A Simpleton

wool, a chair cover, admirably unfit to be sat upon-except by some severe artist, bent on obliterating discordant colors. To do her justice, her

teamboats ploughing, white sails bellying, and great ships carrying to and fro the treasures of the globe. From th

s followed suit; but her black brows were succeeded by long silky lashes, a sweet oval face, two pouting lips studded with ivory, and an exquisite chin, as feeble as any man could desire in the partner of his bosom. Person-straight, elastic, and rather tall. Mind-nineteen. Accomplishments-numerous; a poor Fre

, mind and body, t

sently she drew back, blushing crimson; then she peeped again, still more furtively; then retired softly to her frame, and, for the first time, set to work in earnest. As she plied her harpoon, smiling

over it, graceful as a willow, and so absorbed, she could no

that slight addition to her furnitu

and deep-seated, the lips rather thin, but expressive, the chin solid and square. It was a face of power, and capable of harshness; but relieved by an eye of unusual color, between hazel and gray, and wonderfully tender. In complexion he could not compare with Rosa; his cheek was clear, but pale; for few young men had stu

heart to chill him. She gave him her hand kindly, and smiled brightly on him instead of remonstrating. She lost nothing by it, for the very first thing he did was to excuse himself eagerly. "I am behind time: the fact is, just as I was m

said you wanted to see papa,

ing this, she drew in suddenly, and

d the lover. "Have you prepared him for-for-

have-a little. When I refused Colonel Bright-

ammatical sequence along with it. Christopher Staines recapt

ys the colonel is a most eligible match. Don

e, and recaptured her. "Y

He asked me was there anybody

O

mind to tell the truth. I was taken by surprise; an

u really de

caught me; so he said,

there is,' like a b

an to cry. Christopher, I'll tell you something; I find people leave off teasing you when you cry-gentlemen, I mean. Ladies go on all the more. So then dear papa kissed me, and told me

so too. "But now it comes to the point of asking

r than other people. You have only to ask for me, and insist on having me. Come, dear, g

d pressed them to his beating bosom, while his beautiful eyes poured love into hers point-blank. "May I tell him you love me? Oh, I know you cannot

d sweetly on his shoulder, and murmured, "You

n marched away, bold with love and

apable of loving like him; but still the actual contact of so strong a passion made her woman's nature vibra

nd even a little ball once in a way; to buy whatever dresses she thought proper, instead of being crippled by an allowance; have the legal right of speaking first in society, even to gentlemen rich in ideas but bad starters, instead of sitting mumchance and mock-modest; to be Mistress, instead of Miss-contemptible title; to be a woman, instead of a girl; and all this rational liberty, domestic power, and social dignity were to be obtained by merely wedding a dear fellow, who loved her, and

on Prayer writ by grim males, so entranced her, that time flew by unheeded, and Christopher Staines came back from her father. His step was heavy; he looked pale, and d

looked almost wildly at him with her gr

ision I could make for his daughter and her children. Well, I told him I had three thousand pounds in the Funds, and a good profession

And what COULD he

ds. He said, 'In that case, Dr. Staines, the simple questi

hated arithmetic, and

ds in fees this year; but I told him the reason; this is such a small

designs. "Genius is wasted in the country. Besides, whenever anybody w

I must set up in London, and as soon as my books showed an income to keep a w

ector of an insurance company, so al

t see my own mortality." He hung his head and pondered a moment, then went on, sadly, "It all comes to this-until I have a professional income of eight hundred a year at least, he will not

ourse I will; and it shall not be very long. Whilst you are making your fortune, to

yourself ill! not for all the world." T

till Mr. Lusignan, who thought five minutes quite enough for rational beings to take leave in, walked into the room and surprised them. At sight of his gray head and iron-gray ey

never cruel before;" and hid her burning face on his shoulder; and then burst out crying, partly for C

he had taken him by his weak point; he told her so. "Now,

st way, not to offend a tender parent who could not bear noise. Under this homely term, you must know, he included all sce

could you make one with her, weighed down by the load of expenses a wife entails? I know her better than you do; she is a good girl, but rather luxurious and self-indulgent. She is not cut out for a poor man's wife. And pray don't go and fancy that nobody loves my child but you. Mine is not so hot as yours, of course; but believe me, sir, it is le

ey are good medicines." Then with a great glow in his heart and tears in his eyes, "My darling shall not be a poor man's wife, she who would adorn a coronet, ay, or a crown. Good-by, Rosa, for the present." He darted to her, and kissed her hand with all his soul. "Oh, the sacrifice of leav

can suffer," said Rosa, foldi

thunder came, and how grand the beauty looked, with her dark brows, and flashing eyes, and f

e, Lusignan pere, stood cool and impassive; he shrugged his shoulders, and looked on b

stily to the stairhead, and gave it vent. "Dr. Staines," said he, in a loud whisper (Staines was half way down the stairs