"You may go to your quarters now," he said. "You will probably hear more of this by-and-by."

Mortified, outraged and maddened almost beyond endurance, I obeyed; and hardly had I thrown myself upon my bed, and vowed vengeance upon the crafty man-hunter who had so artfully drawn me into this difficulty, before there was a sharp knock at the door, and Lieutenant Simpkins entered. He was, or pretended to be, in a towering passion; but he had uttered hardly a dozen words, before my own wrath was boiling at fever heat. He said that I had broken the heart and outraged the tenderest sensibilities of his wife's aunt, and made myself an unfit associate for gentlemen. What more he would have said may be conjectured; my temper had already been strained past endurance, and this new revelation of Simpkins joined in the plot to peddle me off to Deborah, was more than I could bear. I jumped up, called him an infamous liar, pulled his nose, and kicked him out of doors. Half an hour after, one of the officers waited on me with a challenge, which I promptly accepted, naming the next morning as the hour of meeting. To cut the story short, the duel took place, and I put a ball through Simpkins's cheek, knocking out several teeth, and giving no particular beauty of expression to his face. And, as a matter of course, I had hardly returned to the barracks before I was put in close arrest.

In the meantime, a tremendous storm had been brewing in the colonel's household. Sykes had reported to Colonel Maxwell the true object of my meeting with his sister, as he understood it from the first, and one of my confidants, the officer who had helped me in my stolen meetings with Mag, proved treacherous to me, and reported to the colonel the whole truth, from beginning to end. Mag was summoned before a joint council of

the colonel, his wife and sister, and boldly avowed the truth, at the same time charging home to Miss Deborah her flagrant hypocrisy. That ancient maiden screamed and went into convulsions, and Mag was locked up in her own room. The next morning, it was known that Mrs. Maxwell and her daughter had taken the steamer for England late the previous night. My poor Mag!-my brave, noble girl! She was true to the last, and sent me a note which I have now somewhere, vowing eternal fidelity, bidding me come home to her as soon as I could get exchanged, and cheering me with the assurance that not all the fathers and mothers in the three kingdoms could keep us apart. Poor, poor Mag! I have always cherished her memory too dearly to admit of another love. And the major wiped his eyes again.

"What happened amiss to her, major?" I asked.

The steamer on which they took passage was the ill-starred Dublin Castle, which foundered in the Channel. Not a soul escaped.

As for myself, I was court-martialled for the duel, and sentenced to six months' suspension; but the sympathies of the court were all with me, and the sentence was remitted. The whole affair made such a noise that Colonel Maxwell was seriously threatened with a court of inquiry; and he was very glad to approve my request for assignment to another command.

"And what became of Deborah ?" I asked.

"She married a young greenhorn who obtained a lieutenancy in the -7th, and henpecked him to death.”

And the major heaved a great sigh, looked contemplatively at his Wellingtons, refilled and lit his pipe, and was quickly lost in a tobacco-reverie, whereof, I know, that rare Mag Maxwell was the queen.

"FLORENCE, the old place looks the same as ever, and is doubly dear to me after all these years of absence, and I fondly hoped that I might have the pleasure of rambling over the grounds in peace and quiet. In other words, I hoped that I should find this, of all places, free from all womankind save yourself."

"Why, Ralph! do you mean to say that you have turned woman-hater ?"

"Perhaps not that, exactly; but had you seen as much of the sex as I have, you might understand my feelings. They are a humbug."

"You seem to forget that you are addressing one of them."

"You are nobody, Flo. It is these visitors of yours that I mind.”

"You have no reason to feel unkindly toward my visitors. Agnes Calvert is too much of a lady to intrude upon any one, particularly if she learns that her room is better than her company. And as for Letty King, she will never give you a thought. So, my fine gentleman, do not trouble yourself; and you may rest assured that you will not be troubled with my guests."

"Come, come, Flo; I expect to meet your guests, and treat them with civility; but I am not to be caught in a trap by any husbandhunting females; so they need not lay any for me."

"Don't flatter yourself. You are as safe here as though you were on a desolate island." And with this, Florence Ingraham caught up her sewing, which she had in her earnestness thrown down, and began to work as though she was relieving herself of a burden of indignation with every stitch.

"I cannot understand, Florence, why girls so cling to one another. Why, we fellows, when we part at school, that's the last of us, unless we happen to meet, and chat for an hour over old times; but you girls-you shed tears, and swear eternal friendship, and visit each other, until time and domestic affairs cool your ardor."

