• -. --e. . â- f A 'i^ « # <it The Hra Ilrrt'ie auil the Soarf. HuiiK oil the nasemi'iit that looked o'er the main FUitutrcd a scarf (it l-luu : &U(I a Kay bold brot'/.e paused to flatter uud tcanu Tliis trifle of delicate hue ; " You are lovelier fur thau the proud skies are, " He aaid with a voice that sIkUoiI : " You are fairei to mo tliau the huautiful sea : Oh, why d j you stay huro aud hide? You arc wastiug your life iu this dull, dark room ;" Aud he fondled her silken folds. "O'er the casern* ut leau but a little, my queen, Aiul see what the ureal world holds : Buw the wonderful uluo of your matchless hue Cheajieus both sea and skyl You are far too briKht to he hidden from sight. Come, fly with me, darliug, fly ! ' Cender his whisper and sweet his caress. Flattered and ideascil was she, The arms of her lover lifted her over The casement out to siia ; Close to his breast she was foudlyjiresfiod. Kissed once by his laiiKhint,' mouth; Then dropped to herKrnvo in the cruel wave. While- the wind wen! nhiitliu); south. -£(('1 iriifUr Wilcox. SIR HUGH'S LOVES. 'â- Yes, on my motlier's b'uie, but I h»ve not been to liedmond Uall for an age. Old Uagh had rather a disappointment la«t year ; ho was eutja^eU toanotiier lady, and she jilted him^at least that id the popular edition of the story . but anyhow the poor old follow seemed rather badly hit." " And he has married BO soon I " in an incredulous tone. " Of course, caught at the rebound like inany other fellow-.. Don't you know how the old adafje runs, Miss TralTordâ€" Rliall 1 waibtiMK wiih doHiiaire Oie because a womau's faire. If she be not faire for niu. What care 1 how faire shu be. That is the right sort of spirit, tch, Percy." " How should I know ?" returned Percy, morosoly â€" he was evidently out of humor about something ; and then, as though he feared to bring on himself one of Krle'n ' jesting remarks, he roused himself with an effort. " Well, Toddlekins, how's Klibber- tvjibbet ', come and sit on my knee, and I will tell you the story of Mr. Harlequin Pusa-in-the-boots." " My name is not Toddlekins." returned Fli:fT, indignantly., " and I don't care about Flibbertigibbet or Puss-inboots ; your ' Btorioa are stupid, I'ercy, they nevur have any end." And then, with the capricious- ness of a spoiled child, she sidled up to her chief favorite, Krie, and put her hands con fidingly in his. " Whenareyougoiiitjtotakemeai;ainiothe Zoological Gardens, Mr. Ijrlo ?" she said in { a coaiiug voice ; '- I'ern wants to go too, <lon't you, dear '.'" but her sister shook her head at her with a faint smile, and went on vnlh her work. " I don't see my way clear yet awhile. Pussy," replied KrIe, as be iiiioothed Fluff's carls, and hero he and Percy exchanged ineaning looks : for duringhisgrandfather's absence from town Krle had paid fre<)uent visits to Iteulah Place, and on one occasion hada<tually oarried off the child for a day at the Zoological Gardens inapite of Kern's demur that ahe hardly knew what her mother would say. ^ " liut surely you can do as you like, Mr, Erie," persisted the child, ernestly. " Percy tells us that you are so rich, and ride such beautiful horses in the park, and that you have nothing to do but just enjoy yourself , why can't you take Fern aud me to the Zoological Gardens '/" "Oh, Fluff, I'iuff!" remonstrated her •ister in a distressed tone, " what will Mr, Erio think of you '.'" F.rlo had looked embarrassed at tlin child's speech, but Percy laughed, and the next minute he rose. " Do you mind if I leave you for a few minutes, I'ern ; I have a little business that will take about a quarter of an hoitr â€" oh, 1 tfill be back in time," as Krlu seemed in. oliuc 1 to remonstrate ; " you may dciieml upon it that I will not make you late for dumcr, as la Relle Evelyn is to be there," and with a nod at his aiiiter ho left the room. Fern looked a little troubled. " I hope he has not gone to meet " and then aba (lushed up and did not finish her sentence ; but F.rle understood her in a moment. " Mias Davenport would not be pleased, 1 suppose - oh yes, of course he has gone to meet her. What a pity your mother is not here. Miss TrafFord ; she would have kept him in order '!" " Crystal will be so angry," replied I'ern, anxiously, and dropping liur voice so that fluff siiould not overhear her ; but the child, disappointol that her request had been retased, had betaken herself to the farthest corner of the room with her kitten, to whom she was whispering her displeasure. " Bho never likes