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EHGHAVEO BY T.

ATISSL
-^>1 ticst J
\tas tcndei
arrival, in
siirr()un(Ic(
l)iit it was
until she re
w lien g'Vls
ii|)onas ok
< ommon le
liL'r world.

Lctitia's
She was ni
her figure V
liair was a
( urly, and
broad, wcl
tcUectual c
shone with
she smiled
themselves
innately ht
regularly s(
when she
oF her that
It came ai
u ords.

In spite
l)oys, Letit
as a girls' ji
sliips amor
dL'|)endenc
made her
plenty of yc
that Ixtitii
i)ringdisasi
Irienils and
all the yoi
isfactorily
should not

- — OWBaMW WWMMr T «»—■ f «jr.«A %M -^ — ir

SOME PASSAGES IN THE HISTORY OF LETITIA ROY.

I'lCTURKS BY iMARV IIAI.I.OCK lOOlK.

E>GHAVE0 BY T. L. CALHANE.

TIIK LANUUICKUU MAHllOK.

MISS LKTiriA ROY was one of the pret-
tiest girls in All)erta, and much homage
was tendered her, from the very day of her
arrival, in the little Knglish settlement that
surrounded the Hudson's Bay Company's fort ;
but it was not until six years afterward — not
until she reached the mature age of twenty-two,
wlien g-'rls in western towns are almost looked
upon as old maids — that she descended to the
common level and fell in love like all tiie rest of
her world.

I.etitia's prettiness was not a common type.
She was rather under the miildle height, and
her figure was plump and well developed. Her
liair was a bright shade of brown, short and
( urly, antl the soft rings fell caressingly on her
broad, well-shaped forehead, softening its in-
tellectual oudines. Her eyes were hazel, and
shone with unclouded hap])iness, while, when
she smiled, innumerable dimjiles developed
themselvesaround her somewhat full li|)S. For-
tunately her teeth were small and white, and
regularly set, for she showed nearly all of them
when she laughed ; and it was characteristic
of her that she rarely spoke without a laugh.
It came as spontaneously as the echo of her
words.

I n spite of the homage rendered her by the
boys, Letitia was what may best be described
as a girls' girl, for she cultivated ardent friend-
ships among her own sex, with whom her in-
dependence of character and gaiety of heart
made her a universal favorite. 'I'here were
plenty of young men in Alberta in those days, so
that I.etitia's preeminence did not threaten to
bring disastrous consecpiences upon any of her
friends and Hiithful satellites. Then, although
all the young men liked Letitia, it was sat-
isfactorily decreed by fate that all of them
should not fall in love with her. Somehow,

4ti>u0

in spite of her bright glances, they found it
easier to slip into that relation which com-
bines the brother with the friend, and whi( h
may, perhajjs, be more accurately termed cous-
inly. Her indei)endent self-reliance was not
aggressive, but still it was perceptible, and did
not serve to encourage timidly tenderadvances.
She had another defense in the nuiltipli( ity of
the interests and enthusiasms with which the
maiden aunt after whom she was named had
early inspired her. This maiden aunt was left
behind in Ivigland when Mrs. Roy rejoined
her husband, and the long six months' voyage
arounil Cape Horn, together with the novelties
of her new surroundings, sent I.etitia's thcnights
for a time into new channels. One by one,
however, the okl pursuits were renewed with
ardor.

The Roys lived in a roomy one-storied cot-
tage on the road that skirted the almost land-
locked harbor. It ^■•as outside the limits (jf tiie
old fort of the Hudson's Hay Comi)any, but
still was within ten minutes' walk of the center
of the town, where, it was scofiingly said by
American tcnnists from San I-'rancisco, a can-
non-ball might be fired at noon without hurt-
ing any living person. There were only one
or two cottages beyond the Roys'. Further
on the land was still uncleared, and the bush,
with its somber fir-trees and tangled under-
growth, stretched away to the end of the
rocky jieninsula. In those days e\eryb()dy in
tile settlement knew everybody else, from the
governor in his recently built stuccoed castle on
the heights to the e(|ually solitary telegraph-boy,
who had his head(iuarters in Wharf street.

Mr. Roy hail come to the province at the
time of the gold-fever ; and when that subsided
without gi\ing him the fortune which was to
have taken liim home in triumph to his wife
and children, he drifted from one |)!a< e to
another, settling down finally in the thriving
little town of .Alberta, where he laid the foim-
dations of the famous ready-made clothing es-
tablishment which was soon able to sup])ly
bankers and miners alike with suitable wear-
ing-ap|)arel. .\s soon as it was j)rudent to do
so he sent for his wife and children — for Le-
titia, and F.dgar, anil for the baby boy he had
not yet seen. Mrs. Roy had no ambition what-
ever to enter into the gay social life of the
colony. Her home duties ajjpeared to occupy
her incessantly. Hut for Letitia, she admitted,

TT'

3=SE!— ^

«J-.:ni«*«'i»l*r

<
P

il was i|iiii

fallicr's a(
inanticflei
of roinanc
satisfied w
the lionest
and sent I
adventure.
al)roa<l to
of duty, I)
weighted
many a (hi
in the lia)
self to the I
tlie (Jiily (li
I of lier (hm
uneonscioi
strongest ii
associated
herself, slu
more grae
she had e\
godniothei

It was ;
that l.etit
Charles \
/i,M. Mrs
of Alberta
den-partie
magic: pah
derland ; f(
store couh
be entirel)
select I'',n{
l)ered tha
at a high
countrymi
royal nav
niently dis
and henct
vate bank
acharitab
quentiyar
door-step
sidewalk <
followed
board one
station,
timacy in
Besides,
considerei
town ; an
to be pa;
nial town
a mine of
wished t(
So Mr. ai

■^MM

SOAfK PASSACKS IN THE ///S'/VNV OF f.F/riTIA ROY.

935

'JfiSJl

it s\;is (|iiiti' (littrriiil. I.i'liliii \v;is ;m inlnist-
iiig ((mi|)<uinil i)t' latla-r and motlicr. Ilcr
lalluT's ailvi'iiturous nature su;i|)liL'il the ro-
mantic eleinciit inlier. I'erliapsit was tliis spirit
of romance that prevented I.etitia from l)eing
satisfied witli l)read and butter in the shape of
tlie lionest youtlisof lierintimatea((|uaintan( I',
ami sent her fancy roving, just as thes|)irit of
adventure, years l)efore, had urged her father
abroad to seek liis fortune. Homely instincts

1 of duty, however, inherited from her mother,
weighted Letitia's wings, and kept her from
mail) a daring act. 'I'heir strength was evident
_ in the hapi)y way in which she adajited her-
self to the old fashioned groove marked out for
the only daughter in a family of boys. In spite
of iter dimples and her laughter,and the partly
unconscious co(|uetry of her bright glances, the
strongest influences long remained those which
associated her with her brothers. Fancy-free
herself, she officiated as bridesmaid with all the
more grace to one friend after another; and
she iuid even assumed the responsibilities of a
godmother before she met Charles Neville.

II.

