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Thr To be, or ujt Co be, tint it the queatiou Whether 'lit better lu the maiu. to nusTur Tue ilitjiit diaooiufum of unmarried fortune Or to takearuin atfaiuiit this life of liubblr-*, And by |tru|K>3iii(j, ou.i ttiutii ! A wife ! to flirt Nu moru, nut. by wife to **y we end The h<'rt<-Le an I tbr ihuuiaud uervom n bucks That bcbfl'rt ure beir u>. ' 1 it a coutuuimanun Urvootly to ba wuiivu. To try tu ke<-|> Acoou uu ' percbanoe ou tru u ay v.tbere'n tbe rub, l-'or lu Uidi .Hi-am of bliiu what bills way couie, Which now we (buttle < If wuh little toil, but tbfu lual i>oy Thtsre'M ibu |iro)>occ Tbat mak'S meo fhy to venture on a wife : For who would btttr tbe ijuick iuroadi of time, The couiic atmu. tb last uiau' c.iu|iauy, Tbepui(i>ol .-ocret IJVB tLe c,|uotij'i play, Tati Mjliui) h>.l k ini; when m lmru 1 lit- luipiticnt nplrlt at ill lonely fate, hut that Ihu dread of nouietbiuK |>t a )t I'ofct u-juiitcovercd ataliun. (row wb >e umrne Si lim-bflor retunii, ujnz2le tbe will. AU't waken us rntber bear tbe ill* we bavu Tbau fly to otburi we know not of ; Th.it uauliou a .uiuiake cowards of ui all, Ami In aitata of weak iiresjlution. Our nxM iuijutioa fail and come to naught. While euier|in.iog girU. with wit aud beauty, Thui on our url to attract UK raialy trv, And lauguinb lu dejection Sete York Telegram. AGORDON'S PRIDE CHAPTER XVI. nil Ojrdoti mailed when Helen Digbj bad* ber good morning, and, contrary her unua! rule, kuaed her. You ate looking i well, thin morning Ethel," ali tali ; " your faoa ban all tbe bloom and frenbuena of a row." More tuau ouod tbaiday K-.hel wondered it anything would happen to prevent their marriage. Bbe mi^ut bava kaown (be late of her heart fruiu tbe (act tbat, wben ever ibe thought of aoy obataole aruiug bar regret wan not to be able to enjoy ber triumph over MIM Digby. Sae thought but little of any paiu that might arise from losing Laurie Nugent. But it wan uji in tbe decree* of fate tbat anyiniug should happen to prevent the marriage ot 8ir Lionard'i daughter. Early on Wedneeday morning Laurie N ujjent want over to HoluiUigb to make arrangement* for tbe marriage. Tbe *tor j be told to the reoior of St. Aao'i tbe liav Mr. Brian was fully known only to himself There wa* teme patbetio history of an orphan girl living in aome unoongeoial uubappy home, and be, on the point ol taruug for abroad, on a moat aaddau auc unexpected j mrney, wished to marry ber and take ber with biin. Mr. Bain tbougbt himmlf doing a very meritoriuu* deed wben he ojunentod to mrry them. Tbeu Laune Nugent made all other needful arrangement* mitead of going to Auatria, be Intended to atari at onoe for America " Mr. and Mr*. Nugent" were to take tbeir puMage in oae of the ateamera beloogiug t j Ib* great luman line. He bad thought over thi* piaj for Dome time, and ibeu decided tbtt u waa quite nfe. He did not intend to give E'.bel time to tay auy tbiOK to MIM Digby, nor did be luteud auy of tbein to aae ber *K*m. 'ah i muat share my lot henceforward," ne laid, " aud forget all about tbeni." Then it itruok him tbat tuuob a K-.bel had npokeu to him of ner nooix, be bad uever aked ber where it wa*, nor bad be made auy inquiriaa a* to liar fatber'a tank in life. " It ibowi bow deeply and heartily I lor* the girl," be thought to himself. "I bave never stopped to a*k one qaestion about ber aflain. If she bad all tbe money in tbe world, I oould love her no more than I do : it bi ban non*, I love her juit a* mu3b. Tbe obanoea are that, if ahe were th (greatest heiress in England, it would M imponBible for me to claim what i* ber*. It u Ethel I want Etbel with ber grand dower ot youthful beauty and not money." He arranged in hi* own mind tint wben they