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SHIRLEY ROSS : _ â€" .^^ A Story of Woman's Faithfulness. " Ypb," Bhirloy admitted, turr'iig het (koe sgftin to thu window, with h«r eyes Opon the durknosB. Uuby uat down besidu lier in Ibc- fire- light, HtiU holding her Imuds in hard, and thuro was mionce botwuuu them. Kuby'B heart waa bc&ting fast with hop.- and ex- |tectatioa; bat Bbirley waa c«!ui with tho calmnpBS of despairâ€" uhu hoi-fd nothing,', eho feared all. llcr only thought now waa lor Guy. A few tender lines from him bad ixsen Kivoii her juat bi.'ore he and Oswald Startud, bidding her take courage, for that his hope waa strong; but she knew that, thoagh it was Btron^, it was groKodl''S3. How could she help hun to bear it? " Uuby," said tho swoet lo'.v voice, which had alwayu a pathetic Utile iiito.iation, but whicli now had Huuh a iJC'H^^iiiii;^ sad- nvss iii its muiiic, " you have Licoii crying, dear." 'â-  Ncnseiibe, 8iiirieyl Crjing? 1 (Vjn't 4mow how." "Ah, but there are tears on your (ace, ftnd t(<i\rB in your voice," Shirley said, gently. " You must not fret, liuby, or you will uiako yourself ill; and then" â€" v.itb a little break in tho calm voice â€" " wlut would beoomeof rae?" •' You need not bo ufraid of that, Shirley. I am never ill." "Was AUce very angry ?" Sliirloy said softly, ftfter a little pHUuo. "Is sbu very bitter against me. Ruby '!" " I'oii't talk of her, Shirley ; it exhausts the vei\\ small amount of patience 1 pos- eeBB," nnswered Miss CaiH.1 f)cttislily. " Kut, dear, think how mu::h she must be euffering if, as I (ear, shu lov d Sir Hugh," said Khirley, pitifully linding (uum in her aching heart for compassion lor the girl who had uoiio for lier. " Von, who have been so good to me, iiiii^t feel for her also. I'oor Aluel" " Poor Alicel" echoed Ituby diiUinfully. " She is greatly to be pitied indeed I iiUo is *8 capable of fet ling luva for anyone but her- •cK as that oak table is." " Uu?b,dear!" Shirley said, gently. "It is Visry unlike you to bo unchaiitablo. 1 have been thinking su niuob of Alice all tii(;ht" hho went on softly. "It was terri- ble lorrlU-ct that 1 had brought i.u!Tering toberaJDO; and. when Dilphine s^id she wag ill, 1 wish"<l ko mmh to go to her and see if 1 coulil iio uoinetbicg for her. It i>> AiniOHt thu same trouble for her m for Cny, >ou kniiv/ ; I'ut lie, l>eing a man, will leol it more. ' " If it i-i any consolation to vo;i, Shirley, to know that she IH not cither ill i: in: happy, you ni*y safely believe mo wli-n 1 •ay Bc, ' Kuby answered. •• .SIih ih o::!y spiteful and Bavago." " Knbj dt:\r r said the oW'-l loies, in Ceproof ; and iiipnhivo Uuby put her hps 4o Shirley's cliei k n.nd gave a 'iai.k, Ijving '* You are all angel, Hliirley," she siiij, warmly. "Tell me, dear," she ah'.ul, gently, "do you feel hc|X'f ul 1" A long shu Ider passed through the girl's Blender frame, and liereyestnet her frieiui'H slanco with a pathetic misery in tln-ir oepthx. •' I have no hope, Uuby," aha Mill. ' I have had none from the first." '• Hul, Kliirhj - " " There iii no chance, Uuhy. Niithin;;, 1 believe, could set iiiu free," Sluiley li â-  Clared, in the Haiiiu hoi>ehM.H, de.spairi?!;; manner. " I think that, even if h ' wished, Bir Hugh could not uiidi) the marriage h .' COiitriveil so bariely. Ihit, oh, IJiiby" and here the frozen ralni of her face h'oKo up •nd the pal> lips <piiver<>d â€" "thinkâ€" all Mi> life to com.' must be passed with that anari whom I laiinot help iluspimng with â- ny whule heart. And 1 am no yunii);; and tain strong too, or such misery ah 1 luivx rnc i<ince yesterday would have killed •ne." Hub) crept closer to her in Ri!i)iic><, ti.t 4iot tears gathcrii g thickly in her uye9 at 4bo awful despair in Bhirtoy's voice and r-: lior pale face. " liut even that I could l)car," tbe girl Went on in Inr hutiky hrokoii vui' >>, " i'. 