ly improved
every opportunity of gaining admittance to her society. But while
labouring to inspire her with a due appreciation of himself, he fell
into his own snare; for though he failed in awakening Gertrude's
interest, he could not be equally insensible to her attractions. Even
the dull intellect of Ben Bruce was capable of measuring her vast
superiority to most girls of her age; and her vivacious originality was
a contrast to the insipidity of fashionable life, which at length
completely charmed him.

His earnestness and perseverance began to annoy the object of his
admiration before he left Mr. Graham's in the autumn; and she was glad
soon after to hear that he had accompanied his mother to Washington, as
it insured her against meeting him again for months to come.

Mr. Bruce regretted losing sight of Gertrude, but amid the gaiety of
southern cities wasted his time with tolerable satisfaction. He was
reminded of her again on meeting the Graham party at New Orleans, and it
is some credit to his understanding to say, that in the comparison which
he constantly drew between her and the vain daughters of fashion, she
stood higher than ever in his estimation. He did not hesitate to tell
her so on the morning already mentioned, when, with evident
satisfaction, he had recognized and joined her; and, the increased
devotion of his words and manner, which now took a tone of truth in
which they had before been wanting, alarmed Gertrude, and led to a
serious resolve to avoid him on all possible occasions.

On the day succeeding the one of which we have been speaking, Mr. Graham
returned from the city about noon, and joined the young ladies in the
entry, unfolded his newspaper, and, handing it to Kitty, asked her to
read the news. "What shall I read?" said Kitty, taking the paper rather
unwillingly.

"The leading article, if you please."

Kitty turned the paper inside and out, looked hastily up and down its
pages, and then declared her inability to find it. Mr. Graham was
astonished, and pointed in silence to the paragraph. She began, but had
scarcely read a sentence before Mr. Graham stopped her, saying, "Don't
read so fast--I can't hear a single word!" She now drawled so
intolerably that he interrupted her again, and bade her give the paper
to her cousin.

Belle took it from the pouting Kitty, and finished the article--not,
however, without being once or twice compelled to go back and read more
intelligibly.

"Do you