swer her letters? Twice
she wrote to you, but not a line did she receive in reply."

"Letters! I know nothing of any letters from her; all I have received
was the solitary letter from you. But tell me what has happened? Why do
you look so grave? Tell me, father, and end my suspense."

"Well, as near as I can tell you, Harry, it is this. When you landed on
the island it was to be for twelve months only, but at the end of that
time I wrote to you stating that young Johnson would wager one hundred
pounds that you would be so sick of your exile, that you would not stay
another six months on the island upon any consideration. I wrote you,
and you accepted the wager, and I find that during the past six months
he has been paying his addresses to Priscilla, who----"

"What!" I broke in wildly, "trying to alienate the affections of my
betrothed, while he dangled a paltry one hundred pounds before my eyes
so as to keep the coast clear, while he laid siege to _my_ love. Let me
catch sight of the villain, and he shall rue the day he trespassed on my
rights. But what does Priscilla say to his protestations of love; surely
she does not give him countenance?"

"My boy, you are too hasty," said my father, patting me soothingly on
the shoulder; "listen patiently and hear all I have to say, then you can
draw your own conclusions.

"Priscilla I know has not given him encouragement, but has returned
several presents that he has sent her; but what mortifies her so, is
that you have not even deigned to send her a line through all her time
of temptation, although she has written twice to you. Johnson's uncle
has a large estate in Florida, and being an old man, wants him to go out
and help him to manage it. Johnson has consented to go West, and only
this week made an offer of marriage to Priscilla asking her to accompany
him to Florida as his wife."

"Yes, father, go on."

"Well, I have not much more to say," he resumed; "I know not Priscilla's
answer, but this I do know, that if your love for her has changed, she
might do worse than accept your rival; but I trust such is not the
case."

I could scarcely speak for rage and vexation, to think I had been so
befooled by this fellow, and to have given Priscilla cause to think my
love for her could possibly change. I would go to her at once. But my
father bade me sit down and collect myself, and calmly talk the matter
over with him.

"Leave this affair to me, my boy, and join your mother