Ralph Ingraham, if you were not my brother, I would box your ears. Now, I hear Miss Calvert's step upon the stairs, and I know she is coming out to us. Now see that you do not ruin the reputation of your house,

which I have so exalted during your absence, by any rude or ungentlemanly exhibition of contempt for our sex."

Miss Agnes Calvert was elaborately got up for the occasion, in a dress of spotless muslin, and a rich azure sash, and band of the same color binding up her amber hair, just allowing a few stray curls to hang carelessly upon her shoulders; and she came, reading intently from a volume in blue and gold (the colors harmonized finely with her dress), as though she had not an idea of the existence of a being save herself. She had not lived beneath the same roof for a month or more with Florence, and heard of this wonderful brother Ralph, of his sayings and doings, and let it pass unheeded. Not she. She was getting along in her twenties; just about that age, when youth and beauty seem fleeting, and the hateful title of "old maid" beginning to be whispered by malicious ones, and she felt desperate. For a fortnight or more, she had been laying plans, which, well carried out, were to make her Mrs. Ralph Ingraham, and this day she came down stairs with a firm determination to form, then and there, the foundation of her fortune. She was not in love-for how could she be? She had never met this Ralph Ingraham. But it was enough for her to know that this stately house and magnificent surroundings were his; that many of the beautiful pictures that adorned the walls were said to be his work; that books of poems, with exquisite passages, were pencilled by his hand; that every room bore traces of his fine taste and culture. This was enough for her, and had his face been hideous, she would have married him, providing he could surround her with these things; for she loved wealth and taste above all things else.

With a slow, carefully-measured step, she came along the hall, her eyes still bent upon her book, seemingly oblivious to all around her. Ralph saw her, and scanned her face closely. He was no fool, and with the quick perception of a man who had travelled through nearly every civilized country in the world, and spent much of his time in the study of human nature, he saw through her at once; and had she seen the queer smile that flitted across his face, she would have thrown down

her book, and cared but little whether she looked well or not; but she did not see it, or even him, until Florence said, softly, "Agnes dear;" then she raised her large blue eyes languidly, and met the gaze of the handsome, dark-eyed stranger.

66

My brother Ralph, Miss Calvert."

"I am happy to meet and welcome to his native land, one whose name and excellences are so well known to me. It is indeed a pleasure."

"A very pretty speech," thought Ralph; "and well studied, I dare say. Confound it! I must reply, I suppose. Well, here goes: And I also am happy to meet Miss Calvert, to whom I owe a debt of gratitude for honoring our poor house with her presence, and thus whiling away hours that must have otherwise hung heavily upon the hands of my little sister. There, that was about it, I fancy." And he smothered a laugh that would have indeed destroyed Miss Calvert's hopes, had he given utterance to it.

Miss Calvert took the chair he proffered, and seated herself, spreading her ample skirts about her with artistic care, turned carelessly the gilt-edged leaves of the blue and gold volume, and began her work of captivating Ralph Ingraham. First, she began by bringing him to a rehearsal of his travels; carried him by force through the cities and wilds of Merrie Engiand; whisked him over the highlands and lowlands of Bonnie Scotland; tried to wink out a tear over the sorrows of downtrodden Ireland; trotted him across the Channel to France- "Good gracious! where is this female going?" thought he. Florence saw the look of distress, and came to her brother's rescue, saying:

"I wonder where Letty is. I have not seen her since dinner."

"Letty? O, I dare say she is well enough; although one cannot help feeling anxious about her, she is such a child! You have not seen her yet, Mr. Ingraham ?"

"No, I have not. Nor do I wish to, if she is like you," he mentally added.

"She is troublesome sometimes; but, after all, she is a dear little thing."

"So she is, Ralph, a perfect darling; and look! there she is. Is she not a fearless rider? See her!"

For an instant, Ralph could see nothing for the cloud of dust; but presently she came in sight, the black horse clattering furiously down the road at a tremendous rate, urged on by her impatient driver, who seemed almost a

child. With a bound, they cleared the low hedge, and galloped across the green sward up to the piazza.

"By Jove! That leap was immense!" ejaculated Ralph, half rising from his chair.

"Yes, Letty rides passably well," said Miss Calvert; "but it makes me nervous to see her, she is so reckless."

By this time, horse and rider were at the steps, and with a light spring, the young lady dismounted, and stood upon the piazza.

"My brother, Miss King," said Florence.