Ir was at a garden-party at Judge Whyte's
tiiat I.etitia was introduced to Lieutenant
Charles .Neville of her Majesty's sli'j) Strvii;^-
Itolii. Mrs. Whyte was the recogni/eil leader
of .Alberta society, and her weekly suminer gar-
den-parties were attended by all witiiin its
magic inile. The Roys were just on the bor-
derland; for the retail dejjartment of Mr. Roy's
store could not, with the best will in the world,
be entirely overlooked by the little colony of
select I'.iiglish people. Hut then it was whis-
pered that he occasionally advanced money,
at a high rate of interest, to traveling fellow-
countrymen of distinction, chiefly officers of the
royal navy, who found themselves inconve-
niently distant from the base of their supplies ;
and hence he might be looked ujjon as a jiri-
vate banker by those who were inclined to take
a charitable view. These transactions were fre-
(|uently arranged in informal conferences on the
door-step of tlie .store, or in a stroll along the
sidewalk of the principal street, and were often
followed by a convivial lunch or dinner on
board one of the ships at the neighboring naval
station. .Such outward and visible signs of in-
timacy in high (juarters could not be ignored,
liesides, Mrs. Roy, if somewhat homely, was
considered a lady the other ladies of the
town ; and as for Letitia, she was not a girl
to be passed over anywhere, and in a colo-
nial town on the Pacific coast was actually
a mine of wealth to an ambitious hostess who
wished to make her house an attractive one.
So Mr. and Mrs. Roy were invited to dinner

b\ the judge's lady at least oiKe a year, and
I.etitia, or I.etty, as ,\Irs. \\'li\te preferred to
< all her, was welcome on all occasions wIkm
\(iung |)eoiile were present.

It was the naval element that gave both tone
and variety to .Mberta society. It had the ad-
\antage of constantly changing, and therefore
( ould never grow monotonous. In the easy in-
tercourse of colonial life l-etitia had danced
with several admirals and with many gallant
captains, while the ycjung middies fraternized
with her brothers at fcjot-ball and cricket, and
were always made welcome at the cottage on
the Harbor Rcjad. Lieutenant .Neville did not
therefore Hash like an unexpected meteor upon
I.elitia's horizon. He arrived in the spring with
the- Slroii^^holii, and it was cjuite in the ordi-
nary course of events that he appeared at Judge
Whyte's first garden-party in .May. I.etitia
was there, ec|ually as a matter of course, and
the magic words, " .Mr. Neville, .Miss Roy,"
were pronounced in .Mrs. Whyte's ordinary
even tones. Neville and I.etitia found them-
selves ojjponents at crociuet, a much more |)i-
i|uant relation than thatof jiartners. They were
well-matched players, but I .etitia finally pegged
iier ojijionent. 'I'hen, surrendering their mal-
lets to later arrivals, they went laughing and
ciiatting across the lawn and wy the steps of
the veranda, where Mrs. Whyte was dispensing
tea and claret-cup. Neville's sunburnt face had
the same buoyant, gladsome expression that
distinguished Letitia'.s. His laugii was as gay
as hers, his teeth as white under his fair mus-
tache, and he had the gracious manners of a
hajipy nature in addition to the well-bred air
of a young man of the world.

" What a charming pair ! " murmured Mrs.
Whyte as tiiey came up the veranda stejjs,
Neville just behind I.etitia.

Some of the elder ladies were grouped
round Mrs. Whyte's tea-table. A Chinaman
in a s|)otless white tunic with wide, hanging
sleeves, and with his cjueue neatly braitled
round his head, was deftly handing round the
tea-':u|)s and the c:ake, His calm, expression-
less brown eyes took in everything, and he
c[uickly brought refreshments to Letitia and
her companion, who were standing near a
group of voung people.

"You likee tea. Miss Loy ? "

" Oh, thank you, Hing," said Letitia ; " hea])
likee. Hut this man, Hing," she added, turn-
ing to Neville, " I think he likee claret."

" No, nil." interposed Neville; " I likee tea."

"Tea velly good," said Hing, solemnly.

" Yes," replied Letitia, in assent; "but some-
times white man not savvy what gooii for
him."

Neville's eyes followed Hing with some
curiosity.

.^^..-Jm

,U._ rVTSlST

T-. ^ <» — 1 II J i f i r i rwT t I

V3^'

.SC;j/A' PASSAGES IX III I: IIISTOKV OF I.F.TI77A KOY.

"Do yi)ii talk to all oftlu'in liki' that, .\Iix-> at I

Koy.'

"Oh. Ilin^; undL-istands lutglisli very well,"
said l.ctilia. " i Ic has been five years \\ ith Mrs.
Whyte. We iia\e had Chinese hoys .it home
who seareely knew a w(jrd of l-aiglish when
they came to us. However, they soon pu k up
the names of thinj,'s, and we just skip the verbs."
Neville drank his lea, and then ( arried his c up
and i.etitia's to the table.

"What a beautil'ui eouniry this is," he said,
when he returned.

J udgeWhyte's house was built on the heights.

at her ( om|)anion. It is not every man in tiie
far West that (an ipiote 'I'ennysoi, a|)pre(ia-
tively.

'• That," she said in a 'ew niiniiles, " is the
charm that our scenery lacks. The (harm of
association," she added, as \'e\ille looked in-
ipiiringly at her. "Our lakes, our hills, our
streams are beautiful; but it is l)eauty without
history, without anything l)ehind — the beauty
of a merely pretty lace," she (ontinued, with
an iiK rease of color and .i shade of embarrass-
ment that Neville found charming to wat( h.
" There are no stcjries, no roinaiu es, atta( lied

i-VK«rv^ -J

"NI-:VKI< had niKHK HKKN si CH a UKAITIM'I. SIMMKK.'

eNQHAVtD Br J. P. D*V19.

in the aristocrali( neighborhood of the gov-
ernor's ( astle. I'rom the raised \eranda l.e-
titia and Neville ( ould look oxer the low,
one-storied cottages bexond, whi( h were built
on the south slope of the hill, and were almost
hidden by the blossom of < herry-trees, right
away to the blue water of the straits, and to
the range of snow-clad mountains on the
American side.

" 'The mountains are especially beautiful to-
day," said l.etitia. "It is not always that we
see that cleft in them, that opening yonder,
between what must be two distinct ranges."

" \'es ; I have not noticed it before," e.\-
( laimed Neville, with interest. " It looks like
an opening into fairy-land."

"The gateway to the plains of heaven," sug-
gested l.etitia.

"Or to

"The island-valley of Avilion,

Where falls not hail, or rain, or any snow,

Nor ever wind blows loudly,"

said Neville, sympathetically.

Letitia glanced with pleasure and surprise

to them, -as there are to all the glens and
moimtains of .Scotland and Switzerland."

" Then \ ou prefer European scenery ? "asked
Neville.

" I do not really know. I caiuiot say," re-
])lied l.etitia. "1 have only read about it. 1
was fifteen when we left I'.ngland, but we had
always lived in the same little (ountry town."

