Horace Chase

heville, the establishment of Messrs. Pinkham & Bebb. "Kid gloves, if you please, Mr. Bebb. Delicate shades. No. 6." The box of

ion. When this was done, she re-entered the main street again, and passed through its entire length a second time. It was Saturday, the day when the country people came to town. Ten mountaineers in a row were sitting on their heels in front of the post-office. Mountain women on horseback, wearing deep sun-bonnets, rode up and down the street, bartering. Wagons passed along, loaded with peaches heaped together as though they were potatoes. Miss Billy was now traversing all the cross-roads to the le

fting his hat, was

is a little too young for him. I think it is rather better when they are of about the same age-don't you?" She had no idea that s

ove, as if about to

ised?" Billy repeated, hastily. (

am ever surpris

e looked sternly at Miss Billy. "But what do y

ht of it," Larue

paper having fallen to the ground, the two dozen pai

Giggle.) "They're only No. 6." For poor Billy

s she passed. Horace Chase and Malachi Hill were with her, both mounted on beautiful horses-one black, one chestnut; a

, luxury, and now she will have them. Her family are very wise to consent. For they have, I suspect, but little m

, looked after him. "Such a-such a worldly

oman he selects will have to go down on her knees and stay there" (Miss Billy's eyes looked hopeful); "and bring him, also, a good big sum of money in her hand." Here, noticing that one of the pairs of gloves had sl

mind strictly to the subject; for nearly ten minutes, with her face screwed up by the intensity of the effort, she had willed continuously, "Like me, Achilles, like me!" (She was too modest even to think "love" instead of "like.") "You must! You shall!" And now, when at last she had succeeded in meeting him, this was the result! She put away the gloves mechanically: she had bought them not from a

's clever work had been reproduced in bronze. The squirrel also was present; he was climbing up the window-curtain. "So you have to see to the pets, do you?" remarked the visitor as he seated himself. He had known of the engagement for several days; h

he was finishing off the toe of a stocking, and did not lo

will have to consider her-he will never dare to neglect her. Well, Dolly, all Asheville has heard the news this morning; the town is ringing with it. And it is such an amiab

tted more

which has fascinated her-his wealth and his liberality. She has never seen anything like it. No one she knows has ever done such things-flowers, jewels, journeys, her brother l

ink I intend to sit here and listen to

fancies gratified to the full; and that is no small affair! Chase will be fond of her; in addition, he will be excessively indulgent to her in every way. With her nature and disposition, her training,

And mother in her heart agrees with me, though she has, somehow, a high

phere," interrupted Etheridge. "D

understand-

w how much money your mother has; but I suspect very little, with the possibility, perhaps, of less. And I can't imagine, Dolly, any one more unhappy than your sister would be, ten years hence, say, if shut up here in Asheville, poor, her good looks gone, t

y heard Genevieve's step, she rose. Obliged to walk slowly, she could not slip out; but she made a progress

action. She shook hands with Etheridge warmly. "I have not seen you since it happen

anduca at Florence. Now she held his hand so long, and looked at him with such cordial friendliness, that he cam

o do-all the good! I seem to see even

sers and looked towards his legs reflectively for a moment, as though surveying the pattern of the

She had seated herself, and she now drew her mother-in-law down

off my bonnet," said Mrs. Franklin, dis

er month; it was part of her rule of conduct. But what they did or said to her in return was less important. "Ruth is a fortunate girl," she went on, as she drew off her gloves with careful touches. "And she ap

ommented Etheridge, ungratefully, th

iage take place this fall. And I am on his side. For why, indeed, should they wait? The usual delays are prudential, or for the purpose of making preparations. But in this case there

too, I

lways excuses her, poor dear! Couldn't you say a word or two to mamma, commodore? You have known her so long

d Etheridge, walking about the room, taking up books,

etters reached Charleston he had just started for New York on one of their steamers; some bu

e. "Here they come," sai

en Chase lifted Ruth from Kentucky Belle. "Those are two new horses, you know," explained Gen

!" grumbled Etherid

lking to her two escorts. When she entered the parlor, Genevieve went for

excursion with Horace." (The name came out happily and securely.) "To C?sar's

have letters to write which can be postponed no longer. You have had eno

es. "You don't know how much I enjoyed my ride," said the girl, heartily. "It is such a joy to be on Kentuc

hase. He took leave of

old Miss Dolly-that I seem fairly to lose my head when I find myself with Mr. Chase alone! I am so haunted by the idea of all he could do for the Ch

he is never left alone wit

I'll go the other way," continued th

man," remarked Genevieve

the darkest evil," commented Ru

ght. After your rid

cious obje

" replied Genevieve, with all

e apples are sixteen inches round) late in the evening, cores, seeds, and all, must be virtuous-as virtuous as mutton!" He was looking at Ruth as he spoke. The girl was leaning back in an easy-chair; Petie Trone, Esq.

