yet that trial
came not, and Guly felt that it was for his sake the merchant spared his
brother, and the kindness sank deep into his young heart, never to be
forgotten.

One night after the store was closed, Arthur sauntered up to Guly, and,
laying his hand upon his arm, said:

"You remember the little black-eyed Creole I told you of one night some
time ago?"

"The one you fancied had got your heart?" said Guly, kindly; "yes, I
remember."

"Three nights ago, I proposed to her, offered her heart and hand, and
told her, what was truth, that I loved her dearly, and, do you believe,
she refused me flatly."

"She proved herself more prudent than you, Arthur. You should have known
better than to ask a young girl to be your wife, when you have nothing,
and will keep nothing, to support her.

"I'll risk the support," returned Arthur, with a short laugh, "if she
had consented we could have managed to live, I fancy; and had we
failed, we'd have called on our relations." Here Arthur cast a meaning,
but half-mirthful glance at Guly, who, seeing that even then he was half
intoxicated, shrunk away, not wishing to prolong the conversation.

"Do you know what I am going to do?" continued Arthur, again looking up.

"Nothing wrong, I hope, Arthur."

"You may think so. Since I can't get her by fair means, I'm bound to get
her by foul; that's what I'm going to do."

"For pity's sake, my brother, if the girl is good and innocent do not
wrong her; there are enough ready to gratify your idle whims, without
robbing the pure and happy of their peace. Where does she live?"

"Perhaps you think I'll tell you that, and have you play the defender?
Ah, I've got my senses yet."

"How did you get acquainted, and where?"

"_How?_ By my own natural conversational powers, which called out hers.
_Where?_ In the street, in the first place, where I was so fortunate as
to meet her just as she had dropped one of a number of parcels of herb
medicine she was carrying. I had the pleasure of picking it up for her,
and of relieving her of some of her load. Thus I found out where she
lived, and then took it upon myself to call again; but she hasn't seemed
to like me from the first--hang her pretty eyes; but I'll be revenged
for her refusal--see if I'm not."

"Let me beg of you to give up this cruel idea, Arthur. Shame upon you
for harboring it for a single moment."

"Pooh!" said Arthur, scoffingly, "it's no use talking, I shall embrace
the first