There was a mo\emenl among the young
peo|)le, some one having proposed an im-
proinptu dan( e in the drawing-room. Neville
and l.etitia were consulted. 'I'hrough the
French win(k)ws, which opened on the ve-
randa, it (ould be seen that the room was
ra])idly being cleared, 'i'he dark [)olishe(l tloor
looked very inviting.

" M iss Roy plays some good waltzes," sug-
gested Mrs. Whyte. " Letty, will you plav
first ? "

Letitia atonce went tothepiano. Mrs. Whyte
introduced Neville to several jirctty girls, all
wearing white dresses and sailor hats. They
were so much alike at a first glance that Ne-
ville found it a little perple-xing to distinguish

le from at
le walt/.ed
ter in the
e dances 1
er Kdgar,
one of th
;lightful a
oked forw;
Iberta.

I.iKC ri:.N.'

followin}.
most oblige

the ortic
Uviii^liold :
;ivedtheki;
le extende(
eir homes
otherly wc

her hous
:nce that
as charmi
;long to tl
1 enter inti
lity regard

be im])r(
mily lite,
inments, 1
I eir own w;
)parent th;
)on cordial

pleased.

jaril ship I

e found it

Irs. Roy di:

)cks. Nev]

darning, r

id toes wi

ossibly I. el

le's gifts

tie by side

How to pos

;actly w h:fi

uion, or w

id sisters j

"ortal. Hei

le (|ualitie;

le generalh

|e intimate

I idealize >

id he sang

Bid
1
Or

Ith I. fire 2
k's heart b)
led togetii
\rmony.
Vol.. XI.l

\ ni;m ill ilif
'1. iipprccia-

iilcs, " is till.'

lio ( luirm of

c looked in-

)iir liills, our

aiity without

— llic l)f;uily

itiiuiL'd, witii

)! (.nibarrass-

1^' to \vat( h,

I's, atlac lu'd

Sa)/A' PASSAGES IN THE HI STORY OF I.ETIJ'IA ROY.

e ^Ic'iis and
t/crland."
!KTy?" asked

not say," rc-
l aliout it. 1
, but we liad
untry town."
^ the younL,'
jseil an ini-
om. Neville
hroiigh tile
on the se-
e room was
lolished lloor

.altzes," suj,'-
ill you pla)

Mrs.Whyte
:tty girls/ail
hats. They
ICC that Ne-
j distinguish

«e from another. I.etitia played well, but
jfte walt/ed even better, as Neville found out
ter in the afternoon. At the enil of one of
e dances I.etitia introduced him to her bro-
icr I'-tl^ar, who was paying great attention
I one of the sailor hats. It all seemed very
slightl'ul and informal to Neville, anil he
oked forward to having a very jolly time at
Iberta.

III.

LiK.r ri..\AXT Ni-:v I i.i.K called ujion Mrs. Roy
c following week, .\lberia etiquette made this
most obligatory, for Mr. Roy had called upon
I the officers, collectively, as soon as the
Uviv^liold arrived at the station. Neville re-
lived the kindly welcome from Mrs. Roy which
le extended to all young fellows away from
eir homes. She seemed to him a comely,
otherly woman, and he at once felt at ease

her house. The intimate love antl confi-
.•nce that existed between her and I.etitia
as charming to see. The boys seemed to
ilong to them eciually, so prettily did Leti-
1 enter into her mother's feeling of responsi-
lity regarding them. Neville was in a mood
I be imjjressed by so pleasant a picture of
mily life. The Roys gave few formal enter-
inments, but they were very hospitable in
eir ow n way ; and Neville made it so frankly
)parent that he enjoyed his visits that he was
)on cordially invited to visit them whenever
-• pleased. He had been sufficiently long on
jard ship to appreciate every homely detail,
e found it delightful, for instance, to watch
r.s. Roy dispose of a big basketful of the boys'
)cks. Neville had had experiences of his own
darning, and he inspected the mended heels
id toes with the interest of a connoisseur,
ossibly Letitia might have been blind to Ne-
lle's gifts and graces if she had grown up
le by side with him. It is difficult for a young
low to ])ose as a hero before a girl who knows
actly w hc-ft place he took in his school exami-
tion, or w!;o has seen him treated by mother
id sisters as though he were a very fallible
ortal. Heroism, and genius, and all the other
e ([ualities that bring a woman to her knees,
e generally found by her in some one outside
e intimate circle. It was not a difficult task
idealize Neville. He had a fine tenor voice,
id he sang

Bid me 'o live, and I will live

Thy protcstant to be ;
Or iiid ine love, and I will give

A loving heart to thee,

Ith .. fire and abandon that alone took Leti-
p heart by stonn. The duets which they |jrac-
led together brought them into still closer
pmony.
Vol.. XI.III.— 119.

937

.\n ac(|uaintance like this is not to be reck-
oned by weeks and months. l,ove, under
favorable circumstances, is caitable of a tro|)i-
cal growth. Infortunately neither Neville nor
I.etitia stoiiped to consider the nature of the
plant they were nourishing. Hut never had
there been such a beautil'ul summer in Letitia's
remembrance of .Alberta. Never had she felt
so glad and gay. I low beautiful was life ! How
dear were her brothers! How intoxicating the
sunshine and the flowers I A (harming ha/e
enveloped the mountain-tops and made their
outlines \ague and indistinct. So it was with
the future, I.etitia dreamily thought. It spread
itself out in the distance, fair and unknown, and
Letitia had no desire to unveil it.

Neville came and went. There were garden-
jiarties every week at Judge Whyte's. There
were occasional afternoon dances on board the
Strciii^/ioii/ There were picnics by boat and
by carriage. Mrs. Roy, anxious mother as she
was, saw no cause for alarm. She looked per-
haps a little closer at the future than Letitia
did, and her heart, by and by, began to ache,
as the thought of a possible separation from
her daughter occurred to her. There was,
however, in Letitia's manner a reserve, a
guardedness, a coyness, an inexpressible some-
thing, visible in her otherwise frank inter-
course with Neville, that had prevented thf
nearer ajjproach of lovers in the past, and
that made Mrs. Roy feel by no means certain
how the young peo]jle would shape their afiairs.
.Neville had won her heart, and she wished
him success. That he desired it she did not
tloubt. As the summer days passedquickly away
Neville had less anil less time, and perhaps
less ilesire, to analyze his feelings. Everything
was very jolly. The Roys were a delightful
fi'.milv; while, as for Letitia, she was out and
out the prettiest girl he had ever met. He
was not so frank with himself in acknow-
ledging the ilisappointment that possessed him
whenever Letitia was unexpectedly absent from
a gathering; or, if he was aware of it, he took
pains to attribute it to some other cause. " You
lost nothing by not being at the Simcoes' the
other evening,'' he would observe to Letitia the
next time he saw Iier; "it was very flat." Some
feminine instiiict. perhaps, prevented Letitia
from expressing her surprise. The Simcoes'
dances were generally looked upon as social
eveiUs beyonil criticism, and Edgar had en-
joyetl himself as usual.

