mm CRUSADE.
T BOM IUCCHETTS CAftKT.
of "Barbara Htatlxotft Trial'
tfawtaae Whit," "The Seank -mf
Html LgndkunL"
cukrrtM xiiii. nisuiss the chakom.
It pleased om greatly to boar that Gar
rod Id be aahureas of Marshlands; I eon Id
not ImagiM the place without ber bright
pretence. She would (till hare her pets
round her. her W and chickens, and
bcr brown mare Bonnie; the tame pheas
aute woold alilt follow ber up aod down
the terrace, the pigeons flr on ber arms
aad shoulders: she would ride out with
the old squire, and sine to him of ao even
ing, and Walter Roeaiter woold be a son
to him In bis old age. I thought it would
be an ideal life, and I found oat that my
mistress thought ao, too.
She often talked to me about It when
we were left alone, and of her yonng sis
ter's happiness; aad when (jay had a leis
ure boar she would run up to the nurs
ery, and chat about ber future, telling me
, everything she thought I should like to
bear.
After a week or two Mr. Rossiter came
to Prince's Gate, and then I saw little of
Gay; my nursery duties occupied me,
and she was too much engrossed with her
lover's company to give me much of her
time.
Mr. Rossiter bad brought a sad piece of
news with blm that I was sorry to hear.
Mr. Hawtry had returned from Venice,
bringing bis cousin with him to the Ked
Farm; but a few days ago be had met
with an accident in the huntin e-fleld: hii
mare bad throw blm In Jumping a gate.
It was a young mare be had lately bought,
and she had not been properly broken Id:
the result had been a broken leg to ber
master. Gay could not quite tell me how
St bad happened. Mr. Hawtry was too
good a horseman to be essily thrown, but
be bad fallen in an awkward place, and
It was only by a miracle be hud not bee a
killed.
His cousin, Kdgar Hawtry, was nursing
him; but it was likely to be a tedious af
fair. I noticed that Mrs.- Morton and Gay
seemed to take this accident greatly to
heart; they were always alluding to it,
and looking eagerly for bulletins from
Marshlands. - "There wonld be few men
more missed than Hawtrv," I heard Mr.
Rossiter say one day, when be and Gay
were In the nursery playing with the chil
dren "I should not be here now if Edgar
were not with him: but be is a famous
urae, Mrs. Cornib tells me."
I was glad to think that poor Mr. Haw
try was not left alone, to miss his mother
and Miss Agnes. He was so strong and
active, so full of life and energy, that we
could not Imagine him a prisoner to his
conch. I had heard a great deal of this
young artist cousin, whom he hsd nursed
through a long and dangerous Illness In
Venice. He was a llRht-hearted, hand
some young fellow, and I was glad to know
that he was at the Red Farm taking care
of Mr. Hawtry.
Mr. Rossiter and Gsv left ns a little be
fore Christmas. Mr. Rosslter's duties re
called him to Ketherton, and Gay could
not well remain longer. Mrs. Markham
was to accomplish her flitting with the
New -Year, and then Gay would assume
Ber position as mistress of Marshlands.
She eame to ns again early In February
to get her tronnrnu, and remained three
weeks. Her wedding was fixed for the
end of April. I saw a good deal of her
during those weeks. She woold take ns
with birr Id the earriage sometimes when
be went on her shopping expeditions:
sometimes ws haloed ber with bcr pur
chases, until Reggie grew restless and I
carried him out.
She was very sweet and humble la ber
happiness, and would often tell me bow
little she deserved it. "Do we ever de
serve itf" she said once, as we were driv
ing through the park one late afternoon.
Reggie bad fallen asleep on my lap.
Joyce sat opposite, looking at the twink
ling gas-lamps and the pale radiance of
distant water. Gay leaned back in ber
place a little wearily, but her eyes were
shining In the dusk. "I do not think
any of as deserve it, Merle; it Is a free
ift to all of us, for which we must be
thankful."
"Yes." I returned, briefly, for I would
not Interrupt the solemnity of ber mood
by any Ill-timed compliment; and yet, in
my heart, I believed no one deserved bap-
eess more. It would not be wasted on
, I knew that; she was one of those
who receive with both bands, and then
give It back aimtn to others. I knew she
and Walter Rossiter would lead noble
lives together, doiug their duty simply
and without effort, not looking for large
results, bu carrying good seed with them
and scattering it broadcast with uo nig
gardly band.
