His frank bearing, his gentlemanly deportment, and, above all, the favorable reports which her father gave of his gallant conduct, conspired to enlist young Mary in his favor.
[Illustration: Mary Prescott.] They were scarcely thrown into each other's society before the natural, though sometimes tardy, results of the virtues we have mentioned were seen.

The tell-tale blush--the voice unconsciously lowered to the most thrilling softness--the timid glance--the deep-drawn sigh--the absent, vacant appearance when separated for a short time from each other--the supreme happiness when together--all were signs which escaped not the eyes of the sister and mother, although the matter-of-fact father failed to notice such trifles.

His days of courtship had become a fable, if they were not forgotten.
If there were any displeasure at this state of affairs upon the part of her mother, it was only because she believed her daughter too young to entertain thoughts of marriage.

Like a wise and prudent parent, however, she did not seek to accomplish an impossibility--that of preventing what no parent yet succeeded in preventing.

Having great confidence in the young Lieutenant, from the representations of her husband, she merely resolved to be discreet with him.