were married be would at oboe return to tbe hotel, while Etbel lingered lu tbe wood* ; be would aeud all bin luggage away and with it, unnoticed, two large boxes of ben. They could meet together at tbe tation aud come away from St. Ina'i ; be would defy fate. Etbel would want to have her own way to throw down tbe gauntlet to Mian Digby ; but be would invent some excuse for getting ber to tbe station, aud then, finding resistance ueelees, be would submit. Everything wa arranged in hie own mind, and to ni* own alisfaotioo, wben he returned to tbe Qaten'* Hotel. Sxne gentleman who played beautifully on tb harp had been aiked to give tbe ladle* tbe pleasure of bearing him ; tbe hup wag brought out on tbe lawn, and wben Laurie Nugent arrived there was quite a oonoert. He thought of tbe icene tor year* afterward tbe *un shining so brightly on tbe lawn and gleaming on tbe fountain*, tbe flower* all in blojm, tbe rustling foliage of the limes looking golden in Ihe brilliant light, th* *oft, iweel musio oandtng abjve the songs of tbe birds, and the murmur of the fountain*. Be saw Helen Digby seated by Ltdy Station's ii*, each listening intently to the musio. He went over to them, and Helen looked up at him with a kindly smile. " Ton bave been away all day have you ot, Mr. Nugent 7" Ethel was (landing by her side, and (,urie itole a glance at ber a* be replied " Ye*, I have been away on very import- ant buioeH. and I am glad to say tbat I have met with perfect suooe**." Tbeir eye* met f jr a moment, and then ben drooped, and a burning blu-h spread over ber luvaly lace. "Huooese i* always charming," eaid Men, little dreaming what Lswne Nugent'* suooeeH implied. " I bave uever found it so welcome at in the oaeeof tbe business I have been about today," be said, laughing. Lie lingered with them, talking princi- pally to Miss Digby, abd glancing occasion ally at tbe beautiful face drooping over tbe fliwer*. A* for Ethel, ihe saw notbing, she beard nothing, plainly ; it wa* one con- futing whirl to her. Tbe whisper of tbe wind, the ruining of the leave*, the rippling of the f ountains, the muiio of the harp, all laid bat one thing to ber " I am to be married to-morrow." She beard those word* " married to morrow" in every sound that fell upon her ear*, nntil ibe bagan to wonder whether she wa* lowing her reaeoo or not. It wa* on* of the plea*ant*t and gayeet had ever been spent at the n's Hotel ; Ethel Gordon remembered it forever afterward. Years ware to pan baton beauty and mtuio and p*rtnm* would bave any obarm for her again. Tb last qaMtion that Lari* Nugent eoked that night wa* the one tbat oaroe e of <en from bin lipe ' Have auy etrauger* arrived?" An tbe answer wa* ar nunal : " No." CHAPTER XVII. Tbe morning dawned bright abd fair the dew lay shining on tbe gra** aud flow ern, tbe wood -pigeon* were ooomg, tbe plover oryiug among tbe corn, when Elbe Girdou quietly left the bouse on her f Ua errand. Tbe morning wan tot fresher o fair>r than abe ; her face had the delioate exqumite bloom of the wild roae, ber eyei were bright ait *tars, with the golden ligh deeptuiLgm them. Bbe looked round o the eoaue encircling ber, she rained her eye* to the blue heavens, and tbougbt to boraelf bow fair all nature wae bttbed in tbe moruiug lijtbt. A great cluster of passion-flower* stooc uear tbe gate wbioh led from the lawn to tbe coppice. Tbe oappioe led to the wood* aud Ltune wa* waitiug there for ber, she knew full well. Bbe etooped to gather some of tbe ltd, grand, mystioaJ tl >wer* they were all wet with dew, whiob "be flung from tbe leave*, looking into the flower*' depth* and admir log tbe sweet symbol*. ROMS Were grow' ing there, too, and large white lilies, and 1 >ng *pray* of blue convolvulus ; but ehe paiaed all