Theirs would be a bright, sunny home,
I was quite sure of thata home where
generous hospitality would be exercised,
where the poor as well as the rich would
br feasted.
When Gsy said presently in a moved
tone, "How good fought to be, and how
fciDDV I onsht to make others when I am
ao blessed myself!" I knew she was speak
ing out of the very fullness of her voting
heart that was overflowing with happi
ness, and I thought bow nice It was to
bear ber. I liked to see the simpllofty
with which she grasped the meaning of
life to be happy yes, truly, for to that
end we were created, and to benefit our
fellow creatures.
It was a little hard to say good-bye to
har, bat she comforted me with the assur
ance that she meant to have us- down at
Marshlands that summer. Tbelr honey
moon was to be a brief one, she told me;
for neither she nor Mr. Rossiter liked to
leave the squire loog alone
"We must not be selfish, Walter says,"
aha finished, brightly: "and as he declares
oar honey-moon Is to Isst for life, 1 do not
eee that It much matters where we spend
It," and then she gave a bappy little laugh
and went away.
It was a great disappointment to my
mistress that neither she nor her husband
eould be at the wedding; bnt circum
stances prevented It, for with the May
anoahlne another little hnmnn blossom
appeared at Prince's Gate-a baby girl, to
Ska the place of the dead Muriel.
I do not know why I shed tears when
the baby was first laid In my arms. Per
haps I realized that my beloved mistress
bad lain long between lite and death,
ad that to the household It hail been
time of terrible suspense; but when 1 saw
my mistress' pals face Irradiated with the
purest happiness ths feeling passed.
"AUck has promised me that I may call
Iwr Mo." she whispered. "Is she
not lovely baby, Merle; more like Reg;
gie than Joycer Bnt she smiled when 1
fared her the baby resembled her.
ary enangea n
ttookigK.
a flae healthy boy, and 1 thought I was
JoaUaVfd in pUsdJng for the aoto ohargs
eTthaMhy. hut It was decided that the
Up MorrfaL a vsrv nleaaant.
SmSMs) wosaea, should remain for ths
next few months, and after that I should
CSiaa wQrfiaaMh could than be
promoted to tha care of Reggie, aod ac
&T2srftrlould be added V aecaaMrr
SStSAmSoJLr one that had been osed
tTlAeda, but I still kept possession of
w!?,SSjee to Mrs. Morris' eom-
It aiatH TT- "
pamonaoie to me man rtauaan, aoa oaoy i
Florence whs my dVliulit t
From the first, she was more with me
than with her proper nurse. Mr. Morris
preiendM to gramme wiieu I snatched
ber away ou every possible occasion, but
I could not resist the pretty cooing crea
ture. I would have given up mv night's
rest gladly to watch over ber. Jiveu my
mistreta smiled when she paid her first
visit to the nursery, and saw me in the
rocking-chair with baby on my lap, and
Mrs. Morris amusing Reggie at the win
dow. When she grew stronger she eame daily
to the nursery and sat with us for an hour
or so. She told me once, when we were
slnne tnvrther a very rare thinir now
that her husband employed a secretary for
two or three hours in the day, and that he
no longer required her services.
"I was a little sorry at first," she con
fessed, "because I was afraid he would
need me less, until be told me that be hud
done it for my sake. He thinks I ought
to he more with the children, Merle; that
Joyce should learn her first lessons from
me. We have been arranging the day's
duties. You hare no idea how thoughts
ful he is for my comfort: he says I am not
strong enough to lead such a busy life.
The children are to be with me for an
hour or two before luncheon, and I am
ouly to devote my afternoons to people in
general. He has refused all invitatious
this season, and at the beginning of July
he means to send us all down to Marsh
lands; it seems Gay insists ou it"
I was pleased and thankful to hear this.
T was looking forward to our visit to
Marshlands with an Intensity that sur
prised myself. It seemed almost too good
to be true that my mistress would be wRn
us. I longed to see the young Mrs. Kos(
terfnher happiness, to revisit our o,i
haunts, to spend our afternoons In t,e
orchard, to go over to Wheeler's Farm and
see Molly. Perhaps we mlghteven revisit
the Red Farm.
