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of Vi n8 19“,. ‘ TS; 331 nest or mothers,” mur- acrice, melting into tears, while comes over and kneels beside the are the mother and daughter are The girl slips from her place at mother, and Mrs. St. Clair, her hands gently upon the head asks God. to bless their be- Percy Randal takes the hand mice. and slips the ring of 11113011 her finger. It is a plain bandâ€"‘his_ o_wn mother’s wed- nfiend had been placed on his hé'that mother when her hands “Ewing cold in the icy touch of with a. low murmured prayer ,sight of the precious memento make him strong to overcome "on. and keep his feet in the mother’s love would fain have d. Reverently, he places the clet upon the hand of the fair 991mg by his side, while the .flCEMBER ;t. Clair has told his mother of ulcve for Helen Pendleton. and willingness to become his wife. unspeakable joy, Mrs. St. Clair 5' gave her consent to their but further added that Helen very woman of all their exten- paintance that she should choose son’. wife. and later she seeks a her own room, kisses and cries pgirl, and gives her a daughter’s her aflectionate heart. ‘, by the eternal!” ejaculates old ' Dale, when informed of how stood with the inmates of Deep- rhither himself and Mrs. Dale nrned, to be in attendance at ding of Mrs. St. Clair and Cap- :nnard. “By the eternal! Three engaged people in the house at y Jove! why not have a trio of gs, and have done with it?” St. Clair laughs her soft little and replies :â€" my dear, General, the boys are n on probation, as the Metho- , and must wait until they can D. after their names before become benedicts.” giding of Mrs. St. Clair and Lennard is a very quiet, ‘ afi'air, indeed. No guestsare attend from the city, except anda friend of Captain Len- wyer Mason, whom the Cap- asked permission to invite. The is to be celebrated in the Deep- apel, which is situated on the estate, and was built and en- storm clouds which had swept apdale a few days since, and had M to enguif that happy home a, are fast. disappearing. leaving nous sunshine of happiness in no. :1 further to the happiness of all. f his Messed mother’s face ,cween his eyes and the face of weed wife; and who shall say happy spirit of that mother is Ting thejre, breathing blessings mfas she witnesses the joy Bf son? 3' Mrs. St. Clair when, as a rife and mother, she had re- om Europe, and came to reside season at Deepdale. Here her had been carried in their infancy laptismal font to receive the [:95 of baptism. Here the last [or the dead had been read over ins of the beloved husband of h. the father of her children, these sacred aisles had been body to jts last peaceful re- ce beneath the monarch beech 11 trees which shadow the little Chapel, where it now ping the sleep that knows no ’ all unmindful of the hopes , the smiles and tears of those 5. still acting their parts upon of life. been withdrawn, and storm :e scudding across the gloomy driven by the rising gale, s blowing briskly from the it. lashing the water’s of the D a foaming, seething mass, Lging down with it an occasional sh of rain, which comes peltâ€" <: the grand windows of Deep- llllilc fury. too bad, that this sudden change anther should come upon the fixed for the wedding,” 01.]: Mrs. Dale to her husband, 113 from the window of her upon the lawn below, the aspect had been so woefully changed eather since the day before. its pretty rough, my dearâ€" Ugh for a wedding day,” he old General, who in velvet own and slipperS, has walked inflow and is standing beside , and with her viewing the aSpect of the weather without. ar gale,” he continues, as they e tall trees bending beneath the tterinr their bright and many- Ves over the wet and deserted But we must take the weather 95, my dear, and old Boreas is S to hold np even to oblige a Party, when he gets ready to zeroing of the wedding has ark and gloomy. The'wealth of sunshine, which had so long over bill, sea and. dale. has Author Of “T . ragedm of Oakhmst,” finay not call this old saying to We answers, Mn nnr. mv flna‘r- ch; will not, 93 any r'ate, I hope ‘ that Mfi‘ WE’IEN A WQDW at. 33 I5 is Ham: IS quite a. my dear.” replies the 1;; her plump old cheek. ing bud its origin in the mi of some ignorant old quite too absurd to even s that old saying. my py is the bride the sun 1:3 Mrs. Da 9, brushing n from the velvet collar ‘dressing-gOWD, as she 215T, 1899 BY BEATRICE MAREAN. arm hastens to change his uressmg- gown for a morning coat; and giving his arm to his wife, the jolly old ouple descend the marble staircase and join the family, which is already gathered in the breakfast room. CHAPTER XI. -â€" A MOURNFUL MARRIAGE. The hour set for the celebration of the nuptials of the mistress of Deepdale and Captain Lennard is 12 o’clock M. Half an hour before the appointed time, Mrs. St. Clair, with her costly dress tucked up beneath the protecting folds of a huge satin-lined water-proof gossa- mer, leaning on the arm of General Dale, is led to the closed carriage in which she will leave the protecting shades of Deepdale to return to it as Mrs. Captain Lennard. Her son follows, with Mrs. Dale on one arm and his sister on the other, and soon they are all seated in the magnifi- cent family carriage, bearing the South- wcrth coat-of-arms on its polished pan- nel, and driven by a coachman in high livery. The heads of the spirited, chafing steeds are turned toward the Deepdale chapel, and the carriage rolls away through the blinding misty rain. Helen Pendleton .and Percy Randal follow in the pony carriage. When the Wedding party arrives at the vestibule of the chapel, they find the groom and his friend, Mr. Mason, awaiting their arrival. The ladies are divested of their waterproof . wrappings, and shake out their luxurious trains. Captain Lennard speaks a few 10w spoken tender words of his bride, then gives his arm to Mrs. Dale and. leads the way to the chancel. The grand wedding march, played by skillful fingers, swells and vibrates through every atom of space in the richly furnished chapel, which is filled to its utmost capacity by the neighbor- ing gentry and tenantsâ€"all who know and love the brideâ€"have flocked to the chapel at an early hour to witness her nuptials. Raphael and Helen follow next to the groom and Mrs. Dale. Percy and Beatrice come next. while General Dale, supporting the fair bride, brings up the rear, and Mr. Mason slips unob- served into a pew. Percy Randal has found. an Opportun- ity to whisper a word of encouragement into the ear of the young girl at his side, whose face in its set look of suffer- ing, looks more like she is attending her mother’s obsequies than her Wed- ding; for struggle against it as she might, this dim and unexplainable fore- boding of sorrow would not. down. Time and time again, has the young girl congratulated herself that she has con- quered at last this, what the others call z; whim, an idle fancy, only to discover the next hour that like “Banquo’s Ghost at the Feast,” it has risen again. At the chancel steps. General Dale changes partners with the groom and falls back The music of the sweet toned organ is hushed and the solemn words oft, the priest, who stands in front of the contracting parties, in surplice and stole. fell upon the ears of the as- sembled throng as he repeats the im- pressive marriage service of the church. A General Dale gives the bride in mar- riage. The responses are spoken in low, but not faltering tones. The diamond wedding ring is placed by the groom on the slender finger of the bride, beside that of another, which though its setting may have thinned by its twenty-one years of constant wear, its brightness still shines with undimned luster. Beatrice listens to the ceremony like one in a troubled dream; and visions of her own happy childhood, when her noble father had been all the world to this woman who has now plighted her troth to another flits before her down- cast eyes. “Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” With the sound of these words, comes the thought to the unhappy girl stand- ing with her pale face and cold hands, “Would to God that this divine command contained still another clause which should read, ‘Neither shall the hand of death free you from this solemn and binding compact.” The music of the organ bursts fort in glad, exultant strains. and Beatrice leans still more heavily upon the strong arm of her escort, and with a face as white as her satin bodice joins in the wedding procession that is leaving the church. At the elegant wedd_ing_breakfast, UIJ UAVAA. At the elegant wedding breakfast, spread in the dining-hall of Deepdale, no outside guests sit down except Mr. Mason and the rector of Deepdale parish, Mr. White The rain has ceased to fall, and