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He was unmarried. but manya ood. looking girl in Farnhame wouldnot ave said 'hlm nay if he had asked her. But somehow or other he had never asked an . one. His friends joked him about th s but William Glynford always declared “I may have reasonato write to you about these notes,” said Mr. Bingley. “ You . had better give me your addressâ€"better make a. friend of me.” And oagain Mr. Bingtey gave». little laugh. “ How fast on are walking I " he said. smilggly. " I m glad I've seen you! I van to wish you a happ Christmas before on go away. and may give you a small hristmas box? " He was agood-lookinggoung man who said these words. tall an well-made. He was William Glynford. junior (as he was called in business transactions),the nephew of William G] niord,senior,of Brid enorth House; and e was in business w th his unole.having shares in some of his collieries; and he also as well as William Giynford. senior, was supposed‘to he a rich man. “If it does not make an matter to you. Mr. Bingley. ” she said. “ you will wait, I would much rather, please, have those notes again: and pay your account when I come back." “ But I would much rather keep them please. ” said Mr. Bin g.ley right, young ladyâ€"don’ty 011 be8 afraid; I won’t do anything about them' without giving you due notice. There, they are safe now I” And Mr. Bingley locked his desk, in which he had placed the notes, and which also con. tained the paper which he had referred to when he first saw them. Miss Keane gave something between a gasp and a sigh when she heard the lock And having said this, Mr. Biugley o aned the door of his private office for Miss cane ' n in 'her ears, the poor girl waifiéfi gaging: the shop, and a minute later was in the street. “Then you will let me know.” she said, “ if you hear anything about those notes, and not speak to any one else till you have told me? " " Exactly l ”, answered Bingley. “ I’ll let you know first; in the meantime you can trust me; and now good morning.” hAnddho boldly held out his large, red, coarse m I Once more Bingley laughed. ‘ “I hope so," he said. “ But take my advice, young lady; if on have any more from the same source, on’t you attempt to pass them. or. you’ll get‘ipto't‘gouple! " Aâ€"JL-_£_.._-£.‘ILL Q t9 p983 opt ;_ana with‘phe man’a_lgst wordé She was trembling and visibly agitated, end as she was hurrying on. a. gentleman eugiflgnly pyertook her. Mr. Bingley,ha.ving thus frankly stated his opinion of his sister, folded up the three five and notes which Miss Keane had bropg ‘t vim her 90 ghe_shog. am! prepared to 150k them in his desk. Bin; thé gover- nose mgdg another efiort to get them back. For a moment the poor young governess intimated, and then timidly put her hand nto is. “ 0h, very well, I think," replied the go. "tr-nugget ‘ I u ' 'lad a. means, a p 039,! o , that you are forced to pliit up $13.38 her ‘15; laughed the widower. “ She's not, and never was, an over amiable person, my sister Merle. She was a pretty girl, but she’s get fat and course now, and thinks with her money and her carriages she can ride over eyery are but she’s mistskenl" _ “ Good morning,” she said; “ I hope you will find the n_o§ea p.11 rjghfi." _ finished.“ Well, ” he continued, looking at the pretty agitated girl before him, “ and how_ {10 you and_ _m_y _eister _get on ?’_’ _ “My mother lives at a. village they call Benton-by -the- See,” said Miss Keane, after a moment’s thought. .“ A letter addressed to ‘Miss Keane, Seston- by -ths See... South- lujdshlre,’ will reach me. 37 . “ No," answered Mr. Bingley, with a little laugh; “ I have got them, apd I’ll keep them. How long will you be away ? ” P A month,” said M188 Keane. “ Very well; and your address is? " ‘ I still do not see why I should give you my fidress,_Mr. Bingley? " “ Yet I have a right, for all that! You see,” added Bin gley ,with a curious smile, “what it is to be Petty yl What would you say, young lady, finstead of taking your notes, I had sent for a policeman ? " The poor governess turned sick and faint at“ words. 