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A MOONLIGHT ESCAPADE. C'lAi'TKRIX. A mild muggy day in NovemW ; the somberly wind and cloudy sky dear to tbe soul if the hunter; a goodly sprinkling of red coats, Ida. k coats, and here and there a well tilling habit in front of the Manor for tl > Ik-ring* were giving their annual hunt breakiaat. Kftie. stood on the, slepa, having just emerged from lin- liming room, where she had been iniiiintei ing tu I In- waiiU of her latest gueU, and now wailed fur hr nrt i.iare /toe lo be brought round. Miss IVring was loukiLg remarkably well in her riding ha'iil ; and it was t'ie beet thai could Iw got fur love or inouuy, for, if Kllie waa parti, ulai about anything, il was aa to Ihe til o' thai garment. Standing the. e in her irreproachable get-up her hat tilted nlightly forward, a gardenia in her button hole., (he looked bewitching : and ihe eyes of twu men retted admiringly oil her as she rail duwn the sU-ps to mount. Hut it was only Harold 1'arkinsnn who started forward lu help her into the aa Idle ; He. t,.r ut motionless on a good- looking bay lhat he intended to try for the firal time lhat day ; and. when they all moved off, it waa Harold who rode by her aide down the ave- nue. He never made way for Hector now indeed the taller did uol attempt losel lum aaidi*. Having made up Irs mind that Kttii- had never can-d much for bun, it mattered little lo him for wl om she would c.uc event- ually aa well I'irkiuaou aa another. Ktlie was now ,'ar more unhappy than hei et lover. Site never could foiget lhat it was through her thai the engagement had U-en 1-ioken oil that, had the shown leea pride, he might have kepi IK-ctor to Im allegiance without betraying the secret of the pine-grove. >he imagined too thalHector liai quite got over the lovehe hail certain- ly full once for her, and her constant dread waa that ho would find uut lliat bora still existed. In Irene circumstances their intercourse waa not of unmixed delight : Mill Kllie felt tt.at she would rattier have him there im-re ly aa a friend than not at all. She hud not the 1 01 lures of jealousy to endur* aa yet ; be had shown no inclinat n >n loaupply her place, anil matchmaking mothers angled for b;m in vain. .She muat I* thankful for small mercies. In tie inc.mtime not even her mother could divine me anguish lu which she waa sometini. s a prey, or indeed see thai she cared for (lector but aa a fruii.l Thi-y fom.d at OMCO iu the Manor covert, and then Kflie and Ibe two young men rode side I y side in the first flight. Xoe was a splendid fencer, and Harold was very well mounted ; Hector's bay borie was the worst jumper uf the three anin.als. Kfhe glanced aniiously at linn on.-e or twice aahe rushed at hia ten .-. . hut ahe had eveiy contid-me in Hi dor's horsemanship ; and Hide.. I they ran the fox to ground wit limn any mishap. VMi.le they wete waiting for him to be dug out Hector ai'pi'.acl.ed Kttie, who waa apart from the others. " I was afraid you would I.e in fion' ..f me todiy." he said. "I think ibis annual is a mistake." " Thai be is," said Kffin ; " he ia nol fit '. ridi- with hounds Ai you can aflord to be well mounted, why rile a horse that ia utc to fall aooneror later?" " Kanrj you |>na. lung prudence !" laugh- i Hi- t. r. ttir-d.nl i'ii;"\. iii-\cithr|i-* . at thu anxious look in In i eyes. " 1 piactice H, I think," shn repln-'!. ' There la no duuger inndiig Xoe, and 1 noiinl her wlif-i.ev.