the gale of wind has calmed. Before the wedding breakfast is finished, the sun breaks through the drifting clouds and falls across the table through the half drawn drapery of the south window, lighting up the room with cheerful rays. Old. Mrs. Dale glances across the table at her husband’s face with a significant look in her eyes, and the general smiles back with a. little satisfied nod or two of his grand old head as much as to say. “there’s the sunshine falling upon the bride; so put your fears at rest, my bride; so put your Iears at 1.1330, m, dear.” ‘ Captain Lennard always makes a good appearance, but he never appeared to which to most men as well as women, is a trying ordeal. He is dressed in the very latest style, which, however, has been toned down to suit his individual and exquisite taste. His face is a. shade paler than usual, his manner subdued and quiet; but in the depth of his coal- black eyes glitters a. triumphant look which, to a close observer, does not look wholly like the soft, tender light of requited love.‘ The health, happiness and long life of the bride and groom are drank in many a glass of exquisite old wine; and in the midst of the gay laughter and sparkling jest, the bride and groom steal softly from the break- fast room, (their withdrawal seemingly is not noticed by the well-bred guests), and begin their preparations for the bridal journey. The rich wedding dress, Which is of some silver gray material, almost covered with creamv old Jone. “Won WES, ms and Helen, who are standing on the broad veranda. General Dale claims his second kiss from the bride, and Mrs. Dale folds' her slight form a moment upon her own ample bosom in a mother- ly embrace, while the first tears that have been shed at this wedding falls from her kind old eyes. Beatrice, who has borne up wonderfully through it all, notwithstanding her white face and aching heart, is thankful that her courage still does not desert her at this trying moment. She embraces her mother, who whispers in her ear, “God bless you, my darling. Don’t worry. but let Mrs. Dale act in my place until we return.” Then turning away quickly. she takes the arm of her son, and With him walks to the waiting carriage. Raphael is very pale, and his lips twitch convulsively with suppressed emotion as he kisses his mother, with lips all too agitated to speak, and places her in the waiting carriage. cine value of which represents‘ a‘small fortune. is lain aside by the dexterous hands of the lady’s maid, and its place supplied by the elegant and tasteful traveling costume; and when the wed- ding guests and members of the family come into the Wide hall from the din- ing room, the bride and groom, equipped for traveling, are descending the marble stairs arm in arm. The carriage stands waiting at the door. Captain Lennard shakes hands warmly with the guests, and imprints a fatherly kiss upon the brows of Beatrice Captain Lennard, who is standing beside the open door of the carriage, hat in hand. bows again to the com- pany, springs into the carriage, seats himself beside his newly -made bride. Raphael gives the word to the driver, and the impatient pawing horses dash away toward Deepdale station. followed by the express wagon, bearing the lady’s maid, the gentleman's valet, and the luggage. Beatrice stands looking after. th departing vehicles until they are lost to view behind a clump of evergreen trees. Then she turns with a few low spoken words of apology to her guests enters the house and makes her way to her own room. When safe within its quite portals, and free from the observation of others, the grasp on her nerves, which she has held like one of iron, and with which she has kept her rebellious fee1~ ings well in hand, suddenly relaxes, then loosens, and the girl throws herelf down upon a low couch in a perfect abandonment of grief. and buries her face in its soft cushions, and her slender frame shakes with sobs and moans. like a. reed shaken by the cruel blast of winter. Her costly satin robe, with its adornment of rich lace, falls from the low couch and rests on the velvet carpet in shining folds, and diamonds gleam and sparkle on the hand which is tightly clenched in an agony of grief. Oh! you who are oppressed by the heavy, galling chains of poverty and privation; you who think while stag- gering under your own load of woe, that grief, sorrow and tears