His Sombre Rivals

barometer. From a leaden, lowering sky the rain fell steadily, and a chilly wind was fast dismantling th

ed, as Graham came smilingly into the breakfast-room and greeted her with a cheerful note in

altogether an ill wind, for it will blow me over into a cosey parlor and very charming

ple don't coun

nges, but how was it with you both at my age? I can answer for the major. If at that time he knew another

taken by Mis

ightest hope of be

ow what

y visit, of the chance of seeing what I can of an unusually fine girl. Acquaintance with such society is the part of my educ

inclined to storm as he did in his regiment, and occasionally he emphasizes his words without much regard to the third commandment. But his gusts of anger are over quickly, and a kinder-hearted and more upright man never lived. Of course American servants won't stand harsh words. They want to do all the fault-finding, and the poor old gentleman would have a hard time of it were it not for Grace. She knows how to manage both him and them, and that colored woman you saw wouldn't leave him if he beat and swore at her every

t, feeling that it contained valuable suggestions. The response

rri

that such a paragon h

girls are not married out of hand at a certain age. They marry when t

nt of suitor

e right

w t

n easily learn how very effectual suc

laughing, for he heartily enjoyed his aunt's brusque way

e having the power to awaken her appears. When he comes rest assured she'll follow him, and also be assured that she'll take her father with her, and to a selfish, exacting Turk of a husband he might prove an old man of the sea. And yet I doubt it. Grace would manage any one. Not that she has mu

such a fiery veteran as

capture you, and therefore you will be in all the more danger of being captured. If you

to myself in substa

perhaps for that very reason you are a

asked, "Should I ever venture to lay siege to

ore than my

an by more than

lf, and I do not wish you to take even the first s

ghing heartily, "how seriously you take it!

as yet. There were young men who looked at me once just as you looked at Grace last evening, and I know what came of it in more than one instance. You are sa

that, you know. But as the peril is s

rangement about whist will add to your opportunities. I know what young men are, and I know too what often happens when their faces express as much admiration and interest as yours did last night. What's more," continued the energetic old lady with an emphatic tap on the floor with her foot, and a decided nod of her he

can make you understand to know there is one place in the world to which I can come, not as a stranger to an inn, but as one that is received for other than business considerations. Since you have been so frank with me I will be equally outspoken;" and he told her just how he was situated, and what were his plans and hopes. "Now that I know there is no necessity of earning my livelihood," he concluded, "I shall yield to my impu

led. "No," she s

d to a siege," Graham added. "Well, I can at lea