Percy to meet her or show her any attention ; I liave told him over and over again, but liu \s>l. i.ut listen to me." " I am afraid he is rather smitten with your friend Miss Davenportâ€" she is vvoiuicr- (ully handsome, certainly. Yes, one cannot be 8urpriae<l at Percy's infatuationâ€" you are the gainer in one way. Miss Trafford. for Percy never came half so often until Miss Davenport lived with you." " That makes it all tlu more wrong," returned Fern, firmly ; " it was Percy's dot]* to come and see mother, and yet he him bitterâ€" it does indeed, Miss Trafford, to have hia gifts refused." " How can we help it ?" returned Fern, in a chocking voice. " Peroy oughttoknow that we cannot use any of Mr. Hunting- don's money ; neither my mother nor I would touch a penny of it. Don't you know," struggUng with her tears, " that my j)Oor father died broken-hearted, and he might have saved him." " Yes, I know," returned Erie, looking kindly at the weeping girl, " and I for one cannot say you are wrong. My uncle has dealt very harshly, and I fear cruelly, by his own Uesh and blood â€" my poor mother often cried as she told me so ; but she always said that it was not for us to blame him who lived under his roof and profited by liis generosity. He was a benefactor to us in our troubleâ€" for we were poor too." But hero Erie checked himself abruptly, (or ho did not care to tell Fern that his father had been a gambler, and had squan- dered all his wife's property ; but he re- membered almost as vividly as though it were yesterday, when he was playing in their niiserablo lodgings at Naples, after his father's deathâ€" how a grave stern-faced man came into the room and sat down be- side his mother ; and one speech had reached his cars. " Never mind oil that, Beatrice, you are happier as his widow than his wife. For- get the past, and come home with me, and your boy shall bo mine." ICrle certainly loved his uncle, and it always pained him to remember his wrong- doing. In his boyish generosity he had on ce ven t u red to intercede for the disinherited daughter, and had even gone so far as to imiilore that his uncle would never put him in I'ercy 's place ; but the burst of anger with which his words wore received cowed him effectually. " A Trafford shall never inherit my pro- perty," Mr. Huntingdon had said, with a frown 80 black that the boy positively i|uailed under it ; " I would leave it all to an hospital firstâ€" never presume to speak to me of this again. Percy does not rc<|uiro any pity ; when he loaves Oxford he will read for the Bar. Wi- have arranged all that ; he will have a handsome allowance ; and with his capacity â€" for his tutor tells me ho is a clever fellowâ€" he will soon carve his way to fortune ;" and after this, Erie certainly held his peace. CHAPTER XIV. CltVB'rAL. 1 do rfmeiiiber it. 'Twaii such a face Ah Ciuido would have loved to look upuu. ComtmU, I She was as tender An infancy anil (;rac4i. ShakKfeare. I'ern looked a little surprised at Erie's speech. " I did not know you had been poor too," she returnei', drying her eyes and taking up her work again. " Yes, but I was very young, and knew little about it : my i>oor mother was the one to suffer. Well, she wanted for noth- ing when my uncle took us to llelgrave House ; he was very good to her until she died ; and," with a slight hesitation in his voice, •â- hois g'x>d to me." " Yes, and you are right to be fond of him," returned Pern, frankly. " Home- times I think it is not (|uite kind of me to speak to you of Percy and our troubles, because it seems to cast a reflection on one you love and â€" â€" " but Krle interrupted her. " I hope you will never withhold your confidence. Miss Trafford ; I should not feel that you treated mo as a friend if you did not allow nie to share some of your troubles. Percy and I are like brothers, and Percy's mother and sister - -" but here he pause<l, and a flush crosse<l his face. How could he tell this girl that she should be as a sister to him, when he knew that even to bo alone with her for a few minutes made his heart beat with strange thrills of happinuss '.' His sister, never I I'ern felt a little confused at the sudden pause. Kliu wished in a vague sort of way that he woulil finish his sentence and tell her wliat he meant , the silence was be- coming awkward. Fern worked on desperately, but her olioeks were burning. Both of them felt relieved when they heard footsteps ap- proachingâ€" Krle espeoially, for some dim instinct told him that in another