-i I can." " lint, when you can't, 1 have tie ird that 'ou will ride any horse in the stables." I bry all jump." said Ktlie carelessly. " What a tune they arc digging lliat fox out '. I wish we rould gel on." Keen nport smau though he a, ]! tor rould nol ci-ho the wiali. These two wuie' quitu by thuiiiaelvwi in a corner <-t a field, Ai.d li" ilid not often g>>t n '' >i '' iu such fa\ '.ruble circmi-'tan. . - It r Klhe'a denirc wasi soon gratified, for, shortly after lie hail expressed that wish, tlir hounds were running hard again, and these twu alt. i tl.' oi as eagerly aa before. " We ar>: in fur a good thing," said II ..r, a* thi-y dashed along. "Ibelieve this is a f.ekh fox; he is making fur ihe uplands." 'I lien do be careful," abe said. " That animal will tire soon und come duwn at one -e nasty frncrs. " They .-ie again well in front, thla time wit b< ill Harold, who had lieen thrown out wbrn ih') Marled, nd He. tor fondly hop,-.! that they had got i id of him. lie came up With them soon, however, altr they had met with a slight check, and the three friends, the huntsmsn, one of the wlnps and a uporting tairner left the rest oft fie tie'.l at one of Ihe naaly fence* of which Ktlie had spoken. I'.y this lime the pare ha I If gun to tell upon n.nat of lha lioraes ; bul upon nonu more than lle.-tor'a buy, who had taken iu<. re oit of himself at hia lences than thu others. Xoe seemed as fre*h aa ever ; she roulii have carried a couple of stone over KrhV* weight, and the girl always niir-.. .1 h. r carrfiiliy. Si.e now enjoyed the privi- lege of leading the ImM. " lly .I"V.-, they are ruiinii.g into him !" cue I Hainld allast, as Im followed l.lli.- over a fein e into a it i It bilof ploughed |.>n<l. " l^il uagi>t up in time to aecnro hia brush !" 'I h. < wan rather a liail fence between them ixn.l tlio hounds, but Xoe cleared it, Harold got over with a scramble, cloacly followed by tho huntaman, who ^.illi.pnl on to whip or) the hounds. Then II. .-lor rodo at II ; but l.y tins time ihe bay horse had ahot his bolt, and turned a complete aoineraaull into i lie hold, throwing his rider heavily. Kill.- uttered a low cry, and, springing to the ground, rushed to whero Hector lay, white aud moiionlms. Harol.l, running up. found her kneeling liy him and support- ing his head on h.-i arm. " li h drad'r" aim asked quietly. " N i, de,,r, " leplied Harold; "ho U only atuniied. la there any house near?" " Ve. ;Joe Davia'a farm, ' nixid K-te. "llrcou'd be taker tin re." Mir had n.it notn-'d ll.irnld'sexpressionnf ndeni ni'-nt, nor did bn know he bad given nli.-i I.,., to it. All be knew wan ill,- was lov to b in fur ever. He knew for certain now that her love n is giv. n t . II tor I. \ n MIII -t . Tlic .!. |.m m l<i lovely eye*, an alie r.tlsed tli> m to l.n own when asked tl..' i;o. -t "ii. told him that. .lii"t tl.cn .1.." l.-ivis liimaelf < umn run- ning up II. -i .' work in a ni hiring ii.-Id, i.i. I bad i >m over to ace the In. in. la when the ac.-i.l. nt lnjq e nnl. If. w. ni to fi 1. 1 A hurdle, ami Ktfid was) left alone, with Hector, lo, Haloid, not lo- ing able to do any th'nggood, moved away, after sending a country lad ou hia own b-.i -. for a doctor. Hector opened his eyes for a moment and look.-il I- tin- full in the face. " Ik that you, Kttie ?" he siked. "Yes," she almosl whispered. "Do you feel pam any win ic, Hi- tor ': But hs had relapsed into unconsciousness. They carried li.m to I bo farm and up to a bed -room ; then all lliey could do was lo wait for a doctur. "Call me if he recovers consciousness, " aaid Harold to Ktlie, as b- lefl Ihe room. He could not MI iy and look *t llie angnuh in her face, nearly as white as the gbtly one on the pillow, so he went out snu pn-.