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' W shell. " Mammagmiled as she said “ All's won that ends Any? a chicken! don't tell me. For i n't I break an ego: to see ‘2 There was unhing inside bun yellow ball. With a. hit. of Inuollage round it allâ€"- Neither beak nor bill, Nor We not quill, Not even a leather To hold it. together ; Not I sign of life could any one see, An egg in chicken I You can’t tool we. “ Au aqua chicken I Didn't I pick Up the ve shell that had held the chick, 80 the an d. and didn't I work he]! a day To pnc him in where he couldn't stay ? Let me try as I please. With squeae upou squeeze, There is scarce Place to meet, His head and h e it at. No room {or any the rest of himâ€"so Thin egg never held that chicken. I know." minim. heard the logic of her little man. Felt his trouble, and helped him. as mothers round ; "Now. my boy. can you tell me what makes this sound ?" Faint and low, tap. tap ; Soft and low. ru. , mp; Bharp and qulo , Like a. min; :ner's pick. “ Hen-hit pteep, inside there i" cried T0111, with a s on ; “ How did it get in. and how can it get out ?” Tom wageager to helpâ€"ha could break the well, Be fatlent awhile yet. my boy." Click. click, An! out popped the bill of a little chick. ho room had it lacked, Though snug it was packed. There it was all complete, From its head to its (net. The softest of down and the brightest of eyes, And so bigâ€"why. the shell wasn't half its size. Tom gave along whistle. “Mamma, now I see That an egg is a chickenâ€"though the how beats me. An egg isn't a chicken, but I know and declare. Yet anhegg is a chickenâ€" see the proof of it; ere. Nobody can tell How it came in that shell ; Once out. all in vain ‘ Would I pack it again. ‘ I think ‘tis a miracle, mamma mine, As much as that o! the water-and wine." Mamma kisaed her boy; “ It may be that we try Too much reasoning about things, sometimes, can : Took an egg lrom the neatâ€"it was smooth and eyes, That we see without seeing, or feeling surprise; And often we must Even take on trust What we cannot explain 9 Very we I again, But from the flower to the seed, from the seed to the flower, . 'Tis a. world of miracles every hour." yofi and I. There are miracles wrought every day, for BEXEATH ’IHE \‘EIL. There 13 a sound of wedding-hells down at. that prettiest of Surrey churches that stands on a beautiful piece of ground where churchyard merges almost imper- ceptibly into Vicarage garden at Wey- bridge. The rich Mr. Lepell’a daughter Marian is to be married this day to the rising London surgeon, Mr. Annealey â€"-the eon of a man who bore a_high professional reputation. and won much eooial esteem in and around Walton and its neighborhood while he lived. or rather the family of his betrothed, of late. They have, none of them, taken graciously to what they call his " Irish folly." and he, on his side, has not taken their inquiries and investigations. and general carping at and tiltingfigainet the plan Well. He has neither loo ed grateful nor gratified when his future father-in-law has expressed an earnest desire to go over himself. with a competent English lawyer on whom he (Mr. Lepell) can rely. and look into the leases and agreements held by the difl'erant tenants on the parragh estate. The People Loved Her Much. 'Iultv 0" --. _... Matters have not gone altogether smoothly between RobertrAnueeley: 99d his‘beygotyed, “luv-w..- â€"-._â€"_ He has even gone so far as to definitely refuse to tell any of themâ€"even Marianâ€"- what h‘um he has paid for the property, and this oontumaciouuneaa of his has been pro- ductive of much gloom hanging over his relations with thp Lepells. _ sunny-v..- .. _ But it must be granted to him that during theee few months, since Darragh has been his own, Mr. Annealey has not neglected his practice or let slip asmgle chance of forwarding his professional career in London. He has worked nobly and well, early and late, worked as one who loves his fellowmen as well as him~ self, and he hue Won his reward! A splendid practice among those who under more from aauperfluisy oi the good things of this world rather than from privation is his, and his name as their best guide and friend phyai. cally is on gountleee self-indulgent suffer. , A\AAI_ _|r-_ I'A_:.._ vans-J ... â€"_ _-v era' lips. On the whole, when Marian reflects on the long list of his fashionable clients, she is inclined