instance. This was somewhat disconcerting, but
with a dogged resolution somewhat foreign to my natural disposition, I
persevered in my investigations, and learning in the next breath that
the gentleman alluded to was a widower with an only child, a young
daughter of about sixteen or so, recovered my assurance, though not my
equanimity. Seeking out my friend Farrar, who as you know is a walking
gazette of New York society, I broached the subject of Mr.--excuse me
if I do not mention his name; allow me to say, Preston's domestic
affairs, and learned that Miss Preston, "A naive little piece for so
great an heiress," I remember Farrar called her, had left town within a
day or two for a visit to some friends in Baltimore. "I happen to know,"
said he with that careless sweep of his hand at which you have so often
laughed, "because my friend Miss Forsyth met her at the depot. She was
intending to be gone--two weeks, I think she said. Do you know her?"

That last question sprung upon me unawares, and I am afraid I blushed.
"No," I returned, "I have not that honor but an acquaintance of mine
has--well--has met her and--"

"I see, I see," broke in Farrar with his most disagreeable smile. Then
with a short laugh, meant to act as a warning, I suppose, added as he
walked off, "I hope your friend is in fair circumstances and not
connected with the fine arts. Music is Mr. Preston's detestation, while
Miss Preston though too young to be much sought after yet, will in two
years' time have the pick of the city at her command."

"So!" thought I to myself; "my little innocent charmer is an embryo
aristocrat, eh? Well then, I was a greater fool than I imagined." And I
walked out of the hotel where I had met Farrar, with the very sensible
conclusion to drop a subject that promised nothing but disappointment.

But the fates were against me, or the good angels perhaps, and at the
next comer I met an old acquaintance, the very opposite of Farrar in
character, who with a long love story of his own fired, my imagination
to such an extent that in spite of myself I turned down ---- Street, and
was proceeding to pass her house, when suddenly the thought struck me,
"How do I know that this unapproachable daughter of one of our most
prominent citizens is one and the same person with my dainty little
charmer? Widowers with young daughters are not so rare in this great
city that I need consider the question as decided, because by a half
superstitiou