Mr. Hawtry had recovered from his ac
cident. 1 knew that he had been away
for change of air and scene with his cous
in, and was back again at the Ked Farm.
He seemed to be frequently at Marsh
lands, for Oay always mentioned bim in
her letters. He was very busy as usual,
making improvements on his farm and
building more laborers' cottages. Luke
Armstrong lived in one of them.
Hannah used to quote largely from
Luke's letters, as we walked iu hensing
tou Gardens in the bright June mornings.
Sometimes It was about a piece of furni
ture Luke bad picked up cheaply, no
elghjf-dav clock, or a chest of drawers, or
a round table that would come in bandy.
Molly bad been sending blm some useful
odds aud ends out of the store-room at
Wheeler's Farm a brass fender aod a
Dutch oven, a striped red and black cloth,
and some china cups and saucers that
Hannah was "fine aud proud of," as Molly
said. Lnke was forever hinting In a mod
est sort of way that the cottage was near
ly furnished.
I had been helping Hannah with ber
sewing- all the winter, and we knew the
result would gladden Molly's heart. Han
nah's savings had been invested wisely.
The great painted box in Hannah's room
held quite a store of sheets and table
linen, not to mention piles of neat gar
ments all ready tor use. 1 knew what all
Luke's hints meant; both he and the cot
tage were ready for the youug mistress,
and In ber simple, loving way Hannah
was ready too. I wondered someti mes If
Gay young Mrs. Hoss ter, I meau had
taken 'half so much pride and pleasure In
her troiiKKcnu ns Huuimh did in the con
tents of that old painted box. I was quite
ware that the gray French merino that
had been ber mistress' Christmas gift still
lay there, wrapped in whlley-browu paper
with the half doseu hem-stitched band
kerchiefs that had been my present, care
fully boarded for future use.
Hannah blushed a little guiltily when I
asked ber about the gray meriuo.
"It does not seem to matter what gowns
I wear when Luke is not by to see them,"
she returned, simply; "I only care to be
neat and clean, so I am aavlng all my
pretty things until we are married. There
is the blue print Molly sent me, and some
collars and cuffs from Lydia lying hhere
with the meriuo. Molly has promised me
my wedding-dress," continued Hannah,
bashfully. ,TWe have talked of it already,
though I have not made up my mind to
wed Jnst yet, for all the nonsense Lnke
talks.- It Is to be gray, too," she went on.
"Lnke has a fancy for gray gowns; and it
Is to have silky raised spots on the stuff,
like Miss Gay's, onlv not so fine."
"Yes. indeed: but I dare say the stuff
one will be fust as pretty."
"Mother was married in a Japanese silk
dress: Molly has a bit of it still In a work
bag; bnt Molly says she does not hold
with silk dresses and silver spoons for
working folk. There Is Martin of Scrog
gin's Mill has promised Lyddy a gold
watch and chain and a silk gown that
will stand alone for richness, but Molly
says Lyddy Is far too sensible to be bought
at that price." ,
"Indeed, I hope so, for Lydin's own
sake."
"Oh. there's no fear of Lvdily taking nn
with Martin." returned Hannah, confi
dently; "she is bound to be slugle like
Molly. Folks cannot nil lie mated, Molly
savs, and it is best to be content with n
solitary lot than wed a fool. Molly never
had much opinion of men-folk. She
says they waut n deal of waiting on, nnd
are fine and helpless compared to women."
Mollv's strong-minded views somewhat
amused me, but she was certainly a tower
of strength to her young sisters. One
could not help sympamizing wun Han
nah's happiness; she was so simple and
honest: she hod snch faith In her lover's
Eerfections: she so thoroughly believed In
erself aud him. , ,
After a time I grew almost as much In
terested In the cottage arrangements ns
Hannah did. I was quite excited when
Luke brought home a pig to inhabit the
new sty by the kitchen garden, and spoke
t Investing his next week's wages In a
cock and some bens. I found Hannah
nearly crying for Jov one day over a letter
from home, Mollv bad coaxed her father
to spare the brindled cow as Hannah's
marriage portion. . ,
"Is it not good of Mollyf" she cried, dry
ing her eyes on her apron. "To think of
my having Buttercup for my very own,
and of the sweet new milk for Luke's por
ridge that she will give us every morning.
It makes me cry with happiness, Miss
Fenton. to think how proud Luke will be.