to be well satisfied with the aicion she will have as his wife in Gavan iuhr sqnare. s q cu vu-v‘___-__ But latterly he has propoundcd some startling views, which nearly shatter his engagement and‘ entirely destroy the Lepells' faith in his good sense. He takes a partner in, but as he only does this for a handsome consideration they look upon his surrendering the supreme power in the practice leniently. But their wrath knows no bounds when he announces that for the future he shall transfer his sphere of use- fulness from the West End of London. where there are thousands of men as able as himself. to the West of Ireland, where sickness and suffering. caused by gaunt want and neglect. claim his sympathy and skill. He is a bright-hearted. easy-going man, and u to this juncture the Lepells have no idea 0 the steadfaetnese of pu‘rpcae he can 0 pose to their united disapprcb etion of h a project. They put before him elo- quently that he will damage the Interest of his unborn family by taking this step. and that he will be condemning Marian to a life of desolation. perhaps of danger] His answer to this is that he has incurred repnnsibilities toward the living which he considers have a higher claim upon him than those he may never be called upon to undertake toward a family that may never exist; |and that if Marian has a proper affection for him. she will find her highest pleasure in aiding him to do hie duty to- ward thoee for whose welfare he has become suret by his purchase of the land on which they five! Hints to the effect that. under these peculiarly painful circumstances. he HUSBAND’S RELATIMS ; CHAPTER VII. Mir-cl“. on, muet not be surprised it the engagement is broken off till he comes to his senses are met by him with the assurance that “ whatever Marian may elect to do he will not blame her, however deeply he may regret the step.” Altogether he re imprac- ticable, and as Marian sees no lmmedrate chance of making a better match and in really fond of him. in a way that is perhaps more lasting than a more demonstrative affection might prove. the engagement continues. and is about to come to an end happily in Weybridge Church on this cold. clear January morning. 77â€"7â€"Lâ€"_‘ .‘ rug“...- .0. _-_ ~-__- There does not seem to be the least difli- onlty in hie doing this, and onlv Dolly knows that her ten thousand in floating about somewhere, quite out of her jurisdiction and control, and that Robert has promised to restore it to her soon, “ before the Mac- kivgra begin making terme." Usual» uwuâ€"ol .- â€"â€"â€"â€"â€" It is six months since the purchase of Derragh has been completed. and though it has not been convenient for Robert Annea- ley to receive any 0! his rentsâ€"or rather though it has not been convenient for his tenants to pay themâ€"he regards himaelt as a happy and pros roue man this day. for he is the owner of a eautiful unincumbered estate. and is enabled by the sale of his share in the West End practice, and one or two other things, to settle ten thousand pounds on his bride. ,_ L_ L- LL- 1-....1» .ume â€".v--â€" “'fl'_" â€" 7 n,, For it has come by this time to a. regular engagement between Dolly and Ronald Maokiver, the young soldier, who has not much besides his pay, and who is regarded by his parents as a. great prize in the matri- monial market. Though it is January, it might be June to judge from the quantity and beauty of' the flowers which deck every inch of the‘ bride‘s way today. The hot houses have been stripped for the sake of the house,‘ and banks of roses, gardenias, oamellias,‘ red and white. drooping white lilies, and masses of Russian and Neapolitan violets rise in the hall. on the staircases, and in every reception-room. The breakfast has been arranged by Gunter for upward of two hundred guests, and the wedding-cake is as oollossal as its ornaments are unique. In place of the usual monster vase or flowers and oupide in white sugar is an exquisitely moulded harp. with groups of shamrock springing up. around it. "I'""D'â€"D “r WV- __,, "In compliment to my son-in-lew. who has large estates in Ireland." Mrs. Lepell explains graciously to some of her guests, carrying out her resolution to make the best of what she regards as rather a. bad business. Of course the Killeens are at the wed- ding. Darragh, in fact. is one of the tWelve bridemaids in ruby plush and ivory-white silk. And the Mackivers