minute he should have betrayed himself. Both of them rose, simultaueously, as the door opened ; and at the same moment Fluff, hugging herself among tho sofa cushions, whispered into the kitten's oar : " They don't know that I heard every word. Onu of these days I shall go and see grandpapa, and ask him why we may not como and live with him Mk well as Peroy. IJrle would like it, I knMT, he is so fond of Fern." Erie certainly looked a little amused as his friend enturedthe room accompanied by a tall dark girl, very plainly dressed. But his expression changeii as he noticed Percy's moody looks, and the air of haughti- ness observable in the manner of his com- panion. Miss Davenport was evidently very mnoh annoyed; she shook hands with Erie, with out deigning to look at him, and walked straight to the fireplace. Fern followed her. " 1 am so glad you have come homo so early, Crystal ; Fluff and I have waited tea for you, but we hardly expected you yet." I am sorry you waited for me," returned Htayed away for months at a time. Crystal the girl, who called herself Crystal Daven- has never encouraged |iiin she never will, port, in a coiislraintd voice ; " Mrs. Norton I know in her heart she does notliko Percy, gave me soino tea, because she said I must and yet he will persist in harassing her." \ bo tired playing with the children." " Ii'aint heart ne'er won fair lady," " Come, wo must be going, Krle," inter- returned Erie, lightly ; and then, as ho saw ' rupted Percy, sharplv, "or wo shall be the tears in Fern's oycs, his manner late for diuiior. Good-bye, Fern ; tell my changed. " You must not trouble yourself '. mother I am sorry to miss her. Good about it," he said, kindly; " it will be evening, Miss Davenport;" but he hesitated, Percy's own fault if ho gets baddly bitten : as though ho did not venture to offer his oven I, a complete stranger to ' hand. Miss l)avenport â€" 1 believe 1 have " Oood-night, Mr. Trafford," she re- iiot seen her inoro than three ' turned, indifferently ; but she (Hd not turn timesâ€" can quite endorse what you say; her long neck as she spoke. And Erie con her manner is most repelling to Percy, Ho , tented himself with a bow. must be bewitched, I think." " What is it, Crystal, dear ;" asked Fern, " 1 wish he were different," she replied, ' anxiously, as the two young men left the tvith a sigh ; "I know ho makes mother room, but Crystal only lifted hcreyobrows | often very unhappy, though she never says ami glanced at l''luff, whose curly head was \ 80 Ho seems to find fault with us for our distinctly visible ; so Fern said cheerfully, ' poverty, ond says hard lhiuj.;8 to mother because she will work lor u^ all." " YoK, I know, iiiid yet Percy is not a bad hearted f.llow," icplied Erie, in a BynHMthisiiii^ton'; " lio is terribly sore, i know, beoftu.^.' >our mother refuses his help ; he hiiH told mo ov.;r niid over again that with li'H hsn sonof.Howance he could keep hor in con fori, R!i:l tiial ho knows his •• • -' ' not ojject grandfather would It makes very well, we will have our tea, and then ; it will be Fluff's bedtime ;" ond thenwitli- out another word busied herself with her simple preparations. But it wuH not a festive meal. In spite of nil her cheery cfforta (Crystal sot (juito Kllent. with o cloud (01 her handsniiio face, and I luff Intd turned Kiilky at tho iiientiou of her lioil time. Ho I'oni fell to thinking of Krlt'n look oa ho bado her goodnight- how kind he had been to her that even- ing. Yea, she was glad they were friends, and that he oared to hear about their troubles. He was so unselfish, so different to other young menâ€" Fern did not know a single young man except Erie, so her know- ledge was not very reliable ; and then, with an odd transition of thought, she wondered who Miss Selby could be, and why Peroy called her la Belle Evelyn, and looked at Erleso mischievously. But presently, when Fluff had gone off grumbling with her kitten, and all the pretty tea things had been washed and put away in the big corner cupboard, and the kettle was silent, and only a cricket chirped on the hearth. Fern sot down beside Crystal, and put her arm affectionately round her. " Now you can tell me what has been troubUng you, darling;" she said, in a coaxing voice. It seemed a pity that there was no one to see the two faces, so close together ; an artist would have sketched them as Night and Morning. Fern's soft English fairness made a splendid foil to Crystal's olivecom- plexioiiand dark southern coloring. The girl