Letty King stood holding the bridle in one hand, her dress soiled and dusty, and her glossy black curls tumbled into a confused mass, her cheeks glowing, and her dark eyes flashing; and Ralph could not help glancing from the studied elegance of the one to the careless ease of the other, and thinking, "I am certain of one thing. This young lady has no designs upon Ingraham Hall, or its owner. I am safe here." Then he stepped forward, bowed with grace, and held out his hand. She gave him hers in a quiet, child-like fashion, saying:

O yes. It will give you a good chance to observe the improvements that have been made during your absence. One can see clearer on horseback, I fancy."

"Why did you not remain at home to-day to welcome me?"

"Because I could not give up my ride; and I knew there were plenty here, and then there would be time enough to get acquainted. Or, rather, that is what I should have thought; but I believe I did not think anything about it when I rode out. Are you tired, little Bess? Come, we must have something to eat, and let company take care of themselves." And so saying, she led the horse toward the stable. "Miss King, allow me to save you that trouble."

"Well, upon my word, she is a queer creature-a relief, however, from that milk-andwater Calvert."

Miss Calvert, all smiles, was waiting for him to conclude the conversation they had been carrying on when Letty arrived; but he had no desire to partake a second time of the same dish, so he adroitly kept her at bay, by making the most commonplace remarks, and thus passing the half hour that intervened between that and Letty's appearance.

Letty King was as incapable of anything like art as a child, and Ralph understood her as readily as he did Miss Calvert. She came down in a neat, plain muslin, her black curls hanging in rich profusion upon her plump white shoulders. She was very pretty; a sweet, child mouth, a short, saucy upper lip, low brow, and a clear, blooming complexion. But her eyes were the chief charm; a soft, dark gray, as clear as crystal; and when she looked at any one, she seemed to be trying to read their inmost thoughts, so intent and searching was her gaze.

"Well, Miss Letty, here you are at last. How did you enjoy your ride ?"

"O, ever so much, Florence. Bessie was in gay spirits, and we came over the road at a tremendous rate. There are plenty of shagbarks just over the hill in the back pasture. I mean to go and get some one day this week. Will you go?"

"Delighted!"

"May I go?" asked Ralph.

"No. Who would entertain Agnes? She never goes on such harum-scarum excursions, and I don't blame her. I would not if I could help it. I can't; for these rides and long tramps have become my second nature, and I could no more live without them than without food. I do not expect everybody to be like me."

"I should hope not, Letty. One like you in a community is quite enough," sighed Agnes.

"Am I dreadful, Florence ?"

"Yes, Letty, I suppose you are."

Ralph Ingraham, woman-hater though he was, could not help feeling a strange interest in the saucy, independent little creature, sitting there so unaffected and careless, as though he was just nobody at all, only looking at him now and then with her gray, searching eyes, talking quietly with Florence, or carefully looking over the book which Miss Calvert had thrown aside.

It was autumn, and all nature was clad in

gorgeous robes of scarlet, brown and gold. Trees, that a few weeks before had worn their dress of living green, now stood out clear against the bright sky, clothed in robes of brightest hues. Ralph was an early riser, and the next morning he stood upon the piazza, watching the sun as it rose from behind the mountain, flooding the bright world with its golden light until every leaf and blade of grass quivered in its glad joy. It was very quiet; not a sound to be heard about the house; and Ralph thought, "Well, I shall at least be free from my tormentor for a few hours each day; for I dare say she would not leave her comfortable bed for a thousand such sights as this. I hope not, at least."

Suddenly he descried a little brown figure down by the hedge, leaning carelessly upon her arms, her black curls dancing in the morning breeze, her gray eyes all aglow with the beauty before her, and he had not the will to resist, and in a moment he was by her side. "You are an early riser, I see, Letty."

"Yes. I would not miss the glorious sunrise for a good deal. It is my life. Don't you love it?"

"Yes; and this is the first American sunrise I have seen for many a year."

"You have been travelling a long while, have you not?"

"Yes."

"O, I would give so much to have been with you. This world is so full of beauty "" And Letty drew a long breath, and the gray eyes lighted with a brilliancy that caused Ralph to gaze with wonder and admiration. "Do you play, Letty ?"

"Yes. What made you ask?"

"Because I saw worlds of music in your eyes then. Will you come in and play for

me ?"

"Yes." And she followed him up to the house.

Ralph threw open the window, and let in the warm sunlight, and then opened the piano for her, and sat down and waited for her to begin. It was a treat, even for a refined ear like his, to listen to the soul music she drew from the instrument; music like herself, like the bright morning; and he listened entranced until she ceased.

"There, the inspiration's flown. I can play no more now. If I did, you would not like it."

"How do you know I like it any way?"

"As you learned of my playing. I see it in your eyes."