Year: 1876

There is, perhaps, more truth than
poetry in the old saying that "A woman
don't know her own mind half the time"
But IN these days of Atlantic cables,
electric telegraphs, Keely moters and clip
tical skirts, We live so fast that a young
woman must step lively if she wishes
to keep up with the times.


Two years ago, very pleasant party
was assembled at a charming cottage
on the Northport Cliffs. 1t was early
in June, before the great rush, when


cottage life is much more enjoyable
than at the height of the season. The
lady of the house had invited four young


girls, all lovely, two of whom had been
out for three ineers, and were pretty


we'll Versed in the little mysteries of
New York fashionable life. To meet
these charming creatures, four gentle


men had been hidden to the cottage.


Three of these were among the best
parts in to TD, being of good family and


handsome fortune. The fourth, Harry


Barton, young lawyer just cOmmenc-


ing his career, was one of the great
est beaux in society, and one of the


most popular at the clubs; but he was
pOOr-his fortune was yet to make. He
had been invited to the cottage partly be-
cause of his wit, cleverness and social
talents, and partly because os his we'll
known admiration of Miss Clifton, to


whom he had devoted himself ever since
she first made her appearance In society
some three years before. Barton was
desperately in love, and had made up
| his mind to marry Miss Clifton if she
would have him. So far he had not
asked her to become his wife; he hesitated
! on account of his slender means, but of
late his business prospects had brgiht-
ened, and he determined to make the


fatal plunge before leaving Newport.
Miss Clifton was, as the phrase goes,
very fond of Barton, but she had been
educated In the school of modern fash
ionable life, and looked upon marriage as
the stepping-stOne to an establishment of
her Own-hOuse Ia town, villa at New
port, box at the opera, well-appointed
equipages, expensive toiletts, etc. This


she knew was utterly out of the ques-


ton with Barton--it was great pity,


for she really liked him and took more


pleasure in his society than that of any


other man. Meantime one of the eli
gible men at the cottage, who was in


position to furnish the requisite estab-


lishment with all its attendant luxuries,


paid very marked attention to Miss Cliff


ton, drove her out, talked to her in the
quiet hooks on the piazza, danced with
her in the evenings-in a word, it look
ed very much as if he meant business,


and his attentions were generally con-
ceded to be of a 'healthy character"
All this nearly set Barton crazy, though


in appearance he was perfectly impassi-
Bile. He determined then and there to
push things and decide his fate. He
found his opportunity in a Sunday after
moons walk along the cliffs. The next
day the party was to break up and scat
ter in different directions; with him it
was now or never. On their way home
he told his love in few simple, manly,
straightforward words Miss Clifton
trusted they would always be friends;
she had very sincere, a very great rec
gard for him, but could not marry him.
He was cut to the heart, but accepted
the position, and continued to be on
friendly terms with the Clif,ons, where
he was invited more or less during the
ensuing winter. The eligible parts
never camo to time, no other desirable
parts came forward and Miss Clifton re
manned single. Meanwhile BartOn's
business had greatly improved, and his
aunt died in a fit of kindness, leaving
him q couple of hundred thousand dol
lars. Two years had passed since the
episode we have related, when IN the
latter part of June of the present year,
substantially the same party were again
assembled at the cottage on the Newport
Cliff. Though during all these two long
years Barton had been a regular, if not
a constant visitor at the CIiftoas, be
had never again broached the subject of
his rejected love. Bat Miss Clifton
knew his nature, and felt that he loved
her as faithfully and devotedly as ever;
that his pride and timidity alone pre-
vented him from renewing the offlr.
She was now herself really in love With
the man They found themselves once
again on the cliffs alone together, pass
ing the very spot where Barton told his
love. Miss Clifton asked did he remem-
Der a walk they had on these cliffs two
years ago. Yes, he did. Did he re
member the subject of the conversation