-d up and down the little grdcn in front of t'n- ho-i-e until the doctor's ar'ival. The doctor was not long in coming. He pronounced the injuries to be lesr neno.i- than they had imagined. There had been a slight concussion of Ihe bruin, but from that he waa recovering and/had only to he kept perfectly quiet for some hours ; an ankle however was dislocated. It would lie better nol to move him from the farm for some days ; and he, tbe doctor, would kend aniirae from Hillborough, the nearest town, if ('alienee could not tend to him. liul I'atience begged so earnestly to ! allowed to nurae Mr. Lyndhurat that 11 T old, after a glance al IClli", loin- nte I He hin-sflf would relurn thai night after tak- ing Misa During home, he said, and an up with Hector. Ktlie gave him a gratufm look. " Then I suppose it is useless for me to stay hers, " ahe aaid. " Yea, " said Ihe doc'or ; " if I might be 1 rnulted to make a suggestion, you haJ i- tier re'virn home. I will remain here unlil Mr. 1'arkinson comts back. Now I can't liuvi- my patient any longer he may i<- turn to conacioiianeu al any moment." They were standing in the paaaags, Har- old and Kibe having come out of the littl- parlour, to which iney bid descended while I he patient waa being examined, to hear the doctor's verdict, and, as he turned to go upstairs again; .Mr. Dering rode up to the open door. He had hail a bad fall IntiiKelf earlier in the day, and was riding home when he I eard of ihe accident, and, fearing lhat l-'.t'ie was tbeie -iml would have no one to look after her, rode l>ack, in spite of a sprained arm, lo take her home. He went up to sen Hector, and found lum quite seuaible, but in great pain with h, ankle. " II' seems terribly shaken," said Mr. l>.-i ing, when he came down ; " but, be- yond the ankle, '.here doesn't seem much ' haim done. That comes of riding untrain- ed horses ; it never pays. Come along, Kltie ; 1 want to get home ; my arm is rather paiu'ul." Mo they I, -ft Harold to watch the injured man and lo mourn over ihe dealh of bis own hopes. " Don't send her away : I love children," said Hector, smi'ing al hllle Kllie Dovia, who had to.l. ll.-d in through toe OJKII door and stood staring at him with a finger in her mouth, unheeding ber mother 'a ges- ture*. I "Well, if she will be good, "said I'atience, nothing loath, rising and putting away her : wotk to take ber lit tie girl iu her arms. She sat down again by the tire with the chil.l on her lap. Kttie still r.ganlrd the Mranger with wondi ring eyea, and Hector waa much amuaeri si her mo Hiring express! on He was beginning to feel terribly U.rcil ; nol suffering mm b, bul unable to lead. It. was dreadful wo.k lying iheie the whole day through, and he rvi-n welcome.) Ihe ad MIII of thi child to break thu monotony. >id li>d had quite enough of il. He was looking forward antinualy for the morrow, when he was to I* taken home. He. lor w.is rather a Sybarite in spite of hia wandering* and the many privaliona his enforced sojourn had ne<-i>eeitalr>l ; and the badly furnished room beautifully clean llioiigi. it iiughl If juried upon hia sense of the ai ti.ti -. He coobl nol but feel grateful to the worl by coupta who mimed him so carefully, l.,ii he knew that be would tie very glad when he could take his departure. I'atience irritated him Ic'yninl etproeaion. Sin- would ail by hla fire for hours, if there were no one elsu with him darning at x-k- lings and watching his every move- in, nt. He did not kuow that it was her | love for Ktlie th I made her lake auch care of him. With a wonmii'a inatiuct, I'alicncu i had divined that Klhu'ii love waa still lie ! stowed upon 11.-. tor, and that knowledge rratln her do everything in her power for him. The two D.ivia. -. had simply ailored Klh" f i .'in the time wHt'ii she had a<> nobly I btfiiended them, and often aaid lo each lolher that they would lay down their live* for her, if neccs.iry. So any one in whom ah" in.ghl luke an interesl would I - suie lo have a claim to their consideration. "What apretly child she is !" said He,- tor. "What is her name?" He asked ihe question in all carelessness and waa quite startled by the answer. Kllie I'.iU.