1" she falteredâ€"“ ifâ€"you do not wish to the these notes-if you think there is anything wrong about themâ€"I will take them back, angd pay your account with ome other money, on my return, after the holidye, to Mrs. Glyn ford’s. Iâ€"I oan't Pay it just now,” continued Miss Keane king up afipealingly. “ torâ€"for I have sent nearly a my salar home; butif you will wait, I will take these notes back.” ' “‘I do not see whit right you have tonal; 3110!} ‘5 question, air I ” interrupted Miss AGAIN“ THE LAW. (A Novelâ€"By Dora Bunsen). “ Very well; here is our receipt, and here ieyour change. ut,remember, I “k0 these notes under retest. And another thing. young‘ledy. shall re uire if)“ address when you are absent rom arnhsme! You are my sister’s governess, are you not?" “ Yes." said Miss Keane. tromblingly.. “All your address when absent, isâ€" yopg yomosddross, I gasp-isâ€"T‘" Mr. Bifigley took down the address very ‘fThé'nk gumbo said.- Mger. he. had I'm gain to dock dot loedle mud Some 0y to been In wife U931 mpg}; her h9_laby_ _l_ko I kin Und van vo'm saddled down for soot. .9} PM)?!” pmethma my: 0'15 éfiélilfiiiiéi no: woioo v. rich like unydiug, Bet moud n- liho der rose. not moshâ€"dam ploomu just like a bowl: Und dimbiod VII but non ; not lands and food at ah l and need, .Und van dot maiden ling- Dam loodlo bird- dom glow doit eye. Und flob doir Boodle wings. nod to me 'boud madam me. it Ihkln of burly buoâ€" vun’d tn kin combpo 0 m: von 1h. 0 in View. She's endlo lilo tic-old 5 tell Her son VII lem him-g y 0 She bu dwo mum on of plum “ad bald '- hu‘ hair. rm balsn'éé am; 1113'; ‘wo shmlllng an urn e ’03 c Und uhblended no! air. Do! I.“ an Haul Halt. “Do me the honor of accepting this, then." said William Glynford, drawing a small parcel out of his cont-pocket, and placing itin Miss Keane's hand. Don’t open it until Christmas day thongh.‘[ “ You are ver good,” she answered; and she also smile. “ Yes, I think I should like a Christmas box. It' as so long since I had one. ” He was a very straightforward man. He liked this girl. meant to show her that he liked her. e had a. frank look also. as well as a. frank manner, and pleasant clear blue eyes, which at this moment were fixed wrth a smiling expression on the young governess. " Iâ€"I did not see you until you spoke,” she said. ’ _ “ No,"he answered kindly. “ Well, now: when you have seen me, may I repeat my question 7 " “ What question ?" asked Miss Keane, shyly glancing up at Mr. Glynford. “ May I give you a Christmas-box?” William Glyniord asked this question in the sharp. frank manner which was natural to him. So, when he met-Jot, rather, overtook-â€" her returning from her ainful visit to Bingley’a shog, she starte violently when he addressed er. and ranked her if he might buy her a Christmas-box. V And he had had _ma.ny conversations since. He admired this girl; was beginning (sometimes he thought) to do more than this. and often caught himself wondering if he would meet Miss Keane when he started for a country walk, and admitted to himself Sometimes also) that he felt very much isap inted when he did not. A h f‘l n nrntln nnun-n nan Cut“ n I» J :11 n‘n A And the pretty governessâ€"what did she think of this good-looking. well-bred. and well-endowed gentleman, who mother so often? She thought, perhaps, too much of him, and he was lemnt to her sight, and higvoice aggeeab 6 t9 her ear. “No doubt you are right,” answered Willigtq Glynforq. ‘ Allow me to do that for you ? " he said; and than he stood and talked to her for a few minutes. But only for a few minutes. He knew his aunt too well to make his attentions in the smallest degree remarkable. But, when he met her a day or two afterwards with his little cousins, he stopped, and had a very agreeable conversation with his aunt’s goyerness. He did this ver'y‘éimEly â€"handed her a heavy musiabook thats a was endeavoring to_ lifft from bgnegthy pi_le of othelj music. '“ I am not speaking of ladies, William,” said Mrs. Glynford, in a slight injured tone. “Ladies have the position in society to keep up, and must be well and expen~ sively dressed. But governesses and that sort of people ought. in my opinion, to be neatly clothedâ€"that is sufiioient.” And he 'turned away ; ' but during the evening contrived to make the acquaintance of his aunt’s pretty ggverness‘. "A 313 LI,S ‘ 1 I