The pyracanth berries turned red; dahlias
and chrysanthemums succeeded the roses. The
mists were blown from the mountain-tO])s by
the light evening breezes. The future, too,
began slowly to unveil itself in the shape of
ruinors that the Sfronx^o/t/ was to go south
before winter, anil that the Spitjirc would take

938

SOME PASSAGES IN THE HISTORY OF LETITIA ROY.

her place. Kdgar was always the first to hear
news, and one niglit he went home witii the
rei)ort tliat a telegram hr>(l been received from
headcjuarlers. Me blur "d it out at once, ex-
pecting it would excite great interest. JUit
1-etitia, who had been singing, began .slowly
to ])ut her music in order without .saying a
word, and Mrs. koy so promptly rebuked the
boys for some piece of carelessness of which
tiiey one and all |)rotested they had not been
guiity, that, in the animated discussion which
tollowed, Kdgar's news was overlooked. '!"he
following day Neville called anil confirmed the
report. He openly expressed his regret, and,
under the circumstances, seemed to exjjcct the
invitation to remain to dinner that Mrs. Roy
at once gave him.

" Would you like to have one of our new-
little dogs to take with you, Mr. Neville?"
asked Johnnie, the youngest of the family, and
the only one wiio was called by a pet name, the
excuse being that his father had monoi)oli/.ed
"John." "1 will give you one, if you like."

" Come and look at them," urged Alfred.
" They are running about in the yard."

" Vou had better go with them, Letitia,"said
her mother, noticing that she was in doubt.

Neville admired the two little black dogs
that scampered round and round the boys' legs,
and, being asked to suggest names for them,
christened them Flip and Flounce on the sjjoi.
He said that hewasafraid they miglit get seasick
on tlie ship, as they were not accustomed to
sailing, and that the boys had better keej) them
for iiim until next summer, and meanwhile take
them out in the boat as frequently as ])ossible.
'i'he l)oys accepted his advice, and ran off to tell
their mother of the arrr.ngeme.it, and to see if
she ajiproved of it.

Letitiaand Nevilleloitered in the flower-gar-
den instead of returning to the drawing-room;
but neither of them referred to the approaching
separation. It was uppermost in Letitia's mind,
however, all the time, and she was scarcely as
buoyant and gay as usual, although the matter-
of-course way in which Neville spoke of his
return next summer had lightened the load
that had weighed ui)on her spirits since the jire-
vious evening. She was glad to be rid of that
horrible sickening sensation which she had then
experienced for the first time.

" Would n't it be pleasant to sit here ? " said
Neville, pointing to the bamboo chairs on the
veranda.

Letitia assented. It would be much pleas-
antcr than going indoors.

From the veranda they overlooked the little
harbor, on one side of which clustered the
wharves and warehouses of the town. On the
other side, which was more rocky, there were
only the scattered huts of the Indian Reserve.

A sailing vessel from England, which had wea-'
thered the storms of the Cape, was beingslowlv;
towed in. Its dingy jiaint and battered aspuct!
were in strong contrast to the trim smartnuss]
of an American revenue-cutter that lay ai ;m-.
chor. Neville called Letitia's attention to this,
and she, in her turn, commented on sdinel
sealing-boats, the first of the season, that ha il
returned from liL.ing Sea. The conversation]
remained in these safe channels, into whicji it|
had casually drifted, until the six-o'clock wliis-i
ties sounded from the town wcrksho|)S. IVnl
minutes later Mr. Roy and F^dgar might heJ
expected froin the store. Neville pushed back|
his chair, and rose to stretch his limbs. A.^ l.e-j
titia shook from her lap the petals of a chry-
santhemum that she had been pulling to ijiecesj
in an absent-minded way, Neville smilingly[
referred to her destructiveness. Letitia gaily rel
torted. Mr. Roy and F^dgar presently waved!
their hands and nodded to them from the side-l
walk.

"Hullo! how d' ye do?" cried Mr. Roy,|
when he came within speaking distance. " li
hear you 're off to the south. I wish 1 were'
going along with you."

" Ye.s," said Neville ; " our sailing-ordersl
came last night, I 'm sorry to say. I 've had!
an awfully jolly dme here."

Letitia was sufficiently accustomed to boys'i
slang not to wince at the " awfully jolly." Itf
was the masculine way of describing every-l
thing delightful.

" I ho])e I shall be lucky enough to gel backl
next summer," continued Neville, with char-]
acteristic buoyancy.

" When do you sail ? " asked Edgar.

" That is n't settled," said Neville. " Hut II
think I 've a month's grace. It will take neariy|
that length of time to prepare."

\Vhen he spoke of the month's grace hel
turned with a slight, jjossibly unconscious,|
movement toward Letitia. Letitia rejoiced.^
The.se iialf-l)etrayals are often the* food u]ion;|
which love nourishes itself.

IV.

During that month of grace Neville talked]
with so much regret of his departure, and looked j
forward with so much certainty to a return theJ
following summer, that the weight st I,ctitia's|
heart almost entirely disappeared. Her laugh-
ter echoed her words as gaily as ever, and he-j
witching smiles illuminated her face. Novillel
visibly rejoiced in her presence. The autumnl
days were calm and serene ; but a crispncssi
in the air, out of the sunshine, and an occa-i
sional touch of frost at night, were remindersi
that winter was approaching. Letitia had oc-l
casional reminders, too, of the approiich ofl

>m£

ROY.

which had wca-l
was lieiiif,' slowly'
battered aspect j
trim smartiKssj
that lay at ;in- i
attention to this, I
entcd on somei
■eason, that ha 1
he conversation!
Is, into wliich itf
iix-o'clock whis
crkshops. TcnJ
Igar might hel
ille pushed back!
s limbs. A.-iLe-j
etals of a chry-j
nulling to pieces]
evilie smilinglyj
Letitia gaily rc-i
presently wivedj
n from the side-j

cried Mr. Roy,!
ig distance. " Ij
I wish I werel

sailing-orders]
say. I 've had!

stomed to hoys'j
k'fully jolly." Itj
ascribing every-

lugh to get back.]
ville, with char-|

X Edgar.
Jevillc. " But II
will take neariy

)nth's grace hel

ly unconsciousi

^etitia rejoiced.]

the* food ujioni

SOME PASSAGES IN T/IE HISTORY OF LETITIA ROY.

939

^er bitter season, but she had gained courage
v> look forward to the summer. .Alberta society
kever nl!r>v. cd any occasion for festivity to slip
Dy unnoticed. Indeed the English colony was
[enowned for its gay hospitality. As soon as
he day wi.s fi.ved for the de])arture of the
^tron,i;/it)l(i the citizens bestirred themselves to
Jive a ball to the atUnirai, and the officers, in
jeturn, gave a farewell ball in the dockyard.

In a few weeks you will be welcoming the
S/'itJin" saiil Neville, with a touch of senti-
lental jealousy which Letitia was cjuick to
lote.

