Joseph and His Friend

as to call butter-milk an intoxicating beverage. Anything more simple and innocent could not well be imagined. The very awkwardness which everybody felt,

the possibilities of love, and, fortunately, neither labor

on of the guests would have reduced the loose elements of the company to some sort of order; the shy country nature would have taken refuge in fixed laws, and found a sense of freedom therein. But there were no generall

itical eye is most keenly felt by those who secretly acknowledge their own lack of social accomplishment. Anna Warriner, to be sure, had been loud in her pra

touching some roses in her hair. As the gentlemen were presented, she lifted her face and smiled upon each, graciously offering a slender hand. In manner and attitude, as in dress, she seemed a different being from the plump, ruddy, self-conscious girls on the sofas. Her dark hair fell about her neck in long, shining ringlets; the fairne

gingham and muslin dresses, were not quite so airy and charming as on former occasions. Miss Blessing, descending to them out of an unknown higher sphere, made their deficiencie

tingly, as if to say, "Pray, don't be offended!"—at the awkward silence, and then said, in a clear, carefully modulated voice:

d seemed to address no one in particular, so e

he shadows of the forests? we are so apt to associate all sor

ade haste to answer: "O, no! I ra

e sure!" he exclaimed; "the s

e giggling and blushing. Miss Blessing

But you are all courageous, compared with us. We are really so restricted in the city,

he day Mrs. Rockaway called—her husband's cashier of the Commercial Bank" (this was said in a pare

"there must be two sides to everything, of course; but how muc

hyness and the consciousness of it; for she alone had the power, by a few kindly, simple words, to set him at ease with himself. The straightforward glance of her large brown eyes seemed to reach the self below the troubled surface. However much his ears might have tingled afterwards, as he recall

s that the hope of meeting her, rather than any curiosity concerning Miss Blessing, had drawn him to Warriner's. Would he rather touch the edge of her dress than kiss anybody else? That question drew his eyes to her lips, and with a soft shock of the heart, he became aware of their freshness and sweetness as never before. To touch the edge of her dress! Elwood had said nothing of the

wn. Many invitations had been issued, and the capacity of the parlor was soon exhausted. Then the sounds of merry chat on the portico invaded th

k we are well enough acquainted

While they were cheerfully pressing out through the hall, she seized

; "who is the roguish one th

s his father's

tone; "and the blue-eyed, handsome one, who c

ies in the neighborhood, and money besides, they say; lives alone, with an old

Blessing, playfully pinching her ear;

n either side. She hummed to herself, "O Night! O lovely Night!" from the Désert, skimmed over the doorstep, and sank, subsiding into an ethereal heap, against one of the pil

gan, "you must repeat your joke for my benefit. I missed i

commencement of a flirtation; but before Elwood Withers could repeat his rather stupid fun, she

r. She laughed with their merriment, and flattered their sentiment with a tender ballad or two, given in a veiled but not unpleasant voice, and constantly appealed to their good-nature by the phrase: "Pray, don't mind me at a

er to her half-dozen intimates; "didn't

and almost willing to escape from the lively circle around Miss Blessing. By and by the company broke into smaller groups, and Joseph again found himself near the pale pink dress which he knew. What was it

ese meetings, Jo

ything," he answered, "if I

is only another kind of schooling, which we must all have. You

"—but I must be a poor schola

eated; "he is another kin

ng wonderfully soft touched his cheek, and a delicate, violet-like od

ind him, and, standing on tiptoe, reached a light arm over his shou

charming effect? I do like to see some kind of ornament about the gentlemen, Lucy. And since they can'

l imagine such a

ies of city life, and comes back to nature, and delightful natural society, one feels so f

ned towards Miss Blessing, as if eag

approaching; "you came with

re they

early, and if you don't mind riding on a pill

e night is at its loveliest, and we are all just fairly enjoying each other's society. As I was say

xhaled it again, ending with a little flutter of the brea

o talk, and not know what to say, and when you do say something, to be startled at the sound of your voice; to stand, or walk, or sit, and imagine that everybody is watching you; to be

eplied, "it is just the same to u

the Sincere. I shall now feel ever so much more freedom in talking with you, Mr. Asten, since we have one experience in common

moment, the eyes large, clear, and appealing in their expression, the lips parted like those of

Julia?" Anna

Asten's rosebud so prettily, and now all the gentlemen are decorated. I'm afraid they think I take great liberti

here were earnest protestations from the young men, and a few impulsiv

t we're here to-night, Miss Blessing!" he exclaimed. "We don't come together half often enough as

"And while the lovely moonlight lasts! Sha

end. The new element which they had dreaded in advance, as a restraint, had shown itself to be the reverse: they had never been so free, so cheerfully excited. Miss Blessing's unconscious ease of manner, her grace and sweetness, her quick, bright sympathy

other such evenings. The suspicion of a tenderer feeling towards Lucy Henderson, the charm of Miss Blessing's winning frankness, took equal possession of his thoughts; an

Joseph asked of one of the young

chuckle: "Ten? It's nigh

th the cool, dewy night air whistling in his locks. After entering the lane leading upward to his home, he dropped the reins and allowed the panting horse to choose his ow

entered the room. She made a feeble attempt to smile,

rapidly. "I forgot to look at my watch, an

l old-fashioned clock. The hand pointed to half-past twelve, and every

nce, said, "Good night, Aun

d, and a deep, hollow sigh reached his ear