nutes, and Louise would have left the
room, but her mother gently detained her. "Edward wished me to say to
you that his intimacy with Miss DeWolf was broken off, and he further
requested that you would never mention the subject to him."

Great consternation was depicted on Louise's countenance. Oh! it is
too bad," she exclaimed; "and just as she had promised to show me how
that beautiful trimming was made which Miss Marsdon sent her from New
York. I wonder what it means. Do you know, mamma?"

"Why yes, my dear; it means that Miss DeWolf is possessed of a
sensible, well-balanced mind, and that your brother has acted very
foolishly."

Just at that moment the conversation was interrupted by the appearance
of one of Louise's friends and advisers, and the two girls were soon
absorbed in discussing the merits of some article of dress belonging
to the trousseau.

Thus the hours slipped away, until about one o'clock, Edward came for
dinner. He knew as soon as his eye rested upon his demonstrative
sister that she had been made acquainted with his disappointment, and,
as he naturally shrank from receiving sympathy, either by word or
look, he exerted himself to appear much more cheerful than he really
felt.

Louise inwardly resolved that she would be very watchful, and not
cloud her brother's spirits by any allusion whatever to Chimney Rock,
and the next moment she suddenly remembered having seen at the
midnight hour a very bright light from her chamber window in that
direction. Without second thought, she related the circumstance, and
caught herself making the inquiry, "Did you see it, Ned?"

Edward's face flushed scarlet, as he answered evasively, "O, that was
the brewery on fire. I met Mr. Glutter in the city this morning. He
came to make arrangements to open another saloon here. I never saw a
man of more indomitable will and perseverance. Although he lost an
immense amount he is not in the least disheartened."

"Brave fellow," said Louise, cordially embracing her brother's
estimate of the man's character. "I wonder what occasioned the fire."

"Why, he placed the lamp too near his bed, while he went out to learn
if there was any trouble at Miss DeWolf's. It seems that he had always
had a friendly care for her, and, hearing noises in that direction,
he was so kind as to run over. Finding it all quiet about the house,
he followed the sounds to the stable, and discovered that it was only
a horse, which Mr. Wycoff had, a