Letitia had a new dress for these balls, and

new ball-dress was by no means an every-
day event in Alberta. She was far too jjretty
md i>oi)ular for Neville to have a chance of
ipprojjriating her on these occasions, and he
dso had his own social duties to attend to.
'he Roys were not the only people from whom
ie had received hospitality. Nevertheless, i^n
)ne way or another, Neville and Letitia were
luch together during that last month. Mrs.
Loy relaxed her tliscipline and permitted the
pung people, with Edgar and James as an
pscort, to enjoy extended rides through the
^voods. She was also persuaded to consent to

moonlight excursion on the water, up the
Inlet. On this last occasion Letitia's five bro-
thers were considered to constitute a sufficient-
ly strong body-guard, and Mrs. Roy, who had
lo great liking for small boats, stayed at home.

The sun was setting as they pushed out

rom the low pier, but the rich sunset lights

lingered long afterward above the dark, fir-

:lad hills of the island. Very gradually they

taded and merged themselves in the blue sky

)verhead, which then grew darker and darker,

intil the stars appeared, and the full moon

kse majestically over the town. By that time

[he Roys had almost reached the Narrows,

diere the tide rushed with tremendous force

)etween projecting rocks. The younger boys

lanted to row through, and urged that the

Current was with them. But Letitia protested.

Kdgar was captain of the crew, and Neville

let the lesson of obedience. As a compromi.se

|he boys were allowed to lind and scramble

)ver the rocks. Edgar undertook to stay wth

[lie boat, so Letitia and Neville presently, at

pdgar's suggestion, also climbed up the rocks,

md strolled through the woods to a point that

k-as celebrated for the beauty of the view it

pommanded.

How could a pair of lovers fail to be moved
)y the influences of the hour ? The pine- woods
^ere dark, and the trail was narrow and tangled
li'ith briers. It was impossible to walk side by
|ide, and therefore it was difficult to talk. Often
le lapping of the water on the shore, and the
Crunching of cones under their feet, were the

only sounds that disturbed the stillness of
the evening. In the distance the boys' voices
could now and then be heard, and occasionally
there was the splash of l-'.dgar's oar on the water
as he drifted jiatiently ba< kward and forward.
Letitia led the way, for she knew which trail
to follow; but Neville was only half a pace be-
hind her, near enough to pull aside the boughs
or to hold down the straggling brambles that
im])edeil her course. Sometimes a ray of moon-
light pierced the heavy, somber pine-bramhes
overhead, and fell for a moment on her fair
neck; sometimes it touched the soft rings of
hair that clustered round her ears ; and some-
times, when she half turned toward him, Neville
was able o look for a moment into her hazel
eyes. They were scarcely conscious how trivial
were the remarks they made to each other.
For the instant the senses were dominant.

Suddenly the path led them out of the woods
on to the high bluff which Letitia had been
trying to gain. Below them, and stretching as
far as they could see to the right and the left,
the deep waters of the inlet glimmered and
gleamed in the moonlight. On the opposite
shore an arbutus-tree distinctly i)rojected itself
from the pine-wood, and threw a weird shadow
on the rocks. Letida lifted her face to Neville
to call his attention to it, and the next moment
Neville's arm was round her wai.st and his lips
were pressed to hers. The moonlight, which
beautified everything on which it fell, beautified
LeUtia's features, and Neville yielded to an ir-
resistible impulse. Letitia's ecpially irresistible
impulse was to draw back, in shyness or in
iright, and she followed the impulse even while
her first surprise gave way to rapturous hap-
piness. There was no longer any doubt that
Neville felt even as she did. She half turned
as she reached the edge of the woods to listen
to the words that must come now without de-
lay. Alas 1 the boys' voices were coming nearer
and nearer. As for Neville, he was filled with
dismay. What e.vcuse could he offer for his
nad conduct ?

" Forgive me," he murmured as he rapidly
followed her.

Letitia gave him her hand in reply, and he
raised it to his lips.

The boys' voices sounde'i harsh and shrill
in the silence of the evening. Neville scarcely
knew whether he was glad or sorry that they
were so near. He managed to recover himself
before the boys themselves appeared^ and to
withdraw their attendon from Lotitia^he plied
them with question after question, to all of
which they had eager ♦answers to give, besides
much extra information to impart. In spite of
the narrow ])ath, Neville managed, in the dark-
ness, to retain Letitia's hand until they reached
the boat.

940

SOME PASSAGES IN THE HI STONY OF LET/T/A HOY.

Unkdrtunatki.y marriaf^e did not present
itself to Neville's imagination as the simple,
easily arranged afilair which Letitia'sex]>erience
had laiight her to regard it ; and in the events
that followed the momentary betrayal of his
feelings she was scarcely able to judge Ne-
ville's jjosition fairly, and to do him justice.
Neville belonged to a wealthy English family.
How could Letitia know tha;, personally, he
was far less indejjendent th:m the son of an ar-
tisan ? He had no means of liis own, and he
had been brought up in the belief that to marry
u|)on his lieutenant's pay was an impossibility.
Hitherto, in fact, marriage had not entered into
his calculations. He had been quite willing to
contemplate it only at that probably distant pe-
riod when he would either receive an adecjuate
allowance from his father or inherit u jjortion
of his father's wealth. Hut the cjuestion of mar-
riage necessarily forced itself upon him after
that scene on the bluff. As a gentleman he
had his code of honor, which he could not
infringe without a painful forfeiture of self-
respect. Much depended upon whether Le-
titia had taken him seriously. Did she not,
possibly, realize, as he did, the ditiferent bear-
ings of the situation, and understand that they
must give each other up, that the avowal of
love was the signal for farewell ? Yet Letitia
was a charming girl. Had he only himself to
])lease, how easily and pleasantly the matter
could be settled ! ]'ut what would his mother
say to the match ? Lady C'aroline Neville and
Mrs. Roy ! What would happen if he wrote
home and announced his engagement to the
daughter of an Alberta tradesman (for so they
would class Mr. Roy, regardless of mitigating
circumstances) ? 'I'hreats and entreaties might
l)Our in alternately by every mail ; or there
might be .a cool shrug of the shoulder and an
intimation that he could, of course, do as he
])leased, but that he need expect neither help
nor countenance from his people. It occurred
to him to throw up his profession, and to trust
to Mr. Roy to put him in the way of earning an
income. But that idea was quickly dismissed.
It would be intolerable. For a moment, how-
ever, he envied Edgar Roy, who could marry
when and whom he pleased.

These thoughts tossed through Neville's
mind for twenty- four hours; but the habits
and traditions of his family could not longer be
set aside. At the end of twenty-four hours they
began to reassert themselves, and he had at last
to own their dominant influence. An ofifhand
invitation to join a shooting-party that was
given at this crisis was accepted with alacrity,
since, at least, it deferred decision. A few brace
of grouse, sent with a note to Mrs. Roy, would

explain his movements, and Letitia, if she were
a sensible girl, would draw her own inferences.
Letitia, unfortunately, had not that experience
of Old World civilization whi( h would have
given her the clue to the comprehension of Ne-
ville's fettered condition. For her his hiss was
the ilefinite avowal of love. Words would fol-
low as a matter of course. Her dreamy ecstasy
betrayed her to the (|uick eyes of her mother,
and Mrs. Roy, ])artly because she would not
allow herself to (piestion her daughter, was in
n greater flutter of agitation than Letitia.

