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\ Tlie KiKit ia the Tunnel, li.ij v.'in t.iltiii(; flva 8eiit« back, bu» I plaiuly li(>aitl tlio siiiiicU, f Viv/o (lubod inti. Iliq tuiiiiol iioar tlio town. AiKltlio ciincuH of my vciiia i»n UkoKusUnE wr April rains. T!:,-.iigli I'ui (jrave audgray and wi>»t a doctor n fiawn. Oin'eâ€" alas I so long ago^ou ^o raiU I jo'irneycd VTli a maldou in a jaunty Jersey HiO(|ue. And 1 kiiiiiud liyr wltli my eyte. as iho timid attrs ^ (lio Hkius. H;.l I lonood, oli, liow I loii^cdl (orouotoal (!„ Kiiiackl I)i,l i,liiiliiio\v if I diro BiyI (Siiid a swoot, i clalrvoyaut way r In llic glancing of lier eyoB ao liri^lit and bine ) Noor a bc«o Buch Uoui-y min as ila> nectar on bor lips; Hit I longod, and longed in vain, aa on wo tlew. Jiii. as yoarnlui; ruacliod its Uciiiht, lot tluro U- cuiie a Buddcu iii^lit, A;;J like stoel to UiBftuot clovo my mouth to bcrst 1 h!ii\ll novor niori' forRot bow like drops of rain (boy mot. I' the bosom of aro3(> that Ii^;l]tly stirsl Wlr n we c«ine agalii lo 'iabt. bclb our faces bKl I'lnuod whito- Wliitc as clonda that float in summer from tbo koUlll. Mi^-k^t I Rlanros, uiisked I finiileM! but ou air 1 ii>de for niile^, Wi-li tbe 8weotnc£.'t of lo\ u'h dc.f upon my tiionth. Hotlio l.i.s.tbat i,omi} ouo sifk*. in lUftt raylc-^ bty0an bole. Whilt) witb luud imprisoiicMi clanfior on w I t:sbo<l. OaiHMl llio sluEgisbhtreatUB of af;o with iiiaduf«« luap aud rago â€" Ami luy n-ifo, restored todayli^ljt, laugbod i Hu-iliod. â€"Dr-iro-it tree I'rri youus tid SHIRLEY EOSS : k Story of Woman's Faithfulness CHAPTER XXVI. " Wiiat ara you puzzliny your pretty head nbout, littlu woman '.' Is that com- inunicatiuii a niilliuer'u bill, aud doea uUe liireatcn lo^jal ]iroi;cidiuKB?" ' Jtii much worse than a milUiier'a L!il," eaid tlie pretty little wife, peeping . Coiiud the urn to let her aweut dark eyes meet her husband's. "It in an invitation Id (linner." ' From whom, liuby '; Not from Mrs. ic Montgomery Tornkjiis, 1 suppose '" OuwalJ Fairholni!) interroxated h'ayly. " No," littlu Mrs. I-'airhohne said, with » long Biyh and a rueful drawing down of tlio coriiom of her pretty mouthâ€"" from Alice." " Another ! Wa must bu in her (jood book), wife. She has iinited ua throe times tliij season already, and last year asked an once, Uuby," Oswald remarked, with alauKh. •' Ah, but last year she thought I woild allow lier to pitroni/.e iiu: !" said Uu'jy, with a little axsuniption of ditjnity which made her liiiabiiid iaujjli atill more heartily. " Anil yoj refined to bo patronized?" " Of coarse ; I was married more than tivn years before her, fJswald." " But her husband is a ' real live lord ' ropliad Oswald, still lauKhiiiH ; " and yo ira CccupivM a subordinate iiosition at the War Ofiijo." "'A real live lord 1' " re()eated Uuby. I think be wishes ho was a â€" ^a-a navvy, 6r one of liis own footme.-i. They at least Cin RJVO notice and t^n, and be "trii" >' Vo a wte Yvt} bHVrtr*. '»«*t* wile. â- â-  I am always Severn toward Ali(-.»." oall Uiil>v. " 1 think it horrible for her to tyrannize over her liusbaiui as she does.' " Cume, that is capital 1" dcolar^ui Oswald, addressing Ins remark to (Iim breakfast table, but no', tn the charmiiii{ dark eyed wouimi facing him and looking Ad bright as the sweet spring day itself ii tier o<>]uettish morning dress and filniy lace cap. " A'ld every one in liondon knows that there is no unfortunate feliow i'l it so lienpiwked as myself." " Yph â€" you have that appearamio," (ii t linby merrily, ai her eyes mot his aisrosi tlio table with a loolt of perfect luve aioi trust. " I suppose wu must go, Oswald " " I will do whatever yen wish, iny dear." anHworuJ her husband, with an uxaggera tion of ineeknesa. '• Dou't bo absurd, Oswald! Have y lu any