" She drew off a ring an

e!" said

as a solitaire diamond ring, the stone of

as always a deliberate motion. "There will be diamonds-yes. But there will be other thing

opena circlet as a guard; then she said, "Petie Trone, Esq., the

rotting behind her, his small body pinned up in a hot

t miss them; they must have come off in the tub

ter!" exclaimed her sister-in-law, rus

Mr. Trone still stood in its place. Genevieve, baring her white arms, plunged both her ha

e way "all the latest articles in fiction;" a package to be sent to L'Hommedieu once a month. The first parcel had just arrived, and Mrs. Franklin, opening it, much surprised, had surveyed the gift with mixed feelings. She was alone; Dolly was upstairs. Ruth, seized with a sudden fancy for a glass of cream, had gone, with Rinda as protector, to a house at some distance, where cream was sold; for with Ruth fancies were so vivid that it always seemed to her absolutely necessary to follow them instantly. The mother turned over the volumes. "It doesn't make me like him a

ld Fort," answered h

Genevieve? She has g

ottage yet; I came direc

oon. Dolly isn't well to-n

elf he closed the door. "I have come up, mother, about this affair of Ruth's. As soon as I got back to Charleston and read your

ared. At least, eve

Chase?" asked

I have said nothing, and Dol

t w

Mrs. Franklin, her inward feeling against her da

in fault, mother; she could not have announced it unless

e consented. I have

Horace Chase will find that there's some one on hand to loo

is doing as he pleases as it is of Ruth's doing as she pleases; s

ot; you, therefore, were the one to act. You should have taken Ruth out of town at once; you should

efore any remittances could reach her. But she would have borne anything, and resorted to everything, rather than let Jared know this. "It took me so compl

trip, and all those costly things he did-that was simply part of it." And leaving his chair, the brother

thirty-eight; and she w

er, what makes it so insufferable; he has bribed her about me, bribed her with that place in

o, Jared. But I ought to say two things. One is, that I don't believe he m

g-headed, driving, money-making fellow; all his ambition (and he has plenty of it) is along that one line. It's the only line, in fact, which h

at), I don't see that he has any need to be a benefactor in keeping you there. They are no doubt delighted to have you; he says so himself, in fact. A navy of

or instance-don't you know that they look upon the salaries of army and navy officers simply as genteel

ition, much less in ten minutes. "And the other thing I had to say," she we

row, then she will be free again. The moment she sees that she can do me no good, all will look different to her. I'd rather d

grets, his broken life, were like a dagger in her heart at all times. He would give up his place, and then he would have nothing; and she, his mother, could not help him with a penny. He would give up his place and sell the Cottage

almost begin to think y

it in the least. But Ruth is not easy to

ve's affair. It is m

only for a moment; she knew-knew far better than he did-that the even-tempered feminine pertinacity would always in the end have its way. Jared, impulsive, generous, affectionate, was no match for Genevieve. In a contest of this sort

remble. He put his arm round her, and smoothed her ha

she whispered. "Say what you like to her. But, under all circumstanc

came into the parlor, carrying her glass of cream. "Jared!" She put down the glass on t

y me. I wish to sp

you to come so soon;" and she put her hand

your mother's consent nor mine," answered her brother.

d of i

idea. You are too young to c

en any one half so kind as Mr. Chase. If there is anything I want to do, he arranges it. He doesn't wait, and hesitate, and

is what he has

ecause I want to. You don't believe it? Why-look at me." She rose and stood before him. "I am the happiest girl in the world as I stand here! I should think you could see it for yourself?" And in truth her face was radiant. "If I have ever had any dreams

he way to talk

s, to the full. His Grand shall have whatever she likes; and Dolly too. First of all, Dolly shall have a phaeton, s

e way you t

isely. Word for word," answered Ruth, lig

ld for you. If th

sort of sweet obstinacy. "That

ll the person y

me. And about that you know nothing; I am the one to know. He is nicer to me, and he always wi

ry reason I don't want you to be," answ

y might have more money, and I should still marry him. It would be because I want to, because I like him. If you had anything to say against him personally, it would be different, but you haven't. He is waiting to tell you about himself, to introduce you to his family (he has only sisters), and to his partners, the Willoughbys. Your only objections

d, and Mrs. Fr

consent, then without it. If you will not let me be married at home, then I shall walk out of the house, go to Horace, and the first cler

pleading to have her own way. Into her beautiful eyes came two big tears as