are here in right of Dolly, and Arthur Thynne, because that “ dear little Mrs. St. John" made a point of his being asked. Mrs. Sthhn has written an ode on the auspicious event, which is printed on white satin and laid before each guest,â€"â€"a sweet and judicious set of Verses, in which she describes the virtues and talents and general graces of the bride’s parents in terms that rather surprise some of their oldest friends. As for the bride- groom, he comes in for rather a curt men- tion; in fact, he is merely cautioned to take care of the precious treasure confided to his care by those who have the royalt of real parenthood stamped upon. their lofty, loving brows. The ode goes on to describe Mr. Lepell as an Agamemnon of commerce, and Mrs. Lepell as a queen among mothers and women! Altogether, Mrs. St. John may be fairly said to deserve the hundred-pound note which is sent to her anonymously on the evening of this glad day. It is notorious that after this event the little mistress of popular fiction speaks of Mr. Lepell as her best and deares beneo factor and friendâ€"next, of course. to sweet, clever Mrs. Lepell. who must always have the foremost place in all well regulated hearts and minds. After a time " the ode," and some of the reflections it awakes, is a thorn in good Mrs. Lepell's flesh. for men do not win the title of “ best and dearest of benefactors" to impecunious genius of either sex without some outlay. Mrs; Lepell has hedged her husband in efieotu- ally from the sordid advances of his owni cousins. aunts, nieces. and nephews, but, from this sweet stranger, who never: addresses either of them save with the most honeyed words and' the most sunny smiles, she cannot fence him off, and her Own vanity will not permit her to say that Mrs. St. John’s adulation is interested. . The old Maokivere, cautious Scots who, having a. little money of their own. are keenly alive to the value of it in others with whom they may be connected through Ronald's marriage. are shocked into silence during the banquet by the vainglorioua displuy. I . A,,,,, _l LL- _._-‘_â€"J v All the pomp and circumstance of the event strikes them as “just wicked waste." and when they riflect ou the possibility of Dolly being tempted to waste a portion of her own ten thousand pounds in a. similar marriage spectacle, they shrink with horror from the alliance. and determine to point out the drawbacks of it pretty plainly to Ronald. In the meantime they enjoy the glory and goodness of it all quite as heartily as the rest of the guests. and at the same time revel in a sense of superiority on account of the way in which they " condemn" this reckless waste to each other. Old Mrs. Macki'er ranges up alongside of Dolly, when they are all standing in the bellin twolonglines.through which the bride has to pass in triumph on her way out to the carriage. As Marian pas-wee along, leaning on her father‘s arm, in her golden brown plush and sables. for which she has exchanged the bridal robe of white velvet and Meohlin laoe. Mm. Maokiver whispers to her son’s choice: “ I hope to see more sensible gowns on your back on your wedding-day, Dolly. Your brother’s wife has the worth of one of his Irish farms on her back at this moment.” "I hope not," Dolly laughs, unconcern- edly. " Robert and I hope that our specu- lation means more than a few rich suits of velvet and lur. a fearâ€"” then she pauses in confusion, remembering that Robert has counselled her not to tell the Maokivera of her share ip the Derregh husineaa vet. “ Your speculation! I hope you haven‘t been crazy enough to put any of your money into Irish land 7" the old Scotch lady sake. sternly. “Remember that it isn‘t yours to play fast and loose with. now that you have promined youaeli to my son. and bear in mind thnt you'll wont all on hove for yourself and the chvldren od may give to you; it‘s due to Ronald now There are only two discordant chords ,atruck in the gay melody to which all things seem to set themselves thin day. One jars painfully on Mr. Lepell's ear, the other on the ear of the bridegroom.‘ u u v. â€".