HOPE. The next day was Christmas day. All over the land the bells were ringi [$.31] kindly words and greetings were ex anged on every side. But, still, in many a house- hold care either lingered on the threshold, or set as 9 guest atthe Christnms board. So there was aflush on her thin cheeks and a light in the large, big-pupilled eyes; for she was dreaming of days to come, and of fame, as has done many a young dreamer before her. Beneath "the roof of the old gray stone house at Seaton-by-thevSea care reigned pufgmognt. This day Laura. seemed the most depress- ed of the two. The gifted child Maudâ€"for she was buts childâ€"had seen in the dawn of the Christ- mss morning an ideal of beauty, which one day she believed that all the world would behold when her pen had made her glorious visions live. - Mrs. Keane was too ill to appear down- stairs, and the young girls, therefore, ate their Christmas dinner alone. “ We may not always be poor," she said. “Fancy, Laura, ifâ€"if one day people should come here, and look at this little room, and talk about us and say how poor we were onceâ€"before I was known!" Laura tried to smile. “ I hope it may be so." she said. “ It mustâ€"it must be ! " said the poor cripple. starting up; and beginning to pace the room with her halting steps. " Laura. I know that I am cleverâ€"I know it by com- paring mine with the writings of others. There are giants and pigmies ; I shall try and reach the height of the giants l " But William Glyniord was neither stout. red. nor consequential. He was. in fact. a. goodJooking. gentlenmnly man; but, to poor Mend. he W‘s aometlnng Wonderful. and elm instantly determined to eketch the features of her favorite hero. Alas! as the poor child spoke. her frail physical powers were too painfully evident to her sister. The giants to whose height she aspired must have had more vigorous frames and stronger nerves than this young struggler, or they never could have climbed so high. She was not ï¬tted for the toil. the aching hand, the weary brain. the long. long journey before the goal is won. But she did not realize this. Long: ging. hke a. young bird. to fly. she did not know her pinions were too weak to carry her through the storm But the next minute their little hand- maiden rapped at the room door, and made some inarticulnte sounds. but ï¬nally suc~ geeded in ushering In Mr. Wiliiam yGlyn- 0rd! u'I dined at Bridgenorth House. of course." said William GI» nford. " and fared aumptuouuly. you may be sure. My good tunt a little overdid it, I thought; but then she generally does err in that way." Laura laughed uneasily. All this time Maud had sat with her gaze ï¬xgd on_ William Glyuford. So she talked to Laura of her glowing dreams and hopes, and thus the day passed quietly, and to Laura very sadly, away. And the next few days also were very quiet. Maud was busy with her pen. and Mrs. Keane was really too ill to make any partic- ular disturbance. But on the third day after Christmas. as the girls were sitting together over the ï¬re in the early winter twilight, a visitor arriv- ed at the old stone house. Mr. Glynford was also rather nervous, buglhe held out his hand. with a kind, glad am: e. “ I‘ve found my way you see to Benton- by-t_he-S_ea," he said. "‘Iâ€"I hm very glad," said Laura. " This in my sister, Mr. Glynfordâ€"my sister Maud." She had never seen any one like him before. The few visitors who had come to Seateu-by-theSea in the summer time were mostly stout, proxy, family men, who went down in the early morning to bathe, and came bucklooking very red.self-satia- fled, and consequemial. They heard the door bell ring, and looked at egch other uneasily. “Some one wantiï¬g money. of course! " said Maud, impatiently. hula. “ I am pleased to make your acquain- tance." he said. " And now, Miss Keane. tell me."â€"(a.ud he turned to Laura)â€"“ what kind of a Christmas have you had ‘2" “ Ver quiet.†answered Laura, in some- what. In baring accents. “-My mother is ill â€"and we were alone." 'l'ho the loll of th li . outlying Thuy‘rlngorin; lilp. {ionpnlonm And animal the 00b 01 thy Iighing lou- it u I in n sweet undertone. And vhnt thou don uy in thy Illhing Cnn Ihiold like 5 shelter from norm. And the linp of ihgwhinper Itill dying Lien nil! on my out. and is Inna. 