engagement for Thursday next ?" " My dear pt\, do you expect me to ' i- membur whether I have or nut at thii dibtaima of time ? Have you ?" *' i am afraid not," Kuby said, sighing " liesides, wn refused last time." " Can't Bertie have the croup ?" suggest ed her husb'ind, laughing at hur resigied COiintenaii-e. " Oil, Oswald, how can you?" Uuby and In a tone of horror which aroused her bus baud's merriment as bo rose to leave lli i broakfast'tahli). " OU, U'jby, ho.v o%n you?" ho mimii lie 1 cayly. " How can yon credit your hus band with such depravity v Let ua go, by all moans, love," he added, more gra\ely 'Her ladyship's diunurs are terribly dreary feasta; but one must Haoriiije one A uelf ai: caiiioiially, you know, especially to on.i i relatives." " Very well, dear," Kuby said resigm-lly. "we will go. I cannot think how it is that Alice's dinners are so stupid. Thera i.'j jnst ns inii'di state and ceremony at the Cflynn's, and yet Shirley's diniiera are lo charming." " I think Hliirley makes them asploa^iant aa ehe can, poor child," said Oswald, a Hud den ahadow falling on his pleasant face, "because she is so anxious not to let thx world know the story of her married life. " "I'oiir Hliirleyl' nighod tender hearted Kuby. " I'oor Khirloyl" echoed her husband Badly. " What a spoilt life hers bas been." "And yet ha is very good to her, Oswald," said Mrs. Fairholme, with a depr '^atino look in her soft dark eyes. "Yes; but she cannot forget, Uuby, tad lie is not bappy. How could ho be ? ' "She is very gentle witb him, Oswald." "She is as true and good a wife as if lie had won her fairly," said Captain l''air holme. " Hut she cannot give him the love be wants." " It seems so sad to mo, Oswald," Ivuby remarked, as she followed him to thu win dov7 of their ^)retty breakfast-room and idinpod her hand fondly through his arm, "that both their Uvea, aud poor Major Btnnrt'.i as well, should have been apuilud. Ik would ha iiiuiih mora according to my way of thhiking if Hhirley were to for^ivn her husband and fall in love with him, ami Major Htnitrt should como baok from bis wanderings with a nice little wife of hia own." "It would certainly baa very satisfactory conclusion ; bat I am afraid it ia a moat unlikely one," aaid Oawald, looking down at her with aamiie. " Shirley's eyes make me sad somstimeB : they have such a Bor- row in their depths. Itut apeak of angela, Kuby," he add.'d â€" "here she comes on Qaeeniel" They atood at the window watching her %B she cantered down the road ; and Shir- ley, glancing up at the pretty house over winch Uuby reigned so charmingly, smiled and nodded ; and Oswald left tbe room to lift her from her horse. " You are an early visitor," said Ruby, crossing the room to greet her aa she came in, tluabed and r^miling from her ride. "But not an unwelcome one, I hope?" Shirley queationed in her old aweet pathetic voice. " Unwelcome " Kuby repeated gayly. "I won't answer you, because you are only angling for a compliment." " I came ao early because I wauted to see Oswald," Lady Glynn aaid, smiling. Vou need not be jealous, Uuby. I come hero often enough during the time ho ia at the Horae Ouarda." " And whenever you meet him out yon monopolize hia attention entirely," |ioatod Mra. Fairholme merrily. " lie never has eyea for any aae else when Shirley is pre- aent." " I really i;elieve she ia jealoua, Oswald," his cousin said, lifting her eyebrows. " Uuby a victim to the green-eyed mon- ster !" replied Oawald, laughing. " The time of miracles ia not paat, yoa see." " Tell me, Shirley," Mrs. Fairholme aaid eagerly, " have you bad an invitation to dine at I'^astwell Ilouao on the 'iUth ?" " Yea," anawered Shirley, careleaaly. " And you are going ?" " Yes. We are diaengaged, and Sir Hugh wrahfd to go." " Oh, I am ao glad