-n. , sir ; she is called after Mia4 Dering." U nh Hector the little one was imnn-.li aloly invested with n frutih interest. "Is Miss D.-ring her godmother?" he asked. If he had wanted I'atience to talk about Ktlie, he had succeeded completely ; and he waa bored no longer. Kllie's manifold virtues were uxpalialed 'ipou at the great* HI length by her hurnblo adorer, who was glad to !< able at last to rouse Hector's luteieat. "Hnl then Joe and 1 can never think enough of Miss Dering," continued the young woman, "after all that she has done for ua. " "Hiisahe been paiticularl) k : nd to you?" aakrd Hector. Anything to make her go on talking of Kllie! ' Kind, air? Why, when Joe was in such trouble, hiding in the piuewood, and I broke my leg and could not take him his fond, what doesd.'ar Miss Kflie do bul carry thai heavy bosket for miles, so that he might n.it come out of hia hiding place." "Hiding? I don't understand I ' T aaid Hector, Ixiwildcred "It waa rather more than two years ago, air that lima when Joa waa suspect.. I ,,: killing Sam Kir ion, the gamekeeper and In- hid ao as n*>l to be arrcite.l. I aho.iid not have, told you perhaps I know that Miaa llering did not wunt people to know of it, atie I.. ,n.: a iragnttratu'a daughter and Joe a aus|i<- I'd . i ii.unnl, aa il weie ;l.ut, I shall invur forget her kiudncatj 1" "She actually went and took him food?" .aid Hector, greatly interested "Yes air ; ajid a nice, long, tiresome way it was. I could hardly drag thu ba.kt there, what with jumping frcm ttoue to a, one up ihe stream, and then clainhering through tho brambles. Indeed, once she weut in the middle of the night ; and how .he could have had the courage to go lint loneaouia way I can't for he lite of me ly. imagine." "In the middle of the night, you say ?" 'Tied Hector, a llgnl breaking In upon 'urn. " Vei, sir. Joe told me that you niinht have kno.Ued him down with a feather * lien he heard her v/hl.Ue. And khe would not let him coine back even part way with her. It was as light as day, Joe say*, but ho -ould rot bear Ihe thought of the likes of her wandering about at night." A moonlight night ! Hector saw it all now. that it was not to be wondered at that a gu I, once in Im-e with him, should remain unchanged. What a apltudir 1 fellow he was, even with the pallor of hit abort illness still on Ins fin, liiirm-d lace ! And how s'.npid, lie thought, to let pride stud in the way of his winning such a prize ! " You don't a.k me wh.il has decided me to abandon fie pursuit?" he asked moodi- "llow could you let her go at all ?" he naked hoiraely, "1 WAS half mad with deipair, sir ; ami 'lull was not a living soul but Misa Ktlie whom 1 could truat.' And tl.eu 1 'alienee tuld him the whole atory. He answered never a word, ai.d Tatience thought. he bad weariud him willi herchal- ter and atole quietly from lh room with little Krh'e iu her arms, hoping iliil he wo-iM aleep. Hector 1 iy with cloaexl eyea, as she had lefl him ; bui never was aleep farlher from him. He had inleed food tor bilter re- flection. Hi. brave, loyal Ktfio ! How could he have doubted her for a moment? And he had luet her -lost her forever by hia own "u Ilia left her lo a worthier man ; for H ' r had long thought thai Ktlie would '>'iiiualiy become Harold wife. 1 1 waa a maideniug idea one net calcu- lated tolowera palieul'k lemperalure ; an', when ihe doclcr came lhat evening, he looked grave aud told Taiiencu llial he would apend the night at the farm. He feai.