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126 unfavorable. At last he told her he was prepared for anything, either for acceptance or rejection. To do her justice, she did at this time discard him, and wrote a letter to him to that effect, which she sent to the post office. Her mother, on learning this, went to the office, and demanded it, on pretense of having forgotten something she intended to put in it. She then went home, and made her daughter write a letter of acceptance, standing by her while she did it.

Two months from that day, the gentleman was on his native shore again; and you may be sure he was not long in presenting himself to the loved one. She received him with a smile, while her heart was bleeding, for she still cherished the hope that she would marry the one she loved. The time for the marriage was set, and the town was on the qui vive.

Noble returned home to settle his effairs, preparatory to the event. In the meantime, Minnie went to the parents of her former lover, and, on her knees, swore she would never give her hand to any one but their son. At the same time, dressmakers, milliners, shoemakers, and even to diamond-polishers, were busy preparing for her coming marriage with Noble—even the hair-dresser was not idle; and friends were not idle, for they were busy watching her, for fear of her eloping. But, through many watchers, she was secured until Noble came. Then were sent out two or three hundred invitations. Such preparations never were known in the Western country before.

They had three rooms opening into one another—one green and gold, another crimson velvet, and the third cherry and gold; they opened into a beautiful