was superbly handsome, in spite of the bitter lines round the mouth and the hard dsfiantourveof the lips. As Fern spoke, her dark eyes flashed angrily. " He has been speaking to me again," she said, in an agitated voice. " He has dared to follow me and persecute me ; and he calls it loveâ€" love '." with immeasura- ble contempt in her tone ; " and when I tell him it is ungenerous and wrong, he complains that I have robbed him of all peace. Fern, I know he is your brother, and that I ought not to speak against him ; but how am I to help hating him ?" " Oh, no !" with a shudder, for Fern's gentle nature was not capable of Crystal's passion ; " you must not hate poor Percy â€" he cannot help loving you." " A poor sort of love," returned Crystal, scornfully ; " a love that partakes too much of the owner's selfishness to be to my taste. Fern, how can he be your mother's son ? He has 'not a grain of her noble (rank nature, and from all acoounts he does not take after your father." •' But he is very clover. Crystal, and Mr. Erie says he is really kind-hearted," re- turned Fern, in a troubled tone ; " people admire and like him, and there are many and many girls, Mr. Krle says, would be ready to listen to him. He is very hand- some, even you must allow that, and it is not the poor boy's fault if he has lost his heart to you." Crystal smiled at this sisterly defence, but the next moment she said, tenderly : " You are such a little angel of goodness yourself. Fern, that you never think people are to blame â€" vou would always excuse them if yon could ; you have solitti know- ledge of the world, and have led such a recluse life, that you hardly know how rigid society really is ; but I should have thought that even you would have thought it wrong for your brother to come here so often in your mother's absence and bring hi* friend with him ; it is taking advantage of two defenoeless girls to intrude himself and Mr. Erie on us in this way." " But Percy never knows when mother is out," replied Fern, in a puzzled tone. Crystal was silent ; she held a different opinion, but after aU she neeil not put these iueas into Fern's iRiocetinBiind. It was her own conviction tnat Peroy in some way was always aware of his mother's absence. At first he had oome alone, and now he always brought F^rle with him, and she wanted to say a word that might put Fern on her guard ; but at the present moment she was too full of her own grievanoe. " You know. Fern," she continued, in a very grave voice, " if this goes on and your brother refuses to bear reason, I shall be obliged to seek another home, where I shall be free from his unmanly petrsecution; yes," â€" as Fern uttered an incredulous exj clamatiunâ€" " though I love you all so dearly, and have grown to look upon this as a home, I shall be forced to go a second time into the world," " But Peroy must hoar reason," returned Fern, tearfully. " I will ask mother to talk to him, and I know Mr. Erie has given him hints. We cannot part with you. Crystal. I have never had a companion of my own age before, and mother is se often out." " Well, well," observed Crystal sooth- ingly, " I have told him the truth to-night, and |ierhaps he will believe it ; but there I we will not talk about your brother any more. And so he left you alone with Mr. Erie, Fern ?" •' Oh yes, but we were not long alone," returned the girl, innooetly. " You and Mr, Erie seem good friends." " Yes, IsupiHJse so," rather shyly ; " he vas very kind to me this evening." " Did he tell you anything about tho beautiful Miss Keiby who is to dine with her aunt, Lady Maltravers, at llelgrave House to-night ? a cousin of Mr. Krle's, Lady Denison, is to act hostess." " No," roturiied Fern, rather faintly, hot she was consoions of a searp pain as Crystal spoke. " And yet ho meets her very often. Ah, well, young men Ao not tell sll their secrets. Of course Mr. Krle's life is very different from ours ; wo are working bees. Fern, and ho is a butterfiy of fashion. When he conies here he makes himself very bright and pleasant, hut he knows nothing of his real life." " No, of course not." But a sort of chill passed over Fern as Crystal spoke. Why (lid she say these sort of things so often to her '.'did she think it wrong for her and Mr. Krle to bo friends ? was she warning her, and against what 'i" Well, it was true she knew nothing of his life except what he choose to tell hor. Ho had never mentioned this Miss Belby, though, according to Percy's account, he met her very often. Fuw