I" Uuby said cheer- fully. " .Alice's dinnera aro auch ponder- ous affaira ^'euerally ; but, if you are goingâ€"" " i'erhaps Oawald will take me into din- ner," Shirley put in gayly. " I am (|uit'j sure In^ won't,' said Os- wald's wife merrily," " because such a great lady as yjuwill be conducted by Lord Eastwell himself." I am afraid I shall not enjoy my din- ner the mora for that." Lady Olynn re- marked dryly " I can i|uito imagine Mastwell's heavy attention interfering with one's digestion," aaid Oswald careleaaly. " Is your husband well, Shirley '.'" "Sir Hugh 11 very well," Shirley anawerad.a slight ahadoof coldness coming into her voice as ,sha spoke. "Have you any news from the ^ourt ? Ia Atiul Cioral- dine bolter ' " Slio does not mention her health, ao 1 preHumo ahe is." said Uuby. " .leanie and Maud are springing up. you know deaniu ia to corno .jut next year." " Is ahi- rially. " Shirley interrogated negligently ' Uuby, is Bertie i:i ; Can I see him ' " " Of couiHj. Uuby said prnnplly. â- ' Ah. Shirl.'y. I don't believe it was Oswald at «d /o : ^'amo to see, but the boy !" "Shirley Itnows the way to the heart of the boy's mother, " remarked Oswald, smil- ing half sadly i:e<t minute upon seeing how Hertie. a boany dark-eyod boy of 'J years, sprung ir.to Shirley's arnia, and how "'"Sif"'*' *â- "' '-"JTly uhe held him. I he four years which had elapsed ainco change in her . snu looked a< young aud as girlish Si ivhen she had sat trooping over the sihoolrooni lire at I'air- liolmoC'ourt Slie was still vtv beautiful, for what her beauty had lust in brilliance it had gaine.i ;;i tonilerness, and the added luii'tness a:'.d languid pride of manner ilid not spoil 111 illect It was ;:j wonder, Captain I'ai.'holme thought, as be watched her, that Lady lilyiin was the belle of the .'ircle in whn.h jhe moved, hl'.e had made a sensation n. court when s!ij \va< pre siuted. an eiainont artist had paint 'd her picture, and sh • awoke one ir ir:iiiig to lind iierseU a .;ul 'brity. I'orhaps the very care- leaanesa aud tndi0erencn with whu h she ignored h r '.riiunph made it still greater. With scruii'ilous etactitude she fultilled every duty r(>|iiirod of her as Sir ilugh's wife, she dressed to perfection, :>he showed herself wherever ho wished her to go, proud, serene and cold ; ahe received his guests, ihe reigned over bis household, she outer- tained his friands and sat at the head of Ills table with her own quiet nouLhalant grace, which had such a singular charm. Had she loved him deeply, she could not have shown greater deforeiico to his wishes, and yet open rebellion, passionate detlanct;, t irs and sieha would have been less pain- ful to Sir Hugh than this perfect inditl'er enoe and unconcern. I'urin.; tba entire itpace )t time com- prised in these four yaars, Sir Hugh had not kuovvu ona really happy day. When Shirley recover. id from the lci;g illness which had prostrated her after the terrible strain she had endured, ho la.i her taken abroad and treated her with a tenderness and consideration which even i-ihirley's sore and aching heart could not but appreciate. For a lui g tune she was loo weak aud languid even to feel much ; but, as she grew stronger, the sense of th.? wroiii; done her grew wi'.li her strength, and the keen and passionate resentment against herhua band for hia treachery deepened. Never for a moment did the icy coolness yet per- fjct geniteneau of her manner toward him change. When they were alone, she never ipoke to him unlesa ha addressed her ; he nevi^r wjii a smile from the still proud lipa or a lender glance from the lustroua eyea. When he Uisaed her, thera was no move- ment, r.o aaswering touch of the aweet lipa; and it maddened him .sometimea to aee that, cold and unreaponaivs as ahe was to him, yet she could be aweet and gentle to utbars. Once or twice he had made a paaaionate appeal to her for forgiveness ; but Shirley 'ii large ayes had looked at him witb a haughty ({uestionir.g glauce, as if ahe did not underatar.d, and aha had listened in silence, turning away without a word when bia eager entreaties ceased. Thera were tiinoa when Sir Hugh writhed under his puniahinent, and when he felt that it was greater evan than he deserved. His wife's aocial triumphs were of coiii.