-d thai llieru had beu a graxur injury 10 liir head than he had at first imagined, and iliat Hector might have an a'tack of brain fever. However, Hector had aenae enough to kuow ihkt he was uot in a fit state lo re- flect upon this melancholy subject, so, by a gieat mental ellort. he tin no I bis thoughts into aii.,llier channel, until the doctor's m- 'In. me prucured bun the blcued gift of alecp. And how wu Ktfie faring all thin tiu.e? I leave that to you to tell mo," said Hector ; " 1 don't wish lo lie irdiicreet. " " I will tell you," aa>id Harold, looking him full in Ilia face. " I know I am per feclly convinced that Miss Dering will nev. r marry unless the right man itska her. And ' I huu art the mau' !'' he add empliali cally. " Can you give me a reason fur thin cou vi.-t ion ?" anke.il He. tor. 1'hen ilitrold told him of Kfiie'a repealed refus.iU ol himalf, of her eiprested deter ii.inati, n never to marry, and, aliove all, of her agon lied look aa lie bent over Hector'k acu&cres. form that day in the hunling-field. "1 urn outing my own Ibroat, 1 know." .aid Harold, "by telling you all this ; but 1 love the girl so dearly that 1 would willing- ly sutler torture In see her happy. I tried to I iing yon together again, l.yndhumt, when you quarrelled more than two years ago ; 1 fell in honour bound to do so, as I was in a way mixed up in the misunder- standing. Then, having done all 1 could, I felt justified in trying for my own happi- ness ; but as I havo told yon, it was f no avail. Now I have said my say, and will never willingly again allude to theaubjecl." The couveraatiun then drifted on to un- mi!" .riant topics. But these earnest words 1 II irol.l'a bore, auch fruit thai the nexl day tound Hoclor Lyinlhural, regardless of the reinunnlrancta of Ina housekeeper at hia rashness In venturing out for the urst time on such a da;-, giving orders for the carriage lo be bruugiit round to take him to the Manor. And, a* b:xs been seen, he could not hare timed hi. visit heller. "Xow," said Ktlie, after her first frank greel.ng, "1 muat make much of you now that you have come. Take that arm -chair ; it is the moat comfortable. Or will you bax e tbe sofa wheeled to the n re 7" lleclur decided In favourof the arm-chair and Ktlie broughl him another chair on which to rest his injured leg, a cushion for his back, and rang tor lea, though it was early in the afternoon. to luvp aomelh ing after your You ^ drive lliia ,-ohl day," she said. "I was Iwginnirg to feel rallier dull ; mother is down with a bail cold, and my book is not thrilling." " 1 Lave any quantity of novels to tend you, if you are hard up for one," said Hec- tor. " I have got through an enormous uj.nlier nin,- I have ben laid up." Yes ; what a uuinance it muat have for you lo be all ibis time in the Bul badly, il is to In frated. Ilia hard to have to ail with fond misgivings when the beloved of one s heart is lying on a bed of 41. knew., and une cannot go and tend him harder still lo have tu suppress every sign of over anxiety ..nd rratraiu the qnn.nuia that rise to one's l.pa wlini friunda come to givu the latest news. All thia had Ktlie to lo do, braidea try ing to appear more cheer- ful than usual all through the day. Tbe one hour ahe looked forward lo was thai when she accompanied her father or nioihei lo make ibeir daily inquiries al the farm. Mm. Deling went oucu, and left Ktli.' iu Ibe carriage while ahe hersell went to see. the patient. How the girl envied her uiothei ! What would site net have given to be able to ail by Hector's bed- side and read or talk to him as he might wish : Mrs. Uering's heart ached for ber daughter as ahe caught the anxioua look in the blue eyes when she stepped into the carriage. Canld ahe aud her buaband have bwn mistaken in their eatimate uf Ktha's arTe. lion for Hnrlor l.yndl.iirst v At any rate, thought the good lady with a aigh, it is all over now. Heclor hnnielf had evi- di-iiilx no idea of comi'ig forward again. Then Kflie rle over twice wuh Mr. Dermg, who waa never happy riding wilb- out his daughter, except afler tb