for it shakes down that mass of sunbeams confined in that odious net at the back of your head, and brings the roses into those cheeks, which are many shades too white. You don't take enough exercise to give you a healthy color. Mammy makes too much of a baby of you. I verily believe she would keep every breath of air from your lungs if she had her way, so much afraid is she of your taking cold."

Edith laughed merrily as she gave the reins to her horse; and as they dashed along she stole a hairpin or two from her shining braids of redgold hair, just to make sure that it would sooner or later fall like a sunny cloud around her. In her childish innocence she sought to please by gratifying the wishes of her companion; coquetry had not yet taught her the surer art of perverse

ness.

-a

She was only sixteen, and the young man at her side having counted his twenty-eighth birthday, called her in his heart "only a childdear, sweet, lovable child." It was the child's hand he held in a loose, cousinly and unconcealed grasp; but it was the woman's mind to which he addressed his conversation, to which he confided his hopes for the brilliant future in store for him, and this fascinated her.

"How do you like brown eyes, Cousin Harvey; brown eyes as big and dark as ripe chestnuts?" she asked, as the gallop subsided into a canter on the steep hill which announced their approach to Harper's Ferry.

"I don't like to feel transparent, Edie; it makes a fellow conscious that he's small, only five feet eight, when he'd like to stand six in his socks. I can't do better than repeat, I prefer blue eyes, eyes blue as Italia's cloudless skies, that seem to shrink from too bold a gaze and hide like gentians beneath the snowy lids." Harvey had dropped the careless tone in which he first spoke, and looked with unfeigned admiration at the soft, loving face, the tall, lithe figure so close to him.

Edith turned away her head; a perverse spirit seemed to possess her whenever she thought of

the steady gaze that followed them as they left the cottage behind; and so, after a moment's pause, she said, "But you do admire a rather petite style of beauty. I've heard you so often speak admiringly of Anna Byrd."

"Yes, as far as she is concerned, I do most intensely appreciate the exquisite symmetry of my little niece's figure; but don't you know how true it is we like best our opposites.' My model of beauty is quite five feet six or seven-which is it, pet?" He laughed as he caught her hand and bent his head over the waving, sunny curls which the breeze tossed to his lips. He meant nothing by his light caress, his flattering words; meant nothing only because his own heart was free; the same praise lavished upon another might have conveyed an intimation of deep affection. Poet Edith who can blame her for believing he loved her-what more could he have said? Perhaps he caught a glimpse of her passing thoughts, for he held her hand only an instant, and a shado flitted across his brow as she remained silent "What made you ask me such questions, Edie? Do you know any little brown-eyed love of a gu whom you want to introduce ?''

"No, indeed!" she answered, quickly. "Nearly all of my friends are good sized blondes. I don': like dark eyes, and-well, I knew you didn't, I'd heard you say so before; but I did want to hear you abuse them this evening."

Harvey only laughed at her pettish but honest little speech, then pointed to the gathering clouds declared himself enough of a Baptist to object to sprinkling, and added, "It would require a rapid ride at best to reach Waveland before the tea hour."

The evening meal over, Edith waited only fo Harvey's early good-night, and was in her ov room before the sound of his horse's hoofs had died away on the pike.

"Now, mammy dear, just send Jane away, and put me to bed yourself, please," said the motherless girl, as she threw her arms around her state': old nurse, who sat as erect in her shuck-bottom chair as any grandame of the olden time. Her dress was spotlessly neat, her cap border careful crimped, and the handkerchief crossed on b bosom was white as snow.

"Yes, chile, to be sure I will. Jane, you car go; your mistress don't want you no more." Mammy had been born and raised in the hour

with her old master's children, and did not talk like a plantation negro, although her grammar was not always a la Murray.

"Mammy, you may just do everything for me, I'm so tired! Please get off these horrid shoes first, they are so heavy; and then untangle this tiresome hair. I had to let it come down just to please my foolish cousin ; but oh, its awful having to comb it when one's so sleepy!"

"Never mind. Mammy's darling chile shan't be bothered; just lie down on the couch, and I'll get all the tangle out."

of one woman cooking and washing and ironing and helping to clean up the house!" "Now,

"Nor I, either," laughed Edith. mammy, this will do; go put your dear old self to bed, and I'll be asleep five minutes after I say my prayers."