ladies dined at Belgrave House, but to-night she was to be there. For the first time Fern's gentle nature felt jarred and out of tune, 'fhe bright little fire had burnt hollow ; there was a faint clinging mist from the fog outside ; tho cricket had ceoscd to chirp. Fern glanced round her disconsolately ; how poor ond shabby it must look to him, she thought, after the rooms at llelgrave House I But the next moment she started up in o consoioiico-striken way. " There is mother's step, (Jrystal, and we have neglected tho fire ; poor mother, and she will bo so tired and cold." And Forn drove hack her rebellious thoughts bravely, and seized the bellows and inanipulatod tho lire, whilo (Ji vBtal drew up tliu old oasy-chair; niul placed a footstool. Mrs Traffonl smiled lis she saw these preparations for her (com- fort ; her pale face relaxed from its gravity «i /\, â- '\ f -3 as Fern waited upon her, taking off her bonnet, and smoothing the beautiful grey hair with eager-loving fingers. " Thank you, dearest," she said, drawing do\ui the girl's face to hers ; " and now tell tne what you both have been doing." " Percy and Mr. Erie have been here," was Fern's answer, as she took her place at her mother's feet ; " and Percy left his love for you, and was so sorry to miss you." Mrs. 'Trafford made no comment on this piece of information, but she glanced ijuickly at Crystal ; perhaps something in the girls face warned her, for she at once changed the subject, to her daughter's sur- prise, and without asking any queAions, began telling them about the invalid. But after they had chatted for a few minutes, Crystal rose, and, saying she was very tired, bade them both gocxl-night. Mrs. Trafford lixiked after the girl anxiously, and then her glance fell on her daughter. Fern was looking into the fire dreamingly, and there was a sort of wistful- ness in her eyes ; when her mother touched her gently she started. " My little sunbeam does not look (juite so bright to-night," she said tenderly. " I am afraid you have been tiring yourself. Fern, trying to finish F^lorence's frock." " Oh, no," returned the girl quickly, and then a frank blush came to her face as she met her mother's, clear searching look. " Well, I will confess, as Fluff says" â€" laugh- ing a little unsteadily â€" " I am afraid I was just a little bit discontented." " You discontented, my pet?" in an in- credulous voice, for Fern's sweet unselfish- ness and bright content made the sunshine of their humble home. There seemed no chord of fretlulness in the girl's nature; her pure health and buoyant spirits found no cause for complaint. Nea lived her youth again in her child, and she often thanked Heaven, even in her desolate moments, for this one blessing that had never disap. pointed her. B'ern pressed a little closer to her mother and wrapped her arms round her. " But it is true, mother ; I had <|uite a naughty fit. Crystal talked about Percy and Mr. Erie. It was not so much what she said as what she implied that troubled me, but she seemed te think that our life was so differ- ent to theirsâ€" that wc were poor people and they had nothing in common with us, and that it was better not to be friends. Some- bow, it made me feel all at once how shabby and commonplace one's life really was." Mrs. Trafford sighed, but there was no reproach in her voice. " Yes, dear ; I un- derstand, it is ()uite natural, and I should have felt the same at your age. I wish, for your sake, my darling, that things were different ; but Crystal is very wise and right in trying to make you understand the bar- rier between Erie Huntingdon and us." " But, mother," with a burning face, "we are gentlefolk ; surely it does not matter so much that weare poor." " The v^'orld would not endorse that. Fern," replied her mother gently, " it is apt to turn a cold shoulder to genteel pov- erty. The hardest lot in life, in my opinion, is the life of a poor gentlewoman." 