have taken .this girl if I had known as much about her as I do now. I am told that her mother drinks; and Miss Keane. I believe, sends all her money. to this debased creature! It’s very shocking, isn’t it ‘2 " " Miss Keane sending her money to her mother?" mquired Mr. William Glynford. “. AltogetherJ meanâ€"such a. connexion ! " said Mrs. Glynford. ”T7_L -L, 9, ,II 1 i - “ She’s well dressed to night;” answered Mrs. Glynford, sharply; “ too well dress- ed for her position, I think. I must inquire about this dress. I hope she hasn’t got it on credit.” “ Ladies‘ never do that kind of thing, you know! ” laughed William Glynford, Mrs. Qlynford’s extravagance in dress being noto- nous. ‘ “ Yet she is very well dressed, isn’t she, if she sends all her money away ? " said William Glynford, musingly, his look fixed on the goverhess. “ Oh, Mm. Snowdon recommended her," answer his aunt. “ She had known her father,w 0 was a doctor at Stanton-by Jaha- Sea; but. between onree'lvea, I would not “ Where did you pick her up ? " continued William Glynford. have been disgusted if one of her relations had really admired a poor girl who was earring her‘oyvn breod._ “ Perlmps not, ” answered William Gly n- ford, still smiling. ”After-a. second glan’ee. agree with ouâ€"she 13 not prett !" _ IMrg. Gly}: 0rd felt relieved. S e_ would “ Who is your new beauty?” he said, oing up smilingly to the stout. florid- ooklng woman who could never forget that she had once been pretty. and never liked to hear another woman called so. “ What girl?" she answered, with a shrug of her substantial shoulders. upon her nephew indicating that he alluded to Miss Keane. “ Do you really call her Pretty y? She is my governess, but I certain- y do not think anything of her looks. " um _I____ H, ,,,,1ml| u 1' lulu u. "Well, I hope you’ll have a pleumt'izvei-niair sister. He‘sewa. fair delicate-looking girl. with small features. and e truetful expression; and as she was exceedingly well dressed, in white cashmere and white silk, be supposed her to be one of his aunt’s guests. William Glynford, junior, admired the cum; overness. at Bridgenorth House. 0 h first seen her at the child's party there, when the poor girl had worn the dress from Bingley's shop which was now threatening to bring her so much trouble. "_‘_____- 1A5“ j_I _‘L- I--l_2_.. _2_I _£AIr It was not her some] position, however, which worried the old man. It we: the vulgar-i of her mind. Mr. Glynford do: her small affections, and her efforts .1; gentility at once amused and sun yed him. He had a. ahrewd, kindly vein of humor in his composition. and his nephew, William. had also some share of thus quality. Mr. Glyntord omen told his no how this. and the young man knew that is uncle really meant it. It had not been a he py matriage this second one that Mr. G yu- tord, senior, had made with the tradeeman’a daughter. for Bingley’a shop had descended from father to son. " You toke my .dvloo, Willie.” the old Williun Glynfozd would lay totho younger one. “ I've tried it on twice. and the result 0! my ex rinoo ha been that I wouldn’t do its thud time! " He was. howéver. Barty-three; and his uncle used to sdvlu him to rennin un- woddod. - flag} ho had gtill plentx 9”in boloro_hi_u_|. I) And Laura went. up to 1101;; 3nd kissed er. ' " How are you. dear Maud ?” she said. For a moment Maud did not answer. She 30°}?le yiss‘tlully-onviously, perhapsâ€"at She lifted harseff up as heriihother and sister entered the room, and a. hall-glad cry 9305 (1 her li a. “ aural”a amidâ€""Lana!" Imaginative and inventive. the beautiful ideal creatures of her mind sometimes made her forget the dismal realities by which she was surrounded. There she lay, her books, her scraps of paper; her little bottle of ink. her pen. all scattered carelessly around her. T110330 wonderflei-égvg, Eiffiu'lfltfiafiih: 'they were. tqld gpeir ov_vn_storyr._ She grew up repining, the wonderful beauty and intelligence of her countenance being spoilt in general by its discontented an}! peevish expression. _ Btit at times-you new that gleam of light which flashes only over the countenance of those gifted with etrong mentalpower. A an uxnurr noun. The last years of her husband's life had been