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WEI but and .tho h of Ilke [tilt old- ’- be far you arty t't I '83'8 mi “1? Oh, yes. a little at times. And I buy good violins if I can have them at a reasonable price. Do you know what would be asked for this ?” "on. this is my) Saigon“ x m sure,” 53;! the violiglfigth restoring the “Your yourself play, without doubt?” asked the violinist, rather with polite interest than curiosity. “You will acute me,” unis-the violin- ist‘s reply, as he made an attempt to reclaim the instrument, “but I should beg to know why you make the inquiry. I have no reuon toâ€"to answer ques- . But the violinist was reassured when he saw ho’v‘v carefully .the instrument was handled. Beneath the electric bulb upon'the music stand the fancier examâ€" ined in turn the label, the neck, the back, the scroll. There could be no mistake It was a genuine dd Gesu and in most excellent condition, as if it had been always the pet of some m'u- sician. The fancier gloated in silence over his find “But I cannot tell. I have it only by my friend‘sA‘favor, as a loan.” “To whom does it belong?” '_‘To my friendhthat is, to a young girl whom I have known a year or “I would be glad to make an offer for the viofin. You see, I am aâ€"a dealer, in a my“ I buy such as play: me.” Hardly had the curtain runs its fall upon the stage when he made his way through the fast-ebbing current of spectators. unconscious of all their rude jostling. and of his own, and addiesud the musician. who was placing the violin in its box and tucking it daintily in a silken bed. “Pardon me," he said, “but I have been so delighted by the tone of the violin. you play so charminglyf Per- haps you will not object if I ask the privilege of examining the instrument.” “With plenum” replied the violiaa ist, courteously. unwrapping the violin and holding it up “Yet I and: he: thatyou have: are that it nn‘otinâ€" jured. It has much value, and, unfor-’ tummy, l in" not the pkasureto m it. I hold it but a; a loan from my friend”. - How many mike had be tnveled in seeking the object upon whichhe now was gazing! How many dusty Italian shops he had ransacked. how my dd violins he had handled in aim-and now before him was the vetitable treasure he had sought. It was the dc! Gnuâ€"~the Guamerius he had so longed to possess. Three tows back from the orchestra at the violin fancier. The action of the drama hid no intetest for him, but whenevet the musicians played he lis- tened intently. his eyes undmuindy fixed upon the hstfument in the hands of the first violinist. He knew every curve of the violin n he knew his own signature. He cued upon its beauties as a lover upon the petfectiom of hit mistress. “Can‘you tell me where she found THE WT!!! PASSION. iii} “Butâ€"if you might be tempted,” the fancier insisted, inn distress at finding the treasuré unntéinable, “I should offer a largrpfice. I‘ Would pay you twelveâ€"fifteen hundred dollars.” “Your price seems most generous," she said. “I wish I might say "yes, for we are not rich; but really I ought not, even for so much. I do not think I could sell the old violin even for so great a sum.” So earnest was‘the fancier that it was not easy to refuse him. He was handâ€" some and in the prime of life, and one instinctively wished to consent; but Mlle. Amelie only smiled, shook her head gently, and seemed to consider the interview at an end. “At least, do not decide at once.” the fancier asked, as he mined his hat. “May I not see you again? You may change your mind." “That I will not refuse," the rcplied, kindly. “And you may try the violin, “This is Mlle. Amelie Durand, who ouins the violin, Mfsieu, and most kind- ly permits to me its use. Will you ask herself of the price. ”’ .“You are very kind,” said the fan- cier. “I admired the violin, and be was good‘enouxhvto let me examine it. I have told him that I sometimes buy good instrumentaand he has referred me to you au-ihe‘owner. Would you part with it ?â€"or,~is_that impossible ?” “No doubt he has told you, has he not, that it is a family possession? It was for many years my grandfather’s," said ghe. pushing back her hood and showing a most attractive face, “and I should be very sorry if compelled to let it go” said, eagerly. “I khéw if is more than the worth of the violin, but I have a whim to possess it for my coflectionff Soon a woman appeared, draped in a long cloak, and approached the violin- ist. In a. few words spoken in French he explained the presence of the other, and presented-him. She looked startled, slowly shook her head: “I would give méfe. I will give eighteen hgndred clonal-s,” the fancier I should be glad to make fhc att'emxgt to by. Unit» the owner ha some very good reason, in a viofinist her- selfâ€"” ”Truly,no no.