"Let me off easier than I supposed," muttered J.C., as he watched

her cross the street and enter Dr. Kennedy's gate. "It will be

mighty mean, though, if she does array herself against my wife, for

Madam Kelsey is quoted everywhere, and even Mrs. Lane, who lives

just opposite, dare not open her parlor blinds until assured by

ocular demonstration that Mrs. Kelsey's are open too. Oh, fashion,

fashion, what fools you make of your votaries! I am glad that I for

one dare break your chain and marry whom I please," and feeling more

amiably disposed toward J.C. De Vere than he had felt for many a

day, the young man started for the church, where to his great joy he

found Maude alone.

She was not surprised to see him, nay, she was half expecting him,

and the flush which deepened on her cheek as he came to her side

showed that his presence was not unwelcome. Human nature is the same

everywhere, and though Maude was perhaps as free from its weaknesses

as almost anyone, the fact that her lover was so greatly coveted by

others increased rather than diminished her regard for him, and when

he told her what had passed between himself and Mrs. Kelsey, and

urged her to give him a right to defend her against that haughty

woman's attacks by engaging herself to him at once, she was more

willing to tell him Yes than she had been in the morning. Thoughts

of James De Vere did not trouble her now--he had ceased to remember

her ere this--had never been more interested in her than in any

ordinary acquaintance, and so, though she knew she could be happier

with him than with the one who with his arm around her waist was

pleading for her love, she yielded at last, and in that dim old

church, with the summer moonlight stealing up the dusky aisles, she

promised to be the wife of J.C. De Vere on her eighteenth birthday.

Very pleasant now it seemed sitting there alone with him in the

silent church. Very pleasant walking with him down the quiet street,

and when her chamber was reached, and Louis, to whom she told her

story, whispered in her ear, "I am glad that is so," she thought it

very nice to be engaged, and was conscious of a happier, more

independent feeling than she had ever known before. It seemed so

strange that she, an unpretending country girl, had won the heart

that many a city maiden had tried in vain to win, and then with a

pang she thought of Nellie, wondering what excuse she could render

her for having stolen J.C. away.




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