'Til the bmth o! the bmtlal, of thnt morning When. lying with thee by e not. We knew am the bright w". - «we warning 0! n storm thnt a mu » o-ld7bo,A .Laury. rose, flushed and nervous. to re- ceive lnm. “ And you live here?†he and looking at Msud very gently and com assxonstol â€" for '10 had at once observed lel‘ deformity. “ Yes." she answered, shyly. "And you missed your sister very much. 811171111351} ï¬fty; siirixk'till nev'ar ‘ B sounds like thy snoring to me. The sound of a snorin ' sonoroul _ I! not |i_ko the tone- 0? age can ; 0! 5 storm thet e tempes‘liolld be. Thou wut felt in thy (tech . midstllng, In the light curling red 0 . thy Air. Andthy voxce, like the voice of a sterling. Stirred up All my soul's sweet deepen. I hove lived : I have loved, and though ever AI long as I live I shall love Yet the voice 9! thy_vqlciog shall never _ K331i bi: ah tint 6! the (15“). '1'h_ou .1001)“qu _aloo;3‘pgy§f than ever 'ro thee. than. my heckled tad decent. I'm now a hobgoblin and sprigs. Agd thojoymnnj now mpg); phoe nearest And soén becomes utterly borous' As the buzzing 0! bus on the lea. I hallowedâ€"I had lovedâ€"but the noise: Thou mixes: in dreams are no dreun. Hymn dreams-(o! mo. thosp‘yild voices T6-TnBrâ€"rdw, I‘k‘nb'ii, iii‘thé bxéakhi'st. I'll meet Lhee in muslin and ltwn. TEï¬Ã©ï¬i 'biz'i mm a: delight. qud;by, though} sti_ll hay} tpy negkwfiaat hon deepestâ€"and sleep may“ than 0' It}! 919 sound of 13119 qt_i_l_l surging m Must be what iheym are and they seem. ood-b . though I still hold my neck w And _qt the dgyg up: am 39110. AGAINST THE L AW. (A Novolâ€"By Dora Russell). CHAPTER V. gain William Glynford held out his A lullad of Sleep. home ‘I " “ You." Igtin aid mud; And then. with ludden courage. the ukod “ Hue {on known [nun loathâ€"all the time she as beolLuny ? " _ __ I 10".", he oonï¬nuod. “when the loft “Very neuly. I think" taunted Mr. Glyuford. amilmg, sud looking It Lung. “ We booune friends very quickly; did we not. Miss Keane?" , , “ Yea." mawered Laura. softly; md her head fell low. and as the ï¬re-light glmood on her kit features, Mr. Glynford saw thit she wsg blushing deeply. He remained abou? an Eo'ur. wd before he left told the girls that he was going to remixing u_l_l night at_8¢t_ston-by-t_h_e “ I shall 865 you in the moi-ning. I hope." he- «is!» â€the! signiï¬cantly. t9 L‘t‘l’k “ M01 I ï¬sh at yvhag 61139} “ May 1 ask at what time you nauslly walk 'I" “ 011. any time." and Laura; and .gun she blushed. “ Anytime is no time," said Mr. Glynford. smiling. “ Suppose, therefore, you tell me at what tune you will appear to-morrow merging. and where ? †_ “Perhaps you would like to see the sands ‘I " said Laura, in her pretty, modest way. “ Ifâ€"you will go down on the sands about elevenâ€"" “ Very well." said Mr. Glynford ; “ I shall go down on the sands about eleven, and you must kindly point out their beauties to me. It is settled. than; you will meet me on the sands at eleven? ' “ Yes," half-whispered Laure, ‘ï¬mLhéo’ breath came fast. Maud had listened to this arrangement with considerable astonishment. Then she looked at Laura and Mr. Glynford, and drew her own conclusions. " Laura." she said, grasping her sister’s hand 93 3091133 there guest had left. “is he you§_lover ? " ' “ Nonsense. Maud! " answered Laura; “ he is a friend of mineâ€"he is the nephew of Mr. Glynford with whom I live, you know, at Bridgequ House.†“ Is he nch ? " again questioned Maud. “ I believe he is very well off," said Laura, smiling. " You are a lucky girl, then," said poor Maud, and for a moment gave an envious sigh. “ He is so handsome; he is like what I shall make my Jasper in my new story. “ I did mean to make Jasper darker; but now I’ll make him with brown hair and whiskers like Mr. Glynford. 0h,Laura, if you Entry him_!_"_ - “ Yes, '1‘f.