the**, and tilled her banda with tbe paasion-fljwer*. My wedding-day '" she thought to ber elf. What would my fatber think if he knew this wa* my wedding day ?" Some little shadow fell over tbe bright ueH of the morning wben ibe remembered tbat to day Helen Digby would meet ber fate. Then at the end of tbe c >ppioe she aaw Lvirie Nugent with an impatient, eager look on hi* bandaome face. She bad juet time to n )t tbat he wore a beautiful white hyacinth, and then be eaugbt light ot her and hastened to ola*p ber in bis arms. " My darling Ethel, bow beautiful you look this morning ! You shame the sun aud the flowers. Oh, Etbel, the inn may well ahine eo brightly it ii our wedding day I" They walked on aide by side, and tbe beauty of th* scene deepened 10 the wood. Tbe dew lay more thickly on tbe graai, the sunlight fell brokenly through tbe thick foliage, producing varying lights and shadows. The solitude deepened, too, and they aeemed to ba walking away trom the reel of tbe world into a fairyland of their own. Laurie turned to take ber bands in bis own. " Shall we ever see anything so fair ai tbil woodland scene, or be eo happy again m tbis world ?" he laid. " Lay your htnda in mine, Ethel, and let u* talk. Smile your brightee)!, my darling it is our wed ding-day." Sue gave him one band only. " I cannot spare the other," the explained. " Yon forget my fl jwers." Uis attention bad bren so entirely absorbed in ber beautiful face tbat be never even looked at them ; but now be bent for- ward, and Bhe wae startled by a low cry From bis lips by tbe nudden palar of bis faoe. Why, Ethel," he cried " these are pas lion flower* ! Wb3 ever beard of a bride with a bouquet of paision flower*? What an evil omea ,my darling ! I am not luper- tuitions, bat it ba* frightened me." Nor am I superstitious," she said, laughing. Why did you gather them ?" be asked. " 1'amion fl jwera on a wedding day ! Why did you gatber them, Etbel? ' I do not know. Tbty wen ihining wi'h dew and oldee to my band. I cannot give you aoy other reason than tbat." Y >u will throw them away, will you not, Ethel ?" Bhe looked admiringly at them. " I think not," she replied. " That would be giving way to HUI -minion. I come of a race tbat inuws no tear, that never looks back, that abides by what i* done. Tbe motto ol our bouse is, Gordon abides by what (i >rdoa does. I gathered these il iwers thought- leasly, I own, lor my wedding bouquet, but I shall take them with me." " II i* an evil omen, Etbel " " We will pay no heed to it. I have no taith in omens." But be gave ber no aniwering smile. " Throw them away, Ethel, V implore you." Tbe idea seemed to her both weak and cowardly. " They mast go with me," she returned. ' What influence can it bave on my future ife tbat I was married with panion- flower* n my band Seeing tbat ibe would not yield, Laurie ai j no more. They walked on through the dewy brightness of the surrmer woods until tbe ipir* of the old church came in view, and then Etbel stopped and her faoe ' ite color. Laurie, it U a arrious thing, marriage. I am almost frightened at it now." " ' G-irdoL abides by what Gordon doe*,' " la quoted. " You have promised, Ethel ; rou must not break jour word." I have no thougbl ot doing eo." ihe eplied, haughtily ; but I am frightined. I i*id forgotten bow solemn a thing marriage We are going into a church, and churches always seem to me so near heaven. O, I mrie, Laurie !" she cried, marriage ait* nntil datb, and I am not snr* if I love fou well enough." But be endeavored to calm ber. " My darling E'.hel you are nervou*. You are usually brave, my love , you must not ION courage. Etbel, like other young girls, have you ever dreamed of >our wedding- day "" " Not often," she replied. 