darkened, and her youn daughter’s opening years overehadowe , by Mrs. Keane’s deplorable failing. Together the mother and daughter enter- ed what had been in Doctor Keane'i: time the drawing-room of the house; but it could be called a drawing-room no longer. Disorder and discomfort rei ned. Nothing. in fact, could exceed the iemal and unoared for appearance of this room and its one occu. pant. when Laura and Mrs. Keane entered 1t,"a_dded to its melancholx effect. _ 'Thie was a young girl, oriv ledVand deformed. When absbe,Meud one had fallen from her mother’s arms and had been so seriously injured that she had never recovered. Yet this woman was not old, and had been handsome. But now over her features had passed that change by which the fatal weakness that she indulged in always betrays itself. It was a. gray étone house, standing in a neglected garden, that she now a proached. N 0 _one vyas loojxing ou_t t9 watc {or _her, And who admitted her ?â€"a woman, try- ing her best to look sober! " Is it you. Sissy? " she said. “ Well how are you? Is theâ€"train in ‘2” “ 0h, mamma? " said Laura Keaneâ€" Sisay. as_ her mother called her. Miss Keane was indeed the only passen- ger who left the train; and as the' omnibus, which insummer runs between the station and this village, had also disappeared for the winter, the young governe‘sswss forced to walk the distance, and, tired and dispin- ted, she arived at home. ‘ nor to welcome herrand she rang the door; bell twice before she could obtaln admit- tance. time qmet people go for a. few weeks to Sea- ton-' Jy- -th_e- Sgt)?“ f_or the bzgthing sea._son. But 'in the chill December days His ‘little vil_lt_a.ge @133 no visitors. And this grim spectre went with the girl all the way to Seaton-by-the-Sea. She was haunted with the memory of Mr. Bingley’s words and looks. she kept asking herself, and great fear fbr the consequence of what she had done took poggession 9f her. - At last she reached the station on the reflway nearestto her home. In the summer “ Ah, Miss Keane," he said ; “ I saw you go past in a. cab a few minutes since. and thought I would just walk down to the sta- tion and repeat emphatically a word of warning in your ear. Ou no account try to pass those notesâ€"you understand? But here is the train coming up ; allow me to hand you in. Be sure you do not forget whet I_have ssid. Good-hye l” . Mr. Bingley took off his hat; the train moved on ;‘ but the bright dey-dreems-that the young governess had been indulging in a. few minutes before had now vanished. In their place had risen the grim spectral shadow that men call fear. Hastily looking round, to her inexpreasi- ble annoyance, she recognized Mr. Bingley, the tradesman. She had a. few minutes towait before the train came up, and while standing on the platform was startled by some one touching her arm from behind. “ He cafes for me I " she kept whispering to herself; as she drove along the stony streets of Furnhame. “ He must care for me I " she fepeated to herself,» she walked through the station. ' During the next houn she could think of nothing else. She finished packing her boxes, kissed her little pupils, and got into the cab and drove to the station. with this thoqght uppegmost in her mind. ‘_ It was so beautiful; but she was not thinking of its intrinsic value. She was thinking “ He must care for metâ€",he nev‘er ul§_have given me this, unless he reglly puree} I " And this knowledge was very lemnt to her. Her step grew lighter as s e walk. ed on to Bridgenorth House after this brief interview with William Glynford, and no sooner did she arrive there than aha pro- ceeded uioklyto open the small parcel con- taining _i_s Christmas-box. _ _ ' A jeweller‘s leather case first appeared, and when she undid the clan? of this, she found a large plain, {lull gold ooket; with a valuable and brilliant diemontf in the centre, sparklin like a star. §h° em a 13 or): 9H9» . § Miss Keene blushed more deeply still at this nest.end smiled brightly and gladly. “ â€" shell be very pleased tosee you," she said. . "Thank you. Well. I must not detain on new, I suppose? Good-bye, miss came; it will not be long, I hope. before I see you sin." He he d her hand in his firm. stron