My labor for to-day was finished, and I gladly tossed aside my pen, and threw myself wearily back in my office chair. I had found work this day harder than usual, as other matters occupied my mind to such an extent that it was almost impossible for me to concentrate my attention upon my business. At the bottom of these other matters there was, as often happens to be the case, a woman; a woman, whose image so haunted me that it constantly interposed itself between me and my rapidly moving pen, causing me to make many blunders, and driving every other thought and idea from my head. The possessor of the image was a little girl who had confessed to me, two evenings ago, that I had won her heart. Of course, as most of us usually are, under such circumstances, I was the happiest man alive, and could hardly wait for the time to arrive when I should see her again, so I resolved to visit her to-night. At half-past seven o'clock I put my resolve into execution, and started forth, bound for her home.

figure tempted me to put my arm about her, her blood-red lips aroused the desire in my heart to kiss her. She flushed at first and withdrew, but her eyes at length meeting mine, she allowed me to draw her close, and press upon her lips a long, lingering kiss of the purest affection and deepest respect man could bestow upon

woman.

When again I looked at her face, I saw that it had grown pale, and noticed that she gave a slight gasp as our lips parted. Her demeanor caused a certain idea, not altogether pleasing to me, to enter my mind, and I gazed earnestly and searchingly into her eyes.

"Tell me, Lucile," I said, taking her hand, "did anyone ever kiss you before this evening?" She cast down her eyes, but made no reply. "I have a right to know," I persisted; "you are to be my wife and should conceal nothing from me. You know the other night we agreed to be perfectly frank with each other, and if you do not answer my question you are not fulfilling your word. A marriage such as ours will be, based upon companionship, allows of no concealments. Will you not speak now, and tell me?" She at length looked me in the eyes, with an expression that I had grown to understand, and which meant that I should hear the truth from her, saying: "I will, Jack. We should know as much as possible about each other before we venture to take the step we are contemplating. You shall know the truth. There was one man to whom I gave the privilege that I now give you."

ing to me and noticing a look of disappointment, which I could not conceal, on my face, for I had hoped that I was the recipient of the first kiss, she laughed, saying: "But that was very long ago— four long years-when I was simply a child of fifteen years of age."

vanced both in mental and in physical development than my age would warrant. "I was thought to be pretty and graceful by many who were acquainted with me, and frequent consultations with my mirror assured me that their thoughts were not incorrect. And I was rendered

"No," was her reply, "not the first and only, but you are-you are-" There was no necessity for her to finish. I understood by a glance from her eye what she would say, and caught her close, close to my heart, feeling that she was dearer than ever to me.

"Tell me about this first love affair of yours," I said, "for I presume it was the first, will you not?"

"If you will promise to hear a repetition of the old, old story patiently, and not interrupt me;” she said.

You

"I will readily promise you that. shall not hear a word from me once during your narrative, so you may feel perfectly safe as regards that. I shall be found a devoted and interested listener to anything that may be said concerning you."

She nestled down comfortably by my side, with her face half averted from me, then commenced.

"The time of the year in which the opening events of the story I am about to tell you transpired, was the early days of May, when the breath of spring made the air sweet, when the fragrance of flowers was wafted about with every little breeze that stirred them, when the returning birds fluttered about their newly built homes and seemed to almost burst their little throats singing and pouring forth their joy.

"The world was full of happiness and beauty for me; I had just passed the age of melancholy, at which girls are usually given to the habit of seeking solitary spots, where they mope and compose verses for no particular reason, and was beginning to enjoy that period of life when the first graces and charms of womanhood adorn a girl. This happened to me at an earlier age than it does to most girls, for I was more ad

manners of pretty and innocent coquetry. (You must pardon my seeming egotism; I shall speak freely of myself, as of a third person.)

"We were living in the suberbs at the time, about six miles from the city of C, on the outskirts of a village, a rather lonely spot, our nearest neighbor living about half a mile distant from our home. I must tell you something about this neighbor and his family, as certain members of it play an important part in my story. Their name was Berersford. Mr. Berersford was a fleshy, important looking Englishman, rather stern in his bearing toward his children, and possessed of a fondness for ladies generally. His wife was an unpretentious woman whose sole object seemed to be to do her duty toward everyone; and his two daughters were very prim and proper, and proud of their family escutcheon, and were also at all times anxious to impress every one with the importance of their aristocratic ancestry. All of them were very nice people in their way, eminently respected by every one about the village. Mr. Berersford was a particu. larly pleasant gentleman. But by far the kindest, noblest and most genuine of them all was one whom I have not yet mentioned, and this one was Walter Berersford, the only son and eldest child. He was extremely homely, but possessed winning manners and a heart as good as gold. Everyone who knew him could not but like him, for he was always frank, generous and kind, always ready to sacrifice his own pleasure and convenience to that of others.