^e a soarce of pride to him, but they gave him little pleasuro. That she should be boauti- (ul and admired and UlcU was wellâ€" it added to Ii's already great prestige in the world of fa;sUion ; but what pleasure could to meet her smile and see her epa lose their cold indifference and soften into tender- neaa when they met bis, ha would, have given hia life. They were tender enough jaat now as they rested on Bertie Fairholme, who had climbed on her lap and was playing witb the little gold-headed riding-whip ahe car- ried, and tbe aweet lips were smiling aa she talked to the boy in the aweet pathetic voice which had an odd thrill in it aome- times, and which had always been one of her greateat charma. " Where are you going to-night, Shirley?" Uuby aaked, aa Lady Glynn rose to take leave, Bertie atill clinging to her hand. " To two or three placea," ahe anawered, with a touch of wearineas on her face. " I shall try to get to the opera ; but, in any case, my box is at your aervice, Ruby. They play ' Faust' to-night." "Oh, then, I will go I I never tire of 'Fauat,' you know, and I hope ycu will be there, Shirley." " I wiil try to look in for the garden acene. Kow, little man, let me go. iJet him come and spend the afternoon with me Boon, Ruby. What a lovely morning ! Is it not ?" "Oawald," she aaid softly a few minutes later, aa be helped her to mount and care- fully arranged her habit, " I want to ask youâ€" have you heard â€" do you know if it ia true that â€" that " the rich color died out of her lipa as she spoke â€" " Major Stuart haa returned to England I" Oawald's eyea met hers for a moment, and a great pity came over hia handaonie face. " I have not heard ao," he aaid gravely. " They were talking of him at Lady Uulcie'a laat night," she aaid hurriedly. " They were saying how strange it was that a man with hie wealth ahould choose to remain so long in exile. How ia he ao wealthy, Oswald ?" " Sir Jasper left him all his property, you know," Oswald answered gently. " Sir Jasper was ao wealthy, then ?" "Yea." " But whenâ€" when did he die, Oswald?" " Four yeara ago, dear â€" when you were 80 ill." Oswald'a voice waa very grave and com- passionate as he siioke, and his cousin's face was colorleaa as marble ; but there was no trace of emotion there. "Oawald"â€" earoeatly--" do not look ao grieved. If ho haa returned, 1 shall be glad~ao glad to think that he haa got over that bitter sorrow, and that he ia happy. If he could only nuess how happy it would make me to know that his long exile ia over I I hopeâ€" yes, I hope he has come back." She put her band in Oswald'a for a moment, and her lip .|uivered ; then she rode away, her head bent a little, her eyee with a far-away look in them, which showed that her thoughts were not of the present. The groom behind her wondered why ahe Went ao alowly as they rode onward toward the park; but. aa he followed, auiting his pace lo hers, he was proud of the many glances of admiration which followed his inistres4 and he felt as if some of Lady Glynn's celebrity were reflected upon him- self. Just as they rode into the park a gentleman on foot on tbe pavement stopped suddenly and started, and looked long and earnestly at Shirley. Accustomed as tbe groom w«a>t»-th« admiration his mistress received, he wav still aomewhat on this "Vlraniior'a face, aa bis deep gray eyes di^eft long and lingeriugly upon Shirley, as ahe rode on, uuoonacious of the Bcrutiny. " Some hartist chap, I auppoae." waa the groom's mental comment. "Looks like it, with all that hair on his face. He's struek all on a 'oap with her ladyship; andiiowou- der, for she's a pretty creature, but too thin for my taste." Meanwhile the "hartist chap" waa alowly making hia way toward I'iccadilly, with a tlood of bitter memories at his heart which made his lips close lirmly under his heavy muatache. "Well and happy!" he wa^ saving to himself, thinking of what some great lady he had met the night before had said of Shirley Glynn, " well aud happy, with that look in her eyes? My darling, it you had been my wife, it should not have been there! " CUAl'lKU XWll. room, brightened. autreas "That will do, Despreoâ€" you may go." • \ ery well, miladi." Lady Kaatwell turned away from the mirror as her maid left the dressingruom in obedience to her dismissal, and stood for a minute or two in the centre of thelu.\uri- uus apartment, with a little unpleasant smile uiMiii hur fair face. Alice was hand- somer as a matron than she bad been as a girl ; she had tilled out and actjuired a stateline.iS of manner wliieli suited her; and her taste in dress was unexceptionable. But the fairness of her face was seriously marred by an expression of diacontent which waa almost invariably present thrn, and the thin red lips bad a satirical smile which was not pleasing. On this evening, aa ahe atood in all the aplendor of her pink aatin and Brussels lace, that look was very visible, and the unpleiisant smile curled her lipa. She was thinking of old timesâ€" of her girlhood and Shirley's at Fairholme Court, of Hugh Glynn and of Guy Stuartâ€" and she waa amiling to herself at the thought that they were all to meet that night under her roof. The thought waa not a kind one ; but Lady Kaatwell would have heaitated at nothing to humiliate her couain. She hated Shirley far more deeply now than ahe had hated her in the paat ; then she was a poor dependent in her uncle's house, nowshe waa a great lady, queening it in society by right of her beauty and wealth. It was true her rank waa inferior to that which Alice'a marriage with a peer had given her ; but Sir Uugh'a wealth waa in- finitely greater than Lord Kaatwoll's, and, whilo Alice'a expenditure waa limited, Shirley could scatter gold with both handa before Sir Hugh would utter a remon- atranco. And then she waa so beautiful. A year before, when Alice had come to Iiondon a bride, she bad felt a thrill of aatiafaction at the thought that she, handaome and freah aa ahe was, would wreat Shirley's laurels from her grasp and depose the reigning (|ueeu. But she had been mistaken. Lady Kaatwell was admired, but Shirley reigned t give hini when tbe tieautiful face never si'Iiromo atill. Alice'a fair beauty, placid 3oftenod and the aweet lipa uevor smiled ,»"'' '""P^aive, and juat a little inaipid, had when they wore turned to him? There "° chance againat her cousin's ex- wera momouts when tha baronet felt that preasive loveUnesa, her rare grace of manner, aud her matcblesa charm. Lady Eastwell was undoubtedly handsome, bat Lady Glynn wm ao wonderfully attrac- tive that, had ahe been a plain woman, she would have been a leader of fashion from her fascination and grace. There waa not a little yindiotiveneaa on her ladyship's face, aa ahe took np the great pink fan t^hicli completed her dinner dreaa and swept down staira to the glit- tering drawing-room, where Lord Eastwell, a alender little man, dreadfully afraid of bia wife, waa waiting for her. She knew how terribly diatressed Shirley would be if tbe secret of her married life abonld ooze out, and ahe anticipated much from aud- denly bringing