An Original Belle

de no difference in the scrupulous care of that portion of the grounds which was visible. The vista from the road, however, was soon lost among the boles and branches of immense overshadowing oak

s she passed to and from the city, so abrupt was the intervening bluff, but upon one occasion from the

t curiosity had so far asserted itself that she had asked for informatio

e to do with it as possible. She was said to own a large property in the South,-plantation, negroes, and all that. The place on the Hudson belonged to the Merwyn side of the house, and the family have only spent a few summers here and have been exclusive and unpopular. My mother made their acquaintance abroad, and they knew it would be absurd to put on airs wi

friends again," Marian had laughingly replied and had

ersonal and military matters with entire freedom, amusing the young girl with accounts of their awkwardness in drill and of the scenes they had witnessed. She was proud indeed of her two knights, as she mentally characterized them,-so different, yet both now inspiring a genuine liking and respect. She saw that her honest goodwill and admiration were evoking their best manhood and giving them as much happiness

country's good though, I fancy. I suppose Mrs. Merwyn feels that it is time she looked after her property and maintained at least the semblance of loyalty. I also hear that the

he replied, with a

d to hesitate. Great as was his confidence in Marian, he had some vaguely jealous fears, more for the youn

the impression of being something more, or rather such a superior type of the "swell" genus, that Marian's

erious, self-pleasing nature, and a tenacity of purpose in carrying out his own desires. He accepted of his quondam friend's uniform without remark. That was Strahan's affair a

tes that the country has no further concern with him or he with it. Jove! I'd give all the pay I ever expect to get to see him a rejected su

expect to remai

depends somewhat on

our own, especially when a man has you

wyn quietly remarked, his dark eye following the

cided enough sometimes, when

y let me off," was the re

d heavens, Merwyn! don't you read the papers? There's a chance no

th a flash, and he rose and paced the room for a moment, then said,

ts. If, while abroad, you have become intolerant of that trait, why, the sooner we understand each other the better. I don

s hand, saying: "I like you all the better for speaking your thoughts,-for doing just as you please.

ce we have begun on the basis of such absolute frankness on my part, my next thought is, What shall be our relations while you are here? I am a busier fellow than I was at one time, and my stay is also uncertain, and sure to be brief. I do not wish to be unneighborly in remembrance of old times, nor do I wish to be obtr

abbling to determine who should have the first shot at an owl we saw in the mountains. The result was, the owl took flight. You never gave in an inch to me then, and I liked you all the better for it. Come n

"Now what can I do for you? I have

ur quarters-I suppose I should so call them-and have a smoke with you occasionally. I expe

to ignore s

scious act. Let us suppose that socie

tterer down at the ho

ish

harper than your satire. I've had eno

our countrymen are uninteresting, you may possibly wish to meet some of your count

countrywoman is. I should pref

ng bored,

! you are not cultivating a

g. I have my opinion of a man wh

d all must define the ad

friendly neutral powers, and, having marked out our positions,

Merwyn, who involuntarily frowned as she saw Strahan's uniform, then with quiet elegan

mother and sisters before

looking after him with cynical and slightly contemptuous good-nature; but Mr

rly influences had sunk deep into her character. The only child of a doting father, she had ruled him, and, of course, the helpless slaves who had watched her moods and trembled at her passion. There were scars on human backs to-day, which were the results of orders from her girlish lips. She was not greatly to blame. Born of a proud and imperious ancestry, she had need

who cannot guess the result. Yet, by a common contradiction, the one among her many suitors who won such love as she could give was a Northern man as proud as herself. He stood alone in his manner of approach, made himself

exactions, good-breeding prevented any serious clashing of wills, and their married life had passed in comparative serenity. As time elapsed her will began, in many ways, to defer to his q

judices was to crystallize into a few distinct forms. With the feminine logic of a narrow mind, she made her husband an exception to the people among whom he had been born and bred. Widowed, she gave her

o believe that she could serve the cause better in England than on her remote plantation. In her fierce partisanship, or rather perverted patriotism,-for in justice it must b

ed political squabble at best, and the politicians will settle it before long. I have my life before me, a

me his Southern, indolent, pleasure-loving side was appealed to powerfully by aristocratic life abroad, and he felt it would be the sheerest folly to abandon his favori

property. When the South had accomplished its ambitious dreams she believed she would have skill enough to place him high among its magnates, while, if he were kill

nterests of her children. In May of the year in which our story opened, the twenty-first birthday of Willard occurred, and was c

erty was to be transferred to me when I should become of age. We ought

t it would be intensely disagreeable for her to visit New York. He, who had yielded indifferently to all her little exactions, was

t it was her husband's indomitable will that she was carrying out, and that she could never escape from that will in any exigency where it could justly make itself felt. She therefore required of her son the promise that their visit sho