar-
rassment with which had pictured it in my
mind. Alighting at the gates Of the Park in
order to walk the rest of the way to the
house-for was cramped with my long sit
ting in the chaise which had been sent to
meet mel had not proceeded many yards
when 1 perceived a slight figure, in black,
slowly approaching from the opposite direc-
ton. It was, as I readily OWNED, that Of my
unknown relative, and my first impulse was
to retreat, especially as saw that she was
engrossed with some knitting or other fancy
work in her hand, and was notaware of my
vicinity; but before I could execute my in
tention, my large greyhound, favorite pet
who had accompanied me from home, and was
now at my side, bounded forward with a
QUICK bark, and she looked hastily up, reti-
ring stepor two in some natural trepidation
at the same time. Courtesy overcame diff.
dence, and advanced quickly, calling to my
dog, who Immediately obeyed the summons.


81 am sorry he frightened you" I said, feel.
ing myself blush, but resolving not to lose my
reputation for politeness. HE would do you
no harm, thong he is little rough"


"Thank you, was not frightened, only
surprised" was the quiet reply, and the young
girl's clear eyes rested frankly on my face as
she spoke. Give did not know you were
coraing so early. Cousin Clara thought you
would not be here until the afternoon"


She guessed who I was, then. This saved
me the trouble of introducing myself, which l
would have done awkwardly enough, no doubt
had there been necessity for it. She had
held out her hand TO me, as she made her
little speech, quite simply, as a child would
have DONE and took it for an instant, per-
ceiving that she did indeed look scarcely more
than a child, with her slight, rather diminu.
tive figure, and innocent, pale face. Her eyes
were deeply, denssly brown, with the longest
and blacksst lashes have ever seen. Hel
face pure oval, and her hair. which was
dark chestnut, curled wavily, not in ringlets
about her brow and neck, beneath the shadow
of her broad straw hat She was dressed, Of
course, in the deepest black, and this. unre
lieved by even q bit of white anywhere, en-
hsnoed the pallor Of her clear white skin
There was scarcely tint of rose in her face