41iat were all i it is the thought of Guy's Borrow, however, that is breaking my hiart. , If I could hear tliat for him I should bo . Iiappv ; hut â€" " hlie paustnl, liaif rjS!-, .,' wringing hiT liands despairingly, then sunk ^ Imck upon her An^t again, all her fr-itmo 4lbakRn in a convulxive agony of tearleB.i I «orrow "lint there is no hope, and ho I iovos me Hi) ilu:»rly. Oli, it iahorrible, Uuby. Can lieavi'ii Im niereifiil and allow hii h misery ns thin'/" The cry Wi.s wrunu from hor like the (vail of a bri>kf<ii heart. Uuby throw lur •riiiH aroiind h> r, subbing bitterly ; a)i 1 she Celt how she ticiiiblod in every limb. " Hhirloy, (or Guy's sako oomi>ose your- Belf. Kie Ihey will bo(>ii !a 'hi- now. Ho •nust not seoyou thus." l''or (iu)'i' : akel Kvon in such aiguish tks hers the words were powerful. She hi I her faon on I! iiby's breast for a moment, and when she liftod it again it was pala and hag- gard, hut calm. " Ye«,' she Biiid, faintlv, "(or Ctij's •akn I" " My brav. Hhirley I" Uuhy responded 4«ndorl), and for fully half an. hour tho girls sat in the fire lit hall, Ituby's (\»s Watohihg anxiously and sorrowfully the •till face turutd toward the window, with •uch terrible pallor and anguish iipo'i it. Presently a carriage dashed up to tho . 4oor; hut it was only Ijady l<'airholnio and tisdy Oapcl returning from a drive. As tikey entered the hall, statoly in their vel- vet and fura, with a footman inattendaiue, nhirloy and Uuby rose, and went a step or 4w0 forward. Lady Ca)>ol saw them, and 4ook Hbirley's hand and kisxi'd hor; hut 4ho words sliii wiiiild have spoken died away rii herli|H, as shu saw the alteration in girl's fac4>, niid she wont on with a mist in her kind oyes. liady Fairhulniti had •tood Hiill and glanced at thoni ; but bIio tiad pasted on immediately, without a word • 4>r a second look at herhuaband's niooo, anti < Cler voleo was perfectly mimoVod tho uext « «ninutii wlu'ii she asked why tho hall was % aot yet liHhted. VVithout a wcxrit, Hhirley went baok to ' 4be window ; her misery was too great for tier aunt's cruelty to touch her; Imt Bnby'N faoo flii.ihcd angrily, and she bit her red lip to Bupprcss the pasaioiiatc wi^rds which in her indignation she was about to pttor. Tho hall was lighted uo\s-, the full glare of gag replacing the ruddy firolight . and the footman had replenished the fire, which blazed up cheerily. Presently Alice came cat of the oak parlor and crossed the hall ou her way upstairs, her Boft pink cash- i:::re draperies sweeping the polished lloor as she went her way affectedly and lan- guidly ; and still Ruby and Shirley kept ttaoir vigil at the window watching (or the dcg-cart which was to bring Oswald and Oujr from the btation. '• Ruby, you will bo coU ; goto the fire, dear," Shirley said Bofdy once , but Kuby did not move. At last two bright lights cams flashing into view in the darkness without, and the Eoucd of rapidly approaching wheels grew clearer and clearer. Khirloy rose then, Btill and calm ; but Uuby was trembling so violently that she could hardly stand. Shir- ley put hor aima around her. " I am afraid all this is too much lor ycu," she said tenderly. "Ruby, how shall I bear it if I have made you ill, too'.'" "I am not ill â€" 1 am only nervous. Oh, Sliirley ! " she added, as the hall door was baRtily opened from without, and Captain l-'airliolmc, looking haggard and weary, entered, pai;.jing for a moment and shad- ing his eyes, as if tho sudden transition from dnriiuess to light da/./led him; then ho shut the door behind him, and the girls heard thj dog-cart being taken back to tho stableB. "Oswald," Shirley said, as she went a few steps toward him, while Ruby, ijuito overcome by her agitation, sunk down upon the nearest chair and hid her fare in her hands, "how cold and tired you look! Cumo and warm yourself and rest. " C^wald had started violently as hor soft calm voice fell upon his ear ; then he came to her side, v/itli one^swift glance at Ruby's drooping figure, and took both her little banc's iiUiis. Burning with fever as they had been a sliort tiino previously, they v. ere icy cold now, so cold that the young man could not repress an exclamation " How cold you arc I" ho ejaculated ; ami for a moment they etood looking at each otiier in tilonco, the young officer's eyes full of unspeakable pity and compassion, the girl's heavy with hopeless niisory and woe. " I have no good news (or you. Jea.