†said Laura, still smiling hap- pily; “ but. its and suds you know, Maud. are ygry precarious}: “ Then_ we should be no longer poor." said Maud. " Then, perhaps, he would help me to become known? " Laura. Keane scarcely slept the whole night after Mr. William Glynford’a visit. Au_d_ Malia also was veg): restle_ss._r “ Though Laura. would not admit it she, like hegr Slater. hoped that brighter days were in store for them and almost persuad~ ed herself that Mr. Glyuford had Pehad a. particular purpose in coming to Seaton- by- the.Sea. v“ I can’t slash," she said, as if half-apolo- gizing for this act of affection. " I wish the mognigg woglquouge l †fl So the girl lay restless, but full of hope. And her reflections were not altogether selï¬sh. Again and again she thought of Maudâ€"how she would cheer her and brighten this hitherto cheerless lifeâ€"how the child shouid have her books published. and how all her bright dreams and visions might be made to come true. Once during the night she rose and kissed her pale young sister, on whom the moon- ï¬ghgwaefalhugx “ So do 1;" said Maud. “ I wish to-mor- row were here." To-morrow seemed to come very slowly. A thick fog from the see made the night even darker than usual, but about eight o’clock a rosy coloring begin to penetrate the white mist, and presently like smoke it vanished before the rays of the rising_sun. “ It’s going to has fine day ! " cried Maud. jyo fully. " Oh, Laura, I trust and hope It Jwiyy boy a Igggpy day {91- uq! " Laure didnot sneak. She was nervous and agitated, and could scarcely pour out the tea at breakfast; and when she went up to her mother's room, even Mrs. Keane noticed her manner. “ What is the matter with you. Sissy 7 " she said. “ Your cheeks are flushed, and your hands are trembling. Who was the gentleman that called last night? I hope you told him I was indisposed ? †" Yes, mamma." answered Laura. “And who was be. my dear?" again asked Mrs. Keane. How could she expect that Mr. Glynford. when she had such a. mother, would think of her. when she would bring him such a degrading connection I " He is Mr. Glynford‘a nephew, mamma â€"Mr. William Glyuford." hesitated Laura. “ Indeed ! " said Mrs. Keane, with afresh interest. “ The Glynfords are rich, are the{ not, Sissy ? Is this young gentleman wel oï¬ ? †“I really do not know. mamma,†said Laura, in an annoyed tone. “ Because. my dear." continued Mrs. Keene, whose delicacy of feeling had passed away long 0. "it would be such a. good thing for us a I it you could get well marri. ed Don't think too much about love. Sissyâ€"love is all very ï¬ne, but money is better; and if this young gentleman is rich “0h. mamma. don’t talk in such a way! " intflrrupteq _La:ura; and leftAperL gnogheg. But thie painful thought had faded some- whet from the young girl’s mmd by the time that the clock had struck eleven. At this hour she was standing before the dim httle looking-glass in her bed-room. care- fully arranging her hat and jacket, and nervously pro nring to go out to meet Mr. William Glyn 0rd on the sands. Maud came into the room when she was doing this. and went up and kissed her mater, but uaid nothing. Still Laura under. stood what. the poor child meant, and returned the little kiss very tenderly. “ But you mustn’t take any nonsense into yourliend.dear." said Laurammilingly, and trying to speak lightly. “ Mr. Glyn- ford is only a friend, and has no intentions of being more. And. indeed. you must not thinkâ€"" " I'll not. think anything,†interrupted Maud; " but do go, Laura. or you will be Iawflmd will__n_9t neg h-Ir. Glynfogd." "Very well." mid Laura} and, a few minutes latenwas on‘the road to the ends. The mm was now shining on the sea. CHAPTER VI. end each wevelet thet broke upon the shore was crowned with 3 golden glory 0! its own. A bountiful light this; but the girl hurri- ed on. scarcely noticing it. for, in the distance. ehe new 5 eclitery ï¬gure. which her beating heart seemed to tell her wee Mr. Glynford. The aolitcry ï¬gure was standing clone to the m. efferently watching the wnvee breck one terenother ct his feet. It was Mr. 61 ynford, Laura was sure; though he was in yroulity too far off for her tarooognizo_ him. But, no she stood a moment hesitating. the solitary ï¬gure looked around. and than begun quiing rap idly towards her. and. four or ï¬ve minutes later. Laura. and Mr. Williom Gly niord had met. They were mutually omburrused. William G] nford iked Laura. too much to feel quite aty his case