eligible companions for life. And, as the wayward love-fates would have it,
they both secretly fixed their affections on one and the same girl,--the
pretty and sensible Alice Gregg, who, though a plain farmer's daughter,
was, to the vexation and envy of her numerous rustic suitors, to be won by
nothing short of one of the village merchants. Alice was not long in
discovering her advantage, nor in deciding to avail herself of it, so far
as to confine her election to one of these, her two undeclared lovers. And,
after balancing a while in her mind the account between her judgment, which
would have declared for the reserved but sterling Arthur, and her fancy,
which clamored hard for the manly-looking and more social Mark, she finally
yielded the reins to the latter, and took measures accordingly. After this,
Arthur's taste in selecting a piece of goods did not, as before, seem to be
appreciated. Her handkerchief was never dropped where he had any chance to
pick it up; and she was never quite ready to go till Mark was nearest at
hand to help her into her wagon or side-saddle. By this delicate system of
female tactics, common with girls of more pretensions than Alice, she
effectually repressed the advances of the one, and as effectually
encouraged those of the other; and the result, as she had anticipated, was
a declaration from Mark, an acceptance on her part, and a speedy marriage
between them. Arthur's heart bled at the event; but it bled inwardly; and
he had at least the consolation of believing that no one suspected the
state of his feelings, except, perhaps, Alice, and he was not unwilling
that _she_ should know them. He therefore put the best face on the matter
he could,--appeared wholly unconcerned,--attended the wedding, and with
forced gayety _openly_ wished the new married couple the happiness which he
_secretly_ wished was his own. The tender passion had been a new thing to
the money-loving Arthur. By its elevating influences, he, who had looked
for enjoyment only in wealth, had been enabled to raise his vision to a
higher sphere of happiness. And thus to lose the bright glimpses, and be
thrown back to earth again, was, in reality, however he might disguise the