-,' ho haid blowly. " I did not exiiect any, Oswald, ' was tho answer, uttered so brokenly, bo pitifally, so despairingly, that the tears rose in Captain t'airholme's eyes. " Thank j ou for all ycur goodness to-to iis. (!oine and help mo to console Ruby," she added. Captain Kairholme went over t i tin- lire, his eyes dim, and his lips (juiveri::;; tinder hi.i uarh mustache, iiliirley wea ti Ruby and raised iier drjoping form and rested (;;;â-  girl's bead i.p.in hi-r bnast. " Ruby,' shusaidKoftly, 'â-  try tobe bravr, dear. Vou will distress Oswald <i:i.l he is vv-ry wiary." I)he ure\. !.er gently over to ti:j lire, and fOi' a f'.'\' -ci[:.;le8 they stood thei • together. Ruliv's luad on Shirley's breast mid her hanl ..: Osw;ild'ii, who was liardiv less i.iovtd. Shirley was the only one wlio lo tamed any semblance of composure, but hbs was calm with the calm of despair. " Ilii.y t.l.e us no hope," Captain I'air h..li;o t.'.id then, huskily. " 'I'liey thiuk tliat any court ».oul 1 ratify tin- marriage J '. . en i.' I jii cou! I give a good leason for g'Mi; ti Oiiinfife with Sir lliigb, it .vould uvai; iiv^tl.;..^." "I knew it would bo so," eaid Bhirley wearily. " IIusli, dear Iluby, don't sob bol And â€" and Ouyâ€" how does ho bear it, Oswald '/ " Ti.e fro.' '11 e ilin of her fao waa break, ing ixv.', and her breath came fast " ll«(!l^ , I fear," O.HwnId said Rally " It ii early ilays as vet, Shirley " â-  w^r ' 'i hero \ as i\ pause. 'â-  V>'lier-.' ij he, Oswald '.'" Ho kf; uiL- at the cross roads, Oswald r plied. " He wanted a walk, liesaid. Why, filiirleyâ€" g'jod Heaven, what is tli 'matter'.' What are yoM going to dot" I or Shirley had ru.ihcd away down the hall, and was trying with her little hands, so frail and trembling, to unfasten the heavy bolts uf thu hall door. " At tl:u cross roads I" she repeated, lift- ing her great restless eyes lo her cousin's face, with a wild terror in their depths. • J'oii'i )oj perceive where be was going.' Oh, leciuici; for pity's sake, ba.|uickl" ' liul, Shiiley " " Oswald, don't you see?" aha cried \'.'ildly. "At the cross roads I Ho was go- ing tj ulaxwullâ€" and they must nat-oh, Heaven, they must not meet now!'' CHM'THU XXIII. .' lone ill tho library of his iple .did home, Sir llngh Olyiin was thinking of the evil deed he had wrought. He was lying back in a deep, luxurious arm chair. His unci J, from whom ho had inliorited Max well had been a bibliomaniac, and be had i;ut i-pni ixlhis wealth, which had been great, to gratify his mania, Idnny p volnine whi^di would have do- li:;litci! n connoisseur, but which possessed little interest fur the uninitiated, line.l the I. helves which riiiroiin leil the room on all hides, broken into on one by tho earvod doorway which faced the magnificent black marble mantel on tho other. Kven between tho two great btiinud-glass windows, the volumes I'.ad taken refuge; there was not an available apace anywiiere which had not been nlili/.ed, and tha room contained ..3 magnificent iv collection of books as any in tbr kingdom. Unt t!ie vr'.'9ont owner of tho oolloction cared but little for it at any time. Had he wanted money, it would not have cost him a p;\ng tn 'laerifica thu books over which his uucli had Epent eo much time and trouble iind so much gold. Hut now he never "avo them a thought. There was a heavy frown upon his brow, partly of dis- pleasure and partly of pain ; for his injur- I arm Iroiibhul him still, and tho (over of his mind had not tended to lesson his bodily f'ineomfort. lie was alone at Maxwell; bul. ho had no present intention of remaining there. As Boon ns this troublesome business was settled, he would take his wife to tho south of I'ranco to introduce hor to his mother, and then they would travel for a time. Ho had no dcmbt as to tho result of Major Htuart's npplioation to the lawyers. ICvon if the matter were brought before the law- courts, the decision must liavo been in hia favor, hhirloy could not account for her visit to Diimftfc with him ; for, even if it would liav.'' saved hor, eho would notbotray her brother's trust and ruin his reputation • lul his prospjots. Hho was his wife. Sir llngh know, married to him by the abom- inable law in force in the country in which poor Shirley had paseed three dreary years, wlrich had culminated in this crowning misery â€" married to him by treachery and baHHiiess and falsehood truly, but his never- theless. Vet, even while Hugh Olynn'B eyes brightened as he thought of her beauty and grace and sweetness, the frown on hia white forehead dee(>ened as be puffed slowly at his cigar and remembered ttte look of horror, of Inathing, of contempt, which had been on his wife's face when hesiw it last. " It she had loved me only a little I" he said, half aloud, with a sudden yearning in the blue eyea which chased away all their sleepiness and their coldness. " If she had given me a little of the love ehe lavished upon himâ€" hang him !" And the blue eyea darkened with savage jealousy and anger. How easily C!uy had won that for which he would have t;iven his life. Why, cvin for the possession ofher. to call her hi* own, to look upon her lovel i - ness, and kr.i>w that she was hii wife, ho had given lis honor. What viould he not have given to sec her eyes rest upon him as they rested upon Guy. to have her lips meet his Ic requited love, to feel her hand steal into his and linger there ? His wealth, his life I For he loved her. He loved her. That waa his one excuse for the treachery he had committed, and whieh, even in hisown eyes, seemed hide- ously vile. Uo loved her madly, wildly, with all the passion of hia nature; and in- stead of letting this love lift him to a higher life, he had yielded to the subtle temptation with which he had he* n tempted, and let it sink him to the level of a traitor. < She waa G'ly's betrothed, Gay's one ewe- lamb in all tlie world, for he had neither riches, nor title, nor position, nor beauty to win a woman's fancy and subduo her heart ; and Ouy was his friend, his tried and trusty friend, to whese courage he owed tho life lie enjoyed. His friend â€" and yet he had betrayed him I Guy had saved his life, and Ik- had taken from him what was far deartr to him than life. When that fatal love that had entered both hearts at Bight of Shirley Ross's fair face had come between them, all the old friendship and gratitude had died out of Hugh Glynn'^ heart, killed by hia savage jealousy and passion. Many a time he bad felt that he could have kihid Guy Stuart when he had seen him with Shirley, and the \ery re- pi ession ho had 'ueen forced to exercise had doubled his passionate resentment. And then I.atreilh had told him the story of poor Marian r.oss's betrayal, which had suggested the idea of her daughter's; and temptation had come into his way through (•uy's faith in him and Shirley's, and thua he had hetraytd it. thus he had riiiuited. He rose from his seat and moved up and down the stately room restlessly. He al- most wished that he had spared her; and yet 10 leave her to Guyâ€" to let her be his wifeâ€" no, it was impossible' Rut that 8.x>riiful fac4', that wailing, despairing cry which rung in