The future had revealed itself; and how ftiir
it was ! thought Letitia, as she looked from her
bedroom window upon the pure-white range
of the Olympians. She recalled Neville's words
the first time she met him :

The island-valley of Avilion,
Wl'crc falls not hail, or rain, or any snow,
Nor ever wind blows loudly.

In such a sheltered valley would their lives be
spent.

In shy hapjnness Letitia kept close to her
mother's side the whole of that first day. Ne-
ville might appear at any moment, and she was
timid at the thought of meeting him alone af-
ter their mutual confession on the bluft's. The
second day, however, she was sure he would
come, and the delay had given her courage to
put on her prettiest gown. She even stepped
more than once to the veranda, which com-
manded a long stretch of the road. The third
day she began to grow impatient and just
slightly anxious. Neville's truth was beyond
question, but had she, perhaps, repelled him ?
She had certainly withdrawn from his embrace.
She had been glad of the presence of the boys.
In the boat she had been separated from him.
Did he, could he, think that she was indiffer-
ent ? How easily she could dispel such an idea
if she could only see him; but until then —

" Your manners are just a trifle too reserved,
Letitia," Mrs. Roy took occasion to say during
the course of the morning, when she and Le-
titia were looking over the household linen to-
gether. She felt that some such hint at this
crisis might do gfiod, for to her, too, had oc-
curred the thought that Letitia migut uncon-
sciously have snubbed Neville. Letitia was
now convinced that she had been in fault, and
she sighed for an opportunity to repair her er-
ror. In the evening Edgar remarked casually
that he had met Neville.

" He wa.s in a great hurry. He was off to
Quamichau with Go wan and Tyldesly. ^ 'he
just stopped me to say that he htpeo ' .nd
you a bag cf game."

In a few days the game arrivci, r quitrler
of venison and three brace of grouse — " \i ;lh
Mr. Charles Neville's compliments."

He had ri

longer,
as rewardi
'ho met hii
t their fath
)nger avoi<
osely kee|)
le ilay of h
,elitia's wa
mple and
3 come to
lem, she W(
•as a darii
eived, was
lut. The n(

very inno(
^Ieville,"in^
oncluded 1
incerely" o
ance of th

message f
she said tl
lee him, am
ihe feared t
injoyed thi
It home as
Letitia e>
)erson, and
.■elop, in hi:
ng to her cl
remble. M
ulgar, who
iffice and v
;elling him
ind nails at
asten up si

lown by th
ler in a wh

eft alone to

t began. "'.

I was of c
ind I regret
loon. I am
lave dctaini
occur to me
I have been
For the voya
more than
I leave.

Letitia v
second tin
mean ? H
ville really
with eyes (
mistaken ?
She was tc
She folded
in the enve

?oy.

itia, ifshe were
wn inferences,
lat experience
li would have
liensionoCNe-
er liis kiss was
rds would fol-

jf her mother,
ihe would not

1 Letitia.
and how fair

e-white range
leville's words

"•'^~""'fT1

UflJ^t^

Tsn:

-^^RJ^

SOMIC PASSAGES IN THE HISTORY OF LETJTIA ROY.

941

He had returned then. Hecoulddelay a visit
o longer. Letitia waited for him at home, and
as rewarded by hearing of him from the boys,
rho met him frequently about the streets and
t their fatiier's store. I.etitia could, at last, no
)nger avoitl the « onclusion that he was i)ur-
osely keeping away from the cottage. And
reamy ecstasy ^e day of his rieparture was fast ajjproaching.

,elitia's way out of the difticulty was a very
mple and straightforward one. If be feared

ugiiter, was in come to her after what had passeu i)etween

lem, she would write and ask him to come. It
as a daring thought, but, when once con-

okeil from her eived, was i)romplly and courageously carried

ut. The note, when it was finally written, was
I very innocent one. She wrote, " My dear Mr.
sfeville,"insteadof"l)ear Mr. Neville,"andshe
:onclu(led by adding "always" to the "yours
incerely " of the first rough draft. The signifi-
:ance of the note 'r- 1 the fact that it was
I message from her, and not front her mother,
he said tl she had been hoping each day to
;ee him, and had not gone out much because
ihe feared to mi.ss him. She was glad he had
;njoyetl the shooting, and they would all be
It home as usual on Sunday afternoon.

Letitia expected the answer to be given in
)erson, and the sight of" Miss Roy" on an en-
•elop, in his handwriting, sent the blood rush-
ng to her cheeks and even caused her limbs to

evc^n stepped remble. Mrs. Roy checked all remark from
•idgar, who brought the letter from the post-
iffice and was inclined to chaff his sister, by

lent and just elling him she wanted him to bring a hammer
was beyond find nails at once to the chicken-house and to
asten up .some netting that had been blown
lown by the wind. She carried him off with

Avilion,
any snow,

their lives be

close to her
irst day. Ne-
t, and she was
him alone af-
le bluffs. The
Lire he would
er courage to

epelled him ?
I his embrace.

^ ^}}^^ boys, ler in a whirlwind of words, and Letitia was
eft alone to open her letter. " Dear Miss Roy,"
was mditter- It began. "Not wj' dear," noted Leutia, swiftly.
! such an idea

ntil then — I was of course pleased to receive your letter,

too reserved, ind 1 regret a precngagement for Sunday after-
to .say during noon. 1 am sorry, too, that I should inadvertently
she antl Le- ^''*^''-' detained you so much at home. It did not
accur to me that you might be expecdng me, and
I have been unusually busy with the preparations
For the voyage. I need not say that I hope to call
more than once upon Mrs. Roy and you before
I leave.

I am very truly yours,

Charles Nevillb.

lold linen to-
hint at this
too, had oc-
nigi.t uncon-
Letitia was
I in fault, and
epair her er-
ked casually

e was off to

lesly. ^ ! he

pec .^ .nd

'juarler

use — •

ts."

Letitia was stunned. She read the letter a
second time and then a third. What did it
mean ? Had she been dreaming ? Had Ne-
ville really kissed her ? Had he looked at her
with eyes of love, or had she been altogether
mistaken? Thought, just then, was impossible.
She was too much stunnod even to feel pain.
She folded the letter very carefully, replaced it
in the envelop, and put it into her pocket. She

tried to recall what she was doing when Kd-
gar gave it to her. Her knitting lay on the
table, and she mechanically took it up for a
few minutes. 'Ihcn she remembered that her
mother and Kdgar had gone to the poultry-
yard, and she went out to them. Anything was
better than the memories which began, like
lightning-flashes, to dart through her mind.

VI.