â€"â€"-__v_ â€"_--7, "Dear old boy! I'd trust the wealth of the world to him it I had it.” she thinks. as her brother approaches her to bid her good-bye, and to remind her that she must be at Darragh to receive them, and have all ready for them by the middle of Febru- "'5’1'301178' Efiin'fiiBEThyje lilies me,” Dolly eaye hurriedly; " she seems to keep both Ronald and me at a. greater distance than she dose ether peqple." a L:___A A- Vuwu ...._ _--.. - -_v_ “ Nonsense!" is all! he can find time to whisper. for a dozen or more people are about him now. shaking his hands, clapping him on the back, and showering rice and good wishes upon him. It is astounding to find what a number of people who knew nothing of him before this supreme moment discover him to be an uncommonly good fellow now. Even Mrs. Mackiver’s grim- ness relaxes as she tells him in moderate language that she trusts he “may never repent of what he has done to-day,” and his five sisters-in-law wreaths themselves round him like one woman, and adjure him passionately “ to take care of Marian. and to have them over soon to stay with him” in Galway. It has come to their knowledge. that certain regiments are ordered into Galway city from the Curragh, and these younger members of the house of Lepell are still innocent and unworldly enough to like “officers,” though it has been persistently borne in upon them that the genus is a penniless one and unworthy of cultivation. The prospect of unre- stricted intercourse with some of the bright but withal tabooed beings from the van' tage-ground of their brother-in-law’s place in Ireland, with no paternal eye upon them. and no paternal forbodings sounding in their ears. seems good to them. So they lavish much sisterly affection with artless openness upon Robert Annealey, and per- suade him that if he wants to make his wife really happy he will soon ask several of her sisters to be her gcests. ary. “ Get Mme Thynne to stay there with you, dear: its will be dull for you alone will Marian and I come home, and Miss Thynne, with her enthusiasm for the place and the people. will beat wonderful help to you.” I It- , mL" ..- ”In.“ mn ’1 do." Ronald," Dolly eeye quietly. but she does 1100 tool called upon to tell Ronald’s master- ful mother than for a time her brother has the use of her oepiml. She will tell Ron- ald how things are when money matters are dieouesed. but up to the preaenfi time he has not broached them. ‘ _ aunuu uvu... D'-' ._ e “ You ought to know as much about it as I do," Mr. Lepell says,smiling. confidently. “ My dear sir. the credit of The Bullion can no more be shaken than that of the Bank of England ; there is nothing to pre- vent The Bullion lasting while the world deos. I, at least, ought to know, and I can affirm that much." “ I hope you will be able to affirm that much to-morrow. when you are likely to hear more about it.” his friend responds dolefully; and a painful feeling of doubt of that of which he has hitherto been so proudly confident aseails Mr. Lapell'e heart, and makes his daughter's weddingoday one of the gloomieet he has known._ , -L.A.- _I_ I.â€" ghag you consult. him about everything you w." I shall always render his (all due to Ronald," Pally says qui‘efl‘y. but she does ,,,_IJI_ _‘ _____ UuuUL vu vuv V". v- -._- " It’s not true that. things are non looking well at ' The Bullion,’ is it ‘2" an old gen- tlemen, a. brother director and extensive shareholder ou the mighty assurance office he names, asks Mr. Lepell In the course of the after-dinner chat. when the havoc and splendor of the marriage feasb are masters some hours gone _bv. |, -L_-_A. :4. _. VI vuu filvvlu-vv' The other disoBVrtiâ€"ih'tinote is struck by old Mr. Maokiver. and fella on Robert Annealey's ear just as hejs about to follow his bride into her cagrfipge. HID un-uu Ila-v av- -w-__v “ Good-bye," Ronald’s excellent, prudent old father says, clapping Mr. Annealey on the back in token of the utmost good-will and confidence; " I shall be writing to you soon about my boy and Dolly ; my lawyer has got. all out and dried. and you'll find he has put is down all pleasant and fair for both partje_sâ€".â€"-" .. u , n n-L-_a. A__-..Inu unululu ulwuvln' n..- u..