his cars even now. Ah, how sbe loved Guy ! Amid all his jealousy and remorse and triuuiph, the bitterest thought in Sir Hugh Glynn's mind was that in his place Guy Stuart would have acted very differently. If Shirley had loved him â€" Hughâ€" Guy would never have lifted his tiiiger, if by bo doing he could have won her love; hewoald have buried it in his own heart and gone away wiltioa* one word to trouble her peace or to pain the friend who had bt^on more fortunate than he. Sir Hugh felt in- stinctively that that would havebeeiiGuy's course ill his place, and the thought of that HU[>oriority in the man who bad been hia friend rankled cruelly. Sir Hugh Glynn loved Khirley, but his love was selfish and unworthy; it was a ini.xture of |ia8sion and admiration for her btauty and pridopi |ued by her indifTorence. Guy's loveâ€" tho man who hated him felt it keenlyâ€" Guys love was a nobler love than that. As the thought crossed his mind, the room door o|>ene<l ijuietly, and the man he had wronged entered and closed it after him without a word. Sir Hugh -"toppml bis restless i>erambulations to and fro, and for fully a ininuto the tsvo men faced each other in utter silence the- -betrayed and till- betrayer -the man so cruelly wronged and be who bad so cruelly wronged him. In a breathless heavy silence, grim and me- nacing, they looked at each other, Sir Hugh so handsoma and stately for all the sufier- ing whieh bis face showed signs of still. Guy pale. worn, haggard, with a terrible despair on his face despair which had Homething n-okless in its niisory ; then tiir Hu^h throw back his head with a proud gesture of defiance and said calmly - â-  This is an unexpected pleasure. After tho courtesies we exchanged yesterday. I could hardly have foreseen this visit." " I'erhaps not" â€" Guy's voice, hoarse and changed and menacing, fell upon the atill- noas heavily and slowly nevortheleaa 1 am here, as you see." ' Charmed to have the honor." Sir Hugh -•aid carelessly ; and Guy's eyes lightened with a passionate gleam of fury. "Take carel" lie said between hia set toeth. I am in no mood for exchanging civilities, neither am I in a mood to bear your jeers." "Then to what am I to attribute the honor you are payin;; mo?" Sirllu'.^h aaked calmly. Traitor he was, but not a eoward, al though just now tho sting of his conscience told him that ho riohly deserved the ven geanee which looked out of theftirious gray eyes, almost black in their concentrated anger and scorn. "To what?" Guy repeated. "I will tell you. To iv.y desire for vengeance." ' I' or vengeanoe! I do not understand you. Is it on me that yau woidd wreak your ani;er for your jiafrff's infidelity V la " The words were oareleea, haughty, mook- ing in their intonation; but they died u|>on his lip as Guy rested his hand upon his shoulders, swaying him to and fro with a resistless power. " Take care," ho said, " or I will force tho words baok through your jibing lips with one blow of my hand '." Low aa the words were spoken, there was a fierce, aupproaaod passion in their lowbroathed utterance which made Sir Hugh Qlynn quail for a moment ; but his blue eyea, (lashing with a steellike glitter, mot Guy's unflinohingly. " Yes." " And yoa have seen the lawyers yoa wished to consult ?" " Yes." "And their opinion is ?" Sir Hugh in- terrogated calmly, although the pitiless hand still kept its iron grip of his shoulder. " Yon know it well," Gay said, with a sadden, irrepressible burst of pain. " I need not repeat it." There was a moment's silence. They were standing on the rug now, and the red flames of the great log-tire, as it roared up the wide zbimney, (ell upon either (ace. " There was no need to go," Major Stuart said hoarsely. '• Yoa took your measures well. She is year wi(e, poor un- happy girl ; but for your treachery to me, your friend, your baseness to her, a poor child