“Did you ever hear me speak of a man named Robert Ellerton?” asked the old man, looking sharply at his nephew. “No, sir, but I’ve seen you look mighty cross if any one else happened to speak his name in your presence,” was the curt reply. “You perhaps know that he has a son by the same name?” was the next query. “Yes, sir, I’ve met him, and he’s a tip-top fellow, for a youngster, and smart as chain lightning!” The squire’s face was black as night at this stream of praise, which, coming from such a source, annoyed him exceedingly. “Spare your praises,” he said sarcastically; “perhaps you won’t laud him so highly when you hear what I have to tell you.” “Well, out with it, uncle. What has the boy done? Thrown a stone and broken one of your treasured nymphs out yonder?” And Ralph motioned toward the grounds, which could be seen from the deep bay-window near which they sat. “Cease your nonsense, boy, and listen, for I have a story to tell you,” replied Squire Moulton, angrily. He paused a few moments, while an expression of pain swept over his hard face. At length, with an effort, he began; while Ralph listened, wonderingly. “When I was a boy of nineteen or twenty, I loved a beautiful girl. Her name was Jessie Almyr. I need not describe her; my days of rhapsodies are passed. Sufficient that I loved her with all the fire of my heart. It had grown with the growth of years, for we had been intimate from childhood, and I had almost begun to consider her as rightfully belonging to me. “I had never told her of my love; I was poor then, and would not offer her an empty hand. I had written to an uncle in the city for a situation, and was waiting for an answer, which, if favorable, I felt would then place me in a position that would warrant my telling Jessie how dear she was to me. “While waiting for the much-wished for answer, a young man two or three years older than myself came to our village. He was rich, talented and handsome. He was introduced to Jessie, and, of course, loved her, too. Who could help it that knew her? But I will not anticipate. The long-looked for letter at last arrived, telling me that I could have the situation, and offering me an ample salary, more than I had expected, and I felt that now I could support my bride in comfort. Wild with joy, I sought her and poured out the whole story of my love, not dreaming but that her reply would be all I could wish. She listened with downcast eyes and beating heart; I could see it throb beneath the folds of her dress. Her cheek was flushed, and I felt that I was almost sure of my prize, when—oh, my God! I can never forget it——”