family, it was agreed that I should have the honor of selecting his name. What do you think I did? I named him after your heroic brother. We call him Wallie. That, you know, is an abbreviation of Wallingford. He was baptized as “Harry Wallingford Bramlett,” and papa and mamma were both delighted with the good selection I made. But I must close now, because I fear I have made this letter too long, anyway. Present my highest regards to your brother, and accept my best, truest love for yourself, and write soon to “‘Your true friend, “‘VIOLA.’ “‘That’s a splendid letter, Lottie, for a girl of sixteen to write,’ said I, when it was read through. “‘She is not quite sixteen yet, either,’ said Lottie. “‘That document conveys the best news, my darling, that I have heard since you told me you would be mine.’ “‘To what part of it do you refer?’ “‘That wherein she says she is going to spend the winter with you. It will be a great consolation for me to know, when I am so far from you, that you will have such a sweet friend for a companion. I was thinking of the long, dreary winter days and nights that you would be compelled to pass through all alone, but now how could you be lonely with such a lively little cricket as Viola?’ “‘I dare say she will prove a great comfort to me, yet she cannot fill the aching void that will be caused by your absence.’ “As she said this her large dreamy eyes were glancing up at me, while a tear trembled in each, and I drew her head against my breast, too happy to speak. I led her to a seat, letting her fair cheek remain resting on my heart, while my mind went straying into the future. A thousand thoughts of various kinds intruded on me--some pleasant, others very different. What if Mr. Rockland should resort to strategy, during my absence, to entrap my Lottie into a marriage with Heartsell? What if he should throw his great intellect, with his vast wealth and influence into the balance against me? Would my Lottie be able to withstand it? Would she be able to do battle successfully against such odds? These unwelcome questions forced themselves upon me, causing a shudder to dart through my body. Lottie felt the shock, and exclaimed: “‘What’s the matter? why do you tremble so? I declare, your heart made a violent jump just now, then began to flutter and knock against your breast; what does it mean?’ “‘I was thinking how I should feel if you were to cease loving me, when I went away, and should marry Mr. Heartsell!’ “She started up, looking at me reproachfully: ‘How can you talk so; didn’t you know I had rejected Mr. Heartsell’s offer?’ “‘Indeed I did not; I was not aware of the fact that he had made it, though I knew he intended to do so.’ “‘Well, he has done it, and you may be easy now.’ “‘Tell me what he said, and what you said.’