ghtly hyperbolical and very original, you
perceive," with a satirical curve of her pretty lips--"but he never
seems half satisfied with me. He ought to know by this time that I must
be just my own little self, and not a second-hand imitation of somebody
else."

The next day came a letter with a German postmark, which was so eloquent
on the subject of Fraeulein Teresa that it elicited the following reply:

"DETROIT, August 5, 1871.

"DEAR FRED: I despair of emulating Fraeulein Teresa's many
excellencies. You know what a useless little thing I am. Happily, it
is not too late to make another choice. Thinking it may please you,
I hereby release you from all your promises to me. We may never be
anything more to each other perhaps, but I hope that we shall always
be dear friends. I shall never forget that we grew up together, and
I wish you all possible happiness.

"Your little friend, HELEN."

In due time this answer came:

"HEIDELBERG, August 27, 1871.

"MISS ST. CLAIR: Your somewhat singular letter of August 5th was
duly received. If I believed that you had written it, or ever could
or would do anything, with proper deliberation, I should accept
your decision at once. But as I have good reason to know your habit
of acting from sudden impulses which you afterward regret, I give
you three months to reconsider this hasty step.

"I have the honor to be your obedient servant,

"F. A. DENHAM."

Helen held to me the open sheet, with kindling eyes and glowing cheeks:
"Three months! I don't need three minutes: I wouldn't change in three
centuries. I am so glad to be free!" she cried, sobbing and laughing at
the same moment. "He has worried me so--a poor little thing like me!"

The next morning I started on my return to Boston.

Early in October a servant handed me a card bearing the name Francisco
Alvala. I had ceased to think of the boy, not having heard a word from
him; but here he was, looking very manly, browned with the sun and sea,
and beautiful as Endymion when Diana stooped to kiss him and all the
green leaves in the white moonshine were tremulous with sympathy.

After the first greeting he asked, "How is Miss St. Clair? and when did
you see her last?"

I told him of my recent visit.

"She is not married, then?"

"On the contrary, she is free. The engagement with Mr. Denham has been
broken."

"What did I tell you? Did I no