id not return to
his wild courses was remarked upon as something hardly to be credited,
but greatly to his honor; for it was universally conceded, that such a
disappointment as his was enough to drive almost any man to drink who
had indulged in it previously; such is the generally admitted frailty of
man's moral constitution.

Toward the last of August, Mrs. Smiley received a visit from Chillis. He
was dressed with more than his customary regard to appearances, and
looked a little paler and thinner than usual. Otherwise, he was just the
same as ever; and, with no questions asked or answered on either side,
their old relations were re-established, and Willie was rapturously
excited with the prospect of more Saturday excursions. Yet there was
this difference in their manner toward each other--that he now seldom
addressed her as "White Rose," and never as "my lovely lady;" while it
was she who made graceful little compliments to him, and was always gay
and bright in his company, and constantly watchful of his comfort or
pleasure. She prevailed upon him, too, to make calls with her upon other
ladies; and gave him frequent commissions that would bring him in
contact with a variety of persons. But she could not help seeing, that
it was only in obedience to her wishes that he made calls, or mingled
with the town-people; and when, one evening, returning together from a
visit where he had been very much patronized, he had remarked, with a
shrug and smile of self-contempt, "It is no use, Mrs. Smiley--oil an'
water won't mix," she had given it up, and never more interfered with
his old habits.

So the summer passed, and winter came again, with its long rains, dark
days, and sad associations. Although Mrs. Smiley was not at all a
"weakly woman," constant effort and care, and the absence of anything
very flattering in her future, or inspiring in her present, wore upon
her, exhausting her vitality too rapidly for perfect health, as the
constantly increasing delicacy of her appearance testified. In truth,
when the spring opened, she found herself so languid and depressed as to
be hardly able to teach, in addition to her house-work. Then it was that
the gossips took up her case once more, and declared, with considerable
unanimity, that Mrs. Smiley was pining for the handsome Captain, after
all, and, if ever she had refused him, was sorry for it--thus revenging
themselves upon a woman audacious enough to refuse a man many others
would