huunds. "< ome up mid see the pwir fallow," he >aid, aa he aprtng from hia hone at Uio door. fail I .ii" declined on both occaaions. She could ncl lorgrl thai, when Hector had npviidd his eyas that day after his full, he hid found his hi a I on her arm ; and she dreaded In look him in the face now. So, even when he won back again at I.yndliurat 1'ark aud lying on tin- sofa in Ibe library, ahe could not be perauaded to pay him a viail, although her father told i her lliat Heotor tiad raid thai it would be very kind if kbe would accompany Mr. Dering ihe next time he came. It eermed really hopeless to think of tliea* Iwo ovsr-oa>nailiv and proud young people being reconciled. C'HAI'l'KKX. Ktlie sat alone by the tire m the morning- room oue aftcrnwn in December. Mr. l>*nn_' waa cojUined to ber reom wUi a bad .-old, and the Squiro was alxwut at- tending a political meeting in ihe neigh- bouring town. It waa by a curious uui- i-idi-o. that II", -tor I. yn.lhui.il di . laia day lo i-onie and thauk tile IVrings tor Hi. ii kindness to him when ill. The foot- man nauirally enough nhuwed him into tbe 10.1111 where hllin aal, aud she rose to greot him. U ia indeed a pleasure to see you about again, aho aaid, shaking hands warmly with him. Hector looked in vain for a trace of .-mo ti m on her part, bul found none. The girl - bad ically turn* I pale when he rame into wt " u "" " '* !*. " the room, bul the lire cast such a glow " '. WM o( *'""' ".* to ln m upou her face that he did nol uo'4on it. l)uiing the*e days of enforced inaolion, H-tor had bad plenty of time to review i the di".-rcnt incidents that had taken !,. " '''' dohe ' or lhe >i*es and leave to during hia brief engagomrnt, and wonder """ lno l ** k of P"l'iK hu ouimlruclion on whether afler all, Ktlin hail really cared for j " ' nun more iban he thought, and a few words I '''" wol<1 " < yK <1 untender" with Harold Parkinson had ciMitirmed a ' cim * to llis m ""' M he looketl at Kttie lean- faint hope that had arisen in his breant. I in g be>k indinVrcntly m her ctiir, playing Thai young man ha I l.een amokiiig with witn a hnd-a-reen she bad taken up to shade him on day, and ihe conversation had h.-r l,i.u fium ihe heat ot the tire. " And to think it was by my own fault t" said Hector. " You were a true prophetess, Krtit- . ' " No one can be more sorry than I am to 6ml inyaelf right," wa the reply. " I hope this will be a warning tu you, aa the old ladies say." At this juncture the man liroug'.it in the lea- tray, and Kflie bluied herself wilb Hector's wants. Could Harold Parkinson have been right, he thought ; and had he only lo ask and to have? mil no; ihe frtoudly warnuh of j that greeting had at once chilled his ruing hopes. No girl would liavs so opeuly ex- (.reaeed her pleaaure al meeting a man ahe luved. He did not understand the aulitlelieaof a woman's mind. It ws to hide herr.nbarrasaineut thai Kile hail tlma greeted him. Her oue desire was to hide her love from hian, and a)iethoui/hl lhat shr could not do tins belter than by being most cordial in HIM- u.auuer. She rightly imagin- ed ho<* Hector would conalrue it. The anow was (ailing, and the flakea whirled past tho wmiluw, darkcnmg the room. The firelight flickered upon the young people ; and a silence fell upon them, born of llie.tr contiiotinK emotion* - a silence tlial Kfhe was ihe tirat to break. I liavti jusl heard from Mable Fen- wiuke,"ah said " Mable I'arkinvm that was you know : she ut aoon coining lo t 'op stun. By 'he-bye., Uiia waa her wedding- day two years) agu. H .w well I rememl>er It ! I was on* of the bruleauiaida, and was au afraid lhal try noee would be bright crim- son before 1 got to Copston ! 