- __ ,,,,, “ Poor papa l" Marian says this a dozen times during the first day or two alter the sorrowful news reaches them. Occasionally too she wonders where he is. and expresses a fervent hope that he will soon ask some of his old wealthy friends to help him out of his difficulties, and make things com. fortabie for him again I It does not occur to the daughter of the late millionaire that these difliulties are utter ruin and commer- cial disgrace. Individually, Mr. Lepell has done nothing dishonorable, but his name has been on the direction of a fraudulently bankrupt company. the liabilites are lim- ited. but Mr. VLepell will never hold his [LID] “There’s a. eilver lining to every cloud indeed 1" Robert Annealey thinks, as his wife exhibits unselflehnees and loving anxiety for her mother and sisters when the shock of this home trouble first falls upon them. The Bullion may have exploded. but he has lound real gold. he flutters himself. in the heart of his wife. , :___4-_ II wu. UuI fill. ”my cu "- head up in England again. Mackivers’ manage is not a very bright or pleasant one. Dolly is perfectl happy in it, for Ronald runs up from Al ershot to see her three or four times a week. The situation of the house is against it, for it is on the sunless side of Russell Square. and the internal decorations and furniture are more against it still. Every- thing in it is solid, handsome, and heavy ; the dining-room in horse-hair and mahog- any. the drawing-room in rosewood and drab damask, and the breakfast-room in everything that is not wanted in any other room in the house. A few pictures are skied on the walls of the two principal rooms, a couple plaster statues hold gas- jets in niches on the staircase, and afew huge Japanese and Chinese vases and bowls are standing about, containing a fragrant mixture of dried rose-leaves, bay salt, and herbs that are more highly perfumed in death than in life. These constitute the whole art decoration of the Mackiver man- sion, and amply express the whole art- feehng of its occupants. “ Everything for comfort and nothing for show," is the motto, they tell Dolly, and sometimes they express a hope that when she enters the family _she vvill follow in example. I'_ __J a run moxlvnns’. Alter her brother's marriage. durin the brief interval between the wedding an the news about The Bullion beoomiug public property, Dolly Annealey makes an effort. to carry out her brother’s latent instruc- tions by asking the Honorable Mine Tbynne to_be_belj gueeuand companion ab Darragh. "133173; ‘ia°§£dy‘ih§‘vmh 'the Meokivers. i0: the house in Cavendish Square has been let pal-tinny furnished, and tngugh the ',IL4, The family is not a large one. Mr. and Mrs. Mackiver, their son Ronald, and their daughter Mary are the sole members of it. That they have kept their family within such moderate dimensions is one of the many things of which Mr. and Mrs. Mae- kiver are perhaps a little unduly proud. They are religious people, leaving every- thing to Providence verbally ; but they do think harsh things of any people who, being poorer than themselves, presume to have more children than they are satisfied with. Mary Msokiver is endowed with many admirable and likeable qualities, but she is not a lovable woman. There is nothing soft about her externally. When she says a kind and generous thing she says it in a tone that takes the warmth out of the kindness and the grace out of the gener- osity. Her voice is harsh, deep-toned, with arssp in it that is probably due to the efi‘eots of the bitter blasts up in the North where she was born. But this voice is never heard in unjust condemnation, nor in propagation of scandal, nor in the utter- ance of idle and malicious words. She is not demonstrative ; she never deigns to be tender or winning, but she is essentially trustworthy, and to be relied upon in any emergency. as she is not carried away by what other people say or think, but is in- fluenced solely by her own knowledge 0! what is right oruwrongz'i ‘- - c n ,1: It. is this quality which has made Ronald regard her as his been and wisest friend from his boyhood. And it is to this wisest friend he goes for counsel when. on arriving home one day, he finds that Dolly has gone to call on Dar-rash Thznnp. ‘ “What has taken Dolly there, Mary ?" he asks; " there has never been anything like friendship or intimacy between those two girls. Why should Dolly go to Miss Thynne now?" - , l; _L_ “ Dolly knows of no reason why she shouldn’t obey her brother's wishes. Do you ?” Miss Msekiver asks, looking Ronald straight in the eyes in the way that she he always made him feel he would be weak indeed to attempt to_ deceive her. ‘ 3, The household arrangements move on like clockwork. Mr. Msckiver has long since retired from business” and is merely a. sleeping partner in the “house” which he made by his energy and