“It makes a chill go over me to see you drinking that stuff,” Loring said, with an expression of disgust on his face.

“Every one to his taste, you know,” was Haley’s half-indifferent response.

“You’ll be over to-night, I suppose?” said a young man, stepping up to him, as the two emerged from the “Coffee"-house—­precious little coffee was ever seen there.

“O, yes,—­of course.”

“You’d better not come.”

“Why?”

“Clara’s got a bottle of champaign that she says she’s going to make you taste this very night.”

A slight shade flitted quickly over the face of Haley, as the young man said this.  But it was as quickly gone, and he replied with a smile,

“Tell Clara it’s no use.  I’m an incorrigible cold-water man.”

“She’ll be too much for you.”

“I’m not afraid.”

“You’d be, if you were as well acquainted with her as I am.  I never knew that girl to set her head about anything in my life that she didn’t accomplish it.  And she says that she will make you drink a glass of wine with her, in spite of all your opposition.”

“She’ll find herself foiled once in her life,” was the laughing reply; “and so you may as well tell her that all her efforts will be in vain, and thus save further trouble.”

“No, I won’t, though.  I’ll tell her to go on, while I stand off and look at the fun.  I’ll bet on her, into the bargain, for I know she’ll beat.”

“So will I, two to one!” broke in Loring—­

“Don’t be so certain of that.”

“We’ll see,” was the laughing response, and then the young men separated.

Manley, the individual who had met Loring and Haley at the coffee-house door, was the brother of Clara, and Haley was her accepted lover.  The latter had removed to the city in which all the parties resided, some two years before, from the east, and had commenced business for himself.  Nothing was known of his previous life, or connections.  But the pure gold of his character soon became apparent, and guarantied him a reception into good society.  All who came into association with him, were impressed in his favour.  Steadily, however, during that time, had he persisted in not tasting any kind of stimulating drinks.  All kinds of stimulating condiments at table, were likewise avoided.  The circle of acquaintances which had gradually formed around him, or into which, rather, he had been introduced, was a wine and brandy-drinking set of young men, and he was frequently urged to partake with them; but neither persuasion, ridicule, nor pretended anger, could, in the least, move him from his fixed resolution.  Such scenes as that just presented, were of frequent occurrence, particularly with recent acquaintances, as was the case with Loring.

Within a year he had been paying attention to Clara Manley, a happy-hearted young creature, over whose head scarce eighteen bright summers had yet passed.  Esteem and admiration of her mind and person, had gradually changed into a pure and permanent affection, which was tenderly and truly reciprocated.