come not to the rich in this world’s goods, but are the portion of God’s poor alone, should have seen this fair young girl, as she lay with her flushed face buried in the costly cushions of her couch, with the intensity of her sorrow bursting from her anguished heart in sobs, moans and tears. After having seen this sight, and felt your own eyes grow moist from very sympathy; then, having noted the luxurious apartment, rich in the evi- dences of unlimited wealth. you would realize in your heart of hearts that “Into all lives some rain must fall Some days be dark and dreary.” The little Ormolu clock on the marble chimney piece has ticked its hour aWay; still the storm of grief in the breast of the one occupant of the room does not subside. A little low tap from without at last comes on the panel of the door. but no voice from within bids the intruder enter. The door handle is softly turned, the unlocked door files open and Helen Pendleton enters the room, flows and locks the door behind her, and comes and kneels like a ministering angel beside the prostrate form of her dearly beloved friend, and takes her cold hands in. her own warm ones. Then come words of loving sympathy and comfort, not unmingled with advice, which have the true ring of prctical good sense in their depths, characterisâ€" tic of Helen Pendleton, and their effect soon sets Beatrice to work to gain the self-control which she has temporarily lost. Then with deft fingers Helen removes the girl’s satin robe, and re- places it with a softdressing-gown of white cashmere, stirs and arranges the hot pillows comfortably for the sufferer. takes ofl the high boots and replaces them by soft easy slippers. Then she rings the bell, and orders the maid to bring a cup of good hot tea and when it, is brought insists on her friend drink- ing it. Then closing the blinds and dis- missing the maid, she sits down by the head of the couch and smooths the hot forehead of the girl with soft magnetic touch, humming the low refrain of some sweet song the while, much as one might sing a lullaby to some grieved and weary child. Soon, very soon the quivering eyelids close in sleep as peace- ful as an infant’s and an occasional sob- hing sigh is all that remains to tell of the wild storm of grief from which Beatrice has been rescued by the loving hands and sound judgment of Helen Pendleton. Helen, softly leaves the room and sends Millie to watch beside her young mistress, charging the girl to inform her the moment: Miss Beatrice awakes. She goes into her .own room and changes the dress she has worn to the wedding for one of dark crimson cashmere. smooths her beautiful hair and descends to the parlor. I ‘C It, .-‘, [V Raphael has gone to take Mr. Mason to the evening train by which he is to return to the city. Mr. White has long since taken his leave, and Percy Randal is seated at the piano playing some of firs-fmfihle’s favérite music with his exquisite touch, as she enters the parlor in the soft twilight offlthe wedding day. A“ y--v - General Dale rings the bell and orders the butler to bring lights, and Mrs. Dale rouses herself up from the depths of her easy chair where she is resting after the excitement and fatigue of the day, and inquiresafter Beatrice. Percy Raudal’s hands pause over the pearly keys of the instrument, and he turns his head anxiously to catch Helen’s reply to Mrs. Dale‘s question. “She is very comfortable, thank you, Mrs. Dale,” answers Helen, cheerfully. “I left her sleeping nicely, and her headache has quite disappearet .” nvâ€"â€"â€"â€"-- V A relieved -1001; steals Over Percy’s fine countenance, and Mrs. Dale con- tinueszâ€" ur qvn an alad'to hear that the Door “I am so glad'to hear that the poor child feels better. I knew that. bar THE WATCHMAN-WARDER: LINDSAY. ONTa mower-s gomg .