perseverance. Mrs. Meokiver dislikes any interruption to the daily routine, which has been strictly observed ever since they came to live here, twenty years ago. And Mary is a. “ daugh- ter who is like unto her mother." as the Scriptures declare a daughter; shall be. “ What have her brother' 3 wishes to do with her calling on Miss Thynne ?" he says uneasily ; spd_s_he yells him. ,I , a L-.. :...L “ Earneetly Mr. Annealey asked her, just as he was going away on his wedding day. to get Miee Thynne over to Darragh. as the would greatly help them getting to know the People on the land." ,, AI,. ML-.. " She’eadangeroue girlif she has made on false in your heart to Daily. who woul n’t break faith with a dog, much less with a man." Miss Maokivsr replies; and then her brother assures her that his heart is as true as steel to Dolly. that he is delighted that hie honor is irrevocably pledged to her, but as he would be dazzled by a gorge- ous sunrise. attracted by a shooting star. fancy-bound by a strain of fairy music. so is he dazzled, attracted. and fancy-bound by the Irish girl. whose violet eyes hold all that is best of dark and brightâ€"of athos. poetry, and sin. seen through a sm le that is like a sun am. " Does she know you are such a weather- cook '2" Mary asks. ' He does not like the epithet. but he wants her opinion and her help, and he knows from experience that she will give both to him. but that she will do it in her own way. Accordingly. he does not resent the imputation. but answers straight to the pointâ€"- ~â€". 3'" -v -_ __ “I’m sorry," he says, shortly. Then, after a moment or two. he adds. “ But it can't be helped it Miss Thynue accepts the Invitation. I hope she won’t, for I’m ordered to Dublin and I hoped to have seen a. little of Darrsgh-the place I mean." " And you don‘t wâ€"an’t to see Darragh, the pereon-â€"1s that it Ronald ‘2” " That’s it.” “ Is it because you don't like her ‘2” He shakes his head. ” It's not because you like her too well, I hope ?” she says, harshly; but he knows that the harshness is only in the voice. and that he may safely trust her now as here- totore. ,, 7 He flushes as he ‘hays wfiat he means, and his sister asks himâ€"â€" _“ I do like her, too well to wish to see much of her; I love Dolly too Well to care to run any risk of becoming interested in Darragh's wild. beautiful. visionary ways. She‘s a dangerous girl. with her mixture of native impulse and cultured repression. and I don't won’t to be led into making o study of herâ€"perhaps to the neglect of 1301113 - no. u I ,,-j-_-._ III-I'â€" un't an idea of it, I should any; I'hore‘ CHAPTER VIII. have never said a wordâ€"" . “ Stop! have you looked a. meaning 'I" " I think not." he loltere. “Then you have. it on only think on haven't! Ronald deano eek your thong to. hold thorn in with a good man's strong ml! (or fear you become a trsitor in them to both these young ladies. Dolly is your love until hope she'll be your wile.snd you must never look on Miss Tnynn's lane again. till you can do so so you wouldn’t mind any man in the world looking on Dolly's lace; resist the temptation. It you knew that looking at a gorgeous sun- rise would dazzle you so that you must loll overapreoipioe and be broken to ieoes, you wouldn't look, would you ‘2" I you knew the shooting-star would lead you into n morass from whence you'd never extri- oste yourself, you'd shut your eyes rather then follow its course; and it the fairy muaio dulled your ears .to the voice of truth and honor, you'd sit out of hearing 0! the strain? I'm sure you would. and you will do so now." " Robert Annealey will be shackled with the whole family, and in will be well for you if he doesn’t. lwpuverish himself. and come to his sister by and by for help,” the old gentleman anye. emphatically. “ For Dolly’s sake you will do well to hasten your marriage while her money is un- touched." 7 _ ‘ _ “ Are you sure? And they're both women! It seems to me, that if I‘were Dolly or Darragh I’d have known fast enough," Miss Maskiver says, thoughtfully; and then Ronald wonders. as he has ocea- sionally wondered before. whether his sister ever had a lover’s looks levelled at her or listened to a lover‘s tones. " She seems hard and uncompromising enough on the surface, but she understands the real thing. and no mistake,” the young man tells him- self. But before he can hazard a question on this point. his mother names in and tells them that it “18 time for them to begin expecting Dolly home." Mrs. Maokiver is one of those rigid punotualists who have s. time for everything. even for beginning to expect anything that it is in the order of things will happen. 