with her under the circumatuncesmnd Lauro naturally felt very nervous. “ I did not know whether to call for you or not, " began William Gly nford; “ but I t_hought. perhaps, that. as yMm. Keane is “ Mommy. is better to-day," said Laura as hp. Glgnforfl_}zeait§ted. “ I am glad of phat," he answered gravely. and kindly, lookmg with a certain amount of_ten(_ler‘pit_y‘at th_e (nil: girl bgfore h_i_n_1. For he lied heard all eb‘eut the terrible family misfortune attached tothis young ginl’g name: V His aunt 3t Farnhame had told him long ago that Miss Keane's mother was a. drunkard, and that the young governess sent all her money home to support this nubile?! wows!!- In a little place like this in the winter season a. visitor was so unusual that the landlord of the village inn, where William Gl nford was staying, had. on the evening bean-e, felt that it was his duty to go up- stairs and try to smuse his guest. atalrs and try to amuse his eat. “And so you know the" canes, sir?" said the landlord. after some preparatory remarks. An 's'ince he had been at Seaton-by-the- Sea he had heard still more. “Iknow the young ladies," answered Mr. Glynford. not particularly relishing “1i? famiï¬uity 9mm PP",9‘ his ,hosï¬; _ “ Ay, it’s a. sad thing for them I " said the landlord shaking his head. “And the doctor was a perfect gentleman! But it's justï¬fallen like a. cursp upon them all! ’j ' -‘ You mean â€"†said William Glynford unetï¬ily. _ “ The old lady '3 love (i the bottle] Ay, she’ a a. good friend of us publicana! They do say that she’d let you bit deformed lassie starve rather than do without her drink!†And when he did meet herâ€"when he saw the fair and gentle girl whom be admired somuoh looking ulittle pale, a. little nervous and anxiousâ€"greet pit? and y tenderness for her seemed sudden to flood his heart. Glyhford said nothing, and the publican talked on. “ They’ve had the bailifl's in. and no end of trouble this week, I'm told; and Muss Laura, the one that’s the governess some- where in the north. had to pay all her salary away, poor lass, and give a bond for the balance then left to get the men out on Christmas eve! Ay, ay! it's a sad business; and she‘s a. bonny lass, too: but who would wed her out of such a home?" Again William Glynford moved uneasily, for the landlord’s words were making a verv painful impression on his mind, and he began almost to wish that. he had not come to Seston-by-the-Sea. At all evente,he had ptomisedto meet Lnura. Keane on the sands at eleven o’clock. and was bound in honor to keep his word. ABOUT THE NOTES. The next morning things appeared to William Glynford in a very diï¬etent. light indeed. William Glynford was a generous, large- minded man; and when he looked at the young girl. and thought of her sorrowful fate and care-hardened home, he remember- ed, with no small satisfaction, that he was in a position to offer her a. very diï¬erent one. So he spoke vary kindly to her, and Laura. brightened under the influence of his pleasant wgrds.‘ “_And, Mr. Glynford," she aaid prosently. smiling, and looking up, “ I have not thank- 9d 3911 yet_ fqr your: beautiful Christmas- box. " And she put her hand as she spoke to her throat, where the gold locket he had given to her lay hidden beneath her collar. “ Itâ€"it was so kind of you, but it was far too good for a Christmas box. " " I could not help liking it.†answered Laura softly ; " and," she added, a. moment later, " no one. I do assure you, has given me a. Christmas-box since my poor father died until now! " "He was a great loss to you?" said William Glynford, looking at her inquir- ingly. LBura’a lips quivered. “ Iâ€"l caunok speak of it even yet," she said. “It was indeed a heavy affliction to us!" “ And your young sister." continued Wil- liam Glynford. “It must be very sad for her, you going f_rom home ? " " All her life in and t " said Laura, mourn- fully; " and she is so clever. and no sensi- tive. and feels everything so deeply; endâ€" nud the and accident which happened to her when she was a child makes her so unhappy l "_ “T-h‘e'n she was not born with this defegt?" {mng-Mr. Glynford._ “ No; she fell from 15y mother‘s arms," answered Laura, with unconscious bitter- ness. “ i am glad that you like it," said William Glygford._ _ “ Poor girl I †said Mr. Glynford. " But I am sure «he has one friend.