Love is said to be stronger than pride. If
so, it must be the tried and faithful love of
years, and not tne ti.. that is kindled by
mutual admiration, and v rished to maturity
by pleasure, but has not hid time allowed it to
strike deej) root into tl.e heart. Letitia's love
for Neville was str r ||led a. .lost at its birth, or
she believed thai ii was. She cjidd no longer
think of him with any self-respect. His image
w.;s broken. He wasi 'eniificd with the keen-
est humiliation she had known, and she in.sisted
to herself, whatever the truth may have been,
that he no longer had any place in her heart.
She counted the days until the departur,- of the
Stronghold, but it was to rejoice, with nevci-
theless a fierce pang of despairin[' •■egret for
what might have been, as one day after another
passed, now only too slowly, away. Every af-
ternoon she found an errand that took her out
for some hours; and so it came about that she
missed Neville both times that he called at the
cottage. Mrs. Roy gave her his message of re-
gret without comment. The smile that Letitia
.summoned was the wan ghost of the past. The
curves of her full lips, the dimples, the small
white teeth, were there, but the bright spirit
that illumined them had fled.

If Letitia denied her love, Neville was under
no such delusion with regard to his own feel-
ings. They grew in alarming strength after he
had despatched his letter, which he had sent
oft" in momentary petulance at being called to
account. His British independence resented
the slightest hint of capture. But his temper
quickly changed, and more than once he was
tempted to recall his note. However, he had
deliberately cut himself loose from the chains
which had threatened to bind him, and what
was done could not, he knew, be undone. For-
tunately for his \)t:.zt of mind, his judgment
still fortified him whenever he reflected dispas-
sionately upon the whole affair. But there
were moments when so to reflect was impos-
sible, and then the barrier he had put between
himself and Letitia was his only safeguard. He
dared not trust himself,to say farewell to her
in words, but neither could he leave Alberta
without looking upon her face once more, that
face that had been so passionately kissed when
last he had seen it.

BSS

942

SOME P.iSAGES IN THE HISTORY OF LETITIA ROY.

The Strotig/iold was, to sail early on Monday
morning. On the Sunday evening Neville
easily found a seat in a comer of the church
which commanded a view of the Roys' pew.
The church was only dimly lighted by lamps,
and the light they shed was concentrated on
the nave and chancel. Letitia's seat was within
the limits of their rays, so that her face was
plainly visible to Neville, who, in another aisle,
was concealed by the shadow of intervening
pillars.

Letitia sat between her father and Edgar.
The mother had, as usual, stayed at home with
the younger boys. Neville fancied that she
looked pale, but his heart assured him that she
had never, at any rate, looked more beautiful.
When the service was over she turned to greet
a friend, and, as he watched her lips part over
her white teeth, and the delicate dimples that
lurked round the corners of her mouth develop
themselves one by one, he felt that he could give
all for love and count the world well lost. But
the impulse passed. Outside, in the friendly
darkness of the night, he found an opportunity
of softly touching her dress. Then he went
quickly back to the church, where the man in
charge was putting out the Hghts, and sought
for Letitia's prayer-book. He read her name,
" Letitia Roy," on the title-page, and the book
was in his pocket when he hastened to join
his ship.

No one, except perhaps her mother, quite
understood Letitia the following winter. Once
or twice a week she would go off to bed with a
nervous headache, declaring that she could not
stand the noise the boys made. There were
songs .she could not be persuaded to sing. In-
deed, she scarcely touched the piano ; and the
sketches she had taken such pains with in the
summer were tossed into the fire as worthless.
On the other hand, she developed a passion
for plain needlework, bending for hours over
long seams.

" No wonder you have headaches," ex-
claimed Edgar, one night, when she had refused
to go out with him. " Mother, tell her to put
that work away."

Letitia threw it down, and burst into tears.

" Cannot you leave me alone ! " she cried.

Mrs. Roy picked it up and folded it neatly
when Letitia had left the room, and explained
to Edgar that his sister was not very well, and
that he had better take no notice of her.

But in a few minutes Letitia returned with
her hat and cloak and declared that she was
ready to go out. Ec'.gar stared, but he put on
his hat and overcoat without a word.

In after years Letitia hated to look back
upon that winter. She plunged recklessly into
all the gaiety of the little town, and, to the
surprise of every one, she even engaged in a

pronounced flirtation with Tom Rickaby, th
wildest young fellow in the place, and after
ward refused him with some ostentation. Sh
threw over a friend of Edgar's with more com
punction,and even with a little hesitation. In
deed, she did not give him a decisive answe
until after it was known that the S/rong/ioUwa^QQ devotic

Uowed th
ossible. T

lifetime \
lith. But!
espondent
lore she n

ordered home to England, and would not retun
to Alberta in the spring ; so that although sh

was blamed by many people for having en jrthbcthe

irothers. .
o develop
hey might

erized her
rew such a

couraged him, she was acquitted of merel\

coquetting with him in the absence of Lieuten

ant Neville, whose attentions, the previous sum

mer, had not been unnoticed. Mrs. Roy saidfter old pur

very Httle, but she planned effective measures )f taking 1

"John," she Said to her husband in the ^uch effort
spring, when he was preparing to go to Europt [,ife was n
to renew his summer stock, " you must takt lassion was
Letitia with you

" Letitia ! " said Mr. Roy, with some surJwoukl take
prise. " I had thought of taking Edgar and in It was i
troducing him to the firms we deal with. It is returned h
time he took greater responsibility on himself" mother lau

" Well, take them both," urged Mrs. Roy. jut nevertl

" Do you really mean it ? Do you know ler plans,
what it will cost ? " he asked, after a few min- ler blithe,
utes' deliberation. " Why, >

" I do mean it, John," said Mrs. Roy, with an vent away
emphasis that her husband never disregarded. ;ver,'

said
" Letitia is not well. She needs a thoroughlint patron
change, change of scene and change of thought
We '1! manage to economize in some other way.
but you let her and Edgar have a month inftvith
London together, and, if possible, send them
over to Paris for a week."

Mr. Roy lifted his eyebrows and thrust out Jill her thoi
his lips — signs of dawning comprehension. " Do yo

" You 're bent on going it, madam," he said.fcelle ?" sa
after a pause. " Well, I suppose you 've got Jier knee

" You ca
ares on >(
a plaii

school cl
arly, and

your reasons, and it must be as you say."

VII.

greatest he

je a ionel'

itied."
" You ai
I shall h<
" I shall

I.etitia, ser
Verv fe\

So it came about that Letitia not only went
with Edgar to Paris, but, when he and his
father returned to Alberta, she remained in
England, and paid a long visit to her mother's
relatives. She fell once more under the influ-fern towns,

ia was th(
hat Alber
o much
was consii

ence of her maiden cunt, to whom she faith-
fully promised to send dried specimens of all
the-fenis and wild flowers that grew round Al-
berta. The months that she spent with Miss
Wingate gave her an opportunity of studying lor " Miss

the usefulness and independerce of an old
maid's life, and Letitia became so enamoured of
it that, with a touch of her old enthusiasm, she
at once planned out a somewhat similar career
for herself. Away from Alberta her prideslowly
recovered from the blow it had received, and
she less reluctantly admitted her love for Ne-
ville. As soon as that was granted it clearly

ustom to
It came to
)laye(l abi
or them tl
liminutiv(
nf her dau
charmir
he wooed

wj^^g^aaBm.