- Way would upset her. Beatrice is so a ‘ ectionate, and there is such a world 'of sympathy between her mother and herself,” and the good old lady closes her eyes again and leans back against her chair cushions, while Percy’s feelings of thankfulness find vent in low sweet strains of music which his fingers evoke from the piano. u“- When the lights are brought in, Gen- eral Dale challenges Helen to a game of chess. “For you k’now, Miss Helen,” he says ruefully, “ that you have never yet given me an opportunity to get even with you for the way you wound me up the last time we played, and I am just thgsting for revenge.” Helen laughs and brings the chess board and places it on a table under the chandelier, and is soon deeply interested in the strife going on between her own men and the General’s. A soft color comes and goes on her oval cheek, and her fine form is beautifully outlined by her Warm, colored, perfectly fitting dress. A charming picture she makes, indeed, as she sits there in unconscious loveliness, so absorbed in the game of chess that she does not see Raphael, who has softly entered the room and is look- ing at her with eyes that glow with the intensity of love. CHAPTER XII.â€"-HOME FROM THE WEDDING TRIP. The next‘ morning following the wed- ding at Deepdale, dawns clear and bright. Nature is in her smiling mood again, seemingly all unmindful of the storm in which she indulged yesterday. As if in sympathy with Dame Nature’s mood, Beatrice this morning joins the others in the breakfast-room, looking cheerful and pleasant with no visible evidence of the storm of grief to which she succumbed yesterday save an unusual pallor on her rounded cheek, and deepened shadows under the violet eyes. “Oh, no indeed! You wrong him Mrs. Dale. He is talking about going to Mirror Lake to-day for the last picnic of the season. You will join us, will you :not, if We decide to go?" This was the last day of her brother's and lover’s stay at Deepdale, until the next summer’s vacation; and Helen, With her usual thoughtfulness, has reminded her friend that she must strive her best to overcome her depression and appear cheerful and happy on this the last day of her loved one’s stay, so that they might not have to look back on this day, during their . long absence, as having its happy. tender hours all mar- red by her tear-stained face and gloom manner. Mrs. Dale gives her a motherly kiss as she enters the cosy breakfast- room, and the old General pats her aficctionately upon the shoulder and says :â€" “You are looking as bright as a bran new dollar this morning, my dear, and will. I am sure, second the motion which your brother has set on foot, about you young folks going to Mirror Lake to- day, picnic fashion. The weather is glorious again after yesterday 5 squall, and it will be a splendid day for a trip to the lake; and Be-atrice ” lowering his voice to a confidential whisper, “do you know, my dear, hat it is related as a fact, that if a young lady gazes for ten minutes into the placid bosom of Mirror Lake without once moving her eyes. that the face of her future husband will appear beside her own. It’s a fact, he continues. “Now, don't you forget to try it, if you go to the lake to--day.” Beétriie bréaks into one of her old ringing laughs, and Mrs. Dale, who is a little hard of hearing, says:â€" “Whas joke is the General indulging in now, Beatrice? Some nonsense, I’ll Warrant.” “Oh, no, thank you, my dear. I have grown quite too old and fleshy to enjoy those tramps through the wood which were the delight of my youthful days. You young folks go and have a jolly time, and the General and I shall keep house for you.” “Do you see how determined my wife is to make people think that I am grow- ing old? Who ever heard of such an ab- surdity,” says General Dale, with an injured air. At this, the young people join Mrs. Dale in a. hearty laugh,and before break- fast is finished, it is decided that her plans for the day shall be carried into effect. Mirror Lake is five miles dis-1 tant, the road to which from Deepdale lay most of the way by the seaâ€"shore. Immediately after breakfast the four young people set out on their last ex- cursion 'of the year. They all ride in the 'family carriage, and are followed by Johnson in a light wagon, in which are stowed a. huge hamper of provisions, fishing tackle and a gun. “For,” says Kaph, “there is no telling what sort: of game one may start up; and it would be provoking to be denied a. crack at; it; for want: of a gun.” Raphael’s two favorite hunting dogs follow the wagon, and try to show their appreciation of this treat in every man- ner possible to dumb animals. The sea IS very calm, the sky above the tenderest, deepess blue, the air is mild and balmy, and the White seagulls circle overhead in the mellow autumn sunshine, while the waves break with a gentle murmur on the yellow sands. -A A__1‘ as thoughts of the morrow’s parting in- trude their unwelcome presence upon