†he added, looking at. Laura; “ one friend who wiIl. and does, try tolighten her burdens. I am sure you nreplways kind to her l_" " I- try to be." éaid Laura; “ butâ€"but I can do vary little I " “ You must hope for better times," said William Gl\ Mord. cheerfully. " bome day you may be able to do 5 great deal to help this {ouug sister in every way, and I am sure t. net you will do it." Laura felt that she blushed. and that her heat} wagbeutiug “‘9’ fast: “For the res'éut,†went on Mr. Glyn- ford. in his ind way, "is there anything that I can do {or her? " CHAPTER VII. She knew whet was the poor ohild'e dream; whet was her passionate hope. She desired to be famous; would not accept the common lot of her sisterhood, and live and die as do most of women. Lulu blushed still more deeply. and hesitated. The restless spirit in the stunted {tame aspired to take its piece among the great ones of the earth. and was ready to enter the arena. even before she hsd tried her strength. “ Silo writes," began Lauraâ€"“spends all her time in writing; and. of course. is wet gqxiqga to _have her_ _worka pgplispe _. Would you be so very kind, Mr. Gly uford as to road over some of her little pieces and if you should think that they are good for anythingâ€"" / Mr. _Glynford smiled kindly as Laura “ Of ooureeJ will gladly dothis.†he said “ though I am not much of a judge. But it, Miss Maude will entrust some of her writings to me. I will read them. and I know a publisher in town that I think I could manage to make arrangements with about having them published." “ Oh. how good you are l " said Laura. And the girl’s voice faltered and .broke, and her tears were ready to flow. “ If you knew," she e'ontinued. “ all the joy that you are giving her, all the joy you ergeï¬erdinglneAâ€"f" William ~Glynford was greatly moved and put. out his hand. and took Laur a’, :ngat nongqnsef he said,rather husk ill “ Think not. of it. Some dai, Laura, Iâ€"I hope to see much more of you. Some day As the words were actually trembling on his lips to ask her to be his wife, William Glynford. glancing nervously along the sands before them, perceived a. ï¬gure ap- proachingâ€"the ï¬gure of a. person he recog- nizedâ€"of a. Farnhame manâ€"of, in fact. Mr. Bingley, the draper, in Front street, and the brother of his uncle's wife. “ Why, confound him! here‘s Bingley, from Farnhame I †muttered Mr. Glynford, in 9. cpagged and_ gnqqyed voicet U And Laura, blushi'hg, trembling, agi- tated. started violently when she heard that hateful name. Yes; there he came walking towards them, with a sort of sneer curling round the corners of his coarse mouth, and a know- ing and not very pleasant look in his shrewd, small eyes. He also felt very much amazed at ï¬nding aFarnhame man on the sands of gasps-by-the-Seat He had come to the village on a. little private business of his own, and did not care that Mr. William Glynford should know anything about it. But there was no help for it. Though in a different social position, the two Farnhsme men were, of course. sog quainted with each other, and William Glynford, therefore, nodded as he met. Mr. Bingley. and would have passed on with Laura. But, to his surprise, Bingley stopped, and familiarly held out his hand to the y “"13 89"}!!1953; “ For a day or do.†answered William Glynford. rather expressively. And then he glanced at Laura Keane. And what did he see ? A girl apparently almost overwhelmed with agitation ; a girl pale. trembling, and speechless, instead of the bright, soft, blushing maiden who had been by: his side a_few moments ago. So changed, indeed, was Laura’s whole expression and appearance. that William ulynford gazed at her in absolute astonish- ment. And then he looked at Mr. Bingley. There was an almost insolent expression on the man’s countenance, he thought, which he had never seen there before. He glanced from one to the other. ' “Weil, Miss Keane,†said Mr. Bingley, “ and how are you ? And so you are here, Mr._(_1‘rlynfo§d, are ypur? " “What can be the meanmg of this? " he thought. “ What