1 Did you ever think it would be like thi* walking through a dewy summer wood, tbe miming air fresh and iweet on your Face, the long of tbe bird* in your ears, tbe ;1 >werg, like a bevy of fair bride-maids, blooming around yon ? ' No," she answered ; " 1 never dreamed of such a wedding ai thin.' They entered tbe churchyard, and onoe more Laurie Nugent aaked her to throw Ibe passion flowers away. Onoe more ebe refused , and by tbe green grave* of tbe lilent dead. Bit Leonard'* daughter bright, beautiful, proud Etbel Gordon passed on her way to th* marriage altar. CHAPTER XVIII. Ethel (iordon never forgot tbat old oharoh of Bt. Ann'i a gray old building with tapering iplr*. As ib* entered ibe seemed M bring with hew tbe fragrance of ib* limes and tbe wild flowers. At fl rst U awamad M tboufth th* ebnroh wit* tilled with gray, soft gloom ; and Iben, at tbe ea*t end, Ktbel law a grea staiued-glaa* window, a very marvel nchueaa and color. Tbe sun wa* ihiniu full upon it, and great patohea of purple an orimaon, of orange and blue, of violet an greeu lay on tbe t) tor, on tbe cam otkeo Heats, on obatioal and nave. Tber were figures of triumphant saint* ou th windows saint* with palm-branches au golden orowua. lu after year* abe louu each one impreaxed upon Ler tuemor; There waa a silence a ktillneat a bol calm tbat aeeuiid to be breathed from beavuu ; it wax broken ouly by tbe aoog i tbe birds oatsidtt and the rustling ol tb leaves in the wind. Etbel knell down, ber heart beating faa lib emotion. What ahe bad aaid waa perfectly true abe bad uot reflected upoi the solemn aspect of marriage ; aud it cam to her like a ahoek. Revenge upon H-lei Digby ! No auob thought* oould live in lha holy calm ; Ibey fled from her, leaving (b one fao! bare tbal cue wae about to baoom Lturie Nugent'* wife, it came upon he almoBl like a shook. Even then, late a* i wax, abe would have abandoned ber pro jeot abe would have given up all ileao revenge and marriage. H >metbiog of tbia Laurie Nugent mum bave read in ber lace tor he grasped ber hand, whitparing " It is too late now ; we mum go on witb it, my queen." Hue looked at . th* pictured faces of Ib* amt* witb golden orowua a wild ide look potaasiou of her to cry out to aom one to nave her -tbal she bad been entrap ped, over persuaded -tbat abe did not lov< the man ahe wa* going to marry ; and igin ibe keen inatioot of bia paaatouate love tol( Laurie Nugent tbe nature of ber thoughts " Yon are filled with nervous fancies, m; dear K hel. Hark ! tbe vary bird* aeem to emg mire joyfully because it u our wed diug-day." Wbile he waa saying tbe word* a white haired minister entered, and Lturie Nugen and Etbel went up to tbe altar together tbe altar that was beneath tb* great eastern window, from which tbe mystical lights were filling. Two witnesses were tbere >nt Laurie Nugeul never even aaw them ;bey were aervaou from Ibe rectory, whom ibe rector bad told to be present. I.un it never saw them, for his whole mention wae engrossed by bit young bride Kor tbe tirat time ba notice! her dree* a oft, shining violet silk ; and where she stood tbe light from the atained glaai win dow fall upon ber one great daab of pur pie lay at ber feel, a bar of crinmon quivered on ber drtaa, aud ou the bvauii'u oead there ibona a glow of gold. Her ovely fact we* pal* with emotn n, yet ii sbouo like a fair Mower amidst the uiydioal igbta- fairer tbau tbe pictured fact* of th* aainta : aud in ber baud she btill held tbe dewy paraion :1 jwers. No artiat evt-r dreamed of a pic ure more air. Laurie Nugent* eye* lingered upon ber ; and Iben the solemn, beautiful mar ! service commenced. Will thou bve thh man to be thy we Ided husband ? ' A* nbe gave one glanee at tbe golden rowna of the aainti, ud one at tbe white hair.id