1 1 was snow- ing harder than il u now and billet ly cold. '' ->l>c waa merely making conversation, *nd Hrclor answered mschanically. ' Mai. le has such a darling liltle girl," Kllie went on ; "1 hope sne will bring her." " What a lovely little child lhat isaithe farm t" said Hector suddenly. " Oh, isn't slie a darling? Shs is my great pel ; lliey bave called her after me." " They seem devnUsl to you," aaid Hec- tor slnwly, looking Ktlie full in ihe faoe. The blue eyes tell be/ore his glance anil something thi-y read in il, and % ,ao colour inuunled lu bur face. " 1 hey aay you were kind to them when lliey were m trouble," pursued Hector, hop lag t lial Klfie would now take the opportun- ity '. etplaiiilUK Ihe myalery of tbal III.-.MI light tulveuture, lo which 1'atiriK-e had him a clue" thai you helped thorn once," said Ktfie Dering evasively. Hector bit hia lip. Surely, if ahe cared for him, she would al leasl mention what mined on matrimony. " I rhall never many," said Harold in a tone of conviction, knocking the ash of his cigar in a most unsenlimnnUl way, ami tli .'.fh hia heart was very sore as lie spoke. Well wii limit sioomng to oonqner, he would tin. I out, aii.l that speedily too, whether hr . lnl c*r<> for him or not. An Idea had ju.t entered his head. (' y aud il.-*..K!.i thne two " You are deciding ratber early in the r>: : ' lie " ul - " ' -'"ire you 1 often day," laughed Hector. " You ougbl not to thought, as I saw ihem together, that 1 marry for the nexl five years." " 1 would marry lo-morrow, if the girl I would exchange Lyidhurat Park for the farm and my life for that of a workin e want .would haveine," rejoined Harold". | man's, if I could taste men happineas aa " I won't prelond to misiind. island you," j theira. aid Hector. " You mean Kflie Dering." I do. I have loved her for more than two yearr, bul il has lice n only lately that " Do you think people are. more devoted in cottages, then?' asked Kttie, trying to aniilo and luok indifferent, though her hrart I have given up all hope. When you left waa healing wildly. !' I don't Ihmk that ber, I made up my mind to try to win her. I have, faitli in peracrversnce r hut i I'atience and .loe are happier in each other than me M.ii.fl anil Sir .l.iiut* Fer.wicke, 1 !!* Ifcllll II. |II I n.-l ,-| r III fl , ,1111. 1 UI! now that il la of no use to think of her any though Mabel nnd Sir J imes have a large more." place and thousands a )car; it is not the H. dor made no answer, but lay looking moonie that matters." into the firo dreamily. Harold glanced at, " At "Y rat . lh "'8 nt ' """ domestic Litn aa he lay thero aud Ihought billui 1^ happiness raadn me euviotis," said Ueotor ; Clifford Hlackman. A Boston Boy's Eyesight S-ivcd Perhaps His Life By II .o.i's S.-irftapurilla-niood l',,i- -II. .1 by < .nk.-r. Read thn following from a grateful motlier: (" My liltle hoy had Scarlet Fever when 4 j enm old, and II Icftliim very weak ami with blood Fiael with ikrr. His eyei became so liiilaine.t thru lilt suffering* were Intense, and for seven weeks lie Could Not Open His Eyes. I took him twlco durlnu thai nine t.. Ui.- i:>e and Ear Infirmary uii C'liarlcj itrcet, tint lli.-ir remedies failed to do him tin- faint. --t >haduw of good. I commenced Kivmg him Hoou"s SarsaparllLi and It soon curi-'l him. I have never .toul.te.l that It M*e4 Wi. .i c hi,even ti fci very life. You may ui llm te-i- Unioniul in any way you ehoo-se. 1 am always ready lo sound the praise of Hood's Sarsaparilla because of the wonderful goo<J u did my son." ABBIB f. BLACKJUK, 2888 w.-nhin^ton St., Boston, Haas. <;.-l HiMiD'S. HOOD'S PtLLS are hand made, and ar pes feel In compoal'itm. orvporUon and atiiMaraiie*. " and I am thinking of trying it on my own account. Would yen welcome my wife, Kill.