ought of
you by day, dreamed of you by night, for many years have longed to be near you, have worshiped you in secret, and yet have never dared to tell you so till now. Whenever tempted to do wrong, your love ly face has been my Mentor, to chide and restrain me. I have loved you, Lilian deeply, passionately, devotedly loved you, with the first, undefiled love of an ardent temperament as I never can love another. I am about to lea?e, and I tell you this, and only ask if I am loved in return. Speak! let your sweet lips confirm what your looks have spoken, and I am the happiest of human beings!"
1 ceased, and paused for an answer. While speaking, the head of the fair being at whose feet I kneeled, gradually, uncon sciously as it were, sunk upon my shoulder, where it now reposed in all its loveliness. She raised her face, crimson with blushes and wet with tears. Her hand, still held in mine, trembled and her lips, as she essayed to speak.
"0, Francis!" she at length articu lated then there came a silence.
"Say on, Lilian, and make me happy!"
"No, no!" she said, quickly, looking hurriedly around her, as if fearful of the presence of another. " No, no, Francis not now some other time." I " But you forget, dear Lilian, that I am about to leave you that there may
fumed with the oil of roses and mu.sk, took one step over the threshhold, and then, perceiving me, drew quickly back, evi dently as much surprised and embarrassed as myself. Meantime, I had sprung to my feet, with a whirlpool of feelings in my breast, impossible to be described the predominant of which were anger, morti fication and jealousy. Lilian, too, had started up, and turned toward the strangei (stranger to me) with an embarrassed air.
"I crave pardon," said the intruder, col oring, " for my seeming rudeness in ap pearing thus unannounced. I found the outer door ajar, and made bold to step within, without ringing, not thinking to meet with any here save the regular mem bers of the family."
"Then you must either be a constant visiter, or no gentleman, to take even that liberty," I rejoined in a sarcastic tone of. some warmth.
The face of the intruder became aj scarlet at my words, and his eyes flashed indignantly, as he replied, in a sharp, pointed tone :
"I am a regular visiter here, sir! bul your face is new to me."
"Indeed!" I rejoined, with an express ion of contempt, turning my eyes upon Lilian, as if for an explanation.
She was trembling with embarrassment, and her features alternately flushing and
never be a time like the present! Only | paling, like the rapid playings of an au
love me, fair one, and it is all I
she stammered, and
aay you ask."
"But but- then paused.
"Ha! then I have after all mistaken friendship for love!" I returned, quickly, starting abruptly to my feet, and feeling some slight symptoms of indignation.
A*ain her soft, reproachful eye met mine, and every angry impulse vanished before its heavenly ray.
"You mistake me, Francis," she said. "I I another pause.
Again was I at her feet, ashamed of my hasty display of jealous temper.
"The word is trembling upon your lips, Lilian," I exclaimed; " speak it, and "
At this moment, to my astonishment and chagrin, the door suddenly opened, and an elegantly dressed gentleman, some fire or six years my senior, highly per-
roro borealis. She hastened to speak, to cover her confusion, and prevent, if pos sible, any further unpleasant remarks.
"This this is Mr. Wharton, Fran cis," she stammered : "a gentleman whc calls here occasionally. Mr. Whar Wharton, Mr. Leighton an old friend of mine."
Of course the rules of good breeding required us to bow on being thus formally introduced to each other; and this we did. but very stiffly, and with an air of secret hate and defiance. That moment we knew ourselves to be rivals, and conse quently enemies; for it was impossible there should be any love between us. As for myself, I was powerfully excited, and indignant beyond the bounds of propri ety. Hasty, passionate, and jealous in my disposition, I wa* unfit to lore any one; for to me,
