The person who abuses an animal is more of a brute than the animal abused. We have no words in which to express our disgust of the monster. If you can not bring this young man to your way of thinking you would do well not to marry him. “I am in deep trouble and need help. You have been so considerate of others that I know you will assist me in my misery. “I am nearly twenty-five years old, and have been ‘heart whole and fancy free’ until this summer when I fell in love with a man who, unhappily for me, is already married, but who returns my love. We are both of us unhappy and miserable except on the few occasions when we can be alone together. I cannot think that I am right to love him, but at the same time I feel that I cannot give him up, and he says that he will never relinquish me. What can we do to improve our miserable position? “Fannie D. F.” Unfortunately, the story of your love is not an uncommon one. The little god Cupid is no respecter of persons or conditions, and he not infrequently works sad havoc with the peace and harmony of the family. We do not believe any one is to blame for falling in love, but we do not hesitate to say that a man and woman situated as you are are guilty of the gravest offense when you encourage an affection which can only result in misery to some one. Both men and women ofttimes marry hastily only to repent at leisure, but no self-respecting girl will allow herself to be to blame for that repentance if she can avoid it. We would advise you to discontinue meeting this man at once, as no good will come of your further acquaintance. Try and interest yourself in some worthy young man who has no obligations elsewhere, and in the end we are sure you will be much happier. If you find that you cannot overcome your love you can at least suffer and be brave, and so uphold the standard of honor in woman. “Were you ever in love, Miss Shirley? For if you have been I know you will be able to understand my trouble. I have had a sort of understanding with a young man for nearly three years without our being actually engaged. Recently he has shown great attention to another girl, and I am left alone much of the time. None of the other fellows care to show me any attention as I have been so devoted to my lover that I have barely treated them civilly. I feel as if I had wasted all my best opportunities and had really no hope left in life. Can you not show me some way to win back my lover? “Irene S.” We are afraid that your own deportment has been your undoing. Evidently your attentions to the young man have been too pronounced and he has tired of the love which he held so easily. Owen Meredith says that “man’s heart is like that delicate weed, that needs to be trampled on boldly indeed—ere it give forth the fragrance you wish to extract.”