'â- But Mr. Erie dues not look down upon us," (lersisted Fern, "or he would not come so often. He always says that no room in Belgrave House is so homelike as this room and that he is happier than in the houses of his grand friends." r ^ A tronbled look came to the mother^ fac and in voluntarily she pressed her child closer to her, as though to defend her from some threatened danger, and her voice was not quite so clear as usual as she answered : " It is Krle's nature to say pleasant things. He is a gentlemanly, kind-hearted fellow, and I am sure that we all like him very much ; but I should not care for my little daughter to see too much of him. Krle Huntingdon is not the friend I would choose for you, Fern." " But, mother" â€" openingber eyes widely at thisâ€"" if we like him, why should we not befriends?" Mrs. Trafford hesitated ; she hardly liked to disturb Fern's mind, and yet she wished to put her on her guard. " You see. Fern," she answered with as- sumed lightness, " we are poor people â€" very l>our people ; we have to work for our bread and to be content with simple fare; but my young cousin Firle is richâ€" he will be his uncle's heir one day, and, no doubt, ho will marry some rich, handsome girl. All the worm is before him ; he has only to look round him and choose, like the prince in a fairy story.* You may be sure there issome gay young princess waiting for him some- where. Are you cold, my darling?" for Fern shivered a little. " We have let the fire get rather low, "re- turned Fern, jumping up to replenish it; but somehow her voice was not (|uito under her control aud her hand was a little un- steady. "Oh. yes, her mother and Crystal were right; these foolish dreams of hers could never come true ; she would have to see her prince ride away some day in (juest of some dark-haired princess. And yet, in the fairy stories, tho real princess was often poor and wore a shabby dress and had gol- den hair andâ€"" but here Fern banished these thoughts resolutely and came back to her footstool a little pale and drooping. Mrs. Trafford's keen eyes noted every- thing, but she wisely forebore to (xmtinue the subject. Fern was so docile and humble, she thought so little of herself, that her mother hoped that her words would take effect. Hhe had already given her sou a hint that his friend's visits were rather too fro(]uent ; she must speak to him seriously on the subject and appeal to his love for his sister. â- She changed the subject now by a's'king F'orn what was the matter with (Jrystal. " Percy has been .speaking to her again, mother. He went to moot her when she was coining back from tho Nortons', and Crystal is very, very angry with him." Mrs. Trafford'sfaoe darkened â€"she looked exceedingly displeased. Was this how Percy protected his sister ? leaving her alone with Erie Huntingdon while he carried out his own selfish purposes. This was worse than she had imagined ; but F'ern misunderstood the reason of her mother's vexation. "It is very wrong of Percy to worty (crystal in this way, but, poor boy, I do be- lieve he is honestly in love with her. I Bo wish she could care for him, it would make him so different." "Crystal will never care for any one, at least" -checking herself as though she had stated a fact erroneously--" she wil never (^are for Per(!y. I have told hini so, and begged him not to poreerute her with his attentions, as, if he peisigted, she had made up her n\iiid to seek ano&er home. Percy was dreadfuHy angry when I told him this, and ruluEed to belie\e me; and then ho tamed ronnd on me and accused me at want of prudence in taking a stranger on- der our roof, and asked me how I knew that she was a fit companion for bis sister?" " As though Crystal were not the dearest and best girl in the world," returned Fern indignantly. " Never mind, mother, Iia â- only wanted to make you uncomfortable. He is too fond of Crystal to doubt her for a moment. I hope you told him that you were aajuainted with her whole history." " Y'es, and I informed him at the same time that you were ignorant of it, though Crystal meant to tell you herself one day. I told him that, to put his mind at rest, I could satisfy him that Crystal came of gctod parentage; that she had influential friends and provectors if she chose to appeal to them ; that though she was apparently a lonely waif, she had in reality good frienda and a most comfortable home." " ' Then, I suppose, she has alienated them by that confounded temper of hers,' " he said with a sneer, " but I could see he was sur- prised and not altogether pleased, but £ wished him to knew that she was not with- out protectors if he drove her from oar roof." " Percy is very selfish." sighed Fern. "Crystal was getting a little happier; sha wis beginning to look less miserable and to take more interest in things, but this even- ing she has the old restless look." "That is because she will not take my advice," returned her mother (juickly. " Crystal is a dear girl and I am very fonii of her, but I tbiuk most of her troubles come from her own undisciplined nature; she is the object of