189G. 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



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She looked at bim, not knowing what 

 to say. 



"Have you forgotten the good times 

 we hud in this garden and over there 

 in the woods?" 



"Oh, no," said she. 



' 'And when we would go rowing and 

 I would scare you by swinging to and 

 fro in the boat to capsize you?" 



"Oh, no. I remember it all." 



"Then why don't you put your arms 

 around my ueck and say pleasant things 

 to me as you did then?" 



"1 don't know," she faltered. 



Then he said to himself, "This cousin 

 of mine must be a little simpleton." 



"Well," said he, aloud, "and what 

 is this book?" 



"Lamartine. It is beautiful. " 



"I don't think so. I think it stupid. " 

 Then, seeing that she was somewhat 

 abashed, he added, "Why does it dis- 

 please you that I should not care for 

 Lamartine?" 



"Because I love his poems. " 



"Well, if I read poetry I want Alfred 

 de Musset. I shall send you his works 

 when I get to Paris. ' ' 



At this moment they heard a quick 

 and fii'm step on the sandy walk, and a 

 young man came upon them. 



"Excuse me, mademoiselle," said he. 

 ••'I have just learned that Albert is here 

 and I have come to shake hands," 



An old saying came to Clara's mind : 

 "Two is company; three is a crowd. " 

 She was too well behaved to say it, so 

 she left the two young men together. 

 When alone, she reflected that Albert 

 was a very nice cousin, and might make 

 a very good husband. As for his friend — 

 well, he was a very good looking man 

 and might be a very nice fellow — but 

 what a difference between the twol 



"Your cousin is a charming girl," 

 Bald Jack. 



"Oh, yes, but she is only a school- 

 girl." 



"Well, what else can she be? She is 

 just out of school and not a woman 

 yet. Do you know what were my 

 thoughts as I looked at you both?" 



"How can I know?" 



"I was thinking that you wotild make 

 a pretty couple." 



"Now, Jack, what harm have I ever 

 done you that you should want to chain 



UA rin-xcn?" 



"Are you not 25?" 



"Is tJia.t old age?" 



"Would you give an old man to your 

 cousin, who will lie only 19 next your?" 



' ' In two years slie will be 20 — that 

 »vill be better still. Then I will be a 

 serious man and an M. D. 



"Clara is a good match; our fortunes 

 are about equal. I think I miglit make 

 a living in this country. Well, who 

 knows what may happen one day? I 

 have plenty of time to think of it. " 



"I think your cousin deserves better 

 than that, and you ought to be in love 

 with htr. " 



"What! Love at first sight ! I do think 

 Clara is pretty, but — plenty of time — 

 plenty of time!" 



Everybody seemed happy at the mill 

 — even Clara, who listened with pleasure 

 to the compliments of her cousin when- 

 ever he chanced to be with her, and she 

 thought him so witty that she quite for- 

 got to show her own wit before him. 



In the meantime she was hoping that 

 he would propose before going back to 

 Paris ; but tiie last day dawned, and he 

 had not siwd the least word about mar- 

 riage. She hoped till the last hour; 

 then, till the lust minute. 



Albert gave kisses all around and said 

 to her: "I will come back next year. I 

 will write to you and send De Musset's 

 works, as I promised. ' ' 



She plucked up courage and said to 

 him, "Is that all you want to promise, 

 Albert?" 



He understood what she meant, but 

 would not promise more, and as his eyes 

 rested on the clock he said: "Good by, 

 cousin ; the train is here — it cannot 

 wait. " 



****** 



The life of a student, especially that 

 of a student who does not study, is just 

 as tiresome as any other. 



There comes a time when he gets tired 

 of beer, wine and cigars. 



Albert was in one of his dark days. 

 Since morning he had felt cross, and 

 would not even smoke ; his pipe lay on 

 his table with a pile of books and dusty 

 papers. His tobacco pouch reminded 

 him of Clara — slie had embroidered it 

 for him during the week he had spent 

 with her. Then he was also reminded 

 that he had promised to write and send 

 De Musset's works. He felt unhappy 

 at these thousdits. and remorse made 