Molly has been a mother to us girls ever
since I can remember, and we hare not
been half good enongh to her."
I bad not been to Putney for some time,
and It struck me that a cor. v afternoon
!!'.; r.ni 5 iiitn would uo me irooo.
Perhaps It was the heat, but I certainly
felt a little restless. We were to start for
Netherton in another ten days, and I
thought I could be more easily spared Jnst
now. I tnougni IS wuniu uo um
prise Annt Agatha with an unexpected
visit. When I told my mistress this she
seemed amused.
"You had better let Mrs. Keith know
beforehand, Merle. Bnnpose you were to
find her out; that would be a serious dis
appointment to you both."
But I refused to entertain this objec
tion; I had never found Annt Agatha ont
''"Very well, do as you like," she replied,
pleasantly. "It Is rather a hot afternoon;
but I see you have made up your mind.
Yon are Just a little home-sick, Merle, and
want a comfortable talk with your aunt.
If your uncle could see you home, I have
no objection to your remaining all the
evening. Mrs. Morris will look after Reg
gie" I shook my head over this proposition.
Uncle Keith was very klud, but I could
not trouble him to escort me. My mis
tress was very partleular about this. She
would never hear o( my being out late
It la all very well for Hannah or Trav
ers," she would say, "but lu your case It
' faj Afferent." An Indeed, In many other
ways she watohed over me as tboagn I
were a oud sister.
it was an inteuseiy hot afternoon, and i
was thankful to put on my Cool ex t dress.
It was rather a light-colored stuff, that
Annt Agatha had given me in the spring.
Hannah and I bad made it up with Trav
ers' help: hut though it was a very pretty
gown, I thought it rather unsuitable f or
daily wear, aod so 1 put it by for festive
occasions. I always took particular pains
with myself when I went borne. I knew
Aunt Agatha would eye me critically, and
would grumble if I looked dowdy orshab
by. She was a woman who loved pretty
things, and it was an unpardonable offense
In ber eyes for oung persous to be negli
gent of their appearance.
"Depend upon it. Merle," she would say, !
"there is something unhealthy iu a girl
who professes not to care bow she looks.
It is our duty to make the best of our
selves. A woman ran not lielo lietna nlaiii
mil sue need not shock our eyes uy Utsle
lessiiess or uutidiness-"
'1 think I shall please Aunt Agatha this
afternoon," I thought, as I looked at my
self somewhat critically. The dress was
pretty, so was the bonnet, tbougn 1 uau
trimmed it myself.
1 was iu very good spirits as I left the
house. It might hare been cooler, cer
tainly, and the second-class compart
ment felt uuustially stuffy; but 1 forgot
the heat when the river came in sight
it was so bright and sparkling iu the sun
light. Mrs. Morton s speech somewhat bauuted
me as I eame up the narrow flagged war
leading from the town. Suppose, after all,
Auut Agatha should be out; I knew I
should be grievously disappointed. Per
haps, after all, it was foolish to chance it.
I slackened my steps Instinctively, as
though I feared no welcome awaited me
at the cottage. As I walked between the
garden walls, with rose scents wafted to
me every now and then, the shadeless sun
shine oppressed me, the stones felt hot to
my feet: and a cloud of dust whirled sud
denly round the corner.
I really thought mv apprehension wns
true when Uncle Keith opened the door;
he looked so excessively surprised to see
me: his manner, too. was rather confused.
"Hlr-rnmpb, my dear! this is a very un
expected pleasure. Who would have
thought of such a thing? Agatha will be
delighted."
"Aunt Agatha Is In, then?" I asked,
eagerly.
"Oh, yes, she Is In; but hlr-rumph
the fact Is. my dear, she is eneaged Just
at this moment. We did not know who
it was, and she asked me to excuse her to
any visitor. Shall we go into the dining
room for a few minutes until, she is
ready?"
"I would rather go np-stairs and take
off mv bonnet. Uncle Keith," I returned,
quickly; "it is so hot. nnd I shall be glad
to get cool:" but lie stood still on the mat.
looking after nie. and I heard him clearing
bis throat more loudly than usual as he
went back to the drawing-room.
I was glad to bear the front door shnt
presently, aud ran down at once without
looking to see who the mysterious stranger
might he. If I had taken that trouble, I
should have seen Uncle Keith. In his old
felt hat nnd gingham umbrella, walking
rapidly down the street, intent on some
domestic business, nnd should hardly have
burst Into the room In that unceremonious
fashion.
