Princess

decorations, a magnificent supper, and a band from Washington. The Smiths were going to requite the neighborhood's hospitality with the beating of drums, the clas

them. They would eat his fruit-cake, or make him welcome to their corn-bread with the same hearty unconcern. His wealth, and their own poverty troubled them equally little; they were abstract facts with which hospitality had nothing t

of a suitable toilet for Pocahontas. She was a tall, handsome woman, with a noble bearing, and great decision of character; and on most matter

ly and gratuitously assisted, and were flouted for their pains, it was irrevocably dec

nounced Grace with sisterly frankness, and of course that settled the matter, although M

e to secure that desirable result. To be admired, a woman must stand out distinctly from the throng; and I've set my heart on Princess's being the belle of t

lla. I cut my last white rosebuds and camellias to send to Nina Byrd Mari

of an autocrat; "if the men are not lost to all sense of honor and decency, you'll have plenty. Of course you must have plenty.

ve regarding with discontent a waiter full of colored flowers which a thoughtful neighbor had just sent ove

gift just come for you. I don't kno

ma suggests-f

niffing

Mrs. Mason, who that morni

the wrappers, and lifted the cover. Then sh

ded the others with

her hand, and a smile broke over her face

s-all jasmin, Jim's favorite flower; and with them were tropical ferns and grasses. As she held the exquisite blossoms in her hands and inhaled their rich perfume, the girl was conscious that when he

of mine charge through the country since day-break, this morning, in pursuit of white flowers, and here they come like a fairy story. It w

ons connected with him? At all events, no flowers would she wear save his; no other ornaments of any kind. It would seem, then, as though he participated in her pleasure; rejoiced in her joy. Jim loved always to see her happy. For reasons of their own, the two elder ladies had decided on remaining at home, so that Pocahontas repaired to the ball in male custody alone. Blanche, who was on the watch for the Lanarth party, came forward the instant of their arrival, accompanied by her father, to

lanche having encountered and dispatched him immediately on her return to the parlors. As the girl stood an instant framed by the open door, thrown into relief by the soft glowing background of the war

. He had been strictly forbidden to importune grown young ladies for dances unless they happened to be wall-flowers, and the injunction lay heavy on his soul. "I will ask girls other men ask," he mutte

is demand readily enough, surrendering her card to him in gay defiance of Thorne's outspoken rep

ned, as he dextrously avoided Thorne's extend

nd you wrote it yourself. Who is he?

to ask girls generally; his one arm makes it look awkward, and he knows they wouldn't like to refuse, because they all feel sorry for him. We put a hand on each shoulder, and don't care how it looks. Berke is adroit

I think you said," Thorne remarked idl

eeded them for to-night. Roy searched the neighborhood through for white flowers without suc

fragrance. "It was very kind and thoughtful of your friends to send

ghed softly. "

ot come from Be

fornia. Jim orde

so pl

as though the delicate perfume were some noxious poiso

oble, generous, and unselfish; we're all so fond of Jim. I wish he were here to-night to tread a measu

presence or his friendship. The intervention of a woman with whom two men are in love has never yet established amity between

or his aunt. He had feverishly longed to do it, and had pondered the matter fully half an hour before deciding that he had better not. He had not scrupled to pay Po

instinct, common to every manly man, to hold in peculiar respect the woman whom he wishes to make his wife, led Thorne to feel that, until he should be free from t

. See what had come of his self-denial? Another man had done what he had left undone; another hand had laid in hers the fragra

ms from her hand and crush them down into the heart of the fire and hold them there-the pale, sickly things

s than old friends crowded forward to speak to her and claim a dance; the girl was popular among the young people of th

ning, as he joined his brother-in-law in the recess by the fireplace. "The men all s

ion. "Her dress is in good taste, and she moves gracefully. But she isn

inscrutable reason Roy had never been able to endure Norma, and even grudged acknowledgment of her undeniable beauty). "Look at that fellow Thorne, now!" he added, with the pleased alacrity of one producing an unexpe

was to dance with Norma, whose suspicions he did not wish to arouse. The instinct of rivalry had overthrown all restraint and for this evening he was madly determined to let things take their course. They were here, he and his family, in Jim Byrd's place; living in the house that had been his, entertaining the friends that had been his, in the very rooms that so

ning fell upon Blanche, whose grievous portion it was to attend to the comfort of dowagers; to find partners for luckless damsels unable to find them for themselves, and to encourage and bring out bashful youths. As the lat

an beside her, and admired her sweet face, and gentle unselfishness as unreservedly as he would have done those of a child. Moving her draperies aside with a kindly, if unceremonious hand, he ensconced himself beside her right willingly and devoted his best energies to her amusement, and that of her small court; lifted the burden of their entertain

n and maidens danced and the elders gossiped, drank champagne, and reveled in the fl

yed herself hastily in her mufflings. At the stairway Thorne joined her, and as her foot touched the lowest step he

keley put her into the carriage; Roy tightened the reins and they drove rapidly

eeded from the girl's hand, and lay neglected and forgotten on the frozen ground. The impulse came to him to raise them tenderly becau

, the New Ye