can Miss Keane have to do_wi_th_this _Bingley? " _ _ “ I called at your house a quarter of an hour ago, Miss Keene." he ssld. “ as I wished to see you about that little affair which occurred before you left Farnhsme, and they told me that I would ï¬nd you on the sands; though I didn’t expect," he added, with a. sort of laugh, “ that I would ï¬nd Mr. Glynford here as well." But Bingley soon put his doubts to rest on this subject, for the next minute the drape): addressed Miss Keane in a. manner which plainly showed that he had some business with her. Latins mkde no answer to this, and. in fagï¬lgppeargd inoapahlg of_replying_. _ “ If you have any business with Mr. Bingley. Miss Keane." said William Gly n- ford, w1tl1 unconscious coldness of tone, " paring? I had_better legye you? "_ ‘ Ifâ€"if you please.†said Laura.’ In trem- bling accents; and Mr. Gly nford took off his hat. and bowed. leaving Laura with Mr. Bingley, and feeling himself as he did so exceedingly disconcerted and annoyed. No aodhér was he gone than Bilfgley ad- dressed Laura. " I’ve come on a very unpleasant errand, Miss Keane," he said, “ very unpleasant. You remember. of course, the transaction which took place between us Just before Christmas, when you paid your account with certain notes? " “ Yes." {altered Laura. " And you remember." continued Mr. Bingley. " that I received those notes under protest. and that I warned you not to attempt to pass any others coming from the same source? Yet I find that you have done thisâ€"in fact, you have brought down on yourself the very danger I tried to warn you against! " " Danger? †gasped Laura. “ A very serious danger,†replied Mr. Bingley. “New. young lady. you had bet- ter speak the truth. The notes you gave me at Farnhame, and those that you have since passed at Seaton~by-the~Sea. were all marked. and were stolen from myself mor than two years ago.†“ Stolen ? " repeated Laura. “ Yes. stolen," said Mr. BingIey; " and now will you help me to ï¬nd the thief? Where did you get those notes, and from whom ‘2 †" From no one." half aobbed poor Laura. “Oh. Mr. Bingley." she continued. "I will tell you the truthâ€"you shall know allâ€"but. will you promise not to inform your sister? " â€That. depends upon circumstances." said Dingley. "It may be my duty. If yougn‘o cqgneqteiwith any_gangâ€"â€"" " No. no! " cried Laura; ‘7 Ivnm'éonneotod with no one! It was by an accident. alone that I got hose news; yIâ€"I-â€"Iound them in one o! the pockets‘o! a sooondhwd manta“. an: I had bought at a bro 'I at Furnhamo." 7 , A _ "Tiï¬giyr extraordinsr story I " said Bing- ley. “Perhaps you wi I give me the pn- tioulm?" Then Laura. tremblinglymnd withwhito lips. told her tale; told how she had be t this portmsutesu; how it had rennin in Mrs. Glyntord’s box-room until the night when she was paekin to leave Fernhme for the Christmas ho idays; and how, in enact the pockets. she had found the ï¬ve no s. “ But I warned you I" said Bingley, u Laura. paused. " I took thenotee you gave me for the bill, and said nothing. You era a. nice-looking girl, and a pretty face 006 u long way With a. |mun like me. at I “isrned you not to try it on with any one e se. ’ " Iâ€"I know you did," said Laure. “ And now you have got yourself into great trouble," went on Bingley, “ b neglecting my advice. In feet. even i! were willing and ready to help you, I do not know how to do it now. To begin with, if this story of the portmanteau were true. you. acted against the law in taking these notes." \ “And, Mr. Bingley," she continued. tear- !ully, “itâ€"it was only under cruelly re'l- emg circumstances that I made use of t em! You do not know the miseries of my home; My mother had got all m salary when your bill came in, and I 11 no money to pa it with; no money at all. exeept just an eient to pay my train fare. and so I thoughtâ€"" “Andâ€"and what could they do to me?" gaspggl the poo_r_girl. “ They could arrest you I" answered Bingley, coolly. Laura gsvels half cry. “ Oh, save me if you can, Mr. Bingley l †she said. “ It is really true what I have told you! It was wrongâ€"it was silly of me to take them! Butâ€"but I did not know what to do I " “ You had better have come to