clasp as he said this. He liked her. an was sorry to part with her. and b that subtle instinct with which one ulnsn heart fethoms snother’s feelings, the gover ness lgnewrthis. Hie dunner expressed more then his gorilla. end the young governess blushed Y “ will not forget them." she “id. “And there wee something else I wen going to en ." continued Mr G] nlord with eeligh yemberreeeed air. ' 1313:)“ Iehellinell probebilit bein thene hood of Seetomby the- gee before the1811 month ieover. It so, will you allow me to cell up_o_n yo_u? " Christina; sad I hope I110 that you won't {org-t 311 your Funhamo Mend. while you nanny. ' ‘ _ _ ingley’s words and looks. “ What did he know about these notes ?” CHAPTER III. done. Thus Laura Keme we“: tolive at Brid 9. north House. and found but all ladies id not treat their governesdla in tho kindly fashion which her late sohooimiatresa had At last a lady in the village. compulsion- ating Laura’s position, recommended her “governess to Mr. Glynford's family at Fernheme. had remsined “governess to the youn er pupils, and from 17 to 19 had occupied t is position. ' But this good woman died sudden] . The school was broken up. an the upils scattered. The young governess, aura Keane, had returned to her late father‘s house at Seaton-bythe-Ses to find a miserablehome~s§ degrsded mother. _ Laura Keane had left her mether's house six months‘ before in great bitter- ness of spirit. She had been well educated, and after her father’s death had remained with the excellent and accom lxshed lady at whose sohgol he had place her. She 7 And at she dare not change them I Laura some thought of this on that first dim winter morning when she awoke and found herself in her mother‘s house. but she always came to the same conclusionâ€" ahe dare not ohan e her notes, and must try even to forget t at she had them in her ”39°13'59“: But this was very hard to do. Mrs. Keane had not more than one hundred a year to live on, and drank the best part of that away. man-r. When Laura. Keane awoke the next morning she oould hear the waves breaking on the sandy beaolfiof Seaton-byothe Spa: “ On no swohnt” was she to ohan e the two other notes which she still he (1, he had told her ; and yet the miserable pover~ ty of her mother’s household‘ sorely tempted her to do this. Poor Maud, who ought to have wine and son , and every- thing strengthening, was abso utely wastin away for want of what those notes woul An un lsssant memory came to disturb her in t e stillness of the winter dawn â€"Mr. Binglsy’s familiar looks of admira- tion. his strange questions and manner about the notes which had come so oddly into her possession, and, finally, his mys- terious warning. ‘ The soft monotony of the sound, and the otherwise perfect stillness which reigned in the house, would, in all probability, have helped to lull most hap y younf girls to sleep again, but Laura ooxfid not 8 eep._ The poor girl lying on the sofa. gave a restl_e§_s sigh.___ _ “ When'will it; be, I wonder ?” she mur- muredâ€"“ when will my dreams come true ‘2" “And you won’t be nn ‘ unknown 010d ’ (as you call us poor, commonplace people) some day, Maud. Some day, when I’m an ugly old woman, I’ll boast of my clever ais- ter," said Laura. He was no longer an unknown olod l " Laura. smiled again at her young sister’s enthusiasm. his éuocess." Maud, with the versatility of her dispo~ sition, began to smile. " I have to pro've that yet.” she said. “ There is a struggle always at first,” an- swered Laura, kintlly. “ Some one whom I know at Farnhameâ€"Mr. William Glyn- ford " (and. a soft blush stole to her fair cheeks), “ told me once of a young cousin of his, who tried to be an author, and how he tried_ and triegl for long in vain." “And did he suqoeed .at last ‘2” asked Maud, eagerly. ‘ “Yea,” said Laura; “but it was. a. sad tale, after all. He died in the first flush of “ But he had lived!" said Maud, en- thusiastically. ‘ “ He had been recognized! He was no longer an unknown olod l " “ And all the beauties and beaux of his time are utterly forgotten," said Laure. trying to speak lightly, and smiling at her sister. “ You see, my dear, you have some. thing for greater and higher than a. pretty "‘ Do you really think I am clever? ” she’ said, raising her tearoetained visage, and looking eagerly at her sister. " Pope. you â€"you know,waa defoi'med, and yet he lives stilln I_Iew111 aiwayelive! ”_ _ The wéepinggirl listened, and apparently was _aomething_ comforted. " Hush, dear! " And she pillowed the poor oripple’s head on her bosom. “ Think how clever you are. Maud] Rosy cheeks grow pale and fade, and tall figures get bowed and bent; but agreat mind gets greater with age, and beautiful. thoughts are fresh when beautiful faces are old and changed.'