mioiater, wboae bead wa* eo 'everently bent, tbe impnlne again seized ler to cry out -, but Lvirie Nugent looked at ber, and held ber hand tightly, and h* aaid the wore> that mad* ber hi* wife. Bb* bent her bead when tua rector uttered the blecniDK, and at that moment a audden gleam of the sun threw a crimson ighl over tbe bowed bead, filling the youof huvband'a bearl with dread. " Com* away from tbal window, Etbel," IB laid. " I cannot bear to see you in the indnt of those changing light*." Bb* obeyed him ; and Iben, in a tew minutes, tbe ceremouy wai ended, lie left ler kneeling tbere, while be gave tbe rector nob a fen aa aatonubed him, and one to each of Ibe witnensee. He went into tbe eatry, and Mr. Byran shook him by th* and. " I with you every harpineee," he said , aud I must aak yon to pardon my laying hat I bave never seen a more lovely bride. "o kiud and loyal to her." Then be went away : but for long after wardi tbe rector remembered the fair Koung girl, as she itood amidil Ihe obaug ng ligbta, with tbe paasion-floweri in h.-r and. Il waa all over proud, beautiful, bright Sthel Gordon wai Laurie Nngeni'i wife. l seemed to bar like a dream. Bbe aud ler husband walked, hand in band, down be broad path, and then be noticed thai lithe glowing color was dying from the ovely lace, and tbat tbe hand be held in ii* own waa trembling. 11 Ethel," he ia<d gently, " yon muit not ive way new. Yon are tired faint, per- taps . all this has been too much for you. lee, here is a large tree ; sit down under tie "hade of it." There was a little monnd under tbe tree, ind she nai dowtj upon it, Ltnrie by ber ide. Tbe rent revived her. He looked nxioualy in her faoe. You are better now, my queen, " be aid. " Elbel, I can hardly believe il it i* ur wedding-day. I look in your lovely, lower-like face, and I say to myself tbat U is my wife'* faoe. I bold thi* white haul n mine, aad say I, thi* i* my wife's hand ; ut I do not realize, it all I hardly believe I : it seems to me incredible that I should ave won my queen, with her royal dower f proud young beauty." They Bat for a few minute* in silence, i] than Liurie took tbe paeiion flowera rom iiar. " I shall keep these until I die," he Raid, remembering alwayt that yon held them bile we were married. And now, my dar- ing, give me one kiae. Raise your sweet. air face to mine ; dearly a* I have loved ou, I have hardly dared to touch it. I may mi my wife's faoe, Ethel?" Bhe railed it and b* wondered again at ti exquiiite beauty ; the faint flaib of iturmog color waa more dainty than tbe loom of a wild row. He bent hi* bead everently, and kissed ber lips. " My wife," he whispered, " my beautiful ueen, I could not love yon more. And ow, Elbel, time la flying we mnit return. We will part at tbe gate that lead* to the roods. You, my darling, had better return trough the wood*, lingering a little on our way, for I mnit return to the hotel ml. If you are there by 11 I will have Terytbing ready for you." " We will Me Miaa Digby at onoe," ihe aid, witb a qaial smile. H* did not ihink it wai of any use to tell i*r Ib* truth joe* then. Ye*, we will Me ber, and give ber the itMt inrprl** eh* has ever bad in all her to. Waal will ebe say when the knows tbat I am your hniband, and that we ar going to Austria ?" Ethel laughed , and then it struck he that the laugh aeemed out of harmony wit Ihe brightness and beauty ol thai calm euuiiu r morning. " What time Bball we atari?" she asked Lturie bad tbotutbl of ao excellent plan as ue imagined. He would gel her awa from Bt. lua'a under tbe pretext of itartiu at OLoe for Austria Bbe would not kuo what ticket* be hai purchased, and h would uoi tell ber tbey were on Ihe roa to Liverpool until they had gone aomn di* auo4, at>d tbeu u would be