ol, and has not the slightest idea of self-restraint.

This is her second season in society. She is universally
admired--indeed, is quite 'the rage.' 'All the young men are dying for
her'--I quote from the observations about town; but few have the
hardihood to pay serious court to the daughter of Hiram Meeker.

Yet you perceive one man has ventured--successfully ventured.

Who is he? I do not wonder you inquire with some degree of curiosity. I
shall proceed to gratify it.

The large, dark, coarse-visaged, foreign-looking fellow, who 'lives but
to adore the angel of beauty and perfection' at his side, and with whom
the 'angel' is so blindly infatuated, is Signor Filippo Barbonne, a
second-rate performer of the last season's opera _troupe_!

It is a fact, reader, so it will be vain for me to deny it.

What, meantime, can I say by way of explanation? I hardly know. This
Signor Filippo, who is an impudent, audacious scamp, made the
acquaintance of Belle two years ago, when she was a schoolgirl. She was
amused at seeing him follow her persistently, and at last she permitted
him to accost her.

The cunning fellow conducted himself with the utmost deference, not to
say humility. He pretended not to have the slightest knowledge who she
was. He had been seized and subdued by her charms, her loveliness; and
it was quite sufficient happiness for him to be permitted to watch for
her and to tread in her steps day by day. He only wished to speak and
tell her so, lest she might suppose him disrespectful.

The ice once broken, arrangements for accidental meetings followed.

Signer Filippo did not disclose himself, except to say his position was
so far below hers, that he had but one hope, one aspiration, which was,
that she would permit him to be her willing slave forever. He asked and
expected nothing beyond the privilege of worshipping her.

But how happens it that Belle Meeker is desperately in love with the
Signor?

I will endeavor to explain.

Possessing not one spark of sentiment or native refinement, accustomed
to no restraint on her temper or will, she presents an example of a
strong sensuous nature, uncontrolled by any fine moral instincts or
perceptions.

This is why in person and appearance Signor Filippo is quite to her
taste. The wily adventurer had made no mistake when he judged of the
girl's nature. Understanding her arbitrary disposition, and her
impatience of any restraint whatever, he adroitly maintaine