ll initiate a most important step in the
way of national happiness and prosperity.

"My solution, then, of the domestic problem may be formulized as
follows:--

"1st. That women make self-helpfulness and family helpfulness
fashionable, and every woman use her muscles daily in enough household
work to give her a good digestion.

"2d. That the situation of a domestic be made so respectable and
respected that well-educated American women shall be induced to take it
as a training-school for their future family life.

"3d. That families by association lighten the multifarious labors of the
domestic sphere.

"All of which I humbly submit to the good sense and enterprise of
American readers and workers."

GRIFFITH GAUNT; OR, JEALOUSY.

CHAPTER VI.

The two combatants came to the field in a very different spirit. Neville
had already fought two duels, and been successful in both. He had
confidence in his skill and in his luck. His conscience, too, was
tolerably clear; for he was the insulted person; and if a bullet should
remove this dangerous rival from his path, why, all the better for him,
and all the worse for the fool who had brought the matter to a bloody
issue, though the balance of the lady's heart inclined his way.

He came in high spirits, and rode upon Kate Peyton's gray, to sting his
adversary, and show his contempt of him.

Not so Griffith Gaunt. His heart was heavy, and foreboded ill. It was
his first duel, and he expected to be killed. He had played a fool's
game, and he saw it.

The night before the duel he tried hard to sleep; he knew it was not
giving his nerves fair play to lie thinking all night. But coy sleep, as
usual when most wanted, refused to come. At daybreak the restless man
gave it up in despair, and rose and dressed himself. He wrote that
letter to Catharine, little thinking it would fall into her hands while
he lived. He ate a little toast, and drank a pint of Burgundy, and then
wandered listlessly about till Major Rickards, his second, arrived.

That experienced gentleman brought a surgeon with him,--Mr. Islip.

Major Rickards deposited a shallow wooden box in the hall; and the two
gentlemen sat down to a hearty breakfast.

Griffith took care of his guests, but beyond that spoke scarcely a word;
and the surgeon, after a ghastly attempt at commonplaces, was silent
too. Major Rickards satisfied his appetite first, and then, finding his
companions dumb, set to work to keep u