_’ . Laura. knelt down, and put her arms roun_c_l 1191‘ gisteg‘g pqor‘thig neqk; " It's a torture 7 " said the young girl on the sofa. passionately. “Andlto thinkâ€"to think that I might have been like you. Lauraâ€"fair and tall, like youâ€"but for her 7 " “ It‘s very sad! " answered Laura. And she put her hand softly into her sister’s. But Maud dashed it away. “ Bad 1 " she repeated. " Yes. it’s very sad. isn’t it? ”â€"and she gave abitter laugh. " No youth nor life for me ; no one ‘to love me; alyvays t_e be_negleoted and alone I ” Ail the 'girl endedvthis speech. the ex- treme bitterness of her emotion overcame he}, and spa lggrgt into pagsionate sobs. .with no company ybut that. " d the acting girlb pointed as she s ke to their mot er. who.b 3' this time,h sunk down on a dilepidste easy chair. and had fallen asleep. - “ How very shocking it' is l " said Laura. in a low tone. axon ore t over her. “ Here I lie. day. vgi _ no comgspy but t_hat.’{ “ I'soé no foal ones." answered Mud; and again the discontented \. envious expres. gion orgpt over her. “ {loge} lig. day alter “ I hive one'thiug,” she aid. " It's not finished. But I see it â€"I hear it! It's about a girl who loved too Wellâ€"who idoliz- ‘0d the man she lovedâ€"and died when she toupdfl the real and ideal were two different “ The old story I " laughed Laura. “ Ah. Maud, our ideal and our real men‘ are alygys totally dfifletent,_" “ Nothing worth readingLâ€"notfiing thot you would core for." answered the young writer; and than the next moment her tea.- tare! _lighted “P: . “ You look well. sud seem well. Laure. st leslslt." she ssid presently. " I om never we ." Lsure put her hsnd caressing. on her sister's heed. sud smoothed book 9 thick. soft, dsmp. dsrk heir. “And how does (the writing so on? ” she ssid, smiling kin ly. “ Have you got lots of ney nieces to read to_rne, Maud ? " CHAPTER IV. " I have asked him, mydoarâ€"I’ve begged of himâ€"all in vain. It‘s no use writing to him. He's harder than atone. It woul}! 00!! waste 9 staznp-i' Laure sighed deeply. She did not know what to do ; could not consult her mother â€"uor even tell her the truth about those mysterious notes. “I will try and get some money, mamms,” she said, soothin 1y, “ if you will come uietly home." ml, at the girl‘s entrosty rs Keane took Laura's arm and together they rotrmed their m s' to the village. Laura could see t air tow neighbors " Will‘you try? 0h, Sissy, do tryl"ssid Mrs. Keane, catching hope from her dough. ter’s words. "If ybu could only lend me ten pounds, or get me.ten,pounds any- where.just for awash. to get these men out of the house at Christmas-time, I’ll promiseâ€"do you hear. desr?â€"fa.ithfully promise to pay it back again. Mr. Bray, your poor father‘s executor. will send me twenty-five pounds on the ninth of Febru- ary, and you shall have it then." " But why not ask Mr. Bray for it now, mother ?" said Laura. True, she had resolved that nothing should induce her to ohen e them; that she remembered Mr. Bmg ey’e warning But then she looked at her mother. “ Hush: mother I" cried Laura. “ I’ll tryâ€"I’ll try to get this money i! you'll be quid-’1 _ A , A _ ‘ , , At sight of her mother’s fri htful con- dition the thought had darts into poor Laun’s mind that she had two five-pound notes in h_er poasgsaion._ “ What do I care for the village ?" said Mrs. Keane. “ The village has turned its back upon me because I am foot. I care nothin for the Villag eâ€"no hing for any- thing in the world I" And then came another _hysteri_oal ‘wail. “ 0h, momma," said Laura, “ do try to compose yourself? You cannot go through tho v_i_l_lag_e_as you are uowi" thing sin.” “ you have