the heart of each of these young people who are looking out upon life through the rosy glamour of youthful love. will by them never be forgotten. In atter years, when storm clouds and temp'ests obscure their new shining horizon; when the heart has grown sick and faint with the cares and turmoil of life’s journey, fondly will the mind of each revert to this quiet, peaceful day spent at Mirror Lake, as one remembers some fair, sweet dream of an enchanted land. “And did you really see the face of your future lord and master beside that of your own?” he asks in an awe- struck tone. “I hope so; but it did not look ghostly, and did not frighten me in the least,” she replies, as she runs laughingly up the steps of the. piazza, into the arms of Mrs. Dale, who hugs "and kisses the girl as if she had been absent a month instead of. one day. D Thlsrday, so fraught-with joy. so full of delight, yet not unmingled with pain In the dim gleaming of the autumn day they return to Deepdale. General Dale comes out in the dusk to meet them, and as he tucks Beatrico’s arm protectinglv within his own, and starts up the broad walk to the house, whispers :â€" - ' I 1,,1 9 ' uâ€".<r .77 “Andidid you remember to look into the magical mirror, for the purpose of which I reminded you this mepning?” â€".~ “Oh, you may rest assured that I did not forget to attend to that impartant matter, General,” she replies, with a little laugh. "Univâ€"â€" _- fl - The household is astir at an unusually ant-1! hour the next mornina. 25: than ra- Raphael and Percy await them in the hall, and together they repair to the breakfast room to join the Dales. Nothing is forgotten that may contri- bute to the pleasure or comfort of the young men while atsent, and at last the trunks stand locked and strapped upon the veranda ready to be consigned by Johnson to the Deepdale depot. The hour for departure has arrived. The last kiss is pressed upon trembling lips, the last good-by falteringly spoken, and the young men turn quickly, with faces which have grown White from suppressed emotions, spring into the waiting carriage with General Dale, and are driven rapidly away. Bravely crushing back her own inclina- tion to yield to the lonely, desolate pain which is smiting her heart, Helen Pend- leton sets herself resolutely to work to comfort Beatrice, and helps her bear the loneliness, which the unselfish girl tells herself can but be greater in her friend’s case than her own, for has she not been deprived of the presence of mother and brother, as well as that of her aflianced husband? So. arguing to her own rebellious heart the noble girl sings, laughs, and chats the long hours of the first lonely evening away, and succeeds n bringing smiles to the face of Beatrice. which otherwise might have been bathed in tears. “Now be brave, dearest Bee,” whispers Helen, as the two young girls descend the stairs in anwer to the early breakfast bell. “You behaved like a darling yesterday, though I knew that your poor heart was aching beneath your cheerful face.” “Thank you, Nellie,” she answers in the same low voice. “I am learning same wonderful lessons in self-control under your wise guidance. ” Her unselfish and heroic eflorts do not escape the observing eye of General Dale, who remarks to his wife, after the inmates of Deepdale have retired for the night:â€" many'l‘a st: tmngs to fie attended to before the young: men set out on their East- Ward journey. “Raph St. Clair is a. lucky dog in the hoice he has made of his future wife. He could not have found another girl like Helen Pendleton, had be his choice out of ten thousand.” “That he could not,” replies Mrs. Dale, enthusiastically. “Only think of the tact, delicacy, good sense, and sound judgment she has displayed, not only within the last few days, but during the whole trying summer. Indeed, I feel convinced that Mrs. St. Clair would have had trouble with her children, on account of her marriage with Captain Lennard, had it not been for Helen’s influence over them.” - “Well, my little women.” says good Mrs. Dale, the next morning at the breakfast table, addressing Beatrice and Helen, “the very last of the summer birds have flown, and we must begin our preparations to hie back to the busy city, before the height of the fashion- able season is upon us; so we had better give instructions to the housekeeper and servants to-day accordingly,and