ners, said the fatal words on the spot, and offered myself, heart and hand, to my scraggy goddess in blue and diamonds. Her answer rather astonished me, but was encouraging:

"I am somewhat taken by surprise," said she, "although I now see I should have been prepared for this, but I hardly supposed you were a marrying man. Last week I should have accepted you at once; something has occurred to-day, however, in my private affairs, to make me hesitate. You must give me time to think it over."

I trembled lest some fall in stocks should have imperiled her fortune. I should not, perhaps, have said any thing, but Adeline was amiable and obtuse, and I thought I could risk it:

"I hope," said I, "you are not troubled about any thing important-any miserable money affairs or losses; it is terrible to think of your being unhappy about any thing!"

Here she was joined by Staples, who had been dogging her for some time. She had no opportunity for the reply I hoped to hear; however, to keep her a few minutes longer, I proposed joining the great crowd that was going up to be introduced to the Prince of Wales.

Everybody remembers the catastrophe of that evening. Just as Adeline and I were advancing toward the dais, there was a sound as if of cannon going off, a sudden stir and tumult among the women, and Adeline Forbes, although on my arm, went down about two feet lower than her accustomed level, and I was left standing high and dry on the uninjured part of the platform.

For a moment my usual presence of mind deserted me; instead of immediately hauling her out of the pit, as I should have done, I rather hastened out of the immediate scene of danger, and when I recovered myself and returned to her aid, Staples had pulled her out and carried her away with him.

This was certainly a most unfortunate occurrence, but it was one I was powerless to prevent. No one with a particle of sense could be expected to run the risk of breaking a leg under such circumstances, and not being a very powerful or stalwart person, had the fair Adeline come down upon any part of my corporeal frame I should have been squeezed into jelly in the space of five minutes. So Staples got the better of me for a time, and I retired discomfited.

I may say, however, that I managed to pass the time till supper quite pleasantly, in spite of the disappearance of my fair one. I waltzed with several pretty young girls, who were good dancers, though bad matches. I was not introduced to the Prince myself, though I spoke to many that were; indeed I may claim to have interchanged some words with his Royal Highness in person, although probably unknown to him, for I managed so cleverly that in coming out of the supper-room he nearly knocked me down in the angle where I had taken my position, and when I begged his pardon he told me it was no consequence whatever; which was as

much conversation as he exchanged with most of the people that evening.

But I now come to the point of my story on which I can no longer dwell with calmness. Certainly the "bottle imp" himself must have arisen out of the glass inclosure from which I took my first draught of Champagne, and firmly, although unseen, attached himself to my fortunes on that night. Never again was I to walk through the mazes of good society an unmarked man, and never to be sure that the smile with which I was greeted by a new acquaintance was not the result of a too intimate knowledge of my fatal mistake.

It was just after supper was announced, and I, always ready on a great emergency, had already made friends with a waiter, and was helping myself liberally to the good things provided, when I heard a soft and well-known voice behind me. The words were these:

"Why, there is Tommy Muddlar! I know him by his hair!"

Now I hate to be called Tommy, and allusions to my hair, which has an auburn hue, are decidedly disagreeable; but when the voice that spoke was that of Bessy Graham, the rosycheeked, little country maiden, whom I flirted with when I staid at my uncle's in the summer, and dreamed of all winter long, anger was simply impossible. I flew toward her immediately, with the newly-opened Champagne bottle in my hand.

"My dear Miss Bessy! When did you come to town? I am delighted to see you!"

The truth was, that was my second bottle of wine, and the unexpected pleasure of meeting my old friend threw me completely off my guard, so I said a great many very foolish things. In the first place, she was as pretty as pretty could be; fresh, fair, and gentle as a newblown daisy, and with that arch, simple coquetry that is so attractive in the young and graceful. Then I well knew that she in her heart of hearts really preferred me to all the rest of the world. In her country home I had shone as a brilliant meteor, summer after summer, before her dazzled eyes, and now she appeared upon my theatre of action, and charmed me in return. Her dress was faultless; how, with her restricted means and country tastes, she could have contrived such a telling toilet I am at a loss to imagine; but there she was, fresh, radiant, and confiding, and all for me!

I soon saw that her manner was somewhat distraite, as if some hidden sentiment she dared not divulge were struggling for utterance; and I felt at that moment that I should never marry Miss Forbes, come what might, and that Bessy, with her empty purse, was worth a thousand Adelines rolled into one.

