I explained, and very tersely, that I had meant what I said, and in return received a letter as short as my own: DEAR MISS MELVYN, I regret your decision, but trust I have sufficient manhood to prevent me from thrusting myself upon any lady, much less you.

"Ole miss nebber had no gal baby 'cept one, an' dat died when 'twas mighty little.

" The Gospeler hurriedly related the material points of FLORA'S history to his recovered friend, who moaned with all the more cheerful parts, and seemed to think that the serious ones might be worked-up in comic miss-spelling for his paper.