orner."

"Well, Doctor, what is more harmless than beer? Come, let us turn back
and take a glass;" and suiting the action to the word, Edward had
passed behind the screen which shaded the entrance, before the
expostulations of his companion, who followed mechanically, could
reach his ear.

While Edward was leisurely sipping his lager, the loud and angry
voices of a party of young men, who were in the act of leaving an
adjoining apartment, used as a billiard saloon, attracted his
attention. As a lady proved to be the cause of the altercation, we
will do them the justice to state that they were decidedly under the
influence of stimulants, One of their number, less insane than his
companions, was endeavoring to quell the disturbance.

"Gentlemen," he said, "the name of a lady, whom we all respect should
not be used too freely."

"Just so," chimed in another, "I say, let the matter rest."

"The hatchet is buried. Peace, peace, to Dr. DeWolf and his lovely
daughter, forever," sang out the third.

The name and place, introduced in the quarrel, quite satisfied Edward
that the daughter of his father's friend was the subject of the
altercation.

"I've had a revelation to-night, George," said Edward, when they were
again in the street.

"Then your eyes were opened, and you saw the handwriting on the wall,
did you? Pity, those poor fools we left behind, could not borrow your
optics."

"Ah, Doctor, you're on the wrong track. It has been revealed to me,
that Dr. DeWolf has a lovely daughter, and--come, now, don't interrupt
me with your old-fashioned, worn-out temperance hobby--as I was about
to say, I have in my possession a letter of introtion to said DeWolf.
He was formerly a friend of father's, and, of course, it will be my
duty to cultivate his acquaintance and that of his lovely daughter, as
early as possible,--say to-morrow. What say you, friend sober-sides?
You know, my particular weakness is a lovely lady."

"Why, it's no affair of mine, Ned. Flirting is out of my line. But,
how do you know the lady is lovely?"

"Why, was it not revealed to me, through the imprudence of a whole
bevy of her admirers."

"O, but, Ned, the ravings of a set of drunken rowdies is not
conclusive evidence."

"True," said Edward more seriously, "but," smiling again, "it's a
young lady, anyhow, and I hope she is handsome."

Nothing further was said on the subject that evening, but, on the day
following, young Sherman was informed b