"Oh. Annt Agatha!" I exclaimed, re
proachfully, "why did you not come np to
me?" and then I stood transfixed with as
tonishment. There wns a tall gentle
man standing by the wiuilow talking to
Aunt Agatha, who turned round abrupt
ly as I opened the door. It was Mr. Haw
try! I suppose I must have looked very
stupid, standing there, unable to speak
In my surprise: for he certainly langhed
as he came forward and shook hands with
me. and yet he seemed a little nervous,
too.
"I see von do not believe rnnr eves.
Miss Fenton. and yet It is really I my
self, Roger Hawtry." And then he laugh-
eu agai u. y es, i was sure ne was nervous.
"My dear child, what good wind has
blown vou to us this afternoon?" ex
claimed Aunt Agatha, patting her arms
round me. "I had no idea who the visitor
was until Kr.rn told us lust now."
"It was Uncle Keith, then, who went
ont?" I stammered, for I was unaccount
ably confused. "He told me you were en-
Jaged; whv did he not say It was Mr.
lawtry? He pretended It was somebody
on business." But here I stopped, for
Aunt A '.ratlin was making a funny face,
as though she were trying to keep grave,
and Mr. Hawtry hod become very red all
nt once, and turned to the wiuilow.
"Why should I not have business with
your friend, Mr. Hawtry, Merle?" Why
did she call him my friend, I wnndcr?
Had she forgotten my position and bis?
Aunt Agatha was never awkward: she
had more savotr falrc than most people.
If It were not incredible, I could almost
have believed she wns nervous, too.
"Oh, I dou't know," I returned, rather
lamely; "j'QU and Mr. Hawtry are stran
gers." But at this he came forward
again.
"This Is my first Introduction to Mrs.
Keith, certainly," he said, quickly; "but I
cannot allow we are strangers, Miss Fen
ton. You have already made me so well
acquainted with your aunt Unit I ventured
to do myself the pi ensure of calling upon
her. I consider we know each other quite
well now."
I thought Aunt Agatha looked pleased
at that. She had a pretty color this af
ternoou, as though she were excited, and
yet I have heard Uncle Keith say that if
the queen were to call on his wife she
would not lie discomposed: bnt there were
several little signs that told me sho waa
not quite at her ease.
"I must see about tea," she said, get
ting up a little abruptly. "I dare say
you can amuse Mr. Hawtry for a few min
utes, Merle. He cau tell you all about
Mrs. Rossiter."
"Oh, yes," I returned, carelessly, ''I
shall be so glad to hear all the Xetliertou
news. Have vou been to Wheeler's Farm
laieiy, Air. nawiry, uuu seen itiunyr auu
bow Is Luke Armstrong getting on? Aud
Is the cottage pretty?"
"Am I to answer all these questions?"
he pleaded. "Aud which am I to take
first? By the bye, your f rleud, Mrs. Ros
siter, has seut you a message. I did not
know I should see you to-day, or I would
have brought it witli me. it Is a floral
message, Miss Fenton, and tells Its own
story." , , . );.- .. .
(To be C'outinnsd.l '
History of the Arab Horse.
Wilfrid Blunt, a noted English breed,
sr of Arab horses, rive it as bit
opinion that the Arab oolong to the
orijriuul wild races of ' Africa rather
than to Asia, and was, introduced to
southern Arabia by way of Abyssinia,
whence it is historical that ho spread
northward. He was not known in
Europe before the Mohammedan con
quest, but since then his blood has
spread through nil lands visited by
communication with MeccMh rough th
pilgrimage. The Barb of north Africa,
the Anda'.usian horse of Spain, the
Turk, the Persian and the Turcoman
have been all largely infused for cen
turies with Arab blood. The first Arab
blood In England was probably brought
through Spain and France, nnd latof
Irani Palestine, br tbe crusudurs.
A Lively Cripple.
A one-legged man whom the Seattlt
(Wash.) police were alter Iho other day
took refuge in a eellar.lwrred the door,
nd defied the whole force. The tiro
department was called out and the col
lar pumped full of water. When It got
up to the nan's ohln bo rarveAdersdt
Since then ho bu escaped three time
toon JaU. - -
WHICH SHE LOVED BEST.