be ready by the first of next week to close Deep- dale, as Mrs. Lennard desired we should, and be in readiness to welcome her to her home in the city on her return, which may be any day. because she is not fond of traveling.” Thus the two girls have plenty to occupy their thoughts, and as time passes quickly to those employed in interesting work, it Was not long until they are settled in the elegant mansion of the St. Clair’s in the city, awaiting the arrival of Mrs. and Captain Lennard. Mrs. Dale and the good-natured Gen- eral have kindly consented to remain with the young ladies until after the reception, which the newly married pair will give immediately upon their return to the city. Indeed. the presence of this jolly and sensible old couple has been a source of great comfort to the two girls left at Deepdale. all through the d:.i‘.v happenings since Mrs. St. Clair’s 11).. :iage; and is now really indispens- ahre when there is so much to be thought of in making preparations for the grand reception. General Dale flies hither and thither on errands which the ladies will intrust to none but himself. It is he who must interview the flower decorator for the occasion, the caterer for the refreshments, and the leader of the finest band in the city, to make sure that no unpleasant hitch shall occur to mar the pleasure of the evening’s pro- gramme. The old gentleman declares that it gives him unalloyed pleasure to discover that he has not yet quite out- lived his usefulness. So everything is in prime order when the newly married nair arrive early in the afternoon, the evening of which is appointed for the reception. 7 , “If Raphael and Percy were only here,” sighs Beatrice, as she with Helen are taking the last survey of the magni- ficent preparation for the evening’s company. - - â€" - . . u “Yes, it would be pleasant to have them with us on this occasion,” replies Helen, stooping and picking up a few tiny green leaves which lay on the velvet carpet of the music-room; “but, as that is impossible we will not be unhappy over what we cannot help, and show your nwther diseontented faces when she returns, shall we, Bee? And, after all, the boys are better employed Where they are; for it will take work and steady application to enable them to reach the goal of their ambition, and until this is gained, they will have little time to spend in fashionable society.” She breaks off to listen to an unusual commotion and bustle in the hall, as if of the arrival of some one, accompanied by General Dale’s hearty laugh' and words of welcome. words of welcome. Both girls dart into the hall to ascer- tain the cause of the tumult, and the next instant Beatrice is clasped close to the heart of her teariul mother. “Do not; agitate yourself. my love,” says the soft voice of Captain Lennard, as he gently unwinds the clinging arms of his Wife from her daughter’s form, and then adds. as he shakes the girl’s cold hand :â€" “Beatrice, my dear, your mother is far from being strong, and I beg that you may control your feelings and not; agitate her.” . He shakes hands with Helen and Mrs. Dale, then draws his wife’s hand protec- tingly within his arm, and says, politely:-â€"- ‘ 11 n,,g,._J_ 1' 3....1 r---v‘_d e “As we are all old friends, I feel that you Will excuse me for taking Mrs. Lennard at once to her own room to rest. She is much fatigued from her journey.” 7 - - r- . l7 3‘ “Certainly, certainly, .Captain.” re- plies General and Mrs. Dale in a. breath, and the Captain gently assists his wife to ascend the stairs, followed by the maid. â€"Beatrice and Helen, without another gasket: word retrace: their stem to the “Why, Beatrice St. Clair, what are you crying about in this manner?" exclaims Helen, in an almost impatient tone; for well she knows that she must not appear to sympathize with her friend’s wounded feelings, if she would help her to regain her self-control. “Bee, if you were a little child instead of a full-grown young lady, I should feel inclined to order the nursery maid to put you to bed to-night before you had caught even aqlimpse of the illuminated drawing-room filled with the gay company; but as the case stands, I shall leave you to the mortification of being obliged to appear before your mother and her invited guests with swollen eyelids and a red nose, as a punishment for indulging your temper in this absurd fashion.” “Oh! Helen, Helen! He