Year: 1871

Fred, and then aunt and nephew shook
hands and parted.


When, on the following Friday, Fred
Ludlow, dressed for dinner, came into the
drawing-room of his aunt's pretty little cot
tage on Staten Island, he found there be-
fore him the young lady of whom his
thoughts had been full since the night he
had seen her at the opera nearly twelve
months before. He felt wonderfully shy
and awkward as she rose upon his entrance,
gathering up the bright-colored woods
which lay scattered over her white dress.


She was very pretty piquante little crea-
ture, and her eyes were literally dancing
with suppressed mirth. "Micklethwaite,
said Fred, bowling and hating himself for
the blush which he felt rising to the very
roots of his hair.


The young lady bowed in return, and
then put out her hand, saying, frankly and
pleasantly, "We should not be strangers,
Mr.. Ludlow. have heard so much about
you lately" There was a slight emphasis
upon the last word, which was not lost
upon Fred. In what terms had she heard
him discussed? he wondered.


Miss Micklethwaite sat down to her
woodwork again and Fred sat opposite to
her, thinking that even the name of Cherry
was bearable when borne by her; wishing
that his uncle had not attached such i'm
possible conditions to this will-wishing
that he had more than fifteen hundred
year, and that he could win that charm
ing little creature for his wife and while
he was thus thinking, and wishing, he was
talking commonplaces with Miss Mickle-
thwaite in the most approved style, and,
and, by the time Mrs. Hepburne appeared,
all shyness had vanished, and the young
lady and gentleman were rapidly becoming
excellent friends.


Fred's fortnight in Staten Island passed
but too quickly, at least to him, and indeed
the impression he made upon his aunt and
the fair Cherry was far from disagreeable.
He was clever young fellow enough, and
had plenty to say when he chose to exert
himself and shake off his indolent manner.
His habits were of domestic order--at least
apparently so for he was never tired of
helping the two ladies, or the young lady
rather, for Mrs. Hepburne's part was limi-
ted to looking on at intervals, to work
among the fower-beds. Indeed it was a
study to see Fred perched upon garden
ladder, training roses and honey-suckles
under the direction of Miss Mickletwaite,
while she stood under him with the shreds
and nails in her hand. And, again, he
would read aloud while his companions
worked, and he and Cherry would quarrel
and argue over the respective merits OF
Tennyson and Owen Meredith. But the
long before they are welcome, and poor
Fred was unmistakably miserable. He
had during his toilet upon that last morning
acknowledged to himself the pleasant and
yet melancholy truth that he was in love-
no idle passing fancy, but the real thing
which comes, suppose, not oftener than
half-a-dozen times in mans life and
moreover, that he would be obliged to go
away without the happiness of knowing
that his affection was returned. Once OF
twice he had fancied that if things had
been different he might have hoped, she
had always been so nice and kind and just
at that interesting point the breakfast-bell
rang, and he went downstairs to find her
looking more bewitching than he had ever
seen her. After breakfast they went out
to take their last walk round the garden
and shrubbery, Fred determining to keep a
tight curb upon his feelings, for fear in
a weak moment his secret would betray
itself. Considering these good resolutions
it was rather hard upon him that his pretty
cousin should choose that special morning
to rally him upon his dislike to his cousin,


think it very cowardly to run away the
very day Magdalene is expected, she said.


" Is she really coming this evening ?''


"Really and truly you should stay to see
her, Mr.. Ludlow; you cannot tell what might
happen perhaps you might find her very
lovable in spite of your prejudice, and il
might all end happily, like book"


They were going at the moment very
slowly along walk secluded by high yew
hedges on either side; and as the young
lady finished speaking, they both suddenly
stopped, and Fred had taken his compan,
ions hand and was holding it fast in his
own /; he was looking eager and excited
"And do you think" he said, "that after
having known you, could care for any one
in the worlds know it's hopeless, and