The Champagne and sentiment had decidedly affected my mental vision.

"Bessy," said I, recklessly, "how is that wonderful uncle of mine? Does he never mean to die and leave me his money?"

"You wicked young man!" said she, quite

What are you good for if you can't make your own way in the world with so many advantages?" "What advantages?" said I, breathless. "No matter," said she, shaking her head, and looking extremely roguish; "there is an heiress here, at this very ball, I have no doubt, whom people say Mr. Muddlar is very devoted

to.

I may as well admit that I did not sleep any that night; indeed, I did not attempt it. Taking off my best coat, I wrapped myself in my traveling-shawl, and endeavored to meditate on my dreadful position. Finding this impossible, I put my head out of the window (my room is a sky-parlor in Bleecker Street, looking back), and tried to cool my fevered brow. Alas! there is a sailor living next door who keeps a parrot. This parrot was spending the night outside of the window, and hearing mine open be

"No, 'pon honor I never did; and if you will marry me, Bessy, I will promise never to see Adeline Forbes again!"

By this time the wine was so completely in my head that I do not hold myself responsible for any of the remarks that followed. I told Bessy a thousand things that I might better have kept to myself, and concluded by offering to show her at a distance her dethroned rival. All this time she said nothing but blushed, and looked rather frightened at my vehemence. She would not even give me any sort of an answer, but threw me over for a definite reply till the next morning at her hotel. When I proposed to hunt up Miss Forbes, however, she assented, and put her hand in my arm immediately.

That was altogether the pleasantest night I ever passed in my life. Bessy knew no one but her escort, a fat old lady who troubled nobody, and, taking her under my protection, I threw expediency to the dogs and devoted myself exclusively to her. We danced together (I took good care not to introduce any one else), we walked together, and talked together till three o'clock in the morning, when tired, but radiant, I committed her to the care of the fat chaperon and bade her an affectionate adieu.

Then the excitement died away, and I knew that I had made an eternal fool of myself!

The reaction was sudden and complete. Had the floor opened for the second time that evening and swallowed me up I should have thanked my stars and gone down contented; Brown might have boarded me over, and I should have smothered and made no sign. As it was I groaned aloud in agony.

"What is the matter?" said Miss Forbes coming up, looking really anxious, "I have been standing near you for some time and you have not seen me. You look so ill, Mr. Muddlar, is any thing distressing you?"

Here was a lucky means of escape! Adeline was a nice girl after all, and as to money, she could buy out poor little Bessy a hundred times over. Perhaps after all I could take the back track in time-so I sighed and said-well, no matter what I said-but Adeline Forbes went

most frightful manner. He informed me that I was a fool forty times over, and wound up by requesting me, in every tone of which his shrill voice was capable, to go to the devil. Unfortunate wretch that I was, had I not already reached that goal?

I concluded, as the morning began to dawn, that I would write a note to Bessy and explain my position. She was a warm-hearted, confiding, simple-minded country girl, and after dropping some tears over my unhappy fate and her own disappointment, would return in a few days to her own quiet home, and disappear from my path forever.

As to Adeline Forbes, I was not such a fool as to let her slip through my fingers. Heiresses are not to be met every day, or married by young men without fortune or profession. Plain as she was and unlovable, she was nevertheless a prize, and after having gone as far, and succeeded as well as I had, no Bessy or any other woman should stand in the way of my happiness.

Happiness? Yes, I pondered over the word, but after repeating it once or twice it seemed altogether natural and proper. It is happiness to have one's debts paid, one's home palatial, and one's future secured. All this would come with Adeline Forbes, and even with such a drawback I could call it happiness.

I sat down to write my note to Bessy. It was long, affectionate, and explanatory. I told her that had my uncle done the handsome and proper thing this painful conclusion to our friendship would never have occurred. I explained the miserable state of my finances, the constant calls and drains that society made upon my time and purse, how unfitted I was for a quiet domestic life, and how unable to push my own way in the world, as the more sordid and grasping of my contemporaries seemed so well able to do. The end of the note, however, was the most delicate part of the affair. In it I intimated that I knew that there was one person who loved me better even than her fortune; she had plainly showed me that her feelings were beyond her own control, and that in my brokenhearted condition I was uncertain what the issue would be of this complicated affair. She was plain, she was awkward, she never could have my heart-that altogether belonged to Bessy

and independent as the day. Sneaks and parasites I detest!"