her face to face with Major Stuart that evening. She might faiut, perhaps, or be dreadfully agitated, and Major Stuart might betray hia resentment against Sir Hugh. There might be a acene, which would be disagreeable, of coarse, bat which would be infinitely pain- ful to Shirley, who waa ao aenaitive and proud ; and Mra. Majoribanka, who waa to be one of the guests, waa auch a terrible chatterbo.i that â€" Ah, here waa some one ! And Lady Eaatwell put on her sweet- est smile aa she went forward to meet her first arrivala. The Fairholmes were a little late ; and Ruby'a dark eyes went straight to a tall bearded man, who waa talking to Lord Ka.stwell, who looked dwarfed beside Major Stuart's stately proportiona; and the deep gray eyes met Raby'a with a warm kindly Hght, although there waa a little sadness iu the smile. " Major Stuart, I am very glad to see you," Ruby aaid, eameatly, aa she put her hand in bia, looking at him wiatfolly, her heart beating a little more quickly at tbe thought that Shirley would arrive in a min- ute or two; and Guy pressed the little fingers warmly, then turned to receive Oawald'a cordial greeting. " It ia an unexpected pleaaare for yoa, Oswald." aaid his sister, sailing across the room with a smile upon her face. " Not quite," Oswald anawered, in hia pleasant voice. "I knew Stuart had re- turned to England." " Indeed! Have you met before, then?" "No." " Then who told you .'" Alice asked eagerly, lifting tha pink feathers to her lips ts hide their sadden quiver. '- 1 really don't know. I did not think that it waa a secret." "A secret 1 Of coarse not. Why should it be?" aaid Lady Eastwell petulantly. " Vou are so abaard, Oswald!" " Did you want to aurpriae your brother. Lady Eaatwell ?" aaked Guy in his kindly manner. " I do not think I thought maoh aboat it, Major Stuart," she anawered careleaaly. "Ah" â€" with a quick look at his faceâ€" "there they are at laatâ€" late, aa usual I Shirley. 1 waa afraid you were going to dis- appoint m«. " " Are we late?" aaid Lady Glynn ({uietly. â- ' I did not know it." She turned to Uuby as sheapoke, andher eyes fell upon Guy. For a moment her lip quivered; but uhe kuew how eagerly Alice was watching her, and without any perceptible hesitation she held out her hand. I heard yon had ret arned," she said, with- out a tremor in the rich aof t voice, and then turned away to apeak to Captain Fairholme. Sir Hugh, who had followed her iiuo the had whitooed to tbe lips at tW "'*•>• » ii ito in.«fc«v«ri*« bttiA eyes Shirley was au aucomplished but Sir Hugh wa» no master of the histrionic art, surely he would betray himself. â- ' I think you scarcely ueed an introduc- tion," said l.ady Kastwull, with her sweet society smile. " No," Guy said, iu the same kindly voice ; " we are old friends," He stretched out his hand ; and his eyes, grave aud earnest, met Sir Hcgh'a. Tbe next minute their liands closed n a quick claap, aud the two men who had parted in such bitterness met, outwardly it least, iu amity, and Lady Kaatwell's f^henie was entirely frustrated. Hut .Mice waa too completely a woman of the world to ahow her dia*poiutmeut. She sailed dowu-ataira in the Wike of her gueats, smiling^aiul chatting to br cavalier. Major Stuart had taken Buy, whose warm little heart waa fullof gtattuue aud kindness which ahe could Iiirdly help giving vent to, aud iudeed her ttle hand preaaed Guy's arm iu ber earocsioaa iu a manner that waa i|iiite undent^. Shir- ley waa beaide her host, liatttijg (|uietly to hia rather insipid remarlu, while Sir Hugh, with an unfamiliar «K|osaiou on Ilia handsome face, waa trjfi^ to rouac himself into something like a hostess's civilitios. Glancing across the table a that be was greatly changed last met, that his face had a tied look of unrest and pain pcr's words