the tenderest love, tha most divine forgif^ness ; there are kind hearts waiting for her if she would only generously respond to them. She has told me her story under the seal of secrecy, aa you know well, or she would long ago hava been in her right place. My heart bleeds for the friends who love her so, and ars seeking her so vainly. No " â€" rising, as to .close the subject â€" " I am very sorry for Crystal, but I do not pity her as you do. I have known what it is to siu, but I haw never been too proud to acknowledge my error. Crystal acknowledges hers with bit- ter tears and most true penitence, but she will not be forgiven. ' Let me expiate my sin a little longer,' that is all she says." " Y'es, I know," whispered F'em, " she is always telling me that she does not deaerra to be happy. Is that true, mother ?" " My child, do any of us deserve it ? Hap- pinets is a free gift, like tho stmsbine that rises alike ' on the evil aud the good.' Do you remember your father's dying words? â€" ' I believe in the forgiveness of sins ' â€" afa, it is all forgiven up there. In Heaven on* has a Father," and with trembling lips Ne* turned away. Her punishment had been great, she told herself ; she had deserted her earthly father, and now hereon had deserted hijr. " One sows the wind to reap tho whirl- wind," she thought, as she muMd bitteriy over her boy's weakness. 'To be continoed.) in the two How Thejr Ulrec-t .Stnu>(era Country. Don't know ; ask next man. Third stone house after you cross roads. Hecond house after yoa pass the cabin witJi f big black dog. 'When'you come'to a barnyard with a lame duck, halloo to tho house. That farmer knows everybody. It's the second house beyond the oaa that has a red barn with a big door chalked up. That's Bob Smith's auooont of his chicken crop. Take the fork of the road in your left hand ; then go on till you come to the big elm. When you get there, if anybody oomes along ask them. It's just three miles and an eighth. There are seven houses on the left and six on the right. That makes it the fourteenth. Qo straight ahead. It is about two looks from here. Go to tbe top of that hill and take a look. Then |0 as far as you saw ; take another look. When you get there you'll see it. Turn around the little church to tha right. Keep the ridge on your left. Go half a mile, three-quarters, perhaps a mile. If vou know the man you're after you'll find him along there. Take your second right hand road ; oroM two left hand roads and take your third. Don't go up the first right hand, but taka the secoim. There's a well sweep in the front yard and a wheel pump in the barn- yard. After you i>ass a barnyard with a red waggon and a white mare with a spavin on her loft hind leg you'll see a stono house of one story with roof sunk in. That ain't tha house, but if the dog don't bite you yoa «»» fiad out there. South American Home Cars. The longest street car line in the world is in Argentine Kopublio, South America, and it will also be tho only line in the world to run sleeping cars for the accommoda- tion of its patrons. The road has 200 milea of track, connecting a number of towns in t^ vicinity of Buenos Ay res, and its e<|uip- naeut has been supplied by a Philadelphia oar company. Horses are used as motive power instead of steam, because fuel is dear, horses cheap, and the people are slow. Two tons of coal will buy a horse and har- ness. Tho sleeping cars are a curiosity. They are four in number, eighteen feet m length, and are furnished with four bertha each, which are made to roll up when not in use. The oars are furnished with lava- tories, water- coolers, linen presses and other conveniences, and are finished throughout with mahogany. The other cars are four double-decked open cars, twenty platform oars, twenty gondola oars, six refrigerator oars, four poultry cars, fur- nished with coops, eight cattle oars, two derrick cars for lifting heavy material, and 200 box cars. They are ready for shipment and will be sent to their destination in a 'ew daMMMlMr"'"" Manufncturer. Womanh KljSvinshnest. Harry (preparing for tho country)â€" "There ought to be room in one of tha trunks for my things. Ifot you six." Considerate Wifeâ€"" X^u forget, dear, that my six dresses take a trunk each. But T did not forget you. Here is a nice little satchel you can have oil to yourself." The ,huliie. It would bo quite in keeping with Stanley's loniantio career, if, instead of being dead, ho would turn up as a dis- coverer o( Gordon. u »%, t' ?. V' 'â- ^« â-