HOY.

m Rickaby, th
(lace, and after
istentation. Sh(
with more com
t hesitation. In

MiMMmi

SOME PASSAGES IN THE HISTORY OF LETITIA ROY.

943

>llowed that marriage with another was im-

ossible. Tliat love could come only once in

lifetime was one of the dogmas of Letitia's

lith. But she did not give way to despair and

espondency because her day was past. The

decisive answe lore she regarded the sublime serenities and

J Stronghold wa: ee devotion to unselfish service which charac-

srized her maiden aunt, the more attractive

rew such a career for herself. She would hcncc-

Drth be the stay of her parents, the guide of her

would not retun

lat although sh(

for having en

itted of merel) irothers. In order to be able to help the latter
develop whatever musical and artistic tastes
hey might possess, she forced herself to renew
Mrs. Roy sair ler old pursuits, and unselfishly made a point
;ctive measures if taking lessons both in music and painting,
lusband in tht juch efforts worked their own cure in time,
to go to Europe Life was not to be barren. If an absorbing
you must takt lassion was denied, a variety of minor interests
night be consciously cultivated, which, in time,
with some sur ftould take its i)lace.

g Edgar and in It was in this exalted mood that Letitia
deal with. It is returned home after a year's absence. Her
lity on himself nother laughed at her wisdom and her ardor,
?ed Mrs. Roy. )ut nevertheless encouraged her to carry out
Do you know ler plans. She was content to have recovered
fter a few min- ler blithe, sunny- tempered daughter.

" Why, you look younger than when you
rs. R.oy, with an vent away, Letty, and you are prettier than
er disregarded. ;ver," said Mrs. Whyte, with the not unpleas-
;ds a thorough mt patronage of an old frie.ul.
inge of thought. " You can get out of t' e ruts. You have no
ome other way. ;ares on >our shoulder,," said Mrs. Roberts,
ive a month in vith a plaintive sigh. Mrs. Roberts had been
ble, send them i school chum of Letitia. She had married
:arly, and four young children now claimed
and thrust out ill her thoughts and attention,
nprehension. " Do you call this little woman a care,

idam," he said. klle?"said Letitia, lifting her godchild to
tse you 've got ler knee. " In a few years she will be the
you say." greatest helj) and comfort to you, and I shall

3e a lonely old maid. I am the one to be
litied."
"You an old maid!" said Belle, derisively,
not only went ' I shall believe it when I see it."
en he and his; " I shall be twenty-fi.e next birthday," said
e remained in! Letitia, seriously.

to her mother'.s Very few old maids .- re to be found in west-
nder the influ- srn towns, and it was, perhaps, because Leti-
lom she faith- tia was the nearest appj'oacb to the real thing
ecimens of all that Alberta possessed that, as years went on,
;rew round Al- so much attention was paid her. No party
)ent with Miss was considered complete without Miss Roy,
ty of studying '■ or " Miss Letty," as it gradually became the
'ce of an old , custom to c" 11 her. As the boys marned, and
• enamoured of it came to pass that little children once more
nthusiasm, .she jlayed about the cottage, Mrs. Roy tolerated
similar career "or them the use of the more ea.sily pronounced
er pride slowly iliminutive ; but she herself continued to speak
received, and , of her daughter as Letiha. In time she made
r love for Ne- i charming chaperon. But chaperons may
nted it clearly jjje wooed as well as girls ; and if, by degrees,

the young fellows that she had known in pina-
fores approached her as a friend and confidante
in their love-afiairs, there still remained plenty
of bachelors with whom Miss Letty was a favo-
rite toast. As years went on, of course their
ranks were thinned, and one by one they drojiped
out of Letitia's circle. The ships, however, of
the Pacific squadron, one or two of which
were always stationed near Alberta, supplied
men who temporarily filled their i)laces, and
the interest attached to novelty competed
pleasantly for her favor with old associations.

But the time came — it was when Letitia
was about thirty-five — when only one perma-
nent admirer, so to speak, was left. In num-
bers Letitia had found .safety. When all
counteracting and disturbing influences were
removed, she found herself defenseless and
exposed to an obstinate attack. It was inferred
by all that the day was not far distant when
Letida would yield.

Mr. Joseph Hobday was a man of substance,
both materially and physically. He had come
to the province as a contractor for the railway
that was to unite the outlying Pacific province
with the busy, prosperous cides of the East,
and by successful enterprises and investments
he had amassed a considerable fortune. He
did not .seek to disguise his admiration for
Miss Letty, and from the day of their first
acquaintance he enrolled himself among her
followers. He was not a man of manjv words.
He loved his i)ipe, his glass of toddy, and his
game of cribbage; but had Miss Letty de-
manded the sacrifice, he would no doubt have
been found willing to give up all three in
exchange for her society. It was one of Le-
titia's charms, however, that from her no such
exactions need be dreaded. It was only in
the winter months that Mr. Hobday could
pursue his courtship. In the summer he was
camping with his engineers in the lonely
recesses of the mountains. The news was
scanty that penetrated the high valleys through
which the iron rails were perseveringly mak-
ing their way, and another man might have
grown imjjatient of the solitude, fearing lest
the prize he sought to gain would be snatched
uj) in his absence. Mr. Hobday, however, had
a comfortable belief in himself. In the ])ast
he had never hazarded his fcnune upon a
single stroke of luck, or trusted to the Hash of
genius. He had been content to wait, to ad-
vance slowly, and to win his way by j^ersistent
determination. When, again and again, after
months of silence, he returned to Alberta and
found Miss Letty still Miss Letty, it was only
natural that he should still more hopefully ex-
pect to appro|iriate to himself the comfort and
charm of her constant companionship. Apa-
thetic as he may have appeared to younger men,

.•• n«i.it».wtiOT8«hr»ao(«'«'rK ■«

f^BTFj

944

THE OCEAN POSTAL SERVICE.

he really left nothing undone that might insure
success; he delighted Letitia with the speci-
mens of rare mountain-ferns that he brought
her, and arranged carefully in a cabinet her
valuable collection of various kinds of ore.

When Mr. Hobday finally made up his mind
that the time had come to give up his roving
life and to establish himself in a settled home,
Miss Letty's preference guided him in the se-
lection of a few acres of choice land within
convenient driving distance of Alberta ; and
it was Miss Letty who was asked to criticize
the architect's plans and to suggest improve-
ments. The size of the house and its many

conveniences in the shape of presses and cup
boards — conveniences which Letitia declared ^
were absolutely necessary — made it evident to
all that Mr. Hobday had no intention of being
its sole occupant.

Strange to say, it was on the very same bluff,
overlooking the narrows of the inlet, where
Letitia had long ago been kissed by Neville,
that Mr. Hobday advanced the idea of a trip
to San Francisco for the purpose of buying
furniture.

"And I 've come to depend so much on your
taste, Letty," he said, " that you must not de-
sert me now."

M. E. Angus.

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