came back to hi ho bo happy ? How can he It seemed almost like a â- -ituart to find himself sittiuj table as Sir Hugh Glynn, of hia betrayer' a hand liuge; Shirley'a sweet familiar voi occaaioually in the murmur sation. liinner was nearly dared truat himaelf to glam looked as lovely aaâ€" nay, lo' ho thought. But tbe I wounded him ao deeply aa ride by a few mornings befi face atill. She waa dreai oloae-titting, aimply made fitting; tight to ber tfaroat| flniahed with some yellow of diamond stars. Invo| thoughts went back to the seen her when ahe bad foil door of the library at Ma: him, with her wild eyea tij and her shaking lipa tryii to entreat him to stay, w her dishevelled hair fell o Such a ditTerent Shirle. composed auU atalely ai auch a quiet face, such a Ij Suddenly, as he gai^ei eyea, aud they met hia fo: then the long lashea fell] before Major Stuart mot gratitude aud revoreuci given him, and he felt at: thereby when he remoml a dying man had had sired forgivenes-i. When the ladiea left the conversation beoam* or three ' times Gu addressing Hugh iu matter-of-fact a manner aa if they had not parted deadly foes, while in Sir Hagh's manner, when he anawered, there was a certain conciliating eagerness whieh hmi something pathetic in it. It did not me«a of coarse that Sir Hugh was afraid of any revenge the other might be inclined totaka, but it showed that he felt how low he had fallen, and that he was grateful for tha manner in which Guy had efifected their^ reconciliation. * Meanwhile in the drawing-room Ladj Eastwell waa feeling thoroughly annoyed at the failure of the plan which she had cherished all through the week preceding her dinner-party, and she showed bar annoyance by sUenoe and a pettish tone of voice when she did condeacend to apeaJu One or two of her gueata left early, having other engagements, and Ruby mentally wished aha had a like excuse ; but therv waa nothing for it but to ait atill and in- wardly abuae her sister-in-law and aym- pathize with Shirley with all her warm little heart. I'resently the gentlemen and two tall footmen with tea made a aimol- taneoaa appearance, and Alice brightened and devoted herself to Sir Hugh, rejoicing in the thought that he could not fail to contraat ber charming amiability and animation with bis wife's haughty indif- ference, while Major Stuart went across ta Ruby, who gave him a bright welcoming smile. " Fairholme tells me you are settled ia London," be aaid, in his kindly voies. " May I do myself tbe pleasure of calling upon yoa ?" " Oh, pray do ! I shall bo so pleaaod," she answered eagerly. " Y'us, we hava been in London for two years and more," " And you like it?" " Extremely. I do not think I abonld like to live anywhere else now. .Vnd you must sec our boy. He ia a fine little fellow â€" so like Oawald." " You have a son? I did not know," ba said smiling. " I have been living more like a savage than a civilized being during the laat few years. I even managed to exist for months without a glimpse of the Timet." " You have travelled a great deal. Are yoa going to settle down now, Major Stuart?" " I do not know. I am a restless mor- tal, aa you are aware, Mrs. Fairholme. I suppose that that is due to my military career." •' I'ou must have regretted leaving the army," said Ruby, a Uttle incautiously; then her aweet face orimaoned when aha recollected when he had done so, and she glanced at him in iguick diatreBB. Ue met the look aud smiled reassuringly. " I regretted it a great deal at first â€" I missed my old friends; but at one time I had suoh a restless fit on that I could not have borne the restraint." "You find many changes?" Ruby said gently. "No," he replied smiling. "I foU so changeii myself that I expected to find every one else etjually so. Instead of that, 1 find