1, LI. -__ “ I think Dsrrsghâ€"Miss Thnyne, I mean -â€"msy go with Dolly, if they both like it, Mary; when I go there when Robert comes home my little love’s sweet brown velvet eyes shall hold a greater spell for me than sunrises and shooting-stars. My folly is past. Mary. and thank God neither Dolly nor Dursgh know: anything of it.” A L_Ll. “ And baton; she comes. your father wants to speak to you. Ronald," the old lady goes on: “he has seen something in the paper that. will make a great difference to the Aunesleya’ worldly prospeons, I‘m afraid.” 7 7 for the Worst that it seems possible can hap- pen to “ Mrs. Aunesley’s people ;" Ronald goes into the arid. cleanly, light little morning-mum. where everything seems to be asserting that it is meant for utility. and not for show. and hears from his father the story of what has befullen The Bullion and Mr. Lepell. . .u u s I I a izss. “ Her being married won't make much difierenoe it she wants to lend any money to her brother," Ronald says, speaking and feeling msgnenimouely, as it is the custom for the moat exacting. self-asserting and mercenary men to speak before the woman becomes his wife, and her money hie goods and chattels, and as it is not possible for the most single-minded and unselfish mm to feel after he and the women become one, and their interests are indiyieible. She is a plain young' woman with dull yellow hair. freckles, and a figure that has more of the rigidity of iron than the supple- ueas of steel about it. But her brother almost warships the true womanly element in her as she speaks thus, and the devil who has been tempting him with uncon- scious Darragh is so nearly exorcised that Ronald believes that it has ceased to tempt “ I hape is Will make a difierenoe, a very considerable difference, too," old Maokiver sass, heavily; and Ronald promises him- self that if Robert Annealey ever commits the misdemeanor of wanting to borrow money of Dolly. he (Ronald) will not go to his father with a. confession of his folly in permitting his wife to lend it. him. The majority of the railroad superin- dects who have. been approached on the subject decidedly object to the projected mode of numbering the hours of the day from one up to twenty-four. They take the ground, and with a good deal of reason. that such an innovation here would breed endless confu- sion. We do not wonder that they feel strongly on the subject. There are enough railroad accidents in the country without adding to the number by the introduction of any new cause. Think of saying thirteen o'clock, and then. in order to understand what it means mentally calculating that it must mean twelve o'clock plus one. Talk- ing of mean time, we should call this very mean time indeed. which had to be com- prehended by incessant arithmetic. The advocates of the twenty-tour hour o'clock system are less reasonable than the phonetic enthusiasts who want to break up entirely the present mode of spelling. What is called a reform is sometimes an offence. It is certainly an ofienoe when it increases the chance of accident and introduces inextri- oable confusion. It seems to us that the old~fashioned A. M. and P. M. are good friends who do not deserve to be summa- rily kicked out of the house, Besides, though we know a day is tv'Venty-four hours long. it does not really seem so long when we ingeniously break it up into two little days of tWelve hours eachâ€"New Old Mr. S -â€"-â€"â€" came summoning down to the front gate unight or two ago and inter- rupted a long conversation between his daughter and a very intimpte‘ male. friend. .. _:."L â€"â€"â€"° â€"__ . VV' ,, " \Vhr, ,pa. " inquired the damsel, "ain' t 8 you n to ?" “Just got up, " said the old gentleman. shortly; ” thought I’d come out and see the sun rise I" And then the son rose from the r‘ bench and sadly hied him homowuds. â€"-Polioemen (to group of small boys)- “ Come. now. move on. There's nothing the matter hero." Sarcastic boyâ€"“ 0! course there isn't. If there was you wouldn't be York Tclégram. :, â€"An equine paradoxâ€"Two horgo doctors The Twenty-[our O’CIock Theory. A Man Who Bone Early. To be continued.)