er, who kept up the good old customs of his English ancestors,
gave a dinner and ball in honor of his son's coming of age. All the
gentry of his own and the adjoining counties accepted invitations to
attend. Among the guests was William Dulan. He was presented to Miss
Raymond, the young hostess of the evening, by Mr. Keene. Young Dulan
was at first dazzled by the transcendent beauty of her face, and the
airy elegance of her form; then, won by the gentleness of her manners,
the elevation of her mind, and the purity of her heart. One ball in a
country neighborhood generally puts people in the humor of the thing,
and is frequently followed by many others. It was so in this instance,
and William Dulan and Alice Raymond met frequently in scenes of
gayety, where neither took an active part in the festivities. A more
intimate acquaintance produced a mutual and just estimation of each
other's character, and preference soon warmed into love.

From the moment in which the jealous fears of Richard Delany were
aroused, he resolved to throw so much coldness and hauteur in his
manner toward that young gentleman as should banish him from the
house. This, however, did not effect the purpose for which it was
designed, and he finally determined to broach the subject to his
father. Old Colonel Delany, whose "optics" were so very "keen" to spy
out the danger of his son's forming a mesalliance, was stone blind
when such a misfortune threatened Alice, liked the young man very
much, and could see nothing out of the way in his attentions to his
niece, and finally refused to close his doors against him at his son's
instance. While this conversation was going on, the summer vacation
approached, and William made arrangements to spend them with his
mother.

One morning William Dulan sat at his desk. His face was pale, his
spirits depressed. He loved Alice, oh! how madly. He could not forego
the pleasure of her society; yet how was all this to end? Long years
must elapse before, if ever, he could be in a situation to ask the
hand of Alice. With his head bowed upon his hand, he remained lost in
thought.

"Mr. Dulan, may our class come up? We know our lessons," said a
youthful voice at his elbow.

"Go to your seats, boys," said a rich, melodious, kind voice; "I wish
to have a few moments' conversation with Mr. Dulan," and Dr. Keene,
the principal, stood by his side.

"My dear Dulan," said he, "you are depressed, but I bring you that
which will