ng a light from
the table, he was about retiring, when she said, "I learned some news
to-day which a little surprised me."

"Got it from Mother Atkins, I suppose," answered John, still
advancing toward the door.

"Partly from her, and partly from others," said his mother, adding,
as she saw him touch the door-knob, "It's about Nellie Douglass."

This was sufficient to arrest his attention, and turning about, he
asked, "What of her?"

"Why, nothing of any great consequence, as I know of," said Mrs.
Livingstone, "only people in Frankfort think she's going to be
married."

"_I_ think so, too," was John's mental reply, while his verbal one
was, "Married! To whom?"

"Did you ever hear her speak of Mary Wilbur?"

"Yes, she's been staying with her ever since Mrs. Graham's party."

"Well, Mary it seems has a brother, a rich old bachelor, who they say
is very attentive to Nellie. He came home with her from Madison,
staying at her father's the rest of the week, and paying her
numberless attentions, which----"

"_I don't believe it_," interrupted John Jr., striking his fist upon
the table, to which he had returned.

"Neither did I, at first," said his mother, "but I heard it in so
many places that there must be something in it. And I'm sure it's a
good match. He is rich, and willing, they say, to help her father,
who is in danger of failing any moment."

Without knowing it, John Jr. was a little inclined to be jealous,
particularly of those whom he loved very much, and now suddenly
remembering to have heard Nellie speak in high terms of Robert
Wilbur, he began to feel uneasy, lest what his mother had said were
true. She saw her advantage, and followed it up until, in a fit of
anger, he rushed from the room and repaired to his own apartment,
where for a time he walked backward and forward, chafing like a caged
lion, and wishing all manner of evil upon Nellie, if she were indeed
false to him.

He was very excitable, and at last worked himself up to such a pitch,
that he determined upon starting at once for Frankfort, to demand of
Nellie if what he had heard were true! Upon cooler reflection,
however, he concluded not to make a "perfect fool of himself," and
plunging into bed, he fell asleep, as what man will not be his
trouble what it may.

CHAPTER XVI.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS.

The sunlight of a bright Christmas morning had hardly dawned upon the
earth, when from many a planter's home in the sunny south w