Yes, Edith could sleep now. The graceful little figure, the great chestnut eyes were not dangerous. Harvey could not love any but a lady, and the life of the girl she had seen could not be a lady's life in her opinion-refinement and cooking could not go hand in hand.

Harvey sat smoking upon the piazza of his beautiful home long after Edith was asleep; and while the smoke curled in blue wreaths around his head, dimming the glory of the moonlight, he was busily thinking. Now and then a broken sentence would find utterance between his half

"La, chile, they arn't nobody! They keeps but one servant, helps to clean up the house, and washing days they actually cooks themselves, on a new-fangled thing they call a cooking-stove.

"Poor things! the idea of cooking, such weather as this! But I reckon they're used to it, and don't mind it much. How many are there in the family ?"

"Only the mother and daughter, I heard Mollie say. She went there to sell 'em some chickens, and the young lady-they call her Miss Hattielooked so sweet and pretty that Mollie ran to her, just like she'd been you, and hugged her, and told her she was like a flower in the garden. La, bless you, the little thing was scared to death; and screamed to her mother to come help her, that Mollie was crazy. Her mother seemed to be better used to the ways about here, and she told Miss Hattie not to be scared, it was just a way the negroes had, she'd heard her son say so. Then they both made very nice apologies to Mollie, but she hasn't been there since; she said she never had been called a nigger' before by any white lady; she was master's servant, his genteel colored woman, and she never meant to be anything else. I told Mollie people from the Noeth didn't know any better; but she can't get over that. Betsy Ann lives with them, and she tells me they treat her mighty well; but she's awful lonesome, and I know she never did as much work before in her life. I never did hear

wings of a perfumed cloud.

"By George! she's a beauty. The prettiest creature about here, certainly! Its horribly lonely in a house without any womenkind flying around; and they say its jolly having a wife running to meet you whenever you come home. Bless the child's heart! I believe-I believe-she-loves me!"

The sentences were broken, and the last words were whispered-whispered with a smile of satis faction, as he tilted his chair back against the wall, and put his feet upon the iron railing around the porch.

The sun throws its dying rays upon the rocky surface of the Maryland Heights—as that part of the Blue Ridge is called on the northern side of the Potomac at Harper's Ferry-and the wonderful profile upon its steep, bare face, so like Washington's, stands out as if chiseled by some giant sculptor.

A large party of young people staying at Mr. Randolph's have been picnicing upon the Heights; and the long line of equestrians descending the mountain, looks charmingly picturesque in the rosy light of the sunset.

Edith thinks she has never been so happy before. Her hat is encircled with wild flowers which Harvey's own hand has snatched for her from the cliffs, and to-day his voice has a tone of tender earnestness in it which she has never heard before.

“Oh, cousin Harvey, don't you think we might ford the river? you said you had forded it once long ago, and Dixie scares at the bridge; do let's try it! I am sure I should enjoy it so much." 'You are sure you can manage Dixie, and that you won't be frightened, Edith ?"

64

she stooped down and dipped her hand in the water which now rose nearly to her feet, and wet her hair on the temples, then bathed her forehead, that would surely relieve her. Harvey has left her far behind; he looks back and calls to her to follow him, to watch the ripples and she'll not lose

66

Well, then, we'll stop at that little house at the foot of the mountain, and inquire if its quite safe to attempt it," said Harvey, as they touched their horses with their whips and left their friends far behind.

In a few moments they stopped at the gate which led into a small yard surrounding the house, which was scarcely better than a servant's cabin. At the gate stood a brown pony, on which there was a neat side saddle; but neither Edith nor Harvey gave it a thought, for the old man who owned the premises had quickly responded to their call, and was answering their questions rather unsatisfactorily.

"Wall, its a good enough ford, or leastwise it used to be; but nobody crosses it since the bridge was built again. Danger? No, sir, no danger for you; but tain't handylike for the lady;" and the old fellow looked admiringly at Edith.

"There now, he says there's no danger; lets try it, please. I don't mind if I get my dress wet again; it can't be hurt now."

She looked at him so pleadingly in her childish glee, Allerton could not resist; and while their friends paused upon the bridge to see what had become of them, they rode up the canal a short distance, then plunged into the noisy, foaming waves of the broad Potomac, where it ripples and dances over the rocks in its bed, close to the long railroad bridge at the ferry.

Dixie arched her pretty neck, and lifted her feet daintily, as if she would have preferred dry land; but a touch of the whip in her mistress's hand sent her forward against her will, and with evident reluctance she followed close behind Allerton on his powerful gray.