too late for he to tffer any remoua trance. He though tbat wai tbe wiaeat and most suitable pi tht be ooul i adopt. Ue lingered for a few minute* longer talking of Helen Digby, dwelling ou th keennea* of ber diatppoiotment, aud thei it waa time to go. Tne church clock itruoi 1 and ao old fashioned chime playei oirectly afterward. Suddenly Etbel gave a little cry; ih bad struck ber hand agaioat Ihe corner o a at me thai wa* bidden in tbe grass, auc bad bruinud tbe tender akin. " I did not know tbat tbii waa a grave, she said, rising with a shudder. Bhe parted ihe long thick grass, am looked at tbe broken none. ' We bave been eittiug on a ebild'a grave, Laurie a ohild who died man. tn before we were born. We bave been talking about love with death ao near to nil" H* would not own tbat her words itartbx him, but th3y did. He drew ber gently away, aud then be bent and kiieed the little bruimtd baud. ' My iweet wife .'" he laid, " yon an nervous and tired. You bave atrange fan oie* thi* morning, but you will noon forge them all. Now we must part" Tbey had reached the little gale tbat lei to the wood* a great elm grew near am overabadowed it. " You will be home", then, by 11, Ktbel ?' i eaid. " Ye*," ebe replied" and then tor our [rand tfmiurmrnt. Helen Digby may bu 'arewell to hoye ol ever beiug my father's rife, Laurie." " Bhe may indeed," be agreed : and then they stood for a few momenta under tbe ;reat elm -tree. For year* afterward Laurie Nugent aaw ithel in hi* dreams ae be saw her then he sunlight falling on ber, her swael Ijwerlike face smiling on him, tbe fair bead prnuily raised ae abe bade him fare HI "only for a few hours," he thougbl. !' ir one minute be held ber in his arms. It kiased ber lips and whinpired - 1 1 lov* you ten thousand time* better bau my own life, my beautiful quean !" Then be moved away, and she watched lim ae he walked with rapid step* down be high-road ; and no warning, no present ment ome to ber of how tbey abould meet again. CHAPTER XIX. Etbel watched tbe tall figure of ber msbaud nntil be wat out of sight, and then be opened tbe gate and paused through into he woods. Bh* bad nearly two bourn to iuger there. Bne took out ber pretty jewel- ed watch, Bir Leooaid'i last present, and ooked at it ; il wa* nve minutes pant !i Bbe oould walk to Bt. Ina'i eaaily in half an hour, ao that she bad plenty of luie to dream by tbe brook tbat waa rip- ling near her. Amidst the glory ot the golden susnine and the gleam ol the deep green foliage she at down to rest and t> dream. The lowers were blooming around ber, the air wa* full of music and perfume, tbe bnok a* hastening onward, and she loet herself n tbe kee> passionate delight which nature'* beauty ever gave ber. Bhe inr- endered herself to her dream. Had she lone right, after all ? Would Bir Leonard i* ('leaned wbtn be *aw ber handsome bus mud, or would be be croon? Bbe remem- lered tbat he never looked angrily ou her t, and she aaid to herself, with a smile, bat be never would. Then her farcy trayed to Helen Digby Helen, wh im she wait ao soon aud *o surely to triumph over Helen, who wa* so *oon to be deprived of II ber nnjuktly gained advantages. Etbel wa* so noble aud gonerou* by aiure tbat abe o <uid not rej >ioe over the owufall of her enemy. Bbe bad married ba*ie parpoctly to orusb In r. but tb* enemas bert could go no farther. Wbeu uoe Helen Digby wan crushed, iben Etbel'a wn baud would raie her. Ojly let her ive up tbe absurd idea of marrying Bir ^eonard and reiguiog at Founlayne, aud leu Ethel would do anything for bur. She wa* uot on* of tboee who oould pursue a worsted f >e, or triumph maliciously over a alien enemy Bbe wa* too true a Gordon or tbat. Even now, when tbe hour of ber rinmpb and reveage wa* at band, *he