-, if I brought a Mrs. Lyndhurst to the Manor ?" Just for an instant the girl caught her breath; but her hesitation was scarcely per- ceptible, and she replied bravely. "Of course. Hector, your wife would be my friend. What are you thinking of ? You are sure nut to choose one with whom I could not get on." " I am very fond of Isabel Nicholson," pursued Hector which was perfectly true as to the letter, the young lady in question being a great " chum" of his, principally because ahe was secretly engaged to a great friend of Hector's, an 1 the latter was the recipient of Isabel's confidences aud ber pet partner al dance*, drring ihe absence of Ihe adored one. ' Do you think she would make a good mistress of Lyndhurst Park, Kffie ' ' This was carrying the war into the enemy 'a ramp with a vengeance. Vaguely talking of a prospective wife was bad enough, but actually to name an individual as auch wu terrible. Kltie aat appalled, trying to repress the tears that would rise at th- thought of this girl as Hector's wife her Hector lhat had befu, thai would have been still but for cruel faie ! She did not personally care much for this Isabel Nicliolaou there was nothing in common bclween the two girls ; but, bad ahe been her dearest friend, Kltie felt Unit the would still have had to struggle against a sudden and violent hatred of her. She tried hard to subdue this feeling and apeak generously of ber supposed rival ; but, when the words came, they sounded forcedto ber ear*. I think Miss Nicholson a very pretty girl, Heotor," she said quietly. "1 have ao doubt aha will make you a good wife." "Then 1 have your consent, Effie?" ho asked gaily. Ho could tell by her manner that she loved him now. Had she been merely a friend to h'ni, she would not have treated the question of hu marriage so ooldly. She would, at auy rale, for the sake of coimii-jii politeness, bave shown sfcme little interest in the matter bave plied him with ques- tiona as lo his hopes aud fears, the lenglh of bis attachment, to the girl, and gone into the numerous details involved in a love- affair, instead of sitting there so calmly with half-averted face, ga/.ing into the fire. There waa more hesitation this lime t then the auswer cama bravely. "I abould always wish for your happioeu you know that," she aaid vsn'.ly ; " and 1 aut sure your choice li a wise one" Just a little ,-np at the laat word. H actor roae from his seat and came near- er, leaning against the mantelpiece. "Al ou" time we neither of ua could have imagined thai one day I should lie consult- ing yuii about the choice uf a wife, could we?' be aaked softly. Tbere was no anawer. He liad gone a little to far. The bright head waa bent down new, the little hauda were ti;nl>iing. ''Could we, Kttie!" cuutinued the cruel young man. Dewn came a largo tear on tu Krtie'i hand, but she auawered not a word. Hut the sighl of Una tear wai loe much for Hector's aell-ooiitrul. The ue>t aiomeut he wae down upon hia knees before her, passionately kisaing Ibe little hands, and locn, emboldened by their nol being with- drawn, leaving them Ihem and seeking with bis lips Ihe tear-stained faoe ; while Ktlie laid In-r head upon his sboulder and won- dered lhat so much happiueas did uol kill her. "You nansjhty girl !" he said at last. "And you have loved me all this lime and hidden il so well; leaving it to others to tell me of it ? Kllie what do you deaerve ? Kisses, apparently, for he continued showering them upon her ; while she lay contentedly in his arms, oblivious of every- thing save the fact tbat they were reconcil- ed Meanwhile Mr. Dering had entered un- peic,-n.-d, aud was staring in astonishment at the sight, "Klesamy soul '" aaid the worthy gentle man, aa the lovers marled apart oit seeing him. " A i eu I" laughed Hector. [TIIK Ferguson s*ys that he wishes thelnw that compels the saloons to shut up at iwtits o'clock applied lo his wife.