took her arms from about my neck at our first moment of meeting; fairly tore her from my sideâ€"my own mother who has ever been all the world to me. Oh, my mother! my mother! I wish I had died before this stranger came between us,” sobs the kneeling girl in incoherent sentences. “Beatrice! Beatrice! why will you persist in this childishness” cries Helen, in tones she means to sound severe but which, nevertheless, grow tremulous and suspiciously husky at the end of the sentence. Her fingers linger lovingly for a few moments on the bright hair of the sobbing girl, and then she continues in a voice which has regained its wonted firmness. “Beatrice,” she says, looking into her flushed face and swollen eyes, “if you continue to go on ,in this way I shall order you to bed, and shall send at once for Dr. Hamilton. You cannot be well, or your nerves must he in a feirfully excited state. which forebodes illness, when you make such an ado about nothing,” wiping the tears from the flushed cheek with her own dainty pocket handkerchief as she speaks. “Come now, do be sensible, and tell me what Captain Lennard did, that should wound your feelings so intensely.” “Helen, how can you be so heartless as to talk to me in this way, after all I have endured?” wails poor Beatrice from the depths of Helen’s lap. Helen lifts the girl’s head from her lap, and slipping from her chair seats herself beside her on the carpet. “ You saw what he did,” she answers impatiently. “Was it not an insult to both my mother and myself, that he should come between us at our very first moment of meeting. and carry her away from my side with that triumphant look upon his hateful face?” “I cannot for my life see why you should feel so badly about that Bee," she answers gently. “On the contrary, I think you should respect his motive, in thus coming to the rescue and saving both your mother and yourself from a scene which might have rendered you both unfit for the duties which will devolve upon you this evening Rest assured that it was for this reason alone that he interfered, instead of being prompted by a desire to come between you and your mother’s love. Come now, dear, look upon this little aflair in a sensible light.” Helen throws herself into a deeply cushioned chair, and leans back her head as if from weariness,.-and Beatrice sinks down on the soft rug at: her friend’s feet, burying her flushed face in her lap. and bursts into wild, tempes- tuous weeping. muslc-room, wnlcn ls almoss dark from closed blinds and heavy curtains, while its atmosphere is laden with the frag- rance of rare exctics. She rises and comes behind the girl. and st00ps over her, and passes her soft, cool hands across the burning temples, charming the throbbing pain to rest. “Depend upon' it, Captain Lennard did not intend to insult you. or wound your feelings; and I beg of you, for your own sake as well as for the sake of your dear mother, that as you value the hap- piness of the whole family, you may not from jealousy, wounded pride, or any other cause, real or imaginary, begin to misconstrue every word and act of your mother’s husband, from the earliest moment of his advent into your home. Remember. darling,” she continues, bending lower and imprinting an afi‘ec- tionate kiss on the other's brow and. speaking still more gently. “that you will not have long to remain in the same home with him at the farthest. and during that time be charitable,or tolerate him in peace if you can do nothing more. Let me go with you to your own room now, before some one surprises us here, or rather,” she adds, laughing, “before you surprise some one else by your state of tears and dejection, when you should be smiling, lightâ€"hearted, and happy. TO THE DEARâ€"A rich htdy, cured of her Deafness and Noises in the Head My Dr. Nicholson’s Arbifical Ear Drums. has sent £ 1,000 to his Institn‘e. so that dear pmple unable to nrocure the Ear Dr xms man" have them free. Apply to Dcpnrunum, A.T'E The Institute, “Longevft,” Guumerabury, London W., England.â€"â€"22-1yr Thus-[1331f coaxing, half commanding, Helen leads her away to her room. (To be continued.) 1 WE MAKE...»â€" Sewer and Culvert Pipes THE UNTABIB SEWER LEE Bi Q60 l-2 ADELAEDE ST. E. FACTORY AT mmco. /‘ TOROxu’ All Sizes from 4 in. to 24 in. - Connections. urniture and Linda-raking Charges IvIo._i-.-,1u;:¢ WRITE FOR PRICES; hit. a...