er maiden.

Thus when I beheld thee, love,
Vanished quick my first devotion,
Earth below and heaven above
And the mystic, magic ocean
Seemed to me
No more to be.
I had eyes for naught but thee, dear,
With his dart
Love pierced my heart
And thou wert all in all to me, dear!

Now, as I came to an end of writing these verses I was suddenly aware of
someone standing at my side, and when I looked up, with anger and
resentment that anyone should spy upon my actions, I saw my cousin
Jasper at my elbow, staring at the two words, "To Rose," which headed
my composition. I sprang to my feet and faced him.

"That is like you, cousin," said I, striving to master my anger, "to act
the spy upon a man."

"As you please," he answered. "I care what no man thinks of my actions.
But there," pointing to the paper, "is proof of what I have long
suspected. Humphrey, you are in love with Mistress Rose Herrick!"

"What if I am?" said I.

"Nothing, but that I also am in love with her, and mean to win her," he
replied.

After that there was silence.

"We cannot both have her," said I at last.

"True," said he. "She shall be mine."

"Not if I can prevent it, cousin. At any rate she has the principal say
in this matter."

"Thou hast not spoken to her, Humphrey?"

"What is that to thee, cousin? But I have not."

"Humphrey, thou wilt heir our uncle's lands. Thou hast robbed me of my
share in them. I will not be robbed of my love. Pish! do not stay me.
Thou art hot-tempered and boyish, but I am cold as an icicle. It is men
like me whose love is deep and determined, and therefore I swear thou
shalt not come between me and Rose Herrick."

I watched him closely, and saw that he valued nothing of land or money
as he valued his passion, and that he would stay at nothing in order to
gain his own ends. But I was equally firm.

"What do you propose, Jasper?" I asked. "It is for Mistress Rose Herrick
to decide. We cannot both address her at the same time."

"True," he said; "true. I agree that you have the same right to speak to
her that I have. Let us draw lots. The successful one shall have the
first chance. Do you agree?"

I agreed willingly, because I felt certain that even if Jasper beat me
he would have no chance with Rose. There was something in my heart that
told me she would look on me, and on me only, with favor.

We went out into the stackyard, and