none'â€"none ‘2” said Mrs. Keane, rocking herself to and fro. “ 0h, 37131;“ I born? 0h, whyâ€"why am I not 8 H “ I can’t write to Mtg. Glynford,” said Laura. “ She wouldn't send me the mono if I did. She’s hard and cold, and said a. sorts of cruel things to me when I asked her to advance my salary before, and told xne month“ she would never do such a nameâ€"but couldn't you write to her, and ask her to advance this little sum ‘2 Do! Don’t nits break your poor mother’s heart â€"on C‘hristmas eve, too! Doâ€"do ask her. Sissy] I’ll go down on my knees to you if you yin ! " - « How much is his bill?" said Laura, who was faint and trembling. "Twenty pounds." answered Mrs. "Twenty pounds," answered Mrs. Keane , “ but he says he’ll take ten for the present. 0h, Laure, couldn’t you write to the lady you’re with, Mrs. â€"-Iy forget her nameâ€"but cguldn’t you write to her, and For she now waived her mother un. steadily approac 'ng her. "Sissy," said Mrs. Keane, beginning to shed maudlin tears. “my dear child, I have come to seek y.ou What do you' thinkhas happened? On Christmas eve. too! Oh, dearâ€"oh, dear, isn’t itshocking ?" “ What is the matter. another ?" asked Laura. “The bailiffs !" wept Mrs. Keane. "Would you believe it. that bad man, Johnson, the grocer, has put 1n the bailiffs? He has often threatened; pbut on Christmas eveâ€"0h, dearâ€"oh, dear ‘2” And then the same sad refrain as hefore. ' overcome the cruel humiliation of 11;; life. Her mother! Ah. that so sweetaname should ever be so degraded and abused as {ltwaslat this moment in this young girl‘s eart Ifhe really lbved her? But. (35615 other hand, would llis l‘oya bqftgpng gnpugl}_ _to -_______ _ AI, , If he really loved her. and would ask her to be his wife ! This thought name also to thefiirl’s n_1_inq, 1mg fieepenfd her soft color. gra 8k and agray sea, and not a living son to seen as the girl paced thought- fully along the shore. She had her hand clasped to her throat. Ah, beneath that little hand lay William Glynfprd'a gift. and it seemed pleasant to herto hold 1t there, and to believe that even at that moment he might be thinking of her. kandagra son to seen as Then she went down to the sands end walked by the sea. The white frost had stiffened and fringed each blade of grass on the benks..and the salt tide that had lingered too long on its journey back to the griifilwsteys had been caught and frozen as it . Aboye. the sky was all mist and haze. A The second day of Laura's return home all the change which Mr. Bingley had given her out of her three fiveponnd notes was gone. It went on absolute necessaries. It was Christmas eve. and‘ there was nothing in the house. 80 Laura. bought s few arti- cles of food and a little wine for Mend. It hid become worse since ehehad left it. Her mother waapoorer and more deeply in debt even than before. Arin at the door-bell created an nu. happy eeliug in the henrte of the inmates of this ray stone house at Beaton-by-the. Sea. hey knew what it usually meantâ€" abill. adun. They came da .after day, but there was no moueyto gesot. Mre. Keane had none. and the young sensitive cri leâ€"the girl geniusâ€"had her dreame a or fancies constantly rudely broken and disturbed by wrangling creditors at the door! Could anything be more melancholy? Laura's epirite sank lower and lower. She felt such intense pity for Maud. euoh shame and anger for her mother. Here was a delicate young creature absolutely perish- ing for want of proper support. and her mother eaw this. and knew it, and yet would, or could, not restrain her fatal craving. , But ll we have seen. the 'girl hed not been without some Qleaeuree. Mr. 01 11- lord wee dweys kmd to her. and . Williem Glynlord hed bri hteued her lite somehow 1) his words and coke. Bhehed indeed lelt unheme with regret. and he: dismel home seemed udder then ever to her. on her return to it for the Christina 11096392 A non without money ywu. in GI, ord'ueetimetionaoomem tihle The tudeemtn'o dinghter ju thing end every one the rules ‘ nurow eohoolin which ohsdbeen Laure. Keene was poor, and thereto Gly oodntord despised her; Laura Keane wu fiood -glookin 3. end Mrs. Glyntord did not he her better for being so. (Continued on seventh page.) 15.1