Edith laughed merrily, and pushed bravely on, trying for a time to talk to her cousin ; but before they reached the middle of the stream, the deafening roar of the falls prevented her hearing his replies, and she began to feel a little giddy. Oh, how wide the river was; it seemed as if they had been an hour crossing! Edith's head felt hot,

loudly and cheerily as she can, "Yes, yes, I'm coming;" but her voice and his sound weird and strange, mingled with the roar and gurgle of the water foaming over the rocks. Harvey again pushes on; she sees that he is moving only by the distance between them, which is increasing every moment; she sees the water rushing by, that is moving; but everything else seems standing still.

"Come, Edie, dear, come on faster," she hears in a voice faint and strange, as if it came from the other world; and still she cries, "I'm coming," yet cannot tell whether her horse is moving or not.

"Go on, Dixie," she says, firmly, almost fiercely. "I won't admit that I'm giddy! ! won't have him think I'm frightened; for I'm not, only my head is swimming because I'm not used to it. Go on, Dixie!"

She knows she speaks angrily; but her voice dies away like a murmur amidst the hoarse laughter, the boisterous sport of the waves. Is she moving? Yes; for the horse's feet slip from the rocks, and she goes down, down, deeper and deeper, until she feels the water running over her knees, and it seems creeping upward toward ber waist, it dashes a moment over her lap, then Dixie gives a plunge and again stands on the slippery rocks; and the water receding only rushes wildly around her feet. She has gathered her long riding skirt closely about her, so that her feet are uncovered, and her shoes are soon vet through and through. She does not mind this. but there is a rushing sound in her ears which prevents her from distinguishing any other dstinctly. She is looking to see where the ripples are that she may follow Harvey, who is looking back anxiously. A few minutes before he had heard her answer, "I'm coming;" but she is t nearer him. Dixie is surely coming on; he se the water splashed by her hoofs falling in a shower around the lovely face he believes he is beginning to love more than any other. True, there is b a short distance between them; but he can' easily go back to her, so he asks again, "Art

Dixie is not moving, she is only pawing the water and restlessly tossing her head. Edith thinks she is going forward, and smiles at Harvey. She knows he has spoken; but she can no longer hear what he says for the roaring in her ears; nor can she answer, for Dixie seems reeling beneath her weight, and her head goes round and round. She feels that death is near, she cannot sit upon her horse until Harvey reaches her; and she looks calmly away from the water up towards the deep-blue sky whither she is going, and forgets for an instant the worlds he is leaving behind.

A voice she loves calls her back to earth-to the consciousness of helplessness and danger. Harvey is only a few yards from her in reality; but his horse is swimming-he has lost the ford.

"There is nothing left for us to do but to swim to the shore; guide Dixie so that she'll follow my gray; don't be frightened, there's no danger; keep firm in your seat."

Edith only heard the words, "we must swim for the shore," and saw Harvey draw his feet up as high as possible upon his saddle as his horse began to swim.

Her voice does not tremble as she answers, calmly, "I can't-I'm giddy." Her pride was all gone now.

With Harvey's hand upon her bridle and her eyes turned away from the water, she is no longer giddy; and as they follow the brave girl riding in front of them she laughs at the idea of her "feint," as she calls it, and blames herself for being so foolish.

The shore was soon reached, and they hastened at once to the hotel, where their anxious friends were awaiting their arrival.

The stranger had said good-evening, and taken the rode homeward when they turned into the principal street of the little village; and, ungrateful or momentarily forgetful of her services, neither Edith nor Harvey alluded to her after she departed. Perchance the cool manner in which the girl declined their thanks for her services had rather annoyed the cordial and enthusiastic young Southerners. Edith had to allow her friends to visit beautiful "Jefferson's Rock" without her, while her skirts were being dried by the kitchen fire; and the moon was shining brightly before the weary excursionists reached home.

CHAPTER II.

HARVEY ALLERTON's gray riding-horse stands by the cottage gate, while he, beneath the shade

She looked up, but the words came too late; her pride had perhaps cost her her life. The water is still dashed in her face as Dixie impatiently paws the green rocks; but her eyes are closed, a cold dew stands on her forehead, she sways from side to side in her saddle. Gently she falls forward, still conscious of an effort to guide her head until it shall rest on her horse's neck; then darkness seemed to envelop her, and crush both mind and body beneath its black wings; and then she knew no more.

