oon, Arthur,--who had been
engaged from early morning in a distant part of the city, transacting
some business of importance,--as he returned, passing by Mr. Denham's
dwelling, suddenly came in contact with Mr. Clifford, who, with a quick,
eager step, and a countenance all aglow with some pleasurable emotion,
was hurrying on, so absorbed in his own thoughts, that he was only
arrested by the sound of his friend's voice.

"You seem to be in a great hurry, Clifford," said Arthur smiling, though
it must be confessed his heart felt little attuned to mirth; "and,
judging from the expression of your countenance, combined with your
unusual absent-mindedness, something more than usual must have occurred,
and that of a very pleasurable nature, to have thus excited you."

"You have made a capital guess of it, Arthur. I have been putting forth
every energy of late to win a priceless treasure, and after a desperate
effort, have succeeded. Is not that a subject for congratulation?"

"At last, at last, she is won," inwardly murmured poor Arthur, while his
whole frame seemed convulsed, but controlling himself, as he observed
his companion's glance fixed eagerly upon him, he replied, in a tone
which, in spite of his efforts, sounded cold and somewhat ungracious.

"I shall be a better judge of that, Clifford, when I know what the
nature of the prize, and whether it was valuable enough to warrant the
efforts put forth to obtain it."

"=Valuable=, there is no boon on earth to be compared to it. I might
exhaust comparisons in vain to furnish a fit simile; for, in it, is
combined all that is lovely, virtuous and excellent. To descend,
however, from parable, in order to enlighten you, allow me to say," and
a slight flush mounted to the speaker's face, while his companion's
cheek grew ashy pale, "that I have been so truly fortunate as to secure
a place in the affections of a woman, to my mind, the loveliest of her
sex. But, happy as I am in obtaining such an avowal, there is one
drawback to my felicity; her consent must be ratified, so she affirms,
by a beloved relative, before I am to consider it binding. And I--do you
know, Arthur--I never dreamed I was a coward until now; but it seems
such presumption in me to expect a man to part with a flower that he has
tenderly nurtured and cherished, that it may adorn with its beauty and
grace another homestead, far removed, perhaps, from the eyes that
delighted to watch its expanding charms."

"