who trusted you, you shall answer to the uttermost, so help me Heaven. " That I am in your power I know," Sir Hugh ansvrvred calmly. " A one armed man will be powerless indeed against such strength as yours. I have wronged you, you say ; then take your revenge." " Only a traitor would shelter himself behind his injuries," said Major Stuart, removing hia hand nevertheless. " Can you deny the wrong ? I trusted you and you betrayed me." No reproach could have been more bitter, simple as the words were. Sir Hugh's eyes fell under the others glance, and he half turned away: then, conquering his mo- mentary remorse, he resumed his eld haughtiness. "i'hat the wrong is irreparable I know," Guy went on. 'And yet, if you were gen- erous â€" Such a marriage cannot be bind- ing! It ia not binding in the eight of Heaven ! Glynn, think how I most suffer, not for myself, but for her, when I stoop to entreat you to set her free. Give her back to me. She does not love you," Ma;'<r Stuart continued, hoarsely and brokenly. "And she was all I bad. Hugh, for the sake of our old friendship, for the sake â€" yes, I will stoop to plead itâ€" of the service I ren. dered you once long ago, renounce your claim upon her! Give Shirley her free- dom !" "It is impossible. She is my wife." said Sir Hugh, briefly. "Besides, she her- self waa willing. She knew her mother's story; she knew the Scottish marriage laws; and, my dear fellow, whaty«u ask ia simply an impossibility. Even were it not so, Shirley would never consent." " How can you persist in that lie ?" Major Stuart said, with bitter contempt. " The child's own word would not make me bedieve her false. Do you think the anguish of yesterday does not contradict your words '.' Kach one of them ia false as falsehood itaelf. You are a villain and a bar and a traitor !" " Hy heaven, this is unbearable '." cried Sir Hugh, (urionsly, as he sprang for. ward. Guy met him with eijual fury. One moment more and they would have been at etch other's throat or struggling in the ter. rible embrace of twomen goaded to despcra- lion, who seek vengeance at any cost â€" one inoiueut more, and the stain o( blood- gniltinesB might have bt>«n on the soul of either ; but in that moment the door was burst open and Shirley threw herself be- tween them, pale, breathless, panting, her head uncovered, as she had come (rom Kairholme Court, her hair disheveled by her headlong flight through the cold nighl- wiud, (ailing around her, her eyes wild and dilated with the horror and terror which had seized her. CIIAPTi;!; \MV. Tho two men (ell apart at the first touch of the little trembling hands, and the eyes of both turned upon the girl, who stood, panting and breathless, both bands preased against her noart, as if to stop the throbbinga which seemed as if they mast reiid it in twain, her face wild and haggard, shaded hy her loosened hair, and faint little inarticulate cries of terror escaping from the pale, parted lips. Captain I-'airholme, who had paused at the door, went forward i|uietly and put Shirley gently into a chair, and her bead fell back against it in utter exhaustion. " Has she not suffered enough yet ? " said Oswald gravely. "Could you not have spared hor this?" He had turned to Gay, who stood breath- ing heavily from the restraint he had been forced to place upon himself; but, before he could answer, Sbirley looked up quickly and put out one little hand with deprecat. ing gesture of entreaty, which made Sir Uugli's eyes flash. Kven now she was pitiful over her lover, he thought bitterly. "No; do not," she aaid faintly -" do not blame him, Oswald. He has borne so much, and he has so much to bear. Guy " â€"she rose feebly and put her hand upon his armâ€"" try to forgive me, dear, and go home with Oswald." I'orgive you, darling ? " ho questioned mournfully, looking down at the pale uplifted face. " I have never blamed you not for a moment ; but, when I look at you, my poor pet, how can I forgive him? " " Pardon me," Sir Hugh interposed haughtily, " you are speaking to my wife." Guy's eyea flashed. " I cannot look at her and forget it," be said bitterly. " Look ! .