"I'll guide you to the other side," said a clear, sweet voice. "I saw you would miss the ford by going into the river where you did, for since the flood last year it has shifted. I determined to follow as soon as the lady's horse stopped. I guessed what was the matter, for I had my head to swim once. Come on, she's all right now." Edith had opened her eyes to find Harvey's arms supporting her upon her saddle, and the girl

upon the door. He waits only a few moments; there is a light tread in the hall, the latch is withdrawn, and he sees a pretty little figure, clad in white, standing before him.

"Miss Haywood, I presume? Allow me to introduce myself; my name is Allerton." Miss Haywood bowed rather coldly.

"Will you walk in, Mr. Allerton ?"

"She might have shaken hands with me," thought Harvey, as he followed her into the parlor. He glanced around with some surprise, and was conscious that he half-started and changed color as he took his seat upon a luxurious sofa, and found himself opposite an exquisite oil-painting hanging above a handsome piano; while on every side of the room hung fine engravings of world-renowned pictures; and books and magazines lay carelessly strewn around as if constantly

in use.

Hattie Haywood noticed his evident astonishment, and a smile half-scornful, half-derisive

curled her red lips. Harvey caught the shadow of that smile, for it still lingered unconsciously upon her colorless cheeks as he turned toward her, and somewhat awkwardly apologized for his visit.

"I took the liberty of calling upon you, Miss Haywood, to express my own and Miss Randolph's thanks for your services on yesterday. My cousin was very anxious to enjoy the novelty of fording a river, and insisted upon my taking her across where I had once found a ford for my self; I yielded, never imagining that she would. grow giddy. She is a beautiful rider, and perfectly fearless, and I thought she might venture. You came to our rescue just at the right moment; I had lost the ford, and should have had to take her upon my horse and thus swim across, which would not have been agreeable to her, and would greatly have mortified her pride."

"She would scarcely have liked her 'pride mortified.' I can understand that," said Hattie, with a smile, as she remembered Edith's words months before, when in the early springtime she had regretted that there was nobody' at the cottage whom she could visit. She remembered also Harvey's reply.

"You should not have asked to know my objection; but as you have, I'll answer honestly, The house does well enough, though entirely without conveniences. There were no stoves or furnaces when we came into it; the spring was a quarter of a mile from the house, from which we had to get our entire supply of water; the kitchen quite a long walk from the dining-room, and there was no woodshed; but these defects could be remedied. It is the pride of the people which makes a residence here tedious and disagreeable.” "You don't know us, or you wouldn't talk so." "Perhaps not. I've had no opportunity of knowing you who call yourselves the aristocracy of the country; and those of the second class whom I've met, though very good, kind, hospi table people, are not well educated, and therefore one tires of their society. I shall be glad to turn my face northward again."

"You are going to leave us, then ?"

"Yes, very soon, or I should not have spoken so freely. You asked an awkward question, and I've answered honestly and truthfully."

"Hattie, dear, its time you were getting ready for tea," said a feeble voice from the next room. "Mother has been asleep; she doesn't know

"Oh, I was on a visit to a poor sick woman at the house where you made your inquiries about the ford, and having crossed there once or twice myself, I thought I'd see if you took the right course; in a few moments I found you were going wrong, and determined to follow. It was just an impulse; I obeyed it, scarcely knowing why I did it, so you need not thank me." The words were spoken carelessly, and with utter indifference.

"You are accustomed to fording streams ?" "Yes; at the North I have crossed many a river on horseback; the Potomac tempted me because it was wider than most of our streams. I was more fortunate than you in the directions I received; I was told not to try the old ford, that it had shifted since the flood last fall."

"Do you like your new home, Miss Haywood? I fear you've found it lonely?"

"No, I do not like my home here; but I like the beautiful country, the mild climate. New England is too cold for me."

ening. "I'm coming, mother," she then answered in a louder tone. "You'll stay to tea, Mr. Allerton ?"

The question was asked politely, but not very cordially, and yet Harvey stayed.

"We keep but one servant; on washing day I get our meals ready," she said, pointedly, as she left the room.

She did not close the door behind her, and Harvey saw her fasten a neat apron around her waist as she laid the cloth upon the table, and quickly put the plates, knives, spoons, etc. in their places. He could not help watching her intently, and replied almost at random to the remarks made by the fragile-looking lady whom Hattie brought in and introduced as her mother, before she began her work.