half ilented. Yet she said to herself that [elen Digby bad provoked ber own fate, be should not have come between ber and er father'* love between ber and ber omaiu of Fountayna. Tbe beauty ot tbe morning deepened ; be inn shone more brightly, tbe bee* ummed more loudly. Tbe time wae pasti- ng, and Mtill ihe aal by tbe brook, lost in er dreams. There bad come to her a nud- en revelation of the sanctity of marriage ow, henceforth and forever, she WIK to be rue to Ltorie to love, honor and obey im to Meek happiness by his side, and be wai almost frightened at what she had one. I wiih," ibe laid to herself, "thtt I ad thought more of tbe smnetity of mar lage, and less of revenge." Suddenly she remembered tbe time, and, coking again at her watch, found il ball ast 10. Bbe must walk to St. Ina'i by 11. ood bye to th* leafy shade, the rippling rook, the blooming flower*, the sweetly nging birds ! Bbe hastened through the woods. Tbe rid stirred the riob brown hair, and rough! a lovely color into ber face. In tbe iitanoe ihe law the staining waters of the estle** *ea ; and *b* said to henelf tbe ourot her triumph and her enemy's down- all wai at hand. She reached the ground* of the hotel, and, eroaaiog th* lawn, it itruok her that here wa* an nnoinal atir and lubdued xoitament about the place. The visitor* wir* (landing in group* of twon and three*. talking eagerly and earnestly. She caught glimpse of tbe manager , his (ae* wee pale and anxioue. A* she approached the rinoipal entrance, ah* heard him say " I would not bave had looh a disgrace ihe houn* tor any amount of money." Bbe amiled to herself, little dreaming what that disgrace wa*. When she entered tbe hall, the manager and nil wife aud several of the Mrvaot* were together, and were talking in low tone*. At tbj end of tbeball she law a policeman, aud farther on ibe caught a glimpse of some one bound and handcuffed ibe oould not dm'.iuguUb who it wa*. Ii did not concern her, abe thougbl to henelf, aud aha entered tbe drawing-room on the left. Bhe hardly gave another thought to the matter. " Some of tbe servant* have been doing wrong," abe concluded. " I hope u u not that dark eyed Jne." aere was a large pier-glas in tbe room, aud ber attention waa onugot by ber owe picture*] u beauty. Tbe wiud bad arranged the rich Drown hair after ita own f aabioo u had brought a lovely color into uer face, and a bright ligbl into ber eyen , he smiled a* ab* looked at herself, and the amila died lowly away. L >ug year* were to paaa before she ever daw tbe kme proud beauty on bar foe again. Wnere waa Mia* Dig-by , and where wan tier husband, Lnrie Nugent ? He was to have been beta at 11, "she thought. Bbe listened, thinking that abe beard 111 footatepa, but the aound died away. II eeemed useless to wail any longer. Bhe or >a*ed tb* ball again to go to th* room wbere MIM Digby uaually sat, and as ahe paeaed along she heard a man whom he knew afterward to have been a detec- tive, lay Hi must be taken to London ; I hive my orders. If he continues to resiil, he muit be strapped down. Go be mu*l and shall 1" Then one of tbe men-*rvante had been Uncovered doing something wrong ! Bhe loped it wa* not tbe pale-faced waiter who lad an invalid wife, or the cheerful, obliging one who never seamed to tire. Tbe cry ot a man'a voice reached her as (he passed aloug. "f hope tbey will be merciful to him," aid Ktbel. " He ha* been stealing I snc- ioee. Nothing can be more contemptible khan a thief." Bbe opened tbe door of the room wbere Mies Digby generally spent the morning lib Lady Btafton. Bjth were tbere Lady Btafton looking unuinally excited, i Digby occupied witb a piece ol fancy- work ; and Ethel could uot help seeing hat the bands of tbe latter trembled. Jelen looked up from ber work at the beautiful, Mushed face of tbe girl. " Etbel," she aaked where have you teen ? I do uot with to aeem hard, but I must say, my dear, tbat I de not think it ia jniie right of you to absent yourself for so i uiy hours without saying anything to me. fou muit remember tbat you are in my charge ; snd you make me anxious." Etnel laughed a !.