\re you not proud of your work?" Almost involuntarily Sir Hagh turned his eyes upon her, as she stood half sap- ported by her coasin, and his thoughts went back to the night o( the ball at Kairholme Court six weeks be(ore. He remembered Shirley then, bright, radiant, beautilul in her aweeping silken robea ; he saw her now pale, hag- gard, lovely still, with that inalienable beauty of form which must always be hers, but with all her brightness (aded (orevor. The contrast smote him with a keen pang of remorse as his eyes rested upon her. " Guy," the sweet broken-hearted voice continued, " 1 waut you to go away, dear, and not to come back again. It ' will be best. By and byeâ€" not at first, I know- but after a time, perhapsâ€" I think, 1 ho\ie, I pray that yoa may forgot me and be very happy. But first will yonâ€" can vou for- give me 7" How can you speak of forgiveness be- tween you and me, Bhirley ?" he aaked un- steadily. " There can be none ever needed, my poor child !" I did not think yon would be angry with me,' she said, with a touohinp child- angry and jealous and farioas, yet power- less to interfere. " I trasi yoa." " Thank yon, Guy. And- andâ€" yoa will try to forget ? " "To forget I Ah, Shirley, is that possi- ble? While I have life, I must remember, my child 1 " " We were very happy," she whispered brokenly, a smile pitiful to see sarviag tha stiff livid lips. " It is something to have been happy together â€" even for a few hoars. Gay." " We were very happy, Shirley," he answered hoarsely, looking down with dim eyes at the ghastly face and the great hazel eyes glittering with a bright feverish lustre â€" "very happy, my poor, darling." " And last night I was thinking," she wenfc on in the same pitiful trusting manner," that yoa might by-and-by have tired of such a foolish girl, and that it was betterâ€" £ could not think very clearly. Gay," sba added, resting her head against his arm, with a little gesture of wearineas which was unutterably pathetic, '' my head aohed so â€" it aches so now." Sir Hugh made a quick movement toward her, but Oswald Kairholme put his hand upon his arm. " Have some pity," he said huskily ; and Sir Hugh, involuntarily obeying the move. ment, drew back and turned away. Oswald pat his hand through his arm and gently forced him to the window, whero he threw himself moodily into a chair, hia eyes llxed on the group by the tire, wbila Oswald hid hia face with bis hand to abut out the despairing faces which haunted him. Shirley had rested her head against Gay's shoulder, and was looking up into his face with restless shining eyes, while her fingers, with a strange uncertain move- ment, strayed over his rough ulster. Major Stuart bad pat his arm round her, but ha could not trust himself to look upon her face, and he had turned away his head, while under his heavy moustache his lipa were set sternly and tit^btly, and in hui brain the ijuestion repeated itself â€" Coald any vengeance be too great for such wrongs as his and hers ? " Gay," thesweet low voice went on, while the restless eyes wandered from bis face round the room and came back agaia to their first resting place, " won't yoa speak to me, dear ? I thought all day that when yoa came back you woald look as you look now. I saw your face all nightâ€" all night. I>id you sleep, Guy? It seems to me as if I never should sleep again â€" my head turns so, and my eye* will not close. They told you, did they not, that 1 was his wife ? I knew they would aay so. Hia wife â€" oh, great Heaven ! " <To tM onutinasd.) that a that ia Water It is not vengeance, but justice," Major