have not another word to say
about your loving, wooing and marrying her, if you can. Should she not
consent, then ask Miss Bland. I know how anxious she is to see
"Maritana." Now, try if she will resign this pleasure for the sake of
doing good. Of course, you must not let her know you have previously
asked her cousin. Will you do it? It can do no harm, and may he
productive of much good."

"Yes, father, I will put her to the test. But I will not promise that
the issue shall decide my future course. I shall be grieved and
mortified if she does not consent, but not without hope. I know she is
good, and we will find it yet."

An hour more found David Carlton awaiting in the drawing-room the
coming of Valeria.

Fortune favored him thus far.

"Miss Bland and Miss Fairleigh were out, but would be back soon. Miss
Valeria was in," answered the servant to his inquiry, "If the ladies
were home?"

In a few moments she came in smiling brightly, and saying:

"I am really glad to see you again, Mr. Carlton, for mamma and Julia
said I had quite horrified you with my nonsense the last evening you
were here. Indeed, you must excuse me, but I cannot possibly don
dignity and reserve. Jule can do enough of that for both, and I think
it is far better to laugh than be sighing."

"Indeed, I have never seen anything to disapprove of. I could not
expect or wish to see the young and happy either affecting, or really
possessing, the gravity of maturer years. My absence has no connection
whatever with the events of that evening. I have been devoting my
spare time to my father. This is his last evening with me. I came
round to ask a favor of you. We are very anxious to get up some
interest for the mission to ----, and father thinks if the young folks
of the church would aid us, it would be all right. Will you go with
us?" answered David. A look of deep regret, the first he had ever
seen, was in the eyes of Valeria, when she answered:

"You will have to excuse me, I have an engagement for the evening, I
am really sorry, I would like to oblige you." Then, breaking into a
merry laugh, she said:

"Jule will go--ask her. She dotes on missions--both foreign and home,
and all sorts of charity meetings. She has money, too; I've spent
every cent of mine this month already, besides all I could borrow.
Yes, ask her; I know she will, and give, too. I should be sure to go
to sleep or get to plotting some sort of mischief against my nearest
neighbo