-., sweet, musical augb. Huw soon, bow very soon thin inomy of her* would be c-usbed how soon ibe heraell would triumph ! Il wa* the laet ime tbat ibe would dare to aak auoh que* 1OUS. Wbere bave >ou been, Kthel?" Misa >igby repeated. Yon will know quite soon enough, eplied Ktbel. Uer eyea fell on tbe ormolu clock ; it wa* nearly balf-paat 11. Wbere wa* ber hue iand strong, handsome Laurie Nugent ? lew** to take ber band aud tell Helen Jigby tbat they were married. Ilwastiv- og ume aud opportunity for euoh a aoeue. Vny did be not come?" You know, my dear Eihel," punned lelen, " tbat I never interfere) with your actions needleeely. I know there i* no real ause in anxiety; thi* piece i* BO quiet bat yon might be out for hour* together and uot iee any one ; but, for tbe future, if on intend taking a long ramble, will you lease mention il to me, that ^ may feel iiite at ease?" Etbel laughed <aio there wai so little eed for iuoh a promise. Bbe, witb her uaband, would soon ba far away. Helen Digby's reign wa* almost over : a few Diuutes more and the triumph would come. Jut wbere wa* ber buband? He muat be hare soon," she thought to er*elf. " I am glad tbat Lady Station ia raeent; the will aee my triumph." Bbe looked al Helen Digby'* oalm, kind oe ; how soon ite expraaaion wonld be naogid bow soon she would cease to ava any place among them ! Where wa* Laurie ? Elbe! wa* growing mptlient ; this Ir'nmpb of ben seemed ery sweet no w that i I was ao near at baud. What gratification to be able tb look at her ival aud say : " I was left in your charge given into your care and you bave failed ompletely. I am married, and am going traighi to aee my fatber!" Tb* desire to make her disclosure inoraed. When ibe ad bumbled ber rival, wben she had taken rom ber bar father's love aud all obanoe of ver reiguiog at Fountayne, she wonld be riendly witb ber, and kind enough. Ethel ughed again aa she thought ot the thnn- erbnlt that waa aoon to fall among then). " You seem greatly amused, Ethel," laid [eleu Digoy. Have yon win anything tbal baa pleased you ?" " No ; but I expect to be very much amuaed, Miss Digby. aud I am laughing in anticipation." Than she became silent, and Ihe ladiei wanton talking together. Bhe beard Ih* words, " dreadful affair," " sad disgrace," repeated over and over again, but did not feel auffioieot interest to inquire what tbey meant. Time wa* passing it wan now half -pant 11. Where was Laurie? Bbe rose impa- tiently from ber *eat she felt warm and flashed. Barely tbe room or the morning mnit be vary close. Bhe pushed tbe hair back from her brow, and Helen Digby. catching a glimpse of ber, aaid " Elbel, you look so strange not at all like youraelf." But Eihel moved impatiently away. Wbere wa* be ? Why did he not come and give ber ber triumph ? It was not kind of him to keep ber so long. Bh* walked to tbe window, and itood looking oat. She saw the lawn and the bright flowera, tbe gleam- ing, reitleee sea, the dark, shady wood". Beyond the** last wai the church in which that morning ah* had been married. Where was Laurie, and why did he not cam* ? Lady Htafion looked at the beautiful, reetleaa faoe. (To b* eonttnoed.) e A recent remark able I'ar is letter reported Mme. Christine Nileeon in Rom* preparing toing in the Trooadaro, but thi Trooadero I* in Pari* and o le Ohrtattne Nileeon, look ing wonderfully well, fat and lair, though aba ! two yean over 40.