means repulsed the ardent suitor. She had not thought of marriage,
she said, and asked a short time for reflection.

Edwin saw enough in her manner to satisfy him that the result would
be in his favor. This would have made him supremely happy, could he
have blotted out all recollection of Edith and his conduct towards
her. But, that was impossible. Her form and face, as he had last
seen them, were almost constantly before his eyes. As he walked the
streets, he feared lest he should meet her; and never felt pleasant
in any company until certain that she was not there.

A few days after Mr. Florence had made an offer of his hand to Miss
Linmore, and at a time when she was about making a favorable
decision, that young lady happened to hear some allusion made to
Edith Walter, in a tone that attracted her attention. She
immediately asked some questions in regard to her, when one of the
persons conversing said--

"Why, don't you know about Edith?"

"I know that there is a great change in her. But the reason of it I
have not heard."

"Indeed! I thought it was pretty well known that her affections had
been trifled with."

"Who could trifle with the affections of so sweet, so good a girl,"
said Miss Linmore, indignantly. "The man who could turn from her,
has no true appreciation of what is really excellent and exalted in
woman's character. I have seen her only a few times; but, often