How He Lost Her.

HOW HE LOST HER .

BY CHARLES FLETCHER . I kneAV Margaret Avas engaged , but I told her that I loved her . "I don't knoAV Avhat you mean , sir , "

she exclaimed , Avith an expressive lift of the jetty eyebrows ; but the liquid orbs beneath avoided mine , and that encouraged me to bo saucy in my turn . "It is of no consequence that you should , of course ; but you didn ' t imagine

that you Avere going to flirt all summer Avith a felloAV of my stamp , and get off unsinged yourself !" " Why not ? " she laughed . " You don't seem seriously damaged . " " But I am . My heart is shrivelled crisp as a wafer . "

" Eeally 1 Well , I don't knoAV Avhat can bo done about it . " " I am going to SIIOAV you . " And so on , for half an hour . We spoke jestingly , both of us , hut the laugh ivith each covered deeper feeling . She Avas beautifulmy Margaret ; . fond

, of homage—as Avhat Avoman is not 1—and accustomed to receiving it . It Avas not her fault , after all , that I loA r ed her , hut her glory , as an honest man ' s love is always a true Avoman ' s glory ; and Margaret Avas a true womanthough I had called

, her a flirt . She was promised in marriage to Eoss Bentley before she ever saAV me , long enough . He had stopped a horse Avhich had been running- away with her , and so saved her life . When he asked her to

give him Avhat he had saved , Avhat Avoman Avith gratitude and a Avhole heart Avould not have said " Yes , " as she did . Besides , she loved him , for aught I kueAV . I had seen him , and he Avas a handsome enough man to . via a Avoman ' s love , if beauty Avould do it .

A handsome couple , but somehow , seeing the tAvo together , they did not seem to be fond of each other ; and so I took courage . Certainty , Margaret never looked at Eoss Bentley Avhen I Avas by , as she had looked at me many a time that summer , as we two strolled along tho beach .

Eoss Bentley once stayed a Aveek , and Avent back to toivn . He Avas a man of business , keenly devoted to money making : fonder of that , I fancied , than of the beautiful Avonian he had Avon , and upon that imagining I hung another hope . Margaret Avas an heiress . If Margaret had been doAverless , I fancy that Mr . Bentley Avould never have Aveoed her . But IIDAV to prove it .

Margaret and I did not relapse into the old fashion of strolling about the beach by moonlight after Eoss Bentley had come and gone , and Ave stopped looking and talking nonsense , Avatching each other furtively . I felt confident that Margaret AA as Avondering if I had been jesting Avhen

I said I should not give her up ; and I Avas Avondering if I had anything to do- Avith those moods of pensrveness Avhich had come upon my dark-eyed queen of late . One day I found her upon the balcony , Avith an open letter in her hand .

" I am a very fortunate girl , " she said , glancing at the letter . " Did you knoAV that Clark , Vernon & Co ., the bankers in New York , failed last Aveek ?" I had heard of it .

" The hulk of my fortune was in their hands at one time . I did not knoAV but it Avas still . My guardian Avrites to tell me , hoAvever , that he removed it months ago . " I came foi'Avard eagerly at that , extending my hand .

" Permit me to congratulate you , Miss Stone . " Margaret laughed rather confusedly as she put her little hand in mine . I saAV that she Avas surprised at my eagerness . " Miss Stone" said I" did you believe

, , me Avhen I said that I loved you , some-Avhere about a month ago ?" Margaret coloured vividly , as she gave me a doubting look . " Yes . What of it ? Do you want to take it back noAv ? " she laughed .

" jSTot I . But , in consideration of my great affection for you , I Avant you to do a favour for me . " " Maine it , " she said , looking jmzzled . " I am going up to New York tomorroAv . Will you humour me by permitting me to be the bearer of a letter from yourself to Mr . Bentley T