"He and I had always thought a great deal of each other, and managed to be together quite often. We were in the habit of exchanging confidences, and shared with one another both our pleasures and sorrows. I had always enjoyed his com

panionship, but it was not until this eventful springtime had passed, and he had proven himself to be indeed a friend to me, that I fully appreciated him. Now I must proceed with the tale itself.

"Upon one evening, which shall never be forgotten by me, there was an entertainment to be given at the village hall or theatre. Of course everyone in or near the village turned out to see the performance, as such things were of rare occurrence there. Our family, including papa, mamma, sister and myself, drove over to the hall in our carriage, as it was some distance from our home, in order to witness the performance, of which much cannot be said those country entertainments never amount to anything-but it was conducive to sociability amongst the people in and about the village, as it brought them together sometimes from comparatively great distances.

"Mr. Berersford and his family were there, dispensing pleasantries amongst their friends and enjoying themselves generally. After the performance was over, seeing Walter, I was about to approach him when I caught sight of a young man whom I had never seen before, by his side, and whom he seemed to be introducing to a circle of his acquaintances. I paused and gave them a searching glance. The strange young man was of medium height, well built, not particularly handsome, but possessing a face upon which one could not help but bestow a second glance. He was singularly attractive in appearance. His eyes were dark and full of suppressed expression, that now and then, when he smiled, shone forth from beneath heavy lashes. He was dressed in a uniform which may have possessed a particular attraction for a girl of my age.

"As I looked at him the second time, he was listening to something that some young lady was saying to him, with one of those smiles that made his face positively handsome. He was making her a reply when his eyes met mine. His words seemed, by the motion of his lips, to die away, and a moment later I saw him turn and speak to Walter, who thereupon

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nodded his head, as if in assent. this I lost sight of them in the crowd, until feeling a slight touch upon my arm, I looked about and saw Walter and the strange young man standing beside me. 'Good evening, Mademoiselle, 'said Walter, extending toward me his hand, into which mine willingly and heartily found its way. 'How did you enjoy the performance?' 'Fairly well,' I replied, 'It is about as good as is usually given in the village of W—.' 'You are right according to my estimation of it, Mademoiselle.' When bringing forward the young man beside him, he said, 'Miss Beach, allow me to present to you my cousin, Colonel Berersford. Will, Miss Beach.' The Colonel's eyes and mine met once more, and a few conventional words of compliment, usually attendant upon anintroduction, passed between us.

"I do not remember all that we said to each other that evening; the few words we had the opportunity of exchanging were very commonplace and prosaic, suffice to say that they did not amount to much. But as we rode home I was conscious of a very peculiar sensation which I experienced in connection with thoughts of him, a sensation which is generally the sure indication of the approach of that malady known as love. Not being accustomed to it, I could not at first satisfactorily explain it to myself, but before the night, during which I lay with eyes wide open, worrying my poor little head with a variety of thoughts, was half over, I came to the conclusion that I was in love with this young man whom I had seen for the space of about fifteen minutes, madly, desperately in love, and that he alone held the power to render me happy or miserable for life. Such was the folly of a precocious girl of fifteen. (No interruptions, please, remember your promise.)

"Well, several days passed quietly enough, when much to my surprise and delight came an invitation to us from the Berersford family to spend an evening at their house, as they wished us to become acquainted with their cousin, the Colonel, of whom, on account of his military rank, his young lady cousins were very proud.

"We accepted their invitation, and one evening after dinner, started forth bound for the Berersford mansion. When we

arrived at our destination, the three ladies received us very ceremoniously in the parlor. Walter came in soon afterward, and sitting down by me, was soon engaged in lively conversation. Then the older Miss Berersford, by request of her sister, performed a highly classical piece of music upon the piano, as a prelude to the entrance of the Colonel. My eyes were ever and anon wandering to the door through which he was likely to enter, and at length my watching and waiting was rewarded. Just as Miss Berersford finished her classical performance with a bang in E minor, Mr. Berersford entered, followed by the young man, who carried himself like a soldier, yet with the ease and grace of a nobleman. The younger Miss Berersford arose, and in a firm voice declared that she now had the pleasure of presenting to 'Mr. and Mrs. Beach, to Miss Henriette and Lucile Beach-the Colonel!' After acknowledging which, the Colonel, looking much annoyed and fatigued, retired to a corner by the piano.

"For a while he and I simply exchanged glances, but at length I found an opportunity to more decidedly attract his attention, and in this way. During the evening I was requested to sing. (Oh, I used to have a very sweet voice at that time; an attack of typhoid fever robbed me of it, afterward). My sister placed herself in position to accompany me, at the piano, and I stationed myself beside her. Plucking a deep red rose from my bosom, I decided to sing Scanlan's "Rose Song." My singing was always dramatic, and accompanied by slight actions that interested and amused spectators and listeners. To-night I carried it out to perfection, and after I had sung the words:

and had flung my rose to the Colonel, I received a very storm of applause.

