Celia's Moth.

CeHa looked up with a start , first at Eory , then at a large moth circling uncertainly round the candle-wick . " Yes , but he ' s grown shy ; he'll bo off again in a minute , " said the girl , unconsciously following out the thought in her mind .

" What odds will you bet on that ! asked Eory . "Betting is wrong , " said Celia , demurely . " Not between cousins , " returned Eory , with equal gravity . "This coral-headed pin of mine to—let me see—to that rose

in your hair , that Mr . Moth stays and singes himself ?" Celia did not refuse , and silence consonteth . They kept quiet , and watched and waited .

Not for very long . The winged simpleton advanced , retreated , advanced nearer , executed a few zigzag flights and eccentric curves , then made a blind dash at the flame , and fell scorched on the table .

" Well ? said . Eoiy , coming round to Celia , and his eyes looked straight into hers , while he detached the rose . That required time and patience , for it was a thorny bud , and , by the time Eory had finished , one of his fingers were bleeding . " You pay dear for your whistle , " said Celia .

" No dearer then I expected , answered Eory . " I knew it was a brier-rose , " and again he looked at her . He did not go back to his former seat then , but drew a chair beside her , and leaning his elbow on the table where the moth was still feebl y fluttering ,

" Poor old fellow ! " said Eory , looking down at it with a queer smile , " come and die in honey . " And he picked it up , and placed it on the rose-leaves . " Moths like roses , too , " he said . "You ' re thinking of butterflies" said

, Celia , knitting most industriously . - " What's the difference ? " said Eory . " Oh , I don't know—ever so much ! " " Well , yes , so much , at any rate , butterflies are rovers and moths are constant—to the caudle . "

There was another long pause . " Do you remember just such an evening as this four years ago , Celia , " said Eory , at last , " when you called me a shirk , and sent me about my business ?"

" Oh , Eory ! " said Celia , reproachfully , " I did hope you wouldn't remember all my silly speeches against me . " " Against you ! " repeated Eory . " Those were the kindest words you ever spoke to me . Made a man of ine . Came just in

time , too , for a little longer , and I should havo settled down into a regular village lounger—like old Tim Wiley , perhapshanging about the stores , sitting on molasses-barrels , and thinking old Jamaica . Might have come to thatwho knows ?"

, Both laughed . " But , Celia , " said Eory , presently , "I ' mnot a shirk now , and—is there any chance for me . You know you're all the world to me , dear . " The transition from molasses to

sentiment was so abrupt that it confused Celia for a moment . Then she remembered Juanita , and her lips compressed . How dare Eory play witli her like that ? " Eory , " she said , quickly , " you ought not to talk so to me . "

" Why not ? said unabashed Eory . " Oh !—you know . " "No , I don't . Is it Dr . Heath or Lew ?" " No , no ! But—ar ' n't you going to marry your cousin ? " " I hope so ! " said Eory , fervently .

"Well , then !" " Well , " repeated Eory , " what of that ?" " What of that ! " echoed Celia , with a wondering glance at him , as if to make sure he had not been taking just a drop of old Tim Wiley ' s specific— " why , you can ' t

marry two people , and you know you said yourself the wedding would be next year ?" "Oh ! you ' re thinking of Juanita ? Yes , but her wedding won't be mine , you know ?"

"Not—yours —?" " Of course not ! She ' s going to marry a Spanish fellow as lightdieelecl as she is . They danced into love together , and now they ' re going to dance into matrimony . " " Oh ! " Scarcely to save her life could Celia have spoken more than one word ,

nor have looked up into the dusky blue eyes she felt were waiting for hers . " Did you think Juanita was the cousin I hoped to marry ? " said Eory , in a lower voice . " I've got another cousin—Cel—' Silence ; and Celia knitting as if for a wager . Eory leaned forward and captured both her hands in defiance of the darting