Princess

t so disagreeable as they had anticipated. The neighborhood was pleasantly and thickly settled, the people kind-hearted and hospitable. True, Mrs. Smith still secretly yearned for moder

machinery for the negroes to break, and tons of fertilizers for them to waste. The girls were pleased, and Norma happier and less difficult than she had been for years. And, best and

uld be ordered, and also by a genuine desire to be of service to them in the troublesome move. Perhaps there was, besides, an unacknowledged feeling in his breast, that with the departure of his kindred, New York would become lonelier, more wearisome than ever.

vowing that she scarcely knew how to get along without him, and Thorne fell in with the proposal at once; it made little difference, since he was co

the Virginians, like their surroundings, were in a more or less perceptible state of dilapidation, and their means frequently failed to match their hospitality. But their intentions were the best, an

of gratitude. When their loved one was "sick and in prison" these strangers had extended to him kindness, and now that opportunity offered, that kindness should be returned, full measure, pressed down and r

red; his saber hung above the mantle, crossed with his father's, and she took it down one morning and half-drew the dulled blade from the scabbard. The brass of the hilt, and the trimmings of the belt and scabbard were tarnished, and even corroded in places. She got a cloth and burnished them un

ttle Sawney had been sitting on the hearth-rug watching her polish the arms, and offering suggestions, and Pocahontas dispatched him to invite her guests into the parlor, while she ran up-stairs to re

was true metal and might be worked at will without fear of baseness, or alloy, he gave himself up to the pleasure of it. Then, his instinct being always to draw to himself what he desired, he strove to awaken an interest in her. He was a man of unusually brilliant attainments, and he spared no pains. He began to seek her society, and, when in it, to exert himself and appear always at his best, trying to fascinate her as she was, unconsciously, beginning to fascinate him. He would entrap her into ventilating her old-fashioned ideas and prejudices; her primitive notions of life and conduct. Her straightforwardness, simplicity, absolute truthf

Norma. Norma thought old stories great rubbish, and did not scruple to show that such was her opinion, and Pocahontas resented it. One evening, in the beginning of their acquainta

wait three years, and watch a rubbishing little tree, just because his brother would have made a scene. What if he did make a scene? He would soon have

ment would have ensued which it would have taken years to heal-if it ever was healed. There's no passion so unyielding as family hate. They were her kinsmen, too, men of her own blood; she must think of them, outside of herself. The welfare of the man she didn't love must be considered as well as that of the man she did love-more, if any thing, because she gave him so much less. Ho

acrifice she had no thought of her lover," quoth s

oid so dreadful a thing as ill blood between twin brothers. If she could wait for his sake, he could

behaved beautifully; just exactly as she should have done. A quarrel betw

was more concise than elegant, but she wante

ed with chagrin. These new friends were stealing a

ppiness, because of a scruple, is

drop. Norma was her guest, and, after all, what did it matter what Norma thought? But after that she

lcome, Blanche held out her hands filled with late ro

cut the holly for me. I never can resist holly. That tree by your gate is the loveliest thing I have ever seen; just like those in the store windows at home f

autiful holly every Christmas," replied Norma, who did not

ever any thing more perfect? Princess, please give me something to put it

Blanche decked the vase with her treasure; then two others which she found for herself on a table in the corner. There were sti

she picked up the cup thoughtlessly and held it out to Thorne. Just as their hands met in the transfer, both of them talking, neither noticing what they were doing, Berkeley entered suddenly and s

h Jim Byrd had taken his coffee on that last evening. There were tears in her eyes, but she kept her head ben

fair, and had neglected to replace it in the cabinet. She reproached herself for her carelessness as she laid the fragments on

s as much my fault as yours; we neither of us were noticing. Indeed, it's more my fault, for if I hadn

e. I startled you both, and behold the result! Nobody dreamed of convicting me, and this is voluntary confession,

s. She could not put the subject out of her mind so easily, although she exerted herself to

armer clasp than he had ever before ventured on

same extent before. I feel as though a serious calamity had befallen. There was no tradition, no associati

s too truthfu

he family so many generations, you know. Don't reproach yourself any more, please-remember 'twas as much my fault as yours. And

d had gladly assumed an equal share of blame. It was extremely silly in her to allow her mind to dwell on a foolish old tradition. How could the breakage of a bit of china

been broken-wished with all her he