il we were about to step into the
carriage to return home did they guess it.

_June 27_.

A letter this morning from our pretty cousin Evangeline, announcing
that she is engaged to a Dr. Ross of Chautauqua county, where she
lives. Evangeline is the only daughter of mamma's youngest sister,
Margaret. She is eighteen years old, of medium height, and well
formed, with a fair complexion, the chestnut hair that is peculiar to
the younger members of the Greeley family, and brown eyes inherited
from her father's family, for the Greeley eye _par excellence_ is blue.
Although Evangeline has been brought up in the quiet little village of
Clymer, she has been well educated, and besides being uncle's favorite
among his nieces, she was much admired in general society during the
winter that she spent with us in New York two years ago. At uncle's
birthday party, which she attended, she was by many pronounced the
handsomest young lady present.

We have never seen Dr. Ross, but mamma remembers his family well, and
says that "he comes of a good stock." He is not wealthy, but he is in
a good profession, is of unexceptionable character, and very devoted to
our dear Evangeline; so they have _my_ blessing. The marriage will not
take place until December, when Evangeline will have laid off her
mourning.

Marguerite's portfolio is open upon her writing-table, and a letter to
Evangeline, not yet sealed, lies between the blotting-sheets. As it
speaks of Evangeline's betrothal, I will insert it here:

"CHAPPAQUA, _June 27_.

"DEAREST EVANGELINE:--You complain in your last letter that I do not
write enough about Chappaqua and 'the farm.' You wish particulars. My
sweet cousin, I thought that you were familiar with descriptions of
this dearest spot on earth, as I remember that dear uncle gave each of
us a copy of his 'Recollections' the last Christmas that you were with
us--the last Christmas indeed that he spent upon this earth. Peruse
that volume, dear, for in it you will find a more vivid picture, a more
poetic description of his dearly loved home and surroundings, than
anything that I can say.

"As to Chappaqua being a large or small village--it is small, very
small, not half so large as Clymer, where you live; but it is far more
picturesque. There are only a dozen or two houses in all, including a
couple of stores, a post-office, a 'wayside inn,' and a church without
a bell. There are, however, many fine residences scatt