Mildred: An Autumn Romance.

" Yourself . " " Oh , nonsense . " " True , on my honour . " " Have you any ? " " What do you mean , Mildred . " " Nothing—I was only jesting—but you know they say a sailor leaves a wife in

every port , and I suppose it ' s the same with you soldiers . " The young man winces and reddens as she speaks ; the lady unheedingly continues , " But , after all , I am ungrateful ; you have always been a firm friend to me . " " A friend , Mildred—nothing more ? " " What more would you have ? " "Oh ! why can you ask me ? Do you not know that I—I love you ? "

" Hullo , young man , I ivas looking for you . " The conversation is suddenly broken in upon by the General , who , in search of his son , ancl having had his suspicions aroused by Lore ! Kenarlon , is now walking hastily towards the young couple who are strolling up the avenue , little heeding the angry look he gives as he strides up with military tread to where they are . " Hullo , young man , " he repeats , bowing stiffly and raising his hat in a sort of

half-military salute to Miss Bethune , as she moved off gracefully and with some dignity towards the Abbey gateway after the retreating crowd . " Pardon me , father , " the young man answers with a certain grave courtesy , " I must see Miss Bethune to the gate . I will be with you in a moment . " I fear the General muttered something very like an oath between his teeth as he saw the retreating figures walk leisurely towards the gate . " Kenarlon ivas rightI expect , after all . Confound the young fool . "

, The General was much given to speak of noble personages behind their backs in the most familiar way . Before their faces—as in the case of Lord Kenarlon , whom lie scarcely knew—he went rather to the other extreme . " And now , sir , perhaps you will explain what all this means ? " " What do you mean , sir ? " "Whythis love-making in my park—under my very eyes— with Bethunethe

, , drawing-master ' s daughter . " " I don't quite gather what you mean . I was merely ivalking Avith Miss Bethune , Avho is a lady , as I suppose you Mill admit , " the young man says rather warml y , but as if he were trying to keep cool . "Lady ! I daresay she is , boy , worth twopence a year . "

"Excuse me , father , but I don't intend to discuss tho young lady or her means even with you . " " Well , sir , I put aside your disrespectfid mode of address to me ; but , as your father , I demand to know whether you wore proposing to that young lady when I came up , for it looked uncommonl y like it ? " ¦ " No , I was not , sir . "

" Then , may I ask , were you making a fool of the girl with your coxcomb ways , and your love-making propensities ? I ' ve heard of you before , let me tell you , ancl I don't intend to be a party to your breaking girls ' hearts . ' " Well , " Marmaduke replies , " if it is any satisfaction to you to know it , I was not making a fool of Miss Bethune , but I certainly told her , or was about to tell her when you came up , what is the simple truth . ' " And pray what is that ? " " That I love her . "

" The deuce , you do !" " Yes , father , I do . I love her ivith my whole heart , and have done so for long . " " Oh , you have . Then I suppose " ( the General was very irate and sarcastic ) " you intend to make a fool of yourself and marry her . " " Yoi ^ suppose wrong . For two reasons—in the first place , I have not got the young lady ' s consent ; in the second place , I could not marry her if I would . "