these city streets, I feel as if my very longing to
escape to the heart of the hills, would carry me there. I remember when
I was a child, I was one day running through a meadow, when suddenly a
whole flock of birds flew up from the grass and surrounded my head. I
was not sure but what I should be caught up and carried away by the
force of their flight; and when they rose to mid heaven, something in my
breast seemed to follow them. So it is often with me here, only that it
is the rush of my thoughts that threatens such a Hegira. Yet if I were
to be transported to my native hills, I know I should long to be back
again."

"The mountain lassie has wandered into the courts of the king. The
perfume of palaces is not easily forgotten."

Her eye turned towards Mr. Sylvester standing near them upright and
firm, talking to a group of attentive gentlemen every one of whom
boasted a name of more than local celebrity. "Without a royal heart to
govern, there would be no palace;" said she, and blushed under a sudden
sense of the possible interpretation he might give to her words, till
the rose in her hand looked pallid.

But he had followed her glance and understood her better than she
thought. "And Mr. Sylvester has such a heart, so a hundred good fellows
have told me. You are fortunate to see the city from the loop-hole of
such a home as his."

"It is more than a loop-hole," said she.

"Of that I shall never be satisfied till I see it?"

And being content with the look he received, he took her on his arm and
led her into the midst of the dancers.

Meanwhile in a certain corner not far off, two gentlemen were talking.

"Sylvester shows off well to-night."

"He always does. With such a figure as that, a man needs but to enter a
room to make himself felt. But then he's a good talker too. Ever heard
him speak?"

"No."

"Fine voice, true snap, right ring. Great favorite at elections. The
fact is, Sylvester is a remarkable man."

"Hum, ha, so I should judge."

"And so fortunate! He has never been known to run foul in a great
operation. Put your money in his hand and whew!--your fortune is as good
as made."

The other, a rich man, connected heavily with the mining business in
Colorado, smiled with that bland overflow of the whole countenance which
is sometimes seen in large men of great self-importance.

"It's a pity he's gone out of Wall Street," continued his companion.
"The younger fry feel now something like a floc