"Why never, Julia?" cried the youth, giving way at
once to his long-suppressed feelings--"why never?
Try me, prove me! there is nothing I will not do to
gain your love."

Oh! how seductive to a female ear is the first
declaration of an attachment, especially when
urged by youth and merit!--it assails her heart in
the most vulnerable part, and if it be not fortified
unusually well, seldom fails of success. Happily for
Julia, the image of Antonio presented itself to save
her from infidelity to her old attachment, and she
replied--

"You are kind and good, Charles, and I esteem you
highly--but ask no more, I beg of you."

"Why, if you grant me this, why forbid me to hope
for more?" said the youth eagerly, and looking
really handsome.

Julia hesitated a moment, and let her dark eyes fall
before his ardent gaze, at a loss what to say--but
the face of Apollo in the imperial uniform
interposed to save her.

"I owe it to your candour, Mr. Weston, to own my
weakness--" she said, and hesitated.

"Go on, Julia--my Julia," said Charles, in an