Of course the women would have nothing more to say to me, and the men were glad to have an opportunity to laugh and sneer. But it did not make so much difference after all. Adeline Forbes, in an unobtrusive way, got me

"I have found him!" said she, abruptly, stopped and added with a smile that lit up her whole face like an illumination, "he is your uncle!"

Here was a death-blow. My beart died within me as I thought of my allowance; however, there was no use in compromising myself farther. I only said, hoping for a brief moment that it might be a hoax:

"Are you going to marry my uncle, Bessy

Graham? I do not believe it."

"It is quite true, and your uncle is not very far off, and will confirm the statement if necessary, also my friend Adeline."

I turned to Miss Forbes, but not for farther information; I felt that that was useless.

ure.

"I owe you a humble apology, Miss Forbes," I said, taking my hat and preparing for depart"Bessy has nothing to complain of in me that her vindictive nature has not been fully able to revenge; but to you I feel, and ever shall feel, grateful. You have a heart, and in this trying moment you have neither reproached nor contemned me. I only wish I could prove to you how much more attractive your kindness makes you appear in my eyes than any external advantages."

"It is no matter," said she, drawing away from my offered hand; "your opinions now can not influence me, and should never have done So. I have been weak, short-sighted, and I blame myself more than I do you; but you have been unkind, most unkind!"

"I know it, and you most generous; but forgive me, Adeline, I will never trouble you again; let us part as friends."

I put out my hand again, and she took it, and let me hold hers a moment with a most loverlike pressure. I really believe if that confounded giggling Bessy had not been looking on I should have carried the day after all! I really loved Adeline Forbes in my heart at that moment, and with nobody standing by I could have made her believe it; but no, the Fates were against me. Two gentlemen entered together at the moment and greeted us with many smiles and much boisterous warmth. My uncle and Mr. Staples.

I am quite certain that the latter had been within hearing of the best part of the conversation, for Bessy, I think, would not have told and Adeline dared not; but any way it was all over town the next day, and my chance of a rich marriage was gone completely.

This is the story of my great mistake; and as every body has joked me about it until all shame was lost on the subject, I determined to tell the whole truth of the case, and so make an end of it forever.

which has rendered me for some years independent of my uncle and Bessy. My business this summer will take me abroad for a year or two, and when I return, if Adeline Forbes is still unmarried (she has refused Staples I know), who can tell, after all, what may be the upshot of Mr. Muddlar's Mistake?

S

A STUDY OF LEGS.

IX o'clock and ten minutes.-Here's a nicelooking place in the basement. Now for a little refreshment. I'll pop down here a moment. "Coffee and toast, my lad, as quick as luck." I wish this stool had a back. I'd give a dollar to lie down a quarter of an hour. What, Legs-all Legs! People on the sidewalk above me, all hurrying along Broadway, are nothing to me but legs. Brown legs, blue legs, gray legs, and black legs; big legs, little legs, long legs, short legs-all kinds of legs. I see nothing of their bodies or arms from my seat, but I seem to make out the whole of each man. What nonsense! What I see is only shaking trowsers of various hues and dimensions. there are limbs in each, and in each limb a thousand pulses and a thousand nerves.

But

A

There goes a leg. It is gone. My hat upon it, that leg is after the doctor. It moved with an indescribable anxiety and urgency. There was a tongue higher up thronged with unspoken words of announcement and appeal. The heart that was pumping the blood into that leg was leaping with burdensome solicitude. wife was dying. I see her. She knows she is to go. The doctor said as much days ago. She tells her husband not to seek the physician. But is there no hope? She might be saved if the doctor would hurry. She might die before he could return. What anguish in his hesitation! A kiss and an embrace, passionate to violence, and he goes. "Don't leave me, John!" John's answer is a choking sob and a burst of tears as he rushes to the crowded and heedless street to fight a way through the throng with those poor aching legs I saw. Oh, John, turn back

There goes a leg of substance. There is good rich fat in those pantaloons. Tenderloins rare, fine old Madeira, with now and then a nip or so of the pure vinum adustum straight from the Custom-house-all have a say in it. That leg is on its way to a carriage. It was in favor of every forward movement of the Army of the Potomac, regardless of loss of life. It was not a leg to be daunted while substitutes averaged $600 and railroad stock was high. That was a loyal leg, and, with the blessings of Providence and a lucky turn in the Stock Exchange, it staid loyal throughout the war.