you entirely unchanged, and Oswald. with the exception of being a little stouter, just the same aa ever." "And Shirley?" Uuby aaid involun- tarily. " She is not altered," he answered, let- ting his eyes wander to the beautiful face ami rest there a moment ; " or, if she is, it id so slightly that no one who bad not kuowb tK«v >fary .MwU ilk \Ku v^**^ vfdaM «•* the change." " She is aa beautiful aa ever." " Quite. Hers ia a lovely face." (To tMoontluaed.) ttion to his bin, Guy saw ' they had Vc.l, dissatis- N Sir Jas- How can Itiiffer ?" lam to Guy 111 the aaiuo pi the touch i in hia, and I etching him f iiia oouver- jwr before he I'l her. She iff, than ever, which had \ »»tched her ' «»a on her 111 blueâ€" a ltt« of velvet, phcro it was ' ud a collar BMirily Guy's lat line he had Vedhira to the t^'l, clinging to ' opoa hia face [to (r»me words >tiie maasca of t her shoulders. ^6 w»a now, ao I gf'cttul, with <!iiid manner. lifted her ' brief moment ; l(!»in, though not 'swift look of l*kich ahe had Wly humiliated Kxtraordlnary Old IHeu. Cardinal Manning yeaterday, at the pro- Cathedral, Kensington, performed another of those aatonishiug lauro Ue unce whioh render it dirticult for his tlock to believe that he is really an older man than Mr. Gladstone. The Cardinal, attired iu full pontificalsâ€" cope of cloth of gold aud jew eled mitre -held in his left hand hia gold crozier or epiacopal staff during hia long m-rmon, which lasted exactly o,5 miuutee. Ho held hia congregation also, whioh waa even mora remarkable than the holding of his crozier. Another old manâ€" Prince Bis- marck -yeaterday celebrated hia 73rd birth- day. It ia not, however, until men get aito the eightioa that they aro really old. Since the German Emperor died Cardinal Manning is almont the oldeat of the lUuatrions oldera of our time, and yet ia sympathy, in intelligence, and in active in- terest iu the atTaira of thia world bo pats to ahatne the youngest among \xa.â€"l'aU Matt Gazelle. Md for the de- iirawing-room, peril, and two «unl himself I '* luiet and Tho Olcl-Fasbioued Way. '.'John," she said, aa she toyed with one of his coat buttons, "thia is leap year, isn't It?" "Yea. Mamie," he answered, a the looked fondly dowu on the golden head hat was pillowed on hia manly bosom. " Thia IS tho year when the proposing is done by the young ladiea." "Yea." " I hope yon don't expect me to propoae to you?" "Why Mamie, dear, I never gave the matter a' thoughtâ€" I -erâ€" to tell the truth, I've only known you forâ€" that ia to aayâ€" " " I'm glad you didn't expect me to proiioae. I'm not that kind, I hope. No, .lobn, dearest, I couldn't be so imprudent. I am going to lot you do the promising youraelf in theold- fashioned way. The old-faahioned way is good enough for me." And the gentle maiden gave her lover a beaming amile and the youth rejoiced that ho bad found such a treasure of modesty. ♦ . TUe Preiralllug Topic! Stumpson (in answer to Talboya' greet- ing) -Oh, all right, 'f'twaan't for these cast winda- - Talboya (who's a little hard of bearing) â€" Twiua ! My dear fellow, I congratulate you, I'm sure. I'd really no idea you were â€" and how are they all there ?â€" I hopeâ€" 8tump8or( testilyâ€" large family already) 1 didn't say these twins â€" (ahonting) I said tbe East winda I I â€"Punch. What He Wanted She (very rich)- You do me groat honor, Mr. Jiukin.^, to aak my band in marriage. I am very sorry â€" He (very poor) -Don't mention it, Miaa Bankacoount. I'lease don't mention it. It ian't sympathy I want ; it'a money. â€" iVanhinnton Critic. A Georgia mam with a statiatical turn of mind figures out that a man who regalarly takea teu ordinary drinks of whiskey a day and keeps it up for twenty yeara will in that time conaamo at least tbirty-.six barrels of the stui}.