me, and told me you wanted money,†said Bingley , “ and I am not a men. as I said before, to - be hard on a pretty girl. The case is this: You have passed stolen notes. and give only a very lame account as to where you got them; and it is my dutyâ€"undoubtedly my dutyâ€"to give yo_u_in charge! †'As B'ingleyvaaid this. agaiï¬ a cry broke from Laura’s white lips, and she put out her hand and grasped Bingley’a arm. “ Don'tâ€"don’t, Mr. Bingley l †she cried. “ It would destroy meâ€"would ruin‘every- one connected with me! I have awidowed motherâ€"a poor, deformed sister; and i1 ou do this,â€"ifâ€"if you should even tell rs. Glyufordâ€"what would become of them? Have meroyâ€"oh,pray be merciful! " " ‘Sobs choked her utterance, and Bingley looked at her, and a sort of pity for her stirred in his heart. â€Come, don't cry, my dear! " he said, laying his big red hand on the little trem- bling o_ne gragping hiaAarm. A “ I don}? wan? to be hard; but you’ve got yourself, and me, too, into a most confounded serapel You’ve paid away two more of these notes, haven’t you, to Johnson, a grocer here at Seaton-by-the-Sea ‘2 " ' “ Yes,†answered Laura. “ Exactly,†said Bingley ; †and this John‘ son is own brother to a man whom I employ, and who was in my service when these notes were stolen from my establish- ment." ' " And you thinkâ€"†began Laura. " I think nothing,†said Bingley, “ I am stating facts. Johnson, the grocer, has paid into the bank two of my stop notes. I have received private informa on of this. and J ohnson, the grocer. is at any moment liable to arrest. “Where did you get these notes? ’ he will be asked by the police-ofï¬cer. The man, of course, will answer that he got them from you. Do you see now ? However willing to help you, I do not know how to do it. J ohnson, the grocer. is own brother to Johnson, the man in my establishment, and the police will naturally suspect that Johnson, in my establishment, stole the notes. To clear himself Johnson, the grocer, will, of course, accuse you l " It is a remarkable circumstance that while the winter has been early and con- tinuously severe up to date, both in Canada and throughout the northern United States, there was literally a green Christ- mas in Newfoundland. On the last day of the year, according to a correspondent, the appearancesindioated that winter was over and spring about to return. About the town of St Johns there was hardly avestige of snow, and wheeled vehicles were every- where in requisition. Vennore prognosticstions for the year may be summarized as follows: Mild wes- tlier from January 18th to February 12th. March 9th and 10th geles are probable around New York and Boston, and snow- storms. In April there will be a snowfall on the 4th and 5th. but spring will be ad venced by the 15th. In May, after the 10th, hot weather; on the 13tyh and 16th thunder storms. June. warm till 11th, then cold till 20th; frosts on 22nd and 23rd; 24th to 26th hot. July, cold on 18th,15tb, 22nd and 3lst; hot on 4th, 5th, 9th: 11th 16th 17th 25tllnnd 26th. Aug unit and 5th will be cold. In September the centre of the month will be its warmest art. October willop en cold. November wl llbo muddy with little frosts. Decemberwlll be they warmest ever known. A little boy at Washington. Ps..tried to imitate a circus test by keeping his balms. on a. heavy leg while it was runnin down. bill. He was thrown in front 0 it end crushed to death. An Evansville (Ind.) despstch says ro- orts from the southern parts ol-thst state. llinons and the contiguous territor sn- nounce the almost entire failure 0 the whole wheat crop. owing to late planting and the early and hstd winter. ‘ London Truth says : The Times in very anxious to see Lord Dufferin appointed to the Viceroyalty of India. and there is every reason to belleve thut domestic consider. tiom would leadhim to decline the go». If Lord Bipon returns next spring, I s ullnot be surprised to hear that Mr. Gladstone and Lord Ilertingmn have offered the vice- royalty to Lord Carlingford. The Marquis of Lorne and the Prinoul Louise showed their appreciation of late “ George Elliot." the novelist. by dining wish her and her huebsnd. (To be continued.) The Weather.