"After this, I know not how, for I was a little bit dizzied and abashed by my own audacity, I found myself sitting near the Colonel, in the shadow of an alcove, and indistinctly heard him say, 'You have a sweet voice, Miss Lucile; I could listen to your singing all night long. Will you not sing something else?' 'I think not,' I replied, overcoming my dizziness with an effort, 'I feel rather tired. I never can sing more than one or two pieces without experiencing exhaustion,' 'I am sorry for that,' he said, toying with my rose, 'but glad that you chose the song you did, since you will not sing again for me.' I blushed. I felt the hot blood spreading over my face. He looked at me attentively, saying quickly, 'Pardon me for speaking thus frankly on such short acquaintance, but I cannot resist the temptation of telling you how you impress me at the present moment. Your face reminds me of a garden of roses, wherein is combined beauty and purity, and I like to imagine that the rose which you threw me this evening, came from that superb garden. I shall press and treasure this rose, if I may, Miss Lucile, for it will always bring to me the recollection of this evening, of that song, of you'

"My heart began to throb painfully at his words, but controlling myself with an effort, I said, 'You are very flattering. If a girl were to believe everything that is told her, she would often be duped, I fear.' 'Ah, Miss Lucile, how cruel you are! Few could look into your eyes and speak an untruth. Your glance is soul searching.' 'I would like to believe you.' 'There is nothing to prevent you from so doing. You should follow your desire in the matter?' We both laughed. And so passed the evening away. He accompanied me as far as our gate when we

forth in our hammocks under the trees in the moonlight-we were in the habit of spending most of our time thus on these clear, lovely nights-Walter and his cousin arrived. "Walter knew where to find us, and after speaking for a moment to mamma, who met them at the front door, joined us. Their visit was thoroughly enjoyable to me, as I could converse almost uninterruptedly with the Colonel, and he seemed equally pleased to talk alone to

me.

"After this, several evenings were spent thus together, in happy expectation and revelation; happy in every way excepting one, and it was that Walter was always uncomfortably near to us, a fact which seemed odd to me, and which I could not satisfactorily explain to my self. Still I did not pay much attention to this, but extricated all the enjoyment one could possibly derive from the presence of one who was dear.

"I do not remember how we first came to let each other know of the mutual attachment that existed between us. How can the process of love, and its silent development be explained? It reveals and communicates itself almost imperceptibly, in a thousand different ways.

"One day Walter, Henriette, Will and I, strolled out into the woods, which were then beautiful with flowers and foliage. We had walked some little distance, talking, laughing and singing, when Henriette, becoming fatigued, sat down on the trunk of a fallen tree to rest, and Walter threw himself on the ground at her feet. Will and I wandered on for a space, and were so deeply engrossed in conversation, that we did not observe how the distance was increasing between our companions and us, until I, suddenly realizing this fact, stopped, saying: 'We have wandered a greater distance than I thought we had, Colonel Berersford. We had better go back.' 'I would rather not,' he replied; 'Let us sit down under this tree and talk. But allow me to repeat my request of a few days ago that you do not call me 'Colonel.' 'But you earned the title at war in Canada.' 'Perhaps,' he answered, 'but to you, as I said

221

'I

before, I wish to be simply 'Will.' will make an effort to do as you request,' I replied archly, ‘and if I fail-' 'Why should you fail? When you know that it pleases me, it should not be a difficult task. You do like to please me, do you not?' And his arm went around my waist.

'Yes, yes,' I said removing it and arising hastily, 'but—' 'But what?' queried he, arising also, 'Lucile, you are blushing as you did on the night you gave me the rose,' he said quickly, ‘if you only knew how beautiful you are when you blush! Lucile, you make me love you.' He had taken both my hands and drawn me toward him. 'Darling, let me kiss you once, only once!' I backed away against the tree. 'No, you must not," I said as firmly as I could. But alas for human frailty, and the tenderness of youth! He looked in my eyes, he touched me, he placed his lips upon mine, clinging hot and hotter-I feel them burning now!' She broke off and shuddered.

"That kiss," she continued, after a moment's silence, 'which was the first any one had taken from me, filled me with strange sensations, and caused me to grow pale and limp in his arms. All the world was love, love, love to me and it was blinding and dazzling my brain. I could not look at him, but could feel his breath on my cheek, and hear him whispering, "Be mine, Lucile, be mine-my wife! Your heart is mine, I know.'

"Then I felt his arms withdraw from me, for we were both startled by the sound of approaching footsteps, and a little later heard Henriette saying, 'Where have you two been? We have been searching everywhere for you. Haven't we, Walter?' 'We have indeed, Mademoiselle, but, as a natural consequence, failed in our efforts until this moment,' reponded Walter pleasantly.

"By this time I had recovered my equilibrium sufficiently to stand alone, and even attempted to smile. When I looked at Walter he was regarding me gravely. I started, looked down, and felt my face flushing once more. 'The