saying
you had dropped them, and a servant had brought them to your aunt."

Dainty smoothed out the sheets and glanced at them calmly.

"Oh!" she cried comprehensively. "And did you read them, dear?"

"Certainly not! I could not stoop so low. Besides, I had perfect
confidence in you, my dearest," he cried tenderly.

"Oh, Love, how noble you are to me! But your trust is not misplaced. I
can explain all about these notes; so please read them now," said the
young girl, earnestly, smoothing them out and holding them open before
his eyes.

He read, with much amazement, the following notes in a neat, masculine
chirography:

"DEAR LITTLE DAINTY,--Will you meet me down at the gate
about sunset? I have something very particular to say
to you. I know your good heart will make you grant me
this small favor. Do not fail me.

"Yours, wretchedly,
VERNON."

"MY CRUEL DARLING,--Is it possible you can refuse my
earnest prayer for one short interview? Oh, how you
have changed since you left Richmond! Yet such a little
while ago you swore you loved me as dearly as I loved
you, and promised to marry me in December. I see how it
is--that rich Ellsworth is winning you away from me.
Oh, my love, I can not bear to lose you! Life would be
worthless, even unbearable, if you forsook me now! Oh,
let me see you once, just once, and you can not resist
my pleadings! I curse the hour that your rich aunt
tempted you from love and duty! Oh, return to your
better self--come to me, dear! I will be waiting at
the gate just at twilight. When you see me, you will
repent that cold letter breaking our engagement. Come,
oh, come, my love; my heart is breaking for you!

"Despairingly,
VERNON."

Love finished the reading, and looked up in amazement at Dainty's calm
face.

She gave him a sweet, reassuring smile as she said:

"The case certainly looks dark against me, does it not, Love?"

"Yes," he replied, somewhat uneasily, in spite of his faith.

"And yet I can explain it all," she returned, happily; adding: "This
Vernon Ashley was Ela Craye's lover. They were engaged; but Vernon is
only a poor man, a stenographer in a bank, and when Aunt Judith invited
her here, she heartlessly threw him over, hoping to catch a richer
husband. He followed her to Ellsworth, and sent the first little note to
me, beggin