Year: 1873

| Saltwater. and a society spell from Ma hant The lieutenant looked as if he had swallowed a couple of his buttons, and found the bullion rather indigestible; the rector was a pensive youth, of the daffy downdilly sort; and the swell from Nahant was very weak tidal wave indeed. The women were much better, as they always are; the two Miss Kingsburys of Phila- delphia, staying at the Sea-shell House two bright and engaging girls. But Mar l iorie Daw!

 The company broke up soon after tea, and 1 remained to smoke cigar with the colonel on the piazza It was like seeing picture to see Miss Marjorie lowering around the old soldier, and doing hun dred gracious little things for him. She l brought the cigars and lighted the tapers with her own delicate fingers, ill the most enchanting fashion. As we sat there, she came and went in the summer twilight, and seemed, with her white dress and pale gold hair, like some lovely phantom that had sprung into existence out of the smoke e-wreaths. If she had melted into air. like the statue of the lady in the play, l should have been more sorry than sur prised.

 It was easy to preceive that the old colonel worshipped her, and she him. think the relation between an elderly fla ther and daughter just blooming into womanhood the most beautiful possible There is in it subtle sentiment that can not exist in the case of mother and daugh- ter, or that of son and mother. But this IS getting into deep water

 sat with the Daws until half past ten, and saw the moon rise on the sea. The ocean, that had stretched motionless and black against the horison, was changed by magic into broken field of glittering ice. In the far distance, the Isle of Shoals loomed up like group of huge bergs drifting down on us. The Polar Regions in June thaw! It was exceedingly fine. What did we talk about? We talked about the weather-and you! The wealth CT has been disagreeable for several days past, and so have you l gided from one topic to the other very naturally. I told my friends of your accident; how it had frustrated all our summer plans, and what our plans were. Then I described you; or, rather, didn't. spoke of your amiability; of your patience under this se were afHiction; of your touching gratitude when Dillon brings you little presents of fruit; of your tenderness to your sister Fanny, whom you would not allow to stay Tn town to nurse you, and how you had heroically sent her back to Newport, pre- ferring to remain alone with Mary, the cook, and your man Watkins, to whom, by the way, you were devotedly attached. If you had been there, Jack, you wouldn't have known yourself I should have ex- celled as criminal lawyer, if had not turned my attention to q different branch of jurisprudence.

 Mss Maiorie asked all manner of ques- tlons concerning you. 1t did not occur to me then. but it struck me forcibly af- forwards, that she evinced singular in- terest in the conversation. When l got back to my room, I recalled how eagerly she leaned forward, with her full, snowy throat in strong moonlight, listening to < what sad. Positively, think l made her like you!"

 Miss Daw is a girl whom you would like immensely. can tell you that. A beauty without affectation, high and tender nature, ,-if you can read the soul ln the face. And the old colonel is a mo- ble character, too.

 I am glad the Daws are such pleasant people. The Pines is an issolated place, and my resources are few. I fear should have found life here rather monotohous before long, with no other society than that of my excellent sire. It is true, might have made target of the defence less invalid; but haven't a taste for ar tillery, moi.

 John Fleming to Eda0ard Delaney.

 August IT,.

 For man who hasn't taste for artil- lery, 1t occurs to me, my friend, you are keeping up pretty lively fire on my in ner works. But go on. Cynicism is 8 small brass field-piece that eventually bursts and kills the artilleryman.

 You may abuse me as much as you like, and I'll not complain; for I don't know what l should do without your letters. They are curing me. I haven't hurled anything at Watkins since last Sunday, partly because have grown more amia- ble under your teaching, and partly be- cause Watkins captured my ammunition one night, and carried it off to the libra ". lie is rapidly losing the habit he had acquired of lodging whenever I rub my ear, or make any slight motion with my right arm. He is still suggestive of the wine-cellar, however. You may break, you may shatter Watkins, but the scent of the Roederer will hang round him still. Ned, that Miss Daw must be a charm ing person. should certainly like her. l like her already. When you spoke of her in your first letter of seeing young girl swinging in hammock under your window, was somehow strangely drawn to her. I cannot account for it in the least. What you have subsequently, writ ten of Miss Daw has strengthened the im- pression. You seem to be describing 8 woman have known in some previous state of existence, or dreamed of in this. Upon my word, if you were to send me her photograph, believe should recog- l nize her at glance. Her manner, that listening attitude, her traits of character, as you indicate them, the light hair and | dark eyes,-they are all familiar things to me. Asked a lot of questions, did she? Curious about me? That is strange. You would laugh in your sleeve, you wretched old cynic, if you knew how l lie awake nights, with my gas turned down to star, thinking of The Pines and the ! house across the road. How cool 1t must be down therel long for the salt smell | in the air. I picture the colonel smoking his cheroot on the piazza. send you ana MISS D8W Ou OA d4GcIAOOA AdmU4C6 along the beach. Sometimes I let you stroll with her under the elms in the moon light, for you are great friends by this time, take it, and see each other every day. I know your ways and your man. ners! Then fall into truculent mood and would like to destroy somebody. Have you noticed anything in the shape 1 of lover hanging around the colonial Lares and Penates? Does that lieutenant of the horse-marines or that young Still water parson visit the house much? Not that am pining for news of them, but | any gossip of the kind would be in or der. wonder Ned. you don't fall in love with Miss Daw am ripe to do 1t my self. Speaking of photographs, couldn't you manage to slip one of her carte-de- Uisite from her album,-she must have an album, you know.-and send it to mel I will return it before it could be missed

 That's good fellow! Did the mare ar

 rive safe and sound? It will be capita

 animal this autumn for Central Park l Oh-my leg? I forgot about my lep