- It is not that she perâ€" forms. high is 1n inheritance. s leg- acy HQ grandfather was long a playct. and by his will he ponvcycd the violin souvenir to Abdie. You compre- hand? My English is too t to tell 2“ " A row at a time, the lit“! Were going out; and the two walked up the aisle together ' “But come,” the violinist resumed._ “you ate in earnest, I see. Perhaps, then, you would care to ask the lady for yourself. She is of the eunphny.” They waited a few 'mou'wms at the stage door. all." Wammlhhcfolnmdf nude oh! of five, menâ€"y“, even eight hundred dolhu. But Audio says ever. ‘No. no; [Moot «$50. you Iceâ€"â€"-" “IV Indenund, It may be an heir- !00m. and the lady naturallyâ€" Still. dd Gun to in startled, then grave, but . The day for the bridal was Set, and on‘ a bright, Sunshiny day the little wed~ ding party drqve from, the church to the Durand home, and there, the firét violinist being an honored guest, was held a modest fete. At lengthevcn he had discovered the true attraction, and called formally upon Madame Durand with a demand for the hand- of Amelie Admitting that the fancy for the del Gesu had first brought him to their home, he now do elated that he had no thought of any- thing whatever but for his sinc'ere af- fcction for Amelie herself. But her préphesy was falsified. He came oftener than before. Soon it was evident .to all but himself that, 'if he and less for me violin, he cared much more for the violin's mistress. “But,” said the fancier,” I have none, my dearest.” ‘ ' . “You have none ?” "I had put all my money into them, andâ€"and I sold the violins that I might make the lime home for you." . 'F “I' had forgotten it.” he said, simply. “But we can begin our new collection with it." After I decent time he came again. and even repeated the all at 1 its: in- terval. He ‘was received with increas- ing eordiality, and was evidently a wel- come friend. Yet, despite ofiers hr ex- ceedingany fair market value, he made no progress in his enterprise of adding the dc! Gun to his collectioh. “Ah." remarked the younger sister, “he has lost hope of the dc! Gent; wé shall soon see no more of our new friend!" And she, when appealéd to, declared that her heart had been won. ’ When, after a brief, honeymoon trip, the fancier brought home his bride, she gazed about her with ddight at the cozy» apartment: Then, springing up, she exclaimed: ' “Oh, I almost forgot! Y_ou have not shown me your collection of violins.” Amelie came close beside him, put her arm around his neck and said, in a mischievous tone: “Then you did not marry me for the 6:! Gen!” then began to laugh. “Chi am so sorry! But I no longer own the del Gesu. I thought you cared if you choose. You lily. 0‘ «tone? “Mldonotuy’mitivdyfiulltifl not, pan with it. Theme may be m- eansâ€"hut I hardly think I can sell it now.” She gave her «hire», and the du'ee parted. Within a few dun theeolleewt of violins Med himself. He was in~ W to the Durand hilly-to the mother. an aristocratic little French dame with I manner that charmed; to dbebrother,whowasnbankclerk,md to a younger sister, very demure and watchful. One day he omitted to mention the violin. The dd Gun was brought out. end he played upon it with liner; that trembled a little and did him little credit. Altogether he was most hospi- uhly received, and found no rm to regret his visit save that his o‘er: for the violin were calmly refused. looked at him soberly, and A sad-looking. man- went into a chemist'sn' “Can you give me,” he said, “something that will drive from my mind thevthought of sorrow and bitter recollection ?” And the chemist nodded. and put him up a little dose of quinine and wormwood, and rhubarb and Epsom salts, and a dash of castor oil, and gave it to him, and for six month: the man could not think of anything in the world except new schemes for getting the tdste Out of his mouth. An antiquarian had been showing a party of old friends round his house, which contained many relics. Sudden- 1y he Qued the attention of hi. ' s ‘ to an old clock.‘addi.. “muffin to an old clock.‘adding pathetically: “Gentlemen, I have wound up that clock every night for forty years." He had evidently made an impression on his visitors, when an old fellow who had been carefully " examining the clock,‘ spoiled all the sentiment by say- in¢,_dryly: “Well, I alwnys did think you were very eccentric. That’s an eighbday clock!" Why cannot a plant 5 pistil be called a revolver? Georgia will be as dry I! a bum. legally, after January 1. This meant that the thirsty will appeal to a well- known yariety of “unwritten law” in order to obtain their lusual supply of liquid ratIons - , The hurghr’s wife was in the wit; nessobox, and the prosecuting lawyer was conducting a vigorous cross-ex- amination. “um. you are the wife of this ma?” “Yes." "You knew he was A burglar when you married him?” "Yes." “How did you come to contract a marriage with such a nun?" “Well," the witness said ur- eastically, “I was getting old. and had to choose between a lawyer and a burglar." The cross-examination ended there. ' ferred. Describe bark 6f dogwood. What is the apple of a potato‘s eye? Explain the mannef' of a plant's breathing. How? «Did you ever hear a snare coming from a rosebud? Do milkweeds grow in pint: or quarts, and how are they related to the cow‘slip? . Explain the difierence beMen'com. mon chickweed and chickweed pre- sndkodstohnéy.‘ “It led you to me." said Amelie. “Nonseme! Marriages like on: m mdeinhaven. Buthovcoddyou 5°“ your grandfather's violin?” “A mid must have bet dot! How could you sell yourcollection?” ' “A man mus} yield 'to the ruling pa- sion-J’ slid he. “and. after nil, love rules all the rest!” about it no huh. “goâ€"â€" Isqd it for mat!» The burglar-’5 wife â€"Tudor Jenlu. in The Outiook. mybeauueamemania. holy.” said he: husband.