When I arose on the morning of my
twentieth birthday, and nodded mer
rily to ray own reflection iu the glaig
the bright young face that laughed
back at me was that of a handsome,
happy, and very fortunate girt
"Good-morning, Miss Lydia Searle,"
I said. "And if all goes well with us j
you won't be Miss Lydia Searle at all
this time next year, but Mrs. Harry j
Hatton instead."
wanted but three week of my
wedding-day. I was happy as I eVis
busy just then, for I loved the man
whose bride I was so soon to become
with all a young girl's warm untried
affection.
"Better than anyone in the world
but Tom," I thought. "And surely
uobody ever could or ought to be
dearer to nie than Tom."
Tom was my twin brother. The
usual strong affection existing be
tween twins was exceptionally power
ful in oar case from circumstances.
One of us was born strong and
robust, and the other trail and small.
Notwithstanding my sex, 1 was the
favored one by nature, while Tom
was the weakly twin. '
That was the first of his misfortune,
which naturally gave him a claim on
me, and at the same time attached
him to me and made bim cling to me
as a heartier, manlier boy would not
iiave done. The second misfortune
was tli at he resembled our father.
Poor fellow! As if he could help
that! And yet Uncle Elliot resented it
tn him just as if he had been to blame
for it.
"Xot a fraction of my money shall
go to this second Tom JSearle," he used
to say.
And he kept his word. He had
adopted us at poor mother's death,
Our father had died years before. He
gave us both a good education, and
jot Tom a position in a bank; but
when he died just a year before that
twentieth birthday of mine I was his
sole heiress.
It grieved me terribly. I loved Tom
'jetter far than . myself, and would
have shared anything with him; but
tie was proud, poor dear, and wouldn't
icar of such a thing.
So the best I could do was to spend
is much money upon him as possible,
tnd lend him all he wanted to use.
He had no objection to that, because,
is he would say:
"Some of these days, when I'm
partner in the bank, I'll pay it all back
igain, Lyddy."
And, of course, it was quite prob
able that sqme day he would be part
ner, since I was about to be married
to the banker's only son and heir.
"I was puzzled sometimes to know
what Tom did with so much money.
He had "speculations on hand," he
told me. I thought that perhaps he
was rather extravagant, too perhaps
somewhat inclined to be wild.
"lie is so young aud so handsome,"
I thought.
I was always making excuses for
him to myself; but, of course, common-sense
taught me that if he would
be steadier, and attend to business
better, his chances of promotion at
the bank would be improved.
As I thought of him on that birth
day morning of course, it was his
birthday, too the face in the glass
ceased to smile, and a new anxiety
crept into my thoughts. I was think
ing of last night
Tom had acted very strangely. I
had lain awake a long time thinking
of it last night, and a vague uneasi
ness smote me as I rememlered it
now.
What could have ailed him.
He had come in, at about teu
o'clock, to the little parlor where
Harry and I were sitting together, and
had remained with us, restless, agi
tated, nervous, and showing so plainly
that he wished to see me alone, that
presently Harry, half vexed, half
amused, took the hint and left us.
And then he asked me for money.
No trifling sum either. He implored
tne, almost wildly, to "give him six
hundred pounds, then and there, for
God's sake!"
He almost took my breath away. 1
had no such sum of money in the
house, of course, nor could I get it on
such short notice. My fortune con
sisted of real estate, from which J de
rived a moderate income, and a few
thousands in ready money, which,
what with Tom's extravagance, and
my own preparations for my marriage,
were nearly gone..
Quite agliast at his Agitation, as
well as at his request, I explained to
him the utter impossibility of com
pliance. He said not a word, but
dropped into a seat, and sat looking
at me aa if stupefied. ,
Every vestige of color had gone
from his fair handsome face, and the
daUc&te clear cut features looked hag
gard and careworn.; A pang shot
through nry heart as I saw his distress.
I ceased to care or wonder what the
money waa wanted for. I knelt down
beside bim. i
"I'll get it for yon tomorrow," I
said, "if I have to mortgage my prop
erty. Don't despair; only wait till to
morrow, dear."
As my hand touched his be started
aod looked down at ms, He was
DSrsr very strong or brave never fit
to battle with trouble. It seamed to
have crushed him now; tears fell from
his eyes upon my face.
