For more than a year past, he has shown a decided preference for Delia Floyd, and she has encouraged his attentions.

Indeed, so far as I can learn from Mrs.
Dean, the heart of her niece was deeply interested.

But a lover of higher pretensions came, dazzling her mind with a more brilliant future." "Who ?" I inquired.
"That dashing young fellow from New York, Judge Bigelow's nephew." "Not Ralph Dewey ?" "Yes." "Foolish girl, to throw away a man for such an effigy! It will be a dark day that sees her wedded to him.

But I will not believe in the possibility of such an event." "Well, to go on with my story," resumed Constance.

"Last evening, seeing, I suppose, that a dangerous rival was intruding, Henry made suit for the hand of Delia, and was rejected." "I understand the case better now," said I, speaking from a professional point of view.
"Poor young man! I did not suppose it was in him to love any woman after that fashion," remarked Constance.
"Your men of reserved exterior have often great depths of feeling," I remarked.