ake up my mind to pass the evening alone in my room. I'm more sorry for
Jack, after all, than myself, he will be so sadly disappointed.
Good-night, Aunt Debby," and with dejected aspect the young girl put on
her little straw hat and left the school-room.

The evening stole on, and Jack Camford was beside his cousin Alice, in
her quiet apartment.

"I don't see why Wayland Morris should hate me so inveterately, as to
forbid his sister to receive any calls from me," remarked the youth,
bitterly.

"How do you know he does so?" inquired Alice, without raising her eyes
from the German worsted pattern on which she was occupied.

"Because Winnie told me so, to-night. I had invited her to attend the
theatre, but it appears she dared not ask her brother's permission, for
fear of a refusal," said Jack, in a troubled tone. "You are acquainted
with Mr. Morris, Alice?"

"No," returned she, quickly.

"Why, he calls on you."

"He did call at the house once or twice, soon after my arrival here, I
believe."

"Once or twice!" exclaimed Jack, in surprise; "why, he was here almost
every day for several months, and we all thought you were declared
lovers."

"Hush, Jack! how you are running on!" said Alice, with a flushed
countenance.

"Well, don't tell me you are not acquainted with young Morris, then,"
returned Jack.

"I have not seen him, as you are aware, for the last six months,"
remarked Alice.

"But you _could_ see him very easily."

"So could you."

"Ah, Alice! I thought you would do me so small a favor."

"As what?"

"See Mr. Morris, and ascertain why he opposes my addresses to his
sister."

"Is he the only one who opposes you?"

"You allude to my family; but not one of them should control me, in this
matter, if I could win her from her brother."

"You are very young, Jack; wait a few years, and your feelings will
change."

The boy looked on his cousin as she uttered these words with so much
apparent indifference, and exclaimed:

"O, Alice! you have never loved, or you could not talk thus to me," and
hurriedly left the apartment.

Alice heard him rush down the hall stairs and into the street. "Poor
Jack!" she sighed; "but what could I do for him? To place myself before
Wayland Morris, and plead my cousin's suit with his sister, when
probably the very cause of his objection to their acquaintance is that
the lover is a relation of mine; and it appears that by some
misapprehension I have as unwittingly a