"Never mindT he moaned. "Poor
Lyddy! Poor girl."" he patted my hand
fondly. "I know you'd give it to me
if you could. Ah, I've been a bad
brother to you, dear. Say you forgive
ti.e to-nightr
And of course I said so said so
weeping. His manner distressed me
so; but I didn't know what there was
to forgive.
I was wiser before that birthday
was half over, though the knowledge
seemed the greatest calamity of my
life.
"Something had gone wrong at the
bank," Harry told me. He broke the
bitter news to me as gently as he
could, and with a grave pale face.
"Six hundred pounds, which had been
entrusted to Tom to deliver some
where several weeks ago, had not been
accounted for; aud there were errors,
too, in his accounts "
I heard no more. Insensibility
snatched me for awhile from the
agony of Tom's ruin and my own dis
grace.
For must not his sister share his dis
honor? I felt that bitterly at first
I who had been so proud of him. But
by-and-by, indignation, shame, anger,
all gave place to love and love's anxiety.
Tom was missing.
What mattejed it to me that he had
sinned ? He was still my brother, and
I loved him.
My thoughts flew back to his despair
that night his tears, his self-reproach
his prayer for my forgiveness. I re
membered how weak he was, how
easily led, and who could tell how
greatly tempted; and from my soul I
forgave him.
I had not waited for that, however,
before taking steps to shield him from
the consequences of his crime.
Mr. Hatton was merciful. He had
uo wish to bring public disgrace upon
the family of his old friend upon the
girl whom his own son was engaged
to marry. A
I was permitted to make up the de
ficit in the bank's accounts, lu order
to do so, and for another reason, I in
structed my lawyer to dispose of my
property. And that other reason was
a letter from Tom, received just one
week from his departure. .
A pitiful letter the outcry of a
penitent and almost broken heart.
He had not appropriated the Bix
hundred pounds, thank God! but he
had been out drinking, with the
money in his possession, and had been
robbed of it !
Oil, how grateful I was! Eveiy
other misfortune in the world might
ba borne with patience now, since Tom
was not dishonest.
He confessed to me a thousand in
discretions, follies, sins; told me of
many and serious debts that he had
left behind me. Most startling of all,
he told me he was married, and im
plored me to seek out and protect his
wife and child.
Tom's wife and child! Who was she?
Vfter the first surprise was over, I
found myself longing to see my new
sister and the little one.
I went to the address Tom had sent
me went with a carriage, prepared
to bring my new relations home. Dis
appointment met me. Mrs. Searle
and her child had gone.
"They were behind with their rent,"
said the landlady, "and the husband
went away, so I couldn't keep her.
She left today."
I returned home discouraged. I
didn't want to see or speak to any one
just then, so it was peculiarly annoy
ing to find that a young woman, whom
I had employed to do sewing more
than a year ago, had called and was
was waiting to see me.
I went down to her. She arose to
meet me as I entered the parlor.
Little Eva liobinson! I remembered
the girl well a pretty, gentle, timid
creature.
I started when I saw that she had
an infant in her arms.
"Why, what's this ?" I cried.
"My baby," she said timidly. "I'm
married since I saw you last, miss."
I sat down, and bade her do the
same, and then asked her what I could
do to serve her.
For all answer she burst into a pas
sion of tears, and, rising suddenly,
came and laid the infant in my lap.
"Have mercy on me!" she cried,
falling on her knees. - "This is your
brother's child and mine, and I I am
his wife!"
I was a proud girl, and this blow
was a heavy one. My brother, so hand
same, such a favorite, so unfit for wife
and child he might, have married so
advantageously, I thought, ant here I
was called upon to welcome as a sister
my own sewing-girl.
But I did. I may have shrunk from
her for an instant perhaps, in the first
surprise; but next minute the thought
of that other disgrace, which Tom had
not brought on himself and me, re
turned to me, and in my gratitude ut
escaping that I could not murmur.
She was a dear little thing, too
after all; and the baby charming.
Ah, I had reason to be thankful for
the comfort of their presence soon.
For the very next day, meeting an ac
quaintance in the street, said she:
"And so I hear that your marriage
Is postponed, my dear." . ; -.
My heart sank down like lead.
"Who Informed yonT I asks
quietly.
"Your intended bridegroom, Mr
Harry Hatton, himself. Is it not truer
"Perfectly true," I answered.