hkeconfidence m her voice. " But, Guy, if Stuart Brtid, in the same low tonesâ€"" jua- you w'sh it, I will tell you why I went." tice only. Would any vengeance be as I " There is no need, my dearest," he great as my wrongs ?" .answered pitly, taking both her little "Ahl Yon have been to Edinborgh ?" hands in his; while Sir Hugh looked on, Hoi Water for flaata. It is a fortunate circumstance plant will endure a scalding heat fatal to most of its minute enemies, heated to the boiling point poiued copiously over the stem of an enfeebled {>each tree, and allowed to stand al out its collar, will often have the happiest restorative effects. Trees showing every symptom of the yel- lows have often been rendered luxuriantly green and thrifty again by this aimpl* means. The heat is presumably too much for the fungus which had infested the vital layers of the tree, immediately under tha outer bark. The London lloriata reoom* mer.a hot water, up to lt.>° K.. aa a remedy whan plants an sickly owing to th» soil souring the acid, abaorbed by th* roots, acting aa a poison. The asual resort ia to the troublesome job of repotting. When thia ia not necessary for any other reason it is much simpler to pour hot water freely through the stirred soil ; it will pre- sently come through tinged with brown. After this thoruagh washiug, if the plants are kept warm, new root points and new growth will soon follow. A lady (rend bad a fine calla in a three-gallon i>ot which showed signs of ill-health. On examina- tion the outer portion of the filling waa fotmd mouldy, it being in large part fresh horse manure. As repotting was incon- venient, the plant being in tlower, hot water was freely used ; it killed the moald. and the plant began to revive and was soon all right. 8t. CUlr Tunnel W»rlM. The St. Clair Tunnel Co. are now actively engiged in the construction of tha tunnel between Sarnia and Port UoroD. Mich. .V certain portion of the machinery and material used in the construction of the work will beobtained in the State*, con- sisting principally of pumping machinery, paper tanks, and the shield used in carry- ing on the work of excavating. The expen- sive part o( the material, consisting chiefly of cast iron plates for lining the tunnel, will be made in this city, and it is esti- mated that ten thousand pounds of this article will be required before the work ia concluded. The Treasury Department of tho l.'nited States has decided that on material manufactured in Canada no duty will be charged. The Canadian Custoraa authorities have made the same conoee- siona regarding bridge material cominp from the States and will not Uvythe duties upon such articles as they did when the International Bridge at Niagara and th» Sault St*. Marie bridge were in course of construction. It ia estimated that tha work on the St. Clair tunnel will involveaa expenditure of a i|uarter of a million of dollars. Iletween Two VotiiiK MHrrled Woiurn. " \'ou think, then, that your husband uo longer loves you as formerly ? " " .Mas I I am sure of it." " What proof have you?" " What proof ! Why, my dear friend. when he kisses me now he doesn't even dis- turb my face powder."â€" f'aru Oauhit. Spring Stj Irs. Mortgages are signed by two wituesse* the same aa last year, and are folded so as to fit the side coat pocket. The back taxes are combed forward and parted on the side nearest the mortgage. In this climate mortgagee generally mature in the winter season. Room For IntproTetueBl. Minister â€" And do you expect to be » lawyer when vou grow up, like vour father, Bobby .' Bobby â€" Yea, sir; 1 e.vpect to be a law yer, but ma hopea I won't be one like pa. ♦ A NoiirisliiogSpriiiij; Itreakfajit. Coca, with four to six eggs beaten up in it, ia recommended as a nourishing spring breakfast.â€" Kojfon iTeip-nal. 7' MW1M*«» >li«p«»)lN«M timiBtM-f-4t*iM. -r-WHWv. u« ^