"And postponed until when?"
"Indefinitely."
I wrote the same day to Harry:
"You desire your freedom; take it
You will never be called upon to ful
fil your engagement with me."
And he took me at my word.
He called, certainly, and made a
pretence of explanation and regret.
The almost entire loss of my fortune
bad influenced his father, not himself:
but my brother's conduct
I stopped him there.
"Tom was innocent,'' I said; "and
what he lost I have restored. You
have acknowledged that there was
nothing wrong in his accounts. You
need seek no excuse in his conduct
sir."
He lost his temper. .
"Do you excuse his destruction of:
an innocent girl, and abandonment of I
her and her child ?" he said.
With one quick movement I threw i
open the folding-doors, and showed
him Eva and ber son.
"Allow me to introduce you to my
brother's wife and child, whom he left
in ray protection.
But his words had made me uneasy.
That evening, seated with the baby on;
my lap, I asked Eva where she had'
been merried.
"Alas!" she cried, "if I only knew!
Tom took me to church - in a carriage.
It was in this very city, but I don't
know where. It was because I had no
certificate of my marriage that I
dared not go to my brother my dear
noble brother who had struggled so
hard, aud made himself, unaided, an
honorable position and a name. I
knew that a cruel slander concerning
me has been carried to him that must
almost have broken his heart".
I took her hands away from her face
and kissed her.
"WVll find the church," I said.
"There must be no slander about my
dear brother's wife." -
And I did find it after a few day's
search. Then I got John Robinsons
address he was a lawyer I found
and requested him to call on me. J
He came, a wonderfully grave hand
some man, with something singularly
manly and impressive about him. In
my heart I thought:
"No wonder Eva wept at thought of
his displeasure. He is worth pleasing
surely."
I took him to the parlor.
"I wish to reconcile you to your
sister," I said. "She is my brother's
wife."
Then I left them together. After an
hour or more Eva came for me.
"John wants to say good-bye before
he goes," said she.
He took my hand in his, and looked
into my eyes.
"You are a good woman," fie said,
earnestly. "May God bless you, and
make you as truly happy as you have
today made me!
There was something in his mere
look and tone a strength, a truth, a
thorough reliability that gave me,
comfort somehow. I found myself!
thinking:
"If it had been my fate to love such
a man as that, I should be nearer hap
piness than I am today."
But I kept my thoughts to myself.
Only from that hour I was sensible
that I regretted my lost hopes and
happiness for their own sake, far more
than I mourned for the false lover on
whom they had been founded,
One week later all my property was
sold. I had paid off Tom's debts; and
accompanied by his wife and child,
joined him in a distant home.
There we began life anew. I had a
small income still, and Tom obtained
a lucrative position. The lesson of
the past was not lost upon him. The
sacrifice I had made was not in vain.
Dear Tom was a changed man
changed for the better. Whatever I
had lost had been bis gain.
And what had I lost? The money I
counted less than nothing; and Harry
Hatton 'b love was not worth a regret.
What was it then ? I sighed for the
trust betrayed the glamor and iUu
sion gone from life so early.
"Oh. to be well and truly lovedr I
thought And then my thought!
never went back to Harry.
Another filled them. Strange Im
pression that man had made upon me;
seen only once; never to be forgotten.
I thought of him constantly; and
heard from him, through Eva, now and'
then.
"What is your brother's wife like
M 1 J I 1 . . 1 . vl
cva r i usueu uer once jusi to try ner.
"He-has none," she answered. "I
know what I should wish her to belike.
tnougn. . ',-'
And her eyes dwelt on me in a way
that made my tell-tale color rise. -A
few days afterwards she came to
me lauffhinr.
"I told John of your question,
only hear what he says."
and
She reads aloud:
"Tell Lydia my wife (that to to be, I
hope) resides in your City. . I hope to
visit you before very 4ps& and Intro
ducts tier to you. -
And lie did. WR& tbi Worry Christ
mas season John eame. I think thai
was the very happiest season of tey
life. Of course you guess hew. it u
ended. I smile nowlooking back aai
remembering that I fancied once I
loved another than John. - 1
That was a dream, but this
All mv sacrifices have been waD i
and au my loss was galntl realise 1
every time I hear pretty Eva snesJ
meas I first spoka of har M $rj
viwuw wane., i :
